diff options
Diffstat (limited to 'old')
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-8.txt | 9896 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-8.zip | bin | 0 -> 227892 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h.zip | bin | 0 -> 1132869 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/016.png | bin | 0 -> 72795 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/047.png | bin | 0 -> 30417 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/084.png | bin | 0 -> 30052 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/105.png | bin | 0 -> 26346 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/10765-h.htm | 10009 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/132.png | bin | 0 -> 33572 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/157.png | bin | 0 -> 57096 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/202.png | bin | 0 -> 37194 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/235.png | bin | 0 -> 35250 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/248.png | bin | 0 -> 39543 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/267.png | bin | 0 -> 38593 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/278.png | bin | 0 -> 38286 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/299.png | bin | 0 -> 40045 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/310.png | bin | 0 -> 39121 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/315.png | bin | 0 -> 50765 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/340.png | bin | 0 -> 38324 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/349.png | bin | 0 -> 17901 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/374.png | bin | 0 -> 40190 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/385.png | bin | 0 -> 40262 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/400.png | bin | 0 -> 39545 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/413.png | bin | 0 -> 37397 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/430.png | bin | 0 -> 23964 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/437.png | bin | 0 -> 35560 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/462.png | bin | 0 -> 27979 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765-h/471.png | bin | 0 -> 27143 bytes | |||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765.txt | 9896 | ||||
| -rw-r--r-- | old/10765.zip | bin | 0 -> 227862 bytes |
30 files changed, 29801 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/old/10765-8.txt b/old/10765-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..c5ba57d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9896 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea, by James O. Brayman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea + +Author: James O. Brayman + +Release Date: January 21, 2004 [EBook #10765] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THRILLING ADVENTURES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THRILLING ADVENTURES + +BY + +LAND AND SEA + +BEING + +REMARKABLE HISTORICAL FACTS, GATHERED +FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES. + +EDITED BY + +JAMES O. BRAYMAN. + + "Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances, + Of moving accidents by flood and field." + + +PREFACE. + +There is a large class of readers who seek books for the sake of the +amusement they afford. Many are not very fastidious as to the character +of those they select, and consequently the press of the present day +teems with works which are not only valueless, so far as imparting +information is concerned, but actually deleterious in their moral +tendency, and calculated to vitiate and enervate the mind. Such +publications as pander to a prurient taste find a large circulation with +a portion of society who read them for the same reason that the +inebriate seeks his bowl, or the gambler the instruments of his +vocation--for the excitement they produce. The influence of works of +this description is all bad--there is not a single redeeming feature to +commend them to the favor or toleration of the virtuous or intelligent. +It cannot be expected that minds accustomed to such reading can at once +be elevated into the higher walks of literature or the more rugged paths +of science. An intermediate step, by which they may be lifted into a +higher mental position, is required. + +There is in the adventures of the daring and heroic, something that +interests all. There is a charm about them which, while it partakes of +the nature of Romance, does not exercise the same influence upon the +mind or heart. When there are noble purposes and noble ends connected +with them, they excite in the mind of the reader, noble impulses. + +The object of the present compilation is to form a readable and +instructive volume--a volume of startling incident and exciting +adventure, which shall interest all minds, and by its attractions beget +thirst for reading with those who devote their leisure hours to things +hurtful to themselves and to community. We have endeavored to be +authentic, and to present matter, which, if it sometimes fail to impart +knowledge or instruction, or convey a moral lesson, will, at least, be +innoxious. But we trust we have succeeded in doing more than this--in +placing before the reading public something that is really valuable, and +that will produce valuable results. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +Incident at Resaca de la Palma +True Heroism +Thrilling Incident +Incident in the War of Mexican Independence +Sketch from Life on the Ocean +Escape from Shipwreck +The Hunter's Wife +Deaf Smith, the Texan Spy +Escape from a Shark +Adventure with Pirates +A Sea-Fowling Adventure +Adventure with a Cobra di Capello +Combat of Wild Animals +Perilous Incident on a Canadian River +Leopard Hunting +Hunting the White Rhinoceros +A Leopard Hunt +Life in California +A Storm among the Icebergs +Fall of the Rossberg +The Rifleman of Chippewa +Shipwreck of the Blendenhall +Adventures of Sergeant Champe +Adventure with Pirates +Kenton, the Spy +The Dying Volunteer +Escape from a Mexican Quicksand +Charged by a Rhinoceros +Burning of the Erie +Conflict with an Indian +Fire on the Prairies +The Captain's Story +Tussle with a Wildcat +Incident in Frontier Life +Encounter with Robbers +Shipwreck of the Monticello +A Jungle Recollection +Attack of Boonesborough +Thrilling Incidents of Battle +Family Attacked by Indians +Thrilling Incident +Adventures of Dr. Bacon +A Battle with Snakes +Estill's Defeat +Incident at Niagara Falls +Skater chased by a Wolf +Our Flag on the Rocky Mountains +Running the Canon +The Rescue +Shipwreck of the Medusa +Hunting the Moose +Perilous Escape from Death +Fire in the Forest +Pirates of the Red Sea +General Jackson and Weatherford +Cruise of the Saldanha and Talbot +A Carib's Revenge +Massacre of Fort Mimms +The Freshet +The Panther's Den +Adventure with Elephant's +The Shark Sentinel +Hunting the Tiger +Indian Devil +Bear Fight +The Miners of Bois-Monzil +Ship Towed to Land by Bullocks +Destruction of a Ship by a Whale +Burning of the Kent + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +Frontispiece +Attack on the Lighthouse +Before the Gale +Escape from a Shark +Tiger and Buffalo +Charge of the Buffalo +Loss of the Blendenhall +Death of Montgomery +Escape from the Rhinoceros +The Pursuit +Loss of the Monticello +Attack on Boonesborough +Death of the Widow's Daughter +Attacked by Wolves +Attack on Estill's Station +Our Flag on the Rocky Mountains +A Sail in Sight +Savages Torturing a Captive +Gen. Jackson and Weatherford +Gen. Coffee's Attack on the Indians +Hunting the Rhinoceros +Hunting the Tiger +Ship towed by Bullocks +Burning of the Kent + + + + +THRILLING ADVENTURES BY LAND AND SEA. + + +INCIDENT AT RESACA DE LA PALMA. + +Sergeant Milton gives the following account of an incident which befel +him at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. + +"At Palo Alto," says he, "I took my rank in the troop as second +sergeant, and while upon the field my horse was wounded in the jaw by a +grape-shot, which disabled him for service. While he was plunging in +agony I dismounted, and the quick eye of Captain May observed me as I +alighted from my horse. He inquired if I was hurt. I answered no--that +my horse was the sufferer. I am glad it is not yourself,' replied he; +'there is another,' (pointing at the same time to a steed without a +rider, which was standing with dilated eye, gazing at the strife,) +'mount him,' I approached the horse, and he stood still until I put my +hand upon the rein and patted his neck, when he rubbed his head +alongside of me, as if pleased that some human being was about to become +his companion in the affray. + +"On the second day, at Resaca de la Palma, our troop stood anxiously +waiting for the signal to be given, and never had I looked upon men on +whose countenances were more clearly expressed a fixed determination to +win. The lips of some were pale with excitement, and their eyes wore +that fixed expression which betokens mischief; others, with shut teeth, +would quietly laugh, and catch a tighter grip of the rein, or seat +themselves with care and firmness in the saddle, while quiet words of +confidence and encouragement were passed from each to his neighbor. All +at once Captain May rode to the front of his troop--every rein and sabre +was tightly grasped. Raising himself and pointing at the battery, he +shouted, 'Men, _follow_!' There was now a clattering of hoofs and a +rattling of sabre sheaths--the fire of the enemy's guns was partly drawn +by Lieutenant Ridgely, and the next moment we were sweeping like the +wind up the ravine. I was in a squad of about nine men, who were +separated by a shower of grape from the battery, and we were in advance, +May leading. He turned his horse opposite the breastwork, in front of +the guns, and with another shout 'to follow,' leaped over them. Several +of the horses did follow, but mine, being new and not well trained, +refused; two others balked, and their riders started down the ravine to +turn the breastwork where the rest of the troop had entered. I made +another attempt to clear the guns with my horse, turning him +around--feeling all the time secure at thinking the guns discharged--I +put his head toward them and gave him spur, but he again balked; so +turning his head down the ravine, I too started to ride round the +breastwork. + +"As I came down, a lancer dashed at me with lance in rest. With my sabre +I parried his thrust, only receiving a slight flesh-wound from its point +in the arm, which felt at the time like the prick of a pin. The lancer +turned and fled; at that moment a ball passed through my horse on the +left side and shattered my right side. The shot killed the horse +instantly, and he fell upon my left leg, fastening me by his weight to +the earth. There I lay, right in the midst of the action, where carnage +was riding riot, and every moment the shot, from our own and the Mexican +guns, tearing up the earth around me. I tried to raise my horse so as to +extricate my leg but I had already grown so weak with my wound that I +was unable, and from the mere attempt, I fell back exhausted. To add to +my horror, a horse, who was careering about, riderless, within a few +yards of me, received a wound, and he commenced struggling and rearing +with pain. Two or three times, he came near falling on me, but at +length, with a scream of agony and a bound, he fell dead--his body +touching my own fallen steed. What I had been in momentary dread of now +occurred--my wounded limb, which was lying across the horse, received +another ball in the ankle. + +"I now felt disposed to give up; and, exhausted through pain and +excitement, a film gathered over my eyes, which I thought was the +precursor of dissolution. From this hopeless state I was aroused by a +wounded Mexican, calling out to me, '_Bueno Americano,_' and turning my +eyes toward the spot, I saw that he was holding a certificate and +calling to me. The tide of action now rolled away from me and hope again +sprung up. The Mexican uniforms began to disappear from the chapparal, +and squadrons of our troops passed in sight, apparently in pursuit. +While I was thus nursing the prospect of escape, I beheld, not far from +me, a villainous-looking ranchero, armed with an American sergeant's +short sword, dispatching a wounded American soldier, whose body he +robbed--the next he came to was a Mexican, whom he served the same way, +and thus I looked on while he murderously slew four. I drew an +undischarged pistol from my holsters, and laying myself along my horse's +neck, watched him, expecting to be the next victim; but something +frightened him from his vulture-like business, and he fled in another +direction. I need not say that had he visited me I should have taken one +more shot at the enemy, and would have died content, had I succeeded in +making such an assassin bite the dust. Two hours after, I had the +pleasure of shaking some of my comrades by the hand, who were picking up +the wounded. They lifted my Mexican friend, too, and I am pleased to say +he, as well as myself, live to fight over again the sanguine fray of +_Resaca de la Palma."