The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1878-01-04

Visible were two sections OF large
pine trunk that stood close TO the fire
place. There was no vestige of table,
and the rest of the furniture was en-
bodied in a long Tennessee rifle that
hung close to the rough wall.
If the hut was rem Arkable its propri-
etor was more so. He was, / think,
the most villainons looking man 1 ever
| beheld. About six feet two inches in
| height, proportionately broad across
| the shoulders, and with hand large
| enough 70 pick up a fifty-six pound
shot, he seemed to be q combination OF
extraordinary stength and agility
His head was narrow and oblong in
shape. His Indian like hair fell smooth
ly oyer his low forehead, as if it had
1 been plaStered with soap. And his
| black, bead like eyes were set Oblique-
/ ly, and slanted downward, toward the
nose, giving him mingled expression
of ferOciEy and cunning. AS l exam
| ined his features attentively, in which
\ l thought l could trace almost every
bad passion, I confess I experienced q
| certaiR feeling of apprehension and
/ distrust could not shake OF.
While he was getting US the promis-
ed food we tried, by questioning him
seemed very tacituFn am areserHed. ]
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 he hintGd that he must
| have some other name he pretended
not to hear US, though saw his brows
knit and his small black eyes flash an
grily. My suspicious of this man
were further aroused by observing a
pair of shoes lying in a corner of the
| hut. These shoes were at least three
al thnzn OgiO
host wore, and yet he had distinctly re-
piled that he lived entirely alone. If
| those shoes were not his, whose where
| they? The more I reflected on this
circumstance the more uneasy 1 felt,
! and apprehensions were still further
1 aroused when Joel, as he called him.
self, took both our fowling pieces and,
ia order to have them out of the way,
l as he said, hung them on crooks from
the wall, at a height that neither Dick
nor coald reach without getting on q
stool. I smiled inwardly, however, as
felt the smooth barrel of my revolver
that was slung in the hollow of my
back by its leather belt, and thought
to myself, if this fellow has any bad
designs, the more unprotected he thinks
US the more incautious he will be; so
made no effort to retain our goods.
Dick also had revolver, and was one
of those men who l knew would use it
well when the time came.
My suspicious of our host grew at
last To such pitch that 1 determined
to communicate them to Dick. Moth
ing would be easier than for this viii
famous half-breed-for felt convinc-
ed he had Indian blood in him-noth-
| ing could be easier than, with the aid
of an accomplish, to cut our Threats or
shoot us while we were asleep, and SO
get our guns, watches and whatever
money We carried. Who, in these
lonely woods would hear the shot, or
hear our cries for help? What emis-
sary of the law, however sharp, could
point out our graves IN those wild
woods, or bring the murder home to
| those who committed it? Linton at
tirsG laughed, then grew serious, and
gradually became convert to my ap-
prehensions. We hurriedly agreed
that while one slept the other should
| watch, and so take it in turns through
the night.
Joel had surrendered to us his couch
| of deer skin and his blanket; he him
sslf said he could sleep quite as we'll
on the floor near the fire. AS Dick
and were both very tired, we were
| anxious to get our rest as soon as pos
1 sible. So after a hearty meal of deer
| by good draught from our brandy
flask, L, being the younger, got the
first four hours sleep, and flung my
| self on the couch of skins. AS my eyes
| gradually closed, / saw a dim picture
of Dick seated sternly watching by the
fire and the long shape of the half
breed stretching OUT like huge shad-
Ow upon the floor.
After what could have sworn to be
three-minutes' doze, Dick woke me
| and in formed me that nv hour was
out, and turning me out of my warm
| next, lay down without any ceremony,
| and in a few seconds was heavily snor-
| ing. 1 rubbed my eyes, felt for my
revolver, and seating myself on one of
| the pine stumpS, commenced my
watch. The half-breed appeared TO be
buried in a profound slumber, and in
the half-weird light cast by the wood
embers, his enormous figure seemed
almost Titantic in its proportions. 1
| confess felt that In struggle for life
he was more than q match for Dick
and myself. 1 then looked at the fire,
! and began q favorite amusement OF
mine-shaping forms in the embers.
| All sorts of figures defined themselves
1 before me. Battles, tempests at sea,
| familiar faces and, above all, shOne,
| ever returning, the dear features of
| Berthy Linton, my af1anced bride.
| She seemed to me to smile at me
through burning haze, and 1 could
aim osT fancy heard her say. "While
you are watching in the lonely forest
1 am thinking of you and praying for
I yoar safety"
A slight movement on the part of
the slumbering half-breed here recall
ed me from those sweet dreams. He
turned on his side, lifted himself slow
ly on his elbow, and gazed attentive
| ly at NEE / did not stir. Still retain
ing my stopping attitude, I half closed
my eyes and remained motionless.
Doubtless he thought was asleep, for
In q moment or two he rose noiselessly,
and creeping with q stealthy step
across the floor, passed out of the hut.
hstened-oh! how eagerly. It SEEM
ed to me that through the imperfectly
Joined crevices of the log walls / could
plainly hear voices whispering. /
w0uld have given worlds to have
crept nearer TO listen, but was fear
full of disturbing the fancied security of
our host, who now felt certain had
sinister designs upon Us. So remain
ed perfectly still. The whispering
suddenly ceased. The half-bree re-
entered the hut in the same slealthy
way in which he had quilted it, and
1
me once more stretched himself upon
the floor and affected to sleep. In q
few moments pretended to awake
yawned, looked at my watch, and find
ing that my hour had more than ex-
pired, 1 proceeded TO wake Dick. AS
1 turned him out of bed 1 whispered
in his ear, '"DOn'I take your eyes of
that fellow, Dick. He has aecomplices
outside; be caretull" Dick gave a
meaning glance, carelessly touched his
revolver, as much as to say, "Here's
something TO interfere with his little
arrangements" and took his seat on
the pine stump, in such a position as
20 command view of the sleeping
half-breed and the doorway at the
| same time.
This time, though awfully tired, 1
could not sleep. A horrible load seem
J ed pressing on my chest, and every
five minutes would start up to see II
I Dick was keeping his watch faithfully.
Ny nerves were strung to frightful
: pitch of tensity; my heart beat at