The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1867-01-11

ASi poN 'ottViiy viz ol, llidil liilu sur
, fcred from rheumatism, and the boy, in
J order to provide for him, had joined q
J logging camp.
The men had just returned from q
hunting excursion, which had lasted
three days, and in which they had been
highly successful, having brought home
upon their sleds several moose, besides
smaller game.
ByJupiter!" exclaimed Paul Carter
a man whose age ranged somewhere be-
tween thirty and forty, for those men
wear so well that it is not easy to Judge;
l"By Jupiter, Crawford, that moose's an
tiers would have done for you if it ha d
not been for Sans hatchet."
"Hm ~ replied the man addressed,
$50 theymight if had been fool enough
to let them"
"For shame, Crawford ~ returned
the first speaker, "you dropped your
knife when the moose turned, and it
lay three yards behind you. You'd not
have been living man tonight if Sam
hadn't rushed in when he plunged down
upon you, and a lucky thing it was,
with nothing in his hand but that
hatchet."
Sockabason turned his eyes upon the
boy at his side, but without making tho
extra effort of turning his head, and
with his pipe held between his teeth,
grunted out satisfactory "Ughw
Kitty Hoffman dropped her knitting
upon her lap, and looked upon him, as
woman always does upon man who
has done heroic action.
Every glance, save that of James
Crawford, was turned upon him with
appreciation.
Crawford looked exceedingly sulky,
at which his host seemed annoyed.
WHATS the use, friends, he eXcaim-
cd, "of all this palaver? The moose is
ours, and his beef will taste all the
same whether struck down with knife
or hatchet."
That attempt to produce harmony was
assisted by Jimmy Spear, who, from an
old chest in the corner, produced viol,
upon which he scraped out number of
lively jigs and reels. They put the COM
pany in excellent spirits, who soon after
dispersed, some to their homes in the
vicinity, and the remainder to beds in
Peter IIoflman's house.
| Crawford was one who remained. He
was owner of the mill, which was 4 po-
sition Of importance, and that, combin-
ed with other reasons, gave him great
influence with Peter Hoffman. The
latter had an unfortunate taste for strong
drink, which was not easy to supply,
the Maine law being then in operation,
and it was shrewdly suspected by many
that Crawford, who went frequently
down the river, managed to furnish him
with the forbidden article.
Crawford had endeavored to play the
agreeable to Kitty, but had been con-
stantly rcpulsed by her, to the great dis
satisfaction of her father.
Spring at length arrived. The ice had
taken its departure from the rivers and
streams. The axe was no longer heard
resounding through the forest, and the
logs which had been deposited by the
waters edge wore tloated by the Spring
rains, and bound together in RATS, to be
transported in that form to the market
towns, some hundred and fifty miles
below. The logging camps were broken
up and some of their crews gone down
river to settle with the owners, while
others remained to "drive the logs"
One balmy morning Kitty Hoffman
had been in the wood gathering the
fragrant May-tlower and scarlet check
erberries, which are so beautiful amid
their brown leaves, and, after taking
them home to smile in glasses on the
mantel, again went out, and that time
to the water. christening a batteau,
she entered it, and after gliding round
the pretty shores of the stream, pushed
out into the river. The current, swol-
len by melting SHOWS and Spring rains,
was swift and strong, and bore the little
bark rapidly along without effort of her
own.
The ride over the rushing water was
so exciting that she laughed and sang,
and wondered that any one could forego
| the delights of such a morning, and sit
shrouded within four walls-how much
| time passed thus she could not tell when
call proceeded from the shore, pro-
longed Who-c-o," the voice resting
upon the vowel notes in a rich musical
swell. She swept the shore with her
glance, but no one was visible; the call
was repeated, when, placing her hand
to her mouth, she gave an answering
one. Then she perceived, gliding in
and out among the trees, figure moV-
ing rapidly up the shore. AS he drew
nearer she perceived that he was max
| ing violent gestures, evidently directed
toward herself. Supposing that he wish
shore, she caught up the paddle in order
to do so, when, to her alarm she perceiv-
ed that the current was much stronger
than at the mouth of the stream, and
she had no control over her little bark.
In vain she exerted all her strength
! to direct it toward the shOre-onward
more and more rapidly it was swept,
and soon the fearful sound of the rapids
fell upon her ear. She was approaching
SolmOn Rips, and had been borne so
swiftly along rs to be unconscious of
| the distance which She had made.
The person upon the shore, whom she
] ibn, rannrniv,I ~ indian, Gam boJ ,,,