The weekly North-Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 186?-1869, 1869-07-14
SELECTED STORY.
A Riyer Adventure.

4
and partly to accommodate one VINO had
ever been noble friend tn me, and WHO had
purchased great deal of government land.
At Davenport he was taken sick, and after
watching with him Il week, in hopes that he
would soon recover, l found that he had
settled fever, and as the physicians said he
would not probably be able to move on under
a month, / determined to push on alone. So
I obtained a good nurse, and having seen
that my friend would have everything ne
cessary to his comfprt which money could
procure, l left him. lte ls.. l.
As good fortune would have it. fund a
nary of six men bound on the very route
was going, and waited one day for the sake
of their company. At length ives set out,
with three pack horses to carry our luggage,
and l soon found had lost nothing by
waiting, for my companions were agreeable
and entertaining. They were going on to
St. Josephs, where they had already loca-
ted, and where they had mills upnn the
river, int ndin : to get out lumber during the
remainder of t ie season. a
On the .nird day from Loganport. we
reached Walton's settlement on the Little
river. having left the Wabash ON the morn
ing of that day. 1t was well on into the
evening when we reached the little log-bullt
inn of the settlement, and we were glad
enough of the shelter-tor ere We had fairly
got under cover the rain commenced to fall
in great drops, and thlckiy too. And more
still had to be thankful for. My horse
BEGAN to show a lameness in one of his hind
legs, and when l leaped from the saddle |
found that his foot panied him much, as |
could tell by the manner in which he lifted
il from the ground. ordered the nstler to
battle it with cold water, and then went into
the house, where we found good substan-
tlal supper, and comfortable quarters for lie
nieht-that is, comfortable quarters for that
section and that time
About ten o'clock. Just after I had retired,
and lust as 1 was falling into a grateful
browse, was startled by the shouts of men,
and the barking of dogs, directly under my
window. As the noise continued, L arose
and threw on my clnthes and went down.
"What is it 2" I asked OF the landlord,
who stood in the entry way.
"Ah-don't you know, stranger?" said
the host, returning You've heard of
Gustus Karl, perhaps 2"
Who In the West at that time had not
heard of him the most reckless, daring and
murderous robber that ever cursed coun-
try. l told the host had heard of him
often
"Well,n he resumed "the villain was here
only this afternoon, and murdered man
Just up the river. We've been out after him,
but he's gin US the slip We tracked him as
far as the upper creek, there he came out on
the bank, fired at US and killed one of our
horses, and then dove into the woods. We
set the dogs on, but they lost him. 81.
And you've come back hostless?" I
said. .,.i8 So a0 y.E9s94T aniisga@
"Yes," the landlord gruwled. But" he
added, witIra knbwing shake of his head.
she can't run clear much longer. The
country is in arms. and he'll either leave
these huniins.i OF be tlrnpped." f-5. 's sa.
'sWhat sort of man is he2" asked.
"The very last man in the world you
would take for Gus Kari. He is small-not
a bit over five feet six; with light curly hair,
a smooth white face. and not very stout.
But, love We, he's quick as lightning, and his
eyes got fire in it. r He dresses in all sorts uf
shapes, but generally like common hunter.
OIL! he's the very devil, l do believe" -
After the tubfull of whisky and water
which the host had provided was all drank.
the crowd began to disperse, and shortly
stewards / went. up again to bed, and
this time I slep, on tninterruptedly till morn
ng. Z-iaq ~ - ii5-,'2iil5 t
IFhad just eaten my breakfast, and had
gone TO tile front door, when a horsenlan
came dashiag up to the place, himself and
animal all covered with mud. 1t had been
raining all night The first thing the new
conner did was tn inquire for me. l answer
ed at once to tile name. and he then in
formed me that Lyman Kemp could not
live, and that he wished to see me as soon as
possible" ~ @f'. afla aE ..." "
"The doctor says be must die, said the
messenger, : and the poor fellow now only
asks for life long enough to see you" W
"Poor Lyman p inurmured to myself
So young, SO hopeful-with so many friends
andfond relatives in his tar-off1 homeland
taken down to die in strange andl"-
told the man Iwould set out ON my return
soon as possible. He ate some breakfast,
and then resumed his journey, being bound
as far as the Pottawatomie border. -. ...,
settled my bill, and then sent for my
horse, but a-bitter disappointment awaited
me- / found the animals foot swollen very
badly, and it panied him so that he could
hardly step on it. Had the road been good
I should have beenltempteit to. thy him; but
I knew that in some places the mud wonld
be deep. went to the host, and asked him
if he could lend or sell me a horse. He could
do neither. His only spare horse had been
shot the night before by the Wabash robber.
There was not a horse in the place to be OBJ
tanned for any anlountof money. return
ed to the stable and led my horse out, hut
he could not even walk with any degree of
ease. could not use him. Twas in despair.
Locke said mine host, as / began to
despond, ''can't You manage. canoe? ?"
"Yes-very well, told him. ~ ....
'Then that's your best way. The current
is strong this morning, and without stroke.
of the paddle 'twould take you along as fast
as horse could wade through the mud.
You shall have one of my canoes for just
what it is worth, and We can sell it at Lngans
port for as much" H
caught the proposition instantly, for
saw thatit was good one. 800
IF We darn't shoot the rapids" added the
landlord, Tyou can easily shoulder the canoe
and back it round. 'Tisn't far.p
[ foundsthe iioat to be yell fashioned
"dug-outa large enough to bear four men
with ease, and at once paid the owner his
price-ten dollars and then bad my lug
gage brought down. Igaye directions about
the treat of my horse, and then put off.
The current was quite rapid-sayl four
five miles an hour-but not at all turbulent,
and soon made up my mind that it was
ii "A v. IN .