The Lamoille news. (Hyde Park, Vt.) 1877-1881, 1877-08-08
THE PIONEERS.

cousin had ridden for a while, IN ST.
lence, the Judge said
"Well. Dickon, since have yielded
myself, so far. implicitly to your guild
ance, think the moment has arrived,
when l am entitled TO further conf
dence. Why and wherefore are we
journeying together in this solemn
gait" .
The sheriff gave a loud hem, that
run far in the forest, which they had
now entered, and keeping his eyes
fixed on the objects before him, like
man who is looking into futmity, he
replied as follows
"A discovery has been made, Judge,
and You are deeplyinterested in it.
Proceed am all ears."
Judge Temple, can you tell me
what has brought three such men as
indian John, Natty Bumppo, and
Oliver Edwards, together"
Marmaduke turned his countenance,
IN evident surprise, to his cousin, and
replied quickly
Thou hast unexpectedly hit on a
subject, Richard, that has often occu-
pied my mind But knowest thou any
thing of this mystery, or are they only
the crude coniectures Of"
{ "Crude nothing, duke, crude moth
ing; but facts, stubborn facts. You
know there are mines in these noun
iains; / have often heard you say that
YOU believed in their existence now"
II have the best reason for believ
ING that both Mohegan and the Leath-
er-stocking have been privy to the
existence of mine in this very noun
sin, for many years"
The Sheriff had now touched his
cousin in a sensitive spot; and Mar
maduke lent more attentive ear to
the speaker, who, after waiting mo-
ment, to see the effect of this extra
ordinary development, proceeded
Eyes, sir, | have my reasons, and
at a proper timeyou shall know them.
"No time is sogood as the present"
exclaimed MaImaduke.-
"Well, well, be attentive, Continued
Richard, looking cautiously about him,
to make certain that no eavesdropper
was hid in the forest, though theywere
in constant motion. II have seen
Mohegan and the Misunderstanding,
with my own eyes-and my eyes are
as good as any body's eyes-I have
seen them, | say, both going up the
mountain and coming down it, with
spades and picks; and others have
seen them carrying things into their
hut, in a secret and mysterious man
ner, after dark. DO you know what
they could be?"
The Judge did not reply and Rich
ard continued
ut was ore. Now, sir, l ask ifyou
can tell me who this Mr.. Oliver Ed
wards is, that has made a part of
your household since last Christmas 7!
Marmaduke again raised his eyes,
but continued silent, shaking his head
in the negative.
''That he is a half-breed we know,
for Mohegan does not scruple to call
him, openly, his kinsman; that he is
we'll educated we know. But as to
his business here-do you remember
that about q month before this young
man made his appearance among us,
Matte was absent from home several
days? Old John was left in the hut
.alone and when Natty did appear,
although he came in the night, he was
seen drawing one Of those jumpers that
they carry their grain to mill in, and
to take out something, with great care,
that he had covered up under his bear
skins. Now let me ask you, Judge
Temple, what motive could induce a.
man like the Misunderstanding to make
u sled, and toll with load over these
mountains, if he had nothing but his
rife or his ammunition to carry?",
They frequently make these jump
ers to-conyey their game home, and
you say he had been absent many
days" a-es43~sf1g f&
GLOW did he Kill it? His rife was
in the village, to be mended No, no
that he was gone to some unusual
place is certain that he brought back
some secret utensils is also certain
and since then he has not allowed a
soul to approach his hut"
''He is never fond of intruders"
81 know it" interrupted Richard ;
''but did he drive them from his cabin
morosely? Within fortnight of his
return, this Mr., Edwards appears.
They spent whole days in the noun
tains, pretending to be shooting, but
in reality exploring the frosts pre-
vented their digging at that time, and
be availed himself Of lucky accident
to get into good quarters, But even
now, he is quite half of his time in that
hut-many hours in each night.s They
are smelling, duke, they are smelling,
and as they grow rich, you grow
poor"
GLOW much Of this Isl thine own,
Richard, and how much comes from
others? would sift the wheat from
the chaff." a.r.,..i rg ... NJ
'Part of my own, for | saw the
jumper, though it was broken up and
burnt in day or two. / have told
you that | saw the old man with his
spades and picks. Hiram met Natty,
as he was crossing the mountain, the
night of his arrival with the sled, and
very good-naturedly offered Hiram is
good-natured-to carry up part Of his
load, for the old man had heavy pull
up the back Of the mountain, but he
yOuldn'+ lic+n, 70 ~ iii: