The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1859-09-14
Srlrrte1 Stun.
From the New York Wavcrly.
Walking the Plank.
BY WM EARLE BINDER.

The history Of the vest is one long
record OF bloody and a,rocious deeds
Not the least in the dark aud inlermina.
b.. catalogue is the little event We are
bout to lay before our kind readers We
heard tho story from the lips Of one who
prutrSsel-and we have 40 good reason
to doubt his word--ro have PLAYED u
prominent part in the thrilling occurrence
and we give 1t to the reader just rs We
have heard II.
Some years ago. says the narrator. n
trIend and myself agreed together to take
"A tramp, hunter f,shion, through the
great WILDERNESS OF the Northwest. uav.
IN provided ourselves with what things
"" thought actually necessary and moth.
ing more, we started upon our perilous
J""rmey for that it was perilous we were
fI,lv aware, and every reader will admit.
After cncnuuIering ennumerable hard.
shrp> and MANY dangers, We found our
selves III the vi le,t kind OF region,
'".my miles dsaLt from The haunls Of
civ ~ ion Are Idy wc had passed
,hr" iGh enough To have discouraged mos,
rh"od and not easily put out or righten
ed. This was particularly the case with
nav c"mptnon, whose name WAS ANDY
HUI.
Both Of us were perfectly healthy, rs
strong ~ Iron and considerable experien
c. d III the use Of such ARTICLES as rifles,
slols and bowie knives. In all these
we could hold ou- own with the bes, ;
had IT been otherwise We never should
have lived to reach the point at which
we finally arrived.
'Just about dusk one evening in the
latter part Of July, after hard days
tramp, We halted for the night. A dark
er, deeper, lorelier solitude than that
which surrounle us, it would be hard 10
fm"gine. Silently we built little fire
ana cooked cur supper and silently we
ute It Worn out and for the time being
slightly dispirited, we were in no humor
70. conversation.
'Por some time we sat by our camp fire
without uttering single word and vi.
most withoui moving. ! was thinking
of home and absent friends. and il is on.
" reasonable to think that Huff WAS sim
f.art occupied.
After he lapse OF some lime, our fire
burnt low and arose TO replenisl il. The
bark Of wolf startled me, aud invol
unfairly addressed my companion.
llutf did not answer me, however, but,
without noticing the circumstances, !
threw quantity Of fagots On the fire and
again addressed him.
Take few hours rest, Andy. and I'll
keep watch said !, and after that you
can do the same by me-
Still got no answer and then began
10 notice my companions unusual tscitur.
nifty.
Aoyihing the matter, Andyf said |,
regarding him closely.
No answer again.
That's little strange I muttered,
rnoving over toward my companion.
uuH was sittiag iscing the fire, with
his head bent down upon his knees.
shook him without srousing him. Final.
Iy raised his head, and at once became
conscious that he was soundly, deeply
asleep.
va WINCH nau
few moments oppressed me, 4 left Huff
10 enjoy his nap, and settled myself down
as comfortably as the circumstances woaA
permit.
Iwas dreadful drowsy, aud despite our
perilous situation, despite every effort i
made to the contrary could not entirely
resist the overpowering influence o: sleep.
Occasionally started up suddenly, aud
found that had been doing. The last
time ! was aroused ] WAS awoke by the
bark Of wolC Jumping to my feet,
beheld the fierce animal not a dozen pa
ces distant, his ravenous eyes glaripg up
on me from the darkness. Selling up a
burning brand, dung Il a, the tapacious
monster with all my strength. Il struck
linn full in the face. and with terrible