The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1873-11-21
as they had represented him to be.


not the cold, for her blood was full O
fever. The wind tossed her brown hal
about so that she took her shawl AM
put it over her head, and then ran brisk
ly along the trail. In an hour sh
neared the fierce hunters cabin, and he
heart beat wildly as she knocked upol
the door. Again and again she knocked
but still no response, and then she wen
to the little window and peered into tn
cabin. She listened, but all was darl
and silent within.
Returning to the door, she raped
louder than before, and voice whis
pered through the key-hole:
"Who is it?"
For a moment she knew not what tx
say; then, summoning courage, she re
piled:
cit is MARY Thompson ,-whC
want you to protect me"
Cautiously the door was opened, arc
the hunter looked out and stared a
Mary, to whom he said:
&c thought it was Indians or Regu
lators but come in, girl, and I beg
pardon for having kept you out in the
cold so long"
Then he lit pine-knot, and, hand
ing Mary a chair, drew out his SHARP
iack-knife, and whitfield some shavings
to kindle fire. There was soon bright
blaze roaring on the hearth, and, with
all the politcness of courtier, he moved
up Mary's stool, and bade her sit close
to the burning embers.
"I heard you, he said, "even before
you knocked, for my ears have become
somewhat practiced to the sound of ap.
preaching footsteps; but I could not
make you out. When I saw your head
at the window with that shawl over it,
I thought it was a squaw's head, u
he added, laughing; and, after mo-
ment's pause. inquired: "Any Indians
down your way?"
Mary simply said "No," and he press
ed her no further
The kettle was boiling, and he made
a cup of tea and gave it to her to drink.
Then he said:
CHOW, young lady, I know not what
nor do wish to know; but something
dreadful must have happened to cause
any one to claim protection from the
Wild Trapper of the Blue, and, above
all others, young girl. There There y
he added, seeing Mary about to speak,
"don't say word, but just lie down on
that bed and take good sound sleep,
while I go outside and keep watch over
the house. You can shut the door and
bolt it after me, if you WISH" taking
his gun but you need not be afraid,
Mary, for would not harm hair of
your head and, as for others harming
you while you are under my protection,
they must first cross the dead body of
the Wild Hunter. Now, don't fret,
girl, but sleep as soundly as if you
were at home and happy; and mind you
don't cry and trouble, or you'll be hav-
ing a spell of sickness in the morning
after this night-trip, and I can tell you
I'm a mighty poor nurse, he said, clos
ing the door behind him, and laughing
heartily outside.
Was this indeed the Wild Hunter OF
the Blue, about whom such terrible
tales were told, and in whom there was
nothing but wickedness Mary thought
she had never met more polite or gen
tlemanly person; somehow her fears
had all disappeared. and she felt singu-
larly safe and happy. She did not lock
the door, for she felt not the slightest
uneasiness !; but she peeped from the
little window, and saw the tall hunter,
with his gun across his shoulder, walk
ing up and down before the cabin, like
a sentinel, and then she laid down on
the bed, and soon fell into deep sleep
Next morning, when she awoke, the
sun was shining brightly, and, spring
ing up, for she had not removed any of
her clothing, she ran to the little win
dow and looked out. There was the
hunter pacing up and down just as he
had been doing the night before. Chow
polite in him." thought Mary, "not to
disturb me; and how considerate of my
comfort and safety he has been ever
since I entered his humble abode" She
made haste to open the door, and the
hunter bade her good morning, and he
hoped she had rested well. Then he
made up the fire, and, bringing Mary
some water in basin, with a comb and
while she made her toilet. To this Ma
ry objected, saying she would to the
cooking herself; and, as soon as her
simple toilet was made, set about the
work. The hunter brought the things
for her to cook, peeled the potatoes, and
showed her where everything he had
was kept Every few minutes he would
burst out laughing, and say, Chow fun
ny to have a woman cook for nee!'
Mary's heart was heavy, and she was
thinking of her mother at
home, and wondering where they
thought she was but her position was
80 novel for a young girl, and her COM
oanion so cheerful, she could not help
Olushing, and at times, despite her
troubles, her small, steel-gray eyes
would sparkle with mirth. When they |
sat down to breakfast, the hunter
thought he had never seen so charming |
| creature as Mary, and somehow she
never seemed to mind the great brown
,yes constantly fixed upon her. Strange |
he should not be afraid, for she was
lone with the most desperate man of |
he west but, so far from fearing him,
he thoroughly believed he was her
,est friend and protector.
After breakfast sho told the hunter
Ter tale, and again claimed his protection.
lie listened respectfully and atten-
lively, and when she had done, said
$50 you thought you could trus
emp
"I did, replied Mary, while the hot
'lood rushed to her temples.
For a moment the muscles in the face
f the hunter worked convulsively, and,
ising, he went to small cupboard and
ook from it two daguerreotypes, the
ne of young girl, and the other of
middle, aged woman. Opening them,
nd placing them in Mary's lap, while
ear dimmed his eye, he said:
"These are the pictures of my dear
lother and darling sister, and swear
D you by them I will always be to you
s brother"
Mary held out her hand, and, as he
rasped it, too hearts met in that clasp,
ever to be divided on earth.
The hunter told Mary that she must
O back at once to her mother, and, now
be had placed herself under his protec-
on, she need not fear Long Ned or any
ne else. Placing her on his pony, he
,alked by her side, and led the little
rute, who not being used to such a
urden, was disposed to be a little vi
ious. Carefully and tenderly, as if
be were an infant, he guarded her un-
i they came to her fathers house,
here they had scarcely arrived when
nat most startling of all cries on the
order, Indians I" was heard, and a
ian dashed up to say that the settle
tent below had been attacked and all
IL Uo1Ainnf ]