Daily Nashville patriot. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1857-1858, 1857-02-04

plexol. He was Of the medium stature, and made
for strength and activity. There wss dark void
over his features, which told that With him The
light of hope had gone out he was travelling on
q mule, with bis rife in his gun-leather at the bow
of his saddle, when he overlook man on foot,
With gun bis shoulder and pistols in bis belt,
who vas over six feet in height, and had deep,
wide scar on his right cheek. As day was draw
ing to close they proposed to camp, and brought
up at the head fork Of the Pawnee. Shortly after
they had camped, man was seen accommodating
them with rife in bis hand, and having satisfied
himself that the sign friendly, he came moodily
into the camp, and after looking sterDly at the two
men, was asked by Scar Cheek to come to the
ground He was stout, muscular man, much
older than the other two, with deep, habitual
scowl, long, black, zgatted hair, and very unpre-
possessing features. Some commonplace remarks
were made, but no questions were asked by either
party.
Il was near twilight when the young man, who
had gathered some buffalo chips to make fire TO
cook with, suddenly perceived man approaching
them a mule. He came steadily and fearlefsly
on to the camp, and casting look at the three,
said Took ye for Indians then, glanciUg at the
deerskin dress of the trio he observed, old lesh-
ers, some time out chi? The man was about fifty
years, old, and his gray hairs contrasted strangely
with his dark, bronzsd features, upon which care
and misfortune were strongly stamped. He was
only half clad 10 the miserable skins he wore, and
he dismouuted Scar Cheek asked where from?
From the Kaw,' (Kansas) he replied, throwing
down O bundle Of otter skins. After unsaddling
and stalking out his mule, be brought himself to
the ground, and, taking his rife, looked at the
printing, and shaking the powder in the pan he
added few more grains to it; then placing piece
OF thin dry skin over it to keep it from the damp,
he shut the pan. The group watched the old trap
per, who seemed not to notice them, while Scar
Cheek became interested and showed certain un~
easiness. He looked towards his own rife, and
once or twice loosened the pistols in his belt as
Il they incommoded him. The young man and the
stout man with the scowl exchanged glsnces, but
no word passed. So far no questions bad been ask
ed as to who the other was; what little CONVERSE
passed was very lacoDe, and not smile wreath
ed the lips Of any one of them.
The little supper was eaten in silence, each man
seeming to be wrapt in his own thoughts. 1t was
agreed that the watch should be divided equally
among the four, each man standing on guard two
hOurs-the old trapper taking the first watch, the
young man next, and Scar Cheek and he with the
scowl following.
1t was bright moonlight night and over that
barren, wild waste Of prairie, not sound was
heard as the three lay sleeping on their blankets.
The old trapper paced up and down, ran his eyes
around the wild waste before him, and then would
stop and mutter to himself. 1t cannot be, he said
half aloud, but the time and that may have
disguised him. That boy, too-it's strange | feel
drawn towards him; then that william with the scow
al0, the muscles Of the old trspper's face workN
ed oOnvulSively which the moonbeams falling upon,
disclosed traces of by-gone refinement.
The trapper noiselessly approached the sleeping
men, and, kneeling down, gazed inteutly upon the
features of each, and scanned them deeply. Walk
ing off, he muttered to himself again, saying It
shall be- and then judging by the stars that his
watch was up, be approached the young man and
woke him, pressing his finger upon his lip to COM
mand silence at the time, and motioned him to fol-
low. They walked off some distance, when the
trapper, taking the young man by the shoulder,
turned hs face to the moonlight, and after gazing
at it wisttuly whispered in his ear, Are you Per-
ry Ward! The young man started wildly, but the
trapper prevented him by saying EnOugh, enough
He then told him he was his uncle, and that the
man with the scar was the murderer Of his father;
and that he with the seowl had convicted him (the
trapper) Of forgery by his false oath.
The blood deserted the lips of the young man,
AMI his eyes glared and dlated almost from their
sockets. He squeezed his unee's hand, and then,
with meaning glance, as he looked to his rifle,
moved towards the camp.
No, moi syid the old trapper, mot in cold boodi
give them a chance
They cautiously returned to the camp and found
both OF the men in dead sleep. The uncle and
nephew stood over them. Scar Cheek was breath
ing hard, when he suddenly cried out:
did not murder Perry Ward
LiarP said the trapper in a voice Of thunder,
and the two men started and bounded to their feet.
Red skins abontY asked they in a voice.
NO, worse than red skins said the trapper,-
Harry Ward is aboutr and seizing his knife be
plunged it into Scar Cheeks heart
Then take that, said he of the scowl, and raise
ing his rifle the trapper fell corpse.
With bound and wild cry the young man jump
ed at the murderer Of his uncle, aud with bis knife
gave him several fatal wounds. The struggle was
fearful one, however, and the young man bad al~
so received several bad cuts, when his adversary
fell from the loss of blood, anG expired. Thus
ended this strange meeting, and thus were father
and uncle revenged.