The Lake County star., 1873-07-03

Nature. Ea'ly in the morning
the young explorer had set himself
across the river in a small black
w,thut dug.out, or canoe, and
alone started into the unbr0keD
forest, following mp the "Yellow
Creek" as the stream had been
named. For some distance it
meandered through a level, heavy
timbered country, over a pebbly
bottom, with a little of tho pic,
turesque or romantic scenery.
The goom of the forest was un--
broken, cave by an occasional
note of the wood-lark in the leafy
canopy, and now and then wl,ir
of partridge, frightened at the un-
wontcd intrusion upon the silent
haunts. 7oa
Three or four miles brought the
lonely explorer into hilly portion
Of the country, though still heav-
lily timbered. Tho stream made
frequent and sudden turnings to
accommodate itself to the uneven
surface, and several picturesque
waterfalls were passed. A half
hours walk through this romantic
scenery brought him to the edge
of a dark and dismal tamarack
swamp. The underbrush was
thick, and progress through it was
by no means pleasant or easy.
But our explorer once enlisted,
had no idea ofArning back. lie
therefore pushed on. He found
through this swamp many springs
that fed the stream strongly i'm
pregnated with mineral, aud large
deposits Of an oily substance of
the consistency Of paint, and from
these minerals the water OF the
stream evidently took its color.
After a long and tires0me tramp
through the swamp, he once more
emerged upon high, dry ground,
and following the stream, Or what
there was left of it. he was sur
prised to find a plainly defined
path, evidently made by the tread
Of human feet. AS he proceeded
the path became more marked, and
he determined to follow it to its
terminus, come what might.
Though the sun had passed the
meridian, and should have warned
the adventurous youth that he
had no more than time to rctrace
his steps before dark, he was
bound to follow up hs discovery.
Quickening bis space, as a thought
of the long stretch of swamp and
forest that lay between him and
home passed through his mind, he
soon after emerged into the clear
ing, and was surprised to see cul-
tivated ground and two small log
shanlies. From the low chimney
of one of these shanties issued
quite a cloud of smoke and sparks
as though from q blacksmith's
forge. AS he approached nearer
he noticed that the door stood
ajar, and without any hesitation
he walked mp, pushed it open, ,and
entered. Two men were at work
at something, in one of whom he
recognized the hunter who had
visited the camp Of tho settlers on
the evening OF their arrival at the
settlement, over a year before.
That individual turned upon the
intruder a look Of diabolical mall
ignity and rage. The implements
and materials with which the two
men were at work dropped from
their hands apparently through
the floor and both approached
the youth thrcateningly,
"Wa'al, what brings yer here,
young M" exclaimed the elder
man. whom the youth now re-.
membered. "Couldn't ye keep
your own side of the river, but
yer must come over here, nosin'
round Didn't 1 warn the whole
devils brood of ye, that If yer
walked inter the fire ye'd get
burned 2 Now you've done it,"
81 know not your meaning"
answered tho youth. 81 concluded
to explore the Yellow Greek, and
it led me here. IA it seems my
accidental presence is not well
come, l will leave you. | have
already fingered too long"
"Not so fast, youngster. II
takes two to make that bargain.
Yer have already seen too much
to leave this place alive. There
are wolves and ba'ars in these
woods, and they will account for
your not a-comin' hack to your
friends" g
With these words, the two mon