Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1857-11-12

amount of money. [ returned to the stable
and led my horse out, but he could not even
walk with any degree of case. l could not
use him. l was in despair.
Look" said mine host, as began to de-
spond, " can't you manage canoe ?"
"Yes-very well" told him.
"Then that's your best way. The current
is strong this morning, and without stoke of
the paddle, 'twould take you along as fast
as a horse could wade through the mud
You shall have one of my canoes, for just
what it is worth, and ye can sell it in Logans
port for as much"
/" If ye darn't shoot the rapids" added the
landlord, "ye can can easily shoulder the ca
noe and pack it around 'Tisnt far"
| found the boat to be well-fashioned
" dug out, big enough to bear four men with
ease, and l at once paid the owner his price
ten dollars-and then had my baggage brought
down. | gave arrangements about the treat
ment of my horse, and then put off. The cur
rent was quite rapid, say four or FIVE miles an
hour, but not turbulent-and | soon made up
my mind that it was far better than to ride ON
horse back. The banks of the river were dense
ly crowded with large trees, and | saw game
plenty and more than once was tempted to
fire the contents of my pistol at some of the
boder " varmints J" but | had no time to
waste, so kept on. Only one thing seemed
wanting, and that was a companion but |
was destined to find one soon enough.
1t was shortly after noon, and | had eaten
my dinner, of bread and cold meat, when /
came to place where the river made an alb
rupt bend to the right, and, little further on,
| came to an abrupt basin, where the current
formed a perfect whirlpool. / did not notice
it, till my canoe got into it, and found myself
going round instead of ahead. | piled my
wood paddle with all my power and soon sue
ceeded in shooting out of that rotary current
but in doing So | ran myself on low sandy
shore. The effort had fatgued me not little
and as l found myself suddenly moored, l re-
solved to rest few minutes.
| had been in this position some ten minutes,
when / was startled by hearing a foot fall
close by me, and on locking up saw man at
the side of NY boat. He was young look
ing person, not over two and twenty, and
seemed to be hunter He wore wolf skin
shirt Leggngs of red leather, and cap of
bear skin
(Which way We bonnd, stranger ?" he ask
ed in pleasing tone.
Down the river, to Logansport," I re-
piled
"That's fortunate I wish to go there N.Y.
SELF" the stranger resumed "What say you
to my to my taking your second paddle, and
keeping your company 2"
q should like it." | told him frankly '1'ye
been wanting company"
$50 have l." added the hunter. And
I've been wanting some better mode of con-
vevance than these worn out legs, thro' the
deep forest"
"Come on" said, and as spoke he leap
ed into the canoe, and having deposited his
rifle in the bow, he took one OF the paddles,
aud told me he was ready when | was. So
we pushed off, and we were soon clear of the
whirlpool.
For an hour we conversed freely. The stran-
ger had told me his name was Adams, and bis
father lived in Columbus. He was out on a
mere hunting and prospecting expedition, with
some companions who had gone TO Logans-
port by horse, and having got separated from
them in the night had lost his horse in the
bargain He said he had great sum of mon
ey about his person, and that was the reason
why he disliked to travel in the forest
Thus he opened his affairs to me, and | was
fool enough to equally frank. | admitted that
| had some money, and told him my business
and by quiet and unpresuming course of re-
marks, he drew from me that [ had money
enough to purchase forty full lots.
Finally the conversation Jagged, and | be-
gan to give my companion scrutiny. sat in
the stern of the canoe, and he was about mid
shin. and facing me- His hair was of flaxen
hue, and hung in long curls upon his neck
features were regular and handsome, and his
compIcxion very light. But the color of his
face was not what one would call fair. 1t
was cold, boodieSS color, like pale marble.
And first time too, now looked particularly
at his eyes They were gray in color, and had
brilIiancy of glaring ice. Their light was IN
tense but cold and glittering like a snake
When thought of his age, sat him down for
not much over thirty.
Suddenly sharp cold shudder ran through
my frame, and my heart leaped with a wild
thrill. At any rate--I knew it-there could
be no doubt had taken into to my canoe
and into my confidence, Gustus Karl, the Wa
bash robber 4! For few movements L feared
my emotion would betray me. looked care
fully over his person again, and L knew was
not mistaken. | could look back now, and
see how cunningly he had led me to confes-
sion of nv circumstances-how he had made
me tell nv affairs, and reveal the state of my
finances. WHAT fool had been But it
was too late to think of the past. | had
enough to do to look out for what was to fol-
low.
at length managed to overcome oil my
outward emotions, and then | began to wach
my companion more sharply and closely. My
pistols were both handy, and knew they were
in order, for / had examined them both in the
morning, when l thought of firing at some
game.
They were in breast pockets which had been
made on purpose for them, and | could reach
them at any instant. Another hour passed