The Shasta courier., 1866-01-27


IN ~ 't'omeat and at no ;srea.
which foamed and roared against the sharp
ridges Of ice with which the extraordinary
severe winter threatened to imprison it. two
white hunters walked, wrapped in their
blankets, along the stream and seemed to be
looking for place where they could cross to
the other side.
They were two powerful looking fellows,
as they walked on with their rifles on their
shoulders, and the elegantly fringed leg
gings, the closely fitting and carefully soled
moccassius, showed that they had assumed
the habits of the woods, and not of those
land hunters" who, especially at that day,
had begun traversing the western part of
| the State in order to find out the most favor
ably situated districts and purchase, or at
least lay claim to them.
"Bill," one them, at last said as he stop.
ped, g our searchings is Of no use. You see
| was right; the stream here is TOO wide for
us to find tree lying atross it, and if l
really went to work with my little tomahawk
and felled one of the nearest pine trees, it
would not be long enongh. Besides, a
heavy storm is gathering behind US, and |
think we should not do wrong were we to
make arrangements fer passing the night
better than the last. 1t will be bitterly
! coldn
It's very annoying, though" Bill an
swered his brother Grossly, " that we should
not reach the ravine over there tonight
for, we should find famous quarters
| in one of the numerous caves; and besides,
| | should have liked to look for bears-there
are sure to be some there. The water is too
cold for US to swim across, and the storm
will not be a trifling one; so then to work
here are old trees enough lying about, and a
bark roof can be easily made"
"There are almost TOO many trees lying
about" Tom replied, looking all around
him "and those still standing seem rotten
and ready to fall. | do not much like the
thought of camping here, for You know the
story father told about such place"
''Nonsense y Bill, said laughingly.-
''Can we find better camping place? The
little stream runs along at our feet; there's
plenty of wood close and handy-the young
trees will furnish famous poles-and the
bark there is first rate for roof
| Tom made no further objection; the spot
looked too inviting, and they were both soon
engaged in raising rude shelter for that
night at least, which could afford them a
refuge against the collecting storm Under
/
complished; and the next half hour found
both under their quickly erected roof,
watching the pieces Of meat broiling on the
| fire.
Its strange how cold it has suddenly
turned" Tom at length broke the silence
''Only look ? the water in the pan is frozen
quite hard, and the wind has chopped round
to the northeast. 1t blows contoundedly
sharp too"
Z" Let it blow" Bill yawned as ho wrap
ped himself closely in the folds Of his blan-
ket g am tired and want to sleep. Tom
lay a couple of boughs on the fire before
you turn in, and the one first awake to-
morrow must rouse the other"
Midnight was passed. and the fire had
nearly expired, but the two brothers slept
on, and the north wind that hovled over the
snow clad hills into the valley could rot dis
turb their slumbers. Heavy masses of
clouds had, however, collected together
| from various quarters; darkly threatning.
they brooded over the rustling forest, and
the stately trees shook and bowed their leaf
less branches as if in timid forebodings Of
the approaching storm. 4 bright flash OF
lightning suddenly burst from the black
heavens, and terrific peal Of thunder
almost instantaneously followed the mes
senger of destruction. One of the terrible
winter storms was impending, and the I'M
chained hurricane howled and tore through
the mountain ravines.
"Bill," cried Tom. springng up in hor-
ror Bill, get up! We dare not lie
down See how the old trees culver; and.
do you hear? there's one of them cracking"
Hallo!' Bill replied as he quickly
| threw off his blankets 9 has it caught us
Iii, Tom lay hold of the roof; I'm blessed
| if the confounded Northwestern WON'T take it
along with it."
His fear was not entirely unfounded for
at the same instant such furious blast
burst from the opposite valley that it half
uncovered their resting place in second,
and burning ashes and sparks were carried
far away in the gloom of night. A lightning
flash again burst forth from the clouds and
! the thunder deadened the sound of the howl
ing storm. Then it suddenly seemed as if
the whole earth was torn from its founda-
tlons; far, far away, on it came like the
crash of a thousand cannons then nearer
and nearer it roared, spreading wild and
terrible overthrow and narrowing desolation
around.
+" Heavens hurricane I" Tom cried,
starting up IN terror, for at the same mo-
ment the storm reached them. The giant
trunks, which has wthstood centuries, bow
cd like thin twigs; and with one blow, that
| struck terror to the hearts of the istners, the
whole forest was moved level with the earth
| by the force of the whirlwind
The hurricane ragged further and further
with frightful velocity for miles around it
overthrow the tall oaks, and hurled them
like reeds to the ground-for miles around
il marked its path with desolation and de-
stTuction. But silence. grave-like silence,
followed in its track, and rested over the
wldely-scattercd trees. Not a breath was
stirring; and the calmness of earth after
this horrifyiDg outbreak of the elements.
affected the poor heart of a mortal with a
more asonizing shudder than it had felt even
in tle most terrible fury Of the storm.
Bill had miraculously escaped without
even the slightest injury. Clinging tightly
| :. q. d =