_ + + + +TRUE HEROISM. + +While the plague raged violently at Marseilles, every link of affection +was broken, the father turned from the child, the child from the father; +cowardice and ingratitude no longer excited indignation. Misery is at +its height when it thus destroys every generous feeling, thus dissolves +every tie of humanity! the city became a desert, grass grew in the +streets; a funeral met you at every step. + +The physicians assembled in a body at the Hotel de Ville, to hold a +consultation on the fearful disease, for which no remedy had yet been +discovered. After a long deliberation, they decided unanimously, that +the malady had a peculiar and mysterious character, which opening a +corpse alone might develope--an operation it was impossible to attempt, +since the operator must infallibly become a victim in a few hours, +beyond the power of human art to save him, as the violence of the attack +would preclude their administering the customary remedies. A dead pause +succeeded this fatal declaration. Suddenly, a surgeon named Guyon, in +the prime of life, and of great celebrity in his profession, rose and +said firmly, "Be it so: I devote myself for the safety of my country. +Before this numerous assembly I swear, in the name of humanity and +religion, that to-morrow, at the break of day, I will dissect a corpse, +and write down as I proceed, what I observe." He left the assembly +instantly. They admired him, lamented his fate, and doubted whether he +would persist in his design. The intrepid Guyon, animated by all the +sublime energy which patriotism can inspire, acted up to his word. He +had never married, he was rich, and he immediately made a will; he +confessed, and in the middle of the night received the sacraments. A man +had died of the plague in his house within four and twenty hours. +Guyon, at daybreak, shut himself up in the same room; he took with him +an inkstand, paper, and a little crucifix. Full of enthusiasm, and +kneeling before the corpse, he wrote,--"Mouldering remains of an +immortal soul, not only can I gaze on thee without horror, but even with +joy and gratitude. Thou wilt open to me the gates of a glorious +eternity. In discovering to me the secret cause of the terrible disease +which destroys my native city, thou wilt enable me to point out some +salutary remedy--thou wilt render my sacrifice useful. Oh God! thou wilt +bless the action thou hast thyself inspired." He began--he finished the +dreadful operation, and recorded in detail his surgical observations. He +left the room, threw the papers into a vase of vinegar, and afterward +sought the lazaretto, where he died in twelve hours--a death ten +thousand times more glorious than the warrior's, who, to save his +country, rushes on the enemy's ranks,--since he advances with hope, at +least, sustained, admired, and seconded by a whole army. + + + +A THRILLING INCIDENT. + +An incident occurred at the Key Biscayne lighthouse, during the Florida +war, which is perhaps worth recording. The lighthouse, was kept by a man +named Thompson. His only companion was an old negro man; they both lived +in a small hut near the lighthouse. One evening about dark they +discovered a party of some fifteen or twenty Indians creeping upon them, +upon which they immediately retreated into the lighthouse, carrying with +them a keg of gunpowder, with the guns and ammunition. From the windows +of the lighthouse Thompson fired upon them several times, but the moment +he would show himself at the window, the glasses would be instantly +riddled by the rifle balls, and he had no alternative but to lie close. +The Indians meanwhile getting out of patience, at not being able to +force the door, which Thompson had secured, collected piles of wood, +which, being placed against the door and set fire to, in process of time +not only burnt through the door, but also set fire to the stair-case +conducting to the lantern, into which Thompson and the negro were +compelled to retreat. From this, too, they were finally driven by the +encroaching flames, and were forced outside on the parapet wall, which +was not more than three feet wide. + +[Illustration: ATTACK ON THE LIGHTHOUSE.] + +The flames now began to ascend as from a chimney, some fifteen or twenty +feet above the lighthouse. These men had to lie in this situation, some +seventy feet above the ground, with a blazing furnace roasting them on +one side, and the Indians on the other, embracing every occasion, as +soon as any part of the body was exposed to pop at them. The negro +incautiously exposing himself, was killed, while Thompson received +several balls in his feet, which he had projected beyond the wall. + +Nearly roasted to death, and in a fit of desperation, Thompson seized +the keg of gunpowder, which he had still preserved from the hands of the +enemy, threw it into the blazing lighthouse, hoping to end his own +sufferings and destroy the savages. In a few moments it exploded, but +the walls were too strong to be shaken, and the explosion took place out +of the lighthouse, as though it had been fired from a gun. + +The effect of the concussion was to throw down the blazing materials +level with the ground, so as to produce a subsidence of the flames, and +then Thompson was permitted to remain exempt from their influence. +Before day the Indians were off, and Thompson being left alone, was +compelled to throw off the body of the negro, while strength was left +him, and before it putrefied. + +The explosion was heard on board a revenue cutter at some distance, +which immediately proceeded to the spot to ascertain what had occurred, +when they found the lighthouse burnt, and the keeper above, on top of +it. Various expedients were resorted to, to get him down; and finally a +kite was made, and raised with strong twine, and so manoeuvered as to +bring the line within his reach, to which a rope of good size was next +attached, and hauled up by Thompson. Finally, a block, which being +fastened to the lighthouse, and having a rope to it, enabled the crew to +haul up a couple of men, by whose aid Thompson was safely landed on +terra firma. + +The Indians had attempted to reach him by means of the lightning rod, to +which they had attached thongs of buckskin, but could not succeed in +getting more than half way up. + + + +AN INCIDENT + +IN THE WAR OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE. + +The following thrilling narrative is from a translation in Sharpe's +Magazine. A captain in the Mexican insurgent army is giving an account +of a meditated night attack upon a hacienda situated in the Cordilleras, +and occupied by a large force of Spanish soldiers. After a variety of +details, he continues: + +"Having arrived at the hacienda unperceived, thanks for the obscurity of +a moonless night, we came to a halt under some large trees, at some +distance from the building, and I rode forward from my troop, in order +to reconnoitre the place. The hacienda, so far as I could see in gliding +across, formed a huge, massive parallelogram, strengthened by enormous +buttresses of hewn stone. Along this chasm, the walls of the hacienda +almost formed the continuation of another perpendicular one, chiselled +by nature herself in the rocks, to the bottom of which the eye could not +penetrate, for the mists, which incessantly boiled up from below, did +not allow it to measure their awful depth. This place was known, in the +country, by the name of 'the Voladero.'" + +"I had explored all sides of the building except this, when I know not +what scruple of military honor incited me to continue my ride along the +ravine which protected the rear of the hacienda. Between the walls and +the precipice, there was a narrow pathway about six feet wide; by day, +the passage would have been dangerous; but, by night, it was a perilous +enterprize. The walls of the farm took an extensive sweep, the path +crept round their entire basement, and to follow it to the end, in the +darkness, only two paces from the edge of a perpendicular chasm, was no +very easy task, even for as practiced a horseman as myself. +Nevertheless, I did not hesitate, but boldly urged my horse between the +walls of the farm-house and the abyss of the Voladero. I had got over +half the distance without accident, when, all of a sudden, my horse +neighed aloud. This neigh made me shudder. I had just reached a pass +where the ground was but just wide enough for the four legs of a horse, +and it was impossible to retrace my steps." + +"'Hallo!' I exclaimed aloud, at the risk of betraying myself, which was +even less dangerous than encountering a horseman in front of me on such +a road. 'There is a Christian passing along the ravine! Keep back,'" + +"It was too late. At that moment, a man on horseback passed round one +of the buttresses which here and there obstructed this accursed pathway +He advanced toward me. I trembled in my saddle; my forehead bathed in a +cold sweat." + +"'For the love of God! can you not return?' I exclaimed, terrified at +the fearful situation in which we both were placed." + +"'Impossible!' replied the horseman." + +"I recommended my soul to God. To turn our horses round for want of +room, to back them along the path we had traversed, or even to dismount +from them--these were three impossibilities, which placed us both in +presence of a fearful doom. Between two horsemen so placed upon this +fearful path, had they been father and son, one of them must inevitably +have become the prey of the abyss. But a few seconds had passed, and we +were already face to face--the unknown and myself. Our horses were head +to head, and their nostrils, dilated with terror, mingled together their +fiery breathing. Both of us halted in a dead silence. Above was the +smooth and lofty wall of the hacienda; on the other side, but three feet +distant from the wall, opened the horrible gulf. Was it an enemy I had +before my eyes? The love of my country, which boiled, at that period, in +my young bosom, led me to hope it was." + +"'Are you for Mexico and the Insurgents?' I exclaimed in a moment of +excitement, ready to spring upon the unknown horseman, if he answered me +in the negative." + +"'_Mexico e Insurgente_--that is my password, replied the cavalier. 'I +am the Colonel Garduno.'" + +"'I am the Captain Castanos.'" + +"Our acquaintance was of long standing; and, but for mutual agitation, +we should have had no need to exchange our names. The colonel had left +us two days since, at the head of the detachment, which we supposed to +be either prisoners, or cut off, for he had not been seen to return +to the camp." + +"'Well, colonel,' I exclaimed, 'I am sorry you are not a Spaniard; for, +you perceive, that one of us must yield the pathway to the other." + +"Our horses had the bridle on their necks, and I put my hands to the +holsters of my saddle to draw out my pistols." + +"'I see it so plainly,' returned the colonel, with alarming coolness, +'that I should already have blown out the brains of your horse, but for +the fear lest mine, in a moment of terror, should precipitate me with +yourself, to the bottom of the abyss.'" + +"I remarked, in fact, that the colonel already held his pistols in his +hands. We both maintained almost profound silence. Our horses felt the +danger like ourselves, and remained as immovable as if their feet were +nailed to the ground. My excitement had entirely subsided. 'What are we +going to do?' I demanded of the colonel." + +"'Draw lots which of the two shall leap into the ravine.'" + +"It was, in truth, the sole means of resolving the difficulty. 'There +are, nevertheless, some precautions to take,' said the Colonel." + +"'He who shall be condemned by the lot, shall retire backward. It will +be but a feeble chance of escape for him, I admit; but, in short, there +is a chance, and especially one in favor of the winner,'" + +"'You cling not to life, then?' I cried out, terrified at the +_sang-froid_ with which this proposition was put to me." + +"'I cling to life more than yourself,' sharply replied the colonel, 'for +I have a mortal outrage to avenge. But the time is fast slipping away. +Are you ready to proceed to draw the last lottery at which one of us +will ever exist?" + +"How were we to proceed to this drawing by lot? By means of the wet +finger, like infants; or by head and tail, like the school boys? Both +ways were impracticable. Our hands imprudently stretched out over the +heads of our frightened horses, might cause them to give a fatal start. +Should we toss up a piece of coin, the night was too dark to enable us +to distinguish which side fell upward. The colonel bethought him of an +expedient, of which I never should have dreamed." + +"'Listen to me, captain,' said the colonel, to whom I had communicated +my perplexities. 'I have another way. The terror which our horses feel, +makes them draw every moment a burning breath. The first of us two whose +horse shall neigh,--" + +"'Wins!' I exclaimed, hastily." + +"'Not so; shall be looser. I know that you are a countryman, and, as +such, you can do whatever you please with your horse. As to myself, who, +but last year, wore a gown of a theological student, I fear your +equestrian prowess. You may be able to make your horse neigh: to hinder +him from doing so, is a very different matter.'" + +"We waited in deep and anxious silence until the voice of one of our +horses should break forth. The silence lasted for a minute--for an age! +It was my horse who neighed the first. The colonel gave no external +manifestation of his joy; but, no doubt, he thanked God to the very +bottom of his heart." + +"'You will allow me a minute to make my peace with heaven?' I said, with +falling voice." + +"'Will five minutes be sufficient?'" + +"'It will,' I replied." + +"The colonel pulled out his watch. I addressed toward the heavens, +brilliant with stars, which I thought I was looking to for the last +time, an intense and burning prayer." + +"'It is time,' said the colonel." + +"I answered nothing, and, with a firm hand, gathered up the bridle of my +horse, and drew it within my fingers, which were agitated by a +nervous tremor." + +"'Yet one moment more,' I said to the colonel, for I have need of all my +coolness to carry into execution the fearful manoeuver which I am about +to commence." + +"'Granted,' replied Garduno." + +"My education, as I have told you, had been in the country. My +childhood, and part of my earliest youth, had almost been passed on +horseback. I may say, without flattering myself, that if there was any +one in the world capable of executing this equestrian feat, it was +myself. I rallied myself with an almost supernatural effort, and +succeeded in recovering my entire self-possession, in the very face of +death. Taking it at the worst, I had already braved it too often to be +any longer alarmed at it. From that instant, I dared to hope afresh." + +"As soon as my horse felt, for the first time since my rencounter with +the colonel, the bit compressing his mouth, I perceived that he trembled +beneath me. I strengthened myself firmly on my stirrups, to make the +terrified animal understand that his master no longer trembled. I held +him up with bridle and the hams, as every good horseman does in a +dangerous passage, and, with the bridle, the body, and the spur, +together, succeeded in backing him a few paces. His head was already a +greater distance from that of the horse of the colonel, who encouraged +me all he could with his voice. This done, I let the poor, trembling +brute, who obeyed me in spite of his terror, repose for a few moments, +and then recommenced the same manoeuver. All on a sudden, I felt his +hind legs give way under me. A horrible shudder ran through my whole +frame. I closed my eyes, as if about to roll to the bottom of the abyss, +and I gave to my body a violent impulse on the side next to the +hacienda, the surface of which offered not a single projection, not a +tuft of weeds to check my descent. This sudden movement joined to the +desperate struggles of my horse, was the salvation of my life. He had +sprung up again on his legs, which seemed ready to fall from under him, +so desperately did I feel them tremble." + +"I had succeeded in reaching between the brink of the precipice and the +wall of the building, a spot some few inches broader. A few more would +have enabled me to turn him round; but to attempt it here would have +been fatal, and I dared not venture. I sought to resume my backward +progress, step by step. Twice the horse threw himself on his hind legs, +and fell down upon the same spot. It was in vain to urge him anew, +either with voice, bridle, or spur; the animal obstinately refused to +take a single step in the rear. Nevertheless, I did not feel my courage +yet exhausted, for I had no desire to die. One last, solitary chance of +safety, suddenly appeared to me, like a flash of light, and I resolved +to employ it. Through the fastening of my boot, and in reach of my hand, +was placed a sharp and keen knife, which I drew forth from its sheath. +With my left hand I began caressing the mane of my horse, all the while +letting him hear my voice. The poor animal replied to my caresses by a +plaintive neighing; then, not to alarm him abruptly, my hand followed, +by little and little, the curve of his nervous neck, and finally rested +upon the spot where the last of the vertebrae unites itself with the +cranium. The horse trembled; but I calmed him with my voice. When I felt +his very life, so to speak, palpitate in his brain beneath my fingers, +and leaned over toward the wall, my feet gently slid from the stirrups, +and, with one vigorous blow, I buried the pointed blade of my knife in +the seat of the vital principle. The animal fell as if thunderstruck, +without a single motion; and, for myself, with my knees almost as high +as my chin, I found myself a horseback across a corpse! I was saved! I +uttered a triumphant cry, which was responded to by the colonel, and +which the abyss re-echoed with a hollow sound, as if it felt that its +prey had escaped from it. I quitted the saddle, sat down between the +wall and the body of my horse, and vigorously pushed with my feet +against the carcass of the wretched animal, which rolled down into the +abyss. I then arose, and cleared, at a few bounds, the distance which +separated the place where I was from the plain; and, under the +irresistible reaction of the terror which I had long repressed, I sank +into a swoon upon the ground. When I reopened my eyes, the colonel was +by my side." + + + +A SKETCH + +FROM "LIFE ON THE OCEAN." + +Carthagena lies in the parallel of ten degrees twenty-six minutes north, +and seventy-five degrees thirty-eight minutes west longitude; the harbor +is good, with an easy entrance; the city is strongly fortified by +extensive and commanding fortifications and batteries, and, I should +suppose, if well garrisoned and manned, they would be perfectly able to +repel any force which might be brought to bear against them. It was well +known, at this time, that all the provinces of Spain had shaken off +their allegiance to the mother country, and declared themselves +independent. Carthagena, the most prominent of the provinces, was a +place of considerable commerce; and, about this time, a few men-of-war, +and a number of privateers, were fitted out there. The Carthagenian flag +now presented a chance of gain to the cupidity of the avaricious and +desperate, among whom was our commander, Captain S. As soon, therefore, +as we had filled up our water, &c., a proposition was made by him, to +the second lieutenant and myself, to cruise under both flags, the +American and Carthagenian, and this to be kept a profound secret from +the crew, until we had sailed from port. Of course, we rejected the +proposition with disdain, and told him the consequence of such a +measure, in the event of being taken by a man-of-war of any +nation,--that it was piracy, to all intents and purposes, according to +the law of nations. We refused to go out in the privateer, if he +persisted in this most nefarious act, and we heard no more of it while +we lay in port. + +In a few days we were ready for sea, and sailed in company with our +companion, her force being rather more than ours, but the vessel very +inferior, in point of sailing. While together, we captured several small +British schooners, the cargoes of which, together with some specie, were +divided between two privateers. Into one of the prizes we put all the +prisoners, gave them plenty of water and provisions, and let them pursue +their course: the remainder of the prizes were burned. We then parted +company, and, being short of water, ran in toward the land, in order to +ascertain if any could be procured. In approaching the shore, the wind +died away to a perfect calm; and, at 4 P.M., a small schooner was seen +in-shore of us. As we had not steerage way upon our craft, of course it +would be impossible to ascertain her character before dark; it was, +therefore, determined by our commander to board her with the boats, +under cover of the night. This was a dangerous service; but there was no +backing out. Volunteers being called for, I stepped forward; and very +soon, a sufficient number of men to man two boats offered their services +to back me. Every disposition was made for the attack. The men were +strongly armed, oars muffled, and a grappling placed in each boat. The +bearings of the strange sail were taken, and night came on perfectly +clear and cloudless. I took command of the expedition, the second +lieutenant having charge of one boat. The arrangement was to keep close +together, until we got sight of the vessel; the second lieutenant was to +board on the bow, and I on the quarter. We proceeded in the most +profound silence; nothing was heard, save now and then a slight splash +of the oars in the water, and, before we obtained sight of the vessel, I +had sufficient time to reflect on this most perilous enterprise. + +My reflections were not of the most pleasant character, and I found +myself inwardly shrinking, when I was aroused by the voice of the bowman +saying, "There she is, sir, two points on the starboard bow." There she +lay, sure enough, with every sail hoisted, and a light was plainly seen, +as we supposed, from