The Lost Trail

the haunts

unshine of

hadow of t

nd among th

shower and th

shing of g

e wild traditi

lar occurrence took place on one of th

st, this particular portion possessed only several sparse clumps of shrubbery, which seemed like a breathing-space in this sea of verdure-a g

bank to bound along down the green declivity and fall into the water with a loud splash. This in itself was nothing remarkable, as such things are of f

ard in a manner precisely similar to its predecessor, and tumbled into the wat

y day. The loosening of the first stone could have opened the way for the second, although a

what human agency was concerned in the matter. It certainly appeared as if there were some intent in all this. In this remote wildernes

n of the presence of a human being than the occurrences that we have already narrated; but the most inexperienc

was one person, at least, concealed; and it was certain, too, that from his hiding-place, he was peering out upon the river. Each bowlder had emer

vast, almost interminable extent of forest-a faint, far-off glimpse of a mountain peak projected like a thin cloud agai

e holds a broad ashen paddle in his hand with which to assist his companion, who maintains his proximity to the shore for the purpose of overcoming more deftly the opposition of the current. The second personage is a short but square-shouldered Irishman, with massive breast, arms like the piston-rods of an engine, and a broad, good-natured face. He is one of those bein

than a willing voyager upon the river. There was the kindling eye and glowing cheek, the eager look that flitted hither and yon, and the buoyant feeling manifest in every movement, all of which expressed more of enthusia

enoted the fall of the third stone. His face wore an expression of puzzled surprise, mingled with which was a look of displeasure, as if he were

ut he seemed little affected by what had taken place. His face was as expressionl

had so suddenly come upon them. More than once she raised her hand, as an admonition for Teddy to preserve sil

er a few moments, dipping his paddle at the same time in the water. "Arra

may; keep a bright look-out, Ted

and closed one eye as if sighting an invisib

ow, sure as a Ball

t is

, and tilling us we've no time

when we came out of the Mississippi into this st

o can't git tired of layin' in bed for a thousand years and rol

t we both concluded it must have b

d run away from their master, and were indulging themselves in a little sh

fully; "and it seems to me that when we are alone in this vast wilderness, with many and

ling this cockle-shell of a canoe up-shtream. My tongue w

ought a smile to the face of his companion. Teddy saw this, and his big, ho

ed life, but I'm afeard your prayers will do as little good for Teddy as the s'arch-warrant did

oo

of smoke, followed immediately by the faint but sharp report of a rifle. The bullet's cours

he young man. "Isn't that proof

le distance as that. Whisht, now! but don't ye saa those same bushes moving? There's some one passi

d the bank, although it was absolutely impossibl

ain't frightened, be he the divil himself, or only

as little frightened as you; that

Hooray! Now for some

anoe across stream, and was paddling with all his might

hardiness, on a par with your general cond

the bushes were agitated, and a gaunt, grim-visaged man, in a half-hunter and half-civilized dress, moved a few feet to the right, in a manner which showed that he was indifferent as to whether or not he was observed. He looked forth as if to ascertain the result of his fire. The

had a dozen chances to pick you off since you and your friends started up-stream, but I don't wish to

tion, the stranger deliberately reloaded his pi

before darkness began to envelop wood and stream. At a sign from the young man, the Irishman headed the canoe toward shore. In a few moments they landed, wh

it may seem, they had suffered no molestation and had seen no signs of ill-will, if we except the occurrences already related. Through the day, the stalwart arms of Teddy, with occasional assistance from the more delicate yet firm muscles

ritual welfare of the heathen in other parts of the world, became convinced that the red-men of the American wilds were neglected, and conceding fully the force of the inference drawn thence, young men were induced to offer themselves as laborers in th

jestic solitudes, hugging the rills and streams which roll eastward to feed the great continental artery called the Mississippi, he believed lay his true sphere of duty. Could the precious seed be de

courage. Hence he selected the present hunting-grounds of the Sioux, in upper Minnesota. Shortly before he started he was married to Cora Brandon, whose devotion to her great Master and to her husband would

rvant for many years in the family of the Richters. Having fully determined on sharing the fortunes of his young master, it would have grieved his heart very deeply had h

t Teddy McFadd

ng of 1820. They had been a long time on the journey, but were now nearing its termination. They had learned from the Indians daily enco

heir gentler companion, while he and his master slept outside, in close proximity to the camp-fire. They possessed a plen

the young man, as he warmed his hands before the fire. "

a very percep

twisting and doubling them hands, as if ye had hold of some delightsome soap, spaaks that yees have already discover

n whisky, for fire burns only the body, while

wig I took a'most burnt a hole in me shirt, over the

fear," laughingly observed Mrs. Ri

shillalah at me father's fourteenth weddin'. Teddy sad? Well, that is a-is a-a mistake," and the injured fellow further expressed his fee

e Mississippi and its tributaries upon a pocket map, which was the chief guide in that wilderness of streams and "tributaries." Who could deny the vastness of the field, and the loud call for laborers, when such an immense extent then bore only the name of "Unexplored Region!" And yet, this same headwater territory was teeming with human

enjoying the sweet approval of his conscience, higher and purer than any enjoyment of earth. All at once came back the occurrence of the a

would haunt him, in spite of himself, that it was not a red-man, but a white, who had thus signified his hostility. The rolling of the s

d have hastened to welcome them? What could have been more desirable than to unite with them in a country where whites were so scarce, and almost unknown? Was it not contrary to

he might never encounter him again in this world. The certainty that the man had dogged him to this remote spot in the West; that he had patiently plodded after the travelers for many a day and night; that even the trackless river had not sufficed to place distance between them; that, undou

ng was at that moment in close proximity. Unconsciously, Harvey rose to the sitting

e the same token in your stomachs that is in m

ng the same, when the sharp crack of a rifle broke the stillness, and Harve

well-nigh fatal shot. Deciding upon the quarter whence it came, he seized his ever-ready rifle, which he had learned to manage with

tearing hurriedly through the wood, as if in terror of being caught, and he bent all his energies toward overtaking him. The gloom of the night, that had now fairly descended, and the peculiar topography of the ground, made it an exceedingly difficult matter for both to keep their feet. The fugitiv

et, "but it has knocked me deaf and dumb. I'll have ye, owld hay

forward as determinedly as ever. To his unutterable chagrin, however, it was not long before he realized that the footsteps of his enemy were gradually becoming more distant. His rage grew with his adversary's gradua

his ears, and it was some time before he could recall all the circumstances of his predicament. Gradually the facts dawned upon him, and he

The hunter was about a dozen feet distant, and seemed perfectly aware of the Irishman's presence, for he stood with folded arms, facing his pursuer. The darkness prevented Teddy's discovering anything more than his enemy's outline But this was enough for a shot to do its work. Teddy cautiously brought his rifle to h

me? You and I h

es, if yees only come down here like a man. Jist play the wol

ou, I tell you, but with

barring neither one is my own, but all belong to Master Harvey, and Miss Cora, God bless their souls. Don't talk of quarreling wid hi

, but you are mistaken. Do you suppose I could have come as near and missed without doing so on purpose? To-night I could have brought you a

th, yet it cannot be said that his anger was aba

on a sunny morning, and who wouldn't tread on one of yer corns, that is, if yer big feet isn't

nd him of my existence. He can tell you, if he chooses; I shall not

e taking warning. As sure as I'm the n

nter w