OLD BILL SMITH, THE SILENT HUNTER. 229 
of his days were spent in solitary quiet. He hunted just 
enough to furnish him with food, and powder and shot—never 
went near any one but Uncle Jake, who-made his purchases 
for him; and at the age of eighty-eight was found dead in 
his cabin. He seemed sleeping calmly, with a serene smile 
still upon his face, such as might have greeted his Mattie 
above, waiting for him. His face in death alone had lost 
that still and fearful expression of astonied ferocity, which 
was said never to have left it from the time of the death 
of Mattie and his children. Monomaniacs are proverbially 
known for the frequently marvellous cunning displayed by 
. them in bringing about the accomplishment of the one object, 
_ which is the single thought of their lives. 
“Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord!” Who, at this time, 
in weighing the acts of this remarkable man, while wasting 
under the long fever of his terrible vengeance, shall venture 
to forget, “Judge not, that ye be not judged !” 
It was ever thus that our Fathers of the Dark and Bloody 
Ground were tried ! 
