Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1892-01-05
REYENGRD.

We haQ cast our lot, my twin
brother and myself in the toughest
part OF Upper Canada. Twenty years
are in their graves since then-tWenty
years rung out and rung In by the
sound OF the woodman's axe, and atill
that township lies In tho heart OF the
primeval forest. CIotted woods over
| composed of few log huts, nightly
drenched, as with adeath sweat, from
the malaria OF tho swamp.
We were twins, Jack and I, but
otherwise unlike. He was flno fell
low: I acknowledged his supremacy,
and rejoiced In his bold, free spirit.
From his childhood he had been the
most impulsive creature that ever
| pointed a moral for headlong youth.
Ever in scrapes and difficulties, but
never to his dishonor.
We did not settle down to the reRu-
lation-lifs of the settler all at oRcs !;
We determined to sip the neotar OF
life on the Seugog. u, indeed, there
was any of that nmbrosial draught to
be drained in the township.
A few rough settlers formed our So
eieESTSs on the Scugog: among them
Was salf- breed, named OlieF, who
haGN Ink from the dignity of forest
life to the servitude aud buffetting Of
white settlers. I am no great disciple
OF Lavater, but never liked that
half breed.
1t was getting late in the fall; the
| Indian summer-that beautiful dream
of ioveliness-llad restored to us In
evanescent beauty the glories OF a
Canadian autumn. The forests were
gay with color, and the air was yet
balmy with the lingering sweetness OF
summer. One exquisite evening I
was listlessly smoking as lay on top
OF the blufI, vacantly sketching home
landscapes in the dark Scugog rolling
beneath. A canoe shot round the
bend of the river below the village;
1t was paddled by a solitary figure,
who turned out to be Jack. / knew
he had gone down the Scugog to fish
along the OlIer; but now no half
breed squatted In the opposite end OF
the canoe. A vague dread seized
upon me. as Jack. running his little
bark sheer up the bank, ,shouIderod
his paddle, and marched up 70 mo,
How now, Jackl what have sou
done with you charming companIon?"
"Gadl don't know" replied my
brother. citing down, ortental fash.
lon beside me.
mot know2''
We'll" said Jack, " I'll tell you; L
don't see why there need ba any se-
cret about it. You were quito right
about that OIier-you wero. He's a
good-for-nothing fellow. and coolly
refused this afternoon to paddle me,
when / wanted to go down the river 3
bit farther than usual.
'And you?"
ran the canoe upon q yard Of
bank-whether an island or not, I cnn-
not tell-gave the insolent rascal q
good bastinado with the paddle, and
sethim ashore" +,
Good Heayensi'' I exclaimed with
horror, don't you know, jack
haven't you sense enough to under
stand-that these Indian fellows arc
| vindictive to the last degEee-that
they will never forget or forgive a
blowP" ~.
"Poohr' said he, don't bother your
SeE Olier will be down on his mar
| Fr,.-bones to-morrow-see II he isn't
fssides, I owe him half a dollar"
| Tomorrow came, unfruitful with
| the half : breeds submission. The
story got abroad among the huts, and
the old settlers, who knew their man,
shook their heads ominously, and
/ boded no good to- my impuIsive
brother. However, two days passed
harmlessly, during which Jack and I
hshed and shot together. OlieT had
not reappeared, and began 70
breathe more freely. Doubtless. he
| had left the district.
Twenty miles below the village, the
dark Scugog whitens into rapids, and
Is hurled with gigantic power over 4
lofty preclplee. / had often wished 70
see the falls, but It had been hitherto
impossible to accomplish the distance
by my single arm. At last my wish
| was RratIded. A shooting party was
made up by some Of the villagers, and
at my urgent request, was included.
The arrangement was to spend .
night ut the falls, camping out on the
bank, and returning the following
day. Instead Of canoes, We wore -
sail down In large scoM. Strange 70
say, Jack did not care about going.
saying that he would enjoy himself
more in his own canoe; and, as Wo
| were already crowded for room, we
did not press him TO change his Teso-
tuition.
We had seen the stupendous falls IN
their lonely majesty, and were steer
/ AhB lAOAhCNAs6 " IL C0A DSOHs Z ~ ~ y
neared the village sgain, distant only
some i've or six mtIes, the sun waS
| sinking behind the tree horizon. Some
Of my companions were Fronch Co
nadians, and the evening before had
oheered our blvouacs with some gay
refrains of sunny France. asked
them FOR . Stsye. A strong chorus
rang up the yauited river. reeol-
lect the strain we'll: II Was favofite
Voyageur's dttty. sung 70 the dash Of
the oar.
Suddenly, the song iuIied. Ny
companions had eessed rowing, too,
and called my attention TO = canoe,
which Was hosting down the river Q
few yards ahead Of rs. They thought
it was break-loose, and stood BY %
strike 4 boat hook lhto It, Rith tie
j prospect of reward from the owner
up at the village There was setaod
1 CRY Of hOfEoE from the settler at the
i bow; and rs we crowded forward 70
see what was the matter. another erisd
1 out the awful tale OF blood; Here,
| young fellow, see your brother
/ staIked by Oiier, as sur0'S there's
death In rihs-bulIetH
It was an awful endI Ny poor
brother lay bent over his Idle paddle
In the canoe, welting in his heart'l
blood. An avon9ine bullet had