Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1877-05-02
The Hunters story,

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Ny guide was an old trapper, who
had spent years in the forest, sometimes
six months at time, without seeing
human face. l was sitting down, lean
ing against tree, just at sunset, and
the old hunter came and sat down near
me.
In the course of being in the woods
so long, said 1 you must have met with
some strange things. What one do you
now think as amogst the strangest.
Why, hardly know; 1 have had
many narrow escapes, and have,as you
see, seen some strage things. l can
recall one. 1t took place many years
ago, when I was younger than am
now. 1 had been out all winter alone,
trapping for furs. 1t was in March,
when 1 was hunting beaver, just as the
ice began to break up, and on one of
the farthest, widest lakes ever visited,
I CALCULATED there could be no human
being nearer than one hundred miles.
I was pushing my canoe through. the
loose ice, one cold day, when lust
around point that projected into the
lake, heard something walking through
the ice. 1t made 80 much noise, and
stepped so regularly that felt sure 1t
must be moose. got nay rifle ready,
and held it cooked IN one hand, while
pushed the canoe with the other. Slowly
and carefully rounded the point, when
what was my establishment to see not
a moose but man wading in the ice
water! He had nothing on his hands
or-feet, and his clothes were torn al
most from his limbs. He was walking
gesticulating with his hands and talking
to himself. He seemed to be wa-..(d
to skeleton. yIEs FIX
With great difficulty I got him into
my canoe. when 1 landed and made up
fire, and got hun some hot tea and
food. He had bone of some animal
In his bosom, which he had gnawed al
most to nothing. He was nearly fro
zen, and quoted down and soon fell
asleep, nursed him like an infant.
With great difficulty and in a round
about way found out the town from
which he came. Slowly and carefully
1 got him along, around falls and over
portage, keeping resolutes watch on
him, lest be should escape FROM me in
the forest. At length after nearly
weeks travel, | reached the village
where I supposed he lived=--I found
the whole community under deep ex-
element, and more than a hundred
men were scattered in the woods and on
the mountains seeking for my crazy COM
panion, for they had learned he had
wandered into the woods. 1t had been
agreed upon that if he was found, the
bells should be Immediately rung and
guns fired ; ami as soon 1 landed shout
was raised and bis friends rushed to him,
the bells broke out in loud notes, and
guns were fred, and their reports ech-
oed again and again in the forest and
on mountain, till every seeker knew
that the lost one was found. p
How many times had 1 to tell the
story over. 1 never saw people so
crazy with joy for the man was of the
first and best families, and they hoped
his insanity would be but temporary, as |
I afterwards learned it was. How theyd
Toasted me, and when 4 came away,
loaded my canoe with provisions and
and everything for my COM
fort. 1t was time andplace of wonder
ful joy. They seemed to forget every
thing else, and think only Of the poor
man whom had brought back. ~
The old hunter ceased and said,
Don't this make you think Of the
fifteenth chapter of Luke, where the
nan who lost one sheep left all the rest
md sought IL and brought it home re-
oicing and of thce teaching of our
saviour, that there Is joy in heaven
'ver one repenting, returning sinner?I
O yes, ! have compared the two and
hongh | don't suppose they ring bells
nd hup guns Ia that world, yet I have
% doubt they have some way Of making
heir JOY known.