Monmouth weekly herald. [volume] (Freehold, N.J.) 1854-1860, 1859-03-24
familg Girclt.
THE HUNTERS REWRAD.

HE REWRAD.
In the Spring of 1890, two young men,
George Dill and Peter Brown, both carp
enters, launched a small boat on the Mon.
ongahela, and having supplied themselves
with an ample stock Of provisions and
ammunition, dropped down the river on
an exploring and hunting expedition
They proceeded unmoiested down the
Ohio several hundred miles below Wheel
ing, where they Landed on the Kentucky
side, and erected a cabin of poles, which
they covered with small branches and
moss. 1t was situated a short distance
from the rivers bank, near a good spring,
among tall and heavy timber. After
storing their elects, which consisted Of
cooking utensils, a few mechanical i'm
plements. several blankets and some wear
ing apparel, into the cabin, they should
cred their rifles, and, accompanied by
two trusty dogs, betook themselves to the
woods.
Being aware that this section Of country
was sometimes visited by bands of hostile
indians, either to kill game or attack
boats ascending the river, the young hun
ters kept a sharp look out, lest they
should be surprised by a superior force.
Game was abundant, and they had the
good fortune to kill several deer during
their first excursion. After three days
absence. they returned, laden with skins
and meat, to their hut, and found the
promises nndisturbed. BY ascending al
small knoll in the vicinity of their moss
covered cabin, they had a clear view of
The river, and could see any boats that
might be passing, while the high grass
and underbfush afforded them a hiding
place, where they could conceal them
selves completely from observation.
A month had passed, and neither friend
nor Toe had appeared, and the hunters
continued their excursions and penetra.
ted further into the interior, where thew
found a beautiful country with a rich
soil and fine streams. On one occasion
they had been about ten days. and on re.
turning to their cabin again, found every-
thing IN the condition they had left it
They now began to congratulate them.
selves upon their peaceful and undistnrb-
ed occupancy of the country. Their
dogs however appeared much excited.
and kept moving about for some time,
as II they scented something unusual. but
at length entered the cabin and composed
themselves. Dill supposed that some
wild animal had recently passed along
but Brown was strongly Impressed with
the belief that their habitation was dis
covered. Before starting on their next
trip, Brown SO arranged some Of the
articles in the cabin, without mentioning
1t to Dill, that the slightest touch would
change their position sufficiently to en-
able him to detect it. The weather had
now become warm, and after being out
several days, Brown proposed that they
should return to the cabin. Dill remon-
strated for some time but eventually as
scented, and they agreed to start on their
return trip early next morning, SO as to
avoid the heat of the day having some
eight or ten miles to travel.
About a quarter of a mile inland from
the cabin, in a small open space, our ad-
venturers had planted a few hills of corn
and squashes, which soon came up and
received no further attention. In return.
ing, that morning, they depressed a little
from their direct course for the pur-
pose of looking at their new truck
patch" Immediately after they arrived
there, their dogs exhibited u~nmistakeable
signs Of alarm. Brown observed it, and
immediately communicated his suspicious
to his comrade that all was not right
After some consultation, it was agreed
that Dill should conceal himself ia the
underbrush, and keep one Of the dogs
with him, while Brown would take the
other and advance toward the cabin.
and after accommodating the vicinity, he
motloned to Dill to come on, and the two.
with their rifles at a trail, and the dogs.
at her heels, approached the cabin to-
gether. In glancing oyer the effects of
the cabin, Brown discovered that some
one had been there during their absence.
which yindicated his suspicious and, in
his opinion accounted for the strange con
conduct, of the dogs, Oh the former as
we'll as on the present occasion. The
ground around the hut was examined for
footsteps, but non could be discovered
Dill then went to examine their boat,
which they had run into the mouth of a
creek a shortdistance below, and secured
there-it was safe, and had not been dis
turbed.
In the evening, measures were taken
for defence, should an attack be made
in the course of the night-but the han
tiers were not molested. At the dawn Of
day they seized their rifles and repaired
to the knoll in the rear of the cabin.
and there concealed themselves intend