Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1872-10-24

w.
knew that in some places the mu
would be deep. / went to the hos
and asked him if he, could lend me
sell me q horse. He could do neithel
His only spare horse. bad been she
the night before by the Wabbish rob
ber. There was not q horse in tn
place to be obtained for any amour
of money. I returned to the stabl
and led my horse out, but he coul'
not even. walk with any degree G
ease. I could not use him. I wa
in despair. 4
"Look here" said mine host, a
I began to despond, "can't you man
age a canoe ?"
Yes; very WELL" I told him.
Then that is your best way. Th'
current is strong this morning, ant
without a stroke Of the paddle i
would take you along as fast as I;
horse could wade through this mud
You shall have one of my canoes fol
just what it is worth, and you car
sell it at Logansport forra as much"
I caught at the proposition in.
stantly, for I saw that it was good
one.
eff ye darn't shoot the rapids, u
added the landlord, "ypu can easily
shoulder thecanoe, and back it round
'Tisn't far"
s I found the boat to be q well fash.
toned "dug-out," large enough tc
bear four men with ease, and | at
once paid the owner his price-ten
dollars-and then had my luggage
bsought down. I gave directions
about the care of my horse, and then
put off. The ecurrent was quiterapid,
say four or,fye miles an hour. but
not turbulent, and I soon made up
my mind that it was far better than
riding on, horseback. The banks of
the river were thickly covered with
large trees, and I saw plenty of game,
and more than ONCE I was tempted to
fire the contents Of my. pistols at some
of the boldest varmints," but l had
no time to waste, 30 l kept on. But
one thing seemed wanting, and that
-
was companion, but I was destined
to find one soon enough.
It was shortly after noon, and I
had just eaten my dinner of bread
and cold meat, when I came to a
place where the river made an abrupt
bend to the. right, and q little fur, -er
on I camelto an abrupt basin where
the currents formed a perfect whirl-
pool. l did not notice it till my ca
noe got into it, and l found myself
going round instead of going ahead.
[ piled my wood paddle with all my
power, and soon succeeded in shoot
ing out from the current; but in do.
ing so ran upon a low sandy shore.
The effort had fatigued me not a
little, and as I found myself thus
suddenly moored I resolved to rest a
lew minutes.
I had been in this position some
ten minutes when I was startled by
hearing footstep close by me, and
on looking up I:saw man at the
side of tile boat. He was a young
looking person, not over tvo-and-
thirty, and seemed to- be a hunter.
He wore a wolf-skin, leggins Of red
leather, and a cap cf bear-skin.
(Which way are you bound,
stranger r?' he asked in a pleasing
tone,
"DOwn the river to Logansport, F."
I replied.
"That's fortunate; wish to go
there myself" the stranger resumed.
" What say you to my taking your
second paddle, and keeping you COM
pany p
II should like it, 1 I'D him,
frankly. I've been wanting COM
so have L." added the hunter.
" And I've been wanting some bet
ter mode of conveyance than these
worn-out legs through the deep for,
est.
"Come on" said I, and as l spoke
he leaped into the canoe, md having
deposited his rife in the bow, LIE took
one of the paddles, and told me he
was ready when l was. So we push
ed 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.
lumbps. He was now out on a hunt
ing and prospecting expedition with
some companions, who had gone on
to Logansport by horse, and he had
got separated.from them in the night,
and lost his horse into the bargain.
He said he had a sum of money
about his person, and that was one
reason why he dislikea to travel in
the forest.
Thus he opened his affairs to me,
and 1 was fool enough to be equally
frank. admitted that I had SOME
money, and I told my business and
bysa quiet and. most unpresuming
course Of remarks he drew from me
the fact that 1 had money enough to
purchase forty full lots.
Finally the conversation Jagged,
and I beganeto give my companion a
closer scrntiny. sat in the stern OF
the aanoe,tand he was about amid
ships, and facing me. He was not a
large man, nor was he tall. His hair
was of a light Aaxen hue, and hung
in long curls about his neck; his
features were regular and !. handsome
and his complexion very light. But
the color of his face was no: what one
could call fair. It was d cold blood
less color, like pale marble. And
for the first time, too, / looked par
ticularly at his eyes. They were
grey in color, and had the brilliancy
ies,: Their light, was in
Sehse, bus:cold and gHttsring like 8
ahake's. When I thought Of lha age