The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1878-01-17

the most pONeTtN-SLrlckeR Oruer. IL cOll-
sisted of but one room, with a rude
brick fireplace at one end. Some deer
skins and old blankets were stretched
out by way of bed at the other ex
tremity of the apartment, and the only
seats visible were two sections of large
pine trunk that. stood close to the fire.
place. There was no vestige of a table,
and the rest of the furniture was en-
bodied in long Tennessee rife that
hung close to the rough wall.
If the hut was remarkable. Its proprie-
tor was still more so. He was, | think,
the most Misunderstanding man | ever
beheld. About six feet three inches in
height, proportionately broad across the
shoulders, and with hand large enough
to pick up 56-pound shot, he seemed TO
be a combination of extraordinary
strength and agility. His head was mar
row and oblong in shape. His straight,
Indian-like hair fell smoothly over his
low forehead, as if it had been plastered
with SOAP And his black, bead-like
eyes were set obliquely and slanted
downwards towards his nose, giving him
mingled expression of ferocity and
cunning. As | examined his features
attentively, in which l thought l could
trace almost every bad passion, | confess
| experienced a certain feeling of appre-
hension and distrust | could not shake
of.
While he was getting us the promised
food we tried, by questioning him, to
draw him into conversation. He seemed
very taciturn and reserved. He said he
lived entirely alone, and had cleared the
spot he occupied with his own hands.
He said his name was Joel, but when we
limited that he must have some other
name he pretended not to hear US, though
| saw his brows knit and his small black
eyes flash angrily. My suspicious of this
man were further aroused by observing
a pair of shoes lying in q corner of the
hut. These shoes were at least three
sizes smaller than those that our gigantic
host wore, and yet he had distinctly re-
piled that he lived entirely alone. If
:: those shoes were not his, whose were
they The more | reflected on this cir
cumstance the more uneasy | felt and
' apprehensions were still further aroused
when Joel, as he called himself took
/, both our fowling- pieces and, in order to
I I have them out of the way, as he said,
hung them on crooks from the wall, at a
height that neither Dick nor | could
reach without getting on a stool. /
smiled inwardly, however, as | felt the
. smooth barrel of nay revolver that was
i slung in the hollow of my back by its
: leathern belt, and thought to myself. if
/ this fellow has any bad designs, the more
unprotected he thinks us the more in
, cautious he will be so | made no effort
to retain our guns. Dick also had a re-
: volver and was one of those men who
L knew would use it when the time came.
J My suspicion of our host grew at last
y to such a pitch that determined to COM
e muncate them to Dick. Nothing would
/ be easier than for this vilainous half
breed-for | felt convinced he had In
q dian blood in him-nothing could he
II easier than, with the aid OF an accom-
Il plice, to cut our Threats or shoot us while
| we were asleep, and so get our guns,
watches add whatever money we carried.
IL Who, in these lonely woods, would hear
:, the shot, or hear our cries for help?
What emissary of the law, however
+ sharp, could point out our graves in these
e wild woods, or bring the murder home
a to those who committed it? Linton at
first laughed, then grew serious, and
c gradually became convert to my appre
n tensions. We hurriedly agreed that
e while one slept the other should watch,
e and so take it in turns through the
night.
n Joel had surrendered to us his couch
Is of deer-skin and his blanket; he himself
d said he could sleep quite as well on the
II floor near the fire. As Dick and | were
e both very tired, we were anxious to get
e our rest as soon as possible. So, after q
IS hearty meal of deer-steak and tough
e cakes, washed down by a good elraught
e from our brandy flask, |, being the
5. younger got the first hours sleep and
Il flung myself on the couch of skins. A:
e my eyes gradually closed, / saw din
l. picture of Dick seated sternly watching
a by the fire aud the long shape of the
II half breed stretching out like a huge
n shadow upon the floor.
1t After what | could have sworn to be
II a three minutes doze, Dick woke me
s. and informed me that my hour was out
e and turning me out of my warm nest
y lay down without any ceremony, and il
'e a few seconds was heavily snoring.
a. rubbed my eyes, felt for my revolver
d and seating myself on one of the pine
lr stumps, commenced my watch. The
l. half breed appeared to be buried in
4 profound slumber, and in the half-weirC
d. light cast by the wood embers, his enor
n nous figure seemed almost Titanic in it
d proportions. confess | felt that in ;
M struggle for life he was more than
st match for Dick and myself. | the1
ID poked at the fire, and began a favorit,
Is amusement of mine-shaping forms
1T the embers. All sorts of figures defined
Two haf Rot
N at sea- familiar faces, and, above all
I: shone, ever returning, the dear feature
), of Bertha Linton, my afiianced bride
y She seemed to me to smile at me through
IS a burning haze, and could almost fame,
If | heard her say, "While you are watch
a ing in the lonely forest am thinking O
st you and praying for your safety"
A slight movement on the part of tn
k, slumbering half-breed here recalled
in me from those sweet dreams. He turnet
lie on his side, lifted himself slowly on hi
'e elbow, and gazed attentively at me.
70 did not stir. Still retaining my stoopin
attitude, / half-closed my eyes and re
Y. manned motionless. Doubtless he though
W l was asleep, for in a moment or two h.
rose nOiselessly, and creeping with
pr stealthy step across the floor, passed gu
rs of the hut. listened-oh. how eagerly
lie 1t seemed to me that through the imper
v fectly joined crevices of the log walls
could plainly hear voices whispering.
!, would have given worlds to have crep
II nearer to listen, but | was fearful of dis
J." turbing the fancied security of our host
a who | now felt certain had siniste
designs upon us. So | remained
10 perfectly still. The whispering sud
denly ceased. The half-breed re
Il entered the hut in the sam,
r. stealthy way in which he had quilted it
and after giving scrutinizing glance a
me once more stretched himself upon tn,
re floor and affected sleep. In a few mo
L. raaents L Iretended to