her deck, it being too high for her cabin windows. +We now held a consultation, and saw no good reason to change the +disposition of the attack, except that we agreed to board +simultaneously. It may be well to observe here, that any number of men +on a vessel's deck, in the night, have double the advantage to repel +boarders, because they may secrete themselves in such a position as to +fall upon an enemy unawares, and thereby cut them off, with little +difficulty. Being fully aware of this, I ordered the men, as soon as we +had gained the deck of the schooner, to proceed with great caution, and +keep close together, till every hazard of the enterprize was +ascertained. The boats now separated, and pulled for their respective +stations, observing the most profound silence. When we had reached +within a few yards of the schooner, we lay upon our oars for some +moments; but could neither hear nor see any thing. We then pulled away +cheerily, and the next minute were under her counter, and grappled to +her; every man leaped on the deck without opposition. The other boat +boarded nearly at the same moment, and we proceeded, in a body, with +great caution, to examine the decks. A large fire was in the caboose, +and we soon ascertained that her deck was entirely deserted, and that +she neither had any boat on deck nor to her stern. We then proceeded to +examine the cabin, leaving an armed force on deck. The cabin, like the +deck, being deserted, the mystery was easily unraveled. Probably +concluding that we should board them under cover of the night, they, no +doubt, as soon as it was dark, took to their boats, and deserted the +vessel. On the floor of the cabin was a part of an English ensign, and +some papers, which showed that she belonged to Jamaica, The little cargo +on board consisted of Jamaica rum, sugar, fruit, &c. + +The breeze now springing up, and the privateer showing lights, we were +enabled to get alongside of her in a couple of hours. A prize-master and +crew were put on board, with orders to keep company. During the night, +we ran along shore, and, in the morning, took on board the privateer the +greater part of the prize's cargo. + +Being close in shore in the afternoon, we descried a settlement of huts; +and, supposing that water might be obtained there, the two vessels were +run in, and anchored about two miles distant from the beach. A +proposition was made to me, by Captain S., to get the water-casks on +board the prize schooner, and, as she drew a light draught of water, I +was to run her in, and anchor her near the beach, taking with me the two +boats and twenty men. I observed to Captain S. that this was probably +an Indian settlement, and it was well known that all the Indian tribes +on the coast of Rio de La Hache were exceedingly ferocious, and said to +be cannibals; and it was also well known, that whosoever fell into their +hands, never escaped with their lives; so that it was necessary, before +any attempt was made to land, that some of the Indians should be decoyed +on board, and detained as hostages for our safety. At the conclusion of +this statement, a very illiberal allusion was thrown out by Captain S., +and some doubts expressed in reference to my courage; he remarking, that +if I was afraid to undertake the expedition, he would go himself. This +was enough for me; I immediately resolved to proceed, if I sacrificed my +life in the attempt. The next morning, twenty water-casks were put on +board the prize, together with the two boats and twenty men, well armed +with muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, with a supply of ammunition; I +repaired on board, got the prize under way, ran in, and anchored about +one hundred yards from the beach. The boats were got in readiness, and +the men were well armed, and the water casks slung ready to proceed on +shore, I had examined my own pistols narrowly, that morning, and had put +them in complete order, and, as I believed, had taken every precaution +for our future operations, so as to prevent surprise. + +There were about a dozen ill-constructed huts, or wigwams; but no spot +of grass, or shrub, was visible to the eye, with the exception of, here +and there, the trunk of an old tree. One solitary Indian was seen +stalking on the beach, and the whole scene presented the most wild and +savage appearance, and, to my mind, argued very unfavorably. We pulled +in with the casks in tow, seven men being in each boat; when within a +short distance of the beach, the boat's heads were put to seaward, when +the Indian came abreast of us. Addressing him in Spanish, I inquired if +water could be procured, to which he replied in the affirmative. I then +displayed to his view some gewgaws and trinkets, at which he appeared +perfectly delighted, and, with many signs and gestures, invited me on +shore. Thrusting my pistols into my belt, and buckling on my +cartridge-box, I gave orders to the boats' crew, that, in case they +discovered any thing like treachery or surprise, after I had gotten on +shore, to cut the water-casks adrift, and make the best of their way on +board the prize. As soon as I had jumped on shore, I inquired if there +were any live stock, such as fowls, &c., to be had. Pointing to a hut +about thirty yards from the boats, he said that the stock was there, +and invited me to go and see it. I hesitated, suspecting some treachery; +however, after repeating my order to the boats' crews, I proceeded with +the Indian, and when within about half a dozen yards of the hut, at a +preconcerted signal, (as I supposed,) as if by magic, at least one +hundred Indians rushed out, with the rapidity of thought. I was knocked +down, stripped of all my clothing except an inside flannel shirt, tied +hand and foot, and then taken and secured to the trunk of a large tree, +surrounded by about twenty squaws, as a guard, who, with the exception +of two or three, bore a most wild and hideous look in their appearance. +The capture of the boat's crews was simultaneous with my own, they being +so much surprised and confounded at the stratagem of the Indians, that +they had not the power, or presence of mind, to pull off. + +After they had secured our men, a number of them jumped into the boats, +pulled off, and captured the prize, without meeting with any resistance +from those on board, they being only six in number. Her cable was then +cut, and she was run on the beach, when they proceeded to dismantle her, +by cutting the sails from the bolt-ropes, and taking out what little +cargo there was, consisting of Jamaica ram, sugar, &c. This being done, +they led ropes on shore, when about one hundred of them hauled her up +nearly high and dry. + +By this time the privateer had seen our disaster stood boldly in, and +anchored within less than gun shot of the beach; they then very +foolishly opened a brisk cannonade; but every shot was spent in vain. +This exasperated the Indians, and particularly the one who had taken +possession of my pistols. Casting my eye round, I saw him creeping +toward me with one pistol presented, and when about five yards off, he +pulled the trigger. But as Providence had, no doubt, ordered it, the +pistol snapped; at the same moment, a shot from the privateer fell a few +yards from us, when the Indian rose upon his feet, cocked the pistol, +and fired it at the privateer; turning round with a most savage yell, he +threw the pistol with great violence, which grazed my head, and then, +with a large stick, beat and cut me until I was perfectly senseless. +This was about ten o'clock, and I did not recover my consciousness +until, as I supposed, about four o'clock in the afternoon. I perceived +there were four squaws around me, one of whom, from her +appearance,--having on many gewgaws and trinkets,--was the wife of a +chief. As soon as she discovered signs of returning consciousness, she +presented me with a gourd, the contents of which appeared to be Indian +meal mixed with water; she first drank, and then gave it to me, and I +can safely aver that I never drank any beverage, before or since, which +produced such relief. + +Night was now coming on; the privateer had got under weigh, and was +standing off-and-on, with a flag of truce flying at her mast-head. The +treacherous Indian with whom I had first conversed came, and with a +malignant smile, gave me the dreadful intelligence that, at twelve +o'clock that night, we were to be roasted and eaten. + +Accordingly, at sunset, I was unloosed and conducted, by a band of about +half a dozen savages, to the spot, where I found the remainder of our +men firmly secured, by having their hands tied behind them, their legs +lashed together, and each man fastened to a stake that had been driven +into the ground for that purpose. There was no possibility to elude the +vigilance of these miscreants. As soon as night shut in, a large +quantity of brushwood was piled around us, and nothing now was wanting +but the fire to complete this horrible tragedy. Then the same malicious +savage approached us once more, and, with the deepest malignity, taunted +us with our coming fate. Having some knowledge of the Indian character, +I summoned up all the fortitude of which I was capable, and, in terms +of defiance, told him, that twenty Indians would be sacrificed for each +one of us sacrificed by him. I knew very well that it would not do to +exhibit any signs of fear or cowardice; and, having heard much of the +cupidity of the Indian character, I offered the savage a large ransom if +he would use his influence to procure our release. Here the conversation +was abruptly broken off by a most hideous yell from the whole tribe, +occasioned by their having taken large draughts of the rum, which now +began to operate very sensibly upon them; and, as it will be seen, +operated very much to our advantage. This thirst for rum caused them to +relax their vigilance, and we were left alone to pursue our reflections, +which were not of the most enviable or pleasant character. A thousand +melancholy thoughts rushed over my mind. Here I was, and, in all +probability, in a few hours I should be in eternity, and my death one of +the most horrible description. "Oh!" thought I, "how many were the +entreaties and arguments used by my friends to deter me from pursuing an +avocation so full of hazard and peril! If I had taken their advice, and +acceded to their solicitations, in all probability I should, at this +time, have been in the enjoyment of much happiness." I was aroused from +this reverie by the most direful screams from the united voices of the +whole tribe, they having drunk largely of the rum, and become so much +intoxicated that a general fight ensued. Many of them lay stretched on +the ground, with tomahawks deeply implanted in their skulls: and many +others, as the common phrase is, were "dead drunk." This was an +exceedingly fortunate circumstance for us. With their senses benumbed, +of course they had forgotten their avowal to roast us, or, it may be, +the Indian to whom I proposed ransom had conferred with the others, and +they, no doubt, agreed to spare our lives until the morning. It was a +night, however, of pain and terror, as well as of the most anxious +suspense; and when the morning dawn broke upon my vision, I felt an +indescribable emotion of gratitude, as I had fully made up my mind, the +night previous, that long before this time I should have been sleeping +the sleep of death. It was a pitiable sight, when the morning light +appeared, to see twenty human beings stripped naked, with their bodies +cut and lacerated, and the blood issuing from their wounds; with their +hands and feet tied, and their bodies fastened to stakes, with brushwood +piled around them, expecting every moment to be their last. My feelings, +on this occasion, can be better imagined than described; suffice it