Clarksville chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1857-1865, 1858-03-05

and eff l aint fool, he's arter that ga
what's pris'ner to the red skins. Nov
Joe Swillivin says, the Captain Of this here
company is arter her, too, but its to carry
her off into Texas and make her his wife
'thout the aid ofthe church. Now, stran.
ger, that ar young man mustn't be hurt,
and the gal mustn't be tuck from him
but how is it to be did-that's the
question:"
81 had guessed the most of what you tell
me, sir" said the Hermit; sand agree with
you, that the young man must be saved,
and the girl too. And if you are in earn
est my friend, we can save them, ! think.
But who are these men?'
"Never you mind bout that, Mister.
You know what they're up to, and that's a
nuff fur you to know jist now. And as 1
said afore-what's to be did?"
"Why, sir, if you will help me to do one
thing, will do all the balance, and you
need run no risk of offending your friends" F."
"Name it, stranger, and eff man kin do
it, Mike Sloan will, ur never drink mean
Ticker agin."
"We are the guides, Mr.. Sloan and
when it grows dark, we must leave the
trail and conduct the party so far to the
right, as not to come upon the young man,
or alarm the Indians. And when we are
within mile or so of the spot where be-
lieve the savages have camped for the night,
we must halt, under the pretext that we
can go no farther until the moon rises,
which will be sometime after midnight.
This is all ask ofyou."
81 see inter yer game, stranger, and it's
burned cute one, and kin be easily play
ed out. Mikes no great shakes at plan
min, but ater the plans laid he kin see
as fur into it as the man what laid it. And
now that the bis'ness is understood atween
us-what moughtbe your name, Stranger
"For reasons which do not wish to give
you just now, Mr.. Sloan, have no name" a."
"Go, no name! Then how in thunder is
a body to call you, eff we gifts tangled up
in the dark, and wants to git together
agin?"
"Why, you see, Mike, I'll just call you,
and that will do just as we'll as if you were
to call me-"
"Neyer thought Of that" said Mike,
scratching his fur cap. "Howso' never, l
don't see how man kin git along thout a
name. And thars that chap on ahead
he's got no name nuther, and when axed
him fur it, said it war secret twixt him
and me. Now, I've got foolish way NV
talkin to myself when thar's no sensibler
man to talk too-consekently blabs out
my name afore l know it-cant help il
nomore'na a fool can help shown his natur
Bin long in these parts, stranger?"
"Long enough, Mike, to know that the
savages are treacherous, and the whites
not whit better-with a rare exception
here aud there"
eight, thar, old chap; and 1 could tel
Nv doins that I'D s'tonish you. I dom
know which is the wust, the red ur the
white skins; but reckin' it must be the
whites, seein as how they ought to know
better nor to act, as they do,-Never feel
like ling yer tongue, stranger, when you
talk?" And Mike pulled out his flask
but the Hermit declined sharing its con
tents" Well, stranger" Mike resumed
II don't begrudge the Ticker; but sense you
consult yer feelins, we're both content-sc
? here's to yer I've done some monstroul
mean things, sir, and Ticker sorter dra ps
curtin twixt me and them, and Eft wan
for that, think should quit the durneC
stuff, and try to be a better man"
Don't you think, Mike, few gooG
deeds would drop thicker curtain between
you and the past, than that poison which
serves to make you worse?"
''No use in preaching, strangerl Eff
oman jist from the hands of the Creator
wur no match fur the devil, it's no use flu
Mike Sloan to show fight asin him. He
too much fur me, and gin in. Look a
that ar Captn of this bandl He wur
Captin in the fort, with good pay; but tn
; devil druv him from his post, and now SCI
what he is a comm tool"
"Well, Mike, you are about to do goo,
deed tonight, and whom it is done, We will
speak further on this subject. And if yOl
will permit me, perhaps can point out
t way of life that may be agreeable to you
5 and lead you back to the point at whicl
1 you first diverged from the path of recti
: tude, And speaking of diverging, now i