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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b82bc --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,4 @@ +*.txt text eol=lf +*.htm text eol=lf +*.html text eol=lf +*.md text eol=lf diff --git a/LICENSE.txt b/LICENSE.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6312041 --- /dev/null +++ b/LICENSE.txt @@ -0,0 +1,11 @@ +This eBook, including all associated images, markup, improvements, +metadata, and any other content or labor, has been confirmed to be +in the PUBLIC DOMAIN IN THE UNITED STATES. + +Procedures for determining public domain status are described in +the "Copyright How-To" at https://www.gutenberg.org. + +No investigation has been made concerning possible copyrights in +jurisdictions other than the United States. Anyone seeking to utilize +this eBook outside of the United States should confirm copyright +status under the laws that apply to them. diff --git a/README.md b/README.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..0add464 --- /dev/null +++ b/README.md @@ -0,0 +1,2 @@ +Project Gutenberg (https://www.gutenberg.org) public repository for +eBook #67759 (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/67759) diff --git a/old/67759-0.txt b/old/67759-0.txt deleted file mode 100644 index d411a40..0000000 --- a/old/67759-0.txt +++ /dev/null @@ -1,12824 +0,0 @@ -The Project Gutenberg eBook of The Demon Trapper of Umbagog, by D. P. -Thompson - -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at -www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you -will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before -using this eBook. - -Title: The Demon Trapper of Umbagog - A Thrilling Tale of the Maine Forests - -Author: D. P. Thompson - -Release Date: April 2, 2022 [eBook #67759] - -Language: English - -Produced by: Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading - Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from - images generously made available by The Internet - Archive/American Libraries.) - -*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEMON TRAPPER OF -UMBAGOG *** - - - - - - The Demon Trapper of Umbagog. - - A THRILLING TALE - - OF THE MAINE FORESTS. - - BY - - D. P. THOMPSON, ESQ. - - [Illustration] - - PHILADELPHIA - - COLUMBIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY - - 35 NORTH TENTH STREET. - - 1890 - - - - - COPYRIGHT - BY COLUMBIAN PUBLISHING CO. - - 1890. - - - - - CONTENTS. - - Page - CHAPTER I. 1 - - Town and Country contrasted, in relation to Vice and Crime.--A - Display Party to avoid Bankruptcy.--Gaut Gurley, and other - leading Characters, introduced as Actors in this scene of City - Life - - CHAPTER II. 15 - - Retrospect of the life of the Country Merchant, in making Money, - to become a “Solid Man of Boston.”--Humble Beginnings.--Tempted - into Smuggling from Canada in Embargo times, and - makes a Fortune, by the aid of the desperate and daring Services - of Gaut Gurley.--A Sketch of the Wild Scenes of Smuggling - over the British line into Vermont and New Hampshire.--Removal - to the City - - CHAPTER III. 27 - - Gambling (an allegory) invented by the Fiends, and is proclaimed - the Premium Vice by Lucifer.--A Gambling Scene between Gaut - Gurley and the merchant, Mark Elwood.--The Failure of the - latter.--The Refusal of his brother, Arthur Elwood, to help him.--The - Surprise and Distress of his Family - - CHAPTER IV. 38 - - The Downward Path of the Habitual Gambler.--His Family sharing - in the Degradation, and becoming the suffering Victims of his - Vices.--The Sudden Resolve to be a Man again, and remove to an - unsettled Country, to begin Life anew in the Woods - - CHAPTER V. 51 - - The moral and intellectual Influences of Forest Life.--Scenery of - Umbagog.--Description of Elwood’s new Home in the Woods.--The - Burning of his first _Slash_.--His House catches Fire, and he - and his Wife engage in extinguishing it, praying for the return of - their Son, Claud Elwood, to help them in their terrible strait - - CHAPTER VI. 60 - - Claud Elwood and his Forest Musings.--Dangerous Assault, and slaying - of a Moose.--Rescue of Gaut’s Daughter from the enraged - animal.--Strange Developments.--Incipient Love Scene.--Trout-catching. - --Return of Claud and Phillips (the Old Hunter here first introduced), - to aid in saving the Elwood Cottage from the fire.--The Thunder-shower - comes to complete the conquest of the fire.--The destruction of the - King Pine by a Thunderbolt - - CHAPTER VII. 76 - - Journey up the Magalloway, to bring home the slaughtered Moose.--Love - and its entanglements; its Sunshine now, its Storms in the distance - - CHAPTER VIII. 87 - - Jaunt of Claud and Phillips over the Rapids to the next Great Lake, - for Deer-hunting and Trout-catching.--Rescue of Fluella, the Indian - Chief’s Daughter, from Drowning in the Rapids.--Her - remarkable Character for Intellect and Beauty - - CHAPTER IX. 108 - - The Logging Bee.--The introduction of a New Character in Comical - Codman, the Trapper.--The Woodmen’s Banquet.--The - forming of the Trapping and Hunting Company, to start on an - Expedition to the Upper Lakes - - CHAPTER X. 124 - - Developments of the dark and designing character of Gaut - Gurley.--Tomah, the college-learned Indian - - CHAPTER XI. 137 - - Mrs. Elwood’s Bodings, on account of the connection of her Husband - and Son with Gaut and his Daughter.--Her Interview with - Fluella.--Claud’s Interview with Fluella and her Father, the - Chief.--The Chief’s History of his Tribe - - CHAPTER XII. 154 - - Adventures of the Trappers the first day of their Expedition up the - Lakes.--Bear-hunt, Trout-catching, etc.--Introduction of Carvil, - an amateur Hunter from the Green Mountains - - CHAPTER XIII. 175 - - The Trappers’ Central Camp on the Maguntic Lake.--Three - Stories of most remarkable Adventures in the Woods, told at the - Camp-fire by three Hunters and Trappers - - CHAPTER XIV. 200 - - The Voyage to Oquossak, the farthest large Lake.--The stationing - of the Trappers at different points on the Lake.--The appointment - of Gaut as Keeper of the Central Camp, on the Lake below.--The - Results of their Fall’s Operations, and Preparations to return - Home - - CHAPTER XV. 211 - - The Trappers overtaken by a terrible Snow-storm.--Their Suffering - before reaching Central Camp.--The discovery that this Camp - had been Burnt, and Robbed of their whole Stock of Furs.--Their - Providential Escape from Death - - CHAPTER XVI. 235 - - The Legal Prosecution to Recover their Furs, or punish Gaut, the - supposed Criminal.--The unsatisfactory Result, and Gaut’s dark - menaces of Revenge - - CHAPTER XVII. 246 - - Gaut’s Efforts to get the old Company off into the Forest, on a - Spring Expedition.--All refuse but Elwood and Son, who conclude - to go.--Love Entanglements, and the boding Fears of Mrs. Elwood - - CHAPTER XVIII. 260 - - Opening of Spring in the Settlement.--The Trappers fail to - Return.--Gaut comes without them.--The Alarm and Suspicions of the - Settlers that he has Murdered the Elwoods.--The Circumstantial - Evidence - - CHAPTER XIX. 275 - - The attempt to Arrest Gaut.--His retreat to a Cave in the - Mountain.--His final Dislodgement and Capture, for Trial and - Examination - - CHAPTER XX. 299 - - Retrospect of the Adventures of Gaut and the Elwoods.--The - Murder of Mark Elwood, and the Wounding of Claud, by Gaut.--Claud’s - life saved by Fluella - - CHAPTER XXI. 324 - - Gaut’s Trial, Sentence, and Imprisonment.--General Denouement - of the Story.--Gaut breaks Jail, escapes, and becomes a desperate - Pirate-leader - - SEQUEL. 350 - - Awful Fate of a Pirate Ship.--Gaut’s Death - - - - -THE DEMON TRAPPER OF UMBAGOG. - - - - -CHAPTER I. - -“God made the country and man made the town.” - - -So wrote the charming Cowper, giving us to understand, by the drift of -the context, that he intended the remark as having a moral as well as -a physical application; since, as he there intimates, in “gain-devoted -cities,” whither naturally flow “the dregs and feculence of every -land,” and where “foul example in most minds begets its likeness,” the -vices will ever find their favorite haunts; while the virtues, on the -contrary, will always most abound in the country. So far as regards the -virtues, if we are to take them untested, this is doubtless true. And -so far, also, as regards the mere _vices_, or actual transgressions -of morality, we need, perhaps, to have no hesitation in yielding our -assent to the position of the poet. But, if he intends to include in -the category those flagrant crimes which stand first in the gradation -of human offences, we must be permitted to dissent from that part of -the view; and not only dissent, but claim that truth will generally -require the very reversal of the picture, for of such crimes we believe -it will be found, on examination, that the country ever furnishes the -greatest proportion. In cities, the frequent intercourse of men with -their fellow-men, the constant interchange of the ordinary civilities -of life, and the thousand amusements and calls on their attention that -are daily occurring, have almost necessarily a tendency to soften or -turn away the edge of malice and hatred, to divert the mind from the -dark workings of revenge, and prevent it from settling into any of -those fatal purposes which result in the wilful destruction of life, -or some other gross outrage on humanity. But in the country, where, -it will be remembered, the first blood ever spilled by the hand of a -murderer cried up to Heaven from the ground, and where the meliorating -circumstances we have named as incident to congregated life are almost -wholly wanting, man is left to brood in solitude over his real or -fancied wrongs, till all the fierce and stormy passions of his nature -become aroused, and hurry him unchecked along to the fatal outbreak. -In the city, the strong and bad passions of hate, envy, jealousy, and -revenge, softened in action, as we have said, on finding a readier -vent in some of the conditions of urban society, generally prove -comparatively harmless. In the country, finding no such softening -influences, and no such vent, and left to their own workings, they -often become dangerously concentrated, and, growing more and more -intensified as their self-fed fires are permitted to burn on, at length -burst through every barrier of restraint, and set all law and reason -alike at defiance. - -And if this view, as we believe, is correct in regard to the operation -of this class of passions, why not in regard to the operation of those -of an opposite character? Why should not the same principle apply to -the operation of love as well as hate? It should, and does, though not -in an equal degree, perhaps, apply to them both. It has been shown to -be so in the experience of the past. It is illustrated in many a sad -drama of real life, but never more strikingly than in the true and -darkly romantic incidents which form the groundwork of the tale upon -which we are about to enter. - -It was on a raw and gusty evening in the month of November, a few -years subsequent to our last war with Great Britain, and the cold and -vapor-laden winds, which form such a drawback to the coast-clime of -New England, were fitfully wailing over the drear and frost-blackened -landscape, and the wayfarers, as if keenly alive to the discomforts -of all without, were seen everywhere hurrying forward to reach those -comforts within which were heralded in the cheerful gleams that shot -from many a window, when a showy and conspicuous mansion, in the -environs of Boston, was observed to be lighted up to an extent, and -with a brilliancy, that betokened the advent of some ambitious display -on the part of the bustling inmates. Carriages from different parts -of the city were successively arriving, discharging their loads of -gaily-dressed ladies and gentlemen at the door, and rattling off again -at the crack of the whips of the pert and jauntily equipped drivers. -Others on foot, and from the more immediate neighborhood, were, in -couples and singly, for some time constantly dropping in to swell the -crowd, witness, and perhaps add to, the attractions of the occasion, -which was obviously one of those social gatherings that have been -sometimes, in conventional phrase, not inaptly denominated a _jam_; -where people go to be in the fashion, to see, be seen, and try as hard -as they can to be happy; but where the aggregate of happiness enjoyed -is probably far less, as a general rule, than would be enjoyed by the -same company at home in the pursuit of their ordinary avocations. - -Meanwhile, as the guests were assembling and being conducted to the -withdrawing rooms, through the cash-bought and obsequious politeness -of some of the troop of waiters hired for the occasion, the master of -the mansion had taken his station in the nook of a window commanding -the common entrance, and was there stealthily noting, as the company, -severally or one group after another, mounted the doorsteps, who had -honored his cards of invitation whom he wished to see there, and who -had come whom he wished to have stayed away. He was a well-favored man, -somewhat past the middle age of life, with regular features, and a -good general appearance, but with one of those unsettled, fluctuating -countenances which are usually found in men who, while affecting, -perhaps, a show of independence, lack self-reliance, fixed principles, -or some other of the essential elements of character. And such indeed -was Mark Elwood, the reputedly wealthy merchant whom we have thus -introduced as one of the leading personages of our story. Though often -moved with kind and generous impulses, he yet was governed by no -settled principles of benevolence; though often shrewd and sagacious, -he yet possessed no true wisdom; and, though often bold and resolute in -action, he yet lacked the faith and firmness of true courage. In short, -he might be regarded as a fair representative of the numerous class -we are daily meeting with in life,--men who do many good things, but -more questionable ones; who undertake much, accomplish little; bustle, -agitate, and thus contrive to occupy the largest space in public -attention; but who, when sifted, are found, as Pope maliciously says of -women, to - - “have no character at all.” - -After pursuing his observations a while, with an air of disappointment -or indifference, Elwood was about to turn away, when his eye caught -a glimpse of an approaching group of guests, whose appearance at -once lighted up his countenance with a smile of satisfaction, and -he half-ejaculated: “There they come!--the solid men of Boston. The -presence of these, with the others who will all serve as trumpeters -of the affair, will quell every suspicion of my credit till some new -strike shall place me beyond danger. Yes, just as I calculated, the -money spent will be the cunningest investment I have made these six -months. But who is that tagging along alone after the rest?” he added, -his countenance suddenly changing to a troubled look, and slowly, -and with a strange emphasis, pronouncing the name, “GAUT GURLEY!” he -hurried away from his post of observation. - -The person whose obviously unexpected appearance among the arriving -guests had so much disturbed our host, having leisurely brought up -the rear, now paused a few paces from the door, and took a deliberate -survey of all that was visible through the windows of the scene -passing within. He was a man of a personal appearance not likely to be -forgotten. His strong, upright, well-proportioned frame, full, rounded -head, and unexceptionable features, were unusually well calculated to -arrest the attention, and, at a little distance especially, to secure -the favorable impressions of others; but those impressions faded away, -or gave place to opposite emotions, on a nearer approach, for then -the beholder read something in the countenance that met his, which -made him pause,--something which he could not fathom, but which at -once disinclined him to any acquaintance with the man to whom that -countenance belonged. - -Perhaps it should be viewed as one of the kindest provisions -of Providence, made in aid of our rights and instincts of -self-preservation, that man should not be able wholly to hide the -secrets of his heart from his fellow-men,--that the human countenance -should be so formed that no schooling, however severe, can prevent it -from betraying the evil thoughts and purposes which may be lurking -within. It is said that God alone can read the secrets of the heart; -but we have often thought that He has imparted to us more of this -attribute of His omniscience than that which is vouchsafed us in any -one of our other faculties; or, in other words, that, to the skill -we may acquire by practice in reading the countenance, He has added -something of the light of intuition, to enable us to pierce into the -otherwise impenetrable recesses of the bosom, and thus guard ourselves -against the designs which may there be disclosed, and which, but for -that, the deceptions of the tongue might forever conceal. All this, we -are aware, may pass as a mere supposition; yet we think its correctness -will be very generally attested by officers of justice, policemen, -jailers, and all those who have had much experience in the detection of -crime. - -But, whether the doctrine is applicable or not in the generality -of cases, it was certainly so in that of the unbidden guest whose -appearance we have attempted to describe. Unlike Elwood, he had -character, but all those who closely noted him were made to feel that -his character was a dark and dangerous one. - -After Gaut, for such he was called among his acquaintance, had -leisurely run his eye from window to window of the many lighted -apartments of the house, and scanned, as he did, with many a sneering -smile, the appearances within, as long as suited his pleasure, he -boldly walked in, and, with all the assurance of the most favored, -proceeded to mingle with the company. - -On quitting his lookout, Elwood repaired to the reception-room, where -Mrs. Elwood, the mistress of the mansion, was already in waiting, -nerving herself to perform, as acceptably as she could, her part of -the stereotyped ceremony of receiving the guests, and exchanging with -them the salutations and commonplaces of the evening. Mrs. Elwood, -though not beautiful, nor even handsome, was yet every way a comely -woman; and the quiet dignity and the unpretending simplicity of her -manner, together with a certain intelligent and appreciating cast of -countenance, which always rested on her placid features, seldom failed -to impress those who approached her with feelings of kindness and -respect. She looked pale and fatigued, from the labors and anxieties -she had gone through in the preparations for the present occasion; and, -in addition to this, which is ever the penalty to the mistress of the -house in getting up a large party, there was an air of sadness in her -looks that told of secret sorrows which were not much mitigated by all -the show of wealth that surrounded her. - -By this time the company, having mostly arrived and divested themselves -of hats, gloves, bonnets, shawls, together with all other of the -loose etceteras of dress then in vogue, and carefully consulted the -confidential mirrors to secure that adjustment of collars, curls, -smirks, and smiles which are deemed most favorable for effect in -public, were now shown into the suit of apartments where the host and -hostess were waiting to receive them. - -But it is far from our purpose to attempt a detailed description of -the thousand little nothings which go to make up the character of one -of these great fashionable parties. Who ever came from one the wiser? -Not one guest in ten, probably, is found engaged in a conversation -in which the ordinary powers of the speaker are exercised. A forced -glee and smartness seem everywhere to prevail among the company, -who are continually sacrificing their common sense in their eager -attempts to appear gay and witty. Who was ever made really happier by -being in such an assemblage? Although the participants may exhibit to -casual observation the semblance of enjoyment, yet a close inspection -will show that they are only _acting_, and that, as we have already -intimated, their apparent enjoyment is no more deserving the name -of social happiness than that which is often represented as enjoyed -by a company of stage actors, in the harassing performance of the -fictitious scenes of some genteel comedy. Who was ever made any better? -Any rational discussion tending to exalt or purify the mind would be -deemed out of place; and any moral teachings would be ridiculed or -find no listeners. And, finally, who was ever made healthier? In the -bad air generated among so many breaths in confined apartments, the -high nervous excitement that usually prevails among the company, and -the exposure to cold or dampness to which their unprepared systems -are often subjected in returning home, Death has marked many a victim -for his own; while, at the best, lassitude and depression are sure to -follow, from which it will require days to recover. - -In these strictures on overgrown parties, we would not, of course, be -understood as intending to include the smaller social gatherings, where -men and women do not, as they are prone to do in crowds, lose their -sense of personal responsibility, in deporting themselves like rational -beings; for such doubtless often lead to pleasing and instructive -interchange of thought, and the cultivation of those little amenities -of life which are scarcely less essential than the virtues themselves -in the structure of good society. - -But it is time we had returned from this digression to the characters -and incidents immediately connected with the action of our tale. - -A short time after the frosts of formality, which usually attend the -introductory scenes of such assemblages, had melted away and given -place to the noisy frivolities of the evening, and while the bustling -host, and pale, anxious-looking hostess, were together taking their -rounds among their three hundred guests, bestowing their attentions -on the more neglected, calling out the more modest, and exchanging -civilities with all,--while this was passing, suddenly there arose from -without a confused noise, as of quick movements and mingling voices, -which, from its character and the direction whence it came, obviously -indicated some altercation, or other disturbance, at the outer door. -This attracting the quickened attention of Mr. and Mrs. Elwood, the -former left his companion, and was threading his way through the -throng, when he was met by a servant, who in a flurried under-tone said: - -“There is out here at the door, Mr. Elwood, a sort of a countryfied, -odd-looking old fellow, in rusty brown clothes, that has been insisting -on coming in, without being invited here to-night, and without telling -his business or even giving his name. And he pressed so hard that we -had to drive him back off the steps; but he refused to go away, even -then, and kept asking where Mark was.” - -“Mark! why, that is my given name: didn’t you know it?” said Elwood, -rebukingly. - -“No, sir, I didn’t,” replied the fashionable _pro tempore_ lackey. “And -if I had, my orders has always been on sech occasions not to admit any -but the invited, who won’t send in their names, or tell their business. -And I generally calculate to go by Gunter, and do the thing up genteel.” - -“Well, well,” said Elwood, impatiently cutting short the other in the -defence of his professional character, and leading the way to the door, -“well, well, we had better see who he is, perhaps.” - -When they reached the front entrance, they caught, by means of the -reflected light of the entry and chambers, an imperfect view of the -object of their proposed scrutiny, walking up and down the bricked -pathway leading to the house. But, not being able to identify the -new-comer with any one of his acquaintances, at that distance, Elwood -walked down and confronted him; when, after a momentary pause, he -seized the supposed intruder by the hand, and, in a surprised and -agitated tone, exclaimed: - -“My brother Arthur! How came you here?” - -“By steam and stage.” - -“Not what I meant: but no matter. We were not expecting you; and I fear -the waiters have made a sad mistake.” - -“As bad an one as I did, perhaps, in declining to be catechized at my -brother’s door.” - -“No, _you_ were right enough; but the waiters, being only here -for the extra occasion,--the bit of flare-up you see we have here -to-night,--and not knowing you, thought they must do as others do at -such times. So overlook the blunder, if you will, and walk in.” - -Mark Elwood, much chagrined and discomposed at the discovery of such -an untoward first reception of his brother, now ushered him into the -brilliantly-lighted hall, where the two stood in such singular contrast -that no stranger would have ever taken them for brothers,--Mark -being, as we have before described him, a good-sized, and, in the -main, a good-looking man; while the other, whom we have introduced as -Arthur Elwood, was of a diminutive size, with commonplace features, -and a severe, forbidding countenance, made so, perhaps, by intense -application to business, together with the unfavorable effect caused by -a blemished and sightless eye. - -“Well, brother,” said Mark, after a hesitating and awkward pause, -“shall I look you up a private room, or will you go in among the -company,--that is, if you consider yourself in trim to join them?” - -“Your rooms must all be in use, and I should make less trouble to go in -and be lost in the crowd. My trim will not kill anybody, probably,” was -the dry reply to the indirect hint of the other. - -In all this Mark’s better judgment coincided; but he had no moral -courage, and, fearing the cut and color of his somewhat outre-looking -brother’s garments might excite the remarks of his fashionable guests, -he would have gladly disposed of him in some private manner till the -company had departed. Finding him, however, totally insensible to -all such considerations, he concluded to make the best of it, and -accordingly at once led the way into the guest-crowded apartments. - -Here, contrary to his doubting brother’s expectation, Arthur Elwood, -whose character appeared to be known to several of the wealthier -guests, was soon treated with much respect, for, in addition to what -a previous knowledge of him secured, Mrs. Elwood had promptly come -forward to greet him, and be cordially greeted in return, and, unlike -her husband, had not hesitated to bestow on him publicly the most -marked attentions. As soon, however, as she had thus testified her -sense of the superiority of worth over outward appearance, and thus, by -her delicate tact, given him the consideration with the company which -she thought belonged to the brother of her husband, she gracefully -relinquished him to the latter; when the two, by tacit mutual consent, -sought a secluded corner, and seated themselves for a private -conversation. - -“As I said, I did not expect you, Arthur,” commenced Mark Elwood, in -the unsteady and hesitating tone of one about to broach a matter in -which he felt a deep interest. “I was not looking for you here at all, -these days; but presumed, when I wrote you, that, if you concluded to -grant the favor I asked, you would transact the business through the -mail.” - -“Loans of money are not always favors, Mark,” responded the other, -thoughtfully; “and when I make them, I like to know whether they -promise any real benefit. I could, as you say, have transacted the -business through the mail, but I confess, Mark, I have lately had some -misgivings and doubts whether your commercial fabric here in Boston was -not too big and broad for the foundation; and I thought I would come, -see, and judge for myself.” - -“But I only asked for the loan of a few thousands,” said Mark, meekly. -“The fact is, Arthur, that, owing to some bad luck and disappointments -in money matters, I am, just now, a little embarrassed about meeting -some of my engagements; and I trust you will not refuse to give me a -lift. What say you, Arthur?” - -“I don’t say, but will see and decide,” replied the other. “But, Mark,” -he added, after a pause, “Mark, what will this useless parade here -to-night cost you?” - -“O, a mere trifle,--a few hundreds, perhaps.” - -“And you think hundreds well spent, when you are wanting thousands to -pay your debts, do you?” - -“O, you know, Arthur, a man, to keep up his credit, must _display_ a -little once in a while.” - -“No, I did not know that, Mark. I did not know that the throwing -away of hundreds would help a man’s credit in thousands, especially -with those whose opinion would be of any use to him. But go,” added -the speaker, rising, “go and see to your company: I can take care of -myself.” - -The brothers, rising from an interview in which they had felt, perhaps, -nearly an equal degree of secret embarrassment,--the one believing that -his last hope hung on the result, and the other feeling conscious -of entering on a most ungracious duty,--now separated, and mingled -with the gay throng, who, swaying hither and thither, and, seemingly -without end or aim, moving round and round their limited range of -apartments, like the froth in the circling eddies of a whirlpool, -continued to laugh, flirt, and chatter on, till the advent of the last -act of the social farce,--the throwing open of a suit of hitherto -sealed apartments, and the welcome disclosure of the varied and costly -delicacies of the loaded refreshment tables, which the company, by -their strong and simultaneous rush thitherward, the rattling of -knives and forks, spoons and glasses, the rapid popping of champagne -corks, and the low, eager hum of gratified voices that followed, -evidently deemed the best, as well as the closing, act of the evening’s -entertainment. - -While this scene was in progress, Gaut Gurley, who had been for some -time in vain watching the opportunity, caught Mark Elwood unoccupied in -one of the vacated apartments, and abruptly approached and confronted -him. - -“Well, what now, Gaut?” exclaimed Elwood, with an assumed air of -pettishness, after finding there was no further chance of escaping an -interview which he had evidently been trying to avoid; “what would you -have now?” - -“I would just know whether you intend to keep your engagement,” replied -Gurley, fixing his black, quivering eyes keenly on the other. - -“What engagement?” - -“To give me a chance to win back that money.” - -“Which you demand when you have taken from me an hundred to one!” - -“And who had a better right? Through whose means did you make your -fortune? Besides this, haven’t I always given you a fair chance to win -back all you could?” - -“I want no more of such chances.” - -“But you promised; and I want to know whether you mean to keep that -promise or not.” - -“Supposing I do, you would not have me leave home to-night, would you?” - -“Yes, to-night.” - -“But my brother, as you have already discovered, I presume, has just -arrived on a visit; and you know I can’t decently leave him.” - -“And what do _I_ care for that? Say whether you will meet me at the old -room, or not, as soon as your company have cleared out?” - -“You are unreasonable, cruel, Gaut.” - -“Then say you will _not_ go, and see what will come of it, Mark Elwood!” - -“I must go--I _will_ go, Gaut,” replied Elwood, turning pale at the -last intimation. “As soon as I get rid of the company, I will start -directly for the place.” - -“Well, just as you can afford,” said Gaut, doggedly, as he turned on -his heel, and made his way out of the house. - -Mark Elwood drew a long breath as he was thus relieved of the other’s -presence, and was leaving the room, when Mrs. Elwood, who had felt much -disturbed at discovering among her guests one of whose questionable -character and connection with her husband she was already apprised, and -who, from an adjoining apartment, had caught a slight glimpse of the -meeting just described, and enough of the conversation to enable her to -guess at its import, hurriedly came forward, and, in a voice tremulous -from suppressed emotion, said: - -“You surely are not going out to-night, Mr. Elwood?” - -“No--that is--only for a short time,” he said, hesitating, and a little -confused at the discovery of his design, which a second thought told -him she had made; “only for a short time. But don’t stop me to talk -now; you see the company are retiring. I must see the gentlemen off.” - -“Mr. Elwood, I must be heard,” persisted the troubled and anxious -wife. “I cannot bear to have you go off, and leave your only brother, -whom you have not seen for years, and for such company! O Mr. Elwood, -how can you let that bad man----” - -“Hush! don’t get into such a stew. I shall soon be back,” interrupted -the other. “You can excuse my absence. There, I hear them inquiring -for me. I must go,” he added, abruptly breaking away, and leaving his -grieved companion to hide her emotions as she best could from the -guests who were now seen approaching for their parting salutations. - -In a few minutes the company had dispersed for their respective homes, -and with them, also, had unnoticed slipped away their infatuated host. - - - - -CHAPTER II. - - “At first, he, busy, plodding, poor, - Earned, saved, and daily swelled his store; - But soon Ambition’s summits rose, - And Avarice dug his mine of woes.” - - -For the better understanding of some of the allusions of the preceding -chapter, and of others that may yet appear in different parts of our -tale, as well, indeed, as for a better appreciation of the whole, we -will here turn aside from the thread of the narrative just commenced, -to take a brief retrospect of the leading events and circumstances with -which the previous lives of the several personages we have introduced -had been connected, and among which their characters had been shaped -and their destinies determined. - -Some twenty two or three years previous to the juncture we have been -describing, Arthur and Mark Elwood, by the fruits of their unremitting -industry as laborers on a farm in summers, and as pedlars of what they -could best buy and sell in winters, added to the few hundred dollars -patrimony they each inherited, were enabled, in a few years, to realize -the object of their early ambition, in the opening of a small retail -store, in one of the little outskirt villages of northern New-Hampshire. - -Such, like that of hundreds of others among us who now count their -wealth by half millions, was the slender beginning of these two -brothers. And, although they were from the first, as we have seen them -at the last, as different in their general characters as they were -in their persons, they yet got on very well together; for, however -they might disagree respecting the modes and means of acquisition, -they were always as one in regard to the great result each alike had -in view, and that was to make money and be rich. And, by a sort of -tacit understanding, falling into the departments of business best -suited to their different tastes and capacities, the quiet, cautious, -calculating, and systematic Arthur confined himself to the store, -kept the books, contrived the _ways and means_, and, in short, did -the principal head-work of the establishment; while Mark, being of a -more stirring turn, and, from his brisk _bon homme_ manner and less -scrupulous disposition, better calculated for drumming up customers -and securing bargains for the store, did most of the outdoor business, -riding about the country, contracting for produce, securing barter -deal, and making himself, in all things, the runner and trumpeter of -the company. At night they usually met together to compare notes and -report progress; and they were never happier than when they sat down -in their small store-room, hemmed in and surrounded by casks of nails, -quintals of codfish, farming tools, etc., on one side, and narrow -shelves of cheap calicos, India cottons, and flaunting ribbons, on the -other, and recounted to each other the business and bargains of the -day. Thus the two, working on, like the spring and balance-wheel of -some piece of mechanism, in harmony together, soon placed themselves -beyond all fears of failure, and seemed happy and contented with their -situation and prospects. - -This situation of affairs, however, was not destined to be of very long -continuance. Not long after finding themselves safely on the highway -to independence, they very naturally began to think of selecting, from -among the fair young customers of their store, the ones who might make -them eligible companions for life. And, as the wayward love-fates -would have it, they both secretly fixed their affections on one and -the same girl,--the pretty and sensible Alice Gregg, who, though a -plain farmer’s daughter, was, to the vexation and envy of her numerous -rustic suitors, to be won by nothing short of one of the village -merchants. Alice was not long in discovering her advantage, nor in -deciding to avail herself of it, so far as to confine her election -to one of these, her two undeclared lovers. And, after balancing a -while in her mind the account between her judgment, which would have -declared for the reserved but sterling Arthur, and her fancy, which -clamored hard for the manly-looking and more social Mark, she finally -yielded the reins to the latter, and took measures accordingly. After -this, Arthur’s taste in selecting a piece of goods did not, as before, -seem to be appreciated. Her handkerchief was never dropped where he -had any chance to pick it up; and she was never quite ready to go till -Mark was nearest at hand to help her into her wagon or side-saddle. -By this delicate system of female tactics, common with girls of more -pretensions than Alice, she effectually repressed the advances of the -one, and as effectually encouraged those of the other; and the result, -as she had anticipated, was a declaration from Mark, an acceptance on -her part, and a speedy marriage between them. Arthur’s heart bled at -the event; but it bled inwardly; and he had at least the consolation -of believing that no one suspected the state of his feelings, except, -perhaps, Alice, and he was not unwilling that she should know them. He -therefore put the best face on the matter he could,--appeared wholly -unconcerned,--attended the wedding, and with forced gayety _openly_ -wished the new married couple the happiness which he _secretly_ -wished was his own. The tender passion had been a new thing to the -money-loving Arthur. By its elevating influences, he, who had looked -for enjoyment only in wealth, had been enabled to raise his vision to -a higher sphere of happiness. And thus to lose the bright glimpses, -and be thrown back to earth again, was, in reality, however he might -disguise the fact from others, a serious blow to his feelings, and one, -indeed, which soon mainly led to a movement on his part that gave a new -turn to his apparent destinies, and a no less one, probably, to those -of his then almost envied brother Mark. For, finding it impossible to -feel his former interest in business, in a place whose associations had -become painful to him, he secretly resolved to leave it as soon as he -believed he could do so without leading to any surmises respecting the -true cause of the change he contemplated. Accordingly, in a few months, -he began to suggest his own unfitness for making a profitable partner -in country trade, and finally came out with a direct proposition to his -brother to buy him out at a sum which he knew would be a temptingly -low one. And the result was, that the proposition was accepted, “the -partnership dissolved by mutual consent,” and the released Arthur, with -his portion, soon on his way to one of the eastern seaports, to set up -business, as he soon did, for himself alone. - -The withdrawal of Arthur Elwood deprived this little establishment of -its only really valuable guidance, and left it to the chance fortunes -of greater gains or greater losses than would have been likely to occur -under the cautious and hazard-excluding system of business which he had -adopted for its control. But, nothing for a year or two occurring to -induce Mark Elwood to depart from the system under which the business -had been conducted, and Arthur’s prudent maxims of trade, to which he -had been accustomed to defer, remaining fresh in his mind, he naturally -kept on in the old routine, which he was the more willing to follow, -as by it he found himself clearly on the advance. He was blessed in -his family; for his wife, who had no undue aspirations for wealth or -show, had not only proved an efficient helper by her economy and good -counsels, but added still more to his gratification by bringing him -a promising boy. Being the only trader of the village, or hamlet it -might more properly be called, he was conscious of being the object of -that peculiar kind of favor and respect which was then--more freely -than at the present day, perhaps--accorded to the country merchant by -the masses among whom he resided. And, finding his still comparatively -moderate expectations thus every day fully realized, he was satisfied -with his condition in the present, and hopeful and happy in the -prospects it presented in the future; for the demon of unlawful gain -had not then tempted him into forbidden paths by the lure of sudden -riches. - -But that demon at length came in the shape of Gaut Gurley. From what -part of the country this singular and questionable personage originally -came, was unknown, even in the neighboring village (which was within -the borders of Maine) where he had recently located himself with a -young wife and child. And, as he very rarely made any allusions to his -own personal affairs, every thing relating to his origin, life, and -employments, previous to his appearance in this region, was a matter -of mere conjecture, and many a dark surmise, also, we should add, -respecting his true character. For the last few years, however, he was -known to have followed, at the appropriate seasons of the year, the -business of trapping, or trading for furs with the Indians, around the -northern lakes. He had several times passed through the village on -his returns from his northern tours, and called on the Elwoods, whose -contrasted characters he seemed soon to understand. But he pressed -no bargains upon them for his peltries; for, disliking the close -questionings and scrutinizing glances of Arthur, and finding he could -make no final trade with Mark without the assent of the former, he -gave up all attempts of the kind, and did not call again during the -continuance of the partnership, nor till this time; when, finding that -Mark was in trade alone, he announced his intention of spending some -time in the village, to see what arrangements could be made, as he at -first held out to Elwood, for establishing this as his place for the -regular sales or deposit of his furs. - -But the fur traffic, whatever it might have been formerly, was now -not the main, if any part of the object he had in view. The times had -changed, closing many of the old avenues of trade, but opening new ones -to tempt the ever restless spirit of gain. And, although the fur trade -was still profitable, there was yet another springing up, which, for -those who, like him, had no scruples about engaging in it, promised to -become far more so. The restrictions which it had been the policy of -our government to throw around commerce, in the incipient stages of our -last national quarrel with Great Britain, had caused an unprecedented -rise in the prices of silks and other fine fabrics of foreign import. -This had put whatever there was of the two alleged leading traits of -Yankee character, acquisitiveness and ingenuity, on the _qui vive_ -to obtain those goods at the former prices, for the purpose of home -speculation. And Canada, being separated by a land boundary only -from the States, presented to the greedy eyes of hundreds of village -mammonists, who, like Elwood, were plodding along at the slow jog of -twenty per cent profits, opportunities of so purchasing as to quadruple -their gains; which were quite too severe a test for their slender -stock of patriotism to withstand. It was but a natural consequence, -therefore, that all of them whose love of gain was not overcome by -their fear of loss by detection and the forfeiture of their goods, -should soon be found, in spite of all the vigilance and activity of the -host of custom-house officers by whom the government had manned the -Canadian lines, secretly engaged in that contraband traffic. - -The history of smuggling as carried on between the Northern States and -Canada, from the enactment of the embargo at the close of 1807, and -especially from the enactment of the more stringent non-intercourse -law of 1810, to the declaration of war in 1812, and even, to a greater -or less extent, to the proclamation of peace in 1815, is a portion -of our annals that yet remains almost wholly unwritten. Although the -contraband trade in question was doubtless more or less followed -along the entire extent of our northern boundaries, from east to -west, yet along no portions of them half so extensively, probably, -as those of Vermont and New Hampshire, which, from their close -contiguity to Montreal and Quebec, the only importing cities of the -Canadas, afforded the most tempting facilities and the best chances -for success. Along these borders, indeed, it was for years one almost -continuous scene of wild warfare between the custom-house officers -and their assistants, and the smugglers and their abettors, both -parties carrying arms, and the smugglers, especially, going armed to -the teeth. In these skirmishes many were, at different times, killed -outright; many more were missing, even on the side of the officials, -for whom dark fates were naturally conjectured; while hundreds, on -both sides, were crippled or otherwise seriously wounded. Sometimes, -when a double sleigh, or wagon, deeply laden with smuggled goods, in -charge of three or four stout and resolute fellows aboard, who, with -as many more, perhaps, of their confederates on horseback or in light -teams, before and behind, were making their way, at full speed, with -their prize, from the line to some secret and safe depository in the -interior, was suddenly beset and brought to a stand by an equal or -greater number of government officials, deeply intent on a seizure, a -most furious conflict would ensue, in which the combatants, growing -desperate for the seizure or defence of the prize, would ply their hard -yeoman fists, clubs, loaded whipstocks, or whatever was at hand, with -terrible effect, and often prolong the melée till the snow or ground -was encrimsoned with blood, and scarcely an uninjured man remained on -the ground. Sometimes the besetting officials were made prisoners, and -marched off at the cocked pistol’s mouth into the deep woods, and, -after being led forward and backward through the labyrinths of the -forest till bewildered and lost, were suddenly left to find their way -out as they best could,--a feat which there was no danger of their -accomplishing till long after both the smugglers and their goods were -beyond the reach of pursuers. And sometimes the smugglers, when closely -pressed and seeing no hope of rescue if taken, as their last resort, -drew their dirks and pistols; and wo to the official who then persisted -in attempting a seizure. - -But the system of tactics more generally practiced by the smugglers -was that of craft and concealment, carried out by some ingenious -measure to prevent all suspicion of the times and places of their -movements, by travelling in the night or in stormy weather, or in the -most unfrequented routes, and, when pursued, by putting the pursuers on -false scents, or by feints of running away with loads of empty boxes to -mislead pursuit, till the goods, which had been previously taken to -some place of temporary concealment, could be removed from the vicinity -of the search and sent on their destination. - -Such were the general features of the illicit traffic which -characterized the period of which we are treating,--a traffic which -laid the foundations of many a village fortune, whose dashing heirs -would not probably be very willing to acknowledge the true source -from which the wealth and position they may now be enjoying was -derived,--and finally a traffic which, in its attending homicides and -desperate affrays, its hot pursuits and marvellous escapes, its curious -concealments and artful subterfuges, and, lastly, in the family and -neighborhood feuds which it left behind, would furnish materials for a -series of tales as wild and romantic, if not always as creditable to -the actors, as any thing ever yet spread before the public. - -It was this questionable business which was then occupying the thoughts -of Gaut Gurley, and in which it was his aim to involve Mark Elwood, -whom he had pitched on for the purpose, as not only a man of sufficient -means, with no scruples which could not be overcome, but a man whom he -believed he could make dependent on him, when once enlisted, and to -whom he could dictate terms for his own services. And it is no wonder -that a man of his dark cunning, working on one of the obtuse moral -sense, the love of money, and the thoughtlessness of consequences, of -Elwood, should, as he did, soon completely succeed in his objects. For, -after having kindled Elwood’s political prejudices against the embargo -law, which was held up to be such an outrage on the commercial rights -of the North that it were almost a merit to violate it, Gaut proceeded -to show how enormous were the profits to be made in this trade, and -how safely the goods might be smuggled in, through the back roads and -forest routes with which he was familiar, by employing Frenchmen, as he -could, at a cheap rate, to bring them in large panniers on the backs of -their Canadian ponies, or by engaging Indians, who could be enlisted -for even less wages, to bring them in knapsacks through the woods. -And so clearly did he demonstrate all this to the mind of Elwood, that -the latter, being unable any longer to resist the temptation of thus -securing the gains of a traffic, by the side of which the small profits -of his store at home dwindled into contempt, soon resolved to engage in -it. - -From this time Gaut was in high favor with Elwood. The two, indeed, -seemed to have suddenly become inseparable. They were always found -together, and always engaged in some closely private conversation, the -purport of which no others were permitted to know, or were enabled to -conjecture, except from the new business movement which was observed -soon to follow the forming of their mysterious connection. And that -movement was that Elwood put his store in charge of a clerk, and, -giving out that he was about to engage more extensively in the fur -trade, which would require him to be often absent, went off with a -strong and fleet double team, in a northerly direction, with Gaut for -his only companion. - -With the advent of this new era in the life of Elwood, every thing -became changed about his establishment. His bustling presence, with his -bantering, off-hand, and communicative talk, no longer enlivened the -store and neighborhood; and people, who before seemed to know every -thing about his business and plans, now knew nothing. For he was now -most of the time absent in conducting his operations at the north, -or in his stealthy journeyings thence to the cities, to receive and -dispose of the valuable packages which he had put on their passage. He -generally came and departed in the night, and, even during his brief -stays at home, he kept himself secluded, seeming to wish to be seen -as little as possible. All this, of course, led to considerable talk -and various speculations; but he so well shrouded his movements from -the public, and kept afloat so many plausible stories to account for -his change of business, that he prevented suspicions from taking any -definite shape about home, or spreading abroad to any extent that -endangered his operations, although those operations were constantly -continued for years, and, from cautious and small beginnings, at length -became more bold, extensive, and successful, perhaps, than any thing -of the kind ever carried on in the interior of New England. But there -was one whose suspicions of the true character of the business in which -he was engaged, notwithstanding his denials and evasions, even to her, -and whose fears and anxieties on account of the dangers she believed -he was constantly incurring, not only from seizure of his property -and the personal violence to which he was exposed in trying to defend -it, but from his association of reckless confederates, especially -Gaut Gurley, of whose dark character, as little as she had seen of -him, she was already filled with an instinctive dread,--there was one -whose suspicions, and consequent anxieties, he could never succeed in -quieting; and that was his discreet and faithful wife. She had, during -the first year or two of his new career, often expostulated with him -on the doubtful character of his business; but he, by always making -light of her fears, by telling her some truth and withholding more, -and disclosing as great a part of his astonishing gains as he supposed -would pass with her for honest acquisitions, generally silenced, if -he did not convince, her; and she, finding him always light-hearted -and satisfied with himself, when he came home, finally ceased her -remonstrances, having concluded she would try to conquer her doubts and -fears, or at least say no more on the subject. - -At length, however, after a prolonged absence on a tour, in which -he had a large venture at stake, he came home in a greatly altered -mood. His usual buoyancy of spirits was gone; he appeared gloomy and -abstracted; and, although, in reply to the anxious inquiries of his -wife, he represented himself to have been entire successful,--even -to a greater extent than ever before,--yet it was quite obvious that -something very untoward, to say the least, must have happened to him. -He would not leave his house after dark, he placed loaded pistols -within the reach of his hand when he went to bed, and he would often -start up wildly from his sleep. His whole conduct, indeed, was such as -to excite the deeper concern of his perplexed wife, for she feared it -betokened his connection with something very wrong,--something that had -brought him into deadly peril,--something, perhaps, done to others, -which made her tremble to think of, but something, at all events, -which made her more than ever dread to have him go back again to the -scene of his operations. But of the last-named of her fears she was -shortly relieved; for, to her agreeable surprise, he soon assured her -of his determination to break off entirely from the business he had -been pursuing, and, as much to her gratification as to the evident -vexation of Gaut Gurley, who had come on to look his employer up, he -firmly persisted in carrying out his resolution. Nor was this all. He -rapidly drew his business to a close, broke off his old associations, -privately left the place, and, in a few weeks, sent for his family -to join him in Boston, where it appeared he had been for some time -secretly transferring his capital, and where he had now established -himself in business, with all the means required, even there, of -doing it to the best advantage. And for some years he _did_ engage in -business to advantage, the same strangely good luck attending him, -and prospering wonderfully in all he undertook, till he gained the -reputation of being among the wealthiest of the city. But the spoiler -came in a second appearance of Gaut Gurley, who, having squandered in -the country the bounteous sums of money which Elwood had paid him for -his services, now followed the latter to the city. And, with the coming -of that personage, together with the foolish ambition that had, about -that time, seized Elwood, to outshine some of his city competitors in -display and expensive living, commenced the wane of a fortune which, -as large as it was, it had required but two short years to bring to -the verge on which we represented its unhappy master as standing in the -opening scene of our story. - -Having now related all we designed in this retrospect of events, we -will return from the somewhat long but necessary digression, and take -up the thread of the narrative where we left it. - - - - -CHAPTER III. - - “I strive in vain to set the evil forth. - The words that should sufficiently accurse - And execrate the thing, hath need - Come glowing from the lips of eldest hell. - Among the saddest in the den of woe, - Most sad; among the damn’d, most deeply damn’d.” - - -Once on a time, before the dark catalogue of vices was made complete -by the wicked inventions of men, or the evil made to counterbalance -the good in the world, the Arch Enemy of mankind, deeply sensible of -the vantage-ground occupied by the antagonistic Being, and anxiously -casting about him for the means of securing an equilibrium of power, -called around him a small company, consisting of those of his Infernal -subjects whom he had previously noted for their excellence in subtility -and devilish invention, and, after fully explaining his wants and -wishes to his keenly appreciating auditory, made proclamation among -them, that the Demon who should invent a new vice, which, under -the name and guise of Pastime, should be best calculated to seduce -men from the paths of virtue, pervert their hearts, ruin them for -earth and educate them for hell, should be awarded a crown of honor, -with rank and prerogative second only to his own. He then, with -many a gracious and encouraging word to incite in them a spirit of -emulation, and nerve them for exertion in the important enterprise -thus set before them, dismissed them, to go forth among men, observe, -study, and come again before him on a designated time, to report the -results of their respective doings, and submit them to his decision. -Eager to do the will of their lord and Lucifer, as well as to gain -the tempting distinctions involved in his award, the commissioned -fiend-group dispersed, and scattered themselves over the earth, which -was understood to be their field of operations. And, after noting, as -long as they chose, all the different phases of human society, the -secret inclinations of those composing it, their follies, weaknesses, -and points most vulnerable to temptation, they each returned to the -dark dominions whence they came, to cogitate in retirement, concoct and -reduce to form those schemes for securing the great object in view, -which their observations and discoveries on earth had suggested. - -At the time appointed for the hearing and decision, the demoniac -competitors again assembled before their imperial arbiter; not -this time in secret conclave, but in the presence of thousands of -congregated fiends, who, having been apprised of the new plan about -to be presented for peopling the Commonwealth of Hell with recruits -from earth, had come up in all directions from their dismal abodes, -to hear those plans reported, and witness the awarding of the prize -for the one judged most worthy of adoption. Lucifer then mounted his -throne, commanded silence, and ordered the competitors to advance and -present, in succession, such plans as they would lay before him for his -consideration and decision. They did so; and one of them, a young and -genteel-looking devil, to whom, from a suppose congeniality of tastes -and feelings with the objects of his care, had been especially assigned -the duty of supervising the fashionable walks of society, now stepped -confidently forward and said: - -“I present for your consideration, most honored Lucifer, I present -FASHION as one of those social institutions of men which might the -most easily become, with a little fostering at our hands, to us the -most productive of vices, under a name least calculated to alarm. It -already holds an almost omnipotent sway over the wealthier, or what -they call the higher, classes of society, who hesitate at no sins that -can be committed with its sanction; and the disposition is every day -growing stronger and stronger, among all classes, to fall in with -its behests. Encourage its progress, make its rule absolute with all, -and the world’s boasted morality would trouble us, devils, no more. -This would be the direct and natural result among the most wealthy, -who would leave no vice unpracticed, no sin uncommitted, provided they -could excuse themselves under plea that it was fashionable. With those -of more limited means the effect would be still better; for devotion -to Fashion would beget extravagance--extravagance, poverty--poverty, -desperation--desperation, crime; so with all classes, the result, for -our purpose, would be equally favorable and _much the same_. The new -vice I therefore propose is the one to be made out of, and go under the -name of, FASHION.” - -“There may be something in this conception,” said Lucifer, -thoughtfully, after the speaker had closed; “but is it safe against all -contingencies? What if the world should take it into their heads to -make it fashionable to be good?” - -“Not the least danger of that,” rejoined the other, promptly. “That is -a contingency about as likely to happen as that your highness should -turn Christian,” he added, with a sardonic grin. - -“You are right,” responded Lucifer; “and, as your scheme comes -within the rule, on the score of originality, we will reserve it for -consideration.” - -“My plan,” said the next demon who spoke, “consists in inciting man -to the general use of intoxicating drinks, under the plea of taking a -social glass; for, let the use of these become general, and all men -were devils ready made, and----” - -“True, most true!” interrupted Lucifer; “but that is not new. That is a -vice I invented myself, as long ago as the time Noah was floating about -in the ark, and the first man I caught with it was the old patriarch -himself. Since then it has been my most profitable agent in the earth, -bringing more recruits to my kingdom than all the other vices put -together. But our present movement was to insure something new. The -plan, therefore, does not come within the rule, and must be set aside.” - -“The new vice which I propose,” said the third demon who came forward, -“is involved in the general cultivation of music, which I contend would -render men effeminate, indolent, voluptuous, and finally vicious and -corrupt, so that whole nations might eventually be kept out of heaven -and secured for hell through its deteriorating influences.” - -“I am not a little dubious about trying to make a vice out of music, -which would be all reliable for our purposes,” remarked Lucifer, -with a negative shake of the head. “I fear it might prove a sword -which would cut both ways. It may, it is true, be doing a pretty fair -business just now in some localities; but methinks I already see, in -the dim vista of the earth’s future, a cunning Wesley springing up, and -exhorting his brethren ‘Not to let the Devil have all the good tunes, -but appropriate them to the service of the Lord.’ Now if the religious -world should have wit enough, as I greatly fear me they would, to -follow the sagacious hint of such a leader, they might make music an -agency which would enlist two followers for the white banner of Heaven -where it would one for the red banner of Hell. The experiment would be -one of too doubtful expediency to warrant the trial. The proposition, -therefore, cannot be entertained.” - -Many other methods of creating an efficient new vice were then -successively proposed by the different competitors; but they were -all, for some deficiency, or want of originality, in turn, rejected, -till one more only remained to be announced; when its author, an old, -dark-eyed demon, who was much noted for his infernal cunning, and who, -conscious perhaps of the superiority of his device, had contrived to -defer its announcement till the last, now came forward, and said: - -“The scheme I have devised for the accomplishment of the common object -of the patriotic enterprise which your Highness has put afoot, proposes -a new vice, which, passing under the guise of innocent pastime, will -not only, by itself, be fully equal to any other of the many vices -now known among men, for its certainty to lure them to its embrace, -fascinate, infatuate, deprave, and destroy them, but will insure the -exercise and combine the powers of them all. It addresses itself to -the intellectual by the implied challenge it holds out to them to make -a trial of their skill; it appears to the unfortunate in business as -a welcome friend, which is rarely turned away; it presents to pride -and vanity the means of gratification that are not to be rejected; it -holds out to avarice an irresistible temptation; it begets habits of -drunkenness; and thus insures all the fruits of that desolating vice; -it engenders envy, hatred, and the spirit of revenge; in short, it -brings into play every evil thought and passion that ever entered the -head and heart of man, while it the most securely holds its victims, -and most speedily hunts them down to ruin and death.” - -“The name? the name?” eagerly shouted an hundred voices from the -excited fiend-throng around. - -“The name,” resumed the speaker, in reply, “the name by which I propose -to christen this new and terrible device of mine, to counteract the -power of virtue, and curtail the dominions of Heaven, is GAMBLING!” - -“Gambling! Gambling!” responded all hell, in thunders of applause; “and -Gambling let it be,” shouted Lucifer, as the prize was thus awarded by -acclamation to the distinguished inventor of Gambling. - -From this supposable scene among the demons, we pass, by no unnatural -transition, to a kindred one among men. - -In a back, secluded room, in the third story of a public house in -Boston, of questionable respectability, there might have been found, -a few hours after the dispersion of the party before described, a -small band of men sitting around a table, intently engaged in games -of chance, in which money was at stake; while on a sideboard stood -several bottles of different kinds of liquors, with a liberal supply -of crackers and cigars. Of this company, two, who have been already -introduced to the reader,--Mark Elwood and Gaut Gurley,--seemed to -be especially pitted against each other in the game. It was now deep -into the night, and Elwood said something about going home. But his -remark being received only with jeers by the company, he sank into an -abashed silence and played on. Another hour elapsed, and he spoke of -it again, but less decidedly. Another passed, and he seemed wholly to -have forgotten his purpose; for he, as well as all the rest of the -company, had, by this time, become intensely absorbed in the play, -allowing themselves no respite or intermission, except to snatch -occasionally a glass of liquor from the sideboard, in the entrancing -business before them. And, as the sport proceeded, deeper and deeper -grew the excitement among the infatuated participants, till every -sense and feeling seemed lost to every thing save the result of each -rapidly succeeding game; and the heat of concentrated thought and -passion gleamed fiercely from every eye, and found vent, in repeated -exclamations of triumph or despair, from every tongue, according to the -varying fortunes of the parties engaged. On one side was heard the loud -and exultant shout of the winner at his success, and on the other, the -low bitter curse of the loser at his disappointment; the countenance -of the one, in his joy and exultation, assuming the self-satisfied and -domineering air of the victor and master, and the countenance of the -other, in his grief and envy, darkening into the mingled look of the -demon and the slave. - -And thus played on this desperate band of gamesters till morning light, -which, now stealing through the shutters of their darkened room, came -and joined its voiceless monitions with those which their consciences -had long since given them, in warning them to break up and return to -their families, made wretched by their absence. So completely, however, -had they abandoned themselves to the fatal witcheries of the play, that -they heeded not even this significant admonition; but, with uneasy -glances towards the windows, to note the progress of the unwelcome -intrusions of day, turned with the redoubled eagerness often shown by -those who know their time is limited to their hellish engagement. - -Through the whole night, Fortune seemed to have held nearly an even -scale between Elwood and his special adversary Gaut Gurley, contrary to -the evident anticipations of the latter and despite all his attempts to -secure an advantage. Thus far, however, he had signally failed in his -purpose; and, at the last game, Elwood had even won of him the largest -sum that had as yet been put at stake between them. This seemed to -drive him almost to madness; and in his desperation he loudly demanded -that the stakes should be doubled for the next trial. It was done. The -game was played, and Gurley was again the loser. - -“I will now stay no longer,” said Elwood, rising. “I was forced here -to-night, as you well know, Gurley, against my will, and against all -reason, to stop your clamor for a chance to win back what you absurdly -called your money lost at our last sitting; though Heaven knows that -what I then won was but a pitiful fraction of the amount you have -taken from me, within the last two years, in the same or in a worse -way. I have now given you your chance,--yes, chance upon chance, all -night,--till your claim has been a dozen times cancelled; and, I -repeat, I will stay no longer.” - -“You shall!” fiercely cried Gurley, with an oath. “You shall stay to -give me another chance, or I will brand you as a trickster and a sneak!” - -“Gentlemen,” said Elwood, turning to the company, in an expostulating -tone, “gentlemen, I appeal to you all if I have not----” - -“I will have no appeal,” interrupted Gurley, in a voice trembling with -rage. “I say I _will_ have another chance, or----” - -“Take it, then,” hastily interposed Elwood, as if unwilling to let the -other finish the sentence; “take it: what will you have the stakes?” - -“Double the last.” - -“Double?” - -“Yes, double!” - -“Have your own way, then,” said Elwood, with forced composure, taking -up and shuffling the cards for the important game. - -The stake was for a thousand; and the trembling antagonists played as -if life and death hung on the event. And the whole company, indeed, -forgetful of their own comparatively slight interest, in the momentous -one thus put at stake, at once turned their eyes on the two players, -and watched the result with breathless interest. That result was soon -disclosed; when, to the surprise of all, and the dismay of Gaut Gurley, -the victory once more strangely fell to the lot of Mark Elwood, who, -gathering up the stakes with trembling eagerness, hastily rose from the -table, as if to depart. - -“What in the name of Tophet does all this mean?” fiercely exclaimed -Gurley, throwing an angry and suspicious look round the table upon -those who had doubtless been, at other sittings, his confederates in -fleecing Elwood. “Yes, what is the meaning of this? I ask _you_, and -_you_, sir?” - -“Better ask your own partner,” said one of the men addressed, with a -defiant look. - -“Elwood? Pooh!” exclaimed Gaut, with a bitter sneer. - -“And why not?” responded the former. “He may have as good luck as the -best of us, as it appears he has had. And hark ye, Gaut, you look -things at us that it might not be safe for you to say in this room.” - -“Gentlemen, you will all bear me out in leaving, now,” here interposed -Elwood, beginning to make towards the door. - -“Stop, sir!” thundered Gaut. “You are not a-going to sneak off with all -that money in your pocket, by a d--d sight!” - -“Why not, sir?” replied Elwood; “why not, for all you can say?” - -“Because I have lost, sir!” shouted Gurley, hoarse with rage. “I have -lost three games running,--lost all I have. I demand a fair chance -to win it back; and that chance I will have, or I’ll make you, Mark -Elwood, curse the hour you refused it.” - -“Gaut Gurley, you insatiate fiend!” exclaimed Elwood, in a tone of -mingled anger and distress; “you it was who first led me into this -accursed habit of play, by which you have robbed me of untold thousands -yourself, and been the means of my being robbed of thousands more by -others. You have brought me to the door of ruin before, and would now -take all I have to save me from absolute bankruptcy.” - -“Whining hypocrite!” cried Gurley, starting up in rage. “Do you tell -that story when you have my last dollar in your pocket? But your -pitiful whining shall not avail you. If you leave this room alive, you -leave that money behind you.” - -“Stop, stop!” here interposed one of the company, who had noted what -had inadvertently fallen from Elwood, in his warmth, respecting his -apprehended bankruptcy; “stop, no such recriminations and threatenings -here! I can show Elwood a way to dispose of a part of his money, at -least, without bringing on any one the charge of robbing or being -robbed. Here is a note of your signing, Mr. Elwood,--a debt of -honor,--for a couple of hundreds, contracted in this very room, you -will remember. You may as well pay it.” - -“I have a similar bit of paper,” said another, coming forward and -presenting a note for a still larger sum. - -“And I, likewise,” said a third, joining the group, with an additional -piece of evidence of Elwood’s folly, in the shape of a gambling note; -“and I shall insist on payment with the rest, seeing the money cannot -be disposed of between you and Gaut without a quarrel and danger of -bloodshed.” - -With a perplexed and troubled air, Elwood paced the room a moment, -without uttering a word in reply to the different demands that had -so unexpectedly been made upon him. He glanced furtively towards the -door, as if calculating the chances of escaping through it before any -one could interpose to prevent him. He then glanced inquiringly at -the company for such indications of sympathy or forbearance as might -warrant the attempt; but in their countenances he read only that which -should deter him from resorting to any such means of escaping the -dilemma in which he now found himself. And, suddenly stopping short and -turning to the new claimants for his money, he said: - -“Well, gentlemen, have your way, then. I had hoped to be permitted to -carry away money enough to meet my bills and engagements of to-day,--at -least, as much as I brought here. But, as I am not to be allowed that -privilege, hand on your paper, every scrap of my signing, and you shall -have your pay.” - -A half-dozen notes of hand were instantly produced and thrown upon the -table, and the holder of each was paid off in turn; the last of whom -drew from Elwood nearly every dollar he had in his possession. - -“There, gentlemen,” he exclaimed, with a sort of desperate calmness, -“in this line of deal, at least, my accounts are all squared. I am -quits with you all.” - -“Not with me, by a d--d sight!” exclaimed Gurley, no longer able to -restrain his rage at being thus baulked in his desperate purpose -of getting hold of Elwood’s money, by fair means or foul, before -permitting him to leave the room. “Not with me, sir, till the amount of -that last stake, which was just enough to make me whole, is again in my -pocket; and I’ll follow you to the gates of hell, but I’ll have it!” - -Cowering and trembling beneath the threats and fiendish glances of the -other, Elwood seized his hat, and rushed from the room. - -On escaping from this “den of thieves,” and gaining the street below, -Elwood’s first thought was of home and his shamefully neglected family, -and he turned his steps in that direction. But, before proceeding far, -he began to hesitate and falter in his course. He became oppressed -with the feelings of a criminal. He was ashamed to meet his family; -for, fully conscious that his looks must be haggard, his eyes red -and bloodshot, and his whole appearance disordered, he knew his -return in such a plight, at that hour in the morning, would betray -the wretched employments of the night, especially to his keen-sighted -brother, on whose assistance he now doubly depended to save him from -ruin. He therefore changed his course, and was proceeding towards -his store, when he met his confidential clerk, who was out in search -of him, and who, in great agitation, informed him that his drafts of -yesterday had all been returned dishonored; that bills were pouring -in, and the holders clamorous for their pay. Struck dumb by the -startling announcement, it was some moments before Elwood could collect -his thoughts sufficiently to bid his clerk return, and put off his -creditors till the next day, when he would try to satisfy them all. -And, having done this, he turned suddenly into another street, wound -his way back to the inn he had just left, took a private room, locked -himself in, and for a while gave way to alternate paroxysms of grief, -remorse, and self-reproaches. After exhausting himself by the violence -of his emotions, he threw himself upon a bed, and, thinking an hour’s -repose might mend his appearance, so as to enable him the better to -disguise the cause of his absence, on his return to his family, which -he now concluded to defer till towards dinner-time, he fell into a -slumber so profound and absorbing, that he did not awake till the -shadows of approaching night had begun to darken his room. - -Leaping from his couch, in his surprise and vexation at having so -overslept himself, he hastily made his toilet, and immediately set out -for home,--a home which, for the first time in his life, he now dreaded -to enter. To that wretched home we will now repair, preceding his -arrival, to relate what had there occurred in his absence. - - - - -CHAPTER IV. - - “Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish _father_, who - will no more be admonished.”--ECCL. - - -After the breaking up of the party, as described in the former chapter, -Arthur Elwood, on joining the family circle, and not meeting his host -and brother there, as he naturally expected, expressed his surprise -at the circumstance, and inquired the cause of his absence. But, -perceiving that the subject gave pain to Mrs. Elwood, who deemed it -prudent but to repeat, as she hesitatingly did, what her husband had -told her, that he had gone out, soon to be back, the former forbore any -further inquiries or comments, and soon retired to rest, wishing her a -good-night and pleasant slumbers. - -“Good-night and pleasant slumbers!” slowly and murmuringly repeated -the anxious and troubled wife, on whose ear the words, kindly meant as -she knew them to be, fell as if in mockery to her feelings. “Pleasant -slumbers for me! Heaven grant they may be made so by his speedy coming; -but----” and, being now alone, and thus relieved of the restraining -presence of others, she burst into tears, and wept long and bitterly. - -Woman was not created to act independently. The sphere in which she -is formed to move, though different, is yet so immediately connected -with that of man, that her destiny is inseparable from his. Her -happiness and prosperity are not in her own keeping. The welfare of -the husband is the welfare of the wife; and, if poverty and disgrace, -the concomitants of vice, fall on him, she must participate equally in -the physical evil, and drink as much deeper of the cup of moral misery -as her unblunted sensibilities are more lively, and her sense of -right and wrong are more acute, than those of him who has become dead -to the one and lost to the other. What wonder, then, that she should -so agonize and weep in secret over his moral deviations, and all the -more bitterly, because, with the most intense desire to do so, she has -no power to remedy the evil? But, for that sorrow and suffering, who -before high Heaven will be held responsible? Who, but the doubly-guilty -husband whose conduct has caused them? - -Through the whole of that, to her, long and dreary night, Mrs. Elwood -never once thought of retiring to rest, but kept up her vigils in -waiting and watching for her husband: now listening pensively to the -wind that seemed to moan round her solitary apartment in unison with -her own feelings; now straining her senses to catch some sound of his -approach; and now, perhaps, throwing herself upon a sofa, and falling, -for a moment, into a troubled slumber, but only to start up at the -first sound of the rattling windows, to listen again, and again to -be disappointed. In this manner she wore away the lingering hours of -the night, till the long prayed-for daylight, which she supposed, at -the farthest, would bring back her truant husband, made its welcome -appearance. But daylight came not this time to remove the cause of -her anxieties. Elwood had several times before staid out nearly -through the night, but the approach of daylight had always, till now, -brought him home; and, not making his appearance, as she confidently -expected, she became, as the morning advanced, really alarmed for his -personal safety, and would have immediately sent out for him, but she -knew not whom to send. She therefore concluded to put off the already -long-delayed breakfast no longer; and, summoning her brother-in-law, -who, with herself (her son, whom we have yet more particularly to -introduce to the reader, being temporarily absent from town), now -constituted all the family remaining to join in the repast. The two -then sat down to the table, and partook the meal mostly in gloomy -silence, one still hoping all might yet turn out well, and therefore -repressing her twofold apprehensions; and the other, out of regard to -her feeling, kindly forbearing to pain her with remarks and inquiries -on a subject which they mutually felt conscious was oppressing the -hearts of both. - -After the meal was over, Arthur Elwood arose, and, briefly announcing -his intention of going out to look up his brother, who, he said, would -be likely soon to be found at his store, left the house. At the usual -dinner hour, Arthur Elwood returned to the house, and was met at the -door by his anxious hostess, whose countenance quickly fell as she -perceived him to be alone. - -“Have you not yet seen my husband?” she eagerly demanded. - -“No, but have heard of him. He is somewhere in the city, I believe,” -replied the other. - -“In the city and not return?” persisted the surprised and distressed -wife. “How can this be?--what does it mean?” - -“I do not know,” replied Arthur, with a thoughtful and perplexed air. - -Mrs. Elwood for a moment stood mute as a statue; for, but too well -conjecturing what was passing in the mind of the other, she durst not -ask his opinion. But, soon regaining her usual composure, she led the -way to the dinner-table, where the meal that followed was partaken much -as the one that preceded it,--in silence and mutual constraint, which -was only relieved by an occasional forced, commonplace remark. - -“I shall again go to Mark’s store,” said Arthur, with stern gravity, as -he rose from the table, after he had finished his repast, “and I shall -also take the liberty of looking into the condition of his affairs. -After that, I may return here again, though to remain only for a short -time, as I leave for home in the evening.” - -Towards night Arthur Elwood returned, and in his usual quiet way -entered the room where Mrs. Elwood was sitting; when, shaking his head -as if in reply to the question respecting her still absent husband, -which he saw, by the painfully inquiring expression of her countenance, -was rising to her lips, he took a seat by her side, and, with an air of -concern and a slight tremor of voice, commenced: - -“I have been debating with myself, sister Alice, whether it were a -greater kindness to go away without seeing you, and of course without -apprising you of what I may have discovered respecting your husband -and his affairs, or come here and tell you truths which would be -painful,--too painful, perhaps, for you to bear.” - -“’Tis better I should know all,” rather gasped than uttered Mrs. -Elwood. “_You_ will tell me the truth,--_others_ may not. Go on.” - -“Your husband,” resumed the other, “wrote me for the help of a few -thousands, which I would have freely loaned, but for my suspicions that -all was not right with him; and, as I plainly told him, I came on to -ascertain for myself whether such help would be thrown away, or really -relieve him, as he represented, from a mere temporary embarrassment. -I have now been into the painful investigation, and find matters, I -grieve to say, tenfold worse than I suspected. He is, and must have -been for a long time, the companion and the victim of blacklegs and -cut-throats, and----” - -“I suspected,--I knew it,” interrupted the eager and trembling -listener; “and O Arthur, how I have tried and wept and prayed to induce -him to break off from them; for I felt they would eventually ruin him.” - -“_Eventually_ ruin him! Why, Alice, with his own miscalculations in -business, folly and extravagance in every thing, they have done so -already.” - -“But the main part of his property,” demanded the other, with a -startled look, “you don’t mean but what the main part of his property -is still left?” - -“Yes, I do, Alice,--but I see you are not prepared for this. Still, -you may as well know it now as ever. Yes, Alice, your husband is -irretrievably bankrupt!” - -Mrs. Elwood was not _indeed_ prepared for this development. She had -foreseen, it is true, the coming evil; but she supposed it was yet in -the distance. She knew her husband’s property had been a large one; -and the announcement, from one she could not disbelieve, that it was -all gone, struck her dumb with surprise and consternation. She uttered -not a word. She could not speak, but sat pale and trembling, the very -picture of distress. - -After pacing the room a few moments, with frequent commiserating -glances at the face of the other, whose distress evidently deeply moved -him, Arthur Elwood stopped short before her, and said: - -“Sister Alice, my time is about up,--I must go.” - -“Have you no word to leave for my husband when he comes?” asked Mrs. -Elwood, with an effort to appear composed. - -“No,--none whatever to _him_; but with you, Alice,” he added, drawing -out a small package of bank notes and dropping them into her lap, -“with you, and for you alone, against a day of necessity, I leave that -trifle--no hesitation--keep it--put it out of sight--there, that is -right. Now only one thing more,--what of your son?” - -“Claud?” - -“Yes. You know it has happened that I have never seen him.” - -“I do know it, and have much regretted his absence; for I wished you -to see him. But I am now looking for him every hour, and if you could -delay----” - -“No, no, I must go. Tell him to forget, at once, that he was ever a -rich man’s only son and heir, and learn to profit by a rich man’s -errors; for, till he does this, which, if he is like others, will -require some time, he will make no real advance in life.” - -“Your impression may be natural, but it hardly does him justice. He is -_not_ like most others. Claud is a man now.” - -“So much the better, then, for you and himself. But you see with a -mother’s eyes, probably, and speak with a mother’s heart. I will -inquire about him, however, as indeed I will about you all. Good-by.” - -Thus did the unimpassioned Arthur Elwood, with a seeming business-like -roughness and want of feeling, assume to hide the emotions which he -really felt in the discovery of his brother’s ruin, and in witnessing -the distress he had just caused in communicating it, hurry through -the painful interview, and abruptly depart, leaving Mrs. Elwood to -struggle in secret with the chaos of thoughts and emotions which -Arthur’s unexpected revelation had brought over her. She was not left -long, however, to struggle with her feelings alone. In a short time the -sound of a familiar footstep hastily entering the front hall of the -magnificent mansion,--alas! now no longer her own,--suddenly caught her -ear; when, with the exclamation, “Claud, O Claud!” she rushed forward -to her advancing son, and, to use the expressive language of Scripture, -“fell on his neck and wept.” - -“I heard of father’s failure,” said the son, a fine looking youth -of about twenty, with his mother’s cleanly cut features and firm, -thoughtful countenance, joined to his father’s manly proportions. “I -learned, as I came into the city, an hour ago, that father had just -failed, his store been shut up, and all his property put into the hands -of his creditors; and I hurried home to break the news to you. But I -see you know it all.” - -“Yes, that the blow was impending, but not that it had already fallen, -as you now report; but it may as well come to-day as to-morrow or next -week. Half my nights, for months, Claud, have been made sleepless by -the bodings and fears of the evil day, which, as things were going, I -felt must eventually come; but never, till within this very hour, did -I dream that our misfortunes were so near. But, though the storm has -burst so much sooner than I expected, I could bravely face it, could -we say that it was caused by no fault of our own; but to be brought -upon us in this manner, my son, it is hard, hard to bear.” - -“But you have not been to blame, mother; and I did not suppose you -thought enough of wealth to grieve so at its loss.” - -“I do not, Claud. It is not that; still, I could not help thinking of -your disappointment, even in that view of the misfortune.” - -“Mine, mother? Why, I am no worse off than father was when he started -in life; no worse off than thousands who begin with no other resources -than what lie in clear heads and strong hearts. I can take care of -myself; and, what is more, I can take care of you, dear mother. Surely, -you won’t doubt me?” - -“No, Claud, no. You have _always_ been my pride, latterly almost my -only hope; and I know not now but that you must be my only staff, on -which to lean as I pass down the decline of life.” - -“And I will be one to you, mother; but come, cheer up, and let us go in -and talk over these matters more calmly.” - -The mother and son accordingly retired to her usual sitting-room; -where, since her overcharged bosom had found relief in tears, and her -sinking spirits had been raised by the kind and comforting words of -her dutiful son, she told him all that had occurred during the two -preceding days, which constituted the brief but eventful period of his -absence. They then were beginning to counsel together on the prospects -and probabilities of their gloomy future; but their conversation was -suddenly cut short by the abrupt entrance of the wretched husband -and father, who, on his way from the hotel where he had spent the -day in sleeping off his debauch in concealment, having received an -intimation of what was going on among his creditors, had hurried home, -with a confidence and self-possession which he could not summon when -he started; for, out of this movement among his creditors, which he -still would not believe was any thing more than a sort of practical -menace to enforce payment, he saw not only how he could frame a -plausible excuse for his guilty absence, but make the circumstance an -irresistible plea for forcing from his brother a loan sufficient to -enable him to arrest his failure and continue business. On entering -the room, therefore, after saluting his wife and son in a sort of -brisk, unconcerned manner, and muttering that he “thought they would -never let him get home again,” he eagerly inquired for Arthur; and, -on being informed that his brother had started for his home, without -leaving any note or word for him, and especially on being told by his -son--as he at length calmly and persistingly was, in despite of his -multiplied prevarications and denials, what they all knew, and what he -himself should have been the last to be ignorant of--that the question -of his failure, for more than he could ever pay, had already been -settled against him, he became frantic in the outpourings of his rage, -disappointment, and chagrin; sometimes declaring that the world, grown -envious of his prosperity, had all suddenly become his enemies, and -grossly belied him; sometimes savagely charging his brother, wife, and -son with conspiring together against him; and sometimes cursing his own -blindness and folly. And thus he continued to rave, and walk the room -for hours, till his wife and son, having partaken their evening meal -before his unheeding eyes, and become sick and wearied in listening -to his insane ravings,--to which they had wholly ceased making any -reply,--retired to rest, leaving him to partake such food as was -left on the table, to occupy, as he chose to do, the same sofa which -his hapless wife had done the night before, to sleep down the wild -commotion of his feelings, and awake a calmer and more humbled, but not -yet a better or much wiser man. - -But we do not propose to describe in detail the rapid descent from -opulence and station to poverty and insignificance, which now -transpired to mark this era in the singular fortunes of Elwood and -his family. Their history, for the next three months, was but the -usual painful one which awaits the failed merchant everywhere in the -cities. The crushing sense of misfortune which, for the first few days -after the unexpected blow has fallen, weighs down the self-deceived -or otherwise unprepared victims; the succeeding weeks of dejection -and mortified pride; then the painful trial of parting with the showy -equipage, the costly furniture, and the cherished mementoes, which -had required, perhaps, the care of half a life in gathering; then the -compulsory abdication of the great and conspicuous mansion for the -small, obscure, hired cottage; then the saddening bodings and deep -concern felt in seeing the means of living daily diminishing, with -no prospect of ever being replenished; and, finally, the humiliating -resort of the wife and children to the needle or menial employments, -for the actual necessaries of life,--these, all these, are but the -usual graduated vicissitudes of sorrow and trial which are allotted -to those whose folly and extravagance have suddenly thrown them on -the downward track of fortune, and which the Elwoods, in common with -others, were now doomed to experience, and, on the part of Mrs. -Elwood, especially, with aggravations not necessarily incident to such -reverses. She would have borne all the deprivations and evils incident -to her husband’s failure without a murmur, could she have seen in him -any amendment in those habits and vicious inclinations which had led -to his downfall. But she could not. The hopes she had confidently -entertained, that his misfortunes would humble and reform him, were -doomed to disappointment. He still madly clung to his old associates -of the gambling-table; and all the money he could get was lost or -squandered among them, till he became too poor and desperate even for -them, and they drove him from their society to join another and a lower -set, who in turn compelled him to seek other still lower and more -degraded associations. And so descended, step by step, along the path -of degradation, the once princely merchant, till, despised and shunned -by all respectable men, he became the fit companion of the meanest -thimble-riggers of the cellars and the lounging tipplers of the streets. - -His case, however, as hopeless as it might appear, was not permitted -to become an irretrievable one. Through a seemingly accidental -circumstance, a light one day broke on his beclouded and half-maddened -brain, that led to a self-redemption as happy for himself and family -as it was unexpected by all. A former friend, one morning, moved -perhaps by his forlorn appearance, in passing him with a light -carriage, invited him to ride a few miles into the country; where, -being unexpectedly called off in another direction, he left Elwood to -return on foot by a nearer route across the fields to his home. After -travelling some distance, he reached an elevation which overlooked -the city, and, feeling a little fatigued, he sat down on a mossy -hillock to rest and enjoy the prospect. As he cast his eye over that -busy haunt of men, with its numerous spires shooting upward, its long -lines of princely dwellings, its encircling forest of masts, its lofty -warehouses, and other evidences of wealth and business, his own former -important participation in its busy scenes, and his present worse than -insignificant position there, rose in vivid contrast in his awakening -mind; and the thought of his past but squandered wealth came up only -to add poignancy to the sense of his present poverty and humiliation, -which thus, and for the first time, was brought home to his agitated -bosom. Suddenly leaping from his seat, from the torturing force of the -reflection, he exclaimed: “Must I bear this? Cannot I still be a man? I -will! yes, before Heaven, I _will_!” And, resuming his seat, his mind -became intently engaged in studying out ways and means for carrying the -sudden but stern resolution into effect; when, after another hour thus -employed, he again jumped up, and, with the air of one who has reached -some unalterable conclusion, he rapidly made his way homeward. - -While the besotted Elwood was undergoing, so unexpectedly, even to -himself, such a moral transformation in the solitude of the fields, -an event occurred to his sorrowful wife at home, which was equally -unexpected to _her_; which, though of a wholly different character, -produced an equally great revulsion in her feelings as the one -happening to her husband, about the same hour, was to him, or was -producing in _his_ feelings, and which, by the singular coincidence, -seemed to indicate that the angel of mercy was at length spreading his -wings at the same time over both heads of this unfortunate family. She -had been having one of her most disconsolate days, and was sitting -alone in her little room, gloomily pondering over her disheartening -trials, without being able to see one ray of light in the dark future, -when she received a call from one of her husband’s chief creditors; -who announced that those creditors, at a recent meeting, having -ascertained her meritorious conduct and needy situation, had voted her -the sum of five hundred dollars, which, confiding in her discretion -for a judicious outlay of the money, he now, he said, had the pleasure -of presenting her. And, having placed the money in her hands, and -taken the tear of gratitude--which, preventing the utterance of the -word-thanks she attempted, had started to her cheek at the unexpected -boon--as a sufficient acknowledgment, he kindly bade her adieu, and -departed. - -That evening the husband and wife met as they had not for months -before: each at first surprised at seeing the unclouded brow and -hopeful countenance of the other, but each soon instinctively feeling -that something had occurred to both, which was not only of present -moment, but the harbinger of happier days to come. When confidence and -hope are springing up in doubtful or despairing bosoms, the tongue is -soon loosened from the frosts of reserve, however closely they may -have before imprisoned it. Elwood, with many expressions of regret at -his past conduct, and of wonder at the blindness and folly which had -permitted him so long to persevere in it, told his gratified companion -all that had that day passed through his mind,--his sudden sense of -shame and degradation; his bitter self-reproaches, and succeeding -determination to reform; to atone for the past, as far as he could, -by future good conduct; to begin, in fine, the world anew, and, after -placing himself beyond the reach of those temptations to which he -had so fatally yielded, devote the remainder of his days to honest -industry. And she, anxious to encourage and strengthen him, and fearing -his total want of means might defeat his good resolutions,--she, -also, as she believed it would be true wisdom to do, informed him -of _her_ good fortune, and offered him a portion of her unexpected -acquisition, to enable him to engage in such business as he should -decide to follow. They then discussed, and soon mutually agreed on, the -expediency of leaving the city, where, as they had once there enjoyed -wealth and station, they must both ever be subjected to mortifying -contrasts,--both constantly doomed - - “To see profusion which they must not share,”-- - -and he be exposed to temptations which he might not always have the -firmness to withstand. - -“But I resolved,” said Elwood, after a pause, “not only on going to -the country, but on to a new lot of land in the very outskirts of -civilization. You, however, should I succeed in getting up comfortable -quarters, would not be content to make such a place your home?” - -“Anywhere, Mark; and the farther from the dangerous influences of this -wicked city, the better. Yes, to the very depths of the wilderness, and -I will not complain.” - -“It is settled, then. I was once, in one of my early excursions, along -the borders of the wild lakes lying on the northeastern line of New -Hampshire, where a living may be obtained from the cultivation of the -soil alone; but where more may be made, at particular seasons, in -taking the valuable furs that there abound. There I will go, contract -for a lot of land, and prepare a home, leaving you, and Claud, if he -shall decide for a woodman’s life, to come on and join me next summer.” - -“That Claud will do; for he often declares himself disgusted with -the trickery of trade, and to be longing for the country life of his -boyhood. But here he comes, and can speak for himself.” - -The son now joined in the family deliberations, and learning, with -surprise and gratification, what had occurred during the eventful -day, joyfully fell in with his father’s proposition; when it was soon -decided that the latter should take half the money that day given to -Mrs. Elwood, to lay out in a lot of land and house, and immediately -proceed on his journey. - -Whatever Mark Elwood had once firmly decided on, he was always prompt -and energetic in executing. Before nine o’clock that evening, his -knapsack of clothing was made up for a journey on foot, which, contrary -to the wishes of his wife and son, he decided should be his mode of -travelling. He then went to bed, slept six hours, rose, dressed, bade -his family good-by, turned his back on the now loathed city, and, by -sunrise next morning, was far on his way towards his designated home -among the distant wilds of the North. - - - - -CHAPTER V. - - “There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, - There is a rapture in the lonely shore, - There is society where none intrudes,-- - I love not man the less, but nature more.” - - -Once more in the green wilderness! Welcome the wild scenes of our -boyhood, which, as the checkered panorama of the past is unrolled at -our bidding, rise on the mental vision in all their original freshness -and beauty! It was here we first essayed to study the works of nature, -and in them trace the Master-hand that moulded and perfected them. -It was here we learned to recognize the voice of God in the rolling -thunder, and his messengers in the swift-winged lightnings; to mark the -forms of beauty and grandeur in every thing, from the humble lichen of -the logs and rocks, to the high and towering pine of the plain and the -mountain,--from the low murmurings of the quiet rivulet, to the loud -thunderings of the headlong cataract,--and from the soft whisperings -of the gentle breeze, to the angry roar of the desolating tornado; -and, finally, it was here that our first and most enduring lessons of -devotion were learned, here that our first and truest conceptions of -the grand and beautiful were acquired, and here that the leading tone -of our intellectual character, such as it may be, was generated and -stamped on us for life. - -The second part of our story, to which the preceding chapters should -be taken, perhaps, as merely introductory, opens about midsummer, -and among that remarkable group of sylvan lakes--nearly a dozen -in number--which, commencing on the wild borders of northerly New -Hampshire, and shooting off in an irregular line some fifty miles -northeasterly into the dark and unbroken forests of Maine, appear on -the map, in their strangely shapeless forms and scattered locations, -as if they must have been hurled, by the hand of some Borean giant, -down from the North Pole in a volley of huge ice-blocks, which fell and -melted where they now lie, sparkling, like rough gems, on the shaggy -bosom of the wilderness. - -Near the centre of an opening of perhaps a dozen acres, about a mile -from where the sinuous Androscoggin debouches full grown, like Minerva -from the head of Jupiter, from its parent reservoir, the picturesque -Umbagog, stood a newly rigged log house, of dimensions and finish -which indicated more taste and enterprise than is usually exhibited -in the rude habitations of the first settlers. It was a story and a -half high, and the walls were built of solid pine timber, originally -roughly hewed, but recently dressed down with broad axe over the whole -outward and inner surfaces so smoothly that, at a little distance, -they presented, with their still visible seams, more the appearance -of the wainscoting of some costly cottage than the humble log cabin. -The building had also been newly shingled, new doors supplied, the -windows enlarged, the yard around leveled off, with other improvements, -of a late date, betokening considerable ambition for appearance, and -considerable outlay of means, for so new a place, to fit up a tidy and -comfortable abode for the occupants. In the surrounding field were -patches of growing maize, wheat, potatoes, and some of the common table -vegetables; the hay crop for the winter sustenance of the only cow and -yoke of oxen, the best friends of the new settler, having been just -cut and stored in an adjoining log-building, as was evident from the -fresh look of the stubble, and the stray straws hanging to the slivered -stumps on bushes in the field, and from the fragrant and far-scenting -locks protruding from the upper and lower windows of the well-crammed -receptacle passing under the name of barn. Beyond this little opening, -and bounding it on every side, stood the encircling wall of woods, -through and over which gleamed the bright waters of the far-spreading -Umbagog on the north; while all around, towering up in their green -glories, rose, one above another, the amphitheatric hills, till their -lessening individual forms were lost, or mingled in the vision with the -lofty summits of the distant White Mountains in the south and west, and -of the bold detached eminences which shot up from the dark wilderness -and studded the horizon in all other directions. - -Such, and in such a locality, was, as the reader probably has -already inferred, the residence which Mark Elwood had pitched upon -for beginning life anew. On leaving the city, as represented in the -last chapter, he had, under the goading remembrance of follies left -behind, and the incitements of hope-constructed prospects before, -perseveringly pushed on, till he reached this lone and wild terminus -of civilized life; when, finding, a mile beyond the last of the -scattered settlements of the vicinity, a place on which an opening -had been made and the walls and roof of a spacious log house erected, -the year before, he had succeeded in purchasing it, for ready money, -at a price which was much below its value, and which left him nearly -half his little fund to be expended in more thoroughly clearing the -land, getting in crops, making the house habitable, and felling an -additional tract of forest. And with so much energy and resolution -had he pursued his object of seeing himself and family once more -united at a comfortable home, that, within three months from the -time he commenced operations, which was in the first of the spring -months, he had accomplished it all; for his wife and son, rejoicing in -the knowledge of his success which he had communicated to them, and -promptly responding to his invitation to join him, had come on, with -their little all of goods and money, in teams hired for the purpose; -and they were now all together fully installed in their new home, -pleased with the novelty and freshness of every thing around them, -proud and secure in their conscious independence and exemption from the -dangers and trials they had recently passed through, and contented and -happy in their situation. - -The particular time we have taken for the reäppearance of the family -on this, their new stage of action, was a warm but breezy afternoon -on one of the last days of July. Elwood was engaged in his new-mown -field, in cutting and grubbing up the bushes and sprouts which had -sprung up during the season around the log-heaps and stumps, and could -not easily or conveniently be cut by the common scythe while mowing -the grass. He was no longer robed in the broadcloth and fine linen, -in which, as the rich merchant, he might have been seen, perhaps, one -year ago that day, sauntering about “on ’change” among the solid men -of Boston. These had been mostly worn out or sold during the changing -fortunes of the year, and their place was now wisely supplied by the -long tow-frock and the other coarse garments in common use among the -settlers. Nor had his physical appearance undergone a much less change. -Instead of the pallid brow, leaden eye, fleshly look, and the red -cheek of the wine-bibber and luxurist of the cities, he exhibited the -embrowned, thin, but firm and healthy face, and the clear and cheerful -complexion of the contended laborer of the country,--tell-tale looks -both, which we always encounter with as much secret disgust in the -former as we do with involuntary respect in the latter. He now paused -in his labors, and stood for some time looking about the horizon, as -if watching the signs of the weather; now noting the progress of the -haze gathering in the south, and now turning his cheek first one way -and then another, apparently to ascertain the doubtful direction of the -wind, which, from a lively western breeze, had within the last hour -lulled down into those small, fluctuating puffs usually observable when -counter-currents are springing up, balancing, and beginning to strive -for the mastery. After a while he moved slowly towards the house, -continuing his observations as he went, till he came near the open -window at which Mrs. Elwood was sitting at her needle-work, from which -she occasionally lifted her eyes, and glanced somewhat anxiously along -the path leading down through the woods to a landing-place on the lake; -when, looking round and observing her husband standing near, giving -token of being about to speak, she interposed and said: - -“You have seen nothing of Claud, I suppose? What can be the reason why -he does not return? He was to have been at home long before this, was -he not?” - -“Yes,” carelessly replied Elwood, “unless he concluded to take a bout -in the woods. He took his fowling-piece with him, to use in case the -trout wouldn’t bite, you know. Phillips, the old hunter, came into -the field where we were last night, and said he was out of meat, and -must skirt the lake to-day for a buck. I presume Claud may have joined -him. There! hark! that sounded like Claud’s piece,” he added, as the -distant report of a gun rose from the woods westward of the lake and -died away in swelling echoes on the opposite shore. “And there, again!” -he continued, as another and sharper report burst, the next moment, -from the same locality,--“there goes another, but not his, as he could -not have loaded so quick. That must have been Phillips’ long rifle. -They are doubtless together somewhere near the Magalloway,--some three -miles distant, I should judge,--and are probably having fine sport with -something.” - -“That may be the case, perhaps,” responded Mrs. Elwood. “I wish, -however, he would come; for I cannot yet quite divest myself of the -idea that there may be danger in these wild scenes of the lakes and the -woods. But what was you about to say when I first spoke? You were going -to say something, I thought.” - -“O--yes--why, I was about to say that I had made up my mind to set fire -to the _slash_. It is dry enough now to get a good burn; and it looks -to me a good deal like rain. I wish to get the land cleared and ready -to sow with winter wheat by the first of September; and I don’t like -to risk the chance of finding every thing in so good order again.” - -“There is no danger that the fire will spread, or be blown to the -buildings, is there?” - -“No, the wind is springing up in the south now, and will drive the fire -only towards the lake in the direction of the landing.” - -“But Claud may be there.” - -“Well, if he should be, the fire won’t burn up the lake, I think; and, -if it besets the path in the woods, he can come round some other way,” -jocosely said Elwood, moving away to carry his purpose into execution. - -Having procured a parcel of splinters split from the dry and resinous -roots of some old pine stub,--that never-failing and by no means -contemptible substitute for lamp or candle among the pioneers of a -pine-growing country,--he proceeded rapidly to the edge of the _slash_, -as a tract of felled forest is generally denominated by the first -settlers, especially of the northern States. Here, pausing a moment to -mark with his eye the most favorable places to communicate the fire, -he picked his way along the southern end to the farthest side of the -tangled mass of trees of every description composing the slash, which -was a piece of some four or five acres, lying on the western border -and extending north and south the whole length of the opening. And, -having reached his destination, and kindled all his splinters into a -blaze, he threw one of them into the thickest nest of pine or other -evergreen boughs at hand, and darted back to his next marked station, -where he threw in another of his blazing torches, and so on till he -reached the cleared ground, which was not one moment too soon for -his safety. For so dry and inflammable had every thing there become, -under the scorching sun of the preceding fortnight, which had been -relieved by neither rain nor cloud, that, the instant the fire touched -the tinder-like leaves, it flashed up as from a parcel of scattered -gunpowder; and, bursting with almost explosive quickness all around, -and swiftly leaping from bough to bough and treetop to treetop, it -spread with such astonishing celerity that he found it hard on his -heels, or whirling in a hot cloud over his head, at every pause he -made to throw in a new but now unnecessary torch, in his rapid and -constantly quickened run through the slash. And when, after running -some distance into the open field, to escape the stifling smoke and -heat by which he was even there assailed, he turned round to note more -fully the surprising progress that the terrible element he had thus -let loose was making, he beheld all that part of the slash which he -had a moment before passed through already enveloped, from side to -side, in a continuous blaze, whose red, curling crest, mounting every -instant higher and higher, was advancing with the seeming speed of a -race-horse on its fiery destination. Half-appalled by the sight of such -a sudden and unexpected outburst of the fire he had kindled, Elwood -hurried on to his house, and joined his startled wife in the yard; when -the two took station on an adjoining knoll, and looked down upon the -conflagration in progress with increasing wonder and uneasiness,--so -comparatively new was the scene to them both, and so far did it promise -to exceed all their previous conceptions, in magnitude and grandeur, -of any thing of the kind to be met with in the new settlements. And -it was, indeed, a grand and fearful spectacle: For, with constantly -increasing fury, and with the rapidity of the wind before which it was -driving, still raged and rolled on the red tempest of fire. Now surging -aloft, and streaking with its winding jets of flame the fiercely -whirling clouds of smoke that marked its advance, and now dying away in -hoarse murmurs, as if to gather strength for the new and more furious -outburst that the next moment followed, it kept on its terrific march -till it reached the central elevation, which embraced the most tangled, -densely covered, and combustible part of the slash, and on which had -been left standing an enormous dry pine, that towered so up high above -the surrounding forest as to have long served as a landmark for the -hunters and fishermen, in setting their courses through the woods or -over the lake. Here the fiery billow, as if governed by the human -tactics of a military assault, paused, parted, and swept by on either -side, till it had inclosed the elevation; when suddenly it shot up -from every side in an hundred converging tongues of flame, which, soon -meeting and expanding into one, quickly enveloped the whole hill in -one broad, unbroken robe of sheeted fire, encompassed and mounted the -veteran pine, and around its colossal trunk formed a huge, whirling -pyramid of mingling smoke and flame that rose to the mid-heavens, -shedding, in place of the darkened sun, a lurid glare over the forest, -and sending forth the stormy roar of a belching volcano. The next -moment a shower of cinders and the burning fragments of twigs, bark, -and boughs which had been carried high up by the force of the ascending -currents, fell hot and hissing to the earth over every part of the -adjoining fields, to and even far beyond the spot where Elwood and his -wife were standing. - -“Good Heavens!” exclaimed Elwood, aroused from the mute amazement with -which he and his more terrified companion had been beholding the scene, -as soon as these indications of danger were thus brought to his very -feet. “Good Heavens! this is more than I bargained for. See,--the fire -is catching on the stumps all over the field!” - -“The house!” half-screamed Mrs. Elwood. “What is that rising from the -shingles up there near the top of the roof?” - -“Smoke, as I am alive!” cried the other, in serious alarm, as he -glanced up to the roof, where several slender threads of smoke were -beginning to steal along the shingles. “Run, Alice, run with the pails -for the brook, while I throw up the ladder against the gable. We must -be lively, or within one hour we shall be as houseless as beggars.” - -“O, where is Claud? where is Claud?” exclaimed the distressed wife and -mother, as she flew to the house to do her husband’s bidding. - -Yes, where was Claud? At the risk of the charge of purposely -tantalizing the reader, we must break off here, to follow the young man -just named, in the unexpected adventures which he also had experienced -during that eventful day. But for this we will take a new chapter. - - - - -CHAPTER VI. - - “To sit on rocks, to muse o’er flood and fell, - To slowly trace the forest’s shady scene, - Where things that own not man’s dominion dwell, - And mortal foot hath ne’er, or rarely, been; - To climb the trackless mountain all unseen, - With the wild flock that never needs a fold; - Alone o’er steeps and foaming falls to lean,-- - This is not Solitude: ’tis but to hold - Converse with nature’s charms, and view her stores unroll’d.” - - -It was about the middle of the forenoon, on the day marked by the -incidents narrated in the preceding chapter, when Claud Elwood, who had -become pretty well initiated into the sports of the locality, entered -his light canoe, with his fishing-tackle and fowling-piece, and pushed -out upon the broad bosom of the forest-girt Umbagog. Having had the -best success, when up on the lake the last time, on the western margin, -he pulled away in that direction, and, after rowing a couple of miles -up the lake, he laid down his oar, unrolled his elm-bark cable, and let -down his stone anchor, at a station a furlong or so from the shore. - -It was a beautiful spot, and a beautiful day to enjoy it in. From the -water’s edge rose, deeply enshrouded in their bright green, flowing, -and furbelowed robes of thickly interwoven pines, the undulating hills, -back to the summit level of that long, narrow tongue of forest land, -which, for many miles, only separates the Umbagog from the parallel -Magalloway, the noble stream that here comes rushing down from the -British highlands, to join the scarcely larger Androscoggin, almost -at the very outset of its “varied journey to the deep.” Turning from -this magnificent swell on the west, the eye, as it wandered to the -right over the bright expanse of intervening waters, next rested on -the long, crescent-shaped mountain ridge, behind which slept, in their -still deeper and wilder seclusion, the broad Mooseeluk-maguntic and the -Molechunk-a-munk, which, with the Umbagog, make up the three principal -links in this remarkable chain of lakes. Still farther to the right -lay the seemingly boundless, rolling forests, forming the eastern -and southern rim of this basin of the lakes; whose gradually sloping -sides, like some old pinnacled city, were everywhere bristling with -the giant forms of the heaven-aspiring pine, and whose nearer recesses -were pierced, in the midst, by the long, lessening line of the gleaming -Umbagog; while around the whole circle of the horizon, scattered here -and there far back into the blue distance, rose mountain after mountain -in misty grandeur to the heavens. - -After thus slowly sweeping the horizon, to note, for the tenth time, -perhaps, the impressive character of the scenery, whose everywhere -intermingling beauty and grandeur he was never tired of contemplating, -Claud withdrew his gaze, and turned his attention to the more immediate -object of his excursion. After a few moments spent in regulating his -hook and line, he strung his angle-rod, and threw out to see whether he -could succeed in tempting, at that unfavorable hour, the fickle trout -from their watery recesses. But all in vain the attempt. Not a trout -was seen stirring the water at the surface, or manifesting his presence -around the hook beneath; and all the endeavors which the tantalized -angler made, by changing the bait, and throwing the line in different -directions around him, proved, for the next hour, equally fruitless. -While he was thus engaged, intently watching his line, each moment -expecting that the next must bring him a bite, one of those peculiar, -subdued, but far-reaching sounds, which are made by the grazing of -the oar against the side of the boat in rowing, occasionally greeted -his ear from some point to the south of him; though, for a while, -nothing was to be seen to indicate by whom the sounds were produced. -Soon, however, a man in a canoe, who had been coasting, unseen, along -the indentures of the shore, and whom Claud instantly recognized as -Phillips, the hunter already named, shot round a neighboring point, -and, in a few minutes more, was at his side. - -“Well, what luck?” cheerily exclaimed Phillips, a keen, hawk-eyed, -self-possessed looking man, with a round, compact, and sinewy frame. -“What luck to-day, young man?” - -“None whatever,” replied Claud, with an air of disappointment. - -“I suppose so, unless you began before ten o’clock.” - -“But why did you suppose so?” - -“O, I knew it from my knowledge of human nature,” said the hunter, -humorously. “Trout are very much like other folks, only a great deal -more sensitive to heat. Now, you don’t see men, who are well fixed -under a cool shade in a sweltering hot day, very anxious to run out -bare-headed in the sun, when there is no call for it; much less, then, -the trout, that can’t bear the sun and heat at all. Though there are, -probably, a ton of them within a stone’s throw of us, not one will come -out with this bright sun; they are lying behind the rocks and old logs -at the bottom, and won’t begin to circulate these three hours.” - -“And are you not a-going to try them?” - -“I? No; I would as soon think of fishing now on the top of these hills. -Besides this, I have a different object. I am bound to carry home -something that will pass for fresh meat, if it is nothing but a coon. I -shall haul up my canoe somewhere about here; follow up the lake-shore a -mile or so, with the idea of catching a deer in the edge of the water, -come there to keep off the flies; then, perhaps, cross over to the -Magalloway, down that, and over to this place; when, by way of topping -off, I will show you, by that time, if you are about here so long, how -trout are taken.” - -So saying, the hunter dipped his springy oar into the water, and, with -a few vigorous strokes, sent his canoe to the shore, and, having moored -it to a root, he glided into the thickets, and disappeared with a tread -so noiseless as to leave Claud, for many minutes, wholly in doubt -whether the man was standing still in the bushes or proceeding on his -excursion. - -It was now noon, and Claud, seeing no prospect of any immediate success -in his piscatory employment, which had been made to appear to him, by -the remarks of the hunter, more discouraging than ever, drew up his -anchor, and rowed to a point of the shore which was embowered by a -group of magnificent pines. Here, finding a cool spring, as well as a -refreshing shade, he drew out his lunch, and very leisurely proceeded -to discuss it, with the ice-cold water of the spring by which he -had seated himself for the purpose. His fare was coarse; but it was -partaken with a relish of which those who have never experienced the -effects of the air and exercise, incident to a life in the woods, can -have no just conception; and to which the palled appetite of the - - “vain lords of luxury and ease, - Whom slumber soothes not, pleasure cannot please,” - -is poor in comparison, though all the king’s banquets and metropolitan -feasts in the world should vie together to make good the substitute. -Claud’s life had thus far been, in the main, a quiet and commonplace -one; nothing having occurred to him to arouse those strong and -over-mastering passions to which it is the lot of most of us, at some -period of our lives, to become subjected. It had been checkered, -however, by one bit of romance, which, to say the least, had greatly -excited his imagination. About a year previous to the time of which -we are now writing, and one day while he was walking the streets of -Boston, a small, closely-enwrapped package was put in his hand by an -unknown boy, who, with the simple announcement, “_For you, Sir_,” -turned quickly away, and made off with the air of one who has completed -his mission, and would avoid being questioned. Glancing within the -wrapper, and perceiving it inclosed a small encased picture, or -likeness, of some female, which he thought must have been delivered to -him through mistake, Claud looked hastily round for the messenger, and, -not seeing him, he walked backward and forward along the street, and -lingered some time in the vicinity, still expecting the boy would soon -return to claim the package. But, being disappointed in this, he went -home, and, retiring to his room, undid the wrapper, which he carefully -but vainly examined for some name, mark, or other clue to the mystery; -and then, with much interest, fell to inspecting the picture. It was, -obviously, a well-painted miniature likeness of a fair, dark-eyed girl, -but representing no remembered face, except in the peculiar expression -of the strong and commanding countenance; which, he thought, either -in man or woman, he must have somewhere before encountered. The whole -likeness, indeed, together with the circumstances under which it came -into his hands, made, at the time, a lively impression on his mind; -and, keeping the affair wholly to himself, he often contemplated that -fair face in private; and, for months afterwards, he never was in a -public assembly, where the sex were present, without running his eye -over it in search of the original. But, as he never found it, the -impression gradually wore away, and, in the exciting changes that had -occurred in the fortunes of his family, it had been nearly obliterated -from his mind; when, that morning, while searching his trunk for some -implement belonging to his gun, he came across the miniature, and put -it in his pocket. And now, in the leisure that followed his repast, -he bethought him of it; and, laying it before him on the bed of moss -on which he was reclining, he contemplated it with renewed interest, -and that sort of dreamy enthusiasm which the sudden revival of old -associations in such solitudes is apt to awaken in the mind, especially -when those associations are connected, as now, with a matter of mystery -and romance. - -After indulging in his reveries a while, he put up his miniature, -aroused himself from his day-dream, and rose to his feet, when, feeling -inclined for some kind of action, he decided on a short excursion in -the woods, in the direction of the Magalloway, where probably he would -fall in with Phillips, and return with him to the lake. Accordingly, -after loading his gun with ball and buckshot, so as to be prepared -for any large wild animals he might chance to encounter, he leisurely -took his way through the heavy, ascending forest that lay in his -course; here pausing to note the last night’s bed of some solitary -bear, and there to trace the marks of the death-struggle of a victim -deer, that, with all its vigilance and wondrous agility, had been -surprised and brought down by the stealthy and far-leaping catamount. -The ever-varying tenants of the forest, also, were constantly -presenting, as he passed on, some novelty to attract his unaccustomed -eye; now in the smooth, tall shaft of the fusiform fir--the dandy of -the forest--standing up with its beautiful cone-shaped top among its -rougher neighbors, trim and straight as the bonnetted cavalier of the -old pictures, among the slouchy forms of his homelier but worthier -opponents; now in the low and stocky birch standing on its broad, -staunch pedestal of strongly-braced roots below, and throwing out -widely above its giant arms, as if striving to shoulder and stay up -the weight of the superincumbent forest; and now in the imperial pine, -proudly lifting its tall form an hundred feet over the tops of the -plebeian trees around, to revel in the upper currents of the air, or -bathe its crowning plumes of living green in the clouds of heaven. - -Proceeding in this manner, he at length found himself gradually -descending the western slope of the hill; when he soon arrived in -the vicinity of the river, a glimpse of which, together with a small -clearing and a tidy-looking cottage on its banks, he now caught -through the tops of the intervening trees. While still walking on, his -attention was attracted to a comparatively open place in the woods, -where, at some previous period, a severe fire had killed all the -smaller trees, and consumed the underbrush, which had been replaced by -scattering shrubs of the white poplar intermingled with a plentiful -growth of the black-raspberry, whose luscious fruit--the first to -reward the pioneer, and for which he has to contend sharply with the -birds and bears to obtain his share--was now beginning to ripen. As he -was entering this open space, which appeared to extend some distance -round the point of a screening knoll, he was suddenly brought to a -stand by a noise somewhere in the bushes or woods ahead, such as had -never before saluted his ears. It was like nothing else, or _if any_ -thing else, like the wild snorting of a frightened horse prolonged into -the dying note of the steam whistle. Claud recoiled a step before the -unaccustomed sound, and involuntarily cocked and raised his gun to his -shoulder. But he was allowed no time to speculate. The next instant, -the loud and piercing shriek of a female, nearer but in the same -direction, rose and rang through the forest. With a speed quickened -at every step by the rapidly repeated cry of distress, he bounded -towards the spot, when, turning the point of the knoll, he suddenly -found himself in full view of the object of his solicitude,--a girl, -in the full bloom of youthful beauty, who, with bonnet thrown back -and her loosened hair streaming in wild disorder over her shoulders, -instantly rushed forward for his protection. Claud stopped short, in -mute surprise at the unexpected apparition; for the first glance at -her face told him that the original of his mysterious miniature was -before him,--before him, here in the woods! Breathless and speechless -in her wild affright, she pointed, with a glance over her shoulder, -to a thick, high tangle of large, strongly limbed, knotty, windfallen -trees, a short distance behind her, and fled past him to the rear. -Looking in the indicated direction, the startled and perplexed young -man distinguished the outlines of a monstrous moose madly plunging at -the woody barrier, and trying to force his enormous antlers through the -unyielding limbs preparatory to leaping it in pursuit of his victim, -who had eluded the infuriated animal, and barely escaped the fatal -blows of his uplifted hoofs, by creeping under the providentially -placed obstruction. Claud instantly raised his piece, when, feeling -uncertain of his aim, he withheld his fire, and stood waiting for a -fairer view. But, before he could obtain it, the moose, tired of vain -attempts to force his passage through the bristling barricade of logs -and limbs before him, disappeared for one moment, but the next came -crashing round the nearest end of it, and, with renewed demonstrations -of rage and hostility, made directly for the new opponent he beheld in -his way. Still unalarmed for his own safety, Claud waited with levelled -gun till his formidable assailant was within forty yards of him, when -he took a quick aim and fired. Reeling under the discharge of his -heavily loaded piece, and blinded by the smoke, he could not, at first, -see the effect of his fire; but when he did so, the next instant, it -was only to behold the monster brute, maddened, not stopped, by the -flesh wounds inflicted, rushing on him with a force and fury which -compelled him to leap suddenly aside, to avoid being beat into the -earth by those terrible hoofs, which he saw lifted higher and higher, -at each approaching step, for his destruction. Mindful, in his peril, -of the precautions already learned from the hunters, Claude, while -the moose, whose tremendous impetus was driving him straight ahead, -could break up, so as to turn in the pursuit,--Claud made, with all -the speed of which he was master, for a huge hemlock, luckily standing -at no great distance on his right; a course which he thought would -divert the monster from pursuit of the maiden, and, at the same time, -best insure his own safety. But, so prodigious was the rushing speed -of the foiled and now doubly exasperated moose, that the imperilled -huntsman had barely time to reach the sheltering tree and dodge behind -it, before the hotly pursuing foe was at his heels, rasping and tearing -with his spiked antlers the rough bark of the tree, in his attempts to -follow round it near and fast enough to overtake and strike down his -intended victim. Round and round then sped both pursuer and pursued, -as fast as the frantic rage of the one, and the keen instinct of -self-preservation in the other, could impel them. Although the moose, -from the great width of his interfering horns, was compelled to sweep -round the tree in a circle requiring him to go over double the distance -travelled by Claude, yet so much greater was his speed, that it called -for the utmost exertions of the latter to keep clear of the battle-axe -blows which he heard falling every instant with fatal force behind him. -His gun had already been struck, shivered, and beat from his hand; and, -as he glanced over his shoulder and saw the fierce and glaring eyes -of his ruthless pursuer, and his uplifted and forward-thrown hoofs -striking closer and closer to his heels at every bound, a sense of his -deadly peril flashed over his mind with that strange and paralyzing -effect which the first full conviction of impending death often -produces on the stoutest hearts. He felt his strength giving way, his -brain beginning to whirl, and he was on the point of yielding himself -to his fate; when a stream of smoke and flame accompanied the startling -report of a rifle, shot out from the edge of a neighboring thicket. The -moose gave a convulsive start, floundered forward on his knees, swayed -backward and forward an instant, then fell over broad-side into the -bushes with a heavy crash, straightened out, gasped, and died. - -“Dunno but you’ll think I waited too long, young man,” cried Phillips, -now advancing with a quick, leaping step from his covert. “The fact -was, I felt, on seeing you getting into such close quarters, that I had -better be rather particular about my aim, so as to stop him at once; -besides that, I was at first a little out of breath. I had heard the -fellow blow when an hundred rods off,--then the woman scream,--then -your gun; and, thinking like enough there would be trouble, I legged it -for the spot, and got to my stand just as he treed you.” - -“I feel very grateful to you, Mr. Phillips, for this timely rescue,” -responded Claud, recovering his composure. “This, I suppose, is the -far-famed moose?” - -“Yes, and a bouncer at that,” replied the hunter, going up and, -placing his foot on the broad and still quivering flank of the huge -animal. “Good twenty hands high, and weighs well, not much short of -fifteen hundred, I should say.” - -“But are they often thus dangerous?” asked Claud. - -“Not very often, perhaps,” rejoined the hunter. “But still the bull -moose, at this season of the year, is sometimes, when wounded, about as -ugly a customer as you meet with in the woods. This fellow I judge to -have been _oncommon_ vicious, as he begun his tantrums before he was -touched at all, it seems. I dunno but ’twas the woman put the devil -into him, as women do into two-legged animals sometimes,--don’t they, -young man?” - -“The woman? O yes, the young lady,” said Claud, reminded of his duty as -a gallant by the remark, though unwilling to appropriate to himself the -prophetic joke with which it was coupled. “Where is she? I must go and -see to her.” - -“She has already seen to herself, I guess,” said the hunter. “As I -was coming up, I glimpsed her cutting round and running, like a wild -turkey, for the clearing, to which the moose had cut off her retreat. -She has reached the house by this time, doubtless; for it is hard by, -down on the river here, a hundred rods or such a matter.” - -“Who is she? Do you know the family?” eagerly inquired the young man. - -“No,” answered the hunter. “They are new-comers in these parts.” - -“What could have brought her here so far into the woods?” persisted -Claud. - -“The raspberries, very likely,” said the other, indifferently, while -taking out and examining the edge of his knife. “But come, we must -get this moose into some condition, so that he will keep; then be off -to let the settlers know of our luck. And early to-morrow morning, we -will, all hands, come up the river in boats, and distribute him. He -will make fresh meat enough to supply the whole settlement.” - -The hunter now, with the assistance of his new pupil in the craft, -proceeded to dressing the moose, the process of which, bleeding, -disemboweling, and partially skinning, was soon completed; when, -cutting some stout green skids with the hatchet he ever carried in his -belt, and inserting the ends under the bulky carcass, the two contrived -to raise it, by means of old logs rolled up for the purpose, several -feet from the ground, so as to insure a free circulation of air beneath -it. This being done, the hunter kindled two log fires, one on each -side, to keep off, he said, the wolves and other carnivorous animals. -They then, after cutting out the tongue and lip, which are esteemed -the tidbits of this animal, took up their line of march for the lake, -which, with the long, rapid lope of the woodsman, measured off, as -usual, in Indian file, and with little or no interrupting conversation, -they reached in a short time, and without further adventure. - -“Now,” said the hunter, as he reached the spot where his canoe was -tied, and turned round towards his lagging companion,--“now, sir, what -say you to taking a five-pound trout?” - -“Perfectly willing,” replied Claud, smiling; “and I would even take up -with a smaller one.” - -“Well, I won’t,--that is, not much smaller; and I think I’ll have one -of at least the size I named.” - -“What makes you so confident?” - -“Because, it being a hot, shiny morning, they took to their coverts -early, and must be sharp-set, by this time. Besides that, it is just -about the best time for them that could be got up: a deep cloud, as you -see, is coming over the sun, and this wind is moving the water to the -bottom. All sizes will now be coming out, and the big ones, like big -folks, will make all the little ones stand back till their betters are -served.” - -Each now taking to his canoe, they pushed out some twenty or thirty -rods into the lake, cast anchor, and threw out their lines. Claud, who -baited with grubs, soon had drawn in two, weighing as many pounds -a piece, and began to feel disposed to banter the hunter, who had -baited with a flap of moose-skin, which he had brought along with -him, and which, to Claud, seemed little likely to attract the fishes -to his hook. But he soon found himself mistaken; for, turning to give -utterance to what was passing in his mind, he beheld the other dallying -with a trout, which he had hooked, and now held flapping on the surface -of the water, evidently much larger than either of his own. - -“That is a fine one!” cried Claud. “Why don’t you pull him in?” - -“Not big enough,” said the hunter, in reply to the question; while he -turned to the fish with an impatient “Pshaw! what work the cretur makes -of it! Hop off, hop off, you fool! There,” he added, as the trout at -length broke away and disappeared, “there, that is right. Now be off -with yourself till you grow bigger, and give me a chance at the fine -fellow whose tail I saw swashing up round here just now.” - -The hunter then carefully adjusted his bait, and threw out the whole -length of his line. After alternately sinking his hook, and then -drawing it to the surface, for two or three throws, the line suddenly -straightened, moved slowly backward at first, then swept rapidly round -and round, or darted off in sharp short angles, with downward and -forward plunges so quick and powerful as to make the stout sapling pole -sway and bend, like a whipstock, in the steadying hands of the hunter. -For four or five minutes he made no attempt to draw in his prize, but -let the fish have full play to the length of its tether, till its -efforts had become comparatively feeble; when, slowly bringing it -alongside, he took the line in his hand, and, with a quick jerk, landed -the noble fellow safely on the bottom of the canoe. - -“There, sir!” exclaimed the hunter, seizing the trout by the gills, and -triumphantly holding it up to view, “there is about what I bargained -for: two feet long, not an inch shorter,--seven pounds weight, and not -an ounce lighter! Now, being satisfied, I am done.” - -“What, leave off with such luck?” asked Claud in surprise. - -“Yes, young man,” said the other, “I hold it all but a downright sin to -draw from God’s storehouse a single pound more than is really needed. -This will last my family as long as it will keep, this warm weather, -with the plenty of moose-meat we shall have. Any thing more is a waste, -which _I_ will not commit. And _you_, sir, who have just hauled in your -third and largest one, I perceive, and have now nearly as many pounds -as I have,--what can _you_ want of more? Come, let us pull up and off -for our homes. It is nearly time, any way.” - -Although loth to break off his sport, yet inwardly acknowledging the -justness of the hunter’s philosophy, Claud reluctantly drew in and -wound up his line, hauled in his anchor, and, handling his oar, shot -out abreast of the other, who had already got under way, into the -heaving waters of the now agitated lake. Side by side, with the quick -and easy dip of their elastic single oars, the rowers now sent their -light, sharp canoes, dug out to the thinness of a board from the -straight-grained dry pine, rapidly ahead over the broken and subdued -waves of the cove, in which they had been stationed, till they rounded -the intervening woody point which had cut off the view of the lower end -of the lake. - -“Good Heavens!” exclaimed Claud, starting back, with suspended oar, as -now, coming out in view of the lake, his eye fell on the huge pillar of -smoke, which, deeply enshrouding that part of the distant forest lying -east of the outlet of the lake with its expanded base, was rolling -upward its thousand dark, doubling folds; “good Heavens, Phillips, look -yonder! Where and what is it? It looks like a burning city.” - -“It is a fire, of course, and no small one, either; but where, I can’t -exactly make out,” slowly responded the hunter, intently fixing his -keen eyes on the magnificent spectacle which had thus unexpectedly -burst on their view in the distance. “Let me see,” he continued, -running his eye along the border of the lake in search of his old -landmarks: “there is the tall stub that stands half a mile down on the -west bank of the river, and is now just visible in the edge of the -smoke; but where is the king pine, that stands nearly against it, over -in your slash? Young man,” he added, with a startled air, “was your -father calculating to burn that slash to-day?” - -“No, unless it looked likely to rain.” - -“Well it _does_ look likely to rain, in the shape of a shower gathering -yonder, which has already given out one or two grumbles of distant -thunder, if my ears served me as well as usual.” - -“Yes; but such a smoke and fire can’t come from our slash. It must be a -larger and more distant one.” - -“So I thought at first; but I begin to think different. Do you see that -perpendicular, broken line of light, occasionally flashing out from -the smoke, and extending upward to a height that no ground fire ever -reached? That is your king pine in a blaze from bottom to top. Hark! -why, I can hear it roaring clear here, like a distant hurricane. It -must be a prodigious hot fire to make all that show and noise.” - -“Can it endanger our buildings?” asked Claud, in alarm. - -“I am afraid so,” replied the other, with a dubious shake of the head. -“But hark again! ’tis your father’s horn blowing for help.” - -“Let us row, then, as for our lives!” cried the now thoroughly aroused -and agitated young man. “If any thing happens before I get there, I -shall never forgive myself for my prolonged absence, to the last day of -my life. You will join me in going there, will you not?” - -“Yes, and outstrip you by half a mile. But that won’t be the best way. -Throw your anchor into the stern of my canoe, and fall in behind. -There; now keep the anchor-line slack between us, if you can,” rapidly -said the hunter, bending his sinewy form to the work, with a power -that sent his canoe half out of the water at every stroke of his -swiftly-falling oar. - -Leaving them to bound over the billowy waters of the lake towards their -destination, with all the speed which strong arms and nerves made tense -with excitement could impart, let us anticipate their arrival, to note -what befell the objects of their anxieties, whom we so abruptly left -in their perils from the fire, to bring up the other incidents of the -day having an equal bearing on the story, with which we have thus far -occupied the present somewhat extended chapter. - -The immediate danger to their house from the fire, with which we -left the alarmed Elwood and his wife contending, was, indeed, easily -overcome by dashing pails of water over the roof. But scarcely had -they achieved this temporary triumph in one place over an element -proverbially terrible when it becomes master, before it was seen -kindling into flickering blazes on the roof of the barn and the locks -of hay protruding from its windows and the crevices between the logs of -which it was built. Here, also, they soon succeeded in extinguishing -the fire in the same manner. They were not, however, allowed a -moment’s respite from either their labors or alarms. The fences were -by this time on fire in numerous places; and the chips and wood in the -door-yard were seen to be igniting from the sparks and cinders which, -every instant, fell thicker and hotter around their seemingly devoted -domicil. The fences, after a few vain attempts to save them, were given -up a prey to the devouring element, and the whole exertions of the -panting and exhausted sufferers were turned to saving their buildings; -and even at that they had no time to spare; for, so hot had the air -become from the burning slash, which, through its whole length, was now -glowing with the red heat of a furnace, that every vestige of moisture -had soon disappeared from the drenched roofs, and they were again on -fire. - -“Is there no way of raising help?” exclaimed Mrs. Elwood, in her -extremity, as she witnessed these increasing manifestations of danger. - -“I never thought of that,” said Elwood. “Hand me the dinner-horn. If -there are any within hearing, they will understand, with the appearance -of this fire, that we are calling for assistance.” - -With a few sharp, loud blasts, Elwood threw aside the horn, and again -flew to the work of extinguishing the fires where they became most -threatening. And thus, for nearly another hour, the distressed settler -and his heroic wife, suffering deeply from heat and exhaustion, toiled -on, without gaining the least on the fearful enemy by which they were -so closely encompassed. And they were on the point of giving up in -despair, when the welcome shout of “Help at hand!” from the ringing -voice of the hunter, then just entering the opening, revived hope in -their sinking hearts. The next moment that help was on the spot; but -it was unnecessary. A mightier Hand was about to interpose. From the -bold, black van of the hurrying and deeply-charged rack of cloud, that -had now unheeded gained the zenith, a stream of fire, before which all -other fires paled into nothing, at that instant descended on the top -of the burning pine, and, rending it from top to bottom by the single -explosion, sent its wide-flying fragments in blazing circles to the -ground. A sharp, rattling sound, terminating in a cannon-like report, -followed, shaking the rent and crashing heavens above, and the bounding -earth beneath, in the awful concussion. Before the stunned and blinded -settlers had recovered from the shock, or the deep roll of the echoing -thunder had died away among the distant mountains, another and more -welcome roar saluted their ears. It was that of the rapidly-approaching -rain striking the foliage of the neighboring forest; and, scarcely had -they time to gain the cover of the house, before the deluging torrents -poured over it with a force and fury beneath which the quelled fires -speedily sunk, hissing, into darkness and death. - - - - -CHAPTER VII. - - “Wo is the youth whom Fancy gains, - Winning from Reason’s hands the reins.” - - -The morning of the next day, serene and beautiful as a bride decked -in her fresh robes and redolent in her forest perfumery, came smiling -over the wilderness hills of the east, to greet our little pioneer -family on their deliverance from the perils of yesterday. The war -of the elements, that had raged so fearfully round their seemingly -devoted domicile, had all passed away; and, after sleeping off the -fatigue and excitement of the previous day, they rose to look around -them, to find themselves safe, and call themselves satisfied. Their -buildings had been, after all, but very slightly injured, and their -green crops but little damaged; their fences, indeed, were mostly -consumed; but these could be replaced from the timber of the burnt -slash, with little more labor than would be required to pile up and -burn that timber where it lay. But, whatever such additional labor -might be, it was more than compensated by the very intensity of the -fire which caused it, and which, at the same time, had so utterly -consumed all the underbrush, limbs of the trees, and even the smaller -trees themselves, that weeks less than with ordinary burns would be -required in the clearing. Elwood, therefore, came in from his morning -survey happily disappointed in the supposed extent of his losses; and, -joining his wife and son in the house, whom he found busily engaged in -cutting up, mealing, and placing in the hissing pan over the fire the -broad, red, and rich-looking pieces of trout, the fruit of yesterday’s -excursion on the lake, he told them, with a gratified air, the result -of his observation, which, on a merchant-like calculation of loss and -gain from the conflagration, he made out to show even a balance in -his favor. Mrs. Elwood rejoiced with her husband on the happy turn of -affairs, and wondered why her son did not manifest the same flow of -spirits. But the latter, for some reason or other, appeared unusually -abstracted during the whole morning; and, when asked to relate the -particulars of his perilous adventure with the moose, which he had -the evening before but briefly mentioned, he exhibited a hesitation, -and a sort of shying of the question, in that part of the adventure -relating to the rescued girl, which did not escape the quick eye of -the mother. It was evident to her that something was kept back. But -what that something was she was wholly unable to conjecture. It was so -unusual for her son to show any lack of frankness that the circumstance -disturbed her, and, though she knew not exactly why, sent a boding -chill over her heart, which caused her also to become thoughtful and -silent. And Mr. Elwood, who possessed none of those mental sympathies -which, in some, will often be found unconsciously mingling with the -thoughts of others, so far, at least, as to apprise them of the general -character and drift of those thoughts, now, in his turn, wondered why -his wife, as well as son, should all at once become so unsocial and -taciturn. - -It will doubtless be generally said that this mental sympathy, or the -intuitive perception of the main drift of what is passing in the minds -of others, has an existence only in the fancy of fictionists. We, -however, after years of close observation, have wholly ceased to doubt -its reality. Scores of times have we been affected by thoughts and -intentions which we knew must have a source other than in our own mind. -Scores of times have we, in this manner, been put on our guard against -the selfish designs which others were harboring to our disadvantage, -of which no tongue had informed us, and of which, afterwards, we had -tangible proof. And, on careful inquiry among persons of thought and -sensibility, we have become convinced that the principle holds good -to a very considerable extent among others; and that attention to the -subject is only wanting to make it a generally received opinion. It -was this principle that now affected Mrs. Elwood: not that she had -the most distant idea that her son harbored aught of wrong intention -toward any of his family, but she felt that his mind was somehow -becoming subservient to schemes which existed somewhere in the minds of -others, which concerned her or her family. But she _felt_ rather than -thought this; and, knowing she could give no reason for her singular -impression, prudently kept it to herself. - -“Good-morning, good-morning, gentlefolks,” rang out the cheery voice of -the hunter, who now looked in at the door as the Elwoods were rising -from their breakfast. “Things look a little altered round here, this -morning. I should hardly have known the place without the king pine, -which, in its prime, was a tree of a thousand.” - -“That tree was an old acquaintance of yours, I suppose,” remarked -Elwood. - -“Yes, of twenty years’ standing; and I shall miss and mourn it as an -old friend. But it died like a monarch, yielding only under the direct -blow of the Almighty.” - -“Then you consider the lightning more especially the instrument of -Heaven than the wind, fire, and other elements, do you?” - -“To be sure I do. Wind, we know what it is; fire we know; water we also -know; because we can see them, touch them, measure them. But who can -see a piece of lightning when not in motion? who can find the least -fragment of it after it has struck? It rends a tree, makes a smooth -hole through a board, and ploughs up the ground. But go to the tree -and there is nothing there; look under the board, it is the same; and -dig along the furrow it has ploughed to where it stopped, and it is -not there, as it would be if it was any material thing, like a bullet, -an axe, knife, or other instrument that produces such effects, in -all other instances. No, ’tis not matter; it is the power of God; and -your philosophers, who pretend to explain it, don’t know what they are -talking about. But enough of that. I came here to rally you out to go -up the river with the rest of us, for the moose. You will both go, -won’t you?” - -“Claud will, doubtless,” replied Mr. Elwood. “Indeed, I have half a -mind to go myself.” - -“Perhaps Claud, having had a fatiguing excursion yesterday, will stay -at home, and let his father go, to-day,” suggested Mrs. Elwood. - -“It was not at all fatiguing, mother,” responded Claud. - -“The wind blows up the river to-day, ma’am,” said the hunter, with a -knowing look. - -Little more was said; but the result was that Claud and the hunter -now soon went off together on the proposed excursion. On reaching the -mouth of the Magalloway, they found four others waiting for them, with -their canoes, when the whole party commenced their little voyage up the -river. After leisurely rowing against the here slow and gentle current -of the stream for an hour or two, they reached their destination, and -hauled up at a point most convenient for gaining the spot where the -slaughtered moose had been left the evening before. Led on by the -hunter, all now started for the place just named, except Claud, who, -under pretence of taking a short gunning bout in the woods, and of soon -coming round to join his companions, proceeded, as soon as the latter -were out of sight, with slow and hesitating steps, up the river, for -the opening and supposed residence of the fair unknown who had so long -been the object of his wondering fancies, and who had, notwithstanding -the exciting scenes he had witnessed at home, been the especial subject -of his dreams after he retired to rest the night before. But what a -strange, wayward, timid, doubting, and inconsistent thing is the tender -passion in its incipient stages, especially when that passion has -principally been wrought up by the imagination! He soon came to the -clearing of which he was in quest, and obtained a clear view of the, -to him, charmed cottage. But, instead of entering the opening directly, -he went nearly round it, frequently pausing and advancing nearly to the -edge of the woods; but as often retreating, being unable quite to make -up his mind to show himself at all to the inmates of the cottage. Once -he gave it up entirely, and started off for his companions. But, after -he had proceeded a dozen rods, he came again to a stand, hesitated a -while, and, as if ashamed of his irresolution, wheeled rapidly about, -proceeded, with a quick, firm step, to the border of the woods, struck -directly for the house, and, with assumed unconcern, marched up to the -door,--where he was met, not by the young lady he expected first to -see, but by her father. But who was that father? To his utter surprise, -it was _his_ father’s old tempter and ruiner, the dark and inscrutable -Gaut Gurley! - -With a manner, for him, unusually gracious, Gurley extended his hand -to Claud; ushered him into the house; formally introduced him to his -wife, an ordinary, abject-looking woman; and then to his daughter, the -fair, dark-eyed, tall, shapely, and every way magnificent Avis Gurley, -the girl who had so long, but unwittingly, been the object of the young -man’s dreamy fancies. - -“I have but very lately discovered,” remarked Gurley, who seemed to -feel himself called on to lead off in the conversation, after the usual -commonplace remarks had been exchanged, “I have but lately discovered -that I had, by a singular coincidence, again cast my lot in the same -settlement with your family. Having made up my mind, a few months ago, -to try a new country, and coming across the owner of this place, who -was on a journey in New Hampshire, and who offered to sell and move off -at once, I came on with him, struck a bargain, returned for my family, -and brought them here about a fortnight ago. But, having been absent -most of the time since, I didn’t mistrust who my neighbors were.” - -“And you probably perceived, sir,” said Avis, turning to Claud, with a -smile, “you probably perceived, in your yesterday’s adventure up here -in the woods, that I have been in as bad a predicament as my father.” - -“How is that, Avis?” asked Gurley. - -“Why, father,” responded the other, “Mr. Elwood will readily suppose -that I should not have been straying into the wood for flowers and -berries, had I known we had any such neighbors as the one from whose -pursuit he so kindly rescued me last evening.” - -“I was as much surprised at the ferocity of the animal as you were, I -presume,” said Claud, in reply. “And I was far more indebted to the -hunter, Phillips, for my _own_ rescue, than _you_ were to _me_ for -_yours_. I merely turned the furious brute aside. It was he who, coming -up in the nick of time, brought him dead to the earth.” - -“I supposed there were two of you,” remarked Gurley. “I was half a mile -up the river, yet I heard the firing plain enough; and, returning soon -after, and hearing my daughter’s story, I went to the place; but, by -that time, you had dressed the animal and were gone. By the voices I -heard in the woods, a short time ago, I concluded you came up, with -others, for the beef.” - -“We did. You here should certainly be entitled to a liberal share. Will -you not go up there?” - -“Yes; I was thinking about it before you came in. I will go; but, -as I wish to go a short distance into the woods, partly in another -direction, I will now walk on and come round to the spot; and, if I -don’t meet you there, you may just tell your father how surprised I -have been to find myself again in the same neighborhood with himself.” - -“Umph!” half audibly exclaimed the hitherto mute wife, with a look -that seemed to say, “What a bouncer he is telling now!” and she was -evidently about to say something, comporting with the significant -exclamation, but a glance from her husband, as he passed out of the -door, quelled her into silence. - -On the departure of Gurley, his wife rose and left the room; when -Claud, unexpectedly finding himself alone with his fair companion, -instead of entering into the easy conversation with her which the -dictates of common gallantry would seem to require, soon began to -manifest signs of constraint and embarrassment, which did not escape -the eye of the young lady, and which caused her no little surprise and -perplexity. She knew nothing of what had been passing in his mind, nor -once dreamed of the circumstance which had first impressed her image -there. She had, indeed, known nothing of the Elwoods, except what she -had heard her father say of them as a family, with whose head he had in -some way been formerly connected in business. Had she been asked, she -would doubtless have recalled the fact that her father had, the year -before, employed an artist to paint a miniature likeness of her, which -he subsequently pretended to have sent to a relative of his residing -in Quebec, and she never entertained the least suspicion that it was -not thus properly disposed of. She had never seen Claud till yesterday, -when he so opportunely appeared for her rescue; and, even then, she had -no idea who it was to whom she had thus become indebted. She, however, -had been much prepossessed with his appearance and manly bearing, and -felt a lively sense of gratitude for the voluntary service; and when, -by the introduction of her father, she became apprised of the character -of her deliverer, she felt doubly gratified that he had turned out to -be one who, she believed, would not take any mean advantage of the -obligation. For these reasons, she could not understand why he should -appear so reserved, unless it was that she had failed to interest him; -and, finally concluding that this must be the case, she did that which, -with her maidenly pride and high spirit, she would otherwise have -scorned to do, she exerted herself to the utmost to interest and please -him; and, when he rose to return to his companions, she followed him -into the yard, and smilingly said: - -“You are fond of gunning excursions, are you not, Mr. Elwood?” - -“Yes, O yes, quite so,” replied Claud, with awkward hesitation. - -“And would not an occasional excursion in _this_ direction be as -pleasant as any other?” she asked, with playful significance. - -But, instead of replying in the same spirit, the bewildered young man -turned, and sent a gaze into the depths of her lustrous dark eyes, -so serious and intense that it brought a blush to her cheek; when, -stammering out his intention of often taking her house in his way in -future, he hurriedly bade her good-by, and departed, leaving her more -perplexed than ever. - -As for Claud, it would be difficult to describe his sensations on -leaving the house, or make any thing definite out of the operations -of his mind. Both heart and brain were working tumultuously, but not -in unison. The train which his imagination had been laying was on the -point of being kindled into a blaze by the reality. He knew it; he felt -it; but he knew also that it was the part of wisdom to smother the -flame while it yet might be controlled. The unexpected and startling -discovery which he had just made, that the girl who had so wrought -upon his fancy, both when seen in the picture and met in the original, -was the daughter of Gaut Gurley, raised difficulties and dangers in -the path he found himself entering, which his judgment told him could -only be avoided by his immediate desistance. For he was well aware how -deeply rooted was his mother’s aversion to this man, and how fatal had -been his influence over his father, who had but a few months before -escaped from his toils, and then only, perhaps, because there was no -more to be gained by keeping him in them any longer. A connection -with the daughter, therefore, however opposite in character from her -father, would not only greatly mar his mother’s happiness, but in all -probability lead to a renewal of the intimacy between his father and -Gurley; an event which he himself felt was to be deprecated. But the -Demon of Sophistry, who first taught self-deceiving man how to make -“the wish father to the thought,” here interposing, whispered to the -incipient lover that his father had reformed, and why not then Gaut -Gurley? This reasoning, however, could not be made to satisfy his -judgment; and again commenced the struggle between head and heart, one -pulling one way and the other in another way,--too often an unequal -struggle, too often like one of those contests between man and wife, -where reason succumbs and will comes off triumphant. - -Such were the fluctuating thoughts and purposes which occupied the -agitated bosom of Claud Elwood, in his solitary walk to the place where -the boats had been left, and where the subject was now driven from -his mind, for a while, by the appearance of his companions and the -merry jokes of the hunter. They had cut up the moose meat, which they -had found in good condition, and brought all they deemed worth saving -down to the landing. And, being now ready to embark, they apportioned -the meat among the different canoes, and rowed with the now favoring -current rapidly down the river together till they reached its mouth, -when they separated, and bore their allotted portions of the moose to -their respective homes. - -For the two succeeding days and nights the hapless Claud was the prey -of conflicting emotions,--the more oppressive because he carefully kept -them pent up in his own bosom. He dared not make the least allusion -before his parents to the lady whom they knew he had rescued, or -his visit to her home, for he could not do so without revealing the -fact that the dreaded Gaut Gurley, with his family, had found his -way into the vicinity; while, if he did disclose this fact, he felt -that he could not hold up his head before them till he had conquered -his feelings towards the daughter. And sometimes he thought he had -conquered them, and resolved that he would never see her again. But, -brooding over his feelings in the solitudes of the woods, he only -cherished and fanned the flame he was thinking to extinguish; and he -again relapsed,--again paused,--again “resolved, re-resolved, and -_did_ the same;” for, on the third day, under the excuse of taking -another excursion on the lake, he was drawn, as surely as the vibrating -needle to the pole, to the beautiful load-star of the Magalloway. - -Suspecting the state of young Elwood’s feelings towards her, and -fearing that she might have been too forward in her advances at their -last interview, Avis Gurley, this time, received him with a dignity and -maidenly reserve, which, when contrasted with her former sociability -and cordiality of manner, seemed to him like studied coolness. This -soon led him, in turn, to sue for favor. And so earnestly did he -pursue his object, that, before he was aware of what he was saying, -he had revealed the secret of his heart. She received his remarks -in respectful silence, but gave no indication by which he could -judge whether the inadvertent disclosure was pleasing or otherwise, -except what might be gathered from her increased cordiality on other -subjects, to which she now adroitly turned the conversation. This was -just enough to encourage him, and at the same time leave him in that -degree of doubt and suspense which generally operate as the greatest -incentive to persevere in the pursuit of an object. It proved so in -his case; and, to this natural incentive to persevere, was now added -another, that of respect for her character,--a respect which every -hour’s conversation with her enhanced, and which he might accord to her -with entire justice. Gaut Gurley, like many other bad men, was proud -of having a good daughter. He early perceived that she inherited all -that was comely and good in him, physically and morally, without any -of his defects or faults of character. And, desirous so to rear her as -to make the most of her natural endowments, and so, at the same time, -that her character should not be marred by his example, he had been at -considerable expense with her education, and had even deported himself -with much circumspection in her presence. This, as will be readily -inferred of one of his designing character, he did from a mixed motive: -partly from parental pride and affection, and partly to make her, -through some advantageous marriage, subservient to his own personal -interests. - -In this state of affairs between Claud and Avis, closed this, their -second interview. Another, and another, and yet another, succeeded at -brief intervals. And so rapid is the course of love, when springing up -in solitudes like these, where nothing occurs to divert the gathering -current, but every thing conspires to increase it,--where to our young -devotees all around them seemed to reflect their own feelings,--where -the æolian music of the whispering pines that embowered their solitary -walks seemed but to give voice to the melody that filled their own -hearts,--where to them the birds all sang of love,--where love smiled -upon them in the pensive beams of the moon, glistened in the stars, -and was stamped on all the expanse of blue sky above, and on all the -forms of beauty on the green earth beneath,--so rapid, we repeat, is -the course of love, thus born and thus fostered, that a fortnight had -scarcely elapsed before they had both yielded up heart and soul to the -dominion of the well-named blind god, and uttered their mutual vows of -love and constancy. - -This was the sunshine of their love; but the storms were already -gathering in the distance. - - - - -CHAPTER VIII. - - “The sigh that lifts her breastie comes, - Like sad winds frae the sea, - Wi’ sic a dreary sough, as wad - Bring tears into yer e’e.” - - -When Claud Elwood reached home, on the eventful visit to the Magalloway -which resulted in the exchange of vows between him and Avis Gurley, -as intimated at the close of the last chapter, he at once suspected, -from the sad and troubled looks of his mother and the disturbed manner -of his father, that the secret of his late visits abroad, as well as -of the unexpected advent of the family visited, had, in some way, -become known to them in his absence. A feeling of mingled delicacy and -self-condemnation, however, prevented him from making any inquiries; -and, with a commonplace remark, which was received in silence, he -took a seat, and, with much inward trembling, awaited the expected -_denouement_. But it did not come so soon nor in so harsh terms as -he expected. There are occasions when we feel so deeply that we are -reluctant to begin the task of unburdening our minds; and, when we -do speak out, it is oftener in sorrow than in anger. It was so in -the present instance. Mr. Elwood had that day been abroad among the -settlers, and, for the first time, learned not only that Gaut Gurley -had moved with his family into the settlement, but that Claud was -courting his daughter, and a match already settled on between them. On -his return home, Elwood felt almost as much reluctance in making known -his discoveries to his wife as Claud had before him; for he well knew -how deeply they would disquiet her. But, soon concluding there would be -no wisdom in attempting concealment, he told her what he had heard. -As he had anticipated, the news fell like a sudden thunderclap on her -heart. She had experienced, indeed, many strange misgivings respecting -her son’s late mysterious absences; but she was not prepared for such -a double portion of ill-omened news as she deemed this to be, and -it struck her mute with dismay, for it at once brought a cloud over -the future, which to her eye was dark with portents. Elwood himself -was also obviously considerably disquieted by the news, showing no -little uneasiness and excitement,--an excitement, perhaps, resembling -that which is said to be manifested by a bird in the presence of the -devouring reptile. He doubtless would gladly have been relieved from -any further connection with Gaut. He doubtless would gladly have -avoided even the slightest renewal of their former acquaintance. But, -for reasons which he had never disclosed, he felt confident he should -not long be suffered to enjoy any such exemption. And feeling, for the -same reasons, how weak he should be in the hands of that man, he was -troubled, far more troubled than he would have been willing to own, at -the discoveries of the day, even if that part of it relating to the -intimacy of his son and Gaut’s daughter should prove, as he believed, a -mere conjecture. - -It was at this juncture, and before a word of comment had been offered -either by Mrs. Elwood or her husband on the news he had related, that -Claud arrived and entered the room. - -“Well, God’s will be done!” sadly uttered Mrs. Elwood, at length -breaking the embarrassing silence, but without raising her eyes from -her work, which lay neglected in her lap. - -“What does mother mean?” doubtfully asked Claud, turning to his father. - -“I have been telling her some unexpected news, which greatly disturbs -her mind,--more than is necessary, perhaps,” replied the other, with -poorly assumed indifference. - -“What news?” rejoined the son, having made up his mind that, if -his own secret was involved, as he supposed, the long dreaded -_eclaircissement_ might as well come now as ever. - -“Why, that Gaut Gurley has moved with his family into the settlement. -And that is not all; but the rest of it, which relates to a -lately-formed intimacy between you and Gaut’s daughter, I presume is -mere guess-work.” - -Mrs. Elwood turned a searching glance to the face of her son, and -waited to hear his reply to the last remarks, but he was silent; -and the last gleam of hope, which had for the moment lighted up -the mother’s countenance, faded like a moon-beam on the edge of an -eclipsing cloud; and, after a long pause and silence which no one -interrupted, she slowly and sadly said: - -“When I consented to leave the comforts and social blessings to which -I had been accustomed, and come into this lone wilderness, with its -well-known hardships and privations, my great and indeed only motive -was, to see my family placed beyond the temptations of the city, and -especially beyond the fatal and to me always mysterious, influence of -that wicked and dangerous man, Gaut Gurley. And with this object I -came cheerfully, gladly. And when I reached this place, fondly hoping -and believing we had escaped that man, and were forever secure from -his wiles, I became happy,--happier than since I left my native hills -in New-Hampshire. It soon became to _me_, lone and dreary as it might -appear to others,--it soon became to _me_, in my fancied security from -the evils we had fled, a second Paradise. But to me it is a Paradise -no longer; the Serpent has found his way into our Eden; and, not -content with having beguiled and ruined one, must now have the other so -entangled in the toils that both will be kept in his power.” - -“You are going a great ways to borrow trouble, it appears to me, -Alice,” remarked Elwood, after a pause. - -“It certainly seems so to me, also, mother,” said Claud. “You cannot -know but Gurley comes here with as honest purposes as father. But, -were it otherwise, the daughter should not be held responsible for the -faults of the father, nor, without good reason, be accused of favoring -any sinister designs he may entertain.” - -“Claud takes a just view of the case, on both points, I presume,” -rejoined Mr. Elwood. “As to Gurley, I know not how, or why, he came -here; nor do I wish or expect to have any thing to do with him. And as -to Claud, I trust he knows enough to take care of himself.” - -“You have both evaded the spirit of my remarks,” responded Mrs. Elwood. -“When I speak of Gaut Gurley’s motives and designs, you must know -I judge from his past conduct. Have either of you as safe grounds -of judging him? And when I allude to his daughter, I do so with no -thought of holding her amenable for the faults of her father, or even -of assuming the ground that she has inherited any of his objectionable -traits of character. I intend nothing of the kind, for I know nothing -of her. But I do say, that, whenever she marries, she becomes the -connecting link between her husband and her father, the chain extending -both ways, so as to bind their respective families together, and -give one the power and means of evil which could in no other way be -obtained. In view of all these circumstances, then, I feel that a -calamity is in store for us. God grant that my fears and forebodings -may prove groundless.” - -The husband and son were saved the difficult and embarrassing task of -replying, by the arrival of Phillips, who, in his free and easy manner, -entered and took a seat with the family. - -“I came, gentlefolks,” said the hunter, after a few commonplace remarks -had been exchanged,--“I came to see if you know what a ‘bee’ means?” - -“A bee? what, honey-bees?” asked Mr. Elwood, in surprise at the oddness -of the question. - -“No, not a honey-bee, exactly, or a humble-bee, but a sort of -work-meeting of men or women, to help a neighbor to husk his corn, -for instance, build him a log house, or do off some other job for him -in a day, which alone would take him perhaps weeks. These turn-outs -we new settlers call ‘bees.’ Nothing is more common than for a man to -get up a bee to knock off at once a pressing job he wants done. And, -when a new-comer appears to be delicate about moving in the matter, -the neighbors sometimes volunteer, and get up a bee for him, among -themselves.” - -“I may have heard of the custom; but why do you say you came to ask me -if I know any thing about it?” - -“Well, I kinder thought I would. You have a pretty stiff-looking burnt -piece here to be logged off soon, have you not?” - -“Why, yes.” - -“And it would be a hard and heavy month’s job for you and the young man -to do it, would it not?” - -“The best part of a month, perhaps; but I was intending to go at it -in season, that we might get it all cleared and sown by the middle of -September; which must be done, if I join you and the rest of the usual -company in the fall trapping and hunting expedition.” - -“Of course you will join us. It is our main and almost only chance here -of getting any money.” - -“So I have always understood, and therefore made up my mind to go into -it, if I can get ready. I have been down the river to-day and engaged -my seed wheat. To-morrow I thought of going abroad again, to try to -engage some help for clearing the piece.” - -“Well, you need not go a rod for that purpose.” - -“Why not?” - -“Because we have got up a bee for you in the settlement, large enough, -we think, to log off your whole piece in a day.” - -“Indeed! Who has been so kind as to start such a project?” - -“Several of us: Codman, that you may have seen, or at least heard of, -as the best trapper in the settlement, took upon himself to enlist -those round the southerly end of the lake, where he lives; and I have -arranged matters a little in this section and on the river below. But, -in justice, I should name, as the man who has taken the most interest -in the movement, the new settler who has this summer come into the -parts, and made his pitch over on the Magalloway. His name is Gurley.” - -A dead silence of several minutes ensued, during which Mrs. Elwood -looked sadly and meaningly from the husband to the son, both of whose -countenances seemed to fall and shrink before her significant glances. - -“Well,” at length resumed the hunter, perceiving no response was to be -made to his last remark, “seeing we had got all arranged and ready, I -came to notify you, so that you should not be taken by surprise. We -propose to be on the ground, men and oxen, early day after to-morrow. -There will be fifteen or twenty of us, perhaps, with five or six yoke -of oxen, and like enough a stiff horse or two.” - -“But how can I provision such a company on so short notice?” - -“No trouble about that. You have salt pork?” - -“A good supply.” - -“Corn meal?” - -“Yes; and wheat flour, with fine new potatoes.” - -“All right. I will take care of the rest. I will take the young man, -here, into my largest canoe, to-morrow morning, if he be so disposed, -and we will go up the lake, perhaps into the upper lake, and it will -be a strange case if we don’t return at night with fish, and I think -flesh, enough to victual the company; and, in the mean time, my women -will come up and be on hand to-morrow and next day, to help Mrs. Elwood -do the baking and cooking.” - -The friendly movement of the neighbors, thus announced, was not, of -course, to be opposed or questioned by those for whose benefit it was -intended, any further than Mr. Elwood had done in relation to his -ability to entertain the company so well as their kindness deserved. -Mr. Elwood and his son, indeed, who had been dreading the hard job -of clearing off their land, were greatly gratified at the unexpected -kindness. And even Mrs. Elwood, pained and annoyed as she was by the -part taken by Gaut Gurley, whose only motive she believed was to gain -some advantage for meditated evil, entered cheerfully into the affair, -and joined her husband in handsome expressions of acknowledgment to -the hunter, and assurances of doing their best to provide properly for -the company. The matter was therefore considered as settled; and the -hunter departed, to call, as he had proposed, early the next morning -for Claud, for an excursion up the lake, to procure fresh provisions -for the coming occasion. - -The family were early astir the next morning, intent on their -respective duties in preparation for the appointed logging bee. They -had scarcely dispatched their breakfast, before the hunter, as he had -promised, called for Claud; when the two departed together, with their -guns and fishing gear, for the lake, whither we propose to accompany -them. - -“Well, now, let us settle the order of the day,” said Phillips, after -they had reached the landing and deposited their luggage in the canoe -selected for the purpose. - -“I am a companion of the voyage, to-day, and, as you know, but a -learner in these sports,” responded Claud. “You have but to name your -plan.” - -“Well, my plan is this: to steer across and get up the lake to the -inlet and rapids which connect this to the next upper lake, called by -the Indians the Molechunk-a-munk; up these rapids into that lake, where -we will take a row of a few hours, and home again by nightfall. In -these rapids, going or returning, we may safely count, at this season, -on a plenty of trout; and, on the borders of the lake beyond, I know -of several favorite haunts of the deer, one of which I propose to take -into the canoe as ballast to steady it for running the rapids, on our -way back.” - -“What is the whole distance?” - -“Four or five miles of this lake, as many of the river or rapids, and -as far into the upper lake as we please.” - -“You are laying out largely for one day, are you not?” - -“No, ’tis nothing. You see, I have brought round for our use my best -birch bark canoe. I have rowed her fifty miles a day round the lakes -many a time. We shall bound over the lake in almost no time, and the -rapids, which are the only drawback, can soon be surmounted, by oar or -setting-pole, or, what may be cheapest, carrying the canoe round those -most difficult of passage. The boat does not weigh an hundred. I could -travel with it a mile on my head, as fast as you would wish to walk -without a pound of luggage. So, in with you, and I’ll show you how it -is done.” - -Accordingly they launched forth in their primitive craft, which, as -before intimated, was the once noted birch bark canoe built by the -hunter agreeably to the exact rules of Indian art. Few, who have never -seen and observed the process of constructing this canoe, which, for -thousands of years before the advent of the white man, was the only -craft used by the aborigines in navigating the interior waters, have -any idea how, from such seemingly fragile materials, and with no other -tools than a hatchet, knife, and perhaps a bone needle, the Indian can -construct a canoe so extremely light and at the same time so tough and -durable. In building his canoe, which is one of the greatest efforts -of his mechanical skill, the Indian goes to work systematically. He -first peels his bark from a middle-sized birch tree, and cuts it in -strips five or six inches wide, and twelve, fifteen, or twenty feet -long, according to the length and size of the designed canoe. He then -dries them thoroughly in the sun, after which he nicely scrapes and -smooths off the outside. He next proceeds to soak these strips, which -are thus made to go through a sort of tanning process, to render them -tough and pliable, as well as to obviate their liability to crack by -exposure to the sun. After the materials are thus prepared, he smooths -off a level piece of ground, and drives around the outside a line of -strong stakes, so that the space within shall describe the exact form -of the boat in contemplation. Inside of these stakes he places and -braces up the wet and pliable pieces of bark, beginning at the bottom -and building up and bending into form the sides and ends, till the -structure has attained the required height. In this situation it is -left till it is again thoroughly dried and all the pieces become fixed -in shape. A light inside framework is then constructed, resembling the -skeleton of a fish, and of dimensions to fit the canoe already put in -form in the manner we have described. The pieces of cured material are -then numbered and taken down; when the architect, beginning at the -bottom, lapping and sewing together the different pieces, proceeds -patiently in his work, till the sides are built, the ends closed nicely -up, and each piece lashed firmly to the framework, which, though of -surprising lightness, is made to serve as keel, knees, and ribs of the -boat. Every seam and crevice is then filled with melted pitch. The -Indian then has his canoe fit for use; and he may well boast of a boat, -which, for combined strength and lightness, and especially for capacity -of burden, no art of the shipbuilder has ever been able to surpass, -and which, if it has not already, might serve for a model of the best -lifeboat ever constructed, in these days of boasted perfection in -marine arts and improvements. - -Bounding over the smooth waters like a seabird half on wing, our -voyagers soon found themselves on the northerly side of the lake; when, -rounding a point, they began to skirt the easterly shore of the bay -that makes up to the inlet, at a more leisurely pace, for the purpose -of being on the lookout for deer, which might be standing in the edge -of the water round the coves, to cool themselves and keep off the -flies. Not seeing any signs of game, however, they steered out so as -to clear the various little capes or woody points of land inclosing -the numerous coves scattered along the indented shore, and struck a -line for the great inlet at the head of the lake, which they now soon -reached, and commenced rowing against the at first gentle and then -rapid current, which here pours down from the upper lakes, through the -rocky and picturesque defiles, in the form of a magnificent river, -rivalling in its size the midway portions of the Connecticut or Hudson. - -“Now, young man,” said the hunter, laying aside his paddle and taking -up the strong, elastic setting-pole he had provided for the occasion, -“now you must look out for your balance. The river, to be sure, is -quite low, and the current, of course, at its feeblest point; but we -shall find places enough within the next mile where the canoe, to go up -at all, must go up like the jump of a catamount. So, down in the bottom -of the boat, on your braced knees, with your haunches on your heels, -and leave all to me.” - -“What! do you expect to force the canoe up rapids like these?” asked -Claud, in surprise, as he cast his eye over the long reach of eddying, -tumbling waters, that looked like a lessening sheet of foam as it lay -stretched upward in the distant perspective. - -“I expect to try,” coolly replied the hunter; “and, if you lay asleep -in the bottom of the canoe, I should expect to succeed. And, as it is, -if you can keep cool and obey orders, we will see what can be done.” - -Claud implicitly obeyed the directions of the hunter, without much -faith, however, in the success of his bold attempt. But he soon -perceived he had underrated the skill and strength of arm which had -been relied on to accomplish the seemingly impossible feat. Standing -upright and slightly bracing in the bottom of his canoe, the hunter -first marked out with his eye his course through a given reach of the -rock-broken and foaming waters above; then, nicely calculating the -resisting force of each rapid to be overcome, and the required impetus, -and the direction to be given to his canoe to effect it, he sharply bid -Claud be on his guard, and sent the light craft like an arrow into the -boiling eddies before him. And now, by sudden and powerful shoves, he -was seen shooting obliquely up one rapid; tacking with the quickness -of light, and darting off zigzag among the rocks and eddies towards -another, which was in turn surmounted; while the boat was forced, -surging and bounding forward, with increasing impetus, now up and now -athwart the rushing currents, till he had gained a resting-place in the -still water of some sheltering boulder in the stream, when he would -mark off, with a rapid glance, another reach of falls, and shoot in -among them as before. Thus, with the quick tacks and turns and sudden -leaps of the ascending salmon, and almost with the celerity, he made -his way up the long succession of rapids, until the last of the series -was overcome, and he found himself safely emerging into the smooth -waters of the beautiful lakelet or pond which divides, in the upper -portion of its course, this remarkable stream. Another row of a mile -or so now brought the voyagers where the water again took the form of -a swift river, tumbling and foaming over the rocks, in the last series -of rapids to be overcome. These also were surmounted in the same manner -and with the same success as the former. - -But this part of the voyage was marked with an unexpected adventure, -and one which seemed destined to lead to the operation of new and -singular moral agencies, both in the near and more distant future, -having an important bearing on the fate and fortunes of young Elwood. -They had reached the last and most difficult of all the rapids yet -encountered, and were resting, preparatory to the anticipated struggle, -in a smooth piece of water under the lee of a huge rock, on either side -of which the divided stream rushed in two foam-covered torrents, with -the force and swiftness of a mill-race; when they were startled by the -shrill exclamations of a female voice, in tones indicative of surprise -and alarm. The sounds, which came from some unseen point not far above -them in the stream, were evidently drawing near at a rapid rate. -Presently a small Indian canoe, with a single female occupant, whose -youth and beauty, even in the distance, were apparent, shot swiftly -into view, and came tossing and whirling down the stream, unguided, and -wholly at the mercy of the crooked and raging currents along which it -was borne with the speed of the wind. The imperilled maiden uttered a -cry of joy at the appearance of our voyagers, and held up the handle -of a broken oar, to indicate to them at once the cause of her fearful -dilemma and need of assistance. - -“I will throw her one of our paddles, and she will best take care of -herself,” hurriedly exclaimed the hunter, seizing the implement, and -awaiting her nearest approach to throw it within her reach. - -The critical point was the next instant reached, but the hunter, in his -nervous anxiety and haste, made his throw a little too soon and with -too much force. The paddle struck directly under the prow of the canoe, -and shot beyond, far out of reach of the expectant maiden’s extended -hands. Another oar was hurled after her, with no better effect; when, -for the first time, a shade of despair passed over her agitated -countenance; for she saw herself rapidly drifting directly into the -jaws of a wild and fearful labyrinth of breakers not fifty yards -below, where, in all probability, her fragile canoe would be dashed -to pieces, and herself thrown against the slippery and jagged rock, -drawn down, and lost. Claud, who had witnessed, with trembling anxiety, -the hunter’s vain attempts to place the means of self-preservation in -the hands of the maiden, and who now perceived, in their full light, -the perils of the path to which she was helplessly hastening, could -restrain his generous impulses no longer; and, quickly throwing off his -hat and coat, he leaped overboard, dashed headlong into the current, -and struck boldly down it to overtake the receding canoe. - -“Hold! madness! They will both perish together!” rapidly exclaimed -the hunter, surprised and alarmed at the rash attempt of his young -companion. “But I will share in their dangers,--perhaps save them, yet.” - -Accordingly he hastily headed round his canoe, and, hazardous as he -knew must be the experiment, sent it surging down the current after -his endangered young friends; for the one, as will soon appear, was no -less his favorite than the other. In the mean time, Claud, in swimming -over a sunken rock, luckily gained a foothold, which enabled him to -rise and plunge forward again with redoubled speed; and, so well-timed -and powerful were his exertions, that he came within reach of the -stern of the fugitive canoe just as it was whirling round sideways in -the reflux of the waves caused by the water dashing against a high -rock standing partly in the current. It was a moment of life or death, -both to the man and maiden; for the boat was on the point of going -broadside over the first fall into the wild and seething waters, seen -leaping and roaring in whirlpools and jets of foam among the intricate -passes of the ragged rocks below. Making sure of his grasp on the end -of the canoe that had been thus fortunately thrown within his reach, -the struggling Claud made an effort to draw it from the edge of the -abyss into which it was about to be precipitated; but, with his most -desperate exertions, he was barely enabled to keep it in position, -while his strength was rapidly giving way. The unequal contest was -quickly noticed by the hapless girl; and, after watching a moment, -with a troubled eye, the fruitless efforts and wasting strength of -the young man, she calmly rose to her feet, exhibiting, as she stood -upright in the boat, with the spray dashing over her marble forehead -and long flowing hair, in the faultless symmetry of her person, the -beautiful cast of her features, and the touching eloquence of her -speaking countenance, a figure which might well serve as a subject for -the pencil of the artist. - -“Let go, brave stranger,” she cried, in clear, silvery tones, after -throwing a grateful and admiring glance down upon her gallant rescuer; -“let me go, and save yourself. I can die as befits a daughter of my -people.” - -“Hold on, there, Claud! Courage, girl! I see a way to save you both,” -at that critical instant rang above the roar of the waters the sharp -voice of the hunter, who, with wonderful tact and celerity, had shot -down obliquely across the main current, out of it through a narrow side -pass, down that and round the intervening rocks, and was now driving -with main strength up another pass, abreast of the objects of his -anxiety. “There: now seize the head of my canoe, and hold on to both; -and, on your life, be quick!” he continued, shouting to the exhausted -young man, while he himself was struggling with all his might to get -and keep his boat in the right position among the battling currents. - -After one or two ineffectual attempts, Claud, with a last desperate -effort, fortunately succeeded in securing his grasp on the hunter’s -boat, without losing his hold on the other; when, with one mighty -effort of the latter, they were all drawn out of the vortex together, -and soon brought safely to shore. - -“Fluella, my fair young friend,” said the hunter, taking a long breath, -and respectfully turning to the rescued girl, as the party stepped on -to the dry beach, “I have not often--no, never--felt more rejoiced than -now, in seeing you stand here in safety.” - -“I know the danger I have been in,” responded the maiden, feelingly. “O -yes, know to remember, and know to remember, also, those who made my -escape. Mr. Phillips, I am grateful much.” - -“Don’t thank _me_,” promptly replied the hunter. “I am ashamed not to -have been the first in the rescue, when the chief’s daughter was in -danger.” - -“But, Mr. Phillips,” rejoined the other, with an expressive smile, “you -have not told me who this stranger is, who seemed to measure the value -of his own life by such a worthless thing as mine.” - -“True, no,” returned the hunter; “but this gentleman, Fluella, is young -Mr. Claud Elwood, who, with his father and mother, has recently moved -into the settlement; and they are now my nearest neighbors, at the foot -of the lower lake. And to you, Claud, I have to say, that this young -lady is the daughter of Wenongonet, the red chief, the original lord of -these lakes, and still living on the one next above.” - -Both the maiden and her gallant young preserver seemed equally -surprised, at the announcement of each others’ name and character: the -former, because it suggested questions in the solution of which she -felt an interest, but which, with the characteristic prudence of her -race, she forbore to ask; and the latter, because he found it hard to -realize that the fair-complexioned and every way beautiful girl, who -stood before him, readily speaking his own language, and neatly and -richly arrayed in the usual female habiliments of the day, with the -single exception of the gay, beaded moccasins, that enveloped her small -feet and ankles,--found it extremely difficult to realize that one of -such an exterior, and of so much evident culture, could possibly have -descended from the tawny and uncultivated sons of the forest. - -“You two should hereafter be friends, should you not?” observed the -hunter, perceiving their mutual restraint, of which he wished to -relieve them. - -Rousing himself, with a prompt affirmative reply to the question, Claud -gallantly advanced, and extended his hand to his fair companion, who, -with evident emotion, and a slight suffusion of the cheek, gave him her -own in return, as she said: - -“O yes. Mr. Phillips’ friend is my friend, and, I--I--why, I can’t -thank him _now_; the words don’t come; the thanks remain unshaped in my -heart.” - -“Excuse me,” replied Claud, “excuse me if I say, Miss Fluella, as Mr. -Phillips calls you, that you have already expressed, and in the finest -terms, far more than I am entitled to; so let that pass, and tell us -how your mishap occurred?” - -“O, naturally enough, though rather stupidly,” responded the other, -regaining her ease and usually animated manner. “You must know that I -sometimes play the Indian girl, in doing my father’s trouting. And, -having rowed down to the rapids this morning for that purpose, I ran -my canoe on to a rock, up here at the head of the fails, and threw -into an eddy below, till I had taken a supply. But, like other folks, -I must have the _one more_,--a large one I had seen playing round my -hook; and, in my eagerness to take him, I did not notice that my canoe -had slipped off the rock till I found it drifting down the current. -I seized my oar, but, with the first blow in the water it snapt in -my hands. You know the rest, unless, perhaps, the number of fish I -caught,” she added, pointing to a string of fine trout still lying -safely in the bottom of her canoe. - -“Brave girl!” exclaimed the hunter, going up to the boat with Claud, -to inspect the fish, which they had not before noticed. “A good ten -pounds, and fine ones, too. Claud shall remain here while I go a piece -up the lake for a deer, and follow your example, except the race down -the rapids; but that he can’t do, for I shall take our canoe with me, -and make him fish from the shore, which will be just as well. Are you -agreed to that arrangement, young man?” - -This proposition being accepted, and it being also settled by common -consent that no further attempt should, at this time, be made to ascend -the remaining rapids with either of the boats, the hunter and Claud, -accompanied by the light-footed Fluella, took up her canoe and set off -with it, along shore, towards a convenient landing in the lake above, -then not more than sixty or seventy rods distant. In a short time the -proposed landing was reached, and the boat let down into the water. -The maiden, with an easy and sprightly movement, then flung herself -into her seat, and, with a paddle hastily whittled for her out of a -piece of drift-wood, by the ever ready hunter, sent her little craft in -a curving sweep into the lake; when, facing round to her preservers, -while a sweet and grateful smile broke over her dimpling features, -she bade and bowed them adieu, and went bounding over the undulating -waves towards her home, on an island some miles distant, near the -southeastern border of this romantic sheet of water. - -“Can it be,” half-soliloquized Claud, as he stood rivetting his -wondering gaze on the beauteous figure, which, gracefully bowing with -the lightly-dipping oar, was receding from his rapt view, and gradually -melting away in the distance; “can it be that she is but a mere Indian -girl, one of those wild, untutored children of the forest?” - -“It is even so, young man,” responded the hunter, rousing himself from -the reverie into which he also seemed to have fallen at the departure -of his fair favorite; “it is even so; but, for all that, the very -flower of all the womankind, white or red, according to my ideas, that -ever graced the borders of these lakes.” - -“But how came she by those neatly-turned English features, and that -clear, white complexion?” - -“Why, her mother, who is now dead, was an uncommon handsome woman for -a squaw, and had, as I perhaps should have qualified when I answered -so about this girl, some white blood in her veins; or rather had, as -the old chief once told me, somewhere away back among the gone-by -generations, a female ancestor, a pure white woman, who was made -captive by the Indians, and married into their tribe, and who was as -handsome as a picture. But the white blood seemed to have been pretty -much lost among the descendants, till the appearance of this nonsuch of -a girl, in whom every drop of it seemed to have again been collected.” - -“Some might, perhaps, draw different conclusions in the case.” - -“Yes, and draw them very wrongfully, too, as I have no doubt many -people do in such cases; for I have often noticed it among families, -and ascertained it as a fact, that where a person of particular looks -and character once lived, his or her like, though not coming out -visibly in any of the descendants for a long time, is sure sooner or -later to appear, and so will frequently leap out in a child four or -five generations off; a complete copy, in looks, blood, and character, -of the original (as far as can be judged from family tradition), who -may have been dead an hundred years. This is my notion; and I hold -that every person is destined to be at least once reproduced among some -of his descendants. I, or the exact like of me, will likely enough -be seen in some of my blood descendants, fifty or an hundred years -hence, building dams or mills on these very falls, or even riding in a -carriage around these wild lakes, where I have spent nearly my whole -life in hunting moose, and the other wild animals known only in the -unbroken forest.” - -“Your theory may be true, but it does not quite account, I think, for -the evident intelligence and culture of this remarkable girl. To appear -and converse as she does, she must have seen considerable of good -society out of the forest, and, I should think, schools.” - -“She has, both. Her father, one fall, when she was a girl of ten or -eleven, took her along with him to a city on the coast, where he went -to sell his furs and nice basket-work, and where she, some how, excited -the lively interest of a good family, and particularly of a wealthy -gentleman then living in the family. Well, the short of the matter is, -that they persuaded the chief to leave her through the winter; and, -she becoming a favorite with them all, they instructed her, sent her -to school, and dressed her as they would an own daughter, and would -only part with her in the spring on condition of her returning in the -fall. And so it has gone on till now, she living with them winters, and -here with her father summers; for, though they would like to take her -entirely out of the woods, she would not desert her father, who loves -her as his life, and calls her the light of his lodge,--no, not for all -the gold in the cities.” - -“You must then be well acquainted with this Indian family, and can give -me their history.” - -“As far as is proper for me to tell, as well as anybody, perhaps. When -I was a young man, I at times used to live with the chief, who always -made me welcome to his lodge, and gave me his confidence. He was then -but little past his prime, and one of the smartest men, every way, -I ever knew. He was then worth property, and lived with his first -wife, this girl’s mother, who, as I told you, was very good-looking -and intelligent. But his second wife was as homely as his first was -handsome. As to Wenongonet himself, who has now got to be, though -still active, an old man, he claims to have been a direct descendant -of Paugus,--a grandson, I believe, of that noted chief,--who was -slain in Lovewell’s bloody fight, and whose tribe, once known as the -Sokokis or Saco Indians, who were great fighters, it is said, were then -forever broken up, the most of them fleeing over the British highlands -and joining the St. Francis Indians in Canada. The family of Paugus, -however, with a few of the head men, who survived the battle, concluded -to remain this side of the mountain, and try to keep up a show of the -tribe on these lakes, where they lived till Paugus’ son, who on the -death of his father became their sagamore or chief, died, when they -gradually drew off into Canada, leaving Wenongonet, the last chief’s -son, the only permanent Indian resident, after a while, on these lakes. -But come, young man, enough of Indian matters for to-day: we must now -be stirring, or our day’s work may come short. Help me to take my canoe -up here into the lake; and, within four hours, the time to which I -will limit my absence, we will see what can be done by each, in our -different undertakings.” - -The employment of another half-hour fully sufficed to place the canoe -of the hunter in the smooth water above the rapids; when the latter, -with a cheery “heigh ho,” at each light dip of his springy oar, -struck off towards the foot of the pine-covered hills that lift their -green summits from the western shores of the lake, leaving his young -companion to proceed to his allotted portion of the sports or labors -of the day. Preparing his long fishing-rod and tackle, according to -the instructions which the hunter had given him for adapting his mode -of fishing to the locality and season, Claud made his way along down -the edge of the stream to a designated point, a short distance above -the place where, on the occurrence of the incident before described, -they had ceased to ascend the rapids in their canoes. He here found, as -he had been told, below a traversing reach of bare breakers, a large, -deep eddy of gently revolving water, in the centre of which lay tossing -on the swell a broad spiral wreath of spotless foam. The hunter, -in selecting these rapids, and especially this resting-spot of the -ascending fish, as the place where he could safely warrant the taking -of the needed supply of trout, had not spoken without knowledge; for it -may well be doubted whether there could be found, in all the regions of -the north, a reach of running water of equal length with this wild and -singularly picturesque portion of the Androscoggin river, containing -such quantities of this beautiful fish as are found about midsummer, -swarming up the rapids on their way from the Umbagog to the upper lakes. - -So, at least, Claud then found it; for, having passed to the most -outward point of rocks inclosing the eddy, he no sooner threw in and -drew his _skip bait_ round the borders of the foam-island just named, -than a dozen large trout shot up from beneath, and leaped splashing -along the surface, in keen rivalry for the prize of the bait. With a -second throw, he securely hooked one of a size which required all his -strength to draw it, as he at length did, flapping and floundering -to a safe landing. And for the next three hours he pursued the sport -with a success which, notwithstanding the great number that broke -away from his hook, well made good the augury of his beginning. By -that time he had caught some dozens, of sizes varying from one to -seven pounds, and enough, and more than he needed. But still he could -not forego his exciting employment, and, insensible of the lapse of -time, continued his drafts on the seemingly inexhaustible eddy, till -roused by the long, shrill _halloo_ of the returned hunter, summoning -him to the landing above. Throwing down his pole by the side of his -proud display of fish, he hastened up to the lake, where he found the -hunter complacently employed in removing, for lightness of carriage, -the head and offal of a noble fat buck; when the two, with mutual -congratulations on their success, took up the canoe, and, with a -stop only long enough to take in the trout, carried and launched -their richly-freighted craft at a convenient place in the stream -below. Seeing Claud securely seated in the bottom of the canoe, and -the freight nicely balanced, the hunter took his paddle, instead of -setting-pole, the better to restrain the speed of the boat at the most -rapid and dangerous passes, and struck out into the current, adown -which, under the quick and skilful strokes of its experienced oarsman, -it was borne with almost the swiftness of a bird on the wing, till -it reached the quiet waters of the pond; and, this being soon passed -over, they entered and descended the next reach of rapids with equal -speed and safety. All the dangers and difficulties were now over; and, -leisurely rowing homeward, they were, by sunset, at the cottage of the -Elwoods, displaying the fruits of their enterprise, and recounting -their singular adventures to the surprised and gratified inmates. - - - - -CHAPTER IX. - - “Then came the woodman with his sturdy team - Of broad-horned oxen, to complete the toil - Which axe and fire had left him, to redeem, - For culture’s hand, the cold and root-bound soil.” - - -The next morning, it being the day appointed for the “logging bee,” -the Elwoods were again up betimes, to be prepared for the reception -of the expected visitants. On going out into the yard, while yet the -coming sun was only beginning to flush the eastern horizon, Mr. Elwood -perceived, early as it was, a man, whom he presumed, from the handspike -and axe on his shoulder, to be one of the company, entering the opening -and leisurely approaching, with an occasional glance backward along -the road from the settlements below. Not recognizing the man as an -acquaintance, Elwood noted his appearance closely as he was coming up. -He was a rather young-looking man, of a short, compactly built figure, -with quick motions, and that peculiar springy step which distinguishes -men of active temperament and hopeful, buoyant spirits; while the -fox-like cut of his features, the lively gray eyes that beamed from -them, and the evidently quick coming and going thoughts that seemed -to flash from his thin-moving nostrils and play on his curling lips, -served to indicate rapid perceptions, shrewdness, and a kind and -perhaps fun-loving disposition. - -“Hillo, captain,--or captain of the house, as I suppose you must be,” -he sang out cheerily, as with slackening step he approached Elwood; -“did you ever hear spoken of, a certain rough-and-ready talking sort of -a chap they call Jonas Codman?” - -“I have heard of a Mr. Codman, and was told that he would probably be -here to-day,” doubtfully replied Elwood. - -“Well, I am he, such as he is, pushed forward as a sort of advanced -guard,--no, herald must be the book-word,--to tell you that you are -taken. Did you mistrust it?” - -“No, not exactly.” - -“You _are_, nevertheless. But I’ll tell you a story, which, if you can -see the moral, may give you some hints to show you how to turn the -affair to your advantage without suffering the least inconvenience -yourself; and here it is: - -“There was once a curious sort of a fellow, whose land was so covered -with stones, which had rolled down from a mountain, that little or -nothing could grow among them; and the question was, how he should -ever remove them. Well, one day, when he was thinking on the matter, -he found in the field an old Black-Art book, on the cover of which -he read, ‘_One chapter will bring one, two chapters two, and so on; -but set and keep them at work, lest a worst thing befall_.’ So, to -see what would come of it, he read one chapter; when a great, stout, -dubious-looking devil made his appearance, and asked what he should go -about? ‘Go to throwing these stones over the mountain,’ said the man. -The devil went at it. But the man, seeing the poor devil was having -a hard job of it, read on till he had raised about a dozen of the -same kind of chaps, and set them all at work. And so smashingly did -they make the stones fly that, by sunset, the last were disappearing; -and the man was about to set them to pulling up the stumps on his -newly-cleared land. But they shook their heads at this, and, being -pretty well tuckered out, agreed to quit even, if he would, and go off -without the usual pay in such cases made and provided in devildom; -when, he making no objections, they, with another squint at the green -gnarly stumps, cut and run; and all the chapters he could read after -that--for he began to like the fun of having his land cleared at so -cheap a rate--would never bring them back again.” - -So saying, the speaker turned; and, without the explanation or addition -of a single word, retraced his steps and disappeared in the woods, -leaving the puzzled Elwood to construe the meaning of his story as -he best could. Very soon, however, sounds reached his ears which -enabled him to form some conjecture what the man intended by his odd -announcement. The mingling voices of ox-team drivers, with their -loud and peculiarly modulated “_Haw Buck! gee! and up there, ye lazy -loons!_” were now heard resounding through the woods, and evidently -approaching along the road from the settlement. And soon an array of -eight sturdy pair of oxen, each bearing a bundle of hay bound on the -top of their yoke with a log chain, and each attended by a driver, with -a handspike on his shoulder, marching by their side, emerged one after -another from the woods, and came filing up the road towards the spot -where he stood. As the long column approached, Elwood, with a flutter -of the heart, recognized in the driver most in advance, the erect, -stalwart figure and the proud and haughty bearing of Gaut Gurley. - -“Good-morning, good-morning, neighbor Elwood, as I have lately been -pleased to find you,” exclaimed Gurley, with an air of careless -assurance, as he came within speaking distance. “We have come, as -you see, to give you a lift at your logging. So show us right into -your slash, and let us go at it, at once. We shall find time to talk -afterwards.” - -Elwood, with some general remark expressive of his obligation to -the whole of the company at hand for their voluntary and unexpected -kindness, led the way to the burned slash, and went back to meet and -salute the rest of the company, as they severally came up. Having -performed this ceremony with those having the immediate charge of -the oxen, till the whole had passed on to their work, he turned to -the rest of the company, whom, though before unnoticed by him, he -now found following immediately behind the teams. These consisted of -some half-dozen sturdy logmen, with their implements, appointed to -pair off with the drivers of the teams, so as to provide two men -to each yoke of oxen; the hunter, Phillips, with his brisk wife and -buxom daughter, bearing a basket of plates, knives, forks, spoons, and -extra frying-pans, to supply any deficiency Mrs. Elwood might find in -furnishing her tables or in cooking for so large a company; and lastly, -Comical Codman, as he was often called by the settlers, who, though the -first to come forward to meet Elwood, was now bringing up the rear. - -“A merry morning to you,” exclaimed the hunter, as the logmen turned -off to the slash; “a merry morning to you neighbor Elwood. This looks -some like business to-day. You were not expecting us a very _great_ -sight earlier than this, I conclude,” he added, with a jocular smile. - -“Earlier? Why, it is hardly sunrise yet, and I am wholly at a loss to -know how men living at such distances could get here at this hour.” - -“Well, that is easily explained. They haven’t had to travel so far -this morning as you imagine. They came on as far as my place last -night, mostly, and such as could be accommodated nestled with me in my -house. The rest camped out near by in the bush, which is just as well -generally with us woodsmen. But you, having no mistrust of this, as it -seems, were taken, I suppose, by surprise at our appearance so early.” - -“I should have been, wholly so, but for the coming ahead of this -gentleman,” replied Elwood, pointing to Codman; “and then, I was rather -at loss to know what he intended by his queer way of announcing you.” - -“Very likely. He never does or says any thing like other folks. -Jonas,” continued the hunter, turning to the odd genius of whom he -was speaking, “you are a good trapper, but I fear you make a bad -fore-runner.” - -“Well, I am all right now here in the rear, I suppose,” replied the -other, with an oddly assumed air of abashment. “A man is generally good -for one thing or t’other. If I ain’t a good forerunner, it then follows -that I am a good hind-runner.” - -“You see he must have his fol-de-rol, Mr. Elwood,” said the hunter. -“But, for all that, he is a good fellow enough at the bottom, if you -can ever find it: ain’t all that so, Jonas?” - -“Sort of so and sort of not so; but a little more not than sorter, they -may say, perhaps. And I don’t think, myself, there is much either at -the top or bottom to brag on,” rejoined Codman, suddenly darting off -to join his companions in the slash; and now whistling a tune, as he -went, and now crowing like a cock, in notes and tones each of its kind -so wondrous loud and shrill that the whole valley of the lake seemed -wakened by the strange music. - -The operations of the day having been thus auspicuously commenced -in the slash, Elwood, retaining the hunter with him at the house to -advise and assist in such arrangements and preparations for breakfast -as might render the meal most acceptable to the company, entered at -once upon his duties as host; and, it being found that neither the room -nor tables in the house were sufficient to seat all the company, it -was decided, for the purpose of avoiding every appearance of invidious -distinction, to prepare temporary tables and seat the whole of them, -except the females, in the open air near the house. Accordingly the -hunter, who, from his experience as a woodman, was ever ready at -such contrivances, went to work; and, clearing and levelling off -a smooth place, driving into the ground three sets of short stout -crotches, laying cross-pieces in each, and then two new pine planks -longitudinally over the whole, he soon erected a neat and substantial -table, long enough to seat a score of guests. Seats on each side were -then supplied by a similar process; when Mrs. Elwood, who had watched -the operation with a housewife’s interest, made her appearance with -a roll of fine white tablecloths, the relics of her better days, and -covered the whole with the snowy drapery, making a table which might -vie in appearance with those of the most fashionable restaurants of the -cities. Upon this table, plates, knives and forks, with all other of -the usual accompaniments, were speedily arranged by the quick-footed -females; while the sounds of boiling pots, and the hissing frying-pans -spreading through the house and around the yard the savory fumes of -the cooking trout, betokened the advanced progress of the culinary -operations within, which were now soon completed; when the fact was -announced by Mr. Elwood by several long and loud blasts on his “tin -horn” to the expectant laborers in the field, who, while the meal was -being borne smoking on to the table, chained their oxen to stumps and -saplings about the field, parcelled out to them the hay, and repaired -to their morning banquet. - -Banquet! A banquet among backwoodsmen? Yes; and why not? It is strange -that a thousand generations of epicures should have lived, gluttonized, -and passed away from the earth, without appearing to understand the -chief requisite for that class of animal enjoyments which they seem -to make the great end and aim of their lives,--without appearing to -realize that it is the appetite, not the quality of the food, that -makes the feast; that there can be no such thing as a feast, indeed, -without a _real_ not factitious appetite; and that there can be no real -appetite without toil or some prolonged and vigorous exercise. Nero -ransacked his whole kingdom, and expended millions for delicacies; and -yet he never experienced, probably, one-half the enjoyments of the -palate that were experienced from the coarsest fare by his poorest -laboring subject. No, the men of ease and idleness may have surfeits, -the men of toil can only have banquets. And it is doubtless a part of -that nicely balanced system of compensations which Providence applies -to men, that the appetites of the industrious poor should make good the -deficiencies in the quality of their food, so that it should always -afford equal enjoyment in the consumption with that experienced by the -idle rich over their sumptuous tables. - -The meal passed off pleasantly; and when finished, the gratified and -chatty workmen, with their numbers now increased by the addition of the -two Elwoods and the hunter, returned, with the eager alacrity of boys -hurrying to an appointed game of football, to their voluntary labors -in the field, in which they had already made surprising progress. - -The business of the day was now resumed in earnest. The teamsters -having quickly scattered to their respective teams and brought them -with a lively step on to the ground, and having there each received -their allotted quota of log-rollers, to pile up the logs as fast as -drawn, at once penetrated at different points into the thickest parts -of the blackened masses of timber before them, awaiting their sturdy -labors. Here the largest log in a given space, and the one the most -difficult to be removed, was usually selected as the nucleus of the -proposed pile. Then two logs of the next largest size were drawn up -on each side, and placed at a little distance in a line parallel with -the first, when the intermediate spaces were filled with limbs, knots, -and the smallest timber at hand; so that a fire, when the process of -burning the piles should be commenced, communicated at the centre thus -prepared, would spread through the whole, and not be likely to go out -till all the logs were consumed. When this foundation was laid, the -next nearest surrounding logs were drawn alongside and rolled up on -skids, by the logmen stationed there with their handspikes for the -purpose. Then generally commenced a keen strife between the teamster -and the log-rollers, to see which should first do their part and keep -the others the most closely employed. And the result was that in a very -short time a large pile of logs was completed, and a space of ten or -fifteen square rods was completely cleared around it. This done, an -adjoining thicket of timber was sought out, another pile started, and -another space cleared off in the same manner. And thus proceeded the -work, with each team and its attendants, in every part of the slash; -while the same spirit of rivalry which had thus began to be exhibited -between the members of each gang soon took the form of a competition -between one gang and another, who were now everywhere seen vieing with -each other in the strife to do the most or to build up the largest -and greatest number of log-heaps in the shortest space of time. The -whole field, indeed, was thus soon made to exhibit the animated but -singular spectacle of men, engaged in a wholly voluntary labor, putting -forth all the unstinted applications of strength and displaying all -the alertness and zeal of men at work for a wager. But, among all -the participants in the labors of the day, no one manifested so much -interest in advancing the work, no one was so active and laborious, -as Gaut Gurley. Not only was he continually inciting and pressing up -all others to the labor, but was ever foremost in the heaviest work -himself, generally selecting the most difficult parts for himself, and -often performing feats of strength that scarcely any two men on the -ground were able to perform. Nor was the Herculean strength which he so -often displayed before the eyes of the astonished workmen, ever made -useless, as is sometimes the case with men of great physical powers, by -any misapplication of his efforts. He seemed perfectly to understand -the business in which they were engaged; and, while all wondered, -though no one knew, where he had received his training for such work, -it was soon, by common consent, decided that he was much the most -efficient hand on the ground, many even going so far as to declare that -his equal was never before seen in that part of the country. - -“You see that, don’t you, captain?” said Codman, coming up close to -Elwood, and speaking in a half whisper, as he pointed to Gaut Gurley, -who, having noticed two of the stoutest of the hands vainly trying to -roll up a large log, rushed forward, and, bidding them stand aside, -threw it up single-handed without appearing to exert half his strength. -“You see that, don’t you, captain?” he repeated, with an air of mingled -wonder and waggishness. “Now, what do you think of my story, and the -great, stout, black-looking devil that came, on reading the first -chapter, and made the big stones fly so?” - -“I haven’t thought much about it,” carelessly replied Elwood, -evidently wishing not to appear to understand the allusion of the -other. “But why do you ask such a question?” - -“Don’t know myself, it’s a fact; but I happened to be thinking of -things. But say, captain, you haven’t been reading any chapters in any -strange book yourself, lately, have you?” said Codman, with a queer -look. - -“No, I guess not,” replied Elwood, laughingly, though visibly annoyed -by the subject. - -“No? Nor none of the family?” persisted the other, glancing towards -Claud Elwood, who was standing near by. “Well, I wish I knew what -put that story into my head, when I let it off this morning. It is -de-ive-lish queer, at any rate, considering.” So saying, he walked off -to his work, croaking like a rooster at some questionable object. - -Although none of the settlers present seemed disposed to attribute the -extraordinary physical powers, which Gaut Gurley had so unmistakably -shown, to any supernatural agency, as the trapper, Codman, whose other -singularities were not without a smart sprinkling of superstition, was -obviously inclining to do, yet those powers were especially calculated, -as may well be supposed of men of their class, to make a strong -impression on the minds of them all, and invest the possessor with -an importance which, in their eyes, he could in no other way obtain. -Accordingly he soon came to be looked upon as the lion of the day, and -suddenly thus acquired, for the time being, as he doubtless shrewdly -calculated he could do in this way, a consequence and influence of -which no other man could boast, perhaps, in the whole settlement. - -Meanwhile the work of clearing off the logs was prosecuted with -increasing spirit and resolution. And so eagerly intent had all the -hands become, in pressing forward to its completion their self-imposed -task, which all could see was now fast drawing to a close, that they -took no note of the flight of time, and were consequently taken by -surprise when the sound of the horn summoned them to their midday meal. - -“Why! it can’t yet be noon,” exclaimed one, glancing up at the sun. - -“No,” responded another. “Some of us here have been counting on seeing -the whole job nearly done by noon, but it will take three hours yet to -do that. No, the women must have made a mistake.” - -“Well, I don’t know about that: let us see,” said the hunter, turning -his back to the sun, and throwing out one foot as far as he could while -keeping his body perpendicular. “Now my clock, which, for noon on -the 21st of June, or longest day of summer, is the shadow of my head -falling on half my foot, and then passing off beyond it about half -an inch each day for the rest of the season, makes it, as _I_ should -calculate the distance between my foot and the shadow of my head, now -evidently receding,--makes it, for this last day of August, about a -quarter past twelve.” - -“I am but little over half past eleven,” said Codman, pulling out and -inspecting an old watch. “Phillips, may be, is thinking of that deer -that he has been promising himself and us for dinner; and, before I -take his calculation on shadows and distances, I should like to know -how many inches he allowed for the hurrying influence of his appetite.” - -“What nonsense, Comical! But what you mean by it is, I suppose, that I -can’t tell the time?” - -“Not within half an hour by the sun.” - -“Why, man, it is the sun that makes the time; and, as that body never -gets out of order or runs down, why not learn to read it, and depend -directly upon it for the hour of the day? If half the time men spend -in bothering over timepieces were devoted to studying the great clock -of the heavens, they need not depend on such uncertain contrivances as -common clocks and watches to know the time of day.” - -“But how in cloudy weather?” - -“Tell the time of day by your feelings. Take note of the state of your -appetite and general feelings at the various hours of the day, when it -is fair and you know the time, and then apply the rule when you have no -other means of judging; and you may thus train yourself, so that you -need not be half an hour out of the way in your reckoning through the -whole day.” - -“Well, supposing it is night?” - -“Night is for sleep, and it is no consequence to know the time, except -the time waking. And, as to that, none need be in fault, if they had -you anywhere within two miles to crow for them.” - -“A regular hit! I own it a hit, Mr. Hunter. But here comes Mr. Elwood: -we will leave the question of the time of day to him.” - -“We have a correct noon-mark at the house, and the women are probably -right,” replied Elwood. “At all events, men who have worked like lions, -as you all have this forenoon, must by this time need refreshment. So, -let us all drop work, and at once be off to dinner.” - -With such familiar jokes and converse, the light-hearted backwoodsmen -threw off their crocky frocks, and, after washing up at a runlet at -hand, marched off in chatty groups to the house, where they found -awaiting their arrival the well-spread board of their appreciating -hostess, this time made more tempting to their vigorous and healthy -appetites by the addition, to the fine trout of the morning, of the -variously-cooked haunches of the hunter’s venison. And, having here -done ample justice to their excellent meal, they again hastened back -to their labor in the field, unanimously declaring for the good -husbandman’s rule, “Work first and play afterwards,” and saying they -would have no rest nor recreation till they had seen the last log of -the slash disposed of. And with such animation did they resume their -labors, and with such vigor continue to apply themselves in carrying -out their resolution, and in hastening the hour of its fulfilment, that -by the middle of the afternoon their task was ended; and the gratified -Mr. Elwood had the satisfaction of seeing the formidable-looking slash -of the morning converted into a comparatively smooth field, requiring -only the action of the fire on the log heaps, with a few days’ tending, -to make it fit for the seed and harrow. - -“Come, boys,” said the hunter to the company, now all within speaking -distance, except two or three who had somehow disappeared; “come, -boys,” he repeated, after pausing to see the last log thrown up in -its place, “let us gather up here near the middle of the lot. Comical -Codman and some others, I have noticed, have been putting their heads -together, and I kinder surmise we may now soon expect some sort of -christening ceremony of the field we have walked through in such fine -style to-day; and, if they make out any thing worth the while, it may -be well to give them a good cheer or two, to wind off with.” - -While the men were taking their stand at the spot designated by -the hunter, Codman was seen mounting a conspicuous log-heap at the -southerly end of the field; and two more men, at the same time, made -their appearance on the tops of different piles on opposite sides of -the lot, and nearly abreast of the place where the expectant company -were collected and standing, silently awaiting the commencement of -the promised ceremony. Presently one of the two last-named, with a -preliminary flourish of his hand, slowly and loudly began: - - “Since we see the last logs fairly roll’d, - And log-heaps full fifty, all told, - We should deem it a shame - If so handsome and well-cleared a field, - Bidding fair for a hundred-fold yield, - Be afforded no name.” - -To this, the man standing on the opposite pile, in the same loud and -measured tone promptly responded: - - “Then a name we will certainly give it, - If you’ll listen, and all well receive it, - As justly you may: - We will call it the thing it will make, - We will name it the Pride of the Lake, - Or the Job of a Day.” - -Before the last words of this unique duet had died on the ear, Comical -Codman on his distant perch straightened up, and, triumphantly clapping -his sides like the boastful bird whose crowing he could so wonderfully -imitate, raised his shrill, loud, and long-drawn _kuk-kuk-ke-o-ho_ in a -volume of sound that thrilled through the forest and sent its repeating -echoes from hill to hill along the distant borders of the lake. - -“There, the dog has got the start of us!” exclaimed the hunter, joining -the rest of the company in their surprise and laughter at the prompt -action of the trapper as well as at the striking character of his -performance,--“fairly the start of us; but let’s follow him up close, -boys. So here goes for the new name!” - -And the prolonged “hurra! hurra! hurra!” burst from the lips of the -strong-voiced woodmen in three tremendous cheers for the _“Pride of the -Lake and the Job of a Day_.” - -All the labors and performances of the field being now over, the -company gathered up their tools, and by common consent moved towards -the house, where, it was understood, an hour or so, before starting -for their respective homes, should be spent in rest, chatting with the -women, or other recreation, and a consultation also be held, among -those interested, for forming a company, fixing on the time, and making -other arrangements for the contemplated trapping and hunting expedition -of the now fast-approaching season. - -As the company were proceeding along promiscuously towards the house, -Gaut Gurley, who had thus far through the day manifested no desire for -any particular conversation with Mr. Elwood, nor in any way deported -himself so as to lead others to infer a former acquaintance between -them, now suddenly fell in by his side; when, contriving to detain him -till the rest had passed on out of sight, he paused in his steps and -said: - -“Well, Elwood, I told you in the morning, you know, that we would do -the work first and the talking afterwards. The work has now been done, -and I hope to your satisfaction.” - -“Yes--O yes--entirely,” replied Elwood, hesitating in his doubt about -what was to follow from the other, whose unexpected conduct and stand -for his benefit he hardly knew how to construe. “Yes, the neighbors -have done me a substantial favor, and you all deserve my hearty thanks.” - -“I was not fishing for thanks,” returned Gaut, half-contemptuously, -“but wished a few words with you on private matters which concern only -you and myself. And, to come to the point at once, I would ascertain, -in the first place, if you know whether you and I are understood, in -this settlement, to be old acquaintances or new ones?” - -“New ones, I suppose, of course, unless it be known to the contrary -through your means. _I_ have not said a word about it, nor have my -family, I feel confident,” replied Elwood, demurely. - -“Very well; our former acquaintance is then wholly unsuspected here. -Let it remain so. But have you ever hinted to any of the settlers -what you may have known or heard about me, or any former passages of -my life, which occurred when I used to operate in this section or -elsewhere?” - -“No, not one word.” - -“All is well, then. As you have kept and continue to keep my secrets, -so shall yours be kept. It is a dozen or fifteen years since I have -been in this section at all. It is filling up with new men. There are -but two persons now in the settlement that can ever have seen or known -me. And they will not disturb me.” - -“Then there _are_ two that _have_ known you? Who can they be?” - -“One is Wenongonet, an old Indian chief, as he calls himself, still -living on one of the upper lakes, they say, but too old to ramble or -attend to anybody’s business but his own. The other is Phillips, the -hunter.” - -“Phillips! Phillips, did you say? Why, as much as he has been at our -house, he has never dropt a word from which one could infer that you -were not a perfect stranger to him.” - -“I did not suppose he had. Phillips is a peaceable, close-mouthed -fellow; pretends not to know any thing about anybody, when he thinks -the parties concerned would rather have him ignorant; keeps a secret by -never letting anybody know he has one; and never means to cross another -man’s path. I can get along with _him_, too. And the only question now -is whether _you_ and I can live together in the same settlement.” - -“It will probably be your fault if we can’t. I shall make war on no -one.” - -“My fault! Why I _wish_ to be on good terms with you; and yet, Elwood, -you feel out of sorts with me, and, in spite of all I can do, seem -disposed to keep yourself aloof.” - -“If I do seem so, it may be because the past teaches me that the best -way to avoid quarrels is to avoid intimacies. You know how we last -parted in that gambling-room. I had no business to be there, I admit; -but that was no excuse for your treatment.” - -“Treatment! Why, Elwood, is it possible you have been under a -misapprehension about that, all this time?” responded Gaut, with that -peculiar wheedling manner which he so well knew how to assume when he -wished to carry his point with another. “My object then was to save -the money for you and me, so that we could divide it satisfactorily -between ourselves. I was angry enough at those other fellows, whom I -saw getting all your money in that way, I confess; and, in what I said, -I was whipping them over your shoulders. I thought you understood it.” - -“I didn’t understand it in that way,” replied Elwood, surprised and -evidently staggered at the bold and unexpected statement. “I didn’t -take you so: could that be all you intended?” - -“Certainly it was,” resumed Gaut, in the same insinuating tone. “Had I -supposed it necessary, I should have seen you and explained it at the -time. But it is explained now; so let it go, and every thing go that -has been unpleasant between us; let us forget all, and henceforth be -on good terms. Our children, as you may have suspected, seem intent -on being friends; and why should not we be friends also? It will -be a gratification to them, and we can easily make it the means of -benefiting each other. You know how much I once did in helping you to -property,--I can do so again, if we will but understand each other. -What say you, Elwood? Will you establish the treaty, and give me your -hand upon it?” - -Elwood trembled as the other bent his fascinating gaze upon him, -hesitated, began to demur feebly; but, being artfully answered, soon -yielded and extended his hand, which Gaut seized and shook heartily; -when at the suggestion of the latter they separated and proceeded -by different courses, so that they might not be seen together, to -join the company at the house, whom they found, as they expected, in -consultation about the proposed trapping and hunting expedition to the -upper lakes, the time of starting, and the names and number of those -volunteering to join the association, only remaining to be fixed and -ascertained. That time was finally fixed on the 15th of September, and -the company was formed to consist of the two Elwoods, Phillips, Gurley, -Codman, and such others as might thereafter wish to join them. This -being settled, they broke up and departed for their respective homes. - - - - -CHAPTER X. - - “All good to me is lost; - Evil, be thou my good”---- - - -The next scene in the slowly unfolding panorama of our story opens at -the house of Gaut Gurley, on the banks of the Magalloway. Gaut reached -home, on the evening of the logging bee, about sunset; and, having put -out his team, entered his house, where he found his wife alone, his -daughter being absent on a visit to a neighbor. Contrary to what might -have been expected, after the favorable impression he had so evidently -made on the settlers that day, and the attainment of the still more -important object with him, the regaining of his old fatal influence -over Elwood, he appeared morose and dissatisfied. Something had not -worked to his liking in the complicated machinery of his plans, and he -showed his vexation so palpably as soon to attract the attention of -his submissive but by no means unobservant wife, who, after a while, -plucked up the courage to remark: - -“What is the case, Gaut? Have you been working yourself to death for -those Elwoods, to-day, or has something gone wrong with you, that makes -you look so sour this evening?” - -“I have worked hard enough, God knows; but that I intended, for I had -objects in view, most of which I think I have accomplished, but----” - -“But not all, I suppose you would say?” - -“Well, yes, there is one thing that has not gone exactly to suit me, -over there.” - -“What is that, Gaut?” - -“It is of no consequence that you should know it. If I should name it, -you would not see its bearing on my plans, I presume.” - -“Perhaps not, for I don’t know what your plans are, these days. I used -to be able to guess out the objects you had in view, before you came -here, whether you told me or not. But, since you have been in this -settlement, I have been at loss to know what you are driving at; I -can’t understand your movements at all.” - -“What movements do you mean, woman?” - -“All of them; but particularly those that have to do with the Elwoods.” - -“What is there in my course toward them, since they came here, that you -can’t understand?” - -“Well, I’ll tell you, Gaut. When you believed Elwood to be rich, I -could easily see that you thought it would be an object to bring about -an acquaintance between his son and only heir, and our Avis; and I -knew you was, those days, studying how it could be done, and I always -suspected that you in some way disposed of that picture of her for the -purpose, instead of sending it to your relations, and----” - -“And what?” exclaimed Gaut, turning fiercely on his wife. “Suspected! -What business had you to suspect? And you told Avis what you thought, I -suppose?” - -“Not a word, never one word; for I knew she was so proud and -particular, that, if she mistrusted any thing of that kind to have been -done, she would flounce in a minute. No. I never hinted it to her, or -anybody else, and it was guess-work, after all,” replied the abashed -wife, in a deprecating tone,--she having been tempted, by the unusual -mood which her stern husband had manifested for discussing his private -affairs with her, to venture to speak much more freely than was her -wont. - -“Well, see that you don’t hint any thing about that, nor any thing -else you may take it into your silly head to guess about my objects,” -rejoined the other, in a somewhat mollified tone. “But now go on with -what you were going to say.” - -“Well, I could understand your course before Elwood failed; but, when -he did, I could see no object, either in following him here, or having -any thing particular to do with him, or any of his family. But you -seized on the first chance, after we came here, to court them, and have -followed it up; first, in the affair of the young man and Avis, and -then, in drumming up the whole settlement in getting up this logging -bee for the old man. Now, Gaut, you don’t generally drive matters at -this rate without something in view that will pay; and, as I can see -nothing to be gained worth so much pains, I don’t understand it.” - -“I didn’t suppose you did, and it is generally of little consequence -whether you see through my plans or not; but, in this case----” - -Here Gaut suddenly paused, rose, and took several turns across the -room, evidently debating with himself how far it was policy to disclose -his plans to his wife; when, appearing to make up his mind, he again -seated himself and resumed: - -“Yes, as this is a peculiar case, and coming, perhaps, in part within -the range of a woman’s help, if she knows what is wanted, and one which -she may unintentionally hurt, if she don’t, I suppose I must give you -some insight into my movements, so that you can manage accordingly, -help when you can, and do no mischief when you can’t; as you probably -will do, for you well know the consequences of doing otherwise.” - -“I will do all I can, if I can understand what you want, and can see -any object in it,” meekly responded the woman. - -“Well, then, in the first place,” resumed the other, “you know how many -years I slaved myself, and what risks I run, to help Elwood make that -fortune; how he threw me off with simple wages, instead of the share I -always intended to have for such hard and dangerous services; and how -he failed, like a fool, before I got it.” - -“I knew it all.” - -“Then you can easily imagine how much it went against my grain to be -balked in that manner. At all events, it did; and I soon determined -not to give up the game so, even if that was all. And ascertaining that -Elwood, by allowances made by the creditors to his wife, and sales of -furniture which they allowed the family to retain, brought quite a -little sum of money into the settlement,--enough, at any rate, to pay -for his place, put him well afloat, and make him a man of consequence -in such a new place,--I soon made up my mind on buying and settling, -for present purposes, here, too, as we did.” - -“Yes, but what do you expect to make here more than in any other new -country? And what can you make out of the Elwoods, more than any other -new settlers?” - -“A good deal, if all things work to my mind. There is money to be made -here. I could do well in the fur business alone, and at the worst. -And, by the aid of one who could be made to favor my interests, there -is no telling what could be done. Now, what claim had I on any other -settler to be that one to aid me? On Elwood I had a claim to help _me_ -to property in turn; and I determined he should do it. But he must -first be brought into the traces. He has got out with me, and must be -reconciled before I can do much with him.” - -“Well, I should think he ought to be by this time, after what you have -been doing for him, without his asking.” - -“Without asking? Why, that was just the way to do it. As I calculated, -he was taken by surprise, disarmed, and yielded; so that object is -accomplished, as well as making the right impression on the other -settlers by beating them at their own work.” - -“I begin to understand, now.” - -“You will understand more, soon; that was only part of my object.” - -“What was the other part?” - -“To insure the consummation of the match between Avis and young Elwood, -which now seems in fair progress, but which would be liable to be -broken off, if his family should continue to be unfriendly to me.” - -“Why, that was the thing I could understand least of all. The young -man is well enough, I suppose, but I thought you had looked to have -Avis make more of herself, and do better for us. She is still young, -and we don’t know what chances she may have. If she and the young man -should keep on intimate, and set their hearts on it, I don’t know that -I should oppose it much; but what object we can have in helping it on, -I can’t, for the life of me, see. I have not said a word against it, -because I saw that you were for it. But, if I had been governed by my -own notions, I should have sooner discouraged than helped it on.” - -“I suspected so; and, for that reason, as well as others, I see I must -tell you a secret, which the Elwoods themselves don’t know, and which I -meant should never pass my lips; and, when I tell it to you, see that -it never passes yours. That young man, Claud Elwood, whom you think -so ordinary a match, is heir to a large property. A will is already -executed making him so.” - -“Is that so, Gaut?” - -“Yes, I have known it for months. I made the discovery before I decided -to move here.” - -“It is a wonder how you could keep it from me.” - -“Humph! It is a greater wonder how I came to tell you at all, and I -fear I shall yet repent it; but things had come to a pass that seemed -to make it necessary.” - -“But who is the man, and where, who is going to give the young man such -a property?” - -“It is not for you to know. I have told you enough for all my purposes. -And this brings me back to your first question, when I admitted that -there was one thing which had not gone to my liking. There _was_, -indeed, one thing that disturbed and vexed me; and that was the -discovery I made, over there, to-day, that Elwood’s wife is an enemy -to me. I contrived all ways to get speech with her, but she studiously -avoided giving me a chance, nor was I able once even to catch her eye, -that I might give her a friendly nod of recognition. I know she never -wished me about, in former times, but I then attributed her coldness to -the pride of the rich over the poor. But I now think it was because she -hated me. I am satisfied she is an enemy, at heart; and will, for that -reason, prove a secret and I fear dangerous opposer to a match which -will connect me with her family, unless something is done to reconcile -her.” - -“How can that be done?” - -“Perhaps _you_ can do something. We start, in about a fortnight, on the -fall hunt,--both the Elwoods, myself, and others. When we are gone, -you can go down into that neighborhood, get acquainted with some of -the women, and get them to call with you on Mrs. Elwood; and, if Avis -could be made to go and see her, so much the better. She would make -an impression without trying. You would have to manage, but how, I am -not now prepared to decide. I will think of it, and you may, and we -will talk it over again. I have told you this, now, that you might -understand the situation of affairs; and the object, which you will now -see, is worth playing for. And, if we can carry this last point, the -last danger will be removed,--unless Claud himself proves fickle.” - -“I guess there will not be much danger of that in _this_ settlement. -What girl is there that he could think of in comparison with Avis?” - -“I think there is none; and still, there is one whom I would rather he -would not see.” - -“Who can that be, I should like to know?” - -“She is the daughter, or is claimed to be, of an old Indian thief, -called Wenongonet, who lives up the lakes, and was once a man of some -consequence, both with Indians and whites.” - -“An Indian girl! Fudge!” - -“You might alter that tune, if you should see her. She is white as -you are, and has, most of the time, of late years, lived in some of -the old settlements, been schooled, and so on. I saw her, soon after -we came here, with another woman, at the south end of the lake, where -she was visiting in the family of one of the settlers, and I inquired -her out, as she appeared so much above the common run of girls. But -she is courted, they say, by a young educated Indian, called Tomah, -from Connecticut-river way, where I used to see him. He _ought_ to be -able to take care of her. But hark! what was that? It sounded like the -trotting of some heavy horse. I’ll see.” - -So saying, Gaut rose and went to the window, when, after casting a -searching look out into the road, and pausing a moment, in evident -doubt and surprise at what met his gaze, he muttered: “The devil is -always at hand when you are talking about him; for that must be the -very fellow,--Tomah himself! But what a rig-out! Wife, look here.” - -The woman promptly came to the window, when her eyes were greeted -with the appearance of a smart-looking and jauntily-equipped young -Indian, mounted on the back of a stately, antlered moose, that, by some -contrivance answering to a bridle, he was about bringing to a stand in -the road, opposite to the house. Without heeding the exclamations of -surprise and questions of his wife, who had never seen an animal of -the kind, Gaut stepped out of the door, and, after pausing long enough -to satisfy himself that he was not known to the other, said, after the -distant greeting customary among strangers had been exchanged: - -“That is a strange horse you are travelling on, friend.” - -“No matter that, when he carry you well,” replied the Indian, whose -language was a little idiomatic, notwithstanding his education. - -“Perhaps not; but I should think he would be a hard trotter for most -riders.” - -“Moose don’t care for that: he say, he carry you ten miles an hour, you -not the one to complain: if you no like, you no ride.” - -“How did you tame him to be so manageable?” - -“Caught him a little calf, four years ago; trained him young to mind -halter; then ox-work, horse-work. This year ride him. No trouble, you -let him enough to eat.” - -“Where did you catch him?” - -“Over the mountain. Live there. My name John Tomah. Been here to hunt -some, but not see you before. Another man live in this house last -spring.” - -“Yes, I am a new-comer. But I have heard some of the settlers speak of -you, I think. You are the Indian that has been to college?” - -“Yes, been there some, but in the woods more. Love to hunt, catch -beaver, sable, and such things. Come here to hunt now, soon as time. -But must have moose kept when off hunting: thought the man lived here -do that. May be you keep him, while I come back. Pay you, all right.” - -“Yes, if I could; but where could I keep him? He would jump any pasture -or yard fence there is here, and then run away, would he not?” - -“No. Stay, after week or two, and get wonted, same as horse or cow. I -go to work, make yard, keep him in a while, and feed him with grass or -browse. I tend him first. You keep him,--you keep me, till go hunting; -then get boy. Pay well, much as you suit.” - -Gaut Gurley never acted without a strong secret motive. He had been -intently studying the young Indian during the conversation just -detailed, with a view of forming an opinion how far his subservience -could be secured; and, appearing to become satisfied on this point, and -believing the first great step for making him what was desired would be -accomplished by yielding to his request gracefully, however much family -inconvenience it might occasion, Gaut now turned cordially to him, and -said: - -“Yes, Tomah, I will do it. I like your looks, and I will do it for -_you_, but wouldn’t for anybody else. We can get along with your -animal, somehow; and you shall stay, too, till our company start on our -hunt, and then you shall go with us. I will see that you have fair -play. I will be your friend; and perhaps I may want a good turn of you -some time.” - -“Like that; go with you; show you how catch beaver. Do all I can.” - -“Very well; and perhaps I can help you in some way. You have an affair -that you feel a peculiar interest in, with somebody on the upper lake, -and----” - -“You know that?” interrupted the startled but evidently not displeased -Indian. - -“Yes, I have heard something about it.” - -“But how you help there?” - -“O, I can contrive a way for you to make the matter work as you wish, -if you will only persevere.” - -“Persevere? Ah, means keep trying. Yes, do that; but she don’t talk -right, now; perhaps, will, you help, then we be great friends, sure.” - -The treaty being thus concluded, the gratified young Indian dismounted, -with his rifle and pack, containing his blanket, hunting-suit, etc., -which he carried before him, laid across the shoulder of his novel -steed; and, under the guidance of Gaut, he led the animal into the -cow-yard, where he was tied and fed, and the fence, already made high -to exclude the wolves, as usual among first settlers, was topped out by -laying on a few additional poles, so as to prevent the possibility of -his escape. This being done, Gaut conducted his new-found friend into -the house, and introduced him, to his wife and also to his daughter, -who had by this time returned, as the young Indian that had been to -college, but still had a liking for the woods. - -“I have often thought I should feel interested in seeing an educated -native of the forest,” remarked Avis, after the civilities of the -introduction had been exchanged. “Books, when you became able to read -and understand them,” she continued, turning to the Indian, “books must -have opened a new world to you, and the many new and curious things you -found in them must have been exceedingly gratifying to you, Mr. Tomah.” - -“Yes, many curious things in books,” replied Tomah, indifferently. - -“And also much valuable knowledge?” rejoined Avis, interrogatively. - -“Valuable enough to some folks, suppose,” replied the other, with -the air of one speaking on a subject in which he felt no particular -interest. “Lawyers make money; preachers get good pay for talking what -they learn in books; so doctors.” - -“But surely,” persisted the former, who, though disappointed in his -replies, yet still expected to see, if she could draw him out, the -naturally shrewd mind of the native made brilliant by the light of -science, “surely you consider an education a good thing for all, giving -those who receive it a great advantage over those who do not?” - -“Yes, education good thing,” responded Tomah, his stolid countenance -beginning to lighten up at the idea which now struck him as involving -the chief if not the sole benefit of his scientific acquirements; “yes, -education good, very good, sometime. Instance: I go to Boston with my -moose next winter; show him for pay, one, two days; then reckon up -money--add; then reckon up expenses--subtract; tell how much I make. -Make much, stay; make little, go to other place. Yes, education good -thing.” - -“But I should think you might do better with your education than you -could by following the usual employments of your kind of people,” -resumed the other, still unwilling to see the subject of her scrutiny -fall so much below her preconception of an educated Indian. “You say, -lawyers, preachers, and doctors make money from the superiority which -their education has given them; now, why don’t you profit by _your_ -education, and go into a profession like one of theirs, and obtain by -it the same wealth and position which you see them enjoying?” - -“Did try,” replied Tomah, with an evident effort to elevate his -language, and meet the question candidly. “When I came home from the -school, people all say, Now you go and live like white folks, in -village, and study to be doctor, make money, be great man. So went; -study one year; try hard to like; but no use. Uneasy all the time; -could not keep down the Indian in me; he always rising up, more every -day, all the time drawing me away to the woods,--pull, pull, pull. I -fight against him; put him down little some time; but he soon up again, -stronger than ever. Found could not make myself over again; must be as -first made; so gave up; left study for the woods; and said, Now let -Indian be Indian as long as he like.” - -Satisfied, or rather silenced, by Tomah’s reasons, Avis turned the -conversation by asking him to relate to her how he caught and tamed -his moose. She found him completely at home in this and other of his -adventures in the forest, which he was thus encouraged to relate, -and in which he often became a graphic and interesting narrator, and -displayed the keen observation of the objects of nature, together with -the other peculiar qualities of his race, to so much advantage that she -soon relinquished her favorite idea of ever finding a philosopher in an -educated Indian. - -In presenting the above picture, drawn from one of the many living -prototypes that have fallen within our personal observation, or come -within our knowledge derived from reliable sources, we had no wish -to disparage the praiseworthy acts and motives of those spirited and -patriotic men who, like Moore, in establishing his well-known charity -school, in connection with Dartmouth college, may have, in times -past, founded and endowed schools for the education of the natives -of the forest; nor would we dampen the faith and hopes of those -philanthropists who still believe in the redemption of that dwindling -race by the aids of science and civilization; but we confess our -inability to perceive any general results, flowing from the attempts -of that character, at all adequate to the pains and outlay bestowed -on the experiment. And we think we cannot be alone in this opinion. -We believe that those results, when gathered up so that all their -meagreness could be seen, have sadly disappointed public expectations; -that this ones favorite object and theory, of elevating and benefiting -the red man by taking him from his native woods and immuring him in the -school-room, has been, in the great majority of the cases, a futile -one; and that whole system, indeed, can now be regarded as but little -less than a magnificent failure. - -There have been, it is true, some brilliant exceptions to the -application of our remarks, such as may be found in the pious and -comparatively learned Samson Occom, the noted Indian preacher of the -times of the Pilgrims; in the eloquent Ojibway chief of our own times, -and a few others; as well as in the person we have already introduced -into this work, the intelligent and beautiful Fluella. But _only_ -as exceptions to the general rule, we fear, can we fairly regard -them,--for, where there is one Occom, there are probably ten Tomahs. - -Education, or so much of it as he has the patience and ability to -acquire, seems often to unsettle and confuse the mind of the red man; -for, while his old notions and traditions are disturbed or swept away -by it, he fails of grasping and digesting the new ones which science -and civilization present to his mind; and he falters and gropes, like -an owl in the too strong light of the unaccustomed sun. In his natural -condition, he can _at least_ realize the happy picture which the poet -has drawn of him: - - “Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind - Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind: - His soul proud science never taught to stray - Far as the solar walk or milky way; - Yet simple nature to his hope has given, - Behind the cloud-topt hill, an humbler heaven, - Some safer world in depth of wood embraced; - Some happier island in the wat’ry waste, - Where slaves once more their native land behold, - No fiends torment, no Christian thirsts for gold. - To be content’s his natural desire; - He asks no angel’s wings, no seraph’s fire; - But thinks, admitted to that equal sky, - His faithful dog shall bear him company.” - -But now, in his new and anomalous position, even this happiness and -this content is taken away, while he is unable to embrace an adequate -substitute. His old faith is shaken, but no new one is established. -Before, he could see God in clouds or hear him in the wind; but now he -can scarcely see God in any thing. His physical system, in the mean -while, deprived as it is of the forest atmosphere, in which it was -alone fitted to exist and reach its greatest perfection, suffers even -more than his mental one. And his whole man, both mental and physical, -begins to degenerate, and soon dwindles into insignificance. Yes, it -is only in his native forests that the Indian appears in his wild and -peculiar dignity of character. There only can he become a being of -romance, and there only a hero. And there, in conclusion, we would -say, in view of the unsatisfactory results of the experiments made to -elevate him by any of the methods yet adopted,--there we would let him -remain. - -But we must now on with our tale, the main incidents of which we have -only foreshadowed, not touched. - - - - -CHAPTER XI. - -“Hearts will be prophets still.” - - -The week succeeding the logging bee was an extremely busy one with -the Elwoods, who still had a heavy task to perform on their new -field, before it could be considered properly cleared or fitted for -seeding and harrowing. Sixty days before, that field was covered with -a heavy growth of primitive forest, standing in its native majesty, -a mountain mass of green vigor and sturdy life, and as seemingly -invincible against the assaults of man as it had been against those -of the elements whose fury it had so long withstood. But the busy -and fatal axe had done its work. That towering forest had been laid -prostrate with the earth, and the first process of the Herculean -task of converting the forest into the field had been completed. The -second and third process, also, in the burning of the slash and the -gathering the trunks of the trees into log-heaps, as we have seen, -had been in turn successfully accomplished. But the fourth and last -process still remained to be performed. Those unseemly log-heaps, -cumbering no inconsiderable portion of the field, must be disposed of, -to complete the work. This was now the first task of the Elwoods, and -time pressed for its speedy execution. Accordingly, the next morning -after the bee, they sallied out, each with a blazing brand in his hand, -and commenced the work of firing the piles,--a work which, unlike that -of firing a combustible and readily catching slash, required not only -considerable time, but often the exercise of much skill and patience. -But they steadily persevered, and, before sunset, had the gratification -of beholding every one of those many scores of huge log-piles, that -thickly dotted the ground, clearly within the grasp of the devouring -element; and afterwards of seeing that grasp grow stronger and stronger -on the solid material on which it had securely fastened, till, to -the eye of fancy, the dark old forest seemed by day to be reproduced -in the numerous, thickly-set columns of smoke that shot upward and -spread out into over-arching canopies above, while, with the gathering -darkness of the night, that forest seemed gradually to take the form of -a distant burning city in the manifold tapering pillars of fire which -everywhere rose from the field, fiercely illuminating the dark and -sombre wood-wall of the surrounding forest, and dimly glimmering over -the sleeping waters of river and lake beyond. - -They had now made the fire their servant, and got it safely at work for -them; but that servant, to insure its continued and profitable action, -must be constantly fed and fostered. The logs, becoming by the action -of the fire partially consumed, and, by thus losing their contact with -each other, ceasing to burn, required, every few hours, to be rolled -together, adjusted, and repacked; when, being already thoroughly heated -and still partly on fire, they would soon burst out again into a brisk -blaze. This tending and re-packing of the piles demanded, for many of -the succeeding days, the constant attention of the Elwoods; who, going -out early each morning, and keeping up their rounds at short intervals -through the day and to a late hour at night, assiduously pursued their -object, till they had seen every log-heap disappear from the field, and -the last step of their severe task fully accomplished. - -Few of those who live in cities, villages, or other places than those -where agricultural pursuits prevail; few of those, indeed, who have -been tillers only of the subdued and time-mellowed soils of the old -States and countries, have any adequate conception of the immense -amount of hard labor required to clear off the primitive forest, and -prepare the land for the first crop; nor have they, consequently, any -just appreciation of the degree of resolution, energy, and endurance -necessary to insure continued perseverance in subduing one piece of -forest-land after another, till a considerable opening is effected. -It is the labor of one man’s life to clear up a new farm; and few -there be, among the multitudes found making the attempt, who have -the sustaining will and resolution--even if the pecuniary ability is -not wanting--to accomplish that formidable achievement. Probably not -one in five of all the first pioneer settlers of a new country ever -remain to become its permanent settlers. The first set of emigrants, -or pioneers, are seen beginning with great resolution and energy, and -persevering unfalteringly till the usual ten-acre lot is cleared, -the log-house thrown up, and the settlement of the family effected. -Another piece of forest is the next year attacked, but with a far less -determined will, and the clearing prosecuted with a proportionate lack -of energy and resolution; and the job, after being suffered to linger -along for months beyond the usual period for completion, is finally -finished. But, in view of the hard labors and prolonged struggles -they have experienced in their two former trials for conquering the -wilderness, they too often now falter and hesitate at a third attempt. -Perhaps the lack of means to hire that help, which would make the -toil more endurable, comes also into the case; and the result is that -no new clearing is begun. They live along a while as they are; but, -for want of the first crops of the newly-cleared land and the usual -accessions to their older fields, they soon find themselves on the -retrograde, and finally sell out to a new set of incoming settlers, who -in their turn begin with fresh vigor, and with more means generally -for prosecuting advantageously, the work which had discouraged or worn -out their predecessors. But even of this second set a large proportion -fail to succeed, and, like the former, eventually yield their places -to more enterprising and able men, who, with those of the two former -sets of settlers that had succeeded in overcoming the difficulties and -retaining their places, now join in making up the permanent settlers of -the country. - -Such is generally the history of the early settlement of every new -country. Those who have endured the most hardship, encountered the -greatest difficulties, and performed the hardest labor, do not -generally reap the reward which might eventually crown their toils, -but leave that reward to be enjoyed by those to whom such hardships -and toils are comparatively unknown. This seems hard and unjust; but, -from the unequal conditions and characters of men, it is doubtless a -necessary state of things, and one which, though it may occasionally be -somewhat modified, will never, probably, as a general thing, be very -essentially altered. - -The Elwoods, having now thus brought the labors of clearing to a -successful close, next proceeded to the lighter and more cleanly task -of taking the incipient step towards securing the ever-important first -crop which was to reward them, in a good part, for their arduous toils. -Accordingly, the previously engaged supply of winter wheat intended -for seed was brought home, the requisite help and ox-work enlisted, -the seed sown, and the harrows and hoes put in motion to insure its -lodgment beneath the surface of the broken soil. And, by the end of the -second day from its commencement, this task was also completed, leaving -our two persevering settlers only the work of gathering in the small -crops of grain and potatoes they had succeeded in raising on their -older grounds, to be performed before leaving home on the contemplated -trapping and hunting expedition; the appointed day for which was still -sufficiently distant to allow them abundant time to do this, and also -to make all other of the necessary arrangements and preparations for -that, to them, novel and interesting event. - -But how, in the meanwhile, stood that domestic drama of love and its -entanglements, which was destined to be deeply interwoven with the -other principal incidents of this singular story? All on the surface -seemed as bright and unruffled as the halcyon waters of the sleeping -ocean before the days of storm have come to move and vex it. But how -was it within the vail of the heart and teeming mind, where the -currents and counter-currents of that subtle but powerful passion flow -and clash unseen, often gaining their full height and unmasterable -strength before any event shall occur to betray their existence to the -public. How was it there? We shall see. - -While the events we have described in the last foregoing chapters -were transpiring, Mrs. Elwood held her peace, studiously avoiding -all allusion to what still constituted the burden of her mind,--the -thickening intimacy between her family and the Gurleys; but, though -she was silent on the subject, yet her heart was not any the less sad, -nor her thoughts any the less busy. She had been made aware that a -reconciliation had taken place between her husband and Gaut Gurley; and -she had seen how artfully the latter had brought it about, and regained -his old fatal influence over the former. She believed she fully -understood the motives which actuated Gaut in all these movements. And -she now looked on in helpless anguish of heart to see the toils thus -drawn tighter and tighter around the unconscious victims, and those -victims, too, her husband and son, with whose happiness and welfare -her own was indissolubly connected. She saw it with anguish, because -her feelings never for once were permitted even the alleviation of a -doubt that it could result in aught else than evil to her family. She -could not reason herself into any belief of Gaut’s reformation. She -felt his black heart constantly throwing its shadow on to her own; she -_felt_ this, but could not give to others, nor perhaps even to herself, -what might be deemed a satisfactory reason for her impressions and -forebodings; for in her was exemplified the words of the poet: - - “The mind is capable to show - Thoughts of so dim a feature, - That consciousness can only know - Their presence and their nature.” - -Such thoughts were hers,--dim and flitting, indeed; but she felt -conscious of their continued presence, of their general character, and -deeply conscious what they portended. They took one shape, moved in -one course, and all pointed one way, and that was to evil,--some great -impending evil to the two objects of her love and solicitude. - -“But is there no hope?” she murmured aloud, in the fullness of her -heart, while deeply pondering the matter, one day, as she sat alone -at her open window, looking out on her husband and son engaged in -their harvest, which she knew they were hurrying on to a close, before -leaving her on the contemplated long, and perhaps perilous, expedition -into the wilderness,--a circumstance that doubtless caused the subject, -in the thus awakened state of her anxieties, to weigh at this time -peculiarly heavy on her mind. “Is there no hope,” she repeated, with -a sigh, “that this impending calamity may in some part be averted? -Must they both be sacrificed? Must the faults of the erring father -be visited on the innocent son, who had become the last hope of the -mother’s heart? Kind Heaven! may not that son, _at least_, be delivered -from the web of toils into which he has so strangely fallen, and yet be -saved? Grant, O grant that hope--that one ray of hope--in this my hour -of darkness!” - -But what sound was that which now fell upon her ear, as if responsive -to her ejaculation? It was a light tap or two on the door, which, after -the customary bidding of _walk in_ had been pronounced, was gently -opened, when a young female of extreme beauty and loveliness entered. -Mrs. Elwood involuntarily rose, and stood a moment, mute with surprise, -in the unexpected presence. Soon recovering, however, she invited the -fair stranger to a seat, still deeply wondering who she could be and -what had occasioned her visit. - -“You are the good woman of the house?--the wife of the new -settler?--the mother of Mr. Claud Elwood?” asked the stranger -girl, pausing between each interrogatory, till she had received an -affirmative nod from Mrs. Elwood. - -“Yes,” replied the latter kindly, but with an air of increasing -curiosity, “yes, I am Mrs. Elwood. Would you like to see my son, Claud?” - -“No,” rejoined the girl, in the same subdued and musical accents. “No, -it was not him, but you, I came to see and speak with,” she added, -carefully, withdrawing a screening handkerchief from a light parcel she -bore in her hand, and displaying a small work-basket of exquisite make, -which, advancing with hesitating steps, she presented to the other, as -she resumed: - -“I came with this, good lady, to see if you would be suited to have -such an article?” - -“It is very pretty,” said Mrs. Elwood, examining the workmanship with -admiration, “beautiful, indeed. Did you make it?” - -“I did, lady,” said the other modestly. - -“Well, it certainly does great credit to your skill and taste,” -rejoined the other. “I should, of course, be pleased to own it, but -I have little money to pay for such things. You ought to sell it for -quite a sum.” - -“But I do not wish to sell it,” responded the girl, looking up to Mrs. -Elwood with an expostulating and wounded expression. “I do not wish to -take money for it; but hoped you would like it well enough to accept it -for a gift,--a small token.” - -“O, I should,” said Mrs. Elwood, “if I was entitled to any such -present; but what have I ever done to deserve it of you? I do not even -know who you are, kind stranger.” - -“They call me Fluella,” responded the other, the blood slightly -suffusing her fair, rounded cheek. “_You_ have not seen me, I know. You -have not done me the great favor that brings my gratitude. It is your -brave son that has done both.” - -“O, I understand now,” exclaimed Mrs. Elwood. “You are the chief’s -daughter, whom Claud and Mr. Phillips helped out of a difficulty and -danger on the rapids, some time since. But your token should be given -to Claud, should it not?” - -“It would be unsuitable, too much,” quickly replied the maiden, in a -low, hurried tone. “I could not do a thing like that. But if you would -accept such a small thing?” - -“I cannot but appreciate and honor your delicacy,” returned Mrs. -Elwood, with a look of mingled admiration and respect. “I think you -must be an excellent girl; and I will accept your present,--yes, -thankfully,--and never forget the manner in which it was bestowed.” - -“Your words are in my heart, lady. I came, feeling much doubtful; I -return, much happy,” said the maiden, rising to depart. - -“Do not go yet,” interposed the matron, who was beginning to feel a -lively interest in the other; “do not go yet. Claud should know you are -here. I will call him,” she added, starting for the door. - -“O no, no,--do not, do not. He would not wish to be troubled by one -like me,” hurriedly entreated the maiden, with a look of alarmed -delicacy. - -“O, you are mistaken. He would be pleased to see you, and expect to -be called,” said Mrs. Elwood, in a tone of gentle remonstrance, while -pausing at the unexpected objection. “But it is unnecessary; for I see -that he is already coming, and in a moment will be here,” she added, -glancing out of the window. - -Having made the announcement, she turned encouragingly to the maiden, -to reassure her, believing her request that Claud should not be called -in proceeded entirely from over-diffidence. But one glance of her quick -and searching eye was sufficient to apprise the former that there was -a deeper cause for those tender alarms. The cheeks of the beautiful -girl were deeply suffused with crimson, her bosom was heaving wildly, -and her whole frame was trembling like an aspen. As her eyes met the -surprised gaze of the matron, she became conscious that her looks had -betrayed the secret she was the most anxious to conceal; and she cast -an imploring look on the face of the other, as if to entreat the mercy -of shielding the weakness. - -Mrs. Elwood understood the silent appeal; and, approaching and laying -her hand gently on the shoulder of the other, said, in a low, kindly -tone: - -“Have no fears. You have made a friend of me.” - -The girl silently removed the hand, brought it to her lips, and, as -a bright tear-drop fell upon it, kissed it eagerly. The two then -separated, and resumed their respective seats, to compose themselves -before the expected entrance should be made. - -In a few moments Claud carelessly entered the house; but stopped -short in surprise, at the threshold, on so unexpectedly seeing the -well-remembered face and form of the heroine of his late romantic -adventure on the rapids, in the room with his mother. But, almost -instantly recovering his usual manner, he gallantly advanced to the -trembling maiden, took her by the hand, and respectfully inquired about -her welfare, and pleasantly adverted to the singular circumstances -under which they had become acquainted. Soon becoming in a good measure -assured, by a reception so much more condescending and cordial than -she had dared hope for, from one whose image she had been cherishing -as that of some superior being, the grateful and happy girl, now -forgetful of her wish to depart, gradually regained her natural ease -and vivacity, and sustained her part in the general conversation that -now ensued, with an intelligence and instinctive refinement of thought -and expression that equally charmed and surprised her listeners. She -at length, however, rose to depart, observing that her father, who -was in waiting for her at the landing, would chide her for her long -delay; when Claud offered to attend her to the lake. To this she at -first objected; but, on Claud’s assurance that he should be pleased -with the walk, and that it would afford him the opportunity of meeting -her father, whom he had a curiosity to see, she blushingly assented, -and the couple sociably took their way to the lake together, leaving -Mrs. Elwood deeply revolving in her mind the new train of thoughts that -had been awakened by the remarkable personal beauty and evident rare -qualities of her fair visitor, and the discovery of the state of her -feelings,--thoughts which the matron laid up in her heart, but forbade -her tongue to utter. - -On reaching the landing, Fluella drew a bone whistle from her pocket, -and blew a blast so loud and shrill that the sound seemed to penetrate -the inmost depths of the surrounding forest. The next moment a similar -sound rose in response from the woods, apparently about half a mile -distant, on the right. - -“He has heard me; that was my father’s whistle. He has been taking a -short bout in the woods with his rifle, but will now soon be here. And -Mr. Elwood will wait, I know, for the chief wishes to thank the brave -that rescued his daughter,” said the maiden, looking inquiringly at -Claud. - -“Yes,” replied Claud, “yes, certainly; for, even without company, I am -never tired of standing on this commanding point, and looking out on -this beautiful lake and its surrounding scenery.” - -“Ah! then you think, Mr. Elwood,” exclaimed Fluella, with a countenance -sparkling with animation, “you think of our woods life, like one of -your great writers, whom I have read to remember, and who so prettily -says: - - ‘And this our life, exempt from public haunt, - Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks, - Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.’ - -“One would almost think this wise writer must be one of my people, he -describes our ways of becoming instructed so truly; for we Indians, -Mr. Elwood, read few other books than those we see opened to us on the -face of nature, or hear or read few other sermons than those in the -outspread pages of the bright lake, the green woods, and the grand -mountain.” - -“You Indians!” said Elwood, looking at the other with a playful yet -half-chiding expression. “Why, Fluella, should a stranger look at your -fair skin, hear you conversing so well in our language, and quoting so -appropriately from our books, he would hardly believe you an Indian, I -think, unless you told him.” - -“Then I would tell him, Mr. Elwood,” responded the maiden, with -dignity, and a scarcely perceptible spice of offended pride in her -manner. “I _am_ one,--on my father’s side, at least, wholly so; and, -for the first ten or twelve years of my life, was but a child of the -woods and the wigwam; and I will never shame at my origin, so far as -that matters.” - -“But you did not learn to read in the wigwam, Fluella?” said Claud, -inquiringly. - -“No,” replied the girl; the proud air she had assumed, while speaking -of her origin, quickly subsiding into one of meekness. “No; but I -supposed that Mr. Phillips, who knows, might have told you that, for -many years past, I have lived much with your people, learned their -ways, been to their schools, and read their books. And, in owning my -natural red father, may be I should have also said, I have a good white -father, who has done every thing for the poor, ignorant, Indian girl.” - -“But where does this good and generous white father live, and what is -his name?” asked Claud. - -“He lives near the seaside city,” answered she, demurely; “I may say -so far. But I do not name him, ever. We think it not best. But, if he -comes here sometime, as he may, you shall see him, Mr. Elwood.” - -At this point of the dialogue, the attention of its participants was -arrested by the sound of breaking twigs and other indications of the -near approach of some one from the forest; and, the next moment, -emerging through the thick underbrush, which he parted by the muzzle -of his rifle as he made his way, the expected visitant came into -view. Seemingly unmindful of the presence of others near by, or of -the curious and scrutinizing gaze of Claud, he advanced with a firm, -elastic tread, and stately bearing, exhibiting a strong, erect frame, -a large, intellectual head, and handsomely moulded features, with a -countenance of a grave and thoughtful cast, but now and then enlivened -by the keenly-glancing black eyes by which it was particularly -distinguished. With the exception of moccasins and wampum belt, he -was garbed in a good English dress; and, so far as his exterior was -in question, might have easily been mistaken, at a little distance, -for some amateur hunter from the cities; while, from the vigor of his -movements, and other general appearance, he might have equally well -passed for a man of the middle age, had not the frosts of time, which -were profusely sprinkled over his temples, and other visible parts of -his head, betrayed the secret of his advanced age. - -“My daughter is not alone,” he said, in very fair English utterance, -coming to a stand ten or twelve yards distant from the young couple. - -“No,” promptly replied the daughter, assuming the dignified tone and -attitude usual among those engaged in the ceremonies of some formal -presentation, or public introduction. “No, but my father will be -pleased to learn that this is the Mr. Claud Elwood, who did your -daughter such good service in her dangers on the rapids, and whom she -has now conducted here, that he might have the opportunity to see the -chief, and receive the thanks which it is more fitting for the father -than the daughter to bestow.” - -“My daughter’s words are good,” said the chief. “The young brave has -our thanks to last; but the Red Man’s thanks are acted, the White Man’s -spoken. Does the young man understand the creed of our people?” - -Fluella looked at Claud as if he was the one to answer the question, -and he accordingly remarked: - -“I have ever heard, chief, that your people always notice a benefit -done to them, and that he who does them one secures their lasting -gratitude.” - -“The young man,” rejoined the chief, considerately, “has heard words -that make, sometime, too much; they make true, the good-doer doing no -wrong to us after. But when he takes advantage of our gratitude he -wipes out the debt; he does more,--he stands to be punished like one an -enemy always.” - -The maiden here cast an uneasy glance at Claud, and a deprecating one -at her father, at the unnecessary caution, as she believed it, which -she perceived the latter intended to convey by his words to the -former. But, to her relief, Claud did not appear as if he thought the -remarks had any application to himself, for he frankly responded: - -“Your distinction is a just one, chief. Your views about these matters -are my own views. Your creed is a good creed, so far as the remembrance -of benefits is concerned; and I wish I could see it observed as -generally among my people as I believe it to be among yours. But, -chief, your daughter makes too much out of my assistance, the other -day. I did only a common duty,--what I should have been a coward not -to have done. I have no claim for any particular gratitude from her or -you.” - -“Our gratitude was strong before; the young man now makes stronger,” -remarked the other, exchanging appreciating glances with his daughter. - -“No, chief,” resumed Claud, “I did not come here to boast of that small -service, nor claim any thanks for it, but to see a sagamore, who could -give me the knowledge of the Red Man which I would like to possess; to -see one who, in times gone by, was as a king in this lake country. His -own history, and that of his people especially, I would like to hear. -They must be full of interest and instruction to an inquirer like me. -Will not the chief relate it briefly? I have leisure,--my ears are open -to his words.” - -“Would the young man know the history of Wenongonet, alone?” said the -other, with a musing and melancholy air. “It may be told easier than -by words. Does the young man see on yonder hill that tall, green pine, -which stands braced on the rocks, and laughs at the storms, because it -is strong and not afraid?” - -“I do.” - -“That is Wenongonet fifty winters ago. Now, does the young man see that -tall, dry pine, in the quiet valley below, with a slender young tree -shooting up, and tenderly spreading its green branches around that -aged trunk, so it would shield its bare sides in the colds of winter, -and fan its leafless head in the heats of summer?” - -“Yes, I see that, also.” - -“That dry tree, already tottering to its fall, is Wenongonet now.” - -“But what is the young tree with which you have coupled it?” - -“The young man has eyes,” said the speaker, glancing affectionately at -his blushing daughter. - -“But the young man,” he resumed after a thoughtful pause, “would know -more of the history of the Red Men who once held the country as their -own? Let him read it in the history of his own people, turned about -to the opposite. Let him call the white man’s increase from a little -beginning, the red man’s decrease from a great,--the white man’s -victories, the red man’s defeats,--the white man’s flourishing, the -red man’s fading; and he will have the history of the red men, and the -reasons of their sad history, in this country. - -“Two hundred year-seasons ago, the Abenaques were the great nation -of the east. From the sea to the mountains they were the lords of -Mavoshen.[1] They were a nation of warriors and a wise and active -people. But, of all the four tribes--the Sokokis, the Anasquanticooks, -the Kenabas, the Wawenocks--who made up this great nation, the Sokokis -were the wisest and bravest. Wenongonet is proud when he thinks of -them. They were his tribe. All the land that sent its waters through -the Sawocotuc[2] to the sea was theirs. They stood with their warriors -at the outposts against the crowding white settlers from the west and -south. They were pleased to stand there, because it was the post -of danger and of honor in the nation. And there they bravely kept -their stand against that wide front of war, and took the battle on -themselves, till the snows of more than a hundred winters were made red -by their rifles and tomahawks. But those who court death must often -fall into his embrace. So with the Sokokis. They were at first a great -and many people; but they wasted and fell, as time, the bringer of new -and strange things, wore away, before the thick and more thick coming -of their greedy and pushing foes,--by their fire-water in peace and -their bullets in war, till the many became few, the great small. What -the bloody Church, with his swarm of picked warriors, had left after -his four terrible comings with fire and slaughter, the bold Lovewell -finished, on that black day when the great Paugus and all the flower -of the tribe found red graves round their ancient stronghold and -home,--their beloved Pegwacket.[3] This was the last time the tribe was -ever assembled as a separate people. The name of the Sokokis, at which -so many pale faces had been made paler, was buried in the graves of -the brave warriors who had here died to defend its glory. The feeble -remnant, panic-struck and heart-broken, fled northward, and, like the -withered leaves of the forest flying before the strong east wind, -were scattered and swept over the mountains into Canada; all but the -family of Paugus, who took their stand on these lakes, where his son, -Waurumba, took the empty title of chief, and, dying, left it still -more empty to Wenongonet, the last of the long line of sagamores,--the -last ever to stand here to tell the young white man the story of their -greatness, and the fate of their tribe.” - -On concluding his story, the chief turned to his daughter and -significantly pointed to the lengthening shadows of the trees on the -water, with a motion of his head towards their home up the lakes. - -“The chief thinks,” said Fluella, arousing herself from the -thoughtful attitude in which she had been silently listening to the -conversation,--“the chief thinks it time we were on the water, on our -way home. We shall have now to bid Mr. Elwood a good-evening.” - -So saying, she stepped lightly into the canoe and took her seat. She -was immediately followed by the chief, who, quickly handling his oar, -sent the light craft, with a single stroke, some rods into the lake, -when, partially turning its bow towards the spot where Claud was -standing on the shore, he said: - -“Should the young man ever stray from his companions in the hunt, or -find himself weary, or wet, or cold, or in want of food, when out on -the borders of the Molechunk-a-munk, let him feel, and doubt not, that -he will be welcome to the lodge of Wenongonet.” - -“And, if Mr. Elwood should be in the vicinity of our lake this fall, -and _not_ happen to be in a so very sad condition, he might, perhaps, -find a good welcome on calling,--so, especially, if he come before the -time of the first snows,” added Fluella, playfully at first but with a -slight suffusion of the cheek as she proceeded to the close. - -“I thank the chief,” responded Claud with a respectful bow. “And I -thank you, my fair friend,” he continued, turning more familiarly to -Fluella. “I hope to come, some time. But why do you speak of the first -snows?” - -“O, the birds take wing for a warmer country about that time, and -perhaps some who have not wings may be off with them,” replied Fluella, -in the same tone of playfulness and emotion. - -A stately bow from the father, and another with a sweetly eloquent -smile from the daughter, completed, on their part, the ceremonies -of the adieu; when the canoe was headed round, and, by the easy and -powerful paddle-strokes of the still vigorous old man, sent bounding -over the waters of the glassy lake. - -Slowly and thoughtfully Claud turned and took his way homeward. “Who -could have expected,” he soliloquized, “to witness such an exhibition -of intellect and exalted tone of feeling in one of that despised race, -as that proud old man displayed, in his eloquently-told story? And that -daughter! Well, what is she to me? My faith is given to another. But -why feel this strange interest? Yet, after all, it is probably nothing -but what any one would naturally feel in the surprise occasioned on -beholding such qualities in such a place and person. No, no, it can be -nothing more; and I will whistle it to the winds.” - -And he accordingly quickened his steps, and literally began to whistle -a lively tune, by way of silencing the unbidden sensation which he -felt conscious had often, since he first met this fair daughter of the -wilds, been lurking within. But, though he thus resolved and reasoned -the intruding feeling into nothing, yet he felt he would not like to -have Avis Gurley know how often the sparkling countenance and witching -smile of this new and beautiful face had been found mingling themselves -with the previously exclusive images of his dreams. But, if they did -so before this second interview, would they do it less now? His head -resolutely answered, “Yes, less, till they are banished.” His heart -softly whispered, “No.” And we will not anticipate by disclosing -whether head or heart was to prove the better prophet. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[1] The name by which the Province of Maine was designated by the early -voyagers, and the Indian word probably from which the present name of -the State of Maine was derived. - -[2] The Indian appellation of the river Saco, which is doubtless an -abbreviation of the Indian name here introduced. - -[3] The name of a once populous Indian village, which occupied the -present bountiful site of the village of Fryeburg, Me., near Lovewell’s -Pond, where the sanguinary conflict here alluded to occurred in 1725. - - - - -CHAPTER XII. - - “Away! nor let me loiter in my song, - For we have many a mountain path to tread, - And many a varied shore to sail along,-- - By truth and sadness, not by fiction, led.” - - -The day agreed on, by the trappers, for starting on their expedition -into the unbroken wilds around and beyond the upper lakes to the -extreme reservoirs of the lordly Androscoggin, had at length arrived. -All the married men belonging to the company, not having sons of their -own old enough, had engaged those of their neighbors to come and remain -with their families during their absence from home, which, it was -thought probable, would be prolonged to nearly December. Steel-traps -and rifles had been put in order, ammunition plentifully provided, and -supplies of such provisions as could not be generally procured by the -rifle and fish-hook in the woods and its waters, carefully laid in; and -all were packed up the night previous, and in readiness for a start the -next morning. - -It had been agreed that the company should rendezvous on the -lake-shore, at the spot which we have already often mentioned, and -which, by common consent, was now beginning to be called Elwood’s -Landing. And, accordingly, early on the appointed morning, Mark Elwood -and his son Claud, having dispatched their breakfast, which Mrs. -Elwood had been careful to make an unusually good and plentiful one, -shouldered their large hunting packs, with their blankets neatly folded -and strapped outside; and, having bid that anxious and thoughtful wife -and mother a tender farewell, left the house and proceeded with a -lively step to the border of the lake. On reaching their canoe at the -landing, they glanced inquiringly around them for some indications -of the presence or coming of their expected companions. But not a -living object met their strained gaze, and not the semblance of a sound -greeted their listening ears. A light sheeted fog, of varying thickness -and density in the different portions of the wide expanse,--here thin -and spray-like, as if formed of the breath of some marine monster, and -there thickening to the appearance of the stratiform cloud,--lay low -stretched, in long, slow-creeping undulations, over the bosom of the -waveless lake. - -“The first on the ground, after all,” exclaimed Mr. Elwood, on peering -out sharply through the partially-obstructing fog in the direction of -the outlet of the lake, up through which most of the company, who lived -on the rivers below, were expected to come. “That is smart, after so -much cautioning to us to be here in season. But they cannot be very far -off, can they, Claud?” - -“One would suppose not,” replied the latter; “but sounds, in this dense -and quiet state of the atmosphere, could be distinguished at a great -distance, and, with all that my best faculties can do, I cannot hear a -single sound from any quarter.--But stay, what was that?” - -“What did you think you heard, Claud?” asked Mr. Elwood, after waiting -a moment for the other to proceed or explain. - -“Why, I can hardly tell, myself,” was the musing reply; “but it was -some shrill, long-drawn sound, that seemed to come from a great -distance in the woods off here to the southeast, or on the lake beyond.” - -“Perhaps it was a loon somewhere up the lake,” suggested Mr. Elwood. - -“It may be so, possibly,” rejoined Claud, doubtfully; “but, if there -were any inhabitants near enough in that direction, I should think it -must be--hark, there it is again! and, as I thought, the crowing of a -rooster.” - -“A rooster! then it must be the echo of one, that has somehow struck -across from Phillips’ barn; but how could that be? Ah, I have just -thought: your rooster must be Codman coming down the lake. You know how -curiously he imitated that creature at the logging bee, don’t you?” - -“No; I happened to be in a noisy bustle in the house, just at the time -of those queer performances of his, and heard them imperfectly. But, if -the sound I heard was not that of a veritable rooster, I never was so -deceived in my life respecting the character of a sound.” - -“Well, I think you will find I am right, but we will wait, listen, and -see.” - -The event soon proved the truth of Mr. Elwood’s conjecture. Suddenly -a canoe, rounding a woody point a half-mile to the right, shot into -view, and the old loud and shrill _Kuk-kuk-ke-o-ho_ of Comical Codman -rang far and wide over the waters to the echoing hills beyond. But, -before Claud had sufficiently recovered from his surprise to respond -to the triumphant “_I told you so_” of his father, the strange salute -was answered by a merry, responsive shout of voices in the opposite -direction; and presently two canoes, each containing two men, emerged -into view from the fog hanging over the outlet, and, joining in a -contest of speed, to which they seemed to perceive the single boatman -was, by his movements, challenging them, rapidly made their way towards -the understood goal of the landing. - - “The race is run, - The vict’ry won!” - -exclaimed the trapper, in his usual cheery tone and inimitable air of -mock gravity, as he drew up his oar, to let the impulse of his last -stroke send his canoe in to the shore of the landing, as it did, while -the foremost of his competitors in the friendly race was yet fifty -yards distant. “Mighty smart fellows, you!” he resumed, waggishly -cocking his eye towards the hunter, who had charge of the boat most -in advance. “_What bright and early_ chaps, living only from two to -five miles off, to let one who has ten miles to come be in first at the -rendezvous!” - -“Well, Codman, I suppose we must give in,” responded the hunter. “But, -to do all this, you must have risen long before day; how did you -contrive to wake up?” - -“Why, crowed like the house a-fire, and waked myself up, to be sure!” -replied Codman, promptly. “How did you suppose I did it? But let that -all go; I want to look you over a little. You have brought some new -faces with you, this time, haven’t you, Mr. Hunter?” - -“Yes, here is one,” answered Phillips, pointing to a tall, -sandy-complexioned, but good-looking man of about thirty, who, having -occupied the forward seat of the canoe, now quietly stepped ashore; -“yes, gentlemen,” added the hunter, addressing himself to the Elwoods, -standing on the bank, as well as to the trapper, “I make you acquainted -with Mr. Carvil,--a man, if I ain’t a good deal out in my reckoning, -who might be relied on in most any circumstances.” - -The customary salutations were then exchanged with the stranger; when -the hunter, instinctively understanding that often violated rule of -true politeness which requires of the introducer some accompanying -remark, giving a clue to the position and character of the introduced, -so as to gratify the natural curiosity felt on such occasions, and to -impart more freedom to the conversation, quickly resumed: - -“Mr. Carvil is a Green Mountain boy, who loves hunting, partly for -the health it gives, and partly for the fun of it. His old range has -usually been round the Great Megantic, the other side of the highlands, -in Canada, where I have heard of him through the St. Francis Indians. -But, having a mind to see and try this side, he came on a few days ago, -inquired me out, and turned in with me. We from below have invited him -to join our company; are you all here agreed to that?” - -“Certainly,” said Mark Elwood, in his usual off-hand manner. - -“Certainly,” added Claud, more specifically, “I think we ought to be -gratified in such an acquisition to our company.” - -“And you, Codman?” said the hunter, turning inquiringly to the trapper. -“It is your turn to speak. But don’t show the gentleman so many of your -bad streaks, to begin with, as to put him out of conceit of you before -he has time to find out your good ones.” - -“Well, I don’t see but I must run the risk, then,” said the trapper; -“my streaks always come out as they come up, I never pick any of them -out as samples for strangers. But to the question,--well, let’s run him -over once, if he won’t be mad: high cheek bones, showing him enough of -the Indian make to be a good hunter; a crank, steady eye, indicating -honest motives, and a good resolution, that won’t allow a man to rest -easy till his object is carried out; and lastly, a well-put-together, -wiry frame, to bear fatigues, and do the work which so large a head -must often lay out for it. Yes, he passes muster with me bravely: let -him in, with a welcome.” - -Carvil rewarded these good-natured running commentaries on his person -and supposed qualities, with a complacent bow; when the trapper turned -to the other canoe, which, with Gaut Gurley and the young Indian -described in a preceding chapter on board, now came within speaking -distance, and sang out: - -“Hil-lo! there, you, captain, who made the big logs fly so like the -de-i-vel, the other day, whether the old chap had any hand in it or -not, what red genius is that you have brought along with you?” - -“It’s Tomah, the young red man from the Connecticut-river region, who -hunted some in this section last fall, I understand. I supposed you had -met him before,” replied Gaut. - -“O, ah, well, yes,” responded Codman; “I bethink me, now, it is the -young Indian that went to college, but couldn’t be kept there long -enough to make any thing else, though long enough, may be, to spoil him -for a hunter.” - -“May be not, too,” retorted Tomah, with a miffed air, which showed he -did not so readily appreciate the half-serious, half-sportive manner of -the trapper as the other stranger had done. “May be, when you out with -me catching beaver, one, two month, you no crow so loud.” - -“That’s right,” interposed the hunter; “the Indian gives you what you -deserve for your nonsense, Codman. But a truce to jokes. Let us all -aboard, strike out, and be on our way over the lake.” - -In compliance with this suggestion, those not already in the boats took -to their seats, handled their oars, pushed off, and, headed by the -hunter and his boat companion, and falling, one after another, into a -line, rowed steadily on across the broadest part of the lake, taking -a lofty pine, whose attenuated top looked like a reed rising over the -fog in the distance, as a guide and landmark to the great inlet, where -the most arduous task of their expedition was to be encountered,--the -surmounting of the long line of rapids leading to the great lakes -above. But that task, after a pleasant rowing of a couple of hours had -brought them to it, was, by dint of hard struggles against the current, -with oars as long as oars could be made to prevail; with setting-poles -when oars ceased to serve the purpose; and with ropes attached to the -boats and drawn from point to point or rock to rock, when neither oars -nor poles were of any avail; together with the carrying both boats and -baggage by land round the last and most difficult ascent,--that task -was at length accomplished, and, before one o’clock in the afternoon, -all the boats, with their loading, were safely launched on the broad -bosom of the wild and picturesque Molechunk-a-munk. - -Here, however, the company decided on taking their midday’s lunch, and -an hour’s rest, before proceeding on their voyage. But, not deeming it -expedient to incur the trouble and delay which the building of fires -and the new cooking of provisions would require, they drew out only -their bread and cold meats, for the occasion; and these, as the company -were seated in an irregular circle on the rocks, were discussed and -dispatched with that keen relish which abstinence and a toil-earned -appetite alone could have brought them. - -After they had finished their repast, they, at the suggestion of -Phillips and Codman, the only persons of the company who were familiar -with the lakes and country above, took up a question which they had -before discussed, without settling, but which, they were told by -the persons just named, must now, before proceeding any farther, be -definitely settled and understood. This question was that of the -expediency of establishing a general head-quarters for the season, by -building a large, storm-proof camp, and locating it at some central -point on the shore of one of the two great lakes opening still above -the one on which they were now about to embark. The object of this -was to insure the company comfortable quarters, to which they could -resort in case of falling sick, or encountering long storms, at which -their furs could be collected and more safely kept, their more cumbrous -stores left, and from which their provisions could be distributed, with -the least trouble and travel, to the smaller and more temporary camps -that each of the company, or any two of them, might make at the nearest -terminations, on the neighboring waters, of the different ranges of -woods they should select for their respective fields of operations. -The main part of the question, that of the necessity of establishing -general head-quarters, was at once, and unanimously, decided in the -affirmative. The remaining part, that of the most eligible location -for these quarters, was then fully discussed, and finally settled by -fixing the point of location about midway of the eastern side of the -Mooseeluk-maguntic, the next great lake above, and, counting from the -south, the third in this unique chain of secluded lakes and widely -clustering lakelets, through which the far-spanning Androscoggin pours -its vast volume of wild waters to the distant bosom of the welcoming -ocean. - -“Wisely arranged,” remarked the hunter, at the close of the discussion. -“The next object in view, then, is to reach there this evening, in -season to work up something in the shape of a camp, that will serve for -the night, and until the good one we propose to build can be completed.” - -“That can be done easily enough,” said Codman, “that is, if we will tax -our marrow-bones a little extra in pulling at the oars. The distance -over this lake, up the narrows, or river, and across the end of the -Maguntic to the mouth of that second stream we have talked of, can’t -be much more than a dozen miles, and all smooth sailing. Lord, yes! -if we put in like decent oarsmen, I warrant we make fetch come, so as -to be there by the sun an hour high, which will give time to build a -comfortable camp, and for cooking up the jolly good supper I’m thinking -to have, to pay us far all these sweats and hard pulls up these -confounded rapids and over these never-ending lakes.” - -“Well, let us put in, then, boys,” responded Gaut Gurley. “I am as much -for the go-ahead principle as the best of you. Let us try the motion, -and _earn_ the good supper, whether we get it or not. But, to make the -supper quite the thing for the occasion, it strikes me we ought to have -something a little fresher than our salt junk.” - -“True, O King, and Great Mogul of the lubber-lifts,” rejoined the -trapper; “thou talkest like one not altogether without knowledge of the -good living of the woods. That something fresher we will have, if it be -only a mess of fish, which I think I can take out of that stream in a -short time after we get there.” - -“That could be done as we go along, if these lakes are as well stocked -with large trout as they are reputed,” observed Carvil, in the calm, -deliberate manner which characterized him on all occasions. - -“But we mustn’t stop for that,” said the trapper. - -“There is no need of stopping,” quietly replied the former. - -“That’s a queer idea,” said the trapper, evidently at fault. “How are -we to put in and wait for bites, without stopping, I would like to -know?” - -“Perhaps I may be able to demonstrate the matter, as we proceed on -our way. At all events, since the question is raised, I will try,” -replied Carvil, drawing from his pocket a roll of small silk cord, to -which a fish-hook, without any sinker, was attached. “Can any of you -handily get at your pork, so as to cut off and throw me a small bit? -There, that will do,” he continued, taking the proffered bit of meat, -and baiting his hook with it. “Now, the experiment I propose to try is -what in my region we call ‘troulling,’ which consists of throwing out -a baited hook and paying out, as the boat moves on, a hundred feet, -or so, of line, that is left to trail, floating on the surface of the -water behind; when most large fish, like bass, or trout, especially if -you make a sharp tack, occasionally, so as to draw the line across an -undisturbed portion of the water, will see, and, darting up, seize it, -and hook themselves. And, if you have many large trout _here_, and they -are any related to those I have found in the Great Maguntic, and other -large bodies of fresh water, they will some of them stand a pretty good -chance to be found adding to our supper to-night.” - -“Sorry to hear it,” said the trapper, “for I have always considered the -trout a sensible fish, and I should be sorry to lose my respect for -them. But, if they will do that, they are bigger fools than I took them -to be. But you’ll find they just won’t.” - -“Well, I don’t know about that, now. I am not so sure but there may be -something in it,” remarked the hunter, who had been listening to Carvil -with evident interest. “Though we have never tried that method in this -region, to my knowledge, yet my experience rather goes to confirm the -notion. I remember to have caught several fine trout, when I had laid -down my pole, and was moving off with my boat, but had left my line -trailing behind. Those great fellows are not very bashful about seizing -any thing they think they can eat, which they can see on the surface. -I have known them do a stranger thing than to come up and seize a piece -of pork.” - -“What was that?” asked the trapper. - -“Well, I don’t know as you will believe the story,” answered the other, -“but it will be equally true, if you don’t. Some years ago I was out on -the Umbagog, for a mess of trout, but couldn’t get a bite; and, seeing -a flock of black ducks in a neighboring cove, I hauled in my line, -and rowed off towards them, thinking I might get a shot, and so have -something to carry home, by way of mending my luck at fishing. But, -before I got near enough to count with much certainty on the effect of -a shot, if I fired, they all flew up, but one, which, though it seemed -to be trying hard enough, could not raise its body out of the water. -As my canoe drifted in nearer, I once or twice raised my rifle to fire -at it; but it acted so strangely, flapping the water with its wings, -and tugging away at swimming, without appearing to gain scarce a single -foot, that I soon laid down my piece and concluded I would try to take -it alive, supposing it must have got fast tangled with something, but -with what, I was wholly unable to conceive. So, taking up my oar, and -gunning my canoe, so as to send it by within reach of the bird, I -gave two or three strong pulls, threw down the oar, put out my hand, -and sat ready for the grab, which the next moment I made, seizing the -panting and now sinking duck by one of its outspread wings, and pulling -it in, with a big trout fastened to its foot and leg so tight by the -teeth that the hold did not give way till the greedy fish was brought -slapping over the side, and landed safely in the bottom of the canoe. -That trout, when I got home, weighed just seven pounds and nine ounces.” - -“Wheugh! whiz! kak! ke-o-ho!” exclaimed, whistled, and crowed Comical -Codman. - -“I do not doubt it in the least,” said Carvil. - -“Nor can I, of course, on Mr. Phillips’ statement,” added Mark Elwood; -“but, if I had not known his scrupulousness in matters of fact, I -should not have believed that so strange a circumstance had ever -happened in the world.” - -“So the story is voted gospel, is it?” rejoined the trapper. “Well, -then, I propose we commission its author to cruise along the coves this -afternoon, so that he may bring into camp to-night trout enough caught -in that way to make up what Mr. Carvil may miss taking by _his_ method, -together with a brace or two of nice ducks, which would be a still -further fine addition to our supper.” - -“Yes, ducks or some other kind of flesh, to go with the fish, we may -now safely count on being secured, by some of the various proposed -methods,” here interposed Claud Elwood, seriously. “And I second the -motion of such a cruise along the shores, by Mr. Phillips, who so -seldom fails of killing something. And if he, Mr. Carvil, and father, -will agree to an exchange of boat companions for the afternoon, I -should like to go with him. I have chosen him my schoolmaster in -hunting, and I should have a chance for another lesson before we go -into the separate fields of our approaching operations.” - -Gaut Gurley started at the suggestion, and cast a few quick, searching -glances at Claud and the hunter, as if suspecting a concert of action -between them, for some purpose affecting his secret plans; but, -appearing to read nothing in either of their countenances to confirm -such suspicions, and seeing all the rest of the company readily falling -in with the proposal, he held his peace, and joined the others in -handling the oars for their immediate departure; which was now in a -few minutes taken, the main part of the company striking in a direct -line across the middle of the lake for their destination, leaving the -hunter and Claud moving off obliquely to the right, for a different and -farther route among the intervening islands, and along the indented -shores beyond,--where it will best comport with the objects of our -story, we think, to accompany them in their solitary excursion. - -“Where away, as the sailors have it?” said Claud, after the two, each -with a single oar, had rowed on a while in silence; “where away, Mr. -Phillips, or in the line of what object in sight would you lay your -course?” - -“Why, I had proposed, in my own mind,” replied the hunter, “to steer -direct across, so as to graze the east side of the great island you see -yonder in the distance; but, as we shall pass so near the cove which -lies snuggled away between two sharp, woody points here, a little ahead -to the right, we might as well, perhaps, haul in and take a squint -round it.” - -“What shall we find there?” - -“Perhaps nothing. It is the place, however, where I found that deer -which I killed when we were here before.” - -“Well, if you can count on another, we should turn in there now.” - -“We will; but a hunter, young man, must never talk of certainties when -going to any particular spot in search of such roving things as the -animals of the forest. He must learn to bear disappointment, and be -prepared to find nothing where he or others had before found every -thing. He must have patience. Loss of patience is very apt to be fatal -to success in almost any business, but especially so in hunting. You -spoke of taking lessons of me in the craft: this is the very first -grand lesson I would impress on your mind. But we are now close upon -the point of land, which we are only to round to be in the cove. If you -are disposed to row the boat alone, now, keep in or out, stop or move -on, as I from time to time give the word, I will be down on my knees in -the bow of the boat, with cocked rifle in hand, ready for what may be -seen.” - -Readily complying, Claud carefully rowed round the point and entered -the dark and deep indenture constituting the cove, whose few acres -of surface were thrown almost wholly into the shade, even at sunny -noonday, by the thickly-clustered groups of tall, princely pines, -which, like giant warriors in council, stood nodding their green plumes -around the closely-encircling shores. Closely hugging the banks, -now stopping behind some projecting clump of bushes, now in some -rock-formed nook, and now in the covert of some low-bending treetop, -to give the keen-eyed hunter a chance to peer round or through these -screening objects into the open spaces along the shore beyond, he -slowly pushed along the canoe till the whole line of the cove was -explored, and they reached the point corresponding to the one at which -they commenced their lookout for game, and all without seeing a living -creature. - -“Pshaw! this is dull business,” exclaimed Claud, as they came out into -the open lake, where he was left free to speak aloud. “This was so fine -a looking place for game that I felt sure we should see something worth -taking; and I am quite disappointed in the result.” - -“So that, then, is the best fruit you can show of my first lesson in -hunting, is it, young man?” responded the hunter, with a significant -smile. - -Claud felt the implied rebuke, and promised better behavior for the -future; when both seated themselves at the oars, and, as men naturally -do, after an interval of suppressed action, plied themselves with a -vigor that sent their craft swiftly surging over the waters in the line -of their original destination. - -They now soon reached, and shot along the shore of, a -beautifully-wooded island, nearly a half-mile in extent, about midway -of which the hunter rested on his oars, and, after Claud, on his -motion, had done the same, observed, pointing through a partial opening -among the trees, along a visible path that led up a gentle slope into -the interior of the island: - -“There! do you catch a glimpse of a house-like looking structure, in an -open and light spot in the woods, a little beyond where you cease to -trace the path?” - -“Yes, quite distinctly. What is it?” - -“That belongs to the chief, and might properly enough be called his -summer-house, as he generally comes here with his family to spend the -hot months. He raises fine crops of corn in his clearing on there -beyond the house, and saves it all, because the bears, coons, and -squirrels, that trouble him elsewhere, are so completely fenced out by -the surrounding water.” - -“Are the family there, now?” - -“No; they have moved back to his principal residence, a mile or two -distant, on a point of land over against the opposite side of this -island, and not far out of our course.” - -“Indeed! what say you, then, to giving them a call as we pass by?” - -“We shall not have time, which is a good reason for not calling now, if -there were not still stronger ones.” - -“What stronger reasons, or what other reasons at all?” - -“Well, perhaps there are none. But, supposing two of the company -we left behind, who might happen to conceive they have some secret -interest at stake, should ever suspect that your leading object in -leaving them was to make the very visit you are now proposing, would -you not prefer that we should have it in our power to set their minds -at rest, when we join them to-night, by telling them all the places we -_did_ touch at?” - -“It is possible I should, in such a case,” replied Claud, looking -surprised and puzzled; “but, ‘suspected,’ did you say? _Why_ should -they suspect? and what if they do?” - -“Three questions in a heap, when one is more than I could wisely -attempt to answer,” evasively answered the cautious hunter. - -“But you must have some reasons for what you said,” persisted the other. - -“Reasons founded upon guesses are poor things to build a statement on,” -rejoined the hunter. “Half the mischief and ill-feeling in the world -comes from statements so made. And, guessing aloud is often no better. -I rather think, all things considered, we had better not stop at the -chief’s, this time. I can show you where he lives, as we pass; and, if -that will do, we will now handle oars, and be on our way.” - -Much wondering at the enigmatical words of the other, Claud, without -further remark, put in his oar and thoughtfully rowed on, till they -had passed round the head of the island; when, on the indication of -the hunter, they stretched away towards a distant promontory, on the -northeastern shore of the lake. A steady and vigorous rowing of half an -hour brought them within a few hundred yards of the headland, for which -they had been steering; when the hunter lifted his oar, and said: - -“There! let the canoe run on alone, a while, and give me your -attention. Now, you see,” he continued, pointing in shore to the right, -“you see that opening in the woods, yonder, on the southern slope -extending down near the lake, eighty rods or such a matter off, don’t -you? Well, that, and divers other openings, where the timber has been -cut down and burnt over, for planting corn, scattered about in the -woods in different places, as well as a large tract of the surrounding -forest-land, are the possessions of the chief.” - -“But where is their house?” - -“Down near the lake, among the trees. You can’t see much of it, but it -is a smart, comfortable house, like one of our houses, and built by a -carpenter; for the chief used formerly to handle considerable money, -got by the furs caught by himself, and by the profits on the furs he -bought of the St. Francis Indians, who came over this way to hunt. But -stay: there are some of the family at his boat-landing. I think it must -be Fluella and her Indian half-brother. She is waving a handkerchief -towards us. Let us wait and see what she wants.” - -The female, whose trim figure, English-fashioned dress, and graceful -motions went to confirm the hunter’s conjectures, now appeared to turn -and give some directions to the boy, who immediately disappeared, but -in a few minutes came back, entered a canoe, and put off towards the -spot where our two voyagers were resting on their oars. In a short time -the canoe came up, rowed by an ordinary Indian boy of about fourteen, -who, pulling alongside, held up a neatly-made, new, wampum-trimmed -hunting pouch, and said: - -“The chief send this Mr. Claud Elwood,--gift. Fluella say, wish Mr. -Phillips and Mr. Claud Elwood good time.” - -And so saying, and tossing the article to Claud, he wheeled his -canoe around, and, without turning his head or appearing to hear the -compliments and thanks that both the hunter and Claud told him to take -to the chief and his daughter, sped his way back to the landing. - -“There, young man!” exclaimed the obviously gratified hunter, “that -is a present, with a meaning. I would rather have it, coming as it -does from an Indian, and that Indian such a man as the chief,--I would -rather have it, as a pledge of watchfulness over your interests in the -settlement, whether you are present there or absent,--than a white -man’s bond for a hundred dollars; and I would also rather have it, as -a token of faith, given when you are roaming this northern wilderness, -than a passport from the king of England. The chief’s _Totem_, the bald -eagle, is woven in, I see, among the ornaments. Every Indian found -anywhere from the great river of Canada to the sea eastward will know -and respect it, and know, likewise, how to treat the man to whom it was -given.” - -“But how,” asked Claud, “could stranger Indians, whom I encountered, -know to whom it was given, or that I did not find, buy, or steal the -article?” - -“Let an Indian alone for that. You have but three fingers on your left -hand, I have noticed.” - -“True, the little finger was accidentally cut clean off by an axe, when -I was a child; but what has that to do with the question?” - -“Enough to settle it. Do you notice something protruding as if from -under the protecting wing of the eagle of the _Totem_, there?” - -“Yes; and surely enough it resembles a human hand, with only three -fingers.” - -“That is it; and you may yet, in your experiences in these rough and -sometimes dangerous wilds, know the value of that gift.” - -“At any rate, I feel gratified at this mark of the chief’s good will; -the more because I was so little expecting it, especially at this time. -How could they have possibly made out who I, or indeed either of us, -was, at such a distance?” - -“A very natural inquiry, but answered when I tell you that Fluella -has a good spy-glass, that a year or two ago she brought, among other -curious trinkets, from her other home in the old settlement. And she -makes it often serve a good purpose, too. She has spied out, for her -father’s killing, many a moose or deer that had come down to the -edge or into the water of the lake round the shores to drink, eat -wild-grass, or cool themselves, as well as many a flock of wild geese, -lighting here on their fall or spring passages. She knew, I think, -about the day we were to start, and, being on the lookout, saw the rest -of our company passing off here to the west, an hour or two ago, and, -not seeing us among them, expected us to be along somewhere in this -direction. Now, is all explained?” - -“Yes, curiously but satisfactorily.” - -“Then, only one word more on the subject: let me advise you not to show -that hunting-pouch when we join the company, nor wear it till we are -off on our separate ranges. I have my reasons, but mustn’t be asked to -give them.” - -“All this is odd, Mr. Phillips; but, taking it for granted that your -reasons are good ones, I will comply with your advice.” - -“Very well. The whole matter being now disposed of, let us move on -round the point, and into the large cove we shall find round there. We -mustn’t give up about game so. No knowing what may yet be done in that -line.” - -Having risen to his feet, raised his hunting-cap, and bowed his adieu -to the still lingering maiden on shore, Claud now joined his companion -at the oars; when they rapidly passed round the headland, and soon -entered the bay-like recess of water, which, sweeping round in a large -wood-fringed circle, opened upon the view immediately beyond. After -skirting along the sometimes bold and rocky, and sometimes low and -swampy, thickly-wooded shore, with a sharp lookout for whatever might -come within range of the eye, but without stopping for any special -examination till they had reached the most secluded part of the cove, -the hunter suspended his oar, and signified his intention of landing. -Accordingly, running in their canoe by the side of an old treetop -extending into the water, and, throwing their mooring-line around one -of its bare limbs, they stepped noiselessly ashore, and ascended the -bank, when the hunter, pausing and pointing inward, said, in a low, -suppressed tone: - -“There, within a short distance from us, commences one of the thickest -windfall jungles in these parts, and extends up nearly to the chief’s -outermost cornfield, about half a mile off. I have been threatening to -come here some time; and if, as I will propose, we go into the tangle, -and get through, or half through, without encounter of some kind, I -confess I shall be uncommonly disappointed. But, before entering, let -us sit down on this old log a few minutes, and, while looking to our -flints and priming, keep our ears open for such sounds as may reach -them.” - -And, bending low his head, with closed eyes, and an ear turned towards -the thicket, the hunter listened long and intently in motionless -silence, after which he quickly rose, and, while glancing at his -gun-flint and priming, said: - -“There are no distinct sounds, but the air is disturbed in the kind of -way that I have frequently noticed when animals of some size were in -the vicinity. Let us forward into the thicket, spreading out some ten -rods apart, and worming ourselves among the windfalls, with a stop and -a thorough look every few rods of our progress. Should you start up a -panther, which ain’t very likely, you had better whistle for me, before -firing; but, if any thing else, blaze away at it.” - -Nodding his assent, and starting off in a course diverging to the -right of the one he perceived his companion to be taking, Claud slowly, -and as he best could, made his way forward, sometimes crawling under, -and sometimes clambering over the tangled masses of fallen trees, -which, with a thick upshooting second growth, lay piled and crossed in -all conceivable shapes and directions before him. After proceeding in -this manner thirty or forty rods, he paused, for the third or fourth -time, to look and listen; but lastly quite as much for his companion as -for game, for, with all his powers, he could detect no sound indicating -that the latter could be anywhere in the vicinity. While thus engaged, -he heard a small, shrill, plaintive sort of cry, as of a little child, -coming from somewhere above him; when, casting up his eyes, he beheld a -large raccoon sidling round a limb, and seemingly winking and nodding -down towards him. With the suppressed exclamation of “Far better than -nothing,” he brought his piece to his face and fired; when the glimpse -of a straight-falling body, and the heavy thump on the ground that -followed, told him that the object of his aim was a “_dead coon_.” But -his half-uttered shout of exultation was cut short by the startling -report of a rifle, a little distance to the rear, on his left. And the -next moment a huge old bear, followed by a smaller one, came smashing -and tearing through the brush and tree-tops directly towards him. And -with such headlong speed did the frightened brutes advance upon him, -that he had scarce time to draw his clubbed rifle before the old one -had broke into the little open space where he stood, and thrown herself -on her haunches, in an attitude of angry defiance. Recoiling a step -in the only way he could move, and expecting the next moment to find -himself within the fatal grasp of the bear, if he did not disable her, -Claud aimed and struck with all his might a blow at her head. But, -before the swiftly-descending implement reached its mark, it was struck -by the fending paw of the enraged brute, with a force that sent its -tightly-grasping owner spinning and floundering into the entangled -brushwood, till he landed prostrate on the ground. And, ere he had -time to turn himself, the desperate animal had rushed and trampled over -him, and disappeared through a breach effected in one of the treetops -that had hemmed him in and prevented his retreat from such a doubtful, -hand-to-hand encounter. As the discomfited young huntsman was rising to -his feet, his eyes fell upon Phillips, hurrying forward, with looks of -lively concern; which, however, as he leaped into the small open space -comprising the battle-ground, and saw how matters stood, at first gave -place to a ludicrous smile, and then to a merry peal of laughter. - -“I can’t say I blame you much for your merriment,” said Claud, joining, -though rather feebly, in the laugh, as he brushed himself and picked -up his rifle; “for, to be upset and run over by a bear would have been -about the last thing I should have dreamed of myself.” - -“O well,” said the other, checking his risibles, “it had better turn -out a laughing than a crying matter, as it might have done if you -had kept your footing; for, if you had not been overthrown and run -over, you would have probably, in this cramped-up place, stood up to -be hugged and scratched in a way not so very agreeable; and I rather -guess, under the circumstances, you may as well call yourself satisfied -to quit so; for the bears have left you with a whole skin and unbroken -ribs, though they have escaped themselves where, with our time, it will -be useless to follow them. But, if you had not fired just as you did, -we would have had all three of them.” - -“What! have you killed one?” asked Claud, in surprise. - -“To be sure I have,” answered the hunter. “Then you supposed it was one -of your rough visitors I fired at, and missed? No, no. I had got one -of the black youngsters in range, and was waiting for a chance at the -old one, knowing if I killed her first the young ones would take to the -trees, where they could easily be brought down. Seeing them, however, -on the point of running at the report of your rifle, I let drive at the -only one I was sure of; when the two others, they being nearly between -us, tacked about and ran towards you. But go get your ’coon, and come -along this way, to look at my black beauty.” - -“How did you know I had killed a ’coon?” inquired the other. - -“Heard him squall before you fired, then strike the ground afterwards -with a force that I thought must have killed him, whether your bullet -had or not,” replied the hunter, moving off for his bear, with which, -tugging it along by a hind leg, he soon joined Claud, who was threading -his way out with his mottled trophy swung over his shoulder. - -“Why, a much larger one than I supposed,” exclaimed the latter, turning -and looking at the cub; “really, a fine one!” - -“Ain’t he, now?” complacently said the hunter. “There, heft him; -must weigh over half a hundred, and as fat as butter,--for which he -is doubtless indebted to the chief’s cornfield. And I presume we -may say the same of that streaked squaller of yours, which I see is -an uncommonly large, plump fellow. Well,” continued the speaker, -shouldering the cub, “we may now as well call our hunt over, for -to-day,--out of this plaguey hole as soon as we can, and over the lakes -to camp, as fast as strong arms and good oars can send us.” - -On, after reaching and pushing off their now well-freighted canoe, -on,--along the extended coast-line of this wild lake, westward to -the great inlet, up the gently inflowing waters of that broad, -cypress-lined stream, to the Maguntic, and then, tacking eastward, -around the borders of that still wilder and more secluded lake,--on, -on, they sped for hours, until the ringing of the axe-fall, and the -lively echo of human voices in the woods, apprised them of their near -approach to the spot which their companions had selected, both for -their night’s rest and permanent head-quarters for the season. - - - - -CHAPTER XIII. - - “And now their hatchets, with resounding stroke, - Hew’d down the boscage that around them rose, - And the dry pine of brittle branches broke, - To yield them fuel for the night’s repose; - The gathered heap an ample store bespoke. - They smite the steel: the tinder brightly glows, - And the fired match the kindled flames awoke, - And light upon night’s seated darkness broke. - High branch’d the pines, and far the colonnade - Of tapering trunks stood glimmering through the glen; - So joyed the hunters in their lonely glade.” - - -“Hurra! the stragglers have arrived!” exclaimed Codman, the first to -notice the hunter and Claud as they shot into the mouth of the small, -quiet river, on whose bank was busily progressing the work of the -incipient encampment. “Hurra for the arrival of the good ship Brag, -Phillips, master; but where is his black duck, with a big trout to its -foot? Ah, ha! not forthcoming, hey? Kuk-kuk-ke-oh-o!” - -“Don’t crow till you see what I have got, Mr. Trapper,” replied the -hunter, running in his canoe by the sides of those of his companions on -shore. “Don’t crow yet,--especially over the failure of what I didn’t -undertake: you or Mr. Carvil was to furnish the big trout, you will -recollect.” - -“That has been attended to by me, to the satisfaction of the company, I -rather think,” remarked Carvil, now advancing towards the bank with the -rest. “Not only one big trout, but two more with it, was drawn in by my -method, on the way.” - -“O, accident, accident!” waggishly rejoined the trapper; “they were -hooked by mere accident. The fact is, the trouts are so thick in these -lakes that a hook and line can’t be drawn such a distance through them -without getting into some of their mouths. But, allowing it otherwise, -it don’t cure but half of your case, Mr. Hunter. Where is the black -duck?” - -“_Here_ is the black duck,” responded the hunter, stepping ashore and -drawing his cub out from under some screening boughs in the bow of the -boat. - -A lively shout of laughter burst from the lips of the company at the -disclosure, showing alike their amusement at the practical way in which -the hunter had turned the jokes of the teasing trapper, and their -agreeable surprise at his luck in the uncertain hunting cruise along -the shores, on which they, without any expectation of his success, had -banteringly dispatched him. “Ah, I think you may as well give up beat, -all round, Mr. Codman,” observed Mark Elwood, after the surprise and -laughter had subsided. “But come up here, neighbor Phillips, and see -what a nice place we are going to have for our camp.” - -Leaving the game in charge of Claud and Carvil, who volunteered to -dress it, the rest of the company walked up with the hunter to the spot -where the new shanty was in progress, wishing to hear his opinion of -the location selected, and the plan on which it had been commenced. - -The location to which the company had been guided by the trapper was -a level space, about ten rods back from the stream here falling into -the lake from the east, and at the foot of a rocky acclivity forming -a portion of the southern side of a high ridge that ran down to the -lake. The first ten feet of the rise was formed by the smooth, even -face of a perpendicular rock, which from the narrow shelf at the top -fell off into a less precipitous ascent, extending up as far as the -eye could reach among the stunted evergreens and other low bushes that -partially covered it. About a dozen feet in front of this abutting -rock, equidistant from it, and some fifteen feet apart, stood two -spruce trees, six or eight inches in diameter at the bottom, but tall, -and tapering towards the top. These, the company, who had reached the -place about two hours before, had contrived, by rolling up some old -logs to stand on, to cut off, and fell, six or seven feet from the -ground; so that the tall stumps might serve for the two front posts of -the proposed structure. And, having trimmed out the tops of the two -fallen trees, and cut them into the required lengths, they had laid -them from the top of the rock to the tops of the stumps, which had been -first grooved out, so as to receive and securely fasten the ends of -the timbers. These, with the stout poles which they had then cut and -laid on transversely, at short intervals, made a substantial framework -for the roof of the shantee. And, in addition to this, rows of side -and front posts had been cut, sharpened, driven into the ground at the -bottom, and securely fastened at the top to the two rafters at the -sides and the principal beam, which had been notched into them at the -lower ends to serve for the front plate. - -“Just the spot,” said the hunter, after running his eye over and around -the locality a moment, and then going up and inspecting the structure -in progress. “I thought Codman could not miss so remarkable a place. I -have been thinking of building a camp here for several years; but it -never seemed to come just right till this fall. Why, you all must have -worked like beavers to get along with the job so well, and to do it -so thoroughly. The bones of the thing are all now up, as far as I can -see, and made strong enough to withstand all the snows and blows of -half a dozen winters. So, now, nothing remains but to put on the bark -covering.” - -“But how are we to get the bark covering?” asked Gaut Gurley. “Bark -will not peel well at this season, will it?” - -“No, not very well, I suppose,” replied the former. “But I will see -what I can do towards hunting up the material, to-morrow. A coat of -these spruce boughs, spread over this framework above, and set up -here against the sides, will answer for to-night. And this rigging -up, gathering hemlock boughs for our beds, building a good fire here -in front, and cooking the supper, are all we had better think of -attempting this evening; and, as it is now about sunset, let us divide -off the labor, and go at it.” - -The encampment of these adventurous woodsmen presented, for the -next hour, a stirring and animated scene. The different duties to -be performed having been apportioned by mutual agreement among the -company, they proceeded with cheerful alacrity to the performance of -their respective tasks. Phillips and Carvil set busily to work in -covering, inclosing, and rigging up the camp,--to adopt the woodsman’s -use of that word, as we notify the critic we shall do, as often as -we please, albeit that use, contrary to Noah Webster, indicates the -structure in which men lodge in the woods, rather than the place or -company encamping. Mark Elwood, Gaut Gurley, and the young Indian -Tomah, proceeding to a neighboring windfall of different kinds of wood, -went to work in cutting and drawing up a supply of fuel, among which, -the accustomed backlog, forestick, and intermediate kindling-wood, -being adjusted before the entrance of the camp, the fire from the -smitten steel and preserving punkwood was soon crackling and throwing -around its ruddy glow, as it more and more successfully competed -with the waning light of the departing day. Claud and Codman, in -fulfilment of their part of the business on hand, then unpacked the -light frying-pans, laid in them the customary slices of fat salted -pork, and shortly had them sharply hissing over the fire, preparatory -to receiving respectively their allotted quotas of the tender and -nutritious bearsteaks, or the broad layers of the rich, red-meated -trout. - -In a short time the plentiful contents of the pans were thoroughly -cooked, the pans taken from the fires, the potatoes raked from the -glowing embers, in which they had been roasting under the forestick, -the brown bread and condiments brought forward, and all placed upon -the even face of a broad, thin sheet of cleft rock, which they had -luckily found in the adjacent ledge, and brought forward and elevated -on blocks within the camp, to serve, as it well did, for their sylvan -table. Gathering round this, they proceeded to help themselves, -with their camp knives and rude trenchers, split from blocks of the -freely-cleaving bass-wood, to such kinds and portions of the savory -viands, smoking so invitingly in the pans before them, as their -inclinations severally prompted. Having done this, they drew back to -seats on broad chips, blocks of wood, piles of boughs, or other objects -nearest at hand, and began upon their long anticipated meal with a -gusto which made them for a while too busy for conversation, other than -an occasional brief remark on the quality of the food, or some jocose -allusion to the adventures of the day. After they had finished their -repast, however, and cleared away the relics of the supper, together -with the few utensils they had used in cooking and eating it, they -replenished their fire; and, while the cheerful light of its fagot-fed -blaze was flashing up against the dark forest around, and shooting -away through the openings of the foliage in long glimmering lines over -the waters below, they all placed themselves at their ease,--some -sitting on blocks, some leaning against the posts, and some reclining -on piles of boughs,--and commenced the social confab, or that general -conversation, in which woodsmen, if they ever do, are prone to indulge -after the fatigues of the day are over, and the consequent demands of -appetite have been appeased by a satisfactory meal. - -“Now, gentlemen, I will make a proposition,” said Mark Elwood, in a -pause of the conversation, which, though it had been engaged in with -considerable spirit, yet now began to flag. “I will propose, as we have -an hour or two on hand, to be spent somehow, before we shall think of -rolling ourselves up in our blankets for the night,--I propose that you -professional hunters, like Phillips, Codman, and Carvil, here, each -give us a story of one of your most remarkable adventures in the woods. -It would not only while away the hour pleasantly for us all, but might -furnish useful information and timely hints for us beginners in this -new life, upon which we are about to enter. For my part, I should like -to listen to a story, by these old witnesses, of the strange things -they must have encountered in the woods. What say you, Gurley, Claud, -and Tomah? Shall we put them on the stand?” - -“Yes, a good idea,” replied Gaut, his habitual cold reserve relaxing -into something like cordiality; “I feel just in the humor to -listen,--more so than to talk, on this hearty supper. Yes, by all means -let us have the stories.” - -“O, I should be exceedingly gratified,” joined in Claud, in his usual -frank and animated manner. - -“I like that, too; like to hear hunting story, always, much,” added -Tomah, with a glistening eye. - -“Well, no particular objection as far as I am concerned,” responded the -trapper, seriously; but adding, with his old waggish gleam of the eye: -“that is, if you will take what I give, and swallow it as easily as you -did Phillips’ fish story. But let Carvil, who must be the youngest, go -on with _his_ story first; I will follow; and Phillips shall bring up -the rear.” - -Carvil, after making a few excuses that were not suffered to avail him, -commenced his narration, which we will head - - -THE AMATEUR WOODSMAN’S STORY. - -“I call myself a woodsman, and a pretty good one, now; but, four years -ago, I was almost any thing else but one of any kind. I should have -then thought it would have certainly been the death of me to have lain -out one night in the woods. And I had no more idea of ever becoming a -hunter or trapper, to remain out, as I have since done, for weeks and -months in the depths of the wilderness, with no other protection than -my rifle, and no other shelter than what I could fix up with my hatchet -for the night, where I happened to be, on the approach of darkness, -than I now have of undertaking to swim the Atlantic. And, as the -circumstances which led to this revolution in my opinions and habits, -when _out_ of the woods, may as much interest you, in the account, as -any thing that happened to me after I got into them, I will first -briefly tell you how I came to be a woodsman, and then answer your call -by relating a hunting incident which occurred to me after I became one; -which, if not very marvellous, shall, at least, have the merit of truth -and reality. - -“I was brought up rather tenderly, as to work; and my parents, absurdly -believing that, with my then slight frame, any employment requiring -any labor or physical exertion would injure me, put me to study, and -assisted me to the means of entering college at eighteen, and of -graduating at twenty-two. Well, I did not misimprove my opportunities -for knowledge, I believe; but, instead of gaining strength and manhood -by my exemption from labor, I grew feebler and feebler. Still, I did -not know what was wanting to give me health and constitution, nor once -think that a mind without a body is a thing not worth having; and so -I went on, keeping within doors and studying a profession, until I -found myself a poor, nervous, miserable dyspeptic, and threatened with -consumption. It was now plain enough that, if I would avoid a speedy -death, something must be done; and, by the advice of the doctors, -who were about as ignorant of the philosophy of health as myself, I -concluded to seek a residence and livelihood in one of the Southern -States. Accordingly, I packed up and took stage for Boston, timing -my journey so as to get there the day before the ship, on which I -had previously ascertained I could find a passage, was to sail for -Savannah. But, the morning after I arrived, a severe storm came on, -and the sailing of the ship was deferred till the next day; so, having -nothing to do, knowing nobody to talk with, and the weather being -too stormy to go out to see the city, I took to my solitary room in -the hotel, where, fortunately, there were neither books not papers -to prevent me from thinking. And I _did_ think, that day, almost -for the first time in my life, without the trammels of fashionable -book-theories, and more effectually than I had ever done before. I had -a favorite classmate in college, whose name was Silas Wright, who had -a mind that penetrated, like light, every thing it was turned upon, -and who never failed to see the truth of a matter, though his towering -ambition sometimes prevented him from following the path where it led. -In recalling, as I was pacing the floor that gloomy day, my old college -friends and their conversation, I happened to think of what Wright once -said to me on the subject of health and long life. - -“‘Carvil,’ said he, ‘did you know that we students were committing -treason against the great laws of life which God has laid down for us?’ - -“‘No.’ - -“‘Well, we are. Man was made for active life, and in the open air.’ - -“‘But _you_, it seems, are not observing the theory about which you are -so positive?’ - -“‘No, and don’t intend to. To observe that, I must relinquish all -thought of mounting the professional and political ladder, even half -way to the mark I _must_ and _will_ reach. I have naturally a strong -constitution, and I calculate it will last, with the rapid mounting I -intend, till I reach the top round, and that is all that I care for. -But I shall know, all the while, that I am going up like a rocket, -whose height and brilliancy are only attained by the certain and rapid -wasting of the substance that composes it. But the case is different -with you, Carvil. You have a constitution yet to make, or your rocket -will go out, before you can get high enough, in these days of jostling -and severe competition, to warrant the attempt of mounting at all.’ - -“Such was one of Wright’s intuitive grasps at the truth, hid under -the false notions of the times, or the artificial theories of books, -which he was wasting his life to master, and often only mastering to -despise. And I, being now earnestly in search of the best means of -health, eagerly caught at his notion, which placed the matter in a -light in which I had never before seriously viewed it, and, indeed, -struck me with a force that soon brought mo to a dead stand in all my -calculations for the future. ‘What is it,’ thought I, running into a -sort of mental dialogue with myself, and calling in what little true -science I had learned, to aid me in fully testing the soundness of -the notion, before I finally gave in to it; ‘what is it that hardens -the muscles, and compacts the human system?’--‘Thorough exercise, and -constant use.’--‘Can these be had in the study-room?’--‘No.’--‘And -what is the invigorating and fattening principle of the air -we breathe?’--‘Oxygen.’--‘Can this be had in the close or -artificially-heated room?’--‘No, except in stinted and uncertain -proportions. It can be breathed in the open fields, but much more -abundantly in the woods.’--‘Well, what do I need?’--‘Only hardening and -invigorating.’--‘But shall I go to the relaxing clime of the South for -this?’--‘No; the northern wilderness were a hundred times better.’--‘It -is settled, then.’--‘Landlord,’ I cried aloud, as I saw that personage -at that moment passing by my partly open door, ‘when does the first -stage, going north, start?’ - -“‘In twenty minutes, and from my door.’ - -“‘Order on my luggage, here; make out your bill; and I will be on hand.’ - -“And I was on hand at the time, and the next hour on my way home, which -I duly reached, but only to start off immediately to the residence of a -hunter acquaintance, a dozen miles off, who, I knew, was about to start -for the head-waters of the Connecticut, on his annual fall hunting -expedition. I found him, joined him, and within ten days was entering, -with pack and rifle, the unbroken wilderness, by his side, though with -many misgivings. But my first night out tested and settled the matter -forever. We had had a fatiguing march, at least to me, and the last -part of it in the rain. We had to lay down in a leaking camp, and I -counted myself a dead man. But, to my astonishment, I awoke the next -morning, unhurt, and even feeling better than I had for a month. And -I constantly grew better and hardier, through that and my next year’s -campaign in that region, and through the two succeeding ones I made -on the Great Megantic; where the incident which I propose to relate -to you, it being my best strike in moose-hunting, occurred, and which -happened in this wise: - -“It was a raw, gloomy day in November, and I had been lazily lying in -my solitary camp, on the borders of this magnificent lake, all the -forenoon. But, after dinner, I began to feel a little more like action, -and soon concluded I would explore a sort of creek-looking stream, -four or five rods wide, which I had noticed entering the lake about -a mile off, but which I had never entered. Accordingly, I loaded my -rifle, took my powder-horn, put two spare bullets in my vest-pocket, -not supposing I could have use for more, entered my canoe, and pulled -leisurely away for the place. After reaching and entering this sluggish -stream, I went on paddling and pushing my way along through and under -the overhanging bushes and treetops, something like half a mile, when I -came to higher banks and a series of knolls jutting down to the stream, -which, with frequent sharp curves and crooks, wound its way among them. -On turning one of these sharp points, my eyes suddenly encountered a -sight that made my heart jump. On a high, open, and almost bare bluff, -directly before me, and not fifteen rods distant, stood two tremendous -moose, as unconcernedly as a pair of oxen chewing their cuds, or dozing -in a pasture. The last was unusually large, the biggest a monster, -appearing, to my wide-opened eyes, with his eight or nine foot height, -and ten or eleven foot spread of antlers, as he stood up there against -the sky, like some reproduced mastodon of the old legends. Quietly -falling back and running in under a screening treetop, I pulled down -a branch and put it under my foot to hold and steady my canoe. When I -raised my rifle, I aimed it for the heart of the big moose, and fired. -But, to my great surprise, the animal never stirred nor moved a muscle. -Supposing I had somehow unaccountably missed hitting him, even at all, -I fell, with nervous haste, to reloading my piece; and, having got all -right, as I supposed, I raised it this time towards the smaller moose, -standing a little nearer and presenting a fairer mark; took a long and -careful aim, and again let drive; but again without the least effect. -Utterly confounded to have missed a second time, with so fair a shot, I -stood half confused a moment, first querying whether something was not -the matter with my eyes, and then thinking of stories I had heard of -witches turning away bullets from their object. But I soon mechanically -began to load up again; and, having got in my powder, I put my hand in -my pocket for a bullet, when I found there both the balls I had brought -with me from camp, and consequently knew that, in my eager haste in -loading for my last shot, I had neglected to put in any bullet at all! -But I now put in the bullet, looked at it after it was entered, to make -sure it was there, and then felt it all the way down, till I had rammed -it home. I then raised the luckless piece once more, uncertain at -first which of the two moose I should take, this time. But, seeing the -smaller one beginning to move his head and lay back his horns, which -I well enough knew was his signal for running, I instantly decided -to take _him_, took a quick, good aim, and fired. With three dashing -bounds forward, the animal plunged headlong to the ground. Knowing that -one to be secure, at least, I then turned my attention to the big one. -To my astonishment, he was still there, and, notwithstanding all the -firing, had not moved an inch. But, before I got loaded for another -trial upon him, I looked up again, when a motion in his body had become -plainly visible. Presently he began to sway to and fro, like a rocking -tower, and, the next moment, went over broadside, with a thundering -crash, into the bushes. My first shot, it appeared, had, after all, -done the business, having pierced his lungs and caused an inward flow -of blood, that stopped his breath at the time he fell. All was now -explained, except the wonder that such shy animals should stand so much -firing without running. But the probability is, that, not seeing me, -they took the reports of my rifle for some natural sound, such as that -of thunder, or the falling of a tree; while, perhaps, the great one, -when he was hit, was too much paralyzed to move, by the rupture of some -important nerve. But, however that may be, you have the facts by which -to judge for yourselves. And I have now only to add, that, having gone -to the spot, bled, partially dressed the animals, and got them into -a condition to be left, I went off to the nearest camps and rallied -out help; when, after much toil and tugging, we got the carcasses -home to my shanty, for present eating, curing, and distributing among -the neighboring hunters, who soon flocked in to congratulate me on my -singular good luck, and receive their ever freely-bestowed portions, -and who unanimously pronounced my big prize the largest moose ever -slain in all the regions of the Great Megantic.” - - -THE TRAPPER’S STORY. - -“My story,” commenced the trapper, who was next called on for his -promised contribution to the entertainment of the evening, “my story -is of a different character from the one you have just heard. It don’t -run so much to the great and terrible as the small and curious. It may -appear to you perhaps a little queer, in some parts; but which, after -the modest drafts that have been made on my credulity, you will, of -course, have the good manners to believe. It relates to an adventure -in beaver-hunting, which I met with, many years ago, on Moosehead -Lake, where I served my apprenticeship at trapping. I had established -myself in camp, the last of August, about the time the beavers, after -having collected in communities, and established their never-failing -democratic government, generally get fairly at work on their dams and -dwelling-houses, for the ensuing cold months, in places along the small -streams, which they have looked out and decided on for the purpose. I -was thus early on the ground, in order to have time, before I went to -other hunting, to look up the localities of the different societies, -so that I need not blunder on them and disturb them, in the chase for -other animals, and so that I should know where to find them, when -their fur got thick enough to warrant the onslaught upon them which I -designed to make. - -“In hunting for these localities in the vicinity around me, I soon -unexpectedly discovered marks of what I thought must be a very -promising one, situated on a small stream, not over half a mile -in a bee-line over the hills from my camp. When I discovered the -place,--as I did from encountering, at short intervals in the woods, -two wolverines, always the great enemy and generally the prowling -attendant of assembled beavers,--these curious creatures had just -begun to lay the foundation of their dam. And the place being so near, -and the nights moon-light, I concluded I would go over occasionally, -evenings,--the night being the only time when they can ever be seen -engaged on their work,--and see if I could gain some covert near the -bank, where, unperceived, I might watch their operations, and obtain -some new knowledge of their habits, of which I might thereafter avail -myself, when the season for hunting them arrived. Accordingly, I went -over that very evening, in the twilight, secured a favorable lookout, -and laid in wait for the appearance of the beavers. Presently I was -startled by a loud rap, as of a small paddle struck flatwise on the -water, then another, and another, in quick succession. It was the -signal of the master workman, for all the workers to leave their -hiding-places in the banks, and repair to their labors in making the -dam. The next moment the whole stream seemed to be alive with the -numbers in motion. I could hear them, sousing and plunging in the -water, in every direction,--then swimming and puffing across or up and -down the stream,--then scrambling up the banks,--then the auger-like -sound of their sharp teeth, at work on the small trees,--then soon -the falling of the trees,--then the rustling and tugging of the -creatures, in getting the fallen trees out of the water,--and, finally, -the surging and splashing with which they came swimming towards the -groundwork of the dam, with the butt end of those trees in their -mouths. The line of the dam they had begun, passed with a curve up -stream in the middle, so as to give it more strength to resist the -current; across the low-water bed of the river some five rods; and -extended up over the first low bank, about as much farther, to a second -and higher bank, which must have bounded the water at the greatest -floods. They had already cut, drawn on, and put down, a double layer -of trees, with their butts brought up evenly to the central line, and -their tops pointing in opposite directions,--those of one layer, or -row, pointing up, and those of the other, down stream. Among and under -this line of butts had been worked in an extra quantity of limbs, old -wood, and short bushes, so as to give the centre an elevation of a foot -or two, over the lowest part of the sides, which, of course, fell off -considerably each way in the lessening of the tops of the trees, thus -put down. Over all these they had plastered mud, mixed in with stones, -grass, and moss, so thick as not only to hold down securely the bodies -of the trees, but nearly conceal them from sight. - -“Scarcely had I time to glance over these works, which I had not -approached near enough to inspect much, before the beavers from below, -and above came tugging along, by dozens on a side to the lower edges -of their embankment, with the loads or rafts of trees which they had -respectively drawn to the spot. Lodging these on the solid ground, with -the ends just out of water, they relinquished their holds, mounted the -slopes, paused a minute to take breath, and then, seizing these ends -again, drew them, with the seeming strength of horses, out of the water -and up to the central line on top; laid the stems or bodies of the -trees parallel, and as near together as they could be got; and adjusted -the butt ends, as I have stated they did with the foundation layers, -so as to bring them to a sort of joint on the top. They then all went -off for new loads, with the exception of a small squad, a part of which -were still holding their trees in a small space in the dam, where the -current had not been checked, and the other part bringing stones, till -they had confined the trees down to the bottom, so that they would -not be swept away. This task of filling the gap, however, after some -severe struggling with the current, was before long accomplished; -when those engaged upon it joined in the common work, in which they -steadily persevered till this second double layer of trees, with the -large quantities of short bushes which they brought and wove into the -chinks, near the top, was completed, through the whole length of their -dam. They then collected along on the top of the dam, and seemed to -hold a sort of consultation, after which they scattered for the banks -of the stream, but soon returned, walking on their hind legs, and -each bringing a load of mud or stones, held between his fore paws and -throat. These loads were successively deposited, as they came up, among -the stems and interlacing branches of the trees and bushes they had -just laid down, giving each deposited pile, as they turned to go back, -a smart blow with the flat of their broad thick tails, producing the -same sound as the one I have mentioned as the signal-raps for calling -them out to work, only far less loud and sharp, since the former raps -were struck on water, and the latter on mud or rubbish. Thus they -continued to work,--and work, too, with a will, if any creatures ever -did,--till I had seen nearly the whole of the last layers plastered -over. - -“Thinking now I had seen all that would be new and useful to me, I -noiselessly crept away and returned to camp, to lay awake half the -night, in my excitement, and to dream, the other half, about this -magnificent society of beavers, whose numbers I could not make less -than three dozen. I did not go to steal another view of the place for -nearly a week, and then went in the daytime, there now being no moon, -till late,--when, to my surprise, I found the dam finished, and the -river flowed into a pond of several acres, while on each side, ranged -along, one after another, stood three family dwellings in different -states of progress; some of them only rising to the surface of the -water, showing the nature of the structure, which, you know, is built -up with short, small logs, and mud, in a squarish form, of about the -size of a large chimney; while others, having been built up a foot or -two above the water, and the windows fashioned, had been arched over -with mud and sticks, and were already nearly finished. - -“Knowing that the establishment was now so nearly completed that the -beavers would not relinquish it without being disturbed by the presence -of a human foe,--which they will sometimes detect, I think, at nearly -a quarter of a mile distance,--I concluded to keep entirely away from -them till the time of my contemplated onslaught, which I finally -decided to begin on one of the first days of the coming November. - -“Well, what with hunting deer, bear, and so on, for food, and lynx, -otter, and sable, for furs, the next two months passed away, and the -long anticipated November at length arrived; when, one dark, cloudy -day, having cut a lot of bits of green wood for bait, got out my vial -of castor to scent them with, and got my steel traps in order, with -these equipments and my rifle I set off, for the purpose of commencing -operations, of some kind, on my community of beavers. On reaching the -spot, I crept to my old covert with the same precautions I had used on -my former visits, thinking it likely enough that, on so dark a day, -some of the beavers might be out; and, wishing to know how this was, -before proceeding openly along the banks to look out the right places -to set my traps, I listened a while, but could hear no splashing about -the pond, or detect any _other_ sounds indicating that the creatures -were astir; but, on peering out, I saw a large, old beaver perched -in a window of one of the beaver-houses on the opposite shore. I -instinctively drew up my rifle,--for it was a fair shot, and I knew -I could draw him,--but I forbore, and contented myself with watching -his motions. I might have lain there ten minutes, perhaps, when this -leader, or judge in the beaver Israel, as he soon showed himself to -be, quietly slid out into the water, swam into a central part of the -pond, and, after swimming twice or three times round in a small circle, -lifted his tail on high, and slowly and deliberately gave three of -those same old loud and startling raps on the water. He then swam back -to his cabin, and ascended an open flat on the bank, where all the -underbrush had been cut and cleared off in building the dam. In a few -minutes more, a large number of beavers might be seen hastening to the -spot, where they ranged themselves in a sort of circle, so as just -to inclose the old beaver which came first, and which had now taken -his stand on a little moss hillock, on the farther side of the little -opening, to which he had thus called them, and, evidently, for some -important public purpose. Soon another small band of the creatures made -their appearance on the bank above, seeming to have in custody two -great, lubberly, cowed-down looking beavers, that they were hunching -and driving along, as legal officers sometimes have to do with _their_ -prisoners, when taking them to some dreaded punishment. When this last -band reached the place, with these two culprit-looking fellows, they -pushed them forward in front of the judge, as we will call him, and -then fell into the ranks, so as to close up the circle. There was then -a long, solemn pause, in which they all kept still in their places -round the prisoners, which had crouched sneaking down, without stirring -an inch from the places where they had been put. Soon, however, a -great, fierce, gruff-appearing beaver left the ranks, and, advancing -a few steps within them, reared himself on his haunches, and began -to sputter and gibber away at a great rate, making his fore-paws go -like the hands of some over-heated orator; now motioning respectfully -towards the judge, and now spitefully towards the prisoners, as if he -was making bitter accusations, and demanding judgment against them. -After this old fellow had got through, two or three others, in turn, -came forward, and appeared also to be holding forth about the matter, -but in a far milder manner than the other, which I now began much -to dislike for his spitefulness, and in the same proportion to pity -the two poor objects of his evident malice. There was then another -long and silent pause, after which, the judge proceeded to utter what -appeared to be his sentence; and, having brought it to a conclusion, -he gave a rap with his tail on the ground. At this signal, the beavers -in the ranks advanced, one after another, in rapid succession toward -the prisoners, and, circling round them once, turned and gave each -one of them a tremendous blow with their tails over the head and -shoulders; and so the heavy blows rapidly fell, whack, whack, whack, -till every beaver had taken his part in the punishment, and till -the poor prisoners keeled over, and lay nearly or quite dead on the -ground. The judge beaver then quietly left his stand and went off; and, -following his example, all the rest scattered and disappeared, except -the spiteful old fellow that had so raised my dislike, by the rancor he -displayed in pressing his accusations, and, afterwards, by giving the -culprits an extra blow, when it came his turn to strike them. He now -remained on the ground till all the rest were out of sight, when,--as -if to make sure of finishing what little remains of life the others, -in their compunction, might have left in the victims, so as to give -them, if they were not quite killed by the terrible bastinadoing they -had received, a chance to revive and crawl off,--he ran up, and began -to belabor them with the greatest fury over the head. This mean and -malicious addition to the old fellow’s previously unfair conduct was -too much for me to witness, and I instantly drew my rifle and laid him -dead beside the bodies he was so rancorously beating. Wading the stream -below the dam, I hastened to my prizes, finished their last struggles -with a stick, seized them by their tails, and dragged them to the spot -I had just left; and then, after concealing my traps, with the view -of waiting a few days before I set them, so as to give the society a -chance to get settled, I tugged the game I had so strangely come by, -home to camp, where a more particular examination showed them to be the -three largest and best-furred beavers I had ever taken. - -“This brings me to the end of the unaccountable affair, and all I -can say in explanation of it; for how these creatures, ingenious and -knowing as they are, should have the intelligence to make laws,--as -this case seems to pre-suppose,--get up a regular court, try, sentence, -and execute offenders; what these offenders had done,--whether they -were thievish interlopers from some other society, or whether they -had committed some crime, such as burglary, bigamy, or adultery, or -high treason, or whether they had been dishonest office-holders in the -society and plundered the common treasury, is a mystery which you can -solve as well as I. Certainly you cannot be more puzzled than I have -always been, in giving the matter a satisfactory explanation. - -“And now, in conclusion, if you wish to know how I afterwards succeeded -in taking more of this notable society of beavers, I have only to say, -that, having soon commenced operations anew, I took, before I quit the -ground that fall, by rifle, by traps, by digging or hooking them out of -their hiding places in the banks, and, finally, by breaking up their -dwelling-houses, twenty-one beavers in all; making the best lot which -I ever had the pleasure of carrying out of the woods, and for which, a -month or two after, I was paid, in market, one hundred and sixty-eight -hard dollars.” - - -THE OLD HUNTER’S STORY. - -“I never but once,” commenced the hunter, who had announced himself -ready with the last story, when called on for that purpose by his -comrades, after they had commented to their liking on the trapper’s -strange adventure,--“I never but once, in my whole life, became afraid -of encountering a wild beast, or was too much unnerved in the presence -of one to fire my rifle with certainty and effect. But that, in one -event, I was in such a sorry condition for a hunter, I freely confess. -And, as you called for our most remarkable adventures, and as the -occurrence I allude to was certainly the most remarkable one _I_ ever -met with in _my_ hunting experience, I will relate it for the story you -assign me. - -“It was about a dozen years ago, and on the borders of lake Parmagena, -a squarish-shaped body of water, four or five miles in extent, lying -twenty-five miles or so over these mountains to the northwest of -us, and making up the chief head-water of the river Magalloway. My -camp was at the mouth of the principal inlet, and my most frequented -hunting route up along its bank. On my excursions up that river, I had -often noticed a deeply-wooded, rough, and singularly-shaped mountain, -which, at the distance of four or five miles from the nearest point -of the stream, westward, reared its shaggy sides over the surrounding -wilderness, and which I thought must make one of the best haunts for -bear and moose that I had seen in that region. So, once having a -leisure day, and my fresh provisions being low, I concluded I would -take a jaunt up to this mountain, thinking that I should stand a good -chance to find something there, or on the way, to replenish my larder. -And accordingly I rigged up, after breakfast, and, setting my course in -what I judged would prove a bee-line for the place, in order to save -distance over the river route, I took up my march through the woods, -without path, trail, or marked trees to guide me. - -“After a rough and toilsome walk of about three hours, I reached the -foot of the mountain of which I was in search, and seated myself on a -fallen tree, to rest and look about me. The side of the eminence next -to me was made up of a succession of rocky, heavily-timbered steeps and -shelves, that rose like battlements before me, while, about midway, it -was pierced or notched down by a dark, wild, thicket-tangled gorge, -which extended along back up the mountain, as far as the eye could -penetrate beneath, or overlook above the tops of the overhanging trees. - -“To think of trying to ascend such steeps was out of the question; -and I was debating in mind whether I would attempt to go up through -that forbidding and _pokerish_-looking gorge, or, giving up the job -altogether, strike off in the direction of the river, and so go home -that way, when a hideous yell, which brought me instantly to my feet, -rose from an upper portion of the ravine, apparently about a hundred -rods distant. I at once knew it came from a painter, or “evil devil,” -as the Indians justly call that scourge and terror of the woods; and, -from the strength and volume of his voice, I also knew he must be a -large one, while, from its savage sharpness, I further conjectured -it must be a famine cry, which, if so, would show the animal to be a -doubly ticklish one to encounter. - -“Feeling conscious that it was but the part of wisdom to avoid such an -encounter as I should be likely to be favored with if I remained where -I was, I soon moved off in an opposite direction, steering at once for -the nearest point of the river, which was at the termination of a long, -sharp sweep of the stream to the west, and nearer by a mile than in -most other parts of its course. I had not proceeded more than a quarter -of a mile before the same savage screech,--which was more frightful -than I can describe, being seemingly made up of the mingling tones of -a man’s and a woman’s voice, raised to the highest pitch in an agony -of rage or pain,--the same awful screech, I say, rose and thrilled -through the shuddering forest, coming this time, I perceived, from the -mouth of the gorge, where the animal had so quickly arrived, found my -trail, doubtless, and started on in pursuit. I now, though still not -really afraid, quickened my steps into a rapid walk, hoping that, now -he had got out of the thickets of the ravine, he would not follow me -far in the more open woods; yet thinking it best, at all events, to put -what distance I could between him and me, without too much disturbing -myself. Another of those terrific yells, however, coming from a nearer -point than before, as fast as I had made my way from him, told me that -the creature was on my tracks, and rapidly gaining on me in the race. -I then started off at a full run; but even this did not insure my -escape, for I was soon startled by another yell, so near and fierce, -that I involuntarily turned round, cocked my rifle, and stood on the -defence. The next moment the animal met my sight, as he leaped up on -to the trunk of a lodged tree, where he stood in open view, eagerly -snuffing and glaring around him, about forty rods from the place where -I had been brought to a stand,--revealing a monster whose size, big as -I had conjectured it, perfectly amazed me. He could not have been much -less than six feet from snout to tail, nor much short of nine, tail -included. But for his bowed-up back, gaunter form, and mottled color, -he might have passed for an ordinary lioness. The instant he saw me, -he began nervously fixing his paws, rapidly swaying his tail, like a -cat at the first sight of her intended prey, and giving other plain -indications that he was intent on having me for his dinner. - -“I had my rifle to my shoulder: it was a fair shot, but still I -hesitated about firing. My experience with catamounts, which, though of -the same nature, are yet no more to be compared with a real panther, -like this, than a common cur to a stout bulldog, had taught me the -danger of wounding without killing them outright. If _those_ were so -dangerous under ordinary circumstances, what would this be, already -bent on destroying me? And should I stand, at that distance, an even -chance to finish him, which could only be done by putting a ball -through his brain, or spine, or directly through his heart? I thought -not. The distance was too great to be sure of any thing like that; -and besides, my nerves, I felt, were getting a little unsteady, and -I also found I was losing my faith, which is just the worst thing in -the world for a hunter to lose. While I was thinking of all this, the -creature leaped down, and, the next instant, I saw his head rise above -the bushes, in his prodigious bounds towards me. With that glance, -I turned and ran; ran as I never did before; leaping over logs, and -smashing headlong through brush and bushes, but still distinctly -hearing, above all the noise I made, the louder crash of the creature’s -footfalls, striking closer and closer behind me. All at once, however, -those crashing sounds ceased to fall on my ear, and the thought that -my pursuer had sprung one side into an ambush, from whence he would -pounce on me before I could see him, flashing over my mind, I suddenly -came to a stand, and peered eagerly but vainly among the bushes around -me for the crouching form of my foe. While thus engaged, a seeming -shadow passing over the open space above caused me to glance upward, -when, to my horror, I saw the monster coming down from a tree-top, with -glaring eyes, open mouth, and outspread claws, directly upon me! With a -bound, which at any other time I should have been utterly incapable of -making, I threw myself aside into the bushes just in time to escape his -terrible embrace; and, before he had rallied from the confusion caused -by striking the ground and missing his prey, I had gained the distance -of a dozen rods, and thrown myself behind a large tree. But what was -now to be done? I knew, from his trotting about and snuffing to regain -the sight and scent of me, which I could now distinctly hear, that he -would soon be upon me. If I distrusted the certainty of my aim before -this last fright, should I not do it much more now? I felt so; and, -as I was now within a mile of the river,--where, if I could reach it, -I thought it possible to find a way to baffle, at least, if I did not -kill, my ruthless pursuer,--I concluded that my best chance for life -was to run for the place. But, in peering out to ascertain the exact -whereabouts of the painter before I started, my ear caught the sound -of other and different footsteps; and the next moment I had a glimpse -of a bear’s head, bobbing up and down in his rapid course through the -bushes, as he ran at right angles, with all his might, directly through -the space between me and the painter, which, I saw, was now just -beginning to advance towards me, but which, to my great relief, had -seen and was turning in pursuit of the flying and frightened bear. - -“But still, fearing he would give up that pursuit, and again take after -me, I ran for the river, which I at length reached, and threw myself -exhausted down on the bank. As it happened, I had struck the river -exactly at the intended point, which was where a small sand-island had -been thrown up in the middle of the stream. To this island, in case -I kept out of the claws and jaws of the painter till I reached the -river, I had calculated to wade; believing, from what I knew of the -repugnance of this class of animals to water, that he would not follow -me, or, if he did, I need not fail of shooting him dead while coming -through the stream. But I soon found that _I_ was not the only one that -had thought of this island, in our terrible extremity. - -“I had lain but a few minutes on the bank, before I caught the sounds -of near and more distant footfalls approaching apace through the forest -above me. Starting up, I cocked my rifle, and darted behind a bush near -the edge of the water, and had scarcely gained the stand, when the same -bear that I had left fleeing before the painter, made his appearance a -few rods above me, coming full jump down the bank, plunging into the -stream, and swimming and rushing amain for the island. As soon as he -could clear the water, he galloped up to the highest part of his new -refuge, and commenced digging, in hot haste, a hole in the sand. The -instant he had made an excavation large and deep enough to hold his -body and sink it below the surface, he threw himself in on his back, -hurriedly scratched the sand at the sides a little over his belly and -shoulders, and lay still, with his paws stiffly braced upwards. - -“The next moment the eagerly-pursuing painter came rushing down the -bank to the water, where the bear had entered it; when, after a -hesitating pause, he gave an angry yell, and, in two prodigious bounds, -landed on the edge of the island. Having raised my rifle for a helping -shot, if needed, I awaited, with beating heart and eyes wide open, the -coming encounter. With eyes shooting fire, the painter hastily fixed -his feet, and, with a long leap, came down on his intrenched opponent. -A cloud of dust instantly enveloped the combatants, but through it I -could see the ineffectual passes of the painter at the bear’s head, -and the rapid play of the bear’s hind paws under the painter’s belly. -This bout between them, however, was of but short continuance, and -terminated by the painter, which now leaped suddenly aside, and stood -for a moment eyeing his opponent askance, as if he had found in those -rending hind-claws already much more than he had bargained for. But, -quickly rousing himself, he prepared for the final conflict; and, -backing to the water’s edge, he gave one short bound forward, and, -leaping ten feet into the air, came down again, with a wild screech, on -his still unmoved antagonist. - -“This time, so much more furiously flew up the dust and sand from the -spot, that I could see nothing; but the mingling growls and yells of -the desperately-grappling brutes were so terrific as to make the hair -stand up on my head. Presently, however, I could perceive that the -cries of the assailant, which had been becoming less and less fierce, -were now turning into howls of pain; and, the next moment, I saw him, -rent and bloody, with his entrails out and dragging on the ground -behind him, making off till he reached the water on the opposite side -of the island, when he staggered through the current, feebly crawled -up the bank, and disappeared in the woods, where he must have died -miserably within the hour. - -“I went home a grateful man; leaving the bear, that had done me such -good service, to depart in peace, as I saw him doing before I left, -apparently little injured from the conflict.” - - - - -CHAPTER XIV. - - “Ours the wild life the forest still to range, - From toil to rest, and joy in every change.” - - -The low chirping of the wood-birds, the tiny barkings of the -out-starting squirrels, the hurrying footsteps of the night-prowling -animals, on their way to their coverts, on the land; and the leaping -up of fish, the flapping of the wings of ducks, and the far-heard, -trumpet-toned cry of the great northern diver, on the water, those -unfailing concomitants of approaching day, in the watered wilderness, -early aroused the next morning our little band of soundly-sleeping -hunters from their woodsmen’s feather beds,--the soft, elastic boughs -of the health-giving hemlock,--and put them on the stir in building -their fire and making preparations for their breakfast. The business of -the day before them was the completion of their camp building; which, -being intended, as before mentioned, for their general head-quarters -and storehouse, required far more care and labor in the construction -than the ordinary structures that are made to serve for shelters for -the sojourners of the woods. And, as soon as they had dispatched their -morning repast, they rose and prepared themselves to commence the task -on hand. As the main part of the company were scattering into the -woods, with their hatchets, in search of straight poles to rib out the -sides and roof of their structure, which was the first thing in order -to be done, Phillips, without explaining his object, quietly intimated -to Codman a wish for company, in a short excursion with canoes up the -river; and, the latter complying with the intimation, and putting -himself under the hunter’s lead, the two took to their canoes, with -each another canoe in tow, and commenced rowing up the stream; which, -having run its rapid and noisy race down to the foot of the mountains, -a mile or two above, was here, with gentle pace and seeming reverence, -advancing to the lake with its welcome tribute of crystal waters. - -“Hillo, there, Mr. Hunter!” sung out the trapper to the other, now some -distance ahead, “what may be some of the whys and wherefores of this -shine we are cutting, stringing along here with canoes to our tails? -What suppose you should be telling, before a great while, lest this end -of the fleet might be missing?” - -“Soon show you,” replied the hunter, without turning his head. “I -always liked the Indian fashion of answering questions by deeds -instead of words, where the circumstances admit,--it is so much more -significant and satisfactory, besides the world of lying it often -prevents.” - -After rowing a short distance farther, in silence, the hunter turned -his canoe in shore; and, after the other had followed his example, he -said: - -“Now, follow me a few rods back into this thicket, up here.” And, -leading the way, he proceeded to what at first appeared to be an -irregular pile of brush, lying by the side of a large fallen tree, but -which, when the top brush was removed, and an under-layer of evergreen -boughs brushed aside, disclosed a large, compact collection of peeled -spruce bark, cut in regular lengths of six or seven feet, and in -breadths of about one foot, of exact uniformity, and made so straight -and flat by solid packing that a rick of sawed boards would have -scarcely presented a more smooth and even appearance. - -“Well, I will give in, now, and acknowledge myself beat in wood-craft,” -said the trapper, comprehending, at once, by whom and for what purpose -this acceptable pile of covering material had been cut, and thus nicely -cured and stored away for use. “To have done this, you must have come -here in June, the peeling month; but how came you to think of this -process of preparing the bark, or come here at all to do it, so long -beforehand, on the uncertainty of its being needed, this fall, except -perhaps by yourself?” - -“Well, happening to think, one day, how much better camps might be -made from bark peeled, cut, and pressed into the required lengths and -shapes, beforehand, as we prepare it for our Indian canoes, than by -following our usual bungling method, I concluded to put things in train -for trying the experiment this fall; and this fall especially, as I was -then calculating, unless you wished to join, to hunt only in company -with the two Elwoods, and I was desirous of getting up an extra good -camp for them.” - -“You take an unusual interest in the affairs of this newly-come family, -I have noticed.” - -“If I do, I may have my reasons for it.” - -“Special reasons, doubtless.” - -“Ordinary reasons would be enough. In the first place, they are -fine people, the son and mother uncommonly so, and the father also -I consider a well-disposed man, but who may have some weak points; -and this being so, and the son being inexperienced in dealing with -designing men, a neighbor, like me, ought, I am sure, to be unwilling -to see any advantage taken of them.” - -“Yes, a fair reason enough for your course, if you had no other; but -may be you have other inducements, received, for instance, on your -visit to the seaside, the past summer.” - -“That is all guess-work, remember; but come, let us drop the subject, -get this bark into our canoes, and be off down the river with it to -camp.” - -They did so; and, on reaching camp, agreeably surprised their -companions with the abundant supply of excellent material which -they had brought for covering the cabin, and for which, when the -circumstances became known, all were disposed to accord due credit to -the provident hunter. - -With the material thus obtained, the ribbing of the frame having by -this time been completed, all hands now commenced the work of laying -on, fitting, and confining the pliant and close-lying strips of bark to -the framework of the structure, both above and below. And with so much -assiduity and skill did they prosecute their labors, that before night -their camp was covered and inclosed on every side, and made to present -to the eye, a cabin neat and comely in appearance, and as tight, -warm, and secure against storms, as many a dwelling-house in the open -country, covered with boards and shingles. - -After the company had completed the roof and walls of their camp, -constructed a rude door, and made what interior arrangements they -deemed necessary for sleeping and storing their provisions, they went -out, for the hour or two now remaining before sunset, and scattered -for short excursions in their canoes along the neighboring coves of -the lake, for the various purposes of fishing, shooting ducks, or -inspecting the shores for indications of beaver, otter, and other -classes of the smaller fur-animals of amphibious habits. All returning, -however, at sunset, they proceeded to cook and eat their suppers, -much in the same manner as on the preceding evening; after which, in -compliance with the suggestions made by several of the company during -the day, they went into a general consultation for the purpose of -fixing on the different locations and ranges of river and forest, -which each, or each pair of them, should take for their hunting or -trapping during the season before them. They soon agreed, in the first -place, without any difficulty, in making the shores of the Oquossak, -the next lake above, and the last and perhaps largest of the four -great lakes forming the chief links of this singular chain of inland -waters, the base-line of their operations. Phillips and Codman, having -procured a wide strip of the outer bark of the white birch,--ever -the woodman’s substitute for writing paper, when writing becomes -necessary,--then proceeded to draw a map, from personal recollection, -of the strangely-irregular lake in question. By this, when completed, -it appeared that the main inlet, or the uppermost portion of the -Androscoggin river, coming down from the north through a chain of -lakelets, or ponds, and running parallel with the eastern shore of the -lake, and but a few miles distant from it, entered into a deep, pointed -bay, about a third of the way down the eastern shore; where it was -joined by another and scarcely lesser river, coming from or through a -different chain of these lakelets, scattered along far to the east and -northeast of the Oquossak; while a third considerable stream entered -the lake at its extreme northwestern termination. These three inlets, -that constituted all the rivers of any magnitude running into this -lake, would not only afford, it was readily seen, the most desirable -hunting-grounds in the sections through which they flowed, but give the -greater part of the hunters, if they encamped in pairs, and had their -camps at the mouths of these streams, as was expected, an opportunity -of locating in near vicinity; while two more of the remaining part of -the company would, at the mouth of the northwestern inlet, be less -than five miles distant. This arrangement would dispose of six of the -company,--two of them on the inlet last mentioned, and four on the two -rivers that entered the lake together,--and leave one to remain on the -Megantic, to take charge of the head-quarters, or store-camp there, and -hunt anywhere he chose in its vicinity. But who the one to be placed in -this trust should be, was the next question to be decided. Gaut Gurley, -who had been secretly scheming for this post ever since the arrangement -which he saw must necessarily create it was agreed on, and who had -been insidiously making interest for it, with all the company, except -Phillips and Codman, now proposed that the question should be decided -by ballot, and without discussion. And, the proposition being seconded -by Tomah and assented to by all, each took a small piece of birch -bark, marked with a coal the name of the person he would vote for, and -deposited it in a hat placed on their stone table for the purpose. -After all had voted, the hat was turned and the votes assorted; when it -appeared that four votes had been thrown for Gaut Gurley and three for -Mark Elwood, making seven in all, and showing that all the company had -voted. - -“Well, friend Elwood,” said Gaut, with a well-assumed air of -indifference, when the result was seen, “shall _I_ resign in _your_ -favor, or _you_ in _mine_? This thing should be unanimous.” - -Elwood looked up inquiringly at Gaut, when he read something in the -countenance of the latter which gave him to understand what was -expected of him, and he accordingly responded: “I should suppose there -could not be much question which of the two, a minority or a majority -candidate, should ask the other to stand aside,--especially when, -as in your case, the majority candidate is clearly chosen. I voted, -gentlemen, for Mr. Gurley,” he added, turning to the rest of the -company; “and I hope those who voted for me will cheerfully acquiesce -in the choice of the majority.” - -“I am a comparative stranger to you all,” remarked Carvil, “and, -though I voted for Mr. Elwood, I will yet very willingly agree to the -selection you have made.” - -Gaut, knowing well enough who had thrown their votes against him, now -glanced at Phillips and Codman; but gathering from their silence and -demure and downcast looks that no approving expression was likely to -be drawn from either of them, he interrupted the pause that followed -Carvil’s remarks, by saying: - -“Perhaps, then, I ought to accept the post thus assigned me; and on -some accounts it will come right all round. I should be compelled, any -way, to return once or twice to the settlements during our campaign, on -business, and I can attend to that, and procure the fresh supplies of -bread and other things we shall need, all under one head. And, besides -that, I had already made up my mind I should select this stream, and -the coves on this lake, for my trapping and hunting for beaver and -other water animals, which I once knew how to take, in preference to -going any farther. So I will accept the post, warrant the safe-keeping -of the common property, and see what I can do towards contributing my -share to the stock of furs.” - -This point being thus regarded by the company as settled, they next -proceeded to the discussion of the more particular duties which should -devolve on their chosen camp-keeper; which, at length, resulted in the -arrangement that he should go up with his canoe into the Oquossak, once -a week, make the circuit of the lake so far as to visit the nearest or -lake-shore camps of each or each pair of his companions, bring them -fresh provisions, and take back to head-quarters all the furs each had -caught in the interim, and be held responsible for the good condition -and safe-keeping of all the peltries, and other common property of the -company, thus placed in his charge. - -After this matter (which was destined to have an important bearing -on the fate and fortunes of more than one of the leading personages -of our story) was thus disposed of, they then, in conclusion of the -business of the evening, proceeded, by mutual agreement, to apportion -the different locations for hunting on the upper lake, already fixed -on, among the three pairs of hunters the company would now make; decide -what individuals should join to form each pair; and what general plan -of operations they should adopt after they had got settled in their -respective places. By the amicable arrangement thus made, Phillips and -Claud Elwood were to form one of these pairs, and fix their lake-camp -at the mouth of the river already named as coming in from the east; -Carvil and Mark Elwood to constitute another pair, and encamp at the -mouth of the great inlet entering at the same place; while Codman -and the young Indian, Tomah, who, from their mutual challenges in -beaver-catching, had by this time become friends, and willing to hunt -from the same starting-point, were to have their camp at the mouth of -the river coming in at the northwest end of the lake. By the plan now -adopted, also, each of these three hunting parties, after they had -reached their respective destinations and built their camps, were to -explore the rivers ten or fifteen miles upward through the forest, and -to some suitable and convenient terminus of their proposed trapping and -hunting range; there build a camp, in which to lodge on their outward -jaunts; and mark off, on their return, by blazing the trees, lines for -setting log-traps for sable, marten, stoat, or ermine,--for, whatever -may be said to the contrary, the noted ermine of Europe is a native of -our northern forests. These marked lines were to diverge from the upper -camps along the ridges on each side of the river; sometimes running -many miles apart, then turning down to the stream, where indications -of beaver and otter had been discovered, so as to afford a chance for -setting and tending steel-traps for those animals; then running back -again on to the high hills and ridges; but finally converging in, and -meeting at the lake camp. And, these preliminary steps being taken, -everything would then be in readiness for setting the traps, and for -entering on the hopeful business of their expedition. - -All these arrangements being now definitely settled and understood, the -consultation was broken up, and the company betook themselves once more -to their sylvan couches, calculating on an early start the next day for -their several destinations on the Oquossak, the nearest of which was at -least a dozen miles distant. - -Accordingly, with the first crack of dawn the next morning, the loud -and startling gallinaceous cachinnation of the droll and wide-awake -trapper aroused the woodsmen from their slumbers, and warned them to be -up and doing. And soon the whole company were in motion, the kindled -fire was crackling and flashing up amidst the dry pine faggots, thrown -on to feed and start it into the steadier blaze and heat of more -solid fuel, and the process of cooking was going busily forward. In -a short time they were again gathered, in high spirits, round their -stone table, unconsciously partaking, as the event proved, the last -meal they were ever all to enjoy together in the woods. But let us not -anticipate. - -As soon as they had dispatched their breakfast, the band about to -depart loaded their canoes with traps, guns, camp-kettles, and the -provisions needed for immediate use; and, wishing Gaut Gurley a happy -and successful time at his solitary station, pushed merrily away into -the broad lake, turned their course northward, and sped on their -voyage. A few miles’ rowing brought them to the great inlet, which, -like the principal inlets to the lakes below, was another reach of the -Androscoggin, flowing directly from the east through a channel, still -nearly a hundred yards in width and nearly three miles in length, -from its entrance into one lake to the point where it debouches from -the other. After a row of an hour up this channel, made interesting -and impressive by the magnificent colonnades of princely pines, that, -as far as the eye could reach, stood towering away in lessening -perspective along its banks, they suddenly emerged into the bright and -far-stretching waters of the unmapped Oquossak, which lay nestling -and inflected among the dark green cliffs of the boldly intersecting -mountains, like some rough, unshapen gem, gleaming out from the rubbish -of a mine. And laying their course northeasterly, for the distant bay -receiving the waters of the confluent streams before described, they -now pulled away through the lake, in as direct a line as its irregular -form would permit. And now, skirting long reaches of its deeply-wooded -shores, from which the old forest, never broken by the axe, and rarely -ever trod by the foot of the white man, was seen, stretching away -back, lift after lift, in pristine grandeur, to the tall summits of -the amphitheatric mountains,--now shooting athwart, under some dark -headland that stood out boldly disputing the empire with the water, -and now threading their way among the clustering green islands that -studded the bright and beautiful expanse,--they rowed steadily onward -for hours, and at length were gladdened by the sight of the dim but -well-remembered outlines of the pointed bay, whose farthest shore -was to be the home and haven for most of their number, during their -present sojourn in this wild and remote fastness of the wilderness. - -To row in, disembark their luggage, select sites for camps, to build -those camps, so far as to make them serve for shelters for the night, -and to prepare and eat their suppers, occupied the company, who had -all decided to remain there that night through the remainder of the -day till bed-time. The next morning, after an early breakfast, Codman -and Tomah took leave of their companions, and proceeded on further up -the lake to their allotted station; leaving the two Elwoods, and their -respective hunting companions, to complete their camps, which were -situated in near vicinity, get all in readiness, and the next day enter -in earnest on the main business of the campaign. - -But it is not our intention to follow either of these pairs, or now -distinct parties, of adventurous woodsmen, in the general routine of -their camp life,--in their solitary and almost daily marches among -the tangled wilds, from their inner to outer camps; their toils and -fatigues on the way; their pleasant meetings at the ends of their -ranges at night, to recount the adventures of the day, and lodge -together; their heats and their colds, their dark hours and their -bright ones, their curious experiences and startling encounters with -wild animals; and finally their varying success in realizing the -objects of their expedition, through the successive scenes of the next -nine or ten weeks, where - - ----“rifle flashed, - The grim bear hushed its savage howl, - In blood and foam the panther gnashed - Its fangs with dying howl; - The fleet deer ceased its flying bound, - Its snarling wolf-foe bit the ground, - And, with its moaning cry, - The beaver sank beneath the wound, - Its pond-built Venice by.” - -Suffice it to say, that they were all blest with uninterrupted health -and increasing vigor, in realization of the favorite theory of Carvil, -in relation to the invigorating and fattening principle of the -super-abounding oxygen of the woods. They all highly enjoyed their -wild life, and were, even beyond their most sanguine expectations, -successful in their aggregate acquisitions of peltries and all kinds of -game. Gaut Gurley, whose unremitted attention and apparent faithfulness -in the duties of his post soon disarmed the distrusting, came round -punctually, every week, supplied them with all they needed, and, while -reporting his own good success, in his short ranges in the vicinity -of his head-quarters encampment, seemed greatly gratified at the -continued successes of all the rest, and exultingly bore off their -furs for curing and safe storage with the rich and rapidly-increasing -collection at his camp; setting the mark of their collected value, -the last time he came round, at upwards of a thousand dollars, and -encouraging them with the hope that, probably, before any change would -occur in the weather which would compel them to relinquish the business -and return to the settlement, a much larger sum would be realized from -their exertions. And, in view of this gratifying condition of their -affairs, the company at large--as winter at the farthest could not be -very distant--now began to anticipate, with much satisfaction, the time -when they should return to their families, to gladden them with their -welcome presence, and, from the fruits of their enterprise, make such -unlooked-for pecuniary additions to the means of domestic comfort and -happiness. - - - - -CHAPTER XV. - - ‘As the night set in, came hail and snow, - And the air grew sharp and chill, - And the warning roar of a terrible blow - Was heard on the distant hill; - And the norther,--see, on the mountain peak, - In his breath, how the old trees writhe and shriek! - He shouts along o’er the plain, ho, ho! - He drives from his nostrils the blinding snow, - And growls with a savage will.’ - - C. G. EASTMAN. - - -We will now take the reader to the wild and secluded banks of Dead -river, the great southwesterly tributary of the lordly Kennebec, the -larger twin brother of the Androscoggin, both of which, after being -born of the same parent range of mountains, and wandering off widely -apart, at length find, at the end of their courses, like many a pair -of long estranged brothers, their final rest in a common estuary at -the seaboard. At a point on the banks of the tributary above named, -where its long southward sweep brings it nearest, and within twenty -miles of the Oquossak, and within a quarter of that distance from the -terminating camps of the outward ranges of the hunters, two men in -hunting-suits might have been seen, in the fore part of one of the last -days of November, in the season of the eventful expedition we have been -describing, intently engaged in inspecting some fragments of wrought -wood, which, from the clue of some protruding piece, they had kicked up -from the leaves and decayed brushwood that had nearly concealed them -from view. One of these men was past the middle age, of a hardy but -somewhat worn appearance. The other was in the prime of young manhood, -of a finely-moulded form and an unusually prepossessing face and -countenance. But we may as well let the dialogue that ensued between -them disclose their identity; the matter that was now engaging their -attention; and their reasons for thus appearing in this remote position. - -“This piece,” said the elder, closely scanning the fragment he held -in his hand, “is evidently oak, and looks mightily as if it was once -the stave of an oak keg or half-barrel. Yes, and here is another that -will settle the question,” he continued, pulling from its concealment a -larger and sounder fragment. “There! can’t you trace the chine across -the end of this?” - -“Yes, quite distinctly, and I should not hesitate to pronounce all -these fragments the remains of an oak barrel that had once been opened, -or left here, if I could conceive how such a thing could come here, in -the heart of this extensive wilderness. How do you solve the mystery, -Mr. Phillips?” - -“Well, Claud, I am as much at fault as you. Barrels don’t float up -stream; and to suppose this came down stream, and still farther from -any inhabitants, wouldn’t help on the explanation any more; while to -suppose it was brought here by hunters through the woods, where they -could have no use for it even if they could get it here, is scarcely -more probable.” - -“True; but can’t we get a clue from something else about the place? -This open space, hereabouts, wears something of the aspect of a place -from which the trees have been once cut away, or greatly thinned out, -for some great encampment, for instance. Did you ever hear of any -expedition of men through this region, in such numbers as would require -the transportation of large quantities of provisions, drawn possibly by -oxen, or more probably by men on light sledges?” - -“Well, now, come to think of it, I have. And I guess you have blundered -right smack on the truth, at the first go off; which is more than I -can claim for myself, I admit. Yes, nearly fifty years ago, at the -beginning of the old war, as you must have often read, an army _did_ -pass somewhere through the wilderness of Maine to Quebec. It was under -the command of that fiery Satan, Benedict Arnold,--the only man in -America, may be, who could have pushed an army, at that time of the -year, some weeks later in the season than it is now, through a hundred -and fifty miles’ reach of such woods as these are, between our last and -the first Canadian settlement. My father was one of that army of bold -and hardy men. They passed up the Kennebec some distance, and, then, -according to his account, left it, and, with the view of getting over -the Highlands on to the Great Megantic more easily, turned up a branch, -which must have been this very stream. Yes, I see, now. You are right -about the appearance of this spot. There _was_ once a great encampment -here, and doubtless that of Arnold’s army, staying over night, and -breaking open a barrel of meat, conveyed here in some such way as you -suggested.” - -“It is an interesting discovery; for that was a remarkable expedition, -and must have been one of great hardship and suffering.” - -“Hardship and suffering! Why, they fell short of provisions long before -they got out of the wilderness, and, besides the hardships of cold and -fatigue, came near starving to death! I have heard my father tell how -he was one of a party of thirteen, who, with other like squads, were -permitted to scatter forward in search of some inhabitants, for food, -lest they all perished together; how, after going two days without -putting a morsel into their mouths, except their shoe-strings or the -inner bark of trees, they at length were gladdened by the sight of an -opening, with a log house, and a cow standing before the door; how, -the instant their eyes fell on the cow, they ran like blood-hounds for -the spot, seized an axe, brought the animal to the ground, ripped up -the hide on one thigh, cut off slices of the quivering flesh, and, by -the time the aroused family had got out into the yard, were munching -and gobbling them down raw, with the desperate eagerness of ravenous -beasts.”[4] - -“Horrible! but they paid the poor people for their cow, I trust?” - -“Yes, twice over, but that did not reconcile them to the loss of their -only cow, where it was so difficult to get another. The children -screamed, and even the man and his wife wrung their hands and cried as -if their hearts would break.” - -“That incident is to me a new feature among the horrors of war, which I -probably should have never heard of but for coming here and making this -curious discovery of one of the relics of that terrible and fruitless -campaign of our Revolution. I am glad we concluded to come.” - -“So am I; for that, and the other reason that I wanted to see the lay -of the country, round this river, where, as it happened, I had never -been. But my mind misgave me several times, on the way.” - -“Why so, pray?” - -“I can hardly tell, myself, but I began to kinder feel as if something -wrong was going on somewhere, and that, though this place could not be -more than five miles from our upper camp, where we stayed last night, -we had yet better be making our way directly back to the lake. Besides -that, I haven’t liked the symptoms of the weather, to-day.” - -“I don’t know that I have noticed any thing peculiar in the weather, -except a chilliness of the air that I have not felt before this season.” - -“That’s the thing,” rejoined the hunter, glancing uneasily up through -the treetops, to try to get a view of the sky. “But there are other -indications I don’t fancy. There is a peculiar raw dampness in the air, -and a sort of low, moaning sound heard once in a while murmuring along -through the forest, such as I have often noticed before great storms, -and sudden changes from fall to winter weather, this time of the year. -And hush! hark!” he exclaimed, suddenly cutting short his remark, as -the well-known, solemn, and quickly-repeated _konk! konk!_ of wild -geese, on their passage, greeted their ears. - -They ran down to the water’s edge to get a view of the open sky, -when, looking up, they saw a large flock of these winged, semi-annual -voyagers of the air, coming in view over the forest, in their usual -widespread, harrow-shaped battalions, and with seemingly hurried -flight, pitching down from the British highlands toward the lower -regions to the south. And that flock had scarcely receded beyond -hearing, when another, and yet another, with the same uneasy cries and -rapid flight, passed, in quick succession, over the open reach of sky -above them. - -“How far do you calculate the nearest shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence -is from here?” asked the hunter, musingly. - -“O, not so very great a distance,--three hundred miles, perhaps,” -replied Claud, looking inquiringly at the other. - -“Well,” slowly responded the hunter, “those God-taught creatures know -more about the coming changes of the weather than all the philosophers -in the world. These are but the advanced detachments of armies yet -behind them, already, doubtless, on their way from Labrador, and even -more northern coasts beyond. In the unusual mild November we have had, -they never received their warning till this morning. And these, being -on the southern outposts of their summer quarters, the Gulf of St. -Lawrence, started at daylight, I presume,--about four hours ago, just -about the time I perceived a change in the atmosphere myself. This, at -the rapid headway you perceive they are making, would give them time to -get here by this hour of the day.” - -“Then you take this as an indication of the approach of winter weather?” - -“I do. And the evident hurriedness of their flight, and the sort of -quickened, anxious tone of their cries, show that _they_, at least, -think it is not far behind them. But let us put all the signs together. -I must get to some place where I can see more of the sky. I noticed, as -I was coming in sight of the river, a short way back in the woods, a -high, sharp hill, with a bare, open top, rising from the river, about a -hundred rods up along here to the left. What suppose we pack up, and go -and ascend it? We can, there, besides getting the view we want of the -lay of the country, see, probably, the horizon nearly all round. And, -all this done, we will then hold a council of war, and decide on our -next movement.” - -This proposal meeting the ready approval of the young man, the two took -their rifles, and proceeded to the foot of the eminence in question, -which they found to be a steep, conical hill, rising abruptly three or -four hundred feet above the general level of the surrounding forest, -with a small, pointed apex, from which some tornado had hurled every -standing tree except a tall, slender green pine, that shot up eighty -or ninety feet, as straight as a flagstaff, from the centre. After a -severe scramble up the steeps, in some places almost perpendicular, -they at length reached the summit, and commenced leisurely walking -round the verge, looking down on the variegated wilderness, which, -with its thousand dotted hills and undulating ridges, lay stretched in -cold solitude around them. With only a general glance, however, over -the surrounding forests, the gaze of the hunter was anxiously lifted -upwards, to study the omens of the heavens. The sun, by this time, -was scarcely visible beneath the cold, lurid haze which had for some -hours been gradually stealing over it; while around the horizon lay -piled long, motionless banks of leaden clouds, thick and heavy enough -evidently to be dark, but yet of that light, dead, glazed, uncertain -hue, which the close observer may have often noted as the precursor of -winter-storms. After a long and attentive survey of every visible part -of the heavens, the hunter, with an ominous shake of the head, dropped -his eyes to the ground, and said: - -“I was right, but didn’t want to believe it when I got up this -morning; and the wild geese are right. We are on the eve of winter, -and our best hope is that it may come gently. But even that favor, I -greatly fear, we shall not be permitted to realize.” - -“Well, sir, with that view of the case, in which I am inclined to -concur, what do you propose now?” asked Claud. - -“Why, I propose, seeing we have all the fur pelts we took from the -traps yesterday put up in packs, and have left nothing in our upper -camp of any consequence,--I propose, that, instead of going back to our -nearest marked line, as we talked of, we strike directly across the -woods, by the nearest route, to our lake camp; or, if you are willing -to put up with two or three miles additional travel, we will steer so -as to take the upper camp of your father and Carvil in our way. We -might find them there, perhaps.” - -“Then let us steer for their camp; I can stand the jaunt. But can you -determine the direction to be taken to strike it?” - -“Nearly, I think. Their camp, you know, is on the neck or connecting -piece of river, between two long ponds, lying about southwest of us. I -rather expected to be able to get a glimpse of one of those ponds from -the hilltop, but find I can’t. I presume I could, however, from the top -of this pine tree.” - -“Yes, but to climb it would be a long, and perhaps dangerous task, -would it not?” - -“No, neither. We woodsmen are often compelled to resort to such a -course, to take our latitude and bearings. And, on the whole, I think -in this case it might be the cheapest way. So I will up it, and you -may be watching for wild geese, that are still, I perceive, every few -minutes, somewhere in sight. Very likely some flock may soon come over -us near enough for a shot.” - -So saying, the resolute and active hunter, casting aside coat, cap, -and boots, sprang up several feet on to the clasped trunk of the pine, -over whose rough bark he now, by means of the vigorous clenches of his -arms and legs, fast made his way upwards. It was a hard struggle for -him, however, till he reached the lower limbs, some fifty feet from -the ground, when, swinging himself up by a grappled limb, he quickly -disappeared among the thick, mantling boughs, on his now doubly-rapid -ascent; and, in a few minutes more, he was heard by his companion -below, breaking off the obstructing tiptop branches, and, as he gazed -abroad from his dizzy height, shouting out the discoveries which were -the object of his bold attempt. - -“Make ready there, below!” he startlingly exclaimed, all at once, after -a long pause, in which he seemed to be silently noting the distant -objects in the forest; “make ready there, below, for a famous large -flock of wild geese, just heaving in sight over the hills, and coming -directly to this spot.” - -The next moment the expected flock, spread out in columns answering to -the two sides of a triangle, each a quarter of a mile in extent, and -the nearest nearly in a line with the summit where the young huntsman -stood, with raised rifle, awaiting their approach, came in full view, -making the forest resound with their multitudinous and mingling cries, -and the loud beating of their long wings on the air, as they swept -onward in their close proximity to the earth. Singling out the nearest -goose of the nearest column, Claud quickly caught his aim, and fired; -when the struck bird, with a convulsive start, suddenly clasped its -wings, and, in its onward impulse, came down like lightning into the -bushes, within five rods from its exulting captor. - -“Done like a marksman,--plumped through and through under the wing. -You are improving, young man,” exclaimed the hunter, who now, rapidly -coming down, had reached the foot of the tree, as Claud came forward -from the bushes, with his prize. “It is a fine fat one, ain’t it?” he -continued, glancing at the heavy bird, as he was pulling on his boots. -“We will take it along with us for our supper.” - -“Yes, rather a lucky shot,” returned the other, self-complacently. -“But what discoveries did you make up there, that will aid us in our -course, Mr. Phillips?” - -“O, that is all settled,” answered the latter, putting on his pack, and -buttoning up, preparatory to an immediate start. “I caught glimpses of -both the ponds, noted all the hilltops, ridges, and other noticeable -landmarks, in the line between here and there, and can lead you as -straight as a gun to the spot, for which we will now be off; and the -sooner the better, as it is fast growing colder and colder, and the -whole heavens are every moment growing more dark and dubious.” - -They then, after making their way down the precipitous side of the -hill to its western foot, struck off, under the lead of the hunter, in -a line through the forest, preserving their points of compass, when -none of their general landmarks were visible, by noting the peculiar -weather-beaten appearance of the mosses on the north sides of the -trees, and the usual inclination of the tips of the hemlocks from west -to east. And for the next hour and a half, on, on they tramped, in -Indian file, and almost unbroken silence, making headway with their -long, loping steps, notwithstanding the obstructing fallen trees, -brushwood, and constantly occurring inequalities of the ground, with a -speed which none but practised woodsmen can attain in the forest, and -which is scarcely equalled by the fastest foot-travellers on the smooth -and beaten highways of the open country. - -At length they were gratified by an indistinct sight of some body of -water, gleaming dimly through the trees from some point in front; and -the walk of a few hundred yards more brought them out, as it luckily -happened, directly to the camp of which they were in search. It was, -however, tenantless; their companions had already departed; but the bed -of live coals in the usual place, from which the thin vapor was still -perceptibly ascending, showed that they could not have left more than -an hour before. In glancing into the deserted shanty, they descried a -clean strip of white birch bark, lying conspicuously on the ground, a -few feet within the entrance. On picking it up, they were soon enabled -to read the following words, traced with the charred end of a twig: - - “Thinking something unusual to be brewing overhead, we are off for the - lake about 10 A.M. - - CARVIL.” - - -“A very observing, considerate man, that Mr. Carvil,” said the hunter, -still musingly keeping his eyes on the unique dispatch. “He is one of -the few book-learned men I have ever known, who could apply science to -the natural philosophy of the woods. I can see how justly he reasoned -out this case: knowing that we had some thought of a jaunt to Dead -river this trip, he judged we should notice the signs of the weather -just as we did, and, as it seems, _he_ did; and that, in consequence, -when we got there, we should decide on the nearest route back, which -would bring us so near their camp that we should be tempted to come to -it; and so he left this notice for us that they thought it wisdom to -depart.” - -While the hunter was thus delivering himself, as he stood by the fire -before the entrance, spreading out his hands over the coals, Claud -went inside, and, returning with two fine, fresh trout, which the late -occupants had, for some cause, left behind them, held them up to his -musing companion, and exclaimed: - -“Look here, Mr. Phillips,--see what they have left for us!” - -“Good!” cried the hunter, rousing himself, “for, whether they left them -by design or mistake, they come equally well in play at this time. -You out with your knife and split them through the back, and I will -prepare the coals. We will roast them for a lunch, which will refresh -and strengthen us for the ten or twelve miles walk that is still to be -accomplished, before reaching the lake.” - -After dispatching the welcome meal, which in this primitive fashion -they had prepared for themselves out of the material thus unexpectedly -come to hand, and enjoying the half-hour’s rest consequent on the -grateful occupation, they again swung on their packs, and, striking -into one of the marked lines of their companions, set forth with fresh -vigor on their journey. Their walk, however, was a long and dreary one. -Contrary to what they had ever before experienced, in jaunts of this -length through the woods, not a single hunting adventure occurred, to -enliven the tedium of the way. For, although the heavens above were -made vocal with the screams of wild geese, still pouring along in their -hurried flight to the south, to escape the elemental foe behind, like -the rapidly succeeding detachments of some retreating army, yet not a -living creature, biped or quadruped, was anywhere to be heard or seen -in the forest beneath. All seemed to have instinctively shrunk away and -fled, as from the presence of some impending evil, to their dens and -coverts, there to await, cowering and silent, the dreaded outbreak. -Slowly, but steadily, the lurid storm-clouds were gathering in the -heavens, bringing shade after shade over the darkening wilderness. -Low, hollow murmurs in the troubled air were now heard, ominously -stealing along the wooded hills; and now, in the sharp, momentary -rattling of the seared beech-leaves, the whole forest seemed shivering -in the dead chill that was settling over the earth. The cold, indeed, -was now becoming so intense as to congeal and skim over all the pools -and still eddies of the river, and make solid ice along the shores -of the rapid currents of the stream; while even the ground was fast -becoming so frozen as to clumper and sound beneath the hurrying tread -of our anxious travellers. By three in the afternoon, it had become -so dark that they could scarcely see the white blazings on the sides -of the trees, by which they were guided in their course; and in less -than another hour, they were stumbling along almost in utter darkness, -uncertain of their way, and nearly despairing of reaching their -destination that night. But, while they were on the point of giving up -the attempt, the bright glare of an ascending blaze, shooting fiercely -through the thickets before them, greeted their gladdened eyes, and put -them on exertions that soon brought them rejoicing into the comfortable -quarters of their almost equally gratified friends and comrades; where -it was at once decided that, instead of proceeding to their own camp, -to build a fire and lodge, they should turn in for the night. - -After some time passed in the animated and cheery interchange of -inquiries and opinions, which usually succeeds on the meeting of -anxiously-sought or expected friends, Claud and Phillips, having by -this time warmed and measurably rested themselves, took hold with -Carvil and Mark Elwood in dressing and cooking for supper and for -breakfast the next morning, Claud’s goose, and a pair of fine ducks -from a flock which the two latter had encountered just before reaching -camp that afternoon; and, after completing this process with their -good supply of game, and the more agreeable one of eating so much -of it as served for a hearty supper, they drew up an extra quantity -of fuel for the large fire which they felt it would be necessary to -keep up through the night; and then, seating themselves in camp, went -into an earnest consultation on the measures and movements next to be -taken. When, in view of the lateness of the season, coupled as it was -with the alarming portents of an immediate storm, which they had all -noticed, it was unanimously determined that they should embark, early -next morning, for head-quarters on the Maguntic, where Gaut Gurley, -instead of preparing to come round again, as was now nearly his usual -time to do, would, under the altered aspect of things, doubtless be -awaiting them, and making arrangements for the return of all to the -settlement. Then, building up a fire of solid logs, for long burning, -the tired woodsmen drew up their bough-pillows towards the entrance -of the camp, so as to bring their feet near the fire, closely wrapped -their thick blankets around them, lay down, and were soon buried in -sound slumber. And it was well for them that they were thus early -taking their needed rest; for, soon after midnight, they were awakened -by the lively undulations of the piercing cold air that was driving -and whistling through the sides of their camp, and by the puffs of -suffocating smoke that the eddying winds were ever and anon driving -from their fire directly into their faces. One after another they rose, -and ran out to see what had caused the, to them, sudden change that had -occurred in the air since they went to sleep. And they were not long -in ascertaining the truth. The expected storm had set in, with that -low, deep commotion of the elements, and that slowly gathering impetus, -which, as may often be noted at the commencement of great storms, was -but the too certain prelude of its increase and duration. The fine snow -was sifting down apace to the already whitened ground, and the rising -wind, even in their mountain-hemmed nook, was whirling in fierce and -fitful eddies about their camp, and shrilly piping among the strained -branches of the vexed forest around; while its loud and awful roar, as -it careered along the sides of the distant mountains, told with what -strength and fury the storm was commencing over the country at large. -In the situation in which the company now found themselves, neither -sleep, comfort, nor quiet were to be expected for the remainder of the -night. They therefore piled high the wood on their fire, and gathered -round the hot blaze, to protect them from the cold, that had now not -only grown more intense, but become doubly difficult to withstand, from -the force with which it was brought by the driving blasts in contact -with their shivering persons. And thus,--in alternately turning their -backs and fronts to the fire, while standing in one place, and often -shifting places from one side of the fire to the other; in now taking -refuge within their camp when the constantly veering gusts bore the -smoke and flame outward, and then fleeing out of it when the stifling -column was driven inward; but finding no peace nor rest anywhere, -among those shifts and commotions of the battling elements,--they -wore away the long and comfortless hours of that dreary night, till -the return of morning light, which, after many a vain prayer for its -speedier appearance, at length gradually broke over the storm-invested -wilderness. - -As soon as it was light enough to see objects abroad, or see them as -well as they can ever be discerned through the fast-falling snow of -such a driving storm, Phillips and Carvil sallied out through the snow, -already eight inches deep, and made their way down to the nearest -shore of the lake, about a quarter of a mile distant, to ascertain -the condition of the water before embarking upon it in their canoes, -as they had designed to do immediately after breakfast. On reaching -the shore, they found the narrow bay, before mentioned as forming the -estuary of the two rivers on which they had been located, comparatively -calm, though filled with congealing snow and floating ice from the -rivers. But all beyond the line of the two points of land inclosing the -bay was rolling and tumbling in wild commotion, madly lashing the rocky -headlands with the foaming waters, and resounding abroad over the hills -with the deep, hoarse roar of the tempest-beaten breakers of the ocean. - -“Do you see and hear that?” exclaimed Phillips, pointing to the lake. - -“Yes, yes; but what was that I just caught a glimpse of, out there in -the offing, to the right?” hastily cried Carvil. - -They both peered forward intently; and the next moment they saw a -canoe, containing a single rower, low bending to his oar, shoot by the -northern headland with the speed of an arrow, strike obliquely out of -the white line of rolling waves into the bay, and make towards the -point where they stood. - -“Who can it be?” inquired Carvil, after watching a while in silence the -slow approach of the obstructed canoe. - -“In a minute more we shall see,” replied the hunter, bending forward -to get a view of the man’s face, which, being seen the next moment, he -added, with a shout: “Hallo, there, Codman, is that you? Why didn’t you -crow, to let us know who was coming?” - -“Crow?” exclaimed the trapper, driving through the ice to the shore; -“did you ever hear a rooster crow in a time like this? There! I am -safe, at last,” he added, leaping out upon the shore, and glancing -back with a dubious shake of the head towards the scene from which -he had thus escaped. “Yes, safe now, for all my fright; but I would -not be out another hour on that terrible lake for all the beaver in -the province of Maine! I started at daylight, got out a mile or two, -tolerably, but after that, Heaven only knows how I rode on those wild -waves without swamping! But no matter,--I am here.” - -“But where is Tomah, the Indian?” asked the hunter. - -“Tomah!” said Codman, in surprise. “Why, haven’t you seen him? He went -off three days ago, saying he must return to the settlement, to be -training his moose to the sledge, so as to start for Boston with him, -the first snow. He said he should leave it with Gaut Gurley to see to -his share of the furs. I supposed he would call at one of your camps. -But come, move on. I suppose you have a fire at camp, and something to -eat; I am frozen to death, and starved to death, besides being more -than half-dead from the great scaring I’ve had; but that’s all over -now, and I’m keen for breakfast. So troop along back to your camp, I -say.” - -To return to camp, take their cold and comfortless breakfast, and -decide on the now hard alternatives of remaining where they were, -to await the event of the storm, without provisions, and with their -imperfect means of protection from the rigor of the elements, or -of starting off through the cumbering snow beneath their feet, and -the driving tempest above their heads, with the hope of reaching -head-quarters by land, before another night should overtake them, was -but the work of half an hour. To remain, with the foretaste of the past -and the prospects of the future, was a thought so forbidding that none -of them could for a moment entertain it; and to set out to travel by -land, with such prospects, over the mountains, by the long, winding -route on the eastern side of the lake,--which was the only one left to -them, and which could not be less than fifteen miles in extent,--was -a scarcely less forbidding alternative. But it must be adopted. So, -gathering in their steel traps and iron utensils, they buried them -all, except their lightest hatchet, under a log, that they should not -be encumbered with more weight than was absolutely necessary; snugly -packing up the few peltries they had taken since Gaut Gurley had been -round and putting the scanty remains of their food into their pockets, -for a lunch on the way, they set forth on their formidable undertaking. - -Led on and guided by the calm and resolute hunter,--who at different -times had been over the whole way, and in whose skill and discretion, -as a woodsman, for conducting them by the nearest and easiest route, -they all had undoubting confidence,--they vigorously made their way -onwards through the accumulating snows and natural obstructions of the -forest; now threading the thickets of the valleys; now skirting the -sides of the hills; now crossing deep ravines; and now climbing high -mountains in their toilsome march. And, though the storm seemed to rage -more and more fiercely with the advancing hours of the day,--whirling -clouds of blinding snow in their faces, hurling the decayed limbs and -trunks of the older tenants of the wood to the earth around them, -in the fury of its blasts, and rattling and creaking through the -colliding branches of the writhing green trees, as it swept over the -wilderness,--yet, for all these difficulties of the way and commotions -of the elements, they faltered not, but continued to move forward in -stern and moody silence, hour after hour, in the footsteps of their -indomitable leader, until they reached the extreme eastern point of -the lake, where their destination required them to turn round it, in a -sharp angle to the west. Here, at the suggestion of their leader, who -made the encouraging announcement that the worst half of their journey -was accomplished, they made a halt, under the lee of a sheltering -mountain, for rest and refreshment. And, sitting down on a fallen tree, -from whose barkless trunk they brushed off the snow, they took out -and commenced chewing their stale and frozen bread, with a few small -pieces of duck-meat, remaining from their breakfast, and comprising -the last of their provisions. The animal heat, produced by their great -and continued exertions in travelling, had thus far prevented them -from suffering much from the cold, or perceiving its actual intensity. -But they had been at rest scarcely long enough to finish their meagre -repast, when they were driven from their seats by the chill of the -invading element, and were eagerly demanding, as a lesser annoyance, -again to be led forward on their journey. The snow by this time had -accumulated to the depth of a foot and a half, and still came swiftly -sifting down aslant to the earth, without the least sign of abatement; -while the wind, which was before a gale, had now risen to a hurricane, -causing the smitten earth to tremble and shake under the force of the -terrible blasts that went shrieking and howling through the bowed, -bending, and twisting forests, where - - “The sturdiest birch its strength was feeling, - And pine trees dark and tall - To and fro were madly reeling, - Or dashing headlong in their fall.” - -But, still undismayed by these manifestations of elemental power around -them, or the prospects before them, all terrific and disheartening -as they were, and nerved by the consciousness that their only chance -of escape from a fearful death depended on their exertions, the bold -and hardy woodsmen again started out into the trackless waste, and -labored desperately onward, mile after mile, through the impeding -snow; sometimes taken to the armpits in its gathering drifts, and -sometimes thrown at full length beneath its submerging depths by -stepping into some hole or chasm it had concealed from their sight. -And thus resolutely did they beat and buffet their rough way through -the perplexed and roaring wilderness, and thus stoutly did they bear -up against the constantly thickening dangers that environed them -during the last part of that dreadful day. But, as night drew on, -their strength and spirits began to flag and give way. The cold was -increasing in intensity. The tempest howled louder than ever over their -heads, and the snow had become so deep and drifted that furlongs became -as miles in their progress. And yet, as they supposed, they were miles -from their destination. At length, one after another, they faltered and -stopped. The strong men quailed at the fate which seemed staring them -in the face, and they were on the point of giving up in despair. But -hark! that cheery shout which rises above the roaring of the wind, from -their more hardy and hopeful leader, who, while all others stopped, had -pushed on some thirty rods in advance. It comes again! - -“Courage, men! We have struck the river, at whose mouth stands our -camp, now not half a mile distant.” - -Aroused by the glad tidings, that sent a thrill of joy through their -sinking hearts, they sprang forward, with the revivified energies which -new and suddenly-lighted hope will sometimes so strangely impart, and -were soon by the side of the exulting hunter; when together they rushed -and floundered along down the banks of the stream towards the place, in -joyful excitement at the thought that their troubles were now so nearly -over, and with visions of the comfortable quarters, warm fires, and -smoking suppers, which they confidently expected were awaiting them at -camp, brightly dancing before them. Joy and hope lent wings to their -speed; and, in a short time, they could discern the open place and the -well-remembered outlines of the locality where the camp was situated. -But no bright light greeted their expectant eyes. They were now at the -spot, but, to their utter consternation, no camp was to be seen! Could -they be mistaken in the place? No; there was the open path leading to -the structure; there rose the steep side of the hill; and there, at the -foot of it, stood the perpendicular rock against which it was erected! -What could it mean? After standing a moment in mute amazement, peering -inquiringly at each other, in the fading twilight, they started forward -for the rock, and, in so doing, came upon the two front posts, still -standing up some feet out of the snow. They were black and charred! -The sad truth then flashed over their minds. Their camp had been burnt -to the ground, and with it; also, probably, their rich collection of -furs,--nearly the whole fruit of all the toils and fatigues of their -expedition! O death, death! what shall save the poor trappers, now? - -“Great God! I have had a presentiment of this,” exclaimed Phillips, the -first to find utterance, in a voice trembling with unwonted emotion. - -“How could it have happened?” and “Where is Gaut Gurley?” -simultaneously burst from the lips of the others. - -“Well may you ask those questions, and well couple them together, I -fancy,” responded the hunter, with bitter significance. “But away with -all speculations about _that_, now. We have something that more nearly -concerns us to attend to, in this strait, than forming conjectures -about the loss of our property: our lives are at stake! If you will -mind me, however, you may all yet be saved.” - -“Direct us, direct us, and we will obey,” eagerly responded one and all. - -“Two of you follow me, then, for something dry, if we can find it, for -a fire, and the rest go to kicking away and treading down the snow -under the rock, with all your might!” sharply commanded the hunter, -dashing his way towards the thickets, with hatchet in hand. - -With that ready obedience which a superior in energy and experience -will always command among his fellows, in emergencies like this, the -men went to work in earnest. In a short time the snow was cleared away -or beat down compactly over a space some yards in extent along the side -of the rock, while the others soon returned with a supply of the driest -wood to be found, together with an armfull of hemlock boughs, to strew -over the beaten snow. The next thing requiring their attention was the -all-important object of starting a fire. But in this they were doomed -to sad disappointment. Their punkwood tinder had been so dampened by -the snow sifting into their coat-pockets, where they had deposited it, -that it could not be made to catch the sparks of the smitten steel. -They then tried the flashing of their guns; but they had no paper, -and could find no dry leaves or fleecy bark of the birch, and the -finest splinters or shavings they could whittle, in the dark, from -the clefts of the imperfectly dry pine, would not take fire from the -light, evanescent flash of the powder in their pans. Again and again -did they renew the doubtful experiment; but every succeeding trial, -from the dampness of their material in the driving snow, and from the -unmanageable condition of their benumbed fingers and shivering frames, -became more and more hopeless, till at length they were compelled to -relinquish wholly the fruitless attempt. - -“This is a calamity, indeed!” exclaimed the hunter. “I feared it might -be so from the first. Could we have foreseen the want, so as to have -been on the lookout for material coming along, or have got here before -dark, it might have been averted. But as it is, there is one resort -left for us, if we would live in this terrible wind and cold till -morning; and that is, to keep in constant and lively motion. Whoever -lies down to sleep is a dead man!” - -But he found it difficult to impress on the minds of most of them his -idea of the danger of ceasing motion. They began to say they felt more -comfortable now, and, being very tired, must lay down to take a little -rest. Sharply forbidding the indulgence, the hunter sallied out, cut -and trimmed two or three green beech switches, and returned with them -to his wondering companions; when, finding Mark Elwood, in disregard -of his warning, already down and dozing on a bunch of boughs under the -rock, he sternly exclaimed: - -“Up, there, in an instant!” - -“O, let me lie,” begged the unconsciously freezing man: “do let me -lie a little while. I am almost warm, now, but very, very sleepy,” he -added, sinking away again into a doze. - -Instantly a smart blow from the tough and closely-setting switch of -the hunter fell upon the outstretched legs of the dozer, who cringed -and groaned, but did not start. Another and another, and yet another, -fell with the quickness and force of a pedagogue’s rod on the legs of -an offending urchin, till the aroused, maddened and enraged victim of -the seeming cruelty leaped to his feet, and, with doubled fists, rushed -upon the assailant, who darted off into the snow and led his pursuer a -doubling race of several hundred yards before he returned to the spot. - -“There are some spare switches,” resumed the active and stout-hearted -hunter, as he came in a little ahead of the puffing, reänimated, and -now pacified Elwood; “take them in hand, and do the same by me, if you -see me going the same way; it is our only salvation!” - -But, notwithstanding all this preaching, and the obvious effects -of this wholesome example, others of the company, deceived by the -insidious sensation which steals upon the unsuspecting victims of such -exposures, as the treacherous herald of their death,--others, in turn, -required and promptly received the application of the same strange -remedy. But this could not always last. The fatigue of their previously -overtasked systems prevented them from keeping up their exertions many -hours more; and, declaring they could bear up no longer, one after -another sunk down under the rock; and even their hitherto indomitable -leader himself now visibly relaxed, and at length threw himself down -with the rest, feebly murmuring: - -“I know what this feeling means; but it is so sweet! let us all die -together!” - -At that instant a shock, quickly followed by the loud, gathering -rumblings of an earthquake, somewhere above them, suddenly aroused -and brought every man to his feet. And the next moment an avalanche -of snow, sweeping down the steep side of the rock-faced declivity -above, shot obliquely over their heads to the level below, leaving them -unharmed, but buried twenty feet beneath the outward surface. - -“Now, God be praised!” cried the hunter, at once comprehending what had -happened, and starting forward to feel out what space was left them -between their shielding rock in the rear and the wedged and compact -slant snow-wall in front, which, with the no less deeply blocked -ends, formed the roof and sides of their new and thus strangely built -prison-house, “This is the work of Providence! We are now, at least, -safe from the cold, as you will all, I think, soon have the pleasure of -perceiving.” - -“You are right, Mr. Phillips,” responded Carvil; “and it is strange -some of us did not think of building a snow-house at the outset. Even -the wild partridges, that in coldest weather protect themselves by -burrowing in the snow, might have taught us the lesson.” - -“Yes, but it has been far better done in the way God has provided for -us. And we have only now to get our blood into full circulation to -insure us safety and rest through the night; and let us do this by -shaking out our boughs, and treading down the snow, as smooth as a -floor, to receive them for our bedding.” - -“It may be as you say about its being mild here, Mr. Phillips,” -doubtingly observed Mark Elwood; “but it seems strange philosophy to -me, that being inclosed in snow, the coldest substance in nature, -should make us warmer than in the open air.” - -“And still I suspect it is a fact, father,” said Claud. “The -Esquimaux, and other nations of the extreme north, it is known, live -in snow-houses, without fire, the whole of their long and rigorous -winters.” - -“O, Phillips is right enough about _that_,” added Codman, now evidently -fast regaining his usual buoyancy of spirits; “yes, right enough about -_that_, whether he was about that plaguey switching he gave us, or not. -Why, I can feel a great change in the air here already! warm enough, -soon; safe, at any rate; so, hurra for life and home, which, being once -so honestly lost, will now be clear gain. Hurra! whoo-rah! whoo-rah-ee! -Kuk-kuk-ke-o-ho!” - -And the hunter _was_ right, and the trapper was right. Their perils -and physical sufferings were over. They were not only safe, but fast -becoming comfortable. And, by the time they had trod down the snow as -hard and smooth as had been proposed, and shaken out the boughs and -distributed them for their respective beds, the air seemed as warm as -that of a mild day in October. Their clothes were smoking and becoming -dry by the evaporation of the dampness caused by the snow. Their limbs -had become pliant, and their whole systems restored to their wonted -warmth and circulation. And, wrapping themselves in their blankets, -they laid down,--as they knew they could now safely do,--and were soon -lost in refreshing slumber, from which they did not awake till a late -hour the next morning. - -“When they awoke, after their deep slumbers, they at once concluded, -from the altered and lighter hue of all around them, as well as by -their own feelings, that it must be day without; and with one accord -commenced, with their hatchets, cutting and digging a hole through -the wall of their snowy prison-house, in the place where they judged -it most likely to be thinnest. After working by turns some thirty or -forty minutes, and cutting or beating out an upward passage eight or -ten yards in extent, they suddenly broke through into the open air. -The roaring of the storm no longer greeted their ears. The terrible -conflict of the elements, which yesterday kept the heavens and earth -in such hideous commotion, was over and gone. Though it was as cold -as in the depths of winter, the sky was almost cloudless; and the -sun, already far on his diurnal circuit, was glimmering brightly over -the dreary wastes of the snow-covered wilderness. By common consent, -they then packed up, and immediately commenced beating their slow and -toilsome way towards the nearest habitation, which was that of the old -chief, now only about five miles distant, over land, on the shore of -the lake below. With far less fatigue and other suffering, save that of -hunger, than they had anticipated, they reached the hospitable cabin -of Wenongonet before night. Here their wants were supplied; here an -earnest discussion--in which they were aided by the shrewd surmises -of the chief--was held, respecting the burning of their camp and the -probable loss of their common property; and, finally, here, though the -“_Light of the Lodge_” was absent at her city home, they were agreeably -entertained through the night and succeeding day,--when, the lakes -having become frozen over sufficiently strong to make travelling on the -ice as safe as it was convenient and easy, they, on the second morning -after their arrival at his house, bade their entertainer good-by, and -set out for their homes in the settlement, which they respectively -reached by daylight, to the great relief of their anxious and now -overjoyed families and friends. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[4] A historical fact, once related to the author by an old soldier who -was one of the party here described. - - - - -CHAPTER XVI. - - “There was a laughing devil in his sneer, - That rais’d emotions both of hate and fear.” - - -In the early part of an appointed day, about a fortnight after the -return of the imperilled and unfortunate trappers to their homes, -as described in the preceding chapter, an unusual gathering of men -was to be seen within and around a building whose barn, open shed, -watering-trough, and sign-post, showed its aspirations to be a tavern, -occupying a central position among a small, scattering group of -primitive-looking houses, situated on the banks of the Androscoggin, -five miles below that lake, and where it might be considered as fairly -under way, as an uninterrupted river, in its devious course to the -ocean. - -In the yard and around the door stood men, gathered in small knots, -engaged in low, earnest conversation; while, every few minutes, -some were seen issuing from the house and hastily departing, as if -dispatched on special messages,--the company in the mean time being -continually augmented by fresh arrivals of the settlers, who came -straggling in from both directions of the great road, which, leading -from the more thickly-settled parts of Maine to the Connecticut, here -passed over the Androscoggin. - -Within the house, in the largest room, and behind a table, drawn up -near the wall at the farther end, sat a magistrate, in all the grave -dignity of a court, with pen in hand and paper before him, as if -in readiness to take such testimony in the case on hand as should -be presented for his consideration. On his right sat Mark Elwood, -Phillips, and Codman, appearing as the representatives of the injured -trappers or hunters, who were the prosecutors in the case; while on -his left sat Gaut Gurley, in custody of the sheriff and his assistant, -who had arrested and brought him there to answer to the complaint of -the former. Gaut appeared perfectly unconcerned, glancing boldly about -him with an air of proud defiance; while his former companions, the -trappers just named, sat looking down at their feet, compressing their -lips and knitting their brows in moody and indignant silence. - -But, before proceeding with any further description of the court, its -parties or doings, let us briefly recur to what had happened in the -interim between the return of the trappers and their present appearance -in court, for redress for the outrages that they supposed had been -designedly committed upon them, or at least for bringing to punishment -the man who, they felt morally certain, must be the perpetrator. - -After the trappers had reached their homes, become fully restored from -the chill and fatigues they had undergone during the terrible storm -with which their expedition so disastrously terminated, and attended -to such domestic wants as demanded their immediate care, they met at -the house of Phillips, in accordance with an appointment they made when -they parted, to report what evidence each might be able to collect -relative to the burning of their camp, and the suspected previous -abstraction of their furs; and thereupon to decide what measures should -be taken in the premises. Finding that Gaut Gurley had been seen at -home, or in the vicinity, some days previous to the storm, and that -he was not likely to come to _them_, they dispatched a disinterested -person to _him_, to notify him of their arrival, and the condition in -which they found matters at the store-camp, left in his charge, and -also of their wish that he would attend their proposed meeting, and -account for the catastrophe which had so unexpectedly occurred. He -pretended to know nothing of the affair, and feigned great surprise -at the news; said he had left the camp and its stores, all safe, two -days before the storm, to come to the settlement for more provisions, -believing that his companions would remain a fortnight longer; that, -having procured his supplies, he was intending to return to camp the -day the storm came on; and finally that it devolved on those last -at the camp, and not on _him_, to account for what had taken place. -He therefore declined meeting them on the business. As soon as they -ascertained that Gaut had taken this stand, which only added to their -previous convictions of his guilt, the different members of the company -made journeys to the nearest villages or trading-places in Maine and -New Hampshire, to see if any furs, answering in description to their -collection, had recently been sold in any of those towns. And at -length they found, in one of the frontier villages in Maine, a small -collection of peltries, which they thought they could identify, and -which the trader said he had lately purchased of an unknown travelling -pedlar, who, out of a large lot of peltries, would sell only these -at prices that would warrant the purchasing. This small lot of furs -they prevailed on the trader to let them take home with them, for the -purpose of making proof in court. This was all the direct evidence they -could find to implicate Gaut; but they believed it would be sufficient. -For, at the meeting they then held, Mark Elwood found among the furs a -beaver-skin, that he could swear was of his own taking, from a careless -slit he remembered to have made in the skinning. Codman found another, -which he could safely identify by a mangled ear which was caught in -one end of the trap, while the tail was caught in the other. And -Phillips found an otter skin, with a bullet-hole on each side, made, -as he well remembered, by shooting the animal through and through in -the region of the heart. On this proof they unanimously decided on -a prosecution; and accordingly Phillips and Mark Elwood set off the -next day for Lancaster, the shire-town on the Connecticut, for legal -advice, warrants, and a sheriff to serve them. On reaching the place, -they were told by the attorney they consulted that they could not make -out larceny or theft against Gurley for taking the furs placed in his -trust, but for their private redress must resort to a civil action -of trover, or unlawful conversion of the common property. A criminal -process for arson, or the burning of the camp, would probably be -sustained. And the result of the consultation was, that a complaint and -warrant for arson should be issued, and the arrest made by the sheriff, -who should also have in his hands a civil process returnable to the -court of Common Pleas, to serve on Gurley and his property, provided -the proof elicited at the court of inquiry on the criminal charge -should be such as to afford them any prospect of a recovery. - -It was under these circumstances that Gaut Gurley had been arrested for -the burning of the camp, and brought before the magistrate, who, with -the lawyers employed on both sides, had come to this place, as before -described, for the hearing of the case. - -The magistrate now declared the court open, and directed the parties -to proceed with the case. The attorney for the prosecution then rose, -read the complaint, and briefly stated what they expected to prove, -to substantiate the allegations it contained. Mark Elwood, Phillips, -Codman, and the trader who had purchased the furs of the pedlar, and -who had been summoned for the purpose, were then called to the stand, -and sworn, as witnesses on the part of the prosecution. - -The trader, being first called on, testified to the identity of the -furs which had been produced in court with the lot he had bought of the -pedlar, as before mentioned; and he further stated that the man had a -large lot, which well answered the general description given by the -complainants of the lot they had in camp; but where or how he obtained -the lot, or who he was, or where he went to when he left town, he did -not learn, and had no means of ascertaining. All he could say, was, -that these were the furs he purchased, and the only ones of the whole -lot on the prices of which he and the fellow could agree, so as to -effect a trade. - -Phillips, next called, swore plumply that the bullet-pierced otter-skin -before him was taken by his own hand from the animal he shot. He -also added that there were several strings of saple-skins in the lot -before him, which he felt confident he had seen among the furs of the -company, and he especially pointed out one strung together by a braid -of wickape bark. And in this last statement he was confirmed by Codman, -who, besides identifying one beaver-skin, had the same impression -in relation to the string of sable; but neither of them would swear -positively in the matter of the smaller furs. - -Mark Elwood, the last of the witnesses to be examined, then took the -stand; and, contrary to what might have been expected from one of -his wavering disposition, and particularly from one who had been so -strangely kept under the influence and fear of the man on trial, bore -himself resolutely under the menacing looks which the latter fixed upon -him by way of intimidation. For some time he had utterly refused to -harbor the idea of Gaut’s guilt. He believed the burning of the camp -was accidental; that Gaut, in anticipation of the storm, had taken all -the furs home with him, and would soon call the company together for -the distribution. But when he heard of the course Gaut was taking, and -coupled it with the other circumstances, he suddenly changed his tone, -fell into the belief of his companions, and more loudly and openly than -any of them denounced the crime and its author,--seemingly throwing -off, at once and forever, the mysterious spell which had so long -bound him. Accordingly he now swore confidently to the beaver-skin in -question, as one of his own taking, and, facing him boldly, even went -so far as to declare his full belief in Gaut’s guilt, not only in the -burning of the camp, but in the stealing of the furs. - -This gratuitous assertion of a mere matter of belief in the -respondent’s guilt, which was no legal evidence in the case, at once -aroused, as might have been expected, the ire of Gaut’s lawyer, who, -with fierce denunciations of the conduct of the witness, subjected him -to a severe cross-examination. - -“What reason, then,” asked the somewhat mollified lawyer, now himself -incautiously venturing on ground which, with a better knowledge of the -parties, he would have seen might injure his cause, and on which his -client evidently wished him not to push inquiries. “What reason, then, -could you have for your extraordinary conduct in trying, against all -rule, to lug in here your mere ungrounded conjectures, to prejudice the -court and spectators against an innocent man?” - -“Innocent?” here broke in Phillips, provoked by what, in his -exasperated state of feeling, he viewed as the cool impudence and -hypocrisy of the lawyer. “Innocent, hey? Well, well, there are various -ways of lying in this world, I see plainly.” - -“What do _you_ know about my client, whom you are all conspiring -to ruin?” exclaimed the excited lawyer, turning fiercely on the -interposing hunter. - -“Know about him?” retorted the other. “I know enough, besides this -outrageous affair; I know enough to----” - -“Beware!” suddenly exclaimed Gaut Gurley, with a look that brought the -speaker to a stand. - -“I don’t fear you, sir,” said the hunter, confronting the other with -an unflinching countenance. “But you may be right; it may be _I had_ -better forbear; it may be your time is not yet come,” he added, in a -low, significant tone. - -“Now, I will finish with you, sir,” resumed Gaut’s lawyer turning -again sternly to Elwood, from whom he--like many other over-acting -attorneys, who cannot see where they should stop in examinations of -this kind--seemed to think he could draw something more that would -make for his client. “When that fellow interrupted me just now, I was -asking what reason, besides some grudge or malice, you had for your -unwarrantable course in pronouncing the respondent guilty, without -proof; for, allowing the furs you swear to _were_ once yours, you don’t -show, by a single particle of proof, that he had any thing to do with -it more than yourselves, who were quite as likely to have taken them -as he. Yes, what reasons,--facts, facts, I mean; no more guess-work -here; so speak out, sir, like an honest man, if you can.” - -“I will, then,” promptly responded Elwood. “You shall have facts, to -your heart’s content; I said what I did because I am convinced he _is_ -guilty.” - -“Convinced!” sneeringly interrupted the other; “there it is again; -thrusting in sheer conjectures for evidence! I must call on the court -to interpose with the stubborn and wilful fellow. Didn’t I tell you, -sir, I’d have no more of your guess-work? Facts, sir, facts, or -nothing.” - -“Well, you shall have them, then,” replied the other, in a determined -tone, “for I know enough facts to convince me, at least, of his guilt. -Both before and after we started on our expedition, he threw out hints -to me which I did not then quite understand, but which, since this -affair, I have recalled, and now know what they meant. He hinted, if I -would fall into his plan and keep council, we might----” - -“Might what?” sharply demanded the excited and alarmed attorney. “Do -you know you are under oath, sir? Might what, I say?” - -“Might get all the furs into our hands, and----” - -“Traitor! liar! scoundrel!” exclaimed Gaut Gurley, in a tone that -sounded like the hiss of a serpent, as he bent forward and glared upon -Elwood, with an expression so absolutely fiendish as to make every one -in the room pause and shudder, and as to be remembered and recounted, -months afterwards, in connection with events which seemed destined to -spring from this worse than fruitless trial. - -“You was going to say,” said the attorney for the prosecution, here -eagerly pricking up and turning to the interrupted and now evidently -discomposed witness,--“you was going to say, he proposed that he and -you should take all the furs to yourselves, and so rob the rest of the -company!” - -“I can’t tell the words; but I think he meant that,” replied Elwood, in -more subdued tones. - -“O ho,” exclaimed Gaut’s lawyer; “you _now_ think, that is, you guess, -he meant something that you didn’t dream of his meaning at the time he -uttered it. Pretty evidence this; make the most of it!” - -“We will,” said the opposite counsel; “and I request the court to take -it all down, together with the prisoner’s exclamations of _traitor_, -etc., which involves, indirectly, an admission that I shall remark on -in the argument. Yes, let all this be noted carefully. It is important. -It goes to show the previous design, which, coupled with the identified -furs, is, I trust the court will see, sufficient to fix the crime on -the respondent, beyond all doubt or question.” - -“We will soon show you how much you will make out of your identified -furs,” rejoined the other lawyer, with a confident and defiant air. - -“Have you witnesses to introduce on the part of the defence?” asked the -court. - -“Yes, your honor; but our most important one has not yet arrived. We -are expecting him every minute.” - -At that moment, a shout of surprise and laughter, together with an -unusual commotion in the yard, arrested the attention of all in the -court-room; and they mostly rushed to the door or windows to ascertain -the cause, when they were amused to behold the young Indian, Tomah, -driving into the yard, with his moose harnessed to a pung or sledge, -of his own rigging up, on which--with reins and whip in hand--he sat -as jauntily as a coachman, and almost with the same ease, apparently, -brought his strange steed to a stand before the door. - -“Our witness has come!” exclaimed Gaut’s lawyer, exultingly. “Mr. -Sheriff, send out and bring him in. We will now dispose of this -miserable prosecution, in short metre.” - -In a few minutes Tomah entered the room, and, readily -comprehending,--from a knowledge of the usages of courts he had -obtained during his residence in the villages of the whites,--what was -expected of him, now demurely advanced in front of the magistrate, -raised his hand, and received the oath of a witness. He was then shown -the lot of furs that had been identified by the hunters present, his -attention directed to the peculiar marks by which part of them had been -distinguished, and he was asked if he had ever seen these furs, and -noticed the marks on them, before. - -“Yes, think so,” replied Tomah, quietly, as he rapidly handled every -large skin, and each parcel of the smaller ones, keenly noting the -palpable marks shown him on the former, and every tie confining -together the latter. “Yes; here bullet-holes on otter; slit on this -beaver; cropt ear on that; little fat back of fore-legs on rest of -beaver; wickape strings on that bunch sable; elm-bark tie on that; and -beech twigs on that. Yes, seen ’em all.” - -“Where? And how do you know the furs? Tell the court all about it,” -said Gaut’s lawyer, as an exultant smile played over his sardonic -features. - -“Well, now,” calmly and with his usual passionless cast of countenance -replied Tomah, after a considerable pause; “well, this lot of skins -all taken from the great lot taken by our company up round the great -lakes, this fall. I come back to settlement, three, four, five days, -may be, ’fore the rest; to see to moose, train him for Boston, and -make sled; wanted my part of furs to sell right off, to bear expenses, -and get off on journey soon. Mr. Gurley, then, after while, said he -venture to divide off to me greater part of what I would get for my -share of skins then got into the great camp. So he do it; and I take -my part, just this lot you show me here, and steer off with them to -Bethel; but, ’fore got quite there, come cross pedlar and sold them -cheap, for money, and go right back to Mr. Gurley’s, where moose was. -Found Mr. Gurley home, too; said he left all furs safe in camp; come -for provisions to carry back, to hunt one, two weeks longer; but storm -come, and he stayed to home, and soon heard all the men got home, too; -big storm, bad; I no start for Boston yet, but most ready; go soon, get -heap of money for moose, certain.” - -The counsel for the prosecution and his clients--on hearing such a -piece of testimony from a witness whom they themselves would have -summoned, but for the belief that he would be so much under the -influence and training of Gaut, that little could be drawn from him -making against the latter--were taken so completely by surprise, by the -unexpected _denouement_, that they all sat mute and dumb-founded for -some moments; both lawyer and clients being scarcely able to credit -their own senses, and each hoping that the other had discovered some -flaw in the testimony, by which it could be picked to pieces. But no -such flaw or discrepancy could be discovered; and the testimony, after -the severe and prolonged cross-examination to which it was subjected -by the rallying and desperate attorney, remained wholly unshaken, -in every material part, standing out, in all its decisive force and -effect, for the exclusive benefit of the respondent. Every person in -the room, indeed, at length became convinced that the young Indian had -told the truth, and that he could know nothing of Gaut’s guilt, though -unconsciously made a witness in his favor; with the view, probably, -of meeting just such an exigency as had occurred in the present -prosecution. - -The attorney for the prosecution, then, it being agreed to submit -the case on the testimony now in, made a long and ingenious speech, -abandoning the matter of the identified furs; dwelling largely on -Gaut’s dimly-hinted proposals to Elwood to join in the crime; and, on -the ground that he was the only person in a situation to burn and rob -the camp, raising the violent presumption that he must have perpetrated -the double crime. - -Gaut’s lawyer then rose, with a confident and exultant air, and said -he might, with the best reason in the world, make a plea to the -jurisdiction of the court, since he had discovered that the camp which -was alleged to have been burnt was situated some miles within the -boundary of Maine; that no New Hampshire magistrate, of course, could -take jurisdiction of the case; and, that the respondent, on that ground -alone, must be at once discharged, if he wished it. But he did not wish -it. He courted a trial and decision, on the merits of the case; which, -after briefly urging the strong points of the defence, he submitted to -the court. - -Tomah’s testimony had settled the case; and, though nearly every -one in the room, probably, were deeply impressed with suspicions of -Gaut’s guilt, yet all felt that the evidence was not sufficient for -a legal conviction. And they were not surprised, therefore, when the -court, after briefly commenting on the testimony, pronounced the full -discharge of the prisoner. - -“Ha, ha!” exclaimed Gaut, with a laugh so inconceivably devilish that -his own lawyer, even, recoiled at the sound. “Ha, ha!” he repeated, -with a smile on his lips, made ghastly by the fires of concentrated -malice that shot from his eyes. “Wouldn’t my good friends, here, like -to try this game again?” - -“Yes,” boldly retorted the hunter. “Yes, and we shall, with evidence -Heaven will direct us where to find. Your time hasn’t come. But it -_will_ come! God ain’t dead yet!” - - - - -CHAPTER XVII - - “Be still the unimaginable lodge - For solitary thinkings; such as dodge - Conception to the very bourn of Heaven, - Then leave the naked brain; be still the leaven - That, spreading in this dull and clodded earth, - Gives it a touch ethereal, a new birth.” KEATS. - - -It is not to be supposed that a lawsuit, or prosecution, in so new and -remote a settlement, especially one that involved so many interests, -and whose result must have so many and complicated bearings, as the -one described in the last chapter, would be suffered to pass away like -any ordinary occurrence and be forgotten. With the settlers, besides -the novelty of having a court held among them, for any cause, it was -an extraordinary occurrence that there should be any grounds for a -prosecution or lawsuit of this character,--extraordinary that any one -should be found base enough to violate the common faith and honesty -which the trappers and hunters had, up to that time, so implicitly -reposed in, and observed with each other,--and doubly extraordinary -that the perpetrator could not be detected and brought to punishment. -To them, such a flagitious betrayal of trust was a new and startling -event. They felt it deeply concerned them all; and the sensation it -produced was accordingly as profound as it was general, in all that -region of the country. - -But, if such was the effect of the unfortunate occurrence in question, -on the community at large, how much more deeply would the effect be -naturally felt by the parties immediately concerned? By the loss of -their stock of furs, three families, at least, were deprived of the -means on which they had relied for supplying them with a large part -of the necessaries of life, through the ensuing winter; while, besides -this, many a wife and child were doomed to sad disappointment, in being -thus deprived of the fondly-anticipated purchases of articles of dress, -books, and various other little comforts, which had been promised them -on the division and sale of the peltries. Nor were these the only -interests and feelings affected by the event and its concomitants. -Friendships were broken, and even more tender relations were disturbed, -if, indeed, their further existence were not to be terminated. By the -open, and as was supposed irreconcilable, quarrel between Mark Elwood -and the terribly vindictive Gaut Gurley, their children, Claud and -Avis, who were understood to be under mutual engagement of marriage, -were placed in a position at once painful and embarrassing in the -extreme. And Claud, especially, although he had carefully abstained -from all accusations of Gaut, had taken no part in getting up the -prosecution, and purposely absented himself from the trial, yet felt -very keenly the perplexing dilemma into which he would be thrown, by -continuing the connecting link between two such deadly foes as he now -found his father, whom he could not desert, and Gaut Gurley, whom he -felt conscious he could not defend. And for this reason he had, from -time to time, deferred the visit to Avis, which he had designed, and -which she would naturally expect on his return from the expedition. But -still he could not see how a quarrel between the fathers discharged -him from his obligations to her; and he grew more and more doubtful -and uneasy in the position he found himself occupying. He was soon, -however, to be relieved. One day, a short time after the trial, while -he was anxiously revolving the subject in mind, a boy, who had come as -a special messenger from the Magalloway settlement (for the purpose, as -it appeared), brought him the following letter: - - “DEAR CLAUD,--You do not know, you cannot know, what the effort - costs me to write this. You do not know, you cannot know, what I - have felt, what I have suffered since I became fully apprised of the - painful circumstances under which your late expedition was brought - to a close; and especially since I became apprised of the lamentable - scenes that occurred in the court, growing out of that unfortunate--O - how unfortunate, expedition! Before that court was held, and during - the doubtful days which intervened between it and your escape from the - terrible perils that attended your return, the hope that all would, - all _must_ turn out right, in some measure relieved my harrowing - fears and anxieties; though even then the latter was to the former - as days of cloud to minutes of sunshine. But, when I heard what - occurred at the trial,--the bitter crimination and recrimination, the - open rupture, the menaces exchanged, and the angry parting,--and, - more alarming than all, when I saw my father return in that fearful - mood, from which he still refuses to be diverted, the last gleam of - hope faded, and all became cloud, all gloom,--dark, impenetrable, - and forbidding. My nights, when sleep at length comes to close my - weeping eyes, are passed in troubled dreams; my days in more troubled - thoughts, which I would fain believe were dreams also. O, why need - this be? I have done nothing,--you have done nothing; and I have no - doubt of your faith and honor for performing all I shall ever require - at your hands. But, Claud, I love you, and all - - ‘Know love is woman’s happiness;’ - - and all know, likewise, that the ties of love are but gossamer - threads, which a word may rupture, a breath shake, and even the power - of unpleasant associations destroy. Still, is there not one hope,--the - hope that this thread, hitherto so blissfully uniting our hearts, - subtle and attenuated as it is, may yet be preserved unbroken, if we - suffer no opinion, no word, no syllable to escape our lips, respecting - the unfortunate affair that is embroiling our parents; if we wholly - deny ourselves the pleasure of that social intercourse which, to _me_, - at least, has thus far made this wilderness an Eden of delight? But - can it be thus preserved, if we keep up that intercourse, as in the - sunshine of our love,--those pleasant, fleeting, rosy months, when - I was so happy, O so very happy, in the feelings of the present and - the prospects of the future? No, no, it is not possible, it is not - possible for you to come here, and encounter my father in such a mood, - and then return and receive the upbraidings of your own, that you - are joining or upholding the house of his foes. It is not possible - for you to do this, and your heart receive no jar, and mine no fears - or suspicions of its continued fealty. I dare not risk it. Then do - not, dearest Claud, O do not come here, at least for the present. - Perhaps my dark forebodings, that our connection is not to be blessed - for our future happiness, may be groundless. Perhaps the storm that - now so darkly hangs over us may pass harmlessly away. Perhaps this - painful and perplexing misunderstanding--as I trust in Heaven’s mercy - it only is--may yet be placed in a light which will admit of a full - reconciliation between our respective families. But, till then, let - our relations to each other stand, if you feel disposed to let them, - precisely as we left them at our last mournfully happy parting; for, - till then, though it break my heart, I could never, never consent to - a renewal of our intercourse. Have I said enough, and not too much? I - could not, under the almost insupportable weight of grief, fear, and - anxiety, that is distracting my brain, and crushing my poor heart,--I - could not say less, I dare not say more. O Claud, Claud, why has this - dreadful cloud come over us? O, pray that it may be speedily removed, - and once more let in, on our pained and perplexed hearts, the sunshine - of their former happiness. Dearest Claud, good-by; don’t come, but - don’t forget - - “AVIS.” - - -Claud felt greatly relieved, in some respects, by this unexpected -missive; in others, the contents caused him uneasiness and -self-condemnation. It relieved him from the sense of obligation -he had entertained, to make the dreaded visit to the house of Gaut -Gurley,--who, with every desire to arrive at a different conclusion, -he could no longer believe guiltless of the basest of frauds, and -the basest of means to conceal it. It relieved him, indeed, on this -point; but, as we have said, made him sad and thoughtful on others. The -great grief and distress under which the fair writer was so evidently -laboring, and the deep-rooted love for him which was revealed in -almost every line, but which her pride, in the bright hours of their -courtship, had never permitted her to disclose, keenly touched his -feelings, and rose in condemnation of the comparative indifference, -which, in spite of all his efforts to correct its waywardness, he -felt conscious had been gradually stealing over his heart, since his -admiration, to say the least, had been raised by a rival vision of -loveliness. In the newly-awakened feeling of the moment, however, he -bitterly upbraided himself for his tergiversations in suffering his -thoughts to vacillate between the Star of the Magalloway, who had his -plighted faith, and Flower of the Lakes, who had no claims to his -special consideration. But still, when his thoughts wandered over the -scenes of the past summer, which now, since trial and hardship had -brought his mind back within the dominion of reason and judgment, -seemed much more like dreams than realities,--when he thought of the -manner in which he became acquainted with Avis Gurley; how he persisted -in gaining her affections, and kindling into an over-mastering flame -his own fancy-lit love; and finally, how, against the known wishes of -his family, and the dictates of his own sober judgment, he had urged -her into an engagement of marriage, which he could now see had, as his -mother predicted, in all probability led to a renewal of the intimacy -between his father and Gaut Gurley, and that last intimacy to the -present disaster, and a new quarrel, whose consequences might yet well -be looked for with uneasiness and apprehension,--when he thought of -all this, he deeply condemned his own indiscretion, and could not help -wishing himself clear from an engagement, which, like every thing -connected with the schemes of that dark and dreaded man, who was now -an object of suspicion through the whole settlement, seemed destined -to lead only to trouble and disaster. Such was the maze of perplexity -by which the young man, now too late for an honorable retreat, found -himself on every side thickly environed. Yet, for all this, and in -despite of all these perplexities and misgivings, he resolved he would -not cease to play the man, but honorably fulfil all his obligations in -such manner as should be required of him. - -So much for the love and its hapless entanglements, which had been so -deeply but so unsatisfactorily occupying, for the last few weeks, the -thoughts of Claud Elwood, who then little suspected that there was -another heart, besides that of the pure, proud, and impassioned Avis -Gurley, whose every pulse, in the great unseen system of intermingling -sympathies, beat in trembling vibration to his own,--a heart that had -been won uncourted and unknown,--a heart that had secretly nursed, in -the favoring solitudes of these wild lakes, and brooded over, a passion -more deep and intense than words could well be found to describe. There -_was_ such a heart; and that heart was now wildly beating, in the -agonizing uncertainties of a hoped reciprocation, in the bosom of that -peerless child of the forest, the beautiful Fluella; and all the more -intense were its workings, because confined to its own deep recesses, -where the hidden flame was laboring constantly for an outlet to its -pride-walled prison, but as constantly shrinking in terror from the -disclosure. She had once, however, through the violence of emotions -which she could not control, accidentally betrayed the state of her -feelings; but it was to one in whose discretion and friendship she was -soon made to repose undoubting confidence, and with whom, therefore, -she at length became reconciled to let her secret remain. The person -who had thus become the depositary of that secret was, as the reader -may remember, Mrs. Elwood. The consciousness that this lady knew all, -coupled as it was with the thought of the relation in which the latter -stood to the object of her secret idolatry, had irresistibly drawn to -her the yearning heart of the guileless maiden. She had longed for -another interview, but dare not seek it; longed for some excuse for -opening a communication with her, but could not find one. At length, -however, fortune opened the desired avenue; and, after much hesitation -and trembling, she summoned up the courage to avail herself of the -offered opportunity. Phillips, in his determination to ferret out the -outrage which had been committed on him and his companions, and of the -author of which he still entertained no doubt, had, immediately after -the trial, commenced a series of rapid journeys to all the nearest -villages or trading towns in Maine and New Hampshire, to ascertain -if any lot of furs, answering to those caught by his company, had -been sold in those places. And one of these journeys, for that and -other purposes, he had extended to the seaboard. On his return home, -he immediately repaired to his neighbor Elwood’s, and, unperceived, -slipped into the hands of Mrs. Elwood a letter, which the wondering -matron soon took to a private room, curiously opened, and, with a deep, -undefined interest and varying emotions, commenced reading. It ran thus: - - “MRS. ELWOOD, MY FRIEND,--Our Mr. Phillips has been here, and told us - all that has happened in your settlement. Mrs. Elwood, I am greatly - troubled at the loss your family suffer, with the rest of the hunters, - but still more troubled and fearful for your husband and your noble - son, about what may grow out of the quarrel with that dark man. My - father knew him, time long past, and said there would be mischief done - the company, when we heard he was going with them. I hope Mr. Elwood - will keep out of his way; and I hope, Claud,--O, I cannot write the - thought. Mrs. Elwood, I am very unhappy. I sometimes wish your brave - and noble son had suffered me to go down and be lost in the dark, - wild waters of those fearful rapids. By the goodness of my white - father, whom I am proud to hope you may some time see with me in your - settlement, I have all the comforts and indulgences that a heart at - ease could desire; warm, carpeted rooms, dress, books, company, smooth - flatterers, who mean little, it may be, together with _real_ friends, - who mean much, and prove it by actions, which do not, like words, ever - deceive. And yet, Mrs. Elwood, they are all now without any charms - for me. My heart is in your settlement. The grand old forest, and the - bright lake, were always things of beauty for me, before I saw _him_; - but now, when associated _with_ him,--O, Mrs. Elwood, if I did not - know you had something of what I meant should forever be kept secret - from all but the Great Eye, in your keeping, and if you had not made - me feel you would be my discreet friend, and keep it as safe from all - as an unspoken thought, I would not for worlds write what I have, and - what I every moment find my pen on the point of writing more fully. - O, how I wish I could make you understand, without words, what I - feel,--how I grieve over what I almost know must be vain hopes, and - vainer visions of happiness! You have sometimes had, it may be, very - bright, delightful dreams, which seemed to bring you all your heart - desired; and then you suddenly awoke, and found all had vanished, - leaving you dark and sad with disappointment and regret. If you have, - you may fancy what my thoughts are undergoing every hour of the day. - O, how my heart is drawn away towards you! I often feel that I must - fly up, like a bird, to be there. I should come now, but for what - might be thought. I shall certainly be there in early spring. I can’t - stay away, though I may come only to see what I could bear less easy - than these haunting, troubled fancies. Mrs. Elwood, adieu. You won’t - show this, or breathe a word about it,--I know you won’t; you could - not be so cruel as that. Mrs. Elwood, may I not sign myself your - friend? - - FLUELLA.” - - -On perusing this unexpected communication, Mrs. Elwood felt--she -scarcely knew herself what she felt, except a keenly appreciating -sense of the writer’s embarrassed feelings, and except, also, the -pleasurable emotions which this timid and tender outpouring of an -unsophisticated heart somehow afforded her. Ever since her singular -interview with this remarkable girl, as described in a former chapter, -Mrs. Elwood had not ceased to think of her as of some good angel, sent -by an interposing Providence, in answer to the agonizing supplications -which immediately preceded her unexpected appearance at the time,--sent -to be the means, in some unforeseen way, of extricating her family -from the fatal influences, as she viewed them, under which they had -insidiously been brought by their different connections with the -Gurleys. Especially had she been impressed that this would prove the -case, in all that related to her idolized son, Claud; whom, in her -disregard to all considerations of lineage, when relieved by such -excellence of beauty and character, she would a thousand times rather -have seen united to the Indian girl than to the one he appeared to -have chosen. She was, therefore, besides being touched by the broken -pathos of the letter, gratified by its reception; for it seemed to come -as a sort of confirmation of her grateful presentiment, that her son, -at least, was to be happily disenthralled. Nor was she, at this time, -without the evidence which led her to hope that her husband, also, had -now finally escaped from the toils that had, once and again, caused -him such calamity and suffering. The sudden and terrible outbreak of -indignation, which, with equal surprise and gratification, she had seen -him exhibit against Gaut, and the quarrel in court, which followed in -consequence, must, she thought, now forever keep them separate. If so, -poorly as her family could afford to suffer their part of the loss -of the avails of the fall’s work, she would cheerfully bear it, and -even look upon the event in the light of a Heaven-sent mercy. But even -of this poor comfort she was destined soon to be deprived. After the -trial, Mark Elwood--who, however bravely he bore himself at first, on -that occasion, was finally seen to quail under the terrible glances -of Gaut--soon became strangely silent respecting the prosecution -and supposed perpetration of the offence about which he had before -manifested so much zeal and indignation. And, in the active exertions -which Phillips and Codman, in the vain search for evidence or some -clue to the robbery of the furs, perseveringly kept up during the -whole of the long and dreary winter that followed, he could not be -induced to take any decided part. Nor would he, when they met him at -his own house, or that of Phillips, as they several times did, that -winter, to compare the discoveries and observations they had made, and -discuss the subject, any longer maintain the position he at first so -boldly took, respecting Gaut’s guilt, or say any thing in aid of their -deliberations. _He_, indeed, as _they_ grew more decided and convinced, -seemed to grow more wavering and doubtful. Such was his demeanor and -conduct in company of his late companions; while, with his own family, -he appeared moody, irresolute, and restless, and even, at length, he -began to throw out occasional hints tending to defend or extenuate the -conduct of the very man whom, a few weeks before, he had so confidently -denounced as a thief and a robber. Alarmed at these indications of -returning weakness and fatuity in her husband, Mrs. Elwood soon put -herself on inquiry, to ascertain the cause; and she was not long -in making discoveries that more than justified her worst fears and -suspicions. - -It appeared that Gaut Gurley, after his arrest, and after his escape -from the punishment of the law, through the means, as was now generally -believed, which he had cunningly provided before he entered on the -commission of the offence charged, remained almost constantly at home, -during nearly the whole winter, brooding, in savage mood, over his own -dark thoughts and varying schemes for advantage and revenge, keeping -his family in continual awe of him, and causing all who approached him -to recoil, shuddering, from his presence, and mark him as a dangerous -man in the community. Towards spring, however, he appeared suddenly -to change his tactics, or, at least, to undergo a great change in -his deportment and conduct. All at once, he came round in his usual -manner. The dark cloud had been banished from his brow. He civilly -accosted every acquaintance he met, appeared cheerful and good-humored, -and desirous of prolonging the conversation with all with whom he -came in contact, without seeming to notice, in the least, the evident -inclination of most of the settlers to avoid his company. He came down, -every few days, to the little village before named as the place where -the court was held, and lounged for hours about the tavern; which, -during the winter season, was the common resort of the settlers. Here -he soon encountered his old companions, Phillips, Codman, and the -Elwoods, all of whom, notwithstanding the cold and demure manner with -which the two former, at least, turned away from him, he saluted with -careless ease, and as if nothing had happened to disturb their former -social relations. And, having thus surmounted the somewhat difficult -task of breaking the ice with them, without receiving the open and -absolute repulse which, however disposed, they did not deem it wise to -give him, he, at the next meeting, ventured to broach the subject of -their late quarrel, affecting to laugh at their mutual exhibitions of -folly in getting so angry with each other in court, under the belief, -on his part, that _they_ had got the furs, and, on their part, that -_he_ had made way with them; when neither of them were guilty, and -ought not to be charged with the offence. For himself, he said, he -was now satisfied, on thinking the matter over, who were the real -culprits. They were a couple of “cussed runagate Indians,” that had -strolled over from Canada, and, having discovered his camp, had laid -in wait for his absence. He had seen the tracks of two different-sized -moccasins in the sand on the lake-shore, but two days before he left; -but the circumstance was forgotten, or he should not have left the camp -unguarded. It was a great loss for them all; but it would not help the -matter to mourn now. It must be borne; and he knew of no way to make -it up but to try their luck in another expedition. He should, for his -part; for he had no notion of giving up so. - -Such was the drift of his conversation at this interview; and, seeming -to think he had ventured far enough for one experiment on their -credulity, he dropped that subject and struck off on to others. But the -next time he met them he contrived to turn the conversation upon the -same theme; when, telling them with a confidential air that, a few days -before he left camp, he discovered, on a stream coming in at the upper -end of the Megantic, a succession of freshly-constructed beaver dams, -which, from the number of houses and other indications around each, -he thought must be occupied by one of the largest colonies of beavers -ever collected on one stream in that part of the country, he directly -proposed to them to join him, when the spring opened, in an expedition -to secure this extraordinary collection of the valuable animals that -were, unquestionably, still all there, and as unquestionably might be -captured. - -This story, with the accompanying proposal, presented, as Gaut -well knew, the most tempting inducement that could be offered, to -trappers. But it made no impression on Phillips and Codman. They -deeply distrusted the man, his whole story, and the motives which -they believed moved him to concoct it. Spurning in their hearts, -therefore, the bait that had been so artfully laid for them, they -would have nothing to do with _him_ or his proposal. And, both then -and thereafter, they remained unmoved, and stood proof against all the -arguments his taxed ingenuity and devilish cunning could invent and -bring to bear upon them. - -With the infatuated Mark Elwood, however, the case seemed to be almost -wholly reversed. He again listened,--was again lost. He, restless, -uneasy, and evidently apprehensive of something he did not disclose, -from continuing under the terrible displeasure which Gaut had so -significantly manifested towards him,--he had appeared, from the -first, to hail with pleasure the indications of the relenting mood of -the other, and seemed but too glad to be again noticed with favor. -He could see no reason to distrust the man’s sincerity, he said, when -others raised the question; and he was much inclined to adopt his -version of the robbery and burning of their camp. When, therefore, the -proposal of a new expedition was made, under the circumstances we have -named, the blinded Elwood seemed fully prepared to accept it; and he -would have openly and without reserve done so, but for the restraining -presence of his companions, who, he felt conscious, would disapprove -and deprecate his conduct. Gaut had noticed all this, and was not long -in bringing about a private interview with his dupe and victim, which -resulted, as might be supposed, in settling the matter in just the way -he intended. - -From that time, the conduct of Mark Elwood became wholly inexplicable -to all his friends and acquaintances in the settlement. He commenced -with defending Gaut Gurley, thus giving the lie to all he had said, -and ended with declaring an intention of accompanying him in another -trapping expedition to the upper lakes, to be entered upon on a given -day in April, then near at hand. And, in spite of all the advice and -warnings of his late associates in the former disastrous campaign; -the remonstrances of his son, who shared in the apprehensions of -the others; and the agonizing tears and entreaties of his wife, -he strangely persisted in his purpose, and, like the fated one of -the Scriptures, steadily “set his face” towards his contemplated -destination. - -“The man is _hurried_!” said Phillips to Codman, as they left Elwood’s -on a second and last visit, made with the sole object of dissuading -him from a step which they shrank from themselves,--that of going into -the distant forest with such a desperate fellow as they now deeply -suspected Gaut Gurley to be,--“the man is evidently _hurried_. When -I saw that look Gaut gave Elwood in court, I knew he was marked for -destruction, more especially than the rest of us, who are doubtless -both placed on the same list. And Elwood would see it himself, if he -was right-minded. Yes, he is _hurried_, and can’t help it. He will go, -and God grant my fears may not be realized.” - -And he did go, but not alone. As soon as Claud became fully satisfied -that his father’s purpose was not to be shaken, he began earnestly -to debate in mind the question whether he himself should not, as a -filial duty, become a participant in the expedition, with the view of -making his presence instrumental in averting the apprehended danger. -And, although he perceived that his mother’s distress, all troubled -and doubtful as she was in deciding between her conflicting duties -of affection, would be enhanced by the step; and, although his mind -had been still more staggered by a brief confidential note from Avis -Gurley, advising him, if not too late, to find means to break up the -project of the expedition entirely, yet he finally made up his mind in -the affirmative. And, accordingly, on the morning of the appointed day, -both father and son, after a leave-taking with the despondent wife and -mother, more ominously sad and mournful than had ever before marked -their family trials, set forth again for the wild wastes of the lakes, -with their now doubly questionable companion. - - - - -CHAPTER XVIII. - - “But there was weeping far away; - And gentle eyes, for him, - With watching many an anxious day, - Were sorrowful and dim.” - - BRYANT’S MURDERED TRAVELLER. - - -It was the second week in May; and spring, delightful spring, sweet -herald of happiness to all the living creatures that have undergone -the almost literal imprisonment of one of the long and dreary winters -of our hyperborean clime, was beginning to sprinkle the green glories -of approaching summer over the reänimated wilderness. In the physical -world, all seemed light and laughing around: - - ----“the green soil with joyous living things - Swarm’d, the wide air was full of joyous wings.” - -The sun, no longer feebly struggling through the dark, obstructed -medium of a northern winter’s atmosphere, was throwing abroad his -clear, unstinted floods of living light, bathing with soft radiance the -diversified face of the basking forest, and gleaming far and brightly -over the soothed waters of the sleeping lake. The mild and genial -zephyrs were discoursing the low, sweet, melancholy music of their -æolian harps, among the gently-wavering tops of the whispering pines. -The choral throng of feathered songsters were filling every grove, -glade, or glen, of field and forest, with the glad strains of their -merry melodies. And all nature seemed crying aloud, in the fullness of -her happiness, - - “The summer is coming; rejoice ye, rejoice!” - -So smiled every thing, animate and inanimate, in the visible physical -world, as circumscribed to this secluded settlement, on the morning -when opened the first scene in the closing act of our story’s changeful -drama. But in the moral world, so far as the interests and feelings of -most of our leading personages were involved, the skies were overcast -with contrasted clouds of doubt and darkness. - -On that morning, at the Elwood Landing, on the western shore of -Umbagog, stood a collected group of excited people, of different -ages and sexes, gazing anxiously across the lake in the direction -of the great inlet, as if expecting the appearance of some object -or person from that quarter. But, before naming the cause of their -assembling and the objects of their present solicitude, we will leave -them a moment for a brief--but, for the understanding of the reader, -necessary--recurrence to what had transpired, in the interim between -the departure of the two Elwoods and Gaut Gurley, and the present -occasion. - -For nearly a month after her husband and son left home, Mrs. Elwood had -been wholly unable to obtain any tidings of them, or any information -even of their locality on the upper lakes. And gloomily, O how -gloomily, with her, passed the long and dreary days and sleepless -nights of that dismal period! Little had occurred to vary the monotony -of her harrowing anxieties; and that little tended rather to increase -than relieve them. For, even from the limited intercourse she had -with families of the settlers,--although their conversation, out of -regard to her feelings, was restrained and guarded, when the subject -nearest her heart was introduced,--she gathered the fact that she was -not alone in her fears and anxieties, but that they were shared, to a -greater or less extent, by the people of the whole settlement; among -whom the subject was being daily discussed, at every fireside, with -avowed apprehensions that some fearful fate was awaiting one or both -of the Elwoods, in their sojourn in the forest, in whose dark recesses -there would be no witnesses to restrain the evil-doer from the purposes -of robbery and revenge which they generally believed he secretly -entertained. But, among all the settlers, no one had exhibited so much -anxiety and restlessness as the hunter, Phillips. He had been almost -continually absent from home, evidently to distant places, but where -and with what objects he declined to make known. The direction and -object of one of these secret journeys, however, was inferred from the -unexpectedly early return of Fluella, the lovely maid of the forest, -who had no sooner reached her old home than she flew to the Elwood -cottage, to mingle her tears and sympathies with those of the anxious -and troubled matron; who, in the circumstances, could have received -no more acceptable visit. With the opening of the season, also, other -absentees had returned to the settlement. Carvil had come back, to -ascertain what had been effected in relation to the supposed robbery -of the furs, the fall before, having intrusted his interests to the -care of Phillips; and now feeling, with the others, apprehensive for -the result of the new expedition, he was anxiously awaiting the return -of the absent trappers. Tomah, the eccentric young Indian, likewise -had surprised the settlers by his sudden reäppearance among them, in -a suit of superfine broadcloth, hat and boots to match, gold watch, -showy seals, and all the gewgaw _etceteras_ that go to make up the -animal they call a city dandy. He had sold his moose, it appeared, for -four hundred dollars, and brought nearly the whole of it home on his -bedizened person,--with the object, as he soon admitted, of dazzling -the hitherto obdurate Fluella. - -“Yes,--catch her sartain, now,” he said, with a complaisant glance -over his dashing rig, on departing for the chief’s, as soon as he -ascertained the fair object of his pursuit had returned to her -father’s. But he soon came back, in a great miff, and offered to sell -the whole of his fine new outfit for just one half what it cost him. -Contrary to expectation, he declared he would have nothing more to do -with Gaut Gurley; concerning whom he had seen something, about the -time of the trial, to awaken his suspicions, and against whom he now -evidently stood ready to array himself, with the rest, on the next -occasion. - -With these few incidents, April passed away, and the first day of May, -the usual limit of the fur season, had arrived; but with it the absent -trappers had failed to make their appearance. Another week passed, -and still they came not. “What could it mean?” was on every tongue. -Men ominously shook their heads, and women and children began, in the -connection, to talk in suppressed voices of the dark character of Gaut -Gurley. - -At this juncture, word came that Gaut had returned, and had several -times been seen about his home. A man was immediately dispatched to -Gaut’s residence, for inquiries about the Elwoods; but the messenger -returned and reported that Gaut said he parted with them on the -Maguntic,--he to go over the mountains to his home, on the Magalloway, -and they, in their canoe, that had been frozen up in Oquossak, the fall -before, to go to Bethel to sell their furs. Further than this, he knew -nothing about them. - -“I don’t believe a word of it!” exclaimed the hunter, who with many -others had anxiously awaited, at the tavern, the messenger’s return; -“not one word of it! They would not have gone off to Bethel after such -an absence, before returning home; or, if they had, they would have -been here before this time. But the story shall be investigated without -twelve hours delay. It is time we were moving in the business. Who will -furnish me with a good saddle-horse?” - -The horse was furnished; and within half an hour the excited hunter was -speeding his way to Bethel. - -He returned early the next morning, in a state of still greater -excitement and concern than before; having ridden all night, in his -anxiety to reach the settlement by the time people were up, so that -immediate measures might be put afoot to scour the country in search -of the missing Elwoods, whose continued absence had now become doubly -mysterious and alarming, by the discovery he had made, as he feared he -should, that they had not gone to Bethel at all, nor been seen or heard -of anywhere in that direction. - -The news of Gaut’s return alone, his improbable story, and the -discovery of its almost certain falsity, spread like wild-fire over -the settlement; and the people, already prepared to believe the worst -by their previous suspicions of Gaut’s evil designs, rose up as one -man, instinctively shuddering at the thought of the apprehended crime, -and feeling irresistibly impelled to attempt something to bring about -that fearful atonement which Heaven demands of every man who wilfully -sheds the blood of his fellow-man. So deep and absorbing was this -feeling, indeed, in the present instance, that men dropped their -hoes in the field, left their axes sticking in the trees, and threw -aside all other kinds of business, and, with excited and troubled -looks, hurried off to the scene of action, to see, hear, and join in -whatever movement the exigencies of the case might require to be made. -And before night nearly the whole of the settlers, residing within a -circuit of a dozen miles of the surrounding country, had assembled at -the tavern in the rustic hamlet, which, as before mentioned, they made, -on all extraordinary occasions, the place of their common rendezvous. -Here, after conversing a while in scattered groups, exchanging in low, -hurried tones, and with many an apprehensive glance around them, their -various opinions and conjectures, they gradually gathered in one room -in the tavern, formed themselves into something like an organized -meeting, and began their deliberations. But, before they had settled -on any definite course of action, their attention was suddenly turned -from the channel their minds were all evidently taking, by a new and -unexpected occurrence. - -Two young men, who had that day been across the lake to the Great -Rapids, for the purpose of fishing, returned to the village about -sunset, with the news that they had discovered, at the foot of the -most dangerous pass of the rapids, wedged in among the projecting -flood-wood of the place, a partially-wrecked and stove canoe, which -they both recognized as the one kept by the Elwoods at their landing -last summer, and, of course, the one they took away with them in their -succeeding fall expedition. This fact, all at once readily perceived, -might throw an entirely new aspect over the whole of the mysterious -affair; and they soon decided on dispatching the same young men, at -daybreak the next morning, across the lake, to examine carefully both -shores of the inlet up to, and some distance beyond, the place where -they found the canoe, to see if they could find any thing else, or -discover any indications going to show that anybody had been wrecked -and drowned there; then to return, as quickly as possible, with the -wrecked canoe in tow, and whatever else they might find, to the Elwood -landing; where the company would assemble, by the middle of the -forenoon, to receive them, hear their report, examine the canoe, and -take action according to the circumstances. - -It was done; and this was the occasion of the assembling at the landing -of the mingled and anxious group which we began to describe near the -commencement of this chapter, and to which we will now return. - -Foremost in the mingled group of people which we have thus brought to -view, was the agonized wife and mother of the missing or lost men; -whose doubtful fate was also engrossing, though less intensely, every -thought and feeling of the sympathizing company around her. She had -gradually worked herself down to the extremest verge of the low shore, -and had unconsciously placed one foot in the edge of the water, as -if irresistibly drawn to the farthest possible limit in the supposed -direction of those two objects of her affection, who, alive or dead, -were still her all-in-all of this world; and there she stood, slightly -inclined forward, but motionless, mute, and pale as a marble statue, -with lips painfully compressed, and eyes, glazed and watery, intently -fixed on the opposite shore of the lake to which she was looking for -relief, at least from the terrible suspense under which she was -suffering. By her side, a little back, stood the wife of the hunter, -and two or three other women of the vicinity, who had more particularly -interested themselves in her troubles,--some shedding sympathetic -tears, and some offering an occasional word, which they hoped might -in a slight degree divert her sorrows or console her in her anguish. -But, alike regardless of their falling tears and soothing remarks, -she gazed on, in unbroken silence, hour after hour, taking no note of -time, or any object around her, in the all-absorbing intensity of her -feelings. Little, indeed, was said by _any_ of the company. The younger -portion stood in hushed awe at the sight of grief in the older, and at -the thought of what might the next hour befall. And the men, though -visibly exercised by strong emotions, and occasionally revealing a -trembling lip or starting tear, as they glanced at the face of the -chief sufferer, yet offered scarce a remark to relieve the pervading -gloom of the sad and anxious hour. The whole group, indeed, might have -been taken for a funeral cortége, awaiting on the shore the expected -remains of some deceased friend. - -After standing in this manner till nearly noon, the company caught -sight of a scarcely-perceptible object on the water, in the direction -of the great inlet. And, although for some time it appeared like a -speck, as seen against the low, green fringe of the opposite and -far-distant shore, yet it at length so enlarged on the vision that -the form of a canoe and the gleam of flashing oars became distinctly -discernible. Soon a little variation in the line of approach brought -not only the canoe and the rowers, but another canoe in tow, plainly -in view; and then all knew that their painful suspense was about to be -ended. Another half-hour had to be passed by the company, who still -stood there in trembling expectation, awaiting the approach of the -canoes; when, as the latter now came within hailing distance, the -impatient hunter stepped down to the water’s edge, and called out: - -“What news do you bring?” - -“None! but we have brought the canoe.” - -“I see; but have you made no discoveries?” - -“None whatever.” - -“No caps, packs, or bunches of furs washed up anywhere?” - -“No, nothing. We examined thoroughly both shores of the rapids, and -found nothing, and no mark or sign of any thing about which any -conclusion could be formed respecting the manner the canoe got there.” - -“But the oars?” - -“We found them in the same flood-wood with the boat, and they appeared -as if they were thrown out of the canoe when it struck.” - -The canoe, which was the object of scrutiny, and which had been injured -much less than had been supposed, a break in the upper part of the -bow being the only ruptured part, was now drawn up on the shore; -when Phillips, Codman, and Tomah took upon themselves to go into a -minute and careful inspection of every part of its outer and inner -surface, together with every appearance from which any inference having -the least bearing on the question at issue could be drawn by these -experienced and observing canoe-men. - -“Men no leave oars in canoe, when go over falls,” at length observed -the Indian, standing back with the air of one who has satisfied himself -with an examination,--“no leave oars that way; have them out to use; -and then, when upset, drop ’em in the river; where get scattered, go -down, wash up different places, mile apart, may be,--not together, -right close side of canoe, likely. Don’t believe so much story, like -that come to.” - -“Spoke like a man who knows something,” said the trapper, the next -to offer comments. “And here is a loosened slip-knot in the end of -this bark boat-rope, which I have been looking at. See! it has been -drawn into a fixed knot, that hasn’t been altered since it has had -considerable use and steady pulling through it, as I see by the -chafed bark inside the small hole within the knot. The hole is too -small to have been brought into this shape by hitching it to a stake -or projecting limb of a tree on shore. It looks exactly as if a tie -attached to some other canoe had been passed through it, to draw this -canoe along by; and here is a slight mark of a knife, where that tie -has been cut out, owing to the difficulty of untying. This canoe must -have been hitched behind some other canoe, and towed down to the head -of the rapids, and there sent adrift.” - -“Yes,” responded the hunter, who had been particularly confining his -attention to the outer and top edges along the sides of the boat; “yes; -and here is the moss or scurf that had gathered on these upper edges, -on both sides, during the snows and thaws of winter, still remaining -entire and unbroken, in every part of this delicate weather coating, -which even a thumbnail, as you see, can’t pass over without marring -it or leaving a mark. No man could have rowed this canoe twenty rods -without grazing these edges and leaving marks on them. Yes, you are -both right. This canoe, which I suppose you all agree was Mr. Elwood’s, -has not been rowed since he left it hauled up on the shore of the -Oquossak last fall, to be buried by the great snow-storm; and the -Elwoods are both safe, for all being wrecked and drowned from _that_ -boat, or any other, I presume.” - -The countenance of Mrs. Elwood, who stood at some little distance from -the spot where the examination of the canoe had been going on, but -near enough to hear most of what was said, visibly brightened at this -announcement. The hunter saw the expression, and a shade of anguish -passed over his face, as, turning to those immediately around him, and -speaking in a low, subdued, and commiserating tone, he resumed: - -“I cannot find it in my heart to dampen the new-lighted hope which this -turn of the affair seems to give that poor, wretched wife and mother. -But, to my mind, all this makes it doubly certain that the Elwoods -have met with foul play. It looks exactly like one of Gaut’s devilish -schemes of finesse, to cause this canoe to be sent down the rapids, -and be so found as to lead folks to suppose the owners were drowned, -and to put the public on a false scent. Yes, friends, you may depend -there has been foul play,--I dare not guess how foul. I have felt it -the last fortnight, as if some unseen hand was writing the dreadful -secret on my heart. I feel it still, now stronger than ever. And I call -God to witness my resolution, that I will know no rest or relaxing till -I see the dark deed laid open to day, and its infernal author brought -to justice. Will you all join me in the work, without flinching or -flagging?” - -The low but firmly-responded “Yes, yes, all of us,” told the hunter -that he would know no lack of efficient aid in carrying out his -resolution. - -“Let us, then,” he said, “leave the women and boys, a few minutes, and -retire back here a few rods, out of their hearing, to determine on the -first steps to be taken.” - -In accordance with this suggestion, the men withdrew, by themselves, -to a convenient place on the site of an old camping-ground, within -the forest, a few rods farther up the lake, leaving Mrs. Elwood and -her female attendants slowly retracing their steps back to her house, -from which they had accompanied her to this spot, and the boys amusing -themselves in seeing who could throw a stone farthest into the lake. -The men, now relieved from the fear of causing Mrs. Elwood needless -alarm, and of having their remarks reported by others of the mingled -company,--to the injury, perhaps, of the investigation on hand,--at -once gave vent to their smothered convictions, and feelings of -indignation and horror, in an exciting debate; which soon resulted in -the determination to dispatch, the next morning, four men in two canoes -up the lakes, in search of the missing, or such traces of them as might -lead to a discovery of their fate; while the rest should remain in the -settlement, to watch for new indications there and keep a vigilant eye -on the movements of the bold but wary villain, whom they all believed -to be the perpetrator of the supposed outrage. But, before they had -fully settled the details of their plan, their attention was arrested -by a shouting from the boys, who announced that a strange canoe was -approaching them from the other part of the lake. Hearing this, and -thinking the new-comer might have perhaps arrived from the upper -lakes, and could give them important information, the men immediately -suspended their consultation, and came out to the landing to hail him, -or to await his approach. They soon discovered that the rower was an -Indian, and it was not long before the trapper began to recognize the -canoe, from some peculiarity about the bow, to be his own, and the one -he had left with the boats of his companions on the Oquossak the season -before. This, if true, might lead to important developments; and the -company kept their eyes keenly fixed on the rower, to see if he would -manifest any disposition to avoid them. But he kept steadily on towards -the landing, and, in another minute, was within near hailing distance. - -“Hillo! my red friend, where did you get that canoe?” cried the trapper. - -“Tell you soon,--you make me believe you right to know,” quietly -replied the native, without appearing to be in the least disturbed by -the question, or any inference which might naturally be drawn from it. - -“Well, I _can_ make you believe I have a right to know, if you are -_willing_ to believe; for I can swear the canoe is my own, and prove -it, too, by some of these gentlemen,” returned the trapper, with warmth. - -“May be,--we see soon,” responded the other, an intelligent, -good-looking, middle-aged Indian, now slipping ashore and firmly -confronting the company. - -“Now tell us where you got it, sir,” again sharply demanded the -trapper. “I have offered to swear to my ownership, and prove it; so -tell how you came by it, unless you would have us believe you stole it.” - -“Stole it?” reproachfully said the Indian. “Ask that man,” he -added, pointing to Carvil, whom he appeared to have previously -recognized,--“ask him, if me do thing like that?” - -“Moose-killer, is this you?” exclaimed Carvil, who had been eyeing the -stranger Indian with a hesitating air. “I thought, from the first, I -knew you, but couldn’t quite decide. Moose-killer, I am glad you have -come. We are just at this time trying to search out a dark affair, -which we fear has happened, and with which this boat you came in may -possibly be connected. We should be glad to make a few inquiries of -you, when you are ready to hear them. There need,” he added, turning to -the trapper and the others, “there need be no fear but this man will -tell a true story; I have met him on the Great Megantic, where he goes -by the name I have called him, on account of his well-known expertness -in moose-killing.” - -The Indian started at the significant allusion which had been made to -the subject that was then engaging the attention of those present, and -its possible connection with his canoe; and, with unusual promptness -for one of his demure and slow-speaking race, announced himself ready -to tell his story. - -“Moose-killer is about to speak,” said Carvil, looking round on the -eagerly expectant company. “We will all listen. What he will say will -be true.” - -“Hear, in my country,” thereupon began Moose-killer, in the -abbreviated, broken, and sententious language peculiar to the Red -Man,--“hear, in my country, beaver bring more this side the mountains; -so come over, and been to Bethel-town to sell ’em. Come over mountains, -down piece, the river you call Magalloway,--then strike off down to big -lake, Megantic. Then follow shore long way; but stop sudden,--start -back! See much blood on the leaves,--trail all along down to the water. -Then go back, look again,--find where man fall, bleed much,--die,--lay -there till dead quite. Man, because see where hands catch hold of -moss, leaves,--feet kick in ground. All dead, because feet limber -and no catch in brush dragging to shore,--find where canoe hitch to -shore,--dead man put in, rowed away, sunk in lake, likely. Look all -over ground again, much time,--then come on long way, and find that -canoe, hid in bushes,--take it, go sell beaver,--then come here quick -to tell story, see who missing.” - -We will not undertake to describe the intense excitement which this -brief but pregnant story of the Indian produced on the company, who, -though hoping to gather something from him that might be of use in -the inquiry on hand, were yet little expecting a development so -startling as this. They--especially those but little acquainted with -the Indian character--could, at first, hardly believe that a story of -such horrors, if true, could be told so quietly, and with so little -apparent feeling, as the narrator had exhibited during his recital; and -they immediately subjected him to a long and close cross-examination. -Nothing, however, was elicited to weaken his story, but some things to -confirm it. Among these was a faint stain of blood, which Moose-killer -pointed out to the company, in the bow of the canoe, and which was -evidently but lately made, while the size and height of the man, -supposed to be murdered, which the Indian judged of by a similar -curious process with that by which he reached his other conclusions, -were seen to correspond with the dimensions of the elder Elwood; who -was believed to be the man thus indicated, though it left the fate of -Claud still shrouded in mystery. - -“Poor Mark Elwood!” exclaimed the hunter, with a sigh, as they closed -their examination of the Indian. “He is dead; whatever may have become -of his son, for whom there is still some hope, _he_, at least, is dead! -murdered in cold blood! and who need doubt the identity of the accursed -author of the deed?” - -“This is, certainly, something like tangible evidence,” responded -Carvil, whose former studies enabled him to speak more understandingly, -in the matter of legal evidence, than his companions. “And, though it -is still only circumstantial, yet, when taken in connection with Gaut’s -false story, and all other of the attending circumstances, it stands -out most remarkably significant against the man; and, even without any -additional proof, it would, I think, warrant us in arresting him.” - -“In God’s name, then, let it be done, before he escapes from the -country!” cried the hunter, with startling emphasis. “But we must all -keep the discoveries we have made to-day, as well as the movements we -may now make, as secret as death, lest he hear of them and take the -alarm.” - -An earnest consultation was then held, and a plan of operations soon -adopted. By this it was arranged that Moose-killer--who, when he had -gathered what was known of Gaut Gurley, and obtained a description -of his person, entered into the arrangements with an unexpected -alacrity--it was arranged that Moose-killer, Carvil, Tomah, and two of -the settlers, should start immediately up the lakes, in further search -for the body of Mark Elwood (whose fate was now treated as settled), -and, also, for a more general search round the two upper lakes for his -son, Claud; who, it was hoped, had by some means been separated from -his father, and suffered to escape, despite the improbability that he -would remain so long absent, if nothing had befallen him. Phillips -also concluded to accompany them as far as the next lake above, to see -the chief and his daughter, to confide to them the discoveries of the -day, and put them on the lookout for further indications. The rest of -the company were to return quietly and separately, as far as could -conveniently be done, to the village, and there remain till after dark; -when two of their number were to ride, as fast as horses could carry -them, to Lancaster, for warrants, a sheriff, and his posse, to be on -the ground as early as possible the next morning; while others were to -proceed up the Magalloway, and lurk round in the woods within sight of -the house of Gaut Gurley, as spies on his movements. - -The company then separated on their several destinations; and, during -the remainder of the afternoon, nothing occurred in the settlement -which need here be mentioned, except the secret and cautiously-made -preparations for the proposed action of the night, that, though -imperceptible to the uninitiated, were yet actively going on at the -village. About sunset, however, the hunter returned from his visit -to the chief’s; but in a state of no little perplexity and concern, -at an event which he unexpectedly found had there occurred. This was -the unaccountable absence of Fluella, who, without apprising her -father of her intentions, had secretly left home several days before. -As the hunter had depended considerably on the girl’s acuteness and -means of observation at the commanding point of her residence, he was -both disappointed and puzzled at her absence. And, as he had been -debating with himself, on his way across the lake, whether he had not -better call on Mrs. Elwood, and take the first step towards gradually -preparing her mind for the worst, in regard to her husband, he now -resolved to do so, with the further object of getting her version of -Fluella’s absence at such a juncture. Accordingly, he called at the -house; and, seeing the afflicted woman’s entreatingly expectant looks, -he at once entered on his painful task by hinting his fears for the -fate of her husband; when, somewhat to his surprise, she cut him short -by sadly remarking: - -“I know it all.” - -“How?--what have you heard?” eagerly asked the hunter. - -“I don’t know it by what I have heard,” she replied, in the same sad -accents; “for I have heard less, perhaps, than you; but I knew it -would be so, from the hour he departed. And, a few days ago, my heart -received a shock. It was from the same blow that killed him. Yes, poor -Mr. Elwood is dead! I have buried him! But my son Claud--O, my son -Claud!” The astonished hunter then told her of the singular absence -of Fluella; when, again to his surprise, she started up, and joyfully -exclaimed, “He lives!