to +say, that I had given up all hopes of escape, and gloomily resigned +myself to death. When the fumes of the liquor had in some degree worn +off from the benumbed senses of the savages, they arose and approached +us, and, for the first time, the wily Indian informed me that the tribe +had agreed to ransom us. They then cast off the lashings from our bodies +and feet, and, with our hands still secure, drove us before them to the +beach. Then another difficulty arose; the privateer was out of sight, +and the Indians became furious. To satiate their hellish malice, they +obliged us to run on the beach, while they let fly their poisoned arrows +after us. For my own part, my limbs were so benumbed that I could +scarcely walk, and I firmly resolved to stand still and take the worst +of it--which was the best plan I could have adopted; for, when they +perceived that I exhibited no signs of fear, not a single arrow was +discharged at me. Fortunately, before they grew weary of this sport, to +my great joy, the privateer hove in sight. She stood boldly in, with the +flag of truce flying, and the savages consented to let one man of their +own choosing go off in the boat to procure the stipulated ransom. The +boat returned loaded with articles of various descriptions, and two of +our men were released. The boat kept plying to and from the privateer, +bringing such articles as they demanded, until all were released except +myself. Here it may be proper to observe, that the mulatto man, who had +been selected by the Indians, performed all this duty himself, not one +of the privateer's crew daring to hazard their lives with him in the +boat. I then was left alone, and for my release they required a double +ransom. I began now seriously to think that they intended to detain me +altogether. My mulatto friend, however, pledged himself that he would +never leave me. + +Again, for the last time, he sculled the boat off. She quickly returned, +with a larger amount of articles than previously. It was a moment of the +deepest anxiety, for there had now arrived from the interior another +tribe, apparently superior in point of numbers, and elated with the +booty which had been obtained. They demanded a share, and expressed a +determination to detain me for a larger ransom. These demands were +refused, and a conflict ensued of the most frightful and terrific +character. Tomahawks, knives, and arrows, were used indiscriminately, +and many an Indian fell in that bloody contest. The tomahawks were +thrown with the swiftness of arrows, and were generally buried in the +skull or the breast; and whenever two came in contact, with the famous +"Indian hug," the strife was soon over with either one or the other, by +one plunging the deadly knife up to the hilt in the body of his +opponent; nor were the poisoned arrows of less swift execution, for, +wherever they struck, the wretched victim was quickly in eternity. I +shall never forget the frightful barbarity of that hour; although years +have elapsed since its occurrence, still the whole scene in imagination +is before me, the savage yell of the warwhoop, and the direful screams +of the squaws, still ring afresh in my ears. In the height of this +conflict, a tall Indian chief, who, I knew, belonged to the same tribe +with the young squaw who gave me the drink, came down to the beach where +I was. The boat had been discharged, and was lying with her head off. At +a signal given by the squaw to the chief, he caught me up in his arms, +with as much ease as if I had been a child, waded to the boat, threw me +in, and then, with a most expressive gesture, urged us off. Fortunately, +there were two oars in the boat, and, feeble as I was, I threw all the +remaining strength I had to the oar. It was the last effort, as life or +death hung upon the next fifteen minutes. Disappointed of a share of the +booty, the savages were frantic with rage, especially when they saw I +had eluded their grasp. Rushing to the beach, about a dozen threw +themselves into the other boat, which had been captured, and pulled +after us; but, fortunately, in their hurry, they had forgotten the +muskets, and being unacquainted with the method of rowing, of course +they made but little progress, which enabled us to increase +our distance. + +The privateer having narrowly watched all these movements, and seeing +our imminent danger, stood boldly on toward the beach, and in the next +five minutes she lay between us and the Indians, discharging a heavy +fire of musketry among them. Such was the high excitement of my +feelings, that I scarcely recollected how I gained the privateer's deck. +But I was saved, nevertheless, though I was weak with the loss of blood, +and savage treatment,--my limbs benumbed, and body scorched with the +piercing rays of the sun,--the whole scene rushing through my mind with +the celerity of electricity! It unmanned and quite overpowered me; I +fainted, and fell senseless on the deck. + +The usual restoratives and care were administered, and I soon recovered +from the effects of my capture. Some of the others were not so +fortunate; two of them, especially, were cut in a shocking manner, and +the others were so dreadfully beaten and mangled by clubs, that the +greatest care was necessary to save their lives. + + + +ESCAPE FROM SHIPWRECK. + +FROM "LIFE ON THE OCEAN." + +Received orders this day to proceed to London with the ship; and, as the +easterly gale abated, and the wind hauled round southward and westward, +we got under way, stood out of Falmouth harbor, and proceeded up the +British Channel. At sunset, it commenced to rain, and the weather was +thick and cloudy. The different lights were seen as far as the Bill of +Portland. At midnight, lost sight of the land, and it blew a gale from +off the French coast: close reefed the topsails, and steered a course so +as to keep in mid-channel. At daybreak, the ship was judged to be off +Beachy Head; the weather being so thick, the land could not be seen. The +fore and mizzen-topsails were now furled, and the ship hove to. The rain +began now to fall in torrents, and the heavy, dense, black clouds rose, +with fearful rapidity, from the northward, over the English coast, when +suddenly the wind shifted from the south-west to the north, and blew a +hurricane. The mist and fog cleared away, and, to our utter +astonishment, we found ourselves on a lee shore, on the coast of +France, off Boulogne heights. The gale was so violent, that no more sail +could be made. The ship was so exceedingly crank, that when she luffed +up on a wind, her bulwarks were under water. As she would not stay, the +only alternative was, to wear; of course, with this evolution, we lost +ground, and, consequently, were driven nearer, every moment, toward the +awful strand of rocks. The scene was now terrific; many vessels were in +sight, two of which we saw dashed on the rocks; with the tremendous roar +of the breakers, and the howling of the tempest, and the heavy sea, +which broke as high as the fore-yard, death appeared inevitable. There +was only one hope left, and that was, that, should the tide change and +take us under our lee-beam, it might possibly set us off on the +Nine-fathom bank, which is situated at a distance of twelve miles +north-northwest, off Boulogne harbor. On the event of reaching this +bank, the safety of the ship and lives of the crew depended,--as it was +determined there to try the anchors, for there was no possibility of +keeping off shore more than two hours, if the gale continued. + +We were now on the larboard tack, and, for the last half hour, it was +perceived that the tide had turned, and was setting to the northward; +this was our last and only chance, for the rocks were not more than +half a mile under our lee, and as it was necessary to get the ship's +head round on the starboard tack, which could only be done by wearing, +it was certain that much ground would be lost by that evolution. The +anchors were got ready, long ranges of cables were hauled on deck, and +the ends were clinched to the mainmast below; this being done, the axes +were at hand to cut away the masts. + +[Illustration: BEFORE THE GALE.] + +Captain G. was an old, experienced seaman; and I never saw, before +or since, more coolness, judgment, and seamanship, than were displayed +by him on this trying occasion. In this perilous trial, the most intense +anxiety was manifested by the crew, and then was heard the deep-toned +voice of Captain G., rising above the bellowing storm, commanding +silence. "Take the wheel," said he to me; and then followed the orders, +in quick succession: "Lay aft, and man the braces--see every thing clear +forward, to wear ship--steady--ease her--shiver away the +main-topsail--put your helm up--haul in the weather fore-braces,--gather +in the after-yards." The ship was now running before the wind, for a few +moments, directly for the rocks; the situation and scene were truly +awful, for she was not more than three hundred yards from the breakers. +I turned my head aside--being at the helm--to avoid the terrific sight, +and silently awaited the crisis. I was roused, at this moment, by +Captain G., who shouted, "She luffs, my boys! brace the main-yard sharp +up--haul in the larboard fore-braces--down with the fore-tack, lads, and +haul aft the sheet;--right the helm! steady, so--haul taut the +weather-braces, and belay all." These orders were given and executed in +quick succession. The ship was now on the starboard tack, plunging bows +under at every pitch. Casting a fitful glance over my shoulder, I saw +that we were apparently to leeward of the rocks. Very soon, however, it +was quite perceptible that the tide had taken her on the lee beam, and +was setting her off shore. + +The gloom began now to wear away, although it was doubtful whether we +should be able to reach the bank, and, if successful, whether the +anchors would hold on. Orders were given to lay aloft and send down the +top-gallant-yards, masts, &c. The helm was relieved, and I sprung into +the main rigging, the chief mate going up forward. With much difficulty, +I reached the main-topmast cross-trees, and, when there, it was almost +impossible to work, for the ship lay over at an angle of at least +forty-five degrees, and I found myself swinging, not perpendicularly +over the ship's deck, but at least thirty feet from it. It was no time, +however, for gazing. The yard rope was stoppered out on the quarter of +the yard, the sheets, clewlines, and buntlines, cast off, and the shift +slackened, and then simultaneously from both mast-heads the cry was +heard, "Sway, away!" The parrel cut, the yard was quickly topped and +unrigged, and then lowered away on deck. The next duty to be performed, +was sending down the top-gallant masts. After much difficulty and hard +work, this was also accomplished; and, although I felt some pride in the +performance of a dangerous service, yet, on this occasion, I was not a +little pleased when I reached the deck in safety. + +By this time, we had gained four miles off shore, and it was evident +that the soundings indicated our approach to the bank. Tackles were rove +and stretched along forward of the windlass, as well as deck-stoppers +hooked on to the ringbolts fore and aft. "Loose the fore-topsail!" +shouted Captain G., "we must reach this bank before the tide turns, or, +by morning, there will not be left a timber head of this ship, nor one +of us, to tell the sad tale of our disaster." The topsail was loosed and +set, and the ship groaned heavily under the immense pressure of canvass; +her lee rail was under water, and every moment it was expected that the +topmast or the canvass would yield. The deep-sea-lead was taken forward +and hove: when the line reached the after-part of the main channels, the +seaman's voice rose high in the air, "By the