The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-04-12
BLOOMSBURG PA, FRIDAY APRIL 12. 1867.

master, than from any excess of indus
| try or complaisance. His demeanor
was dogged in the extreme, and "dat
duced bug" were the sole words which
escaped his lips during the journey. For
my own part, had charge of couple
of dark lanterns, while Legrand con-
tented himself with the scdrdbGuS, which
he carried attached to the end of a bit
of whip-cord; twirling it to and fro,
with the air of a conjuror, as he went.
When l observed this last, plain evil
dence of my friends alteration of mind,
l could scarcely refrain from tears. I
thought it best, however, to humor his
fancy, at least for the present, or until
/ could adopt some more energetic mea-
sures with chance of success. In the
meantime endeavored, but all in vain,
to sound him in regard to the object of
the expedition. Having succeeded in
inducing me to accompany him, he
seemed unwilling to hold conversation
upon any topic of minor importance,
and to all my questions vOuchsafed no
other reply than tive shall see!"
We crossed the creek at the head of
the island by means of skiff, and, as
cending the high grounds on the shore
of the main land, proceeded in north
westerly direction, through tract of
country excessively wild and desolate,
where no trace of human footsteps was
to be seen. Legrand led the way with
decision: pausing only for an instant,
here and there, toconsult what appeared
to be certain landmarks of his own con-
trivance upon former occasion.
In this manner we .journeyed for about
two hours, and the sun was just setting
when we entered a region infinitely
more dreary than any yet seen. 1t was
a species of table land, near the summit
of an almost inaccessible hill, densely
wooded from base to pinnacle, and in
terspersed with huge crags that appeared
to lie loosely upon the soil, and in ma
ny cases were prevented from precipi-
tating themselves into the valleys below
merely by the support of the trees
against which they reclined. Deep ra-
vines, in various directions, gave an
air of still sterner solemnity to the
scene.
The natural platform to which he
clambered was thickly overgrown with
brambles, through which we soon dis
covered that it would have been impos-
sible to force our way but for the scythe ;
and Jupiter, by direction of his master,
proceeded to clear for us a path to the
foot of an enormously tall tulip-tree,
which stood, with some eight or ten
oaks, upon the level, and far surpassed
them all, and all the other trees which
/ had then ever seen, in the beauty of
its foliage and form, in the wide spread
of its branches, and in the general ma
Ijesty of its appearance. When we
reached this tree I.egrand, turned to
Jupiter, and asked him if he thought he
could climb it. The old man seemed
a little staggered by the question, and
for some moments made no reply. AT
length he approached the huge trunk
walked slowly around it, and examined
it with minute attention. When he
completed his scrutiny, he merely said
"Yes, massa' Jup climb any tree he
eber see in he life."
"Then up with you as soon as posi-
BILE, for it will soon be too dark to see
what you are about"
"How far mus go up, NASSAU" In
quired Jupiter.
"Get up the main trunk first, and
then l will tell you which way to &C
and here-stop! take this beetle with
YOU"
"De bug Massa Wilde goole bugn
cried the negro, drawing back in dis
may-"what for mus tote de bug way
up de tree ?-golly if l dov
"If you are afraid, Jup, a great big
negro like you, to take hold of II harm
less little dead beetle, why you can car
ry it up by the string-but, if you dC
not take it up with you some way,
shall be under the necessity of breaking
your head with this shovel"
TO DE CONTINUED.