St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1877-01-26


ed and bent beneath him but still bore
his weight and he ventured forth. This
was a pleasant condition of things, if
the frozen sheet would only carry him
entirely across.
But in the midst of his pleasant med
itations the ice suddenly broke and he
found himself clasped in the chilling
current beneath. However, he did not
allow himself to go entirely beneath the
surface, but caught upon the projecting
ice, and drew his body forth He now
experimental to see whether the ice
had sufficient strength to bear his body
when extended, but found that it was
too thin even to do that.
With the same resolutions, that was
never daunted by difficulty, he began
cutting his way before him with his
tomahawk. This was most painful
and trying means of progression, but it
was the only one left. Prudence COM
manded him to withdraw, for nine
tenths of the danger and difficulty were
still before him, but Crockett did not
originate the advice ''be sure your right,
then go ahead" that it might be fol-
lowed by others alone. He had made
up his mind to go home, and as long as
he had the power to move, nothing
could prevent him.
After making his way in this manner
for some distance, he found the ice
somewhat stronger, and clambering up
on its surface, hurried along for few
yards, when it again gave way, and he
went through as delightfully."- as before.
He had his .'bearings," and sustaining
his weight by means of the projecting
| ion hn mt his with thn 70, bnr MI
until he reached the log which had
served him so treacherously on his pre-
viOus trip. This was now frozen fast,
and he passed over it in safety.
When the submerged log was reach
ed, it was found that the current was
so swift that it had not frozen, and
Crockett made his way over this pre-
cisely as he did when on his way to his
brother-in-law From this point he no.
ticed that there was "path" to the
opposite shore that is, the ice was
broken, as though some person or ami
NAL had been through to the log, and
then turned back.
He soon reached the shore, where the
intense cold froze his clothes to his
body, and he could walk only with the
greatest difficulty, and when he reached
|
that he could scarcely stand.
Under the atfectiOnate care of his wife
he soon ''thawed out" and was himself
again, ready Oh the morrow to engage
in his favOrite bear-hunt.
When Crockett was thoroughly Gre
constructed" he went to bed, and had
IA terrific dream of an encounter with Il
burly African.
L. lao, Enn tn
readers, but it is Il curious superstition
among the hunters, that a dream like
this is a sure prOgnostic of bear-tig ght
We have met old woodmen who have
told us that they had been repeatedly
advised in this manner, and that never
had it failed.
Colonel Crockett shared that singular
superstition, and when he arose in the
morning, he informed his family that,
inasmuch as he had been notified of
what was to come, it devOlved upon
him to make every preparation to per-
form his part satisfactorily.
Crockett had several men to work for
him, and these decided to accompany
him upon his hunting expedition.
Upon going out in the morning, it
was found that fine drizzliDg rain had
IdlttD all ulSlL, anu uiNluS lIOZOi dS IL
fell, the ground and leaves, the tree
trunks and their branches, were incased
in quite sheeting of ice.
This was rather an uninviting pros
pect, but not forbidding enough to de-
ter the hunters from their contemplated
sport. Calling the dogs the three started.
l The brittle ice cracked and crushed
beneath their feet until they got fairly
Io Is ha, fonn1 hot
the branches overhead had caught and
retained so much of the falling sleet
that it was comparatively easy walking.
AT this point, CrOckett's companions
announced their intention of hunting
for turkeys.
''You had better join u.s." they said.
at will be an easy thing to bring down
a dozen or twenty"
'If you can do that, there will be no
need of my help, then. thank you.
} rm after bears just now"
} Calling off his dogs, the hunter bade
his friends goodby, and started off in
quest OF nObler game. Going up the
river half dozen miles he struck across
the mainland until he reached the
. Obion, several miles distant. When
here Il terrible storm of sleet was rag
ing, and the fine, needle-like points of
I hail struck his face with sharp, sting
ing sensation, as if they were fine shot
hurled through the air.
All at once, his dogs started a flock
? of turkeys. Crockett shot two of the
5 finest, and Singing them over his shoul-
S der, pressed on. Still the storm ragged
until, somewhat exhausted, he sat down
: upon fallen tree to rest himself, and
to prepare for more vigorous prosecu-
ton of his hunt.
Crockett had sat there a few mo-
l ments, when his attention was arrested
b. by the curious action of one of his dogs
: This creature ran to log near by, anC
l after smelling around it for few mo-
j. ments, he pointed his nose to the sky
/, then gave utterance to long, peculiar
b whine, and darted away, followed by
the other dog. This was done with sucl
S an evident intention of attracting the
d hunters attention, that he sat an(
e watched them for a while before stirring
S from his position.
d He soon saw that game had beel
scented and arising from the log, start
/ ed after them. They Immediately hur
ried away, and were heard barking yer.
II clamOrOusly at large tree; but
It glance showed that, in hunters par
lance, they were ''barking up the wron,
e tree" as no game at all was visible.
Somewhat puzzled to account for thi
mistake of his faithful animals, Crockett
ID stood looking at them moment, whe
ID they plunged away, and began barkin
g as fiercely as ever up another tree. Up
1T on following them up, it was found tina
lie they had repeated their blunder.