The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1886-09-04
Ak INDIAN LEGEND. ]

You GSlA hbplSSlaISAlIA ACOhAhesOR NJ Ot-fS~~o
spalr when found myself, weary, be;
wiIdersd, and storm. bound In the great
woods OF Canada.
II was twenty years ago, to be sure,
Sut the recollection Of that night ls as
vivid in my mind as an event Of yes
terday. I had spent the day in pursuit
or gslrne, and when night began to fall
gave Hp the chase with the purpose Of
going 60 tho settlement. An hour Of
hard trndging through the snow still
found me among the whitened trees,
confused, lost.
After fully awakening to a realiza-
Mon Of the situation, there seemed to
tome s. cold wave sweeping through
the great dismal forest, and with the
shudder Of apprehension came a chill
that seemed TO stiffen my limbs and
frost SOY face. The paroxysm Of fear
laste6 bat a brief period. but the IN
tense cold could not be overcome by
mental action, and the fact became
Sorclbly impressed that I must keep
moving or perish.
''Il only knew which way to go,''
rSnutrsred to myself.
EaZed up through the lea lless, ,creak-
Ing Branches Of tho tall trees to see if
alhe STARS had appeared, but the sky was
overcast AMI not twinkling object
met l,e anxious gaze. Night had fully
come; there was no moon, but the dark
ness, was not intense. The earth being
ma,Wied with fleecy white, and the
trees fringed with the same, dark OBJ
jec.s we're visible for several yards
around.
I'he tramp was resumed with no idea
:sts ta direction or what adventures lay
In :ay path. Perhaps was going
deti,cr and deeper into the great woods
and # not there was little hope Of get
ting ont that night.
What night The wind cut as if
Tilletl with millions of fine needles, fly
ing roints foremost, and now began
vcrns1!ns SO as to make walking more
la6mious.
cast about me for some spot which
would afford shelter from the bowling
temwesta but only the sturdy trees,
studded in the great, white blanket
Gouid ba seen. I was weary and chilled
TO tne bone, but dared not stop. Hour
raftt.r tour slowly passed, and no halt
7haI Seon made. My watch told me
&ha. hslf OF the night had been passed,
but could survive the ether half?
That was the question.
i did, Of course, but it seems to me
now. as it did then, that Providence
guided my weary steps to safe rescue,
at the very moment when was dis.
cusSing the possibility of enduring the
cold until dawn q strange object loom
ed up before me. 1t was a wigwam
made OF poles and closely covered with
bark.
A single wlgwam buried. it proved,
in the heart Of the great Canada woods.
"A cloud Of smoke almost as white as
the Snow issued from the top. Never
was mortal more gratiBed. Going close
TO the fur-closed doorway cried out:
"IIello, therel'
There was no response and L cried
~aut again. The skin moved and the
1nuz2le OF a rifle appeared.
"a white hunter lost in the woods"
4 eaid, getting out Of range Of the gun.
white hunter come ln."
a moment later l was out OF the BIT
Gng frost out. Of danger.
found the only occupant Of the
forest lodge to be very aged Indian.
III 9 f&oe was wrinkled, his form bent,
and the light covering Of hair upon his
Mead as white as the crystals that dane
cd in the winter winds outside.
The old man spoke English very
clearly, and seemed glad had como.
He revived the fire, wrapped a blanket
of wolf skin about my shoulders, and
at once set about preparing some warm
Rood ana drink. After thawing out
and partakipg of the red hermit's food,
we sat cross legged like Turks and
annexed our!p!pes. g5 Tie Indian was in
eliued to bereticent at first, but when
she learned that I was from the Upper
Mississippi he became Interested.
s.You have been up and down the
sareat -iver he interrogated.
.'Many times" returned.
t'Yea have seen the great bluff on
slse sunrise side Of Lake Pepin, then. u
''aIaiden rockp"
saYes.
a'Time and again. 1t is q fanou,
Sock. Every boat that passes up o,
naown the river contains people who
sga1e upon the great bluff and think o
~sssgiGona. who killed herself for love b,