The River Falls journal. (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1857-1861, 1858-04-14

| the messenger, !" and the poor fellow now
only asks for life long enough to see you. )"
"Poor LYMAN murmured to my
SELF $50 young-so hopefal-with so
many friends and fond relatives in his far
off home-and taken down to die in q
strange landp' 4ssyD IS
told the man would set out on my
return as soon as possible. He ate some
breakfast, and then resumed his journey,
being bound as far up as the Pottawato-
mic border
I settled my bill, and then sent for my
horse, but bitter disappointment awaited
me. | found the animals foot swollen
very badly, and it panied him so that he
could hardly step on it. Had the road
been good should have been tempted to
try him, but l knew that in some places
the mud would be deep. l went to tho
host, and asked him if he could lend or
| sell me horse. He could do neither.
His only horse had beeu shot the night
before by the Wabash robber. There
was not horse in the place to be obtain
ed for any amount Of money. | returned
to the stable and led my horse out, but
he could not even walk with any degree
of ease. ] could not use him. l was in
despair.
+" Locke" said mine host, as I began
to despond, "cant you manage q canoe?"
eyes, very woll,'' told him.
".Then that's your best way. The
current is strong this morning, and with
out stroke of the paddle 'twould take
you along as fast as horse could wade
through the mud. You shall have one of
my canoes for just what it is worth, and
ye can sell it at Loganport for as much"
| caught the proposition instantly, for
saw that it Was good one.
"If yo daren't shoot the RAJ lis added
The landlord, aye can easily shoulder the
canoe aid pack it round. 'Tisn't far"
| found the boat to be welI-fashioned
g dugout," larse enough to bear four men
with ease, and at once paid the owner
his price Gen dollars, ana then had my
luggage brought down. | gave directions
about the treatment of my horse. and then
put off. The current was quite rapid
say four or five miles an hour-but not
at all turbulent, and ] soou made up my
mind that it was far better than ri ling on
horseback. The banks of the river were
thicklv lined with large trees, and saw
game in lenty, and more than once |
was tempted to fire the contents of my
pistols at some Of the boidest "varmints,"
but | had no time to waste, SO | kept on.
Only on: thing seemed wanting, and that
was q companion; but | was destined to
find one soon enough.
1t was shortly after noon, and had
just eaten my dinner of bread and cold
meat, when | came to q place where the
river made an abrupt bend to the right,
and a Little fuFthcr on came to an abrupt
basin where the current formed perfect
whirlpool. | dill not notice it until my
canoe got into it, and | found myself
going round instead of going ahead. |
lied my wood-paddle with all my power,
and soon succeeded in shooting out from
the current, but iii doing SO I ran myself
upon the low, sandy shore. The effort
had fatigued me not a little, and as |
found myself thus suddenly moored, |
resolved to rest few minutes.
[ had been in this position some ten
minutes when l was startled by hearing
football close by me, and on looking up
I saw man at the side Of my boat. He
was a young looking person, not over two
and thirty, and seemed to be hunter.
He wore wolf-skin shirt, leggins of red
leather and cap of bear-skin.
(which way are you bound, stranger :"
he asked, in pleasing tone.
"Down river, to Loganport," | replied.
'eThat's fortunate. l wish to go there
myself" the stranger resumed. what
say you to my taking your second pad
die, and keeping you company
81 should like it" told him frankly.
81 have been wanting company
$50 have l." added the hunter. 'And
Eve been wanting some better mode of
conveyance than these worn out legs
through the deep forest sa
"Corne on | said, and as spoke he
leaped into the canoe, and having deposi-
ted his rifle in the bow, he took one of the
paddles, and told me he was ready when
was. So we pushed of, and were soon
clear Of the whirlpool.
For an hour we consersed freely. Tbs
stranger told me his name was Adams,
.na that his father lived in Colai7aus,---