Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1857-11-05
(cosTISUED.)
CHAPTER III.

THE hOUNIkth LAhELEI-lhE AIS.
I, was evening, and band of hardy men
were seated around the leaping blaze OF
their newly-kindled camp fire. There was
agood -humored expression upon their hon.
est features, which indicated them as possess
sing frank and generous hearts, and the
CLEAN Of patriotism which shone proudly
from their eyes, told to the sIrunger that
they were engaged in t cause of right
and justice. They had gathered in groups,
and with Indifferent ease were smok ng
laughing and talking-occasonal lily allow
ing their voice TO reach the pitch of soul
inspiring wsr-scng, which would reverber-
ate in wild melody along the grassy wales
aud rocky glens Of their retreat This was
the haunt OF the intrepid Jsmes-the terror
VI the Tory scouts. He was now in hi-
mountain strong hold; and although not a
secret one, nature had so file ii FOR deGenre
that Great Britain with all h,r Tory & lndi
al allies did not think it worthy their time
to attempt lis capture.
But OF OUT herU-he is not in the camp,
yet we will seek h'm. We pass down a
narrow and curiOusly shaped path turn to
the lett and disappear amid growth Of
hazle wood. The ihicket grows tighter
we leap over a shelving rock, and then
We Gods, what sight meets the enraptured
eTei Directly beneath lis lies a min mature
lake, with its calm unruffied bosom reflect
ing to the wobder-strIcken gazer, the pro-
portions of his own form. There it reposed
that lake in The mountain side picture
of en,hanting loveliness. The evening twi-
light still lingering upon its waters, lent a
golden reflection along the silvered expanse
that giimmered modestly be fore the eye,
and a warm breezs, waited from The distant
shore. softly called the wanderer to approach
and woo the delights of another fairy land
across the way
Far as the eye can trace is to b" seen the
faint outline of an Indian canoe--it is near
the oppos,e side and one would judge il
full mil; distant. Slowly and gradually
il draws nearer, and som reaches the mos y
bank at our feet. A young hunter leaps
lightly TO the shore, aud after concea ing hi
bark canoebeneatha cluster of bushes around
and as be stands there fairy revealed by tn.
light from the setting sun, we will mark hi
appearance. His years might have mum
bered twenty four ct the hand of time hs,
left no care-worn marks upon his features
Hseyes were dark, but not fercely black
their expression was softer and more gen,
erous than Berks ford's. There was,,a zobie
that instantly would have rssted the atten
ton Of casual obserser-is it a marse
then that they had won the love ofthe mai
of Meadowdale!
He wus tall nd heavily Iilt; and a con
noisseur would quickly note that in tn
broad chest, we'll formed limbs and alel
step, there was no waste of material; and j
battle a foe would involuntafily have selec
ed any other man for hand-to-hand ccI
testtha him. He was dressed very plaInl
and in the style of frontiersman.
He paused and with his rifle flung cart
lessiy acioss his shoulder. allowed his eye
TO finger for a moment upon the varied an
beautiful scenery Of the place. He VIZ
about resuming his way towards his con
panions, when the slight rustling of a di
tarbed l,af arrested his attention-the
comes the light tread of foot, and we
knowing that no friend would be approach
ing from that direction the woodsman silen
ly withdrew behind an aged oak. The ste
draws nearer, and soon person reaches Il
little oPening-a careful survey Of his bea
ing shows him to be stranger to the mou
tain pass within which he STOOD. A broa
fiat crowned hat was drawn slouching
over his forehead, yet the rest of his appar
was completely enveloped in the folds Of
heavy cloak. The young hunter kept
eve fixed steadily upon the new conner wi
the hope of recognizing him, and a.ihou
the mould Of his features seemed to say til
they had met before, yet memory could n
tell him when or where.
He advanced with slow and uncertt
pace towards the lake. But look-as
passes beneath tree, an oyerhangihg tw
gets entsngled in his cloak, and as he wal
onward, discloses the dress underneath
is of scarlet red. and upon the left bre,
glitters finely wrough. star! the truth
told-the stranger is British officer.
the young man made this discovery,
placed his gun beside the tree and wall
care'essly from his retreat. The disgui'
Briton drew his cloak tighter around b
and adjusting his hat more firmly, turn
around and survey ed the other from benet
its brlm. The silence was becoming too
pressive, but at length the royalist yentu
to break it, still he spoke in an uneasy to