Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1878-02-07


tigue had vanished, and we walked
as if our muscles were as tense. as
iron, and our joints as oily as a pis-
ton-shaft. a.
We soon arrived at what in the
dusk seemed to be a clearing of about
five acres but it may have been lar
ger, for the tall forest rising up around
it must have diminished its apparent
size, giving it the appearance of q
square pit rather than farm. To-
wards one corner Of the clearing was
discerned the dusky outline of a log
hut, through whose single end win
dow faint light was streaming.
With sigh of relief we hastened
to the door and Knocked 1t was
opened immediately, and a man ap-
4 Deared on the threshold. We ex-
planned our condition, and were in
stantly invited to come IN and make
ourselves at home. All our host said
he could offer us was some cold Iu-
dian corn cakes and a slice of dried
deer flesh, to all of which we were
heartily welcome. These viands in
our starving condition were luxuries
to us, and we literally revelled in an
ticipation of full meal. The hut
into which we had SO unceremonious-
ly entered was Cf the most poverty
stricken order. 1t consisted of but
one room, with rude brick fireplace
at one end. Some deer skins and
| olt. blankets were stretched out bY
way of bed at the other extremity
Of the apartment, and the only seats
visible were two sections of a large
pine trunk that stood close to the
fireplace. There was no vestige of a
table, and the rest of the furniture
was embodied in long Tennessee
rifle that hung close to the rough
wall.
Ifthe hut was remarkable, its pro-
prietor was still more so. He was,
think, the most yilfainous-l looking
man / ever beheld. About six feet
three inches in height, proportionate-
ly broad across the shoulders, and
with hand large enough to pick up
q 56-pound shot, he seemed to bc a
combination of ofeXtraordinary strength
aud ability. His head was narrow
and obIong in shape. His straight,
Indian-like hair fell smoothly over
his low forehead, as sif it had been
| plastered with soap. And his black,
bead-like eyes were set obliquely and
sianted downwards towards his nose,
giving him a mingled expression of
ferocity and cunning. As examin-
Ell his features attentively, in which
L thought l could trace almost every
bad passion, l confess ! experienced
a certain feeling of apprehension and
distrust l could not shake off.
While he Wis getting us the prom
ised food we tried, by questioning
him, to draw him into conversation.
He seemed very taciturn and reserv-
ed. 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 angriIy. My suspi-
cic ms of this man were further arous-
ed by observing a 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 had distinctly replied that he
lived entirely alone. Ii those shoes
were not his, whose were they? The
more reflected on this circumstance
the more uneasy felt, and appre
tensions 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 theRa OH crooks from the
wall, at a height that neither Dick |
nor l could reach without getting on
a stool. l smiled inwaFdly, however,
ss felt the smooth barrel OF my re-
volver that was sklng in the hollow of
my back by its lesthern belt, and
thought to myself, if this fellow has
any bad designs, the more unprc-
tected he thinks us the more incau-
tious he will be; so made no effort |
to retain our guns. Dick also had a
revolver, and was one of those men
who / knew would use it when the
time came.
My suspicion of our host grew at
last to such pitch that determined
to communicate them to Dick Moth
ing would be easier than for this
III L q
vilainous half-hreed-for / felt con
yinced he bad In,li ~ blood in kim
nothing could 'sr casier than, with the
aid OF ali accuInpiice, to cat our
throats or shoot US while we were
asleep, ard so get our guns, watches
and what ever money we carried.
Who, in these lonely woods, would
hear the shot or hear our cries for
help? What emissary of the law, how
ever sharp, could pointout our graves
in these wild woods, or bring the
murder home to those who commit
ted it? Linton at first laughed, then
--,.n,., sor,auo and rrro6noU.y booa1.a