American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-10-24

was tall, rather full of frame, with long,
black, matted hair, and an habitnal seowl
upon his features, that made his counte-
nance unprepossessing in the extreme.
Upon coming ap to the campfire he
halted With military abruptness; and, be-
fore returning the salutation, looked di-
reetly into the countcnanees Of those be-
fore him. Ii did not escape the notice of
the young man that the scowl upon the
| old iunter,s. face increased, until it be-
came positively fearful when he looked
upon himself.
Have you been to supper q inquired
the young man. ee
'No; was the curt reply.
Will you take some of our meat 9
Yes.'
lilo was invited to help himself, and he
did SO with gusto that showed he was
not wanting in appetite, il he was in. man
ners. lie asked no questions, and spoke
no words, except in reply to direct obser-
vations. The young man saw something
In the hunter, despite his savage manner
and forbiddmg appearance, that attracted
bin toward him, and he resolved to draw
him out if possible
Do you come from the FOUNTAINS 2!
he asked.
sYes.'
'On your way to the States 2
NO t.
Are you going back again q
sYes.'
sDo you hunt alone q
sYes.' tf ptte at
'IIuw do you like it:'
Umph =
why do you hunt alone 2
The old hunter paused in his eating,
and tnrned his dark eye full upon tie
young man in manner tEat was awful.
He had evidently had enough of this i'm
pudence, aud his interlocutUr concluded it
was best not to draw him out any fur
thcr Just now.
Ii The old hunter had been an object of
curiosity to the young man, the position
OF sfFirs was uow reversed The former
appeared to discover something in the
latter that excited his curiosity, and gazed
at him as if he would penetrate his very
soul.
Whatever were the thoughts of the old
man, he contented himself merely in look
ing, and uttered neither question nor u
word, unless directly addressed.
1t was growing dark, when Scar Check
again remarked:
III VIC keep on at this rate We shall have
them all here before morning. Yonder
comes the fourth man.
Tie person alluded to was upon a mule
and came steadily aud frarlessly forward,
as if no such hing as fear ever entered
his h al.
look ye for red SKINS he said, as he
rode by, and nodded good d-naturedly to
them all.
sWhere from!' inquired Scar Cheek.
From the Ksaw. Kansas
The newcomer was about fifty years of
age, and lis graS hair contrasted strangely
with has dark, bronzcd features, upon
which care and misfortune were strongly
stamped. lie was ouly half clad in the
miserable skins he wore, YET there was
ook OF good nature aud irankness about
him that would have impressed any one
the first time he saw him.
sLooks rather comfortable hcre,' he OBJ
served, as he dismounted from isInule
aud came forward. 'Sartin you was red
skins when FIRST set eyes on you, and II
took me some time to find different
We have seen no Indians today re-
piled the young man.
THAT'S no reason to thiuk they amt
about. | seed signs this morning, but
none since | come IN these parts
!. DO you hunt ,Dith them !" inquired the
newcomer, in y low meaning tone, care
full that be sould be overheard by no one.
sNo; have never been with them un-
til o-day.'
Good, was the comment upon This.
While this fragmentary conversation
was going on, the trapper was engaged in
uusaddling his mule and preparing for the
nights rest. lie showed partiality for
the young man, and the latter, since bis
adyent among them, had felt drawn tow
ard him, aud experienced a strong repug-
nance toward Scar Cheek and the scowl-
ing hunter.
The dllapidated trapper, after unsad-
ding his mule, carefully staked him; aud,
taking seat by the fire, produced short,
black pipe, aud began smoking it. Be-
fore doing so, he carefully examined the
primpg Of bis rife, shaking the powder
into The pan, aud adding a few more graius
to it. Then placing a thin, dry skin over
it to keep out the damp, be shut the pan.
The group watched him, but he paid
little Of no heed to them, while Scar Cheek
seemed more interested than the others,
aud manifested a strange uneasiness. lie
examined his own rifle, aad loosened the
pistols at his belt as though they incom-
moded him.
The young man and the hunter with
the scowi looked at each other, but said
nothing. &
Now that they were all seated around
the fire, the four manifested a disposition
to engage in conversation. An observer
of human nature, however, would have
detected that, upon the part of every one,
except the yonng man, this was entirely
forced.
It1was as il all three were suspicious
of each other, and took this method of
quieting the Others suspicious. 1t was