Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1892-03-31

gave the insolent rascal a good bas-
tlnado with the paddle and set him
ashore"
Good heavens!' | exclaimed with
horror; don't you know, Jack-haven't
you sense enough to understand-that
these Indian fellows are vindictive tc
the last degree-that they will never
forget or forgive blow?'
"Pooh" said he, getting up quite mer-
rily and marching homeward, saying
over his shoulder: "Oh, don't you bother
/ yourself! Olier will be down ON his
marrow bones tomorrow-see if he isn't.
Besides, l owe him half dollar"
Tomorrow came, uufruitful with the
half breeds submission. The story got
abroad among the huts, and the old set
tiers, who knew their man, shook their
heads ominously and boded no good to
my impulsive brother. However, two
days passed harmlessly, during which
Jack and l fished and shot together.
Oller had not reappeared, and | began
to breathe more freely. Doubtless he
had left the district. He was an unset
tied fellow at any rate, and had no prop
erty or tie in the village to tempt his
stay.
Twenty miles below the village the
dark Scugog whitens into rapids, and is
hurled with gigantic power over lofty
precipice. had often wished to see the
falls, but it had been hitherto impossible
to accomplish the distance by my single
arm. AT last my wish was to be graft
fed. A shooting party was made up by
some of the villagers, and at my urgent
request l was included The arrange
ment was to spend night at the falls.
camping ont on the bank and return the
following day. Instead of canoes, we
were to sail down in a large flat bot
toned boat, termed in Canadian par
lance a scow. Strange to say, Jack did
not care about going, saying that he
would enjoy himself more in his own
canoe; and rs we were already crowded
for room we did not press him to change
his resolution.
Our expedition had little in it note
worthy. The river for over twenty
miles sail remained the same monoto-
nous, melancholy Scugog, never vary
ing for the space of hand Not YES
tlge of clearance was there between our
village and the falls, not glimpse of
bank. The trees lined the waters like !,
wall, and save the wild game no one
ever tried to force way through their
close knit ranks, woofed at the base by
tangle of unwholesome verdure. This
aspect had stern reason for remember
ing. The only bright thing was the
patch of cloudless blue sky seen at the
extremity of this long reach of wood
and water. Over all brooded the in
tensest silence. No bird trilled us
single song; all was still, save for the
lugubrious woodpecker, which, perched
on rotting tree, hammered its hollow
sides with its beak. Tap, tap, tap!-it
was most unearthly sound
We had seen the stupendous falls in
their lonely majesty and were steering
homeward in our scow. As we neared
the village again, distant only some five
or six miles, the sun was sinking behind
the tree horizon. A slight blue haze
bathed the long reaches of the river
with lneffable softness and beauty. We
voyaged on a liquid field of cloth of
gold. But ever and again, marring my
intense perception of its loveliness, came
the gha.tly tap, tap, tap of the wood.
pecker.
could not resist chilly sensation of
horror as | listened to the measured ca
dence echoing through the solitude. 1t
sounded like c. fin maker hammering
at his dismal task. A relief suggested
itself. Some of my companions were
French Canadians, and the evening be- |
fore had cheered our bivouac with some
gay refrains of sunny France. | asked |
them stave, but | said nothing about |
the woodpecker, whose note / wished |
them to drown. a strong chorus soon
vanquished the bird of i'll omen and |
rang mp the vaulted river. recollect /.
the strain well; it was favorite voy-
aSeur's ditty, sung to the dash of the |
oar.
Suddenly the song lulled, and again |
as l heard the reverberatino .
tap, tap of the ominous bird aloft on a
spectral fir. My companions had ceased .
rowing, too, and called my attention to .
q canoe which was floating down the .
river few yards ahead of us. They |
thought it was breakloo e, and stood .
by to strike a boathook into it, with the
of II reward from the owner up
at the village. 1t soon dropped down to
us, and came, like the note of the ghost
ly woodpecker, tapping against our scow.
There was Il stitied cry of horror from /
the settler at the bow, and as we crowd
ed forward to see what was the matter,
another cried out the awful tale of .
blood, Here, young fellow, see your
brother-stallSed by Olier, as sure's
there's death in rifle bullet!
1t was an awful end My poor brother
lay bent over his idle paddle in the
canoe, weltering in his hearts blood.
An avenging bullet had passed through
his heart. Stalked by Olier! Fiendish
Indian, that was thy work, and my
brothers blood rested on thy head! | |
shall not now detail the agonies of that
Indian summer. Through all my grief
ran the thought of an discriminating
vengeance. Vengeance2-na scant ius-
tice. | sought what has been law since
the world began-blood for blood. 1t
was vain in those early times of n in
1ipi al sustain II, CopaJo