The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-05-17


most Misunderstanding man ever beheld.
About six feet two inches in height, pro-
broad across the shoulders, and
with hand large enough to pick up
fifty six pound shot, he seemed to be com.
bination of extraordinary strength and
in shape. His straight, Indian like hair fell
smoothly oAer his low forehead, as if it had
been plastered with soap, and his black,
bead-like eyes were set obliquely and slant
ed downwards towards his nose, giving him
a mingled expression of ferocity and cum
ming. As I examined his features attentive
IT, in which thought | could trace almost |
every bad passion | confess [ experienced
certain feeling of apprehension and distrust
I could not shake off
Whil' he was gt ing IS the promised |
food we tried, by questioning him, to draw
him into conversation. He seemed very
taciturn and reserved he said he lived en-
tirely alone aud had cleared the spot he oc-
cuped with his own hands. He said bis
name was Joel but when we hinted that he
must have some other name he pretended
not to hear us though I saw his brows knit
and his small black eyes fash angrily.
My suspicious of this man were further
aroused by observing pair of shoes lying
in corner of the hut These shoes were at
least three sizes smaller than those that our
gigantic host wore, and yet he ad distinctly
replied that he lived entirely alone. If
those shoes were not his, whose were they
The more | reflected on this circumstance
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 have them out of the way,
as he said hung them on crooks from the
wall, at height that neither Dick nor I
smiled inwardly, however, as l felt the
smooth barrel of my revolver, that was slung
in the hollow of my back by its leathern
belt, and thought to myself, if this fellow
has bad designs, the more unprotected he
thinks us the more incsutious he will be ; 40
| made no effort to retain our guns. Dick
also had revolver, and was one of those
men whom knew would use it we'll when
the time came.
My suspicious of our host grew at last to
such a pitch that determined to communi.
cate them to Dick. Nothing would be
easier than for this villainous half.breed-
for felt convinced that he had Indian blood
in him-nothipg would be easier than. with
| n Of IN nj, fhyoo fs
or shoot us while we we're 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 emissary of the law, however sharp
could point out our graves in these wild
, woods, or bring the murder home to those
who committed it9 Linton at first laughed
then grew serious, and gradually became I
: convert to apprehensions. We hurriedl,
3 agreed that while one slept the other SHOULD
watch, and so take it in turns through tb'
l night.
Joel had surrendered to us his couch 0
deer-skins and his blanket; he, himsel
3 said he could sleep quite as we'll on the foo
L
1 tired, we were anxious to get our rest as sool
= As possible. So, after hearty meal of deer
steak and tough cakes, washed down by
> good draught from our brandy flask, bein
h the younger, got the first hours sleep, an
). flung myself on the couch of skins As m
4 eyes gradually closed saw dim picture O
: Dick seated sternly watching by the fire, AN
the long shape of the half breed stretchiD
out like huge shadow upon the floor.
After what ] could have sworn to be onl
= a three minutes doza Dick woke me an
- informed me that my hour was out an
turning me cut of my warm nest, lay dow
without any ceremony and in few minut,
was heavily snoring rubbed my eyes, fe
for my revolver, and seating myself on OF
of the pine stumps commenced my watc
II The half breed appeared to be buried in
III profound slumber, and in the half. well
light cast by the wood.embers his enormo
figure seemed almost Titanic in its propo
7. tions. | confess felt that in a struggle +
IL lie he was more than match for Dick al
myself ! then looked at the fire, and h
ID gan favOrte amusement OF mine shapiI
forms in the embers. All sorts of fgur
ct defined themselves before me. Battle
tempests at sea. familiar faces and above
to shone, ever returning, the dear features
er Bertha Linton, my affianced bride. 81
seemed to me to smile at me through bur
haze, and could almost fancy | heard h
ee say, "While you are watching in the lone
he forest, am thinking Of you and praying
ne your safety
\ slight movement on the part of t
ed slumbering halfbreed here recalled me frt
ed these sweet dreams. He turned on his sic
M lifted himself slowly up on his elbow and g.
he ed attentively at me, did not stir, St
be retaining my STOPPING attitude, half clos
a my eyes and remained motionless. Dou
rs. less he thought was asleep, for in a n
,ur ment or two he arose noiselessly, and cre
all ing with stealthy step across the fc
if passed out the hut, I listened-O, how
,ur gerly! 1t seemed to me that through I
imperiectly joined crevices of the long wi
,sk could plainly hear voices whispering
res, "o"'' ""'' s'''" "o'"' w nave VI
Iall nearer to listen, but was fearful of distu
in. ing the fancied security of our host, VIII
nee now felt certain had sinister designs upon
ard So | remained perfectly still. The wi
the perng suddenly ceased. The hslf.breed
ose entered the hut in the same stealthy way
ms which he quilted 1t, and. after giving 5,
to tnizing glance at me, once more stretc
i'm himself upon the floor aud affected to se
the In few moments | pretended to awak
and yswned, looked at my watch, and find
axe thslmy hour had more than expired, proc,
he ed to awake Dick As turned him ou
L | LID ...hisnaEal In hia tnaIlt Ia h. .