Year: 1859

"God have mercy upon US This excIa-
nation was not more sudden than Startingly
uttered, and sent the chis creeping from the
leaping heart in prcking sensations over the
skin.


1t was the first time | had ever noticed such
a tremor in the old squatterS tones, or a
manner which indicated that he ever felt fear
1t was something unusual, and with my own
young pulse quckened | watched the old man
by the dim light of the fire.


| had known Luke BIair-"Od Luke" as
he was calIed-for ten years, and yet knew
nothing of his history There was mystery
about him which none ever penetrated, an
eccentriclty of manner which gave his move
mentS peculiar interest to his rough but true
hearted comrades He spent his time in the
woods, and never brought in any thing but
wolves scaps. There was a fierce burning
look in his eye as he flung them upon the
ground, aud be would sit for hours after one
of his excursions with his head bowed between
his hands.


As unsocial as was the squatter, he was re-
spected by all who had come in contact with
him. He was brave to madness aud yet as
cool in danger as in his camp. Nor was there
anything rough in his manners on the CON
trary, there was an easy bearing, which
almost elegance-bespoke day of education
and refinement And when he did speak his
language was we'll chosen.


Blair had other qualifications which won the
respect of the hardy spirits around him. He
was six feet in height, broad shouldered, full
chested, and form erect and his limbs were
models of symmetry and strength hair aud
beard had grown unshorn since we had known
q bicl- 10 ipkl ln1 yUit
but the fore head though darkly bronzed and
deeply scanned, was almost massive, and the
head of faultless mould The eye was dark,
lustrous, and in excitement, of peculiar and
fascinating power Around bis neck was some
sacred token, which no eye had seen, and which
he guarded with jealous care.


There was something about the old man
his commanding presence, his bravery, and his
lonely habits aud sad manner-whch won my
young heart, and | watched every opportunity
of mauifesting my regard. | had engaged him
to guide me to the Mississippi, by way of


-Prairie.


For several days we threaded the dense
forests which iutervened, and under great diff
cultes The snow bad fallen to an unusual
depth, the cold was intense, and rendered more
jutolerable by the fierce wind from the prairie
waste. we were warmly QTesSGut DuI tucTe
were times when the weary frame began to
feel the dreamy influence of the sleep which
steals so fatally over the senses.


On the night in question we had turned aside
to seek the shelter of grove of small timber
and to find fuel for our fire. We had faced
the binding storm all day. and could hardly
keep sufficiently awake to kindle the fire and
secure wood for the night. We had just &C
compshed this when the hunter made the
exclamation at the head Of our story. | was
awake at once, and blood tinged through my
chilled veins, for knew that Luke Blair would
not so speak without cause.


NJ Hark %


The word was but a whisper, bat had ter
Fible e'distinctness His hand had invountarily
sought his rife, and bis head turned towards the
woods. heard nothing but the wild roar O
the storm as it swept by.


"Theretis again The devils are on ouI
track !" and he elutched his knife handle with
steady grasp, and breathed hardly between
his thin nostrilS.


heard the noise this time, which had at
tracted his attention before swelling, as th,