--though in danger, perhaps, he lives, and I shall -see him again!” - -Wondering whether her reason was not unsettled, the hunter departed, -and hurried on to the village. - - - - -CHAPTER XIX. - - “What justice ever other judgment taught, - But he should die who merits not to live.” - - SPENSER. - - -About the middle of the afternoon, on the day next succeeding the -eventful one which was marked by the occurrences narrated in the last -chapter, a cavalcade of about a dozen men on horseback, followed by a -single wagon, containing some fire-arms, two or three pairs of iron -handcuffs, and a few other articles of luggage, came clattering down -the road from the west, towards the tavern with which the reader has -already been made familiar. The men, who had been dispatched for the -shire-town of the county, had ridden hard all night, reached the place -at daylight, drummed up the officers of justice, got them started -at an early hour, and urged them on with such speed that, within -twenty hours, they had arrived at the scene of action. After the -halt of an hour at the tavern, for rest and refreshment, and a brief -consultation with the settlers, the sheriff, and his posse, now swelled -by volunteers from the settlement, set forth, under the guidance of -Phillips, for the residence of the supposed criminal, calculating to -reach there about dusk,--the hour they deemed most favorable for making -the arrest. After proceeding in silence about two-thirds of the way -to their destination, they halted, to make their final preparations -and arrangements for the onset; when, knowing the great strength and -desperate character of the man with whom they would have to deal, -they first carefully prepared their fire-arms, and then detailed a -half-dozen of their number, most conversant with the locality, to go -forward, spread themselves around the borders of Gaut’s clearing, -and cautiously advance to the house, so as to head off any attempt he -might make to escape, when the main body made their appearance. All -the time spent in these precautions, however, as well as this whole -jaunt thus far up the river, was destined to be mostly lost; for, as -the company were again beginning to move forward, they were met by the -scouts, dispatched the night before, hurrying back, most of them in a -disabled condition, and with the report that Gaut had escaped about -an hour before. They had lain in their coverts all day, and in the -fore part of it nothing had been seen to excite their suspicions; but, -towards night, they noticed him cleaning his rifle and pistols, as near -as they could judge, and then, soon after, bringing out a pack and -placing it by the side of his rifle at the door; and scarcely had they -time to concentrate before he came out, shouldered his pack, took his -arms, and proceeded towards a canoe moored on the bank of the river. -They then instantly resolved to intercept him; and, running for the -spot, came up to him just as he had laid his rifle in the boat; when -he turned upon them with the suddenness and fury of a pursued tiger; -seized the foremost, who had laid his hands on the canoe, and, with -giant strength, threw him headlong into the river; hurled the second -with stunning effect on the ground; knocked down a third with his fist; -leaped into his canoe, sent it swiftly across the stream, ran up the -opposite bank, and disappeared in the woods, before they had recovered -from their confusion, or thought of having recourse to their rifles to -stop him. - -“Slipped through our fingers and gone!” said the sheriff, with an air -of chagrin and disappointment. - -“Yes, for this onset,” said Codman, the next to volunteer remarks in -the provoking nonplus in which they now all found themselves. “Yes, but -I should like mightily to know how he got wind of our movements? If the -devil didn’t tell him, I don’t think he done as well by his friend as -he ought.” - -“Perhaps,” rejoined the sheriff, after the laugh of some and the -approving glances of others, which had followed the characteristic -remark of the trapper, had passed away,--“perhaps he, or some of his -family, caught a glimpse of these scouts round their clearing during -the day; or perhaps he has an accomplice, or tool, whom he had engaged -to watch public movements, and bring him word.” - -“I have thought of some such thing, myself,” remarked Phillips. “In the -case of his robbing our camp, last fall, I felt quite confident he must -have had some accomplice, or some secret agent, to take off the furs -for him. If he has such an one now, I think it must be a Jesuit priest, -as I have heard that such a looking personage has, once or twice, been -seen at Gaut’s house since he moved into the settlement.” - -“Well, if the villain has such a character as that in tow, he would be -devil enough for all common purposes,” responded the sheriff. “But, -however all that may be, I fear he has struck a line for Canada, and -this is the last we shall ever see of him in this country.” - -“Not for Canada,” confidently said the hunter; “for I know enough about -him to make me feel quite sure that he will never again trust his head -within reach of British authority.” - -“Ah!” exclaimed the sheriff, “what is it you know?” - -“I think it had better not be told just yet,” answered the other, -decisively. “Let us first see whether he can’t be caught and hung here, -for his last crying offence.” - -“But do you think he can yet be overtaken, and arrested?” asked the -former. - -“Certainly I do,” returned the hunter, with earnest confidence. “He -must, and _shall_, be taken! God’s curse is on the man; and he will -never, I tell you, _never_ be suffered to escape us.” - -“Well, then,” resumed the sheriff, thoughtfully, “what course do you -think he will take, and where secrete himself, so that he can be found? -I, on my part, stand ready to do every thing in my power to bring the -miscreant, of whose guilt I think there can now be but little doubt, -to immediate justice. Now, as you are said to be a man of observation -and energy, Mr. Phillips, let us have the benefit of your opinion and -advice in the matter.” - -“It is my opinion,” said the hunter, in response, after dropping -his head a moment in study, “it is very clearly my opinion that the -fellow will now aim to reach some of the eastern cities,--ever the -Umbagog, most likely, in a canoe that he keeps concealed somewhere on -the western shore, which is only a mile or two over this ridge, that -rises from the other bank of the river, here against us. He will not -be likely to come back to his house, or the river, where he will still -suppose we are on the watch; nor will he start out on the lake till -after dark, lest he be seen, and his course traced; but lie concealed -till that time in some of the difficult rocky steeps that shut down to -the lake.” - -“Your ideas of his probable aims and movements appear reasonable, Mr. -Phillips. Now, what are the steps you would advise to be taken for his -apprehension?” asked the sheriff. - -“Well, my plan would be something like this,” replied the hunter, -musingly. “I would post half a dozen men, for the night,--to be -relieved in the morning,--a half mile or so apart, along this river, -above and below here, to be walking back and forth, and occasionally -firing a gun. The others go back, and a sufficient number get on to -the lake before dark to have canoes in station every quarter of a mile -along the western shore. Codman, you will be a good hand to manage this -company. As for myself, I will wade the river somewhere hereabouts, go -over through the woods to the lake-shore, be mousing round the shore a -little, in search of his canoe, and, if I find it, be out on the water -by the time you get there; if not, I will be within call of some of -you, and give, for a signal, the cry of a raccoon, which I can imitate -tolerably, I believe.” - -“But you don’t propose to go alone?” asked several, anxiously. “It -might be dangerous business, if you should happen to encounter him with -no help within call.” - -“Yes, I think I will go alone,” quietly replied the hunter. “If he can -see me before I do him, he will do better than I think he can. And, if -I _do_ get my eye on him first, he will stop and yield, or die, as sure -as my rifle is true to its old trust; for I should feel it my bounden -duty to stop him by bullet, if need be, in case he should attempt to -flee, as much as I should to shoot a painter carrying off one of my own -children.” - -By the approval of the sheriff, and the concurrence of all, the -hunter’s plan of operations was immediately adopted. And, accordingly, -the designated numbers were told off to man the river, and at once set -in motion to perform the duty; while the rest retraced their way to -the village, except the hunter, who, seeking a shoal place, waded the -river, and was soon out of sight among the thickets of the opposite -bank. - -On the return of the company to the tavern, every boat to be found -on the river, from that place to the lake, was immediately put in -requisition, for the service of the night. And by early twilight, eight -canoes, each containing two or three well-armed men, led on by the -trapper, in a single canoe, were seen emerging from the outlet into the -broad lake, and slowly filing off along its western border. Coasting -in closely to the shore, so as to keep within the shadow of the woods, -they pursued their noiseless way up the lake, to a point where the -low, marshy land lying between the lower part of the Umbagog and the -Magalloway rises into the gradually-swelling ridge, which, a mile or -two farther on, becomes a rocky, precipitous mountain, whose beetling -cliffs, overhanging the deep, dark waters beneath, were crowned with -their primeval growth of towering pines. Here they paused long enough -to station one of their canoes, near a small point, commanding a view -across the corresponding coves on either side; and then cautiously -proceeded onward, dropping a canoe, in like manner, every five or six -hundred yards, till the extremity of the western coast was reached, the -line efficiently manned, and the trapper left to cruise alone over the -cordon of boats thus stretched along the shore, to carry any needed -intelligence, and make independent observations. It was now dark, -and, being a moonless night, all within the shade of the mountains, -especially, was wrapt in almost impenetrable gloom; so that the ear, -rather than the eye, must now be depended on for whatever discoveries -were to be made. Nothing as yet, to the disappointment and increasing -anxiety of the company, had been seen or heard of the hunter. - -“He cannot have been killed, so soon, can he?” whispered the sheriff, -in one of the last-stationed canoes, as the trapper glided alongside, -to hold communication with the officer. - -“No,” was the low-toned reply; “that could not have happened, if there -were any _fear_ of such a thing, without one or more rifle-shots, -which, in this calm evening, and this favorable locality for conveying -sounds to a great distance, we must have heard, even down to the -tavern. No, I will risk him. I think he must have got on to the -fellow’s trail, and, if near the lake, lies in some spot where he can’t -move away without danger of alarming the game. We have nothing to do -but wait patiently. Phillips knows we are here in waiting, and he will -report himself as soon as he can.” - -They did not, however, have to wait long. In a few minutes, a small, -shrill, quavering cry, which few could have distinguished from that of -a raccoon, rose from a thicket on the shore, a short distance below. - -“Ah! that is he,” softly cried the trapper; “I know the thicket he is -hailing from. If you will remain just where you are, I will scull my -canoe down to the spot, take him in with me, if he has not found a -boat,--or at any rate bring him here to make his report.” - -Like the gliding of a fish, shrinking away from sight, the light canoe, -under the invisible impulse of the dexterously handled oar of the -trapper, passed noiselessly away, and disappeared in the darkness. But, -long before the expectant officer, who had been vainly listening for -some sound, either of the going or the coming of the absent canoe, had -thought of its return, it was again at his side, with the anticipated -addition to its occupants. - -“Here is the man, to speak for himself,” said the trapper, putting out -a hand to guard off and prevent the canoes from grazing. - -“Well, Mr. Phillips,” said the sheriff, in the same cautious under-tone -by which all their communications had been graduated, “we are all -looking to you,--what is your report?” - -“In the first place, that he is here.” - -“Where?” - -“Sixty or seventy rods to the north of us, in a secure retreat up among -the rocks, about a dozen rods from the shore.” - -“Are you sure of that?” - -“Yes.” - -“How did you make the discovery?” - -“I will tell you. When I came over, I struck down to the lake, nearly -abreast the lower end of the ridge, and cautiously moved along the -shore, upwards, in search of the suspected boat; without discovering -it, however, till I came to the rocky pass I have alluded to, a short -distance above here; when, peering out into the approaching darkness, I -caught sight of it run under a treetop lying partly in the water. Your -boats had not got on there; and thinking, if I took the boat out on to -the water, as I had proposed, he might discover the loss too soon, take -the alarm, and conclude to escape through the woods round the upper -lakes, I varied my plan, and stationed myself back a few rods, to see -if he would not come down to escape by his canoe. I had trailed him to -the top of this rocky eastern slope, before I struck down to the lake, -and knew he must be somewhere near; so I cocked my rifle, for instant -use, and stood ready for his approach. And in a short time I caught the -sound of his movements, sliding cautiously down the rocky steeps from -the spot above, where I suspected he had housed himself. But, before he -reached the bottom of the short ravine he must come down, or could be -seen where I stood, a dry stick unluckily broke under my foot, and the -sound, as I perceived at once, brought him to a stand. And, though he -did not know, and don’t know yet, whether the sound was caused by the -step of man or beast, yet he soon seemed to think it safest to retreat; -and my ear could distinctly trace his movements, as he clambered and -pulled himself along back up the ledges to his retreat. I then went -down to the shore; and perceiving, from the slight agitation of the -water and the faint sound of its gurgling under oars, that you had got -on to the ground, I stole down the shore a piece, and gave the signal, -as you heard.” - -“Are you familiar with the place where you think he lies concealed?” - -“Yes, nearly as much so as with my own door-yard.” - -“What sort of a place is it, and how many ways are there to reach it or -to escape from it?” - -“It is the most curious place in all these parts, and there is but one -way, I ever could find, to get to it; and that is, by climbing up the -ledgy shelf of the face of the hill, through a sort of ravine that -opens from it down to the lake, where there is scarce room enough, on -either side, to pass along the shore between the perpendicular cliffs -and the water. It is an old bear’s den, in fact, passing horizontally -into the rocks twelve or fifteen feet, of varying breadth, and, after -you get in, from three to six feet in height. I have taken at least a -half-dozen fine bears from it, in my day, and supposed I was the only -one knowing of it; but Gaut must have discovered it before this; for I -at once found by his trail that he steered directly for the spot, on -leaving the Magalloway.” - -“He did?” interposed the trapper; “_he_ find it, when he has been here -in the settlement less than a year, and knows little about the woods; -and _I_, who have been here a dozen years, knew nothing about it? He -never found it without _help_, and that, too, from the same character -that let him know we were coming to his house, to-day. I tell you, the -Old Boy is in that man!” - -“Then we will hang him and the Old Boy with one rope,” resumed the -hunter, “for we are now sure of him.” - -“I hope so,” said the sheriff; “but can he be taken to-night?” - -“He might, possibly, if we were willing to run risks enough,” replied -the hunter, doubtfully. “But I should hardly think it advisable to make -the attempt. He could not be drawn from the cave, if we made the onset; -while, if we entered it, he could easily kill several of us before he -could be secured.” - -“What shall be done, then?” - -“I have been studying on that, and the best thing I can think of, is, -to post men enough to guard him securely through the night; and then -have on force enough in the morning to unburrow him, by some means or -other, which we will contrive when the time comes.” - -“But will he not come down, to escape in his boat, to-night?” - -“I rather expect not. After hearing the noise I made, and, then -coupling it with my signal, which he will then be suspicious of, as -well as of the sounds that most likely have reached or will reach his -ears from some of our boats; after all this, he will, probably, be -afraid of falling into a trap, and would prefer taking his chances of -escape by daylight. But, if he should come down, I will arrange things -so that we will have him, to a dead certainty.” - -The suggestions of the hunter were again adopted; and he was again -requested to take the lead in putting the proposed plan into execution. - -Accordingly, after directing the trapper to concentrate those stationed -in their canoes above with those in one or two below, he entered the -boat with the sheriff and his associate; and, taking an oar, slowly -rowed along towards the place he had designated as the retreat of the -desperate outlaw, on whose seizure they were so resolutely determined. - -After reaching the spot, and waiting till the expected boat-crews -arrived, the hunter quietly landed, and stationed two of the men -in the narrow pass north of the gorge, with orders to keep a sharp -lookout through the night, hail whoever might approach, and shoot him -down before suffering him to escape. He next led two more up round -the nearest approaches of the cave, and posted one on each side, a -little above it, to prevent all possibility of escape over the rocks -and ledges in that direction; and then, returning down to the shore, -selected the trapper to occupy with him the southern pass to the gorge, -thus reserving for himself, and the man on whom he believed he could -best rely in an emergency, the post where an encounter would be most -likely to occur. After completing these arrangements, and landing a -pair of handcuffs from the sheriff’s boat, he dismissed the officer to -collect all the rest of the company, not thus retained, and return to -the village for the night, and for a fresh rally the next morning. - -It was now ten o’clock at night; and from that time, for the next six -hours, the stillness and darkness of death brooded over the slumbering -waters of the lake. The mute men on guard,--to whom the slowly-passing -hours seemed doubly long and gloomy, from the oppressive sense of the -duty of silence,--stood immovably at their posts, alternately employing -themselves in guessing at the hour of the night, and intently listening -to catch some sound which should indicate the presence of the dreaded -object of their watch. But, through the whole night, no such sound or -indication reached their strained senses; and most of them, at length, -were brought to the belief that either he had never been there, or -that he had, by some unknown means, effected his escape. The hunter, -however, never for a moment permitted his faith to waver. He not only -felt confident that Gaut was still in his dark cage in the rocks, -but that, the next day, safe means would be found to uncage him, and -deliver him over to hands of justice, to undergo the penalties of his -crimes. And, as soon as the anxiously-awaited daylight began to make -its appearance in the east, he began gradually to work his noiseless -way into the mouth of the gorge, and then up over the steeps and -ragged ledges, till he had gained a stand under cover of a tuft of -clinging evergreens, where he could obtain an unobstructed view of the -mouth of the cavern, some six rods above. Here, low crouched behind -his bushy screen, with rifle cocked and levelled at the entrance, he -lay, silently awaiting the approach of daylight, expecting that Gaut -would then, at least, be peering out to ascertain the state of affairs -on the shore below. And the event soon showed the correctness of his -reasoning. As the brightening flushes of morning fell on the water, and -began to throw the reflected light on the face of the mountain, so as -to bring its darker recesses to view, the hunter’s practised ear soon -detected a movement within the cave; and presently the head, and then -the shoulders, of the wary outlaw rose gradually in sight against the -rocks, immediately over the low entrance. - -“Yield yourself a prisoner, or die!” suddenly broke from the lips of -the concealed hunter. - -Gaut cast a startled glance around him, and then instantly threw -himself to the ground, but barely in time to escape the bullet of the -exploding rifle below, which struck the rock in the exact spot that a -half-second before was darkened by the shade of his head and shoulders. - -“Went through the hair on top of his head, I think, but missed his -skull by something like an inch, probably,” said the hunter, quickly -gliding down a few feet over the edge of the shelf, where he lay so -as to put a rock between him and the mouth of the cave. “But, on the -whole, I am glad of it; for I had rather see him go by the hand of the -hangman than my own.” - -The hunter then quietly reloaded his rifle, and went down among his -excited companions; who, the ban of silence being now removed by his -example, came forward to talk over this unexpected and startling -incident of the morning, which had served the double purpose of -demonstrating to the former that Gaut would never surrender himself -a prisoner, and to the latter, the doubted fact that the object of -their search was there, as represented to them the evening before. -With the whole of them, indeed, the affair had now assumed a new -aspect. Phillips and Codman put their heads together, and began to -start and discuss various expedients for dislodging the intrenched -fugitive; while the others, in their excitement and agitation, walked -hurriedly about in their confined positions, speaking or thinking of -the desperate and dangerous struggle now likely soon to ensue in the -attempted capture, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the sheriff -and the additional force, which, it was understood, he would rally and -bring on with him. - -“They are coming!” at length cried one of the men from the cliff above; -“they are coming in troops, and in all directions.” - -The men on shore now eagerly ran down to the farthest projecting rocks, -or on fallen trees extending into the water, to obtain unobstructed -views of the company thus announced to be approaching in the distance; -when, instead of the few they had expected, they beheld a whole fleet -of canoes emerging from the distant outlet below, and rowing with all -speed towards them; while, at the same time, another company of boats -was seen approaching from the settlement around the upper end of the -lake. - -It appeared that, when the sheriff with his attendants reached the -village the evening before, and announced the exciting tidings that -the desperate man, whom all were so intent on hunting down, had been -driven to a stronghold among the rocks of the mountain up the lake, -where it might require a large force to take him, men started off in -all directions, and rode all night with the news; which, flying like -wind over this and the adjoining settlements, threw the whole country, -for thirty or forty miles around, into commotion, and put scores of -bold men immediately on the march for the scene of action. And the -upshot was that, by sunrise the next morning, more than fifty men, -hurrying in from all quarters, had assembled at the village, and -having appropriated all the boats on the rivers, for many miles above -and below, had joined the company of the sheriff, and under his lead -were now on their way to the great point of attraction; together with -many others entering the lake from other quarters. - -In a short time the long retinue of canoes came clustering to the -shore; when the motley company, preceded by the sheriff and his -immediate attendants, all landed, and, crowding around the hunter and -his associates, listened, with many a half-suppressed exclamation, -indicative of the deep excitement that agitated the mass, to the -recital of the discoveries and incidents of the morning. - -“I cannot believe,” said the sheriff, who had been listening with keen -interest to the hunter’s account of his bold but fruitless attempt to -compel the submission of the desperado, “I cannot believe, after all, -that the fellow will be so foolhardy as to persist in his refusal to -surrender, when he knows there is now no longer any chance for him to -escape. I will try him faithfully before resorting to extreme measures.” - -“That may be well enough, perhaps,” remarked the hunter, demurely, -feeling a little rebuked for his own hastiness in firing on the man, by -some of the expressions of the officer; “yes, that will be well enough. -But, if you succeed in drawing him out to be taken by means of words -alone, I will try the experiment on the very next wolf or painter I -drive into his den.” - -“Nevertheless, it shall be tried,” returned the officer. - -And accordingly, having called to his side a small band of well-armed -assistants, he proceeded with them up the gorge, till he had gained the -shelf which afforded the hunter a covert in the previous assault; when -he stepped fearlessly out in full view of the mouth of the cavern, and, -with a loud voice, calling the name of Gaut Gurley, commanded him, “in -the name and by the authority of the State of New Hampshire, to come -out, and surrender himself a prisoner, to answer, in court, to the -charges set forth in a warrant then ready to be produced.” - -The officer now paused; and all listened; but no sound came from -the cave. The summons was then repeated, in a still louder and more -determined tone of voice. And this time a sound, resembling the growl -of a chafed tiger, was heard within, belching out a volley of muttered -curses, and ending with the distinguishable words of defiance: - -“If you want me, come and take me; and we will see who dies first.” - -“Your blood be on your own head, then, obstinate wretch!” exclaimed the -excited officer. “Men, prepare to throw a volley of bullets into that -cavern. Ready--aim--fire!” - -The single report of a half-dozen exploding muskets instantly followed -the word, ringing out and reverberating along the mountain like the -shock of a field-piece; while, with the dying sound, a hoarse shout of -derisive laughter from the cave greeted the ears of the awe-struck and -shuddering company around. - -“There is no use in that,” said the hunter, who had followed and -posted himself a little in the rear of the besieging party, under the -apprehension that the besieged might make a rush out of his retreat, -in the smoke and confusion consequent on the firing,--“there is no -use in any thing of that kind. The entrance, after the first four or -five feet, suddenly expands into quite a large space, into one of the -corners of which he could easily step, as he doubtless did just now, -and be safe against a regiment of rifles from without.” - -“Then we will smoke him out!” fiercely exclaimed the sheriff, -recovering from his astonishment at finding the culprit had not been -annihilated, and beginning to be enraged at seeing himself and his -authority thus alike despised; “we will smoke him out, like a burrowed -wild beast, and soon convince the scoffing villain that we are not to -be foiled in this manner. Hillo, there, below! gather and bring up here -at least a cart-load of dry and green boughs.” - -With eager alacrity the throng below sprang to do the bidding of the -officer; and, in a short time, they came clambering up the steeps, -with their shouldered loads of mingled material, to the post occupied -by the advanced party; who took, and, keeping as much as possible out -of the range of the entrance, carried them up, and threw them over the -next shelf on to the little level space lying around the mouth of the -cavern. This process was briskly continued, till a pile as large as a -haycock was raised against the upright ledge through which the cave -opened by a low narrow mouth at the bottom. A fire was then struck, a -pine knot kindled, and held ready for the intended application; when -the sheriff, proclaiming to the desperate object of these fearful -preparations what was in store for him, commanded him once more, and -for the last time, to surrender. But, receiving no reply, he then, -ordering the men to stand ready with poles to scatter the material the -moment the victim should cry for mercy, seized the flaming brand and -hurled it into the most combustible part of the pile before him. - -Within the space of a minute the appearance of the quickly-catching -blaze, now seen leaping in a thousand dimly-sparkling tongues of flame, -from layer to layer and from side to side, through the crevices of -the loosely-packed mass, gave proof that the whole pile was becoming -thoroughly ignited. And the next moment the cave, and the whole visible -range of rocks above, were lost to sight in the dense cloud of smoke -that deeply wrapt and rolled over them. Expecting every instant to -hear the agonized cries of the victim, now seemingly enfolded in the -very embrace of the terrible element, calling aloud for mercy and -offering submission, the whole company, crowding the gorge below, or -peering over from the surrounding cliffs, climbed for the purpose, -stood for some time mute and appalled at the spectacle, and the thought -of the fearful issue it involved. No sound or sight, however, except -the crackling of the consuming fagots and the flaring sheet of the -ascending flames, greeted their expectant senses. - -“Pretty much as I have long thought it would turn out, in the end,” -said the trapper, the first to break the silence as the fire was seen -to be slacking away, without any thing yet being heard from the dreaded -inmate of the cave. “His master is taking him off in a winding-sheet of -smoke and flame. I shouldn’t be surprised at a clap of thunder or an -earthquake to wind up with.” - -“At any rate,” observed another of the crowd, “he must be suffocated by -this time.” - -“Yes,” responded a third, “dead, dead as a door-nail; so, there is an -end of the incarnate Beelzebub that we have known by the name of Gaut -Gurley.” - -“I am not so clear about that,” now interposed the hunter, who had -stood intently watching the varying aspects of the fire and smoke -about the cave. “I thought, myself, that this operation must put him -on begging terms, if any thing would; and the question is, whether it -wouldn’t now, before he found himself in any danger of smothering. I -don’t understand it; but stay,--what is that rising from the top of the -rocks, some distance back from the front of the den? Mr. Sheriff, do -you see it?” - -“See what, sir?” - -“Why, that slender column of smoke rising gently out of the top of the -rocks, directly over the cave, and growing more visible every moment, -as the smoke from the fire down here in front becomes light and thin in -the clear blaze.” - -“I do see what appears, here, to be something of the kind not -proceeding directly from the fire,--yes, plainly, now. What does it -mean, Mr. Phillips?” - -“It means that the rascal has a chimney to his house, or what, for his -safety, is the same. The rocks forming the top of the cavern are piled -up so loosely that the smoke rises through them almost as easy and -natural as from a chimney. He had nothing to do but to throw himself on -the bottom, to be out of its way, and breathe as good air as the best -of us.” - -“By Heavens, Phillips, I believe you are right! And that is not all -there is to it, either: if our smoking-out experiment has failed, it -has shown a better one. The same looseness of the rocks that permitted -the escape of the smoke so freely, will permit, also, their being -removed or torn away. We will now uncage him by digging down into his -den. Ho there! my merry men below, go to cutting heavy pry-poles, and -look up your crow-bars, picks, sledge-hammers, and shovels. There is -work for you all.” - -As soon as the unexpected discoveries which had led to these new -orders, and consequent change of the whole plan of attack, were -understood and fully comprehended by all, the solemn and revolting -character of the scene was instantly converted into one of bustle and -animation. As the plan thus indicated by the sheriff required the scene -of operations to be transferred to the top of the rocks above the cave, -to which there was no means of access from the gorge in front, he, -leaving a strong guard in the pass now occupied, took the hunter and -came down to the shore; when the latter, followed by the officer and -a score of resolute, strong-armed men with their various implements, -led the devious way back through the woods, and up round the ledgy and -precipitous face of the mountain, till they reached a point a little -above the level of the cave. Here they paused, and sent the hunter -out along a lateral shelf of the declivity, to search for the most -accessible path to their destination. While the company were pausing -here for this purpose, their attention was suddenly arrested by the -heralding shouts of another company of men, evidently approaching from -the other side of the mountain. And, soon after, a band of a dozen -well-armed, hardy-looking fellows, headed by a tall, powerfully-framed -man, made their appearance, pushing their way down the brush-tangled -steeps from above. - -“Turner!” exclaimed the sheriff, addressing the leader of the -approaching band, who was at once recognized to be an ex-sheriff of -the county, and one of the most daring and successful felon-hunters -ever known in northern New-Hampshire; “General Turner, of all men you -are the one I should have most wished to see, just at this time. We -have a tough case on hand; but how did you get here?” - -“The only way left for us. When we reached the tavern down here on the -river, not a boat was to be had; and so we steered up the Magalloway, -and came over by land, as you see. I had heard of this desperate -character, and your dealings with him, before the present outrage, and -have now come to help you put him through. Now tell us the state of the -siege,--some idea of which we got from a man we met, a mile back on our -way.” - -The sheriff then related all that had transpired, and named the new -plan of operations, of which they were then proceeding to test the -feasibility. - -“We will have him!” said Turner, with a determined look. “If we can’t -tear away the rocks with bars and sledges, we will send off for a -barrel of gunpowder to blow them open; and if that fails, I will go -into the cave, myself, and if I don’t snake him out before I’ve done -with him, he must be a harder customer than it has ever yet been my lot -to encounter.” - -By this time the hunter had returned, and now pointed out the best way -to the place of which they were in quest; when the sheriff, ex-sheriff, -and their respective followers, preceded by their guide, commenced -forcing their passage along the craggy cliffs; and, within ten minutes, -they found themselves standing on the off-set forming the rocky roofing -of the cavern. The appearance of the place was much more favorable for -the proposed attempt at excavation than any of them had anticipated. -From the front face of the rock, which was pierced by the mouth of -the cave at the bottom, and which presented a perpendicular of about -fifteen feet, the topmost stones rapidly fell off to a depression over -the centre of the cave, which, it was at once seen, must greatly reduce -the depth of rock to be removed or broken up, before reaching the -interior. And, in addition to this encouraging discovery, the rocks in -and around this depression, through which the smoke was yet visibly -oozing, appeared to be detached from the main ledge, and, though heavy, -such as might be removed by appliances at command. Still, there was a -formidable mass to be disrupted and removed before an entrance could -be effected in that direction. But the men, impatient of inaction, -and eager to be doing something to forward the common object,--like -all bodies of excited people anxious to coöperate, but unable to -decide on a course of action,--scarcely waited to be told what was -wanted, before they all sprang to the work with that resistless union -of faith and exertions which requires no intervention of miracles to -remove mountains. The moss, earth, decayed wood, and all else of the -loose covering of rocks, quickly disappeared under their busy hands or -rapidly-plied implements. The smaller stones and broken fragments, as -soon as loosened or beat off by the bars and sledges, were seized and -hurled in showers over the surrounding ledges; the larger ones, when -started from their beds by the long heavy prys, were grappled with the -united strength of all that could get to them, rolled up, pitched over -the precipice in front, and sent bounding and crashing down the gorge -below. And the whole forest resounded with the din of their heavy blows -and the mingling sounds of their varied labors. - -While all who could find room to work on the excavation were thus -briskly pushing forward their operations, a smaller party were engaged -in beating down the rocky battlement in front; and so vigorously and -successfully were the efforts of these also directed, that, in a short -time, the top was so lowered, and the seamy rocks so split down, that, -with the mass of stones thrown over, a path of easy descent was formed -from the top, down to the shelf below, on one side of the mouth of the -cave; which was now securely blocked up, and closely invested by the -party previously stationed in near vicinity to guard it. - -Thus bravely, and with no token of faltering at the obstacles which -they frequently encountered, and which sometimes required their -greatest exertions to overcome, did these strong-armed and determined -men push on their herculean labors, for the space of nearly two hours; -when suddenly a shout of exultation rose from those at work lowest down -in the excavation, and the next moment the voice of the ex-sheriff was -heard exclaiming to those around him: - -“Courage, men! the game is nearly unkenneled. I have driven my bar -through, and the hole is so large that the bar has slipped from my -hands and gone to the bottom!” - -The excitement now became intense; and all crowded round the rim of -the excavation, and, with uneasy looks and hushed voices, eagerly -peered down into the dimly-visible perforation at the bottom; while -those already within the excavated basin began, with beating hearts, -carefully loosening and pulling out the shivered and detached stones, -lying around the small aperture just effected, and continued the -process until all the outer edges of the broad, thin rock, which the -crow-bar had perforated, and which appeared to form the lower or -interior layer of the roofing of the cavern, were fully laid bare, and -brought within the reach of the outstretched arms of those bending down -to grasp them. A dozen brawny hands were then seen securing their grip -on one side of the rock; when, at the word of the sheriff, a sudden -pull was made with a force that raised the whole mass nearly a foot -from its bed. - -“It comes bravely!” said the sheriff. “Now fix yourselves for another -pull; while two or three of you above there come forward with your -rifles, and stand with them levelled at the hole, as we open it, -lest the desperate dog make a rush before we are prepared. Now all -together,--there, now!” - -The effort was made, and the sheeted rock was brought to a -perpendicular; when it was grappled by the men with might and main, -lifted clear from its bed, and thrust aside, letting the sunlight down -upon the bottom of the cave through a chasm nearly large enough to -permit two men to jump in abreast. There was now a dead pause; and all -eyes were turned on the chasm in silent and trembling expectation. But -nothing appearing, the hunter and ex-sheriff crept down prostrate to -the brink of the chasm, and worked their heads cautiously below, to -get a fuller view of the interior. After looking, with slightly varied -positions, about a minute, they both rose and came up on the bank; when -the ex-sheriff, turning to the hunter, softly said: - -“He is there. I caught sight of his legs standing in a corner near the -mouth of the cave. Did _you_ get a view?” - -“Yes, a better one than that; I saw his legs, and as much of his body -as I could without bringing my _own_ head within the line of his eyes. -He stands there on the watch, with cocked rifle pointing to this -opening, while he has a dirk within his left hand grasping the rifle, -and I think a pistol within his other hand, held in a similar manner. I -can read his plan.” - -“What is it, as _you_ read it?” - -“To take the first that enters with his rifle, pistol the second, make -a rush through the rest, and stab as he goes.” - -“About the truth, probably. But what is to be done? Shall you and I -leap down, make a spring upon him, and stand our chance?” - -“Why,--yes,” replied the hunter, with a little hesitation; “yes, if we -can’t do better than throw away one good life, at least, for a bad one. -But if we could contrive to divert his attention suddenly to the mouth -of the cave----” - -“You are right! Stay here a moment, and I will put matters in train -to carry out your suggestion,” eagerly interrupted Turner, taking the -sheriff confidentially aside. - -In a few minutes the determined ex-sheriff, followed by four or five -stout, resolute men, whose special assistance he had bespoken for the -occasion, returned to the side of the hunter, and said: - -“Get down there in your old position, where you can watch his -movements. They have gone down to unblock the mouth of the cave -outside, and make a feint of entering. If they succeed in drawing his -fire, I will take that as a signal,--if not, then you give me the word, -at the right moment, when his head, and with it naturally his rifle, is -turned to the supposed new point of attack, and I will leap down and -make a spring to get within the line of the muzzle before he can fire; -and, the instant I disappear, you and these men follow, and be close on -my heels for the grapple.” - -The hunter then edged down to his former place of observation, where -he lay, while Turner sat crouching on the brink ready for the leap, -narrowly watching the movements of the dreaded foe within, who was -seen to be still standing motionless in the same position as before. -Presently the movements of those outside the old entrance of the -cavern, as they began cautiously to remove the blockading stones, -became clearly audible, and soon a few straggling rays of light began -to gleam into the interior from that direction. On perceiving these -indications, the wary desperado began, for the first time, to exhibit -signs of uneasiness. Slightly changing his position, he glanced rapidly -from the already half-cleared entrance in front to the chasm just -opened through the top in the rear. But neither seeing or hearing any -thing that led him to expect any assault, except from the front, and -evidently supposing it was now the intention of his assailants to drive -him up through the top opening, to be seized as he came out, he drew -back a step, and, turning the muzzle of his rifle towards the mouth -of the cave, stood ready to fire upon the first who should make his -appearance. This movement was not lost on the keenly-watching hunter, -who saw that it afforded a fair chance for a successful surprise; -and he once parted his lips to give the signal for the onset. But, -perceiving from the incoming light that the mouth of the cave was -cleared from its obstructions, he ventured to await the effect of -the feint now momentarily expected from that quarter. He had judged -wisely. The delay was not in vain. A rustling sound, seeming to come -from some one squeezing through the entrance, was now heard; and soon -a dark object, resembling the head and shoulders of a man, making slow -and cautious advances, was fully protruded into the cavern; when, -suddenly, the whole ledge shook with the stunning report of a rifle, -and the next moment, Turner, Phillips, and their chosen backers, had -all disappeared in the cloud of smoke that came pouring up through the -chasm. Quick, heavy, muffled sounds, as of fiercely-grappling tigers, -instantly came from within. And within another minute, the stentorian -voice of the daring leader of the onset was heard, shouting for the -hand-cuffs and fetters. - -The fierce siege was over. The desperate intentions and giant strength -of the besieged, after a brief but terrible struggle, had been thwarted -and overcome by the intrepidity and equal strength of the ex-sheriff; -and he, now firmly clenched round the body, and held down, with every -limb in the vise-like grasp of his iron-fisted captors, lay disarmed, -helpless, and panting on the ground. - -“There!” sternly cried the victorious leader of the hazardous -assault, as he rose to his feet, after he had seen the heavy irons -securely locked on the wrists and ankles of the silent and sullen -prisoner,--“there! drag him out, feet foremost, into the open light of -day, where he and his dark deeds have all now got to come, to meet the -vengeance of an outraged community!” - -It was done, and with no gentle hand; when a long, wild shout of -exultation fiercely broke from the closely-encircling throng, thrilling -the trembling forest around with the din, and rolling away to the -farthest shores of the lake, to proclaim that the first murderer of the -settlement--the black-hearted Gaut Gurley--was now a prisoner, and in -the uncompromising hands of public justice. - -The animated spectacle which now ensued, of trundling, pushing, and -tumbling the chafed and growling prisoner down to the shore, amid the -unrestrained demonstrations of the exulting multitude; the noisy and -bustling embarkation on the lake; the ostentatious display of mimic -banners, formed by raising on tall poles, handkerchiefs, hats, coats, -and whatever would make a show in the distance, as the long line of -canoes, with the closely guarded prisoner in the centre, filed off -in gorgeous array, through the glitter of the sun-lit lake, on their -way to the great outlet; the pause and concentration there; the rapid -descent down the river to the village, where a board of magistrates -were waiting to sit on the case of the expected prisoner; and, finally, -the loudly heralding _kuk-kuk-ke-o-hos_ of the overflowing trapper, -to announce, over a two-mile reach of the stream, the triumphant -approach,--this animated and here extraordinary spectacle, we must -leave to the delineation of the reader’s imagination. Our attention -is more strongly demanded in a different direction, to bring up other -important incidents of our story, before proceeding any farther with -the actors who have figured in this part of the narrative, or taking -note of the examination to which they were now hurrying the prisoner. - - - - -CHAPTER XX. - - “By thine infinite of woe, - All we know not, all we know; - If there be what dieth not, - Thine, affection, is its lot.” - - -Deep in the wilderness of woods and waters encircling the mouth of -a small inlet, at the extreme northwestern end of the picturesque -Maguntic, there lay encamped, at the point of a low headland, on one -of the first nights of May, the three trappers, whose expedition had -been the subject of so many gloomy speculations, and whose unexpectedly -prolonged absence had caused, as we have seen, so much anxiety in the -settlement to which they belonged. They had extended their outward -journey more than double the distance contemplated by the Elwoods, at -least when they left home; the mover of the expedition, Gaut Gurley, -having proposed to make the shores of the Maguntic, and its feeding -streams only, the range of their operations. But when they arrived -there, as they did, on the ice, which was still firm and solid on -the lakes, Gaut pretended to believe that the rich beaver-haunts, to -which he had promised to lead them, could not be identified, much less -reached, until the ice had broken up in the streams and lake. He, -therefore, now proposed that they should first proceed over to the -chief inlet of the Oquossak, stay one night in the camp, which was left -in the great snow-storm of the fall before, dig out the steel-traps -buried there, and, the next day, slide over the boats, also left -there, on the glare ice,--as all agreed could easily be done on some -light and simple contrivance,--and land them on the west shore of the -Maguntic, where they could be concealed, and found ready for use when -the lake opened. He would then, he said, lead them to a place among the -head-water streams of the Magalloway, only a day’s journey distant, -where he once “trapped it” himself, and where, as the rivers there -broke up early, he could promise them immediate success. - -All this had been done; and the party, having spent nearly three -weeks among the lakelets and interweaving streams going to make up -the sources of the Magalloway and Connecticut rivers, with occasional -recourse to the nearest habitations on the upper Magalloway, for -provisions, but with very indifferent success in taking furs, had -now, on the urging of young Elwood, returned to the Maguntic,--which, -after a hard day’s journey, they had reached, at the point where we -have introduced them, about sunset the day but one preceding, thrown -up a temporary shanty, and encamped for the night. On rising the next -morning, Gaut had proposed that Claud remain at camp that day, to build -a better shanty, and hunt in the near vicinity; while he and Mark -Elwood should explore the stream, to a pond some miles above, where his -previously discovered beaver-haunts, he said, were mostly to be found, -and where, the snow and ice having wholly disappeared, they could now -operate to good advantage. With this arrangement, however, the young -man, whose secret suspicions had been aroused by one or two previous -attempts made by Gaut to separate him from his father, plausibly -refused to comply; and the consequence was, that they had all made the -proposed explorations together, returned to camp without discovering -any indications of the promised beaver, and laid down for the night, -with the understanding, reluctantly agreed to by the moody and morose -Gaut, that they should proceed down the lake to their boats the next -morning, and embark for an immediate return to their homes, where the -Elwoods felt conscious they must, by this time, be anxiously expected. - -Such were the circumstances under which we have brought this -singularly-assorted party of trappers to the notice of the reader, -as they lay sleeping in their bough-constructed tents,--Gaut and Mark -Elwood under one cover, and Claud under another, which he had fixed up -for himself on the opposite side of their fire,--on the ominous night -which was destined to prelude the most tragic and melancholy scene of -our variously eventful story. - -It was the hour of nature’s deepest repose, and the bright midnight -moon, stealing through the gently-swaying boughs of the dark pines -that rose heavenward, like pinnacles, along the silent shores around, -was throwing her broken beams fitfully down upon the faces of the -unconscious sleepers, faintly revealing the impress which the thoughts -and purposes of the last waking hours had left on the countenance of -each. And these impresses were as variant as the characters of those on -whose features they rested: that lingering on the sternly-compressed -lips and dark, beetling brows of Gaut Gurley, ever sinister, was doubly -so now; that on the face of Mark Elwood, whose vacillations of thought -and feeling, through life, had exempted his features from any stamp -betokening fixed peculiarity of character, was one of fatuous security; -and that resting on the intellectual and guileless face of Claud Elwood -was one of simple care and inquietude. - -But what is that light, shadowy form, hovering near the sylvan couch -of Claud, like some unsubstantial being of the air; now advancing, -now shrinking away, and now again flitting forward to the head of -the youthful sleeper, and there pausing and preventing the light -from longer revealing his features? Yes, what is it? would ask a -doubting spectator of this singular night-scene. A passing cloud come -over the moon? No, there is none in the heavens. But why the useless -speculation? for it is gone now, leaving the sleeper’s face again -visible, and wearing a more unquiet and disturbed air than before. -His features twitch nervously, and expressions of terror and surprise -flit over them. He dreams, and his dream is a troubled one. Let the -novelist’s license be invoked to interpret it. - -He was alone with his father on a boundless plain, when suddenly a -dark, whirlwind tempest-cloud fell upon the earth around them, and -soon separated him from the object of his care. As he was anxiously -pressing on through the thickly-enveloping vapors, in the direction -in which the latter had disappeared, he was suddenly confronted by a -monstrous, black, and fearful living apparition, who stood before him -in all the horrid paraphernalia ascribed to the prince of darkness, -apparently ready to crush him to the earth, when a bright angel form -swiftly interposed. Starting back, with the rapidly-chasing sensations -of terror and surprise, he looked again, and the fiend stood stript -of his infernal guise, and suddenly transformed into the person of -Gaut Gurley, who, with a howl of dismay, quickly turned and fled in -confusion. The amazed dreamer then turned to his deliverer, who had -been transformed into the beauteous Fluella, whose image, he was -conscious, was no longer a stranger among the lurking inmates of his -heart. A sweet, benignant smile was breaking over her lovely features; -and, under the sudden impulse of the grateful surprise, he eagerly -stretched out his arms towards her, and, in the effort, awoke. - -“Where, where is she?” he exclaimed, springing to his feet, and glaring -wildly around him. “Why!” he continued, after a pause, in which he -appeared to be rallying his bewildered senses,--“why! what is this? a -dream, nothing but a dream? It must be so. But what a strange one! and -what could have caused it? Was there not some one standing over me, -just now, darkening my face like a shadow? I feel a dim consciousness -of something like it. But that, probably, was part of the same dream. -Yes, yes, all a mere dream; all nothing; so, begone with you, miserable -phantoms! I will not suffer----” - -But, as if not satisfied with his own reasoning, he stopped short, -and, for many minutes, stood motionless, with his head dropped in -deep thought; when, arousing himself, he returned to his rude -resting-place, and laid down again, but only to toss and turn, in the -restless excitement which he obviously found himself unable to allay. -After a while spent in this tantalizing unrest, he rose and slowly -made his way down to the edge of the lake, a few rods distant, where, -scooping up water with his hands, he first drank eagerly, then bathed -his fevered brow, and then, rising, he stood some time silent on the -shore,--now pensively gazing out on the darkly-bright expanse of the -moon-lit lake; and now listening to the mysterious voices of night in -the wilderness, which, in low, soft, whispering undulations of sound, -came, at varied intervals, gently murmuring along the wooded shores, -to die away into silence in the remote recesses of the forest. These -phenomena of the wilds he had once or twice before noted, and tried to -account for, without, however, attaching much consequence to them. But -now they became invested with a strange significance, and seemed to -him, in his present excited and apprehensive state of mind, portentous -of impending evil. While his thoughts were taking this channel, the -possibility of what might be done in his absence suddenly appeared -to occur to him; and he hastened back to camp, where he slightly -replenished the fire, and, taking a recumbent position, with his loaded -rifle within reach, kept awake, and on the watch, till morning. - -After daylight Claud arose, as if nothing unusual had occurred to -disturb him, bustled about, built a good fire, and began to prepare -a morning meal from the fine string of trout he had taken during -yesterday’s excursion. The noise of these preparations soon awoke the -two sleepers; who, complimenting him on his early rising, also arose, -and soon joined him in partaking the repast, which, by this time, he -had in readiness. - -As soon as they had finished their meal, which was enlivened by no -other than an occasional brief, commonplace remark, the thoughts of -each of them being evidently engrossed by his own peculiar schemes -and anxieties, the trappers, by common consent, set about their -preparations to depart; and, having completed them, leisurely took -their way down the western shore of the lake towards the spot at which -they had hauled up and concealed their canoe, and which, if they -followed the deep indentures of the shore in this part of the lake, -must be four or five miles distant. - -For the first mile or two of their progress nothing noticeable to an -indifferent observer occurred to vary the monotony of their walk, -as they tramped steadily and silently forward, in the usual, and, -indeed, almost the only practicable mode of travelling in the forest, -appropriately denominated Indian file. But young Elwood, whose feelings -had been deeply stirred by the fancies of the night, which, to say -the least, had the effect to make him more keenly apprehensive and -vigilant, had noted several little circumstances, that, to him, wore a -questionable appearance. Gaut, who at first led the way, soon manœuvred -to get Mark Elwood, the next in the order of their march, in front; and -then urged him forward at a much faster pace than before, at the same -time often casting furtive glances behind him, as if to see whether -Claud, who seemed inclined to walk more slowly than the rest, would not -fall behind, and soon be out of sight. And, when the latter quickened -his pace, he showed signs of vexation, which had not passed unnoticed. -All this Claud had noted, together with the singular expression which -Gaut’s countenance assumed, and which filled him with an undefinable -dread, and a lively suspicion that the man was on the eve of attempting -the execution of foul purposes. Consequently he resolved to follow -up closely, having no fears for himself, and believing his presence -would prevent any attempt that might be meditated against his father. -This precaution, for some time, the young man was careful to observe; -but, as he was passing over a small brook that crossed his path, -his eye caught the appearance of a slight trail, a few rods up the -stream, and curiosity prompted him to turn aside to examine it. When -he reached the place, he soon detected indications which convinced -him that some person had recently been there; and, forgetful of his -resolution, in the interest the circumstance excited, he commenced a -closer inspection, which resulted in discovering a fresh imprint, in -the soft mud on one side of the brook, of a small moccasined foot. This -curious and unexpected discovery, uncertain as were its indications of -any identity of the person, or even of the age or sex of the person, by -whom that delicate footprint was made, at once diverted his attention -from the particular care by which it had been engrossed, and started -that other of the two trains of thought, which, for the last month, but -especially since his singular awakening the past night, had constituted -the chief burden of his mind,--his increasing apprehensions for his -father’s safety, and his lurking but irrepressible regard for the -chief’s beautiful daughter, whose image, since his dream, had haunted -him with a pertinacity for which a resort to reason alone would fail to -account. - - “If music be the food of love,” - -dreams, we apprehend, whatever the immortal bard might have thought of -the matter, have often proved the more exciting stimulus of the tender -passion; many of whose happiest consummations might be traced back to -an origin in some peopled scene of a dreaming fancy, whose peculiar -effect on the sympathies has frequently been felt by the sternest and -most sceptical, though never very clearly explained in any of our -written systems of the philosophy of the soul and its affections. - -In the pleasing indulgence of the feelings and fancies which had been -thus freshly kindled, Claud stood, for some minutes, quite unconscious -of the lapse of time, though it had been long enough to place his -companions far out of sight and hearing. From this reverie he was -suddenly aroused by the sharp report of a rifle, bursting on his -ear from the woods, about a quarter of a mile off, in the direction -just taken by his companions. Starting at the sound, which sent a -boding chill through his heart, and bitterly taxing himself for his -inadvertent loitering, he sprang back to the trail he had left, and -made his way along over it towards the place indicated by the firing, -with all the speed which excited nerves and agonizing anxiety could -bring to his aid. But, before reaching the spot at which he was aiming, -and just as he was beginning to slacken his pace, to look around for -it, Gaut Gurley burst through the bushes, a few rods ahead, and, -running towards him with all the manifestations of a man in hasty -retreat before a pursuing foe, eagerly exclaimed: - -“Run, Claud! run for your life! We have just been beset by hostile -Indians, who fired on us, and, I fear, have killed your father. I have -misled them a little; but they will soon be on our trail. Run! run!” he -added, seizing the other by the arm to start him into instant flight. - -“What!” exclaimed the astonished young man, hanging back, and by -degrees recovering from the surprise with which he was at first -overwhelmed by the strange and startling announcement. “What! hostile -Indians?--hostile to whom, to my father, or to me, that I should run -from them? Gaut Gurley, what, O what does this mean?” - -“Why, it means,” said the other, keeping up all the motions and -flourishes naturally used by one urging another to flee,--“it means, as -I say, our lives are in danger. Let us escape while we can. Come, come, -there’s not a moment to lose!” - -“I will _know_,” said Claud, with a quick, searching glance at the -face of the other,--“yes, I _will know_ for myself what has happened,” -he sternly added, suddenly breaking from the grasp on his arm, and -bounding forward to execute his purpose with a quickness and rapidity -that made pursuit useless. - -“Hold!” cried Gaut, in an increasingly fierce and angry tone, “hold, -instantly,--on your life, hold! I warn you, sir, to stop, instantly to -stop!” - -But, heeding neither the entreaties nor the threats which, his ear -told him, were strangely mingled in the tones of the words thus -thundered after him, Claud, in his agony of apprehension, eagerly -rushed on towards the forbidden scene, which could not now be thirty -rods distant, and had proceeded, perhaps, forty yards; when, just as he -was straightening up, after stooping to pass under an obstructing limb -of a tree, extending across his path, he became conscious of the sound -of the sudden hitting of the limb, and partly so of the concussion of -a shot, still farther in his rear. But he neither heard nor knew more; -and, the next moment, lay stretched senseless on the ground. - -When he awoke to consciousness, after, he knew not what lapse of time, -he found himself in a different place; lying, as he felt conscious, -badly wounded, on a soft, elastic bed of boughs, within a dense thicket -of low evergreens, through which his opening eye caught the gleams of -widely-surrounding waters. A ministering angel, in the shape of the -peerless daughter of the wilds, who had lately so much occupied his -thoughts, was wistfully bending over him, with a countenance in which -commiseration and woe had found an impersonation which no artist’s -pencil could have equalled. - -“Fluella!” he feebly murmured,--“how came you here, Fluella?” - -She saw that the effort to speak caused him a pang, and, without -replying to the question, motioned him to silence; when, being no -longer able to master her emotions, she sat down by his side, and, -covering her face with both hands, began to grieve and sob like a -child. Poor girl! who could measure the depth of her heart’s anguish? -She could not answer, had she deemed it best. We must answer the -question for her. But, to do so, to the full understanding of the -reader, we must again recur to the events of the past,--her troubled -past, at least,--during the three or four days preceding the time of -her appearance as an actor in the sad scene before us. - -She had learned from Mrs. Elwood that Claud had pledged himself to -her that he would return from his expedition within the month of -April; and to Fluella, with her undoubting confidence in his word, a -failure to redeem that pledge would be but little less than certain -intelligence that some evil had befallen either him or his father, in -their unknown place of sojourn in the wilderness. Consequently her -solicitude--growing out of her secretly nourished but overmastering -love for him--became, as the time approached which was to relieve or -realize her fears for the result of an expedition undertaken under -such dreadful auspices, each day more deep and absorbing. And, the -last morning but one of the expiring month, she went out early on to -the rock-bound shore of the lake, on which her father’s cabin was -situated, and commenced her watch from the most commanding points, for -the appearance of the expected party, on their way homeward from the -upper lakes. And during that anxious day, and the still more anxious -one that followed, she kept up her vigils, with no other cessation -than what her brief absences for her hastily-snatched meals at the -house required; sometimes standing, for an hour at a time, in one spot, -intently gazing out into the lake, and sometimes moving restlessly -about, and hurrying from cliff to cliff, along the beetling shore, -to obtain a better observation. But, no appearance or indications of -their coming rewarding her vigils during all that time, she retired -from the shore, at the approach of night, on the last day of April, sad -and sick at heart from disappointment, and painfully oppressed with -apprehension for the fate of one for whose safety she felt she would -have given her own worthless life as a willing sacrifice. But, her -feelings still allowing her neither peace nor quietude, she left the -house after supper; and, in the light of the nearly full moon, that was -now throwing its mellow beams over the wild landscape, unconsciously -took her way to the lake-shore, where she had already spent so many -weary hours in her fruitless vigils. Here, climbing a tall rock on the -bluff shore, she resumed her watch, and long stood, straining both -eye and ear to catch sight of some moving thing, or the sound of some -plashing oar, out on the lake, that might indicate the coming, even at -this late hour, of the objects of her solicitude. But no such sight or -sound came up from the sleeping waters, to greet and gladden her aching -senses. All there was as motionless and silent as the plains of the -dead. - -“The time is past!” she at length despairingly muttered, slowly -withdrawing her gaze, and standing as if to collect her thoughts and -ponder. “Yes, passed by, now. He will not come!” - -And her ideas immediately reverted to the other alternative for which -she had before made up her mind, in case the party did not return -within the month; but which, having been kept in the background -of her thoughts, by her hope of their coming, now occurred to her -with startling effect. She fancied Claud the victim of outrage or -misfortune,--perhaps wounded and dying, by the same hand that might -have previously struck down his father,--perhaps taken sick on his -way home alone, and now lying helpless in the woods, where none -could witness his sufferings or hear his cries for assistance. The -thought sent a pang through her bosom, the more painful because, being -something like a legitimate conclusion of her previous reasoning, she -could not divest herself of it. She stood bewildered in the woes of her -thick-coming fancies. The images thus conjured up from her distracting -anxieties and excited brain, all heightened by the natural inspirations -of the place and the hour, soon became to her vivid realities. And her -burning thoughts at once insensibly ran into the form and spirit of one -of the many beautiful plaints of England’s gifted poetess: - - “I heard a song upon the wandering wind, - A song of many tones, though one full soul - Breathed through them all imploringly; and made - All nature, as they pass’d,--all quivering leaves, - And low responsive reeds and waters,--thrill, - As with the consciousness of human prayer. - ----the tones - Were of a suppliant. ‘_Leave me not_’ was still - The burden of their music.” - -“I will _not_ leave you!” she exclaimed, startling the silent glens and -grottos around by the wild energy of her tones, and eagerly stretching -out her hands towards the imagined scene, and the suppliant for her -ministering services. “O Claud, I will come to you. My love, my -life, my more than life, I will soon be with you! Go after him?” she -resumed, after a sudden pause, to which she seemed to be brought by -recalling her thoughts to their wonted channel, and being startled at -the sober import of her own words. “Go in search of him in the woods! -Yes,” she added, after another long and thoughtful pause,--“yes, why -not? I cannot, O, I _cannot_ stay here another day, with these but -too prophetic words, I fear, ringing in my ears. To be in the same -wilderness with him were a pleasure, to the insupportable suspense I -must suffer here. If I discover all to be well, I need not show myself; -but, if it be as I fear, O, what happiness to be near him! Yes, it is -decided; I will start in the morning.” - -And, hastily descending from her stand, with the firm, quick step and -decisive air of one whose purpose is fixed, she struck off directly -for the house; where, after a few hasty preparations, she retired to -her bed, and, happily, after the exhausting cares of the day, was soon -quieted into sound and refreshing slumber. - -In accordance with her still unaltered resolution, she rose early the -next morning; and with an indefinite intimation to her family of her -intention to be absent among friends a day or two, swung to her side -a small square basket of nutritious provisions, took a thick shawl to -protect her from the damps of the night, proceeded directly to her -canoe at the landing, embarked, and struck out vigorously along the -winding shore, on her way to the next upper lake. A steady but quiet -row of a couple of hours took her out of the great lake on which -she had embarked, up the principal inlet, and into the Maguntic, -whose western shores, she had understood, were to be the base of the -operations of the absent party. Here she turned short to the left, -and, drawing in close to land, rowed slowly and cautiously along the -western shore, following round all the numerous indentations, and -continually sending her searching glances up its wooded shores, that no -appearance of the trail of human beings might escape her observation. - -After rowing two or three miles in this manner, and without noticing -any thing that particularly attracted her attention, she reached the -first of the three headlands, making out from this side a considerable -distance into the lake, beyond the average line of the shore. As she -was rounding this point, her eye fell on a dark protuberance, in a -dense thicket a few rods in-shore, which appeared of a more oblong and -regular form than is usual in such places. And, scanning the appearance -more closely, she soon discerned a small piece of wrought wood, -resembling a part of the blade of an oar, slightly projecting from one -side of the apparent brush-heap. Starting at the sight, she immediately -ran her canoe ashore, and proceeded at once to the spot; when, closely -peering under the brush-wood, she discovered three canoes, with their -oars, concealed beneath a deep covering of boughs, surmounted by a -scraggy treetop lying carelessly over them, as if blown from some -neighboring tree. - -This, to her, was an important discovery; for it told her--after she -had carefully examined the place, and found that no one had been to -the boats since they were concealed, which she thought must have been -done several weeks before--it told her, at once, that the trappers -had gone to some distant locality among the streams and mountains, to -the west or north, from which they had not yet returned to the lake; -but doubtless would so return before proceeding homeward, provided -the Elwoods had not both been slain or disabled by their suspected -companion. The discovery, notwithstanding the light it had thrown -on the first movements of the trappers, and much as it narrowed the -range of her search for them, but little relieved her harrowing -apprehensions; and she resolved to proceed up the lake with her -observations, which might now as well be confined to this side of it, -and the larger streams which should here be found entering it, and down -some of which the company, if they came at all, would probably now soon -come, on their way to the canoes. And, accordingly, she again set forth -on her solitary journey. But, being conscious that the trappers might -now at any time suddenly make their appearance, she proceeded more -cautiously, keeping as far as possible out of the views that might be -taken from distant points of the lake, and from time to time turning -a watchful eye and ear on the shores around and before her. Thus, -slowly and timidly advancing, she at length reached and rounded the -second headland in her course, where another and still more interesting -discovery was in store for her. As she came out from the overhanging -trees beneath which she had shot along the point, she unexpectedly -gained a clear view of the extreme end of the lake, with what appeared -to be the mouth of a considerable stream, and suddenly backed her oar, -to pause and reconnoitre; when she soon noticed one spot, near the -supposed inlet, which wore a different hue from the rest, and which, -a closer inspection told her, must be imparted by the lingering of -undissipated smoke, from a fire kindled there as late, at least, as -that morning. Her heart beat violently at the discovery; for she felt -assured that the trappers had reached the lake, had encamped there -the night before, and could not now be many miles distant. Fearing -she should be seen, if she remained longer on the water, she at once -resolved to conceal her canoe in some place near by, and proceed by -land through the woods to the spot of the supposed encampment, or near -enough to ascertain how far her conjectures were true, and how far her -new-lit hopes were to be realized. All this--after many a misgiving and -many an alarm, from the sudden movements of the smaller animals of the -forest, started out from their coverts by her stealthy advance--had -been by her, at length, successfully accomplished; the camp detected -from a neighboring thicket; cautiously approached, finally entered, -and the joyful discovery made that three persons had slept there the -night before. Hieing back, like a frighted bird, into the screening -forest, she selected a covert in a dense thicket on an elevation about -an hundred yards distant, where, unseen by the most searching eye, she -could look down into the camp; and there she lay down and anxiously -awaited the approach of night, and, with it, the expected return of -the party, who, she felt confident, could be no others than those of -whom she was in search. And it was not all a dream with Claud, when -he fancied some one standing by his couch of repose. A flitting form -had, that night, indeed, for a moment hovered over him, looking down, -with the sleepless eye of love, on his broken slumbers, and trying to -divine, perhaps, the very dreams which, through some mysterious agency -of the mental sympathies, her presence was inciting. - -Although the maiden had now the unspeakable satisfaction of knowing -that none of her fears had thus far been realized, yet she felt keenly -sensible that the danger was not over; and she therefore determined -that she would not lose sight of the objects of her vigilance and -anxiety, at least until she had seen them embarked for home on the open -lake, where deeds of darkness would be less likely to be attempted than -in the screening forest. She had, therefore, started from her uneasy -slumbers, the next morning, at daybreak; watched from her covert, -with lively concern, the movements in the camp; and no sooner seen -them packed up for a start, and headed towards their boats, then she -shrank noiselessly away from her concealment, which was situated so as -to give her considerably the start of them; and fled rapidly down the -lake, in a line parallel to the one along the shore which the trappers -would naturally take, and so near it that, from chosen stands, she -could see them as they came along. And thus, for miles, like the timid -antelope, she hovered on their flank,--now pausing to get a glance of -them through the trees as they came in sight, and now fleeing forward -again, for a new position, to repeat the observation. Up to this -time she had kept considerably in advance of the moving party; but -now, suddenly missing Claud, she sought a covert, and stood watching -for him, till Mark Elwood, followed by Gaut Gurley, came abreast of -the spot she occupied; when, suddenly, the forest shook and trembled -from the report of a gun, bursting from the bushes, seemingly, almost -beneath her feet. A single wild glance revealed to her appalled senses -Gaut Gurley, clenching his smoking rifle, and, with the look of an -exulting fiend, glaring out from behind a tree, towards his prostrate, -convulsed, and dying victim. On recovering from the deeply paralyzing -effect of the horrid spectacle, her first thought was for Claud; and, -with the distracting thought, her eye involuntarily sought for the -murderer of his father, who had shrunk back from his position, but -whom she soon detected hastily reloading his rifle, and then starting, -with a quick step, along back the path in which he had just come,--in -search, as her alarmed heart suggested, of another victim for his -infernal malice. With a sharp, smothered cry of anguish, she bounded -out from her covert, and flew back, in a line parallel with that of -the retreating murderer, till she saw him meet the alarmed young man -hurrying forward to the rescue; when she suddenly paused, and listened -with breathless interest to the dialogue we have already related as -occurring between them. She heard--and her heart bounded with pride as -she did so--she heard the manly and determined language of the young -man; she saw him rush by the wretch who was trying to mislead him, -to conceal his own crime. But she saw, also, the next moment, with a -dismay that transfixed her to the spot, the murderous rifle raised, -and the retreating, unconscious object of its aim stumble forward to -the ground; then the monster, as if uncertain of the execution of his -bullet, rush forward, with gleaming knife, apparently to finish his -work; and then disappear in the direction of the concealed canoes, -now less than a half-mile beyond. All this she had witnessed, with an -agony which no pen can describe; and then, with the last glimpse of the -retiring assassin, flown to the side of his second victim, badly but -not fatally wounded; staunched, as she best could, the blood pouring -from his wounds; hurried off for her canoe, luckily hid near by; -brought it up to the shore, within a few yards of the spot where he had -fallen; drawn him gently down to it, and got him into it, she knew not -how; and then, after obliterating the trail, entered herself, and rowed -off to the thickly wooded little island, a furlong to the northeast, -but hid by an intervening point from the view of the foe, now supposed -to be on his way to the boats. Here she had contrived to draw Claud -up, in the light canoe, on the farthest shore, and, by degrees, got -both him and the boat on the dry, mossy ground, safely within a thicket -wholly impervious to outward view. Still fearful of Gaut’s return, she -crept to the south end of the island, which she had scarcely reached -when she saw him come round the point, land, drag down the body of -Mark Elwood, take it out some distance from the shore, and sink it, by -steel-traps and stones tied to it, deep in the lake. She then, with -lively concern, saw him return and proceed towards the spot where -Claud had fallen, but soon reäppear, evidently much disturbed at not -finding the body, yet not seeming to suspect how it had been disposed -of, though several times coming down to the edge of the water and -peering anxiously up and down the lake; but she was soon relieved from -her fears by seeing him take to his boat, row rapidly round the point, -there take in tow two other canoes,--which, it appeared, he had brought -up and left there,--and then row down the lake, in the direction of -the great outlet; under the belief, doubtless, that Claud had revived, -struck down through the woods for the upper end of the lake below, -where, if he had not before sunk down and died of his wounds, he might -be waylaid and finished. Thus relieved of this pressing apprehension, -she hurried back to her charge, and carefully examined his wounds; when -she found that the bullet, whose greatest force had been broken by the -obstructing limb, had struck near the top of his head, and ploughed -over the skull without breaking it; that, of the two stabs inflicted, -one had been turned by the collar-bone, making only a long, surface -wound, the other had passed through the fleshy part of the arm and -terminated on a rib beneath, producing a flow of blood, which, but for -the timely and plentiful application of beaver-fur, pulled from a skin -which she saw protruding from his pack, must have soon terminated his -life. With the drinking-cup she found slung to his side, she brought -water, washed the wounds, laid the ruptured parts in place, and, -with plasters of cloth cut from her handkerchief, and made adhesive -by balsam taken from a tree at hand, covered and protected them; and -thus, by the application of a skill she learned from her father, -placed them in a situation where nature, with proper care, would, of -herself, complete the sanatory operation. She then resumed the process -of bathing his head and face, and, within another hour, was thrilled -with joy in witnessing his return to consciousness, in the manner we -described before leaving him for this long, but necessary, digression. - -After giving vent to her painfully laboring emotions a while, the -maiden softly arose, and, creeping down under the overhanging boughs -to the edge of the water, sat down on a stone and bathed her throbbing -brow, for some time, in the limpid wave; after which, having in a good -measure regained her usual firmness and tranquillity, she returned -to the side of her wounded friend, whom she found wrapt in the deep -slumber generally produced by exhaustion from loss of blood. After -gazing a while on his face, with the sad and yearning look of a mother -on a disease-smitten child, a new thought seemed suddenly to occur -to her, and she noiselessly stole away to her former lookout, at the -south end of the island, where, with a brightening eye, she caught -sight of the loathed and dreaded homicide, just entering the distant -outlet. Waiting no longer than to feel assured that he had disappeared -with the real intention of descending the stream, she returned to her -still sleeping charge, slowly and carefully slid the canoe down into -the water, headed it round with her hands, gained her seat in the -stern, and pushed out into the lake, shaping her course obliquely down -it towards the mouth of a small river entering from the eastern side, -at the lower end of the lake, but still nearly a mile distant from the -outlet in which the murderer had disappeared. Softly and smoothly as -a gently-rocking cradle, the light canoe, under the skillfully plied -oar of the careful maiden, glided through the waveless waters on her -destined course, and, for more than an hour, steadily kept on its -noiseless way, without once appearing to disturb the repose of the -slumbering invalid. But, as the hitherto low-looking forest bordering -the eastern shore began to loom up, and thus apprise the fair rower -that she was now nearing the point to which she had been directing -her course, she noticed, with concern, that the lake was beginning -to be agitated, even where she then was, from a gathering breeze; -while a long, light, advancing line, extending across the lake in the -distance behind her, plainly told of the rapid approach of wind, which -must soon greatly increase the disturbance of the waters, and the -consequent rocking of the canoe. Knowing how injuriously such motion of -the boat might affect the invalid, she put forth her utmost strength -in propelling the canoe forward to reach the quiet haven before her, -in season to escape the threatened roughness of the water. But her -best exertions could secure only a partial immunity from the trouble -she thus sought to avoid. The wind struck her long before gaining the -place; when, in spite of all her endeavors to steady it, the canoe -began to lurch and toss among the gathering waves; while the almost -immediate awakening of the disturbed invalid, his twinges of pain -and suppressed groans, told her, as they sent responsive thrills of -anguish through her bosom, how much he was suffering from the motion. -To her great relief, however, she now soon reached and shot into the -still waters of the stream, and this trouble, at least, was over. -Here, after passing in out of sight of the lake, she drew up her oar, -and paused to reflect and conclude what should be her next movement; -when Claud, whose head was pillowed in the bow of the boat, and whose -eye was resting tenderly on her downcast countenance, soon read her -perplexity, and again asked to be informed of all that had happened, -and the object of her present movement. She told him,--with such -reservations as maidenly modesty and pride suggested,--she told him all -she had seen, and in conclusion proposed, as their enemy might ambush -them, and as it was now drawing towards night, and the lake would not -be quiet enough for some hours, at least, to permit them to proceed, -that they should row up the river till they found an eligible spot, -and encamp for the night. To this Claud readily assented; and they -again set forth up the gentle stream, that, as before intimated, here -came in from the southeast; and, after proceeding some distance, the -anxious eye of the maiden fell on a place on the left bank, where a -temporary shelter could easily be rigged up, under the wide-spreading -and low-set limbs of a thick-topped evergreen, which, of itself, would -be ample protection against the dews of heaven. Drawing up the canoe on -land near the tree, in the same manner as at the island, she proceeded -to gather large quantities of fine hemlock boughs, and dry, elastic -mosses, arrange them under the tree, in the form of bed and pillow, -and over the whole to spread Claud’s blanket; thus making a couch as -safe and comfortable as ever received the limbs of a suffering invalid. -Upon this, partly by his own exertions and partly by her assistance, -he was then, without much difficulty, soon transferred from the canoe; -when, with his light hatchet (she having brought all his implements -along with him in the boat), she soon erected neat, closely-woven -wicker walls of boughs, from the ground to the limbs above, on both -sides, providing within one of them a space for herself. She then -brought fuel, kindled a small fire in front, and took her position at -his side, to be ready for such ministering offices as his case might -seem to require. She found that he had again fallen into a profound -slumber, which she at first regarded as a favorable omen; and, in the -conscious security of the spot, in the belief that he had received none -of the injuries she had apprehended from the motion of the boat, and, -above all, in the indulgence of that overweening pride of affection -which covets all pains and sacrifices for the loved one, she felt a -satisfaction which was almost happiness, in her situation. But it -was not destined to be of very long duration. She at length began to -perceive a gradual reddening of his cheeks, and then, soon after, an -increasing shortness of respiration, and a general restlessness of the -system. Alarmed at these symptoms, she felt his pulse, and at once -discovered that he was in a high fever, supervening from his wounds, -and caused, or much aggravated, doubtless, by the jostling of the boat -on his way hither. Starting back, as if some unexpected calamity had -suddenly fallen upon her, she stood some minutes absorbed in earnest -self-consultation. What should she do? She could not, dare not, even -were it daytime, leave him to go miles away for her father, or others, -for aid or advice. No; she must stay by him. And, having seen the -alleviating effects of cold water in fevers and inflammations, and -knowing that there were no other remedies within reach, she at once -decided on its application. Accordingly, with her cup of water at her -side, and a piece of soft, clean moss in her hand, she began sponging -his face, neck, and the flesh around his wounds; and repeating this -process at short intervals, she continued the tender assiduities, with -only occasional snatches of repose, till the welcome morning light -broke over the forest. She then rose, and, with a miniature camp-kettle -found among her patient’s effects, prepared some gruel from the pounded -parched corn which she had brought with her. This he mechanically took -from her hand, when aroused for the purpose, but immediately relapsed -again into the same state of unconsciousness and stupor in which he had -lain through the night. Through the day and night that followed, but -little variation was discernible in his condition, and as little was -made in his treatment, by his fair, anxious nurse. Through the next -day and night it was still the same; but towards night, on the third -day after his attack, he began to show signs of amendment, and before -dark his fever had entirely subsided. Perceiving this, the rejoiced -maiden prepared him some more stimulating nourishment, in the shape -of broth made from jerked venison. Having partaken freely of this, he -then, with a whispered “_I am much better, Fluella_,” sank back on his -couch, and was soon buried in a sweet and tranquil slumber. Having -carefully adjusted his blanket around him, and added her own shawl to -the covering, and being now once more relieved of her most pressing -fears for his fate, the exhausted girl laid down on her own rude couch, -and, before she was aware, fell into a slumber so deep and absorbing -that she never once awoke till the sun was peering over the eastern -mountains the next morning. Her first waking glance was directed to -the couch of the invalid. It was empty. Starting to her feet, with a -countenance almost wild with concern, she hurriedly ran her eye through -the forest around her; when, with a suppressed exclamation of joyful -surprise, she soon caught sight of his form, slowly making his way back -from a short walk, which he had, on awakening, an hour before, found -himself able to take, along a smooth and level path on the bank of the -river. - -But we have not the space, nor even the ability, to portray -adequately the restrained but lively emotions of joy and the charming -embarrassment that thrilled the tumultuously-beating bosom of the one, -and the deep gratitude and silent admiration that took possession -of the other, of this singularly situated young couple, during the -succeeding scenes of Claud’s now rapid convalescence. Suffice it -to say, that, on the afternoon of the second day but one from this -auspicious morning, they were on their happy way down through the lakes -and the connecting river, to the chief’s residence, where they safely -arrived some hours before night, and where they were greeted with -demonstrations of delight which told what anxieties had been suffered -on their account. Here, for the first time, they learned that the -murderer had been taken and carried to the village for his preliminary -trial; that the examination had been postponed, to allow the prisoner -time to send for his counsel; and that the hearing was to commence -that very evening, though the hunter, who had that day made a hurried -journey to the chief’s, to see if Fluella had returned or Claud been -heard from, had expressed great fears that the evidence yet discovered -might not be deemed sufficient to convict him of murder, and perhaps -not to imprison him for a final trial. Claud, perceiving at once the -importance of Fluella’s testimony, as well as of his own, proposed that -they should immediately proceed that evening down the lakes to the -place of trial. But neither the chief nor his daughter would suffer -him to undertake the journey that night. At her earnest suggestion, -however, it was at length arranged that she, accompanied by her -half-brother, a lad of fifteen, should go down that evening, and that -the chief, with Claud, should follow early the next morning. - -In pursuance of this arrangement, the resolute girl and her attendant, -as soon as she had changed her dress and refreshed herself with a meal, -embarked on the lake, and, at the end of the next hour, they reached -the Great Rapids, leading, as before described, down into the Umbagog. -Here her brother, whose eye and ear, ever since they started, had often -been turned suspiciously to a dark, heavy cloud, which, seeming to -hang over the upper portions of the Magalloway, had been continually -sending forth peals of heavy thunder, hesitated about proceeding any -farther, and warned his unheeding sister of their liability of being -overtaken by the thunder-storm. But, finding her determined to proceed, -if she was compelled to do so alone, he yielded, and, landing their -canoe at the usual carrying places, they shot rapidly down the stream, -and in less than another hour came out on the broad Umbagog, just -as darkness was beginning to enshroud its waters, and cut off their -view of the distant shores for which they were destined. But for the -light of day they found an ample substitute in the electric displays, -which, lighting up the lake to the blaze of noonday, were every instant -leaping from the black, angry clouds, now evidently passing off, with -one almost continued roar of reverberating thunders, but a few miles -to the north of them. A rapid row of about three miles now brought -them to the foot of the lake, where the maiden had proposed to enter -the river, and row down it to the swift water, a short distance above -the village, and then proceed by land. Here, however, her course was -unexpectedly impeded by one of those paradoxical occurrences which -is peculiar to the spot, and which often happens on great and sudden -rises of the Magalloway, that, though entering the Androscoggin a mile -down its course, thus becomes higher than the level of the Umbagog, -and pours its surplus waters along up its stream in the channel of the -river last named, with a strong, rushing current into the lake. And -our adventurers now found that masses of tangled trees, mill-logs, and -all sorts of flood-wood, were driving so strongly and thickly up this -channel that it would be in vain for them to attempt to proceed in that -direction. But the purpose of the heroic girl to reach the village, by -some means or other, was not to be thus shaken. She directed the boat -to be rowed back to the Elwood Landing, where, leaving it, she with -her attendant took the path to the cottage; and reaching this, and -finding all dark within, she boldly led the way down the long road to -the bridge, miles below, with no other light than the still lingering -flashes of lightning afforded to her hurrying footsteps. But it was -not till after an exhausting walk, and some time past midnight, that -she reached the bridge leading over the river to the tavern, where -the trial was proceeding; and then only to encounter another great -obstacle to her progress. On coming up to the bridge, she perceived, -with astonishment and dismay, that one-half of the structure, with the -exception of a single string-piece, the only connection now remaining -between the two sides of the river, had been swept away by the sudden -flood, or the revolving trees it bore on its rushing surface. She -also ascertained, from a woman still up, watching with a sick child, -in a house near by, that every boat on that side the river had been -either carried off by the unexpected freshet, or taken since the bridge -went off, by persons still coming in, to get over to the exciting -trial, which, it was understood, would occupy the whole night. After -pausing a moment, the still unshaken maiden borrowed and lighted a -lantern, when, without disclosing her purpose, she left the house and -proceeded directly to the end of the string-piece. She first examined -it carefully, and finding it broad, level, and fixed in its bed, she -then mounted the dizzy beam, and stood for a moment glancing down on -the wild rush of roaring waters beneath. Her movements, to which the -light she carried had attracted attention, were by this time seen and -comprehended by the crowd around the tavern, on the opposite side, who -now came rushing to the other end of the bridge, to deter her from the -bold attempt. But she heeded them not; and in a moment more was seen, -with a quick, firm step, gliding over the awful chasm; in another, she -had reached the end, and stood in safety on the planks beyond,--where -she was greeted by the throng, who had witnessed with amazement the -perilous passage, in a shout of exultation at her escape, that rose -loud and wild above the roar of the waters around them. - - - - -CHAPTER XXI. - - “So those two voices met; so Joy and Death - Mingled their accents; and, amidst the rush - Of many thoughts, the listening poet cried, - O! thou art mighty, thou art wonderful, - Mysterious Nature! Not in thy free range - Of woods and wilds alone, thou blendest thus - The dirge note and the song of festival; - But in one _heart_, one changeful human heart,-- - Ay, and within one hour of that strange world,-- - Thou call’st their music forth, with all its tones - To startle and to pierce!--the dying Swan’s, - And the glad Sky-lark’s,--Triumph and Despair!” - - -Our tale is running rapidly to a close; and we must no more loiter to -gather flowers by the wayside, but depict the events which now come -thickly crowding together, to make up the mingled catastrophe. - -When the sheriff and his scores of exulting assistants reached the -village with their prisoner,--the desperate villain, whom they had, -with so much difficulty and danger, dislodged and seized in his rocky -den in the mountains,--the latter requested a postponement of his -examination till the afternoon of the next day, that he might have time -to send for, and obtain, his lawyer. This request was the more readily -granted, as the party sent up the lakes with Moose-killer, for more -evidence, had not yet returned, and as their expected discoveries, -or at least their presence with those already made, might and would -be required to fasten the crime, in law, on the undoubted criminal. -The court, therefore, was adjourned to an indefinite hour the next -afternoon; and the crowd, except the court, its officers, and those -from a distance, dispersed to assemble, the next day, with increased -numbers, to witness the final disposal of one who had now become, in -the minds of all, the monster outlaw of the settlement. The prisoner -was then taken to an adjoining old and empty log-house, a straw-bed -laid on the floor for him, and a strong guard placed over him, both -within and around the house without; so that, being constantly under -the eyes of vigilant, well-armed men, there should be no possibility -of his escape, either by his own exertions, or by the aid of secret -accomplices. And these precautions being faithfully observed, the night -wore away without alarm, or any kind of disturbance. The fore part of -the succeeding day also passed, though people soon began to pour into -the village from all quarters, with singular quietness,--all seeming -to be oppressed with that deep feeling of hushed expectation which -may often be seen to predispose men to a sort of restless silence, -on the known eve of an exciting event. And, through the whole of it, -no incident or circumstance transpired affecting the great interest -of the occasion, till about noon; when the news spread that the -anxiously-awaited party from the upper lakes were approaching. As they -came up to the tavern, the now excited crowd quickly closed around -them, and eagerly listened to their report. Of Claud Elwood, whom they -had unknowingly passed and repassed, on their way up and down the -lakes, while he was lying helpless in the secluded retreat to which his -fair and devoted preserver had conveyed him, they had heard nothing, -seen nothing, and discovered no clues by which his locality or fate -could be traced or conjectured. But they had visited, and carefully -examined, the place pointed out by Moose-killer as the one where Mark -Elwood was supposed to have been slain; and, although they had failed -to find the body on the land, or in the lake, with the best means they -could command for dragging it, and although time had measurably effaced -the traces by which the sagacious Indian had judged of the suspected -deed, yet every appearance went to confirm the strict accuracy of his -previous account. And, in addition, they at last found, slightly -imbedded in the bark of a tree, in the range of the path, and a short -distance to the south of the spot, a rifle bullet, which had evidently -been, before striking the tree, smeared with a bloody substance, and -also slightly flattened, as it might naturally have been, in striking a -bone, on its way through a man’s body. This seemed to establish, as a -fact, the commission of a murder; but on whom committed was still left -a debatable question. The movers of the prosecution had hoped, through -this mission up the lakes, to obtain evidence which would conclusively -establish the guilt of the prisoner. But, to effect this, and thus -insure his conviction, something more conclusive was still obviously -wanting. And it was then that the indefatigable hunter made, as the -reader has already been apprised, his last rapid but fruitless journey -to the chief’s residence, in the hope that his mysteriously absent -daughter might have returned with discoveries that would complete the -chain of evidence. He having come back, however, without accomplishing -any part of his object, and the prisoner’s counsel having arrived, and, -after a consultation with his client, become strangely clamorous to -proceed at once to the examination, they finally concluded to go into -the hearing with the presumptive evidence in possession, and, backing -it with the showing of Gaut’s previously suspicious character, for -which they were now well prepared, call themselves willing to abide the -result. All this being now settled, the court was declared open, and -the counsel for the prosecution was requested to proceed with the case. - -After the attorney for the prosecution had read the papers on which it -was founded, and made a statement of what was expected to be proved in -its support, the witnesses in that behalf were called and sworn. The -first testimony introduced was that of Codman and others, to show the -deep malice and implied threats of revenge which the prisoner had so -clearly exhibited towards the supposed murdered man, in the prosecution -of which the latter was a principal mover, the winter before. But -this evidence, when sifted by the long and severe cross-examination -that followed, and found to consist, instead of definite words, almost -wholly of menacing looks and other silent demonstrations of rage, which -are ever extremely difficult to bring out in words with their original -effect, amounted to so little that the prisoner’s counsel attempted to -turn it into ridicule with considerable show of success. Testimony in -relation to the canoe of the Elwoods, recently found washed up among -the rapids, which was next introduced, was found, when tested in the -same way, in despite of the opinions of the practical boatmen who were -the witnesses, to be almost equally inconclusive of the prisoner’s -guilt; so much so, indeed, that his counsel seemed greatly inclined to -appropriate it, as showing the probable manner in which the Elwoods, if -they were not still both alive, had come to their end. - -By this time,--as the court of inquiry was not opened till nearly -sunset, and as the examinations, cross-examinations, and preliminary -speeches of the opposing counsel, on disputed points of evidence, had -been drawn out to seemingly almost interminable lengths,--by this time, -it was nearly midnight; and the prosecuting party now proposed an -adjournment till morning. But this was strenuously opposed by Gaut’s -lawyer, who, affecting to believe that the whole affair was a malicious -prosecution growing out of the suit last winter, and got up by certain -men who had banded together to revenge their defeat on that occasion, -and ruin his client, boldly demanded that the prisoner should be -discharged, or his conspiring enemies be compelled to proceed at once -with “their sham prosecution,” as he put on the face to call it. - -This stand, which was obviously instigated by the prisoner himself, -who narrowly watched the proceedings, and, from time to time, was seen -whispering in the ear of his counsel, produced the desired effect: the -motion was overruled, and the counsel for the prosecution told to go on -with his evidence. - -Moose-killer was then called on to the witnesses’ stand, when, for -the first time, Gaut exhibited evident signs of uneasiness, and -whispered something in the ear of his counsel, who thereupon rose and -went into a labored argument against the admissibility of the evidence -of an Indian, who was a pagan, and knew nothing about the God whose -invocation constituted the sacred effect of the oath he had taken. -But, on the questioning of the court, Moose-killer declared his full -belief in the white Christian’s God and Bible, and this objection was -overruled, and the witness requested to proceed with his story. - -The demure Indian, unmoved by the burning and vengeful eye of Gaut, -which was kept constantly riveted upon him, then succinctly but clearly -related all the facts, of which the reader has been apprised in the -preceding pages, in relation to the atrocious deed under investigation. -And at the conclusion of his story he produced the bullet found -imbedded in the tree, called attention to its smeared and flattened -appearance, and then asked for the prisoner’s rifle, to see whether -it would fit in the bore. The rifle in question was then brought into -court, the bullet applied to the muzzle, and pronounced an exact fit! A -shout of exultation burst from the crowd, and in a tone so significant -of the public feeling, and of their unanimous opinion on this point, -that for a moment both the prisoner and his counsel were completely -disconcerted. But, soon rallying, the latter started to his feet, and, -having summoned back to its place his usual quantum of brass, demanded -“the privilege of just looking at that rifle they were all making such -a fuss about.” It was accordingly handed to him; when, after noticing -the size of the bore, which was a common one, and then glancing at some -other rifles held in the hands of different spectators, he confidently -requested that the first half-dozen rifles to be found among the crowd -should be brought on to the stand. Five of the designated number were -soon gathered and brought forward; and it was found, in the comparison, -that three of them were of the same bore as that of Gaut, and that the -ball in question would fit one as well as another. - -“There! what has become of your bullet evidence now?” sneeringly -exclaimed the exulting attorney. “Wondrous conclusive, a’n’t it? But, -as weak as the whole story is, I will make it still weaker. It is my -turn with you now, my foxy red friend,” he added, settling back in his -seat to commence his cross-examination. - -His vaunted cross-examination, however, resulted in giving him no -advantage. The Indian could not be made, in the whole hour the -brow-beating inquisitor devoted to him, either to cross himself or -vary a single statement of his direct testimony, and he was petulantly -ordered to leave the stand. - -“Not done talk yet,” said Moose-killer, lingering, and glancing -inquiringly to the court and the counsel for the prosecution. “More -story me tell yet.” - -Gaut’s lawyer looked up doubtfully to the witness; but, thinking he -must have told all he could to implicate the prisoner, and that any -thing now added might show discrepancies, of which some advantage could -be taken, remained silent, and, for once, interposed no objection to -letting the Indian take his own course; when the latter, on receiving -an encouraging intimation to speak from the other attorney, proceeded, -in his peculiarly broken but graphic manner, to make in substance the -following extraordinary revelation: - -About ten years ago (he said), there came, from what part nobody -knew, a strange, questionable personage, into the neighborhood of -a few families of St. François Indians, encamping for the hunting -season around the head-water lakes of the Long River, as he termed the -Connecticut, and went to trapping for sable and beaver. But he soon -fell into difficulties with the Indians, who believed he robbed their -traps; and with one family in particular he had a fierce and bitter -altercation. This family had a small child, that began to ramble from -the wigwam out into the woods, and that, one night, failed to come -home. They suspected who had got it, and next day followed the trail -to the man’s camp; when they soon found where the child had been -butchered, cut up, and used to bait his sable-traps! But the monster, -becoming alarmed, had fled, and never afterwards could be found. - -With this, Moose-killer, who had evidently put his story in this shape -to avoid interruption, suddenly paused, and then, with one hand raised -imploringly towards the court and the other stretched out menacingly -towards the prisoner, wildly exclaimed: - -“O, that was _my_ child! and this was the man who murdered it!” - -A thrill of horror ran through the crowd as the witness came to the -conclusion of his revolting story. And so completely were all taken -by surprise by the startling, and as most of them believed truthful, -revelation, and so great was the sensation produced by the appalling -atrocities it disclosed, that the proceedings of the court were for -some moments brought to a dead stand. But soon the shrill, harsh voice -of Gaut’s lawyer was heard rising above the buzz of the excited crowd, -and bursting in a storm of denunciation and abuse on the witness, and -all those who had a hand in bringing him forward, to thrust in, against -all rule, such a story,--which, if true, had no more to do with the -prosecution now in progress than the first chapter of the Alcoran. -But it was not true. It was a monstrous fabrication. It represented -as a fact what never occurred in all Christendom. It was stamped -with falsehood on the face of it; and not only spoke for itself as -such, but was a virtual self-impeachment of the witness, whose whole -testimony the court should now throw to the winds. And so, for the next -half-hour, he went on, ranting and raving, till the court, interposing, -assured him that the witness’ last story would not be treated as -testimony in the case; when he became pacified, and took his seat. - -The counsel on the other side, who, during his opponent’s explosive -display of rhetorical gas and brimstone, had been holding an earnest -consultation with Phillips (now also at hand with a disclosure which -had been reserved for the present moment), then calmly rose, and said -he had a statement to make, which he stood ready to substantiate, and -to which he respectfully asked the attention of the court, as a matter -that should be taken into the account in considering the prisoner’s -guilt in the present case, it being one of the many offences that -appeared to have marked his career of almost unvarying crime and -iniquity. He was well aware of the _general_ rule of evidence, which -excludes matters not directly connected with the point at issue; but -there _were_ cases in which that rule often had, and necessarily -ever must be, materially varied,--as in the _crim. con._ cases -reported in the books, where previous like acts were admitted, to -show the probability of the commission of the one charged, and also -in cases like the present, resting, as he admitted it thus far did, -on presumptive evidence. In this view, notwithstanding all that had -been said or intimated, he believed the concluding testimony of the -last witness proper to be considered in balancing the presumptions -of the prisoner’s guilt or innocence. And especially relevant did he -deem the statement, and the introduction of the evidence he had at -hand to substantiate it, which he had now risen to offer. But, even -were it otherwise, it would soon be seen that the step he was about to -take would be particularly suitable to be taken while the court and -the officers of justice were together, and the prisoner under their -control. With these preliminary remarks, he would now proceed with the -statement he had proposed. - -“This man,” continued the attorney (whom we will now report in the -first person), “the man who stands here charged, and, in the minds of -nine out of ten of all present, I fearlessly affirm, _justly_ charged, -with a murder, to the deliberate atrocity of which scarce a parallel -can be found in the world’s black catalogue of crime,--this man, I say, -is a felon-refugee from British justice. - -“Many years ago,--as some here present may know, as a matter of -history,--a secret and somewhat extended conspiracy to subvert the -government of Lower Canada was seasonably discovered and crushed at -Quebec, which was its principal seat, and which, according to the plan -of the conspirators, was to be the first object of assault and seizure. -This was to be effected by the contemporaneous rising of a strong force -within the city, headed by a bold adventurer, a bankrupt merchant from -Rhode Island, and of an army of raftsmen, collected from the rivers, -without, led on by a reckless and daring, half-Scotch, half-Indian -Canadian, who had acquired great influence over that restless and -ruffian class of men. The former had been in the province in the year -before, and, from witnessing the popular disaffection then rampant -from the enforcement of an odious act of their Parliament to compel -the building of roads, had, with the instigation of such desperate -fellows as the latter, his Canadian accomplice, conceived this plot, -and had now come on, with a small band of recruits, to carry it into -execution; when, as all was nearly ripe for the outbreak, the whole -plot was discovered. The poor Yankee leader was seized, tried for -high treason, condemned to death, and strung up by the neck from the -walls of Quebec.[5] But the more wary and fortunate Canadian leader, -though tenfold more guilty, escaped into the wilderness, this side of -the British line; lingered a year or two in this region, trapping and -robbing the Indians; then took to smuggling; engaged in the service -of the man whose murder we are now investigating, followed him to the -city, nearly ruined him there, and then dogged him to this settlement -to complete his destruction.” - -“Who do you mean?” thundered Gaut Gurley. - -“Ask your own conscience,” replied the attorney, fearlessly confronting -the prisoner. - -“’Tis false as hell!” rejoined Gaut, with a countenance convulsed with -rage. - -“No, you mistake,--it is as true as hell,” promptly retorted the -other; “or, rather, as true as there is one for such wretches as you. -Mr. Phillips,” he added, turning to the hunter, who stood a little in -the background, with his rifle poised on his left arm, with an air of -carelessness, but, as a close inspection would have shown, so grasped -by his right hand, held down out of sight, as to enable him to bring it -to an instant aim,--“Mr. Phillips, were you in the habit of going to -Quebec, fall and spring, to dispose of your peltries, about the time of -this plotted insurrection?” - -“I was.” - -“Did you ever have the Canada leader I have spoken of pointed out to -you, previous to the outbreak?” - -“Often, on going down the Chaudiere river, often; why, I knew him by -sight as well as the devil knows his hogs!” - -“Did you afterwards see and identify him in this region?” - -“I did.” - -“Is not, then, all I have stated true; and is not the prisoner, here, -the man?” - -“All as true as the Gospel of St. Mark; and that is the man, the very -man; under the oath of God, I swear it!” - -During this brief but terribly pointed dialogue, Gaut Gurley,--whose -handcuffs, on his complaint that they galled his wrists, had been -removed after he came into court,--sat watching Phillips with that same -singularly sinister expression which we have, on one or two previous -occasions, tried to describe him as exhibiting. It was a certain -indescribable, whitish, lurid light, flashing and quivering over his -countenance, that made the beholder involuntarily recoil. And, as the -last words were uttered, his hand was seen covertly stealing up under -the lapel of his coat; but it was instantly arrested and dropped, at -the sharp click of the cocking of the hunter’s rifle, which was also -seen stealing up to his shoulder. - -“Nonsense!” half audibly said the sheriff, to something which, during -the bustle and sensation following these manifestations, the hunter -had been whispering in his ear; “nonsense! I searched him myself, and -_know_ there is nothing of the kind about him.” - -“I am not so sure about that,” responded the hunter, edging along -through the crowd, with his eye still on the prisoner, and soon -disappearing out of the door. - -This little judicial interlude in the remarks of the attorney being -over, he resumed: - -“My statement having been thus corroborated, and, as I am most happy -to find, without any of the expected interruptions, it now only -remains for me to say, that this indefatigable Mr. Phillips, becoming -perfectly convinced that the prisoner was a man of whom it was a -patriotic duty to rid the settlement, has, within the last two months, -made a journey into Canada; obtained a written official request from -the governor-general, addressed to the governor of New Hampshire, -for the delivery of Gaut Gurley, at the time when, on notice, the -proper officers would be in waiting to receive him; that our governor -has responded by issuing his warrant; which,” he continued, drawing -out a document, “I now, in this presence, deliver to the sheriff, -to be served, but only served, in case we fail--as I do not at all -anticipate--to secure the commitment and final conviction of the -prisoner, on the flagitious offence now under investigation, and loudly -demanding expiation under our own violated laws, in preference to -delivering him up for the punishment of other and less crying felonies.” - -The prisoner and his counsel, on this new and unexpected development, -held an earnest whispered consultation. The latter had supposed, till -almost the last moment, that his opponent was intending only to bring -in another piece of what he deemed wholly irrelevant testimony, in the -shape of another gone-by transaction; and he was preparing another -storm of wrath for the judicial outrage. But, when he found that the -statement was a preliminary to a different and more alarming movement, -and especially when he saw placed in the sheriff’s hands a warrant for -delivering up his client to the British, to be tried for a former -felony, from the punishment of which, he feared, from what he had just -heard, there would be no escape, he was sadly nonplussed, and knew -not which way to turn himself. And it was not until Gaut, who, though -thus suddenly brought into a dilemma which he was little expecting, -was yet at no loss to decide on his course,--that of making every -possible effort to escape the more immediate pending danger, and then -of trusting to chance for eluding the more remote one just brought to -view,--it was not till Gaut, with assurances of the last being but a -miserable, trumped-up affair, had pushed and goaded him up to action, -that the dumbfounded attorney recovered his old confidence. He then -straightened back in his seat, and, with the air of one who has meekly -borne some imposition, or breach of privilege, till it can be borne no -longer, turned gruffly to his opponent, and said: - -“Well, sir, having dragged every thing into this case except what -legitimately belongs to it, I want to know if you are through, _now_? -We, on our side, have no need of introducing testimony to meet -any thing you have yet been able to show. Why, you have not even -established the first essential fact to be settled in prosecutions for -homicide. You have arraigned my client for killing a man, and yet have -shown nobody killed! No, we shall introduce no witnesses till the body -of the alleged murdered man is produced; for, till then, no court on -earth----But I am not making a speech, and will not anticipate. All I -intended was, to ask, as I do again, are you through with your evidence -_now_?” - -The attorney for the prosecution then admitted--rather prematurely, as -it was soon seen--that he thought of nothing more which he wished to -introduce. - -“Go on with your opening speech, then,” resumed the former. - -“No,” said the other, “I waive my privilege of the opening and close, -and will only claim the closing speech.” - -“O, very well, sir,” said Gaut’s lawyer, throwing a surprised and -suspicious look around, as if to see whether some trap was not involved -in this unexpected waiver of the usually claimed privilege. “Very well; -don’t blame you; shouldn’t think you could find honest materials even -for one speech.” - -The hard-faced attorney, who was reputed one of the best of what are -sometimes termed _devil’s lawyers_, in all that part of the country, -then consequentially gathered up his minutes of the testimony, glanced -over them, and, clearing his throat, commenced his great final speech, -which was to annihilate his opponent, and quash the whole proceedings -of the prosecution. - -But he had scarcely spoken ten words, before a tremendous shout, rising -somewhere in the direction of the bridge,--to which their attention -had been before called, when a part of it had been swept away during -the first hours of the night,--broke and reverberated into the room, -bringing him to an instant stand. Feeling that something extraordinary -had occurred, the startled court, parties and spectators, alike paused, -and eagerly listened for something further to explain the sudden -outbreak. But, for several minutes, all was still, or hushed down to -the low hum of mingling voices, and not a distinct, intelligible sound -reached their expectant senses. Soon, however, the noise of trampling -feet and the rush of crowds was heard, and perceived to be rapidly -approaching the door of the court-room. And the next moment the clear, -loud voice of the now evidently excited hunter was heard exultantly -ringing out the announcement: - -“A witness, a new witness! A witness that saw the very deed!” - -This sudden and exciting announcement of an occurrence which had been -hoped for, in some shape, on one side, and feared on the other, but, -at this late hour of the night, little expected by either, at once -threw all within the crowded court-room into bustle and commotion. Both -parties to the prosecution were consequently taken by surprise; and -both, though neither of them were yet apprised of the character of the -witness, were aroused and agitated by the significant announcement. -But, of all present, none seemed so much stirred as the obdurate -prisoner, who had, thus far in the examination, scarcely once wholly -lost his usual look of bold assurance, but who now was seen casting -rapid, uneasy, and evidently troubled glances towards the door; -doubtless expecting, each moment, to see the fear which had haunted -him from the first--that Claud Elwood would turn up alive, and appear -in court against him--realized in the person of the new witness. His -lawyer also, appeared to be seized with similar apprehensions; and, the -next moment, he was heard loudly demanding the attention of the court. -He objected, he _pointedly_ objected, he _protested_, in advance, -against the admission of further testimony. He had borne _every thing_ -during the hearing, but could not bear _this_. The pleas were closed, -and the case concluded against the introduction of new evidence; and -that, too, by the express notice and agreement of the counsel for the -prosecution. And now to open it would be in glaring violation of all -rule, all law, and all precedent. In short, it would be an outrage too -gross to be tolerated anywhere but in a land of despotism. And, if the -court would not at once decide to exclude the threatened testimony, he -must be heard at length on the subject. - -But the court declining so to decide, and intimating that they were -willing to hear an argument on the point, of any reasonable length, -he spread himself for the wordy onset. The sheriff,--who, in the mean -time, had started for the door to make an opening in the crowd for the -expected entrance,--seeing that a long speech was in prospect, now went -out, conducted the proffered witness, in waiting near by, to another -room in the house to remain there till called; and then returned, and, -in a low tone, made some communication to the court. - -The pertinacious lawyer then went on with his heated protest, as it -might be called far more properly than an argument, to the length of -nearly an hour. The calm, manly, and cogent reply of his opponent -occupied far less time, but obtained far more favor with the sitting -magistrates; who, after a short consultation among themselves, -unanimously decided to hear the proposed evidence, and thereupon -ordered the sheriff to conduct the witness at once into court. - -A breathless silence now ensued in the court-room, and every eye was -involuntarily turned towards the door. In a few minutes the sheriff, -closely followed by two females, made his appearance, and cleared his -way up to the stand that had been occupied by the witnesses. No names -had been announced, and both the ladies were veiled, so that their -faces could not be seen in the dusky apartment, lighted only by two -dim candles, made dimmer, seemingly, by the morning twilight, then -beginning to steal through the windows, and to produce that dismal and -almost sickening hue peculiar to the equal mingling of the natural -light of day with the artificial light of lamp or taper. And it was -not consequently known, except to one or two individuals, who they -were; but enough was seen, in the enlarged form and sober tread of the -one, and in the rounded, trim figure and elastic step of the other, to -show the former to be a middle-aged matron, and the latter a youthful -maiden. Each was garbed in rich black silk, to which were added, in the -one case, some of the usual emblems of mourning, and in the other, a -few simple, tastily contrasted, light trimmings. - -“What are these ladies’ names? or rather, first, I will ask, which of -them is the witness?” said the leading magistrate. - -“I am, I suppose,” said the maiden, in tones as soft and tremulous as -the lightly-touched chord of some musical instrument, as she threw -back her veil, and disclosed a beauty of features and sweetness of -countenance that at once raised a buzz of admiration through the room. - -“Your name, young lady?” - -“Fluella, sir; and this lady at my side is Mrs. Mark Elwood, who comes -only as my friend.” - -“You understand the usages of courts, I conclude; and, if so, will -now receive the oath, and go on to tell what you know relative to -the crime for which, you have doubtless heard, the prisoner here is -arraigned.” - -At once raising her hand, she was sworn, and proceeded directly to -state that part of the transaction she had witnessed on the lake, which -the hunter, in the conversation she found means to have with him while -waiting to be taken into court, had advised her was all that would be -important as evidence in the case. - -Gaut Gurley, the alarmed prisoner, who at first had appeared greatly -relieved on finding that the announced witness was not the reänimated -young Elwood, as he had feared, now seemed utterly at fault to -conjecture what either of these women could know of his crime. But the -moment the maiden, whom he had seen the previous year, and regarded -with jealous dislike, as the possible rival of his daughter, revealed -herself to his view, his looks grew dark and suspicious; and when -she commenced by mentioning, as she did at the outset, that she was -on a boat excursion along the western shore of the Maguntic, on the -well-remembered day when he consummated his long cherished atrocity, -he seemed to comprehend the drift of what was coming, and his eyes -fastened on her with the livid glare of a tiger; while those demoniac -flashes, before noted as the usual precursor of hellish intent with -him, began to burn up and play over his contracting countenance. - -But these suspicious indications had escaped the notice of all,--even -of the watchful hunter, whose looks, with those of the rest, were for -the moment hanging, with intense interest, on the speaking lips of the -fair witness. And she proceeded uninterrupted, till, having described -the position in the thicket on shore, in which she was standing, as -Mark Elwood, followed by Gaut Gurley, both of whom she recognized, came -along, she, nerving herself for the task, raised her voice and said: - -“I distinctly saw Mr. Elwood fall, convulsed in death,--heard the fatal -shot, and instantly traced it to Gaut, before he had taken his smoking -rifle from his shoulder,--this same man who now----” - -When, as she was uttering the last words, and turning to the prisoner, -she stopped short, recoiled, and uttered a loud shriek of terror. And, -the next instant, the deafening report of a pistol burst from the -corner where the prisoner was sitting, filling the room with smoke, and -bringing every man to his feet, in the amazement and alarm that seized -all at the sudden outbreak. - -There was a dead pause for a moment; and then was heard the sudden rush -of men, the sharp, brief struggle, and the heavy fall of the grappled -prisoner, as he was borne overpowered to the floor. - -“Thank God!” exclaimed the hunter, the first to reach the bewildered -maiden, and ascertain what had befell from this fiendish attempt to -take her life simply because she was instrumental in bringing a wretch -to justice,--“thank God, she is unhurt! The bullet has only cut the -dress on her side, and passed into the wall beyond.” - -“Order in court!” sternly cried the head magistrate. “It is enough! Mr. -Phillips, conduct these ladies to some more suitable apartment. We wish -for no more proof. The prisoner’s guilt is already piled mountain-high. -We commit him to your hands, Mr. Sheriff. Within one hour, let him be -on his way to Lancaster jail, there to await his final trial and doom, -for one of the foulest murders that ever blasted the character of human -kind!” - -We will not attempt to describe, in detail, the lively and bustling -scene, which, for the next hour or two, now ensued in and around the -tavern, that had lately been the unaccustomed theatre of so many new -and startling developments. The running to and fro of the excited and -jubilant throng of men, women, and children, who, in their anxiety to -witness and know the result of the trial, had passed the whole night -in the place,--the partaking of the hastily snatched breakfast, in -the tavern, by some, or on logs or bunches of shingles in the yard, -by others, from provisions brought along with them from home,--the -hurried harnessing of horses and running out of wagons, preparatory to -the departure of those here with the usual vehicles of travel,--the -resounding blows and lumbering sounds of the score of lusty men who had -volunteered to replace and repair the bridge from the old materials -luckily thrown on the bank a short distance down the stream, so as to -permit the departing teams, going in that direction, to pass safely -over,--and, lastly, the bringing out, the placing on his bed of straw -in the bottom of a wagon, and the moving off of the caged lion, with -his cavalcade of guards before and behind,--the fiercely exultant -hurrahing of the execrating crowd, as he disappeared up the road -to the west, together with the crowning, extra loud and triumphant -_kuk-kuk-ke-o-ho!_ of Comical Codman, who had mounted a tall stump -for the purpose, and made the preliminary declaration that, if he was -_ever_ to have another crow, it should be now, on seeing the Devil’s -unaccountable and first cousin, to say the least, in relationship, so -handsomely cornered, and, at last so securely put in limbo,--these, -all these combined to form a scene as stirring to the view, as it was -replete with moral picturesque to the mind. But we must content ourself -with this meagre outline; another and a different, quickly succeeding -scene in the shifting panorama, now demands our attention. - -Among the crowd who had arranged themselves in rows, to witness the -departure of the court officials and the prisoner, were the two now -inseparable friends, Mrs. Elwood and Fluella; who, on turning from the -spectacle, had strolled, arm-in-arm, to a green, shaded grass-plot at -the farther end of the tavern building, and were now, with pensive but -interested looks, bending over the garden fence, and inspecting a small -parterre of budding flowers, which female taste had, even in a place -so lately redeemed from the forest as this, found means to introduce. -They were lingering here, while others were departing, for the arrival -of expected friends, though evidently not conscious of their very near -approach. But even then, as they stood listlessly gazing over upon the -mute objects of their interest, those friends were coming across the -bridge, in the singularly contrasted forms of an aged man, walking -without any staff, and with a firm elastic tread, and quite a youngerly -one, walking _with_ a cane, and with careful steps and a restrained -gait, betokening some lingering soreness of body or limb. On reaching -the nearest part of the tavern-yard, the young man gazed eagerly round -among the still numerous crowd, when, his eye falling on those of whom -he seemed to be in search, he turned to his companion and said: - -“There they are, Chief. I will go forward and take them by surprise.” - -The next moment he was standing closely behind the unconscious objects -of his attention; when, with a smiling lip but silent tongue, he gently -laid a hand on a shoulder of each. - -“Claud!” burst from the lips of the surprised and reddening maiden, the -first to turn to the welcome intruder. - -“Claud! Claud!” exclaimed the agitated matron, as she also turned, in -grateful surprise, to greet, for the first time since his return, her -heart’s idol. “My son! my son!” she continued, with gathering emotion, -“are you indeed restored alive to my arms, and, but for you, my now -doubly desolate home? Thank Heaven! O thank Heaven! for the happy, -happy restoration!” - -“That is right, dear mother!” at length responded the visibly touched -young man, gently disengaging himself from the long maternal embrace; -“that is all right. But,” he added, turning to the maiden, whose -sympathetic tears were coursing down her fair cheeks, “if you would -thank any _earthly_ being for the preservation of my life, it should be -this good and lovely girl at your side.” - -“I know it,” said the mother, after a thoughtful pause, “I know it; -and, Claud, I would that she were _indeed_ my daughter.” - -There was an embarrassing pause. But the embarrassment was not -perceived and felt by these two young persons alone. Another, unknown -to them, had silently witnessed the whole interview from an open, -loosely-curtained window of the chamber above; and perceived, and -felt, and appreciated, all that had transpired, in word and look, no -less keenly than the young couple, whose beating hearts, only, were -measuring the moments of their silent perplexity. That other was Gaut -Gurley’s lovely and luckless but strong-hearted daughter. Having -instinctively read her father’s guilt, she had come to his trial with a -sinking heart; shut herself up alone in this small chamber; so arranged -the screening curtains that she could sit by the open window unseen, -and kept her post through that long night of her silent woe, hearing -all that was said by the crowd below, and, through their comments, -becoming apprised of all that was going on in the court-room, in the -order it transpired. She had known of Fluella’s arrival,--her perilous -passage over the river,--of the report she then made to the hunter of -her discoveries,--of her bringing back the wounded Claud in safety,--of -the dastardly attempt of the prisoner to take that heroic girl’s -life,--of his sentence, and, finally, of his departure for prison, -amidst the execrations of a justly indignant people. She had known -all this, and felt it, to the inmost core of her rent heart, with the -twofold anguish of a broken-hearted lover and a fate-smitten daughter. -She had wrestled terribly with her own heart, and she had conquered. -She had determined her destiny; and now, on witnessing the last part -of the tender scene enacting under her window, she suddenly formed the -high resolve of crowning her self-immolation by a public sacrifice. - -Accordingly she hastily rose from her seat, and, without thought or -care of toilet, descended rapidly to the yard, and, with hurrying step -and looks indicative of settled purpose, moved directly towards the -deeply surprised actors in the little scene, of which she had thus been -made the involuntary witness. - -“No ceremony!” she said, in tones of unnatural calmness, with a -forbidding gesture to Claud, who, while Fluella was instinctively -shrinking to the side of the more unmoved but still evidently -disturbed Mrs. Elwood, had advanced a step for a respectful greeting. -“No ceremony--it is needless; and no fears, fair girl, and anxious -mother--they are without cause. I come not to mar, but to make, -happiness. Claud Elwood, my heart once opened and turned to you, as -the sunflower to its god; and our paths of love met, and, for a while, -ran on pleasantly together as one. But, even then, something whispered -me they would soon again diverge, and lead off to separate destinies. -The boded divergence, as I feared, began with the fatal family feud of -last winter, and has now resulted, as I still more feared, in plunging -us, respectively, in degradation and sorrow, and also in placing our -destinies as wide as the poles asunder. Claud, Claud Elwood,--can you -love this beautiful girl at your side? You speak not. I _know_ that you -can. I relinquish, then, whatever I may have possessed of your heart, -to her, if _she_ wills. And why should she not? Why reject one whose -life she would peril her own to save? She will not. Be you two, then, -one; and may all the earthly happiness _I_ once dreamed of, with none -of the bitter alloy it has been my lot to experience, be henceforth -yours. You will know me no more. With to-morrow’s sun, I travel to -a distant cloister, where the world, with its tantalizing loves and -dazzling ambitions, will be nothing more to me forever. Farewell, -Claud! farewell, gentle, heroic maiden! farewell, afflicted, happy -mother! If the prayers of Avis Gurley have virtue, their first incense -shall rise for the healing of all the heart-wounds one of her family -has inflicted.” - -As the fair speaker ceased, and turned away from this doubtless -unspeakably painful performance of what she deemed her last worldly -duty, as well as an acceptable opening act in the life of penance -to which she had resolved now to devote herself, an audible murmur -of applause ran through the throng, who, in spite of their wish not -to appear intrusive, had paused at a little distance, to listen to -and witness the unexpected and singular scene. Among the voices which -had been thus more distinctly raised was that of a stranger, who, -having arrived a few minutes before, given his horse to the waiter, -shook hands with the hunter and the chief, to whom he appeared well -known, had joined the crowd to see what was going on, and who had been -particularly emphatic in the open expression of his admiration. The -remembered tones of his voice, though attracting no attention from -others, instantly reached the quick ears of one of the more silent -actors of the little scene we have been describing. She threw a quick, -eager glance around her; and, having soon singled out from the now -scattering crowd, the person of whom her sparkling eye seemed in -search, she flew forward towards him, with the joyful cry: - -“My father! my white father! I am glad, O, so glad you have come!” and -she eagerly grasped his outstretched hand, shook it, kissed him, and, -being now relieved from the embarrassment she had keenly felt in the -position in which she had just been so unexpectedly placed, appeared to -be all joy and animation. - -“Come, come, Fluella, don’t shake my arm off, nor bother me now with -questions,” laughingly said the gentleman, thus affectionately beset, -as he pulled the joyous girl along towards the spot where the wondering -Mrs. Elwood and her son were standing. “You must not quite monopolize -me; here are others who may wish to see me.” - -“Arthur!” exclaimed Mrs. Elwood, with a look of astonishment, after -once or twice parting her lips to speak, and then pausing, as if in -doubt, as the other was coming up with his face too much averted to be -fairly seen by her; “it is--it is--Arthur Elwood!” - -“Yes, you are right, sister Alice,” responded the hard-visaged little -man thus addressed, extending his hand. “It is the same odd stick of an -old bachelor that he always was. But who is this?” he added, with an -inclination of the head towards Claud. “Your son, I suppose?” - -The formal introduction to each other of the (till then) personally -unacquainted uncle and nephew; the full developing to the astonished -mother and son of the fact, already inferred from what they had just -witnessed, that this, their eccentric kinsman, was no other than the -foster-father of Fluella,--that he was the owner of large tracts of the -most valuable wild lands around these lakes, the oversight of which, -together with the unexpected tutelary care of the Elwood family since -their removal to the settlement, he had intrusted to the prudent and -faithful Phillips,--and, finally, the melancholy mingling of sorrows -for the untimely death of the fated brother, husband, and father of -these deeply-sympathizing co-relatives, now, like chasing lights and -shadows from alternating sunshine and cloud on a landscape, followed -in rapid succession, in unfolding to the mournfully happy circle their -mutual positions and bonds of common interest. - -“Evil has its antidotes,” remarked Arthur Elwood, as the conversation -on these subjects began to flag and give room for other thoughts -growing out of the association; “evil has its antidotes, and sorrow -its alleviating joys. And especially shall we realize this, if the -suggestions of that self-sacrificing girl, who has just addressed you -so feelingly, be now followed. What say you, Claud?” - -“They will be,” promptly responded the young man, at once comprehending -all which the significant question involved; “they will be, on my part, -uncle Arthur, joyfully,--proudly.” - -“And you, Fluella?” persisted the saucy querist, turning to the -blushing girl. - -“He has not asked me yet,” she quickly replied, with a look in which -maiden pride, archness, and unuttered happiness, were charmingly -blended. “If he should, and _you_ should command me”---- - -“Command? _command!_ Now, that is a good one, Fluella,” returned the -laughing foster-father. “Well, well, a woman will be a woman still, -any way you can fix it. All right, however, I presume. But, chief,” -he added, turning to the natural father, who stood with the hunter a -little in the background, “what has been going on here cannot have -escaped your keen observation; and you ought to have a voice in this -matter. “What do _you_ say?” - -“The chief,” replied the other, with his usual dignity, “the chief has -had one staff, one light of his lodge; he will now have two. Wenongonet -is content.” - -“It is settled, then,” rejoined the former, whose usually passionless -countenance was now beaming with pleasure; “all right, all round. Now, -sister Alice, let us all adjourn to your house, where you and Fluella, -from some of those splendid lake trout which I and Mr. Phillips, who, -as well as the chief, must be of the party, will first go out and catch -for you,--you and Fluella, I say, must cook us up a nice family dinner, -over which we will discuss matters at large, and have a good time -generally.” - -In a few minutes more the happy group were on their way to the Elwood -cottage. - -The principal interest of our story is at an end; and with it, also, -the story itself should speedily terminate. A few words more, however, -seem necessary, to anticipate the inquiries which will very naturally -arise in the mind of the reader, respecting what might be expected -soon to follow the _eclaircissement_ of the few last pages; and, -accordingly, as far as can be done without marring the unity of time, -we will proceed, briefly, to answer the inquiries thus arising. - -The body of the fated Mark Elwood, perforated through the breast by the -bullet of his cold-blooded murderer, having broken from the sinking -weights attached to it, and risen to the surface of the lake, was -found in about a fortnight, brought home, and buried on his farm. - -Not far from the same time the faithful hunter received, from the hands -of a gentleman passing through the settlement, a deed of gift of three -hundred acres of valuable timber-land, adjoining his own little patch -of a lot, all duly drawn, signed, and executed by Arthur Elwood; who, -after a pleasant sojourn of a week at the Elwood cottage, apprising -its inmates of what he had in store for them, in the line of property, -had departed for his home, a happier man than he had been, since, for -secret griefs, he had dissolved partnership with his brother Mark, and -left the little interior village where the pair first made their humble -beginning in life. - -Codman, the trapper, continued to trap it still, and, as all the -settlers within a circuit of many miles around them were often -unmistakably made aware, to crow as usual on all extra occasions. - -Tomah, the college-learned Indian, immediately left, with the escort -of the prisoner, and, kept away by the force of some associations -connected with the settlement as disagreeable to him as they were -conjecturable to others, was never again seen in the settlement; -against which, on leaving, he seemed to have kicked off the dust of his -feet behind him. - -Carvil, the cultivated amateur hunter, had also immediately departed, -with the court party, on his way to his pleasant home in the Green -Mountains; not wholly to relinquish, however, his yearly sojourns in -the forests, to regain health impaired for the want of a more full -supply of his coveted, life-giving oxygen. - -And, lastly, Gaut Gurley, whose infernal scheming and revolting -atrocities have been so inseparably interwoven with the main incidents -of our story, broke jail, on the night preceding the day set for his -final trial, by digging through the thick stone wall of his prison, -with implements evidently furnished from without, leaving bloody traces -of his difficult egress through the hardly sufficient hole he had -effected for the purpose; and, though instant search was everywhere -made for him, he was not, to the sad disappointment of the thousands -intending to be in at the hanging, anywhere to be found or heard of in -the country. And the mystery of his retreat, and the still unexplained -mystery of his strange and ruinous influence over the man whom he -at last so flagitiously murdered, were not cleared up until years -afterwards. - - -FOOTNOTES: - -[5] See Christie’s History of Lower Canada. - - - - -SEQUEL. - - -It was a terrible storm. The wind, with all the awful accompaniments -of rain, hail, rattling thunders, and fiercely glaring lightnings, -had burst down upon the liquid plains of the startled deep, in all -the fury of a tropical tornado. The black heavens were in terrific -commotion above; and the smitten and resilient waters, as if to escape -the impending wrath of the aroused sister elements, were fleeing in -galloping mountains athwart the surface of the boiling ocean beneath. - -Could aught human, or aught of human construction, be here, now, and -survive? It would seem an utter impossibility; and yet it was so. -Amidst all this deafening din of battling elements, that were filling -the heavens with their uproar and lashing the darkened ocean into wild -fury and commotion, a staunch-built West India merchant-ship was seen, -now madly plunging into the troughs of the sea, and now quivering like -a feather on the towering waves, or scudding through the flying spray -with fearful velocity before the howling blast. - -On her flush deck, and lashed to the helm, with the breaking waves -dashing around his feet, and the water dripping from the close cap -and tightly-buttoned pea-jacket in which he was garbed, stood her -gallant master, in the performance of a duty which he, true to -his responsibility, would intrust to no other, in such an hour as -this,--that of guiding his storm-tossed bark among the frightful -billows that were threatening every instant, to engulf her. Thus -swiftly onward drove the seemingly devoted ship, strained, shivering, -and groaning beneath the terrible power of the gale, like an -over-ridden steed, as she dashed, yet unharmed, through the mist and -spray and constantly-breaking white caps of the wildly-rolling deep; -thus onward sped she, for the full space of two hours, when the wind -gradually lulled, and with it the deafening uproar subsided. Presently -a young, well-dressed gentleman made his appearance on deck, amidships, -and, having noted a while the now evident subsidence of the tempest, -slowly and carefully, from one grasped rope to another, made his way to -the side of the captain, at the wheel. - -“A frightful blow, Mr. Elwood,” said the latter; “for the twenty years -I have been a seaman, I have never seen the like.” - -“It certainly has exceeded all my conceptions of a sea-storm,” said -the other. “But do you know where we are, and where driving at this -tremendous speed?” - -“Yes, I think I do, both. When we were struck by the gale, which I saw -was going to be a terrible norther, and saw it, too, very luckily, -at a distance that enabled me to become well prepared for it, look -at my reckoning, and make all my calculations,--when we were struck, -we were three hundred and fifty miles out of Havana, north’ard, and -about forty from the American coast. I at once put the ship before the -wind, and set her course southeast, which, being perfectly familiar -with these seas, I knew would give her a safe run, and, in about sixty -miles, carry her by the southern point of the Little Bahama Bank, -where, rounding this great breakwater against northers, we should be -in a comparatively smooth sea, that would admit of either laying to or -anchoring. It is now over two hours since we started on this fearful -race, which has kept my heart in my mouth the whole time; and I am -expecting, every minute, to get sight of that rocky headland.” - -“But that,” rejoined Elwood (for the gentleman was no other than Claud -Elwood, as the reader has doubtless already inferred), “that will -bring us, according to the late rumor, into one of the principal haunts -of the pirates, will it not?” - -“Yes, partly, perhaps,” replied the captain; “but I hear that Commodore -Porter has arrived, with the American squadron, in these seas, to break -up these pests, and I presume _has_ done it, or frightened them away, -so that we sha’n’t be molested. At any rate, I saw no safer course to -outlive such a tempest. You are the owner of ship and cargo, to be -sure; but you put on me the responsibility of her safety.” - -“Certainly,” rejoined the other, “for my guidance would be a poor one; -and, instead of any disposition to criticise your course, Captain -Golding, I feel but too grateful, with the life of a beloved wife at -stake, to say nothing of my own, and so much property, that your skill -has enabled us to outride the storm--now nearly over, I think--so -unexpectedly well. But what is that, a little to the left of the ship’s -course, in the distance ahead?” - -“Ah, that is it!” cheerily exclaimed the captain, casting an eager -look in the indicated direction. “Why, how like a race-horse the ship -must be driving ahead! I looked not ten minutes ago, and nothing was -to be seen; and now there is the headland, in full view, but two or -three leagues distant! And stay,--what is that dark object around and a -little beyond the point? A ship? Yes, it grows distinct now,--a large, -black ship. That, sir, is an American frigate. Hurra to you, Elwood! We -will now soon be safe, and in safe company.” - -It was about sunset. The merchantman, having passed the protecting -promontory, and swept around the tall ship of war, had gained an -offing, about a half mile beyond, under the lee of a thickly-wooded, -long, narrow island; and was now lying snugly at anchor, riding out the -heavy ground-swell occasioned by the abated storm; while all on board, -unsuspicious of molestation, were making preparations to turn in for -the night. - -“A sail to the leeward!” shouted a sailor, just sent aloft to make some -alteration in the rigging. - -The word was passed below; and the captain, mates, and Elwood, were -instantly on deck, and on the lookout. They at once descried a large -black schooner, creeping out from behind the farther end of the island -against which they were anchored, about a mile distant, and tacking -and beating her way towards them. She carried no colors by which -her character could be determined; but the very absence of all such -insignia, together with the sinister appearance of her long, low sides, -which exhibited the aspect of masked port-holes, and also the peculiar -stir of her evidently large and strange-looking crew, at once marked -her as an object of suspicion. - -“Elwood, your fears were prophetic,” said the captain, lowering his -glass from a long, intent observation. “That craft is a pirate, with -scarce a shadow of doubt. But don’t the mad creature see the frigate, -and the frigate her?” - -With this, they all turned towards the ship of war; but she was no -longer visible. A narrow vein of land fog, put in motion by some local -current in shore, had been wafted out on to the water, and completely -enshrouded her from their view. - -“I see it all,” exclaimed Elwood. “That pirate has been lying, all the -afternoon, concealed behind this island; and his spies, sent into the -woods on the island, and to this end of it, probably, saw both our ship -and the frigate take their positions, and this intervening fog coming -on, and reported all to their master; who at once conceived the bold -design which he has now started out to execute,--that of snatching us, -as its prize, from under the very guns of the frigate!” - -A brief, earnest consultation was then held; when, knowing the -uselessness of trying to signalize the frigate, they first thought -to weigh anchor and try to escape to her protection; but a little -reflection told them the enemy would be down upon them before this -could be effected, and they would be taken, unprepared for defence. -The only other alternative left them was, therefore, quickly adopted; -and, in pursuance, the second mate and two seamen were lowered in the -life-boat, with orders to keep the ship between themselves and the -schooner till they got into the screening fog, and then make their -way, with all speed, to the frigate, to invoke her aid and protection; -while all the rest should arm themselves with the muskets, swords, and -pistols on board, and, if possible, hold the enemy at bay till succor -arrived. And scarcely had these hasty preparations been made, before -the piratical schooner, which had made a wide tack outward to catch the -wind, came swiftly sweeping round to their side, like a towering falcon -on his prey. But, by some miscalculation of her helmsman, she went -twenty yards wide of them--not, however, without betraying the full -extent of her bloody purposes; for as, under the impulse of a speed -she found herself unable instantly to check, she swept by on the long, -rolling billows, a score or two of desperate ruffians, headed by their -burly and still more fierce-looking captain, stood on her deck, armed -to the teeth, and holding their hooks and hawsers, ready to grapple -and board their intended prey. But, still forbearing to unmask their -batteries or fire a gun, lest they should thus bring down the frigate -upon them, her grim and silent crew sprang to their posts, to tack ship -and come round again, with the narrowest sweep, to repair their former -mischance. And, with surprising quickness, their well-worked craft was -again, and this time with no uncertain guidance, shooting alongside of -the devoted merchantman. Still the crew of the latter quailed not; but, -well knowing there was no longer any hope of escaping a struggle in -which death or victory were the only alternatives, stood, with knitted -brows and fire-arms cocked and levelled, silently awaiting the onset. -It came. With the shock of the partial collision as the assailing craft -raked along the sides of their ship, and the sudden jerk as she was -brought up by the quickly-thrown grapples, the pirate captain, with a -fierce shout of defiance, cleared, at a single bound, the intervening -rails, and landed, with brandished sword, upon their fore-deck. A dozen -more, with a wild yell, were in the act of following, when they were -met by a full volley from the guns of the defenders, poured into their -very faces. There was a pause,--a lurch,--a crack of breaking fixtures; -and the next moment the schooner, torn away from her fastenings by the -force of a monstrous upheaving wave, and thrown around at right angles -to the unharmed prey so nearly within her clutches, was seen rolling -and reeling on the top of a billow, fifty yards distant. At that -instant, twenty jets of blinding flame fiercely burst from the edge of -the fog-cloud, almost within pistol-shot to the windward, and, with the -startling flash, rent sky and ocean leaped as with the concussion of a -closely-breaking volley of linked thunder-peals. There was another and -still more awful pause; when, through the cloud of sulphurous smoke -that was rolling over them, the astounded defenders heard the gurgling -rush, as of waters breaking into newly opened chasms, in the direction -of the enemy; and they comprehended all. The frigate, unperceived by -the eager pirates, had dropped down, rounded to, and sent a whole -broadside directly into the uprolled hull of the devoted craft, which -had been reduced to a sinking wreck by that one tremendously heavy -discharge of terrible missiles. Within two minutes the lifting smoke -disclosed her, reeling and lurching for the final plunge. Within one -more, she rose upright, like some mortally-smitten giant, quivered an -instant, and, with all her grim and hideously-screeching crew, went -down, stern foremost, amid the parting waves of the boiling deep. - -These startling scenes had transpired so rapidly that the amazed crew -of the merchantman had taken no thought of the pirate captain whom -they had seen leaping on their deck; but they now turned to look for -him, and, whether dead or alive, to take charge of him, to crown the -fortunate result of this fearful encounter. There he stood at bay, -with back turned to the foremast, facing his virtual captors, with a -brandished sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, as if daring -them to approach or fire on him. But they were spared the necessity of -attempting either. A boat’s crew of armed men from the frigate were -already mounting the deck, to claim whoever of the pirates they found -alive, as their trophies. The formidable desperado was pointed out to -them; when, firing a volley over his head, to confuse without killing -him, they rushed forward in the smoke, disarmed, bound, and dragged him -along, to pass him down to their boat. As he was being urged across the -deck, his eyes met those of Elwood. The recognition was mutual. It was -Gaut Gurley! - -It was morning, and the bright sun was looking down upon an ocean as -calm and peaceful as if its passive bosom had never been disturbed by -the ensanguined tumults of warring men, or the commotions of battling -elements. - -A youthful couple were standing by the rail, on the deck of the still -anchored merchantman, and glancing up admiringly at the towering masts -of the ship-of-war, which had also anchored for the night on the very -spot from which she had dealt such destruction to the pirates, whose -awful fate and the connected circumstances had been with them the topic -of conversation. - -“This has been such a fearful ordeal to you, dear Fluella,” said the -young man, smilingly, “that I shall probably never be able again to -induce you to leave home to cross the ocean, either for health or -pleasure, shall I?” - -“For pleasure, no, my dear husband,” affectionately responded the -other; “no, with my happy New England home, never, for pleasure, Claud.” - -“But this was for _health_,” rejoined Elwood. “I have never told you -how much I was concerned about you last summer, or that your physician -warned me, as cold weather approached, he could not answer for your -life through another winter at the North. It was this only that led me -to urge you to accompany me to Cuba, to remain there till I came back -for you in the spring, as I have now done. And, to say nothing of the -gains which my two trips will add to the estate of which I am heir in -expectation,--or rather, as my good uncle will have it, in possession -with him,--to say nothing of this, I shall always be thankful for your -coming, for it has so evidently restored you, I had almost said, to -more of health and beauty than I have seen you exhibiting for the whole -two and a half happy years of our married life.” - -“Thank you, Claud, for the beautiful part of it,” said the happy wife, -snapping her handkerchief in his face, with an air of mock resentment; -“but I am thinking of home. When shall we reach there?” - -“Well, let us calculate,” replied the husband, beginning to catch the -affectionate animation of the other: “this is the 22d of April; and I -think I can promise you the enjoyment of a May-day in New England.” - -“I hold you to that, sir,” playfully rejoined the wife, “for I wish -to be preparing for our summer residence at your cottage on my native -lakes. My illness deprived me of that pleasure last summer, you know, -husband mine.” - -“Yes,” said he, with kindling enthusiasm, “we will go, Fluella. I want -to see the good old chief; I want to enjoy the visit I have promised me -from my friend Carvil; I want to hear Phillips discourse on woodcraft, -and Chanticleer Codman wake the echoes of the lakes by his marvellous -crowing. Yes, yes, we will go, and make uncle and mother go with us, -this time.” - -“Uncle and mother!” cried Fluella, laughingly; “how odd that is getting -to sound. Suppose I call your mother aunt? Have they not now been -married long enough to be both entitled to the more endearing names of -father and mother? and are they not happy enough and good enough to -merit the dearest names?” - -“Yes,” answered Elwood, “I will correct the habit, if you really wish -it. Yes, yes; the once-styled crusty old bachelor, Arthur Elwood, and -my mother, are indeed a happy couple. Did you ever know a happier?” - -“Yes, one,” replied the hesitating, blushing wife, drawing down her -husband’s head, and slyly imprinting a kiss on his cheek. - -The conversation between the happy pair was here interrupted by the -appearance of a boat putting off from the frigate, under the charge of -a midshipman; who, having come on board and inquired out Elwood, now -approached and presented him a letter, saying, as he departed, it was -from the pirate prisoner, and would doubtless require no answer. - -The greatly surprised young man tore open the letter, and, in company -with his wife, read, with mingled emotions of pain and indignation, the -following singular but characteristic compound of malicious vaunt and -shameless confession: - - “TO CLAUD ELWOOD:--My career is ended, at last. Well, I have the - satisfaction of knowing that I have been nobody’s fool nor nobody’s - tool. Early perceiving that nine out of ten were only the stupid - instruments of the tenth man, the world over, I resolved to go into - the system, and did, and improved on it so as to make _nineteen_ out - of _twenty_ tools to _me_,--that is all. I have no great fault to find - with men generally, though I always despised the whole herd; for I - knew that, if they used me well, it was only because they dared not do - otherwise. I don’t write this, however, to preach upon that, but to - let you know another thing, to chew upon. - - “You call me a murderer; and I want to tell you that _you_ are the - _son_ of a murderer, and therefore stand on a par with my family, even - at that. Your father, when we used to operate together in smuggling, - being once hard chased, on an out-of-the-way road, by one of the - custom-house crew, knocked him down with a club, and finished with the - blow, to save a thousand dollars’ worth of silk. But I sacredly kept - his secret; yes, even to this day, besides making one good fortune - for him, and being on the point of making him another. And yet he - betrayed and turned against me. Yes, in that affair about the missing - peltries, he betrayed me, out and out, and spoilt every thing. That - was his unpardonable sin, with me. I resolved he should die for it; - and he _did_. I didn’t want to kill you, but couldn’t suffer you to - become a witness. No, I never had any thing against you, except for - allowing matters to take the turn that drove my daughter to anticipate - you in breaking off the match. But it was just as well, as it turned - out. Avis, in the position of _lady abbess_ of a convent in one of - your eastern cities, which it is settled she will have, will stand - quite as high, I guess, as in the position of lady Elwood. - - “I have done, now, except to ask one favor,--the only one I will ever - ask of _any_ man,--and that is, that you won’t publish my name, and - couple it with the unlucky miss-go of last night; so that my wife and - daughter, who know I am in this region, but not my business, may never - learn that the captain of the _Black Rover_ and I are one. As my brave - boys are all gone down, and as _I_ shall have no trial to bring it - out, it rests with you to say whether it is ever to be known or not; - for, as I have said, I have no notion of being either tried or hung, - any more than I had at the North. - - GAUT.” - - -On finishing this singular and remorseless missive, with its strange, -painful, but as he feared too true disclosure of the secret of that -fatal influence which had proved the ruin and final destruction of his -father, Claud Elwood was too much troubled and overcome to utter a word -of comment; and, with his pained and shuddering wife, he stood mute and -thoughtful, until aroused by the stir on board, in preparations for -weighing anchor, and the cheering announcement of the captain that a -favoring breeze was springing up, and that within twenty minutes they -would be, under the fairest of auspices, on their rejoicing way to -their own beloved New England. - -But the cheering thought was not to be enjoyed without the drawback of -being compelled to witness one more and a concluding horror. - -As Elwood and his beautiful companion were on the point of retiring -from deck, their attention was suddenly arrested by a light, crashing -sound, high up the tall side of the frigate. They looked, and caught -sight of broken pieces of board or panelling flying out, as if beat or -kicked from what appeared to have been a closed port-hole. Presently -the body of a man, whom they at once recognized, was protruded through -the ample aperture he had evidently thus effected, till he brought -himself to a balance on the outer edge. Then came the sharp cry from -some one of the frigate’s officers: - -“Look out, there, for the pirate prisoner!” - -There was at once a lively stir on board, but too late. The next -moment the heavily-manacled object of the alarm descended, like a -swiftly-falling weight, to the water; and, with a dull plunge, the -recoiling waves rolled back, forever closing over the _traitor_, the -_robber_, the _murderer_, and the _pirate_, GAUT GURLEY! - - - - -COLUMBIAN LIBRARY. - -[Illustration] - - NEW SERIES OF - CHOICE AMERICAN LITERATURE. - - - No. 1. A TRAGEDY OF THE MOUNTAINS. A. F. Hill. 390 pages. - ” 2. AMOURS OF AARON BURR. Burdette. 438 pages. - ” 3. TWO WHITE SLAVES. Peacocke. 366 pages. - ” 4. DEATH-DEALING GOLD. Arthur. 352 pages. - ” 5. A PEEP AT NEW YORK SOCIETY. By One of the Victims. - ” 6. A FREEMAN IN BONDAGE. Northup. 336 pages. - ” 7. MY MOTHER-IN-LAW. By Her Son-in-Law. - ” 8. AN AMERICAN DON JUAN. By E. P. B. - ” 9. IN THE ADIRONDACKS. Hammond. 340 pages. - ” 10. THE DEMON TRAPPER OF UMBAGOG. Thompson. 360 pages. - - -IN PRESS. - -[Illustration] - - AN AMERICAN HEROINE. Talmon. - THE MANIAC BRIDE. Arthur. - THE MYSTERY OF WOMAN. Arthur. - CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BRIDE. Ward. - MARRIED, BUT UNLOVED. Arthur. - PARADISE OF WIT AND HUMOR. By a “Drummer.” - - -ASK FOR THE COLUMBIAN LIBRARY. - - - - -Transcriber’s Notes - -This book had a very large number of obvious printer’s errors, which -have been silently corrected. - -Page 165: “as I from to time” changed to “as I from time to time” and “I -will down” changed to “I will be down” - -Page 184: “put in under my foot” changed to “put it under my foot” - -Page 201: The missing letter in “the eeling month;” was filled in via -consultation with another version and has been changed to “the peeling -month” - -Page 321: The word before logs in this section, “tangled trees, -()-logs,” was unclear in the original text but was verified in another -edition to be mill-logs. - -*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEMON TRAPPER OF -UMBAGOG *** - -Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions will -be renamed. - -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the -United States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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P. Thompson</p> -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and -most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions -whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms -of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online -at <a href="https://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a>. If you -are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the -country where you are located before using this eBook. -</div> - -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Title: The Demon Trapper of Umbagog</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-left:2em; text-indent:0; margin-top:0; margin-bottom:1em;'>A Thrilling Tale of the Maine Forests</p> -<p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em'>Author: D. P. Thompson</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Release Date: April 2, 2022 [eBook #67759]</p> -<p style='display:block; text-indent:0; margin:1em 0'>Language: English</p> - <p style='display:block; margin-top:1em; margin-bottom:0; margin-left:2em; text-indent:-2em; text-align:left'>Produced by: Charlene Taylor and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American Libraries.)</p> -<div style='margin-top:2em; margin-bottom:4em'>*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEMON TRAPPER OF UMBAGOG ***</div> - - - - - -<h1> The Demon Trapper of Umbagog.</h1> - -<p class="center p0 p2 small"> A THRILLING TALE</p> - -<p class="center p0 p2 big"> OF THE MAINE FORESTS.</p> - -<p class="center p0 p2 small"> BY</p> - -<p class="center p0 p2"> D. P. THOMPSON, <span class="smcap">Esq.</span></p> - -<p class="center p0 p2"><span class="figcenter" id="img001"> - <img src="images/001.jpg" class="w10" alt="Decorative line" /> -</span></p> - -<p class="center p0 p2">PHILADELPHIA<br /> -<span class="big">COLUMBIAN PUBLISHING COMPANY</span><br /> -<span class="smcap">35 North Tenth Street</span>.<br /> -<span class="small">1890</span> -</p> - - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> - -<p class="center p0 small"> <span class="smcap">Copyright<br /> - By</span> - COLUMBIAN PUBLISHING CO.<br /> -1890.</p> - -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_iii">[Pg iii]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CONTENTS">CONTENTS.</h2> -</div> -<hr class="r5" /> - -<table class="autotable"> -<tr> -<th colspan="2" class="tdr"> -Page -</th> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl"> -Town and Country contrasted, in relation to Vice and Crime.—A Display Party to avoid Bankruptcy.—Gaut Gurley, and other leading Characters, introduced as Actors in this scene of City Life -</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_1">1</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Retrospect of the life of the Country Merchant, in making Money, -to become a “Solid Man of Boston.”—Humble Beginnings.—Tempted -into Smuggling from Canada in Embargo times, and -makes a Fortune, by the aid of the desperate and daring Services -of Gaut Gurley.—A Sketch of the Wild Scenes of Smuggling -over the British line into Vermont and New Hampshire.—Removal -to the City</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_15">15</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Gambling (an allegory) invented by the Fiends, and is proclaimed -the Premium Vice by Lucifer.—A Gambling Scene between Gaut -Gurley and the merchant, Mark Elwood.—The Failure of the -latter.—The Refusal of his brother, Arthur Elwood, to help him.—The -Surprise and Distress of his Family </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_27">27</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">The Downward Path of the Habitual Gambler.—His Family sharing -in the Degradation, and becoming the suffering Victims of his -Vices.—The Sudden Resolve to be a Man again, and remove to an -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_iv">[Pg iv]</span>unsettled Country, to begin Life anew in the Woods</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_38">38</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">The moral and intellectual Influences of Forest Life.—Scenery of -Umbagog.—Description of Elwood’s new Home in the Woods.—The -Burning of his first <i>Slash</i>.—His House catches Fire, and he -and his Wife engage in extinguishing it, praying for the return of -their Son, Claud Elwood, to help them in their terrible strait </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_51">51</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Claud Elwood and his Forest Musings.—Dangerous Assault, and -slaying of a Moose.—Rescue of Gaut’s Daughter from the enraged -animal.—Strange Developments.—Incipient Love Scene.—Trout-catching.—Return -of Claud and Phillips (the Old Hunter -here first introduced), to aid in saving the Elwood Cottage from -the fire.—The Thunder-shower comes to complete the conquest of -the fire.—The destruction of the King Pine by a Thunderbolt </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_60">60</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Journey up the Magalloway, to bring home the slaughtered Moose.—Love -and its entanglements; its Sunshine now, its Storms in the -distance </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_76">76</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Jaunt of Claud and Phillips over the Rapids to the next Great Lake, -for Deer-hunting and Trout-catching.—Rescue of Fluella, the Indian -Chief’s Daughter, from Drowning in the Rapids.—Her -remarkable Character for Intellect and Beauty </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_87">87</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">The Logging Bee.—The introduction of a New Character in Comical -Codman, the Trapper.—The Woodmen’s Banquet.—The -forming of the Trapping and Hunting Company, to start on an -Expedition to the Upper Lakes</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_108">108</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Developments of the dark and designing character of Gaut Gurley.—Tomah, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_v">[Pg v]</span>the college-learned Indian </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_124">124</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Mrs. Elwood’s Bodings, on account of the connection of her Husband -and Son with Gaut and his Daughter.—Her Interview with -Fluella.—Claud’s Interview with Fluella and her Father, the -Chief.—The Chief’s History of his Tribe </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_137">137</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Adventures of the Trappers the first day of their Expedition up the -Lakes.—Bear-hunt, Trout-catching, etc.—Introduction of Carvil, -an amateur Hunter from the Green Mountains</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_154">154</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">The Trappers’ Central Camp on the Maguntic Lake.—Three -Stories of most remarkable Adventures in the Woods, told at the -Camp-fire by three Hunters and Trappers </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_175">175</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">The Voyage to Oquossak, the farthest large Lake.—The stationing -of the Trappers at different points on the Lake.—The appointment -of Gaut as Keeper of the Central Camp, on the Lake below.—The -Results of their Fall’s Operations, and Preparations to return -Home</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_200">200</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">The Trappers overtaken by a terrible Snow-storm.—Their Suffering -before reaching Central Camp.—The discovery that this Camp -had been Burnt, and Robbed of their whole Stock of Furs.—Their -Providential Escape from Death</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_211">211</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">The Legal Prosecution to Recover their Furs, or punish Gaut, the -supposed Criminal.—The unsatisfactory Result, and Gaut’s dark -menaces of Revenge </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_235">235</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Gaut’s Efforts to get the old Company off into the Forest, on a -Spring Expedition.—All refuse but Elwood and Son, who conclude -to go.—Love Entanglements, and the boding Fears of -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_vi">[Pg vi]</span>Mrs. Elwood </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_246">246</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Opening of Spring in the Settlement.—The Trappers fail to Return.—Gaut -comes without them.—The Alarm and Suspicions -of the Settlers that he has Murdered the Elwoods.—The Circumstantial -Evidence </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_260">260</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">The attempt to Arrest Gaut.—His retreat to a Cave in the Mountain.—His -final Dislodgement and Capture, for Trial and Examination </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_275">275</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Retrospect of the Adventures of Gaut and the Elwoods.—The -Murder of Mark Elwood, and the Wounding of Claud, by Gaut.—Claud’s -life saved by Fluella </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_299">299</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Gaut’s Trial, Sentence, and Imprisonment.—General Denouement -of the Story.—Gaut breaks Jail, escapes, and becomes a desperate -Pirate-leader </td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_324">324</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc" colspan="2"> -<a href="#SEQUEL">SEQUEL.</a> -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdl">Awful Fate of a Pirate Ship.—Gaut’s Death</td> -<td class="tdr page"> -<a href="#Page_350">350</a> -</td> -</tr> -</table> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_1">[Pg 1]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="THE_DEMON_TRAPPER_OF_UMBAGOG">THE DEMON TRAPPER OF UMBAGOG.</h2> -</div> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_I">CHAPTER I.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0">“God made the country and man made the town.”</p> - - -<p>So wrote the charming Cowper, giving us to understand, by the drift of -the context, that he intended the remark as having a moral as well as -a physical application; since, as he there intimates, in “gain-devoted -cities,” whither naturally flow “the dregs and feculence of every -land,” and where “foul example in most minds begets its likeness,” -the vices will ever find their favorite haunts; while the virtues, -on the contrary, will always most abound in the country. So far as -regards the virtues, if we are to take them untested, this is doubtless -true. And so far, also, as regards the mere <em>vices</em>, or actual -transgressions of morality, we need, perhaps, to have no hesitation in -yielding our assent to the position of the poet. But, if he intends -to include in the category those flagrant crimes which stand first in -the gradation of human offences, we must be permitted to dissent from -that part of the view; and not only dissent, but claim that truth will -generally require the very reversal of the picture, for of such crimes -we believe it will be found, on examination, that the country ever -furnishes the greatest proportion. In cities, the frequent intercourse -of men with their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_2">[Pg 2]</span> fellow-men, the constant interchange of the ordinary -civilities of life, and the thousand amusements and calls on their -attention that are daily occurring, have almost necessarily a tendency -to soften or turn away the edge of malice and hatred, to divert the -mind from the dark workings of revenge, and prevent it from settling -into any of those fatal purposes which result in the wilful destruction -of life, or some other gross outrage on humanity. But in the country, -where, it will be remembered, the first blood ever spilled by the -hand of a murderer cried up to Heaven from the ground, and where the -meliorating circumstances we have named as incident to congregated -life are almost wholly wanting, man is left to brood in solitude over -his real or fancied wrongs, till all the fierce and stormy passions of -his nature become aroused, and hurry him unchecked along to the fatal -outbreak. In the city, the strong and bad passions of hate, envy, -jealousy, and revenge, softened in action, as we have said, on finding -a readier vent in some of the conditions of urban society, generally -prove comparatively harmless. In the country, finding no such softening -influences, and no such vent, and left to their own workings, they -often become dangerously concentrated, and, growing more and more -intensified as their self-fed fires are permitted to burn on, at length -burst through every barrier of restraint, and set all law and reason -alike at defiance.</p> - -<p>And if this view, as we believe, is correct in regard to the operation -of this class of passions, why not in regard to the operation of those -of an opposite character? Why should not the same principle apply to -the operation of love as well as hate? It should, and does, though not -in an equal degree, perhaps, apply to them both. It has been shown to -be so in the experience of the past. It is illustrated in many a sad -drama of real life, but never more strikingly than in the true and -darkly romantic incidents which form the groundwork of the tale upon -which we are about to enter.</p> - -<p>It was on a raw and gusty evening in the month of November,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_3">[Pg 3]</span> a few -years subsequent to our last war with Great Britain, and the cold and -vapor-laden winds, which form such a drawback to the coast-clime of -New England, were fitfully wailing over the drear and frost-blackened -landscape, and the wayfarers, as if keenly alive to the discomforts -of all without, were seen everywhere hurrying forward to reach those -comforts within which were heralded in the cheerful gleams that shot -from many a window, when a showy and conspicuous mansion, in the -environs of Boston, was observed to be lighted up to an extent, and -with a brilliancy, that betokened the advent of some ambitious display -on the part of the bustling inmates. Carriages from different parts -of the city were successively arriving, discharging their loads of -gaily-dressed ladies and gentlemen at the door, and rattling off -again at the crack of the whips of the pert and jauntily equipped -drivers. Others on foot, and from the more immediate neighborhood, -were, in couples and singly, for some time constantly dropping in to -swell the crowd, witness, and perhaps add to, the attractions of the -occasion, which was obviously one of those social gatherings that -have been sometimes, in conventional phrase, not inaptly denominated -a <em>jam</em>; where people go to be in the fashion, to see, be seen, -and try as hard as they can to be happy; but where the aggregate of -happiness enjoyed is probably far less, as a general rule, than would -be enjoyed by the same company at home in the pursuit of their ordinary -avocations.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile, as the guests were assembling and being conducted to the -withdrawing rooms, through the cash-bought and obsequious politeness -of some of the troop of waiters hired for the occasion, the master of -the mansion had taken his station in the nook of a window commanding -the common entrance, and was there stealthily noting, as the company, -severally or one group after another, mounted the doorsteps, who had -honored his cards of invitation whom he wished to see there, and who -had come whom he wished to have stayed away. He was a well-favored man, -somewhat past the middle age of life, with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_4">[Pg 4]</span> regular features, and a -good general appearance, but with one of those unsettled, fluctuating -countenances which are usually found in men who, while affecting, -perhaps, a show of independence, lack self-reliance, fixed principles, -or some other of the essential elements of character. And such indeed -was Mark Elwood, the reputedly wealthy merchant whom we have thus -introduced as one of the leading personages of our story. Though often -moved with kind and generous impulses, he yet was governed by no -settled principles of benevolence; though often shrewd and sagacious, -he yet possessed no true wisdom; and, though often bold and resolute in -action, he yet lacked the faith and firmness of true courage. In short, -he might be regarded as a fair representative of the numerous class -we are daily meeting with in life,—men who do many good things, but -more questionable ones; who undertake much, accomplish little; bustle, -agitate, and thus contrive to occupy the largest space in public -attention; but who, when sifted, are found, as Pope maliciously says of -women, to</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“have no character at all.” -</p> - -<p>After pursuing his observations a while, with an air of disappointment -or indifference, Elwood was about to turn away, when his eye caught -a glimpse of an approaching group of guests, whose appearance at -once lighted up his countenance with a smile of satisfaction, and -he half-ejaculated: “There they come!—the solid men of Boston. The -presence of these, with the others who will all serve as trumpeters -of the affair, will quell every suspicion of my credit till some new -strike shall place me beyond danger. Yes, just as I calculated, the -money spent will be the cunningest investment I have made these six -months. But who is that tagging along alone after the rest?” he added, -his countenance suddenly changing to a troubled look, and slowly, and -with a strange emphasis, pronouncing the name, “<span class="smcap">Gaut Gurley!</span>” -he hurried away from his post of observation.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_5">[Pg 5]</span></p> - -<p>The person whose obviously unexpected appearance among the arriving -guests had so much disturbed our host, having leisurely brought up -the rear, now paused a few paces from the door, and took a deliberate -survey of all that was visible through the windows of the scene -passing within. He was a man of a personal appearance not likely to be -forgotten. His strong, upright, well-proportioned frame, full, rounded -head, and unexceptionable features, were unusually well calculated to -arrest the attention, and, at a little distance especially, to secure -the favorable impressions of others; but those impressions faded away, -or gave place to opposite emotions, on a nearer approach, for then -the beholder read something in the countenance that met his, which -made him pause,—something which he could not fathom, but which at -once disinclined him to any acquaintance with the man to whom that -countenance belonged.</p> - -<p>Perhaps it should be viewed as one of the kindest provisions -of Providence, made in aid of our rights and instincts of -self-preservation, that man should not be able wholly to hide the -secrets of his heart from his fellow-men,—that the human countenance -should be so formed that no schooling, however severe, can prevent it -from betraying the evil thoughts and purposes which may be lurking -within. It is said that God alone can read the secrets of the heart; -but we have often thought that He has imparted to us more of this -attribute of His omniscience than that which is vouchsafed us in any -one of our other faculties; or, in other words, that, to the skill -we may acquire by practice in reading the countenance, He has added -something of the light of intuition, to enable us to pierce into the -otherwise impenetrable recesses of the bosom, and thus guard ourselves -against the designs which may there be disclosed, and which, but for -that, the deceptions of the tongue might forever conceal. All this, we -are aware, may pass as a mere supposition; yet we think its correctness -will be very generally attested by officers<span class="pagenum" id="Page_6">[Pg 6]</span> of justice, policemen, -jailers, and all those who have had much experience in the detection of -crime.</p> - -<p>But, whether the doctrine is applicable or not in the generality -of cases, it was certainly so in that of the unbidden guest whose -appearance we have attempted to describe. Unlike Elwood, he had -character, but all those who closely noted him were made to feel that -his character was a dark and dangerous one.</p> - -<p>After Gaut, for such he was called among his acquaintance, had -leisurely run his eye from window to window of the many lighted -apartments of the house, and scanned, as he did, with many a sneering -smile, the appearances within, as long as suited his pleasure, he -boldly walked in, and, with all the assurance of the most favored, -proceeded to mingle with the company.</p> - -<p>On quitting his lookout, Elwood repaired to the reception-room, where -Mrs. Elwood, the mistress of the mansion, was already in waiting, -nerving herself to perform, as acceptably as she could, her part of -the stereotyped ceremony of receiving the guests, and exchanging with -them the salutations and commonplaces of the evening. Mrs. Elwood, -though not beautiful, nor even handsome, was yet every way a comely -woman; and the quiet dignity and the unpretending simplicity of her -manner, together with a certain intelligent and appreciating cast of -countenance, which always rested on her placid features, seldom failed -to impress those who approached her with feelings of kindness and -respect. She looked pale and fatigued, from the labors and anxieties -she had gone through in the preparations for the present occasion; and, -in addition to this, which is ever the penalty to the mistress of the -house in getting up a large party, there was an air of sadness in her -looks that told of secret sorrows which were not much mitigated by all -the show of wealth that surrounded her.</p> - -<p>By this time the company, having mostly arrived and divested themselves -of hats, gloves, bonnets, shawls, together<span class="pagenum" id="Page_7">[Pg 7]</span> with all other of the -loose etceteras of dress then in vogue, and carefully consulted the -confidential mirrors to secure that adjustment of collars, curls, -smirks, and smiles which are deemed most favorable for effect in -public, were now shown into the suit of apartments where the host and -hostess were waiting to receive them.