Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-04-21
A Winti r Vigil.
From All the Year Round.


dian agent, 1 transcribe the memoranda re-
lating to it.
Albert Black was an honest, English gen.
ueman, whose adventures in search of for.
tune led him away from Regent street to
wander In Western worlds, and that is the
way he ''put through" aportlon of the win
ter OF that year. He was residing, with a
single companion, in little log cabin at
the Indian village OF Bella Coola. on the
coast Of British Columbia. There was ne
white man nearer than one hundred miles,
but the villages of many Indian tribes
were situated in the immediate vicinity.
The winter was only half through; few ma
uves came trading about the post, and as
time lay heavy on their hands, Black and
his companion resolved to go hunting for a
few days. A canoe WAS accordingly fitted
out with stock of provisions and ammu-
milton; with an Indian as steersman and
pilot they proceeded to cruize about among
the islands, now and then landing and
stalking deer, or shooting the ducks and
wild geese which assembled in countless
hocks by the mouths of the northwestern
rivers in winter. The season was mild.
but a thin coating of snow on the ground
SO that each night they encampe in the
open air, and slept well wrapped up in
their blankets around the blazing
log fire. Few old explorers in
these countries ever think of carry
ing a tent with them; and our hunters
were not possessed of one, even had they
cared to avail themselves of its shelter.
They had been cruising about in this man.
ner several days, when, as usual, they en-
camped one night on ali island, with the
canoe drawn up on the beach. Their pro-
visions they built up around them, tc guard
them from the attacks of any prowling
Indians or other mishaps. Their Indian
pilot had informed them he was just out of
powder and bullets, at the same time
begging to be supplied with some exhibit
ing his pouch, which contained but two
charges. The hunters were too tired
to open their packages, and, notwith-
standing his solicitations, put him off until
morning. They then, as usual, loaded their
rifles, the Indian doing so also; and all three
men lag down to sleep, and all slept save
one.
How long they slept Black could not say,
but all that he could remember was being
by the report of rifle. A low
scream, and then moan by his side, told
HIM that all was over with his companion
The Indians place was vacant; and before
Black could become fully conscious of his
situation, he was fired at from the dark
and bullet struck his thigh. He attempt
ed to rise, but was unable; hisleg was frac-
tured. Instantly he grasped his revolver,
and he had scarcely done so before he was
of a figure crouching towards
him in the darkness.
He Immediately fired, but the shot did
~ 4af- L. 4 I
behind some rocks. He now
staunched the blood flowing from his
wound as well as circumstances would per-
NIT, tying handkerchief around il. All
doubt was now at an end that the Indian
guide, tempted by the property had mur-
dered his companion, and was only
prevented by the want of ammunition from
him too. All night long-it
seemed year-he kept awake. too excited
TO sleep, though he was faint from loss of
blood. Sometimes he would relapse into
m uneasy sleep, from which ne would be
startled by the barking of his little dog,
when he would grasp his revolver, only to
see figure again skulking into the dark.
Daylight at last came, and he had now
ime to contemplate his situation. Help
ess and badly wounded, far from white or
lfSA AC WIS dlOuG, WIFI
IN enemy watching every moment TO de-
'troy him, as he had done his companion,
whose CLASSY eyes glared up at him. Pro-
Visions enough were lying scattered around; |
Dut none were accessible as food save the |
bag of sugar, and on this his chief chance |
If subsistence lay. He knew enough of |
science to know that Magendie's dogs when |
ed on sugar soon grew emaciated, but he
Loo, fha& G.
Before night snow fell, and covered the
lead body out of sight Sometimes
le would relapse into half-waking sleep, |
when again the ever-faithful dog, who SEEM
I'd almost conscious how matters stood,
would warn him of the approach of his
Enemy. 1t was in vain that Black attempt
Il to get a shot at him, and had it not been |
or the watchfulness of his dog-friend, the
wretch must soon have been able 10 des-
,atch with his knife the guardian whose
evolver intervened between him and the /
coveted property. And so they kept their |
lreary vigIs, and the snow fell heavily; and |
hough his leg panied him greatly, he
to keep him warm ia his blanket |
ined burrow. The Indian would some |
lines disappear for hours, and even day, |
apparently looking after food. The poor |
lunter would then imagine that lie had got |
lear of his bloodthirsty enemy. when |
gain the barking of Flora would warn her |
master. On one or two occasions the In |
liam managed to approach within few |
eet of his intended victim before his |
presence was detected; and As both |
and hunter were equally intent |
IN each others destruction, escapes were |
sometimes rather narrow. Several days |
Al.
indian seemed to have grown tired, and |
eft the island in the canoe; for they were |
10 longer alarmed. The sugar bag was
,etting nearly done, and the poor dog was |
low SO weak with hunger. that, even when |
t did not absent itself searching for food |
IN the shore, it was scarcely able to give
N alarm. If Black survived hunger and
lis wound, which was now getting very
painful, the Indian, he knew, would soon
eturn and accomplish his purpose. With
uch thoughts his prospects were gloomy
'nough, and so he dozed away the hours,
light Che had long lost count of time but
ound so afterwards) since the murderous
ttack, when he was awoke by loud talk
ng on the beach.
The moon, sailing over the ieaden, snowy
ky, enabled him to recognize the figures
f several Indians hauling canoe on to
he beach. He grasped his revolver, deter
mined to sell his life dearly, for he was
low fully persuaded that il must be his
nurderer returned with his assistance. 1t |
Tas strange, however, it struck him, that
hey had landed in such an exposed sit
alton. "Who are you ?" he inquired
n the Chinook jargon-the trading
of the coast. A low, sur
rised cry came from them. They were
unaware of the presence of any
ne but themselves Again he shouted
nore cheerily, and they approached him,
vhen he was delighted to recognize the IA
niliar faces of several Bela-C -Coola Indians
Id acquaintance of his.
He told him his story; and as they listen
d, he uncovered the body of his murdered
they, every now and again,
ursting into cry of horror. Food was
repaired, and every attention paid to him.
he dead body was buried. and Black con-
eyed to the Indian village, where he was
arefully nursed until news reached the
earest white mans abode. The solitary
olonist hurried down, and happening to
ave been in earlier days an officer in the
rmy. he knew little about surgery. He