deep, nine!" It was three +o'clock. "Clew up and furl the fore-topsail!" shouted Captain G. The +topsail furled of itself, for the moment the weather sheet was started, +it blew away from the bolt-rope; the foresail was immediately hauled up +and furled. Relieved from the great pressure of canvass, and having now +nothing on her except the main-topsail and fore-topmast-staysail, she +rode more upright. The main-topsail was clewed up and fortunately saved, +the mizzen-staysail was set. "Stand by, to cut away the stoppers of the +best bower anchor--to let it go, stock and fluke," said Captain G. "Man +the fore-topmast-staysail down-haul; put your helm down! haul down the +staysail." This was done, and the ship came up handsomely, head to wind, +"See the cable tiers all clear--what water is there?" said Captain G. +The leadsman sang out in a clear voice, "And a half-eight!" By this +time, the ship had lost her way. "Are you all clear forward there?" "Ay, +ay, sir!" was the reply. "Stream the buoy, and let go the anchor!" +shouted Captain G. The order was executed as rapidly as it was given; +the anchor was on the bottom, and already had fifty fathoms of cable +run out, making the windlass smoke; and, although the cable was +weather-bitted, and every effort was made with the deck-stoppers and +tackles to check her, all was fruitless. Ninety fathoms of cable had run +out. "Stand by, to let go the larboard anchor," said Captain G.; +"Cheerily, men--let go!" In the same breath he shouted, "Hold on!" for +just then there was a lull, and having run out the best bower-cable, +nearly to the better end, she brought up. No time was now lost in +getting service on the cable, to prevent its chafing. She was now riding +to a single anchor of two thousand weight, with one hundred fathoms of a +seventeen-inch hemp cable. The sea rolled heavily, and broke in upon the +deck fore and aft; the lower yards were got down; the topsail-yards +pointed to the wind; and as the tide had now turned, the ship rode +without any strain on her cable, because it tended broad on the beam. + +The next morning presented a dismal scene, for there were more than +fifty sail in-shore of us, some of whom succeeded in reaching the bank, +and anchored with loss of sails, topmasts, &c. Many others were dashed +upon the rocks, and not a soul was left to tell the tale of their +destruction. I shall not forget that, on the second day, a Dutch +galliot was driven in to leeward of us; and although, by carrying on a +tremendous press of canvass, she succeeded in keeping off shore until +five P.M., yet, at sunset she disappeared, and was seen no more. After +our arrival in London, we learned that this unfortunate vessel was +driven on the rocks, and every soul on board perished. + +The gale continued four days, at the expiration of which time, it broke. +At midnight, the wind hauled round to the eastward, and the weather +became so excessively cold, that, although we commenced heaving in the +cable at five A.M., yet we did not get the anchor until nine that night. +Close-reefed topsails were set on the ship and we stood over to the +English coast, and anchored to the westward of Dungeness. During the +whole period of this gale, which lasted four days, Captain G. never for +one moment left the deck; and although well advanced in years, yet his +iron constitution enabled him to overcome the calls of nature for rest; +and, notwithstanding the situation of the ship, was, perhaps more +critical than many of those less fortunate vessels which stranded upon +the rocks, yet his coolness, and the seaman-like manner with which the +ship was handled, no doubt were the means of our being saved. + + + +THE HUNTER'S WIFE. + +Thomas Cooper was a fine specimen of the North American trapper. +Slightly but powerfully made, with a hardy, weather-beaten, yet handsome +face; strong, indefatigable, and a crack shot--he was admirably adapted +for a hunter's life. For many years he knew not what it was to have a +home, but lived like the beasts he hunted--wandering from one part of +the country to another, in pursuit of game. All who knew Tom were much +surprised when he came, with a pretty young wife, to settle within three +miles of a planter's farm. Many pitied the poor young creature, who +would have to lead such a solitary life; while others said, "If she was +fool enough to marry him, it was her own look-out." For nearly four +months Tom remained at home, and employed his time in making the old hut +he had fixed on for their residence more comfortable. He cleared and +tilled a small spot of land around it, and Susan began to hope that, for +her sake, he would settle down quietly as a squatter. But these visions +of happiness were soon dispelled, for, as soon as this work was +finished, he recommenced his old erratic mode of life, and was often +absent for weeks together, leaving his wife alone, yet not unprotected, +for, since his marriage, old Nero, a favorite hound, was always left at +home as her guardian. He was a noble dog--a cross between the old +Scottish deerhound and the bloodhound, and would hunt an Indian as well +as a deer or bear, which, Tom said, "was a proof they Injins was a sort +o' warmint, or why should the brute beast take to hunt 'em, nat'ral +like--him that took no notice of white men?" + +One clear, cold morning, about two years after their marriage, Susan was +awakened by a loud crash, immediately succeeded by Nero's deep baying. +She recollected that she had shut him in the house, as usual, the night +before. Supposing he had winded some solitary wolf or bear prowling +around the hut, and effected his escape, she took little notice of the +circumstance; but a few moments after came a shrill, wild cry, which +made her blood run cold. To spring from her bed, throw on her clothes, +and rush from the hut, was the work of a minute. She no longer doubted +what the hound was in pursuit of. Fearful thoughts shot through her +brain; she called wildly on Nero, and, to her joy, he came dashing +through the thick underwood. As the dog drew near, she saw that he +galloped heavily, and carried in his mouth some large, dark creature. +Her brain reeled; she felt a cold and sickly shudder dart through her +limbs. But Susan was a hunter's daughter, and, all her life, had been +accustomed to witness scenes of danger and of horror, and in this school +had learned to subdue the natural timidity of her character. With a +powerful effort, she recovered herself, just as Nero dropped at her feet +a little Indian child, apparently between three and four years old. She +bent down over him; but there was no sound or motion: she placed her +hand on his little, naked chest; the heart within had ceased to beat: he +was dead! The deep marks of the dog's fangs were visible on the neck; +but the body was untorn. Old Nero stood, with his large, bright eyes +fixed on the face of his mistress, fawning on her, as if he expected to +be praised for what he had done, and seemed to wonder why she looked so +terrified. But Susan spurned him from her; and the fierce animal, who +would have pulled down an Indian as he would a deer, crouched humbly at +the young woman's feet. Susan carried the little body gently in her arms +to the hut, and laid it on her own bed. Her first impulse was to seize +the loaded rifle that hung over the fire-place, and shoot the hound; and +yet she felt she could not do it, for, in the lone life she led, the +faithful animal seemed like a dear and valued friend, who loved and +watched over her, as if aware of the precious charge intrusted to him. +She thought, also, of what her husband would say, when, on his return, +he should find his old companion dead. Susan had never seen Tom roused. +To her he had ever shown nothing but kindness; yet she feared as well as +loved him, for there was a fire in those dark eyes which told of deep, +wild passions hidden in his breast, and she knew that the lives of a +whole tribe of Indians would be light in the balance against that of his +favorite hound. + +Having securely fastened up Nero, Susan, with a heavy heart, proceeded +to examine the ground around the hut. In several places she observed the +impression of a small moccasined foot; but not a child's. The tracks +were deeply marked, unlike the usual light, elastic tread of an Indian. +From this circumstance Susan easily inferred that the woman had been +carrying her child when attacked by the dog. There was nothing to show +why she had come so near the hut: most probably the hopes of some petty +plunder had been the inducement. Susan did not dare to wander far from +home, fearing a band of Indians might be in the neighborhood. She +returned sorrowfully to the hut, and employed herself in blocking up +the window, or rather the hole where the window had been, for the +powerful hound had, in his leap, dashed out the entire frame, and +shattered it to pieces. When this was finished, Susan dug a grave, and +in it laid the little Indian boy. She made it close to the hut, for she +could not bear that wolves should devour those delicate limbs, and she +knew that there it would be safe. The next day Tom returned. He had been +very unsuccessful, and intended setting out again, in a few days, in a +different direction. + +"Susan," he said, when he had heard her sad story, "I wish you'd left +the child where the dog killed him. The squaw's high sartain to come +back a seekin' for the body, and 'tis a pity the poor crittur should be +disappointed. Besides, the Indians will be high sartain to put it down +to us; whereas, if so be as they'd found the body 'pon the spot, may be +they'd onderstand as 'twas an accident like, for they 're unkimmon +cunning warmint, though they an't got sense like Christians." + +"Why do you think the poor woman came here?" said Susan. "I never knew +an Indian squaw so near the hut before?" + +She fancied a dark shadow flitted across her husband's brow. He made no +reply; and, on repeating the question, said angrily, "How should I +know? 'Tis as well to ask for a bear's reasons as an Injin's." + +Tom only staid at home long enough to mend the broken window, and plant +a small spot of Indian corn, and then again set out, telling Susan not +to expect him home in less than a month. "If that squaw comes this way +agin," he said, "as may be she will, just put out any victuals you've +a-got for the poor crittur; though may be she wont come, for they Injins +be onkimmon skeary." Susan wondered at his taking an interest in the +woman, and often thought of that dark look she had noticed, and of Tom's +unwillingness to speak on the subject. She never knew that on his last +hunting expedition, when hiding some skins which he intended to fetch on +his return, he had observed an Indian watching him, and had shot him, +with as little mercy as he would have shown to a wolf. On Tom's return +to the spot, the body was gone; and in the soft, damp soil was the mark +of an Indian squaw's foot; and by its side, a little child's. He was +sorry then for the deed he had done; he thought of the grief of the poor +widow, and how it would be possible for her to live until she could +reach her tribe, who were far, far distant, at the foot of the Rocky +Mountains; and now to feel, that, through his means, too, she had lost +her child, put thoughts into his mind that had never before found a +place there. He thought that one God had formed the red man as well as +the white--of the souls of the many Indians hurried into eternity by his +unerring rifle; and they, perhaps, were more fitted for their "happy +hunting grounds," than he for the white man's heaven. In this state of +mind, every word his wife had said to him seemed a reproach, and he was +glad again to be alone, in the forest, with his rifle and his hounds. + +The afternoon of the third day after Tom's departure, as Susan