The southern enterprise. [volume] (Greenville, S.C.) 1854-1870, 1857-11-19
= "A r EFLEX Is Il rs--


Itold the man l would set out on my re-
turn as soon as possible. lie ale some break,
fast, and then resumed his journey, being
bound up as far as the Pottawattainic Dor.
der. I.
] settled my bill and went for my horse ;
but bitter disappointment awaited me. /
found the animals foot swollen very badly.
and It panied him sn that he could hardly
step on 1t. Had the roads been good /
should have been tempted to try him but
knew that in some places the mud was deep.
l went to the host and asked him if he could
lend or sell me a horse. lie could do neith-
err. His only spare horse had been shot the
night before by the Wabash robber. There
was not horse in the place to be obtained
Tor any amount of money. returned to
the stable and led my horse out, but he could
not walk with any degree Of case. / could
not use him. was in despair.
Look ver," said mine host, as began to
despond, "can you manage a canoe 2"
Yes-yery WE'LL" replied.
"Then that's your best way. The current
IS strong this morning, and without stroke
OF the paddle, 'twould take you along as fast
as horse could wade the mud. You shall
have one of my canoes for just what IT, is
worth, and you can sell it at Logansport for
as much"
| lcanght tho proposition instantly, for l
saw that 1t was good one.
"lf you don't shoot through the rapids"
added he, you can easily shoulder the ca
noe and pack it round. 1t isn't far.
found the boat to be well fashioned
"dug out" large enough to bear four men
with ease, and l at once paid the owner his
price-ten dolIars-and then had my bag.
gage brought down
i gave directions about tho treatment Of
my horse and then put off. The current was,
l found, quite rapid, and soon made up my
mind it was far better than riding on horse
back.
The banks of the river were thickly cover.
ed with large trees, and saw game plenty
and more than once was tempted to fire
the contents Of my pistol at some of the bold
est of the " varmints !" but had no time ia
waste, so kept on. Only one thing seem
ed wanting, and that was companion but
| was destined TO find one soon enough.
II was shortly after noon, and had just
eaten my dinner of bread and cold meat
when came to place where the river
made bend 10 the right, and little further
on l came to an abrupt basin where the cur.
rent formed perfect whirlpool did moi
notice it until my canoe got into it, and ]
found myself going around instead of going
ahead. Iplied my wood paddle with all
my power, and soon succeeded in shooting
out from the rotary current: but in doing SC
| ran myself upon the low, sandy shore
The effort had fatigued me little, and as
found myself thus suddenly moored / re-
solved to rest few minutes.
had been in this position some ten min
utes when l was startled by hearing foot
fall close by me, and looking up saw mar
by the side of my boat. He was young
looking person, not over one and thirty, an(
seemed to be hunter. He wore wolf
skin shirt, leggins Of red leather, and caJ
of bear skin.
(Which way are you bound, stranger p
he asked
"Down the river, to Logansport,"I re-
piled.
"Thats Fortunate" the stranger resumed
4" / want to go there myself What say you
to my taking your second paddle and keep
ing company Z"
81 should like it," I told hin. "I've been
wanting company"
$50 have l." added he Sand have
been wanting some better mode Of convey.
ance than these worn out legs through the
forest"
"Come on" said, and as / spoke, he
leaped into the canoe, and having deposited
his rifle 10 the bow, he took one of the pad
dies, and told me he was ready when was.
So we pushed off, and were soon clear of the
whirlpool
For an hour we conversed freely. The
stranger told me his name was Huylett, and
that his father lived in Vermont. He was
out now on mere prospecting and hunting
expedition, with some companions who had
gone on to Logansport by horse, and having
got separated from them by night, had lost
his horse in the bargain. He said he had a
great sum Of money about his person, and
that was ore reason Why he disliked TO trav-
el in the forest.
Thus he opened his affairs to me, and
was fool enough to be equally frank. !
admitted that had some money, and tod
him my business; and by most quiet and
unpresuming course Of remark be drew from
me the fact that had money enough TO
purchase full forty lots. 49,
Finally the conversation Jagged, and be-
gan to give my companion closer scruti.
nv ant ;r fha sferr, of fha sapoe at1d ho