Greenbrier independent. [volume] (Lewisburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1859-1980, 1897-10-07
MISCELLANEOUS.
ONE CHANCE.
AN ADVENTURE ON THE ICE.

One morning early in February
1889, two brothers, by the name o
Walter and James Farnsworth, Sc
out for days hunt in the forest. -
The stock of meat in their sovera
families was running low, and hunt
ing was the only resource they hat
In those days Of replenishing it,
They were accounted the best hunt
ers, as we'll as Indian fighters, tha
were in all the Miami country, int
which they had penetrated and bull
their cabins some three years before
the incident which we are about t
relate transpired.
Many are the important service.
the brothers had rendered the set
tiers about them, until at last they
came to be regarded as leaders il
that district, and no enterprise wa.
set on foot that they were not con
suited about, and their views in mos
cases were accepted by their neigh
bors. Over and over again had the
Indians been thwarted In their we'll
planed attacks upon some lone set
tiers cabin, through the interposi
tion of the brothers, and many
times, when the supply of food rar
low in the winter time, it was Their
hands which had provided 1t, and
brought joy where despair had taker
up its abode.
But to come at once to the Incl
dents of our story:
On this particular morning, as il
had been arranged the night before
Walter came to the cabin of his
brother, whom he found standing al
the door ready for start.
You're late, Walt" he said
after he had hidden his brother
good morning. 81 had begun tC
think that you had been frightened
by those clouds lying away there ir
the south, and had given up going
o-day."
hardly knew what to do about
1t, ] confess, James. 1t looked much
to me like rain at daybreak, and tC
my mind the air feels like it now
although the sky does not. What
do you say. Better risk it and go
don't you think ?"
Eyes. The snow is frozen now
and, at any rate, it will be good
snowshoeing through the fore par
Of the day. We have little meat ir
the house, and Burns's folks, over
yonder, have hardly a mouthful OF
anything. 1 sent Willie over there
this morning with half the meat we
had by US, and he said he never saw
people more thankful. Burns.
lameness is no better, and it amt a
all probable that he will be able tt
step out of doors again this winter ,
Well, If such Is the case, we
mustn't let EN- suffer, if we have tc
work the harder. But less us be off
The sky is Frightening off there ir
the south. and, after all, it may moi
rain or thaw much until we ge
back"
I" am ready, Susan" he said ad
dressing his wife, who at that mo
ment came to the door; "don't bt
alarmed for us if we are not bacl
until tomorrow. We shan't com,
In until we have got something t.
repay us for our trOuble.D
A few more words of trifiing i'm
portance passed between them ant
then the brothers, turning thei
backs upon the cabin, i'm a shor
time had plunged into the depths O
the forest, crossing the river, whicl
the recent cold weather had rendered
80 hrm that 1t would have borne ul
any weight to which it might hay,
been subjected.
The morning hours wore away
and noon came; still they kept OF
their course, and yet they had seel
nothing which would repay shot
The weather had very much moder
ated since morning, and the crus
which covered the snow was begin
ming to give away, and allow tn,
snowshOes to sink through in man,
places. The sky, which through tn
morning had been very bright, nov
grew a dead leaden color, giving un
mistakable signs that rain was com
ing; and if anything more wa
wanting to substantiate this, ther
was the hollow echo made by tn
sound of their voices; while tn
wind, which all through the fore
noon had been in the southwest
changed to the east and blew strongly
All signs about them, i'm both cart
and sky, gave assurance that a thay
was imminent.
Walter, as the signs Of the storn
began to multiply 80 thickly, wa
for turning back but his brothe