was +sitting at work, she heard something scratching and whining at the door. +Nero, who was by her side, evinced no signs of anger, but ran to the +door, showing his white teeth, as was his custom when pleased. Susan +unbarred it, when, to her astonishment, the two deerhounds her husband +had taken with him, walked into the hut, looking weary and soiled. At +first she thought Tom might have killed a deer not far from home, and +had brought her a fresh supply of venison; but no one was there. She +rushed from the hut, and soon, breathless and terrified, reached the +squatter's cabin. John Wilton and his three sons were just returned from +the clearings, when Susan ran into their comfortable kitchen; her long, +black hair, streaming on her shoulders, and her wild and bloodshot +eyes, gave her the appearance of a maniac. In a few unconnected words, +she explained to them the cause of her terror, and implored them to set +off immediately in search of her husband. It was in vain they told her +of the uselessness of going at that time--of the impossibility of +following a trail in the dark. She said she would go herself: she felt +sure of finding him; and, at last, they were obliged to use force to +prevent her leaving the house. + +The next morning at daybreak, Wilton and his two sons were mounted, and +ready to set out, intending to take Nero with them; but nothing could +induce him to leave his mistress: he resisted passively for some time, +until one of the young men attempted to pass a rope round his neck, to +drag him away: then his forbearance vanished, and he sprang upon his +tormentor, threw him down, and would have strangled him, if Susan had +not been present. Finding it impossible to make Nero accompany them, +they left without him, but had not proceeded many miles before he and +his mistress were at their side. They begged Susan to return; told her +of the inconvenience she would be to them. It was no avail; she had but +one answer,--"I am a hunter's daughter, and a hunter's wife." She told +them that, knowing how useful Nero would be to them in their search, +she had secretly taken a horse and followed them. + +The party rode first to Tom Cooper's hut, and there, having dismounted, +leading their horses through the forest, followed the trail, as only men +long accustomed to savage life can do. At night they lay on the ground, +covered with their thick, bear-skin cloaks: for Susan only, they heaped +a bed of dried leaves; but she refused to occupy it, saying, it was her +duty to bear the same hardships they did. Ever since their departure, +she had shown no sign of sorrow. Although slight and delicately formed, +she never appeared fatigued: her whole soul was absorbed in one longing +desire--to find her husband's body; for, from the first, she had +abandoned the hope of ever again seeing him in life. This desire +supported her through everything. Early the next morning they were on +the trail. About noon, as they were crossing a small brook, the hound +suddenly dashed away from them, and was lost in the thicket. At first +they fancied they might have crossed the track of a deer or wolf; but a +long, mournful howl soon told the sad truth, for, not far from the +brook, lay the faithful dog on the dead body of his master, which was +pierced to the heart by an Indian arrow. + +The murderer had apparently been afraid to approach on account of the +dogs, for the body was left as it had fallen--not even the rifle was +gone. No sign of Indians could be discovered, save one small footprint, +which was instantly pronounced to be that of a squaw. Susan showed no +grief at the sight of the body: she maintained the same forced calmness, +and seemed comforted that it was found. Old Wilton staid with her to +remove all that now remained of her darling husband, and his two sons +set out on the trail, which soon led them into the open prairie, where +it was easily traced through the tall, thick grass. They continued +riding all that afternoon, and the next morning by daybreak were again +on the track, which they followed to the banks of a wide but shallow +stream. There they saw the remains of a fire. One of the brothers thrust +his hand among the ashes, which were still warm. They crossed the river; +and, in the soft sand on the opposite bank, saw again the print of +small, moccasined footsteps. Here they were at a loss; for the rank +prairie-grass had been consumed by one of those fearful fires so common +in the prairies, and in its stead grew short, sweet herbage, where even +an Indian's eye could observe no trace. They were on the point of +abandoning the pursuit, when Richard, the younger of the two, called his +brother's attention to Nero, who had, of his own accord, left his +mistress to accompany them, an if he now understood what they were +about. The hound was trotting to and fro, with his nose to the ground, +as if endeavoring to pick out a cold scent Edward laughed at his +brother, and pointed to the track of a deer that had come to drink at +the river. At last he agreed to follow Nero, who was now cantering +slowly across the prairie. The pace gradually increased, until, on a +spot where the grass had grown more luxuriantly than elsewhere, Nero +threw up his nose, gave a deep bay, and started off at so furious a +pace, that, although well mounted, they had great difficulty in keeping +up with him. He soon brought them to the borders of another forest, +where, finding it impossible to take their horses further, they tethered +them to a tree, and set off again on foot. They lost sight of the hound, +but still, from time to time, heard his loud baying far away. At last +they fancied it sounded nearer instead of becoming less distinct; and of +this they were soon convinced. They still went on in the direction +whence the sound proceeded, until they saw Nero sitting with his +fore-paws against the trunk of a tree, no longer mouthing like a +well-trained hound, but yelling like a fury. They looked up in the tree, +but could see nothing, until, at last, Edward espied a large hollow +about half way up the trunk. "I was right, you see," he said. "After +all, it nothing but a bear; but we may as well shoot the brute that has +given us so much trouble." + +They set to work immediately with their axes to fell the tree. It began +to totter, when a dark object, they could not tell what, in the dim +twilight, crawled from its place of concealment to the extremity of a +branch, and from thence sprung into the next tree. Snatching up their +rifles, they both fired together; when, to their astonishment, instead +of a bear, a young Indian squaw, with a wild yell, fell to the ground. +They ran to the spot where she lay motionless, and carried her to the +borders of the wood, where they had that morning dismounted. Richard +lifted her on his horse, and springing himself into the saddle, carried +the almost lifeless body before him. The poor creature never spoke. +Several times they stopped, thinking she was dead: her pulse only told +the spirit had not flown from its earthly tenement. When they reached +the river which had been crossed by them before, they washed the wounds, +and sprinkled water on her face. This appeared to revive her; and when +Richard again lifted her in his arms to place her on his horse, he +fancied he heard her mutter, in Iroquois, one word,--"revenged!" It was +a strange sight, those two powerful men tending so carefully the being +they had a few hours before sought to slay, and endeavoring to stanch +the blood that flowed from wounds which they had made! Yet so it was. It +would have appeared to them a sin to leave the Indian woman to die; yet +they felt no remorse at having inflicted the wound, and doubtless would +have been better pleased had it been mortal; but they would not have +murdered a wounded enemy, even an Indian warrior, still less a squaw. +The party continued their journey until midnight, when they stopped, to +rest their jaded horses. Having wrapped the squaw in their bear-skins, +they lay down themselves, with no covering save the clothes they wore. +They were in no want of provisions, as, not knowing when they might +return, they had taken a good supply of bread and dried venison, not +wishing to loose any precious time in seeking food while on the trail. +The brandy still remaining in their flasks, they preserved for the use +of their captive. The evening of the following day, they reached the +trapper's hut, where they were not a little surprised to find Susan. She +told them that, although John Wilton had begged her to live with them, +she could not bear to leave the spot where everything reminded her of +one to think of whom was now her only consolation; and that, while she +had Nero, she feared nothing. They needed not to tell their mournful +tale--Susan already understood it but too clearly. She begged them to +leave the Indian woman with her. "You have no one," said she, "to tend +and watch her as I can do; besides, it is not right that I should lay +such a burden on you." Although unwilling to impose on her mind the +painful task of nursing her husband's murderess, they could not allow +but that she was right; and seeing how earnestly she desired it, at last +consented to leave the Indian woman with her. + +For many weeks Susan nursed her charge, as tenderly as if it had been +her sister. At first she lay almost motionless, and rarely spoke; then +she grew delirious, and raved wildly. Susan fortunately could not +understand what she said, but often turned shuddering away, when the +Indian woman would strive to rise from her bed, and move her arms, as if +drawing a bow; or yell wildly, and cower in terror beneath the +clothes--reacting in her delirium the fearful scenes through which she +had passed. By degrees reason returned; she gradually got better, but +seemed restless and unhappy, and could not bear the sight of Nero. The +first proof of returning reason she had shown, was a shriek of terror +when he once accidentally followed his mistress into the room where she +lay. One morning Susan missed her; she searched around the hut, but she +was gone, without having taken farewell of her kind benefactress. + +A few years after, Susan Cooper,--no longer "pretty Susan," for time and +grief had done their work--heard, late one night, a hurried knock, which +was repeated several times before she could open the door, each time +more loudly than before. She called to ask who it was at that late hour +of night. A few hurried words in Iroquois was the reply, and Susan +congratulated herself on having spoken before unbarring the door. But, +on listening again, she distinctly heard the same voice say, +"Quick--quick!" and recognized it as the Indian woman's voice she had +nursed. The door was instantly opened, when the squaw rushed into the +hut, seized Susan by the arm, and made signs to her to come away. She +was too much excited to remember then the few words of English she had +picked up when living with the white woman. Expressing her meaning by +gestures, with a clearness peculiar to the Indians, she dragged rather +than led Susan from the hut. They had just reached the edge of the +forest when the wild yells of the Indians sounded in their ears. Having +gone with Susan a little way into the forest, her guide left her. For +nearly four hours she lay there, half dead with cold and terror, not +daring to move from her place of concealment. She saw the flames of the +dwelling, where so many lonely hours had been passed, rising above the +trees, and heard the shrill "whoops" of the retiring Indians. Nero, who +was lying by her side, suddenly rose and gave a low growl. Silently a +dark figure came gliding among the trees directly to the spot where she +lay. She gave herself up for lost; but it was the Indian woman, who came +to her, and dropped at her feet a bag of money, the