Search -
The Trapper's Bride, and White Stone Canoe
The Trapper's Bride and White Stone Canoe Author:Percy Bolingbroke St. John General Books publication date: 2009 Original publication date: 1855 Original Publisher: Ward and Lock Notes: This is a black and white OCR reprint of the original. It has no illustrations and there may be typos or missing text. When you buy the General Books edition of this book you get free trial access to Million-Books.com where you can s... more »elect from more than a million books for free. Excerpt: CHAPTER V. THE CHASE. Away ! away! The steeds are neighing proudly, and snuffing the morning air, with difficulty restrained by him who held them. On the rocky ledge, beyond the forest of pine, at the summit of the path by . which the traveller had entered the Eutaw hills, stood Ephraim Smith, holding, by rude leathern halters, three unbridled and unsaddled horses. Three noble creatures were they, tall horses of the wilderness, tamed by the wild Indians. In admirable order, with sleek sides and free legs, they bore their captivity with impatience, Ephraim being compelled to put forth his whole strength to keep them from escaping. The sun was just peeping up above the eastern horizon ; a glorious day, with a bracing wind, promised to aid the escape of the lovers. At length, when the trapper's patience was well-nigh exhausted, Pierre and Moama appeared, and without a single word they all hastily mounted the unharnessed animals, and were speedily descending the narrow path that led to the plains. The latter were gained without let or accident, and then with a deep sigh, as if he felt he could now breathe freely, Pierre patted the neck of his charger, and, smiling on his fair bride, gave the signal for hurrying on with speed and haste. "Now then, Ephraim, my friend," exclaimed he joyously, " I have won my bride, and not ten thousand Indians 'shall tear her from me -- Away! away ! " added he in a tremendous voice, " the red-skin devils are upon us." Away went the steeds, coursing along the plains with the speed of fear, their hoofs clanging like thunder on the hard ...« less