Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-10-20


cry step.
| had been out about an hour and had
bagged several fine birds, and was in
tently looking up into giant old pine
for one of covey I had just bushed,
when the distant report of a rifle broke
the stiffness of the mid-forest air. 1t
seemed to me as if there were two re-
ports almost simultaneous; just as |
came to the conclusion that it must have
been merely the echo of Marston's gun,
the thought suddenly struck me that he
that morning left his rifle at the lodge.
as he expected to be laden with peltres
on his return, and the rife would make
h; had this flashed through my MIA Ne us0saGns sGsh
felt sure that some of the wandering
Indians, who perhaps knew of Marston's s.
solitary habits, had attempted to murder
him for his peltries and traps.
Leaving the partridge undiscovered. 4
hastily returned in the direction of the
camp. Among the first things that
caught my eye on reaching it was
small minkskin hanging from the beck
cts where my gun usually hung, and on
looking at the inside of this | read
the following words rudely scrawled
thereon with the point of bullet:
'Injuns air round. I've been hit.
Keep dark. Foller round by Otter
Bluff"
This confirmed my worst suspicious,
and hastily turned to obey the injunc-
tions of my wounded friend, when | be-
thought me that l had better conceal
some of my effects and secrete the most
valuable of the peltries. Imagine my
surprise when found most of the furs
gone, as well as every article of mine,
or indeed anything that would betray
the fact that two men lived in the camp.
did not quite comprehend this nance
vre till sometime afterwards. | then
quietly crawled through the woods to
the collection of rocks that my friend
for some fanciful reason of his had chos-
en- to call the Otter Bluff. 1t was late
in the day when [ arrived at the bluff,
and mounted wearily to the top, l look
ed around for Marston, but he was no.
where to be seen. Fearing that he had
tainted from the loss of blood, l made
careful though cautious search among
the crags and ravines where a man
mi oht possibly have daa5s-I himself
But | could see no sign OF him, ~uu-vvu-
cluded that through weakness he had
not been able to get there as soon as |
had; SO l sat myself down in a little
thicket of young cedars that crowned
one of the peaks, where | could see with
out being seen myself, to await his CON-
ing. Here | crouched till dark, and
still no sign of my comrade. Torment
ing doubts now beset my mind and l
began to fear that Marston had been cap
tured in his retreat to the bluff or that
he had been unable to reach it from loss
of blood; l even pictured him lying
among the maple leaves stained with a
deeper hue than their own dye perlshing
from thirst and faintness.
While debating what coHrse to pur-
sue, perceived bright light mile or
more off, could scarcely say how far
it might be in the gathering darkness
but as no attempt was made. concluded
it proceeded either from Marston, who
had outwitted his enemies themselves,
who. in that event. thought must have
captured or killed my poor friend in
spite of his keen woodcraft, as otherwise
they would be too wary to draw OF
themselves the vengeance of the woun
ed trapper. | Immediately descended
from my perch and cautiously crep
) along the shaded edge of the river, keep
! ing well under the overhanging branch
es of the bordering cedars. In this way
| must have crept forward for full
, hour. and still the fire seemed far ava,
AS | stepped out in the bend of the riv
er, on the far side of which the fir
burned with increased fury large ow
flew from his perch in an overhangin
tree. and silently betook himself to
8 safer distance from his natural enemy
t AS the ill-omcned bird spread his soft
: noiseless wings to the night air, l be
a thought me that, if Marston were near
[ could communicate my presence to hir
8 by initiating its cry. which had ofte
: repeated in the hut when We lay listen
|, ing to the awakened chorus outside
: Placing my hand upon my mouth,
s emitted three or four of those weirc
! dismal cries, which were re-echoed b
e the sombre woods until the far rive
bend returned its ghostly answer.
d Hastily looking to my rife, and a.
It suring myself that the priming was a
a right, hurried on silently and stealth
lily until within an eighth of mile
/ the light. When | parted the branch'
behind whose shade | had eautiousl
IS advanced, and looked in the dlrectie
d of the blaze, beheld a sight that sci
,e the blood cold and chill back to n
" heart Before me. ON the grassy Mot