The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1898-11-05
MY INDIANA GUEST,

I had spent the autumn III HtiS
LOG hut which l had built on the head
waters Of the AEttibi, in northern
Ontario. l had lived chiefly upon the
beasts Of the field and the fowls OF
the air with L little Of civilization
pork and tea.
NovemDer's. first SHOWS warned ME
to return to the city, but the charm
of the forest life was too powerful and
1 stayed on. laying up treasures OF
health with every day that passed.
Early in December I was returning
late from Il days still hunt. with the
edible portion Of docs carcass on IN
eXtemporiZel toboggan Of birch-bark,
when. on approaching my cabin, OBJ
served human tracks, rot snoW-Shoe
tracks, but apparently those of 1 man
wading laboriouSly through the four
feet-leep snow. They led in the dl-
rection Of my Shanty. and as l had
seen no human face since lasr Sep
tember. when party Of mining pros
rectorS passed through. l hurried for
ward, reached my house, opened the
rude door and went in.
\ bright fire was blazing in The big
fireplace. and directly before the
hearth sat q motionless man. He was
evidently an Indian. for {: striped
blanket lay loosely around his shoul-
Gers, and his long black hair hung
10 II nnf.l- 4 In11hll- In T.
relied gun was leaning against the
wall near him. and on the floor lay a
pair of wet snow-shoes.
He did not even turn to look when
I entered, and I, according to north
kSand etiquette, paid 10 attention to
him, but set about cutting up and
looking some Of my recently killed
Eenison. When the meal was readE-1
Banded l2E guest J asefcari1g plate and
a ste2Ming bumper of tea. and sal
s5-.srif down or the other side of the
hearth with a similar rcgale.
During the progress of the meal,
which necessitated frequent re6llins
of the plates, I had good opportu-
nifty to observe the Indian closely. lie
was dark-colcred, very dirty. and
about thirty years old. His face wore
: the average Indians impenetrable
look Of stupidity. but it seemed tc
me that there was 4 more than aver
age amount OF viciousnesS and bru'
tality in his countenancc. as he 81.
Icntly and voraciously levoured the
venison and "damper" until the sup
ply was exhausted.
When 10 more food was offered. he
lighted his pipe and condescended &c
give NE an explanation Of his pres
ence in q mixture Of English, Angli
cized French and CAippewayan.
Ne come far; Yes. from there. Hear
snow: ver' froid: Injun heap cold. Nc
deer. 10 caribou. no mooin (bearl
Enfin. my racket he's broke out hees
cross-bar.-aDd me got for to wade il
snow so high. an I most cold to death
die for sure if no reach cabin. Vol
Ia and he produced the SnowSh0e II
question, Of which the forward cross
bar had snapped, slackening the net
work so that it was impossible tc
keep the foot in the thongs.
However little l liked the appear
ance Of MY guest. l felt that l hat
been the means Of saving his life. ant
threw down half q dozen hides and {
blanket in one corner for his bed. Be
in@ very tired. l lay down on II!
couch shortly after. but my last wax
ing remembrance Was Of seeing thu
Indian sitting motionleSS before I'll;
fire. smoking his short pipe and gaZ
in- solemnly into the glowing Goals.
When | awGEc in the morning i;
occupied the same position. but hi
pipe was gone and the kettle was boil
iM@ over the fire, which led me TO II
fcr that he had Rot sat there all night
I gct M. and after Il wash in IN ice
bound. du@out wooden basin outside
with the temperature 1T ten degree
below zero. I proceeded to get break
fast ready.
had supposed that my rcd MAJ
would leave shortly after this mGa!
l;Mt his SAnw->hor remained i;n"epair
c!. ANA lie showed no inclination fo
departure. He continued 10 smoke
while spent the forenoon ii STORM:
away my meat and in cutting fire
weed. aEG w!cIvT2r ! rr-cn;cred III
ca!!u found him sitting precisely ::