</p> - -<p>But it is far from our purpose to attempt a detailed description of -the thousand little nothings which go to make up the character of one -of these great fashionable parties. Who ever came from one the wiser? -Not one guest in ten, probably, is found engaged in a conversation in -which the ordinary powers of the speaker are exercised. A forced glee -and smartness seem everywhere to prevail among the company, who are -continually sacrificing their common sense in their eager attempts to -appear gay and witty. Who was ever made really happier by being in -such an assemblage? Although the participants may exhibit to casual -observation the semblance of enjoyment, yet a close inspection will -show that they are only <em>acting</em>, and that, as we have already -intimated, their apparent enjoyment is no more deserving the name -of social happiness than that which is often represented as enjoyed -by a company of stage actors, in the harassing performance of the -fictitious scenes of some genteel comedy. Who was ever made any better? -Any rational discussion tending to exalt or purify the mind would be -deemed out of place; and any moral teachings would be ridiculed or -find no listeners. And, finally, who was ever made healthier? In the -bad air generated among so many breaths in confined apartments, the -high nervous excitement that usually prevails among the company, and -the exposure to cold or dampness to which their unprepared systems -are often subjected in returning home, Death has marked many a victim -for his own; while, at the best, lassitude and depression are sure to -follow, from which it will require days to recover.</p> - -<p>In these strictures on overgrown parties, we would not, of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_8">[Pg 8]</span> course, be -understood as intending to include the smaller social gatherings, where -men and women do not, as they are prone to do in crowds, lose their -sense of personal responsibility, in deporting themselves like rational -beings; for such doubtless often lead to pleasing and instructive -interchange of thought, and the cultivation of those little amenities -of life which are scarcely less essential than the virtues themselves -in the structure of good society.</p> - -<p>But it is time we had returned from this digression to the characters -and incidents immediately connected with the action of our tale.</p> - -<p>A short time after the frosts of formality, which usually attend the -introductory scenes of such assemblages, had melted away and given -place to the noisy frivolities of the evening, and while the bustling -host, and pale, anxious-looking hostess, were together taking their -rounds among their three hundred guests, bestowing their attentions -on the more neglected, calling out the more modest, and exchanging -civilities with all,—while this was passing, suddenly there arose from -without a confused noise, as of quick movements and mingling voices, -which, from its character and the direction whence it came, obviously -indicated some altercation, or other disturbance, at the outer door. -This attracting the quickened attention of Mr. and Mrs. Elwood, the -former left his companion, and was threading his way through the -throng, when he was met by a servant, who in a flurried under-tone said:</p> - -<p>“There is out here at the door, Mr. Elwood, a sort of a countryfied, -odd-looking old fellow, in rusty brown clothes, that has been insisting -on coming in, without being invited here to-night, and without telling -his business or even giving his name. And he pressed so hard that we -had to drive him back off the steps; but he refused to go away, even -then, and kept asking where Mark was.”</p> - -<p>“Mark! why, that is my given name: didn’t you know it?” said Elwood, -rebukingly.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</span></p> - -<p>“No, sir, I didn’t,” replied the fashionable <i lang="la" xml:lang="la">pro tempore</i> lackey. -“And if I had, my orders has always been on sech occasions not to admit -any but the invited, who won’t send in their names, or tell their -business. And I generally calculate to go by Gunter, and do the thing -up genteel.”</p> - -<p>“Well, well,” said Elwood, impatiently cutting short the other in the -defence of his professional character, and leading the way to the door, -“well, well, we had better see who he is, perhaps.”</p> - -<p>When they reached the front entrance, they caught, by means of the -reflected light of the entry and chambers, an imperfect view of the -object of their proposed scrutiny, walking up and down the bricked -pathway leading to the house. But, not being able to identify the -new-comer with any one of his acquaintances, at that distance, Elwood -walked down and confronted him; when, after a momentary pause, he -seized the supposed intruder by the hand, and, in a surprised and -agitated tone, exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“My brother Arthur! How came you here?”</p> - -<p>“By steam and stage.”</p> - -<p>“Not what I meant: but no matter. We were not expecting you; and I fear -the waiters have made a sad mistake.”</p> - -<p>“As bad an one as I did, perhaps, in declining to be catechized at my -brother’s door.”</p> - -<p>“No, <em>you</em> were right enough; but the waiters, being only here -for the extra occasion,—the bit of flare-up you see we have here -to-night,—and not knowing you, thought they must do as others do at -such times. So overlook the blunder, if you will, and walk in.”</p> - -<p>Mark Elwood, much chagrined and discomposed at the discovery of such -an untoward first reception of his brother, now ushered him into the -brilliantly-lighted hall, where the two stood in such singular contrast -that no stranger would have ever taken them for brothers,—Mark -being, as we have before described him, a good-sized, and, in the -main, a good-looking man; while the other, whom we have introduced as -Arthur<span class="pagenum" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</span> Elwood, was of a diminutive size, with commonplace features, -and a severe, forbidding countenance, made so, perhaps, by intense -application to business, together with the unfavorable effect caused by -a blemished and sightless eye.</p> - -<p>“Well, brother,” said Mark, after a hesitating and awkward pause, -“shall I look you up a private room, or will you go in among the -company,—that is, if you consider yourself in trim to join them?”</p> - -<p>“Your rooms must all be in use, and I should make less trouble to go in -and be lost in the crowd. My trim will not kill anybody, probably,” was -the dry reply to the indirect hint of the other.</p> - -<p>In all this Mark’s better judgment coincided; but he had no moral -courage, and, fearing the cut and color of his somewhat outre-looking -brother’s garments might excite the remarks of his fashionable guests, -he would have gladly disposed of him in some private manner till the -company had departed. Finding him, however, totally insensible to -all such considerations, he concluded to make the best of it, and -accordingly at once led the way into the guest-crowded apartments.</p> - -<p>Here, contrary to his doubting brother’s expectation, Arthur Elwood, -whose character appeared to be known to several of the wealthier -guests, was soon treated with much respect, for, in addition to what -a previous knowledge of him secured, Mrs. Elwood had promptly come -forward to greet him, and be cordially greeted in return, and, unlike -her husband, had not hesitated to bestow on him publicly the most -marked attentions. As soon, however, as she had thus testified her -sense of the superiority of worth over outward appearance, and thus, by -her delicate tact, given him the consideration with the company which -she thought belonged to the brother of her husband, she gracefully -relinquished him to the latter; when the two, by tacit mutual consent, -sought a secluded corner, and seated themselves for a private -conversation.</p> - -<p>“As I said, I did not expect you, Arthur,” commenced Mark<span class="pagenum" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</span> Elwood, in -the unsteady and hesitating tone of one about to broach a matter in -which he felt a deep interest. “I was not looking for you here at all, -these days; but presumed, when I wrote you, that, if you concluded to -grant the favor I asked, you would transact the business through the -mail.”</p> - -<p>“Loans of money are not always favors, Mark,” responded the other, -thoughtfully; “and when I make them, I like to know whether they -promise any real benefit. I could, as you say, have transacted the -business through the mail, but I confess, Mark, I have lately had some -misgivings and doubts whether your commercial fabric here in Boston was -not too big and broad for the foundation; and I thought I would come, -see, and judge for myself.”</p> - -<p>“But I only asked for the loan of a few thousands,” said Mark, meekly. -“The fact is, Arthur, that, owing to some bad luck and disappointments -in money matters, I am, just now, a little embarrassed about meeting -some of my engagements; and I trust you will not refuse to give me a -lift. What say you, Arthur?”</p> - -<p>“I don’t say, but will see and decide,” replied the other. “But, Mark,” -he added, after a pause, “Mark, what will this useless parade here -to-night cost you?”</p> - -<p>“O, a mere trifle,—a few hundreds, perhaps.”</p> - -<p>“And you think hundreds well spent, when you are wanting thousands to -pay your debts, do you?”</p> - -<p>“O, you know, Arthur, a man, to keep up his credit, must <em>display</em> -a little once in a while.”</p> - -<p>“No, I did not know that, Mark. I did not know that the throwing -away of hundreds would help a man’s credit in thousands, especially -with those whose opinion would be of any use to him. But go,” added -the speaker, rising, “go and see to your company: I can take care of -myself.”</p> - -<p>The brothers, rising from an interview in which they had felt, perhaps, -nearly an equal degree of secret embarrassment,—the one believing that -his last hope hung on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</span> result, and the other feeling conscious -of entering on a most ungracious duty,—now separated, and mingled -with the gay throng, who, swaying hither and thither, and, seemingly -without end or aim, moving round and round their limited range of -apartments, like the froth in the circling eddies of a whirlpool, -continued to laugh, flirt, and chatter on, till the advent of the last -act of the social farce,—the throwing open of a suit of hitherto -sealed apartments, and the welcome disclosure of the varied and costly -delicacies of the loaded refreshment tables, which the company, by -their strong and simultaneous rush thitherward, the rattling of -knives and forks, spoons and glasses, the rapid popping of champagne -corks, and the low, eager hum of gratified voices that followed, -evidently deemed the best, as well as the closing, act of the evening’s -entertainment.</p> - -<p>While this scene was in progress, Gaut Gurley, who had been for some -time in vain watching the opportunity, caught Mark Elwood unoccupied in -one of the vacated apartments, and abruptly approached and confronted -him.</p> - -<p>“Well, what now, Gaut?” exclaimed Elwood, with an assumed air of -pettishness, after finding there was no further chance of escaping an -interview which he had evidently been trying to avoid; “what would you -have now?”</p> - -<p>“I would just know whether you intend to keep your engagement,” replied -Gurley, fixing his black, quivering eyes keenly on the other.</p> - -<p>“What engagement?”</p> - -<p>“To give me a chance to win back that money.”</p> - -<p>“Which you demand when you have taken from me an hundred to one!”</p> - -<p>“And who had a better right? Through whose means did you make your -fortune? Besides this, haven’t I always given you a fair chance to win -back all you could?”</p> - -<p>“I want no more of such chances.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</span></p> - -<p>“But you promised; and I want to know whether you mean to keep that -promise or not.”</p> - -<p>“Supposing I do, you would not have me leave home to-night, would you?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, to-night.”</p> - -<p>“But my brother, as you have already discovered, I presume, has just -arrived on a visit; and you know I can’t decently leave him.”</p> - -<p>“And what do <em>I</em> care for that? Say whether you will meet me at -the old room, or not, as soon as your company have cleared out?”</p> - -<p>“You are unreasonable, cruel, Gaut.”</p> - -<p>“Then say you will <em>not</em> go, and see what will come of it, Mark -Elwood!”</p> - -<p>“I must go—I <em>will</em> go, Gaut,” replied Elwood, turning pale at -the last intimation. “As soon as I get rid of the company, I will start -directly for the place.”</p> - -<p>“Well, just as you can afford,” said Gaut, doggedly, as he turned on -his heel, and made his way out of the house.</p> - -<p>Mark Elwood drew a long breath as he was thus relieved of the other’s -presence, and was leaving the room, when Mrs. Elwood, who had felt much -disturbed at discovering among her guests one of whose questionable -character and connection with her husband she was already apprised, and -who, from an adjoining apartment, had caught a slight glimpse of the -meeting just described, and enough of the conversation to enable her to -guess at its import, hurriedly came forward, and, in a voice tremulous -from suppressed emotion, said:</p> - -<p>“You surely are not going out to-night, Mr. Elwood?”</p> - -<p>“No—that is—only for a short time,” he said, hesitating, and a little -confused at the discovery of his design, which a second thought told -him she had made; “only for a short time. But don’t stop me to talk -now; you see the company are retiring. I must see the gentlemen off.”</p> - -<p>“Mr. Elwood, I must be heard,” persisted the troubled and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</span> anxious -wife. “I cannot bear to have you go off, and leave your only brother, -whom you have not seen for years, and for such company! O Mr. Elwood, -how can you let that bad man——”</p> - -<p>“Hush! don’t get into such a stew. I shall soon be back,” interrupted -the other. “You can excuse my absence. There, I hear them inquiring -for me. I must go,” he added, abruptly breaking away, and leaving his -grieved companion to hide her emotions as she best could from the -guests who were now seen approaching for their parting salutations.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the company had dispersed for their respective homes, -and with them, also, had unnoticed slipped away their infatuated host.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_II">CHAPTER II.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“At first, he, busy, plodding, poor, -<br />Earned, saved, and daily swelled his store; -<br />But soon Ambition’s summits rose, -<br />And Avarice dug his mine of woes.” -</p> - - -<p>For the better understanding of some of the allusions of the preceding -chapter, and of others that may yet appear in different parts of our -tale, as well, indeed, as for a better appreciation of the whole, we -will here turn aside from the thread of the narrative just commenced, -to take a brief retrospect of the leading events and circumstances with -which the previous lives of the several personages we have introduced -had been connected, and among which their characters had been shaped -and their destinies determined.</p> - -<p>Some twenty two or three years previous to the juncture we have been -describing, Arthur and Mark Elwood, by the fruits of their unremitting -industry as laborers on a farm in summers, and as pedlars of what they -could best buy and sell in winters, added to the few hundred dollars -patrimony they each inherited, were enabled, in a few years, to realize -the object of their early ambition, in the opening of a small retail -store, in one of the little outskirt villages of northern New-Hampshire.</p> - -<p>Such, like that of hundreds of others among us who now count their -wealth by half millions, was the slender beginning of these two -brothers. And, although they were from the first, as we have seen them -at the last, as different in their general characters as they were -in their persons, they yet got on very well together; for, however -they might disagree respecting the modes and means of acquisition, -they were always as one in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</span> regard to the great result each alike had -in view, and that was to make money and be rich. And, by a sort of -tacit understanding, falling into the departments of business best -suited to their different tastes and capacities, the quiet, cautious, -calculating, and systematic Arthur confined himself to the store, kept -the books, contrived the <em>ways and means</em>, and, in short, did the -principal head-work of the establishment; while Mark, being of a more -stirring turn, and, from his brisk <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">bon homme</i> manner and less -scrupulous disposition, better calculated for drumming up customers -and securing bargains for the store, did most of the outdoor business, -riding about the country, contracting for produce, securing barter -deal, and making himself, in all things, the runner and trumpeter of -the company. At night they usually met together to compare notes and -report progress; and they were never happier than when they sat down -in their small store-room, hemmed in and surrounded by casks of nails, -quintals of codfish, farming tools, etc., on one side, and narrow -shelves of cheap calicos, India cottons, and flaunting ribbons, on the -other, and recounted to each other the business and bargains of the -day. Thus the two, working on, like the spring and balance-wheel of -some piece of mechanism, in harmony together, soon placed themselves -beyond all fears of failure, and seemed happy and contented with their -situation and prospects.</p> - -<p>This situation of affairs, however, was not destined to be of very long -continuance. Not long after finding themselves safely on the highway -to independence, they very naturally began to think of selecting, from -among the fair young customers of their store, the ones who might make -them eligible companions for life. And, as the wayward love-fates -would have it, they both secretly fixed their affections on one and -the same girl,—the pretty and sensible Alice Gregg, who, though a -plain farmer’s daughter, was, to the vexation and envy of her numerous -rustic suitors, to be won by nothing short of one of the village -merchants. Alice was not long in discovering her advantage, nor in -deciding to avail herself of it, so far as to confine her election<span class="pagenum" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</span> -to one of these, her two undeclared lovers. And, after balancing a -while in her mind the account between her judgment, which would have -declared for the reserved but sterling Arthur, and her fancy, which -clamored hard for the manly-looking and more social Mark, she finally -yielded the reins to the latter, and took measures accordingly. After -this, Arthur’s taste in selecting a piece of goods did not, as before, -seem to be appreciated. Her handkerchief was never dropped where he -had any chance to pick it up; and she was never quite ready to go till -Mark was nearest at hand to help her into her wagon or side-saddle. -By this delicate system of female tactics, common with girls of more -pretensions than Alice, she effectually repressed the advances of the -one, and as effectually encouraged those of the other; and the result, -as she had anticipated, was a declaration from Mark, an acceptance on -her part, and a speedy marriage between them. Arthur’s heart bled at -the event; but it bled inwardly; and he had at least the consolation -of believing that no one suspected the state of his feelings, except, -perhaps, Alice, and he was not unwilling that she should know them. -He therefore put the best face on the matter he could,—appeared -wholly unconcerned,—attended the wedding, and with forced gayety -<em>openly</em> wished the new married couple the happiness which he -<em>secretly</em> wished was his own. The tender passion had been a -new thing to the money-loving Arthur. By its elevating influences, -he, who had looked for enjoyment only in wealth, had been enabled to -raise his vision to a higher sphere of happiness. And thus to lose the -bright glimpses, and be thrown back to earth again, was, in reality, -however he might disguise the fact from others, a serious blow to his -feelings, and one, indeed, which soon mainly led to a movement on his -part that gave a new turn to his apparent destinies, and a no less one, -probably, to those of his then almost envied brother Mark. For, finding -it impossible to feel his former interest in business, in a place -whose associations had become painful to him, he secretly resolved to -leave it as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</span> soon as he believed he could do so without leading to -any surmises respecting the true cause of the change he contemplated. -Accordingly, in a few months, he began to suggest his own unfitness -for making a profitable partner in country trade, and finally came -out with a direct proposition to his brother to buy him out at a sum -which he knew would be a temptingly low one. And the result was, that -the proposition was accepted, “the partnership dissolved by mutual -consent,” and the released Arthur, with his portion, soon on his way to -one of the eastern seaports, to set up business, as he soon did, for -himself alone.</p> - -<p>The withdrawal of Arthur Elwood deprived this little establishment of -its only really valuable guidance, and left it to the chance fortunes -of greater gains or greater losses than would have been likely to occur -under the cautious and hazard-excluding system of business which he had -adopted for its control. But, nothing for a year or two occurring to -induce Mark Elwood to depart from the system under which the business -had been conducted, and Arthur’s prudent maxims of trade, to which he -had been accustomed to defer, remaining fresh in his mind, he naturally -kept on in the old routine, which he was the more willing to follow, -as by it he found himself clearly on the advance. He was blessed in -his family; for his wife, who had no undue aspirations for wealth or -show, had not only proved an efficient helper by her economy and good -counsels, but added still more to his gratification by bringing him -a promising boy. Being the only trader of the village, or hamlet it -might more properly be called, he was conscious of being the object of -that peculiar kind of favor and respect which was then—more freely -than at the present day, perhaps—accorded to the country merchant by -the masses among whom he resided. And, finding his still comparatively -moderate expectations thus every day fully realized, he was satisfied -with his condition in the present, and hopeful and happy in the -prospects it presented in the future; for the demon of unlawful gain -had not then tempted him into forbidden paths by the lure of sudden -riches.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</span></p> - -<p>But that demon at length came in the shape of Gaut Gurley. From what -part of the country this singular and questionable personage originally -came, was unknown, even in the neighboring village (which was within -the borders of Maine) where he had recently located himself with a -young wife and child. And, as he very rarely made any allusions to his -own personal affairs, every thing relating to his origin, life, and -employments, previous to his appearance in this region, was a matter -of mere conjecture, and many a dark surmise, also, we should add, -respecting his true character. For the last few years, however, he was -known to have followed, at the appropriate seasons of the year, the -business of trapping, or trading for furs with the Indians, around the -northern lakes. He had several times passed through the village on -his returns from his northern tours, and called on the Elwoods, whose -contrasted characters he seemed soon to understand. But he pressed -no bargains upon them for his peltries; for, disliking the close -questionings and scrutinizing glances of Arthur, and finding he could -make no final trade with Mark without the assent of the former, he -gave up all attempts of the kind, and did not call again during the -continuance of the partnership, nor till this time; when, finding that -Mark was in trade alone, he announced his intention of spending some -time in the village, to see what arrangements could be made, as he at -first held out to Elwood, for establishing this as his place for the -regular sales or deposit of his furs.</p> - -<p>But the fur traffic, whatever it might have been formerly, was now -not the main, if any part of the object he had in view. The times had -changed, closing many of the old avenues of trade, but opening new -ones to tempt the ever restless spirit of gain. And, although the -fur trade was still profitable, there was yet another springing up, -which, for those who, like him, had no scruples about engaging in it, -promised to become far more so. The restrictions which it had been the -policy of our government to throw around commerce, in the incipient -stages of our last national quarrel with Great Britain, had caused an -unprecedented<span class="pagenum" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</span> rise in the prices of silks and other fine fabrics of -foreign import. This had put whatever there was of the two alleged -leading traits of Yankee character, acquisitiveness and ingenuity, on -the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">qui vive</i> to obtain those goods at the former prices, for -the purpose of home speculation. And Canada, being separated by a land -boundary only from the States, presented to the greedy eyes of hundreds -of village mammonists, who, like Elwood, were plodding along at the -slow jog of twenty per cent profits, opportunities of so purchasing -as to quadruple their gains; which were quite too severe a test for -their slender stock of patriotism to withstand. It was but a natural -consequence, therefore, that all of them whose love of gain was not -overcome by their fear of loss by detection and the forfeiture of their -goods, should soon be found, in spite of all the vigilance and activity -of the host of custom-house officers by whom the government had manned -the Canadian lines, secretly engaged in that contraband traffic.</p> - -<p>The history of smuggling as carried on between the Northern States and -Canada, from the enactment of the embargo at the close of 1807, and -especially from the enactment of the more stringent non-intercourse -law of 1810, to the declaration of war in 1812, and even, to a greater -or less extent, to the proclamation of peace in 1815, is a portion -of our annals that yet remains almost wholly unwritten. Although the -contraband trade in question was doubtless more or less followed -along the entire extent of our northern boundaries, from east to -west, yet along no portions of them half so extensively, probably, -as those of Vermont and New Hampshire, which, from their close -contiguity to Montreal and Quebec, the only importing cities of the -Canadas, afforded the most tempting facilities and the best chances -for success. Along these borders, indeed, it was for years one almost -continuous scene of wild warfare between the custom-house officers -and their assistants, and the smugglers and their abettors, both -parties carrying arms, and the smugglers, especially, going armed to -the teeth. In these skirmishes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</span> many were, at different times, killed -outright; many more were missing, even on the side of the officials, -for whom dark fates were naturally conjectured; while hundreds, on -both sides, were crippled or otherwise seriously wounded. Sometimes, -when a double sleigh, or wagon, deeply laden with smuggled goods, in -charge of three or four stout and resolute fellows aboard, who, with -as many more, perhaps, of their confederates on horseback or in light -teams, before and behind, were making their way, at full speed, with -their prize, from the line to some secret and safe depository in the -interior, was suddenly beset and brought to a stand by an equal or -greater number of government officials, deeply intent on a seizure, a -most furious conflict would ensue, in which the combatants, growing -desperate for the seizure or defence of the prize, would ply their hard -yeoman fists, clubs, loaded whipstocks, or whatever was at hand, with -terrible effect, and often prolong the melée till the snow or ground -was encrimsoned with blood, and scarcely an uninjured man remained on -the ground. Sometimes the besetting officials were made prisoners, and -marched off at the cocked pistol’s mouth into the deep woods, and, -after being led forward and backward through the labyrinths of the -forest till bewildered and lost, were suddenly left to find their way -out as they best could,—a feat which there was no danger of their -accomplishing till long after both the smugglers and their goods were -beyond the reach of pursuers. And sometimes the smugglers, when closely -pressed and seeing no hope of rescue if taken, as their last resort, -drew their dirks and pistols; and wo to the official who then persisted -in attempting a seizure.</p> - -<p>But the system of tactics more generally practiced by the smugglers -was that of craft and concealment, carried out by some ingenious -measure to prevent all suspicion of the times and places of their -movements, by travelling in the night or in stormy weather, or in the -most unfrequented routes, and, when pursued, by putting the pursuers on -false scents, or by feints of running away with loads of empty boxes to -mislead pursuit,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</span> till the goods, which had been previously taken to -some place of temporary concealment, could be removed from the vicinity -of the search and sent on their destination.</p> - -<p>Such were the general features of the illicit traffic which -characterized the period of which we are treating,—a traffic which -laid the foundations of many a village fortune, whose dashing heirs -would not probably be very willing to acknowledge the true source -from which the wealth and position they may now be enjoying was -derived,—and finally a traffic which, in its attending homicides and -desperate affrays, its hot pursuits and marvellous escapes, its curious -concealments and artful subterfuges, and, lastly, in the family and -neighborhood feuds which it left behind, would furnish materials for a -series of tales as wild and romantic, if not always as creditable to -the actors, as any thing ever yet spread before the public.</p> - -<p>It was this questionable business which was then occupying the thoughts -of Gaut Gurley, and in which it was his aim to involve Mark Elwood, -whom he had pitched on for the purpose, as not only a man of sufficient -means, with no scruples which could not be overcome, but a man whom he -believed he could make dependent on him, when once enlisted, and to -whom he could dictate terms for his own services. And it is no wonder -that a man of his dark cunning, working on one of the obtuse moral -sense, the love of money, and the thoughtlessness of consequences, of -Elwood, should, as he did, soon completely succeed in his objects. For, -after having kindled Elwood’s political prejudices against the embargo -law, which was held up to be such an outrage on the commercial rights -of the North that it were almost a merit to violate it, Gaut proceeded -to show how enormous were the profits to be made in this trade, and -how safely the goods might be smuggled in, through the back roads and -forest routes with which he was familiar, by employing Frenchmen, as he -could, at a cheap rate, to bring them in large panniers on the backs of -their Canadian ponies, or by engaging Indians, who could be enlisted -for even less wages, to bring<span class="pagenum" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</span> them in knapsacks through the woods. -And so clearly did he demonstrate all this to the mind of Elwood, that -the latter, being unable any longer to resist the temptation of thus -securing the gains of a traffic, by the side of which the small profits -of his store at home dwindled into contempt, soon resolved to engage in -it.</p> - -<p>From this time Gaut was in high favor with Elwood. The two, indeed, -seemed to have suddenly become inseparable. They were always found -together, and always engaged in some closely private conversation, the -purport of which no others were permitted to know, or were enabled to -conjecture, except from the new business movement which was observed -soon to follow the forming of their mysterious connection. And that -movement was that Elwood put his store in charge of a clerk, and, -giving out that he was about to engage more extensively in the fur -trade, which would require him to be often absent, went off with a -strong and fleet double team, in a northerly direction, with Gaut for -his only companion.</p> - -<p>With the advent of this new era in the life of Elwood, every thing -became changed about his establishment. His bustling presence, with his -bantering, off-hand, and communicative talk, no longer enlivened the -store and neighborhood; and people, who before seemed to know every -thing about his business and plans, now knew nothing. For he was now -most of the time absent in conducting his operations at the north, -or in his stealthy journeyings thence to the cities, to receive and -dispose of the valuable packages which he had put on their passage. He -generally came and departed in the night, and, even during his brief -stays at home, he kept himself secluded, seeming to wish to be seen -as little as possible. All this, of course, led to considerable talk -and various speculations; but he so well shrouded his movements from -the public, and kept afloat so many plausible stories to account for -his change of business, that he prevented suspicions from taking any -definite shape<span class="pagenum" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</span> about home, or spreading abroad to any extent that -endangered his operations, although those operations were constantly -continued for years, and, from cautious and small beginnings, at length -became more bold, extensive, and successful, perhaps, than any thing -of the kind ever carried on in the interior of New England. But there -was one whose suspicions of the true character of the business in which -he was engaged, notwithstanding his denials and evasions, even to her, -and whose fears and anxieties on account of the dangers she believed -he was constantly incurring, not only from seizure of his property -and the personal violence to which he was exposed in trying to defend -it, but from his association of reckless confederates, especially -Gaut Gurley, of whose dark character, as little as she had seen of -him, she was already filled with an instinctive dread,—there was one -whose suspicions, and consequent anxieties, he could never succeed in -quieting; and that was his discreet and faithful wife. She had, during -the first year or two of his new career, often expostulated with him -on the doubtful character of his business; but he, by always making -light of her fears, by telling her some truth and withholding more, -and disclosing as great a part of his astonishing gains as he supposed -would pass with her for honest acquisitions, generally silenced, if -he did not convince, her; and she, finding him always light-hearted -and satisfied with himself, when he came home, finally ceased her -remonstrances, having concluded she would try to conquer her doubts and -fears, or at least say no more on the subject.</p> - -<p>At length, however, after a prolonged absence on a tour, in which -he had a large venture at stake, he came home in a greatly altered -mood. His usual buoyancy of spirits was gone; he appeared gloomy and -abstracted; and, although, in reply to the anxious inquiries of his -wife, he represented himself to have been entire successful,—even -to a greater extent than ever before,—yet it was quite obvious that -something very untoward,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</span> to say the least, must have happened to him. -He would not leave his house after dark, he placed loaded pistols -within the reach of his hand when he went to bed, and he would often -start up wildly from his sleep. His whole conduct, indeed, was such as -to excite the deeper concern of his perplexed wife, for she feared it -betokened his connection with something very wrong,—something that had -brought him into deadly peril,—something, perhaps, done to others, -which made her tremble to think of, but something, at all events, -which made her more than ever dread to have him go back again to the -scene of his operations. But of the last-named of her fears she was -shortly relieved; for, to her agreeable surprise, he soon assured her -of his determination to break off entirely from the business he had -been pursuing, and, as much to her gratification as to the evident -vexation of Gaut Gurley, who had come on to look his employer up, he -firmly persisted in carrying out his resolution. Nor was this all. He -rapidly drew his business to a close, broke off his old associations, -privately left the place, and, in a few weeks, sent for his family -to join him in Boston, where it appeared he had been for some time -secretly transferring his capital, and where he had now established -himself in business, with all the means required, even there, of doing -it to the best advantage. And for some years he <em>did</em> engage in -business to advantage, the same strangely good luck attending him, -and prospering wonderfully in all he undertook, till he gained the -reputation of being among the wealthiest of the city. But the spoiler -came in a second appearance of Gaut Gurley, who, having squandered in -the country the bounteous sums of money which Elwood had paid him for -his services, now followed the latter to the city. And, with the coming -of that personage, together with the foolish ambition that had, about -that time, seized Elwood, to outshine some of his city competitors in -display and expensive living, commenced the wane of a fortune which, -as large as it was, it had required but two short years<span class="pagenum" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</span> to bring to -the verge on which we represented its unhappy master as standing in the -opening scene of our story.</p> - -<p>Having now related all we designed in this retrospect of events, we -will return from the somewhat long but necessary digression, and take -up the thread of the narrative where we left it.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_III">CHAPTER III.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“I strive in vain to set the evil forth. -<br />The words that should sufficiently accurse -<br />And execrate the thing, hath need -<br />Come glowing from the lips of eldest hell. -<br />Among the saddest in the den of woe, -<br />Most sad; among the damn’d, most deeply damn’d.” -</p> - - -<p>Once on a time, before the dark catalogue of vices was made complete -by the wicked inventions of men, or the evil made to counterbalance -the good in the world, the Arch Enemy of mankind, deeply sensible of -the vantage-ground occupied by the antagonistic Being, and anxiously -casting about him for the means of securing an equilibrium of power, -called around him a small company, consisting of those of his Infernal -subjects whom he had previously noted for their excellence in subtility -and devilish invention, and, after fully explaining his wants and -wishes to his keenly appreciating auditory, made proclamation among -them, that the Demon who should invent a new vice, which, under -the name and guise of Pastime, should be best calculated to seduce -men from the paths of virtue, pervert their hearts, ruin them for -earth and educate them for hell, should be awarded a crown of honor, -with rank and prerogative second only to his own. He then, with -many a gracious and encouraging word to incite in them a spirit of -emulation, and nerve them for exertion in the important enterprise -thus set before them, dismissed them, to go forth among men, observe, -study, and come again before him on a designated time, to report the -results of their respective doings, and submit them to his decision. -Eager to do the will of their lord and Lucifer, as well as to gain -the tempting distinctions involved in his award,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</span> the commissioned -fiend-group dispersed, and scattered themselves over the earth, which -was understood to be their field of operations. And, after noting, as -long as they chose, all the different phases of human society, the -secret inclinations of those composing it, their follies, weaknesses, -and points most vulnerable to temptation, they each returned to the -dark dominions whence they came, to cogitate in retirement, concoct and -reduce to form those schemes for securing the great object in view, -which their observations and discoveries on earth had suggested.</p> - -<p>At the time appointed for the hearing and decision, the demoniac -competitors again assembled before their imperial arbiter; not -this time in secret conclave, but in the presence of thousands of -congregated fiends, who, having been apprised of the new plan about -to be presented for peopling the Commonwealth of Hell with recruits -from earth, had come up in all directions from their dismal abodes, -to hear those plans reported, and witness the awarding of the prize -for the one judged most worthy of adoption. Lucifer then mounted his -throne, commanded silence, and ordered the competitors to advance and -present, in succession, such plans as they would lay before him for his -consideration and decision. They did so; and one of them, a young and -genteel-looking devil, to whom, from a suppose congeniality of tastes -and feelings with the objects of his care, had been especially assigned -the duty of supervising the fashionable walks of society, now stepped -confidently forward and said:</p> - -<p>“I present for your consideration, most honored Lucifer, I present -<span class="smcap">Fashion</span> as one of those social institutions of men which might -the most easily become, with a little fostering at our hands, to us -the most productive of vices, under a name least calculated to alarm. -It already holds an almost omnipotent sway over the wealthier, or what -they call the higher, classes of society, who hesitate at no sins that -can be committed with its sanction; and the disposition is every day -growing stronger<span class="pagenum" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</span> and stronger, among all classes, to fall in with -its behests. Encourage its progress, make its rule absolute with all, -and the world’s boasted morality would trouble us, devils, no more. -This would be the direct and natural result among the most wealthy, -who would leave no vice unpracticed, no sin uncommitted, provided they -could excuse themselves under plea that it was fashionable. With those -of more limited means the effect would be still better; for devotion -to Fashion would beget extravagance—extravagance, poverty—poverty, -desperation—desperation, crime; so with all classes, the result, for -our purpose, would be equally favorable and <em>much the same</em>. The -new vice I therefore propose is the one to be made out of, and go under -the name of, <span class="smcap">Fashion</span>.”</p> - -<p>“There may be something in this conception,” said Lucifer, -thoughtfully, after the speaker had closed; “but is it safe against all -contingencies? What if the world should take it into their heads to -make it fashionable to be good?”</p> - -<p>“Not the least danger of that,” rejoined the other, promptly. “That is -a contingency about as likely to happen as that your highness should -turn Christian,” he added, with a sardonic grin.</p> - -<p>“You are right,” responded Lucifer; “and, as your scheme comes -within the rule, on the score of originality, we will reserve it for -consideration.”</p> - -<p>“My plan,” said the next demon who spoke, “consists in inciting man -to the general use of intoxicating drinks, under the plea of taking a -social glass; for, let the use of these become general, and all men -were devils ready made, and——”</p> - -<p>“True, most true!” interrupted Lucifer; “but that is not new. That is a -vice I invented myself, as long ago as the time Noah was floating about -in the ark, and the first man I caught with it was the old patriarch -himself. Since then it has been my most profitable agent in the earth, -bringing more recruits to my kingdom than all the other vices put -together. But our<span class="pagenum" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</span> present movement was to insure something new. The -plan, therefore, does not come within the rule, and must be set aside.”</p> - -<p>“The new vice which I propose,” said the third demon who came forward, -“is involved in the general cultivation of music, which I contend would -render men effeminate, indolent, voluptuous, and finally vicious and -corrupt, so that whole nations might eventually be kept out of heaven -and secured for hell through its deteriorating influences.”</p> - -<p>“I am not a little dubious about trying to make a vice out of music, -which would be all reliable for our purposes,” remarked Lucifer, -with a negative shake of the head. “I fear it might prove a sword -which would cut both ways. It may, it is true, be doing a pretty fair -business just now in some localities; but methinks I already see, in -the dim vista of the earth’s future, a cunning Wesley springing up, and -exhorting his brethren ‘Not to let the Devil have all the good tunes, -but appropriate them to the service of the Lord.’ Now if the religious -world should have wit enough, as I greatly fear me they would, to -follow the sagacious hint of such a leader, they might make music an -agency which would enlist two followers for the white banner of Heaven -where it would one for the red banner of Hell. The experiment would be -one of too doubtful expediency to warrant the trial. The proposition, -therefore, cannot be entertained.”</p> - -<p>Many other methods of creating an efficient new vice were then -successively proposed by the different competitors; but they were -all, for some deficiency, or want of originality, in turn, rejected, -till one more only remained to be announced; when its author, an old, -dark-eyed demon, who was much noted for his infernal cunning, and who, -conscious perhaps of the superiority of his device, had contrived to -defer its announcement till the last, now came forward, and said:</p> - -<p>“The scheme I have devised for the accomplishment of the common object -of the patriotic enterprise which your Highness has put afoot, proposes -a new vice, which, passing under the guise of innocent pastime, will -not only, by itself, be fully equal<span class="pagenum" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</span> to any other of the many vices -now known among men, for its certainty to lure them to its embrace, -fascinate, infatuate, deprave, and destroy them, but will insure the -exercise and combine the powers of them all. It addresses itself to -the intellectual by the implied challenge it holds out to them to make -a trial of their skill; it appears to the unfortunate in business as -a welcome friend, which is rarely turned away; it presents to pride -and vanity the means of gratification that are not to be rejected; it -holds out to avarice an irresistible temptation; it begets habits of -drunkenness; and thus insures all the fruits of that desolating vice; -it engenders envy, hatred, and the spirit of revenge; in short, it -brings into play every evil thought and passion that ever entered the -head and heart of man, while it the most securely holds its victims, -and most speedily hunts them down to ruin and death.”</p> - -<p>“The name? the name?” eagerly shouted an hundred voices from the -excited fiend-throng around.</p> - -<p>“The name,” resumed the speaker, in reply, “the name by which -I propose to christen this new and terrible device of mine, to -counteract the power of virtue, and curtail the dominions of Heaven, is -<span class="smcap">Gambling</span>!”</p> - -<p>“Gambling! Gambling!” responded all hell, in thunders of applause; “and -Gambling let it be,” shouted Lucifer, as the prize was thus awarded by -acclamation to the distinguished inventor of Gambling.</p> - -<p>From this supposable scene among the demons, we pass, by no unnatural -transition, to a kindred one among men.</p> - -<p>In a back, secluded room, in the third story of a public house in -Boston, of questionable respectability, there might have been found, -a few hours after the dispersion of the party before described, a -small band of men sitting around a table, intently engaged in games -of chance, in which money was at stake; while on a sideboard stood -several bottles of different kinds of liquors, with a liberal supply -of crackers and cigars. Of this company, two, who have been already -introduced to the reader,—Mark<span class="pagenum" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</span> Elwood and Gaut Gurley,—seemed to -be especially pitted against each other in the game. It was now deep -into the night, and Elwood said something about going home. But his -remark being received only with jeers by the company, he sank into an -abashed silence and played on. Another hour elapsed, and he spoke of -it again, but less decidedly. Another passed, and he seemed wholly to -have forgotten his purpose; for he, as well as all the rest of the -company, had, by this time, become intensely absorbed in the play, -allowing themselves no respite or intermission, except to snatch -occasionally a glass of liquor from the sideboard, in the entrancing -business before them. And, as the sport proceeded, deeper and deeper -grew the excitement among the infatuated participants, till every -sense and feeling seemed lost to every thing save the result of each -rapidly succeeding game; and the heat of concentrated thought and -passion gleamed fiercely from every eye, and found vent, in repeated -exclamations of triumph or despair, from every tongue, according to the -varying fortunes of the parties engaged. On one side was heard the loud -and exultant shout of the winner at his success, and on the other, the -low bitter curse of the loser at his disappointment; the countenance -of the one, in his joy and exultation, assuming the self-satisfied and -domineering air of the victor and master, and the countenance of the -other, in his grief and envy, darkening into the mingled look of the -demon and the slave.</p> - -<p>And thus played on this desperate band of gamesters till morning light, -which, now stealing through the shutters of their darkened room, came -and joined its voiceless monitions with those which their consciences -had long since given them, in warning them to break up and return to -their families, made wretched by their absence. So completely, however, -had they abandoned themselves to the fatal witcheries of the play, that -they heeded not even this significant admonition; but, with uneasy -glances towards the windows, to note the progress of the unwelcome -intrusions of day, turned with the redoubled eagerness<span class="pagenum" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</span> often shown by -those who know their time is limited to their hellish engagement.</p> - -<p>Through the whole night, Fortune seemed to have held nearly an even -scale between Elwood and his special adversary Gaut Gurley, contrary to -the evident anticipations of the latter and despite all his attempts to -secure an advantage. Thus far, however, he had signally failed in his -purpose; and, at the last game, Elwood had even won of him the largest -sum that had as yet been put at stake between them. This seemed to -drive him almost to madness; and in his desperation he loudly demanded -that the stakes should be doubled for the next trial. It was done. The -game was played, and Gurley was again the loser.</p> - -<p>“I will now stay no longer,” said Elwood, rising. “I was forced here -to-night, as you well know, Gurley, against my will, and against all -reason, to stop your clamor for a chance to win back what you absurdly -called your money lost at our last sitting; though Heaven knows that -what I then won was but a pitiful fraction of the amount you have -taken from me, within the last two years, in the same or in a worse -way. I have now given you your chance,—yes, chance upon chance, all -night,—till your claim has been a dozen times cancelled; and, I -repeat, I will stay no longer.”</p> - -<p>“You shall!” fiercely cried Gurley, with an oath. “You shall stay to -give me another chance, or I will brand you as a trickster and a sneak!”</p> - -<p>“Gentlemen,” said Elwood, turning to the company, in an expostulating -tone, “gentlemen, I appeal to you all if I have not——”</p> - -<p>“I will have no appeal,” interrupted Gurley, in a voice trembling with -rage. “I say I <em>will</em> have another chance, or——”</p> - -<p>“Take it, then,” hastily interposed Elwood, as if unwilling to let the -other finish the sentence; “take it: what will you have the stakes?”</p> - -<p>“Double the last.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</span></p> - -<p>“Double?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, double!”</p> - -<p>“Have your own way, then,” said Elwood, with forced composure, taking -up and shuffling the cards for the important game.</p> - -<p>The stake was for a thousand; and the trembling antagonists played as -if life and death hung on the event. And the whole company, indeed, -forgetful of their own comparatively slight interest, in the momentous -one thus put at stake, at once turned their eyes on the two players, -and watched the result with breathless interest. That result was soon -disclosed; when, to the surprise of all, and the dismay of Gaut Gurley, -the victory once more strangely fell to the lot of Mark Elwood, who, -gathering up the stakes with trembling eagerness, hastily rose from the -table, as if to depart.</p> - -<p>“What in the name of Tophet does all this mean?” fiercely exclaimed -Gurley, throwing an angry and suspicious look round the table upon -those who had doubtless been, at other sittings, his confederates in -fleecing Elwood. “Yes, what is the meaning of this? I ask <em>you</em>, -and <em>you</em>, sir?”</p> - -<p>“Better ask your own partner,” said one of the men addressed, with a -defiant look.</p> - -<p>“Elwood? Pooh!” exclaimed Gaut, with a bitter sneer.</p> - -<p>“And why not?” responded the former. “He may have as good luck as the -best of us, as it appears he has had. And hark ye, Gaut, you look -things at us that it might not be safe for you to say in this room.”</p> - -<p>“Gentlemen, you will all bear me out in leaving, now,” here interposed -Elwood, beginning to make towards the door.</p> - -<p>“Stop, sir!” thundered Gaut. “You are not a-going to sneak off with all -that money in your pocket, by a d—d sight!”</p> - -<p>“Why not, sir?” replied Elwood; “why not, for all you can say?”</p> - -<p>“Because I have lost, sir!” shouted Gurley, hoarse with rage. “I have -lost three games running,—lost all I have. I demand<span class="pagenum" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</span> a fair chance -to win it back; and that chance I will have, or I’ll make you, Mark -Elwood, curse the hour you refused it.”</p> - -<p>“Gaut Gurley, you insatiate fiend!” exclaimed Elwood, in a tone of -mingled anger and distress; “you it was who first led me into this -accursed habit of play, by which you have robbed me of untold thousands -yourself, and been the means of my being robbed of thousands more by -others. You have brought me to the door of ruin before, and would now -take all I have to save me from absolute bankruptcy.”</p> - -<p>“Whining hypocrite!” cried Gurley, starting up in rage. “Do you tell -that story when you have my last dollar in your pocket? But your -pitiful whining shall not avail you. If you leave this room alive, you -leave that money behind you.”</p> - -<p>“Stop, stop!” here interposed one of the company, who had noted what -had inadvertently fallen from Elwood, in his warmth, respecting his -apprehended bankruptcy; “stop, no such recriminations and threatenings -here! I can show Elwood a way to dispose of a part of his money, at -least, without bringing on any one the charge of robbing or being -robbed. Here is a note of your signing, Mr. Elwood,—a debt of -honor,—for a couple of hundreds, contracted in this very room, you -will remember. You may as well pay it.”</p> - -<p>“I have a similar bit of paper,” said another, coming forward and -presenting a note for a still larger sum.</p> - -<p>“And I, likewise,” said a third, joining the group, with an additional -piece of evidence of Elwood’s folly, in the shape of a gambling note; -“and I shall insist on payment with the rest, seeing the money cannot -be disposed of between you and Gaut without a quarrel and danger of -bloodshed.”</p> - -<p>With a perplexed and troubled air, Elwood paced the room a moment, -without uttering a word in reply to the different demands that had -so unexpectedly been made upon him. He glanced furtively towards the -door, as if calculating the chances of escaping through it before any -one could interpose to prevent him. He then glanced inquiringly at -the company for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</span> such indications of sympathy or forbearance as might -warrant the attempt; but in their countenances he read only that which -should deter him from resorting to any such means of escaping the -dilemma in which he now found himself. And, suddenly stopping short and -turning to the new claimants for his money, he said:</p> - -<p>“Well, gentlemen, have your way, then. I had hoped to be permitted to -carry away money enough to meet my bills and engagements of to-day,—at -least, as much as I brought here. But, as I am not to be allowed that -privilege, hand on your paper, every scrap of my signing, and you shall -have your pay.”</p> - -<p>A half-dozen notes of hand were instantly produced and thrown upon the -table, and the holder of each was paid off in turn; the last of whom -drew from Elwood nearly every dollar he had in his possession.</p> - -<p>“There, gentlemen,” he exclaimed, with a sort of desperate calmness, -“in this line of deal, at least, my accounts are all squared. I am -quits with you all.”</p> - -<p>“Not with me, by a d—d sight!” exclaimed Gurley, no longer able to -restrain his rage at being thus baulked in his desperate purpose -of getting hold of Elwood’s money, by fair means or foul, before -permitting him to leave the room. “Not with me, sir, till the amount of -that last stake, which was just enough to make me whole, is again in my -pocket; and I’ll follow you to the gates of hell, but I’ll have it!”</p> - -<p>Cowering and trembling beneath the threats and fiendish glances of the -other, Elwood seized his hat, and rushed from the room.</p> - -<p>On escaping from this “den of thieves,” and gaining the street below, -Elwood’s first thought was of home and his shamefully neglected family, -and he turned his steps in that direction. But, before proceeding far, -he began to hesitate and falter in his course. He became oppressed -with the feelings of a criminal. He was ashamed to meet his family; -for, fully conscious that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</span> his looks must be haggard, his eyes red -and bloodshot, and his whole appearance disordered, he knew his -return in such a plight, at that hour in the morning, would betray -the wretched employments of the night, especially to his keen-sighted -brother, on whose assistance he now doubly depended to save him from -ruin. He therefore changed his course, and was proceeding towards -his store, when he met his confidential clerk, who was out in search -of him, and who, in great agitation, informed him that his drafts of -yesterday had all been returned dishonored; that bills were pouring -in, and the holders clamorous for their pay. Struck dumb by the -startling announcement, it was some moments before Elwood could collect -his thoughts sufficiently to bid his clerk return, and put off his -creditors till the next day, when he would try to satisfy them all. -And, having done this, he turned suddenly into another street, wound -his way back to the inn he had just left, took a private room, locked -himself in, and for a while gave way to alternate paroxysms of grief, -remorse, and self-reproaches. After exhausting himself by the violence -of his emotions, he threw himself upon a bed, and, thinking an hour’s -repose might mend his appearance, so as to enable him the better to -disguise the cause of his absence, on his return to his family, which -he now concluded to defer till towards dinner-time, he fell into a -slumber so profound and absorbing, that he did not awake till the -shadows of approaching night had begun to darken his room.</p> - -<p>Leaping from his couch, in his surprise and vexation at having so -overslept himself, he hastily made his toilet, and immediately set out -for home,—a home which, for the first time in his life, he now dreaded -to enter. To that wretched home we will now repair, preceding his -arrival, to relate what had there occurred in his absence.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IV">CHAPTER IV.</h2> -</div> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“Better is a poor and wise child than an old and foolish -<em>father</em>, who will no more be admonished.”—<span class="smcap">Eccl.</span></p> -</div> - - -<p>After the breaking up of the party, as described in the former chapter, -Arthur Elwood, on joining the family circle, and not meeting his host -and brother there, as he naturally expected, expressed his surprise -at the circumstance, and inquired the cause of his absence. But, -perceiving that the subject gave pain to Mrs. Elwood, who deemed it -prudent but to repeat, as she hesitatingly did, what her husband had -told her, that he had gone out, soon to be back, the former forbore any -further inquiries or comments, and soon retired to rest, wishing her a -good-night and pleasant slumbers.</p> - -<p>“Good-night and pleasant slumbers!” slowly and murmuringly repeated -the anxious and troubled wife, on whose ear the words, kindly meant as -she knew them to be, fell as if in mockery to her feelings. “Pleasant -slumbers for me! Heaven grant they may be made so by his speedy coming; -but——” and, being now alone, and thus relieved of the restraining -presence of others, she burst into tears, and wept long and bitterly.</p> - -<p>Woman was not created to act independently. The sphere in which she -is formed to move, though different, is yet so immediately connected -with that of man, that her destiny is inseparable from his. Her -happiness and prosperity are not in her own keeping. The welfare of -the husband is the welfare of the wife; and, if poverty and disgrace, -the concomitants of vice, fall on him, she must participate equally in -the physical evil, and drink as much deeper of the cup of moral misery -as her unblunted sensibilities are more lively, and her sense of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</span> -right and wrong are more acute, than those of him who has become dead -to the one and lost to the other. What wonder, then, that she should -so agonize and weep in secret over his moral deviations, and all the -more bitterly, because, with the most intense desire to do so, she has -no power to remedy the evil? But, for that sorrow and suffering, who -before high Heaven will be held responsible? Who, but the doubly-guilty -husband whose conduct has caused them?</p> - -<p>Through the whole of that, to her, long and dreary night, Mrs. Elwood -never once thought of retiring to rest, but kept up her vigils in -waiting and watching for her husband: now listening pensively to the -wind that seemed to moan round her solitary apartment in unison with -her own feelings; now straining her senses to catch some sound of his -approach; and now, perhaps, throwing herself upon a sofa, and falling, -for a moment, into a troubled slumber, but only to start up at the -first sound of the rattling windows, to listen again, and again to -be disappointed. In this manner she wore away the lingering hours of -the night, till the long prayed-for daylight, which she supposed, at -the farthest, would bring back her truant husband, made its welcome -appearance. But daylight came not this time to remove the cause of -her anxieties. Elwood had several times before staid out nearly -through the night, but the approach of daylight had always, till now, -brought him home; and, not making his appearance, as she confidently -expected, she became, as the morning advanced, really alarmed for his -personal safety, and would have immediately sent out for him, but she -knew not whom to send. She therefore concluded to put off the already -long-delayed breakfast no longer; and, summoning her brother-in-law, -who, with herself (her son, whom we have yet more particularly to -introduce to the reader, being temporarily absent from town), now -constituted all the family remaining to join in the repast. The two -then sat down to the table, and partook the meal mostly in gloomy -silence, one still hoping all might yet turn out well, and therefore -repressing her<span class="pagenum" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</span> twofold apprehensions; and the other, out of regard to -her feeling, kindly forbearing to pain her with remarks and inquiries -on a subject which they mutually felt conscious was oppressing the -hearts of both.</p> - -<p>After the meal was over, Arthur Elwood arose, and, briefly announcing -his intention of going out to look up his brother, who, he said, would -be likely soon to be found at his store, left the house. At the usual -dinner hour, Arthur Elwood returned to the house, and was met at the -door by his anxious hostess, whose countenance quickly fell as she -perceived him to be alone.</p> - -<p>“Have you not yet seen my husband?” she eagerly demanded.</p> - -<p>“No, but have heard of him. He is somewhere in the city, I believe,” -replied the other.</p> - -<p>“In the city and not return?” persisted the surprised and distressed -wife. “How can this be?—what does it mean?”</p> - -<p>“I do not know,” replied Arthur, with a thoughtful and perplexed air.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Elwood for a moment stood mute as a statue; for, but too well -conjecturing what was passing in the mind of the other, she durst not -ask his opinion. But, soon regaining her usual composure, she led the -way to the dinner-table, where the meal that followed was partaken much -as the one that preceded it,—in silence and mutual constraint, which -was only relieved by an occasional forced, commonplace remark.</p> - -<p>“I shall again go to Mark’s store,” said Arthur, with stern gravity, as -he rose from the table, after he had finished his repast, “and I shall -also take the liberty of looking into the condition of his affairs. -After that, I may return here again, though to remain only for a short -time, as I leave for home in the evening.”</p> - -<p>Towards night Arthur Elwood returned, and in his usual quiet way -entered the room where Mrs. Elwood was sitting; when, shaking his head -as if in reply to the question respecting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</span> her still absent husband, -which he saw, by the painfully inquiring expression of her countenance, -was rising to her lips, he took a seat by her side, and, with an air of -concern and a slight tremor of voice, commenced:</p> - -<p>“I have been debating with myself, sister Alice, whether it were a -greater kindness to go away without seeing you, and of course without -apprising you of what I may have discovered respecting your husband -and his affairs, or come here and tell you truths which would be -painful,—too painful, perhaps, for you to bear.”</p> - -<p>“’Tis better I should know all,” rather gasped than uttered Mrs. -Elwood. “<em>You</em> will tell me the truth,—<em>others</em> may not. Go -on.”</p> - -<p>“Your husband,” resumed the other, “wrote me for the help of a few -thousands, which I would have freely loaned, but for my suspicions that -all was not right with him; and, as I plainly told him, I came on to -ascertain for myself whether such help would be thrown away, or really -relieve him, as he represented, from a mere temporary embarrassment. -I have now been into the painful investigation, and find matters, I -grieve to say, tenfold worse than I suspected. He is, and must have -been for a long time, the companion and the victim of blacklegs and -cut-throats, and——”</p> - -<p>“I suspected,—I knew it,” interrupted the eager and trembling -listener; “and O Arthur, how I have tried and wept and prayed to induce -him to break off from them; for I felt they would eventually ruin him.”</p> - -<p>“<em>Eventually</em> ruin him! Why, Alice, with his own miscalculations -in business, folly and extravagance in every thing, they have done so -already.”</p> - -<p>“But the main part of his property,” demanded the other, with a -startled look, “you don’t mean but what the main part of his property -is still left?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I do, Alice,—but I see you are not prepared for this.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</span> Still, -you may as well know it now as ever. Yes, Alice, your husband is -irretrievably bankrupt!”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Elwood was not <em>indeed</em> prepared for this development. She -had foreseen, it is true, the coming evil; but she supposed it was yet -in the distance. She knew her husband’s property had been a large one; -and the announcement, from one she could not disbelieve, that it was -all gone, struck her dumb with surprise and consternation. She uttered -not a word. She could not speak, but sat pale and trembling, the very -picture of distress.</p> - -<p>After pacing the room a few moments, with frequent commiserating -glances at the face of the other, whose distress evidently deeply moved -him, Arthur Elwood stopped short before her, and said:</p> - -<p>“Sister Alice, my time is about up,—I must go.”</p> - -<p>“Have you no word to leave for my husband when he comes?” asked Mrs. -Elwood, with an effort to appear composed.</p> - -<p>“No,—none whatever to <em>him</em>; but with you, Alice,” he added, -drawing out a small package of bank notes and dropping them into her -lap, “with you, and for you alone, against a day of necessity, I leave -that trifle—no hesitation—keep it—put it out of sight—there, that -is right. Now only one thing more,—what of your son?”</p> - -<p>“Claud?”</p> - -<p>“Yes. You know it has happened that I have never seen him.”</p> - -<p>“I do know it, and have much regretted his absence; for I wished you -to see him. But I am now looking for him every hour, and if you could -delay——”</p> - -<p>“No, no, I must go. Tell him to forget, at once, that he was ever a -rich man’s only son and heir, and learn to profit by a rich man’s -errors; for, till he does this, which, if he is like others, will -require some time, he will make no real advance in life.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</span></p> - -<p>“Your impression may be natural, but it hardly does him justice. He is -<em>not</em> like most others. Claud is a man now.”</p> - -<p>“So much the better, then, for you and himself. But you see with a -mother’s eyes, probably, and speak with a mother’s heart. I will -inquire about him, however, as indeed I will about you all. Good-by.”</p> - -<p>Thus did the unimpassioned Arthur Elwood, with a seeming business-like -roughness and want of feeling, assume to hide the emotions which he -really felt in the discovery of his brother’s ruin, and in witnessing -the distress he had just caused in communicating it, hurry through -the painful interview, and abruptly depart, leaving Mrs. Elwood to -struggle in secret with the chaos of thoughts and emotions which -Arthur’s unexpected revelation had brought over her. She was not left -long, however, to struggle with her feelings alone. In a short time the -sound of a familiar footstep hastily entering the front hall of the -magnificent mansion,—alas! now no longer her own,—suddenly caught her -ear; when, with the exclamation, “Claud, O Claud!” she rushed forward -to her advancing son, and, to use the expressive language of Scripture, -“fell on his neck and wept.”</p> - -<p>“I heard of father’s failure,” said the son, a fine looking youth -of about twenty, with his mother’s cleanly cut features and firm, -thoughtful countenance, joined to his father’s manly proportions. “I -learned, as I came into the city, an hour ago, that father had just -failed, his store been shut up, and all his property put into the hands -of his creditors; and I hurried home to break the news to you. But I -see you know it all.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, that the blow was impending, but not that it had already fallen, -as you now report; but it may as well come to-day as to-morrow or next -week. Half my nights, for months, Claud, have been made sleepless by -the bodings and fears of the evil day, which, as things were going, I -felt must eventually come; but never, till within this very hour, did -I dream that our misfortunes were so near. But, though the storm has -burst so<span class="pagenum" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</span> much sooner than I expected, I could bravely face it, could -we say that it was caused by no fault of our own; but to be brought -upon us in this manner, my son, it is hard, hard to bear.”</p> - -<p>“But you have not been to blame, mother; and I did not suppose you -thought enough of wealth to grieve so at its loss.”</p> - -<p>“I do not, Claud. It is not that; still, I could not help thinking of -your disappointment, even in that view of the misfortune.”</p> - -<p>“Mine, mother? Why, I am no worse off than father was when he started -in life; no worse off than thousands who begin with no other resources -than what lie in clear heads and strong hearts. I can take care of -myself; and, what is more, I can take care of you, dear mother. Surely, -you won’t doubt me?”</p> - -<p>“No, Claud, no. You have <em>always</em> been my pride, latterly almost -my only hope; and I know not now but that you must be my only staff, on -which to lean as I pass down the decline of life.”</p> - -<p>“And I will be one to you, mother; but come, cheer up, and let us go in -and talk over these matters more calmly.”</p> - -<p>The mother and son accordingly retired to her usual sitting-room; -where, since her overcharged bosom had found relief in tears, and her -sinking spirits had been raised by the kind and comforting words of -her dutiful son, she told him all that had occurred during the two -preceding days, which constituted the brief but eventful period of his -absence. They then were beginning to counsel together on the prospects -and probabilities of their gloomy future; but their conversation was -suddenly cut short by the abrupt entrance of the wretched husband -and father, who, on his way from the hotel where he had spent the -day in sleeping off his debauch in concealment, having received an -intimation of what was going on among his creditors, had hurried home, -with a confidence and self-possession which he could not summon when -he started; for, out of this movement among his creditors, which he -still would not believe was any<span class="pagenum" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</span> thing more than a sort of practical -menace to enforce payment, he saw not only how he could frame a -plausible excuse for his guilty absence, but make the circumstance an -irresistible plea for forcing from his brother a loan sufficient to -enable him to arrest his failure and continue business. On entering -the room, therefore, after saluting his wife and son in a sort of -brisk, unconcerned manner, and muttering that he “thought they would -never let him get home again,” he eagerly inquired for Arthur; and, -on being informed that his brother had started for his home, without -leaving any note or word for him, and especially on being told by his -son—as he at length calmly and persistingly was, in despite of his -multiplied prevarications and denials, what they all knew, and what he -himself should have been the last to be ignorant of—that the question -of his failure, for more than he could ever pay, had already been -settled against him, he became frantic in the outpourings of his rage, -disappointment, and chagrin; sometimes declaring that the world, grown -envious of his prosperity, had all suddenly become his enemies, and -grossly belied him; sometimes savagely charging his brother, wife, and -son with conspiring together against him; and sometimes cursing his own -blindness and folly. And thus he continued to rave, and walk the room -for hours, till his wife and son, having partaken their evening meal -before his unheeding eyes, and become sick and wearied in listening -to his insane ravings,—to which they had wholly ceased making any -reply,—retired to rest, leaving him to partake such food as was -left on the table, to occupy, as he chose to do, the same sofa which -his hapless wife had done the night before, to sleep down the wild -commotion of his feelings, and awake a calmer and more humbled, but not -yet a better or much wiser man.</p> - -<p>But we do not propose to describe in detail the rapid descent from -opulence and station to poverty and insignificance, which now -transpired to mark this era in the singular fortunes of Elwood and -his family. Their history, for the next three months, was but the -usual painful one which awaits the failed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</span> merchant everywhere in the -cities. The crushing sense of misfortune which, for the first few days -after the unexpected blow has fallen, weighs down the self-deceived -or otherwise unprepared victims; the succeeding weeks of dejection -and mortified pride; then the painful trial of parting with the showy -equipage, the costly furniture, and the cherished mementoes, which -had required, perhaps, the care of half a life in gathering; then the -compulsory abdication of the great and conspicuous mansion for the -small, obscure, hired cottage; then the saddening bodings and deep -concern felt in seeing the means of living daily diminishing, with -no prospect of ever being replenished; and, finally, the humiliating -resort of the wife and children to the needle or menial employments, -for the actual necessaries of life,—these, all these, are but the -usual graduated vicissitudes of sorrow and trial which are allotted -to those whose folly and extravagance have suddenly thrown them on -the downward track of fortune, and which the Elwoods, in common with -others, were now doomed to experience, and, on the part of Mrs. -Elwood, especially, with aggravations not necessarily incident to such -reverses. She would have borne all the deprivations and evils incident -to her husband’s failure without a murmur, could she have seen in him -any amendment in those habits and vicious inclinations which had led -to his downfall. But she could not. The hopes she had confidently -entertained, that his misfortunes would humble and reform him, were -doomed to disappointment. He still madly clung to his old associates -of the gambling-table; and all the money he could get was lost or -squandered among them, till he became too poor and desperate even for -them, and they drove him from their society to join another and a lower -set, who in turn compelled him to seek other still lower and more -degraded associations. And so descended, step by step, along the path -of degradation, the once princely merchant, till, despised and shunned -by all respectable men, he became the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</span> fit companion of the meanest -thimble-riggers of the cellars and the lounging tipplers of the streets.</p> - -<p>His case, however, as hopeless as it might appear, was not permitted -to become an irretrievable one. Through a seemingly accidental -circumstance, a light one day broke on his beclouded and half-maddened -brain, that led to a self-redemption as happy for himself and family -as it was unexpected by all. A former friend, one morning, moved -perhaps by his forlorn appearance, in passing him with a light -carriage, invited him to ride a few miles into the country; where, -being unexpectedly called off in another direction, he left Elwood to -return on foot by a nearer route across the fields to his home. After -travelling some distance, he reached an elevation which overlooked -the city, and, feeling a little fatigued, he sat down on a mossy -hillock to rest and enjoy the prospect. As he cast his eye over that -busy haunt of men, with its numerous spires shooting upward, its long -lines of princely dwellings, its encircling forest of masts, its lofty -warehouses, and other evidences of wealth and business, his own former -important participation in its busy scenes, and his present worse than -insignificant position there, rose in vivid contrast in his awakening -mind; and the thought of his past but squandered wealth came up only -to add poignancy to the sense of his present poverty and humiliation, -which thus, and for the first time, was brought home to his agitated -bosom. Suddenly leaping from his seat, from the torturing force of -the reflection, he exclaimed: “Must I bear this? Cannot I still be a -man? I will! yes, before Heaven, I <em>will</em>!” And, resuming his -seat, his mind became intently engaged in studying out ways and means -for carrying the sudden but stern resolution into effect; when, after -another hour thus employed, he again jumped up, and, with the air of -one who has reached some unalterable conclusion, he rapidly made his -way homeward.</p> - -<p>While the besotted Elwood was undergoing, so unexpectedly, even -to himself, such a moral transformation in the solitude of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</span> the -fields, an event occurred to his sorrowful wife at home, which was -equally unexpected to <em>her</em>; which, though of a wholly different -character, produced an equally great revulsion in her feelings as -the one happening to her husband, about the same hour, was to him, -or was producing in <em>his</em> feelings, and which, by the singular -coincidence, seemed to indicate that the angel of mercy was at -length spreading his wings at the same time over both heads of this -unfortunate family. She had been having one of her most disconsolate -days, and was sitting alone in her little room, gloomily pondering -over her disheartening trials, without being able to see one ray of -light in the dark future, when she received a call from one of her -husband’s chief creditors; who announced that those creditors, at a -recent meeting, having ascertained her meritorious conduct and needy -situation, had voted her the sum of five hundred dollars, which, -confiding in her discretion for a judicious outlay of the money, he -now, he said, had the pleasure of presenting her. And, having placed -the money in her hands, and taken the tear of gratitude—which, -preventing the utterance of the word-thanks she attempted, had started -to her cheek at the unexpected boon—as a sufficient acknowledgment, he -kindly bade her adieu, and departed.</p> - -<p>That evening the husband and wife met as they had not for months -before: each at first surprised at seeing the unclouded brow and -hopeful countenance of the other, but each soon instinctively feeling -that something had occurred to both, which was not only of present -moment, but the harbinger of happier days to come. When confidence and -hope are springing up in doubtful or despairing bosoms, the tongue is -soon loosened from the frosts of reserve, however closely they may -have before imprisoned it. Elwood, with many expressions of regret at -his past conduct, and of wonder at the blindness and folly which had -permitted him so long to persevere in it, told his gratified companion -all that had that day passed through his mind,—his sudden sense of -shame and degradation; his bitter<span class="pagenum" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</span> self-reproaches, and succeeding -determination to reform; to atone for the past, as far as he could, -by future good conduct; to begin, in fine, the world anew, and, after -placing himself beyond the reach of those temptations to which he -had so fatally yielded, devote the remainder of his days to honest -industry. And she, anxious to encourage and strengthen him, and fearing -his total want of means might defeat his good resolutions,—she, -also, as she believed it would be true wisdom to do, informed him of -<em>her</em> good fortune, and offered him a portion of her unexpected -acquisition, to enable him to engage in such business as he should -decide to follow. They then discussed, and soon mutually agreed on, the -expediency of leaving the city, where, as they had once there enjoyed -wealth and station, they must both ever be subjected to mortifying -contrasts,—both constantly doomed</p> - -<p> -“To see profusion which they must not share,”— -</p> - -<p class="p0">and he be exposed to temptations which he might not always have the -firmness to withstand.</p> - -<p>“But I resolved,” said Elwood, after a pause, “not only on going to -the country, but on to a new lot of land in the very outskirts of -civilization. You, however, should I succeed in getting up comfortable -quarters, would not be content to make such a place your home?”</p> - -<p>“Anywhere, Mark; and the farther from the dangerous influences of this -wicked city, the better. Yes, to the very depths of the wilderness, and -I will not complain.”</p> - -<p>“It is settled, then. I was once, in one of my early excursions, along -the borders of the wild lakes lying on the northeastern line of New -Hampshire, where a living may be obtained from the cultivation of the -soil alone; but where more may be made, at particular seasons, in -taking the valuable furs that there abound. There I will go, contract -for a lot of land, and prepare a home, leaving you, and Claud, if he -shall decide for a woodman’s life, to come on and join me next summer.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</span></p> - -<p>“That Claud will do; for he often declares himself disgusted with -the trickery of trade, and to be longing for the country life of his -boyhood. But here he comes, and can speak for himself.”</p> - -<p>The son now joined in the family deliberations, and learning, with -surprise and gratification, what had occurred during the eventful -day, joyfully fell in with his father’s proposition; when it was soon -decided that the latter should take half the money that day given to -Mrs. Elwood, to lay out in a lot of land and house, and immediately -proceed on his journey.</p> - -<p>Whatever Mark Elwood had once firmly decided on, he was always prompt -and energetic in executing. Before nine o’clock that evening, his -knapsack of clothing was made up for a journey on foot, which, contrary -to the wishes of his wife and son, he decided should be his mode of -travelling. He then went to bed, slept six hours, rose, dressed, bade -his family good-by, turned his back on the now loathed city, and, by -sunrise next morning, was far on his way towards his designated home -among the distant wilds of the North.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_V">CHAPTER V.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“There is a pleasure in the pathless woods, -<br />There is a rapture in the lonely shore, -<br />There is society where none intrudes,— -<br />I love not man the less, but nature more.” -</p> - - -<p>Once more in the green wilderness! Welcome the wild scenes of our -boyhood, which, as the checkered panorama of the past is unrolled at -our bidding, rise on the mental vision in all their original freshness -and beauty! It was here we first essayed to study the works of nature, -and in them trace the Master-hand that moulded and perfected them. -It was here we learned to recognize the voice of God in the rolling -thunder, and his messengers in the swift-winged lightnings; to mark the -forms of beauty and grandeur in every thing, from the humble lichen of -the logs and rocks, to the high and towering pine of the plain and the -mountain,—from the low murmurings of the quiet rivulet, to the loud -thunderings of the headlong cataract,—and from the soft whisperings -of the gentle breeze, to the angry roar of the desolating tornado; -and, finally, it was here that our first and most enduring lessons of -devotion were learned, here that our first and truest conceptions of -the grand and beautiful were acquired, and here that the leading tone -of our intellectual character, such as it may be, was generated and -stamped on us for life.</p> - -<p>The second part of our story, to which the preceding chapters should -be taken, perhaps, as merely introductory, opens about midsummer, -and among that remarkable group of sylvan lakes—nearly a dozen -in number—which, commencing on the wild borders of northerly New -Hampshire, and shooting off in an irregular line some fifty miles -northeasterly into the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</span> dark and unbroken forests of Maine, appear on -the map, in their strangely shapeless forms and scattered locations, -as if they must have been hurled, by the hand of some Borean giant, -down from the North Pole in a volley of huge ice-blocks, which fell and -melted where they now lie, sparkling, like rough gems, on the shaggy -bosom of the wilderness.</p> - -<p>Near the centre of an opening of perhaps a dozen acres, about a mile -from where the sinuous Androscoggin debouches full grown, like Minerva -from the head of Jupiter, from its parent reservoir, the picturesque -Umbagog, stood a newly rigged log house, of dimensions and finish -which indicated more taste and enterprise than is usually exhibited -in the rude habitations of the first settlers. It was a story and a -half high, and the walls were built of solid pine timber, originally -roughly hewed, but recently dressed down with broad axe over the whole -outward and inner surfaces so smoothly that, at a little distance, -they presented, with their still visible seams, more the appearance -of the wainscoting of some costly cottage than the humble log cabin. -The building had also been newly shingled, new doors supplied, the -windows enlarged, the yard around leveled off, with other improvements, -of a late date, betokening considerable ambition for appearance, and -considerable outlay of means, for so new a place, to fit up a tidy and -comfortable abode for the occupants. In the surrounding field were -patches of growing maize, wheat, potatoes, and some of the common table -vegetables; the hay crop for the winter sustenance of the only cow and -yoke of oxen, the best friends of the new settler, having been just -cut and stored in an adjoining log-building, as was evident from the -fresh look of the stubble, and the stray straws hanging to the slivered -stumps on bushes in the field, and from the fragrant and far-scenting -locks protruding from the upper and lower windows of the well-crammed -receptacle passing under the name of barn. Beyond this little opening, -and bounding it on every side, stood the encircling wall of woods, -through and over which gleamed the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</span> bright waters of the far-spreading -Umbagog on the north; while all around, towering up in their green -glories, rose, one above another, the amphitheatric hills, till their -lessening individual forms were lost, or mingled in the vision with the -lofty summits of the distant White Mountains in the south and west, and -of the bold detached eminences which shot up from the dark wilderness -and studded the horizon in all other directions.</p> - -<p>Such, and in such a locality, was, as the reader probably has -already inferred, the residence which Mark Elwood had pitched upon -for beginning life anew. On leaving the city, as represented in the -last chapter, he had, under the goading remembrance of follies left -behind, and the incitements of hope-constructed prospects before, -perseveringly pushed on, till he reached this lone and wild terminus -of civilized life; when, finding, a mile beyond the last of the -scattered settlements of the vicinity, a place on which an opening -had been made and the walls and roof of a spacious log house erected, -the year before, he had succeeded in purchasing it, for ready money, -at a price which was much below its value, and which left him nearly -half his little fund to be expended in more thoroughly clearing the -land, getting in crops, making the house habitable, and felling an -additional tract of forest. And with so much energy and resolution -had he pursued his object of seeing himself and family once more -united at a comfortable home, that, within three months from the -time he commenced operations, which was in the first of the spring -months, he had accomplished it all; for his wife and son, rejoicing in -the knowledge of his success which he had communicated to them, and -promptly responding to his invitation to join him, had come on, with -their little all of goods and money, in teams hired for the purpose; -and they were now all together fully installed in their new home, -pleased with the novelty and freshness of every thing around them, -proud and secure in their conscious independence and exemption from the -dangers and trials they had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</span> recently passed through, and contented and -happy in their situation.</p> - -<p>The particular time we have taken for the reäppearance of the family -on this, their new stage of action, was a warm but breezy afternoon -on one of the last days of July. Elwood was engaged in his new-mown -field, in cutting and grubbing up the bushes and sprouts which had -sprung up during the season around the log-heaps and stumps, and could -not easily or conveniently be cut by the common scythe while mowing -the grass. He was no longer robed in the broadcloth and fine linen, -in which, as the rich merchant, he might have been seen, perhaps, one -year ago that day, sauntering about “on ’change” among the solid men -of Boston. These had been mostly worn out or sold during the changing -fortunes of the year, and their place was now wisely supplied by the -long tow-frock and the other coarse garments in common use among the -settlers. Nor had his physical appearance undergone a much less change. -Instead of the pallid brow, leaden eye, fleshly look, and the red -cheek of the wine-bibber and luxurist of the cities, he exhibited the -embrowned, thin, but firm and healthy face, and the clear and cheerful -complexion of the contended laborer of the country,—tell-tale looks -both, which we always encounter with as much secret disgust in the -former as we do with involuntary respect in the latter. He now paused -in his labors, and stood for some time looking about the horizon, as -if watching the signs of the weather; now noting the progress of the -haze gathering in the south, and now turning his cheek first one way -and then another, apparently to ascertain the doubtful direction of the -wind, which, from a lively western breeze, had within the last hour -lulled down into those small, fluctuating puffs usually observable when -counter-currents are springing up, balancing, and beginning to strive -for the mastery. After a while he moved slowly towards the house, -continuing his observations as he went, till he came near the open -window at which Mrs. Elwood was sitting at her needle-work, from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</span> which -she occasionally lifted her eyes, and glanced somewhat anxiously along -the path leading down through the woods to a landing-place on the lake; -when, looking round and observing her husband standing near, giving -token of being about to speak, she interposed and said:</p> - -<p>“You have seen nothing of Claud, I suppose? What can be the reason why -he does not return? He was to have been at home long before this, was -he not?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” carelessly replied Elwood, “unless he concluded to take a bout -in the woods. He took his fowling-piece with him, to use in case the -trout wouldn’t bite, you know. Phillips, the old hunter, came into -the field where we were last night, and said he was out of meat, and -must skirt the lake to-day for a buck. I presume Claud may have joined -him. There! hark! that sounded like Claud’s piece,” he added, as the -distant report of a gun rose from the woods westward of the lake and -died away in swelling echoes on the opposite shore. “And there, again!” -he continued, as another and sharper report burst, the next moment, -from the same locality,—“there goes another, but not his, as he could -not have loaded so quick. That must have been Phillips’ long rifle. -They are doubtless together somewhere near the Magalloway,—some three -miles distant, I should judge,—and are probably having fine sport with -something.”</p> - -<p>“That may be the case, perhaps,” responded Mrs. Elwood. “I wish, -however, he would come; for I cannot yet quite divest myself of the -idea that there may be danger in these wild scenes of the lakes and the -woods. But what was you about to say when I first spoke? You were going -to say something, I thought.”</p> - -<p>“O—yes—why, I was about to say that I had made up my mind to set fire -to the <em>slash</em>. It is dry enough now to get a good burn; and it -looks to me a good deal like rain. I wish to get the land cleared and -ready to sow with winter wheat by<span class="pagenum" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</span> the first of September; and I don’t -like to risk the chance of finding every thing in so good order again.”</p> - -<p>“There is no danger that the fire will spread, or be blown to the -buildings, is there?”</p> - -<p>“No, the wind is springing up in the south now, and will drive the fire -only towards the lake in the direction of the landing.”</p> - -<p>“But Claud may be there.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if he should be, the fire won’t burn up the lake, I think; and, -if it besets the path in the woods, he can come round some other way,” -jocosely said Elwood, moving away to carry his purpose into execution.</p> - -<p>Having procured a parcel of splinters split from the dry and resinous -roots of some old pine stub,—that never-failing and by no means -contemptible substitute for lamp or candle among the pioneers of -a pine-growing country,—he proceeded rapidly to the edge of the -<em>slash</em>, as a tract of felled forest is generally denominated by -the first settlers, especially of the northern States. Here, pausing a -moment to mark with his eye the most favorable places to communicate -the fire, he picked his way along the southern end to the farthest -side of the tangled mass of trees of every description composing the -slash, which was a piece of some four or five acres, lying on the -western border and extending north and south the whole length of the -opening. And, having reached his destination, and kindled all his -splinters into a blaze, he threw one of them into the thickest nest of -pine or other evergreen boughs at hand, and darted back to his next -marked station, where he threw in another of his blazing torches, and -so on till he reached the cleared ground, which was not one moment too -soon for his safety. For so dry and inflammable had every thing there -become, under the scorching sun of the preceding fortnight, which had -been relieved by neither rain nor cloud, that, the instant the fire -touched the tinder-like leaves, it flashed up as from a parcel of -scattered gunpowder; and, bursting with almost explosive quickness -all<span class="pagenum" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</span> around, and swiftly leaping from bough to bough and treetop to -treetop, it spread with such astonishing celerity that he found it hard -on his heels, or whirling in a hot cloud over his head, at every pause -he made to throw in a new but now unnecessary torch, in his rapid and -constantly quickened run through the slash. And when, after running -some distance into the open field, to escape the stifling smoke and -heat by which he was even there assailed, he turned round to note more -fully the surprising progress that the terrible element he had thus -let loose was making, he beheld all that part of the slash which he -had a moment before passed through already enveloped, from side to -side, in a continuous blaze, whose red, curling crest, mounting every -instant higher and higher, was advancing with the seeming speed of a -race-horse on its fiery destination. Half-appalled by the sight of such -a sudden and unexpected outburst of the fire he had kindled, Elwood -hurried on to his house, and joined his startled wife in the yard; when -the two took station on an adjoining knoll, and looked down upon the -conflagration in progress with increasing wonder and uneasiness,—so -comparatively new was the scene to them both, and so far did it promise -to exceed all their previous conceptions, in magnitude and grandeur, -of any thing of the kind to be met with in the new settlements. And -it was, indeed, a grand and fearful spectacle: For, with constantly -increasing fury, and with the rapidity of the wind before which it was -driving, still raged and rolled on the red tempest of fire. Now surging -aloft, and streaking with its winding jets of flame the fiercely -whirling clouds of smoke that marked its advance, and now dying away in -hoarse murmurs, as if to gather strength for the new and more furious -outburst that the next moment followed, it kept on its terrific march -till it reached the central elevation, which embraced the most tangled, -densely covered, and combustible part of the slash, and on which had -been left standing an enormous dry pine, that towered so up high above<span class="pagenum" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</span> -the surrounding forest as to have long served as a landmark for the -hunters and fishermen, in setting their courses through the woods or -over the lake. Here the fiery billow, as if governed by the human -tactics of a military assault, paused, parted, and swept by on either -side, till it had inclosed the elevation; when suddenly it shot up -from every side in an hundred converging tongues of flame, which, soon -meeting and expanding into one, quickly enveloped the whole hill in -one broad, unbroken robe of sheeted fire, encompassed and mounted the -veteran pine, and around its colossal trunk formed a huge, whirling -pyramid of mingling smoke and flame that rose to the mid-heavens, -shedding, in place of the darkened sun, a lurid glare over the forest, -and sending forth the stormy roar of a belching volcano. The next -moment a shower of cinders and the burning fragments of twigs, bark, -and boughs which had been carried high up by the force of the ascending -currents, fell hot and hissing to the earth over every part of the -adjoining fields, to and even far beyond the spot where Elwood and his -wife were standing.</p> - -<p>“Good Heavens!” exclaimed Elwood, aroused from the mute amazement with -which he and his more terrified companion had been beholding the scene, -as soon as these indications of danger were thus brought to his very -feet. “Good Heavens! this is more than I bargained for. See,—the fire -is catching on the stumps all over the field!”</p> - -<p>“The house!” half-screamed Mrs. Elwood. “What is that rising from the -shingles up there near the top of the roof?”</p> - -<p>“Smoke, as I am alive!” cried the other, in serious alarm, as he -glanced up to the roof, where several slender threads of smoke were -beginning to steal along the shingles. “Run, Alice, run with the pails -for the brook, while I throw up the ladder against the gable. We must -be lively, or within one hour we shall be as houseless as beggars.”</p> - -<p>“O, where is Claud? where is Claud?” exclaimed the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</span> distressed wife and -mother, as she flew to the house to do her husband’s bidding.</p> - -<p>Yes, where was Claud? At the risk of the charge of purposely -tantalizing the reader, we must break off here, to follow the young man -just named, in the unexpected adventures which he also had experienced -during that eventful day. But for this we will take a new chapter.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VI">CHAPTER VI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“To sit on rocks, to muse o’er flood and fell, -<br />To slowly trace the forest’s shady scene, -<br />Where things that own not man’s dominion dwell, -<br />And mortal foot hath ne’er, or rarely, been; -<br />To climb the trackless mountain all unseen, -<br />With the wild flock that never needs a fold; -<br />Alone o’er steeps and foaming falls to lean,— -<br />This is not Solitude: ’tis but to hold -<br />Converse with nature’s charms, and view her stores unroll’d.” -</p> - - -<p>It was about the middle of the forenoon, on the day marked by the -incidents narrated in the preceding chapter, when Claud Elwood, who had -become pretty well initiated into the sports of the locality, entered -his light canoe, with his fishing-tackle and fowling-piece, and pushed -out upon the broad bosom of the forest-girt Umbagog. Having had the -best success, when up on the lake the last time, on the western margin, -he pulled away in that direction, and, after rowing a couple of miles -up the lake, he laid down his oar, unrolled his elm-bark cable, and let -down his stone anchor, at a station a furlong or so from the shore.</p> - -<p>It was a beautiful spot, and a beautiful day to enjoy it in. From the -water’s edge rose, deeply enshrouded in their bright green, flowing, -and furbelowed robes of thickly interwoven pines, the undulating hills, -back to the summit level of that long, narrow tongue of forest land, -which, for many miles, only separates the Umbagog from the parallel -Magalloway, the noble stream that here comes rushing down from the -British highlands, to join the scarcely larger Androscoggin, almost -at the very outset of its “varied journey to the deep.” Turning from<span class="pagenum" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</span> -this magnificent swell on the west, the eye, as it wandered to the -right over the bright expanse of intervening waters, next rested on -the long, crescent-shaped mountain ridge, behind which slept, in their -still deeper and wilder seclusion, the broad Mooseeluk-maguntic and the -Molechunk-a-munk, which, with the Umbagog, make up the three principal -links in this remarkable chain of lakes. Still farther to the right -lay the seemingly boundless, rolling forests, forming the eastern -and southern rim of this basin of the lakes; whose gradually sloping -sides, like some old pinnacled city, were everywhere bristling with -the giant forms of the heaven-aspiring pine, and whose nearer recesses -were pierced, in the midst, by the long, lessening line of the gleaming -Umbagog; while around the whole circle of the horizon, scattered here -and there far back into the blue distance, rose mountain after mountain -in misty grandeur to the heavens.</p> - -<p>After thus slowly sweeping the horizon, to note, for the tenth time, -perhaps, the impressive character of the scenery, whose everywhere -intermingling beauty and grandeur he was never tired of contemplating, -Claud withdrew his gaze, and turned his attention to the more immediate -object of his excursion. After a few moments spent in regulating his -hook and line, he strung his angle-rod, and threw out to see whether he -could succeed in tempting, at that unfavorable hour, the fickle trout -from their watery recesses. But all in vain the attempt. Not a trout -was seen stirring the water at the surface, or manifesting his presence -around the hook beneath; and all the endeavors which the tantalized -angler made, by changing the bait, and throwing the line in different -directions around him, proved, for the next hour, equally fruitless. -While he was thus engaged, intently watching his line, each moment -expecting that the next must bring him a bite, one of those peculiar, -subdued, but far-reaching sounds, which are made by the grazing of -the oar against the side of the boat in rowing, occasionally greeted -his ear from some point to the south of him; though, for a while, -nothing was to be seen to indicate by whom the sounds were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</span> produced. -Soon, however, a man in a canoe, who had been coasting, unseen, along -the indentures of the shore, and whom Claud instantly recognized as -Phillips, the hunter already named, shot round a neighboring point, -and, in a few minutes more, was at his side.</p> - -<p>“Well, what luck?” cheerily exclaimed Phillips, a keen, hawk-eyed, -self-possessed looking man, with a round, compact, and sinewy frame. -“What luck to-day, young man?”</p> - -<p>“None whatever,” replied Claud, with an air of disappointment.</p> - -<p>“I suppose so, unless you began before ten o’clock.”</p> - -<p>“But why did you suppose so?”</p> - -<p>“O, I knew it from my knowledge of human nature,” said the hunter, -humorously. “Trout are very much like other folks, only a great deal -more sensitive to heat. Now, you don’t see men, who are well fixed -under a cool shade in a sweltering hot day, very anxious to run out -bare-headed in the sun, when there is no call for it; much less, then, -the trout, that can’t bear the sun and heat at all. Though there are, -probably, a ton of them within a stone’s throw of us, not one will come -out with this bright sun; they are lying behind the rocks and old logs -at the bottom, and won’t begin to circulate these three hours.”</p> - -<p>“And are you not a-going to try them?”</p> - -<p>“I? No; I would as soon think of fishing now on the top of these hills. -Besides this, I have a different object. I am bound to carry home -something that will pass for fresh meat, if it is nothing but a coon. I -shall haul up my canoe somewhere about here; follow up the lake-shore a -mile or so, with the idea of catching a deer in the edge of the water, -come there to keep off the flies; then, perhaps, cross over to the -Magalloway, down that, and over to this place; when, by way of topping -off, I will show you, by that time, if you are about here so long, how -trout are taken.”</p> - -<p>So saying, the hunter dipped his springy oar into the water,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</span> and, with -a few vigorous strokes, sent his canoe to the shore, and, having moored -it to a root, he glided into the thickets, and disappeared with a tread -so noiseless as to leave Claud, for many minutes, wholly in doubt -whether the man was standing still in the bushes or proceeding on his -excursion.</p> - -<p>It was now noon, and Claud, seeing no prospect of any immediate success -in his piscatory employment, which had been made to appear to him, by -the remarks of the hunter, more discouraging than ever, drew up his -anchor, and rowed to a point of the shore which was embowered by a -group of magnificent pines. Here, finding a cool spring, as well as a -refreshing shade, he drew out his lunch, and very leisurely proceeded -to discuss it, with the ice-cold water of the spring by which he -had seated himself for the purpose. His fare was coarse; but it was -partaken with a relish of which those who have never experienced the -effects of the air and exercise, incident to a life in the woods, can -have no just conception; and to which the palled appetite of the</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -<span style="margin-left: 7em;">“vain lords of luxury and ease,</span> -<br />Whom slumber soothes not, pleasure cannot please,” -</p> - -<p class="p0">is poor in comparison, though all the king’s banquets and metropolitan -feasts in the world should vie together to make good the substitute. -Claud’s life had thus far been, in the main, a quiet and commonplace -one; nothing having occurred to him to arouse those strong and -over-mastering passions to which it is the lot of most of us, at some -period of our lives, to become subjected. It had been checkered, -however, by one bit of romance, which, to say the least, had greatly -excited his imagination. About a year previous to the time of which -we are now writing, and one day while he was walking the streets of -Boston, a small, closely-enwrapped package was put in his hand by an -unknown boy, who, with the simple announcement, “<em>For you, Sir</em>,” -turned quickly away, and made off with the air of one who has completed -his mission, and would avoid being<span class="pagenum" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</span> questioned. Glancing within the -wrapper, and perceiving it inclosed a small encased picture, or -likeness, of some female, which he thought must have been delivered to -him through mistake, Claud looked hastily round for the messenger, and, -not seeing him, he walked backward and forward along the street, and -lingered some time in the vicinity, still expecting the boy would soon -return to claim the package. But, being disappointed in this, he went -home, and, retiring to his room, undid the wrapper, which he carefully -but vainly examined for some name, mark, or other clue to the mystery; -and then, with much interest, fell to inspecting the picture. It was, -obviously, a well-painted miniature likeness of a fair, dark-eyed girl, -but representing no remembered face, except in the peculiar expression -of the strong and commanding countenance; which, he thought, either -in man or woman, he must have somewhere before encountered. The whole -likeness, indeed, together with the circumstances under which it came -into his hands, made, at the time, a lively impression on his mind; -and, keeping the affair wholly to himself, he often contemplated that -fair face in private; and, for months afterwards, he never was in a -public assembly, where the sex were present, without running his eye -over it in search of the original. But, as he never found it, the -impression gradually wore away, and, in the exciting changes that had -occurred in the fortunes of his family, it had been nearly obliterated -from his mind; when, that morning, while searching his trunk for some -implement belonging to his gun, he came across the miniature, and put -it in his pocket. And now, in the leisure that followed his repast, -he bethought him of it; and, laying it before him on the bed of moss -on which he was reclining, he contemplated it with renewed interest, -and that sort of dreamy enthusiasm which the sudden revival of old -associations in such solitudes is apt to awaken in the mind, especially -when those associations are connected, as now, with a matter of mystery -and romance.</p> - -<p>After indulging in his reveries a while, he put up his miniature,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</span> -aroused himself from his day-dream, and rose to his feet, when, feeling -inclined for some kind of action, he decided on a short excursion in -the woods, in the direction of the Magalloway, where probably he would -fall in with Phillips, and return with him to the lake. Accordingly, -after loading his gun with ball and buckshot, so as to be prepared -for any large wild animals he might chance to encounter, he leisurely -took his way through the heavy, ascending forest that lay in his -course; here pausing to note the last night’s bed of some solitary -bear, and there to trace the marks of the death-struggle of a victim -deer, that, with all its vigilance and wondrous agility, had been -surprised and brought down by the stealthy and far-leaping catamount. -The ever-varying tenants of the forest, also, were constantly -presenting, as he passed on, some novelty to attract his unaccustomed -eye; now in the smooth, tall shaft of the fusiform fir—the dandy of -the forest—standing up with its beautiful cone-shaped top among its -rougher neighbors, trim and straight as the bonnetted cavalier of the -old pictures, among the slouchy forms of his homelier but worthier -opponents; now in the low and stocky birch standing on its broad, -staunch pedestal of strongly-braced roots below, and throwing out -widely above its giant arms, as if striving to shoulder and stay up -the weight of the superincumbent forest; and now in the imperial pine, -proudly lifting its tall form an hundred feet over the tops of the -plebeian trees around, to revel in the upper currents of the air, or -bathe its crowning plumes of living green in the clouds of heaven.</p> - -<p>Proceeding in this manner, he at length found himself gradually -descending the western slope of the hill; when he soon arrived in -the vicinity of the river, a glimpse of which, together with a small -clearing and a tidy-looking cottage on its banks, he now caught -through the tops of the intervening trees. While still walking on, -his attention was attracted to a comparatively open place in the -woods, where, at some previous period, a severe fire had killed -all the smaller trees, and consumed the underbrush, which had been -replaced by scattering shrubs of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</span> white poplar intermingled with -a plentiful growth of the black-raspberry, whose luscious fruit—the -first to reward the pioneer, and for which he has to contend sharply -with the birds and bears to obtain his share—was now beginning to -ripen. As he was entering this open space, which appeared to extend -some distance round the point of a screening knoll, he was suddenly -brought to a stand by a noise somewhere in the bushes or woods ahead, -such as had never before saluted his ears. It was like nothing else, -or <em>if any</em> thing else, like the wild snorting of a frightened -horse prolonged into the dying note of the steam whistle. Claud -recoiled a step before the unaccustomed sound, and involuntarily cocked -and raised his gun to his shoulder. But he was allowed no time to -speculate. The next instant, the loud and piercing shriek of a female, -nearer but in the same direction, rose and rang through the forest. -With a speed quickened at every step by the rapidly repeated cry of -distress, he bounded towards the spot, when, turning the point of the -knoll, he suddenly found himself in full view of the object of his -solicitude,—a girl, in the full bloom of youthful beauty, who, with -bonnet thrown back and her loosened hair streaming in wild disorder -over her shoulders, instantly rushed forward for his protection. Claud -stopped short, in mute surprise at the unexpected apparition; for the -first glance at her face told him that the original of his mysterious -miniature was before him,—before him, here in the woods! Breathless -and speechless in her wild affright, she pointed, with a glance over -her shoulder, to a thick, high tangle of large, strongly limbed, -knotty, windfallen trees, a short distance behind her, and fled past -him to the rear. Looking in the indicated direction, the startled and -perplexed young man distinguished the outlines of a monstrous moose -madly plunging at the woody barrier, and trying to force his enormous -antlers through the unyielding limbs preparatory to leaping it in -pursuit of his victim, who had eluded the infuriated animal, and barely -escaped the fatal blows of his uplifted hoofs, by creeping<span class="pagenum" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</span> under the -providentially placed obstruction. Claud instantly raised his piece, -when, feeling uncertain of his aim, he withheld his fire, and stood -waiting for a fairer view. But, before he could obtain it, the moose, -tired of vain attempts to force his passage through the bristling -barricade of logs and limbs before him, disappeared for one moment, -but the next came crashing round the nearest end of it, and, with -renewed demonstrations of rage and hostility, made directly for the -new opponent he beheld in his way. Still unalarmed for his own safety, -Claud waited with levelled gun till his formidable assailant was within -forty yards of him, when he took a quick aim and fired. Reeling under -the discharge of his heavily loaded piece, and blinded by the smoke, he -could not, at first, see the effect of his fire; but when he did so, -the next instant, it was only to behold the monster brute, maddened, -not stopped, by the flesh wounds inflicted, rushing on him with a force -and fury which compelled him to leap suddenly aside, to avoid being -beat into the earth by those terrible hoofs, which he saw lifted higher -and higher, at each approaching step, for his destruction. Mindful, -in his peril, of the precautions already learned from the hunters, -Claude, while the moose, whose tremendous impetus was driving him -straight ahead, could break up, so as to turn in the pursuit,—Claud -made, with all the speed of which he was master, for a huge hemlock, -luckily standing at no great distance on his right; a course which he -thought would divert the monster from pursuit of the maiden, and, at -the same time, best insure his own safety. But, so prodigious was the -rushing speed of the foiled and now doubly exasperated moose, that -the imperilled huntsman had barely time to reach the sheltering tree -and dodge behind it, before the hotly pursuing foe was at his heels, -rasping and tearing with his spiked antlers the rough bark of the tree, -in his attempts to follow round it near and fast enough to overtake -and strike down his intended victim. Round and round then sped both -pursuer and pursued, as fast as the frantic rage of the one, and the -keen instinct of self-preservation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</span> in the other, could impel them. -Although the moose, from the great width of his interfering horns, was -compelled to sweep round the tree in a circle requiring him to go over -double the distance travelled by Claude, yet so much greater was his -speed, that it called for the utmost exertions of the latter to keep -clear of the battle-axe blows which he heard falling every instant with -fatal force behind him. His gun had already been struck, shivered, -and beat from his hand; and, as he glanced over his shoulder and saw -the fierce and glaring eyes of his ruthless pursuer, and his uplifted -and forward-thrown hoofs striking closer and closer to his heels at -every bound, a sense of his deadly peril flashed over his mind with -that strange and paralyzing effect which the first full conviction of -impending death often produces on the stoutest hearts. He felt his -strength giving way, his brain beginning to whirl, and he was on the -point of yielding himself to his fate; when a stream of smoke and flame -accompanied the startling report of a rifle, shot out from the edge of -a neighboring thicket. The moose gave a convulsive start, floundered -forward on his knees, swayed backward and forward an instant, then fell -over broad-side into the bushes with a heavy crash, straightened out, -gasped, and died.</p> - -<p>“Dunno but you’ll think I waited too long, young man,” cried Phillips, -now advancing with a quick, leaping step from his covert. “The fact -was, I felt, on seeing you getting into such close quarters, that I had -better be rather particular about my aim, so as to stop him at once; -besides that, I was at first a little out of breath. I had heard the -fellow blow when an hundred rods off,—then the woman scream,—then -your gun; and, thinking like enough there would be trouble, I legged it -for the spot, and got to my stand just as he treed you.”</p> - -<p>“I feel very grateful to you, Mr. Phillips, for this timely rescue,” -responded Claud, recovering his composure. “This, I suppose, is the -far-famed moose?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and a bouncer at that,” replied the hunter, going up<span class="pagenum" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</span> and, -placing his foot on the broad and still quivering flank of the huge -animal. “Good twenty hands high, and weighs well, not much short of -fifteen hundred, I should say.”</p> - -<p>“But are they often thus dangerous?” asked Claud.</p> - -<p>“Not very often, perhaps,” rejoined the hunter. “But still the bull -moose, at this season of the year, is sometimes, when wounded, about as -ugly a customer as you meet with in the woods. This fellow I judge to -have been <em>oncommon</em> vicious, as he begun his tantrums before he -was touched at all, it seems. I dunno but ’twas the woman put the devil -into him, as women do into two-legged animals sometimes,—don’t they, -young man?”</p> - -<p>“The woman? O yes, the young lady,” said Claud, reminded of his duty as -a gallant by the remark, though unwilling to appropriate to himself the -prophetic joke with which it was coupled. “Where is she? I must go and -see to her.”</p> - -<p>“She has already seen to herself, I guess,” said the hunter. “As I -was coming up, I glimpsed her cutting round and running, like a wild -turkey, for the clearing, to which the moose had cut off her retreat. -She has reached the house by this time, doubtless; for it is hard by, -down on the river here, a hundred rods or such a matter.”</p> - -<p>“Who is she? Do you know the family?” eagerly inquired the young man.</p> - -<p>“No,” answered the hunter. “They are new-comers in these parts.”</p> - -<p>“What could have brought her here so far into the woods?” persisted -Claud.</p> - -<p>“The raspberries, very likely,” said the other, indifferently, while -taking out and examining the edge of his knife. “But come, we must -get this moose into some condition, so that he will keep; then be off -to let the settlers know of our luck. And early to-morrow morning, we -will, all hands, come up the river in boats, and distribute him. He -will make fresh meat enough to supply the whole settlement.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</span></p> - -<p>The hunter now, with the assistance of his new pupil in the craft, -proceeded to dressing the moose, the process of which, bleeding, -disemboweling, and partially skinning, was soon completed; when, -cutting some stout green skids with the hatchet he ever carried in his -belt, and inserting the ends under the bulky carcass, the two contrived -to raise it, by means of old logs rolled up for the purpose, several -feet from the ground, so as to insure a free circulation of air beneath -it. This being done, the hunter kindled two log fires, one on each -side, to keep off, he said, the wolves and other carnivorous animals. -They then, after cutting out the tongue and lip, which are esteemed -the tidbits of this animal, took up their line of march for the lake, -which, with the long, rapid lope of the woodsman, measured off, as -usual, in Indian file, and with little or no interrupting conversation, -they reached in a short time, and without further adventure.</p> - -<p>“Now,” said the hunter, as he reached the spot where his canoe was -tied, and turned round towards his lagging companion,—“now, sir, what -say you to taking a five-pound trout?”</p> - -<p>“Perfectly willing,” replied Claud, smiling; “and I would even take up -with a smaller one.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I won’t,—that is, not much smaller; and I think I’ll have one -of at least the size I named.”</p> - -<p>“What makes you so confident?”</p> - -<p>“Because, it being a hot, shiny morning, they took to their coverts -early, and must be sharp-set, by this time. Besides that, it is just -about the best time for them that could be got up: a deep cloud, as you -see, is coming over the sun, and this wind is moving the water to the -bottom. All sizes will now be coming out, and the big ones, like big -folks, will make all the little ones stand back till their betters are -served.”</p> - -<p>Each now taking to his canoe, they pushed out some twenty or thirty -rods into the lake, cast anchor, and threw out their lines. Claud, who -baited with grubs, soon had drawn in two,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</span> weighing as many pounds -a piece, and began to feel disposed to banter the hunter, who had -baited with a flap of moose-skin, which he had brought along with -him, and which, to Claud, seemed little likely to attract the fishes -to his hook. But he soon found himself mistaken; for, turning to give -utterance to what was passing in his mind, he beheld the other dallying -with a trout, which he had hooked, and now held flapping on the surface -of the water, evidently much larger than either of his own.</p> - -<p>“That is a fine one!” cried Claud. “Why don’t you pull him in?”</p> - -<p>“Not big enough,” said the hunter, in reply to the question; while he -turned to the fish with an impatient “Pshaw! what work the cretur makes -of it! Hop off, hop off, you fool! There,” he added, as the trout at -length broke away and disappeared, “there, that is right. Now be off -with yourself till you grow bigger, and give me a chance at the fine -fellow whose tail I saw swashing up round here just now.”</p> - -<p>The hunter then carefully adjusted his bait, and threw out the whole -length of his line. After alternately sinking his hook, and then -drawing it to the surface, for two or three throws, the line suddenly -straightened, moved slowly backward at first, then swept rapidly round -and round, or darted off in sharp short angles, with downward and -forward plunges so quick and powerful as to make the stout sapling pole -sway and bend, like a whipstock, in the steadying hands of the hunter. -For four or five minutes he made no attempt to draw in his prize, but -let the fish have full play to the length of its tether, till its -efforts had become comparatively feeble; when, slowly bringing it -alongside, he took the line in his hand, and, with a quick jerk, landed -the noble fellow safely on the bottom of the canoe.</p> - -<p>“There, sir!” exclaimed the hunter, seizing the trout by the gills, and -triumphantly holding it up to view, “there is about what I bargained -for: two feet long, not an inch shorter,—seven<span class="pagenum" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</span> pounds weight, and not -an ounce lighter! Now, being satisfied, I am done.”</p> - -<p>“What, leave off with such luck?” asked Claud in surprise.</p> - -<p>“Yes, young man,” said the other, “I hold it all but a downright sin to -draw from God’s storehouse a single pound more than is really needed. -This will last my family as long as it will keep, this warm weather, -with the plenty of moose-meat we shall have. Any thing more is a waste, -which <em>I</em> will not commit. And <em>you</em>, sir, who have just -hauled in your third and largest one, I perceive, and have now nearly -as many pounds as I have,—what can <em>you</em> want of more? Come, let -us pull up and off for our homes. It is nearly time, any way.”</p> - -<p>Although loth to break off his sport, yet inwardly acknowledging the -justness of the hunter’s philosophy, Claud reluctantly drew in and -wound up his line, hauled in his anchor, and, handling his oar, shot -out abreast of the other, who had already got under way, into the -heaving waters of the now agitated lake. Side by side, with the quick -and easy dip of their elastic single oars, the rowers now sent their -light, sharp canoes, dug out to the thinness of a board from the -straight-grained dry pine, rapidly ahead over the broken and subdued -waves of the cove, in which they had been stationed, till they rounded -the intervening woody point which had cut off the view of the lower end -of the lake.</p> - -<p>“Good Heavens!” exclaimed Claud, starting back, with suspended oar, as -now, coming out in view of the lake, his eye fell on the huge pillar of -smoke, which, deeply enshrouding that part of the distant forest lying -east of the outlet of the lake with its expanded base, was rolling -upward its thousand dark, doubling folds; “good Heavens, Phillips, look -yonder! Where and what is it? It looks like a burning city.”</p> - -<p>“It is a fire, of course, and no small one, either; but where, I can’t -exactly make out,” slowly responded the hunter, intently fixing his -keen eyes on the magnificent spectacle which had thus unexpectedly -burst on their view in the distance. “Let<span class="pagenum" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</span> me see,” he continued, -running his eye along the border of the lake in search of his old -landmarks: “there is the tall stub that stands half a mile down on the -west bank of the river, and is now just visible in the edge of the -smoke; but where is the king pine, that stands nearly against it, over -in your slash? Young man,” he added, with a startled air, “was your -father calculating to burn that slash to-day?”</p> - -<p>“No, unless it looked likely to rain.”</p> - -<p>“Well it <em>does</em> look likely to rain, in the shape of a shower -gathering yonder, which has already given out one or two grumbles of -distant thunder, if my ears served me as well as usual.”</p> - -<p>“Yes; but such a smoke and fire can’t come from our slash. It must be a -larger and more distant one.”</p> - -<p>“So I thought at first; but I begin to think different. Do you see that -perpendicular, broken line of light, occasionally flashing out from -the smoke, and extending upward to a height that no ground fire ever -reached? That is your king pine in a blaze from bottom to top. Hark! -why, I can hear it roaring clear here, like a distant hurricane. It -must be a prodigious hot fire to make all that show and noise.”</p> - -<p>“Can it endanger our buildings?” asked Claud, in alarm.</p> - -<p>“I am afraid so,” replied the other, with a dubious shake of the head. -“But hark again! ’tis your father’s horn blowing for help.”</p> - -<p>“Let us row, then, as for our lives!” cried the now thoroughly aroused -and agitated young man. “If any thing happens before I get there, I -shall never forgive myself for my prolonged absence, to the last day of -my life. You will join me in going there, will you not?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and outstrip you by half a mile. But that won’t be the best way. -Throw your anchor into the stern of my canoe, and fall in behind. -There; now keep the anchor-line slack between us, if you can,” rapidly -said the hunter, bending his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</span> sinewy form to the work, with a power -that sent his canoe half out of the water at every stroke of his -swiftly-falling oar.</p> - -<p>Leaving them to bound over the billowy waters of the lake towards their -destination, with all the speed which strong arms and nerves made tense -with excitement could impart, let us anticipate their arrival, to note -what befell the objects of their anxieties, whom we so abruptly left -in their perils from the fire, to bring up the other incidents of the -day having an equal bearing on the story, with which we have thus far -occupied the present somewhat extended chapter.</p> - -<p>The immediate danger to their house from the fire, with which we -left the alarmed Elwood and his wife contending, was, indeed, easily -overcome by dashing pails of water over the roof. But scarcely had -they achieved this temporary triumph in one place over an element -proverbially terrible when it becomes master, before it was seen -kindling into flickering blazes on the roof of the barn and the locks -of hay protruding from its windows and the crevices between the logs of -which it was built. Here, also, they soon succeeded in extinguishing -the fire in the same manner. They were not, however, allowed a -moment’s respite from either their labors or alarms. The fences were -by this time on fire in numerous places; and the chips and wood in the -door-yard were seen to be igniting from the sparks and cinders which, -every instant, fell thicker and hotter around their seemingly devoted -domicil. The fences, after a few vain attempts to save them, were given -up a prey to the devouring element, and the whole exertions of the -panting and exhausted sufferers were turned to saving their buildings; -and even at that they had no time to spare; for, so hot had the air -become from the burning slash, which, through its whole length, was now -glowing with the red heat of a furnace, that every vestige of moisture -had soon disappeared from the drenched roofs, and they were again on -fire.</p> - -<p>“Is there no way of raising help?” exclaimed Mrs. Elwood,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</span> in her -extremity, as she witnessed these increasing manifestations of danger.</p> - -<p>“I never thought of that,” said Elwood. “Hand me the dinner-horn. If -there are any within hearing, they will understand, with the appearance -of this fire, that we are calling for assistance.”</p> - -<p>With a few sharp, loud blasts, Elwood threw aside the horn, and again -flew to the work of extinguishing the fires where they became most -threatening. And thus, for nearly another hour, the distressed settler -and his heroic wife, suffering deeply from heat and exhaustion, toiled -on, without gaining the least on the fearful enemy by which they were -so closely encompassed. And they were on the point of giving up in -despair, when the welcome shout of “Help at hand!” from the ringing -voice of the hunter, then just entering the opening, revived hope in -their sinking hearts. The next moment that help was on the spot; but -it was unnecessary. A mightier Hand was about to interpose. From the -bold, black van of the hurrying and deeply-charged rack of cloud, that -had now unheeded gained the zenith, a stream of fire, before which all -other fires paled into nothing, at that instant descended on the top -of the burning pine, and, rending it from top to bottom by the single -explosion, sent its wide-flying fragments in blazing circles to the -ground. A sharp, rattling sound, terminating in a cannon-like report, -followed, shaking the rent and crashing heavens above, and the bounding -earth beneath, in the awful concussion. Before the stunned and blinded -settlers had recovered from the shock, or the deep roll of the echoing -thunder had died away among the distant mountains, another and more -welcome roar saluted their ears. It was that of the rapidly-approaching -rain striking the foliage of the neighboring forest; and, scarcely had -they time to gain the cover of the house, before the deluging torrents -poured over it with a force and fury beneath which the quelled fires -speedily sunk, hissing, into darkness and death.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VII">CHAPTER VII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“Wo is the youth whom Fancy gains, -<br />Winning from Reason’s hands the reins.” -</p> - - -<p>The morning of the next day, serene and beautiful as a bride decked -in her fresh robes and redolent in her forest perfumery, came smiling -over the wilderness hills of the east, to greet our little pioneer -family on their deliverance from the perils of yesterday. The war -of the elements, that had raged so fearfully round their seemingly -devoted domicile, had all passed away; and, after sleeping off the -fatigue and excitement of the previous day, they rose to look around -them, to find themselves safe, and call themselves satisfied. Their -buildings had been, after all, but very slightly injured, and their -green crops but little damaged; their fences, indeed, were mostly -consumed; but these could be replaced from the timber of the burnt -slash, with little more labor than would be required to pile up and -burn that timber where it lay. But, whatever such additional labor -might be, it was more than compensated by the very intensity of the -fire which caused it, and which, at the same time, had so utterly -consumed all the underbrush, limbs of the trees, and even the smaller -trees themselves, that weeks less than with ordinary burns would be -required in the clearing. Elwood, therefore, came in from his morning -survey happily disappointed in the supposed extent of his losses; and, -joining his wife and son in the house, whom he found busily engaged in -cutting up, mealing, and placing in the hissing pan over the fire the -broad, red, and rich-looking pieces of trout, the fruit of yesterday’s -excursion on the lake, he told them, with a gratified air, the result -of his observation, which, on a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</span> merchant-like calculation of loss and -gain from the conflagration, he made out to show even a balance in -his favor. Mrs. Elwood rejoiced with her husband on the happy turn of -affairs, and wondered why her son did not manifest the same flow of -spirits. But the latter, for some reason or other, appeared unusually -abstracted during the whole morning; and, when asked to relate the -particulars of his perilous adventure with the moose, which he had -the evening before but briefly mentioned, he exhibited a hesitation, -and a sort of shying of the question, in that part of the adventure -relating to the rescued girl, which did not escape the quick eye of -the mother. It was evident to her that something was kept back. But -what that something was she was wholly unable to conjecture. It was so -unusual for her son to show any lack of frankness that the circumstance -disturbed her, and, though she knew not exactly why, sent a boding -chill over her heart, which caused her also to become thoughtful and -silent. And Mr. Elwood, who possessed none of those mental sympathies -which, in some, will often be found unconsciously mingling with the -thoughts of others, so far, at least, as to apprise them of the general -character and drift of those thoughts, now, in his turn, wondered why -his wife, as well as son, should all at once become so unsocial and -taciturn.</p> - -<p>It will doubtless be generally said that this mental sympathy, or the -intuitive perception of the main drift of what is passing in the minds -of others, has an existence only in the fancy of fictionists. We, -however, after years of close observation, have wholly ceased to doubt -its reality. Scores of times have we been affected by thoughts and -intentions which we knew must have a source other than in our own mind. -Scores of times have we, in this manner, been put on our guard against -the selfish designs which others were harboring to our disadvantage, -of which no tongue had informed us, and of which, afterwards, we had -tangible proof. And, on careful inquiry among persons of thought and -sensibility, we have become convinced that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</span> the principle holds good -to a very considerable extent among others; and that attention to the -subject is only wanting to make it a generally received opinion. It -was this principle that now affected Mrs. Elwood: not that she had the -most distant idea that her son harbored aught of wrong intention toward -any of his family, but she felt that his mind was somehow becoming -subservient to schemes which existed somewhere in the minds of others, -which concerned her or her family. But she <em>felt</em> rather than -thought this; and, knowing she could give no reason for her singular -impression, prudently kept it to herself.</p> - -<p>“Good-morning, good-morning, gentlefolks,” rang out the cheery voice of -the hunter, who now looked in at the door as the Elwoods were rising -from their breakfast. “Things look a little altered round here, this -morning. I should hardly have known the place without the king pine, -which, in its prime, was a tree of a thousand.”</p> - -<p>“That tree was an old acquaintance of yours, I suppose,” remarked -Elwood.</p> - -<p>“Yes, of twenty years’ standing; and I shall miss and mourn it as an -old friend. But it died like a monarch, yielding only under the direct -blow of the Almighty.”</p> - -<p>“Then you consider the lightning more especially the instrument of -Heaven than the wind, fire, and other elements, do you?”</p> - -<p>“To be sure I do. Wind, we know what it is; fire we know; water we also -know; because we can see them, touch them, measure them. But who can -see a piece of lightning when not in motion? who can find the least -fragment of it after it has struck? It rends a tree, makes a smooth -hole through a board, and ploughs up the ground. But go to the tree -and there is nothing there; look under the board, it is the same; and -dig along the furrow it has ploughed to where it stopped, and it is -not there, as it would be if it was any material thing, like a bullet, -an axe, knife, or other instrument that produces<span class="pagenum" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</span> such effects, in -all other instances. No, ’tis not matter; it is the power of God; and -your philosophers, who pretend to explain it, don’t know what they are -talking about. But enough of that. I came here to rally you out to go -up the river with the rest of us, for the moose. You will both go, -won’t you?”</p> - -<p>“Claud will, doubtless,” replied Mr. Elwood. “Indeed, I have half a -mind to go myself.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps Claud, having had a fatiguing excursion yesterday, will stay -at home, and let his father go, to-day,” suggested Mrs. Elwood.</p> - -<p>“It was not at all fatiguing, mother,” responded Claud.</p> - -<p>“The wind blows up the river to-day, ma’am,” said the hunter, with a -knowing look.</p> - -<p>Little more was said; but the result was that Claud and the hunter -now soon went off together on the proposed excursion. On reaching the -mouth of the Magalloway, they found four others waiting for them, with -their canoes, when the whole party commenced their little voyage up the -river. After leisurely rowing against the here slow and gentle current -of the stream for an hour or two, they reached their destination, and -hauled up at a point most convenient for gaining the spot where the -slaughtered moose had been left the evening before. Led on by the -hunter, all now started for the place just named, except Claud, who, -under pretence of taking a short gunning bout in the woods, and of soon -coming round to join his companions, proceeded, as soon as the latter -were out of sight, with slow and hesitating steps, up the river, for -the opening and supposed residence of the fair unknown who had so long -been the object of his wondering fancies, and who had, notwithstanding -the exciting scenes he had witnessed at home, been the especial subject -of his dreams after he retired to rest the night before. But what a -strange, wayward, timid, doubting, and inconsistent thing is the tender -passion in its incipient stages, especially when that passion has -principally been wrought up by the imagination! He soon came to the -clearing of which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</span> he was in quest, and obtained a clear view of the, -to him, charmed cottage. But, instead of entering the opening directly, -he went nearly round it, frequently pausing and advancing nearly to the -edge of the woods; but as often retreating, being unable quite to make -up his mind to show himself at all to the inmates of the cottage. Once -he gave it up entirely, and started off for his companions. But, after -he had proceeded a dozen rods, he came again to a stand, hesitated a -while, and, as if ashamed of his irresolution, wheeled rapidly about, -proceeded, with a quick, firm step, to the border of the woods, struck -directly for the house, and, with assumed unconcern, marched up to the -door,—where he was met, not by the young lady he expected first to -see, but by her father. But who was that father? To his utter surprise, -it was <em>his</em> father’s old tempter and ruiner, the dark and -inscrutable Gaut Gurley!</p> - -<p>With a manner, for him, unusually gracious, Gurley extended his hand -to Claud; ushered him into the house; formally introduced him to his -wife, an ordinary, abject-looking woman; and then to his daughter, the -fair, dark-eyed, tall, shapely, and every way magnificent Avis Gurley, -the girl who had so long, but unwittingly, been the object of the young -man’s dreamy fancies.</p> - -<p>“I have but very lately discovered,” remarked Gurley, who seemed to -feel himself called on to lead off in the conversation, after the usual -commonplace remarks had been exchanged, “I have but lately discovered -that I had, by a singular coincidence, again cast my lot in the same -settlement with your family. Having made up my mind, a few months ago, -to try a new country, and coming across the owner of this place, who -was on a journey in New Hampshire, and who offered to sell and move off -at once, I came on with him, struck a bargain, returned for my family, -and brought them here about a fortnight ago. But, having been absent -most of the time since, I didn’t mistrust who my neighbors were.”</p> - -<p>“And you probably perceived, sir,” said Avis, turning to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</span> Claud, with a -smile, “you probably perceived, in your yesterday’s adventure up here -in the woods, that I have been in as bad a predicament as my father.”</p> - -<p>“How is that, Avis?” asked Gurley.</p> - -<p>“Why, father,” responded the other, “Mr. Elwood will readily suppose -that I should not have been straying into the wood for flowers and -berries, had I known we had any such neighbors as the one from whose -pursuit he so kindly rescued me last evening.”</p> - -<p>“I was as much surprised at the ferocity of the animal as you were, I -presume,” said Claud, in reply. “And I was far more indebted to the -hunter, Phillips, for my <em>own</em> rescue, than <em>you</em> were to -<em>me</em> for <em>yours</em>. I merely turned the furious brute aside. -It was he who, coming up in the nick of time, brought him dead to the -earth.”</p> - -<p>“I supposed there were two of you,” remarked Gurley. “I was half a mile -up the river, yet I heard the firing plain enough; and, returning soon -after, and hearing my daughter’s story, I went to the place; but, by -that time, you had dressed the animal and were gone. By the voices I -heard in the woods, a short time ago, I concluded you came up, with -others, for the beef.”</p> - -<p>“We did. You here should certainly be entitled to a liberal share. Will -you not go up there?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; I was thinking about it before you came in. I will go; but, -as I wish to go a short distance into the woods, partly in another -direction, I will now walk on and come round to the spot; and, if I -don’t meet you there, you may just tell your father how surprised I -have been to find myself again in the same neighborhood with himself.”</p> - -<p>“Umph!” half audibly exclaimed the hitherto mute wife, with a look -that seemed to say, “What a bouncer he is telling now!” and she was -evidently about to say something, comporting with the significant -exclamation, but a glance from her husband, as he passed out of the -door, quelled her into silence.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</span></p> - -<p>On the departure of Gurley, his wife rose and left the room; when -Claud, unexpectedly finding himself alone with his fair companion, -instead of entering into the easy conversation with her which the -dictates of common gallantry would seem to require, soon began to -manifest signs of constraint and embarrassment, which did not escape -the eye of the young lady, and which caused her no little surprise and -perplexity. She knew nothing of what had been passing in his mind, nor -once dreamed of the circumstance which had first impressed her image -there. She had, indeed, known nothing of the Elwoods, except what she -had heard her father say of them as a family, with whose head he had in -some way been formerly connected in business. Had she been asked, she -would doubtless have recalled the fact that her father had, the year -before, employed an artist to paint a miniature likeness of her, which -he subsequently pretended to have sent to a relative of his residing -in Quebec, and she never entertained the least suspicion that it was -not thus properly disposed of. She had never seen Claud till yesterday, -when he so opportunely appeared for her rescue; and, even then, she had -no idea who it was to whom she had thus become indebted. She, however, -had been much prepossessed with his appearance and manly bearing, and -felt a lively sense of gratitude for the voluntary service; and when, -by the introduction of her father, she became apprised of the character -of her deliverer, she felt doubly gratified that he had turned out to -be one who, she believed, would not take any mean advantage of the -obligation. For these reasons, she could not understand why he should -appear so reserved, unless it was that she had failed to interest him; -and, finally concluding that this must be the case, she did that which, -with her maidenly pride and high spirit, she would otherwise have -scorned to do, she exerted herself to the utmost to interest and please -him; and, when he rose to return to his companions, she followed him -into the yard, and smilingly said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</span></p> - -<p>“You are fond of gunning excursions, are you not, Mr. Elwood?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, O yes, quite so,” replied Claud, with awkward hesitation.</p> - -<p>“And would not an occasional excursion in <em>this</em> direction be as -pleasant as any other?” she asked, with playful significance.</p> - -<p>But, instead of replying in the same spirit, the bewildered young man -turned, and sent a gaze into the depths of her lustrous dark eyes, -so serious and intense that it brought a blush to her cheek; when, -stammering out his intention of often taking her house in his way in -future, he hurriedly bade her good-by, and departed, leaving her more -perplexed than ever.</p> - -<p>As for Claud, it would be difficult to describe his sensations on -leaving the house, or make any thing definite out of the operations -of his mind. Both heart and brain were working tumultuously, but not -in unison. The train which his imagination had been laying was on the -point of being kindled into a blaze by the reality. He knew it; he felt -it; but he knew also that it was the part of wisdom to smother the -flame while it yet might be controlled. The unexpected and startling -discovery which he had just made, that the girl who had so wrought -upon his fancy, both when seen in the picture and met in the original, -was the daughter of Gaut Gurley, raised difficulties and dangers in -the path he found himself entering, which his judgment told him could -only be avoided by his immediate desistance. For he was well aware how -deeply rooted was his mother’s aversion to this man, and how fatal had -been his influence over his father, who had but a few months before -escaped from his toils, and then only, perhaps, because there was no -more to be gained by keeping him in them any longer. A connection -with the daughter, therefore, however opposite in character from her -father, would not only greatly mar his mother’s happiness, but in all -probability lead to a renewal of the intimacy between his father and -Gurley; an event which he himself felt was to be deprecated. But the -Demon of Sophistry,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</span> who first taught self-deceiving man how to make -“the wish father to the thought,” here interposing, whispered to the -incipient lover that his father had reformed, and why not then Gaut -Gurley? This reasoning, however, could not be made to satisfy his -judgment; and again commenced the struggle between head and heart, one -pulling one way and the other in another way,—too often an unequal -struggle, too often like one of those contests between man and wife, -where reason succumbs and will comes off triumphant.</p> - -<p>Such were the fluctuating thoughts and purposes which occupied the -agitated bosom of Claud Elwood, in his solitary walk to the place where -the boats had been left, and where the subject was now driven from -his mind, for a while, by the appearance of his companions and the -merry jokes of the hunter. They had cut up the moose meat, which they -had found in good condition, and brought all they deemed worth saving -down to the landing. And, being now ready to embark, they apportioned -the meat among the different canoes, and rowed with the now favoring -current rapidly down the river together till they reached its mouth, -when they separated, and bore their allotted portions of the moose to -their respective homes.</p> - -<p>For the two succeeding days and nights the hapless Claud was the prey -of conflicting emotions,—the more oppressive because he carefully kept -them pent up in his own bosom. He dared not make the least allusion -before his parents to the lady whom they knew he had rescued, or -his visit to her home, for he could not do so without revealing the -fact that the dreaded Gaut Gurley, with his family, had found his -way into the vicinity; while, if he did disclose this fact, he felt -that he could not hold up his head before them till he had conquered -his feelings towards the daughter. And sometimes he thought he had -conquered them, and resolved that he would never see her again. But, -brooding over his feelings in the solitudes of the woods, he only -cherished and fanned the flame he was thinking to extinguish; and he -again relapsed,—again paused,—again<span class="pagenum" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</span> “resolved, re-resolved, and -<em>did</em> the same;” for, on the third day, under the excuse of taking -another excursion on the lake, he was drawn, as surely as the vibrating -needle to the pole, to the beautiful load-star of the Magalloway.</p> - -<p>Suspecting the state of young Elwood’s feelings towards her, and -fearing that she might have been too forward in her advances at their -last interview, Avis Gurley, this time, received him with a dignity and -maidenly reserve, which, when contrasted with her former sociability -and cordiality of manner, seemed to him like studied coolness. This -soon led him, in turn, to sue for favor. And so earnestly did he -pursue his object, that, before he was aware of what he was saying, -he had revealed the secret of his heart. She received his remarks -in respectful silence, but gave no indication by which he could -judge whether the inadvertent disclosure was pleasing or otherwise, -except what might be gathered from her increased cordiality on other -subjects, to which she now adroitly turned the conversation. This was -just enough to encourage him, and at the same time leave him in that -degree of doubt and suspense which generally operate as the greatest -incentive to persevere in the pursuit of an object. It proved so in -his case; and, to this natural incentive to persevere, was now added -another, that of respect for her character,—a respect which every -hour’s conversation with her enhanced, and which he might accord to her -with entire justice. Gaut Gurley, like many other bad men, was proud -of having a good daughter. He early perceived that she inherited all -that was comely and good in him, physically and morally, without any -of his defects or faults of character. And, desirous so to rear her as -to make the most of her natural endowments, and so, at the same time, -that her character should not be marred by his example, he had been at -considerable expense with her education, and had even deported himself -with much circumspection in her presence. This, as will be readily -inferred of one of his designing character, he did from a mixed motive: -partly from parental pride<span class="pagenum" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</span> and affection, and partly to make her, -through some advantageous marriage, subservient to his own personal -interests.</p> - -<p>In this state of affairs between Claud and Avis, closed this, their -second interview. Another, and another, and yet another, succeeded at -brief intervals. And so rapid is the course of love, when springing up -in solitudes like these, where nothing occurs to divert the gathering -current, but every thing conspires to increase it,—where to our young -devotees all around them seemed to reflect their own feelings,—where -the æolian music of the whispering pines that embowered their solitary -walks seemed but to give voice to the melody that filled their own -hearts,—where to them the birds all sang of love,—where love smiled -upon them in the pensive beams of the moon, glistened in the stars, -and was stamped on all the expanse of blue sky above, and on all the -forms of beauty on the green earth beneath,—so rapid, we repeat, is -the course of love, thus born and thus fostered, that a fortnight had -scarcely elapsed before they had both yielded up heart and soul to the -dominion of the well-named blind god, and uttered their mutual vows of -love and constancy.</p> - -<p>This was the sunshine of their love; but the storms were already -gathering in the distance.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_VIII">CHAPTER VIII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“The sigh that lifts her breastie comes, -<br />Like sad winds frae the sea, -<br />Wi’ sic a dreary sough, as wad -<br />Bring tears into yer e’e.” -</p> - - -<p>When Claud Elwood reached home, on the eventful visit to the Magalloway -which resulted in the exchange of vows between him and Avis Gurley, -as intimated at the close of the last chapter, he at once suspected, -from the sad and troubled looks of his mother and the disturbed manner -of his father, that the secret of his late visits abroad, as well as -of the unexpected advent of the family visited, had, in some way, -become known to them in his absence. A feeling of mingled delicacy and -self-condemnation, however, prevented him from making any inquiries; -and, with a commonplace remark, which was received in silence, he -took a seat, and, with much inward trembling, awaited the expected -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">denouement</i>. But it did not come so soon nor in so harsh terms -as he expected. There are occasions when we feel so deeply that we -are reluctant to begin the task of unburdening our minds; and, when -we do speak out, it is oftener in sorrow than in anger. It was so in -the present instance. Mr. Elwood had that day been abroad among the -settlers, and, for the first time, learned not only that Gaut Gurley -had moved with his family into the settlement, but that Claud was -courting his daughter, and a match already settled on between them. On -his return home, Elwood felt almost as much reluctance in making known -his discoveries to his wife as Claud had before him; for he well knew -how deeply they would disquiet her. But, soon concluding there would be -no<span class="pagenum" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</span> wisdom in attempting concealment, he told her what he had heard. -As he had anticipated, the news fell like a sudden thunderclap on her -heart. She had experienced, indeed, many strange misgivings respecting -her son’s late mysterious absences; but she was not prepared for such -a double portion of ill-omened news as she deemed this to be, and -it struck her mute with dismay, for it at once brought a cloud over -the future, which to her eye was dark with portents. Elwood himself -was also obviously considerably disquieted by the news, showing no -little uneasiness and excitement,—an excitement, perhaps, resembling -that which is said to be manifested by a bird in the presence of the -devouring reptile. He doubtless would gladly have been relieved from -any further connection with Gaut. He doubtless would gladly have -avoided even the slightest renewal of their former acquaintance. But, -for reasons which he had never disclosed, he felt confident he should -not long be suffered to enjoy any such exemption. And feeling, for the -same reasons, how weak he should be in the hands of that man, he was -troubled, far more troubled than he would have been willing to own, at -the discoveries of the day, even if that part of it relating to the -intimacy of his son and Gaut’s daughter should prove, as he believed, a -mere conjecture.</p> - -<p>It was at this juncture, and before a word of comment had been offered -either by Mrs. Elwood or her husband on the news he had related, that -Claud arrived and entered the room.</p> - -<p>“Well, God’s will be done!” sadly uttered Mrs. Elwood, at length -breaking the embarrassing silence, but without raising her eyes from -her work, which lay neglected in her lap.</p> - -<p>“What does mother mean?” doubtfully asked Claud, turning to his father.</p> - -<p>“I have been telling her some unexpected news, which greatly disturbs -her mind,—more than is necessary, perhaps,” replied the other, with -poorly assumed indifference.</p> - -<p>“What news?” rejoined the son, having made up his mind<span class="pagenum" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</span> that, if -his own secret was involved, as he supposed, the long dreaded -<i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">eclaircissement</i> might as well come now as ever.</p> - -<p>“Why, that Gaut Gurley has moved with his family into the settlement. -And that is not all; but the rest of it, which relates to a -lately-formed intimacy between you and Gaut’s daughter, I presume is -mere guess-work.”</p> - -<p>Mrs. Elwood turned a searching glance to the face of her son, and -waited to hear his reply to the last remarks, but he was silent; -and the last gleam of hope, which had for the moment lighted up -the mother’s countenance, faded like a moon-beam on the edge of an -eclipsing cloud; and, after a long pause and silence which no one -interrupted, she slowly and sadly said:</p> - -<p>“When I consented to leave the comforts and social blessings to which -I had been accustomed, and come into this lone wilderness, with its -well-known hardships and privations, my great and indeed only motive -was, to see my family placed beyond the temptations of the city, and -especially beyond the fatal and to me always mysterious, influence of -that wicked and dangerous man, Gaut Gurley. And with this object I -came cheerfully, gladly. And when I reached this place, fondly hoping -and believing we had escaped that man, and were forever secure from -his wiles, I became happy,—happier than since I left my native hills -in New-Hampshire. It soon became to <em>me</em>, lone and dreary as it -might appear to others,—it soon became to <em>me</em>, in my fancied -security from the evils we had fled, a second Paradise. But to me it -is a Paradise no longer; the Serpent has found his way into our Eden; -and, not content with having beguiled and ruined one, must now have the -other so entangled in the toils that both will be kept in his power.”</p> - -<p>“You are going a great ways to borrow trouble, it appears to me, -Alice,” remarked Elwood, after a pause.</p> - -<p>“It certainly seems so to me, also, mother,” said Claud. “You cannot -know but Gurley comes here with as honest purposes<span class="pagenum" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</span> as father. But, -were it otherwise, the daughter should not be held responsible for the -faults of the father, nor, without good reason, be accused of favoring -any sinister designs he may entertain.”</p> - -<p>“Claud takes a just view of the case, on both points, I presume,” -rejoined Mr. Elwood. “As to Gurley, I know not how, or why, he came -here; nor do I wish or expect to have any thing to do with him. And as -to Claud, I trust he knows enough to take care of himself.”</p> - -<p>“You have both evaded the spirit of my remarks,” responded Mrs. Elwood. -“When I speak of Gaut Gurley’s motives and designs, you must know -I judge from his past conduct. Have either of you as safe grounds -of judging him? And when I allude to his daughter, I do so with no -thought of holding her amenable for the faults of her father, or even -of assuming the ground that she has inherited any of his objectionable -traits of character. I intend nothing of the kind, for I know nothing -of her. But I do say, that, whenever she marries, she becomes the -connecting link between her husband and her father, the chain extending -both ways, so as to bind their respective families together, and -give one the power and means of evil which could in no other way be -obtained. In view of all these circumstances, then, I feel that a -calamity is in store for us. God grant that my fears and forebodings -may prove groundless.”</p> - -<p>The husband and son were saved the difficult and embarrassing task of -replying, by the arrival of Phillips, who, in his free and easy manner, -entered and took a seat with the family.</p> - -<p>“I came, gentlefolks,” said the hunter, after a few commonplace remarks -had been exchanged,—“I came to see if you know what a ‘bee’ means?”</p> - -<p>“A bee? what, honey-bees?” asked Mr. Elwood, in surprise at the oddness -of the question.</p> - -<p>“No, not a honey-bee, exactly, or a humble-bee, but a sort of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</span> -work-meeting of men or women, to help a neighbor to husk his corn, -for instance, build him a log house, or do off some other job for him -in a day, which alone would take him perhaps weeks. These turn-outs -we new settlers call ‘bees.’ Nothing is more common than for a man to -get up a bee to knock off at once a pressing job he wants done. And, -when a new-comer appears to be delicate about moving in the matter, -the neighbors sometimes volunteer, and get up a bee for him, among -themselves.”</p> - -<p>“I may have heard of the custom; but why do you say you came to ask me -if I know any thing about it?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I kinder thought I would. You have a pretty stiff-looking burnt -piece here to be logged off soon, have you not?”</p> - -<p>“Why, yes.”</p> - -<p>“And it would be a hard and heavy month’s job for you and the young man -to do it, would it not?”</p> - -<p>“The best part of a month, perhaps; but I was intending to go at it -in season, that we might get it all cleared and sown by the middle of -September; which must be done, if I join you and the rest of the usual -company in the fall trapping and hunting expedition.”</p> - -<p>“Of course you will join us. It is our main and almost only chance here -of getting any money.”</p> - -<p>“So I have always understood, and therefore made up my mind to go into -it, if I can get ready. I have been down the river to-day and engaged -my seed wheat. To-morrow I thought of going abroad again, to try to -engage some help for clearing the piece.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you need not go a rod for that purpose.”</p> - -<p>“Why not?”</p> - -<p>“Because we have got up a bee for you in the settlement, large enough, -we think, to log off your whole piece in a day.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! Who has been so kind as to start such a project?”</p> - -<p>“Several of us: Codman, that you may have seen, or at least heard of, -as the best trapper in the settlement, took upon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</span> himself to enlist -those round the southerly end of the lake, where he lives; and I have -arranged matters a little in this section and on the river below. But, -in justice, I should name, as the man who has taken the most interest -in the movement, the new settler who has this summer come into the -parts, and made his pitch over on the Magalloway. His name is Gurley.”</p> - -<p>A dead silence of several minutes ensued, during which Mrs. Elwood -looked sadly and meaningly from the husband to the son, both of whose -countenances seemed to fall and shrink before her significant glances.</p> - -<p>“Well,” at length resumed the hunter, perceiving no response was to be -made to his last remark, “seeing we had got all arranged and ready, I -came to notify you, so that you should not be taken by surprise. We -propose to be on the ground, men and oxen, early day after to-morrow. -There will be fifteen or twenty of us, perhaps, with five or six yoke -of oxen, and like enough a stiff horse or two.”</p> - -<p>“But how can I provision such a company on so short notice?”</p> - -<p>“No trouble about that. You have salt pork?”</p> - -<p>“A good supply.”</p> - -<p>“Corn meal?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and wheat flour, with fine new potatoes.”</p> - -<p>“All right. I will take care of the rest. I will take the young man, -here, into my largest canoe, to-morrow morning, if he be so disposed, -and we will go up the lake, perhaps into the upper lake, and it will -be a strange case if we don’t return at night with fish, and I think -flesh, enough to victual the company; and, in the mean time, my women -will come up and be on hand to-morrow and next day, to help Mrs. Elwood -do the baking and cooking.”</p> - -<p>The friendly movement of the neighbors, thus announced, was not, of -course, to be opposed or questioned by those for whose benefit it was -intended, any further than Mr. Elwood had done in relation to his -ability to entertain the company so well as their kindness deserved. -Mr. Elwood and his son,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</span> indeed, who had been dreading the hard job -of clearing off their land, were greatly gratified at the unexpected -kindness. And even Mrs. Elwood, pained and annoyed as she was by the -part taken by Gaut Gurley, whose only motive she believed was to gain -some advantage for meditated evil, entered cheerfully into the affair, -and joined her husband in handsome expressions of acknowledgment to -the hunter, and assurances of doing their best to provide properly for -the company. The matter was therefore considered as settled; and the -hunter departed, to call, as he had proposed, early the next morning -for Claud, for an excursion up the lake, to procure fresh provisions -for the coming occasion.</p> - -<p>The family were early astir the next morning, intent on their -respective duties in preparation for the appointed logging bee. They -had scarcely dispatched their breakfast, before the hunter, as he had -promised, called for Claud; when the two departed together, with their -guns and fishing gear, for the lake, whither we propose to accompany -them.</p> - -<p>“Well, now, let us settle the order of the day,” said Phillips, after -they had reached the landing and deposited their luggage in the canoe -selected for the purpose.</p> - -<p>“I am a companion of the voyage, to-day, and, as you know, but a -learner in these sports,” responded Claud. “You have but to name your -plan.”</p> - -<p>“Well, my plan is this: to steer across and get up the lake to the -inlet and rapids which connect this to the next upper lake, called by -the Indians the Molechunk-a-munk; up these rapids into that lake, where -we will take a row of a few hours, and home again by nightfall. In -these rapids, going or returning, we may safely count, at this season, -on a plenty of trout; and, on the borders of the lake beyond, I know -of several favorite haunts of the deer, one of which I propose to take -into the canoe as ballast to steady it for running the rapids, on our -way back.”</p> - -<p>“What is the whole distance?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</span></p> - -<p>“Four or five miles of this lake, as many of the river or rapids, and -as far into the upper lake as we please.”</p> - -<p>“You are laying out largely for one day, are you not?”</p> - -<p>“No, ’tis nothing. You see, I have brought round for our use my best -birch bark canoe. I have rowed her fifty miles a day round the lakes -many a time. We shall bound over the lake in almost no time, and the -rapids, which are the only drawback, can soon be surmounted, by oar or -setting-pole, or, what may be cheapest, carrying the canoe round those -most difficult of passage. The boat does not weigh an hundred. I could -travel with it a mile on my head, as fast as you would wish to walk -without a pound of luggage. So, in with you, and I’ll show you how it -is done.”</p> - -<p>Accordingly they launched forth in their primitive craft, which, as -before intimated, was the once noted birch bark canoe built by the -hunter agreeably to the exact rules of Indian art. Few, who have never -seen and observed the process of constructing this canoe, which, for -thousands of years before the advent of the white man, was the only -craft used by the aborigines in navigating the interior waters, have -any idea how, from such seemingly fragile materials, and with no other -tools than a hatchet, knife, and perhaps a bone needle, the Indian can -construct a canoe so extremely light and at the same time so tough and -durable. In building his canoe, which is one of the greatest efforts -of his mechanical skill, the Indian goes to work systematically. He -first peels his bark from a middle-sized birch tree, and cuts it in -strips five or six inches wide, and twelve, fifteen, or twenty feet -long, according to the length and size of the designed canoe. He then -dries them thoroughly in the sun, after which he nicely scrapes and -smooths off the outside. He next proceeds to soak these strips, which -are thus made to go through a sort of tanning process, to render them -tough and pliable, as well as to obviate their liability to crack by -exposure to the sun. After the materials are thus prepared, he smooths -off a level piece of ground, and drives around the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</span> outside a line of -strong stakes, so that the space within shall describe the exact form -of the boat in contemplation. Inside of these stakes he places and -braces up the wet and pliable pieces of bark, beginning at the bottom -and building up and bending into form the sides and ends, till the -structure has attained the required height. In this situation it is -left till it is again thoroughly dried and all the pieces become fixed -in shape. A light inside framework is then constructed, resembling the -skeleton of a fish, and of dimensions to fit the canoe already put in -form in the manner we have described. The pieces of cured material are -then numbered and taken down; when the architect, beginning at the -bottom, lapping and sewing together the different pieces, proceeds -patiently in his work, till the sides are built, the ends closed nicely -up, and each piece lashed firmly to the framework, which, though of -surprising lightness, is made to serve as keel, knees, and ribs of the -boat. Every seam and crevice is then filled with melted pitch. The -Indian then has his canoe fit for use; and he may well boast of a boat, -which, for combined strength and lightness, and especially for capacity -of burden, no art of the shipbuilder has ever been able to surpass, -and which, if it has not already, might serve for a model of the best -lifeboat ever constructed, in these days of boasted perfection in -marine arts and improvements.</p> - -<p>Bounding over the smooth waters like a seabird half on wing, our -voyagers soon found themselves on the northerly side of the lake; when, -rounding a point, they began to skirt the easterly shore of the bay -that makes up to the inlet, at a more leisurely pace, for the purpose -of being on the lookout for deer, which might be standing in the edge -of the water round the coves, to cool themselves and keep off the -flies. Not seeing any signs of game, however, they steered out so as -to clear the various little capes or woody points of land inclosing -the numerous coves scattered along the indented shore, and struck a -line for the great inlet at the head of the lake, which they now soon -reached, and commenced rowing against the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</span> at first gentle and then -rapid current, which here pours down from the upper lakes, through the -rocky and picturesque defiles, in the form of a magnificent river, -rivalling in its size the midway portions of the Connecticut or Hudson.</p> - -<p>“Now, young man,” said the hunter, laying aside his paddle and taking -up the strong, elastic setting-pole he had provided for the occasion, -“now you must look out for your balance. The river, to be sure, is -quite low, and the current, of course, at its feeblest point; but we -shall find places enough within the next mile where the canoe, to go up -at all, must go up like the jump of a catamount. So, down in the bottom -of the boat, on your braced knees, with your haunches on your heels, -and leave all to me.”</p> - -<p>“What! do you expect to force the canoe up rapids like these?” asked -Claud, in surprise, as he cast his eye over the long reach of eddying, -tumbling waters, that looked like a lessening sheet of foam as it lay -stretched upward in the distant perspective.</p> - -<p>“I expect to try,” coolly replied the hunter; “and, if you lay asleep -in the bottom of the canoe, I should expect to succeed. And, as it is, -if you can keep cool and obey orders, we will see what can be done.”</p> - -<p>Claud implicitly obeyed the directions of the hunter, without much -faith, however, in the success of his bold attempt. But he soon -perceived he had underrated the skill and strength of arm which had -been relied on to accomplish the seemingly impossible feat. Standing -upright and slightly bracing in the bottom of his canoe, the hunter -first marked out with his eye his course through a given reach of the -rock-broken and foaming waters above; then, nicely calculating the -resisting force of each rapid to be overcome, and the required impetus, -and the direction to be given to his canoe to effect it, he sharply bid -Claud be on his guard, and sent the light craft like an arrow into the -boiling eddies before him. And now, by sudden and powerful shoves, he -was seen shooting obliquely up one rapid;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</span> tacking with the quickness -of light, and darting off zigzag among the rocks and eddies towards -another, which was in turn surmounted; while the boat was forced, -surging and bounding forward, with increasing impetus, now up and now -athwart the rushing currents, till he had gained a resting-place in the -still water of some sheltering boulder in the stream, when he would -mark off, with a rapid glance, another reach of falls, and shoot in -among them as before. Thus, with the quick tacks and turns and sudden -leaps of the ascending salmon, and almost with the celerity, he made -his way up the long succession of rapids, until the last of the series -was overcome, and he found himself safely emerging into the smooth -waters of the beautiful lakelet or pond which divides, in the upper -portion of its course, this remarkable stream. Another row of a mile -or so now brought the voyagers where the water again took the form of -a swift river, tumbling and foaming over the rocks, in the last series -of rapids to be overcome. These also were surmounted in the same manner -and with the same success as the former.