Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-03-19
By ". D. WALLACE.
THE SNOW EXPRESS.

the Green Snake River on the north side of
Lake Huron. This now dilapidated stronghold
was originally erected on n sandy point sire tch-
ing out into the lake, in the days of the Indian
wars, and could fancy its slender garrison of
sharp-shooters watching from their loop-hoI
the clustering forms of their Indian foes as they
stole along the borders Of the forest. The bull
let holes that riddled its massive walls and it's
charred and blackened surface, suggested grim
conjectures respecting its brave defenders who
filed the graves around the fort
Bat now there were no Indians to employ the
leisure Of the unfortunate company of regular
troops, that grumbled way their days within
the humble fortifcatien that now surrounded
the old blOckhOuse. Our only ene,nies were
bears and foxes which skulked about the woods,
and the only Indians who sought admission to
the post were those from little village about
seven miles up the Green Snake River, where
peacesble party of Ojbbeways had taken up
their abode
In this dot in the wilderness and two brother
officers lived the lives of anchorites only less
.cOntented, and by no means forgetting the
world by which we seemed very nearly forgot
ten. Not but what letters reached US some
tImes-during the summer by an occasional
schooner coming up along the lakes 1t was
'durang the other half of the year when the
lakes were bound by the universal fetter, ice
that We lived In unblissful ignorance. Twice
however, during each long, long winter, great
excitement prevailed at BlOckh0use Point 1t
was when Indians travelling over snow on snow
shoe1, were expected to arrive with the lex
nress.' Day after day we used to walk for
miles hoping to meet our bronzed Mercuries
and when at length they came in sight with
what trembling heart we returned to the post
to await the opening of their sealed wallets by
the proper authority, in perfect ignorance Of
what tidings - the mal'' might contain for US
On one occasion the news / got was sad
Nv Haa frta To hat riaJ by
court martial on a serious charge. He had not
written 10 mo himself, but mutual friend in
formed me that before another month was rast
LOwthers fate would be sealed, and this
months delay had only occurred in conse-
queuce Of an important witness being required
from the lower province. L sa~ at once that it
was In my power to disprcre the gravest part
of the charge, although Lowther did not know
1t. Yet, before the spring should come and the
lakes he open to enable me to reach headquar-
tiers, the trial would be over, and my friend in
all probability would be condemned
The dreadful thought that be might be sac
Eihced for the want of my testimony haunted
Ene. could not sleep that night. Many plans
disturbed my mind. Could not 1 write my
statement, and send it by an Indian express
Undoubtedly l could. But when came to
count found it would not arrive i'm time, un-
less some one was ever at hand to hurry the
messenger oa. Why should not be of the ex-
piOSS party was dcJlVe anu
accustomed TO eXertiOn. Surely what Indians
could do could. There not an hour to
be lost, At daylight obtained leave from my
commanding officer a mere matter of form
tor both he and my junior heartily rejoiced at
the prospect of LOwther's scquittal. Two In
dians were quickly obtained, and everything
was made ready for departure in few hours
We were strange looking party Our OBJ
ject being speed, each carried his own trap, and
rs few of them possible. l was clad in a
beaver coat and fur cap. My kit consisted
of blanket, bearskin and wallet to hold
provisions. The two Indians, who were broth
ers, were similarly equipped, with rifles ready
loaded for any game that might present itself,
and snOw-shoes on our feet, We set out.
In case we succeeded in getting TO headquar-
ters at the time appointed, a gratuity had been
promised TO the Indians, which | resolved to
give whether won or not,) and they unmurmur-
iRgly pressed on, nearly the whole day, on
their cumberous snow-shoes, scarcely giving
themselves time to cook the game We killed;
then shouldering their packs and starting off
again. They endcavOred to beguile the weari-
ness OF the way by lively sallies, at which they
laughed till the silent woods rang with their
merriment. ChingoOs, the ermine) the younger
brother. was the most joyous as well as the
most active Of US all, and however wearied he
might De when we stopped for the night, be
laughed and jested as he cut with his mahawk
the evergreens which were to form our not un-
comfortable shelter, and be strewn beneath the
bearskins on which We slept Shegashie, (the
cray ash) was our cook and firemaker; and the
rapid way In which he heaped on scores of dry
branches, and raised blazing pile above the
snow, always excited my admiration.
when We had accomplished nearly half Of
our journey, We had not overstepped the time
We allowed ourselves; but the continuous exer-
ton was beginning to effect our limbs and the
perpetual glare of the sun on the snow iniamed
our eyes. This We found by far the greater
hardship of the two. l shall never forget the
joy We felt one morning, when the sun remain.
ed hidden beneath heavy cloud banks in the
east. Almost forgetting our swollen limbs in
the gladness of being delivered from his daz-
zling rays, We travelled merrily on through
leaiess forests of gigantic trees, through tracts
OF smaller trees, thickly studded with the larch.
the spruce and the fir, whose dark foliage
gioomed almost black against the stainless
snow through woods tangled with wild vines,
and fragrant with juniper bushes, until at
length We reached the shores of small frozen
lake.
Once more we rejoiced that the day was dim.
tor In crossing lakes and rivers we always suf-
fered most, being deprived of the network of
branches which yielded US a shade sometimes
almost impenetrable. But our exultation was
short lived. An exclamation Of Disappointment
burst from the Indians, and looking up saw a
few large snow fakes through the air
Let Us put OIL our snow shoes, said She
gashie, - we must halt here
Why ?"
Because the snow will blind our eye, to the
path"
The path, however, was an Indian figure of
speech We were travelling through an un-
,rodden wilderness, guided from point to point
o. rock or bank, or quantity formed tree. Tu
tnese objects were wildly in the Indians Iecol-
iecuons They had travelled the road twice
DeTOre. Tpli
mains imprinted in his memory forever.
AT Shegashie's announcement l looked over
tbs lake longinsly. 1 could not bear to lose
an nour, Tar less day, and said that perhaps
we might get across before the violence of the
snow storm came on. My guides shook their
heads However, alter time they agreed to
make the attempt.
Accordingly off we started across the lake.
the snow flakes floating and playing lazily
around u, and more than once we cOngratu.
lated ourselves that their appearance had not
deferred us- But when we had got half way
L.. L.