, 1862-09-18
The Trapper's pauehter.

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reVerie into witch the mOnotony Of the scenery
had thrown him. He wiped It of, but as he
did so, another settled upon his brow and look.
Ing hastily around, he perceived the air filled
with cir ulating snow.i1akeE Aud even as be
gaZed they gathered themselves into heece-like
clouds, shrOULing the dim sunlight and whiten-
ing the brown pFairies.
Here was q dilemma and High Lorimer,
brave man as he was, quailed at the prospect be
fore him. He was travelling on what Is now
known as the military road,' between Fort Des
mOines and and Fort Dodge, but which in those
days, when Iowa was yet the home OF the red
man. was but little better than the wild trail Of
the savage. Easy to lose in broad daylight, how
fearful was the chance Of galloPing far away from
It in snow storm, with night coming rapidly
on and once lost on that ten mile prairie, how
difficult, how almost npossib!e, indeed, to re-
cover the pathl What be should do was puz;
cling question for the young soldier, and every
moment it rather grew worse. To go back was
madness, for he had not seen cabin since early
morn; to go forward was equally as bad, for he
had no means Of judging as to the distance be.
tween him and the next camping ground, while
to stay where he was, was certain death, for even
then he was white with snow, the cold, shrieking
winds freezing his limbs, while they drifted the
fakes In low, circling ridges all about bis path.
Suddenly he seemed to have decided, for putting
spurs to his horse he turned to the westward.
alt is q desperate effort, " said he, half to him.
self and half to his noble steed, "but 1t is the
only one that gives me any promise OF seeing
Tomorrow and death on the prairie, with a
winding sheet of snow, and the bowling of
wolves for dirgel Good Heavens, It is too ter
ribIel Let me see; the DesmOines cannot be
more than five miles of, and the timber must be
at least q mile and half broad there. Cheer
/ Al. -Lfg. L Ii -
rily TO the hOrse. "There is half mile beyond
Us now three more and We shall be safe" And
then he pleased himself with visions Of the camp
he would make il those dense old forests.
Faster and thicker came the snow w.Hakes.-
The last streak Of daylight vanished. Darkness
settled over everything. The cold grew intense.
rhe blasts swept over the broad prairie with
terrific fierceness, and whole drifts Of snow were
hurled before them. All sorts Of hideOus sounds
were borne on their wings, too, from the violent
shrieks Of the tempest to the yet more fearful
voices Of the blOodthirsty wolves Yet shll on
ward, with frantic speed, dashed the young man.
The three miles heightened, II seemed, into ten,
and yet no sheltering woods bEOks ths Wild
win ls
"Now, Heav, n have mercy on me |" exclaimed
he, with passionate emphasis, as the tagging Of
his horse warned him he had come far from the
prairie, and vas yet far from the river. MY
hours are numbered; I've lost my way. All
this long while do believe thai have been rid
ing in circle One more trial for my life ere
yield to the palsy Hhirh is benumbIng my very
heart" Heagain spurred the jAded steed, and
then suddenly halted.
alt was 4 northeast wind, remember, when
left the trail it is wild, tickle guids, but all
| can trust u" said he; aud he wheeled about
TIL the blast blew 6ercey into his eyes, and then
carefully turned till he Judged be was inclining
to the southwest. "Now, Charlie" said he,
"l resign myself to you. SO on, and quickly,
OF q corpse will be your burden"
The faithful creature seemed conscious OF the
trust, and gaIoped of with renewed HeetnesS
torpOr swept over the limbs, ~, over the very
heart and mind Of the young soldier, and he was
last falling into fearful Sleep when q cheerful
and prolonged neigh from his horse reused
within him the love Of life, and even as he gath
cred up bis falling strength, Charlie came to
dead pause. Hugh felt rather than saw that
the darkness was thicker Immediately before
him than elsewhere, and summoning every energy
he put forth bis hands.
"Blessed Heavenl" exclaimed he, "they are
logs; il must bS-it is some trapper's cabin"
And with new life infused into every vein be
eaped from his horse, and went cropping round
the black object IN the deep joy Of his half frozen
heart, when he suddenly came upon smooth
planks He Enocked with frantic eagerness, and
even as he did 80 Re heard from within the fierce
growing Of q COUPLE Of sentinel dogs. flushing
them with difficulty; the inmate unclOsed small
oOPhole in the dOOr, and cried With wild eAger-
neSs-~
"FathCr, is It yoG!"
Never did human voice sound 80 sweetly TO
Hugh, and though his lips were 80 frosted as to
be almost stiff, the fresh, beautiful hope that
mad dawned on his heart warmed them as with
the elixir Of life, and he answered, in his own
rich, mellow tones
mot fIthrr, but traveller who has lost his
way, and must die ere long in the storm, unless
he Rnds shelter"
The heavy bars we're withdrawn at once, and
In an instant the door was swung wide open
but the change from the blackness aud cold with.
out to the light and heat within was too sudden
for the exhausted limbs and benumbed senses Of
the young man. The brilliancy, the fire.flash
as il Sparkled upon his EnOW.white gartnents
daEzed his eyes with pain!lil glare, while the
excessive wa NTH made him faint and sick. He
reeled, and but for the sustaining arm of the
young girl who admitted him, he would have
fallen to the floor. She led him across the room
to corner, wherein was piled number q dressed
buffalo robes, and having unbelted the heavy
Mackinaw blanket which he had girded about
him when the storm commenced, she bade him
lie down. He Obeyed paSSively, and when she
returned from closing the door, she found him
unconscious Very ienderly did she remove the
large fur cap and collar, and withdraw the init.
tens from his hands and the mOccasIns and boots
from his feet She then gently baihed his white
brow and cheeks, chaied his chilled fingers, and
mOiStened his pallid lips. But III was long ere he
recovered, and when at last he opened bis eyes.
the effort to remember what had happened to
him seemed 50 iatiguing that he closed them at
Once and tnrnin0 Uvaarilp OUeR aunk infn aleaN
"This will never do, whispered the girl. He
is yet 20 cold and tired that Il he sleeps now he
will never awake. I must rouse him. Sir |"
saih sha and shn rnnilr Ennl hia had The