Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-03-25

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newcomer did, was to inquire fol
me. l answered at once to my
name; and he then Informed me
that Lyman Kemp could not live
and he wished to see me as soon as
possible.
"The doctor says he must die
said the messenger, "and The poor
fellow only asks for his life long
enough to see you"
Poor Lyman!" l murmured to
myself; 80 young-so hopeful
with so many friends and relatives
| in his far off home-and taken
down to die in a strange land"
told the man that l would set out
on my return as soon as possible
He ate his breakfast and then re-
sumed his journey, being bound fol-
Potawatomie border,
I settled up my bill, and then
went for my horse But bitter
disappointment awaited me,
found the animals foot swollen
badly, and it panied him so that he
could hardly step on it. Had the
road been good, l should have been
tempted to try him; but l knew
that in some places the mud would
be deep I went to the host and
asked him if he could lend or sell
me horse. He could do neither.
His only spare horse had been shot
/ the night before by the Wabash
yobber. There was not a horse to
be obtained in the whole place for
any amountof money I returned
to the stable and led my horse out,
but he could not walk with any de-
gree Of ease. l could not use him.
| was in de pair.
"Look'c," said mine host as be-
gan to despond, "can you manage
a canoe"
Eyes, very we'll" / told him.
"Then that's your best way
The current is strong this morning,
and without stroke Of the paddle
you could 90 along as fast as q
horse could wade through mud
You shall have one of my canoes
for just what it is worth, and you
can sell it at Logansport for SO
much"
| Icaught at the proposition in
stantly, for | saw that it was a good
one.
"If You don't shoot the rapids"
added the landlord, eye can easily
shoulder the canoe and tote itround.
'Tisn't far"
| found the boat to be a we'll
fashioned "dug out" large enough
to bear four men at ease, and | at
once paid the owner his price-ten
dollars-and then had my baggage
brought down,
| gave directions about the treat
ment of my horse, and then put of.
The current was very rapid-say 4
miles an hour-but not at all turbu-
lent, and l soon made up my mind
that it was far better than riding on
horse The banks along the riv-
er were thickly lined with large
trees, and ! saw quantities Of game,
and more than once | was tempted
to fire the contents of my pistols at
some of the varmints, but l had no
time to wait, so kept on. Only
one thing was wanting, and that
was a companion, and | was destin-
ed to find one soon enough.
1t was shortly after noon, and |
had just eaten my dinner Of bread
and cold meat, when came to an
abrupt bend on the right, and lit
tie further on | came to an abrupt
basin, where the current formed a
perfect whirlpool, | didnot notice
it until | found myselfgoing around
instead Of ahead piled my wood
en- paddle with all my might, and
soon succeeded in shooting out
from the rotary current; but in do
ing so I found myself on the low,
sandy shore. The effort fatigued
me not a little; and as I found my
self thus moored, ] resolved to rest
few minutes.
I had been in this position some
ten minutes when was startled by
hearing football close beside me,
and on looking up saw a man at
the side of me, He was young
looking person, not over two and
thirty, and seemed to be hunter.
He wore a wolf-skin skirt, lie, gins
made of leather, and cap made OF
bear skin.
(Which way are you bound
stranger?" he said, in pleasant
tone
Down The river to Logansport,'
I replied.
"Thats fortunate. I wish to 60
there myself" the stranger resumed.
"Whnt do you say to my taking your
second paddle and keeping you com
pany?"
II should like it," I told him
frankly.
$50 would l." added the hunter,
"and I have been waiting some
better mode of conveyance than
these worn out legs, through the
deep forest"
"Come on" said |, and as / spoke
he jumped into the canoe, and told
me he was ready when ! was, so We
pushed off and were soon clear OF
the whirlpool.
For an hour we conversed freely.
The stranger told me his name was
Adams, and his father lived in Co
! lumbiana. He was now out on a
mere hunting expedition with some
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