</p> - -<p>But this part of the voyage was marked with an unexpected adventure, -and one which seemed destined to lead to the operation of new and -singular moral agencies, both in the near and more distant future, -having an important bearing on the fate and fortunes of young Elwood. -They had reached the last and most difficult of all the rapids yet -encountered, and were resting, preparatory to the anticipated struggle, -in a smooth piece of water under the lee of a huge rock, on either side -of which the divided stream rushed in two foam-covered torrents, with -the force and swiftness of a mill-race; when they were startled by the -shrill exclamations of a female voice, in tones indicative of surprise -and alarm. The sounds, which came from some unseen point not far above -them in the stream, were evidently drawing near at a rapid rate. -Presently a small Indian canoe, with a single female occupant, whose -youth and beauty, even in the distance, were apparent, shot swiftly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</span> -into view, and came tossing and whirling down the stream, unguided, and -wholly at the mercy of the crooked and raging currents along which it -was borne with the speed of the wind. The imperilled maiden uttered a -cry of joy at the appearance of our voyagers, and held up the handle -of a broken oar, to indicate to them at once the cause of her fearful -dilemma and need of assistance.</p> - -<p>“I will throw her one of our paddles, and she will best take care of -herself,” hurriedly exclaimed the hunter, seizing the implement, and -awaiting her nearest approach to throw it within her reach.</p> - -<p>The critical point was the next instant reached, but the hunter, in his -nervous anxiety and haste, made his throw a little too soon and with -too much force. The paddle struck directly under the prow of the canoe, -and shot beyond, far out of reach of the expectant maiden’s extended -hands. Another oar was hurled after her, with no better effect; when, -for the first time, a shade of despair passed over her agitated -countenance; for she saw herself rapidly drifting directly into the -jaws of a wild and fearful labyrinth of breakers not fifty yards -below, where, in all probability, her fragile canoe would be dashed -to pieces, and herself thrown against the slippery and jagged rock, -drawn down, and lost. Claud, who had witnessed, with trembling anxiety, -the hunter’s vain attempts to place the means of self-preservation in -the hands of the maiden, and who now perceived, in their full light, -the perils of the path to which she was helplessly hastening, could -restrain his generous impulses no longer; and, quickly throwing off his -hat and coat, he leaped overboard, dashed headlong into the current, -and struck boldly down it to overtake the receding canoe.</p> - -<p>“Hold! madness! They will both perish together!” rapidly exclaimed -the hunter, surprised and alarmed at the rash attempt of his young -companion. “But I will share in their dangers,—perhaps save them, yet.”</p> - -<p>Accordingly he hastily headed round his canoe, and, hazardous<span class="pagenum" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</span> as he -knew must be the experiment, sent it surging down the current after -his endangered young friends; for the one, as will soon appear, was no -less his favorite than the other. In the mean time, Claud, in swimming -over a sunken rock, luckily gained a foothold, which enabled him to -rise and plunge forward again with redoubled speed; and, so well-timed -and powerful were his exertions, that he came within reach of the -stern of the fugitive canoe just as it was whirling round sideways in -the reflux of the waves caused by the water dashing against a high -rock standing partly in the current. It was a moment of life or death, -both to the man and maiden; for the boat was on the point of going -broadside over the first fall into the wild and seething waters, seen -leaping and roaring in whirlpools and jets of foam among the intricate -passes of the ragged rocks below. Making sure of his grasp on the end -of the canoe that had been thus fortunately thrown within his reach, -the struggling Claud made an effort to draw it from the edge of the -abyss into which it was about to be precipitated; but, with his most -desperate exertions, he was barely enabled to keep it in position, -while his strength was rapidly giving way. The unequal contest was -quickly noticed by the hapless girl; and, after watching a moment, -with a troubled eye, the fruitless efforts and wasting strength of -the young man, she calmly rose to her feet, exhibiting, as she stood -upright in the boat, with the spray dashing over her marble forehead -and long flowing hair, in the faultless symmetry of her person, the -beautiful cast of her features, and the touching eloquence of her -speaking countenance, a figure which might well serve as a subject for -the pencil of the artist.</p> - -<p>“Let go, brave stranger,” she cried, in clear, silvery tones, after -throwing a grateful and admiring glance down upon her gallant rescuer; -“let me go, and save yourself. I can die as befits a daughter of my -people.”</p> - -<p>“Hold on, there, Claud! Courage, girl! I see a way to save you both,” -at that critical instant rang above the roar of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</span> the waters the sharp -voice of the hunter, who, with wonderful tact and celerity, had shot -down obliquely across the main current, out of it through a narrow side -pass, down that and round the intervening rocks, and was now driving -with main strength up another pass, abreast of the objects of his -anxiety. “There: now seize the head of my canoe, and hold on to both; -and, on your life, be quick!” he continued, shouting to the exhausted -young man, while he himself was struggling with all his might to get -and keep his boat in the right position among the battling currents.</p> - -<p>After one or two ineffectual attempts, Claud, with a last desperate -effort, fortunately succeeded in securing his grasp on the hunter’s -boat, without losing his hold on the other; when, with one mighty -effort of the latter, they were all drawn out of the vortex together, -and soon brought safely to shore.</p> - -<p>“Fluella, my fair young friend,” said the hunter, taking a long breath, -and respectfully turning to the rescued girl, as the party stepped on -to the dry beach, “I have not often—no, never—felt more rejoiced than -now, in seeing you stand here in safety.”</p> - -<p>“I know the danger I have been in,” responded the maiden, feelingly. “O -yes, know to remember, and know to remember, also, those who made my -escape. Mr. Phillips, I am grateful much.”</p> - -<p>“Don’t thank <em>me</em>,” promptly replied the hunter. “I am ashamed not -to have been the first in the rescue, when the chief’s daughter was in -danger.”</p> - -<p>“But, Mr. Phillips,” rejoined the other, with an expressive smile, “you -have not told me who this stranger is, who seemed to measure the value -of his own life by such a worthless thing as mine.”</p> - -<p>“True, no,” returned the hunter; “but this gentleman, Fluella, is young -Mr. Claud Elwood, who, with his father and mother, has recently moved -into the settlement; and they are now my nearest neighbors, at the foot -of the lower lake. And<span class="pagenum" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</span> to you, Claud, I have to say, that this young -lady is the daughter of Wenongonet, the red chief, the original lord of -these lakes, and still living on the one next above.”</p> - -<p>Both the maiden and her gallant young preserver seemed equally -surprised, at the announcement of each others’ name and character: the -former, because it suggested questions in the solution of which she -felt an interest, but which, with the characteristic prudence of her -race, she forbore to ask; and the latter, because he found it hard to -realize that the fair-complexioned and every way beautiful girl, who -stood before him, readily speaking his own language, and neatly and -richly arrayed in the usual female habiliments of the day, with the -single exception of the gay, beaded moccasins, that enveloped her small -feet and ankles,—found it extremely difficult to realize that one of -such an exterior, and of so much evident culture, could possibly have -descended from the tawny and uncultivated sons of the forest.</p> - -<p>“You two should hereafter be friends, should you not?” observed the -hunter, perceiving their mutual restraint, of which he wished to -relieve them.</p> - -<p>Rousing himself, with a prompt affirmative reply to the question, Claud -gallantly advanced, and extended his hand to his fair companion, who, -with evident emotion, and a slight suffusion of the cheek, gave him her -own in return, as she said:</p> - -<p>“O yes. Mr. Phillips’ friend is my friend, and, I—I—why, I can’t -thank him <em>now</em>; the words don’t come; the thanks remain unshaped -in my heart.”</p> - -<p>“Excuse me,” replied Claud, “excuse me if I say, Miss Fluella, as Mr. -Phillips calls you, that you have already expressed, and in the finest -terms, far more than I am entitled to; so let that pass, and tell us -how your mishap occurred?”</p> - -<p>“O, naturally enough, though rather stupidly,” responded the other, -regaining her ease and usually animated manner. “You must know that I -sometimes play the Indian girl, in doing my father’s trouting. And, -having rowed down to the rapids this morning for that purpose, I ran -my canoe on to a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</span> rock, up here at the head of the fails, and threw -into an eddy below, till I had taken a supply. But, like other folks, I -must have the <em>one more</em>,—a large one I had seen playing round my -hook; and, in my eagerness to take him, I did not notice that my canoe -had slipped off the rock till I found it drifting down the current. -I seized my oar, but, with the first blow in the water it snapt in -my hands. You know the rest, unless, perhaps, the number of fish I -caught,” she added, pointing to a string of fine trout still lying -safely in the bottom of her canoe.</p> - -<p>“Brave girl!” exclaimed the hunter, going up to the boat with Claud, -to inspect the fish, which they had not before noticed. “A good ten -pounds, and fine ones, too. Claud shall remain here while I go a piece -up the lake for a deer, and follow your example, except the race down -the rapids; but that he can’t do, for I shall take our canoe with me, -and make him fish from the shore, which will be just as well. Are you -agreed to that arrangement, young man?”</p> - -<p>This proposition being accepted, and it being also settled by common -consent that no further attempt should, at this time, be made to ascend -the remaining rapids with either of the boats, the hunter and Claud, -accompanied by the light-footed Fluella, took up her canoe and set off -with it, along shore, towards a convenient landing in the lake above, -then not more than sixty or seventy rods distant. In a short time the -proposed landing was reached, and the boat let down into the water. -The maiden, with an easy and sprightly movement, then flung herself -into her seat, and, with a paddle hastily whittled for her out of a -piece of drift-wood, by the ever ready hunter, sent her little craft in -a curving sweep into the lake; when, facing round to her preservers, -while a sweet and grateful smile broke over her dimpling features, -she bade and bowed them adieu, and went bounding over the undulating -waves towards her home, on an island some miles distant, near the -southeastern border of this romantic sheet of water.</p> - -<p>“Can it be,” half-soliloquized Claud, as he stood rivetting his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</span> -wondering gaze on the beauteous figure, which, gracefully bowing with -the lightly-dipping oar, was receding from his rapt view, and gradually -melting away in the distance; “can it be that she is but a mere Indian -girl, one of those wild, untutored children of the forest?”</p> - -<p>“It is even so, young man,” responded the hunter, rousing himself from -the reverie into which he also seemed to have fallen at the departure -of his fair favorite; “it is even so; but, for all that, the very -flower of all the womankind, white or red, according to my ideas, that -ever graced the borders of these lakes.”</p> - -<p>“But how came she by those neatly-turned English features, and that -clear, white complexion?”</p> - -<p>“Why, her mother, who is now dead, was an uncommon handsome woman for -a squaw, and had, as I perhaps should have qualified when I answered -so about this girl, some white blood in her veins; or rather had, as -the old chief once told me, somewhere away back among the gone-by -generations, a female ancestor, a pure white woman, who was made -captive by the Indians, and married into their tribe, and who was as -handsome as a picture. But the white blood seemed to have been pretty -much lost among the descendants, till the appearance of this nonsuch of -a girl, in whom every drop of it seemed to have again been collected.”</p> - -<p>“Some might, perhaps, draw different conclusions in the case.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, and draw them very wrongfully, too, as I have no doubt many -people do in such cases; for I have often noticed it among families, -and ascertained it as a fact, that where a person of particular looks -and character once lived, his or her like, though not coming out -visibly in any of the descendants for a long time, is sure sooner or -later to appear, and so will frequently leap out in a child four or -five generations off; a complete copy, in looks, blood, and character, -of the original (as far as can be judged from family tradition), who -may have been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</span> dead an hundred years. This is my notion; and I hold -that every person is destined to be at least once reproduced among some -of his descendants. I, or the exact like of me, will likely enough -be seen in some of my blood descendants, fifty or an hundred years -hence, building dams or mills on these very falls, or even riding in a -carriage around these wild lakes, where I have spent nearly my whole -life in hunting moose, and the other wild animals known only in the -unbroken forest.”</p> - -<p>“Your theory may be true, but it does not quite account, I think, for -the evident intelligence and culture of this remarkable girl. To appear -and converse as she does, she must have seen considerable of good -society out of the forest, and, I should think, schools.”</p> - -<p>“She has, both. Her father, one fall, when she was a girl of ten or -eleven, took her along with him to a city on the coast, where he went -to sell his furs and nice basket-work, and where she, some how, excited -the lively interest of a good family, and particularly of a wealthy -gentleman then living in the family. Well, the short of the matter is, -that they persuaded the chief to leave her through the winter; and, -she becoming a favorite with them all, they instructed her, sent her -to school, and dressed her as they would an own daughter, and would -only part with her in the spring on condition of her returning in the -fall. And so it has gone on till now, she living with them winters, and -here with her father summers; for, though they would like to take her -entirely out of the woods, she would not desert her father, who loves -her as his life, and calls her the light of his lodge,—no, not for all -the gold in the cities.”</p> - -<p>“You must then be well acquainted with this Indian family, and can give -me their history.”</p> - -<p>“As far as is proper for me to tell, as well as anybody, perhaps. When -I was a young man, I at times used to live with the chief, who always -made me welcome to his lodge, and gave me his confidence. He was then -but little past his prime, and one of the smartest men, every way, -I ever knew. He was then<span class="pagenum" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</span> worth property, and lived with his first -wife, this girl’s mother, who, as I told you, was very good-looking -and intelligent. But his second wife was as homely as his first was -handsome. As to Wenongonet himself, who has now got to be, though -still active, an old man, he claims to have been a direct descendant -of Paugus,—a grandson, I believe, of that noted chief,—who was -slain in Lovewell’s bloody fight, and whose tribe, once known as the -Sokokis or Saco Indians, who were great fighters, it is said, were then -forever broken up, the most of them fleeing over the British highlands -and joining the St. Francis Indians in Canada. The family of Paugus, -however, with a few of the head men, who survived the battle, concluded -to remain this side of the mountain, and try to keep up a show of the -tribe on these lakes, where they lived till Paugus’ son, who on the -death of his father became their sagamore or chief, died, when they -gradually drew off into Canada, leaving Wenongonet, the last chief’s -son, the only permanent Indian resident, after a while, on these lakes. -But come, young man, enough of Indian matters for to-day: we must now -be stirring, or our day’s work may come short. Help me to take my canoe -up here into the lake; and, within four hours, the time to which I -will limit my absence, we will see what can be done by each, in our -different undertakings.”</p> - -<p>The employment of another half-hour fully sufficed to place the canoe -of the hunter in the smooth water above the rapids; when the latter, -with a cheery “heigh ho,” at each light dip of his springy oar, -struck off towards the foot of the pine-covered hills that lift their -green summits from the western shores of the lake, leaving his young -companion to proceed to his allotted portion of the sports or labors -of the day. Preparing his long fishing-rod and tackle, according to -the instructions which the hunter had given him for adapting his mode -of fishing to the locality and season, Claud made his way along down -the edge of the stream to a designated point, a short distance above -the place where, on the occurrence of the incident before described,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</span> -they had ceased to ascend the rapids in their canoes. He here found, as -he had been told, below a traversing reach of bare breakers, a large, -deep eddy of gently revolving water, in the centre of which lay tossing -on the swell a broad spiral wreath of spotless foam. The hunter, -in selecting these rapids, and especially this resting-spot of the -ascending fish, as the place where he could safely warrant the taking -of the needed supply of trout, had not spoken without knowledge; for it -may well be doubted whether there could be found, in all the regions of -the north, a reach of running water of equal length with this wild and -singularly picturesque portion of the Androscoggin river, containing -such quantities of this beautiful fish as are found about midsummer, -swarming up the rapids on their way from the Umbagog to the upper lakes.</p> - -<p>So, at least, Claud then found it; for, having passed to the most -outward point of rocks inclosing the eddy, he no sooner threw in and -drew his <em>skip bait</em> round the borders of the foam-island just -named, than a dozen large trout shot up from beneath, and leaped -splashing along the surface, in keen rivalry for the prize of the -bait. With a second throw, he securely hooked one of a size which -required all his strength to draw it, as he at length did, flapping and -floundering to a safe landing. And for the next three hours he pursued -the sport with a success which, notwithstanding the great number that -broke away from his hook, well made good the augury of his beginning. -By that time he had caught some dozens, of sizes varying from one to -seven pounds, and enough, and more than he needed. But still he could -not forego his exciting employment, and, insensible of the lapse of -time, continued his drafts on the seemingly inexhaustible eddy, till -roused by the long, shrill <em>halloo</em> of the returned hunter, -summoning him to the landing above. Throwing down his pole by the -side of his proud display of fish, he hastened up to the lake, where -he found the hunter complacently employed in removing, for lightness -of carriage, the head and offal of a noble fat buck; when the two, -with mutual<span class="pagenum" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</span> congratulations on their success, took up the canoe, -and, with a stop only long enough to take in the trout, carried and -launched their richly-freighted craft at a convenient place in the -stream below. Seeing Claud securely seated in the bottom of the canoe, -and the freight nicely balanced, the hunter took his paddle, instead -of setting-pole, the better to restrain the speed of the boat at the -most rapid and dangerous passes, and struck out into the current, adown -which, under the quick and skilful strokes of its experienced oarsman, -it was borne with almost the swiftness of a bird on the wing, till -it reached the quiet waters of the pond; and, this being soon passed -over, they entered and descended the next reach of rapids with equal -speed and safety. All the dangers and difficulties were now over; and, -leisurely rowing homeward, they were, by sunset, at the cottage of the -Elwoods, displaying the fruits of their enterprise, and recounting -their singular adventures to the surprised and gratified inmates.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_IX">CHAPTER IX.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“Then came the woodman with his sturdy team -<br />Of broad-horned oxen, to complete the toil -<br />Which axe and fire had left him, to redeem, -<br />For culture’s hand, the cold and root-bound soil.” -</p> - - -<p>The next morning, it being the day appointed for the “logging bee,” -the Elwoods were again up betimes, to be prepared for the reception -of the expected visitants. On going out into the yard, while yet the -coming sun was only beginning to flush the eastern horizon, Mr. Elwood -perceived, early as it was, a man, whom he presumed, from the handspike -and axe on his shoulder, to be one of the company, entering the opening -and leisurely approaching, with an occasional glance backward along -the road from the settlements below. Not recognizing the man as an -acquaintance, Elwood noted his appearance closely as he was coming up. -He was a rather young-looking man, of a short, compactly built figure, -with quick motions, and that peculiar springy step which distinguishes -men of active temperament and hopeful, buoyant spirits; while the -fox-like cut of his features, the lively gray eyes that beamed from -them, and the evidently quick coming and going thoughts that seemed -to flash from his thin-moving nostrils and play on his curling lips, -served to indicate rapid perceptions, shrewdness, and a kind and -perhaps fun-loving disposition.</p> - -<p>“Hillo, captain,—or captain of the house, as I suppose you must be,” -he sang out cheerily, as with slackening step he approached Elwood; -“did you ever hear spoken of, a certain rough-and-ready talking sort of -a chap they call Jonas Codman?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</span></p> - -<p>“I have heard of a Mr. Codman, and was told that he would probably be -here to-day,” doubtfully replied Elwood.</p> - -<p>“Well, I am he, such as he is, pushed forward as a sort of advanced -guard,—no, herald must be the book-word,—to tell you that you are -taken. Did you mistrust it?”</p> - -<p>“No, not exactly.”</p> - -<p>“You <em>are</em>, nevertheless. But I’ll tell you a story, which, if -you can see the moral, may give you some hints to show you how to turn -the affair to your advantage without suffering the least inconvenience -yourself; and here it is:</p> - -<p>“There was once a curious sort of a fellow, whose land was so covered -with stones, which had rolled down from a mountain, that little or -nothing could grow among them; and the question was, how he should -ever remove them. Well, one day, when he was thinking on the matter, -he found in the field an old Black-Art book, on the cover of which he -read, ‘<em>One chapter will bring one, two chapters two, and so on; -but set and keep them at work, lest a worst thing befall</em>.’ So, to -see what would come of it, he read one chapter; when a great, stout, -dubious-looking devil made his appearance, and asked what he should go -about? ‘Go to throwing these stones over the mountain,’ said the man. -The devil went at it. But the man, seeing the poor devil was having -a hard job of it, read on till he had raised about a dozen of the -same kind of chaps, and set them all at work. And so smashingly did -they make the stones fly that, by sunset, the last were disappearing; -and the man was about to set them to pulling up the stumps on his -newly-cleared land. But they shook their heads at this, and, being -pretty well tuckered out, agreed to quit even, if he would, and go off -without the usual pay in such cases made and provided in devildom; -when, he making no objections, they, with another squint at the green -gnarly stumps, cut and run; and all the chapters he could read after -that—for he began to like the fun of having his land cleared at so -cheap a rate—would never bring them back again.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</span></p> - -<p>So saying, the speaker turned; and, without the explanation or addition -of a single word, retraced his steps and disappeared in the woods, -leaving the puzzled Elwood to construe the meaning of his story as -he best could. Very soon, however, sounds reached his ears which -enabled him to form some conjecture what the man intended by his odd -announcement. The mingling voices of ox-team drivers, with their loud -and peculiarly modulated “<em>Haw Buck! gee! and up there, ye lazy -loons!</em>” were now heard resounding through the woods, and evidently -approaching along the road from the settlement. And soon an array of -eight sturdy pair of oxen, each bearing a bundle of hay bound on the -top of their yoke with a log chain, and each attended by a driver, with -a handspike on his shoulder, marching by their side, emerged one after -another from the woods, and came filing up the road towards the spot -where he stood. As the long column approached, Elwood, with a flutter -of the heart, recognized in the driver most in advance, the erect, -stalwart figure and the proud and haughty bearing of Gaut Gurley.</p> - -<p>“Good-morning, good-morning, neighbor Elwood, as I have lately been -pleased to find you,” exclaimed Gurley, with an air of careless -assurance, as he came within speaking distance. “We have come, as -you see, to give you a lift at your logging. So show us right into -your slash, and let us go at it, at once. We shall find time to talk -afterwards.”</p> - -<p>Elwood, with some general remark expressive of his obligation to -the whole of the company at hand for their voluntary and unexpected -kindness, led the way to the burned slash, and went back to meet and -salute the rest of the company, as they severally came up. Having -performed this ceremony with those having the immediate charge of -the oxen, till the whole had passed on to their work, he turned to -the rest of the company, whom, though before unnoticed by him, he -now found following immediately behind the teams. These consisted of -some half-dozen sturdy logmen, with their implements, appointed to -pair off with the drivers of the teams, so as to provide two<span class="pagenum" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</span> men -to each yoke of oxen; the hunter, Phillips, with his brisk wife and -buxom daughter, bearing a basket of plates, knives, forks, spoons, and -extra frying-pans, to supply any deficiency Mrs. Elwood might find in -furnishing her tables or in cooking for so large a company; and lastly, -Comical Codman, as he was often called by the settlers, who, though the -first to come forward to meet Elwood, was now bringing up the rear.</p> - -<p>“A merry morning to you,” exclaimed the hunter, as the logmen turned -off to the slash; “a merry morning to you neighbor Elwood. This -looks some like business to-day. You were not expecting us a very -<em>great</em> sight earlier than this, I conclude,” he added, with a -jocular smile.</p> - -<p>“Earlier? Why, it is hardly sunrise yet, and I am wholly at a loss to -know how men living at such distances could get here at this hour.”</p> - -<p>“Well, that is easily explained. They haven’t had to travel so far -this morning as you imagine. They came on as far as my place last -night, mostly, and such as could be accommodated nestled with me in my -house. The rest camped out near by in the bush, which is just as well -generally with us woodsmen. But you, having no mistrust of this, as it -seems, were taken, I suppose, by surprise at our appearance so early.”</p> - -<p>“I should have been, wholly so, but for the coming ahead of this -gentleman,” replied Elwood, pointing to Codman; “and then, I was rather -at loss to know what he intended by his queer way of announcing you.”</p> - -<p>“Very likely. He never does or says any thing like other folks. -Jonas,” continued the hunter, turning to the odd genius of whom he -was speaking, “you are a good trapper, but I fear you make a bad -fore-runner.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I am all right now here in the rear, I suppose,” replied the -other, with an oddly assumed air of abashment. “A man is generally good -for one thing or t’other. If I ain’t a good forerunner, it then follows -that I am a good hind-runner.”</p> - -<p>“You see he must have his fol-de-rol, Mr. Elwood,” said the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</span> hunter. -“But, for all that, he is a good fellow enough at the bottom, if you -can ever find it: ain’t all that so, Jonas?”</p> - -<p>“Sort of so and sort of not so; but a little more not than sorter, they -may say, perhaps. And I don’t think, myself, there is much either at -the top or bottom to brag on,” rejoined Codman, suddenly darting off -to join his companions in the slash; and now whistling a tune, as he -went, and now crowing like a cock, in notes and tones each of its kind -so wondrous loud and shrill that the whole valley of the lake seemed -wakened by the strange music.</p> - -<p>The operations of the day having been thus auspicuously commenced -in the slash, Elwood, retaining the hunter with him at the house to -advise and assist in such arrangements and preparations for breakfast -as might render the meal most acceptable to the company, entered at -once upon his duties as host; and, it being found that neither the room -nor tables in the house were sufficient to seat all the company, it -was decided, for the purpose of avoiding every appearance of invidious -distinction, to prepare temporary tables and seat the whole of them, -except the females, in the open air near the house. Accordingly the -hunter, who, from his experience as a woodman, was ever ready at -such contrivances, went to work; and, clearing and levelling off -a smooth place, driving into the ground three sets of short stout -crotches, laying cross-pieces in each, and then two new pine planks -longitudinally over the whole, he soon erected a neat and substantial -table, long enough to seat a score of guests. Seats on each side were -then supplied by a similar process; when Mrs. Elwood, who had watched -the operation with a housewife’s interest, made her appearance with -a roll of fine white tablecloths, the relics of her better days, and -covered the whole with the snowy drapery, making a table which might -vie in appearance with those of the most fashionable restaurants of the -cities. Upon this table, plates, knives and forks, with all other of -the usual accompaniments, were speedily arranged by the quick-footed -females; while the sounds<span class="pagenum" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</span> of boiling pots, and the hissing frying-pans -spreading through the house and around the yard the savory fumes of -the cooking trout, betokened the advanced progress of the culinary -operations within, which were now soon completed; when the fact was -announced by Mr. Elwood by several long and loud blasts on his “tin -horn” to the expectant laborers in the field, who, while the meal was -being borne smoking on to the table, chained their oxen to stumps and -saplings about the field, parcelled out to them the hay, and repaired -to their morning banquet.</p> - -<p>Banquet! A banquet among backwoodsmen? Yes; and why not? It is strange -that a thousand generations of epicures should have lived, gluttonized, -and passed away from the earth, without appearing to understand the -chief requisite for that class of animal enjoyments which they seem -to make the great end and aim of their lives,—without appearing to -realize that it is the appetite, not the quality of the food, that -makes the feast; that there can be no such thing as a feast, indeed, -without a <em>real</em> not factitious appetite; and that there can be -no real appetite without toil or some prolonged and vigorous exercise. -Nero ransacked his whole kingdom, and expended millions for delicacies; -and yet he never experienced, probably, one-half the enjoyments of the -palate that were experienced from the coarsest fare by his poorest -laboring subject. No, the men of ease and idleness may have surfeits, -the men of toil can only have banquets. And it is doubtless a part of -that nicely balanced system of compensations which Providence applies -to men, that the appetites of the industrious poor should make good the -deficiencies in the quality of their food, so that it should always -afford equal enjoyment in the consumption with that experienced by the -idle rich over their sumptuous tables.</p> - -<p>The meal passed off pleasantly; and when finished, the gratified and -chatty workmen, with their numbers now increased by the addition of the -two Elwoods and the hunter, returned, with the eager alacrity of boys -hurrying to an appointed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</span> game of football, to their voluntary labors -in the field, in which they had already made surprising progress.</p> - -<p>The business of the day was now resumed in earnest. The teamsters -having quickly scattered to their respective teams and brought them -with a lively step on to the ground, and having there each received -their allotted quota of log-rollers, to pile up the logs as fast as -drawn, at once penetrated at different points into the thickest parts -of the blackened masses of timber before them, awaiting their sturdy -labors. Here the largest log in a given space, and the one the most -difficult to be removed, was usually selected as the nucleus of the -proposed pile. Then two logs of the next largest size were drawn up -on each side, and placed at a little distance in a line parallel with -the first, when the intermediate spaces were filled with limbs, knots, -and the smallest timber at hand; so that a fire, when the process of -burning the piles should be commenced, communicated at the centre thus -prepared, would spread through the whole, and not be likely to go out -till all the logs were consumed. When this foundation was laid, the -next nearest surrounding logs were drawn alongside and rolled up on -skids, by the logmen stationed there with their handspikes for the -purpose. Then generally commenced a keen strife between the teamster -and the log-rollers, to see which should first do their part and keep -the others the most closely employed. And the result was that in a very -short time a large pile of logs was completed, and a space of ten or -fifteen square rods was completely cleared around it. This done, an -adjoining thicket of timber was sought out, another pile started, and -another space cleared off in the same manner. And thus proceeded the -work, with each team and its attendants, in every part of the slash; -while the same spirit of rivalry which had thus began to be exhibited -between the members of each gang soon took the form of a competition -between one gang and another, who were now everywhere seen vieing with -each other in the strife to do the most or to build up the largest -and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</span> greatest number of log-heaps in the shortest space of time. The -whole field, indeed, was thus soon made to exhibit the animated but -singular spectacle of men, engaged in a wholly voluntary labor, putting -forth all the unstinted applications of strength and displaying all -the alertness and zeal of men at work for a wager. But, among all -the participants in the labors of the day, no one manifested so much -interest in advancing the work, no one was so active and laborious, -as Gaut Gurley. Not only was he continually inciting and pressing up -all others to the labor, but was ever foremost in the heaviest work -himself, generally selecting the most difficult parts for himself, and -often performing feats of strength that scarcely any two men on the -ground were able to perform. Nor was the Herculean strength which he so -often displayed before the eyes of the astonished workmen, ever made -useless, as is sometimes the case with men of great physical powers, by -any misapplication of his efforts. He seemed perfectly to understand -the business in which they were engaged; and, while all wondered, -though no one knew, where he had received his training for such work, -it was soon, by common consent, decided that he was much the most -efficient hand on the ground, many even going so far as to declare that -his equal was never before seen in that part of the country.</p> - -<p>“You see that, don’t you, captain?” said Codman, coming up close to -Elwood, and speaking in a half whisper, as he pointed to Gaut Gurley, -who, having noticed two of the stoutest of the hands vainly trying to -roll up a large log, rushed forward, and, bidding them stand aside, -threw it up single-handed without appearing to exert half his strength. -“You see that, don’t you, captain?” he repeated, with an air of mingled -wonder and waggishness. “Now, what do you think of my story, and the -great, stout, black-looking devil that came, on reading the first -chapter, and made the big stones fly so?”</p> - -<p>“I haven’t thought much about it,” carelessly replied Elwood,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</span> -evidently wishing not to appear to understand the allusion of the -other. “But why do you ask such a question?”</p> - -<p>“Don’t know myself, it’s a fact; but I happened to be thinking of -things. But say, captain, you haven’t been reading any chapters in any -strange book yourself, lately, have you?” said Codman, with a queer -look.</p> - -<p>“No, I guess not,” replied Elwood, laughingly, though visibly annoyed -by the subject.</p> - -<p>“No? Nor none of the family?” persisted the other, glancing towards -Claud Elwood, who was standing near by. “Well, I wish I knew what -put that story into my head, when I let it off this morning. It is -de-ive-lish queer, at any rate, considering.” So saying, he walked off -to his work, croaking like a rooster at some questionable object.</p> - -<p>Although none of the settlers present seemed disposed to attribute the -extraordinary physical powers, which Gaut Gurley had so unmistakably -shown, to any supernatural agency, as the trapper, Codman, whose other -singularities were not without a smart sprinkling of superstition, was -obviously inclining to do, yet those powers were especially calculated, -as may well be supposed of men of their class, to make a strong -impression on the minds of them all, and invest the possessor with -an importance which, in their eyes, he could in no other way obtain. -Accordingly he soon came to be looked upon as the lion of the day, and -suddenly thus acquired, for the time being, as he doubtless shrewdly -calculated he could do in this way, a consequence and influence of -which no other man could boast, perhaps, in the whole settlement.</p> - -<p>Meanwhile the work of clearing off the logs was prosecuted with -increasing spirit and resolution. And so eagerly intent had all the -hands become, in pressing forward to its completion their self-imposed -task, which all could see was now fast drawing to a close, that they -took no note of the flight of time, and were consequently taken by -surprise when the sound of the horn summoned them to their midday meal.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</span></p> - -<p>“Why! it can’t yet be noon,” exclaimed one, glancing up at the sun.</p> - -<p>“No,” responded another. “Some of us here have been counting on seeing -the whole job nearly done by noon, but it will take three hours yet to -do that. No, the women must have made a mistake.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t know about that: let us see,” said the hunter, turning -his back to the sun, and throwing out one foot as far as he could while -keeping his body perpendicular. “Now my clock, which, for noon on -the 21st of June, or longest day of summer, is the shadow of my head -falling on half my foot, and then passing off beyond it about half an -inch each day for the rest of the season, makes it, as <em>I</em> should -calculate the distance between my foot and the shadow of my head, now -evidently receding,—makes it, for this last day of August, about a -quarter past twelve.”</p> - -<p>“I am but little over half past eleven,” said Codman, pulling out and -inspecting an old watch. “Phillips, may be, is thinking of that deer -that he has been promising himself and us for dinner; and, before I -take his calculation on shadows and distances, I should like to know -how many inches he allowed for the hurrying influence of his appetite.”</p> - -<p>“What nonsense, Comical! But what you mean by it is, I suppose, that I -can’t tell the time?”</p> - -<p>“Not within half an hour by the sun.”</p> - -<p>“Why, man, it is the sun that makes the time; and, as that body never -gets out of order or runs down, why not learn to read it, and depend -directly upon it for the hour of the day? If half the time men spend -in bothering over timepieces were devoted to studying the great clock -of the heavens, they need not depend on such uncertain contrivances as -common clocks and watches to know the time of day.”</p> - -<p>“But how in cloudy weather?”</p> - -<p>“Tell the time of day by your feelings. Take note of the state of your -appetite and general feelings at the various hours<span class="pagenum" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</span> of the day, when it -is fair and you know the time, and then apply the rule when you have no -other means of judging; and you may thus train yourself, so that you -need not be half an hour out of the way in your reckoning through the -whole day.”</p> - -<p>“Well, supposing it is night?”</p> - -<p>“Night is for sleep, and it is no consequence to know the time, except -the time waking. And, as to that, none need be in fault, if they had -you anywhere within two miles to crow for them.”</p> - -<p>“A regular hit! I own it a hit, Mr. Hunter. But here comes Mr. Elwood: -we will leave the question of the time of day to him.”</p> - -<p>“We have a correct noon-mark at the house, and the women are probably -right,” replied Elwood. “At all events, men who have worked like lions, -as you all have this forenoon, must by this time need refreshment. So, -let us all drop work, and at once be off to dinner.”</p> - -<p>With such familiar jokes and converse, the light-hearted backwoodsmen -threw off their crocky frocks, and, after washing up at a runlet at -hand, marched off in chatty groups to the house, where they found -awaiting their arrival the well-spread board of their appreciating -hostess, this time made more tempting to their vigorous and healthy -appetites by the addition, to the fine trout of the morning, of the -variously-cooked haunches of the hunter’s venison. And, having here -done ample justice to their excellent meal, they again hastened back -to their labor in the field, unanimously declaring for the good -husbandman’s rule, “Work first and play afterwards,” and saying they -would have no rest nor recreation till they had seen the last log of -the slash disposed of. And with such animation did they resume their -labors, and with such vigor continue to apply themselves in carrying -out their resolution, and in hastening the hour of its fulfilment, that -by the middle of the afternoon their task was ended; and the gratified -Mr. Elwood had the satisfaction<span class="pagenum" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</span> of seeing the formidable-looking slash -of the morning converted into a comparatively smooth field, requiring -only the action of the fire on the log heaps, with a few days’ tending, -to make it fit for the seed and harrow.</p> - -<p>“Come, boys,” said the hunter to the company, now all within speaking -distance, except two or three who had somehow disappeared; “come, -boys,” he repeated, after pausing to see the last log thrown up in -its place, “let us gather up here near the middle of the lot. Comical -Codman and some others, I have noticed, have been putting their heads -together, and I kinder surmise we may now soon expect some sort of -christening ceremony of the field we have walked through in such fine -style to-day; and, if they make out any thing worth the while, it may -be well to give them a good cheer or two, to wind off with.”</p> - -<p>While the men were taking their stand at the spot designated by -the hunter, Codman was seen mounting a conspicuous log-heap at the -southerly end of the field; and two more men, at the same time, made -their appearance on the tops of different piles on opposite sides of -the lot, and nearly abreast of the place where the expectant company -were collected and standing, silently awaiting the commencement of -the promised ceremony. Presently one of the two last-named, with a -preliminary flourish of his hand, slowly and loudly began:</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“Since we see the last logs fairly roll’d, -<br />And log-heaps full fifty, all told,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">We should deem it a shame</span> -<br />If so handsome and well-cleared a field, -<br />Bidding fair for a hundred-fold yield,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 3em;">Be afforded no name.”</span> -</p> - -<p>To this, the man standing on the opposite pile, in the same loud and -measured tone promptly responded:</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“Then a name we will certainly give it, -<br />If you’ll listen, and all well receive it, -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</span><br />As justly you may: -<br />We will call it the thing it will make, -<br />We will name it the Pride of the Lake, -<br />Or the Job of a Day.” -</p> - -<p>Before the last words of this unique duet had died on the ear, Comical -Codman on his distant perch straightened up, and, triumphantly clapping -his sides like the boastful bird whose crowing he could so wonderfully -imitate, raised his shrill, loud, and long-drawn <em>kuk-kuk-ke-o-ho</em> -in a volume of sound that thrilled through the forest and sent its -repeating echoes from hill to hill along the distant borders of the -lake.</p> - -<p>“There, the dog has got the start of us!” exclaimed the hunter, joining -the rest of the company in their surprise and laughter at the prompt -action of the trapper as well as at the striking character of his -performance,—“fairly the start of us; but let’s follow him up close, -boys. So here goes for the new name!”</p> - -<p>And the prolonged “hurra! hurra! hurra!” burst from the lips of the -strong-voiced woodmen in three tremendous cheers for the <em>“Pride of -the Lake and the Job of a Day</em>.”</p> - -<p>All the labors and performances of the field being now over, the -company gathered up their tools, and by common consent moved towards -the house, where, it was understood, an hour or so, before starting -for their respective homes, should be spent in rest, chatting with the -women, or other recreation, and a consultation also be held, among -those interested, for forming a company, fixing on the time, and making -other arrangements for the contemplated trapping and hunting expedition -of the now fast-approaching season.</p> - -<p>As the company were proceeding along promiscuously towards the house, -Gaut Gurley, who had thus far through the day manifested no desire for -any particular conversation with Mr. Elwood, nor in any way deported -himself so as to lead others to infer a former acquaintance between -them, now suddenly fell in by his side; when, contriving to detain him -till the rest had passed on out of sight, he paused in his steps and -said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, Elwood, I told you in the morning, you know, that we would do -the work first and the talking afterwards. The work has now been done, -and I hope to your satisfaction.”</p> - -<p>“Yes—O yes—entirely,” replied Elwood, hesitating in his doubt about -what was to follow from the other, whose unexpected conduct and stand -for his benefit he hardly knew how to construe. “Yes, the neighbors -have done me a substantial favor, and you all deserve my hearty thanks.”</p> - -<p>“I was not fishing for thanks,” returned Gaut, half-contemptuously, -“but wished a few words with you on private matters which concern only -you and myself. And, to come to the point at once, I would ascertain, -in the first place, if you know whether you and I are understood, in -this settlement, to be old acquaintances or new ones?”</p> - -<p>“New ones, I suppose, of course, unless it be known to the contrary -through your means. <em>I</em> have not said a word about it, nor have my -family, I feel confident,” replied Elwood, demurely.</p> - -<p>“Very well; our former acquaintance is then wholly unsuspected here. -Let it remain so. But have you ever hinted to any of the settlers -what you may have known or heard about me, or any former passages of -my life, which occurred when I used to operate in this section or -elsewhere?”</p> - -<p>“No, not one word.”</p> - -<p>“All is well, then. As you have kept and continue to keep my secrets, -so shall yours be kept. It is a dozen or fifteen years since I have -been in this section at all. It is filling up with new men. There are -but two persons now in the settlement that can ever have seen or known -me. And they will not disturb me.”</p> - -<p>“Then there <em>are</em> two that <em>have</em> known you? Who can they be?”</p> - -<p>“One is Wenongonet, an old Indian chief, as he calls himself, still -living on one of the upper lakes, they say, but too old to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</span> ramble or -attend to anybody’s business but his own. The other is Phillips, the -hunter.”</p> - -<p>“Phillips! Phillips, did you say? Why, as much as he has been at our -house, he has never dropt a word from which one could infer that you -were not a perfect stranger to him.”</p> - -<p>“I did not suppose he had. Phillips is a peaceable, close-mouthed -fellow; pretends not to know any thing about anybody, when he thinks -the parties concerned would rather have him ignorant; keeps a secret -by never letting anybody know he has one; and never means to cross -another man’s path. I can get along with <em>him</em>, too. And the only -question now is whether <em>you</em> and I can live together in the same -settlement.”</p> - -<p>“It will probably be your fault if we can’t. I shall make war on no -one.”</p> - -<p>“My fault! Why I <em>wish</em> to be on good terms with you; and yet, -Elwood, you feel out of sorts with me, and, in spite of all I can do, -seem disposed to keep yourself aloof.”</p> - -<p>“If I do seem so, it may be because the past teaches me that the best -way to avoid quarrels is to avoid intimacies. You know how we last -parted in that gambling-room. I had no business to be there, I admit; -but that was no excuse for your treatment.”</p> - -<p>“Treatment! Why, Elwood, is it possible you have been under a -misapprehension about that, all this time?” responded Gaut, with that -peculiar wheedling manner which he so well knew how to assume when he -wished to carry his point with another. “My object then was to save -the money for you and me, so that we could divide it satisfactorily -between ourselves. I was angry enough at those other fellows, whom I -saw getting all your money in that way, I confess; and, in what I said, -I was whipping them over your shoulders. I thought you understood it.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t understand it in that way,” replied Elwood, surprised and -evidently staggered at the bold and unexpected<span class="pagenum" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</span> statement. “I didn’t -take you so: could that be all you intended?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly it was,” resumed Gaut, in the same insinuating tone. “Had I -supposed it necessary, I should have seen you and explained it at the -time. But it is explained now; so let it go, and every thing go that -has been unpleasant between us; let us forget all, and henceforth be -on good terms. Our children, as you may have suspected, seem intent -on being friends; and why should not we be friends also? It will -be a gratification to them, and we can easily make it the means of -benefiting each other. You know how much I once did in helping you to -property,—I can do so again, if we will but understand each other. -What say you, Elwood? Will you establish the treaty, and give me your -hand upon it?”</p> - -<p>Elwood trembled as the other bent his fascinating gaze upon him, -hesitated, began to demur feebly; but, being artfully answered, soon -yielded and extended his hand, which Gaut seized and shook heartily; -when at the suggestion of the latter they separated and proceeded -by different courses, so that they might not be seen together, to -join the company at the house, whom they found, as they expected, in -consultation about the proposed trapping and hunting expedition to the -upper lakes, the time of starting, and the names and number of those -volunteering to join the association, only remaining to be fixed and -ascertained. That time was finally fixed on the 15th of September, and -the company was formed to consist of the two Elwoods, Phillips, Gurley, -Codman, and such others as might thereafter wish to join them. This -being settled, they broke up and departed for their respective homes.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_X">CHAPTER X.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -<span style="margin-left: 2em;">“All good to me is lost;</span> -<br />Evil, be thou my good”—— -</p> - - -<p>The next scene in the slowly unfolding panorama of our story opens at -the house of Gaut Gurley, on the banks of the Magalloway. Gaut reached -home, on the evening of the logging bee, about sunset; and, having put -out his team, entered his house, where he found his wife alone, his -daughter being absent on a visit to a neighbor. Contrary to what might -have been expected, after the favorable impression he had so evidently -made on the settlers that day, and the attainment of the still more -important object with him, the regaining of his old fatal influence -over Elwood, he appeared morose and dissatisfied. Something had not -worked to his liking in the complicated machinery of his plans, and he -showed his vexation so palpably as soon to attract the attention of -his submissive but by no means unobservant wife, who, after a while, -plucked up the courage to remark:</p> - -<p>“What is the case, Gaut? Have you been working yourself to death for -those Elwoods, to-day, or has something gone wrong with you, that makes -you look so sour this evening?”</p> - -<p>“I have worked hard enough, God knows; but that I intended, for I had -objects in view, most of which I think I have accomplished, but——”</p> - -<p>“But not all, I suppose you would say?”</p> - -<p>“Well, yes, there is one thing that has not gone exactly to suit me, -over there.”</p> - -<p>“What is that, Gaut?”</p> - -<p>“It is of no consequence that you should know it. If I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</span> should name it, -you would not see its bearing on my plans, I presume.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps not, for I don’t know what your plans are, these days. I used -to be able to guess out the objects you had in view, before you came -here, whether you told me or not. But, since you have been in this -settlement, I have been at loss to know what you are driving at; I -can’t understand your movements at all.”</p> - -<p>“What movements do you mean, woman?”</p> - -<p>“All of them; but particularly those that have to do with the Elwoods.”</p> - -<p>“What is there in my course toward them, since they came here, that you -can’t understand?”</p> - -<p>“Well, I’ll tell you, Gaut. When you believed Elwood to be rich, I -could easily see that you thought it would be an object to bring about -an acquaintance between his son and only heir, and our Avis; and I -knew you was, those days, studying how it could be done, and I always -suspected that you in some way disposed of that picture of her for the -purpose, instead of sending it to your relations, and——”</p> - -<p>“And what?” exclaimed Gaut, turning fiercely on his wife. “Suspected! -What business had you to suspect? And you told Avis what you thought, I -suppose?”</p> - -<p>“Not a word, never one word; for I knew she was so proud and -particular, that, if she mistrusted any thing of that kind to have been -done, she would flounce in a minute. No. I never hinted it to her, or -anybody else, and it was guess-work, after all,” replied the abashed -wife, in a deprecating tone,—she having been tempted, by the unusual -mood which her stern husband had manifested for discussing his private -affairs with her, to venture to speak much more freely than was her -wont.</p> - -<p>“Well, see that you don’t hint any thing about that, nor any thing -else you may take it into your silly head to guess about my objects,” -rejoined the other, in a somewhat mollified tone. “But now go on with -what you were going to say.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</span></p> - -<p>“Well, I could understand your course before Elwood failed; but, when -he did, I could see no object, either in following him here, or having -any thing particular to do with him, or any of his family. But you -seized on the first chance, after we came here, to court them, and have -followed it up; first, in the affair of the young man and Avis, and -then, in drumming up the whole settlement in getting up this logging -bee for the old man. Now, Gaut, you don’t generally drive matters at -this rate without something in view that will pay; and, as I can see -nothing to be gained worth so much pains, I don’t understand it.”</p> - -<p>“I didn’t suppose you did, and it is generally of little consequence -whether you see through my plans or not; but, in this case——”</p> - -<p>Here Gaut suddenly paused, rose, and took several turns across the -room, evidently debating with himself how far it was policy to disclose -his plans to his wife; when, appearing to make up his mind, he again -seated himself and resumed:</p> - -<p>“Yes, as this is a peculiar case, and coming, perhaps, in part within -the range of a woman’s help, if she knows what is wanted, and one which -she may unintentionally hurt, if she don’t, I suppose I must give you -some insight into my movements, so that you can manage accordingly, -help when you can, and do no mischief when you can’t; as you probably -will do, for you well know the consequences of doing otherwise.”</p> - -<p>“I will do all I can, if I can understand what you want, and can see -any object in it,” meekly responded the woman.</p> - -<p>“Well, then, in the first place,” resumed the other, “you know how many -years I slaved myself, and what risks I run, to help Elwood make that -fortune; how he threw me off with simple wages, instead of the share I -always intended to have for such hard and dangerous services; and how -he failed, like a fool, before I got it.”</p> - -<p>“I knew it all.”</p> - -<p>“Then you can easily imagine how much it went against my grain to be -balked in that manner. At all events, it did; and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</span> I soon determined -not to give up the game so, even if that was all. And ascertaining that -Elwood, by allowances made by the creditors to his wife, and sales of -furniture which they allowed the family to retain, brought quite a -little sum of money into the settlement,—enough, at any rate, to pay -for his place, put him well afloat, and make him a man of consequence -in such a new place,—I soon made up my mind on buying and settling, -for present purposes, here, too, as we did.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but what do you expect to make here more than in any other new -country? And what can you make out of the Elwoods, more than any other -new settlers?”</p> - -<p>“A good deal, if all things work to my mind. There is money to be made -here. I could do well in the fur business alone, and at the worst. And, -by the aid of one who could be made to favor my interests, there is no -telling what could be done. Now, what claim had I on any other settler -to be that one to aid me? On Elwood I had a claim to help <em>me</em> -to property in turn; and I determined he should do it. But he must -first be brought into the traces. He has got out with me, and must be -reconciled before I can do much with him.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I should think he ought to be by this time, after what you have -been doing for him, without his asking.”</p> - -<p>“Without asking? Why, that was just the way to do it. As I calculated, -he was taken by surprise, disarmed, and yielded; so that object is -accomplished, as well as making the right impression on the other -settlers by beating them at their own work.”</p> - -<p>“I begin to understand, now.”</p> - -<p>“You will understand more, soon; that was only part of my object.”</p> - -<p>“What was the other part?”</p> - -<p>“To insure the consummation of the match between Avis and young Elwood, -which now seems in fair progress, but which would be liable to be -broken off, if his family should continue to be unfriendly to me.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</span></p> - -<p>“Why, that was the thing I could understand least of all. The young -man is well enough, I suppose, but I thought you had looked to have -Avis make more of herself, and do better for us. She is still young, -and we don’t know what chances she may have. If she and the young man -should keep on intimate, and set their hearts on it, I don’t know that -I should oppose it much; but what object we can have in helping it on, -I can’t, for the life of me, see. I have not said a word against it, -because I saw that you were for it. But, if I had been governed by my -own notions, I should have sooner discouraged than helped it on.”</p> - -<p>“I suspected so; and, for that reason, as well as others, I see I must -tell you a secret, which the Elwoods themselves don’t know, and which I -meant should never pass my lips; and, when I tell it to you, see that -it never passes yours. That young man, Claud Elwood, whom you think -so ordinary a match, is heir to a large property. A will is already -executed making him so.”</p> - -<p>“Is that so, Gaut?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I have known it for months. I made the discovery before I decided -to move here.”</p> - -<p>“It is a wonder how you could keep it from me.”</p> - -<p>“Humph! It is a greater wonder how I came to tell you at all, and I -fear I shall yet repent it; but things had come to a pass that seemed -to make it necessary.”</p> - -<p>“But who is the man, and where, who is going to give the young man such -a property?”</p> - -<p>“It is not for you to know. I have told you enough for all my purposes. -And this brings me back to your first question, when I admitted that -there was one thing which had not gone to my liking. There <em>was</em>, -indeed, one thing that disturbed and vexed me; and that was the -discovery I made, over there, to-day, that Elwood’s wife is an enemy -to me. I contrived all ways to get speech with her, but she studiously -avoided giving me a chance, nor was I able once even to catch her eye, -that I might give her a friendly nod of recognition. I know she never<span class="pagenum" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</span> -wished me about, in former times, but I then attributed her coldness to -the pride of the rich over the poor. But I now think it was because she -hated me. I am satisfied she is an enemy, at heart; and will, for that -reason, prove a secret and I fear dangerous opposer to a match which -will connect me with her family, unless something is done to reconcile -her.”</p> - -<p>“How can that be done?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps <em>you</em> can do something. We start, in about a fortnight, -on the fall hunt,—both the Elwoods, myself, and others. When we are -gone, you can go down into that neighborhood, get acquainted with some -of the women, and get them to call with you on Mrs. Elwood; and, if -Avis could be made to go and see her, so much the better. She would -make an impression without trying. You would have to manage, but how, -I am not now prepared to decide. I will think of it, and you may, and -we will talk it over again. I have told you this, now, that you might -understand the situation of affairs; and the object, which you will now -see, is worth playing for. And, if we can carry this last point, the -last danger will be removed,—unless Claud himself proves fickle.”</p> - -<p>“I guess there will not be much danger of that in <em>this</em> -settlement. What girl is there that he could think of in comparison -with Avis?”</p> - -<p>“I think there is none; and still, there is one whom I would rather he -would not see.”</p> - -<p>“Who can that be, I should like to know?”</p> - -<p>“She is the daughter, or is claimed to be, of an old Indian thief, -called Wenongonet, who lives up the lakes, and was once a man of some -consequence, both with Indians and whites.”</p> - -<p>“An Indian girl! Fudge!”</p> - -<p>“You might alter that tune, if you should see her. She is white as you -are, and has, most of the time, of late years, lived in some of the -old settlements, been schooled, and so on. I saw her, soon after we -came here, with another woman, at the south end of the lake, where she -was visiting in the family of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</span> one of the settlers, and I inquired her -out, as she appeared so much above the common run of girls. But she -is courted, they say, by a young educated Indian, called Tomah, from -Connecticut-river way, where I used to see him. He <em>ought</em> to be -able to take care of her. But hark! what was that? It sounded like the -trotting of some heavy horse. I’ll see.”</p> - -<p>So saying, Gaut rose and went to the window, when, after casting a -searching look out into the road, and pausing a moment, in evident -doubt and surprise at what met his gaze, he muttered: “The devil is -always at hand when you are talking about him; for that must be the -very fellow,—Tomah himself! But what a rig-out! Wife, look here.”</p> - -<p>The woman promptly came to the window, when her eyes were greeted -with the appearance of a smart-looking and jauntily-equipped young -Indian, mounted on the back of a stately, antlered moose, that, by some -contrivance answering to a bridle, he was about bringing to a stand in -the road, opposite to the house. Without heeding the exclamations of -surprise and questions of his wife, who had never seen an animal of -the kind, Gaut stepped out of the door, and, after pausing long enough -to satisfy himself that he was not known to the other, said, after the -distant greeting customary among strangers had been exchanged:</p> - -<p>“That is a strange horse you are travelling on, friend.”</p> - -<p>“No matter that, when he carry you well,” replied the Indian, whose -language was a little idiomatic, notwithstanding his education.</p> - -<p>“Perhaps not; but I should think he would be a hard trotter for most -riders.”</p> - -<p>“Moose don’t care for that: he say, he carry you ten miles an hour, you -not the one to complain: if you no like, you no ride.”</p> - -<p>“How did you tame him to be so manageable?”</p> - -<p>“Caught him a little calf, four years ago; trained him young<span class="pagenum" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</span> to mind -halter; then ox-work, horse-work. This year ride him. No trouble, you -let him enough to eat.”</p> - -<p>“Where did you catch him?”</p> - -<p>“Over the mountain. Live there. My name John Tomah. Been here to hunt -some, but not see you before. Another man live in this house last -spring.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I am a new-comer. But I have heard some of the settlers speak of -you, I think. You are the Indian that has been to college?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, been there some, but in the woods more. Love to hunt, catch -beaver, sable, and such things. Come here to hunt now, soon as time. -But must have moose kept when off hunting: thought the man lived here -do that. May be you keep him, while I come back. Pay you, all right.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, if I could; but where could I keep him? He would jump any pasture -or yard fence there is here, and then run away, would he not?”</p> - -<p>“No. Stay, after week or two, and get wonted, same as horse or cow. I -go to work, make yard, keep him in a while, and feed him with grass or -browse. I tend him first. You keep him,—you keep me, till go hunting; -then get boy. Pay well, much as you suit.”</p> - -<p>Gaut Gurley never acted without a strong secret motive. He had been -intently studying the young Indian during the conversation just -detailed, with a view of forming an opinion how far his subservience -could be secured; and, appearing to become satisfied on this point, and -believing the first great step for making him what was desired would be -accomplished by yielding to his request gracefully, however much family -inconvenience it might occasion, Gaut now turned cordially to him, and -said:</p> - -<p>“Yes, Tomah, I will do it. I like your looks, and I will do it for -<em>you</em>, but wouldn’t for anybody else. We can get along with your -animal, somehow; and you shall stay, too, till our company start on our -hunt, and then you shall go with us. I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</span> will see that you have fair -play. I will be your friend; and perhaps I may want a good turn of you -some time.”</p> - -<p>“Like that; go with you; show you how catch beaver. Do all I can.”</p> - -<p>“Very well; and perhaps I can help you in some way. You have an affair -that you feel a peculiar interest in, with somebody on the upper lake, -and——”</p> - -<p>“You know that?” interrupted the startled but evidently not displeased -Indian.</p> - -<p>“Yes, I have heard something about it.”</p> - -<p>“But how you help there?”</p> - -<p>“O, I can contrive a way for you to make the matter work as you wish, -if you will only persevere.”</p> - -<p>“Persevere? Ah, means keep trying. Yes, do that; but she don’t talk -right, now; perhaps, will, you help, then we be great friends, sure.”</p> - -<p>The treaty being thus concluded, the gratified young Indian dismounted, -with his rifle and pack, containing his blanket, hunting-suit, etc., -which he carried before him, laid across the shoulder of his novel -steed; and, under the guidance of Gaut, he led the animal into the -cow-yard, where he was tied and fed, and the fence, already made high -to exclude the wolves, as usual among first settlers, was topped out by -laying on a few additional poles, so as to prevent the possibility of -his escape. This being done, Gaut conducted his new-found friend into -the house, and introduced him, to his wife and also to his daughter, -who had by this time returned, as the young Indian that had been to -college, but still had a liking for the woods.</p> - -<p>“I have often thought I should feel interested in seeing an educated -native of the forest,” remarked Avis, after the civilities of the -introduction had been exchanged. “Books, when you became able to read -and understand them,” she continued, turning to the Indian, “books must -have opened a new world to you, and the many new and curious things you -found in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</span> them must have been exceedingly gratifying to you, Mr. Tomah.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, many curious things in books,” replied Tomah, indifferently.</p> - -<p>“And also much valuable knowledge?” rejoined Avis, interrogatively.</p> - -<p>“Valuable enough to some folks, suppose,” replied the other, with -the air of one speaking on a subject in which he felt no particular -interest. “Lawyers make money; preachers get good pay for talking what -they learn in books; so doctors.”</p> - -<p>“But surely,” persisted the former, who, though disappointed in his -replies, yet still expected to see, if she could draw him out, the -naturally shrewd mind of the native made brilliant by the light of -science, “surely you consider an education a good thing for all, giving -those who receive it a great advantage over those who do not?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, education good thing,” responded Tomah, his stolid countenance -beginning to lighten up at the idea which now struck him as involving -the chief if not the sole benefit of his scientific acquirements; “yes, -education good, very good, sometime. Instance: I go to Boston with my -moose next winter; show him for pay, one, two days; then reckon up -money—add; then reckon up expenses—subtract; tell how much I make. -Make much, stay; make little, go to other place. Yes, education good -thing.”</p> - -<p>“But I should think you might do better with your education than you -could by following the usual employments of your kind of people,” -resumed the other, still unwilling to see the subject of her scrutiny -fall so much below her preconception of an educated Indian. “You -say, lawyers, preachers, and doctors make money from the superiority -which their education has given them; now, why don’t you profit by -<em>your</em> education, and go into a profession like one of theirs, and -obtain by it the same wealth and position which you see them enjoying?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</span></p> - -<p>“Did try,” replied Tomah, with an evident effort to elevate his -language, and meet the question candidly. “When I came home from the -school, people all say, Now you go and live like white folks, in -village, and study to be doctor, make money, be great man. So went; -study one year; try hard to like; but no use. Uneasy all the time; -could not keep down the Indian in me; he always rising up, more every -day, all the time drawing me away to the woods,—pull, pull, pull. I -fight against him; put him down little some time; but he soon up again, -stronger than ever. Found could not make myself over again; must be as -first made; so gave up; left study for the woods; and said, Now let -Indian be Indian as long as he like.”</p> - -<p>Satisfied, or rather silenced, by Tomah’s reasons, Avis turned the -conversation by asking him to relate to her how he caught and tamed -his moose. She found him completely at home in this and other of his -adventures in the forest, which he was thus encouraged to relate, -and in which he often became a graphic and interesting narrator, and -displayed the keen observation of the objects of nature, together with -the other peculiar qualities of his race, to so much advantage that she -soon relinquished her favorite idea of ever finding a philosopher in an -educated Indian.</p> - -<p>In presenting the above picture, drawn from one of the many living -prototypes that have fallen within our personal observation, or come -within our knowledge derived from reliable sources, we had no wish -to disparage the praiseworthy acts and motives of those spirited and -patriotic men who, like Moore, in establishing his well-known charity -school, in connection with Dartmouth college, may have, in times -past, founded and endowed schools for the education of the natives -of the forest; nor would we dampen the faith and hopes of those -philanthropists who still believe in the redemption of that dwindling -race by the aids of science and civilization; but we confess our -inability to perceive any general results, flowing from the attempts -of that character, at all adequate to the pains and outlay bestowed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</span> -on the experiment. And we think we cannot be alone in this opinion. -We believe that those results, when gathered up so that all their -meagreness could be seen, have sadly disappointed public expectations; -that this ones favorite object and theory, of elevating and benefiting -the red man by taking him from his native woods and immuring him in the -school-room, has been, in the great majority of the cases, a futile -one; and that whole system, indeed, can now be regarded as but little -less than a magnificent failure.</p> - -<p>There have been, it is true, some brilliant exceptions to the -application of our remarks, such as may be found in the pious and -comparatively learned Samson Occom, the noted Indian preacher of the -times of the Pilgrims; in the eloquent Ojibway chief of our own times, -and a few others; as well as in the person we have already introduced -into this work, the intelligent and beautiful Fluella. But <em>only</em> -as exceptions to the general rule, we fear, can we fairly regard -them,—for, where there is one Occom, there are probably ten Tomahs.</p> - -<p>Education, or so much of it as he has the patience and ability to -acquire, seems often to unsettle and confuse the mind of the red man; -for, while his old notions and traditions are disturbed or swept away -by it, he fails of grasping and digesting the new ones which science -and civilization present to his mind; and he falters and gropes, like -an owl in the too strong light of the unaccustomed sun. In his natural -condition, he can <em>at least</em> realize the happy picture which the -poet has drawn of him:</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“Lo, the poor Indian! whose untutored mind -<br />Sees God in clouds, or hears him in the wind: -<br />His soul proud science never taught to stray -<br />Far as the solar walk or milky way; -<br />Yet simple nature to his hope has given, -<br />Behind the cloud-topt hill, an humbler heaven, -<br />Some safer world in depth of wood embraced; -<span class="pagenum" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</span><br />Some happier island in the wat’ry waste, -<br />Where slaves once more their native land behold, -<br />No fiends torment, no Christian thirsts for gold. -<br />To be content’s his natural desire; -<br />He asks no angel’s wings, no seraph’s fire; -<br />But thinks, admitted to that equal sky, -<br />His faithful dog shall bear him company.” -</p> - -<p>But now, in his new and anomalous position, even this happiness and -this content is taken away, while he is unable to embrace an adequate -substitute. His old faith is shaken, but no new one is established. -Before, he could see God in clouds or hear him in the wind; but now he -can scarcely see God in any thing. His physical system, in the mean -while, deprived as it is of the forest atmosphere, in which it was -alone fitted to exist and reach its greatest perfection, suffers even -more than his mental one. And his whole man, both mental and physical, -begins to degenerate, and soon dwindles into insignificance. Yes, it -is only in his native forests that the Indian appears in his wild and -peculiar dignity of character. There only can he become a being of -romance, and there only a hero. And there, in conclusion, we would -say, in view of the unsatisfactory results of the experiments made to -elevate him by any of the methods yet adopted,—there we would let him -remain.</p> - -<p>But we must now on with our tale, the main incidents of which we have -only foreshadowed, not touched.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XI">CHAPTER XI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0">“Hearts will be prophets still.”</p> - - -<p>The week succeeding the logging bee was an extremely busy one with -the Elwoods, who still had a heavy task to perform on their new -field, before it could be considered properly cleared or fitted for -seeding and harrowing. Sixty days before, that field was covered with -a heavy growth of primitive forest, standing in its native majesty, -a mountain mass of green vigor and sturdy life, and as seemingly -invincible against the assaults of man as it had been against those -of the elements whose fury it had so long withstood. But the busy -and fatal axe had done its work. That towering forest had been laid -prostrate with the earth, and the first process of the Herculean -task of converting the forest into the field had been completed. The -second and third process, also, in the burning of the slash and the -gathering the trunks of the trees into log-heaps, as we have seen, -had been in turn successfully accomplished. But the fourth and last -process still remained to be performed. Those unseemly log-heaps, -cumbering no inconsiderable portion of the field, must be disposed of, -to complete the work. This was now the first task of the Elwoods, and -time pressed for its speedy execution. Accordingly, the next morning -after the bee, they sallied out, each with a blazing brand in his hand, -and commenced the work of firing the piles,—a work which, unlike that -of firing a combustible and readily catching slash, required not only -considerable time, but often the exercise of much skill and patience. -But they steadily persevered, and, before sunset, had the gratification -of beholding every one of those many scores of huge log-piles, that -thickly dotted the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</span> ground, clearly within the grasp of the devouring -element; and afterwards of seeing that grasp grow stronger and stronger -on the solid material on which it had securely fastened, till, to -the eye of fancy, the dark old forest seemed by day to be reproduced -in the numerous, thickly-set columns of smoke that shot upward and -spread out into over-arching canopies above, while, with the gathering -darkness of the night, that forest seemed gradually to take the form of -a distant burning city in the manifold tapering pillars of fire which -everywhere rose from the field, fiercely illuminating the dark and -sombre wood-wall of the surrounding forest, and dimly glimmering over -the sleeping waters of river and lake beyond.</p> - -<p>They had now made the fire their servant, and got it safely at work for -them; but that servant, to insure its continued and profitable action, -must be constantly fed and fostered. The logs, becoming by the action -of the fire partially consumed, and, by thus losing their contact with -each other, ceasing to burn, required, every few hours, to be rolled -together, adjusted, and repacked; when, being already thoroughly heated -and still partly on fire, they would soon burst out again into a brisk -blaze. This tending and re-packing of the piles demanded, for many of -the succeeding days, the constant attention of the Elwoods; who, going -out early each morning, and keeping up their rounds at short intervals -through the day and to a late hour at night, assiduously pursued their -object, till they had seen every log-heap disappear from the field, and -the last step of their severe task fully accomplished.</p> - -<p>Few of those who live in cities, villages, or other places than those -where agricultural pursuits prevail; few of those, indeed, who have -been tillers only of the subdued and time-mellowed soils of the old -States and countries, have any adequate conception of the immense -amount of hard labor required to clear off the primitive forest, and -prepare the land for the first crop; nor have they, consequently, any -just appreciation of the degree of resolution, energy, and endurance -necessary to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</span> insure continued perseverance in subduing one piece of -forest-land after another, till a considerable opening is effected. -It is the labor of one man’s life to clear up a new farm; and few -there be, among the multitudes found making the attempt, who have -the sustaining will and resolution—even if the pecuniary ability is -not wanting—to accomplish that formidable achievement. Probably not -one in five of all the first pioneer settlers of a new country ever -remain to become its permanent settlers. The first set of emigrants, -or pioneers, are seen beginning with great resolution and energy, and -persevering unfalteringly till the usual ten-acre lot is cleared, -the log-house thrown up, and the settlement of the family effected. -Another piece of forest is the next year attacked, but with a far less -determined will, and the clearing prosecuted with a proportionate lack -of energy and resolution; and the job, after being suffered to linger -along for months beyond the usual period for completion, is finally -finished. But, in view of the hard labors and prolonged struggles -they have experienced in their two former trials for conquering the -wilderness, they too often now falter and hesitate at a third attempt. -Perhaps the lack of means to hire that help, which would make the -toil more endurable, comes also into the case; and the result is that -no new clearing is begun. They live along a while as they are; but, -for want of the first crops of the newly-cleared land and the usual -accessions to their older fields, they soon find themselves on the -retrograde, and finally sell out to a new set of incoming settlers, who -in their turn begin with fresh vigor, and with more means generally -for prosecuting advantageously, the work which had discouraged or worn -out their predecessors. But even of this second set a large proportion -fail to succeed, and, like the former, eventually yield their places -to more enterprising and able men, who, with those of the two former -sets of settlers that had succeeded in overcoming the difficulties and -retaining their places, now join in making up the permanent settlers of -the country.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</span></p> - -<p>Such is generally the history of the early settlement of every new -country. Those who have endured the most hardship, encountered the -greatest difficulties, and performed the hardest labor, do not -generally reap the reward which might eventually crown their toils, -but leave that reward to be enjoyed by those to whom such hardships -and toils are comparatively unknown. This seems hard and unjust; but, -from the unequal conditions and characters of men, it is doubtless a -necessary state of things, and one which, though it may occasionally be -somewhat modified, will never, probably, as a general thing, be very -essentially altered.</p> - -<p>The Elwoods, having now thus brought the labors of clearing to a -successful close, next proceeded to the lighter and more cleanly task -of taking the incipient step towards securing the ever-important first -crop which was to reward them, in a good part, for their arduous toils. -Accordingly, the previously engaged supply of winter wheat intended -for seed was brought home, the requisite help and ox-work enlisted, -the seed sown, and the harrows and hoes put in motion to insure its -lodgment beneath the surface of the broken soil. And, by the end of the -second day from its commencement, this task was also completed, leaving -our two persevering settlers only the work of gathering in the small -crops of grain and potatoes they had succeeded in raising on their -older grounds, to be performed before leaving home on the contemplated -trapping and hunting expedition; the appointed day for which was still -sufficiently distant to allow them abundant time to do this, and also -to make all other of the necessary arrangements and preparations for -that, to them, novel and interesting event.</p> - -<p>But how, in the meanwhile, stood that domestic drama of love and its -entanglements, which was destined to be deeply interwoven with the -other principal incidents of this singular story? All on the surface -seemed as bright and unruffled as the halcyon waters of the sleeping -ocean before the days of storm have come to move and vex it. But how -was it within<span class="pagenum" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</span> the vail of the heart and teeming mind, where the -currents and counter-currents of that subtle but powerful passion flow -and clash unseen, often gaining their full height and unmasterable -strength before any event shall occur to betray their existence to the -public. How was it there? We shall see.</p> - -<p>While the events we have described in the last foregoing chapters -were transpiring, Mrs. Elwood held her peace, studiously avoiding -all allusion to what still constituted the burden of her mind,—the -thickening intimacy between her family and the Gurleys; but, though -she was silent on the subject, yet her heart was not any the less sad, -nor her thoughts any the less busy. She had been made aware that a -reconciliation had taken place between her husband and Gaut Gurley; and -she had seen how artfully the latter had brought it about, and regained -his old fatal influence over the former. She believed she fully -understood the motives which actuated Gaut in all these movements. And -she now looked on in helpless anguish of heart to see the toils thus -drawn tighter and tighter around the unconscious victims, and those -victims, too, her husband and son, with whose happiness and welfare -her own was indissolubly connected. She saw it with anguish, because -her feelings never for once were permitted even the alleviation of a -doubt that it could result in aught else than evil to her family. She -could not reason herself into any belief of Gaut’s reformation. She -felt his black heart constantly throwing its shadow on to her own; she -<em>felt</em> this, but could not give to others, nor perhaps even to -herself, what might be deemed a satisfactory reason for her impressions -and forebodings; for in her was exemplified the words of the poet:</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“The mind is capable to show -<br />Thoughts of so dim a feature, -<br />That consciousness can only know -<br />Their presence and their nature.” -</p> - -<p>Such thoughts were hers,—dim and flitting, indeed; but she felt -conscious of their continued presence, of their general<span class="pagenum" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</span> character, and -deeply conscious what they portended. They took one shape, moved in -one course, and all pointed one way, and that was to evil,—some great -impending evil to the two objects of her love and solicitude.</p> - -<p>“But is there no hope?” she murmured aloud, in the fullness of her -heart, while deeply pondering the matter, one day, as she sat alone -at her open window, looking out on her husband and son engaged in -their harvest, which she knew they were hurrying on to a close, before -leaving her on the contemplated long, and perhaps perilous, expedition -into the wilderness,—a circumstance that doubtless caused the subject, -in the thus awakened state of her anxieties, to weigh at this time -peculiarly heavy on her mind. “Is there no hope,” she repeated, with -a sigh, “that this impending calamity may in some part be averted? -Must they both be sacrificed? Must the faults of the erring father -be visited on the innocent son, who had become the last hope of the -mother’s heart? Kind Heaven! may not that son, <em>at least</em>, be -delivered from the web of toils into which he has so strangely fallen, -and yet be saved? Grant, O grant that hope—that one ray of hope—in -this my hour of darkness!”</p> - -<p>But what sound was that which now fell upon her ear, as if responsive -to her ejaculation? It was a light tap or two on the door, which, after -the customary bidding of <em>walk in</em> had been pronounced, was gently -opened, when a young female of extreme beauty and loveliness entered. -Mrs. Elwood involuntarily rose, and stood a moment, mute with surprise, -in the unexpected presence. Soon recovering, however, she invited the -fair stranger to a seat, still deeply wondering who she could be and -what had occasioned her visit.</p> - -<p>“You are the good woman of the house?—the wife of the new -settler?—the mother of Mr. Claud Elwood?” asked the stranger -girl, pausing between each interrogatory, till she had received an -affirmative nod from Mrs. Elwood.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied the latter kindly, but with an air of increasing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</span> -curiosity, “yes, I am Mrs. Elwood. Would you like to see my son, Claud?”</p> - -<p>“No,” rejoined the girl, in the same subdued and musical accents. “No, -it was not him, but you, I came to see and speak with,” she added, -carefully, withdrawing a screening handkerchief from a light parcel she -bore in her hand, and displaying a small work-basket of exquisite make, -which, advancing with hesitating steps, she presented to the other, as -she resumed:</p> - -<p>“I came with this, good lady, to see if you would be suited to have -such an article?”</p> - -<p>“It is very pretty,” said Mrs. Elwood, examining the workmanship with -admiration, “beautiful, indeed. Did you make it?”</p> - -<p>“I did, lady,” said the other modestly.</p> - -<p>“Well, it certainly does great credit to your skill and taste,” -rejoined the other. “I should, of course, be pleased to own it, but -I have little money to pay for such things. You ought to sell it for -quite a sum.”</p> - -<p>“But I do not wish to sell it,” responded the girl, looking up to Mrs. -Elwood with an expostulating and wounded expression. “I do not wish to -take money for it; but hoped you would like it well enough to accept it -for a gift,—a small token.”</p> - -<p>“O, I should,” said Mrs. Elwood, “if I was entitled to any such -present; but what have I ever done to deserve it of you? I do not even -know who you are, kind stranger.”</p> - -<p>“They call me Fluella,” responded the other, the blood slightly -suffusing her fair, rounded cheek. “<em>You</em> have not seen me, I -know. You have not done me the great favor that brings my gratitude. It -is your brave son that has done both.”</p> - -<p>“O, I understand now,” exclaimed Mrs. Elwood. “You are the chief’s -daughter, whom Claud and Mr. Phillips helped out of a difficulty and -danger on the rapids, some time since. But your token should be given -to Claud, should it not?”</p> - -<p>“It would be unsuitable, too much,” quickly replied the maiden, in a -low, hurried tone. “I could not do a thing like that. But if you would -accept such a small thing?”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</span></p> - -<p>“I cannot but appreciate and honor your delicacy,” returned Mrs. -Elwood, with a look of mingled admiration and respect. “I think you -must be an excellent girl; and I will accept your present,—yes, -thankfully,—and never forget the manner in which it was bestowed.”</p> - -<p>“Your words are in my heart, lady. I came, feeling much doubtful; I -return, much happy,” said the maiden, rising to depart.</p> - -<p>“Do not go yet,” interposed the matron, who was beginning to feel a -lively interest in the other; “do not go yet. Claud should know you are -here. I will call him,” she added, starting for the door.</p> - -<p>“O no, no,—do not, do not. He would not wish to be troubled by one -like me,” hurriedly entreated the maiden, with a look of alarmed -delicacy.</p> - -<p>“O, you are mistaken. He would be pleased to see you, and expect to -be called,” said Mrs. Elwood, in a tone of gentle remonstrance, while -pausing at the unexpected objection. “But it is unnecessary; for I see -that he is already coming, and in a moment will be here,” she added, -glancing out of the window.</p> - -<p>Having made the announcement, she turned encouragingly to the maiden, -to reassure her, believing her request that Claud should not be called -in proceeded entirely from over-diffidence. But one glance of her quick -and searching eye was sufficient to apprise the former that there was -a deeper cause for those tender alarms. The cheeks of the beautiful -girl were deeply suffused with crimson, her bosom was heaving wildly, -and her whole frame was trembling like an aspen. As her eyes met the -surprised gaze of the matron, she became conscious that her looks had -betrayed the secret she was the most anxious to conceal; and she cast -an imploring look on the face of the other, as if to entreat the mercy -of shielding the weakness.</p> - -<p>Mrs. Elwood understood the silent appeal; and, approaching and laying -her hand gently on the shoulder of the other, said, in a low, kindly -tone:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</span></p> - -<p>“Have no fears. You have made a friend of me.”</p> - -<p>The girl silently removed the hand, brought it to her lips, and, as -a bright tear-drop fell upon it, kissed it eagerly. The two then -separated, and resumed their respective seats, to compose themselves -before the expected entrance should be made.</p> - -<p>In a few moments Claud carelessly entered the house; but stopped -short in surprise, at the threshold, on so unexpectedly seeing the -well-remembered face and form of the heroine of his late romantic -adventure on the rapids, in the room with his mother. But, almost -instantly recovering his usual manner, he gallantly advanced to the -trembling maiden, took her by the hand, and respectfully inquired about -her welfare, and pleasantly adverted to the singular circumstances -under which they had become acquainted. Soon becoming in a good measure -assured, by a reception so much more condescending and cordial than -she had dared hope for, from one whose image she had been cherishing -as that of some superior being, the grateful and happy girl, now -forgetful of her wish to depart, gradually regained her natural ease -and vivacity, and sustained her part in the general conversation that -now ensued, with an intelligence and instinctive refinement of thought -and expression that equally charmed and surprised her listeners. She -at length, however, rose to depart, observing that her father, who -was in waiting for her at the landing, would chide her for her long -delay; when Claud offered to attend her to the lake. To this she at -first objected; but, on Claud’s assurance that he should be pleased -with the walk, and that it would afford him the opportunity of meeting -her father, whom he had a curiosity to see, she blushingly assented, -and the couple sociably took their way to the lake together, leaving -Mrs. Elwood deeply revolving in her mind the new train of thoughts that -had been awakened by the remarkable personal beauty and evident rare -qualities of her fair visitor, and the discovery of the state of her -feelings,—thoughts which the matron laid up in her heart, but forbade -her tongue to utter.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</span></p> - -<p>On reaching the landing, Fluella drew a bone whistle from her pocket, -and blew a blast so loud and shrill that the sound seemed to penetrate -the inmost depths of the surrounding forest. The next moment a similar -sound rose in response from the woods, apparently about half a mile -distant, on the right.</p> - -<p>“He has heard me; that was my father’s whistle. He has been taking a -short bout in the woods with his rifle, but will now soon be here. And -Mr. Elwood will wait, I know, for the chief wishes to thank the brave -that rescued his daughter,” said the maiden, looking inquiringly at -Claud.</p> - -<p>“Yes,” replied Claud, “yes, certainly; for, even without company, I am -never tired of standing on this commanding point, and looking out on -this beautiful lake and its surrounding scenery.”</p> - -<p>“Ah! then you think, Mr. Elwood,” exclaimed Fluella, with a countenance -sparkling with animation, “you think of our woods life, like one of -your great writers, whom I have read to remember, and who so prettily -says:</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -‘And this our life, exempt from public haunt, -<br />Finds tongues in trees, books in running brooks, -<br />Sermons in stones, and good in every thing.’ -</p> - -<p>“One would almost think this wise writer must be one of my people, he -describes our ways of becoming instructed so truly; for we Indians, -Mr. Elwood, read few other books than those we see opened to us on the -face of nature, or hear or read few other sermons than those in the -outspread pages of the bright lake, the green woods, and the grand -mountain.”</p> - -<p>“You Indians!” said Elwood, looking at the other with a playful yet -half-chiding expression. “Why, Fluella, should a stranger look at your -fair skin, hear you conversing so well in our language, and quoting so -appropriately from our books, he would hardly believe you an Indian, I -think, unless you told him.”</p> - -<p>“Then I would tell him, Mr. Elwood,” responded the maiden, with -dignity, and a scarcely perceptible spice of offended pride<span class="pagenum" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</span> in her -manner. “I <em>am</em> one,—on my father’s side, at least, wholly so; -and, for the first ten or twelve years of my life, was but a child of -the woods and the wigwam; and I will never shame at my origin, so far -as that matters.”</p> - -<p>“But you did not learn to read in the wigwam, Fluella?” said Claud, -inquiringly.</p> - -<p>“No,” replied the girl; the proud air she had assumed, while speaking -of her origin, quickly subsiding into one of meekness. “No; but I -supposed that Mr. Phillips, who knows, might have told you that, for -many years past, I have lived much with your people, learned their -ways, been to their schools, and read their books. And, in owning my -natural red father, may be I should have also said, I have a good white -father, who has done every thing for the poor, ignorant, Indian girl.”</p> - -<p>“But where does this good and generous white father live, and what is -his name?” asked Claud.</p> - -<p>“He lives near the seaside city,” answered she, demurely; “I may say -so far. But I do not name him, ever. We think it not best. But, if he -comes here sometime, as he may, you shall see him, Mr. Elwood.”</p> - -<p>At this point of the dialogue, the attention of its participants was -arrested by the sound of breaking twigs and other indications of the -near approach of some one from the forest; and, the next moment, -emerging through the thick underbrush, which he parted by the muzzle -of his rifle as he made his way, the expected visitant came into -view. Seemingly unmindful of the presence of others near by, or of -the curious and scrutinizing gaze of Claud, he advanced with a firm, -elastic tread, and stately bearing, exhibiting a strong, erect frame, -a large, intellectual head, and handsomely moulded features, with a -countenance of a grave and thoughtful cast, but now and then enlivened -by the keenly-glancing black eyes by which it was particularly -distinguished. With the exception of moccasins and wampum belt, he -was garbed in a good English dress; and, so far as his exterior was -in question, might have easily been<span class="pagenum" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</span> mistaken, at a little distance, -for some amateur hunter from the cities; while, from the vigor of his -movements, and other general appearance, he might have equally well -passed for a man of the middle age, had not the frosts of time, which -were profusely sprinkled over his temples, and other visible parts of -his head, betrayed the secret of his advanced age.</p> - -<p>“My daughter is not alone,” he said, in very fair English utterance, -coming to a stand ten or twelve yards distant from the young couple.</p> - -<p>“No,” promptly replied the daughter, assuming the dignified tone and -attitude usual among those engaged in the ceremonies of some formal -presentation, or public introduction. “No, but my father will be -pleased to learn that this is the Mr. Claud Elwood, who did your -daughter such good service in her dangers on the rapids, and whom she -has now conducted here, that he might have the opportunity to see the -chief, and receive the thanks which it is more fitting for the father -than the daughter to bestow.”</p> - -<p>“My daughter’s words are good,” said the chief. “The young brave has -our thanks to last; but the Red Man’s thanks are acted, the White Man’s -spoken. Does the young man understand the creed of our people?”</p> - -<p>Fluella looked at Claud as if he was the one to answer the question, -and he accordingly remarked:</p> - -<p>“I have ever heard, chief, that your people always notice a benefit -done to them, and that he who does them one secures their lasting -gratitude.”</p> - -<p>“The young man,” rejoined the chief, considerately, “has heard words -that make, sometime, too much; they make true, the good-doer doing no -wrong to us after. But when he takes advantage of our gratitude he -wipes out the debt; he does more,—he stands to be punished like one an -enemy always.”</p> - -<p>The maiden here cast an uneasy glance at Claud, and a deprecating one -at her father, at the unnecessary caution, as she believed it, which -she perceived the latter intended to convey<span class="pagenum" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</span> by his words to the -former. But, to her relief, Claud did not appear as if he thought the -remarks had any application to himself, for he frankly responded:</p> - -<p>“Your distinction is a just one, chief. Your views about these matters -are my own views. Your creed is a good creed, so far as the remembrance -of benefits is concerned; and I wish I could see it observed as -generally among my people as I believe it to be among yours. But, -chief, your daughter makes too much out of my assistance, the other -day. I did only a common duty,—what I should have been a coward not -to have done. I have no claim for any particular gratitude from her or -you.”</p> - -<p>“Our gratitude was strong before; the young man now makes stronger,” -remarked the other, exchanging appreciating glances with his daughter.</p> - -<p>“No, chief,” resumed Claud, “I did not come here to boast of that small -service, nor claim any thanks for it, but to see a sagamore, who could -give me the knowledge of the Red Man which I would like to possess; to -see one who, in times gone by, was as a king in this lake country. His -own history, and that of his people especially, I would like to hear. -They must be full of interest and instruction to an inquirer like me. -Will not the chief relate it briefly? I have leisure,—my ears are open -to his words.”</p> - -<p>“Would the young man know the history of Wenongonet, alone?” said the -other, with a musing and melancholy air. “It may be told easier than -by words. Does the young man see on yonder hill that tall, green pine, -which stands braced on the rocks, and laughs at the storms, because it -is strong and not afraid?”</p> - -<p>“I do.”</p> - -<p>“That is Wenongonet fifty winters ago. Now, does the young man see that -tall, dry pine, in the quiet valley below, with a slender young tree -shooting up, and tenderly spreading<span class="pagenum" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</span> its green branches around that -aged trunk, so it would shield its bare sides in the colds of winter, -and fan its leafless head in the heats of summer?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I see that, also.”</p> - -<p>“That dry tree, already tottering to its fall, is Wenongonet now.”</p> - -<p>“But what is the young tree with which you have coupled it?”</p> - -<p>“The young man has eyes,” said the speaker, glancing affectionately at -his blushing daughter.</p> - -<p>“But the young man,” he resumed after a thoughtful pause, “would know -more of the history of the Red Men who once held the country as their -own? Let him read it in the history of his own people, turned about -to the opposite. Let him call the white man’s increase from a little -beginning, the red man’s decrease from a great,—the white man’s -victories, the red man’s defeats,—the white man’s flourishing, the -red man’s fading; and he will have the history of the red men, and the -reasons of their sad history, in this country.</p> - -<p>“Two hundred year-seasons ago, the Abenaques were the great nation -of the east. From the sea to the mountains they were the lords of -Mavoshen.<a id="FNanchor_1" href="#Footnote_1" class="fnanchor">[1]</a> They were a nation of warriors and a wise and active -people. But, of all the four tribes—the Sokokis, the Anasquanticooks, -the Kenabas, the Wawenocks—who made up this great nation, the Sokokis -were the wisest and bravest. Wenongonet is proud when he thinks of -them. They were his tribe. All the land that sent its waters through -the Sawocotuc<a id="FNanchor_2" href="#Footnote_2" class="fnanchor">[2]</a> to the sea was theirs. They stood with their warriors -at the outposts against the crowding white settlers from the west and -south. They were pleased to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</span> stand there, because it was the post -of danger and of honor in the nation. And there they bravely kept -their stand against that wide front of war, and took the battle on -themselves, till the snows of more than a hundred winters were made red -by their rifles and tomahawks. But those who court death must often -fall into his embrace. So with the Sokokis. They were at first a great -and many people; but they wasted and fell, as time, the bringer of new -and strange things, wore away, before the thick and more thick coming -of their greedy and pushing foes,—by their fire-water in peace and -their bullets in war, till the many became few, the great small. What -the bloody Church, with his swarm of picked warriors, had left after -his four terrible comings with fire and slaughter, the bold Lovewell -finished, on that black day when the great Paugus and all the flower -of the tribe found red graves round their ancient stronghold and -home,—their beloved Pegwacket.<a id="FNanchor_3" href="#Footnote_3" class="fnanchor">[3]</a> This was the last time the tribe was -ever assembled as a separate people. The name of the Sokokis, at which -so many pale faces had been made paler, was buried in the graves of -the brave warriors who had here died to defend its glory. The feeble -remnant, panic-struck and heart-broken, fled northward, and, like the -withered leaves of the forest flying before the strong east wind, -were scattered and swept over the mountains into Canada; all but the -family of Paugus, who took their stand on these lakes, where his son, -Waurumba, took the empty title of chief, and, dying, left it still -more empty to Wenongonet, the last of the long line of sagamores,—the -last ever to stand here to tell the young white man the story of their -greatness, and the fate of their tribe.”</p> - -<p>On concluding his story, the chief turned to his daughter and -significantly pointed to the lengthening shadows of the trees on<span class="pagenum" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</span> the -water, with a motion of his head towards their home up the lakes.</p> - -<p>“The chief thinks,” said Fluella, arousing herself from the -thoughtful attitude in which she had been silently listening to the -conversation,—“the chief thinks it time we were on the water, on our -way home. We shall have now to bid Mr. Elwood a good-evening.”</p> - -<p>So saying, she stepped lightly into the canoe and took her seat. She -was immediately followed by the chief, who, quickly handling his oar, -sent the light craft, with a single stroke, some rods into the lake, -when, partially turning its bow towards the spot where Claud was -standing on the shore, he said:</p> - -<p>“Should the young man ever stray from his companions in the hunt, or -find himself weary, or wet, or cold, or in want of food, when out on -the borders of the Molechunk-a-munk, let him feel, and doubt not, that -he will be welcome to the lodge of Wenongonet.”</p> - -<p>“And, if Mr. Elwood should be in the vicinity of our lake this fall, -and <em>not</em> happen to be in a so very sad condition, he might, -perhaps, find a good welcome on calling,—so, especially, if he come -before the time of the first snows,” added Fluella, playfully at first -but with a slight suffusion of the cheek as she proceeded to the close.</p> - -<p>“I thank the chief,” responded Claud with a respectful bow. “And I -thank you, my fair friend,” he continued, turning more familiarly to -Fluella. “I hope to come, some time. But why do you speak of the first -snows?”</p> - -<p>“O, the birds take wing for a warmer country about that time, and -perhaps some who have not wings may be off with them,” replied Fluella, -in the same tone of playfulness and emotion.</p> - -<p>A stately bow from the father, and another with a sweetly eloquent -smile from the daughter, completed, on their part, the ceremonies -of the adieu; when the canoe was headed round, and, by the easy and -powerful paddle-strokes of the still vigorous old man, sent bounding -over the waters of the glassy lake.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</span></p> - -<p>Slowly and thoughtfully Claud turned and took his way homeward. “Who -could have expected,” he soliloquized, “to witness such an exhibition -of intellect and exalted tone of feeling in one of that despised race, -as that proud old man displayed, in his eloquently-told story? And that -daughter! Well, what is she to me? My faith is given to another. But -why feel this strange interest? Yet, after all, it is probably nothing -but what any one would naturally feel in the surprise occasioned on -beholding such qualities in such a place and person. No, no, it can be -nothing more; and I will whistle it to the winds.”</p> - -<p>And he accordingly quickened his steps, and literally began to whistle -a lively tune, by way of silencing the unbidden sensation which he -felt conscious had often, since he first met this fair daughter of the -wilds, been lurking within. But, though he thus resolved and reasoned -the intruding feeling into nothing, yet he felt he would not like to -have Avis Gurley know how often the sparkling countenance and witching -smile of this new and beautiful face had been found mingling themselves -with the previously exclusive images of his dreams. But, if they did -so before this second interview, would they do it less now? His head -resolutely answered, “Yes, less, till they are banished.” His heart -softly whispered, “No.” And we will not anticipate by disclosing -whether head or heart was to prove the better prophet.</p> - - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_1" href="#FNanchor_1" class="label">[1]</a> The name by which the Province of Maine was designated by -the early voyagers, and the Indian word probably from which the present -name of the State of Maine was derived.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_2" href="#FNanchor_2" class="label">[2]</a> The Indian appellation of the river Saco, which is -doubtless an abbreviation of the Indian name here introduced.</p> - -</div> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_3" href="#FNanchor_3" class="label">[3]</a> The name of a once populous Indian village, which occupied -the present bountiful site of the village of Fryeburg, Me., near -Lovewell’s Pond, where the sanguinary conflict here alluded to occurred -in 1725.</p> - -</div> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XII">CHAPTER XII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“Away! nor let me loiter in my song, -<br />For we have many a mountain path to tread, -<br />And many a varied shore to sail along,— -<br />By truth and sadness, not by fiction, led.” -</p> - - -<p>The day agreed on, by the trappers, for starting on their expedition -into the unbroken wilds around and beyond the upper lakes to the -extreme reservoirs of the lordly Androscoggin, had at length arrived. -All the married men belonging to the company, not having sons of their -own old enough, had engaged those of their neighbors to come and remain -with their families during their absence from home, which, it was -thought probable, would be prolonged to nearly December. Steel-traps -and rifles had been put in order, ammunition plentifully provided, and -supplies of such provisions as could not be generally procured by the -rifle and fish-hook in the woods and its waters, carefully laid in; and -all were packed up the night previous, and in readiness for a start the -next morning.</p> - -<p>It had been agreed that the company should rendezvous on the -lake-shore, at the spot which we have already often mentioned, and -which, by common consent, was now beginning to be called Elwood’s -Landing. And, accordingly, early on the appointed morning, Mark Elwood -and his son Claud, having dispatched their breakfast, which Mrs. -Elwood had been careful to make an unusually good and plentiful one, -shouldered their large hunting packs, with their blankets neatly folded -and strapped outside; and, having bid that anxious and thoughtful wife -and mother a tender farewell, left the house and proceeded with a -lively step to the border of the lake. On reaching their canoe at the -landing, they glanced inquiringly around them for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</span> some indications -of the presence or coming of their expected companions. But not a -living object met their strained gaze, and not the semblance of a sound -greeted their listening ears. A light sheeted fog, of varying thickness -and density in the different portions of the wide expanse,—here thin -and spray-like, as if formed of the breath of some marine monster, and -there thickening to the appearance of the stratiform cloud,—lay low -stretched, in long, slow-creeping undulations, over the bosom of the -waveless lake.</p> - -<p>“The first on the ground, after all,” exclaimed Mr. Elwood, on peering -out sharply through the partially-obstructing fog in the direction of -the outlet of the lake, up through which most of the company, who lived -on the rivers below, were expected to come. “That is smart, after so -much cautioning to us to be here in season. But they cannot be very far -off, can they, Claud?”</p> - -<p>“One would suppose not,” replied the latter; “but sounds, in this dense -and quiet state of the atmosphere, could be distinguished at a great -distance, and, with all that my best faculties can do, I cannot hear a -single sound from any quarter.—But stay, what was that?”</p> - -<p>“What did you think you heard, Claud?” asked Mr. Elwood, after waiting -a moment for the other to proceed or explain.</p> - -<p>“Why, I can hardly tell, myself,” was the musing reply; “but it was -some shrill, long-drawn sound, that seemed to come from a great -distance in the woods off here to the southeast, or on the lake beyond.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps it was a loon somewhere up the lake,” suggested Mr. Elwood.</p> - -<p>“It may be so, possibly,” rejoined Claud, doubtfully; “but, if there -were any inhabitants near enough in that direction, I should think it -must be—hark, there it is again! and, as I thought, the crowing of a -rooster.”</p> - -<p>“A rooster! then it must be the echo of one, that has somehow<span class="pagenum" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</span> struck -across from Phillips’ barn; but how could that be? Ah, I have just -thought: your rooster must be Codman coming down the lake. You know how -curiously he imitated that creature at the logging bee, don’t you?”</p> - -<p>“No; I happened to be in a noisy bustle in the house, just at the time -of those queer performances of his, and heard them imperfectly. But, if -the sound I heard was not that of a veritable rooster, I never was so -deceived in my life respecting the character of a sound.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I think you will find I am right, but we will wait, listen, and -see.”</p> - -<p>The event soon proved the truth of Mr. Elwood’s conjecture. Suddenly a -canoe, rounding a woody point a half-mile to the right, shot into view, -and the old loud and shrill <em>Kuk-kuk-ke-o-ho</em> of Comical Codman -rang far and wide over the waters to the echoing hills beyond. But, -before Claud had sufficiently recovered from his surprise to respond to -the triumphant “<em>I told you so</em>” of his father, the strange salute -was answered by a merry, responsive shout of voices in the opposite -direction; and presently two canoes, each containing two men, emerged -into view from the fog hanging over the outlet, and, joining in a -contest of speed, to which they seemed to perceive the single boatman -was, by his movements, challenging them, rapidly made their way towards -the understood goal of the landing.</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“The race is run, -<br />The vict’ry won!” -</p> - -<p class="p0">exclaimed the trapper, in his usual cheery tone and inimitable air of -mock gravity, as he drew up his oar, to let the impulse of his last -stroke send his canoe in to the shore of the landing, as it did, while -the foremost of his competitors in the friendly race was yet fifty -yards distant. “Mighty smart fellows, you!” he resumed, waggishly -cocking his eye towards the hunter, who had charge of the boat most in -advance. “<em>What bright and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</span> early</em> chaps, living only from two to -five miles off, to let one who has ten miles to come be in first at the -rendezvous!”</p> - -<p>“Well, Codman, I suppose we must give in,” responded the hunter. “But, -to do all this, you must have risen long before day; how did you -contrive to wake up?”</p> - -<p>“Why, crowed like the house a-fire, and waked myself up, to be sure!” -replied Codman, promptly. “How did you suppose I did it? But let that -all go; I want to look you over a little. You have brought some new -faces with you, this time, haven’t you, Mr. Hunter?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, here is one,” answered Phillips, pointing to a tall, -sandy-complexioned, but good-looking man of about thirty, who, having -occupied the forward seat of the canoe, now quietly stepped ashore; -“yes, gentlemen,” added the hunter, addressing himself to the Elwoods, -standing on the bank, as well as to the trapper, “I make you acquainted -with Mr. Carvil,—a man, if I ain’t a good deal out in my reckoning, -who might be relied on in most any circumstances.”</p> - -<p>The customary salutations were then exchanged with the stranger; when -the hunter, instinctively understanding that often violated rule of -true politeness which requires of the introducer some accompanying -remark, giving a clue to the position and character of the introduced, -so as to gratify the natural curiosity felt on such occasions, and to -impart more freedom to the conversation, quickly resumed:</p> - -<p>“Mr. Carvil is a Green Mountain boy, who loves hunting, partly for -the health it gives, and partly for the fun of it. His old range has -usually been round the Great Megantic, the other side of the highlands, -in Canada, where I have heard of him through the St. Francis Indians. -But, having a mind to see and try this side, he came on a few days ago, -inquired me out, and turned in with me. We from below have invited him -to join our company; are you all here agreed to that?”</p> - -<p>“Certainly,” said Mark Elwood, in his usual off-hand manner.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</span></p> - -<p>“Certainly,” added Claud, more specifically, “I think we ought to be -gratified in such an acquisition to our company.”</p> - -<p>“And you, Codman?” said the hunter, turning inquiringly to the trapper. -“It is your turn to speak. But don’t show the gentleman so many of your -bad streaks, to begin with, as to put him out of conceit of you before -he has time to find out your good ones.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t see but I must run the risk, then,” said the trapper; -“my streaks always come out as they come up, I never pick any of them -out as samples for strangers. But to the question,—well, let’s run him -over once, if he won’t be mad: high cheek bones, showing him enough of -the Indian make to be a good hunter; a crank, steady eye, indicating -honest motives, and a good resolution, that won’t allow a man to rest -easy till his object is carried out; and lastly, a well-put-together, -wiry frame, to bear fatigues, and do the work which so large a head -must often lay out for it. Yes, he passes muster with me bravely: let -him in, with a welcome.”</p> - -<p>Carvil rewarded these good-natured running commentaries on his person -and supposed qualities, with a complacent bow; when the trapper turned -to the other canoe, which, with Gaut Gurley and the young Indian -described in a preceding chapter on board, now came within speaking -distance, and sang out:</p> - -<p>“Hil-lo! there, you, captain, who made the big logs fly so like the -de-i-vel, the other day, whether the old chap had any hand in it or -not, what red genius is that you have brought along with you?”</p> - -<p>“It’s Tomah, the young red man from the Connecticut-river region, who -hunted some in this section last fall, I understand. I supposed you had -met him before,” replied Gaut.</p> - -<p>“O, ah, well, yes,” responded Codman; “I bethink me, now, it is the -young Indian that went to college, but couldn’t be kept there long -enough to make any thing else, though long enough, may be, to spoil him -for a hunter.”</p> - -<p>“May be not, too,” retorted Tomah, with a miffed air, which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</span> showed he -did not so readily appreciate the half-serious, half-sportive manner of -the trapper as the other stranger had done. “May be, when you out with -me catching beaver, one, two month, you no crow so loud.”</p> - -<p>“That’s right,” interposed the hunter; “the Indian gives you what you -deserve for your nonsense, Codman. But a truce to jokes. Let us all -aboard, strike out, and be on our way over the lake.”</p> - -<p>In compliance with this suggestion, those not already in the boats took -to their seats, handled their oars, pushed off, and, headed by the -hunter and his boat companion, and falling, one after another, into a -line, rowed steadily on across the broadest part of the lake, taking -a lofty pine, whose attenuated top looked like a reed rising over the -fog in the distance, as a guide and landmark to the great inlet, where -the most arduous task of their expedition was to be encountered,—the -surmounting of the long line of rapids leading to the great lakes -above. But that task, after a pleasant rowing of a couple of hours had -brought them to it, was, by dint of hard struggles against the current, -with oars as long as oars could be made to prevail; with setting-poles -when oars ceased to serve the purpose; and with ropes attached to the -boats and drawn from point to point or rock to rock, when neither oars -nor poles were of any avail; together with the carrying both boats and -baggage by land round the last and most difficult ascent,—that task -was at length accomplished, and, before one o’clock in the afternoon, -all the boats, with their loading, were safely launched on the broad -bosom of the wild and picturesque Molechunk-a-munk.</p> - -<p>Here, however, the company decided on taking their midday’s lunch, and -an hour’s rest, before proceeding on their voyage. But, not deeming it -expedient to incur the trouble and delay which the building of fires -and the new cooking of provisions would require, they drew out only -their bread and cold meats, for the occasion; and these, as the company -were seated in an irregular circle on the rocks, were discussed and -dispatched<span class="pagenum" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</span> with that keen relish which abstinence and a toil-earned -appetite alone could have brought them.</p> - -<p>After they had finished their repast, they, at the suggestion of -Phillips and Codman, the only persons of the company who were familiar -with the lakes and country above, took up a question which they had -before discussed, without settling, but which, they were told by -the persons just named, must now, before proceeding any farther, be -definitely settled and understood. This question was that of the -expediency of establishing a general head-quarters for the season, by -building a large, storm-proof camp, and locating it at some central -point on the shore of one of the two great lakes opening still above -the one on which they were now about to embark. The object of this -was to insure the company comfortable quarters, to which they could -resort in case of falling sick, or encountering long storms, at which -their furs could be collected and more safely kept, their more cumbrous -stores left, and from which their provisions could be distributed, with -the least trouble and travel, to the smaller and more temporary camps -that each of the company, or any two of them, might make at the nearest -terminations, on the neighboring waters, of the different ranges of -woods they should select for their respective fields of operations. -The main part of the question, that of the necessity of establishing -general head-quarters, was at once, and unanimously, decided in the -affirmative. The remaining part, that of the most eligible location -for these quarters, was then fully discussed, and finally settled by -fixing the point of location about midway of the eastern side of the -Mooseeluk-maguntic, the next great lake above, and, counting from the -south, the third in this unique chain of secluded lakes and widely -clustering lakelets, through which the far-spanning Androscoggin pours -its vast volume of wild waters to the distant bosom of the welcoming -ocean.</p> - -<p>“Wisely arranged,” remarked the hunter, at the close of the discussion. -“The next object in view, then, is to reach<span class="pagenum" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</span> there this evening, in -season to work up something in the shape of a camp, that will serve for -the night, and until the good one we propose to build can be completed.”</p> - -<p>“That can be done easily enough,” said Codman, “that is, if we will tax -our marrow-bones a little extra in pulling at the oars. The distance -over this lake, up the narrows, or river, and across the end of the -Maguntic to the mouth of that second stream we have talked of, can’t -be much more than a dozen miles, and all smooth sailing. Lord, yes! -if we put in like decent oarsmen, I warrant we make fetch come, so as -to be there by the sun an hour high, which will give time to build a -comfortable camp, and for cooking up the jolly good supper I’m thinking -to have, to pay us far all these sweats and hard pulls up these -confounded rapids and over these never-ending lakes.”</p> - -<p>“Well, let us put in, then, boys,” responded Gaut Gurley. “I am as much -for the go-ahead principle as the best of you. Let us try the motion, -and <em>earn</em> the good supper, whether we get it or not. But, to make -the supper quite the thing for the occasion, it strikes me we ought to -have something a little fresher than our salt junk.”</p> - -<p>“True, O King, and Great Mogul of the lubber-lifts,” rejoined the -trapper; “thou talkest like one not altogether without knowledge of the -good living of the woods. That something fresher we will have, if it be -only a mess of fish, which I think I can take out of that stream in a -short time after we get there.”</p> - -<p>“That could be done as we go along, if these lakes are as well stocked -with large trout as they are reputed,” observed Carvil, in the calm, -deliberate manner which characterized him on all occasions.</p> - -<p>“But we mustn’t stop for that,” said the trapper.</p> - -<p>“There is no need of stopping,” quietly replied the former.</p> - -<p>“That’s a queer idea,” said the trapper, evidently at fault.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</span> “How are -we to put in and wait for bites, without stopping, I would like to -know?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps I may be able to demonstrate the matter, as we proceed on -our way. At all events, since the question is raised, I will try,” -replied Carvil, drawing from his pocket a roll of small silk cord, to -which a fish-hook, without any sinker, was attached. “Can any of you -handily get at your pork, so as to cut off and throw me a small bit? -There, that will do,” he continued, taking the proffered bit of meat, -and baiting his hook with it. “Now, the experiment I propose to try is -what in my region we call ‘troulling,’ which consists of throwing out -a baited hook and paying out, as the boat moves on, a hundred feet, -or so, of line, that is left to trail, floating on the surface of the -water behind; when most large fish, like bass, or trout, especially if -you make a sharp tack, occasionally, so as to draw the line across an -undisturbed portion of the water, will see, and, darting up, seize it, -and hook themselves. And, if you have many large trout <em>here</em>, -and they are any related to those I have found in the Great Maguntic, -and other large bodies of fresh water, they will some of them stand a -pretty good chance to be found adding to our supper to-night.”</p> - -<p>“Sorry to hear it,” said the trapper, “for I have always considered the -trout a sensible fish, and I should be sorry to lose my respect for -them. But, if they will do that, they are bigger fools than I took them -to be. But you’ll find they just won’t.”</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t know about that, now. I am not so sure but there may be -something in it,” remarked the hunter, who had been listening to Carvil -with evident interest. “Though we have never tried that method in this -region, to my knowledge, yet my experience rather goes to confirm the -notion. I remember to have caught several fine trout, when I had laid -down my pole, and was moving off with my boat, but had left my line -trailing behind. Those great fellows are not very bashful about seizing -any thing they think they can eat, which<span class="pagenum" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</span> they can see on the surface. -I have known them do a stranger thing than to come up and seize a piece -of pork.”</p> - -<p>“What was that?” asked the trapper.</p> - -<p>“Well, I don’t know as you will believe the story,” answered the other, -“but it will be equally true, if you don’t. Some years ago I was out on -the Umbagog, for a mess of trout, but couldn’t get a bite; and, seeing -a flock of black ducks in a neighboring cove, I hauled in my line, -and rowed off towards them, thinking I might get a shot, and so have -something to carry home, by way of mending my luck at fishing. But, -before I got near enough to count with much certainty on the effect of -a shot, if I fired, they all flew up, but one, which, though it seemed -to be trying hard enough, could not raise its body out of the water. -As my canoe drifted in nearer, I once or twice raised my rifle to fire -at it; but it acted so strangely, flapping the water with its wings, -and tugging away at swimming, without appearing to gain scarce a single -foot, that I soon laid down my piece and concluded I would try to take -it alive, supposing it must have got fast tangled with something, but -with what, I was wholly unable to conceive. So, taking up my oar, and -gunning my canoe, so as to send it by within reach of the bird, I -gave two or three strong pulls, threw down the oar, put out my hand, -and sat ready for the grab, which the next moment I made, seizing the -panting and now sinking duck by one of its outspread wings, and pulling -it in, with a big trout fastened to its foot and leg so tight by the -teeth that the hold did not give way till the greedy fish was brought -slapping over the side, and landed safely in the bottom of the canoe. -That trout, when I got home, weighed just seven pounds and nine ounces.”</p> - -<p>“Wheugh! whiz! kak! ke-o-ho!” exclaimed, whistled, and crowed Comical -Codman.</p> - -<p>“I do not doubt it in the least,” said Carvil.</p> - -<p>“Nor can I, of course, on Mr. Phillips’ statement,” added Mark Elwood; -“but, if I had not known his scrupulousness in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</span> matters of fact, I -should not have believed that so strange a circumstance had ever -happened in the world.”</p> - -<p>“So the story is voted gospel, is it?” rejoined the trapper. “Well, -then, I propose we commission its author to cruise along the coves this -afternoon, so that he may bring into camp to-night trout enough caught -in that way to make up what Mr. Carvil may miss taking by <em>his</em> -method, together with a brace or two of nice ducks, which would be a -still further fine addition to our supper.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, ducks or some other kind of flesh, to go with the fish, we may -now safely count on being secured, by some of the various proposed -methods,” here interposed Claud Elwood, seriously. “And I second the -motion of such a cruise along the shores, by Mr. Phillips, who so -seldom fails of killing something. And if he, Mr. Carvil, and father, -will agree to an exchange of boat companions for the afternoon, I -should like to go with him. I have chosen him my schoolmaster in -hunting, and I should have a chance for another lesson before we go -into the separate fields of our approaching operations.”</p> - -<p>Gaut Gurley started at the suggestion, and cast a few quick, searching -glances at Claud and the hunter, as if suspecting a concert of action -between them, for some purpose affecting his secret plans; but, -appearing to read nothing in either of their countenances to confirm -such suspicions, and seeing all the rest of the company readily falling -in with the proposal, he held his peace, and joined the others in -handling the oars for their immediate departure; which was now in a -few minutes taken, the main part of the company striking in a direct -line across the middle of the lake for their destination, leaving the -hunter and Claud moving off obliquely to the right, for a different and -farther route among the intervening islands, and along the indented -shores beyond,—where it will best comport with the objects of our -story, we think, to accompany them in their solitary excursion.</p> - -<p>“Where away, as the sailors have it?” said Claud, after the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</span> two, each -with a single oar, had rowed on a while in silence; “where away, Mr. -Phillips, or in the line of what object in sight would you lay your -course?”</p> - -<p>“Why, I had proposed, in my own mind,” replied the hunter, “to steer -direct across, so as to graze the east side of the great island you see -yonder in the distance; but, as we shall pass so near the cove which -lies snuggled away between two sharp, woody points here, a little ahead -to the right, we might as well, perhaps, haul in and take a squint -round it.”</p> - -<p>“What shall we find there?”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps nothing. It is the place, however, where I found that deer -which I killed when we were here before.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if you can count on another, we should turn in there now.”</p> - -<p>“We will; but a hunter, young man, must never talk of certainties when -going to any particular spot in search of such roving things as the -animals of the forest. He must learn to bear disappointment, and be -prepared to find nothing where he or others had before found every -thing. He must have patience. Loss of patience is very apt to be fatal -to success in almost any business, but especially so in hunting. You -spoke of taking lessons of me in the craft: this is the very first -grand lesson I would impress on your mind. But we are now close upon -the point of land, which we are only to round to be in the cove. If you -are disposed to row the boat alone, now, keep in or out, stop or move -on, as I from time to time give the word, I will be down on my knees in -the bow of the boat, with cocked rifle in hand, ready for what may be -seen.”</p> - -<p>Readily complying, Claud carefully rowed round the point and entered -the dark and deep indenture constituting the cove, whose few acres -of surface were thrown almost wholly into the shade, even at sunny -noonday, by the thickly-clustered groups of tall, princely pines, -which, like giant warriors in council, stood nodding their green plumes -around the closely-encircling shores. Closely hugging the banks, -now stopping<span class="pagenum" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</span> behind some projecting clump of bushes, now in some -rock-formed nook, and now in the covert of some low-bending treetop, -to give the keen-eyed hunter a chance to peer round or through these -screening objects into the open spaces along the shore beyond, he -slowly pushed along the canoe till the whole line of the cove was -explored, and they reached the point corresponding to the one at which -they commenced their lookout for game, and all without seeing a living -creature.</p> - -<p>“Pshaw! this is dull business,” exclaimed Claud, as they came out into -the open lake, where he was left free to speak aloud. “This was so fine -a looking place for game that I felt sure we should see something worth -taking; and I am quite disappointed in the result.”</p> - -<p>“So that, then, is the best fruit you can show of my first lesson in -hunting, is it, young man?” responded the hunter, with a significant -smile.</p> - -<p>Claud felt the implied rebuke, and promised better behavior for the -future; when both seated themselves at the oars, and, as men naturally -do, after an interval of suppressed action, plied themselves with a -vigor that sent their craft swiftly surging over the waters in the line -of their original destination.</p> - -<p>They now soon reached, and shot along the shore of, a -beautifully-wooded island, nearly a half-mile in extent, about midway -of which the hunter rested on his oars, and, after Claud, on his -motion, had done the same, observed, pointing through a partial opening -among the trees, along a visible path that led up a gentle slope into -the interior of the island:</p> - -<p>“There! do you catch a glimpse of a house-like looking structure, in an -open and light spot in the woods, a little beyond where you cease to -trace the path?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, quite distinctly. What is it?”</p> - -<p>“That belongs to the chief, and might properly enough be called his -summer-house, as he generally comes here with his family to spend the -hot months. He raises fine crops of corn in his clearing on there -beyond the house, and saves it all, because<span class="pagenum" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</span> the bears, coons, and -squirrels, that trouble him elsewhere, are so completely fenced out by -the surrounding water.”</p> - -<p>“Are the family there, now?”</p> - -<p>“No; they have moved back to his principal residence, a mile or two -distant, on a point of land over against the opposite side of this -island, and not far out of our course.”</p> - -<p>“Indeed! what say you, then, to giving them a call as we pass by?”</p> - -<p>“We shall not have time, which is a good reason for not calling now, if -there were not still stronger ones.”</p> - -<p>“What stronger reasons, or what other reasons at all?”</p> - -<p>“Well, perhaps there are none. But, supposing two of the company -we left behind, who might happen to conceive they have some secret -interest at stake, should ever suspect that your leading object in -leaving them was to make the very visit you are now proposing, would -you not prefer that we should have it in our power to set their minds -at rest, when we join them to-night, by telling them all the places we -<em>did</em> touch at?”</p> - -<p>“It is possible I should, in such a case,” replied Claud, looking -surprised and puzzled; “but, ‘suspected,’ did you say? <em>Why</em> -should they suspect? and what if they do?”</p> - -<p>“Three questions in a heap, when one is more than I could wisely -attempt to answer,” evasively answered the cautious hunter.</p> - -<p>“But you must have some reasons for what you said,” persisted the other.</p> - -<p>“Reasons founded upon guesses are poor things to build a statement on,” -rejoined the hunter. “Half the mischief and ill-feeling in the world -comes from statements so made. And, guessing aloud is often no better. -I rather think, all things considered, we had better not stop at the -chief’s, this time. I can show you where he lives, as we pass; and, if -that will do, we will now handle oars, and be on our way.”</p> - -<p>Much wondering at the enigmatical words of the other, Claud, without -further remark, put in his oar and thoughtfully rowed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</span> on, till they -had passed round the head of the island; when, on the indication of -the hunter, they stretched away towards a distant promontory, on the -northeastern shore of the lake. A steady and vigorous rowing of half an -hour brought them within a few hundred yards of the headland, for which -they had been steering; when the hunter lifted his oar, and said:</p> - -<p>“There! let the canoe run on alone, a while, and give me your -attention. Now, you see,” he continued, pointing in shore to the right, -“you see that opening in the woods, yonder, on the southern slope -extending down near the lake, eighty rods or such a matter off, don’t -you? Well, that, and divers other openings, where the timber has been -cut down and burnt over, for planting corn, scattered about in the -woods in different places, as well as a large tract of the surrounding -forest-land, are the possessions of the chief.”</p> - -<p>“But where is their house?”</p> - -<p>“Down near the lake, among the trees. You can’t see much of it, but it -is a smart, comfortable house, like one of our houses, and built by a -carpenter; for the chief used formerly to handle considerable money, -got by the furs caught by himself, and by the profits on the furs he -bought of the St. Francis Indians, who came over this way to hunt. But -stay: there are some of the family at his boat-landing. I think it must -be Fluella and her Indian half-brother. She is waving a handkerchief -towards us. Let us wait and see what she wants.”</p> - -<p>The female, whose trim figure, English-fashioned dress, and graceful -motions went to confirm the hunter’s conjectures, now appeared to turn -and give some directions to the boy, who immediately disappeared, but -in a few minutes came back, entered a canoe, and put off towards the -spot where our two voyagers were resting on their oars. In a short time -the canoe came up, rowed by an ordinary Indian boy of about fourteen, -who, pulling alongside, held up a neatly-made, new, wampum-trimmed -hunting pouch, and said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</span></p> - -<p>“The chief send this Mr. Claud Elwood,—gift. Fluella say, wish Mr. -Phillips and Mr. Claud Elwood good time.”</p> - -<p>And so saying, and tossing the article to Claud, he wheeled his -canoe around, and, without turning his head or appearing to hear the -compliments and thanks that both the hunter and Claud told him to take -to the chief and his daughter, sped his way back to the landing.</p> - -<p>“There, young man!” exclaimed the obviously gratified hunter, “that -is a present, with a meaning. I would rather have it, coming as it -does from an Indian, and that Indian such a man as the chief,—I would -rather have it, as a pledge of watchfulness over your interests in the -settlement, whether you are present there or absent,—than a white -man’s bond for a hundred dollars; and I would also rather have it, as -a token of faith, given when you are roaming this northern wilderness, -than a passport from the king of England. The chief’s <em>Totem</em>, the -bald eagle, is woven in, I see, among the ornaments. Every Indian found -anywhere from the great river of Canada to the sea eastward will know -and respect it, and know, likewise, how to treat the man to whom it was -given.”</p> - -<p>“But how,” asked Claud, “could stranger Indians, whom I encountered, -know to whom it was given, or that I did not find, buy, or steal the -article?”</p> - -<p>“Let an Indian alone for that. You have but three fingers on your left -hand, I have noticed.”</p> - -<p>“True, the little finger was accidentally cut clean off by an axe, when -I was a child; but what has that to do with the question?”</p> - -<p>“Enough to settle it. Do you notice something protruding as if from -under the protecting wing of the eagle of the <em>Totem</em>, there?”</p> - -<p>“Yes; and surely enough it resembles a human hand, with only three -fingers.”</p> - -<p>“That is it; and you may yet, in your experiences in these<span class="pagenum" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</span> rough and -sometimes dangerous wilds, know the value of that gift.”</p> - -<p>“At any rate, I feel gratified at this mark of the chief’s good will; -the more because I was so little expecting it, especially at this time. -How could they have possibly made out who I, or indeed either of us, -was, at such a distance?”</p> - -<p>“A very natural inquiry, but answered when I tell you that Fluella -has a good spy-glass, that a year or two ago she brought, among other -curious trinkets, from her other home in the old settlement. And she -makes it often serve a good purpose, too. She has spied out, for her -father’s killing, many a moose or deer that had come down to the -edge or into the water of the lake round the shores to drink, eat -wild-grass, or cool themselves, as well as many a flock of wild geese, -lighting here on their fall or spring passages. She knew, I think, -about the day we were to start, and, being on the lookout, saw the rest -of our company passing off here to the west, an hour or two ago, and, -not seeing us among them, expected us to be along somewhere in this -direction. Now, is all explained?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, curiously but satisfactorily.”</p> - -<p>“Then, only one word more on the subject: let me advise you not to show -that hunting-pouch when we join the company, nor wear it till we are -off on our separate ranges. I have my reasons, but mustn’t be asked to -give them.”</p> - -<p>“All this is odd, Mr. Phillips; but, taking it for granted that your -reasons are good ones, I will comply with your advice.”</p> - -<p>“Very well. The whole matter being now disposed of, let us move on -round the point, and into the large cove we shall find round there. We -mustn’t give up about game so. No knowing what may yet be done in that -line.”</p> - -<p>Having risen to his feet, raised his hunting-cap, and bowed his adieu -to the still lingering maiden on shore, Claud now joined his companion -at the oars; when they rapidly passed round the headland, and soon -entered the bay-like recess of water, which, sweeping round in a large -wood-fringed circle,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</span> opened upon the view immediately beyond. After -skirting along the sometimes bold and rocky, and sometimes low and -swampy, thickly-wooded shore, with a sharp lookout for whatever might -come within range of the eye, but without stopping for any special -examination till they had reached the most secluded part of the cove, -the hunter suspended his oar, and signified his intention of landing. -Accordingly, running in their canoe by the side of an old treetop -extending into the water, and, throwing their mooring-line around one -of its bare limbs, they stepped noiselessly ashore, and ascended the -bank, when the hunter, pausing and pointing inward, said, in a low, -suppressed tone:</p> - -<p>“There, within a short distance from us, commences one of the thickest -windfall jungles in these parts, and extends up nearly to the chief’s -outermost cornfield, about half a mile off. I have been threatening to -come here some time; and if, as I will propose, we go into the tangle, -and get through, or half through, without encounter of some kind, I -confess I shall be uncommonly disappointed. But, before entering, let -us sit down on this old log a few minutes, and, while looking to our -flints and priming, keep our ears open for such sounds as may reach -them.”</p> - -<p>And, bending low his head, with closed eyes, and an ear turned towards -the thicket, the hunter listened long and intently in motionless -silence, after which he quickly rose, and, while glancing at his -gun-flint and priming, said:</p> - -<p>“There are no distinct sounds, but the air is disturbed in the kind of -way that I have frequently noticed when animals of some size were in -the vicinity. Let us forward into the thicket, spreading out some ten -rods apart, and worming ourselves among the windfalls, with a stop and -a thorough look every few rods of our progress. Should you start up a -panther, which ain’t very likely, you had better whistle for me, before -firing; but, if any thing else, blaze away at it.”</p> - -<p>Nodding his assent, and starting off in a course diverging to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</span> the -right of the one he perceived his companion to be taking, Claud slowly, -and as he best could, made his way forward, sometimes crawling under, -and sometimes clambering over the tangled masses of fallen trees, -which, with a thick upshooting second growth, lay piled and crossed in -all conceivable shapes and directions before him. After proceeding in -this manner thirty or forty rods, he paused, for the third or fourth -time, to look and listen; but lastly quite as much for his companion as -for game, for, with all his powers, he could detect no sound indicating -that the latter could be anywhere in the vicinity. While thus engaged, -he heard a small, shrill, plaintive sort of cry, as of a little child, -coming from somewhere above him; when, casting up his eyes, he beheld a -large raccoon sidling round a limb, and seemingly winking and nodding -down towards him. With the suppressed exclamation of “Far better than -nothing,” he brought his piece to his face and fired; when the glimpse -of a straight-falling body, and the heavy thump on the ground that -followed, told him that the object of his aim was a “<em>dead coon</em>.” -But his half-uttered shout of exultation was cut short by the startling -report of a rifle, a little distance to the rear, on his left. And the -next moment a huge old bear, followed by a smaller one, came smashing -and tearing through the brush and tree-tops directly towards him. And -with such headlong speed did the frightened brutes advance upon him, -that he had scarce time to draw his clubbed rifle before the old one -had broke into the little open space where he stood, and thrown herself -on her haunches, in an attitude of angry defiance. Recoiling a step -in the only way he could move, and expecting the next moment to find -himself within the fatal grasp of the bear, if he did not disable her, -Claud aimed and struck with all his might a blow at her head. But, -before the swiftly-descending implement reached its mark, it was struck -by the fending paw of the enraged brute, with a force that sent its -tightly-grasping owner spinning and floundering into the entangled -brushwood, till he landed prostrate on the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</span> ground. And, ere he had -time to turn himself, the desperate animal had rushed and trampled over -him, and disappeared through a breach effected in one of the treetops -that had hemmed him in and prevented his retreat from such a doubtful, -hand-to-hand encounter. As the discomfited young huntsman was rising to -his feet, his eyes fell upon Phillips, hurrying forward, with looks of -lively concern; which, however, as he leaped into the small open space -comprising the battle-ground, and saw how matters stood, at first gave -place to a ludicrous smile, and then to a merry peal of laughter.</p> - -<p>“I can’t say I blame you much for your merriment,” said Claud, joining, -though rather feebly, in the laugh, as he brushed himself and picked -up his rifle; “for, to be upset and run over by a bear would have been -about the last thing I should have dreamed of myself.”</p> - -<p>“O well,” said the other, checking his risibles, “it had better turn -out a laughing than a crying matter, as it might have done if you -had kept your footing; for, if you had not been overthrown and run -over, you would have probably, in this cramped-up place, stood up to -be hugged and scratched in a way not so very agreeable; and I rather -guess, under the circumstances, you may as well call yourself satisfied -to quit so; for the bears have left you with a whole skin and unbroken -ribs, though they have escaped themselves where, with our time, it will -be useless to follow them. But, if you had not fired just as you did, -we would have had all three of them.”</p> - -<p>“What! have you killed one?” asked Claud, in surprise.</p> - -<p>“To be sure I have,” answered the hunter. “Then you supposed it was one -of your rough visitors I fired at, and missed? No, no. I had got one -of the black youngsters in range, and was waiting for a chance at the -old one, knowing if I killed her first the young ones would take to the -trees, where they could easily be brought down. Seeing them, however, -on the point of running at the report of your rifle, I let drive at the -only one I was sure of; when the two others, they being<span class="pagenum" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</span> nearly between -us, tacked about and ran towards you. But go get your ’coon, and come -along this way, to look at my black beauty.”</p> - -<p>“How did you know I had killed a ’coon?” inquired the other.</p> - -<p>“Heard him squall before you fired, then strike the ground afterwards -with a force that I thought must have killed him, whether your bullet -had or not,” replied the hunter, moving off for his bear, with which, -tugging it along by a hind leg, he soon joined Claud, who was threading -his way out with his mottled trophy swung over his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“Why, a much larger one than I supposed,” exclaimed the latter, turning -and looking at the cub; “really, a fine one!”</p> - -<p>“Ain’t he, now?” complacently said the hunter. “There, heft him; -must weigh over half a hundred, and as fat as butter,—for which he -is doubtless indebted to the chief’s cornfield. And I presume we -may say the same of that streaked squaller of yours, which I see is -an uncommonly large, plump fellow. Well,” continued the speaker, -shouldering the cub, “we may now as well call our hunt over, for -to-day,—out of this plaguey hole as soon as we can, and over the lakes -to camp, as fast as strong arms and good oars can send us.”</p> - -<p>On, after reaching and pushing off their now well-freighted canoe, -on,—along the extended coast-line of this wild lake, westward to -the great inlet, up the gently inflowing waters of that broad, -cypress-lined stream, to the Maguntic, and then, tacking eastward, -around the borders of that still wilder and more secluded lake,—on, -on, they sped for hours, until the ringing of the axe-fall, and the -lively echo of human voices in the woods, apprised them of their near -approach to the spot which their companions had selected, both for -their night’s rest and permanent head-quarters for the season.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIII">CHAPTER XIII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“And now their hatchets, with resounding stroke, -<br />Hew’d down the boscage that around them rose, -<br />And the dry pine of brittle branches broke, -<br />To yield them fuel for the night’s repose; -<br />The gathered heap an ample store bespoke. -<br />They smite the steel: the tinder brightly glows, -<br />And the fired match the kindled flames awoke, -<br />And light upon night’s seated darkness broke. -<br />High branch’d the pines, and far the colonnade -<br />Of tapering trunks stood glimmering through the glen; -<br />So joyed the hunters in their lonely glade.” -</p> - - -<p>“Hurra! the stragglers have arrived!” exclaimed Codman, the first to -notice the hunter and Claud as they shot into the mouth of the small, -quiet river, on whose bank was busily progressing the work of the -incipient encampment. “Hurra for the arrival of the good ship Brag, -Phillips, master; but where is his black duck, with a big trout to its -foot? Ah, ha! not forthcoming, hey? Kuk-kuk-ke-oh-o!”</p> - -<p>“Don’t crow till you see what I have got, Mr. Trapper,” replied the -hunter, running in his canoe by the sides of those of his companions on -shore. “Don’t crow yet,—especially over the failure of what I didn’t -undertake: you or Mr. Carvil was to furnish the big trout, you will -recollect.”</p> - -<p>“That has been attended to by me, to the satisfaction of the company, I -rather think,” remarked Carvil, now advancing towards the bank with the -rest. “Not only one big trout, but two more with it, was drawn in by my -method, on the way.”</p> - -<p>“O, accident, accident!” waggishly rejoined the trapper; “they were -hooked by mere accident. The fact is, the trouts<span class="pagenum" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</span> are so thick in these -lakes that a hook and line can’t be drawn such a distance through them -without getting into some of their mouths. But, allowing it otherwise, -it don’t cure but half of your case, Mr. Hunter. Where is the black -duck?”</p> - -<p>“<em>Here</em> is the black duck,” responded the hunter, stepping ashore -and drawing his cub out from under some screening boughs in the bow of -the boat.</p> - -<p>A lively shout of laughter burst from the lips of the company at the -disclosure, showing alike their amusement at the practical way in which -the hunter had turned the jokes of the teasing trapper, and their -agreeable surprise at his luck in the uncertain hunting cruise along -the shores, on which they, without any expectation of his success, had -banteringly dispatched him. “Ah, I think you may as well give up beat, -all round, Mr. Codman,” observed Mark Elwood, after the surprise and -laughter had subsided. “But come up here, neighbor Phillips, and see -what a nice place we are going to have for our camp.”</p> - -<p>Leaving the game in charge of Claud and Carvil, who volunteered to -dress it, the rest of the company walked up with the hunter to the spot -where the new shanty was in progress, wishing to hear his opinion of -the location selected, and the plan on which it had been commenced.</p> - -<p>The location to which the company had been guided by the trapper was -a level space, about ten rods back from the stream here falling into -the lake from the east, and at the foot of a rocky acclivity forming -a portion of the southern side of a high ridge that ran down to the -lake. The first ten feet of the rise was formed by the smooth, even -face of a perpendicular rock, which from the narrow shelf at the top -fell off into a less precipitous ascent, extending up as far as the -eye could reach among the stunted evergreens and other low bushes that -partially covered it. About a dozen feet in front of this abutting -rock, equidistant from it, and some fifteen feet apart, stood two -spruce trees, six or eight inches in diameter at the bottom, but tall, -and tapering towards the top. These, the company,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</span> who had reached the -place about two hours before, had contrived, by rolling up some old -logs to stand on, to cut off, and fell, six or seven feet from the -ground; so that the tall stumps might serve for the two front posts of -the proposed structure. And, having trimmed out the tops of the two -fallen trees, and cut them into the required lengths, they had laid -them from the top of the rock to the tops of the stumps, which had been -first grooved out, so as to receive and securely fasten the ends of -the timbers. These, with the stout poles which they had then cut and -laid on transversely, at short intervals, made a substantial framework -for the roof of the shantee. And, in addition to this, rows of side -and front posts had been cut, sharpened, driven into the ground at the -bottom, and securely fastened at the top to the two rafters at the -sides and the principal beam, which had been notched into them at the -lower ends to serve for the front plate.</p> - -<p>“Just the spot,” said the hunter, after running his eye over and around -the locality a moment, and then going up and inspecting the structure -in progress. “I thought Codman could not miss so remarkable a place. I -have been thinking of building a camp here for several years; but it -never seemed to come just right till this fall. Why, you all must have -worked like beavers to get along with the job so well, and to do it -so thoroughly. The bones of the thing are all now up, as far as I can -see, and made strong enough to withstand all the snows and blows of -half a dozen winters. So, now, nothing remains but to put on the bark -covering.”</p> - -<p>“But how are we to get the bark covering?” asked Gaut Gurley. “Bark -will not peel well at this season, will it?”</p> - -<p>“No, not very well, I suppose,” replied the former. “But I will see -what I can do towards hunting up the material, to-morrow. A coat of -these spruce boughs, spread over this framework above, and set up -here against the sides, will answer for to-night. And this rigging -up, gathering hemlock boughs for our beds, building a good fire here -in front, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</span> cooking the supper, are all we had better think of -attempting this evening; and, as it is now about sunset, let us divide -off the labor, and go at it.”</p> - -<p>The encampment of these adventurous woodsmen presented, for the -next hour, a stirring and animated scene. The different duties to -be performed having been apportioned by mutual agreement among the -company, they proceeded with cheerful alacrity to the performance of -their respective tasks. Phillips and Carvil set busily to work in -covering, inclosing, and rigging up the camp,—to adopt the woodsman’s -use of that word, as we notify the critic we shall do, as often as -we please, albeit that use, contrary to Noah Webster, indicates the -structure in which men lodge in the woods, rather than the place or -company encamping. Mark Elwood, Gaut Gurley, and the young Indian -Tomah, proceeding to a neighboring windfall of different kinds of wood, -went to work in cutting and drawing up a supply of fuel, among which, -the accustomed backlog, forestick, and intermediate kindling-wood, -being adjusted before the entrance of the camp, the fire from the -smitten steel and preserving punkwood was soon crackling and throwing -around its ruddy glow, as it more and more successfully competed -with the waning light of the departing day. Claud and Codman, in -fulfilment of their part of the business on hand, then unpacked the -light frying-pans, laid in them the customary slices of fat salted -pork, and shortly had them sharply hissing over the fire, preparatory -to receiving respectively their allotted quotas of the tender and -nutritious bearsteaks, or the broad layers of the rich, red-meated -trout.</p> - -<p>In a short time the plentiful contents of the pans were thoroughly -cooked, the pans taken from the fires, the potatoes raked from the -glowing embers, in which they had been roasting under the forestick, -the brown bread and condiments brought forward, and all placed upon -the even face of a broad, thin sheet of cleft rock, which they had -luckily found in the adjacent ledge, and brought forward and elevated -on blocks within the camp, to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</span> serve, as it well did, for their sylvan -table. Gathering round this, they proceeded to help themselves, -with their camp knives and rude trenchers, split from blocks of the -freely-cleaving bass-wood, to such kinds and portions of the savory -viands, smoking so invitingly in the pans before them, as their -inclinations severally prompted. Having done this, they drew back to -seats on broad chips, blocks of wood, piles of boughs, or other objects -nearest at hand, and began upon their long anticipated meal with a -gusto which made them for a while too busy for conversation, other than -an occasional brief remark on the quality of the food, or some jocose -allusion to the adventures of the day. After they had finished their -repast, however, and cleared away the relics of the supper, together -with the few utensils they had used in cooking and eating it, they -replenished their fire; and, while the cheerful light of its fagot-fed -blaze was flashing up against the dark forest around, and shooting -away through the openings of the foliage in long glimmering lines over -the waters below, they all placed themselves at their ease,—some -sitting on blocks, some leaning against the posts, and some reclining -on piles of boughs,—and commenced the social confab, or that general -conversation, in which woodsmen, if they ever do, are prone to indulge -after the fatigues of the day are over, and the consequent demands of -appetite have been appeased by a satisfactory meal.</p> - -<p>“Now, gentlemen, I will make a proposition,” said Mark Elwood, in a -pause of the conversation, which, though it had been engaged in with -considerable spirit, yet now began to flag. “I will propose, as we have -an hour or two on hand, to be spent somehow, before we shall think of -rolling ourselves up in our blankets for the night,—I propose that you -professional hunters, like Phillips, Codman, and Carvil, here, each -give us a story of one of your most remarkable adventures in the woods. -It would not only while away the hour pleasantly for us all, but might -furnish useful information and timely hints for us beginners in this -new life, upon which we are about to enter. For my<span class="pagenum" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</span> part, I should like -to listen to a story, by these old witnesses, of the strange things -they must have encountered in the woods. What say you, Gurley, Claud, -and Tomah? Shall we put them on the stand?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, a good idea,” replied Gaut, his habitual cold reserve relaxing -into something like cordiality; “I feel just in the humor to -listen,—more so than to talk, on this hearty supper. Yes, by all means -let us have the stories.”</p> - -<p>“O, I should be exceedingly gratified,” joined in Claud, in his usual -frank and animated manner.</p> - -<p>“I like that, too; like to hear hunting story, always, much,” added -Tomah, with a glistening eye.</p> - -<p>“Well, no particular objection as far as I am concerned,” responded the -trapper, seriously; but adding, with his old waggish gleam of the eye: -“that is, if you will take what I give, and swallow it as easily as you -did Phillips’ fish story. But let Carvil, who must be the youngest, go -on with <em>his</em> story first; I will follow; and Phillips shall bring -up the rear.”</p> - -<p>Carvil, after making a few excuses that were not suffered to avail him, -commenced his narration, which we will head</p> - - -<h3>THE AMATEUR WOODSMAN’S STORY.</h3> - -<p>“I call myself a woodsman, and a pretty good one, now; but, four years -ago, I was almost any thing else but one of any kind. I should have -then thought it would have certainly been the death of me to have lain -out one night in the woods. And I had no more idea of ever becoming a -hunter or trapper, to remain out, as I have since done, for weeks and -months in the depths of the wilderness, with no other protection than -my rifle, and no other shelter than what I could fix up with my hatchet -for the night, where I happened to be, on the approach of darkness, -than I now have of undertaking to swim the Atlantic. And, as the -circumstances which led to this revolution in my opinions and habits, -when <em>out</em> of the woods, may as much interest you, in the account, -as any thing that happened to me<span class="pagenum" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</span> after I got into them, I will first -briefly tell you how I came to be a woodsman, and then answer your call -by relating a hunting incident which occurred to me after I became one; -which, if not very marvellous, shall, at least, have the merit of truth -and reality.</p> - -<p>“I was brought up rather tenderly, as to work; and my parents, absurdly -believing that, with my then slight frame, any employment requiring -any labor or physical exertion would injure me, put me to study, and -assisted me to the means of entering college at eighteen, and of -graduating at twenty-two. Well, I did not misimprove my opportunities -for knowledge, I believe; but, instead of gaining strength and manhood -by my exemption from labor, I grew feebler and feebler. Still, I did -not know what was wanting to give me health and constitution, nor once -think that a mind without a body is a thing not worth having; and so -I went on, keeping within doors and studying a profession, until I -found myself a poor, nervous, miserable dyspeptic, and threatened with -consumption. It was now plain enough that, if I would avoid a speedy -death, something must be done; and, by the advice of the doctors, -who were about as ignorant of the philosophy of health as myself, I -concluded to seek a residence and livelihood in one of the Southern -States. Accordingly, I packed up and took stage for Boston, timing -my journey so as to get there the day before the ship, on which I -had previously ascertained I could find a passage, was to sail for -Savannah. But, the morning after I arrived, a severe storm came on, -and the sailing of the ship was deferred till the next day; so, having -nothing to do, knowing nobody to talk with, and the weather being too -stormy to go out to see the city, I took to my solitary room in the -hotel, where, fortunately, there were neither books not papers to -prevent me from thinking. And I <em>did</em> think, that day, almost -for the first time in my life, without the trammels of fashionable -book-theories, and more effectually than I had ever done before. I had -a favorite classmate in college, whose name was Silas Wright, who had -a mind that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</span> penetrated, like light, every thing it was turned upon, -and who never failed to see the truth of a matter, though his towering -ambition sometimes prevented him from following the path where it led. -In recalling, as I was pacing the floor that gloomy day, my old college -friends and their conversation, I happened to think of what Wright once -said to me on the subject of health and long life.</p> - -<p>“‘Carvil,’ said he, ‘did you know that we students were committing -treason against the great laws of life which God has laid down for us?’</p> - -<p>“‘No.’</p> - -<p>“‘Well, we are. Man was made for active life, and in the open air.’</p> - -<p>“‘But <em>you</em>, it seems, are not observing the theory about which -you are so positive?’</p> - -<p>“‘No, and don’t intend to. To observe that, I must relinquish all -thought of mounting the professional and political ladder, even half -way to the mark I <em>must</em> and <em>will</em> reach. I have naturally -a strong constitution, and I calculate it will last, with the rapid -mounting I intend, till I reach the top round, and that is all that I -care for. But I shall know, all the while, that I am going up like a -rocket, whose height and brilliancy are only attained by the certain -and rapid wasting of the substance that composes it. But the case is -different with you, Carvil. You have a constitution yet to make, or -your rocket will go out, before you can get high enough, in these days -of jostling and severe competition, to warrant the attempt of mounting -at all.’</p> - -<p>“Such was one of Wright’s intuitive grasps at the truth, hid under -the false notions of the times, or the artificial theories of books, -which he was wasting his life to master, and often only mastering to -despise. And I, being now earnestly in search of the best means of -health, eagerly caught at his notion, which placed the matter in a -light in which I had never before seriously viewed it, and, indeed, -struck me with a force that soon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</span> brought mo to a dead stand in all my -calculations for the future. ‘What is it,’ thought I, running into a -sort of mental dialogue with myself, and calling in what little true -science I had learned, to aid me in fully testing the soundness of -the notion, before I finally gave in to it; ‘what is it that hardens -the muscles, and compacts the human system?’—‘Thorough exercise, and -constant use.’—‘Can these be had in the study-room?’—‘No.’—‘And -what is the invigorating and fattening principle of the air -we breathe?’—‘Oxygen.’—‘Can this be had in the close or -artificially-heated room?’—‘No, except in stinted and uncertain -proportions. It can be breathed in the open fields, but much more -abundantly in the woods.’—‘Well, what do I need?’—‘Only hardening and -invigorating.’—‘But shall I go to the relaxing clime of the South for -this?’—‘No; the northern wilderness were a hundred times better.’—‘It -is settled, then.’—‘Landlord,’ I cried aloud, as I saw that personage -at that moment passing by my partly open door, ‘when does the first -stage, going north, start?’</p> - -<p>“‘In twenty minutes, and from my door.’</p> - -<p>“‘Order on my luggage, here; make out your bill; and I will be on hand.’</p> - -<p>“And I was on hand at the time, and the next hour on my way home, which -I duly reached, but only to start off immediately to the residence of a -hunter acquaintance, a dozen miles off, who, I knew, was about to start -for the head-waters of the Connecticut, on his annual fall hunting -expedition. I found him, joined him, and within ten days was entering, -with pack and rifle, the unbroken wilderness, by his side, though with -many misgivings. But my first night out tested and settled the matter -forever. We had had a fatiguing march, at least to me, and the last -part of it in the rain. We had to lay down in a leaking camp, and I -counted myself a dead man. But, to my astonishment, I awoke the next -morning, unhurt, and even feeling better than I had for a month. And -I constantly grew better and hardier, through that and my next year’s -campaign<span class="pagenum" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</span> in that region, and through the two succeeding ones I made -on the Great Megantic; where the incident which I propose to relate -to you, it being my best strike in moose-hunting, occurred, and which -happened in this wise:</p> - -<p>“It was a raw, gloomy day in November, and I had been lazily lying in -my solitary camp, on the borders of this magnificent lake, all the -forenoon. But, after dinner, I began to feel a little more like action, -and soon concluded I would explore a sort of creek-looking stream, -four or five rods wide, which I had noticed entering the lake about -a mile off, but which I had never entered. Accordingly, I loaded my -rifle, took my powder-horn, put two spare bullets in my vest-pocket, -not supposing I could have use for more, entered my canoe, and pulled -leisurely away for the place. After reaching and entering this sluggish -stream, I went on paddling and pushing my way along through and under -the overhanging bushes and treetops, something like half a mile, when I -came to higher banks and a series of knolls jutting down to the stream, -which, with frequent sharp curves and crooks, wound its way among them. -On turning one of these sharp points, my eyes suddenly encountered a -sight that made my heart jump. On a high, open, and almost bare bluff, -directly before me, and not fifteen rods distant, stood two tremendous -moose, as unconcernedly as a pair of oxen chewing their cuds, or dozing -in a pasture. The last was unusually large, the biggest a monster, -appearing, to my wide-opened eyes, with his eight or nine foot height, -and ten or eleven foot spread of antlers, as he stood up there against -the sky, like some reproduced mastodon of the old legends. Quietly -falling back and running in under a screening treetop, I pulled down -a branch and put it under my foot to hold and steady my canoe. When I -raised my rifle, I aimed it for the heart of the big moose, and fired. -But, to my great surprise, the animal never stirred nor moved a muscle. -Supposing I had somehow unaccountably missed hitting him, even at all, -I fell, with nervous haste, to reloading my piece; and, having got all -right, as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</span> I supposed, I raised it this time towards the smaller moose, -standing a little nearer and presenting a fairer mark; took a long and -careful aim, and again let drive; but again without the least effect. -Utterly confounded to have missed a second time, with so fair a shot, I -stood half confused a moment, first querying whether something was not -the matter with my eyes, and then thinking of stories I had heard of -witches turning away bullets from their object. But I soon mechanically -began to load up again; and, having got in my powder, I put my hand in -my pocket for a bullet, when I found there both the balls I had brought -with me from camp, and consequently knew that, in my eager haste in -loading for my last shot, I had neglected to put in any bullet at all! -But I now put in the bullet, looked at it after it was entered, to make -sure it was there, and then felt it all the way down, till I had rammed -it home. I then raised the luckless piece once more, uncertain at -first which of the two moose I should take, this time. But, seeing the -smaller one beginning to move his head and lay back his horns, which -I well enough knew was his signal for running, I instantly decided to -take <em>him</em>, took a quick, good aim, and fired. With three dashing -bounds forward, the animal plunged headlong to the ground. Knowing that -one to be secure, at least, I then turned my attention to the big one. -To my astonishment, he was still there, and, notwithstanding all the -firing, had not moved an inch. But, before I got loaded for another -trial upon him, I looked up again, when a motion in his body had become -plainly visible. Presently he began to sway to and fro, like a rocking -tower, and, the next moment, went over broadside, with a thundering -crash, into the bushes. My first shot, it appeared, had, after all, -done the business, having pierced his lungs and caused an inward flow -of blood, that stopped his breath at the time he fell. All was now -explained, except the wonder that such shy animals should stand so much -firing without running. But the probability is, that, not seeing me, -they took the reports of my rifle for some natural sound, such as that -of thunder, or the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</span> falling of a tree; while, perhaps, the great one, -when he was hit, was too much paralyzed to move, by the rupture of some -important nerve. But, however that may be, you have the facts by which -to judge for yourselves. And I have now only to add, that, having gone -to the spot, bled, partially dressed the animals, and got them into -a condition to be left, I went off to the nearest camps and rallied -out help; when, after much toil and tugging, we got the carcasses -home to my shanty, for present eating, curing, and distributing among -the neighboring hunters, who soon flocked in to congratulate me on my -singular good luck, and receive their ever freely-bestowed portions, -and who unanimously pronounced my big prize the largest moose ever -slain in all the regions of the Great Megantic.”</p> - - -<h3>THE TRAPPER’S STORY.