Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1870-07-20

they searched. They followed the stream
and at last found the boat-but 1t was emp
ty In vain the father and mother and
their only neighbor wandered through the
forest in every direction calling: winnie
| Winnie Nat Nat' In vain the neigh
| Dor took the boat and explored the stream
for miles and miles-no trace could be found
of the poor little creatures, who, full of life
and joy, had SO lately jumped into their
fathers canoe to ''have a rock
Where were they? Alas they did not
themselves know. They only knew that
they had been awakened suddenly by great
thump, and when they jumped out of :the
canoe and started to go home everything
was different. There was no footpath, no
clearing where trees had been cut down, no
sound of fathers axe near by, nor of moth
err song-and the stream was rushing on
very sngrily over its rocky bed. The canoe
which had broken loose, and born ON by the
current, foated away with them miles and
miles from the stake, was wedged between
two great stones when they jumped out of
it but now 1t was gone-the waters had
taken it away. After a while in their dis
tracted wanderings, they could not even
find the stream, though it seemed to be
roaring in all directions around them.
Now they were in the depths of the for
eat, wandering about tired, hungry and
frightened. For two nights they had cried
themselves to sleep in each others arms
under the black trees and as the wind
moaned through the branches, Winnie had
prayed God TO save them from the wolves
and the Indians, and little Nat had scream
ed. Papa! Mammal sobbing as if his
heart would break al they had to eat was
few sweet red berries that grew close to
the ground Every hour the poor children
grew fainter and fainter, and at last, Nat
couldn' walk at all.
1 m too tired ant sick, he said, "and
my feet's all tut. Ny toos and tockies is in
the boat 0, Winnie! Winnie p he would
cry with a great sob, why don't mamma
n papa come? o. if mamma d only come
aud bring me some bread -
Don't cry, dear, don't cry" Winnie
would say oyer and oTer aCain. II find
some more red berries soon and God will
show US the way home. | kno,0 he will
Only don't cry, Nat, because it takes away
all my courage.
''Al your what?' asked Nat, looking
wildly at her, as if he thought courage was
something they could eat.
''All my courage, Nat" Ard then, after
searching in vain for more red berries, she
would throw herself upon her knees and
moan:
Dear Father in Heaven, I can't find
anything more for Nat to eat. Oh! please
show US the way home !"
What was that quick sound coming to-
ward them? The uuderbrush was so thick
Winnie could not see what caused it, but
she held her breath in terror, thinking of
wolves and Indians, for there we're plenty
of both, she knew, lurking about in those
great forests
The sound ceased for moment. Selling
Nat in her arms, she made one more frantic
effort to find her way to the stream, then
seeing a strange look in the poor little face
when she put him down to take a better
hold, she screamed
NAT Nat Don't LOOK so Kiss Win
ME -
Hello, there !" shouted voice through
the underbrush, and in another instant
great stout man came stamping and break
ing his way through the bushes.
Hello, therel What on airth' s up now?
Ef old Joe ha'n't come upon queer game
this time Two sick youngsters-starving
too, by Josh Here, you youngsters, eat
some Nv this ere, and give an account Nv
yourselves
With these words, he drew from some
where among the heavy folds Of his hunting
dress-a couple of biscuit.
The children grasp at them erantically.
Hold up! Not so smartl'' he said
You must have little at time for an
hour yet. Here, sis, give me the baby, LII
feed him and as for you, jest see that you
don morn'n niJJte,
''Oh give me drink !" cried Winnie,
swa lowing the cracker in two bites, and for
an instant forgetting Nat.
The man pulled canteen or fat tin flask
from bis belt and gave her a swallow of
water; then he hastened to moisten Mats
lips and feed him crumb after crumb of the
broken biscuit.
Another hour" he muttered to himself,
as he gently fed the boy and smoothed back
tie tangled yellow hair from the pale little
face, another hour and he'd bin past men,
dip"
Winnie looked up quickly.
rs he going to die?'' she asked.
''Not he,' said the man; hell come
through right end up yet. H3's got fever
on him, but wei soon knock that under.
How'd you get here, little gal p
Winnie told her story, all the while feel
ing glad certainty at her heart that their
troubles were over. The strange man car
ried gun and he had big pistol and an
axe and a knife in his belt He looked very
fierce, too, yet she knew he would not harm
her. She had seen many a trapper before