Lamoille newsdealer. [volume] (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1860-1877, 1865-01-04


second year after we came here" replied
Delcroix.
Have you not been often disturbed by
the Indians?"
"Well, can't say that we have not
been trouble considerable, but on the
whole We have got along very well. My
poor wife was woman of courage. but
she always had dread of redskins,
which at times made her uncomfortable
on account of Kathleen and John"
81 wonder how you have lived here so
long in safety" added Gravier. musingly.
"Ihe fact of the case is, stranger, | am
pretty we'll known in these parts, and the
redskins know me and my rife about as
we'll as they know anything. Perhaps
you are not aware that my name is
Delcroir
"Not the Delcroix so famous among
trappers, hunters, Indians, and backwoois-
men generality" exclaimed Gravier in as
tonisnlcnt.
"The same" replied Delcroix, coolly,
land when | first came here to live |
was particular to give out word to the
red skins, that | would let them alone, if
| they would me and mine, | never was
very celebrated for mixing pictures, but |
managed to draw some characters on a
piece Of birch bark, which the copper
skins seemed to understand very we'll |
dew cabin like this we are in, and a
tall Indian entering it, A little in the
background, drew a picture of myself
with my we'll known old rife on my shoul-
der, aiming at the intruder's head. am
no great artist but that picture was worth
great deal to me, in the long run, and
no doubt saved me much trouble"
81 have always heard that you were q
dead shot and much dreaded by the H.
dians," said Gravier, and stole side
glance at Kathleen.
alt is to that reputation probably, that
| owe my life. No other man would have
lived here so long, dare say. The fact
is, the redskins are dreadfully afraid Of
long TOM"
That's your rife" added Gravier. 81
have heard of it"
There it is, hanging upon those hook,
stranger. There is nothing extraordina
ry in the looks of it, but it has been
good friend to me, first and last"
Gravier eyed the piece with great dea
of curiosity. 1t was large, heavy barrel
with full length stock. calculated fol
real service, Long tom, as its name ndi
Gated, was of unusual length, and carried
a ball of large size.
: at is cast steel barrel" added Del
croix, 'and will last as long as | shall
III all human probability. Examine it
and you will find the letters NJ. B. upor
the lock. Whenever you find that i'm
print, you will find a good piece. The NJ
B never fails"
! Right - exclaimed Gravier. "Tha
| shooting stick in the corner bears tb,
J same imprint, and am not afraid t.
shoot with any man but Delcroix."
Thank you for the compliment, stran
ger If you have no objections, we vii
have shot all around tomorrow.
That is favor was going to ask,
said Gravier, with q smile, and looked
, again at Kathleen, sideways.
Il dare say more than one red-skin ha
! gone to his account by the agency of lonl
tom" he added
"It is too true" replied Delcroix. con
f little adventure which | had. and il
, which long tom acted part | will relate
1t was soon after came here. All hac
gone on well, not one of my red neigh
r bors had visited me. Kate-my wife
: cher name was Kathleen, but | alway
: called her Kate,) began to look Cheerful
and happy once more. and the childrel
i, were not afraid to play out of doors. aut
8 venture into the woods little; for John
: you must know, was quite boy then an,
knew how to shoot very we'll Well, on
| day while was ont on hunt, a Pawne
! women came to my cabin. Sh, was fine
: looking, and Kate partly tbrou b kindnes
. and through fear, treated her to the bes
in the honse Tho snua,v sec,nsd ,ra tof,,