The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-06-01
BACKWOODS LIFE.
a Story of Early Days in Michigan.
BY II, II. JOHNSON.
CHAPTER VII.
BILL BRAXTON.


ready to drop from exhaustion when he
WAS embarrassed from the sled and led
into his stable.
His body was covered with foam, and
great drops of sweat dripped from his
body and spattered upon the ground be-
meath him: but Pat placed him in his
stall, covered him with warm blankets
to protect him from taking cold after
his severe eXertion, and rubbed down
his limbs with thick cloth, seasoning
his employment with such EXPLANATIONS
as. "Good fellow. Ye're broth of by
Saser, Bad luck to anything that eX.
poets to Git the betther OF ye whin ye
stretches yersilf out to it. Lightnin
itsilf cuddent pass yeZ, on a straight
race"
These and many other expressions OF
praise and commentator the voluple
IriShman bestowed upon the horse, not
withstanding the wolves had clearly
Outrun him and in minute more would
have eternally untitled him for any fur
Their display of his racing qualities; but
Bay Caesar seemed tOlisten c0mplacent-
lytOitall and expressed his gratitude for
the compliments lavished upon him by
Pat, by low whinny Of satisfaction.
Julian and Carrie, now that the peril
was past, almost SuCCumbed to the re-
action which came over them, and be-
came SO weak from the nervous mental
or 70 ,-ni tf, hA, tn
ed, that they We're hardly able to walk
into the house; but warm supper that
was already prepared for them, and a
glass of wine each which they were per-
suaded to swallow. soon infused
strength into them; and with the return
of bodily strength came their wonted
vivacity of spirits, and ere the meal was
finished they were talking and laughing
merrily over their race and fight with
the wolves.
Julian pictured in the most vivid
manner, the way in which The wolves
sOmersaulted when struck plumb in
the head by the bullets from the we'll
aimed rifle in the hands of Carrie; but
the fact is, Julian was gifted with an
extraordinary imagination, and upon
this imagination he depended solely for
the vivid description of the scenes he so
graphically pictured; for each time Car
RE fired, his eyes were intently fixed
upon his horse and the road in front OF
him, and he only knew what was tran
spring in the rear from the sound OF
shots and the snarling Of the wolves as
they tore the yet quivering flesh from
the bones of their stricken comrades.
But they could not repress a thrill OF
horror when they realized how near
they had been to horrible death; and if
fervent thanksgivings ever assembled to
the Almighty for His protecting power,
they did from every member OF that
household on that night.
Julian expressed some regrets over
his broken gun, but the ingenuity and
mechanical skill of himself and Pa,
soon repaired the damage and the rlll,
was as good as ever.
But days passed on and the events o
that night ceased to be the absorbing
topic Of conversation.
The Winter passed away and Sprin
opened,
One day, Pat was working alone
the woods. Mr.. La Nergne and Julia
being employed in digging the groml
about the house and planting garde
seeds. Pat was engaged in chopin
down large tree. when voice ne;
him attracted his attention.
Leaving his ak where he had just SCI
it ouivering into the body of the ire
Pat turned quickly to meet the gaze I
thick-set, bushy-haired and bush,
bearded man apparently about thirt.
five years of age, who had been stant
ing just behind him,
Pat did not remember ever havir
met the man before, but the look TIL
came into his eyes as he quickly suwe
ed the stranger from head to foot, plai
" indicated his opinion of the man.
Pat possessed but little book know
edge, only enough to enable him
spell out few of the simplest words
print and writing, and just enough pc
manship to be able to make a hideo.
looking scrawl which he proudly a
serted to be his autograph, but whiC
even Horace Greeley with his ind
scribable chirography would have pr
nounced the unmistakable handiwor
OF genius; but he possessed that RAJ
quality which in the lower animals
denominated instinct. i which is 0
ten a surer guide to follow than eve
reason trained by knowledge and obse
walton.
There was something repulsive in Il
appearance of the man. and the fir.
1eellng Pat experienced upon seem
nm was not unlike that which wouI
have been produced had he sudden
discovered himself in close proximi,
to a cooked rattlesnake.
However, Pat returned the stranger
salutation in as afiable manner as |
could, and waited for him to open Il
conversation.
After the space Of a minute duril
which the two men eyed each 9TH
closely and with looks which plainly b
t0kened that neither was possessed
the others favor, the strangers stel
c0untenance relaxed and he smiled