The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-01-09

know that was not alone in this will
derness. You have had a narrow es-
cape" he added, looking down at the
dead snake.
He was fine-looking fellow, being
tall, straight and graceful, with black
hair and eyes, and dark, classic feat
ures. He was lightly dressed, after the
fashion of the country, and apparently
armed only with knife, the sheath OF
which was secured to the girdle ut his
waist.
Without replying in the familiar
manner in which he had addressed me,
drew myself up with a somewhat
naughty reserve, and coldly demanded
who he was, and how he came to be
secreted in the thicket, if his purpose
was honest.
Why, to tell the TRUTH" he replied,
in an open, straightforward manner, Il
am, like yourself, perhaps, on my way
to the English fort; and, not liking the
appearance of this lonely path, which l
feared might lead me into an ambus-
cade of Thugs, turned out to go
round to the hill yonder, where the
route again becomes more open; but,
being hot and weary, 1 stopped to rest
and there heard the crack Of rifle
that assured me fellow traveller was
upon the road that l might join with
safety"
And how did you know l was not
one of the party you feared?'
Because they do not use firearms.
But l see you are suspicious, and per-
haps would prefer to go on alone,
| though l think two are safer than one"
you shall go with me" quietly re-
piled, as stepped back pace or two,
placed my pistol convenient to my
hand, and coolly proceeded to reload
my rifle. Where did you learn En-
glish, and how did you know I was
native OF Great Britain?"
81 learned the language of your
countrymen, with whom L have had
many pleasant dealings as trader" he
answered, without hesitation; and I
knew you were an Englishman by your
appearance"
Having finished loading my rifle. /
felt more at ease; and then / quietly In
formed my new acquaintance that we
could not part company again on the
!
privilege of-walking in advance.
You see, take you at your word
said I "and if you are what you pro-
fess to be you will not feel hurt at my
caution. You shall go before me, and
shall walk with safety SO long as you do
nothing to confirm my suspicion but
warn you at the same time that, if / per-
ceive single sign of treachery, will
shoot you down as l would wild
| beast!"
"Why, what do You take me for?" he
demanded, with an astonished air.
"a Thugl" returned l; F." highway
murderer and robber-neither more nor
less! 1 have heard of your tricks upon
travellers, away off in my native isle /;
but /, at least, am upon my guard, and
this time your wicked scheme has
failed"
lie laughed, but merely said, Have
it your own way. L am satisfied to
humor your suspicion, knowing you
really mean me no harm, and that when
we reach the fort, and prove to you 1
am an honest man, you will do me
justice"
Most assuredly," 1 answered.
He then set forward with an air OF
careless indifference, and 1 kept close
behind him, and my eye upon every
motion. Thus we passed through the
dark jungle, and assembled to the more
open path of the higher lands. without
meeting with any new adventure. In
an open spot beside a clear spring, l
stopped and made him sit beside me
while rested and ate my MONDAY
meal, which l shared with him. Then
we resumed our journey, he going be-
fore, as usual; and so fast did we travel,
for was determined not to spend an
other night in the forest, that, when the
sun went down, saw, from neighbor-
over the station where my days journey
was to end. While crossing the valley
to reach. it, however, night came upon
us; and, favored by the darkness, my
suspicious acquaintance suddenly dis.
appeared. L got through in safety,
though, received warm welcome from
my countrymen, and subsequently OBJ
tanned all the did and redress 1 sought.
Two years later, being at Bereilly
while notorious Thug was on trial for
his life, curiosity led me to the court
room, when, to my surprise, [ recog-
nized in the prisoner at the bar the
identical individual whom 1 had CON-
PEELED to perform a weary journey in
front of me. He was convicted of muir
der and condemned to death but, pre-
vious to his execution, managed to
obtain an interview with him, when he
frankly confessed that the incident of
the monkey and the snake, by inducing
him, as the leader of his party, to
change his plan, was the principal
cause of my life being preserved, my
shrewd suspicion and bold determine
ton doing the rest. Being on the
watch for travellers, he and bis COM
panions had seen me op the road early
in the day, and five of them had secret
ed themselves IN that dark, lonely jun
gle, intending to spring upon me and
do their murderous work, according as
their religion teaches, by strangulation !;
it not being lawful for them to kill in
any other manner. The discharge of
both barrels at the snake, taken in con-
ncction with my supposed natural
| Co. L. l.. A.. Al. L