Frostburg mining journal., 1883-09-29
R LAST OF THE MOHICANS.
lcontinued from first page.l


but with the utmost familiarity. A
large, civil-cocked hat, like those worn
by clergymen within the last thirty
years, surinounted the whole, furnish
ing dignity to a good-natured and
somewhat vacant countenance, that
apparently needed such artificial aid,
to support the gravity of some high
and extraordinary trust.
While the common herd stood aloof,
indifference to the. quarters of Webb,
the figure we have described stalked
into the centre of the domestics, freely
expressing his censlres or commenda
tions on the meritsbf the horses, as by
chance they censured or satisfied his
judgment.
"This beast, / rather conclude,
friend, is not of home raising, but is
from foreign lands, or perhaps from
the little island itself, over the blue
water :" he said, in voice as remark
able for the softness and sweetness of
its tones, as was his person for its rare
proportions: ~ may speak of these
and be no braggart; for have been
down at both hayens; that which is
situate at the mouth Of Thames, and is
named Haven with the addition of
the word New and have seen the
SHOWS and brigantines collecting their
droves, like the gathering to the ark,
being outward bound to the Island of
Jamaica, for the purpose of barter and
traffic in four-footed animals; but
never before have l beheld a beast
which verified the true scripture war
horse like this "He paweth the valley,
and rejoiceth in his strength he goeth
on to meet the armed men. He saith
among the trumpets, Ha, ha; and he
smelleth the battle afar off, and the
thunder of the captains and the shout
ing.' It would seem the stock of the
horse of Isrtel has descended to our
own time; would it not, friendP"
Receiving 10 reply to this extraor-
dinary appeal which in truth as it was
delivered with the vigor of full and So
norous tones, merited some sort of
notice, he who had thus sung forth the
language of the holy book turned to
the silent figure to whom he had un-
Willingly addressed himself, and found
new and more powerful subject of
admiration in the object that encounter
ed his gaze. His eyes fell on the still,
upright and rigid form of the "Indian
runner" who had borne to the camp
the unweleome tidings of the preceding
evening. Although in a state of per-
feet repose, and apparently disregard
ing, with characteristic stoicism, the
excfueni.- and hustle around him,
there was a sullen ferceness mingled
with the quiet of the savage, that was
likely to arrest the attention of much
more experienced eyes than those
which now scanned him, in unconceal-
cd amazement. The native bore the
tomahawk and knife of his tribe; and
yet his appearance was not altogether
that OF a warrior. On the contrary,
there was an air of neglect about his
person, like that which might have
proceeded from great and recent exer-
ton, which he had not yet found lei
sure to repair. The colors of the war
paint had blended in dark confusion
about his fierce countenance, and rem
dered his swarthy lineaments still more
savage and repulsive, than if art had
attempted an effect, which had been
thus produced by chance. His eye,
alone, which glistened like fiery star
amid lowering clouds, was to be seen
in its state of native wildness. For
single instant, his searching and yet
glance, met the wondering look of the
other, and then, changing its direc-
ton, partly in cunning, and partly in
disdain, it remained fixed, as if pene-
trating the distant air.
1t is impossible to say what unlocked
for remark this short and silent com
munication, between two such singu-
lar men, might have elected from the
white man, had not his active curiosity
been again again drawn to other OBJ
jects. A general movement amongst
the domestics, and low sound of gen
TIE voices, announced the approach of
those whose presence alone was want
ed to enable the cavalcade to move.
The simple admirer Of the war-horse
instantly fell back to low, gaunt,
switch-tailed mare, that was uncon-
sciously cleaning the faded herbage of
the camp nigh by; where, leaning
with one elbow on the blanket that
concealed an apology for saddle, he
became spectator of the departure,
while foal was quietly making its
morning repast on the opposite side
Of the same animal.
A young man, in the dress of an
officer, who conducted to their steeds
two females, who as it was apparent by
their dresses, were prepared to encount-
er the fatipues of n iOllrna,, in tha