</h3> - -<p>“My story,” commenced the trapper, who was next called on for his -promised contribution to the entertainment of the evening, “my story -is of a different character from the one you have just heard. It don’t -run so much to the great and terrible as the small and curious. It may -appear to you perhaps a little queer, in some parts; but which, after -the modest drafts that have been made on my credulity, you will, of -course, have the good manners to believe. It relates to an adventure -in beaver-hunting, which I met with, many years ago, on Moosehead -Lake, where I served my apprenticeship at trapping. I had established -myself in camp, the last of August, about the time the beavers, after -having collected in communities, and established their never-failing -democratic government, generally get fairly at work on their dams and -dwelling-houses, for the ensuing cold months, in places along the small -streams, which they have looked out and decided on for the purpose. I -was thus early on the ground, in order to have time, before I went to -other hunting, to look up the localities of the different societies, -so that I need not blunder on them and disturb them, in the chase for -other animals, and so that I should know where to find<span class="pagenum" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</span> them, when -their fur got thick enough to warrant the onslaught upon them which I -designed to make.</p> - -<p>“In hunting for these localities in the vicinity around me, I soon -unexpectedly discovered marks of what I thought must be a very -promising one, situated on a small stream, not over half a mile -in a bee-line over the hills from my camp. When I discovered the -place,—as I did from encountering, at short intervals in the woods, -two wolverines, always the great enemy and generally the prowling -attendant of assembled beavers,—these curious creatures had just -begun to lay the foundation of their dam. And the place being so near, -and the nights moon-light, I concluded I would go over occasionally, -evenings,—the night being the only time when they can ever be seen -engaged on their work,—and see if I could gain some covert near the -bank, where, unperceived, I might watch their operations, and obtain -some new knowledge of their habits, of which I might thereafter avail -myself, when the season for hunting them arrived. Accordingly, I went -over that very evening, in the twilight, secured a favorable lookout, -and laid in wait for the appearance of the beavers. Presently I was -startled by a loud rap, as of a small paddle struck flatwise on the -water, then another, and another, in quick succession. It was the -signal of the master workman, for all the workers to leave their -hiding-places in the banks, and repair to their labors in making the -dam. The next moment the whole stream seemed to be alive with the -numbers in motion. I could hear them, sousing and plunging in the -water, in every direction,—then swimming and puffing across or up and -down the stream,—then scrambling up the banks,—then the auger-like -sound of their sharp teeth, at work on the small trees,—then soon -the falling of the trees,—then the rustling and tugging of the -creatures, in getting the fallen trees out of the water,—and, finally, -the surging and splashing with which they came swimming towards the -groundwork of the dam, with the butt end of those trees in their -mouths. The line of the dam they had begun, passed with a<span class="pagenum" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</span> curve up -stream in the middle, so as to give it more strength to resist the -current; across the low-water bed of the river some five rods; and -extended up over the first low bank, about as much farther, to a second -and higher bank, which must have bounded the water at the greatest -floods. They had already cut, drawn on, and put down, a double layer -of trees, with their butts brought up evenly to the central line, and -their tops pointing in opposite directions,—those of one layer, or -row, pointing up, and those of the other, down stream. Among and under -this line of butts had been worked in an extra quantity of limbs, old -wood, and short bushes, so as to give the centre an elevation of a foot -or two, over the lowest part of the sides, which, of course, fell off -considerably each way in the lessening of the tops of the trees, thus -put down. Over all these they had plastered mud, mixed in with stones, -grass, and moss, so thick as not only to hold down securely the bodies -of the trees, but nearly conceal them from sight.</p> - -<p>“Scarcely had I time to glance over these works, which I had not -approached near enough to inspect much, before the beavers from below, -and above came tugging along, by dozens on a side to the lower edges -of their embankment, with the loads or rafts of trees which they had -respectively drawn to the spot. Lodging these on the solid ground, with -the ends just out of water, they relinquished their holds, mounted the -slopes, paused a minute to take breath, and then, seizing these ends -again, drew them, with the seeming strength of horses, out of the water -and up to the central line on top; laid the stems or bodies of the -trees parallel, and as near together as they could be got; and adjusted -the butt ends, as I have stated they did with the foundation layers, -so as to bring them to a sort of joint on the top. They then all went -off for new loads, with the exception of a small squad, a part of which -were still holding their trees in a small space in the dam, where the -current had not been checked, and the other part bringing stones, till -they had confined the trees down to the bottom, so that they would -not be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</span> swept away. This task of filling the gap, however, after some -severe struggling with the current, was before long accomplished; -when those engaged upon it joined in the common work, in which they -steadily persevered till this second double layer of trees, with the -large quantities of short bushes which they brought and wove into the -chinks, near the top, was completed, through the whole length of their -dam. They then collected along on the top of the dam, and seemed to -hold a sort of consultation, after which they scattered for the banks -of the stream, but soon returned, walking on their hind legs, and -each bringing a load of mud or stones, held between his fore paws and -throat. These loads were successively deposited, as they came up, among -the stems and interlacing branches of the trees and bushes they had -just laid down, giving each deposited pile, as they turned to go back, -a smart blow with the flat of their broad thick tails, producing the -same sound as the one I have mentioned as the signal-raps for calling -them out to work, only far less loud and sharp, since the former raps -were struck on water, and the latter on mud or rubbish. Thus they -continued to work,—and work, too, with a will, if any creatures ever -did,—till I had seen nearly the whole of the last layers plastered -over.</p> - -<p>“Thinking now I had seen all that would be new and useful to me, I -noiselessly crept away and returned to camp, to lay awake half the -night, in my excitement, and to dream, the other half, about this -magnificent society of beavers, whose numbers I could not make less -than three dozen. I did not go to steal another view of the place for -nearly a week, and then went in the daytime, there now being no moon, -till late,—when, to my surprise, I found the dam finished, and the -river flowed into a pond of several acres, while on each side, ranged -along, one after another, stood three family dwellings in different -states of progress; some of them only rising to the surface of the -water, showing the nature of the structure, which, you know, is built -up with short, small logs, and mud, in a squarish form, of about the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</span> -size of a large chimney; while others, having been built up a foot or -two above the water, and the windows fashioned, had been arched over -with mud and sticks, and were already nearly finished.</p> - -<p>“Knowing that the establishment was now so nearly completed that the -beavers would not relinquish it without being disturbed by the presence -of a human foe,—which they will sometimes detect, I think, at nearly -a quarter of a mile distance,—I concluded to keep entirely away from -them till the time of my contemplated onslaught, which I finally -decided to begin on one of the first days of the coming November.</p> - -<p>“Well, what with hunting deer, bear, and so on, for food, and lynx, -otter, and sable, for furs, the next two months passed away, and the -long anticipated November at length arrived; when, one dark, cloudy -day, having cut a lot of bits of green wood for bait, got out my vial -of castor to scent them with, and got my steel traps in order, with -these equipments and my rifle I set off, for the purpose of commencing -operations, of some kind, on my community of beavers. On reaching the -spot, I crept to my old covert with the same precautions I had used -on my former visits, thinking it likely enough that, on so dark a -day, some of the beavers might be out; and, wishing to know how this -was, before proceeding openly along the banks to look out the right -places to set my traps, I listened a while, but could hear no splashing -about the pond, or detect any <em>other</em> sounds indicating that the -creatures were astir; but, on peering out, I saw a large, old beaver -perched in a window of one of the beaver-houses on the opposite shore. -I instinctively drew up my rifle,—for it was a fair shot, and I knew -I could draw him,—but I forbore, and contented myself with watching -his motions. I might have lain there ten minutes, perhaps, when this -leader, or judge in the beaver Israel, as he soon showed himself to -be, quietly slid out into the water, swam into a central part of the -pond, and, after swimming twice or three times round in a small circle, -lifted his tail on high, and slowly<span class="pagenum" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</span> and deliberately gave three of -those same old loud and startling raps on the water. He then swam -back to his cabin, and ascended an open flat on the bank, where all -the underbrush had been cut and cleared off in building the dam. In a -few minutes more, a large number of beavers might be seen hastening -to the spot, where they ranged themselves in a sort of circle, so as -just to inclose the old beaver which came first, and which had now -taken his stand on a little moss hillock, on the farther side of the -little opening, to which he had thus called them, and, evidently, -for some important public purpose. Soon another small band of the -creatures made their appearance on the bank above, seeming to have in -custody two great, lubberly, cowed-down looking beavers, that they -were hunching and driving along, as legal officers sometimes have -to do with <em>their</em> prisoners, when taking them to some dreaded -punishment. When this last band reached the place, with these two -culprit-looking fellows, they pushed them forward in front of the -judge, as we will call him, and then fell into the ranks, so as to -close up the circle. There was then a long, solemn pause, in which they -all kept still in their places round the prisoners, which had crouched -sneaking down, without stirring an inch from the places where they had -been put. Soon, however, a great, fierce, gruff-appearing beaver left -the ranks, and, advancing a few steps within them, reared himself on -his haunches, and began to sputter and gibber away at a great rate, -making his fore-paws go like the hands of some over-heated orator; now -motioning respectfully towards the judge, and now spitefully towards -the prisoners, as if he was making bitter accusations, and demanding -judgment against them. After this old fellow had got through, two or -three others, in turn, came forward, and appeared also to be holding -forth about the matter, but in a far milder manner than the other, -which I now began much to dislike for his spitefulness, and in the -same proportion to pity the two poor objects of his evident malice. -There was then another long and silent pause, after which, the judge -proceeded to utter what appeared to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</span> his sentence; and, having -brought it to a conclusion, he gave a rap with his tail on the ground. -At this signal, the beavers in the ranks advanced, one after another, -in rapid succession toward the prisoners, and, circling round them -once, turned and gave each one of them a tremendous blow with their -tails over the head and shoulders; and so the heavy blows rapidly -fell, whack, whack, whack, till every beaver had taken his part in the -punishment, and till the poor prisoners keeled over, and lay nearly -or quite dead on the ground. The judge beaver then quietly left his -stand and went off; and, following his example, all the rest scattered -and disappeared, except the spiteful old fellow that had so raised my -dislike, by the rancor he displayed in pressing his accusations, and, -afterwards, by giving the culprits an extra blow, when it came his -turn to strike them. He now remained on the ground till all the rest -were out of sight, when,—as if to make sure of finishing what little -remains of life the others, in their compunction, might have left in -the victims, so as to give them, if they were not quite killed by the -terrible bastinadoing they had received, a chance to revive and crawl -off,—he ran up, and began to belabor them with the greatest fury -over the head. This mean and malicious addition to the old fellow’s -previously unfair conduct was too much for me to witness, and I -instantly drew my rifle and laid him dead beside the bodies he was so -rancorously beating. Wading the stream below the dam, I hastened to -my prizes, finished their last struggles with a stick, seized them -by their tails, and dragged them to the spot I had just left; and -then, after concealing my traps, with the view of waiting a few days -before I set them, so as to give the society a chance to get settled, -I tugged the game I had so strangely come by, home to camp, where a -more particular examination showed them to be the three largest and -best-furred beavers I had ever taken.</p> - -<p>“This brings me to the end of the unaccountable affair, and all I -can say in explanation of it; for how these creatures, ingenious and -knowing as they are, should have the intelligence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</span> to make laws,—as -this case seems to pre-suppose,—get up a regular court, try, sentence, -and execute offenders; what these offenders had done,—whether they -were thievish interlopers from some other society, or whether they -had committed some crime, such as burglary, bigamy, or adultery, or -high treason, or whether they had been dishonest office-holders in the -society and plundered the common treasury, is a mystery which you can -solve as well as I. Certainly you cannot be more puzzled than I have -always been, in giving the matter a satisfactory explanation.</p> - -<p>“And now, in conclusion, if you wish to know how I afterwards succeeded -in taking more of this notable society of beavers, I have only to say, -that, having soon commenced operations anew, I took, before I quit the -ground that fall, by rifle, by traps, by digging or hooking them out of -their hiding places in the banks, and, finally, by breaking up their -dwelling-houses, twenty-one beavers in all; making the best lot which -I ever had the pleasure of carrying out of the woods, and for which, a -month or two after, I was paid, in market, one hundred and sixty-eight -hard dollars.”</p> - - -<h3>THE OLD HUNTER’S STORY.</h3> - -<p>“I never but once,” commenced the hunter, who had announced himself -ready with the last story, when called on for that purpose by his -comrades, after they had commented to their liking on the trapper’s -strange adventure,—“I never but once, in my whole life, became afraid -of encountering a wild beast, or was too much unnerved in the presence -of one to fire my rifle with certainty and effect. But that, in one -event, I was in such a sorry condition for a hunter, I freely confess. -And, as you called for our most remarkable adventures, and as the -occurrence I allude to was certainly the most remarkable one <em>I</em> -ever met with in <em>my</em> hunting experience, I will relate it for the -story you assign me.</p> - -<p>“It was about a dozen years ago, and on the borders of lake Parmagena, -a squarish-shaped body of water, four or five miles<span class="pagenum" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</span> in extent, lying -twenty-five miles or so over these mountains to the northwest of -us, and making up the chief head-water of the river Magalloway. My -camp was at the mouth of the principal inlet, and my most frequented -hunting route up along its bank. On my excursions up that river, I had -often noticed a deeply-wooded, rough, and singularly-shaped mountain, -which, at the distance of four or five miles from the nearest point -of the stream, westward, reared its shaggy sides over the surrounding -wilderness, and which I thought must make one of the best haunts for -bear and moose that I had seen in that region. So, once having a -leisure day, and my fresh provisions being low, I concluded I would -take a jaunt up to this mountain, thinking that I should stand a good -chance to find something there, or on the way, to replenish my larder. -And accordingly I rigged up, after breakfast, and, setting my course in -what I judged would prove a bee-line for the place, in order to save -distance over the river route, I took up my march through the woods, -without path, trail, or marked trees to guide me.</p> - -<p>“After a rough and toilsome walk of about three hours, I reached the -foot of the mountain of which I was in search, and seated myself on a -fallen tree, to rest and look about me. The side of the eminence next -to me was made up of a succession of rocky, heavily-timbered steeps and -shelves, that rose like battlements before me, while, about midway, it -was pierced or notched down by a dark, wild, thicket-tangled gorge, -which extended along back up the mountain, as far as the eye could -penetrate beneath, or overlook above the tops of the overhanging trees.</p> - -<p>“To think of trying to ascend such steeps was out of the question; and -I was debating in mind whether I would attempt to go up through that -forbidding and <em>pokerish</em>-looking gorge, or, giving up the job -altogether, strike off in the direction of the river, and so go home -that way, when a hideous yell, which brought me instantly to my feet, -rose from an upper portion of the ravine, apparently about a hundred -rods distant. I at once knew it came from a painter, or “evil devil,” -as the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</span> Indians justly call that scourge and terror of the woods; and, -from the strength and volume of his voice, I also knew he must be a -large one, while, from its savage sharpness, I further conjectured -it must be a famine cry, which, if so, would show the animal to be a -doubly ticklish one to encounter.</p> - -<p>“Feeling conscious that it was but the part of wisdom to avoid such an -encounter as I should be likely to be favored with if I remained where -I was, I soon moved off in an opposite direction, steering at once for -the nearest point of the river, which was at the termination of a long, -sharp sweep of the stream to the west, and nearer by a mile than in -most other parts of its course. I had not proceeded more than a quarter -of a mile before the same savage screech,—which was more frightful -than I can describe, being seemingly made up of the mingling tones of -a man’s and a woman’s voice, raised to the highest pitch in an agony -of rage or pain,—the same awful screech, I say, rose and thrilled -through the shuddering forest, coming this time, I perceived, from the -mouth of the gorge, where the animal had so quickly arrived, found my -trail, doubtless, and started on in pursuit. I now, though still not -really afraid, quickened my steps into a rapid walk, hoping that, now -he had got out of the thickets of the ravine, he would not follow me -far in the more open woods; yet thinking it best, at all events, to put -what distance I could between him and me, without too much disturbing -myself. Another of those terrific yells, however, coming from a nearer -point than before, as fast as I had made my way from him, told me that -the creature was on my tracks, and rapidly gaining on me in the race. -I then started off at a full run; but even this did not insure my -escape, for I was soon startled by another yell, so near and fierce, -that I involuntarily turned round, cocked my rifle, and stood on the -defence. The next moment the animal met my sight, as he leaped up on -to the trunk of a lodged tree, where he stood in open view, eagerly -snuffing and glaring around him, about forty rods from the place where -I had been brought to a stand,—revealing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</span> a monster whose size, big as -I had conjectured it, perfectly amazed me. He could not have been much -less than six feet from snout to tail, nor much short of nine, tail -included. But for his bowed-up back, gaunter form, and mottled color, -he might have passed for an ordinary lioness. The instant he saw me, -he began nervously fixing his paws, rapidly swaying his tail, like a -cat at the first sight of her intended prey, and giving other plain -indications that he was intent on having me for his dinner.</p> - -<p>“I had my rifle to my shoulder: it was a fair shot, but still I -hesitated about firing. My experience with catamounts, which, though of -the same nature, are yet no more to be compared with a real panther, -like this, than a common cur to a stout bulldog, had taught me the -danger of wounding without killing them outright. If <em>those</em> -were so dangerous under ordinary circumstances, what would this be, -already bent on destroying me? And should I stand, at that distance, -an even chance to finish him, which could only be done by putting a -ball through his brain, or spine, or directly through his heart? I -thought not. The distance was too great to be sure of any thing like -that; and besides, my nerves, I felt, were getting a little unsteady, -and I also found I was losing my faith, which is just the worst thing -in the world for a hunter to lose. While I was thinking of all this, -the creature leaped down, and, the next instant, I saw his head rise -above the bushes, in his prodigious bounds towards me. With that -glance, I turned and ran; ran as I never did before; leaping over logs, -and smashing headlong through brush and bushes, but still distinctly -hearing, above all the noise I made, the louder crash of the creature’s -footfalls, striking closer and closer behind me. All at once, however, -those crashing sounds ceased to fall on my ear, and the thought that -my pursuer had sprung one side into an ambush, from whence he would -pounce on me before I could see him, flashing over my mind, I suddenly -came to a stand, and peered eagerly but vainly among the bushes around -me for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</span> the crouching form of my foe. While thus engaged, a seeming -shadow passing over the open space above caused me to glance upward, -when, to my horror, I saw the monster coming down from a tree-top, with -glaring eyes, open mouth, and outspread claws, directly upon me! With a -bound, which at any other time I should have been utterly incapable of -making, I threw myself aside into the bushes just in time to escape his -terrible embrace; and, before he had rallied from the confusion caused -by striking the ground and missing his prey, I had gained the distance -of a dozen rods, and thrown myself behind a large tree. But what was -now to be done? I knew, from his trotting about and snuffing to regain -the sight and scent of me, which I could now distinctly hear, that he -would soon be upon me. If I distrusted the certainty of my aim before -this last fright, should I not do it much more now? I felt so; and, -as I was now within a mile of the river,—where, if I could reach it, -I thought it possible to find a way to baffle, at least, if I did not -kill, my ruthless pursuer,—I concluded that my best chance for life -was to run for the place. But, in peering out to ascertain the exact -whereabouts of the painter before I started, my ear caught the sound -of other and different footsteps; and the next moment I had a glimpse -of a bear’s head, bobbing up and down in his rapid course through the -bushes, as he ran at right angles, with all his might, directly through -the space between me and the painter, which, I saw, was now just -beginning to advance towards me, but which, to my great relief, had -seen and was turning in pursuit of the flying and frightened bear.</p> - -<p>“But still, fearing he would give up that pursuit, and again take after -me, I ran for the river, which I at length reached, and threw myself -exhausted down on the bank. As it happened, I had struck the river -exactly at the intended point, which was where a small sand-island had -been thrown up in the middle of the stream. To this island, in case -I kept out of the claws and jaws of the painter till I reached the -river,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</span> I had calculated to wade; believing, from what I knew of the -repugnance of this class of animals to water, that he would not follow -me, or, if he did, I need not fail of shooting him dead while coming -through the stream. But I soon found that <em>I</em> was not the only one -that had thought of this island, in our terrible extremity.</p> - -<p>“I had lain but a few minutes on the bank, before I caught the sounds -of near and more distant footfalls approaching apace through the forest -above me. Starting up, I cocked my rifle, and darted behind a bush near -the edge of the water, and had scarcely gained the stand, when the same -bear that I had left fleeing before the painter, made his appearance a -few rods above me, coming full jump down the bank, plunging into the -stream, and swimming and rushing amain for the island. As soon as he -could clear the water, he galloped up to the highest part of his new -refuge, and commenced digging, in hot haste, a hole in the sand. The -instant he had made an excavation large and deep enough to hold his -body and sink it below the surface, he threw himself in on his back, -hurriedly scratched the sand at the sides a little over his belly and -shoulders, and lay still, with his paws stiffly braced upwards.</p> - -<p>“The next moment the eagerly-pursuing painter came rushing down the -bank to the water, where the bear had entered it; when, after a -hesitating pause, he gave an angry yell, and, in two prodigious bounds, -landed on the edge of the island. Having raised my rifle for a helping -shot, if needed, I awaited, with beating heart and eyes wide open, the -coming encounter. With eyes shooting fire, the painter hastily fixed -his feet, and, with a long leap, came down on his intrenched opponent. -A cloud of dust instantly enveloped the combatants, but through it I -could see the ineffectual passes of the painter at the bear’s head, -and the rapid play of the bear’s hind paws under the painter’s belly. -This bout between them, however, was of but short continuance, and -terminated by the painter, which now leaped suddenly aside, and stood -for a moment eyeing his opponent<span class="pagenum" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</span> askance, as if he had found in those -rending hind-claws already much more than he had bargained for. But, -quickly rousing himself, he prepared for the final conflict; and, -backing to the water’s edge, he gave one short bound forward, and, -leaping ten feet into the air, came down again, with a wild screech, on -his still unmoved antagonist.</p> - -<p>“This time, so much more furiously flew up the dust and sand from the -spot, that I could see nothing; but the mingling growls and yells of -the desperately-grappling brutes were so terrific as to make the hair -stand up on my head. Presently, however, I could perceive that the -cries of the assailant, which had been becoming less and less fierce, -were now turning into howls of pain; and, the next moment, I saw him, -rent and bloody, with his entrails out and dragging on the ground -behind him, making off till he reached the water on the opposite side -of the island, when he staggered through the current, feebly crawled -up the bank, and disappeared in the woods, where he must have died -miserably within the hour.</p> - -<p>“I went home a grateful man; leaving the bear, that had done me such -good service, to depart in peace, as I saw him doing before I left, -apparently little injured from the conflict.”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIV">CHAPTER XIV.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“Ours the wild life the forest still to range, -<br />From toil to rest, and joy in every change.” -</p> - - -<p>The low chirping of the wood-birds, the tiny barkings of the -out-starting squirrels, the hurrying footsteps of the night-prowling -animals, on their way to their coverts, on the land; and the leaping -up of fish, the flapping of the wings of ducks, and the far-heard, -trumpet-toned cry of the great northern diver, on the water, those -unfailing concomitants of approaching day, in the watered wilderness, -early aroused the next morning our little band of soundly-sleeping -hunters from their woodsmen’s feather beds,—the soft, elastic boughs -of the health-giving hemlock,—and put them on the stir in building -their fire and making preparations for their breakfast. The business of -the day before them was the completion of their camp building; which, -being intended, as before mentioned, for their general head-quarters -and storehouse, required far more care and labor in the construction -than the ordinary structures that are made to serve for shelters for -the sojourners of the woods. And, as soon as they had dispatched their -morning repast, they rose and prepared themselves to commence the task -on hand. As the main part of the company were scattering into the -woods, with their hatchets, in search of straight poles to rib out the -sides and roof of their structure, which was the first thing in order -to be done, Phillips, without explaining his object, quietly intimated -to Codman a wish for company, in a short excursion with canoes up the -river; and, the latter complying with the intimation, and putting -himself under the hunter’s lead, the two took to their canoes, with -each another canoe in tow, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</span> commenced rowing up the stream; which, -having run its rapid and noisy race down to the foot of the mountains, -a mile or two above, was here, with gentle pace and seeming reverence, -advancing to the lake with its welcome tribute of crystal waters.</p> - -<p>“Hillo, there, Mr. Hunter!” sung out the trapper to the other, now some -distance ahead, “what may be some of the whys and wherefores of this -shine we are cutting, stringing along here with canoes to our tails? -What suppose you should be telling, before a great while, lest this end -of the fleet might be missing?”</p> - -<p>“Soon show you,” replied the hunter, without turning his head. “I -always liked the Indian fashion of answering questions by deeds -instead of words, where the circumstances admit,—it is so much more -significant and satisfactory, besides the world of lying it often -prevents.”</p> - -<p>After rowing a short distance farther, in silence, the hunter turned -his canoe in shore; and, after the other had followed his example, he -said:</p> - -<p>“Now, follow me a few rods back into this thicket, up here.” And, -leading the way, he proceeded to what at first appeared to be an -irregular pile of brush, lying by the side of a large fallen tree, but -which, when the top brush was removed, and an under-layer of evergreen -boughs brushed aside, disclosed a large, compact collection of peeled -spruce bark, cut in regular lengths of six or seven feet, and in -breadths of about one foot, of exact uniformity, and made so straight -and flat by solid packing that a rick of sawed boards would have -scarcely presented a more smooth and even appearance.</p> - -<p>“Well, I will give in, now, and acknowledge myself beat in wood-craft,” -said the trapper, comprehending, at once, by whom and for what purpose -this acceptable pile of covering material had been cut, and thus nicely -cured and stored away for use. “To have done this, you must have come -here in June, the peeling month; but how came you to think of this -process of preparing the bark, or come here at all to do it, so long -beforehand,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</span> on the uncertainty of its being needed, this fall, except -perhaps by yourself?”</p> - -<p>“Well, happening to think, one day, how much better camps might be -made from bark peeled, cut, and pressed into the required lengths and -shapes, beforehand, as we prepare it for our Indian canoes, than by -following our usual bungling method, I concluded to put things in train -for trying the experiment this fall; and this fall especially, as I was -then calculating, unless you wished to join, to hunt only in company -with the two Elwoods, and I was desirous of getting up an extra good -camp for them.”</p> - -<p>“You take an unusual interest in the affairs of this newly-come family, -I have noticed.”</p> - -<p>“If I do, I may have my reasons for it.”</p> - -<p>“Special reasons, doubtless.”</p> - -<p>“Ordinary reasons would be enough. In the first place, they are -fine people, the son and mother uncommonly so, and the father also -I consider a well-disposed man, but who may have some weak points; -and this being so, and the son being inexperienced in dealing with -designing men, a neighbor, like me, ought, I am sure, to be unwilling -to see any advantage taken of them.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, a fair reason enough for your course, if you had no other; but -may be you have other inducements, received, for instance, on your -visit to the seaside, the past summer.”</p> - -<p>“That is all guess-work, remember; but come, let us drop the subject, -get this bark into our canoes, and be off down the river with it to -camp.”</p> - -<p>They did so; and, on reaching camp, agreeably surprised their -companions with the abundant supply of excellent material which -they had brought for covering the cabin, and for which, when the -circumstances became known, all were disposed to accord due credit to -the provident hunter.</p> - -<p>With the material thus obtained, the ribbing of the frame having by -this time been completed, all hands now commenced<span class="pagenum" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</span> the work of laying -on, fitting, and confining the pliant and close-lying strips of bark to -the framework of the structure, both above and below. And with so much -assiduity and skill did they prosecute their labors, that before night -their camp was covered and inclosed on every side, and made to present -to the eye, a cabin neat and comely in appearance, and as tight, -warm, and secure against storms, as many a dwelling-house in the open -country, covered with boards and shingles.</p> - -<p>After the company had completed the roof and walls of their camp, -constructed a rude door, and made what interior arrangements they -deemed necessary for sleeping and storing their provisions, they went -out, for the hour or two now remaining before sunset, and scattered -for short excursions in their canoes along the neighboring coves of -the lake, for the various purposes of fishing, shooting ducks, or -inspecting the shores for indications of beaver, otter, and other -classes of the smaller fur-animals of amphibious habits. All returning, -however, at sunset, they proceeded to cook and eat their suppers, -much in the same manner as on the preceding evening; after which, in -compliance with the suggestions made by several of the company during -the day, they went into a general consultation for the purpose of -fixing on the different locations and ranges of river and forest, -which each, or each pair of them, should take for their hunting or -trapping during the season before them. They soon agreed, in the first -place, without any difficulty, in making the shores of the Oquossak, -the next lake above, and the last and perhaps largest of the four -great lakes forming the chief links of this singular chain of inland -waters, the base-line of their operations. Phillips and Codman, having -procured a wide strip of the outer bark of the white birch,—ever -the woodman’s substitute for writing paper, when writing becomes -necessary,—then proceeded to draw a map, from personal recollection, -of the strangely-irregular lake in question. By this, when completed, -it appeared that the main inlet, or the uppermost portion of the -Androscoggin river, coming down<span class="pagenum" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</span> from the north through a chain of -lakelets, or ponds, and running parallel with the eastern shore of the -lake, and but a few miles distant from it, entered into a deep, pointed -bay, about a third of the way down the eastern shore; where it was -joined by another and scarcely lesser river, coming from or through a -different chain of these lakelets, scattered along far to the east and -northeast of the Oquossak; while a third considerable stream entered -the lake at its extreme northwestern termination. These three inlets, -that constituted all the rivers of any magnitude running into this -lake, would not only afford, it was readily seen, the most desirable -hunting-grounds in the sections through which they flowed, but give the -greater part of the hunters, if they encamped in pairs, and had their -camps at the mouths of these streams, as was expected, an opportunity -of locating in near vicinity; while two more of the remaining part of -the company would, at the mouth of the northwestern inlet, be less -than five miles distant. This arrangement would dispose of six of the -company,—two of them on the inlet last mentioned, and four on the two -rivers that entered the lake together,—and leave one to remain on the -Megantic, to take charge of the head-quarters, or store-camp there, and -hunt anywhere he chose in its vicinity. But who the one to be placed in -this trust should be, was the next question to be decided. Gaut Gurley, -who had been secretly scheming for this post ever since the arrangement -which he saw must necessarily create it was agreed on, and who had -been insidiously making interest for it, with all the company, except -Phillips and Codman, now proposed that the question should be decided -by ballot, and without discussion. And, the proposition being seconded -by Tomah and assented to by all, each took a small piece of birch -bark, marked with a coal the name of the person he would vote for, and -deposited it in a hat placed on their stone table for the purpose. -After all had voted, the hat was turned and the votes assorted; when it -appeared that four votes had been thrown for Gaut Gurley and three for -Mark Elwood,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</span> making seven in all, and showing that all the company had -voted.</p> - -<p>“Well, friend Elwood,” said Gaut, with a well-assumed air of -indifference, when the result was seen, “shall <em>I</em> resign in -<em>your</em> favor, or <em>you</em> in <em>mine</em>? This thing should be -unanimous.”</p> - -<p>Elwood looked up inquiringly at Gaut, when he read something in the -countenance of the latter which gave him to understand what was -expected of him, and he accordingly responded: “I should suppose there -could not be much question which of the two, a minority or a majority -candidate, should ask the other to stand aside,—especially when, -as in your case, the majority candidate is clearly chosen. I voted, -gentlemen, for Mr. Gurley,” he added, turning to the rest of the -company; “and I hope those who voted for me will cheerfully acquiesce -in the choice of the majority.”</p> - -<p>“I am a comparative stranger to you all,” remarked Carvil, “and, -though I voted for Mr. Elwood, I will yet very willingly agree to the -selection you have made.”</p> - -<p>Gaut, knowing well enough who had thrown their votes against him, now -glanced at Phillips and Codman; but gathering from their silence and -demure and downcast looks that no approving expression was likely to -be drawn from either of them, he interrupted the pause that followed -Carvil’s remarks, by saying:</p> - -<p>“Perhaps, then, I ought to accept the post thus assigned me; and on -some accounts it will come right all round. I should be compelled, any -way, to return once or twice to the settlements during our campaign, on -business, and I can attend to that, and procure the fresh supplies of -bread and other things we shall need, all under one head. And, besides -that, I had already made up my mind I should select this stream, and -the coves on this lake, for my trapping and hunting for beaver and -other water animals, which I once knew how to take, in preference to -going any farther. So I will accept the post, warrant the safe-keeping -of the common property, and see<span class="pagenum" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</span> what I can do towards contributing my -share to the stock of furs.”</p> - -<p>This point being thus regarded by the company as settled, they next -proceeded to the discussion of the more particular duties which should -devolve on their chosen camp-keeper; which, at length, resulted in the -arrangement that he should go up with his canoe into the Oquossak, once -a week, make the circuit of the lake so far as to visit the nearest or -lake-shore camps of each or each pair of his companions, bring them -fresh provisions, and take back to head-quarters all the furs each had -caught in the interim, and be held responsible for the good condition -and safe-keeping of all the peltries, and other common property of the -company, thus placed in his charge.</p> - -<p>After this matter (which was destined to have an important bearing -on the fate and fortunes of more than one of the leading personages -of our story) was thus disposed of, they then, in conclusion of the -business of the evening, proceeded, by mutual agreement, to apportion -the different locations for hunting on the upper lake, already fixed -on, among the three pairs of hunters the company would now make; decide -what individuals should join to form each pair; and what general plan -of operations they should adopt after they had got settled in their -respective places. By the amicable arrangement thus made, Phillips and -Claud Elwood were to form one of these pairs, and fix their lake-camp -at the mouth of the river already named as coming in from the east; -Carvil and Mark Elwood to constitute another pair, and encamp at the -mouth of the great inlet entering at the same place; while Codman -and the young Indian, Tomah, who, from their mutual challenges in -beaver-catching, had by this time become friends, and willing to hunt -from the same starting-point, were to have their camp at the mouth of -the river coming in at the northwest end of the lake. By the plan now -adopted, also, each of these three hunting parties, after they had -reached their respective destinations and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</span> built their camps, were to -explore the rivers ten or fifteen miles upward through the forest, and -to some suitable and convenient terminus of their proposed trapping and -hunting range; there build a camp, in which to lodge on their outward -jaunts; and mark off, on their return, by blazing the trees, lines for -setting log-traps for sable, marten, stoat, or ermine,—for, whatever -may be said to the contrary, the noted ermine of Europe is a native of -our northern forests. These marked lines were to diverge from the upper -camps along the ridges on each side of the river; sometimes running -many miles apart, then turning down to the stream, where indications -of beaver and otter had been discovered, so as to afford a chance for -setting and tending steel-traps for those animals; then running back -again on to the high hills and ridges; but finally converging in, and -meeting at the lake camp. And, these preliminary steps being taken, -everything would then be in readiness for setting the traps, and for -entering on the hopeful business of their expedition.</p> - -<p>All these arrangements being now definitely settled and understood, the -consultation was broken up, and the company betook themselves once more -to their sylvan couches, calculating on an early start the next day for -their several destinations on the Oquossak, the nearest of which was at -least a dozen miles distant.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, with the first crack of dawn the next morning, the loud -and startling gallinaceous cachinnation of the droll and wide-awake -trapper aroused the woodsmen from their slumbers, and warned them to be -up and doing. And soon the whole company were in motion, the kindled -fire was crackling and flashing up amidst the dry pine faggots, thrown -on to feed and start it into the steadier blaze and heat of more -solid fuel, and the process of cooking was going busily forward. In -a short time they were again gathered, in high spirits, round their -stone table, unconsciously partaking, as the event proved, the last -meal they were ever all to enjoy together in the woods. But let us not -anticipate.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</span></p> - -<p>As soon as they had dispatched their breakfast, the band about to -depart loaded their canoes with traps, guns, camp-kettles, and the -provisions needed for immediate use; and, wishing Gaut Gurley a happy -and successful time at his solitary station, pushed merrily away into -the broad lake, turned their course northward, and sped on their -voyage. A few miles’ rowing brought them to the great inlet, which, -like the principal inlets to the lakes below, was another reach of the -Androscoggin, flowing directly from the east through a channel, still -nearly a hundred yards in width and nearly three miles in length, -from its entrance into one lake to the point where it debouches from -the other. After a row of an hour up this channel, made interesting -and impressive by the magnificent colonnades of princely pines, that, -as far as the eye could reach, stood towering away in lessening -perspective along its banks, they suddenly emerged into the bright and -far-stretching waters of the unmapped Oquossak, which lay nestling -and inflected among the dark green cliffs of the boldly intersecting -mountains, like some rough, unshapen gem, gleaming out from the rubbish -of a mine. And laying their course northeasterly, for the distant bay -receiving the waters of the confluent streams before described, they -now pulled away through the lake, in as direct a line as its irregular -form would permit. And now, skirting long reaches of its deeply-wooded -shores, from which the old forest, never broken by the axe, and rarely -ever trod by the foot of the white man, was seen, stretching away -back, lift after lift, in pristine grandeur, to the tall summits of -the amphitheatric mountains,—now shooting athwart, under some dark -headland that stood out boldly disputing the empire with the water, -and now threading their way among the clustering green islands that -studded the bright and beautiful expanse,—they rowed steadily onward -for hours, and at length were gladdened by the sight of the dim but -well-remembered outlines of the pointed bay, whose farthest shore -was to be the home and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</span> haven for most of their number, during their -present sojourn in this wild and remote fastness of the wilderness.</p> - -<p>To row in, disembark their luggage, select sites for camps, to build -those camps, so far as to make them serve for shelters for the night, -and to prepare and eat their suppers, occupied the company, who had -all decided to remain there that night through the remainder of the -day till bed-time. The next morning, after an early breakfast, Codman -and Tomah took leave of their companions, and proceeded on further up -the lake to their allotted station; leaving the two Elwoods, and their -respective hunting companions, to complete their camps, which were -situated in near vicinity, get all in readiness, and the next day enter -in earnest on the main business of the campaign.</p> - -<p>But it is not our intention to follow either of these pairs, or now -distinct parties, of adventurous woodsmen, in the general routine of -their camp life,—in their solitary and almost daily marches among -the tangled wilds, from their inner to outer camps; their toils and -fatigues on the way; their pleasant meetings at the ends of their -ranges at night, to recount the adventures of the day, and lodge -together; their heats and their colds, their dark hours and their -bright ones, their curious experiences and startling encounters with -wild animals; and finally their varying success in realizing the -objects of their expedition, through the successive scenes of the next -nine or ten weeks, where</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -<span style="margin-left: 6em;">——“rifle flashed,</span> -<br />The grim bear hushed its savage howl, -<br />In blood and foam the panther gnashed -<br />Its fangs with dying howl; -<br />The fleet deer ceased its flying bound, -<br />Its snarling wolf-foe bit the ground, -<br />And, with its moaning cry, -<br />The beaver sank beneath the wound, -<br />Its pond-built Venice by.” -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</span></p> - -<p>Suffice it to say, that they were all blest with uninterrupted health -and increasing vigor, in realization of the favorite theory of Carvil, -in relation to the invigorating and fattening principle of the -super-abounding oxygen of the woods. They all highly enjoyed their -wild life, and were, even beyond their most sanguine expectations, -successful in their aggregate acquisitions of peltries and all kinds of -game. Gaut Gurley, whose unremitted attention and apparent faithfulness -in the duties of his post soon disarmed the distrusting, came round -punctually, every week, supplied them with all they needed, and, while -reporting his own good success, in his short ranges in the vicinity -of his head-quarters encampment, seemed greatly gratified at the -continued successes of all the rest, and exultingly bore off their -furs for curing and safe storage with the rich and rapidly-increasing -collection at his camp; setting the mark of their collected value, -the last time he came round, at upwards of a thousand dollars, and -encouraging them with the hope that, probably, before any change would -occur in the weather which would compel them to relinquish the business -and return to the settlement, a much larger sum would be realized from -their exertions. And, in view of this gratifying condition of their -affairs, the company at large—as winter at the farthest could not be -very distant—now began to anticipate, with much satisfaction, the time -when they should return to their families, to gladden them with their -welcome presence, and, from the fruits of their enterprise, make such -unlooked-for pecuniary additions to the means of domestic comfort and -happiness.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XV">CHAPTER XV.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -‘As the night set in, came hail and snow, -<br />And the air grew sharp and chill, -<br />And the warning roar of a terrible blow -<br />Was heard on the distant hill; -<br />And the norther,—see, on the mountain peak, -<br />In his breath, how the old trees writhe and shriek! -<br />He shouts along o’er the plain, ho, ho! -<br />He drives from his nostrils the blinding snow, -<br />And growls with a savage will.’ -</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -<span class="smcap">C. G. Eastman.</span> -</p> - - -<p>We will now take the reader to the wild and secluded banks of Dead -river, the great southwesterly tributary of the lordly Kennebec, the -larger twin brother of the Androscoggin, both of which, after being -born of the same parent range of mountains, and wandering off widely -apart, at length find, at the end of their courses, like many a pair -of long estranged brothers, their final rest in a common estuary at -the seaboard. At a point on the banks of the tributary above named, -where its long southward sweep brings it nearest, and within twenty -miles of the Oquossak, and within a quarter of that distance from the -terminating camps of the outward ranges of the hunters, two men in -hunting-suits might have been seen, in the fore part of one of the last -days of November, in the season of the eventful expedition we have been -describing, intently engaged in inspecting some fragments of wrought -wood, which, from the clue of some protruding piece, they had kicked up -from the leaves and decayed brushwood that had nearly concealed them -from view. One of these men was past the middle<span class="pagenum" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</span> age, of a hardy but -somewhat worn appearance. The other was in the prime of young manhood, -of a finely-moulded form and an unusually prepossessing face and -countenance. But we may as well let the dialogue that ensued between -them disclose their identity; the matter that was now engaging their -attention; and their reasons for thus appearing in this remote position.</p> - -<p>“This piece,” said the elder, closely scanning the fragment he held -in his hand, “is evidently oak, and looks mightily as if it was once -the stave of an oak keg or half-barrel. Yes, and here is another that -will settle the question,” he continued, pulling from its concealment a -larger and sounder fragment. “There! can’t you trace the chine across -the end of this?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, quite distinctly, and I should not hesitate to pronounce all -these fragments the remains of an oak barrel that had once been opened, -or left here, if I could conceive how such a thing could come here, in -the heart of this extensive wilderness. How do you solve the mystery, -Mr. Phillips?”</p> - -<p>“Well, Claud, I am as much at fault as you. Barrels don’t float up -stream; and to suppose this came down stream, and still farther from -any inhabitants, wouldn’t help on the explanation any more; while to -suppose it was brought here by hunters through the woods, where they -could have no use for it even if they could get it here, is scarcely -more probable.”</p> - -<p>“True; but can’t we get a clue from something else about the place? -This open space, hereabouts, wears something of the aspect of a place -from which the trees have been once cut away, or greatly thinned out, -for some great encampment, for instance. Did you ever hear of any -expedition of men through this region, in such numbers as would require -the transportation of large quantities of provisions, drawn possibly by -oxen, or more probably by men on light sledges?”</p> - -<p>“Well, now, come to think of it, I have. And I guess you have blundered -right smack on the truth, at the first go off; which is more than -I can claim for myself, I admit. Yes,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</span> nearly fifty years ago, at -the beginning of the old war, as you must have often read, an army -<em>did</em> pass somewhere through the wilderness of Maine to Quebec. It -was under the command of that fiery Satan, Benedict Arnold,—the only -man in America, may be, who could have pushed an army, at that time -of the year, some weeks later in the season than it is now, through a -hundred and fifty miles’ reach of such woods as these are, between our -last and the first Canadian settlement. My father was one of that army -of bold and hardy men. They passed up the Kennebec some distance, and, -then, according to his account, left it, and, with the view of getting -over the Highlands on to the Great Megantic more easily, turned up a -branch, which must have been this very stream. Yes, I see, now. You are -right about the appearance of this spot. There <em>was</em> once a great -encampment here, and doubtless that of Arnold’s army, staying over -night, and breaking open a barrel of meat, conveyed here in some such -way as you suggested.”</p> - -<p>“It is an interesting discovery; for that was a remarkable expedition, -and must have been one of great hardship and suffering.”</p> - -<p>“Hardship and suffering! Why, they fell short of provisions long before -they got out of the wilderness, and, besides the hardships of cold and -fatigue, came near starving to death! I have heard my father tell how -he was one of a party of thirteen, who, with other like squads, were -permitted to scatter forward in search of some inhabitants, for food, -lest they all perished together; how, after going two days without -putting a morsel into their mouths, except their shoe-strings or the -inner bark of trees, they at length were gladdened by the sight of an -opening, with a log house, and a cow standing before the door; how, -the instant their eyes fell on the cow, they ran like blood-hounds for -the spot, seized an axe, brought the animal to the ground, ripped up -the hide on one thigh, cut off slices of the quivering flesh, and, by -the time the aroused family had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</span> got out into the yard, were munching -and gobbling them down raw, with the desperate eagerness of ravenous -beasts.”<a id="FNanchor_4" href="#Footnote_4" class="fnanchor">[4]</a></p> - -<p>“Horrible! but they paid the poor people for their cow, I trust?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, twice over, but that did not reconcile them to the loss of their -only cow, where it was so difficult to get another. The children -screamed, and even the man and his wife wrung their hands and cried as -if their hearts would break.”</p> - -<p>“That incident is to me a new feature among the horrors of war, which I -probably should have never heard of but for coming here and making this -curious discovery of one of the relics of that terrible and fruitless -campaign of our Revolution. I am glad we concluded to come.”</p> - -<p>“So am I; for that, and the other reason that I wanted to see the lay -of the country, round this river, where, as it happened, I had never -been. But my mind misgave me several times, on the way.”</p> - -<p>“Why so, pray?”</p> - -<p>“I can hardly tell, myself, but I began to kinder feel as if something -wrong was going on somewhere, and that, though this place could not be -more than five miles from our upper camp, where we stayed last night, -we had yet better be making our way directly back to the lake. Besides -that, I haven’t liked the symptoms of the weather, to-day.”</p> - -<p>“I don’t know that I have noticed any thing peculiar in the weather, -except a chilliness of the air that I have not felt before this season.”</p> - -<p>“That’s the thing,” rejoined the hunter, glancing uneasily up through -the treetops, to try to get a view of the sky. “But there are other -indications I don’t fancy. There is a peculiar raw dampness in the air, -and a sort of low, moaning sound heard once in a while murmuring along -through the forest,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</span> such as I have often noticed before great storms, -and sudden changes from fall to winter weather, this time of the year. -And hush! hark!” he exclaimed, suddenly cutting short his remark, as -the well-known, solemn, and quickly-repeated <em>konk! konk!</em> of wild -geese, on their passage, greeted their ears.</p> - -<p>They ran down to the water’s edge to get a view of the open sky, -when, looking up, they saw a large flock of these winged, semi-annual -voyagers of the air, coming in view over the forest, in their usual -widespread, harrow-shaped battalions, and with seemingly hurried -flight, pitching down from the British highlands toward the lower -regions to the south. And that flock had scarcely receded beyond -hearing, when another, and yet another, with the same uneasy cries and -rapid flight, passed, in quick succession, over the open reach of sky -above them.</p> - -<p>“How far do you calculate the nearest shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence -is from here?” asked the hunter, musingly.</p> - -<p>“O, not so very great a distance,—three hundred miles, perhaps,” -replied Claud, looking inquiringly at the other.</p> - -<p>“Well,” slowly responded the hunter, “those God-taught creatures know -more about the coming changes of the weather than all the philosophers -in the world. These are but the advanced detachments of armies yet -behind them, already, doubtless, on their way from Labrador, and even -more northern coasts beyond. In the unusual mild November we have had, -they never received their warning till this morning. And these, being -on the southern outposts of their summer quarters, the Gulf of St. -Lawrence, started at daylight, I presume,—about four hours ago, just -about the time I perceived a change in the atmosphere myself. This, at -the rapid headway you perceive they are making, would give them time to -get here by this hour of the day.”</p> - -<p>“Then you take this as an indication of the approach of winter weather?”</p> - -<p>“I do. And the evident hurriedness of their flight, and the sort of -quickened, anxious tone of their cries, show that <em>they</em>,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</span> at -least, think it is not far behind them. But let us put all the signs -together. I must get to some place where I can see more of the sky. I -noticed, as I was coming in sight of the river, a short way back in -the woods, a high, sharp hill, with a bare, open top, rising from the -river, about a hundred rods up along here to the left. What suppose we -pack up, and go and ascend it? We can, there, besides getting the view -we want of the lay of the country, see, probably, the horizon nearly -all round. And, all this done, we will then hold a council of war, and -decide on our next movement.”</p> - -<p>This proposal meeting the ready approval of the young man, the two took -their rifles, and proceeded to the foot of the eminence in question, -which they found to be a steep, conical hill, rising abruptly three or -four hundred feet above the general level of the surrounding forest, -with a small, pointed apex, from which some tornado had hurled every -standing tree except a tall, slender green pine, that shot up eighty -or ninety feet, as straight as a flagstaff, from the centre. After a -severe scramble up the steeps, in some places almost perpendicular, -they at length reached the summit, and commenced leisurely walking -round the verge, looking down on the variegated wilderness, which, -with its thousand dotted hills and undulating ridges, lay stretched in -cold solitude around them. With only a general glance, however, over -the surrounding forests, the gaze of the hunter was anxiously lifted -upwards, to study the omens of the heavens. The sun, by this time, -was scarcely visible beneath the cold, lurid haze which had for some -hours been gradually stealing over it; while around the horizon lay -piled long, motionless banks of leaden clouds, thick and heavy enough -evidently to be dark, but yet of that light, dead, glazed, uncertain -hue, which the close observer may have often noted as the precursor of -winter-storms. After a long and attentive survey of every visible part -of the heavens, the hunter, with an ominous shake of the head, dropped -his eyes to the ground, and said:</p> - -<p>“I was right, but didn’t want to believe it when I got up this<span class="pagenum" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</span> -morning; and the wild geese are right. We are on the eve of winter, -and our best hope is that it may come gently. But even that favor, I -greatly fear, we shall not be permitted to realize.”</p> - -<p>“Well, sir, with that view of the case, in which I am inclined to -concur, what do you propose now?” asked Claud.</p> - -<p>“Why, I propose, seeing we have all the fur pelts we took from the -traps yesterday put up in packs, and have left nothing in our upper -camp of any consequence,—I propose, that, instead of going back to our -nearest marked line, as we talked of, we strike directly across the -woods, by the nearest route, to our lake camp; or, if you are willing -to put up with two or three miles additional travel, we will steer so -as to take the upper camp of your father and Carvil in our way. We -might find them there, perhaps.”</p> - -<p>“Then let us steer for their camp; I can stand the jaunt. But can you -determine the direction to be taken to strike it?”</p> - -<p>“Nearly, I think. Their camp, you know, is on the neck or connecting -piece of river, between two long ponds, lying about southwest of us. I -rather expected to be able to get a glimpse of one of those ponds from -the hilltop, but find I can’t. I presume I could, however, from the top -of this pine tree.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but to climb it would be a long, and perhaps dangerous task, -would it not?”</p> - -<p>“No, neither. We woodsmen are often compelled to resort to such a -course, to take our latitude and bearings. And, on the whole, I think -in this case it might be the cheapest way. So I will up it, and you -may be watching for wild geese, that are still, I perceive, every few -minutes, somewhere in sight. Very likely some flock may soon come over -us near enough for a shot.”</p> - -<p>So saying, the resolute and active hunter, casting aside coat, cap, -and boots, sprang up several feet on to the clasped trunk of the pine, -over whose rough bark he now, by means of the vigorous clenches of his -arms and legs, fast made his way upwards.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</span> It was a hard struggle for -him, however, till he reached the lower limbs, some fifty feet from -the ground, when, swinging himself up by a grappled limb, he quickly -disappeared among the thick, mantling boughs, on his now doubly-rapid -ascent; and, in a few minutes more, he was heard by his companion -below, breaking off the obstructing tiptop branches, and, as he gazed -abroad from his dizzy height, shouting out the discoveries which were -the object of his bold attempt.</p> - -<p>“Make ready there, below!” he startlingly exclaimed, all at once, after -a long pause, in which he seemed to be silently noting the distant -objects in the forest; “make ready there, below, for a famous large -flock of wild geese, just heaving in sight over the hills, and coming -directly to this spot.”</p> - -<p>The next moment the expected flock, spread out in columns answering to -the two sides of a triangle, each a quarter of a mile in extent, and -the nearest nearly in a line with the summit where the young huntsman -stood, with raised rifle, awaiting their approach, came in full view, -making the forest resound with their multitudinous and mingling cries, -and the loud beating of their long wings on the air, as they swept -onward in their close proximity to the earth. Singling out the nearest -goose of the nearest column, Claud quickly caught his aim, and fired; -when the struck bird, with a convulsive start, suddenly clasped its -wings, and, in its onward impulse, came down like lightning into the -bushes, within five rods from its exulting captor.</p> - -<p>“Done like a marksman,—plumped through and through under the wing. -You are improving, young man,” exclaimed the hunter, who now, rapidly -coming down, had reached the foot of the tree, as Claud came forward -from the bushes, with his prize. “It is a fine fat one, ain’t it?” he -continued, glancing at the heavy bird, as he was pulling on his boots. -“We will take it along with us for our supper.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, rather a lucky shot,” returned the other, self-complacently.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</span> -“But what discoveries did you make up there, that will aid us in our -course, Mr. Phillips?”</p> - -<p>“O, that is all settled,” answered the latter, putting on his pack, and -buttoning up, preparatory to an immediate start. “I caught glimpses of -both the ponds, noted all the hilltops, ridges, and other noticeable -landmarks, in the line between here and there, and can lead you as -straight as a gun to the spot, for which we will now be off; and the -sooner the better, as it is fast growing colder and colder, and the -whole heavens are every moment growing more dark and dubious.”</p> - -<p>They then, after making their way down the precipitous side of the -hill to its western foot, struck off, under the lead of the hunter, in -a line through the forest, preserving their points of compass, when -none of their general landmarks were visible, by noting the peculiar -weather-beaten appearance of the mosses on the north sides of the -trees, and the usual inclination of the tips of the hemlocks from west -to east. And for the next hour and a half, on, on they tramped, in -Indian file, and almost unbroken silence, making headway with their -long, loping steps, notwithstanding the obstructing fallen trees, -brushwood, and constantly occurring inequalities of the ground, with a -speed which none but practised woodsmen can attain in the forest, and -which is scarcely equalled by the fastest foot-travellers on the smooth -and beaten highways of the open country.</p> - -<p>At length they were gratified by an indistinct sight of some body of -water, gleaming dimly through the trees from some point in front; and -the walk of a few hundred yards more brought them out, as it luckily -happened, directly to the camp of which they were in search. It was, -however, tenantless; their companions had already departed; but the bed -of live coals in the usual place, from which the thin vapor was still -perceptibly ascending, showed that they could not have left more than -an hour before. In glancing into the deserted shanty, they descried a -clean strip of white birch bark, lying conspicuously on the ground, a -few feet within the entrance.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</span> On picking it up, they were soon enabled -to read the following words, traced with the charred end of a twig:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“Thinking something unusual to be brewing overhead, we are off for the -lake about 10 <span class="allsmcap">A.M.</span></p> - -<p> -<span class="smcap">Carvil.</span>”<br /> -</p> -</div> - - -<p>“A very observing, considerate man, that Mr. Carvil,” said the hunter, -still musingly keeping his eyes on the unique dispatch. “He is one of -the few book-learned men I have ever known, who could apply science -to the natural philosophy of the woods. I can see how justly he -reasoned out this case: knowing that we had some thought of a jaunt -to Dead river this trip, he judged we should notice the signs of the -weather just as we did, and, as it seems, <em>he</em> did; and that, in -consequence, when we got there, we should decide on the nearest route -back, which would bring us so near their camp that we should be tempted -to come to it; and so he left this notice for us that they thought it -wisdom to depart.”</p> - -<p>While the hunter was thus delivering himself, as he stood by the fire -before the entrance, spreading out his hands over the coals, Claud -went inside, and, returning with two fine, fresh trout, which the late -occupants had, for some cause, left behind them, held them up to his -musing companion, and exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Look here, Mr. Phillips,—see what they have left for us!”</p> - -<p>“Good!” cried the hunter, rousing himself, “for, whether they left them -by design or mistake, they come equally well in play at this time. -You out with your knife and split them through the back, and I will -prepare the coals. We will roast them for a lunch, which will refresh -and strengthen us for the ten or twelve miles walk that is still to be -accomplished, before reaching the lake.”</p> - -<p>After dispatching the welcome meal, which in this primitive fashion -they had prepared for themselves out of the material thus unexpectedly -come to hand, and enjoying the half-hour’s rest consequent on the -grateful occupation, they again swung on their packs, and, striking -into one of the marked lines of their<span class="pagenum" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</span> companions, set forth with fresh -vigor on their journey. Their walk, however, was a long and dreary one. -Contrary to what they had ever before experienced, in jaunts of this -length through the woods, not a single hunting adventure occurred, to -enliven the tedium of the way. For, although the heavens above were -made vocal with the screams of wild geese, still pouring along in their -hurried flight to the south, to escape the elemental foe behind, like -the rapidly succeeding detachments of some retreating army, yet not a -living creature, biped or quadruped, was anywhere to be heard or seen -in the forest beneath. All seemed to have instinctively shrunk away and -fled, as from the presence of some impending evil, to their dens and -coverts, there to await, cowering and silent, the dreaded outbreak. -Slowly, but steadily, the lurid storm-clouds were gathering in the -heavens, bringing shade after shade over the darkening wilderness. -Low, hollow murmurs in the troubled air were now heard, ominously -stealing along the wooded hills; and now, in the sharp, momentary -rattling of the seared beech-leaves, the whole forest seemed shivering -in the dead chill that was settling over the earth. The cold, indeed, -was now becoming so intense as to congeal and skim over all the pools -and still eddies of the river, and make solid ice along the shores -of the rapid currents of the stream; while even the ground was fast -becoming so frozen as to clumper and sound beneath the hurrying tread -of our anxious travellers. By three in the afternoon, it had become -so dark that they could scarcely see the white blazings on the sides -of the trees, by which they were guided in their course; and in less -than another hour, they were stumbling along almost in utter darkness, -uncertain of their way, and nearly despairing of reaching their -destination that night. But, while they were on the point of giving up -the attempt, the bright glare of an ascending blaze, shooting fiercely -through the thickets before them, greeted their gladdened eyes, and put -them on exertions that soon brought them rejoicing into the comfortable -quarters of their almost equally gratified<span class="pagenum" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</span> friends and comrades; where -it was at once decided that, instead of proceeding to their own camp, -to build a fire and lodge, they should turn in for the night.</p> - -<p>After some time passed in the animated and cheery interchange of -inquiries and opinions, which usually succeeds on the meeting of -anxiously-sought or expected friends, Claud and Phillips, having by -this time warmed and measurably rested themselves, took hold with -Carvil and Mark Elwood in dressing and cooking for supper and for -breakfast the next morning, Claud’s goose, and a pair of fine ducks -from a flock which the two latter had encountered just before reaching -camp that afternoon; and, after completing this process with their -good supply of game, and the more agreeable one of eating so much -of it as served for a hearty supper, they drew up an extra quantity -of fuel for the large fire which they felt it would be necessary to -keep up through the night; and then, seating themselves in camp, went -into an earnest consultation on the measures and movements next to be -taken. When, in view of the lateness of the season, coupled as it was -with the alarming portents of an immediate storm, which they had all -noticed, it was unanimously determined that they should embark, early -next morning, for head-quarters on the Maguntic, where Gaut Gurley, -instead of preparing to come round again, as was now nearly his usual -time to do, would, under the altered aspect of things, doubtless be -awaiting them, and making arrangements for the return of all to the -settlement. Then, building up a fire of solid logs, for long burning, -the tired woodsmen drew up their bough-pillows towards the entrance -of the camp, so as to bring their feet near the fire, closely wrapped -their thick blankets around them, lay down, and were soon buried in -sound slumber. And it was well for them that they were thus early -taking their needed rest; for, soon after midnight, they were awakened -by the lively undulations of the piercing cold air that was driving -and whistling through the sides of their camp, and by the puffs of -suffocating smoke that the eddying winds were ever and anon<span class="pagenum" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</span> driving -from their fire directly into their faces. One after another they rose, -and ran out to see what had caused the, to them, sudden change that had -occurred in the air since they went to sleep. And they were not long -in ascertaining the truth. The expected storm had set in, with that -low, deep commotion of the elements, and that slowly gathering impetus, -which, as may often be noted at the commencement of great storms, was -but the too certain prelude of its increase and duration. The fine snow -was sifting down apace to the already whitened ground, and the rising -wind, even in their mountain-hemmed nook, was whirling in fierce and -fitful eddies about their camp, and shrilly piping among the strained -branches of the vexed forest around; while its loud and awful roar, as -it careered along the sides of the distant mountains, told with what -strength and fury the storm was commencing over the country at large. -In the situation in which the company now found themselves, neither -sleep, comfort, nor quiet were to be expected for the remainder of the -night. They therefore piled high the wood on their fire, and gathered -round the hot blaze, to protect them from the cold, that had now not -only grown more intense, but become doubly difficult to withstand, from -the force with which it was brought by the driving blasts in contact -with their shivering persons. And thus,—in alternately turning their -backs and fronts to the fire, while standing in one place, and often -shifting places from one side of the fire to the other; in now taking -refuge within their camp when the constantly veering gusts bore the -smoke and flame outward, and then fleeing out of it when the stifling -column was driven inward; but finding no peace nor rest anywhere, -among those shifts and commotions of the battling elements,—they -wore away the long and comfortless hours of that dreary night, till -the return of morning light, which, after many a vain prayer for its -speedier appearance, at length gradually broke over the storm-invested -wilderness.</p> - -<p>As soon as it was light enough to see objects abroad, or see them as -well as they can ever be discerned through the fast-falling<span class="pagenum" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</span> snow of -such a driving storm, Phillips and Carvil sallied out through the snow, -already eight inches deep, and made their way down to the nearest -shore of the lake, about a quarter of a mile distant, to ascertain -the condition of the water before embarking upon it in their canoes, -as they had designed to do immediately after breakfast. On reaching -the shore, they found the narrow bay, before mentioned as forming the -estuary of the two rivers on which they had been located, comparatively -calm, though filled with congealing snow and floating ice from the -rivers. But all beyond the line of the two points of land inclosing the -bay was rolling and tumbling in wild commotion, madly lashing the rocky -headlands with the foaming waters, and resounding abroad over the hills -with the deep, hoarse roar of the tempest-beaten breakers of the ocean.</p> - -<p>“Do you see and hear that?” exclaimed Phillips, pointing to the lake.</p> - -<p>“Yes, yes; but what was that I just caught a glimpse of, out there in -the offing, to the right?” hastily cried Carvil.</p> - -<p>They both peered forward intently; and the next moment they saw a -canoe, containing a single rower, low bending to his oar, shoot by the -northern headland with the speed of an arrow, strike obliquely out of -the white line of rolling waves into the bay, and make towards the -point where they stood.</p> - -<p>“Who can it be?” inquired Carvil, after watching a while in silence the -slow approach of the obstructed canoe.</p> - -<p>“In a minute more we shall see,” replied the hunter, bending forward -to get a view of the man’s face, which, being seen the next moment, he -added, with a shout: “Hallo, there, Codman, is that you? Why didn’t you -crow, to let us know who was coming?”</p> - -<p>“Crow?” exclaimed the trapper, driving through the ice to the shore; -“did you ever hear a rooster crow in a time like this? There! I am -safe, at last,” he added, leaping out upon the shore, and glancing -back with a dubious shake of the head towards the scene from which -he had thus escaped. “Yes, safe<span class="pagenum" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</span> now, for all my fright; but I would -not be out another hour on that terrible lake for all the beaver in -the province of Maine! I started at daylight, got out a mile or two, -tolerably, but after that, Heaven only knows how I rode on those wild -waves without swamping! But no matter,—I am here.”</p> - -<p>“But where is Tomah, the Indian?” asked the hunter.</p> - -<p>“Tomah!” said Codman, in surprise. “Why, haven’t you seen him? He went -off three days ago, saying he must return to the settlement, to be -training his moose to the sledge, so as to start for Boston with him, -the first snow. He said he should leave it with Gaut Gurley to see to -his share of the furs. I supposed he would call at one of your camps. -But come, move on. I suppose you have a fire at camp, and something to -eat; I am frozen to death, and starved to death, besides being more -than half-dead from the great scaring I’ve had; but that’s all over -now, and I’m keen for breakfast. So troop along back to your camp, I -say.”</p> - -<p>To return to camp, take their cold and comfortless breakfast, and -decide on the now hard alternatives of remaining where they were, -to await the event of the storm, without provisions, and with their -imperfect means of protection from the rigor of the elements, or -of starting off through the cumbering snow beneath their feet, and -the driving tempest above their heads, with the hope of reaching -head-quarters by land, before another night should overtake them, was -but the work of half an hour. To remain, with the foretaste of the past -and the prospects of the future, was a thought so forbidding that none -of them could for a moment entertain it; and to set out to travel by -land, with such prospects, over the mountains, by the long, winding -route on the eastern side of the lake,—which was the only one left to -them, and which could not be less than fifteen miles in extent,—was -a scarcely less forbidding alternative. But it must be adopted. So, -gathering in their steel traps and iron utensils, they buried them -all, except their lightest hatchet, under a log, that they should not -be encumbered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</span> with more weight than was absolutely necessary; snugly -packing up the few peltries they had taken since Gaut Gurley had been -round and putting the scanty remains of their food into their pockets, -for a lunch on the way, they set forth on their formidable undertaking.</p> - -<p>Led on and guided by the calm and resolute hunter,—who at different -times had been over the whole way, and in whose skill and discretion, -as a woodsman, for conducting them by the nearest and easiest route, -they all had undoubting confidence,—they vigorously made their way -onwards through the accumulating snows and natural obstructions of the -forest; now threading the thickets of the valleys; now skirting the -sides of the hills; now crossing deep ravines; and now climbing high -mountains in their toilsome march. And, though the storm seemed to rage -more and more fiercely with the advancing hours of the day,—whirling -clouds of blinding snow in their faces, hurling the decayed limbs and -trunks of the older tenants of the wood to the earth around them, -in the fury of its blasts, and rattling and creaking through the -colliding branches of the writhing green trees, as it swept over the -wilderness,—yet, for all these difficulties of the way and commotions -of the elements, they faltered not, but continued to move forward in -stern and moody silence, hour after hour, in the footsteps of their -indomitable leader, until they reached the extreme eastern point of -the lake, where their destination required them to turn round it, in a -sharp angle to the west. Here, at the suggestion of their leader, who -made the encouraging announcement that the worst half of their journey -was accomplished, they made a halt, under the lee of a sheltering -mountain, for rest and refreshment. And, sitting down on a fallen tree, -from whose barkless trunk they brushed off the snow, they took out -and commenced chewing their stale and frozen bread, with a few small -pieces of duck-meat, remaining from their breakfast, and comprising -the last of their provisions. The animal heat, produced by their great -and continued exertions in travelling, had thus<span class="pagenum" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</span> far prevented them -from suffering much from the cold, or perceiving its actual intensity. -But they had been at rest scarcely long enough to finish their meagre -repast, when they were driven from their seats by the chill of the -invading element, and were eagerly demanding, as a lesser annoyance, -again to be led forward on their journey. The snow by this time had -accumulated to the depth of a foot and a half, and still came swiftly -sifting down aslant to the earth, without the least sign of abatement; -while the wind, which was before a gale, had now risen to a hurricane, -causing the smitten earth to tremble and shake under the force of the -terrible blasts that went shrieking and howling through the bowed, -bending, and twisting forests, where</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“The sturdiest birch its strength was feeling,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">And pine trees dark and tall</span> -<br />To and fro were madly reeling,<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 1em;">Or dashing headlong in their fall.”</span> -</p> - -<p>But, still undismayed by these manifestations of elemental power around -them, or the prospects before them, all terrific and disheartening -as they were, and nerved by the consciousness that their only chance -of escape from a fearful death depended on their exertions, the bold -and hardy woodsmen again started out into the trackless waste, and -labored desperately onward, mile after mile, through the impeding -snow; sometimes taken to the armpits in its gathering drifts, and -sometimes thrown at full length beneath its submerging depths by -stepping into some hole or chasm it had concealed from their sight. -And thus resolutely did they beat and buffet their rough way through -the perplexed and roaring wilderness, and thus stoutly did they bear -up against the constantly thickening dangers that environed them -during the last part of that dreadful day. But, as night drew on, -their strength and spirits began to flag and give way. The cold was -increasing in intensity. The tempest howled louder than ever over their -heads, and the snow had become so deep and drifted that furlongs became -as miles<span class="pagenum" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</span> in their progress. And yet, as they supposed, they were miles -from their destination. At length, one after another, they faltered and -stopped. The strong men quailed at the fate which seemed staring them -in the face, and they were on the point of giving up in despair. But -hark! that cheery shout which rises above the roaring of the wind, from -their more hardy and hopeful leader, who, while all others stopped, had -pushed on some thirty rods in advance. It comes again!</p> - -<p>“Courage, men! We have struck the river, at whose mouth stands our -camp, now not half a mile distant.”</p> - -<p>Aroused by the glad tidings, that sent a thrill of joy through their -sinking hearts, they sprang forward, with the revivified energies which -new and suddenly-lighted hope will sometimes so strangely impart, and -were soon by the side of the exulting hunter; when together they rushed -and floundered along down the banks of the stream towards the place, in -joyful excitement at the thought that their troubles were now so nearly -over, and with visions of the comfortable quarters, warm fires, and -smoking suppers, which they confidently expected were awaiting them at -camp, brightly dancing before them. Joy and hope lent wings to their -speed; and, in a short time, they could discern the open place and the -well-remembered outlines of the locality where the camp was situated. -But no bright light greeted their expectant eyes. They were now at the -spot, but, to their utter consternation, no camp was to be seen! Could -they be mistaken in the place? No; there was the open path leading to -the structure; there rose the steep side of the hill; and there, at the -foot of it, stood the perpendicular rock against which it was erected! -What could it mean? After standing a moment in mute amazement, peering -inquiringly at each other, in the fading twilight, they started forward -for the rock, and, in so doing, came upon the two front posts, still -standing up some feet out of the snow. They were black and charred! -The sad truth then flashed over their minds. Their camp had been burnt -to the ground, and with it; also, probably, their rich<span class="pagenum" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</span> collection of -furs,—nearly the whole fruit of all the toils and fatigues of their -expedition! O death, death! what shall save the poor trappers, now?</p> - -<p>“Great God! I have had a presentiment of this,” exclaimed Phillips, the -first to find utterance, in a voice trembling with unwonted emotion.</p> - -<p>“How could it have happened?” and “Where is Gaut Gurley?” -simultaneously burst from the lips of the others.</p> - -<p>“Well may you ask those questions, and well couple them together, I -fancy,” responded the hunter, with bitter significance. “But away -with all speculations about <em>that</em>, now. We have something that -more nearly concerns us to attend to, in this strait, than forming -conjectures about the loss of our property: our lives are at stake! If -you will mind me, however, you may all yet be saved.”</p> - -<p>“Direct us, direct us, and we will obey,” eagerly responded one and all.</p> - -<p>“Two of you follow me, then, for something dry, if we can find it, for -a fire, and the rest go to kicking away and treading down the snow -under the rock, with all your might!” sharply commanded the hunter, -dashing his way towards the thickets, with hatchet in hand.</p> - -<p>With that ready obedience which a superior in energy and experience -will always command among his fellows, in emergencies like this, the -men went to work in earnest. In a short time the snow was cleared away -or beat down compactly over a space some yards in extent along the side -of the rock, while the others soon returned with a supply of the driest -wood to be found, together with an armfull of hemlock boughs, to strew -over the beaten snow. The next thing requiring their attention was the -all-important object of starting a fire. But in this they were doomed -to sad disappointment. Their punkwood tinder had been so dampened by -the snow sifting into their coat-pockets, where they had deposited it, -that it could not be made to catch the sparks of the smitten steel. -They then tried<span class="pagenum" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</span> the flashing of their guns; but they had no paper, -and could find no dry leaves or fleecy bark of the birch, and the -finest splinters or shavings they could whittle, in the dark, from -the clefts of the imperfectly dry pine, would not take fire from the -light, evanescent flash of the powder in their pans. Again and again -did they renew the doubtful experiment; but every succeeding trial, -from the dampness of their material in the driving snow, and from the -unmanageable condition of their benumbed fingers and shivering frames, -became more and more hopeless, till at length they were compelled to -relinquish wholly the fruitless attempt.</p> - -<p>“This is a calamity, indeed!” exclaimed the hunter. “I feared it might -be so from the first. Could we have foreseen the want, so as to have -been on the lookout for material coming along, or have got here before -dark, it might have been averted. But as it is, there is one resort -left for us, if we would live in this terrible wind and cold till -morning; and that is, to keep in constant and lively motion. Whoever -lies down to sleep is a dead man!”</p> - -<p>But he found it difficult to impress on the minds of most of them his -idea of the danger of ceasing motion. They began to say they felt more -comfortable now, and, being very tired, must lay down to take a little -rest. Sharply forbidding the indulgence, the hunter sallied out, cut -and trimmed two or three green beech switches, and returned with them -to his wondering companions; when, finding Mark Elwood, in disregard -of his warning, already down and dozing on a bunch of boughs under the -rock, he sternly exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Up, there, in an instant!”</p> - -<p>“O, let me lie,” begged the unconsciously freezing man: “do let me -lie a little while. I am almost warm, now, but very, very sleepy,” he -added, sinking away again into a doze.</p> - -<p>Instantly a smart blow from the tough and closely-setting switch of -the hunter fell upon the outstretched legs of the dozer, who cringed -and groaned, but did not start. Another<span class="pagenum" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</span> and another, and yet another, -fell with the quickness and force of a pedagogue’s rod on the legs of -an offending urchin, till the aroused, maddened and enraged victim of -the seeming cruelty leaped to his feet, and, with doubled fists, rushed -upon the assailant, who darted off into the snow and led his pursuer a -doubling race of several hundred yards before he returned to the spot.</p> - -<p>“There are some spare switches,” resumed the active and stout-hearted -hunter, as he came in a little ahead of the puffing, reänimated, and -now pacified Elwood; “take them in hand, and do the same by me, if you -see me going the same way; it is our only salvation!”</p> - -<p>But, notwithstanding all this preaching, and the obvious effects -of this wholesome example, others of the company, deceived by the -insidious sensation which steals upon the unsuspecting victims of such -exposures, as the treacherous herald of their death,—others, in turn, -required and promptly received the application of the same strange -remedy. But this could not always last. The fatigue of their previously -overtasked systems prevented them from keeping up their exertions many -hours more; and, declaring they could bear up no longer, one after -another sunk down under the rock; and even their hitherto indomitable -leader himself now visibly relaxed, and at length threw himself down -with the rest, feebly murmuring:</p> - -<p>“I know what this feeling means; but it is so sweet! let us all die -together!”</p> - -<p>At that instant a shock, quickly followed by the loud, gathering -rumblings of an earthquake, somewhere above them, suddenly aroused -and brought every man to his feet. And the next moment an avalanche -of snow, sweeping down the steep side of the rock-faced declivity -above, shot obliquely over their heads to the level below, leaving them -unharmed, but buried twenty feet beneath the outward surface.</p> - -<p>“Now, God be praised!” cried the hunter, at once comprehending what had -happened, and starting forward to feel out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</span> what space was left them -between their shielding rock in the rear and the wedged and compact -slant snow-wall in front, which, with the no less deeply blocked -ends, formed the roof and sides of their new and thus strangely built -prison-house, “This is the work of Providence! We are now, at least, -safe from the cold, as you will all, I think, soon have the pleasure of -perceiving.”</p> - -<p>“You are right, Mr. Phillips,” responded Carvil; “and it is strange -some of us did not think of building a snow-house at the outset. Even -the wild partridges, that in coldest weather protect themselves by -burrowing in the snow, might have taught us the lesson.”</p> - -<p>“Yes, but it has been far better done in the way God has provided for -us. And we have only now to get our blood into full circulation to -insure us safety and rest through the night; and let us do this by -shaking out our boughs, and treading down the snow, as smooth as a -floor, to receive them for our bedding.”</p> - -<p>“It may be as you say about its being mild here, Mr. Phillips,” -doubtingly observed Mark Elwood; “but it seems strange philosophy to -me, that being inclosed in snow, the coldest substance in nature, -should make us warmer than in the open air.”</p> - -<p>“And still I suspect it is a fact, father,” said Claud. “The -Esquimaux, and other nations of the extreme north, it is known, live -in snow-houses, without fire, the whole of their long and rigorous -winters.”</p> - -<p>“O, Phillips is right enough about <em>that</em>,” added Codman, now -evidently fast regaining his usual buoyancy of spirits; “yes, right -enough about <em>that</em>, whether he was about that plaguey switching -he gave us, or not. Why, I can feel a great change in the air here -already! warm enough, soon; safe, at any rate; so, hurra for life and -home, which, being once so honestly lost, will now be clear gain. -Hurra! whoo-rah! whoo-rah-ee! Kuk-kuk-ke-o-ho!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</span></p> - -<p>And the hunter <em>was</em> right, and the trapper was right. Their -perils and physical sufferings were over. They were not only safe, but -fast becoming comfortable. And, by the time they had trod down the snow -as hard and smooth as had been proposed, and shaken out the boughs and -distributed them for their respective beds, the air seemed as warm as -that of a mild day in October. Their clothes were smoking and becoming -dry by the evaporation of the dampness caused by the snow. Their limbs -had become pliant, and their whole systems restored to their wonted -warmth and circulation. And, wrapping themselves in their blankets, -they laid down,—as they knew they could now safely do,—and were soon -lost in refreshing slumber, from which they did not awake till a late -hour the next morning.</p> - -<p>“When they awoke, after their deep slumbers, they at once concluded, -from the altered and lighter hue of all around them, as well as by -their own feelings, that it must be day without; and with one accord -commenced, with their hatchets, cutting and digging a hole through -the wall of their snowy prison-house, in the place where they judged -it most likely to be thinnest. After working by turns some thirty or -forty minutes, and cutting or beating out an upward passage eight or -ten yards in extent, they suddenly broke through into the open air. -The roaring of the storm no longer greeted their ears. The terrible -conflict of the elements, which yesterday kept the heavens and earth -in such hideous commotion, was over and gone. Though it was as cold -as in the depths of winter, the sky was almost cloudless; and the -sun, already far on his diurnal circuit, was glimmering brightly over -the dreary wastes of the snow-covered wilderness. By common consent, -they then packed up, and immediately commenced beating their slow and -toilsome way towards the nearest habitation, which was that of the old -chief, now only about five miles distant, over land, on the shore of -the lake below. With far less fatigue and other suffering, save that of -hunger, than they had anticipated,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</span> they reached the hospitable cabin -of Wenongonet before night. Here their wants were supplied; here an -earnest discussion—in which they were aided by the shrewd surmises -of the chief—was held, respecting the burning of their camp and the -probable loss of their common property; and, finally, here, though the -“<em>Light of the Lodge</em>” was absent at her city home, they were -agreeably entertained through the night and succeeding day,—when, the -lakes having become frozen over sufficiently strong to make travelling -on the ice as safe as it was convenient and easy, they, on the second -morning after their arrival at his house, bade their entertainer -good-by, and set out for their homes in the settlement, which they -respectively reached by daylight, to the great relief of their anxious -and now overjoyed families and friends.</p> - - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_4" href="#FNanchor_4" class="label">[4]</a> A historical fact, once related to the author by an old -soldier who was one of the party here described.</p> - -</div> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVI">CHAPTER XVI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -<br />“There was a laughing devil in his sneer, -<br />That rais’d emotions both of hate and fear.” -</p> - - -<p>In the early part of an appointed day, about a fortnight after the -return of the imperilled and unfortunate trappers to their homes, -as described in the preceding chapter, an unusual gathering of men -was to be seen within and around a building whose barn, open shed, -watering-trough, and sign-post, showed its aspirations to be a tavern, -occupying a central position among a small, scattering group of -primitive-looking houses, situated on the banks of the Androscoggin, -five miles below that lake, and where it might be considered as fairly -under way, as an uninterrupted river, in its devious course to the -ocean.</p> - -<p>In the yard and around the door stood men, gathered in small knots, -engaged in low, earnest conversation; while, every few minutes, -some were seen issuing from the house and hastily departing, as if -dispatched on special messages,—the company in the mean time being -continually augmented by fresh arrivals of the settlers, who came -straggling in from both directions of the great road, which, leading -from the more thickly-settled parts of Maine to the Connecticut, here -passed over the Androscoggin.</p> - -<p>Within the house, in the largest room, and behind a table, drawn up -near the wall at the farther end, sat a magistrate, in all the grave -dignity of a court, with pen in hand and paper before him, as if -in readiness to take such testimony in the case on hand as should -be presented for his consideration. On his right sat Mark Elwood, -Phillips, and Codman, appearing as<span class="pagenum" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</span> the representatives of the injured -trappers or hunters, who were the prosecutors in the case; while on -his left sat Gaut Gurley, in custody of the sheriff and his assistant, -who had arrested and brought him there to answer to the complaint of -the former. Gaut appeared perfectly unconcerned, glancing boldly about -him with an air of proud defiance; while his former companions, the -trappers just named, sat looking down at their feet, compressing their -lips and knitting their brows in moody and indignant silence.</p> - -<p>But, before proceeding with any further description of the court, its -parties or doings, let us briefly recur to what had happened in the -interim between the return of the trappers and their present appearance -in court, for redress for the outrages that they supposed had been -designedly committed upon them, or at least for bringing to punishment -the man who, they felt morally certain, must be the perpetrator.</p> - -<p>After the trappers had reached their homes, become fully restored from -the chill and fatigues they had undergone during the terrible storm -with which their expedition so disastrously terminated, and attended -to such domestic wants as demanded their immediate care, they met at -the house of Phillips, in accordance with an appointment they made when -they parted, to report what evidence each might be able to collect -relative to the burning of their camp, and the suspected previous -abstraction of their furs; and thereupon to decide what measures should -be taken in the premises. Finding that Gaut Gurley had been seen at -home, or in the vicinity, some days previous to the storm, and that he -was not likely to come to <em>them</em>, they dispatched a disinterested -person to <em>him</em>, to notify him of their arrival, and the condition -in which they found matters at the store-camp, left in his charge, and -also of their wish that he would attend their proposed meeting, and -account for the catastrophe which had so unexpectedly occurred. He -pretended to know nothing of the affair, and feigned great surprise -at the news; said he had left the camp and its stores, all safe, two -days<span class="pagenum" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</span> before the storm, to come to the settlement for more provisions, -believing that his companions would remain a fortnight longer; that, -having procured his supplies, he was intending to return to camp the -day the storm came on; and finally that it devolved on those last at -the camp, and not on <em>him</em>, to account for what had taken place. -He therefore declined meeting them on the business. As soon as they -ascertained that Gaut had taken this stand, which only added to their -previous convictions of his guilt, the different members of the company -made journeys to the nearest villages or trading-places in Maine and -New Hampshire, to see if any furs, answering in description to their -collection, had recently been sold in any of those towns. And at -length they found, in one of the frontier villages in Maine, a small -collection of peltries, which they thought they could identify, and -which the trader said he had lately purchased of an unknown travelling -pedlar, who, out of a large lot of peltries, would sell only these -at prices that would warrant the purchasing. This small lot of furs -they prevailed on the trader to let them take home with them, for the -purpose of making proof in court. This was all the direct evidence they -could find to implicate Gaut; but they believed it would be sufficient. -For, at the meeting they then held, Mark Elwood found among the furs a -beaver-skin, that he could swear was of his own taking, from a careless -slit he remembered to have made in the skinning. Codman found another, -which he could safely identify by a mangled ear which was caught in -one end of the trap, while the tail was caught in the other. And -Phillips found an otter skin, with a bullet-hole on each side, made, -as he well remembered, by shooting the animal through and through in -the region of the heart. On this proof they unanimously decided on -a prosecution; and accordingly Phillips and Mark Elwood set off the -next day for Lancaster, the shire-town on the Connecticut, for legal -advice, warrants, and a sheriff to serve them. On reaching the place, -they were told by the attorney they consulted that they could not make -out<span class="pagenum" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</span> larceny or theft against Gurley for taking the furs placed in his -trust, but for their private redress must resort to a civil action -of trover, or unlawful conversion of the common property. A criminal -process for arson, or the burning of the camp, would probably be -sustained. And the result of the consultation was, that a complaint and -warrant for arson should be issued, and the arrest made by the sheriff, -who should also have in his hands a civil process returnable to the -court of Common Pleas, to serve on Gurley and his property, provided -the proof elicited at the court of inquiry on the criminal charge -should be such as to afford them any prospect of a recovery.</p> - -<p>It was under these circumstances that Gaut Gurley had been arrested for -the burning of the camp, and brought before the magistrate, who, with -the lawyers employed on both sides, had come to this place, as before -described, for the hearing of the case.</p> - -<p>The magistrate now declared the court open, and directed the parties -to proceed with the case. The attorney for the prosecution then rose, -read the complaint, and briefly stated what they expected to prove, -to substantiate the allegations it contained. Mark Elwood, Phillips, -Codman, and the trader who had purchased the furs of the pedlar, and -who had been summoned for the purpose, were then called to the stand, -and sworn, as witnesses on the part of the prosecution.</p> - -<p>The trader, being first called on, testified to the identity of the -furs which had been produced in court with the lot he had bought of the -pedlar, as before mentioned; and he further stated that the man had a -large lot, which well answered the general description given by the -complainants of the lot they had in camp; but where or how he obtained -the lot, or who he was, or where he went to when he left town, he did -not learn, and had no means of ascertaining. All he could say, was, -that these were the furs he purchased, and the only ones of the whole -lot on the prices of which he and the fellow could agree, so as to -effect a trade.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</span></p> - -<p>Phillips, next called, swore plumply that the bullet-pierced otter-skin -before him was taken by his own hand from the animal he shot. He -also added that there were several strings of saple-skins in the lot -before him, which he felt confident he had seen among the furs of the -company, and he especially pointed out one strung together by a braid -of wickape bark. And in this last statement he was confirmed by Codman, -who, besides identifying one beaver-skin, had the same impression -in relation to the string of sable; but neither of them would swear -positively in the matter of the smaller furs.</p> - -<p>Mark Elwood, the last of the witnesses to be examined, then took the -stand; and, contrary to what might have been expected from one of -his wavering disposition, and particularly from one who had been so -strangely kept under the influence and fear of the man on trial, bore -himself resolutely under the menacing looks which the latter fixed upon -him by way of intimidation. For some time he had utterly refused to -harbor the idea of Gaut’s guilt. He believed the burning of the camp -was accidental; that Gaut, in anticipation of the storm, had taken all -the furs home with him, and would soon call the company together for -the distribution. But when he heard of the course Gaut was taking, and -coupled it with the other circumstances, he suddenly changed his tone, -fell into the belief of his companions, and more loudly and openly than -any of them denounced the crime and its author,—seemingly throwing -off, at once and forever, the mysterious spell which had so long -bound him. Accordingly he now swore confidently to the beaver-skin in -question, as one of his own taking, and, facing him boldly, even went -so far as to declare his full belief in Gaut’s guilt, not only in the -burning of the camp, but in the stealing of the furs.</p> - -<p>This gratuitous assertion of a mere matter of belief in the -respondent’s guilt, which was no legal evidence in the case, at once -aroused, as might have been expected, the ire of Gaut’s<span class="pagenum" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</span> lawyer, who, -with fierce denunciations of the conduct of the witness, subjected him -to a severe cross-examination.</p> - -<p>“What reason, then,” asked the somewhat mollified lawyer, now himself -incautiously venturing on ground which, with a better knowledge of the -parties, he would have seen might injure his cause, and on which his -client evidently wished him not to push inquiries. “What reason, then, -could you have for your extraordinary conduct in trying, against all -rule, to lug in here your mere ungrounded conjectures, to prejudice the -court and spectators against an innocent man?”</p> - -<p>“Innocent?” here broke in Phillips, provoked by what, in his -exasperated state of feeling, he viewed as the cool impudence and -hypocrisy of the lawyer. “Innocent, hey? Well, well, there are various -ways of lying in this world, I see plainly.”</p> - -<p>“What do <em>you</em> know about my client, whom you are all conspiring -to ruin?” exclaimed the excited lawyer, turning fiercely on the -interposing hunter.</p> - -<p>“Know about him?” retorted the other. “I know enough, besides this -outrageous affair; I know enough to——”</p> - -<p>“Beware!” suddenly exclaimed Gaut Gurley, with a look that brought the -speaker to a stand.</p> - -<p>“I don’t fear you, sir,” said the hunter, confronting the other with an -unflinching countenance. “But you may be right; it may be <em>I had</em> -better forbear; it may be your time is not yet come,” he added, in a -low, significant tone.</p> - -<p>“Now, I will finish with you, sir,” resumed Gaut’s lawyer turning -again sternly to Elwood, from whom he—like many other over-acting -attorneys, who cannot see where they should stop in examinations of -this kind—seemed to think he could draw something more that would -make for his client. “When that fellow interrupted me just now, I was -asking what reason, besides some grudge or malice, you had for your -unwarrantable course in pronouncing the respondent guilty, without -proof; for, allowing the furs you swear to <em>were</em> once yours, -you don’t show, by a single particle of proof, that he had any thing -to do with it<span class="pagenum" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</span> more than yourselves, who were quite as likely to have -taken them as he. Yes, what reasons,—facts, facts, I mean; no more -guess-work here; so speak out, sir, like an honest man, if you can.”</p> - -<p>“I will, then,” promptly responded Elwood. “You shall have facts, to -your heart’s content; I said what I did because I am convinced he -<em>is</em> guilty.”</p> - -<p>“Convinced!” sneeringly interrupted the other; “there it is again; -thrusting in sheer conjectures for evidence! I must call on the court -to interpose with the stubborn and wilful fellow. Didn’t I tell you, -sir, I’d have no more of your guess-work? Facts, sir, facts, or -nothing.”</p> - -<p>“Well, you shall have them, then,” replied the other, in a determined -tone, “for I know enough facts to convince me, at least, of his guilt. -Both before and after we started on our expedition, he threw out hints -to me which I did not then quite understand, but which, since this -affair, I have recalled, and now know what they meant. He hinted, if I -would fall into his plan and keep council, we might——”</p> - -<p>“Might what?” sharply demanded the excited and alarmed attorney. “Do -you know you are under oath, sir? Might what, I say?”</p> - -<p>“Might get all the furs into our hands, and——”</p> - -<p>“Traitor! liar! scoundrel!” exclaimed Gaut Gurley, in a tone that -sounded like the hiss of a serpent, as he bent forward and glared upon -Elwood, with an expression so absolutely fiendish as to make every one -in the room pause and shudder, and as to be remembered and recounted, -months afterwards, in connection with events which seemed destined to -spring from this worse than fruitless trial.</p> - -<p>“You was going to say,” said the attorney for the prosecution, here -eagerly pricking up and turning to the interrupted and now evidently -discomposed witness,—“you was going to say, he proposed that he and -you should take all the furs to yourselves, and so rob the rest of the -company!”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</span></p> - -<p>“I can’t tell the words; but I think he meant that,” replied Elwood, in -more subdued tones.</p> - -<p>“O ho,” exclaimed Gaut’s lawyer; “you <em>now</em> think, that is, you -guess, he meant something that you didn’t dream of his meaning at the -time he uttered it. Pretty evidence this; make the most of it!”</p> - -<p>“We will,” said the opposite counsel; “and I request the court to -take it all down, together with the prisoner’s exclamations of -<em>traitor</em>, etc., which involves, indirectly, an admission that I -shall remark on in the argument. Yes, let all this be noted carefully. -It is important. It goes to show the previous design, which, coupled -with the identified furs, is, I trust the court will see, sufficient to -fix the crime on the respondent, beyond all doubt or question.”</p> - -<p>“We will soon show you how much you will make out of your identified -furs,” rejoined the other lawyer, with a confident and defiant air.</p> - -<p>“Have you witnesses to introduce on the part of the defence?” asked the -court.</p> - -<p>“Yes, your honor; but our most important one has not yet arrived. We -are expecting him every minute.”</p> - -<p>At that moment, a shout of surprise and laughter, together with an -unusual commotion in the yard, arrested the attention of all in the -court-room; and they mostly rushed to the door or windows to ascertain -the cause, when they were amused to behold the young Indian, Tomah, -driving into the yard, with his moose harnessed to a pung or sledge, -of his own rigging up, on which—with reins and whip in hand—he sat -as jauntily as a coachman, and almost with the same ease, apparently, -brought his strange steed to a stand before the door.</p> - -<p>“Our witness has come!” exclaimed Gaut’s lawyer, exultingly. “Mr. -Sheriff, send out and bring him in. We will now dispose of this -miserable prosecution, in short metre.”</p> - -<p>In a few minutes Tomah entered the room, and, readily -comprehending,—from a knowledge of the usages of courts he had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</span> -obtained during his residence in the villages of the whites,—what was -expected of him, now demurely advanced in front of the magistrate, -raised his hand, and received the oath of a witness. He was then shown -the lot of furs that had been identified by the hunters present, his -attention directed to the peculiar marks by which part of them had been -distinguished, and he was asked if he had ever seen these furs, and -noticed the marks on them, before.</p> - -<p>“Yes, think so,” replied Tomah, quietly, as he rapidly handled every -large skin, and each parcel of the smaller ones, keenly noting the -palpable marks shown him on the former, and every tie confining -together the latter. “Yes; here bullet-holes on otter; slit on this -beaver; cropt ear on that; little fat back of fore-legs on rest of -beaver; wickape strings on that bunch sable; elm-bark tie on that; and -beech twigs on that. Yes, seen ’em all.”</p> - -<p>“Where? And how do you know the furs? Tell the court all about it,” -said Gaut’s lawyer, as an exultant smile played over his sardonic -features.</p> - -<p>“Well, now,” calmly and with his usual passionless cast of countenance -replied Tomah, after a considerable pause; “well, this lot of skins -all taken from the great lot taken by our company up round the great -lakes, this fall. I come back to settlement, three, four, five days, -may be, ’fore the rest; to see to moose, train him for Boston, and -make sled; wanted my part of furs to sell right off, to bear expenses, -and get off on journey soon. Mr. Gurley, then, after while, said he -venture to divide off to me greater part of what I would get for my -share of skins then got into the great camp. So he do it; and I take -my part, just this lot you show me here, and steer off with them to -Bethel; but, ’fore got quite there, come cross pedlar and sold them -cheap, for money, and go right back to Mr. Gurley’s, where moose was. -Found Mr. Gurley home, too; said he left all furs safe in camp; come -for provisions to carry back, to hunt one, two weeks longer; but storm -come, and he stayed to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</span> home, and soon heard all the men got home, too; -big storm, bad; I no start for Boston yet, but most ready; go soon, get -heap of money for moose, certain.”</p> - -<p>The counsel for the prosecution and his clients—on hearing such a -piece of testimony from a witness whom they themselves would have -summoned, but for the belief that he would be so much under the -influence and training of Gaut, that little could be drawn from him -making against the latter—were taken so completely by surprise, by the -unexpected <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">denouement</i>, that they all sat mute and dumb-founded -for some moments; both lawyer and clients being scarcely able to credit -their own senses, and each hoping that the other had discovered some -flaw in the testimony, by which it could be picked to pieces. But no -such flaw or discrepancy could be discovered; and the testimony, after -the severe and prolonged cross-examination to which it was subjected -by the rallying and desperate attorney, remained wholly unshaken, -in every material part, standing out, in all its decisive force and -effect, for the exclusive benefit of the respondent. Every person in -the room, indeed, at length became convinced that the young Indian had -told the truth, and that he could know nothing of Gaut’s guilt, though -unconsciously made a witness in his favor; with the view, probably, -of meeting just such an exigency as had occurred in the present -prosecution.</p> - -<p>The attorney for the prosecution, then, it being agreed to submit -the case on the testimony now in, made a long and ingenious speech, -abandoning the matter of the identified furs; dwelling largely on -Gaut’s dimly-hinted proposals to Elwood to join in the crime; and, on -the ground that he was the only person in a situation to burn and rob -the camp, raising the violent presumption that he must have perpetrated -the double crime.</p> - -<p>Gaut’s lawyer then rose, with a confident and exultant air, and said -he might, with the best reason in the world, make a plea to the -jurisdiction of the court, since he had discovered<span class="pagenum" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</span> that the camp which -was alleged to have been burnt was situated some miles within the -boundary of Maine; that no New Hampshire magistrate, of course, could -take jurisdiction of the case; and, that the respondent, on that ground -alone, must be at once discharged, if he wished it. But he did not wish -it. He courted a trial and decision, on the merits of the case; which, -after briefly urging the strong points of the defence, he submitted to -the court.</p> - -<p>Tomah’s testimony had settled the case; and, though nearly every -one in the room, probably, were deeply impressed with suspicions of -Gaut’s guilt, yet all felt that the evidence was not sufficient for -a legal conviction. And they were not surprised, therefore, when the -court, after briefly commenting on the testimony, pronounced the full -discharge of the prisoner.</p> - -<p>“Ha, ha!” exclaimed Gaut, with a laugh so inconceivably devilish that -his own lawyer, even, recoiled at the sound. “Ha, ha!” he repeated, -with a smile on his lips, made ghastly by the fires of concentrated -malice that shot from his eyes. “Wouldn’t my good friends, here, like -to try this game again?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” boldly retorted the hunter. “Yes, and we shall, with evidence -Heaven will direct us where to find. Your time hasn’t come. But it -<em>will</em> come! God ain’t dead yet!”</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVII">CHAPTER XVII</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“Be still the unimaginable lodge -<br />For solitary thinkings; such as dodge -<br />Conception to the very bourn of Heaven, -<br />Then leave the naked brain; be still the leaven -<br />That, spreading in this dull and clodded earth, -<br />Gives it a touch ethereal, a new birth.” <span class="smcap">Keats.</span> -</p> - - -<p>It is not to be supposed that a lawsuit, or prosecution, in so new and -remote a settlement, especially one that involved so many interests, -and whose result must have so many and complicated bearings, as the -one described in the last chapter, would be suffered to pass away like -any ordinary occurrence and be forgotten. With the settlers, besides -the novelty of having a court held among them, for any cause, it was -an extraordinary occurrence that there should be any grounds for a -prosecution or lawsuit of this character,—extraordinary that any one -should be found base enough to violate the common faith and honesty -which the trappers and hunters had, up to that time, so implicitly -reposed in, and observed with each other,—and doubly extraordinary -that the perpetrator could not be detected and brought to punishment. -To them, such a flagitious betrayal of trust was a new and startling -event. They felt it deeply concerned them all; and the sensation it -produced was accordingly as profound as it was general, in all that -region of the country.</p> - -<p>But, if such was the effect of the unfortunate occurrence in question, -on the community at large, how much more deeply would the effect be -naturally felt by the parties immediately concerned? By the loss of -their stock of furs, three families, at least, were deprived of the -means on which they had relied<span class="pagenum" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</span> for supplying them with a large part -of the necessaries of life, through the ensuing winter; while, besides -this, many a wife and child were doomed to sad disappointment, in being -thus deprived of the fondly-anticipated purchases of articles of dress, -books, and various other little comforts, which had been promised them -on the division and sale of the peltries. Nor were these the only -interests and feelings affected by the event and its concomitants. -Friendships were broken, and even more tender relations were disturbed, -if, indeed, their further existence were not to be terminated. By the -open, and as was supposed irreconcilable, quarrel between Mark Elwood -and the terribly vindictive Gaut Gurley, their children, Claud and -Avis, who were understood to be under mutual engagement of marriage, -were placed in a position at once painful and embarrassing in the -extreme. And Claud, especially, although he had carefully abstained -from all accusations of Gaut, had taken no part in getting up the -prosecution, and purposely absented himself from the trial, yet felt -very keenly the perplexing dilemma into which he would be thrown, by -continuing the connecting link between two such deadly foes as he now -found his father, whom he could not desert, and Gaut Gurley, whom he -felt conscious he could not defend. And for this reason he had, from -time to time, deferred the visit to Avis, which he had designed, and -which she would naturally expect on his return from the expedition. But -still he could not see how a quarrel between the fathers discharged -him from his obligations to her; and he grew more and more doubtful -and uneasy in the position he found himself occupying. He was soon, -however, to be relieved. One day, a short time after the trial, while -he was anxiously revolving the subject in mind, a boy, who had come as -a special messenger from the Magalloway settlement (for the purpose, as -it appeared), brought him the following letter:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Dear Claud</span>,—You do not know, you cannot know, what the -effort costs me to write this. You do not know, you cannot<span class="pagenum" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</span> know, what -I have felt, what I have suffered since I became fully apprised of the -painful circumstances under which your late expedition was brought -to a close; and especially since I became apprised of the lamentable -scenes that occurred in the court, growing out of that unfortunate—O -how unfortunate, expedition! Before that court was held, and during -the doubtful days which intervened between it and your escape from -the terrible perils that attended your return, the hope that all -would, all <em>must</em> turn out right, in some measure relieved my -harrowing fears and anxieties; though even then the latter was to the -former as days of cloud to minutes of sunshine. But, when I heard what -occurred at the trial,—the bitter crimination and recrimination, the -open rupture, the menaces exchanged, and the angry parting,—and, -more alarming than all, when I saw my father return in that fearful -mood, from which he still refuses to be diverted, the last gleam of -hope faded, and all became cloud, all gloom,—dark, impenetrable, -and forbidding. My nights, when sleep at length comes to close my -weeping eyes, are passed in troubled dreams; my days in more troubled -thoughts, which I would fain believe were dreams also. O, why need -this be? I have done nothing,—you have done nothing; and I have no -doubt of your faith and honor for performing all I shall ever require -at your hands. But, Claud, I love you, and all</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -‘Know love is woman’s happiness;’<br /> -</p> - -<p class="p0">and all know, likewise, that the ties of love are but gossamer -threads, which a word may rupture, a breath shake, and even the power -of unpleasant associations destroy. Still, is there not one hope,—the -hope that this thread, hitherto so blissfully uniting our hearts, -subtle and attenuated as it is, may yet be preserved unbroken, if we -suffer no opinion, no word, no syllable to escape our lips, respecting -the unfortunate affair that is embroiling our parents; if we wholly -deny ourselves the pleasure of that social intercourse which, to -<em>me</em>, at least,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</span> has thus far made this wilderness an Eden of -delight? But can it be thus preserved, if we keep up that intercourse, -as in the sunshine of our love,—those pleasant, fleeting, rosy -months, when I was so happy, O so very happy, in the feelings of the -present and the prospects of the future? No, no, it is not possible, -it is not possible for you to come here, and encounter my father in -such a mood, and then return and receive the upbraidings of your -own, that you are joining or upholding the house of his foes. It is -not possible for you to do this, and your heart receive no jar, and -mine no fears or suspicions of its continued fealty. I dare not risk -it. Then do not, dearest Claud, O do not come here, at least for the -present. Perhaps my dark forebodings, that our connection is not to be -blessed for our future happiness, may be groundless. Perhaps the storm -that now so darkly hangs over us may pass harmlessly away. Perhaps -this painful and perplexing misunderstanding—as I trust in Heaven’s -mercy it only is—may yet be placed in a light which will admit of a -full reconciliation between our respective families. But, till then, -let our relations to each other stand, if you feel disposed to let -them, precisely as we left them at our last mournfully happy parting; -for, till then, though it break my heart, I could never, never consent -to a renewal of our intercourse. Have I said enough, and not too much? -I could not, under the almost insupportable weight of grief, fear, and -anxiety, that is distracting my brain, and crushing my poor heart,—I -could not say less, I dare not say more. O Claud, Claud, why has this -dreadful cloud come over us? O, pray that it may be speedily removed, -and once more let in, on our pained and perplexed hearts, the sunshine -of their former happiness. Dearest Claud, good-by; don’t come, but -don’t forget</p> - -<p class="right p0"> -“<span class="smcap">Avis.</span>”<br /> -</p> -</div> - - -<p>Claud felt greatly relieved, in some respects, by this unexpected -missive; in others, the contents caused him uneasiness and -self-condemnation. It relieved him from the sense of obligation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</span> -he had entertained, to make the dreaded visit to the house of Gaut -Gurley,—who, with every desire to arrive at a different conclusion, -he could no longer believe guiltless of the basest of frauds, and -the basest of means to conceal it. It relieved him, indeed, on this -point; but, as we have said, made him sad and thoughtful on others. The -great grief and distress under which the fair writer was so evidently -laboring, and the deep-rooted love for him which was revealed in -almost every line, but which her pride, in the bright hours of their -courtship, had never permitted her to disclose, keenly touched his -feelings, and rose in condemnation of the comparative indifference, -which, in spite of all his efforts to correct its waywardness, he -felt conscious had been gradually stealing over his heart, since his -admiration, to say the least, had been raised by a rival vision of -loveliness. In the newly-awakened feeling of the moment, however, he -bitterly upbraided himself for his tergiversations in suffering his -thoughts to vacillate between the Star of the Magalloway, who had his -plighted faith, and Flower of the Lakes, who had no claims to his -special consideration. But still, when his thoughts wandered over the -scenes of the past summer, which now, since trial and hardship had -brought his mind back within the dominion of reason and judgment, -seemed much more like dreams than realities,—when he thought of the -manner in which he became acquainted with Avis Gurley; how he persisted -in gaining her affections, and kindling into an over-mastering flame -his own fancy-lit love; and finally, how, against the known wishes of -his family, and the dictates of his own sober judgment, he had urged -her into an engagement of marriage, which he could now see had, as his -mother predicted, in all probability led to a renewal of the intimacy -between his father and Gaut Gurley, and that last intimacy to the -present disaster, and a new quarrel, whose consequences might yet well -be looked for with uneasiness and apprehension,—when he thought of -all this, he deeply condemned his own indiscretion, and could not help -wishing himself clear from an engagement,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</span> which, like every thing -connected with the schemes of that dark and dreaded man, who was now -an object of suspicion through the whole settlement, seemed destined -to lead only to trouble and disaster. Such was the maze of perplexity -by which the young man, now too late for an honorable retreat, found -himself on every side thickly environed. Yet, for all this, and in -despite of all these perplexities and misgivings, he resolved he would -not cease to play the man, but honorably fulfil all his obligations in -such manner as should be required of him.</p> - -<p>So much for the love and its hapless entanglements, which had been so -deeply but so unsatisfactorily occupying, for the last few weeks, the -thoughts of Claud Elwood, who then little suspected that there was -another heart, besides that of the pure, proud, and impassioned Avis -Gurley, whose every pulse, in the great unseen system of intermingling -sympathies, beat in trembling vibration to his own,—a heart that had -been won uncourted and unknown,—a heart that had secretly nursed, in -the favoring solitudes of these wild lakes, and brooded over, a passion -more deep and intense than words could well be found to describe. There -<em>was</em> such a heart; and that heart was now wildly beating, in the -agonizing uncertainties of a hoped reciprocation, in the bosom of that -peerless child of the forest, the beautiful Fluella; and all the more -intense were its workings, because confined to its own deep recesses, -where the hidden flame was laboring constantly for an outlet to its -pride-walled prison, but as constantly shrinking in terror from the -disclosure. She had once, however, through the violence of emotions -which she could not control, accidentally betrayed the state of her -feelings; but it was to one in whose discretion and friendship she was -soon made to repose undoubting confidence, and with whom, therefore, -she at length became reconciled to let her secret remain. The person -who had thus become the depositary of that secret was, as the reader -may remember, Mrs. Elwood. The consciousness that this lady knew all, -coupled as it was with the thought of the relation in which the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</span> latter -stood to the object of her secret idolatry, had irresistibly drawn to -her the yearning heart of the guileless maiden. She had longed for -another interview, but dare not seek it; longed for some excuse for -opening a communication with her, but could not find one. At length, -however, fortune opened the desired avenue; and, after much hesitation -and trembling, she summoned up the courage to avail herself of the -offered opportunity. Phillips, in his determination to ferret out the -outrage which had been committed on him and his companions, and of the -author of which he still entertained no doubt, had, immediately after -the trial, commenced a series of rapid journeys to all the nearest -villages or trading towns in Maine and New Hampshire, to ascertain -if any lot of furs, answering to those caught by his company, had -been sold in those places. And one of these journeys, for that and -other purposes, he had extended to the seaboard. On his return home, -he immediately repaired to his neighbor Elwood’s, and, unperceived, -slipped into the hands of Mrs. Elwood a letter, which the wondering -matron soon took to a private room, curiously opened, and, with a deep, -undefined interest and varying emotions, commenced reading. It ran thus:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">Mrs. Elwood, my Friend</span>,—Our Mr. Phillips has been here, -and told us all that has happened in your settlement. Mrs. Elwood, -I am greatly troubled at the loss your family suffer, with the rest -of the hunters, but still more troubled and fearful for your husband -and your noble son, about what may grow out of the quarrel with that -dark man. My father knew him, time long past, and said there would -be mischief done the company, when we heard he was going with them. -I hope Mr. Elwood will keep out of his way; and I hope, Claud,—O, I -cannot write the thought. Mrs. Elwood, I am very unhappy. I sometimes -wish your brave and noble son had suffered me to go down and be lost -in the dark, wild waters of those fearful rapids. By the goodness of -my white father, whom I am proud<span class="pagenum" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</span> to hope you may some time see with -me in your settlement, I have all the comforts and indulgences that -a heart at ease could desire; warm, carpeted rooms, dress, books, -company, smooth flatterers, who mean little, it may be, together with -<em>real</em> friends, who mean much, and prove it by actions, which -do not, like words, ever deceive. And yet, Mrs. Elwood, they are all -now without any charms for me. My heart is in your settlement. The -grand old forest, and the bright lake, were always things of beauty -for me, before I saw <em>him</em>; but now, when associated <em>with</em> -him,—O, Mrs. Elwood, if I did not know you had something of what I -meant should forever be kept secret from all but the Great Eye, in -your keeping, and if you had not made me feel you would be my discreet -friend, and keep it as safe from all as an unspoken thought, I would -not for worlds write what I have, and what I every moment find my pen -on the point of writing more fully. O, how I wish I could make you -understand, without words, what I feel,—how I grieve over what I -almost know must be vain hopes, and vainer visions of happiness! You -have sometimes had, it may be, very bright, delightful dreams, which -seemed to bring you all your heart desired; and then you suddenly -awoke, and found all had vanished, leaving you dark and sad with -disappointment and regret. If you have, you may fancy what my thoughts -are undergoing every hour of the day. O, how my heart is drawn away -towards you! I often feel that I must fly up, like a bird, to be -there. I should come now, but for what might be thought. I shall -certainly be there in early spring. I can’t stay away, though I may -come only to see what I could bear less easy than these haunting, -troubled fancies. Mrs. Elwood, adieu. You won’t show this, or breathe -a word about it,—I know you won’t; you could not be so cruel as that. -Mrs. Elwood, may I not sign myself your friend?</p> - -<p class="right p0"> -<span class="smcap">Fluella.</span>”<br /> -</p> -</div> - - -<p>On perusing this unexpected communication, Mrs. Elwood felt—she -scarcely knew herself what she felt, except a keenly appreciating<span class="pagenum" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</span> -sense of the writer’s embarrassed feelings, and except, also, the -pleasurable emotions which this timid and tender outpouring of an -unsophisticated heart somehow afforded her. Ever since her singular -interview with this remarkable girl, as described in a former chapter, -Mrs. Elwood had not ceased to think of her as of some good angel, sent -by an interposing Providence, in answer to the agonizing supplications -which immediately preceded her unexpected appearance at the time,—sent -to be the means, in some unforeseen way, of extricating her family -from the fatal influences, as she viewed them, under which they had -insidiously been brought by their different connections with the -Gurleys. Especially had she been impressed that this would prove the -case, in all that related to her idolized son, Claud; whom, in her -disregard to all considerations of lineage, when relieved by such -excellence of beauty and character, she would a thousand times rather -have seen united to the Indian girl than to the one he appeared to -have chosen. She was, therefore, besides being touched by the broken -pathos of the letter, gratified by its reception; for it seemed to come -as a sort of confirmation of her grateful presentiment, that her son, -at least, was to be happily disenthralled. Nor was she, at this time, -without the evidence which led her to hope that her husband, also, had -now finally escaped from the toils that had, once and again, caused -him such calamity and suffering. The sudden and terrible outbreak of -indignation, which, with equal surprise and gratification, she had seen -him exhibit against Gaut, and the quarrel in court, which followed in -consequence, must, she thought, now forever keep them separate. If so, -poorly as her family could afford to suffer their part of the loss -of the avails of the fall’s work, she would cheerfully bear it, and -even look upon the event in the light of a Heaven-sent mercy. But even -of this poor comfort she was destined soon to be deprived. After the -trial, Mark Elwood—who, however bravely he bore himself at first, on -that occasion, was finally seen to quail under the terrible glances -of Gaut—soon became strangely<span class="pagenum" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</span> silent respecting the prosecution -and supposed perpetration of the offence about which he had before -manifested so much zeal and indignation. And, in the active exertions -which Phillips and Codman, in the vain search for evidence or some -clue to the robbery of the furs, perseveringly kept up during the -whole of the long and dreary winter that followed, he could not be -induced to take any decided part. Nor would he, when they met him at -his own house, or that of Phillips, as they several times did, that -winter, to compare the discoveries and observations they had made, and -discuss the subject, any longer maintain the position he at first so -boldly took, respecting Gaut’s guilt, or say any thing in aid of their -deliberations. <em>He</em>, indeed, as <em>they</em> grew more decided and -convinced, seemed to grow more wavering and doubtful. Such was his -demeanor and conduct in company of his late companions; while, with -his own family, he appeared moody, irresolute, and restless, and even, -at length, he began to throw out occasional hints tending to defend -or extenuate the conduct of the very man whom, a few weeks before, he -had so confidently denounced as a thief and a robber. Alarmed at these -indications of returning weakness and fatuity in her husband, Mrs. -Elwood soon put herself on inquiry, to ascertain the cause; and she was -not long in making discoveries that more than justified her worst fears -and suspicions.</p> - -<p>It appeared that Gaut Gurley, after his arrest, and after his escape -from the punishment of the law, through the means, as was now generally -believed, which he had cunningly provided before he entered on the -commission of the offence charged, remained almost constantly at home, -during nearly the whole winter, brooding, in savage mood, over his own -dark thoughts and varying schemes for advantage and revenge, keeping -his family in continual awe of him, and causing all who approached him -to recoil, shuddering, from his presence, and mark him as a dangerous -man in the community. Towards spring, however, he appeared suddenly -to change his tactics, or, at least, to undergo a great change in -his deportment and conduct.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</span> All at once, he came round in his usual -manner. The dark cloud had been banished from his brow. He civilly -accosted every acquaintance he met, appeared cheerful and good-humored, -and desirous of prolonging the conversation with all with whom he -came in contact, without seeming to notice, in the least, the evident -inclination of most of the settlers to avoid his company. He came down, -every few days, to the little village before named as the place where -the court was held, and lounged for hours about the tavern; which, -during the winter season, was the common resort of the settlers. Here -he soon encountered his old companions, Phillips, Codman, and the -Elwoods, all of whom, notwithstanding the cold and demure manner with -which the two former, at least, turned away from him, he saluted with -careless ease, and as if nothing had happened to disturb their former -social relations. And, having thus surmounted the somewhat difficult -task of breaking the ice with them, without receiving the open and -absolute repulse which, however disposed, they did not deem it wise to -give him, he, at the next meeting, ventured to broach the subject of -their late quarrel, affecting to laugh at their mutual exhibitions of -folly in getting so angry with each other in court, under the belief, -on his part, that <em>they</em> had got the furs, and, on their part, -that <em>he</em> had made way with them; when neither of them were -guilty, and ought not to be charged with the offence. For himself, -he said, he was now satisfied, on thinking the matter over, who were -the real culprits. They were a couple of “cussed runagate Indians,” -that had strolled over from Canada, and, having discovered his camp, -had laid in wait for his absence. He had seen the tracks of two -different-sized moccasins in the sand on the lake-shore, but two days -before he left; but the circumstance was forgotten, or he should not -have left the camp unguarded. It was a great loss for them all; but it -would not help the matter to mourn now. It must be borne; and he knew -of no way to make it up but to try their luck in another<span class="pagenum" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</span> expedition. -He should, for his part; for he had no notion of giving up so.</p> - -<p>Such was the drift of his conversation at this interview; and, seeming -to think he had ventured far enough for one experiment on their -credulity, he dropped that subject and struck off on to others. But the -next time he met them he contrived to turn the conversation upon the -same theme; when, telling them with a confidential air that, a few days -before he left camp, he discovered, on a stream coming in at the upper -end of the Megantic, a succession of freshly-constructed beaver dams, -which, from the number of houses and other indications around each, -he thought must be occupied by one of the largest colonies of beavers -ever collected on one stream in that part of the country, he directly -proposed to them to join him, when the spring opened, in an expedition -to secure this extraordinary collection of the valuable animals that -were, unquestionably, still all there, and as unquestionably might be -captured.</p> - -<p>This story, with the accompanying proposal, presented, as Gaut -well knew, the most tempting inducement that could be offered, to -trappers. But it made no impression on Phillips and Codman. They -deeply distrusted the man, his whole story, and the motives which they -believed moved him to concoct it. Spurning in their hearts, therefore, -the bait that had been so artfully laid for them, they would have -nothing to do with <em>him</em> or his proposal. And, both then and -thereafter, they remained unmoved, and stood proof against all the -arguments his taxed ingenuity and devilish cunning could invent and -bring to bear upon them.</p> - -<p>With the infatuated Mark Elwood, however, the case seemed to be almost -wholly reversed. He again listened,—was again lost. He, restless, -uneasy, and evidently apprehensive of something he did not disclose, -from continuing under the terrible displeasure which Gaut had so -significantly manifested towards him,—he had appeared, from the -first, to hail with pleasure the indications of the relenting mood of -the other,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</span> and seemed but too glad to be again noticed with favor. -He could see no reason to distrust the man’s sincerity, he said, when -others raised the question; and he was much inclined to adopt his -version of the robbery and burning of their camp. When, therefore, the -proposal of a new expedition was made, under the circumstances we have -named, the blinded Elwood seemed fully prepared to accept it; and he -would have openly and without reserve done so, but for the restraining -presence of his companions, who, he felt conscious, would disapprove -and deprecate his conduct. Gaut had noticed all this, and was not long -in bringing about a private interview with his dupe and victim, which -resulted, as might be supposed, in settling the matter in just the way -he intended.</p> - -<p>From that time, the conduct of Mark Elwood became wholly inexplicable -to all his friends and acquaintances in the settlement. He commenced -with defending Gaut Gurley, thus giving the lie to all he had said, -and ended with declaring an intention of accompanying him in another -trapping expedition to the upper lakes, to be entered upon on a given -day in April, then near at hand. And, in spite of all the advice and -warnings of his late associates in the former disastrous campaign; -the remonstrances of his son, who shared in the apprehensions of -the others; and the agonizing tears and entreaties of his wife, -he strangely persisted in his purpose, and, like the fated one of -the Scriptures, steadily “set his face” towards his contemplated -destination.</p> - -<p>“The man is <em>hurried</em>!” said Phillips to Codman, as they left -Elwood’s on a second and last visit, made with the sole object of -dissuading him from a step which they shrank from themselves,—that -of going into the distant forest with such a desperate fellow as -they now deeply suspected Gaut Gurley to be,—“the man is evidently -<em>hurried</em>. When I saw that look Gaut gave Elwood in court, I knew -he was marked for destruction, more especially than the rest of us, who -are doubtless both placed on the same list. And Elwood would see it -himself,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_259">[Pg 259]</span> if he was right-minded. Yes, he is <em>hurried</em>, and can’t -help it. He will go, and God grant my fears may not be realized.”</p> - -<p>And he did go, but not alone. As soon as Claud became fully satisfied -that his father’s purpose was not to be shaken, he began earnestly -to debate in mind the question whether he himself should not, as a -filial duty, become a participant in the expedition, with the view of -making his presence instrumental in averting the apprehended danger. -And, although he perceived that his mother’s distress, all troubled -and doubtful as she was in deciding between her conflicting duties -of affection, would be enhanced by the step; and, although his mind -had been still more staggered by a brief confidential note from Avis -Gurley, advising him, if not too late, to find means to break up the -project of the expedition entirely, yet he finally made up his mind in -the affirmative. And, accordingly, on the morning of the appointed day, -both father and son, after a leave-taking with the despondent wife and -mother, more ominously sad and mournful than had ever before marked -their family trials, set forth again for the wild wastes of the lakes, -with their now doubly questionable companion.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_260">[Pg 260]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XVIII">CHAPTER XVIII.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“But there was weeping far away; -<br />And gentle eyes, for him, -<br />With watching many an anxious day, -<br />Were sorrowful and dim.” -</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span class="smcap">Bryant’s Murdered Traveller.</span> -</p> - - -<p>It was the second week in May; and spring, delightful spring, sweet -herald of happiness to all the living creatures that have undergone -the almost literal imprisonment of one of the long and dreary winters -of our hyperborean clime, was beginning to sprinkle the green glories -of approaching summer over the reänimated wilderness. In the physical -world, all seemed light and laughing around:</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -——“the green soil with joyous living things -<br />Swarm’d, the wide air was full of joyous wings.” -</p> - -<p>The sun, no longer feebly struggling through the dark, obstructed -medium of a northern winter’s atmosphere, was throwing abroad his -clear, unstinted floods of living light, bathing with soft radiance the -diversified face of the basking forest, and gleaming far and brightly -over the soothed waters of the sleeping lake. The mild and genial -zephyrs were discoursing the low, sweet, melancholy music of their -æolian harps, among the gently-wavering tops of the whispering pines. -The choral throng of feathered songsters were filling every grove, -glade, or glen, of field and forest, with the glad strains of their -merry melodies. And all nature seemed crying aloud, in the fullness of -her happiness,</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“The summer is coming; rejoice ye, rejoice!” -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_261">[Pg 261]</span></p> - -<p>So smiled every thing, animate and inanimate, in the visible physical -world, as circumscribed to this secluded settlement, on the morning -when opened the first scene in the closing act of our story’s changeful -drama. But in the moral world, so far as the interests and feelings of -most of our leading personages were involved, the skies were overcast -with contrasted clouds of doubt and darkness.</p> - -<p>On that morning, at the Elwood Landing, on the western shore of -Umbagog, stood a collected group of excited people, of different -ages and sexes, gazing anxiously across the lake in the direction -of the great inlet, as if expecting the appearance of some object -or person from that quarter. But, before naming the cause of their -assembling and the objects of their present solicitude, we will leave -them a moment for a brief—but, for the understanding of the reader, -necessary—recurrence to what had transpired, in the interim between -the departure of the two Elwoods and Gaut Gurley, and the present -occasion.</p> - -<p>For nearly a month after her husband and son left home, Mrs. Elwood had -been wholly unable to obtain any tidings of them, or any information -even of their locality on the upper lakes. And gloomily, O how -gloomily, with her, passed the long and dreary days and sleepless -nights of that dismal period! Little had occurred to vary the monotony -of her harrowing anxieties; and that little tended rather to increase -than relieve them. For, even from the limited intercourse she had -with families of the settlers,—although their conversation, out of -regard to her feelings, was restrained and guarded, when the subject -nearest her heart was introduced,—she gathered the fact that she was -not alone in her fears and anxieties, but that they were shared, to a -greater or less extent, by the people of the whole settlement; among -whom the subject was being daily discussed, at every fireside, with -avowed apprehensions that some fearful fate was awaiting one or both -of the Elwoods, in their sojourn in the forest, in whose dark recesses -there would be no witnesses to restrain the evil-doer from the purposes -of<span class="pagenum" id="Page_262">[Pg 262]</span> robbery and revenge which they generally believed he secretly -entertained. But, among all the settlers, no one had exhibited so much -anxiety and restlessness as the hunter, Phillips. He had been almost -continually absent from home, evidently to distant places, but where -and with what objects he declined to make known. The direction and -object of one of these secret journeys, however, was inferred from the -unexpectedly early return of Fluella, the lovely maid of the forest, -who had no sooner reached her old home than she flew to the Elwood -cottage, to mingle her tears and sympathies with those of the anxious -and troubled matron; who, in the circumstances, could have received -no more acceptable visit. With the opening of the season, also, other -absentees had returned to the settlement. Carvil had come back, to -ascertain what had been effected in relation to the supposed robbery -of the furs, the fall before, having intrusted his interests to the -care of Phillips; and now feeling, with the others, apprehensive for -the result of the new expedition, he was anxiously awaiting the return -of the absent trappers. Tomah, the eccentric young Indian, likewise -had surprised the settlers by his sudden reäppearance among them, in -a suit of superfine broadcloth, hat and boots to match, gold watch, -showy seals, and all the gewgaw <em>etceteras</em> that go to make up the -animal they call a city dandy. He had sold his moose, it appeared, for -four hundred dollars, and brought nearly the whole of it home on his -bedizened person,—with the object, as he soon admitted, of dazzling -the hitherto obdurate Fluella.</p> - -<p>“Yes,—catch her sartain, now,” he said, with a complaisant glance -over his dashing rig, on departing for the chief’s, as soon as he -ascertained the fair object of his pursuit had returned to her -father’s. But he soon came back, in a great miff, and offered to sell -the whole of his fine new outfit for just one half what it cost him. -Contrary to expectation, he declared he would have nothing more to do -with Gaut Gurley; concerning whom he had seen something, about the -time of the trial, to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_263">[Pg 263]</span> awaken his suspicions, and against whom he now -evidently stood ready to array himself, with the rest, on the next -occasion.</p> - -<p>With these few incidents, April passed away, and the first day of May, -the usual limit of the fur season, had arrived; but with it the absent -trappers had failed to make their appearance. Another week passed, -and still they came not. “What could it mean?” was on every tongue. -Men ominously shook their heads, and women and children began, in the -connection, to talk in suppressed voices of the dark character of Gaut -Gurley.</p> - -<p>At this juncture, word came that Gaut had returned, and had several -times been seen about his home. A man was immediately dispatched to -Gaut’s residence, for inquiries about the Elwoods; but the messenger -returned and reported that Gaut said he parted with them on the -Maguntic,—he to go over the mountains to his home, on the Magalloway, -and they, in their canoe, that had been frozen up in Oquossak, the fall -before, to go to Bethel to sell their furs. Further than this, he knew -nothing about them.</p> - -<p>“I don’t believe a word of it!” exclaimed the hunter, who with many -others had anxiously awaited, at the tavern, the messenger’s return; -“not one word of it! They would not have gone off to Bethel after such -an absence, before returning home; or, if they had, they would have -been here before this time. But the story shall be investigated without -twelve hours delay. It is time we were moving in the business. Who will -furnish me with a good saddle-horse?”</p> - -<p>The horse was furnished; and within half an hour the excited hunter was -speeding his way to Bethel.</p> - -<p>He returned early the next morning, in a state of still greater -excitement and concern than before; having ridden all night, in his -anxiety to reach the settlement by the time people were up, so that -immediate measures might be put afoot to scour the country in search -of the missing Elwoods, whose continued absence had now become doubly -mysterious and alarming, by the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_264">[Pg 264]</span> discovery he had made, as he feared he -should, that they had not gone to Bethel at all, nor been seen or heard -of anywhere in that direction.</p> - -<p>The news of Gaut’s return alone, his improbable story, and the -discovery of its almost certain falsity, spread like wild-fire over -the settlement; and the people, already prepared to believe the worst -by their previous suspicions of Gaut’s evil designs, rose up as one -man, instinctively shuddering at the thought of the apprehended crime, -and feeling irresistibly impelled to attempt something to bring about -that fearful atonement which Heaven demands of every man who wilfully -sheds the blood of his fellow-man. So deep and absorbing was this -feeling, indeed, in the present instance, that men dropped their -hoes in the field, left their axes sticking in the trees, and threw -aside all other kinds of business, and, with excited and troubled -looks, hurried off to the scene of action, to see, hear, and join in -whatever movement the exigencies of the case might require to be made. -And before night nearly the whole of the settlers, residing within a -circuit of a dozen miles of the surrounding country, had assembled at -the tavern in the rustic hamlet, which, as before mentioned, they made, -on all extraordinary occasions, the place of their common rendezvous. -Here, after conversing a while in scattered groups, exchanging in low, -hurried tones, and with many an apprehensive glance around them, their -various opinions and conjectures, they gradually gathered in one room -in the tavern, formed themselves into something like an organized -meeting, and began their deliberations. But, before they had settled -on any definite course of action, their attention was suddenly turned -from the channel their minds were all evidently taking, by a new and -unexpected occurrence.</p> - -<p>Two young men, who had that day been across the lake to the Great -Rapids, for the purpose of fishing, returned to the village about -sunset, with the news that they had discovered, at the foot of the -most dangerous pass of the rapids, wedged in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_265">[Pg 265]</span> among the projecting -flood-wood of the place, a partially-wrecked and stove canoe, which -they both recognized as the one kept by the Elwoods at their landing -last summer, and, of course, the one they took away with them in their -succeeding fall expedition. This fact, all at once readily perceived, -might throw an entirely new aspect over the whole of the mysterious -affair; and they soon decided on dispatching the same young men, at -daybreak the next morning, across the lake, to examine carefully both -shores of the inlet up to, and some distance beyond, the place where -they found the canoe, to see if they could find any thing else, or -discover any indications going to show that anybody had been wrecked -and drowned there; then to return, as quickly as possible, with the -wrecked canoe in tow, and whatever else they might find, to the Elwood -landing; where the company would assemble, by the middle of the -forenoon, to receive them, hear their report, examine the canoe, and -take action according to the circumstances.</p> - -<p>It was done; and this was the occasion of the assembling at the landing -of the mingled and anxious group which we began to describe near the -commencement of this chapter, and to which we will now return.</p> - -<p>Foremost in the mingled group of people which we have thus brought to -view, was the agonized wife and mother of the missing or lost men; -whose doubtful fate was also engrossing, though less intensely, every -thought and feeling of the sympathizing company around her. She had -gradually worked herself down to the extremest verge of the low shore, -and had unconsciously placed one foot in the edge of the water, as -if irresistibly drawn to the farthest possible limit in the supposed -direction of those two objects of her affection, who, alive or dead, -were still her all-in-all of this world; and there she stood, slightly -inclined forward, but motionless, mute, and pale as a marble statue, -with lips painfully compressed, and eyes, glazed and watery, intently -fixed on the opposite shore of the lake to which she was looking for -relief, at least from the terrible<span class="pagenum" id="Page_266">[Pg 266]</span> suspense under which she was -suffering. By her side, a little back, stood the wife of the hunter, -and two or three other women of the vicinity, who had more particularly -interested themselves in her troubles,—some shedding sympathetic -tears, and some offering an occasional word, which they hoped might -in a slight degree divert her sorrows or console her in her anguish. -But, alike regardless of their falling tears and soothing remarks, -she gazed on, in unbroken silence, hour after hour, taking no note of -time, or any object around her, in the all-absorbing intensity of her -feelings. Little, indeed, was said by <em>any</em> of the company. The -younger portion stood in hushed awe at the sight of grief in the older, -and at the thought of what might the next hour befall. And the men, -though visibly exercised by strong emotions, and occasionally revealing -a trembling lip or starting tear, as they glanced at the face of the -chief sufferer, yet offered scarce a remark to relieve the pervading -gloom of the sad and anxious hour. The whole group, indeed, might have -been taken for a funeral cortége, awaiting on the shore the expected -remains of some deceased friend.</p> - -<p>After standing in this manner till nearly noon, the company caught -sight of a scarcely-perceptible object on the water, in the direction -of the great inlet. And, although for some time it appeared like a -speck, as seen against the low, green fringe of the opposite and -far-distant shore, yet it at length so enlarged on the vision that -the form of a canoe and the gleam of flashing oars became distinctly -discernible. Soon a little variation in the line of approach brought -not only the canoe and the rowers, but another canoe in tow, plainly -in view; and then all knew that their painful suspense was about to be -ended. Another half-hour had to be passed by the company, who still -stood there in trembling expectation, awaiting the approach of the -canoes; when, as the latter now came within hailing distance, the -impatient hunter stepped down to the water’s edge, and called out:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_267">[Pg 267]</span></p> - -<p>“What news do you bring?”</p> - -<p>“None! but we have brought the canoe.”</p> - -<p>“I see; but have you made no discoveries?”</p> - -<p>“None whatever.”</p> - -<p>“No caps, packs, or bunches of furs washed up anywhere?”</p> - -<p>“No, nothing. We examined thoroughly both shores of the rapids, and -found nothing, and no mark or sign of any thing about which any -conclusion could be formed respecting the manner the canoe got there.”</p> - -<p>“But the oars?”</p> - -<p>“We found them in the same flood-wood with the boat, and they appeared -as if they were thrown out of the canoe when it struck.”</p> - -<p>The canoe, which was the object of scrutiny, and which had been injured -much less than had been supposed, a break in the upper part of the -bow being the only ruptured part, was now drawn up on the shore; -when Phillips, Codman, and Tomah took upon themselves to go into a -minute and careful inspection of every part of its outer and inner -surface, together with every appearance from which any inference having -the least bearing on the question at issue could be drawn by these -experienced and observing canoe-men.</p> - -<p>“Men no leave oars in canoe, when go over falls,” at length observed -the Indian, standing back with the air of one who has satisfied himself -with an examination,—“no leave oars that way; have them out to use; -and then, when upset, drop ’em in the river; where get scattered, go -down, wash up different places, mile apart, may be,—not together, -right close side of canoe, likely. Don’t believe so much story, like -that come to.”</p> - -<p>“Spoke like a man who knows something,” said the trapper, the next -to offer comments. “And here is a loosened slip-knot in the end of -this bark boat-rope, which I have been looking at. See! it has been -drawn into a fixed knot, that hasn’t been altered since it has had -considerable use and steady pulling through it, as I see by the -chafed bark inside the small hole<span class="pagenum" id="Page_268">[Pg 268]</span> within the knot. The hole is too -small to have been brought into this shape by hitching it to a stake -or projecting limb of a tree on shore. It looks exactly as if a tie -attached to some other canoe had been passed through it, to draw this -canoe along by; and here is a slight mark of a knife, where that tie -has been cut out, owing to the difficulty of untying. This canoe must -have been hitched behind some other canoe, and towed down to the head -of the rapids, and there sent adrift.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” responded the hunter, who had been particularly confining his -attention to the outer and top edges along the sides of the boat; -“yes; and here is the moss or scurf that had gathered on these upper -edges, on both sides, during the snows and thaws of winter, still -remaining entire and unbroken, in every part of this delicate weather -coating, which even a thumbnail, as you see, can’t pass over without -marring it or leaving a mark. No man could have rowed this canoe twenty -rods without grazing these edges and leaving marks on them. Yes, you -are both right. This canoe, which I suppose you all agree was Mr. -Elwood’s, has not been rowed since he left it hauled up on the shore -of the Oquossak last fall, to be buried by the great snow-storm; and -the Elwoods are both safe, for all being wrecked and drowned from -<em>that</em> boat, or any other, I presume.”</p> - -<p>The countenance of Mrs. Elwood, who stood at some little distance from -the spot where the examination of the canoe had been going on, but -near enough to hear most of what was said, visibly brightened at this -announcement. The hunter saw the expression, and a shade of anguish -passed over his face, as, turning to those immediately around him, and -speaking in a low, subdued, and commiserating tone, he resumed:</p> - -<p>“I cannot find it in my heart to dampen the new-lighted hope which this -turn of the affair seems to give that poor, wretched wife and mother. -But, to my mind, all this makes it doubly certain that the Elwoods -have met with foul play. It looks exactly like one of Gaut’s devilish -schemes of finesse, to<span class="pagenum" id="Page_269">[Pg 269]</span> cause this canoe to be sent down the rapids, -and be so found as to lead folks to suppose the owners were drowned, -and to put the public on a false scent. Yes, friends, you may depend -there has been foul play,—I dare not guess how foul. I have felt it -the last fortnight, as if some unseen hand was writing the dreadful -secret on my heart. I feel it still, now stronger than ever. And I call -God to witness my resolution, that I will know no rest or relaxing till -I see the dark deed laid open to day, and its infernal author brought -to justice. Will you all join me in the work, without flinching or -flagging?”</p> - -<p>The low but firmly-responded “Yes, yes, all of us,” told the hunter -that he would know no lack of efficient aid in carrying out his -resolution.</p> - -<p>“Let us, then,” he said, “leave the women and boys, a few minutes, and -retire back here a few rods, out of their hearing, to determine on the -first steps to be taken.”</p> - -<p>In accordance with this suggestion, the men withdrew, by themselves, -to a convenient place on the site of an old camping-ground, within -the forest, a few rods farther up the lake, leaving Mrs. Elwood and -her female attendants slowly retracing their steps back to her house, -from which they had accompanied her to this spot, and the boys amusing -themselves in seeing who could throw a stone farthest into the lake. -The men, now relieved from the fear of causing Mrs. Elwood needless -alarm, and of having their remarks reported by others of the mingled -company,—to the injury, perhaps, of the investigation on hand,—at -once gave vent to their smothered convictions, and feelings of -indignation and horror, in an exciting debate; which soon resulted in -the determination to dispatch, the next morning, four men in two canoes -up the lakes, in search of the missing, or such traces of them as might -lead to a discovery of their fate; while the rest should remain in the -settlement, to watch for new indications there and keep a vigilant eye -on the movements of the bold but wary villain, whom they all believed -to be the perpetrator of the supposed outrage. But, before they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_270">[Pg 270]</span> had -fully settled the details of their plan, their attention was arrested -by a shouting from the boys, who announced that a strange canoe was -approaching them from the other part of the lake. Hearing this, and -thinking the new-comer might have perhaps arrived from the upper -lakes, and could give them important information, the men immediately -suspended their consultation, and came out to the landing to hail him, -or to await his approach. They soon discovered that the rower was an -Indian, and it was not long before the trapper began to recognize the -canoe, from some peculiarity about the bow, to be his own, and the one -he had left with the boats of his companions on the Oquossak the season -before. This, if true, might lead to important developments; and the -company kept their eyes keenly fixed on the rower, to see if he would -manifest any disposition to avoid them. But he kept steadily on towards -the landing, and, in another minute, was within near hailing distance.</p> - -<p>“Hillo! my red friend, where did you get that canoe?” cried the trapper.</p> - -<p>“Tell you soon,—you make me believe you right to know,” quietly -replied the native, without appearing to be in the least disturbed by -the question, or any inference which might naturally be drawn from it.</p> - -<p>“Well, I <em>can</em> make you believe I have a right to know, if you are -<em>willing</em> to believe; for I can swear the canoe is my own, and -prove it, too, by some of these gentlemen,” returned the trapper, with -warmth.</p> - -<p>“May be,—we see soon,” responded the other, an intelligent, -good-looking, middle-aged Indian, now slipping ashore and firmly -confronting the company.</p> - -<p>“Now tell us where you got it, sir,” again sharply demanded the -trapper. “I have offered to swear to my ownership, and prove it; so -tell how you came by it, unless you would have us believe you stole it.”</p> - -<p>“Stole it?” reproachfully said the Indian. “Ask that man,”<span class="pagenum" id="Page_271">[Pg 271]</span> he -added, pointing to Carvil, whom he appeared to have previously -recognized,—“ask him, if me do thing like that?”</p> - -<p>“Moose-killer, is this you?” exclaimed Carvil, who had been eyeing the -stranger Indian with a hesitating air. “I thought, from the first, I -knew you, but couldn’t quite decide. Moose-killer, I am glad you have -come. We are just at this time trying to search out a dark affair, -which we fear has happened, and with which this boat you came in may -possibly be connected. We should be glad to make a few inquiries of -you, when you are ready to hear them. There need,” he added, turning to -the trapper and the others, “there need be no fear but this man will -tell a true story; I have met him on the Great Megantic, where he goes -by the name I have called him, on account of his well-known expertness -in moose-killing.”</p> - -<p>The Indian started at the significant allusion which had been made to -the subject that was then engaging the attention of those present, and -its possible connection with his canoe; and, with unusual promptness -for one of his demure and slow-speaking race, announced himself ready -to tell his story.</p> - -<p>“Moose-killer is about to speak,” said Carvil, looking round on the -eagerly expectant company. “We will all listen. What he will say will -be true.”</p> - -<p>“Hear, in my country,” thereupon began Moose-killer, in the -abbreviated, broken, and sententious language peculiar to the Red -Man,—“hear, in my country, beaver bring more this side the mountains; -so come over, and been to Bethel-town to sell ’em. Come over mountains, -down piece, the river you call Magalloway,—then strike off down to big -lake, Megantic. Then follow shore long way; but stop sudden,—start -back! See much blood on the leaves,—trail all along down to the water. -Then go back, look again,—find where man fall, bleed much,—die,—lay -there till dead quite. Man, because see where hands catch hold of -moss, leaves,—feet kick in ground. All dead, because feet limber -and no catch in brush dragging to shore,—find where canoe hitch to -shore,—dead man put in,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_272">[Pg 272]</span> rowed away, sunk in lake, likely. Look all -over ground again, much time,—then come on long way, and find that -canoe, hid in bushes,—take it, go sell beaver,—then come here quick -to tell story, see who missing.”</p> - -<p>We will not undertake to describe the intense excitement which this -brief but pregnant story of the Indian produced on the company, who, -though hoping to gather something from him that might be of use in -the inquiry on hand, were yet little expecting a development so -startling as this. They—especially those but little acquainted with -the Indian character—could, at first, hardly believe that a story of -such horrors, if true, could be told so quietly, and with so little -apparent feeling, as the narrator had exhibited during his recital; and -they immediately subjected him to a long and close cross-examination. -Nothing, however, was elicited to weaken his story, but some things to -confirm it. Among these was a faint stain of blood, which Moose-killer -pointed out to the company, in the bow of the canoe, and which was -evidently but lately made, while the size and height of the man, -supposed to be murdered, which the Indian judged of by a similar -curious process with that by which he reached his other conclusions, -were seen to correspond with the dimensions of the elder Elwood; who -was believed to be the man thus indicated, though it left the fate of -Claud still shrouded in mystery.</p> - -<p>“Poor Mark Elwood!” exclaimed the hunter, with a sigh, as they closed -their examination of the Indian. “He is dead; whatever may have become -of his son, for whom there is still some hope, <em>he</em>, at least, is -dead! murdered in cold blood! and who need doubt the identity of the -accursed author of the deed?”</p> - -<p>“This is, certainly, something like tangible evidence,” responded -Carvil, whose former studies enabled him to speak more understandingly, -in the matter of legal evidence, than his companions. “And, though it -is still only circumstantial, yet, when taken in connection with Gaut’s -false story, and all other<span class="pagenum" id="Page_273">[Pg 273]</span> of the attending circumstances, it stands -out most remarkably significant against the man; and, even without any -additional proof, it would, I think, warrant us in arresting him.”</p> - -<p>“In God’s name, then, let it be done, before he escapes from the -country!” cried the hunter, with startling emphasis. “But we must all -keep the discoveries we have made to-day, as well as the movements we -may now make, as secret as death, lest he hear of them and take the -alarm.”</p> - -<p>An earnest consultation was then held, and a plan of operations soon -adopted. By this it was arranged that Moose-killer—who, when he had -gathered what was known of Gaut Gurley, and obtained a description -of his person, entered into the arrangements with an unexpected -alacrity—it was arranged that Moose-killer, Carvil, Tomah, and two of -the settlers, should start immediately up the lakes, in further search -for the body of Mark Elwood (whose fate was now treated as settled), -and, also, for a more general search round the two upper lakes for his -son, Claud; who, it was hoped, had by some means been separated from -his father, and suffered to escape, despite the improbability that he -would remain so long absent, if nothing had befallen him. Phillips -also concluded to accompany them as far as the next lake above, to see -the chief and his daughter, to confide to them the discoveries of the -day, and put them on the lookout for further indications. The rest of -the company were to return quietly and separately, as far as could -conveniently be done, to the village, and there remain till after dark; -when two of their number were to ride, as fast as horses could carry -them, to Lancaster, for warrants, a sheriff, and his posse, to be on -the ground as early as possible the next morning; while others were to -proceed up the Magalloway, and lurk round in the woods within sight of -the house of Gaut Gurley, as spies on his movements.</p> - -<p>The company then separated on their several destinations; and, during -the remainder of the afternoon, nothing occurred in the settlement -which need here be mentioned, except the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_274">[Pg 274]</span> secret and cautiously-made -preparations for the proposed action of the night, that, though -imperceptible to the uninitiated, were yet actively going on at the -village. About sunset, however, the hunter returned from his visit -to the chief’s; but in a state of no little perplexity and concern, -at an event which he unexpectedly found had there occurred. This was -the unaccountable absence of Fluella, who, without apprising her -father of her intentions, had secretly left home several days before. -As the hunter had depended considerably on the girl’s acuteness and -means of observation at the commanding point of her residence, he was -both disappointed and puzzled at her absence. And, as he had been -debating with himself, on his way across the lake, whether he had not -better call on Mrs. Elwood, and take the first step towards gradually -preparing her mind for the worst, in regard to her husband, he now -resolved to do so, with the further object of getting her version of -Fluella’s absence at such a juncture. Accordingly, he called at the -house; and, seeing the afflicted woman’s entreatingly expectant looks, -he at once entered on his painful task by hinting his fears for the -fate of her husband; when, somewhat to his surprise, she cut him short -by sadly remarking:</p> - -<p>“I know it all.”