Year: 1879

A story of Wild Frontier Life.


You ask me to tell you a story.
Well, as | know of no better way in
which to spend the long evening be-
fore us, l will do so on one condition.
Each must try his hand at it when l
am through.


We were weather bound at rude
Western inn, almost upon the verge
of civilization. The day just past
had been a stormy one, and we had
got through it as best we could. Now,
AS the darkness came on early, and
the long evening loomed up before
us, we gathered about the rearing fire
of huge logs, which burned bravely
upon the hearth, and prepared to pass
it away by storytelling, a device to
which travellers III our situation are
always prone 10 resort.


The one who had been appealed to
for the first story was man of some
80 years OF age, who had followed ;hc
occupation of n peddler. lie had the
best turnout in the stable which that
part of the country had ever seen in
his line, though he had told us that
once he had for years carried pack
on his back. But by his own eXer-
tions and industry he had risen above
that now, and had snug sum laid up
against the time when he should give
up his business, and take the remain
ing years of his life IN an easier way.


We gave our consent to his condi-
tionS, and he at once commenced his
story.


at is now nearly fifteen years ago
that the adventure bttell me which
am about to relate.


1T was before | gave up my pack
for horse and cart, though l has, al,
ready made up my mind that could
afford it. l was travelling through 4
wild section of Country-wilder, il
possible, than this about us here
Between the settlements there wer.
long stretches Of forest filed witt
wild beasts, and now and then yot
came upon a band of strolling say.
ages. Besides these, there was the
usual class of villains, horsc-thieycs
and renegades, who wluld not hesi
tate to take mans life, il they
thought it to their advantage to do so


Zone night / stopped at a tavcrI
which stood in the midst of Il liLtl'
settlement Of not more than dozeI
| log houses. | had been the round o
them, and drove what bargains
could, and i'll the morning | was t.
90 on at as early an hour rs possible
for learned that | had nearly scor,
of miles to 90 before | should reacl
| the next settlement.


| "In the evening there was assem-
| bled in the bar-room all of the mall
dcnizens of the place, and anon!
them was one whom | at once sc
| down as villain. His looks plainl,
showed that there was little he woulC
hesitate to do if in the end there wa
anything to gain. Again and agaiI
| caught him looking toward my pacl
which 1 had placed in one corner o
the room, near the bar; and at ono
/ felt sure he was looking at me a
though calculating whether or not
should make a dangerous artagonis
in case he should rob me OF it. Tn
more / saw of him the less / like
his looks, and felt relieved when a
last he left the room for home.


81 was up betimes the next morn
ing, and as soon as had finished IN,
breakfast l started. rs l left tn
settlement behind me, L could no
help glancing about me to make sur
that the man of whom l had fOrme,
so poor an opinion was not tollowin,
me but he was not to be seen
Hardly anyone was stirring out G
doors, and there was little life excep
about the tavern, or where the whit
smoke curled up above the roof c
each cabin.


''Once within the forest, | hurrie
on, desiring to put as great distanc
as / could between me and the settle
ment in as little time as possible.


"A feeling of danger oppressed me
which 1 found it impossible to shak
off. l am not naturally timid or giy
en- to presentiments, as many are bu
on this occasion there was sort c
fear upon me of which l could not ri
myself, try as hard as might.


"All the morning kept on in thi
way, and by noon L felt that 1 ha
put such distance between myse
and the settlement that had no lor
ger cause to fear anyone 1 had lie.
behind me.


sAs l had learned from the land
lord that should not be able I
reach any human habitation befol
nightfall, 1 had taken my dinner alon
with me, and nov, feeling the nee
of it, sat down by the edge of


clesr stream which crossed the roaG
and commenced my noontide mea
Only q man who had walked as ha
done that morning can know the re
ish had for the bread and me,
which had been provided for me, an
when the generous supply had disal
peared I almost wished that there ha
been more.


ssThe extra exeFtsioa 7 had mad