Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-06-05
THE HUNTERS RESCUE.
BY SARAH Z. BIERcE.

Moze knight and his brother John
had been hunters and trappers in the
forests Of northern Maine for many
years. With the first snowfall they
shook the dust of civilization from
their feet and turned their eager faces
TO the wilderness to appear again on
ly when the warm sun had loosed the
icebound rivers and mountain streams
and the snow had disappeared from
the valley and hillsides. Occasionally
there was a winter when the game was
scarce in the Aroostook country north
of old Mount Katahdin. Then they
lost no time but crossed over the
border into the queens dominions and
pursued their winter sport with even
greater zeal than was usual in this old
camping ground. Moze was especial
ly fond of adventure. He liked the
wild life of the woods as much as he
despised any of the shams of civiIiza-
tion. He was perfectly fearless and
courted peril and adventure that 9th.
ers would have shunuei because he
liked to test his powers and bring out
all there vas in him Of intrepid dar.
ing,
His endurance and strength we're
great. He was rather under the usual
size, frame we'll knit and muscular.
His trained eye and ear were keen as
an Indians. No man in the town
could match him in wrestling, running,
jumping Or lifting. John was Moze's
companion during these long winters
of exile in the northern wilderness,
more out of love for his brother than
fondness for the life which they led.
Moze was the Nimroi of Oxford
county. There was not another man
IN the territory who could match him
on the hunting ground. Unfortunate
ly the days when the hunters prowess
was highly priced had gone by In this
land of steady habits and our two
hunters were looked upon as loving
shiftless ways which the young were
particularly exhorted to avoid. 1t
did not seem quite the thing for an
able bodied man to throw his long
fishing pole over his shoulder In plant
ing time and spend the livelong day
angling for speckled trout in the
mountain streams. Moze would, do
it in spite of all the gossips said, In
deed he seemed to approve of the
sport. Nancy did not object and
there his responsibility ended.
Some things about the hunter peo-
pie did appreciate. He was a capital
nurse and his services were at the
command of any individual who was
suffering. In this way he counter.
acted some Of his unpopularity and
won friends who loved him for what |
he was. To one of these friends, a |
lad of II, he undoubtedly owed his |
life one spring and terrible tragedy |
was prevented.
One summer In the SOS Tresley |
Woodbury., the only son of Jud ge
Woodbury., the magnate of Sweden,
was stricken wite typhus fever in one
of its worst forms. Everyone liked
the lad. He was q generous, whole
souled fellow, very lmpulsive and af-
fectionate. Now Maze Knight never
did fancy Squire Woodbury. before
he became Judge nor afterwards. He
usually walked on the other side of
the road when the pompous Judge was
coming. One day when Moze came
back from fishing excursion on Long
pond he learned that Tresley Wood.
bury had typhus fever and likely to
die. He forgot at once his dislike for
the Judge and went TO the great square
house at the corners, where the Wood
burys lived and asked to be permitted
to watch with the lad. A sight of
Moze Knights face sent q thrill of
joy to the poor, anxious heart of the
mother. She accepted his services at
once and took him to see the sick boy.l
The hunter stood only moment at
the bed side, then left the room, fol.
lowed by Mrs. Woodbury., who was
anxious to know what he thought of
her. sons case. He seized his hat and
reached the door before he spoke.
I'll be back right away, Mrs.
Woodbury., and stay, for Wesley is q
sick lad ..,s-,ag. -~.a
He is indeed replied the mother
sadly,
Moze was gone half an hour or SO,
when he came back, his hands and
pockets full of herbs he had gathered {
down by Webber's pond. II
He made poultices for the boys {
teet, and concocted cooling drinks.
which contained an antidode for the I
subtle poison coursing through Wes- t
ey's VEINS and sapping bis young life h
.way. e y '@ 71@ aa
ItDay and night the hunter watched h
BY the sick bed and never slept except a
% doze in his chair. for two weeks. q
Then the crisis had passed and Wesley
" oodbury, so weak that he could not 8
.aise one Of his almost transparent /
hands, was pronounced out of immi. y
lent danger. From this time on the q