Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-01
rEw~wwS 90, 90 Per Year.
TERMS q, so In Advance.

mother-sne cared for me when was small,
and has not forgotten me yet. When was in
San Francisco last, had this miniature taken,
which l am sure she will be glad to possess.
had it taken for that very purpose. You can
leave it at No. II Chambers Street, New York,
where it will be sure to find herr
Leon took the miniature, and placed it in his
pocket in silence.
" | have not always been what yOu have
known me. In my younger days, you would
have scorned to associate with one 80 vile. O,
I have been an ungrateful miserable wretch
Many time have | been home to my poor
mother, 50 besotted and beastly that none but a
mother could recognize in my british appear
ance, the object of love and solictude"
There is one besides mother, Harry"
said Leon, remembering his own mothers deVo-
tion to his father, who can overlook and for
give all things--A WIFE
"he knows what was then," continued
Harry, not needing the interruption; "you
can tell her, if you are spared to see her, what
tell her how far have succeeded in it. 1t will
comfort her. But enough Leon, have
troubled you forgive me-"
Not in the least, assure you,-don't It think
So See we are coming out of the woods"
Good l shall like the open country bet
ter. Besides, am weary with long riding"
"We camp just in the opening, l believe"
said Leon
"On account of frewood--so | understand
it. Let'sgallop up"
They whipped up, and overlook their com.
panions just as they were emerging from the
forest, and the whole band rode galy out into
the open prairie.
TO the right, at distance, stretched a range
of high mountains, parallel with their course.
TO the lett, and in front, there was no bound
visible but the blue sky. A vast, level plain
was before and around them, differing in many
respects from the prairies Of Illinois, and yet
sufficiently like to be called by the same name.
Much OF the plain before them was once cover
ed with timber, which had been cleared, by the
great proprietors, for grazing cattle, and in
this respect it differed from the prairies of the
West.
"Jesu Ralph, what's that?" exclaimed
the leader, just as they were fairly out of the
woods.
Pandemonum, should think" answered
Ralph.
A wolf muster" said another.
" But why don't they how'll"
The noise alluded to, was the sound of heavy
tramping in the woods around them, at some
distance, but coming louder and nearer.
"Nary wolf thar, Cap'n," said an old hun
tor who chanced to be along. "Taint got no
sich sound. I've ben in these diggins, off and
on, moren twenty-five years, and if them aint
InjunS, them
d" Indians !" exclaimed the leader.
" IndiGas?" exclaimed half dozen in
chorus.
"Injuns, let me tell YER repeated the old
hunter Thems nothin' else, no how. Jest.
like them cuss' Il red devils to go scentin round
and ketch us all here jest for the fun O. bag
gin our gold, and scrapin off our scalps, Old
Nate good for one more pesky red skin, emmy
how"
:" If they are Indians said Ralph, "as
believe they are, it is time for action "
80 l think" said a tall, slim individual,
who was known and designated by the singu
lar cognomon of Theodore Doke, " If they
are Indians, we must run
Run D." said the Captain.
"Why, sartin, Cap'n," put in Nathan
4" Don't yer see we don't stan the ninety-nine
hundredth part of chance here? Zounds
see, the cussd pickters ar surroundin' u.s."
He pointed off to the left, where, sure
enough, gathering in, in a circle, was what ap-
peared to be the left wing of large body of
painted savages!
"And yondsr, too said Nathan, pointing
off to where the right wing was slowly stretch
ing along just outside of the distant forest
At the same moment the most hideous whoops,
and the most terrible yels and cries echoed
along their entire line, filing with terror the
hearts of that weary band
To run was the only alternative. The van
guard of both wings OF the savages were just
about on a line with where they stood The
Indians were evidently mounted on fresh
horses, and thirsting for blood themselves
while the little band of miners were not only