The penny press. [volume] (Cincinnati [Ohio]) 1859-1860, 1860-02-15

killing time. The wine was good, and
the officer concluded that he would call
again to see the captain, as his business
was Of a private nature but when he
assembled to the deck he found himself a
voyager on the St Lawrence, and himself
in the custody of his intended prisoner
His loud storming and deep curses were
OF no avail, for he was compelled to visit
the Islond Of Anticosti, where he spent
the entire winter feasting upon the fat ol
tho land as well as Of the sea. In the
spring, with good supply Of wine and
the money for his claim, he took passage
in fishing vessel and returned, a"wiser
and better man." to Quebec and the
bosom of his disc0nsolate family.
Even the officers Of the Hudson's Bay
Company were occasionally called upon
to measure their skill with the wit of our
friend Gamache. He would barter with
the Indians on the Labrador coast, al
though he knew that the consequences Of
being captured might be serious. Busi
ness had been brisk with him, and when
on quiet summer afternoon he was about
leaving a little harbor on the forbid
den coast, be was discovered by on armed
vessel, which Immediately started in pur-
suit Night came, and Gamache found
refuge in the harbor of Mingan. When
the morning light appeared, his enemy
was in the ofing. Another chase ensued
long and tedious, and night again settled
upon the waters; and then twas that a
rude raft was made and launched, Gov
cred with few tar barrels, and the
bright flames which soon illumined the
the ocean, directly in the course Of the
frigate, convinced its officers that the run
away bad, conscience e-strickeD, gone tc
the bottom of the sea; but better fate
awaited him, for he spent the subsequent
night in his own bed on the Bay Of
Gamache. alfgH
On another occasion, when our hero
happened to be left entirely alone at his
house, he saw stalwart Indian disem-
bark from his canoe, and, with bottle in
his hand, march directly for the dwelling.
The movements Of the savage, his fond
ness for liquor, and his wel[known char
acter for fighting, portended trouble. As
he approached, Gamache planted himself
at the threshold of his castle, rifle in
haud, and exclaimed, zone step more, and
| will freP' The step was taken, but it
was the last, for bullet shattered the
thigh bone Of the savage. Thus reduced
to helplessness, he asked for quarter, and
was gratifed. Gamache carried him into
the house placed him ona bed, dootored
his wound, and took every care of him
until the damaged leg was restored; and
then, loading the Indian with provisions,
escorted him to his canoe, with this part
ing benediction: "Whennextyou hearthat
Gamache is alone, and attempt to give him
trouble, he will send bullet through
your head; and now begone" That les
son had its due effect upon the entire tribe
of Aanticosti Indians.
One more incident touching the Wizard
of Anticosti is to this effect. A young
pilot had been driven by stress of weather
into the Bay of Gamache. He had heard
much of the supposed freebooter, and
nothing but desperate state of things
would have induced him to seek refuge in
that particular bay. A short time after
he had dropped anchor, Gamache came
out in o small boat and invited the pilot
to his house. Most reluctantly was the
invitation accepted, but a manifestation
Of courage was deemed necessary. When
the guest entered the dwelling and saw
the walls of each room covered with
guns, pistols, hatchets, cutlasses, and har-
poons, his fears were excited to the highest
pitch. Gamache observed all this, but
only enjoyed the strangers CONSERVATION.
A smoking supper was spread upon the
table, but even the moose-lip and the bea-
ver,s tail were only enjoyed by one of the
party; the lip Of the other quiyered with
excitement and his thoughts were bent
upon the tale that would be told respect
Ing his fate. He made display of gai-
ETY.: When the evening was waxing late
he rose to depart, and with manifest ex-
preston of thankfulness offered his hand
to the host. "No, no! my FRIEND" said Gam
ache, "you must not leave here; the sea is
rough, and the night is cold and wet, and
you cannot leave the bay. I have COM
Portable bed up stairs, and tomorrow you
may leave, if still alive" The last words
sounded like knell, and up into the
chamber of death, as he supposed, as
cended the pilot. ''You may sleep, con-
tinued Gamache, as he handed his guest
a lamp, "as long and soundly as you can;
your bed is soft, for it is made of the
down of birds l myself have killed, for I
am good shot, and never miss my game"
For awhile the pilot guest found 1t impos-
sible to quiet his nerves or to obtain any
sleep, but nature finally gave way and he
fell into doze, which was anything but
refreshing. As the clock struck twelve
he was startled by noise, and on OPEN
ing his eyes there stood Gamache by the
bedside, with candle in one hand and
gun in the other. II see you are
awake" said he, "but why SO very paleP
You have heard undoubtedly, that I am
in the habit of numbering everybody who
tarries in my house, and" hanging the
gun upon two wooden pegs, ~ have come
to give you a settler for the night.
With this remark he displayed bottle
of brandy and tumbler, and after drink
ing the health Of the pilot handed him
the glass and continued 'There, take a
good pull, it will make you sleep soundly,
and if Gamache comes to attack YOU
during the night, you can defend yourself
with Che loaded gun hanging over your