Year: 1864

In the autumn of 1877, while the wood
we're bright with the Eariegated hues wbicl
follow the light touches of early frost,
mountain traveller was quietly pursuing BIZ
way througha dark, broad, lonely forest, il
the western part OF the State of New York
He had ridden three miles since seeing hu
man habitation, and he had yet two miles tc
go before he could get sight of another. He
was descending hill into a gloomy looking
valley, through which flowed a shallow but
swift-running stream; and on reaching the wa
ter, he permitted his thirsty beast 10 stop and
drink.


At that moment a man came out from q
cluster of bushes into the road, or horse-path,
on the other side of the stream. This man
was dressed like hunter, and carried rife
on his shoulder. In his general appearance
there was nothing that indicated hostility or a
wicked design. He was of medium size, COM
pactly built, with intellectual features and a
certain air of gentility-seeming rather as
one abroad from some settlement for day s
sport than professional hunter. All this the
mounted traveller carefully noted before he
crossed the stream to continue his journey,
and when they came near together pleasant
salution was exchanged.


t'Fine weather for travelling, sir" remarked
the man with the gun.


"And for hunting, also, should suppose y
smiled The other on the horae.


"Yes, there is game enough" returned the
other; "but am not a good hunter, and can
only show one bear for my days work thus
far, and that is almost useless to me, because
have no means of taking it away. would
willingly give dollar for the use of horse
like yours for a couple of hours. If you
could spare Eve minutes orso, would like you
10 see the bear. 1t is only just back behind
these bushes, some two hundred yards from
here"


81 will not only look at it," replied the
traveller, dismounting and fastening his horse,
hut, if not too heavy, | will take it along for
you, seeing l am going your way" ~.


The hunter thanked him in most cordial
manner, and then as if to make himself agree
able and keep, up the conversation, inquired
where the other was from, whittier journeying,
and so forth; and learned in reply, that tie
latter resided in Albany, was a merchant in
good business, and was travelling partly for
his health, and partly with the view of making
an extensive land purchase for future speculs-
ton. -


"Well, here we are!' exclaimed the hunter
as the two emerged from the dense tbicket
through which they had slowly forced their
way, into the open wood; "here we arel and
now will show you as fine and fat beast as
you ever saw. Observe where point my RI
heW


He stepped back some eight or ten feet, de-
liberately raised the piece to his eye, pointed
the muzzle directly at the head of the traveller.
There was fash, a loud report, and the vic
tim fell like log his face covered with blood.


This might, or it might not, have been the
6rst crime committed by the man with the
rife. But as the traveller fell the rife slipped
from his hands, and he shook violently from
head to foot yet he ran to bis victim, and
hurriedy robbed him of purse, a pocket
book, gold watch and chain some curious
seals, diamond breast,pin, and a diamond
ring, which be fairly tore from his finger
Thea he dragged the body into the thicket,
picked up his rife, plunged madly through the
bushes TO the road, mounted the travellers