Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1912-08-29

commencement OF our tale. by
SAYING that they were strangers
to each other, we do not mean that
the white men were acquaintance,
and the Indians strangers, but that
neither of the four had ever seen
either of the party until they met
on that grassy glade, though fame
had made them somewhat ac-
quainted through their reputa-
tons AT the moment when we de-
sire to present this group to the
imagination of the reader, three
of it's members were grave and
silent observers of the movements
of the fourth. The fourth individ-
ual was of middle size, young,
active, exceedingly well formed,
and with a certain open and frank
expression of countenance, that
rendered him at least well-looking,
though slightly marked with the
smallpox. His real name was Ben
jamin Boden, though he was ex-
tensively known throughout the
north western territories
by the sobriquet Of
Ben Buzz-extensively as to dis
tances, if not as to people. By the
yoyageurs, and other French of
that region, he was almost uni
versally styled lie Bourbon, or the
"Drone;" not, however, from his
idleness or inactivity, but from
the circumstances that he was
notorious for laying his hands on
the products of labor that pro-
ceeded from others. On a word,
Ben Boden was a "bee hunter" and
as he was one of the first to exer-
else his craft in that portion of the
country, so was he infinitely the
most skilful and prosperous. The
honey of lie Bourbon was not only
thought to be purer and of higher
flavor than that of any other
trader in the article, but it was
much the most abundant. There
were a score of respectable families
on the two banks of the Detroit
who never purchased of anyone
else, but who patiently waited for
the arrival of the capacious bark
canoe of Buzz, in the autumn, TO
lay in their supplies of this savory
nutriment for the approaching
winter. The whole family of griddle
cakes, including those OF buck
wheat, Indian rice and wheaton
flour, were more or less dependent
on the safe arrival of lie Bourbon,
for their popularity and welcome.
Honey was eaten with all; and
wild honey had reputation. right
fully or not obtained, that even
rendered il more welcome than
that which was formed by the
labor and art of the domesticated
bee.
The dress of leBourdon was well
adapted to his pursuits and life.
He wore a hunting-shirt and trou-
sers, made of thin stuff, which was
dyed green, and trimmed with a
yellow fringe. This was the ordi-
nary forest attire OF the American
riflemen; being of a character, as
it was thought, to conceal the
person in the woods, by blending
its hues with those of the forest.
On his head Ben wore a skin cap,
somewhat smartly made, but with
out the fur the weather being
warm. His moccasins were good
deal wrought, but Seemed to be
fading under the exposure Of
many marches. His arms were ex-
cellent; but all his martial ac-
courtrements, even to keen long
bladed knife, were suspended from
the hammer of his rifle; the wea-
pom itself being allowed to lean,
in careless confidence, against the
trunk of the nearest oak, as if
their master felt there was no i'm
mediate use for them.
Not SO with the other three. Not
only was each man well armed, but
each man kept his trusty rifle hug
ged to his person, in sort OF jeal-
GUS watchfulness while the other
white man, from time to time,
secretly, but with great minute
ness, examined the flint and prim-
ing of his own piece. This second
pale-face was very different per-
son from him just described. He
was still young, tall, sinewy, gaunt,
yet springy and strong, STOPPING
and round-shouldered. with face
that carried a very decided top
light in it, like that OF the motor
ious Bardolph. In short, whiskey
had dyed the countenance Of Ger
shom Waring with a tell-tale hue,
that did less infaliibly betray his
destination than his speech de-
noted his origin, which was clearly
from one OF the states OF New
n.