</p> - -<p>“How?—what have you heard?” eagerly asked the hunter.</p> - -<p>“I don’t know it by what I have heard,” she replied, in the same sad -accents; “for I have heard less, perhaps, than you; but I knew it -would be so, from the hour he departed. And, a few days ago, my heart -received a shock. It was from the same blow that killed him. Yes, poor -Mr. Elwood is dead! I have buried him! But my son Claud—O, my son -Claud!” The astonished hunter then told her of the singular absence -of Fluella; when, again to his surprise, she started up, and joyfully -exclaimed, “He lives!—though in danger, perhaps, he lives, and I shall -see him again!”</p> - -<p>Wondering whether her reason was not unsettled, the hunter departed, -and hurried on to the village.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_275">[Pg 275]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XIX">CHAPTER XIX.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“What justice ever other judgment taught, -<br />But he should die who merits not to live.” -</p> - -<p class="poetry"> -<span class="smcap">Spenser.</span> -</p> - - -<p>About the middle of the afternoon, on the day next succeeding the -eventful one which was marked by the occurrences narrated in the last -chapter, a cavalcade of about a dozen men on horseback, followed by a -single wagon, containing some fire-arms, two or three pairs of iron -handcuffs, and a few other articles of luggage, came clattering down -the road from the west, towards the tavern with which the reader has -already been made familiar. The men, who had been dispatched for the -shire-town of the county, had ridden hard all night, reached the place -at daylight, drummed up the officers of justice, got them started -at an early hour, and urged them on with such speed that, within -twenty hours, they had arrived at the scene of action. After the -halt of an hour at the tavern, for rest and refreshment, and a brief -consultation with the settlers, the sheriff, and his posse, now swelled -by volunteers from the settlement, set forth, under the guidance of -Phillips, for the residence of the supposed criminal, calculating to -reach there about dusk,—the hour they deemed most favorable for making -the arrest. After proceeding in silence about two-thirds of the way -to their destination, they halted, to make their final preparations -and arrangements for the onset; when, knowing the great strength and -desperate character of the man with whom they would have to deal, -they first carefully prepared their fire-arms, and then detailed a -half-dozen of their number, most conversant with the locality, to go -forward, spread themselves around the borders of Gaut’s clearing,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_276">[Pg 276]</span> -and cautiously advance to the house, so as to head off any attempt he -might make to escape, when the main body made their appearance. All -the time spent in these precautions, however, as well as this whole -jaunt thus far up the river, was destined to be mostly lost; for, as -the company were again beginning to move forward, they were met by the -scouts, dispatched the night before, hurrying back, most of them in a -disabled condition, and with the report that Gaut had escaped about -an hour before. They had lain in their coverts all day, and in the -fore part of it nothing had been seen to excite their suspicions; but, -towards night, they noticed him cleaning his rifle and pistols, as near -as they could judge, and then, soon after, bringing out a pack and -placing it by the side of his rifle at the door; and scarcely had they -time to concentrate before he came out, shouldered his pack, took his -arms, and proceeded towards a canoe moored on the bank of the river. -They then instantly resolved to intercept him; and, running for the -spot, came up to him just as he had laid his rifle in the boat; when -he turned upon them with the suddenness and fury of a pursued tiger; -seized the foremost, who had laid his hands on the canoe, and, with -giant strength, threw him headlong into the river; hurled the second -with stunning effect on the ground; knocked down a third with his fist; -leaped into his canoe, sent it swiftly across the stream, ran up the -opposite bank, and disappeared in the woods, before they had recovered -from their confusion, or thought of having recourse to their rifles to -stop him.</p> - -<p>“Slipped through our fingers and gone!” said the sheriff, with an air -of chagrin and disappointment.</p> - -<p>“Yes, for this onset,” said Codman, the next to volunteer remarks in -the provoking nonplus in which they now all found themselves. “Yes, but -I should like mightily to know how he got wind of our movements? If the -devil didn’t tell him, I don’t think he done as well by his friend as -he ought.”</p> - -<p>“Perhaps,” rejoined the sheriff, after the laugh of some and the -approving glances of others, which had followed the characteristic<span class="pagenum" id="Page_277">[Pg 277]</span> -remark of the trapper, had passed away,—“perhaps he, or some of his -family, caught a glimpse of these scouts round their clearing during -the day; or perhaps he has an accomplice, or tool, whom he had engaged -to watch public movements, and bring him word.”</p> - -<p>“I have thought of some such thing, myself,” remarked Phillips. “In the -case of his robbing our camp, last fall, I felt quite confident he must -have had some accomplice, or some secret agent, to take off the furs -for him. If he has such an one now, I think it must be a Jesuit priest, -as I have heard that such a looking personage has, once or twice, been -seen at Gaut’s house since he moved into the settlement.”</p> - -<p>“Well, if the villain has such a character as that in tow, he would be -devil enough for all common purposes,” responded the sheriff. “But, -however all that may be, I fear he has struck a line for Canada, and -this is the last we shall ever see of him in this country.”</p> - -<p>“Not for Canada,” confidently said the hunter; “for I know enough about -him to make me feel quite sure that he will never again trust his head -within reach of British authority.”</p> - -<p>“Ah!” exclaimed the sheriff, “what is it you know?”</p> - -<p>“I think it had better not be told just yet,” answered the other, -decisively. “Let us first see whether he can’t be caught and hung here, -for his last crying offence.”</p> - -<p>“But do you think he can yet be overtaken, and arrested?” asked the -former.</p> - -<p>“Certainly I do,” returned the hunter, with earnest confidence. “He -must, and <em>shall</em>, be taken! God’s curse is on the man; and he -will never, I tell you, <em>never</em> be suffered to escape us.”</p> - -<p>“Well, then,” resumed the sheriff, thoughtfully, “what course do you -think he will take, and where secrete himself, so that he can be found? -I, on my part, stand ready to do every thing in my power to bring the -miscreant, of whose guilt I think there can now be but little doubt, -to immediate justice. Now, as you<span class="pagenum" id="Page_278">[Pg 278]</span> are said to be a man of observation -and energy, Mr. Phillips, let us have the benefit of your opinion and -advice in the matter.”</p> - -<p>“It is my opinion,” said the hunter, in response, after dropping -his head a moment in study, “it is very clearly my opinion that the -fellow will now aim to reach some of the eastern cities,—ever the -Umbagog, most likely, in a canoe that he keeps concealed somewhere on -the western shore, which is only a mile or two over this ridge, that -rises from the other bank of the river, here against us. He will not -be likely to come back to his house, or the river, where he will still -suppose we are on the watch; nor will he start out on the lake till -after dark, lest he be seen, and his course traced; but lie concealed -till that time in some of the difficult rocky steeps that shut down to -the lake.”</p> - -<p>“Your ideas of his probable aims and movements appear reasonable, Mr. -Phillips. Now, what are the steps you would advise to be taken for his -apprehension?” asked the sheriff.</p> - -<p>“Well, my plan would be something like this,” replied the hunter, -musingly. “I would post half a dozen men, for the night,—to be -relieved in the morning,—a half mile or so apart, along this river, -above and below here, to be walking back and forth, and occasionally -firing a gun. The others go back, and a sufficient number get on to -the lake before dark to have canoes in station every quarter of a mile -along the western shore. Codman, you will be a good hand to manage this -company. As for myself, I will wade the river somewhere hereabouts, go -over through the woods to the lake-shore, be mousing round the shore a -little, in search of his canoe, and, if I find it, be out on the water -by the time you get there; if not, I will be within call of some of -you, and give, for a signal, the cry of a raccoon, which I can imitate -tolerably, I believe.”</p> - -<p>“But you don’t propose to go alone?” asked several, anxiously. “It -might be dangerous business, if you should happen to encounter him with -no help within call.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_279">[Pg 279]</span></p> - -<p>“Yes, I think I will go alone,” quietly replied the hunter. “If he can -see me before I do him, he will do better than I think he can. And, if -I <em>do</em> get my eye on him first, he will stop and yield, or die, -as sure as my rifle is true to its old trust; for I should feel it -my bounden duty to stop him by bullet, if need be, in case he should -attempt to flee, as much as I should to shoot a painter carrying off -one of my own children.”</p> - -<p>By the approval of the sheriff, and the concurrence of all, the -hunter’s plan of operations was immediately adopted. And, accordingly, -the designated numbers were told off to man the river, and at once set -in motion to perform the duty; while the rest retraced their way to -the village, except the hunter, who, seeking a shoal place, waded the -river, and was soon out of sight among the thickets of the opposite -bank.</p> - -<p>On the return of the company to the tavern, every boat to be found -on the river, from that place to the lake, was immediately put in -requisition, for the service of the night. And by early twilight, eight -canoes, each containing two or three well-armed men, led on by the -trapper, in a single canoe, were seen emerging from the outlet into the -broad lake, and slowly filing off along its western border. Coasting -in closely to the shore, so as to keep within the shadow of the woods, -they pursued their noiseless way up the lake, to a point where the -low, marshy land lying between the lower part of the Umbagog and the -Magalloway rises into the gradually-swelling ridge, which, a mile or -two farther on, becomes a rocky, precipitous mountain, whose beetling -cliffs, overhanging the deep, dark waters beneath, were crowned with -their primeval growth of towering pines. Here they paused long enough -to station one of their canoes, near a small point, commanding a view -across the corresponding coves on either side; and then cautiously -proceeded onward, dropping a canoe, in like manner, every five or six -hundred yards, till the extremity of the western coast was reached, the -line efficiently manned, and the trapper left to cruise alone over the -cordon of boats thus stretched along the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_280">[Pg 280]</span> shore, to carry any needed -intelligence, and make independent observations. It was now dark, -and, being a moonless night, all within the shade of the mountains, -especially, was wrapt in almost impenetrable gloom; so that the ear, -rather than the eye, must now be depended on for whatever discoveries -were to be made. Nothing as yet, to the disappointment and increasing -anxiety of the company, had been seen or heard of the hunter.</p> - -<p>“He cannot have been killed, so soon, can he?” whispered the sheriff, -in one of the last-stationed canoes, as the trapper glided alongside, -to hold communication with the officer.</p> - -<p>“No,” was the low-toned reply; “that could not have happened, if there -were any <em>fear</em> of such a thing, without one or more rifle-shots, -which, in this calm evening, and this favorable locality for conveying -sounds to a great distance, we must have heard, even down to the -tavern. No, I will risk him. I think he must have got on to the -fellow’s trail, and, if near the lake, lies in some spot where he can’t -move away without danger of alarming the game. We have nothing to do -but wait patiently. Phillips knows we are here in waiting, and he will -report himself as soon as he can.”</p> - -<p>They did not, however, have to wait long. In a few minutes, a small, -shrill, quavering cry, which few could have distinguished from that of -a raccoon, rose from a thicket on the shore, a short distance below.</p> - -<p>“Ah! that is he,” softly cried the trapper; “I know the thicket he is -hailing from. If you will remain just where you are, I will scull my -canoe down to the spot, take him in with me, if he has not found a -boat,—or at any rate bring him here to make his report.”</p> - -<p>Like the gliding of a fish, shrinking away from sight, the light canoe, -under the invisible impulse of the dexterously handled oar of the -trapper, passed noiselessly away, and disappeared in the darkness. But, -long before the expectant officer, who had been vainly listening for -some sound, either of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_281">[Pg 281]</span> going or the coming of the absent canoe, had -thought of its return, it was again at his side, with the anticipated -addition to its occupants.</p> - -<p>“Here is the man, to speak for himself,” said the trapper, putting out -a hand to guard off and prevent the canoes from grazing.</p> - -<p>“Well, Mr. Phillips,” said the sheriff, in the same cautious under-tone -by which all their communications had been graduated, “we are all -looking to you,—what is your report?”</p> - -<p>“In the first place, that he is here.”</p> - -<p>“Where?”</p> - -<p>“Sixty or seventy rods to the north of us, in a secure retreat up among -the rocks, about a dozen rods from the shore.”</p> - -<p>“Are you sure of that?”</p> - -<p>“Yes.”</p> - -<p>“How did you make the discovery?”</p> - -<p>“I will tell you. When I came over, I struck down to the lake, nearly -abreast the lower end of the ridge, and cautiously moved along the -shore, upwards, in search of the suspected boat; without discovering -it, however, till I came to the rocky pass I have alluded to, a short -distance above here; when, peering out into the approaching darkness, I -caught sight of it run under a treetop lying partly in the water. Your -boats had not got on there; and thinking, if I took the boat out on to -the water, as I had proposed, he might discover the loss too soon, take -the alarm, and conclude to escape through the woods round the upper -lakes, I varied my plan, and stationed myself back a few rods, to see -if he would not come down to escape by his canoe. I had trailed him to -the top of this rocky eastern slope, before I struck down to the lake, -and knew he must be somewhere near; so I cocked my rifle, for instant -use, and stood ready for his approach. And in a short time I caught the -sound of his movements, sliding cautiously down the rocky steeps from -the spot above, where I suspected he had housed himself. But, before he -reached the bottom of the short ravine<span class="pagenum" id="Page_282">[Pg 282]</span> he must come down, or could be -seen where I stood, a dry stick unluckily broke under my foot, and the -sound, as I perceived at once, brought him to a stand. And, though he -did not know, and don’t know yet, whether the sound was caused by the -step of man or beast, yet he soon seemed to think it safest to retreat; -and my ear could distinctly trace his movements, as he clambered and -pulled himself along back up the ledges to his retreat. I then went -down to the shore; and perceiving, from the slight agitation of the -water and the faint sound of its gurgling under oars, that you had got -on to the ground, I stole down the shore a piece, and gave the signal, -as you heard.”</p> - -<p>“Are you familiar with the place where you think he lies concealed?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, nearly as much so as with my own door-yard.”</p> - -<p>“What sort of a place is it, and how many ways are there to reach it or -to escape from it?”</p> - -<p>“It is the most curious place in all these parts, and there is but one -way, I ever could find, to get to it; and that is, by climbing up the -ledgy shelf of the face of the hill, through a sort of ravine that -opens from it down to the lake, where there is scarce room enough, on -either side, to pass along the shore between the perpendicular cliffs -and the water. It is an old bear’s den, in fact, passing horizontally -into the rocks twelve or fifteen feet, of varying breadth, and, after -you get in, from three to six feet in height. I have taken at least a -half-dozen fine bears from it, in my day, and supposed I was the only -one knowing of it; but Gaut must have discovered it before this; for I -at once found by his trail that he steered directly for the spot, on -leaving the Magalloway.”</p> - -<p>“He did?” interposed the trapper; “<em>he</em> find it, when he has been -here in the settlement less than a year, and knows little about the -woods; and <em>I</em>, who have been here a dozen years, knew nothing -about it? He never found it without <em>help</em>, and that, too, from -the same character that let him know we were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_283">[Pg 283]</span> coming to his house, -to-day. I tell you, the Old Boy is in that man!”</p> - -<p>“Then we will hang him and the Old Boy with one rope,” resumed the -hunter, “for we are now sure of him.”</p> - -<p>“I hope so,” said the sheriff; “but can he be taken to-night?”</p> - -<p>“He might, possibly, if we were willing to run risks enough,” replied -the hunter, doubtfully. “But I should hardly think it advisable to make -the attempt. He could not be drawn from the cave, if we made the onset; -while, if we entered it, he could easily kill several of us before he -could be secured.”</p> - -<p>“What shall be done, then?”</p> - -<p>“I have been studying on that, and the best thing I can think of, is, -to post men enough to guard him securely through the night; and then -have on force enough in the morning to unburrow him, by some means or -other, which we will contrive when the time comes.”</p> - -<p>“But will he not come down, to escape in his boat, to-night?”</p> - -<p>“I rather expect not. After hearing the noise I made, and, then -coupling it with my signal, which he will then be suspicious of, as -well as of the sounds that most likely have reached or will reach his -ears from some of our boats; after all this, he will, probably, be -afraid of falling into a trap, and would prefer taking his chances of -escape by daylight. But, if he should come down, I will arrange things -so that we will have him, to a dead certainty.”</p> - -<p>The suggestions of the hunter were again adopted; and he was again -requested to take the lead in putting the proposed plan into execution.</p> - -<p>Accordingly, after directing the trapper to concentrate those stationed -in their canoes above with those in one or two below, he entered the -boat with the sheriff and his associate; and, taking an oar, slowly -rowed along towards the place he had designated as the retreat of the -desperate outlaw, on whose seizure they were so resolutely determined.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_284">[Pg 284]</span></p> - -<p>After reaching the spot, and waiting till the expected boat-crews -arrived, the hunter quietly landed, and stationed two of the men -in the narrow pass north of the gorge, with orders to keep a sharp -lookout through the night, hail whoever might approach, and shoot him -down before suffering him to escape. He next led two more up round -the nearest approaches of the cave, and posted one on each side, a -little above it, to prevent all possibility of escape over the rocks -and ledges in that direction; and then, returning down to the shore, -selected the trapper to occupy with him the southern pass to the gorge, -thus reserving for himself, and the man on whom he believed he could -best rely in an emergency, the post where an encounter would be most -likely to occur. After completing these arrangements, and landing a -pair of handcuffs from the sheriff’s boat, he dismissed the officer to -collect all the rest of the company, not thus retained, and return to -the village for the night, and for a fresh rally the next morning.</p> - -<p>It was now ten o’clock at night; and from that time, for the next six -hours, the stillness and darkness of death brooded over the slumbering -waters of the lake. The mute men on guard,—to whom the slowly-passing -hours seemed doubly long and gloomy, from the oppressive sense of the -duty of silence,—stood immovably at their posts, alternately employing -themselves in guessing at the hour of the night, and intently listening -to catch some sound which should indicate the presence of the dreaded -object of their watch. But, through the whole night, no such sound or -indication reached their strained senses; and most of them, at length, -were brought to the belief that either he had never been there, or -that he had, by some unknown means, effected his escape. The hunter, -however, never for a moment permitted his faith to waver. He not only -felt confident that Gaut was still in his dark cage in the rocks, -but that, the next day, safe means would be found to uncage him, and -deliver him over to hands of justice, to undergo the penalties of his -crimes. And, as soon as the anxiously-awaited daylight began to make<span class="pagenum" id="Page_285">[Pg 285]</span> -its appearance in the east, he began gradually to work his noiseless -way into the mouth of the gorge, and then up over the steeps and -ragged ledges, till he had gained a stand under cover of a tuft of -clinging evergreens, where he could obtain an unobstructed view of the -mouth of the cavern, some six rods above. Here, low crouched behind -his bushy screen, with rifle cocked and levelled at the entrance, he -lay, silently awaiting the approach of daylight, expecting that Gaut -would then, at least, be peering out to ascertain the state of affairs -on the shore below. And the event soon showed the correctness of his -reasoning. As the brightening flushes of morning fell on the water, and -began to throw the reflected light on the face of the mountain, so as -to bring its darker recesses to view, the hunter’s practised ear soon -detected a movement within the cave; and presently the head, and then -the shoulders, of the wary outlaw rose gradually in sight against the -rocks, immediately over the low entrance.</p> - -<p>“Yield yourself a prisoner, or die!” suddenly broke from the lips of -the concealed hunter.</p> - -<p>Gaut cast a startled glance around him, and then instantly threw -himself to the ground, but barely in time to escape the bullet of the -exploding rifle below, which struck the rock in the exact spot that a -half-second before was darkened by the shade of his head and shoulders.</p> - -<p>“Went through the hair on top of his head, I think, but missed his -skull by something like an inch, probably,” said the hunter, quickly -gliding down a few feet over the edge of the shelf, where he lay so -as to put a rock between him and the mouth of the cave. “But, on the -whole, I am glad of it; for I had rather see him go by the hand of the -hangman than my own.”</p> - -<p>The hunter then quietly reloaded his rifle, and went down among his -excited companions; who, the ban of silence being now removed by his -example, came forward to talk over this unexpected and startling -incident of the morning, which had served the double purpose of -demonstrating to the former that<span class="pagenum" id="Page_286">[Pg 286]</span> Gaut would never surrender himself -a prisoner, and to the latter, the doubted fact that the object of -their search was there, as represented to them the evening before. -With the whole of them, indeed, the affair had now assumed a new -aspect. Phillips and Codman put their heads together, and began to -start and discuss various expedients for dislodging the intrenched -fugitive; while the others, in their excitement and agitation, walked -hurriedly about in their confined positions, speaking or thinking of -the desperate and dangerous struggle now likely soon to ensue in the -attempted capture, and anxiously awaiting the arrival of the sheriff -and the additional force, which, it was understood, he would rally and -bring on with him.</p> - -<p>“They are coming!” at length cried one of the men from the cliff above; -“they are coming in troops, and in all directions.”</p> - -<p>The men on shore now eagerly ran down to the farthest projecting rocks, -or on fallen trees extending into the water, to obtain unobstructed -views of the company thus announced to be approaching in the distance; -when, instead of the few they had expected, they beheld a whole fleet -of canoes emerging from the distant outlet below, and rowing with all -speed towards them; while, at the same time, another company of boats -was seen approaching from the settlement around the upper end of the -lake.</p> - -<p>It appeared that, when the sheriff with his attendants reached the -village the evening before, and announced the exciting tidings that -the desperate man, whom all were so intent on hunting down, had been -driven to a stronghold among the rocks of the mountain up the lake, -where it might require a large force to take him, men started off in -all directions, and rode all night with the news; which, flying like -wind over this and the adjoining settlements, threw the whole country, -for thirty or forty miles around, into commotion, and put scores of -bold men immediately on the march for the scene of action. And the -upshot was that, by sunrise the next morning, more than fifty men, -hurrying in from all quarters, had assembled at the village,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_287">[Pg 287]</span> and -having appropriated all the boats on the rivers, for many miles above -and below, had joined the company of the sheriff, and under his lead -were now on their way to the great point of attraction; together with -many others entering the lake from other quarters.</p> - -<p>In a short time the long retinue of canoes came clustering to the -shore; when the motley company, preceded by the sheriff and his -immediate attendants, all landed, and, crowding around the hunter and -his associates, listened, with many a half-suppressed exclamation, -indicative of the deep excitement that agitated the mass, to the -recital of the discoveries and incidents of the morning.</p> - -<p>“I cannot believe,” said the sheriff, who had been listening with keen -interest to the hunter’s account of his bold but fruitless attempt to -compel the submission of the desperado, “I cannot believe, after all, -that the fellow will be so foolhardy as to persist in his refusal to -surrender, when he knows there is now no longer any chance for him to -escape. I will try him faithfully before resorting to extreme measures.”</p> - -<p>“That may be well enough, perhaps,” remarked the hunter, demurely, -feeling a little rebuked for his own hastiness in firing on the man, by -some of the expressions of the officer; “yes, that will be well enough. -But, if you succeed in drawing him out to be taken by means of words -alone, I will try the experiment on the very next wolf or painter I -drive into his den.”</p> - -<p>“Nevertheless, it shall be tried,” returned the officer.</p> - -<p>And accordingly, having called to his side a small band of well-armed -assistants, he proceeded with them up the gorge, till he had gained the -shelf which afforded the hunter a covert in the previous assault; when -he stepped fearlessly out in full view of the mouth of the cavern, and, -with a loud voice, calling the name of Gaut Gurley, commanded him, “in -the name and by the authority of the State of New Hampshire, to come -out, and<span class="pagenum" id="Page_288">[Pg 288]</span> surrender himself a prisoner, to answer, in court, to the -charges set forth in a warrant then ready to be produced.”</p> - -<p>The officer now paused; and all listened; but no sound came from -the cave. The summons was then repeated, in a still louder and more -determined tone of voice. And this time a sound, resembling the growl -of a chafed tiger, was heard within, belching out a volley of muttered -curses, and ending with the distinguishable words of defiance:</p> - -<p>“If you want me, come and take me; and we will see who dies first.”</p> - -<p>“Your blood be on your own head, then, obstinate wretch!” exclaimed the -excited officer. “Men, prepare to throw a volley of bullets into that -cavern. Ready—aim—fire!”</p> - -<p>The single report of a half-dozen exploding muskets instantly followed -the word, ringing out and reverberating along the mountain like the -shock of a field-piece; while, with the dying sound, a hoarse shout of -derisive laughter from the cave greeted the ears of the awe-struck and -shuddering company around.</p> - -<p>“There is no use in that,” said the hunter, who had followed and -posted himself a little in the rear of the besieging party, under the -apprehension that the besieged might make a rush out of his retreat, -in the smoke and confusion consequent on the firing,—“there is no -use in any thing of that kind. The entrance, after the first four or -five feet, suddenly expands into quite a large space, into one of the -corners of which he could easily step, as he doubtless did just now, -and be safe against a regiment of rifles from without.”</p> - -<p>“Then we will smoke him out!” fiercely exclaimed the sheriff, -recovering from his astonishment at finding the culprit had not been -annihilated, and beginning to be enraged at seeing himself and his -authority thus alike despised; “we will smoke him out, like a burrowed -wild beast, and soon convince the scoffing villain that we are not to -be foiled in this manner. Hillo, there, below! gather and bring up here -at least a cart-load of dry and green boughs.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_289">[Pg 289]</span></p> - -<p>With eager alacrity the throng below sprang to do the bidding of the -officer; and, in a short time, they came clambering up the steeps, -with their shouldered loads of mingled material, to the post occupied -by the advanced party; who took, and, keeping as much as possible out -of the range of the entrance, carried them up, and threw them over the -next shelf on to the little level space lying around the mouth of the -cavern. This process was briskly continued, till a pile as large as a -haycock was raised against the upright ledge through which the cave -opened by a low narrow mouth at the bottom. A fire was then struck, a -pine knot kindled, and held ready for the intended application; when -the sheriff, proclaiming to the desperate object of these fearful -preparations what was in store for him, commanded him once more, and -for the last time, to surrender. But, receiving no reply, he then, -ordering the men to stand ready with poles to scatter the material the -moment the victim should cry for mercy, seized the flaming brand and -hurled it into the most combustible part of the pile before him.</p> - -<p>Within the space of a minute the appearance of the quickly-catching -blaze, now seen leaping in a thousand dimly-sparkling tongues of flame, -from layer to layer and from side to side, through the crevices of -the loosely-packed mass, gave proof that the whole pile was becoming -thoroughly ignited. And the next moment the cave, and the whole visible -range of rocks above, were lost to sight in the dense cloud of smoke -that deeply wrapt and rolled over them. Expecting every instant to -hear the agonized cries of the victim, now seemingly enfolded in the -very embrace of the terrible element, calling aloud for mercy and -offering submission, the whole company, crowding the gorge below, or -peering over from the surrounding cliffs, climbed for the purpose, -stood for some time mute and appalled at the spectacle, and the thought -of the fearful issue it involved. No sound or sight, however, except -the crackling of the consuming fagots and the flaring sheet of the -ascending flames, greeted their expectant senses.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_290">[Pg 290]</span></p> - -<p>“Pretty much as I have long thought it would turn out, in the end,” -said the trapper, the first to break the silence as the fire was seen -to be slacking away, without any thing yet being heard from the dreaded -inmate of the cave. “His master is taking him off in a winding-sheet of -smoke and flame. I shouldn’t be surprised at a clap of thunder or an -earthquake to wind up with.”</p> - -<p>“At any rate,” observed another of the crowd, “he must be suffocated by -this time.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” responded a third, “dead, dead as a door-nail; so, there is an -end of the incarnate Beelzebub that we have known by the name of Gaut -Gurley.”</p> - -<p>“I am not so clear about that,” now interposed the hunter, who had -stood intently watching the varying aspects of the fire and smoke -about the cave. “I thought, myself, that this operation must put him -on begging terms, if any thing would; and the question is, whether it -wouldn’t now, before he found himself in any danger of smothering. I -don’t understand it; but stay,—what is that rising from the top of the -rocks, some distance back from the front of the den? Mr. Sheriff, do -you see it?”</p> - -<p>“See what, sir?”</p> - -<p>“Why, that slender column of smoke rising gently out of the top of the -rocks, directly over the cave, and growing more visible every moment, -as the smoke from the fire down here in front becomes light and thin in -the clear blaze.”</p> - -<p>“I do see what appears, here, to be something of the kind not -proceeding directly from the fire,—yes, plainly, now. What does it -mean, Mr. Phillips?”</p> - -<p>“It means that the rascal has a chimney to his house, or what, for his -safety, is the same. The rocks forming the top of the cavern are piled -up so loosely that the smoke rises through them almost as easy and -natural as from a chimney. He had nothing to do but to throw himself on -the bottom, to be out of its way, and breathe as good air as the best -of us.”</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_291">[Pg 291]</span></p> - -<p>“By Heavens, Phillips, I believe you are right! And that is not all -there is to it, either: if our smoking-out experiment has failed, it -has shown a better one. The same looseness of the rocks that permitted -the escape of the smoke so freely, will permit, also, their being -removed or torn away. We will now uncage him by digging down into his -den. Ho there! my merry men below, go to cutting heavy pry-poles, and -look up your crow-bars, picks, sledge-hammers, and shovels. There is -work for you all.”</p> - -<p>As soon as the unexpected discoveries which had led to these new -orders, and consequent change of the whole plan of attack, were -understood and fully comprehended by all, the solemn and revolting -character of the scene was instantly converted into one of bustle and -animation. As the plan thus indicated by the sheriff required the scene -of operations to be transferred to the top of the rocks above the cave, -to which there was no means of access from the gorge in front, he, -leaving a strong guard in the pass now occupied, took the hunter and -came down to the shore; when the latter, followed by the officer and -a score of resolute, strong-armed men with their various implements, -led the devious way back through the woods, and up round the ledgy and -precipitous face of the mountain, till they reached a point a little -above the level of the cave. Here they paused, and sent the hunter -out along a lateral shelf of the declivity, to search for the most -accessible path to their destination. While the company were pausing -here for this purpose, their attention was suddenly arrested by the -heralding shouts of another company of men, evidently approaching from -the other side of the mountain. And, soon after, a band of a dozen -well-armed, hardy-looking fellows, headed by a tall, powerfully-framed -man, made their appearance, pushing their way down the brush-tangled -steeps from above.</p> - -<p>“Turner!” exclaimed the sheriff, addressing the leader of the -approaching band, who was at once recognized to be an<span class="pagenum" id="Page_292">[Pg 292]</span> ex-sheriff of -the county, and one of the most daring and successful felon-hunters -ever known in northern New-Hampshire; “General Turner, of all men you -are the one I should have most wished to see, just at this time. We -have a tough case on hand; but how did you get here?”</p> - -<p>“The only way left for us. When we reached the tavern down here on the -river, not a boat was to be had; and so we steered up the Magalloway, -and came over by land, as you see. I had heard of this desperate -character, and your dealings with him, before the present outrage, and -have now come to help you put him through. Now tell us the state of the -siege,—some idea of which we got from a man we met, a mile back on our -way.”</p> - -<p>The sheriff then related all that had transpired, and named the new -plan of operations, of which they were then proceeding to test the -feasibility.</p> - -<p>“We will have him!” said Turner, with a determined look. “If we can’t -tear away the rocks with bars and sledges, we will send off for a -barrel of gunpowder to blow them open; and if that fails, I will go -into the cave, myself, and if I don’t snake him out before I’ve done -with him, he must be a harder customer than it has ever yet been my lot -to encounter.”</p> - -<p>By this time the hunter had returned, and now pointed out the best way -to the place of which they were in quest; when the sheriff, ex-sheriff, -and their respective followers, preceded by their guide, commenced -forcing their passage along the craggy cliffs; and, within ten minutes, -they found themselves standing on the off-set forming the rocky roofing -of the cavern. The appearance of the place was much more favorable for -the proposed attempt at excavation than any of them had anticipated. -From the front face of the rock, which was pierced by the mouth of -the cave at the bottom, and which presented a perpendicular of about -fifteen feet, the topmost stones rapidly fell off to a depression over -the centre of the cave, which, it was at once seen, must greatly reduce -the depth of rock to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_293">[Pg 293]</span> removed or broken up, before reaching the -interior. And, in addition to this encouraging discovery, the rocks in -and around this depression, through which the smoke was yet visibly -oozing, appeared to be detached from the main ledge, and, though heavy, -such as might be removed by appliances at command. Still, there was a -formidable mass to be disrupted and removed before an entrance could -be effected in that direction. But the men, impatient of inaction, -and eager to be doing something to forward the common object,—like -all bodies of excited people anxious to coöperate, but unable to -decide on a course of action,—scarcely waited to be told what was -wanted, before they all sprang to the work with that resistless union -of faith and exertions which requires no intervention of miracles to -remove mountains. The moss, earth, decayed wood, and all else of the -loose covering of rocks, quickly disappeared under their busy hands or -rapidly-plied implements. The smaller stones and broken fragments, as -soon as loosened or beat off by the bars and sledges, were seized and -hurled in showers over the surrounding ledges; the larger ones, when -started from their beds by the long heavy prys, were grappled with the -united strength of all that could get to them, rolled up, pitched over -the precipice in front, and sent bounding and crashing down the gorge -below. And the whole forest resounded with the din of their heavy blows -and the mingling sounds of their varied labors.</p> - -<p>While all who could find room to work on the excavation were thus -briskly pushing forward their operations, a smaller party were engaged -in beating down the rocky battlement in front; and so vigorously and -successfully were the efforts of these also directed, that, in a short -time, the top was so lowered, and the seamy rocks so split down, that, -with the mass of stones thrown over, a path of easy descent was formed -from the top, down to the shelf below, on one side of the mouth of the -cave; which was now securely blocked up, and closely invested<span class="pagenum" id="Page_294">[Pg 294]</span> by the -party previously stationed in near vicinity to guard it.</p> - -<p>Thus bravely, and with no token of faltering at the obstacles which -they frequently encountered, and which sometimes required their -greatest exertions to overcome, did these strong-armed and determined -men push on their herculean labors, for the space of nearly two hours; -when suddenly a shout of exultation rose from those at work lowest down -in the excavation, and the next moment the voice of the ex-sheriff was -heard exclaiming to those around him:</p> - -<p>“Courage, men! the game is nearly unkenneled. I have driven my bar -through, and the hole is so large that the bar has slipped from my -hands and gone to the bottom!”</p> - -<p>The excitement now became intense; and all crowded round the rim of -the excavation, and, with uneasy looks and hushed voices, eagerly -peered down into the dimly-visible perforation at the bottom; while -those already within the excavated basin began, with beating hearts, -carefully loosening and pulling out the shivered and detached stones, -lying around the small aperture just effected, and continued the -process until all the outer edges of the broad, thin rock, which the -crow-bar had perforated, and which appeared to form the lower or -interior layer of the roofing of the cavern, were fully laid bare, and -brought within the reach of the outstretched arms of those bending down -to grasp them. A dozen brawny hands were then seen securing their grip -on one side of the rock; when, at the word of the sheriff, a sudden -pull was made with a force that raised the whole mass nearly a foot -from its bed.</p> - -<p>“It comes bravely!” said the sheriff. “Now fix yourselves for another -pull; while two or three of you above there come forward with your -rifles, and stand with them levelled at the hole, as we open it, -lest the desperate dog make a rush before we are prepared. Now all -together,—there, now!”</p> - -<p>The effort was made, and the sheeted rock was brought to a -perpendicular; when it was grappled by the men with might<span class="pagenum" id="Page_295">[Pg 295]</span> and main, -lifted clear from its bed, and thrust aside, letting the sunlight down -upon the bottom of the cave through a chasm nearly large enough to -permit two men to jump in abreast. There was now a dead pause; and all -eyes were turned on the chasm in silent and trembling expectation. But -nothing appearing, the hunter and ex-sheriff crept down prostrate to -the brink of the chasm, and worked their heads cautiously below, to -get a fuller view of the interior. After looking, with slightly varied -positions, about a minute, they both rose and came up on the bank; when -the ex-sheriff, turning to the hunter, softly said:</p> - -<p>“He is there. I caught sight of his legs standing in a corner near the -mouth of the cave. Did <em>you</em> get a view?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, a better one than that; I saw his legs, and as much of his body -as I could without bringing my <em>own</em> head within the line of his -eyes. He stands there on the watch, with cocked rifle pointing to this -opening, while he has a dirk within his left hand grasping the rifle, -and I think a pistol within his other hand, held in a similar manner. I -can read his plan.”</p> - -<p>“What is it, as <em>you</em> read it?”</p> - -<p>“To take the first that enters with his rifle, pistol the second, make -a rush through the rest, and stab as he goes.”</p> - -<p>“About the truth, probably. But what is to be done? Shall you and I -leap down, make a spring upon him, and stand our chance?”</p> - -<p>“Why,—yes,” replied the hunter, with a little hesitation; “yes, if we -can’t do better than throw away one good life, at least, for a bad one. -But if we could contrive to divert his attention suddenly to the mouth -of the cave——”</p> - -<p>“You are right! Stay here a moment, and I will put matters in train -to carry out your suggestion,” eagerly interrupted Turner, taking the -sheriff confidentially aside.</p> - -<p>In a few minutes the determined ex-sheriff, followed by four or five -stout, resolute men, whose special assistance he had bespoken for the -occasion, returned to the side of the hunter, and said:</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_296">[Pg 296]</span></p> - -<p>“Get down there in your old position, where you can watch his -movements. They have gone down to unblock the mouth of the cave -outside, and make a feint of entering. If they succeed in drawing his -fire, I will take that as a signal,—if not, then you give me the word, -at the right moment, when his head, and with it naturally his rifle, is -turned to the supposed new point of attack, and I will leap down and -make a spring to get within the line of the muzzle before he can fire; -and, the instant I disappear, you and these men follow, and be close on -my heels for the grapple.”</p> - -<p>The hunter then edged down to his former place of observation, where -he lay, while Turner sat crouching on the brink ready for the leap, -narrowly watching the movements of the dreaded foe within, who was -seen to be still standing motionless in the same position as before. -Presently the movements of those outside the old entrance of the -cavern, as they began cautiously to remove the blockading stones, -became clearly audible, and soon a few straggling rays of light began -to gleam into the interior from that direction. On perceiving these -indications, the wary desperado began, for the first time, to exhibit -signs of uneasiness. Slightly changing his position, he glanced rapidly -from the already half-cleared entrance in front to the chasm just -opened through the top in the rear. But neither seeing or hearing any -thing that led him to expect any assault, except from the front, and -evidently supposing it was now the intention of his assailants to drive -him up through the top opening, to be seized as he came out, he drew -back a step, and, turning the muzzle of his rifle towards the mouth -of the cave, stood ready to fire upon the first who should make his -appearance. This movement was not lost on the keenly-watching hunter, -who saw that it afforded a fair chance for a successful surprise; -and he once parted his lips to give the signal for the onset. But, -perceiving from the incoming light that the mouth of the cave was -cleared from its obstructions, he ventured to await the effect of -the feint now momentarily<span class="pagenum" id="Page_297">[Pg 297]</span> expected from that quarter. He had judged -wisely. The delay was not in vain. A rustling sound, seeming to come -from some one squeezing through the entrance, was now heard; and soon -a dark object, resembling the head and shoulders of a man, making slow -and cautious advances, was fully protruded into the cavern; when, -suddenly, the whole ledge shook with the stunning report of a rifle, -and the next moment, Turner, Phillips, and their chosen backers, had -all disappeared in the cloud of smoke that came pouring up through the -chasm. Quick, heavy, muffled sounds, as of fiercely-grappling tigers, -instantly came from within. And within another minute, the stentorian -voice of the daring leader of the onset was heard, shouting for the -hand-cuffs and fetters.</p> - -<p>The fierce siege was over. The desperate intentions and giant strength -of the besieged, after a brief but terrible struggle, had been thwarted -and overcome by the intrepidity and equal strength of the ex-sheriff; -and he, now firmly clenched round the body, and held down, with every -limb in the vise-like grasp of his iron-fisted captors, lay disarmed, -helpless, and panting on the ground.</p> - -<p>“There!” sternly cried the victorious leader of the hazardous -assault, as he rose to his feet, after he had seen the heavy irons -securely locked on the wrists and ankles of the silent and sullen -prisoner,—“there! drag him out, feet foremost, into the open light of -day, where he and his dark deeds have all now got to come, to meet the -vengeance of an outraged community!”</p> - -<p>It was done, and with no gentle hand; when a long, wild shout of -exultation fiercely broke from the closely-encircling throng, thrilling -the trembling forest around with the din, and rolling away to the -farthest shores of the lake, to proclaim that the first murderer of the -settlement—the black-hearted Gaut Gurley—was now a prisoner, and in -the uncompromising hands of public justice.</p> - -<p>The animated spectacle which now ensued, of trundling,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_298">[Pg 298]</span> pushing, and -tumbling the chafed and growling prisoner down to the shore, amid the -unrestrained demonstrations of the exulting multitude; the noisy and -bustling embarkation on the lake; the ostentatious display of mimic -banners, formed by raising on tall poles, handkerchiefs, hats, coats, -and whatever would make a show in the distance, as the long line of -canoes, with the closely guarded prisoner in the centre, filed off -in gorgeous array, through the glitter of the sun-lit lake, on their -way to the great outlet; the pause and concentration there; the rapid -descent down the river to the village, where a board of magistrates -were waiting to sit on the case of the expected prisoner; and, finally, -the loudly heralding <em>kuk-kuk-ke-o-hos</em> of the overflowing -trapper, to announce, over a two-mile reach of the stream, the -triumphant approach,—this animated and here extraordinary spectacle, -we must leave to the delineation of the reader’s imagination. Our -attention is more strongly demanded in a different direction, to bring -up other important incidents of our story, before proceeding any -farther with the actors who have figured in this part of the narrative, -or taking note of the examination to which they were now hurrying the -prisoner.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_299">[Pg 299]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XX">CHAPTER XX.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“By thine infinite of woe, -<br />All we know not, all we know; -<br />If there be what dieth not, -<br />Thine, affection, is its lot.” -</p> - - -<p>Deep in the wilderness of woods and waters encircling the mouth of -a small inlet, at the extreme northwestern end of the picturesque -Maguntic, there lay encamped, at the point of a low headland, on one -of the first nights of May, the three trappers, whose expedition had -been the subject of so many gloomy speculations, and whose unexpectedly -prolonged absence had caused, as we have seen, so much anxiety in the -settlement to which they belonged. They had extended their outward -journey more than double the distance contemplated by the Elwoods, at -least when they left home; the mover of the expedition, Gaut Gurley, -having proposed to make the shores of the Maguntic, and its feeding -streams only, the range of their operations. But when they arrived -there, as they did, on the ice, which was still firm and solid on -the lakes, Gaut pretended to believe that the rich beaver-haunts, to -which he had promised to lead them, could not be identified, much less -reached, until the ice had broken up in the streams and lake. He, -therefore, now proposed that they should first proceed over to the -chief inlet of the Oquossak, stay one night in the camp, which was left -in the great snow-storm of the fall before, dig out the steel-traps -buried there, and, the next day, slide over the boats, also left -there, on the glare ice,—as all agreed could easily be done on some -light and simple contrivance,—and land them on the west shore of the -Maguntic, where they could be concealed, and found ready for<span class="pagenum" id="Page_300">[Pg 300]</span> use when -the lake opened. He would then, he said, lead them to a place among the -head-water streams of the Magalloway, only a day’s journey distant, -where he once “trapped it” himself, and where, as the rivers there -broke up early, he could promise them immediate success.</p> - -<p>All this had been done; and the party, having spent nearly three -weeks among the lakelets and interweaving streams going to make up -the sources of the Magalloway and Connecticut rivers, with occasional -recourse to the nearest habitations on the upper Magalloway, for -provisions, but with very indifferent success in taking furs, had -now, on the urging of young Elwood, returned to the Maguntic,—which, -after a hard day’s journey, they had reached, at the point where we -have introduced them, about sunset the day but one preceding, thrown -up a temporary shanty, and encamped for the night. On rising the next -morning, Gaut had proposed that Claud remain at camp that day, to build -a better shanty, and hunt in the near vicinity; while he and Mark -Elwood should explore the stream, to a pond some miles above, where his -previously discovered beaver-haunts, he said, were mostly to be found, -and where, the snow and ice having wholly disappeared, they could now -operate to good advantage. With this arrangement, however, the young -man, whose secret suspicions had been aroused by one or two previous -attempts made by Gaut to separate him from his father, plausibly -refused to comply; and the consequence was, that they had all made the -proposed explorations together, returned to camp without discovering -any indications of the promised beaver, and laid down for the night, -with the understanding, reluctantly agreed to by the moody and morose -Gaut, that they should proceed down the lake to their boats the next -morning, and embark for an immediate return to their homes, where the -Elwoods felt conscious they must, by this time, be anxiously expected.</p> - -<p>Such were the circumstances under which we have brought this -singularly-assorted party of trappers to the notice of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_301">[Pg 301]</span> reader, -as they lay sleeping in their bough-constructed tents,—Gaut and Mark -Elwood under one cover, and Claud under another, which he had fixed up -for himself on the opposite side of their fire,—on the ominous night -which was destined to prelude the most tragic and melancholy scene of -our variously eventful story.</p> - -<p>It was the hour of nature’s deepest repose, and the bright midnight -moon, stealing through the gently-swaying boughs of the dark pines -that rose heavenward, like pinnacles, along the silent shores around, -was throwing her broken beams fitfully down upon the faces of the -unconscious sleepers, faintly revealing the impress which the thoughts -and purposes of the last waking hours had left on the countenance of -each. And these impresses were as variant as the characters of those on -whose features they rested: that lingering on the sternly-compressed -lips and dark, beetling brows of Gaut Gurley, ever sinister, was doubly -so now; that on the face of Mark Elwood, whose vacillations of thought -and feeling, through life, had exempted his features from any stamp -betokening fixed peculiarity of character, was one of fatuous security; -and that resting on the intellectual and guileless face of Claud Elwood -was one of simple care and inquietude.</p> - -<p>But what is that light, shadowy form, hovering near the sylvan couch -of Claud, like some unsubstantial being of the air; now advancing, -now shrinking away, and now again flitting forward to the head of -the youthful sleeper, and there pausing and preventing the light -from longer revealing his features? Yes, what is it? would ask a -doubting spectator of this singular night-scene. A passing cloud come -over the moon? No, there is none in the heavens. But why the useless -speculation? for it is gone now, leaving the sleeper’s face again -visible, and wearing a more unquiet and disturbed air than before. -His features twitch nervously, and expressions of terror and surprise -flit over them. He dreams, and his dream is a troubled one. Let the -novelist’s license be invoked to interpret it.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_302">[Pg 302]</span></p> - -<p>He was alone with his father on a boundless plain, when suddenly a -dark, whirlwind tempest-cloud fell upon the earth around them, and -soon separated him from the object of his care. As he was anxiously -pressing on through the thickly-enveloping vapors, in the direction -in which the latter had disappeared, he was suddenly confronted by a -monstrous, black, and fearful living apparition, who stood before him -in all the horrid paraphernalia ascribed to the prince of darkness, -apparently ready to crush him to the earth, when a bright angel form -swiftly interposed. Starting back, with the rapidly-chasing sensations -of terror and surprise, he looked again, and the fiend stood stript -of his infernal guise, and suddenly transformed into the person of -Gaut Gurley, who, with a howl of dismay, quickly turned and fled in -confusion. The amazed dreamer then turned to his deliverer, who had -been transformed into the beauteous Fluella, whose image, he was -conscious, was no longer a stranger among the lurking inmates of his -heart. A sweet, benignant smile was breaking over her lovely features; -and, under the sudden impulse of the grateful surprise, he eagerly -stretched out his arms towards her, and, in the effort, awoke.</p> - -<p>“Where, where is she?” he exclaimed, springing to his feet, and glaring -wildly around him. “Why!” he continued, after a pause, in which he -appeared to be rallying his bewildered senses,—“why! what is this? a -dream, nothing but a dream? It must be so. But what a strange one! and -what could have caused it? Was there not some one standing over me, -just now, darkening my face like a shadow? I feel a dim consciousness -of something like it. But that, probably, was part of the same dream. -Yes, yes, all a mere dream; all nothing; so, begone with you, miserable -phantoms! I will not suffer——”</p> - -<p>But, as if not satisfied with his own reasoning, he stopped short, -and, for many minutes, stood motionless, with his head dropped in -deep thought; when, arousing himself, he returned to his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_303">[Pg 303]</span> rude -resting-place, and laid down again, but only to toss and turn, in the -restless excitement which he obviously found himself unable to allay. -After a while spent in this tantalizing unrest, he rose and slowly -made his way down to the edge of the lake, a few rods distant, where, -scooping up water with his hands, he first drank eagerly, then bathed -his fevered brow, and then, rising, he stood some time silent on the -shore,—now pensively gazing out on the darkly-bright expanse of the -moon-lit lake; and now listening to the mysterious voices of night in -the wilderness, which, in low, soft, whispering undulations of sound, -came, at varied intervals, gently murmuring along the wooded shores, -to die away into silence in the remote recesses of the forest. These -phenomena of the wilds he had once or twice before noted, and tried to -account for, without, however, attaching much consequence to them. But -now they became invested with a strange significance, and seemed to -him, in his present excited and apprehensive state of mind, portentous -of impending evil. While his thoughts were taking this channel, the -possibility of what might be done in his absence suddenly appeared -to occur to him; and he hastened back to camp, where he slightly -replenished the fire, and, taking a recumbent position, with his loaded -rifle within reach, kept awake, and on the watch, till morning.</p> - -<p>After daylight Claud arose, as if nothing unusual had occurred to -disturb him, bustled about, built a good fire, and began to prepare -a morning meal from the fine string of trout he had taken during -yesterday’s excursion. The noise of these preparations soon awoke the -two sleepers; who, complimenting him on his early rising, also arose, -and soon joined him in partaking the repast, which, by this time, he -had in readiness.</p> - -<p>As soon as they had finished their meal, which was enlivened by no -other than an occasional brief, commonplace remark, the thoughts of -each of them being evidently engrossed by his own peculiar schemes -and anxieties, the trappers, by common consent, set about their -preparations to depart;<span class="pagenum" id="Page_304">[Pg 304]</span> and, having completed them, leisurely took -their way down the western shore of the lake towards the spot at which -they had hauled up and concealed their canoe, and which, if they -followed the deep indentures of the shore in this part of the lake, -must be four or five miles distant.</p> - -<p>For the first mile or two of their progress nothing noticeable to an -indifferent observer occurred to vary the monotony of their walk, -as they tramped steadily and silently forward, in the usual, and, -indeed, almost the only practicable mode of travelling in the forest, -appropriately denominated Indian file. But young Elwood, whose feelings -had been deeply stirred by the fancies of the night, which, to say -the least, had the effect to make him more keenly apprehensive and -vigilant, had noted several little circumstances, that, to him, wore a -questionable appearance. Gaut, who at first led the way, soon manœuvred -to get Mark Elwood, the next in the order of their march, in front; and -then urged him forward at a much faster pace than before, at the same -time often casting furtive glances behind him, as if to see whether -Claud, who seemed inclined to walk more slowly than the rest, would not -fall behind, and soon be out of sight. And, when the latter quickened -his pace, he showed signs of vexation, which had not passed unnoticed. -All this Claud had noted, together with the singular expression which -Gaut’s countenance assumed, and which filled him with an undefinable -dread, and a lively suspicion that the man was on the eve of attempting -the execution of foul purposes. Consequently he resolved to follow -up closely, having no fears for himself, and believing his presence -would prevent any attempt that might be meditated against his father. -This precaution, for some time, the young man was careful to observe; -but, as he was passing over a small brook that crossed his path, -his eye caught the appearance of a slight trail, a few rods up the -stream, and curiosity prompted him to turn aside to examine it. When -he reached the place, he soon detected indications which convinced -him that some person had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_305">[Pg 305]</span> recently been there; and, forgetful of his -resolution, in the interest the circumstance excited, he commenced a -closer inspection, which resulted in discovering a fresh imprint, in -the soft mud on one side of the brook, of a small moccasined foot. This -curious and unexpected discovery, uncertain as were its indications of -any identity of the person, or even of the age or sex of the person, by -whom that delicate footprint was made, at once diverted his attention -from the particular care by which it had been engrossed, and started -that other of the two trains of thought, which, for the last month, but -especially since his singular awakening the past night, had constituted -the chief burden of his mind,—his increasing apprehensions for his -father’s safety, and his lurking but irrepressible regard for the -chief’s beautiful daughter, whose image, since his dream, had haunted -him with a pertinacity for which a resort to reason alone would fail to -account.</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“If music be the food of love,” -</p> - -<p class="p0">dreams, we apprehend, whatever the immortal bard might have thought of -the matter, have often proved the more exciting stimulus of the tender -passion; many of whose happiest consummations might be traced back to -an origin in some peopled scene of a dreaming fancy, whose peculiar -effect on the sympathies has frequently been felt by the sternest and -most sceptical, though never very clearly explained in any of our -written systems of the philosophy of the soul and its affections.</p> - -<p>In the pleasing indulgence of the feelings and fancies which had been -thus freshly kindled, Claud stood, for some minutes, quite unconscious -of the lapse of time, though it had been long enough to place his -companions far out of sight and hearing. From this reverie he was -suddenly aroused by the sharp report of a rifle, bursting on his -ear from the woods, about a quarter of a mile off, in the direction -just taken by his companions. Starting at the sound, which sent a -boding chill through his<span class="pagenum" id="Page_306">[Pg 306]</span> heart, and bitterly taxing himself for his -inadvertent loitering, he sprang back to the trail he had left, and -made his way along over it towards the place indicated by the firing, -with all the speed which excited nerves and agonizing anxiety could -bring to his aid. But, before reaching the spot at which he was aiming, -and just as he was beginning to slacken his pace, to look around for -it, Gaut Gurley burst through the bushes, a few rods ahead, and, -running towards him with all the manifestations of a man in hasty -retreat before a pursuing foe, eagerly exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“Run, Claud! run for your life! We have just been beset by hostile -Indians, who fired on us, and, I fear, have killed your father. I have -misled them a little; but they will soon be on our trail. Run! run!” he -added, seizing the other by the arm to start him into instant flight.</p> - -<p>“What!” exclaimed the astonished young man, hanging back, and by -degrees recovering from the surprise with which he was at first -overwhelmed by the strange and startling announcement. “What! hostile -Indians?—hostile to whom, to my father, or to me, that I should run -from them? Gaut Gurley, what, O what does this mean?”</p> - -<p>“Why, it means,” said the other, keeping up all the motions and -flourishes naturally used by one urging another to flee,—“it means, as -I say, our lives are in danger. Let us escape while we can. Come, come, -there’s not a moment to lose!”</p> - -<p>“I will <em>know</em>,” said Claud, with a quick, searching glance at -the face of the other,—“yes, I <em>will know</em> for myself what has -happened,” he sternly added, suddenly breaking from the grasp on his -arm, and bounding forward to execute his purpose with a quickness and -rapidity that made pursuit useless.</p> - -<p>“Hold!” cried Gaut, in an increasingly fierce and angry tone, “hold, -instantly,—on your life, hold! I warn you, sir, to stop, instantly to -stop!”</p> - -<p>But, heeding neither the entreaties nor the threats which, his ear -told him, were strangely mingled in the tones of the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_307">[Pg 307]</span> words thus -thundered after him, Claud, in his agony of apprehension, eagerly -rushed on towards the forbidden scene, which could not now be thirty -rods distant, and had proceeded, perhaps, forty yards; when, just as he -was straightening up, after stooping to pass under an obstructing limb -of a tree, extending across his path, he became conscious of the sound -of the sudden hitting of the limb, and partly so of the concussion of -a shot, still farther in his rear. But he neither heard nor knew more; -and, the next moment, lay stretched senseless on the ground.</p> - -<p>When he awoke to consciousness, after, he knew not what lapse of time, -he found himself in a different place; lying, as he felt conscious, -badly wounded, on a soft, elastic bed of boughs, within a dense thicket -of low evergreens, through which his opening eye caught the gleams of -widely-surrounding waters. A ministering angel, in the shape of the -peerless daughter of the wilds, who had lately so much occupied his -thoughts, was wistfully bending over him, with a countenance in which -commiseration and woe had found an impersonation which no artist’s -pencil could have equalled.</p> - -<p>“Fluella!” he feebly murmured,—“how came you here, Fluella?”</p> - -<p>She saw that the effort to speak caused him a pang, and, without -replying to the question, motioned him to silence; when, being no -longer able to master her emotions, she sat down by his side, and, -covering her face with both hands, began to grieve and sob like a -child. Poor girl! who could measure the depth of her heart’s anguish? -She could not answer, had she deemed it best. We must answer the -question for her. But, to do so, to the full understanding of the -reader, we must again recur to the events of the past,—her troubled -past, at least,—during the three or four days preceding the time of -her appearance as an actor in the sad scene before us.</p> - -<p>She had learned from Mrs. Elwood that Claud had pledged himself to -her that he would return from his expedition within the month of -April; and to Fluella, with her undoubting confidence<span class="pagenum" id="Page_308">[Pg 308]</span> in his word, a -failure to redeem that pledge would be but little less than certain -intelligence that some evil had befallen either him or his father, in -their unknown place of sojourn in the wilderness. Consequently her -solicitude—growing out of her secretly nourished but overmastering -love for him—became, as the time approached which was to relieve or -realize her fears for the result of an expedition undertaken under -such dreadful auspices, each day more deep and absorbing. And, the -last morning but one of the expiring month, she went out early on to -the rock-bound shore of the lake, on which her father’s cabin was -situated, and commenced her watch from the most commanding points, for -the appearance of the expected party, on their way homeward from the -upper lakes. And during that anxious day, and the still more anxious -one that followed, she kept up her vigils, with no other cessation -than what her brief absences for her hastily-snatched meals at the -house required; sometimes standing, for an hour at a time, in one spot, -intently gazing out into the lake, and sometimes moving restlessly -about, and hurrying from cliff to cliff, along the beetling shore, -to obtain a better observation. But, no appearance or indications of -their coming rewarding her vigils during all that time, she retired -from the shore, at the approach of night, on the last day of April, sad -and sick at heart from disappointment, and painfully oppressed with -apprehension for the fate of one for whose safety she felt she would -have given her own worthless life as a willing sacrifice. But, her -feelings still allowing her neither peace nor quietude, she left the -house after supper; and, in the light of the nearly full moon, that was -now throwing its mellow beams over the wild landscape, unconsciously -took her way to the lake-shore, where she had already spent so many -weary hours in her fruitless vigils. Here, climbing a tall rock on the -bluff shore, she resumed her watch, and long stood, straining both -eye and ear to catch sight of some moving thing, or the sound of some -plashing oar, out on the lake, that might indicate the coming, even at -this late<span class="pagenum" id="Page_309">[Pg 309]</span> hour, of the objects of her solicitude. But no such sight or -sound came up from the sleeping waters, to greet and gladden her aching -senses. All there was as motionless and silent as the plains of the -dead.</p> - -<p>“The time is past!” she at length despairingly muttered, slowly -withdrawing her gaze, and standing as if to collect her thoughts and -ponder. “Yes, passed by, now. He will not come!”</p> - -<p>And her ideas immediately reverted to the other alternative for which -she had before made up her mind, in case the party did not return -within the month; but which, having been kept in the background -of her thoughts, by her hope of their coming, now occurred to her -with startling effect. She fancied Claud the victim of outrage or -misfortune,—perhaps wounded and dying, by the same hand that might -have previously struck down his father,—perhaps taken sick on his -way home alone, and now lying helpless in the woods, where none -could witness his sufferings or hear his cries for assistance. The -thought sent a pang through her bosom, the more painful because, being -something like a legitimate conclusion of her previous reasoning, she -could not divest herself of it. She stood bewildered in the woes of her -thick-coming fancies. The images thus conjured up from her distracting -anxieties and excited brain, all heightened by the natural inspirations -of the place and the hour, soon became to her vivid realities. And her -burning thoughts at once insensibly ran into the form and spirit of one -of the many beautiful plaints of England’s gifted poetess:</p> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“I heard a song upon the wandering wind, -<br />A song of many tones, though one full soul -<br />Breathed through them all imploringly; and made -<br />All nature, as they pass’d,—all quivering leaves, -<br />And low responsive reeds and waters,—thrill, -<br />As with the consciousness of human prayer.<br /> -<span style="margin-left: 10em;">——the tones</span> -<br />Were of a suppliant. ‘<em>Leave me not</em>’ was still -<br />The burden of their music.” -</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_310">[Pg 310]</span></p> - -<p>“I will <em>not</em> leave you!” she exclaimed, startling the silent -glens and grottos around by the wild energy of her tones, and eagerly -stretching out her hands towards the imagined scene, and the suppliant -for her ministering services. “O Claud, I will come to you. My love, my -life, my more than life, I will soon be with you! Go after him?” she -resumed, after a sudden pause, to which she seemed to be brought by -recalling her thoughts to their wonted channel, and being startled at -the sober import of her own words. “Go in search of him in the woods! -Yes,” she added, after another long and thoughtful pause,—“yes, why -not? I cannot, O, I <em>cannot</em> stay here another day, with these -but too prophetic words, I fear, ringing in my ears. To be in the same -wilderness with him were a pleasure, to the insupportable suspense I -must suffer here. If I discover all to be well, I need not show myself; -but, if it be as I fear, O, what happiness to be near him! Yes, it is -decided; I will start in the morning.”</p> - -<p>And, hastily descending from her stand, with the firm, quick step and -decisive air of one whose purpose is fixed, she struck off directly -for the house; where, after a few hasty preparations, she retired to -her bed, and, happily, after the exhausting cares of the day, was soon -quieted into sound and refreshing slumber.</p> - -<p>In accordance with her still unaltered resolution, she rose early the -next morning; and with an indefinite intimation to her family of her -intention to be absent among friends a day or two, swung to her side -a small square basket of nutritious provisions, took a thick shawl to -protect her from the damps of the night, proceeded directly to her -canoe at the landing, embarked, and struck out vigorously along the -winding shore, on her way to the next upper lake. A steady but quiet -row of a couple of hours took her out of the great lake on which -she had embarked, up the principal inlet, and into the Maguntic, -whose western shores, she had understood, were to be the base of the -operations of the absent party. Here she turned short<span class="pagenum" id="Page_311">[Pg 311]</span> to the left, -and, drawing in close to land, rowed slowly and cautiously along the -western shore, following round all the numerous indentations, and -continually sending her searching glances up its wooded shores, that no -appearance of the trail of human beings might escape her observation.</p> - -<p>After rowing two or three miles in this manner, and without noticing -any thing that particularly attracted her attention, she reached the -first of the three headlands, making out from this side a considerable -distance into the lake, beyond the average line of the shore. As she -was rounding this point, her eye fell on a dark protuberance, in a -dense thicket a few rods in-shore, which appeared of a more oblong and -regular form than is usual in such places. And, scanning the appearance -more closely, she soon discerned a small piece of wrought wood, -resembling a part of the blade of an oar, slightly projecting from one -side of the apparent brush-heap. Starting at the sight, she immediately -ran her canoe ashore, and proceeded at once to the spot; when, closely -peering under the brush-wood, she discovered three canoes, with their -oars, concealed beneath a deep covering of boughs, surmounted by a -scraggy treetop lying carelessly over them, as if blown from some -neighboring tree.</p> - -<p>This, to her, was an important discovery; for it told her—after she -had carefully examined the place, and found that no one had been to -the boats since they were concealed, which she thought must have been -done several weeks before—it told her, at once, that the trappers -had gone to some distant locality among the streams and mountains, to -the west or north, from which they had not yet returned to the lake; -but doubtless would so return before proceeding homeward, provided -the Elwoods had not both been slain or disabled by their suspected -companion. The discovery, notwithstanding the light it had thrown -on the first movements of the trappers, and much as it narrowed the -range of her search for them, but little relieved her harrowing -apprehensions; and she resolved to proceed<span class="pagenum" id="Page_312">[Pg 312]</span> up the lake with her -observations, which might now as well be confined to this side of it, -and the larger streams which should here be found entering it, and down -some of which the company, if they came at all, would probably now soon -come, on their way to the canoes. And, accordingly, she again set forth -on her solitary journey. But, being conscious that the trappers might -now at any time suddenly make their appearance, she proceeded more -cautiously, keeping as far as possible out of the views that might be -taken from distant points of the lake, and from time to time turning -a watchful eye and ear on the shores around and before her. Thus, -slowly and timidly advancing, she at length reached and rounded the -second headland in her course, where another and still more interesting -discovery was in store for her. As she came out from the overhanging -trees beneath which she had shot along the point, she unexpectedly -gained a clear view of the extreme end of the lake, with what appeared -to be the mouth of a considerable stream, and suddenly backed her oar, -to pause and reconnoitre; when she soon noticed one spot, near the -supposed inlet, which wore a different hue from the rest, and which, -a closer inspection told her, must be imparted by the lingering of -undissipated smoke, from a fire kindled there as late, at least, as -that morning. Her heart beat violently at the discovery; for she felt -assured that the trappers had reached the lake, had encamped there -the night before, and could not now be many miles distant. Fearing -she should be seen, if she remained longer on the water, she at once -resolved to conceal her canoe in some place near by, and proceed by -land through the woods to the spot of the supposed encampment, or near -enough to ascertain how far her conjectures were true, and how far her -new-lit hopes were to be realized. All this—after many a misgiving and -many an alarm, from the sudden movements of the smaller animals of the -forest, started out from their coverts by her stealthy advance—had -been by her, at length, successfully accomplished; the camp detected -from a neighboring thicket; cautiously approached,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_313">[Pg 313]</span> finally entered, -and the joyful discovery made that three persons had slept there the -night before. Hieing back, like a frighted bird, into the screening -forest, she selected a covert in a dense thicket on an elevation about -an hundred yards distant, where, unseen by the most searching eye, she -could look down into the camp; and there she lay down and anxiously -awaited the approach of night, and, with it, the expected return of -the party, who, she felt confident, could be no others than those of -whom she was in search. And it was not all a dream with Claud, when -he fancied some one standing by his couch of repose. A flitting form -had, that night, indeed, for a moment hovered over him, looking down, -with the sleepless eye of love, on his broken slumbers, and trying to -divine, perhaps, the very dreams which, through some mysterious agency -of the mental sympathies, her presence was inciting.</p> - -<p>Although the maiden had now the unspeakable satisfaction of knowing -that none of her fears had thus far been realized, yet she felt keenly -sensible that the danger was not over; and she therefore determined -that she would not lose sight of the objects of her vigilance and -anxiety, at least until she had seen them embarked for home on the open -lake, where deeds of darkness would be less likely to be attempted than -in the screening forest. She had, therefore, started from her uneasy -slumbers, the next morning, at daybreak; watched from her covert, -with lively concern, the movements in the camp; and no sooner seen -them packed up for a start, and headed towards their boats, then she -shrank noiselessly away from her concealment, which was situated so as -to give her considerably the start of them; and fled rapidly down the -lake, in a line parallel to the one along the shore which the trappers -would naturally take, and so near it that, from chosen stands, she -could see them as they came along. And thus, for miles, like the timid -antelope, she hovered on their flank,—now pausing to get a glance of -them through the trees as they came in sight, and now fleeing forward -again, for a new position, to repeat the observation.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_314">[Pg 314]</span> Up to this -time she had kept considerably in advance of the moving party; but -now, suddenly missing Claud, she sought a covert, and stood watching -for him, till Mark Elwood, followed by Gaut Gurley, came abreast of -the spot she occupied; when, suddenly, the forest shook and trembled -from the report of a gun, bursting from the bushes, seemingly, almost -beneath her feet. A single wild glance revealed to her appalled senses -Gaut Gurley, clenching his smoking rifle, and, with the look of an -exulting fiend, glaring out from behind a tree, towards his prostrate, -convulsed, and dying victim. On recovering from the deeply paralyzing -effect of the horrid spectacle, her first thought was for Claud; and, -with the distracting thought, her eye involuntarily sought for the -murderer of his father, who had shrunk back from his position, but -whom she soon detected hastily reloading his rifle, and then starting, -with a quick step, along back the path in which he had just come,—in -search, as her alarmed heart suggested, of another victim for his -infernal malice. With a sharp, smothered cry of anguish, she bounded -out from her covert, and flew back, in a line parallel with that of -the retreating murderer, till she saw him meet the alarmed young man -hurrying forward to the rescue; when she suddenly paused, and listened -with breathless interest to the dialogue we have already related as -occurring between them. She heard—and her heart bounded with pride as -she did so—she heard the manly and determined language of the young -man; she saw him rush by the wretch who was trying to mislead him, -to conceal his own crime. But she saw, also, the next moment, with a -dismay that transfixed her to the spot, the murderous rifle raised, -and the retreating, unconscious object of its aim stumble forward to -the ground; then the monster, as if uncertain of the execution of his -bullet, rush forward, with gleaming knife, apparently to finish his -work; and then disappear in the direction of the concealed canoes, -now less than a half-mile beyond. All this she had witnessed, with an -agony which no pen can describe; and then, with the last glimpse of the -retiring assassin,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_315">[Pg 315]</span> flown to the side of his second victim, badly but -not fatally wounded; staunched, as she best could, the blood pouring -from his wounds; hurried off for her canoe, luckily hid near by; -brought it up to the shore, within a few yards of the spot where he had -fallen; drawn him gently down to it, and got him into it, she knew not -how; and then, after obliterating the trail, entered herself, and rowed -off to the thickly wooded little island, a furlong to the northeast, -but hid by an intervening point from the view of the foe, now supposed -to be on his way to the boats. Here she had contrived to draw Claud -up, in the light canoe, on the farthest shore, and, by degrees, got -both him and the boat on the dry, mossy ground, safely within a thicket -wholly impervious to outward view. Still fearful of Gaut’s return, she -crept to the south end of the island, which she had scarcely reached -when she saw him come round the point, land, drag down the body of -Mark Elwood, take it out some distance from the shore, and sink it, by -steel-traps and stones tied to it, deep in the lake. She then, with -lively concern, saw him return and proceed towards the spot where -Claud had fallen, but soon reäppear, evidently much disturbed at not -finding the body, yet not seeming to suspect how it had been disposed -of, though several times coming down to the edge of the water and -peering anxiously up and down the lake; but she was soon relieved from -her fears by seeing him take to his boat, row rapidly round the point, -there take in tow two other canoes,—which, it appeared, he had brought -up and left there,—and then row down the lake, in the direction of -the great outlet; under the belief, doubtless, that Claud had revived, -struck down through the woods for the upper end of the lake below, -where, if he had not before sunk down and died of his wounds, he might -be waylaid and finished. Thus relieved of this pressing apprehension, -she hurried back to her charge, and carefully examined his wounds; when -she found that the bullet, whose greatest force had been broken by the -obstructing limb, had struck near the top of his head, and ploughed -over the skull without<span class="pagenum" id="Page_316">[Pg 316]</span> breaking it; that, of the two stabs inflicted, -one had been turned by the collar-bone, making only a long, surface -wound, the other had passed through the fleshy part of the arm and -terminated on a rib beneath, producing a flow of blood, which, but for -the timely and plentiful application of beaver-fur, pulled from a skin -which she saw protruding from his pack, must have soon terminated his -life. With the drinking-cup she found slung to his side, she brought -water, washed the wounds, laid the ruptured parts in place, and, -with plasters of cloth cut from her handkerchief, and made adhesive -by balsam taken from a tree at hand, covered and protected them; and -thus, by the application of a skill she learned from her father, -placed them in a situation where nature, with proper care, would, of -herself, complete the sanatory operation. She then resumed the process -of bathing his head and face, and, within another hour, was thrilled -with joy in witnessing his return to consciousness, in the manner we -described before leaving him for this long, but necessary, digression.</p> - -<p>After giving vent to her painfully laboring emotions a while, the -maiden softly arose, and, creeping down under the overhanging boughs -to the edge of the water, sat down on a stone and bathed her throbbing -brow, for some time, in the limpid wave; after which, having in a good -measure regained her usual firmness and tranquillity, she returned -to the side of her wounded friend, whom she found wrapt in the deep -slumber generally produced by exhaustion from loss of blood. After -gazing a while on his face, with the sad and yearning look of a mother -on a disease-smitten child, a new thought seemed suddenly to occur -to her, and she noiselessly stole away to her former lookout, at the -south end of the island, where, with a brightening eye, she caught -sight of the loathed and dreaded homicide, just entering the distant -outlet. Waiting no longer than to feel assured that he had disappeared -with the real intention of descending the stream, she returned to her -still sleeping charge, slowly and carefully slid the canoe down into -the water,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_317">[Pg 317]</span> headed it round with her hands, gained her seat in the -stern, and pushed out into the lake, shaping her course obliquely down -it towards the mouth of a small river entering from the eastern side, -at the lower end of the lake, but still nearly a mile distant from the -outlet in which the murderer had disappeared. Softly and smoothly as -a gently-rocking cradle, the light canoe, under the skillfully plied -oar of the careful maiden, glided through the waveless waters on her -destined course, and, for more than an hour, steadily kept on its -noiseless way, without once appearing to disturb the repose of the -slumbering invalid. But, as the hitherto low-looking forest bordering -the eastern shore began to loom up, and thus apprise the fair rower -that she was now nearing the point to which she had been directing -her course, she noticed, with concern, that the lake was beginning -to be agitated, even where she then was, from a gathering breeze; -while a long, light, advancing line, extending across the lake in the -distance behind her, plainly told of the rapid approach of wind, which -must soon greatly increase the disturbance of the waters, and the -consequent rocking of the canoe. Knowing how injuriously such motion of -the boat might affect the invalid, she put forth her utmost strength -in propelling the canoe forward to reach the quiet haven before her, -in season to escape the threatened roughness of the water. But her -best exertions could secure only a partial immunity from the trouble -she thus sought to avoid. The wind struck her long before gaining the -place; when, in spite of all her endeavors to steady it, the canoe -began to lurch and toss among the gathering waves; while the almost -immediate awakening of the disturbed invalid, his twinges of pain -and suppressed groans, told her, as they sent responsive thrills of -anguish through her bosom, how much he was suffering from the motion. -To her great relief, however, she now soon reached and shot into the -still waters of the stream, and this trouble, at least, was over. -Here, after passing in out of sight of the lake, she drew up her oar, -and paused to reflect and conclude what should<span class="pagenum" id="Page_318">[Pg 318]</span> be her next movement; -when Claud, whose head was pillowed in the bow of the boat, and whose -eye was resting tenderly on her downcast countenance, soon read her -perplexity, and again asked to be informed of all that had happened, -and the object of her present movement. She told him,—with such -reservations as maidenly modesty and pride suggested,—she told him all -she had seen, and in conclusion proposed, as their enemy might ambush -them, and as it was now drawing towards night, and the lake would not -be quiet enough for some hours, at least, to permit them to proceed, -that they should row up the river till they found an eligible spot, -and encamp for the night. To this Claud readily assented; and they -again set forth up the gentle stream, that, as before intimated, here -came in from the southeast; and, after proceeding some distance, the -anxious eye of the maiden fell on a place on the left bank, where a -temporary shelter could easily be rigged up, under the wide-spreading -and low-set limbs of a thick-topped evergreen, which, of itself, would -be ample protection against the dews of heaven. Drawing up the canoe on -land near the tree, in the same manner as at the island, she proceeded -to gather large quantities of fine hemlock boughs, and dry, elastic -mosses, arrange them under the tree, in the form of bed and pillow, -and over the whole to spread Claud’s blanket; thus making a couch as -safe and comfortable as ever received the limbs of a suffering invalid. -Upon this, partly by his own exertions and partly by her assistance, -he was then, without much difficulty, soon transferred from the canoe; -when, with his light hatchet (she having brought all his implements -along with him in the boat), she soon erected neat, closely-woven -wicker walls of boughs, from the ground to the limbs above, on both -sides, providing within one of them a space for herself. She then -brought fuel, kindled a small fire in front, and took her position at -his side, to be ready for such ministering offices as his case might -seem to require. She found that he had again fallen into a profound -slumber, which she at first regarded as a favorable omen; and, in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_319">[Pg 319]</span> -conscious security of the spot, in the belief that he had received none -of the injuries she had apprehended from the motion of the boat, and, -above all, in the indulgence of that overweening pride of affection -which covets all pains and sacrifices for the loved one, she felt a -satisfaction which was almost happiness, in her situation. But it -was not destined to be of very long duration. She at length began to -perceive a gradual reddening of his cheeks, and then, soon after, an -increasing shortness of respiration, and a general restlessness of the -system. Alarmed at these symptoms, she felt his pulse, and at once -discovered that he was in a high fever, supervening from his wounds, -and caused, or much aggravated, doubtless, by the jostling of the boat -on his way hither. Starting back, as if some unexpected calamity had -suddenly fallen upon her, she stood some minutes absorbed in earnest -self-consultation. What should she do? She could not, dare not, even -were it daytime, leave him to go miles away for her father, or others, -for aid or advice. No; she must stay by him. And, having seen the -alleviating effects of cold water in fevers and inflammations, and -knowing that there were no other remedies within reach, she at once -decided on its application. Accordingly, with her cup of water at her -side, and a piece of soft, clean moss in her hand, she began sponging -his face, neck, and the flesh around his wounds; and repeating this -process at short intervals, she continued the tender assiduities, with -only occasional snatches of repose, till the welcome morning light -broke over the forest. She then rose, and, with a miniature camp-kettle -found among her patient’s effects, prepared some gruel from the pounded -parched corn which she had brought with her. This he mechanically took -from her hand, when aroused for the purpose, but immediately relapsed -again into the same state of unconsciousness and stupor in which he had -lain through the night. Through the day and night that followed, but -little variation was discernible in his condition, and as little was -made in his treatment, by his fair, anxious nurse. Through the next -day and night it was still<span class="pagenum" id="Page_320">[Pg 320]</span> the same; but towards night, on the third -day after his attack, he began to show signs of amendment, and before -dark his fever had entirely subsided. Perceiving this, the rejoiced -maiden prepared him some more stimulating nourishment, in the shape -of broth made from jerked venison. Having partaken freely of this, he -then, with a whispered “<em>I am much better, Fluella</em>,” sank back on -his couch, and was soon buried in a sweet and tranquil slumber. Having -carefully adjusted his blanket around him, and added her own shawl to -the covering, and being now once more relieved of her most pressing -fears for his fate, the exhausted girl laid down on her own rude couch, -and, before she was aware, fell into a slumber so deep and absorbing -that she never once awoke till the sun was peering over the eastern -mountains the next morning. Her first waking glance was directed to -the couch of the invalid. It was empty. Starting to her feet, with a -countenance almost wild with concern, she hurriedly ran her eye through -the forest around her; when, with a suppressed exclamation of joyful -surprise, she soon caught sight of his form, slowly making his way back -from a short walk, which he had, on awakening, an hour before, found -himself able to take, along a smooth and level path on the bank of the -river.</p> - -<p>But we have not the space, nor even the ability, to portray -adequately the restrained but lively emotions of joy and the charming -embarrassment that thrilled the tumultuously-beating bosom of the one, -and the deep gratitude and silent admiration that took possession -of the other, of this singularly situated young couple, during the -succeeding scenes of Claud’s now rapid convalescence. Suffice it -to say, that, on the afternoon of the second day but one from this -auspicious morning, they were on their happy way down through the lakes -and the connecting river, to the chief’s residence, where they safely -arrived some hours before night, and where they were greeted with -demonstrations of delight which told what anxieties had been suffered -on their account. Here, for the first time, they learned that the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_321">[Pg 321]</span> -murderer had been taken and carried to the village for his preliminary -trial; that the examination had been postponed, to allow the prisoner -time to send for his counsel; and that the hearing was to commence -that very evening, though the hunter, who had that day made a hurried -journey to the chief’s, to see if Fluella had returned or Claud been -heard from, had expressed great fears that the evidence yet discovered -might not be deemed sufficient to convict him of murder, and perhaps -not to imprison him for a final trial. Claud, perceiving at once the -importance of Fluella’s testimony, as well as of his own, proposed that -they should immediately proceed that evening down the lakes to the -place of trial. But neither the chief nor his daughter would suffer -him to undertake the journey that night. At her earnest suggestion, -however, it was at length arranged that she, accompanied by her -half-brother, a lad of fifteen, should go down that evening, and that -the chief, with Claud, should follow early the next morning.</p> - -<p>In pursuance of this arrangement, the resolute girl and her attendant, -as soon as she had changed her dress and refreshed herself with a meal, -embarked on the lake, and, at the end of the next hour, they reached -the Great Rapids, leading, as before described, down into the Umbagog. -Here her brother, whose eye and ear, ever since they started, had often -been turned suspiciously to a dark, heavy cloud, which, seeming to -hang over the upper portions of the Magalloway, had been continually -sending forth peals of heavy thunder, hesitated about proceeding any -farther, and warned his unheeding sister of their liability of being -overtaken by the thunder-storm. But, finding her determined to proceed, -if she was compelled to do so alone, he yielded, and, landing their -canoe at the usual carrying places, they shot rapidly down the stream, -and in less than another hour came out on the broad Umbagog, just -as darkness was beginning to enshroud its waters, and cut off their -view of the distant shores for which they were destined. But for the -light of day they found an ample substitute in the electric<span class="pagenum" id="Page_322">[Pg 322]</span> displays, -which, lighting up the lake to the blaze of noonday, were every instant -leaping from the black, angry clouds, now evidently passing off, with -one almost continued roar of reverberating thunders, but a few miles -to the north of them. A rapid row of about three miles now brought -them to the foot of the lake, where the maiden had proposed to enter -the river, and row down it to the swift water, a short distance above -the village, and then proceed by land. Here, however, her course was -unexpectedly impeded by one of those paradoxical occurrences which -is peculiar to the spot, and which often happens on great and sudden -rises of the Magalloway, that, though entering the Androscoggin a mile -down its course, thus becomes higher than the level of the Umbagog, -and pours its surplus waters along up its stream in the channel of the -river last named, with a strong, rushing current into the lake. And -our adventurers now found that masses of tangled trees, mill-logs, and -all sorts of flood-wood, were driving so strongly and thickly up this -channel that it would be in vain for them to attempt to proceed in that -direction. But the purpose of the heroic girl to reach the village, by -some means or other, was not to be thus shaken. She directed the boat -to be rowed back to the Elwood Landing, where, leaving it, she with -her attendant took the path to the cottage; and reaching this, and -finding all dark within, she boldly led the way down the long road to -the bridge, miles below, with no other light than the still lingering -flashes of lightning afforded to her hurrying footsteps. But it was -not till after an exhausting walk, and some time past midnight, that -she reached the bridge leading over the river to the tavern, where -the trial was proceeding; and then only to encounter another great -obstacle to her progress. On coming up to the bridge, she perceived, -with astonishment and dismay, that one-half of the structure, with the -exception of a single string-piece, the only connection now remaining -between the two sides of the river, had been swept away by the sudden -flood, or the revolving trees it bore on its rushing surface. She -also ascertained,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_323">[Pg 323]</span> from a woman still up, watching with a sick child, -in a house near by, that every boat on that side the river had been -either carried off by the unexpected freshet, or taken since the bridge -went off, by persons still coming in, to get over to the exciting -trial, which, it was understood, would occupy the whole night. After -pausing a moment, the still unshaken maiden borrowed and lighted a -lantern, when, without disclosing her purpose, she left the house and -proceeded directly to the end of the string-piece. She first examined -it carefully, and finding it broad, level, and fixed in its bed, she -then mounted the dizzy beam, and stood for a moment glancing down on -the wild rush of roaring waters beneath. Her movements, to which the -light she carried had attracted attention, were by this time seen and -comprehended by the crowd around the tavern, on the opposite side, who -now came rushing to the other end of the bridge, to deter her from the -bold attempt. But she heeded them not; and in a moment more was seen, -with a quick, firm step, gliding over the awful chasm; in another, she -had reached the end, and stood in safety on the planks beyond,—where -she was greeted by the throng, who had witnessed with amazement the -perilous passage, in a shout of exultation at her escape, that rose -loud and wild above the roar of the waters around them.</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_324">[Pg 324]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="CHAPTER_XXI">CHAPTER XXI.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="poetry p0"> -“So those two voices met; so Joy and Death -<br />Mingled their accents; and, amidst the rush -<br />Of many thoughts, the listening poet cried, -<br />O! thou art mighty, thou art wonderful, -<br />Mysterious Nature! Not in thy free range -<br />Of woods and wilds alone, thou blendest thus -<br />The dirge note and the song of festival; -<br />But in one <em>heart</em>, one changeful human heart,— -<br />Ay, and within one hour of that strange world,— -<br />Thou call’st their music forth, with all its tones -<br />To startle and to pierce!—the dying Swan’s, -<br />And the glad Sky-lark’s,—Triumph and Despair!” -</p> - - -<p>Our tale is running rapidly to a close; and we must no more loiter to -gather flowers by the wayside, but depict the events which now come -thickly crowding together, to make up the mingled catastrophe.</p> - -<p>When the sheriff and his scores of exulting assistants reached the -village with their prisoner,—the desperate villain, whom they had, -with so much difficulty and danger, dislodged and seized in his rocky -den in the mountains,—the latter requested a postponement of his -examination till the afternoon of the next day, that he might have time -to send for, and obtain, his lawyer. This request was the more readily -granted, as the party sent up the lakes with Moose-killer, for more -evidence, had not yet returned, and as their expected discoveries, -or at least their presence with those already made, might and would -be required to fasten the crime, in law, on the undoubted criminal. -The court, therefore, was adjourned to an indefinite hour the next -afternoon; and the crowd, except the court, its officers, and those -from a distance, dispersed to assemble, the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_325">[Pg 325]</span> next day, with increased -numbers, to witness the final disposal of one who had now become, in -the minds of all, the monster outlaw of the settlement. The prisoner -was then taken to an adjoining old and empty log-house, a straw-bed -laid on the floor for him, and a strong guard placed over him, both -within and around the house without; so that, being constantly under -the eyes of vigilant, well-armed men, there should be no possibility -of his escape, either by his own exertions, or by the aid of secret -accomplices. And these precautions being faithfully observed, the night -wore away without alarm, or any kind of disturbance. The fore part of -the succeeding day also passed, though people soon began to pour into -the village from all quarters, with singular quietness,—all seeming -to be oppressed with that deep feeling of hushed expectation which -may often be seen to predispose men to a sort of restless silence, -on the known eve of an exciting event. And, through the whole of it, -no incident or circumstance transpired affecting the great interest -of the occasion, till about noon; when the news spread that the -anxiously-awaited party from the upper lakes were approaching. As they -came up to the tavern, the now excited crowd quickly closed around -them, and eagerly listened to their report. Of Claud Elwood, whom they -had unknowingly passed and repassed, on their way up and down the -lakes, while he was lying helpless in the secluded retreat to which his -fair and devoted preserver had conveyed him, they had heard nothing, -seen nothing, and discovered no clues by which his locality or fate -could be traced or conjectured. But they had visited, and carefully -examined, the place pointed out by Moose-killer as the one where Mark -Elwood was supposed to have been slain; and, although they had failed -to find the body on the land, or in the lake, with the best means they -could command for dragging it, and although time had measurably effaced -the traces by which the sagacious Indian had judged of the suspected -deed, yet every appearance went to confirm the strict accuracy of his -previous account. And, in<span class="pagenum" id="Page_326">[Pg 326]</span> addition, they at last found, slightly -imbedded in the bark of a tree, in the range of the path, and a short -distance to the south of the spot, a rifle bullet, which had evidently -been, before striking the tree, smeared with a bloody substance, and -also slightly flattened, as it might naturally have been, in striking a -bone, on its way through a man’s body. This seemed to establish, as a -fact, the commission of a murder; but on whom committed was still left -a debatable question. The movers of the prosecution had hoped, through -this mission up the lakes, to obtain evidence which would conclusively -establish the guilt of the prisoner. But, to effect this, and thus -insure his conviction, something more conclusive was still obviously -wanting. And it was then that the indefatigable hunter made, as the -reader has already been apprised, his last rapid but fruitless journey -to the chief’s residence, in the hope that his mysteriously absent -daughter might have returned with discoveries that would complete the -chain of evidence. He having come back, however, without accomplishing -any part of his object, and the prisoner’s counsel having arrived, and, -after a consultation with his client, become strangely clamorous to -proceed at once to the examination, they finally concluded to go into -the hearing with the presumptive evidence in possession, and, backing -it with the showing of Gaut’s previously suspicious character, for -which they were now well prepared, call themselves willing to abide the -result. All this being now settled, the court was declared open, and -the counsel for the prosecution was requested to proceed with the case.</p> - -<p>After the attorney for the prosecution had read the papers on which it -was founded, and made a statement of what was expected to be proved in -its support, the witnesses in that behalf were called and sworn. The -first testimony introduced was that of Codman and others, to show the -deep malice and implied threats of revenge which the prisoner had so -clearly exhibited towards the supposed murdered man, in the prosecution -of which the latter was a principal mover, the winter before. But<span class="pagenum" id="Page_327">[Pg 327]</span> -this evidence, when sifted by the long and severe cross-examination -that followed, and found to consist, instead of definite words, almost -wholly of menacing looks and other silent demonstrations of rage, which -are ever extremely difficult to bring out in words with their original -effect, amounted to so little that the prisoner’s counsel attempted to -turn it into ridicule with considerable show of success. Testimony in -relation to the canoe of the Elwoods, recently found washed up among -the rapids, which was next introduced, was found, when tested in the -same way, in despite of the opinions of the practical boatmen who were -the witnesses, to be almost equally inconclusive of the prisoner’s -guilt; so much so, indeed, that his counsel seemed greatly inclined to -appropriate it, as showing the probable manner in which the Elwoods, if -they were not still both alive, had come to their end.</p> - -<p>By this time,—as the court of inquiry was not opened till nearly -sunset, and as the examinations, cross-examinations, and preliminary -speeches of the opposing counsel, on disputed points of evidence, had -been drawn out to seemingly almost interminable lengths,—by this time, -it was nearly midnight; and the prosecuting party now proposed an -adjournment till morning. But this was strenuously opposed by Gaut’s -lawyer, who, affecting to believe that the whole affair was a malicious -prosecution growing out of the suit last winter, and got up by certain -men who had banded together to revenge their defeat on that occasion, -and ruin his client, boldly demanded that the prisoner should be -discharged, or his conspiring enemies be compelled to proceed at once -with “their sham prosecution,” as he put on the face to call it.</p> - -<p>This stand, which was obviously instigated by the prisoner himself, -who narrowly watched the proceedings, and, from time to time, was seen -whispering in the ear of his counsel, produced the desired effect: the -motion was overruled, and the counsel for the prosecution told to go on -with his evidence.</p> - -<p>Moose-killer was then called on to the witnesses’ stand,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_328">[Pg 328]</span> when, for -the first time, Gaut exhibited evident signs of uneasiness, and -whispered something in the ear of his counsel, who thereupon rose and -went into a labored argument against the admissibility of the evidence -of an Indian, who was a pagan, and knew nothing about the God whose -invocation constituted the sacred effect of the oath he had taken. -But, on the questioning of the court, Moose-killer declared his full -belief in the white Christian’s God and Bible, and this objection was -overruled, and the witness requested to proceed with his story.</p> - -<p>The demure Indian, unmoved by the burning and vengeful eye of Gaut, -which was kept constantly riveted upon him, then succinctly but clearly -related all the facts, of which the reader has been apprised in the -preceding pages, in relation to the atrocious deed under investigation. -And at the conclusion of his story he produced the bullet found -imbedded in the tree, called attention to its smeared and flattened -appearance, and then asked for the prisoner’s rifle, to see whether -it would fit in the bore. The rifle in question was then brought into -court, the bullet applied to the muzzle, and pronounced an exact fit! A -shout of exultation burst from the crowd, and in a tone so significant -of the public feeling, and of their unanimous opinion on this point, -that for a moment both the prisoner and his counsel were completely -disconcerted. But, soon rallying, the latter started to his feet, and, -having summoned back to its place his usual quantum of brass, demanded -“the privilege of just looking at that rifle they were all making such -a fuss about.” It was accordingly handed to him; when, after noticing -the size of the bore, which was a common one, and then glancing at some -other rifles held in the hands of different spectators, he confidently -requested that the first half-dozen rifles to be found among the crowd -should be brought on to the stand. Five of the designated number were -soon gathered and brought forward; and it was found, in the comparison, -that three of them were of the same bore as that of Gaut, and that the -ball in question would fit one as well as another.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_329">[Pg 329]</span></p> - -<p>“There! what has become of your bullet evidence now?” sneeringly -exclaimed the exulting attorney. “Wondrous conclusive, a’n’t it? But, -as weak as the whole story is, I will make it still weaker. It is my -turn with you now, my foxy red friend,” he added, settling back in his -seat to commence his cross-examination.</p> - -<p>His vaunted cross-examination, however, resulted in giving him no -advantage. The Indian could not be made, in the whole hour the -brow-beating inquisitor devoted to him, either to cross himself or -vary a single statement of his direct testimony, and he was petulantly -ordered to leave the stand.</p> - -<p>“Not done talk yet,” said Moose-killer, lingering, and glancing -inquiringly to the court and the counsel for the prosecution. “More -story me tell yet.”</p> - -<p>Gaut’s lawyer looked up doubtfully to the witness; but, thinking he -must have told all he could to implicate the prisoner, and that any -thing now added might show discrepancies, of which some advantage could -be taken, remained silent, and, for once, interposed no objection to -letting the Indian take his own course; when the latter, on receiving -an encouraging intimation to speak from the other attorney, proceeded, -in his peculiarly broken but graphic manner, to make in substance the -following extraordinary revelation:</p> - -<p>About ten years ago (he said), there came, from what part nobody -knew, a strange, questionable personage, into the neighborhood of -a few families of St. François Indians, encamping for the hunting -season around the head-water lakes of the Long River, as he termed the -Connecticut, and went to trapping for sable and beaver. But he soon -fell into difficulties with the Indians, who believed he robbed their -traps; and with one family in particular he had a fierce and bitter -altercation. This family had a small child, that began to ramble from -the wigwam out into the woods, and that, one night, failed to come -home. They suspected who had got it, and next day followed the trail -to the man’s camp; when they soon found where the child had<span class="pagenum" id="Page_330">[Pg 330]</span> been -butchered, cut up, and used to bait his sable-traps! But the monster, -becoming alarmed, had fled, and never afterwards could be found.</p> - -<p>With this, Moose-killer, who had evidently put his story in this shape -to avoid interruption, suddenly paused, and then, with one hand raised -imploringly towards the court and the other stretched out menacingly -towards the prisoner, wildly exclaimed:</p> - -<p>“O, that was <em>my</em> child! and this was the man who murdered it!”</p> - -<p>A thrill of horror ran through the crowd as the witness came to the -conclusion of his revolting story. And so completely were all taken -by surprise by the startling, and as most of them believed truthful, -revelation, and so great was the sensation produced by the appalling -atrocities it disclosed, that the proceedings of the court were for -some moments brought to a dead stand. But soon the shrill, harsh voice -of Gaut’s lawyer was heard rising above the buzz of the excited crowd, -and bursting in a storm of denunciation and abuse on the witness, and -all those who had a hand in bringing him forward, to thrust in, against -all rule, such a story,—which, if true, had no more to do with the -prosecution now in progress than the first chapter of the Alcoran. -But it was not true. It was a monstrous fabrication. It represented -as a fact what never occurred in all Christendom. It was stamped -with falsehood on the face of it; and not only spoke for itself as -such, but was a virtual self-impeachment of the witness, whose whole -testimony the court should now throw to the winds. And so, for the next -half-hour, he went on, ranting and raving, till the court, interposing, -assured him that the witness’ last story would not be treated as -testimony in the case; when he became pacified, and took his seat.</p> - -<p>The counsel on the other side, who, during his opponent’s explosive -display of rhetorical gas and brimstone, had been holding an earnest -consultation with Phillips (now also at hand with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_331">[Pg 331]</span> a disclosure which -had been reserved for the present moment), then calmly rose, and said -he had a statement to make, which he stood ready to substantiate, -and to which he respectfully asked the attention of the court, as -a matter that should be taken into the account in considering the -prisoner’s guilt in the present case, it being one of the many -offences that appeared to have marked his career of almost unvarying -crime and iniquity. He was well aware of the <em>general</em> rule of -evidence, which excludes matters not directly connected with the point -at issue; but there <em>were</em> cases in which that rule often had, -and necessarily ever must be, materially varied,—as in the <em>crim. -con.</em> cases reported in the books, where previous like acts were -admitted, to show the probability of the commission of the one charged, -and also in cases like the present, resting, as he admitted it thus far -did, on presumptive evidence. In this view, notwithstanding all that -had been said or intimated, he believed the concluding testimony of -the last witness proper to be considered in balancing the presumptions -of the prisoner’s guilt or innocence. And especially relevant did he -deem the statement, and the introduction of the evidence he had at -hand to substantiate it, which he had now risen to offer. But, even -were it otherwise, it would soon be seen that the step he was about to -take would be particularly suitable to be taken while the court and -the officers of justice were together, and the prisoner under their -control. With these preliminary remarks, he would now proceed with the -statement he had proposed.</p> - -<p>“This man,” continued the attorney (whom we will now report in the -first person), “the man who stands here charged, and, in the minds of -nine out of ten of all present, I fearlessly affirm, <em>justly</em> -charged, with a murder, to the deliberate atrocity of which scarce a -parallel can be found in the world’s black catalogue of crime,—this -man, I say, is a felon-refugee from British justice.</p> - -<p>“Many years ago,—as some here present may know, as a matter of -history,—a secret and somewhat extended conspiracy<span class="pagenum" id="Page_332">[Pg 332]</span> to subvert the -government of Lower Canada was seasonably discovered and crushed at -Quebec, which was its principal seat, and which, according to the plan -of the conspirators, was to be the first object of assault and seizure. -This was to be effected by the contemporaneous rising of a strong force -within the city, headed by a bold adventurer, a bankrupt merchant from -Rhode Island, and of an army of raftsmen, collected from the rivers, -without, led on by a reckless and daring, half-Scotch, half-Indian -Canadian, who had acquired great influence over that restless and -ruffian class of men. The former had been in the province in the year -before, and, from witnessing the popular disaffection then rampant -from the enforcement of an odious act of their Parliament to compel -the building of roads, had, with the instigation of such desperate -fellows as the latter, his Canadian accomplice, conceived this plot, -and had now come on, with a small band of recruits, to carry it into -execution; when, as all was nearly ripe for the outbreak, the whole -plot was discovered. The poor Yankee leader was seized, tried for -high treason, condemned to death, and strung up by the neck from the -walls of Quebec.<a id="FNanchor_5" href="#Footnote_5" class="fnanchor">[5]</a> But the more wary and fortunate Canadian leader, -though tenfold more guilty, escaped into the wilderness, this side of -the British line; lingered a year or two in this region, trapping and -robbing the Indians; then took to smuggling; engaged in the service -of the man whose murder we are now investigating, followed him to the -city, nearly ruined him there, and then dogged him to this settlement -to complete his destruction.”</p> - -<p>“Who do you mean?” thundered Gaut Gurley.</p> - -<p>“Ask your own conscience,” replied the attorney, fearlessly confronting -the prisoner.</p> - -<p>“’Tis false as hell!” rejoined Gaut, with a countenance convulsed with -rage.</p> - -<p>“No, you mistake,—it is as true as hell,” promptly retorted<span class="pagenum" id="Page_333">[Pg 333]</span> the -other; “or, rather, as true as there is one for such wretches as you. -Mr. Phillips,” he added, turning to the hunter, who stood a little in -the background, with his rifle poised on his left arm, with an air of -carelessness, but, as a close inspection would have shown, so grasped -by his right hand, held down out of sight, as to enable him to bring it -to an instant aim,—“Mr. Phillips, were you in the habit of going to -Quebec, fall and spring, to dispose of your peltries, about the time of -this plotted insurrection?”</p> - -<p>“I was.”</p> - -<p>“Did you ever have the Canada leader I have spoken of pointed out to -you, previous to the outbreak?”</p> - -<p>“Often, on going down the Chaudiere river, often; why, I knew him by -sight as well as the devil knows his hogs!”</p> - -<p>“Did you afterwards see and identify him in this region?”</p> - -<p>“I did.”</p> - -<p>“Is not, then, all I have stated true; and is not the prisoner, here, -the man?”</p> - -<p>“All as true as the Gospel of St. Mark; and that is the man, the very -man; under the oath of God, I swear it!”</p> - -<p>During this brief but terribly pointed dialogue, Gaut Gurley,—whose -handcuffs, on his complaint that they galled his wrists, had been -removed after he came into court,—sat watching Phillips with that same -singularly sinister expression which we have, on one or two previous -occasions, tried to describe him as exhibiting. It was a certain -indescribable, whitish, lurid light, flashing and quivering over his -countenance, that made the beholder involuntarily recoil. And, as the -last words were uttered, his hand was seen covertly stealing up under -the lapel of his coat; but it was instantly arrested and dropped, at -the sharp click of the cocking of the hunter’s rifle, which was also -seen stealing up to his shoulder.</p> - -<p>“Nonsense!” half audibly said the sheriff, to something which, during -the bustle and sensation following these manifestations, the hunter -had been whispering in his ear; “nonsense!<span class="pagenum" id="Page_334">[Pg 334]</span> I searched him myself, and -<em>know</em> there is nothing of the kind about him.”</p> - -<p>“I am not so sure about that,” responded the hunter, edging along -through the crowd, with his eye still on the prisoner, and soon -disappearing out of the door.</p> - -<p>This little judicial interlude in the remarks of the attorney being -over, he resumed:</p> - -<p>“My statement having been thus corroborated, and, as I am most happy -to find, without any of the expected interruptions, it now only -remains for me to say, that this indefatigable Mr. Phillips, becoming -perfectly convinced that the prisoner was a man of whom it was a -patriotic duty to rid the settlement, has, within the last two months, -made a journey into Canada; obtained a written official request from -the governor-general, addressed to the governor of New Hampshire, -for the delivery of Gaut Gurley, at the time when, on notice, the -proper officers would be in waiting to receive him; that our governor -has responded by issuing his warrant; which,” he continued, drawing -out a document, “I now, in this presence, deliver to the sheriff, -to be served, but only served, in case we fail—as I do not at all -anticipate—to secure the commitment and final conviction of the -prisoner, on the flagitious offence now under investigation, and loudly -demanding expiation under our own violated laws, in preference to -delivering him up for the punishment of other and less crying felonies.”</p> - -<p>The prisoner and his counsel, on this new and unexpected development, -held an earnest whispered consultation. The latter had supposed, till -almost the last moment, that his opponent was intending only to bring -in another piece of what he deemed wholly irrelevant testimony, in the -shape of another gone-by transaction; and he was preparing another -storm of wrath for the judicial outrage. But, when he found that the -statement was a preliminary to a different and more alarming movement, -and especially when he saw placed in the sheriff’s hands a warrant for -delivering up his client to the British, to be<span class="pagenum" id="Page_335">[Pg 335]</span> tried for a former -felony, from the punishment of which, he feared, from what he had just -heard, there would be no escape, he was sadly nonplussed, and knew -not which way to turn himself. And it was not until Gaut, who, though -thus suddenly brought into a dilemma which he was little expecting, -was yet at no loss to decide on his course,—that of making every -possible effort to escape the more immediate pending danger, and then -of trusting to chance for eluding the more remote one just brought to -view,—it was not till Gaut, with assurances of the last being but a -miserable, trumped-up affair, had pushed and goaded him up to action, -that the dumbfounded attorney recovered his old confidence. He then -straightened back in his seat, and, with the air of one who has meekly -borne some imposition, or breach of privilege, till it can be borne no -longer, turned gruffly to his opponent, and said:</p> - -<p>“Well, sir, having dragged every thing into this case except what -legitimately belongs to it, I want to know if you are through, -<em>now</em>? We, on our side, have no need of introducing testimony to -meet any thing you have yet been able to show. Why, you have not even -established the first essential fact to be settled in prosecutions for -homicide. You have arraigned my client for killing a man, and yet have -shown nobody killed! No, we shall introduce no witnesses till the body -of the alleged murdered man is produced; for, till then, no court on -earth——But I am not making a speech, and will not anticipate. All I -intended was, to ask, as I do again, are you through with your evidence -<em>now</em>?”</p> - -<p>The attorney for the prosecution then admitted—rather prematurely, as -it was soon seen—that he thought of nothing more which he wished to -introduce.</p> - -<p>“Go on with your opening speech, then,” resumed the former.</p> - -<p>“No,” said the other, “I waive my privilege of the opening and close, -and will only claim the closing speech.”</p> - -<p>“O, very well, sir,” said Gaut’s lawyer, throwing a surprised<span class="pagenum" id="Page_336">[Pg 336]</span> and -suspicious look around, as if to see whether some trap was not involved -in this unexpected waiver of the usually claimed privilege. “Very well; -don’t blame you; shouldn’t think you could find honest materials even -for one speech.”</p> - -<p>The hard-faced attorney, who was reputed one of the best of what are -sometimes termed <em>devil’s lawyers</em>, in all that part of the -country, then consequentially gathered up his minutes of the testimony, -glanced over them, and, clearing his throat, commenced his great final -speech, which was to annihilate his opponent, and quash the whole -proceedings of the prosecution.</p> - -<p>But he had scarcely spoken ten words, before a tremendous shout, rising -somewhere in the direction of the bridge,—to which their attention -had been before called, when a part of it had been swept away during -the first hours of the night,—broke and reverberated into the room, -bringing him to an instant stand. Feeling that something extraordinary -had occurred, the startled court, parties and spectators, alike paused, -and eagerly listened for something further to explain the sudden -outbreak. But, for several minutes, all was still, or hushed down to -the low hum of mingling voices, and not a distinct, intelligible sound -reached their expectant senses. Soon, however, the noise of trampling -feet and the rush of crowds was heard, and perceived to be rapidly -approaching the door of the court-room. And the next moment the clear, -loud voice of the now evidently excited hunter was heard exultantly -ringing out the announcement:</p> - -<p>“A witness, a new witness! A witness that saw the very deed!”</p> - -<p>This sudden and exciting announcement of an occurrence which had been -hoped for, in some shape, on one side, and feared on the other, but, -at this late hour of the night, little expected by either, at once -threw all within the crowded court-room into bustle and commotion. Both -parties to the prosecution were consequently taken by surprise; and -both, though neither of them were yet apprised of the character of the -witness, were aroused and agitated by the significant announcement.<span class="pagenum" id="Page_337">[Pg 337]</span> -But, of all present, none seemed so much stirred as the obdurate -prisoner, who had, thus far in the examination, scarcely once wholly -lost his usual look of bold assurance, but who now was seen casting -rapid, uneasy, and evidently troubled glances towards the door; -doubtless expecting, each moment, to see the fear which had haunted -him from the first—that Claud Elwood would turn up alive, and appear -in court against him—realized in the person of the new witness. His -lawyer also, appeared to be seized with similar apprehensions; and, -the next moment, he was heard loudly demanding the attention of the -court. He objected, he <em>pointedly</em> objected, he <em>protested</em>, -in advance, against the admission of further testimony. He had borne -<em>every thing</em> during the hearing, but could not bear <em>this</em>. -The pleas were closed, and the case concluded against the introduction -of new evidence; and that, too, by the express notice and agreement of -the counsel for the prosecution. And now to open it would be in glaring -violation of all rule, all law, and all precedent. In short, it would -be an outrage too gross to be tolerated anywhere but in a land of -despotism. And, if the court would not at once decide to exclude the -threatened testimony, he must be heard at length on the subject.</p> - -<p>But the court declining so to decide, and intimating that they were -willing to hear an argument on the point, of any reasonable length, -he spread himself for the wordy onset. The sheriff,—who, in the mean -time, had started for the door to make an opening in the crowd for the -expected entrance,—seeing that a long speech was in prospect, now went -out, conducted the proffered witness, in waiting near by, to another -room in the house to remain there till called; and then returned, and, -in a low tone, made some communication to the court.</p> - -<p>The pertinacious lawyer then went on with his heated protest, as it -might be called far more properly than an argument, to the length of -nearly an hour. The calm, manly, and cogent reply of his opponent -occupied far less time, but obtained far more favor with the sitting -magistrates; who, after a short consultation<span class="pagenum" id="Page_338">[Pg 338]</span> among themselves, -unanimously decided to hear the proposed evidence, and thereupon -ordered the sheriff to conduct the witness at once into court.</p> - -<p>A breathless silence now ensued in the court-room, and every eye was -involuntarily turned towards the door. In a few minutes the sheriff, -closely followed by two females, made his appearance, and cleared his -way up to the stand that had been occupied by the witnesses. No names -had been announced, and both the ladies were veiled, so that their -faces could not be seen in the dusky apartment, lighted only by two -dim candles, made dimmer, seemingly, by the morning twilight, then -beginning to steal through the windows, and to produce that dismal and -almost sickening hue peculiar to the equal mingling of the natural -light of day with the artificial light of lamp or taper. And it was -not consequently known, except to one or two individuals, who they -were; but enough was seen, in the enlarged form and sober tread of the -one, and in the rounded, trim figure and elastic step of the other, to -show the former to be a middle-aged matron, and the latter a youthful -maiden. Each was garbed in rich black silk, to which were added, in the -one case, some of the usual emblems of mourning, and in the other, a -few simple, tastily contrasted, light trimmings.</p> - -<p>“What are these ladies’ names? or rather, first, I will ask, which of -them is the witness?” said the leading magistrate.</p> - -<p>“I am, I suppose,” said the maiden, in tones as soft and tremulous as -the lightly-touched chord of some musical instrument, as she threw -back her veil, and disclosed a beauty of features and sweetness of -countenance that at once raised a buzz of admiration through the room.</p> - -<p>“Your name, young lady?”</p> - -<p>“Fluella, sir; and this lady at my side is Mrs. Mark Elwood, who comes -only as my friend.”</p> - -<p>“You understand the usages of courts, I conclude; and, if so, will -now receive the oath, and go on to tell what you know<span class="pagenum" id="Page_339">[Pg 339]</span> relative to -the crime for which, you have doubtless heard, the prisoner here is -arraigned.”</p> - -<p>At once raising her hand, she was sworn, and proceeded directly to -state that part of the transaction she had witnessed on the lake, which -the hunter, in the conversation she found means to have with him while -waiting to be taken into court, had advised her was all that would be -important as evidence in the case.</p> - -<p>Gaut Gurley, the alarmed prisoner, who at first had appeared greatly -relieved on finding that the announced witness was not the reänimated -young Elwood, as he had feared, now seemed utterly at fault to -conjecture what either of these women could know of his crime. But the -moment the maiden, whom he had seen the previous year, and regarded -with jealous dislike, as the possible rival of his daughter, revealed -herself to his view, his looks grew dark and suspicious; and when -she commenced by mentioning, as she did at the outset, that she was -on a boat excursion along the western shore of the Maguntic, on the -well-remembered day when he consummated his long cherished atrocity, -he seemed to comprehend the drift of what was coming, and his eyes -fastened on her with the livid glare of a tiger; while those demoniac -flashes, before noted as the usual precursor of hellish intent with -him, began to burn up and play over his contracting countenance.</p> - -<p>But these suspicious indications had escaped the notice of all,—even -of the watchful hunter, whose looks, with those of the rest, were for -the moment hanging, with intense interest, on the speaking lips of the -fair witness. And she proceeded uninterrupted, till, having described -the position in the thicket on shore, in which she was standing, as -Mark Elwood, followed by Gaut Gurley, both of whom she recognized, came -along, she, nerving herself for the task, raised her voice and said:</p> - -<p>“I distinctly saw Mr. Elwood fall, convulsed in death,—heard the fatal -shot, and instantly traced it to Gaut, before he<span class="pagenum" id="Page_340">[Pg 340]</span> had taken his smoking -rifle from his shoulder,—this same man who now——”</p> - -<p>When, as she was uttering the last words, and turning to the prisoner, -she stopped short, recoiled, and uttered a loud shriek of terror. And, -the next instant, the deafening report of a pistol burst from the -corner where the prisoner was sitting, filling the room with smoke, and -bringing every man to his feet, in the amazement and alarm that seized -all at the sudden outbreak.</p> - -<p>There was a dead pause for a moment; and then was heard the sudden rush -of men, the sharp, brief struggle, and the heavy fall of the grappled -prisoner, as he was borne overpowered to the floor.</p> - -<p>“Thank God!” exclaimed the hunter, the first to reach the bewildered -maiden, and ascertain what had befell from this fiendish attempt to -take her life simply because she was instrumental in bringing a wretch -to justice,—“thank God, she is unhurt! The bullet has only cut the -dress on her side, and passed into the wall beyond.”</p> - -<p>“Order in court!” sternly cried the head magistrate. “It is enough! Mr. -Phillips, conduct these ladies to some more suitable apartment. We wish -for no more proof. The prisoner’s guilt is already piled mountain-high. -We commit him to your hands, Mr. Sheriff. Within one hour, let him be -on his way to Lancaster jail, there to await his final trial and doom, -for one of the foulest murders that ever blasted the character of human -kind!”</p> - -<p>We will not attempt to describe, in detail, the lively and bustling -scene, which, for the next hour or two, now ensued in and around the -tavern, that had lately been the unaccustomed theatre of so many new -and startling developments. The running to and fro of the excited and -jubilant throng of men, women, and children, who, in their anxiety to -witness and know the result of the trial, had passed the whole night -in the place,—the partaking of the hastily snatched breakfast, in -the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_341">[Pg 341]</span> tavern, by some, or on logs or bunches of shingles in the yard, -by others, from provisions brought along with them from home,—the -hurried harnessing of horses and running out of wagons, preparatory to -the departure of those here with the usual vehicles of travel,—the -resounding blows and lumbering sounds of the score of lusty men who had -volunteered to replace and repair the bridge from the old materials -luckily thrown on the bank a short distance down the stream, so as to -permit the departing teams, going in that direction, to pass safely -over,—and, lastly, the bringing out, the placing on his bed of straw -in the bottom of a wagon, and the moving off of the caged lion, with -his cavalcade of guards before and behind,—the fiercely exultant -hurrahing of the execrating crowd, as he disappeared up the road -to the west, together with the crowning, extra loud and triumphant -<em>kuk-kuk-ke-o-ho!</em> of Comical Codman, who had mounted a tall -stump for the purpose, and made the preliminary declaration that, if -he was <em>ever</em> to have another crow, it should be now, on seeing -the Devil’s unaccountable and first cousin, to say the least, in -relationship, so handsomely cornered, and, at last so securely put in -limbo,—these, all these combined to form a scene as stirring to the -view, as it was replete with moral picturesque to the mind. But we must -content ourself with this meagre outline; another and a different, -quickly succeeding scene in the shifting panorama, now demands our -attention.</p> - -<p>Among the crowd who had arranged themselves in rows, to witness the -departure of the court officials and the prisoner, were the two now -inseparable friends, Mrs. Elwood and Fluella; who, on turning from the -spectacle, had strolled, arm-in-arm, to a green, shaded grass-plot at -the farther end of the tavern building, and were now, with pensive but -interested looks, bending over the garden fence, and inspecting a small -parterre of budding flowers, which female taste had, even in a place -so lately redeemed from the forest as this, found means to introduce. -They were lingering here, while others were departing,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_342">[Pg 342]</span> for the arrival -of expected friends, though evidently not conscious of their very -near approach. But even then, as they stood listlessly gazing over -upon the mute objects of their interest, those friends were coming -across the bridge, in the singularly contrasted forms of an aged man, -walking without any staff, and with a firm elastic tread, and quite a -youngerly one, walking <em>with</em> a cane, and with careful steps and -a restrained gait, betokening some lingering soreness of body or limb. -On reaching the nearest part of the tavern-yard, the young man gazed -eagerly round among the still numerous crowd, when, his eye falling on -those of whom he seemed to be in search, he turned to his companion and -said:</p> - -<p>“There they are, Chief. I will go forward and take them by surprise.”</p> - -<p>The next moment he was standing closely behind the unconscious objects -of his attention; when, with a smiling lip but silent tongue, he gently -laid a hand on a shoulder of each.</p> - -<p>“Claud!” burst from the lips of the surprised and reddening maiden, the -first to turn to the welcome intruder.</p> - -<p>“Claud! Claud!” exclaimed the agitated matron, as she also turned, in -grateful surprise, to greet, for the first time since his return, her -heart’s idol. “My son! my son!” she continued, with gathering emotion, -“are you indeed restored alive to my arms, and, but for you, my now -doubly desolate home? Thank Heaven! O thank Heaven! for the happy, -happy restoration!”</p> - -<p>“That is right, dear mother!” at length responded the visibly touched -young man, gently disengaging himself from the long maternal embrace; -“that is all right. But,” he added, turning to the maiden, whose -sympathetic tears were coursing down her fair cheeks, “if you would -thank any <em>earthly</em> being for the preservation of my life, it -should be this good and lovely girl at your side.”</p> - -<p>“I know it,” said the mother, after a thoughtful pause, “I<span class="pagenum" id="Page_343">[Pg 343]</span> know it; -and, Claud, I would that she were <em>indeed</em> my daughter.”</p> - -<p>There was an embarrassing pause. But the embarrassment was not -perceived and felt by these two young persons alone. Another, unknown -to them, had silently witnessed the whole interview from an open, -loosely-curtained window of the chamber above; and perceived, and -felt, and appreciated, all that had transpired, in word and look, no -less keenly than the young couple, whose beating hearts, only, were -measuring the moments of their silent perplexity. That other was Gaut -Gurley’s lovely and luckless but strong-hearted daughter. Having -instinctively read her father’s guilt, she had come to his trial with a -sinking heart; shut herself up alone in this small chamber; so arranged -the screening curtains that she could sit by the open window unseen, -and kept her post through that long night of her silent woe, hearing -all that was said by the crowd below, and, through their comments, -becoming apprised of all that was going on in the court-room, in the -order it transpired. She had known of Fluella’s arrival,—her perilous -passage over the river,—of the report she then made to the hunter of -her discoveries,—of her bringing back the wounded Claud in safety,—of -the dastardly attempt of the prisoner to take that heroic girl’s -life,—of his sentence, and, finally, of his departure for prison, -amidst the execrations of a justly indignant people. She had known -all this, and felt it, to the inmost core of her rent heart, with the -twofold anguish of a broken-hearted lover and a fate-smitten daughter. -She had wrestled terribly with her own heart, and she had conquered. -She had determined her destiny; and now, on witnessing the last part -of the tender scene enacting under her window, she suddenly formed the -high resolve of crowning her self-immolation by a public sacrifice.</p> - -<p>Accordingly she hastily rose from her seat, and, without thought or -care of toilet, descended rapidly to the yard, and, with hurrying step -and looks indicative of settled purpose,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_344">[Pg 344]</span> moved directly towards the -deeply surprised actors in the little scene, of which she had thus been -made the involuntary witness.</p> - -<p>“No ceremony!” she said, in tones of unnatural calmness, with a -forbidding gesture to Claud, who, while Fluella was instinctively -shrinking to the side of the more unmoved but still evidently -disturbed Mrs. Elwood, had advanced a step for a respectful greeting. -“No ceremony—it is needless; and no fears, fair girl, and anxious -mother—they are without cause. I come not to mar, but to make, -happiness. Claud Elwood, my heart once opened and turned to you, as -the sunflower to its god; and our paths of love met, and, for a while, -ran on pleasantly together as one. But, even then, something whispered -me they would soon again diverge, and lead off to separate destinies. -The boded divergence, as I feared, began with the fatal family feud of -last winter, and has now resulted, as I still more feared, in plunging -us, respectively, in degradation and sorrow, and also in placing our -destinies as wide as the poles asunder. Claud, Claud Elwood,—can you -love this beautiful girl at your side? You speak not. I <em>know</em> -that you can. I relinquish, then, whatever I may have possessed of your -heart, to her, if <em>she</em> wills. And why should she not? Why reject -one whose life she would peril her own to save? She will not. Be you -two, then, one; and may all the earthly happiness <em>I</em> once dreamed -of, with none of the bitter alloy it has been my lot to experience, -be henceforth yours. You will know me no more. With to-morrow’s sun, -I travel to a distant cloister, where the world, with its tantalizing -loves and dazzling ambitions, will be nothing more to me forever. -Farewell, Claud! farewell, gentle, heroic maiden! farewell, afflicted, -happy mother! If the prayers of Avis Gurley have virtue, their first -incense shall rise for the healing of all the heart-wounds one of her -family has inflicted.”</p> - -<p>As the fair speaker ceased, and turned away from this doubtless -unspeakably painful performance of what she deemed her last worldly -duty, as well as an acceptable opening act in the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_345">[Pg 345]</span> life of penance -to which she had resolved now to devote herself, an audible murmur -of applause ran through the throng, who, in spite of their wish not -to appear intrusive, had paused at a little distance, to listen to -and witness the unexpected and singular scene. Among the voices which -had been thus more distinctly raised was that of a stranger, who, -having arrived a few minutes before, given his horse to the waiter, -shook hands with the hunter and the chief, to whom he appeared well -known, had joined the crowd to see what was going on, and who had been -particularly emphatic in the open expression of his admiration. The -remembered tones of his voice, though attracting no attention from -others, instantly reached the quick ears of one of the more silent -actors of the little scene we have been describing. She threw a quick, -eager glance around her; and, having soon singled out from the now -scattering crowd, the person of whom her sparkling eye seemed in -search, she flew forward towards him, with the joyful cry:</p> - -<p>“My father! my white father! I am glad, O, so glad you have come!” and -she eagerly grasped his outstretched hand, shook it, kissed him, and, -being now relieved from the embarrassment she had keenly felt in the -position in which she had just been so unexpectedly placed, appeared to -be all joy and animation.</p> - -<p>“Come, come, Fluella, don’t shake my arm off, nor bother me now with -questions,” laughingly said the gentleman, thus affectionately beset, -as he pulled the joyous girl along towards the spot where the wondering -Mrs. Elwood and her son were standing. “You must not quite monopolize -me; here are others who may wish to see me.”</p> - -<p>“Arthur!” exclaimed Mrs. Elwood, with a look of astonishment, after -once or twice parting her lips to speak, and then pausing, as if in -doubt, as the other was coming up with his face too much averted to be -fairly seen by her; “it is—it is—Arthur Elwood!”</p> - -<p>“Yes, you are right, sister Alice,” responded the hard-visaged<span class="pagenum" id="Page_346">[Pg 346]</span> little -man thus addressed, extending his hand. “It is the same odd stick of an -old bachelor that he always was. But who is this?” he added, with an -inclination of the head towards Claud. “Your son, I suppose?”</p> - -<p>The formal introduction to each other of the (till then) personally -unacquainted uncle and nephew; the full developing to the astonished -mother and son of the fact, already inferred from what they had just -witnessed, that this, their eccentric kinsman, was no other than the -foster-father of Fluella,—that he was the owner of large tracts of the -most valuable wild lands around these lakes, the oversight of which, -together with the unexpected tutelary care of the Elwood family since -their removal to the settlement, he had intrusted to the prudent and -faithful Phillips,—and, finally, the melancholy mingling of sorrows -for the untimely death of the fated brother, husband, and father of -these deeply-sympathizing co-relatives, now, like chasing lights and -shadows from alternating sunshine and cloud on a landscape, followed -in rapid succession, in unfolding to the mournfully happy circle their -mutual positions and bonds of common interest.</p> - -<p>“Evil has its antidotes,” remarked Arthur Elwood, as the conversation -on these subjects began to flag and give room for other thoughts -growing out of the association; “evil has its antidotes, and sorrow -its alleviating joys. And especially shall we realize this, if the -suggestions of that self-sacrificing girl, who has just addressed you -so feelingly, be now followed. What say you, Claud?”</p> - -<p>“They will be,” promptly responded the young man, at once comprehending -all which the significant question involved; “they will be, on my part, -uncle Arthur, joyfully,—proudly.”</p> - -<p>“And you, Fluella?” persisted the saucy querist, turning to the -blushing girl.</p> - -<p>“He has not asked me yet,” she quickly replied, with a look in which -maiden pride, archness, and unuttered happiness, were<span class="pagenum" id="Page_347">[Pg 347]</span> charmingly -blended. “If he should, and <em>you</em> should command me”——</p> - -<p>“Command? <em>command!</em> Now, that is a good one, Fluella,” returned -the laughing foster-father. “Well, well, a woman will be a woman still, -any way you can fix it. All right, however, I presume. But, chief,” -he added, turning to the natural father, who stood with the hunter a -little in the background, “what has been going on here cannot have -escaped your keen observation; and you ought to have a voice in this -matter. “What do <em>you</em> say?”</p> - -<p>“The chief,” replied the other, with his usual dignity, “the chief has -had one staff, one light of his lodge; he will now have two. Wenongonet -is content.”</p> - -<p>“It is settled, then,” rejoined the former, whose usually passionless -countenance was now beaming with pleasure; “all right, all round. Now, -sister Alice, let us all adjourn to your house, where you and Fluella, -from some of those splendid lake trout which I and Mr. Phillips, who, -as well as the chief, must be of the party, will first go out and catch -for you,—you and Fluella, I say, must cook us up a nice family dinner, -over which we will discuss matters at large, and have a good time -generally.”</p> - -<p>In a few minutes more the happy group were on their way to the Elwood -cottage.</p> - -<p>The principal interest of our story is at an end; and with it, also, -the story itself should speedily terminate. A few words more, however, -seem necessary, to anticipate the inquiries which will very naturally -arise in the mind of the reader, respecting what might be expected -soon to follow the <i lang="fr" xml:lang="fr">eclaircissement</i> of the few last pages; and, -accordingly, as far as can be done without marring the unity of time, -we will proceed, briefly, to answer the inquiries thus arising.</p> - -<p>The body of the fated Mark Elwood, perforated through the breast by the -bullet of his cold-blooded murderer, having broken from the sinking -weights attached to it, and risen to the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_348">[Pg 348]</span> surface of the lake, was -found in about a fortnight, brought home, and buried on his farm.</p> - -<p>Not far from the same time the faithful hunter received, from the hands -of a gentleman passing through the settlement, a deed of gift of three -hundred acres of valuable timber-land, adjoining his own little patch -of a lot, all duly drawn, signed, and executed by Arthur Elwood; who, -after a pleasant sojourn of a week at the Elwood cottage, apprising -its inmates of what he had in store for them, in the line of property, -had departed for his home, a happier man than he had been, since, for -secret griefs, he had dissolved partnership with his brother Mark, and -left the little interior village where the pair first made their humble -beginning in life.</p> - -<p>Codman, the trapper, continued to trap it still, and, as all the -settlers within a circuit of many miles around them were often -unmistakably made aware, to crow as usual on all extra occasions.</p> - -<p>Tomah, the college-learned Indian, immediately left, with the escort -of the prisoner, and, kept away by the force of some associations -connected with the settlement as disagreeable to him as they were -conjecturable to others, was never again seen in the settlement; -against which, on leaving, he seemed to have kicked off the dust of his -feet behind him.</p> - -<p>Carvil, the cultivated amateur hunter, had also immediately departed, -with the court party, on his way to his pleasant home in the Green -Mountains; not wholly to relinquish, however, his yearly sojourns in -the forests, to regain health impaired for the want of a more full -supply of his coveted, life-giving oxygen.</p> - -<p>And, lastly, Gaut Gurley, whose infernal scheming and revolting -atrocities have been so inseparably interwoven with the main incidents -of our story, broke jail, on the night preceding the day set for his -final trial, by digging through the thick stone wall of his prison, -with implements evidently furnished from without, leaving bloody traces -of his difficult egress through the hardly sufficient hole he had -effected for the purpose; and,<span class="pagenum" id="Page_349">[Pg 349]</span> though instant search was everywhere -made for him, he was not, to the sad disappointment of the thousands -intending to be in at the hanging, anywhere to be found or heard of in -the country. And the mystery of his retreat, and the still unexplained -mystery of his strange and ruinous influence over the man whom he -at last so flagitiously murdered, were not cleared up until years -afterwards.</p> - - -<div class="footnotes"><h3>FOOTNOTES:</h3> - -<div class="footnote"> - -<p><a id="Footnote_5" href="#FNanchor_5" class="label">[5]</a> See Christie’s History of Lower Canada.</p> - -</div> -</div> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_350">[Pg 350]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="SEQUEL">SEQUEL.</h2> -</div> - - -<p>It was a terrible storm. The wind, with all the awful accompaniments -of rain, hail, rattling thunders, and fiercely glaring lightnings, -had burst down upon the liquid plains of the startled deep, in all -the fury of a tropical tornado. The black heavens were in terrific -commotion above; and the smitten and resilient waters, as if to escape -the impending wrath of the aroused sister elements, were fleeing in -galloping mountains athwart the surface of the boiling ocean beneath.</p> - -<p>Could aught human, or aught of human construction, be here, now, and -survive? It would seem an utter impossibility; and yet it was so. -Amidst all this deafening din of battling elements, that were filling -the heavens with their uproar and lashing the darkened ocean into wild -fury and commotion, a staunch-built West India merchant-ship was seen, -now madly plunging into the troughs of the sea, and now quivering like -a feather on the towering waves, or scudding through the flying spray -with fearful velocity before the howling blast.</p> - -<p>On her flush deck, and lashed to the helm, with the breaking waves -dashing around his feet, and the water dripping from the close cap -and tightly-buttoned pea-jacket in which he was garbed, stood her -gallant master, in the performance of a duty which he, true to -his responsibility, would intrust to no other, in such an hour as -this,—that of guiding his storm-tossed bark among the frightful -billows that were threatening every instant, to engulf her. Thus -swiftly onward drove the seemingly devoted ship, strained, shivering, -and groaning beneath the terrible<span class="pagenum" id="Page_351">[Pg 351]</span> power of the gale, like an -over-ridden steed, as she dashed, yet unharmed, through the mist and -spray and constantly-breaking white caps of the wildly-rolling deep; -thus onward sped she, for the full space of two hours, when the wind -gradually lulled, and with it the deafening uproar subsided. Presently -a young, well-dressed gentleman made his appearance on deck, amidships, -and, having noted a while the now evident subsidence of the tempest, -slowly and carefully, from one grasped rope to another, made his way to -the side of the captain, at the wheel.</p> - -<p>“A frightful blow, Mr. Elwood,” said the latter; “for the twenty years -I have been a seaman, I have never seen the like.”</p> - -<p>“It certainly has exceeded all my conceptions of a sea-storm,” said -the other. “But do you know where we are, and where driving at this -tremendous speed?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, I think I do, both. When we were struck by the gale, which I saw -was going to be a terrible norther, and saw it, too, very luckily, -at a distance that enabled me to become well prepared for it, look -at my reckoning, and make all my calculations,—when we were struck, -we were three hundred and fifty miles out of Havana, north’ard, and -about forty from the American coast. I at once put the ship before the -wind, and set her course southeast, which, being perfectly familiar -with these seas, I knew would give her a safe run, and, in about sixty -miles, carry her by the southern point of the Little Bahama Bank, -where, rounding this great breakwater against northers, we should be -in a comparatively smooth sea, that would admit of either laying to or -anchoring. It is now over two hours since we started on this fearful -race, which has kept my heart in my mouth the whole time; and I am -expecting, every minute, to get sight of that rocky headland.”</p> - -<p>“But that,” rejoined Elwood (for the gentleman was no other than Claud -Elwood, as the reader has doubtless already<span class="pagenum" id="Page_352">[Pg 352]</span> inferred), “that will -bring us, according to the late rumor, into one of the principal haunts -of the pirates, will it not?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, partly, perhaps,” replied the captain; “but I hear that Commodore -Porter has arrived, with the American squadron, in these seas, to -break up these pests, and I presume <em>has</em> done it, or frightened -them away, so that we sha’n’t be molested. At any rate, I saw no safer -course to outlive such a tempest. You are the owner of ship and cargo, -to be sure; but you put on me the responsibility of her safety.”</p> - -<p>“Certainly,” rejoined the other, “for my guidance would be a poor one; -and, instead of any disposition to criticise your course, Captain -Golding, I feel but too grateful, with the life of a beloved wife at -stake, to say nothing of my own, and so much property, that your skill -has enabled us to outride the storm—now nearly over, I think—so -unexpectedly well. But what is that, a little to the left of the ship’s -course, in the distance ahead?”</p> - -<p>“Ah, that is it!” cheerily exclaimed the captain, casting an eager -look in the indicated direction. “Why, how like a race-horse the ship -must be driving ahead! I looked not ten minutes ago, and nothing was -to be seen; and now there is the headland, in full view, but two or -three leagues distant! And stay,—what is that dark object around and a -little beyond the point? A ship? Yes, it grows distinct now,—a large, -black ship. That, sir, is an American frigate. Hurra to you, Elwood! We -will now soon be safe, and in safe company.”</p> - -<p>It was about sunset. The merchantman, having passed the protecting -promontory, and swept around the tall ship of war, had gained an -offing, about a half mile beyond, under the lee of a thickly-wooded, -long, narrow island; and was now lying snugly at anchor, riding out the -heavy ground-swell occasioned by the abated storm; while all on board, -unsuspicious of molestation, were making preparations to turn in for -the night.</p> - -<p>“A sail to the leeward!” shouted a sailor, just sent aloft to make some -alteration in the rigging.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_353">[Pg 353]</span></p> - -<p>The word was passed below; and the captain, mates, and Elwood, were -instantly on deck, and on the lookout. They at once descried a large -black schooner, creeping out from behind the farther end of the island -against which they were anchored, about a mile distant, and tacking -and beating her way towards them. She carried no colors by which -her character could be determined; but the very absence of all such -insignia, together with the sinister appearance of her long, low sides, -which exhibited the aspect of masked port-holes, and also the peculiar -stir of her evidently large and strange-looking crew, at once marked -her as an object of suspicion.</p> - -<p>“Elwood, your fears were prophetic,” said the captain, lowering his -glass from a long, intent observation. “That craft is a pirate, with -scarce a shadow of doubt. But don’t the mad creature see the frigate, -and the frigate her?”</p> - -<p>With this, they all turned towards the ship of war; but she was no -longer visible. A narrow vein of land fog, put in motion by some local -current in shore, had been wafted out on to the water, and completely -enshrouded her from their view.</p> - -<p>“I see it all,” exclaimed Elwood. “That pirate has been lying, all the -afternoon, concealed behind this island; and his spies, sent into the -woods on the island, and to this end of it, probably, saw both our ship -and the frigate take their positions, and this intervening fog coming -on, and reported all to their master; who at once conceived the bold -design which he has now started out to execute,—that of snatching us, -as its prize, from under the very guns of the frigate!”</p> - -<p>A brief, earnest consultation was then held; when, knowing the -uselessness of trying to signalize the frigate, they first thought -to weigh anchor and try to escape to her protection; but a little -reflection told them the enemy would be down upon them before this -could be effected, and they would be taken, unprepared for defence. -The only other alternative left them was, therefore, quickly adopted; -and, in pursuance, the second mate and two seamen were lowered in the -life-boat, with<span class="pagenum" id="Page_354">[Pg 354]</span> orders to keep the ship between themselves and the -schooner till they got into the screening fog, and then make their -way, with all speed, to the frigate, to invoke her aid and protection; -while all the rest should arm themselves with the muskets, swords, and -pistols on board, and, if possible, hold the enemy at bay till succor -arrived. And scarcely had these hasty preparations been made, before -the piratical schooner, which had made a wide tack outward to catch the -wind, came swiftly sweeping round to their side, like a towering falcon -on his prey. But, by some miscalculation of her helmsman, she went -twenty yards wide of them—not, however, without betraying the full -extent of her bloody purposes; for as, under the impulse of a speed -she found herself unable instantly to check, she swept by on the long, -rolling billows, a score or two of desperate ruffians, headed by their -burly and still more fierce-looking captain, stood on her deck, armed -to the teeth, and holding their hooks and hawsers, ready to grapple -and board their intended prey. But, still forbearing to unmask their -batteries or fire a gun, lest they should thus bring down the frigate -upon them, her grim and silent crew sprang to their posts, to tack ship -and come round again, with the narrowest sweep, to repair their former -mischance. And, with surprising quickness, their well-worked craft was -again, and this time with no uncertain guidance, shooting alongside of -the devoted merchantman. Still the crew of the latter quailed not; but, -well knowing there was no longer any hope of escaping a struggle in -which death or victory were the only alternatives, stood, with knitted -brows and fire-arms cocked and levelled, silently awaiting the onset. -It came. With the shock of the partial collision as the assailing craft -raked along the sides of their ship, and the sudden jerk as she was -brought up by the quickly-thrown grapples, the pirate captain, with a -fierce shout of defiance, cleared, at a single bound, the intervening -rails, and landed, with brandished sword, upon their fore-deck. A dozen -more, with a wild yell, were in the act of following, when they<span class="pagenum" id="Page_355">[Pg 355]</span> were -met by a full volley from the guns of the defenders, poured into their -very faces. There was a pause,—a lurch,—a crack of breaking fixtures; -and the next moment the schooner, torn away from her fastenings by the -force of a monstrous upheaving wave, and thrown around at right angles -to the unharmed prey so nearly within her clutches, was seen rolling -and reeling on the top of a billow, fifty yards distant. At that -instant, twenty jets of blinding flame fiercely burst from the edge of -the fog-cloud, almost within pistol-shot to the windward, and, with the -startling flash, rent sky and ocean leaped as with the concussion of a -closely-breaking volley of linked thunder-peals. There was another and -still more awful pause; when, through the cloud of sulphurous smoke -that was rolling over them, the astounded defenders heard the gurgling -rush, as of waters breaking into newly opened chasms, in the direction -of the enemy; and they comprehended all. The frigate, unperceived by -the eager pirates, had dropped down, rounded to, and sent a whole -broadside directly into the uprolled hull of the devoted craft, which -had been reduced to a sinking wreck by that one tremendously heavy -discharge of terrible missiles. Within two minutes the lifting smoke -disclosed her, reeling and lurching for the final plunge. Within one -more, she rose upright, like some mortally-smitten giant, quivered an -instant, and, with all her grim and hideously-screeching crew, went -down, stern foremost, amid the parting waves of the boiling deep.</p> - -<p>These startling scenes had transpired so rapidly that the amazed crew -of the merchantman had taken no thought of the pirate captain whom -they had seen leaping on their deck; but they now turned to look for -him, and, whether dead or alive, to take charge of him, to crown the -fortunate result of this fearful encounter. There he stood at bay, -with back turned to the foremast, facing his virtual captors, with a -brandished sword in one hand and a pistol in the other, as if daring -them to approach or fire on him. But they were spared the necessity of -attempting<span class="pagenum" id="Page_356">[Pg 356]</span> either. A boat’s crew of armed men from the frigate were -already mounting the deck, to claim whoever of the pirates they found -alive, as their trophies. The formidable desperado was pointed out to -them; when, firing a volley over his head, to confuse without killing -him, they rushed forward in the smoke, disarmed, bound, and dragged him -along, to pass him down to their boat. As he was being urged across the -deck, his eyes met those of Elwood. The recognition was mutual. It was -Gaut Gurley!</p> - -<p>It was morning, and the bright sun was looking down upon an ocean as -calm and peaceful as if its passive bosom had never been disturbed by -the ensanguined tumults of warring men, or the commotions of battling -elements.</p> - -<p>A youthful couple were standing by the rail, on the deck of the still -anchored merchantman, and glancing up admiringly at the towering masts -of the ship-of-war, which had also anchored for the night on the very -spot from which she had dealt such destruction to the pirates, whose -awful fate and the connected circumstances had been with them the topic -of conversation.</p> - -<p>“This has been such a fearful ordeal to you, dear Fluella,” said the -young man, smilingly, “that I shall probably never be able again to -induce you to leave home to cross the ocean, either for health or -pleasure, shall I?”</p> - -<p>“For pleasure, no, my dear husband,” affectionately responded the -other; “no, with my happy New England home, never, for pleasure, Claud.”</p> - -<p>“But this was for <em>health</em>,” rejoined Elwood. “I have never told -you how much I was concerned about you last summer, or that your -physician warned me, as cold weather approached, he could not answer -for your life through another winter at the North. It was this only -that led me to urge you to accompany me to Cuba, to remain there till -I came back for you in the spring, as I have now done. And, to say -nothing of the gains which my two trips will add to the estate of -which I am heir in expectation,—or rather, as my good uncle will have -it, in possession<span class="pagenum" id="Page_357">[Pg 357]</span> with him,—to say nothing of this, I shall always -be thankful for your coming, for it has so evidently restored you, I -had almost said, to more of health and beauty than I have seen you -exhibiting for the whole two and a half happy years of our married -life.”</p> - -<p>“Thank you, Claud, for the beautiful part of it,” said the happy wife, -snapping her handkerchief in his face, with an air of mock resentment; -“but I am thinking of home. When shall we reach there?”</p> - -<p>“Well, let us calculate,” replied the husband, beginning to catch the -affectionate animation of the other: “this is the 22d of April; and I -think I can promise you the enjoyment of a May-day in New England.”</p> - -<p>“I hold you to that, sir,” playfully rejoined the wife, “for I wish -to be preparing for our summer residence at your cottage on my native -lakes. My illness deprived me of that pleasure last summer, you know, -husband mine.”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” said he, with kindling enthusiasm, “we will go, Fluella. I want -to see the good old chief; I want to enjoy the visit I have promised me -from my friend Carvil; I want to hear Phillips discourse on woodcraft, -and Chanticleer Codman wake the echoes of the lakes by his marvellous -crowing. Yes, yes, we will go, and make uncle and mother go with us, -this time.”</p> - -<p>“Uncle and mother!” cried Fluella, laughingly; “how odd that is getting -to sound. Suppose I call your mother aunt? Have they not now been -married long enough to be both entitled to the more endearing names of -father and mother? and are they not happy enough and good enough to -merit the dearest names?”</p> - -<p>“Yes,” answered Elwood, “I will correct the habit, if you really wish -it. Yes, yes; the once-styled crusty old bachelor, Arthur Elwood, and -my mother, are indeed a happy couple. Did you ever know a happier?”</p> - -<p>“Yes, one,” replied the hesitating, blushing wife, drawing<span class="pagenum" id="Page_358">[Pg 358]</span> down her -husband’s head, and slyly imprinting a kiss on his cheek.</p> - -<p>The conversation between the happy pair was here interrupted by the -appearance of a boat putting off from the frigate, under the charge of -a midshipman; who, having come on board and inquired out Elwood, now -approached and presented him a letter, saying, as he departed, it was -from the pirate prisoner, and would doubtless require no answer.</p> - -<p>The greatly surprised young man tore open the letter, and, in company -with his wife, read, with mingled emotions of pain and indignation, the -following singular but characteristic compound of malicious vaunt and -shameless confession:</p> - -<div class="blockquot"> - -<p>“<span class="smcap">To Claud Elwood</span>:—My career is ended, at last. Well, I -have the satisfaction of knowing that I have been nobody’s fool nor -nobody’s tool. Early perceiving that nine out of ten were only the -stupid instruments of the tenth man, the world over, I resolved -to go into the system, and did, and improved on it so as to make -<em>nineteen</em> out of <em>twenty</em> tools to <em>me</em>,—that is all. -I have no great fault to find with men generally, though I always -despised the whole herd; for I knew that, if they used me well, it was -only because they dared not do otherwise. I don’t write this, however, -to preach upon that, but to let you know another thing, to chew upon.</p> - -<p>“You call me a murderer; and I want to tell you that <em>you</em> are -the <em>son</em> of a murderer, and therefore stand on a par with my -family, even at that. Your father, when we used to operate together -in smuggling, being once hard chased, on an out-of-the-way road, -by one of the custom-house crew, knocked him down with a club, and -finished with the blow, to save a thousand dollars’ worth of silk. But -I sacredly kept his secret; yes, even to this day, besides making one -good fortune for him, and being on the point of making him another. -And yet he betrayed and turned against me. Yes, in that affair about -the<span class="pagenum" id="Page_359">[Pg 359]</span> missing peltries, he betrayed me, out and out, and spoilt every -thing. That was his unpardonable sin, with me. I resolved he should -die for it; and he <em>did</em>. I didn’t want to kill you, but couldn’t -suffer you to become a witness. No, I never had any thing against you, -except for allowing matters to take the turn that drove my daughter -to anticipate you in breaking off the match. But it was just as well, -as it turned out. Avis, in the position of <em>lady abbess</em> of a -convent in one of your eastern cities, which it is settled she will -have, will stand quite as high, I guess, as in the position of lady -Elwood.</p> - -<p>“I have done, now, except to ask one favor,—the only one I will ever -ask of <em>any</em> man,—and that is, that you won’t publish my name, -and couple it with the unlucky miss-go of last night; so that my wife -and daughter, who know I am in this region, but not my business, may -never learn that the captain of the <em>Black Rover</em> and I are one. -As my brave boys are all gone down, and as <em>I</em> shall have no -trial to bring it out, it rests with you to say whether it is ever to -be known or not; for, as I have said, I have no notion of being either -tried or hung, any more than I had at the North.</p> - -<p class="right p0"> -<span class="smcap">Gaut.</span>”<br /> -</p> -</div> - - -<p>On finishing this singular and remorseless missive, with its strange, -painful, but as he feared too true disclosure of the secret of that -fatal influence which had proved the ruin and final destruction of his -father, Claud Elwood was too much troubled and overcome to utter a word -of comment; and, with his pained and shuddering wife, he stood mute and -thoughtful, until aroused by the stir on board, in preparations for -weighing anchor, and the cheering announcement of the captain that a -favoring breeze was springing up, and that within twenty minutes they -would be, under the fairest of auspices, on their rejoicing way to -their own beloved New England.</p> - -<p>But the cheering thought was not to be enjoyed without the drawback of -being compelled to witness one more and a concluding horror.</p> - -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_360">[Pg 360]</span></p> - -<p>As Elwood and his beautiful companion were on the point of retiring -from deck, their attention was suddenly arrested by a light, crashing -sound, high up the tall side of the frigate. They looked, and caught -sight of broken pieces of board or panelling flying out, as if beat or -kicked from what appeared to have been a closed port-hole. Presently -the body of a man, whom they at once recognized, was protruded through -the ample aperture he had evidently thus effected, till he brought -himself to a balance on the outer edge. Then came the sharp cry from -some one of the frigate’s officers:</p> - -<p>“Look out, there, for the pirate prisoner!”</p> - -<p>There was at once a lively stir on board, but too late. The next -moment the heavily-manacled object of the alarm descended, like a -swiftly-falling weight, to the water; and, with a dull plunge, the -recoiling waves rolled back, forever closing over the <em>traitor</em>, -the <em>robber</em>, the <em>murderer</em>, and the <em>pirate</em>, <span class="smcap">Gaut -Gurley</span>!</p> -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter"> -<p><span class="pagenum" id="Page_364">[Pg 364]</span></p> - -<h2 class="nobreak" id="COLUMBIAN_LIBRARY">COLUMBIAN LIBRARY.</h2> -</div> - -<p class="center p0"><span class="figcenter" id="img002"> - <img src="images/002.jpg" class="w20" alt="Decorative image" /> -</span></p> - -<p class="center p0"> -NEW SERIES OF<br /> -<span class="big">CHOICE AMERICAN LITERATURE.</span> -</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> - -<table class="autotable"> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt"> -No. -</td> -<td class="tdr tt"> -1. -</td> -<td> -A TRAGEDY OF THE MOUNTAINS. A. F. Hill. 390 pages. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">2. -</td> -<td>AMOURS OF AARON BURR. Burdette. 438 pages. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">3. -</td> -<td>TWO WHITE SLAVES. Peacocke. 366 pages. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">4. -</td> -<td>DEATH-DEALING GOLD. Arthur. 352 pages. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">5. -</td> -<td>A PEEP AT NEW YORK SOCIETY. By One of the Victims. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">6. -</td> -<td>A FREEMAN IN BONDAGE. Northup. 336 pages. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">7. -</td> -<td>MY MOTHER-IN-LAW. By Her Son-in-Law. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">8. -</td> -<td>AN AMERICAN DON JUAN. By E. P. B. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">9. -</td> -<td>IN THE ADIRONDACKS. Hammond. 340 pages. -</td> -</tr> -<tr> -<td class="tdc tt">” -</td> -<td class="tdr tt">10. -</td> -<td>THE DEMON TRAPPER OF UMBAGOG. Thompson. 360 pages. -</td> -</tr> -</table> - - -<h3><span class="figcenter" id="img003a"> - <img src="images/003a.jpg" class="w5" alt="Decorative image" /> -</span>IN PRESS.<span class="figcenter" id="img003b"> - <img src="images/003b.jpg" class="w5" alt="Decorative image" /> -</span></h3> - - -<p class="ml p0"> -AN AMERICAN HEROINE. Talmon. -<br />THE MANIAC BRIDE. Arthur. -<br />THE MYSTERY OF WOMAN. Arthur. -<br />CONFESSIONS OF A MORMON BRIDE. Ward. -<br />MARRIED, BUT UNLOVED. Arthur. -<br />PARADISE OF WIT AND HUMOR. By a “Drummer.” -</p> - -<hr class="r5" /> -<p class="center p0 p2 big">ASK FOR THE COLUMBIAN LIBRARY.</p> - - -<hr class="chap x-ebookmaker-drop" /> - -<div class="chapter transnote"> -<h2 class="nobreak" id="Transcribers_Notes">Transcriber’s Notes</h2> - - -<p>This book had a very large number of obvious printer’s errors, which -have been silently corrected.</p> - -<p><a href="#Page_165">Page 165</a>: “as I from to time” changed to “as I from time to time” and “I -will down” changed to “I will be down”</p> - -<p><a href="#Page_184">Page 184</a>: “put in under my foot” changed to “put it under my foot”</p> - -<p><a href="#Page_201">Page 201</a>: The missing letter in “the eeling month;” was filled in via -consultation with another version and has been changed to “the peeling -month”</p> - -<p><a href="#Page_322">Page 322</a>: The word before logs in this section, “tangled trees, -()-logs,” was unclear in the original text but was verified in another -edition to be mill-logs.</p> -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin-top:4em'>*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE DEMON TRAPPER OF UMBAGOG ***</div> -<div style='text-align:left'> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Updated editions will replace the previous one—the old editions will -be renamed. -</div> - -<div style='display:block; margin:1em 0'> -Creating the works from print editions not protected by U.S. copyright -law means that no one owns a United States copyright in these works, -so the Foundation (and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United -States without permission and without paying copyright -royalties. 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