The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1858-01-01


, turn in the spring to bury him. 3a
Z On the following morning We rssume'
!. our journey; but il had now become
, melancholy pilgrimage. The. day seem
! Ell long and dresry without the joyoo
youth, whose lively jcsts and ringint
laughter had echoed among the old trees
|. Toward. evening, for the first time in al
our travels, We came on the signs Of
human being. The broad trail OF q pail
Of snow shoes preceded us along the
course We had to follow. I|y 81
Ny guide, judging BY the tracks, an
T nounced the wearer to be an Indian, and
not one Of the white hunters who nre
sometimes to be met in these forests
lie was right. The wearer Of the gaily
trimmed hunting shirt whom We overlook
about two hours after with his dirty
blanket, rife, tomahawk, and knife, his
arms covered with bracelets, and punches
Of earrings weighing down the lobcs OF
the ears, fully attested the accuracy Of
Shegashie's fore.knowledge.
The Indians g,eeted each other with
grave courtesy, and the same polite re-
ception was extended to me. But in
spite Of all their gravity, l fancied l per-
ceived gleam Of JOY in the wild eyes Of
the stranger. No wonder, poor fellow!
thought. Perhaps he has passed the
whole winter without looking on one
human face. He belonged to party OF
Iutians living far to the north Of Green
Snake river and his dialect was great
trial to my Indian erudition.
AS his path for the next day or two
would be the same as ours, the stranger
proposed to join us. Though lmust con.
tess that the sight Of his blanket, caked
with filth, made me feel a rcpugnancc to
his company, yet was too prudent to OBJ
ject; and afterwards when We stopped
tor the night, and | found that, leaving
the fire.makingt to Shegashie, he was con.
tent to brstle about to collect fuel, and to
assist me in forming our nights shelter,
felt more charity towards him, and was
more resigned to his raising his pile Of
branches near my own.
As we sat, that evening" round our
camp fire, l had better opportunity OF
observing oar new acquaintance. lie
was tall, hnely formed INDIAN and more
muscular than had ever seen any oil his
race. Moreover, there was an unusual
ticrceness in his demeanor and a strange
fire cleaned from his eye. He took the
tobacco we gave him with great pleasure,
but he was disappointed that our fire.
water was all expended. However, he
did not let that damp his spirits, but talk
ed OH with more than Indian yolubility.
Shcgashie's stock Of news, for which he
asked, was soon exhausted. Poor fellow !!
he had little heart to talk Of anything ex-
cept his beloved brother, to whose story
the stranger listened with contracted
brow; but with few indications Of sym.
patty. In his turn, he treated Shegashie
to a number of amazing and horrible
stories which were current in the woods.
lost the rist of many of these thro'
no, heinz able clearly to comprehend his
language. But there was one | under.
stood somewhat better than the Others
It was concerning a very fierce Indian
calleI Mamiskopahibc (Grcat redmailed
Bcar.) who came from far beyond the
Great Lake (Superior,) and who, on his
return home from hunting expedition,
had found his squaw and children the
prey OF band of cannibal Indians. En-
ragged at the sight, this hero fell upon
them singlc.handcd, and took the scalp,
rI of all except one. That one had fled
and, ever since, Mamiskogahjhc had
prowled through the woods, gnashing his
teeth and seeking him everywhere. Th'
missing Indian had shrouded himself il
, every sort Of disguise, "But all to no pur
pose" said the stranger savagely, "fo
Mamiskogahijhe slays every Indian h,
meets, so that that villain must fall be
Meath his knife at last
When had got over the novelty o
the STRANGERS excited manner and CLEAN