remains of her late +husband's savings. The grateful creature knew where it was kept; and +while the Indians were busied examining the rifles and other objects +more interesting to them, had carried it off unobserved. Waving her arm +around to show that all was now quiet, she pointed in the direction of +Wilton's house, and was again lost among the trees. + +Day was just breaking when Susan reached the squatter's cabin. Having +heard the sad story, Wilton and two of his sons started immediately for +the spot. Nothing was to be seen save a heap of ashes. The party had +apparently consisted of only three or four Indians; but a powerful tribe +being in the neighborhood, they saw it would be too hazardous to follow +them. From this time, Susan lived with the Wiltons. She was as a +daughter to the old man, and a sister to his sons, who often said, +"That, as far as they were concerned, the Indians had never done a +kindlier action than in burning down Susan Cooper's hut." + + + +DEAF SMITH, + +THE CELEBRATED TEXAN SPY. + +About two years after the Texan revolution, a difficulty occurred +between the new government and a portion of the people, which threatened +the most serious consequences--even the bloodshed and horrors of civil +war. Briefly, the cause was this: The constitution had fixed the city of +Austin as the permanent capital, where the public archives were to be +kept, with the reservation, however, of a power in the president to +order their temporary removal, in case of danger from the inroads of a +foreign enemy, or the force of a sudden insurrection. + +Conceiving that the exceptional emergency had arrived, as the Camanches +frequently committed ravages within sight of the capital itself, +Houston, who then resided at Washington, on the Brazos, dispatched an +order commanding his subordinate functionaries to send the state records +to the latter place, which he declared to be, _pro tempore_, the seat of +government. + +It is impossible to describe the stormy excitement which the +promulgation of this fiat raised in Austin. The keepers of hotels, +boarding-houses, groceries, and faro-banks, were thunderstruck,--maddened +to frenzy; for the measure would be a death-blow to their prosperity +in business; and, accordingly, they determined at once to take the +necessary steps to avert the danger, by opposing the execution of +Houston's mandate. They called a mass meeting of the citizens and +farmers of the circumjacent country, who were all more or less +interested in the question; and, after many fiery speeches against +the asserted tyranny of the administration, it was unanimously resolved +to prevent the removal of the archives, by open and armed resistance. +To that end, they organized a company of four hundred men; one moiety +of whom, relieving the other at regular periods of duty, should keep +constant guard around the state-house until the peril passed by. The +commander of this force was one Colonel Morton, who had achieved +considerable renown in the war for independence, and had still more +recently displayed desperate bravery in two desperate duels, in both of +which he had cut his antagonist nearly to pieces with the bowie-knife. +Indeed, from the notoriety of his character, for revenge as well as +courage, it was thought that President Houston would renounce his +purpose touching the archives, so soon as he should learn who was the +leader of the opposition. + +Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully equaled his personal prowess, +encouraged and justified the prevailing opinion, by his boastful +threats. He swore that if the president did succeed in removing the +records by the march of an overpowering force, he would then, himself, +hunt him down like a wolf, and shoot him with as little ceremony, or +stab him in his bed, or waylay him in his walks of recreation. He even +wrote the hero of San Jacinto to that effect. The latter replied in a +note of laconic brevity: + +"If the people of Austin do not send the archives, I shall certainly +come and take them; and if Colonel Morton can kill me, he is welcome to +my ear-cap." + +On the reception of this answer, the guard was doubled around the +state-house. Chosen sentinels were stationed along the road leading to +the capital, the military paraded the streets from morning till night, +and a select caucus held permanent session in the city hall. In short, +everything betokened a coming tempest. + +One day, while matters were in this precarious condition, the caucus at +the city hall was surprised by the sudden appearance of a stranger, +whose mode of entering was as extraordinary as his looks and dress. He +did not knock at the closed door--he did not seek admission there at +all; but climbing, unseen, a small, bushy-topped, live oak, which grew +beside the wall, he leaped, without sound or warning, through a lofty +window. He was clothed altogether in buckskin, carried a long and heavy +rifle in his hand, wore at the button of his left suspender a large +bowie-knife, and had in his leathern belt a couple of pistols half the +length of his gun. He was tall, straight as an arrow, active as a +panther in his motions, with dark complexion, and luxuriant, jetty hair, +with a severe, iron-like countenance, that seemed never to have known a +smile, and eyes of intense, vivid black, wild and rolling, and piercing +as the point of a dagger. His strange advent inspired a thrill of +involuntary fear, and many present unconsciously grasped the handles of +their side-arms. + +"Who are you, that thus presumes to intrude among gentlemen, without +invitation?" demanded Colonel Morton, ferociously essaying to cow down +the stranger with his eye. + +The latter returned his stare with compound interest, and laid his long, +bony finger on his lip, as a sign--but of what, the spectators could +not imagine. + +"Who are you? Speak! or I will cut an answer out of your heart!" shouted +Morton, almost distracted with rage, by the cool, sneering gaze of the +other, who now removed his finger from his lip, and laid it on the hilt +of his monstrous knife. + +The fiery colonel then drew his dagger, and was in the act of advancing +upon the stranger, when several caught him and held him back, +remonstrating. "Let him alone, Morton, for God's sake. Do you not +perceive that he is crazy?" + +At the moment, Judge Webb, a man of shrewd intellect and courteous +manners, stepped forward, and addressed the intruder in a most +respectful manner: + +"My good friend, I presume you have made a mistake in the house. This is +a private meeting, where none but members are admitted." + +The stranger did not appear to comprehend the words; but he could not +fail to understand the mild and deprecatory manner. His rigid features +relaxed, and moving to a table in the center of the hall, where there +were materials and implements for writing, he seized a pen, and traced +one line: "I am deaf." He then held it up before the spectators, as a +sort of natural apology for his own want of politeness. + +Judge Webb took the paper, and wrote a question: "Dear sir, will you be +so obliging as to inform us what is your business with the +present meeting?" + +The other responded by delivering a letter, inscribed on the back, "To +the citizens of Austin." They broke the seal and read it aloud. It was +from Houston, and showed the usual terse brevity of his style: + +"FELLOW CITIZENS:--Though in error, and deceived by the arts of +traitors, I will give you three days more to decide whether you will +surrender the public archives. At the end of that time you will please +let me know your decision." + +SAM. HOUSTON. + +After the reading, the deaf man waited a few seconds, as if for a reply, +and then turned and was about to leave the hall, when Colonel Morton, +interposed, and sternly beckoned him back to the table. The stranger +obeyed, and Morton wrote: "You were brave enough to insult me by your +threatening looks ten minutes ago; are you brave enough now to give me +satisfaction?" + +The stranger penned his reply: "I am at your service!" + +Morton wrote again: "Who will be your second?" + +The stranger rejoined: "I am too generous to seek an advantage; and too +brave to fear any on part of others; therefore, I never need the aid of +a second." + +Morton penned: "Name your terms." + +The stranger traced, without a moment's hesitation: "Time, sunset this +evening; place, the left bank of the Colorado, opposite Austin; weapons, +rifles; and distance, a hundred yards. Do not fail to be in time!" + +He then took three steps across the floor, and disappeared through the +window, as he had entered. + +"What?" exclaimed Judge Webb, "is it possible Colonel Morton, that you +intend to fight that man? He is a mute, if not a positive maniac. Such a +meeting, I fear, will sadly tarnish the luster of your laurels." + +"You are mistaken," replied Morton, with a smile; "that mute is a hero +whose fame stands in the records of a dozen battles, and at least half +as many bloody duels. Besides, he is the favorite emissary and bosom +friend of Houston. If I have the good fortune to kill him, I think it +will tempt the president to retract his vow against venturing any more +on the field of honor." + +"You know the man, then. Who is he? Who is he?" asked twenty voices +together. + +"Deaf Smith," answered Morton, coolly. + +"Why, no; that can not be. Deaf Smith was slain at San Jacinto," +remarked Judge Webb. + +"There, again, your honor is mistaken," said Morton. "The story of +Smith's death was a mere fiction, got up by Houston to save the life of +his favorite from the sworn vengeance of certain Texans, on whose +conduct he had acted as a spy. I fathomed the artifice twelve +months since." + +"If what you say be true, you are a madman yourself!" exclaimed Webb. +"Deaf Smith was was never known to miss his mark. He has often brought +down ravens in their most rapid flight, and killed Camanches and +Mexicans at a distance of of two hundred and fifty yards!" + +"Say no more," answered Colonel Morton, in tones of deep determination; +"the thing is already settled. I have already agreed to meet him. There +can be no disgrace in falling before such a shot, and, if I succeed, my +triumph will confer the greater glory!" + +Such was the general habit of thought and feeling prevalent throughout +Texas at that period. + +Toward evening a vast crowd assembled at the place appointed to witness +the hostile meeting; and so great was the popular recklessness as to +affairs of the sort, that numerous and considerable sums were wagered on +the result. At length the red orb of the summer sun touched the curved +rim of the western horizon, covering it all with crimson and gold, and +filling the air with a flood of burning glory; and then the two mortal +antagonists, armed with long, ponderous rifles, took their stations, +back to back, and at a preconcerted signal--the waving of a white +handkerchief--walked slowly and steadily off, in opposite directions, +counting their steps until each had measured fifty. They both completed +the given number about the same instant, and then they wheeled, each to +aim and fire when he chose. As the distance was great, both paused for +some seconds--long enough for the beholders to flash their eyes from one +to the other, and mark the striking contrast betwixt them. The face of +Colonel Morton was calm and smiling; but the smile it bore had a most +murderous meaning. On the contrary, the countenance of Deaf Smith was +stern and passionless as ever. A side view of his features might have +been mistaken for a profile done in cast iron. The one, too, was +dressed in the richest cloth; the other in smoke-tinted leather. But +that made no difference in Texas then; for the heirs of heroic courage +were all considered peers--the class of inferiors embraced none +but cowards. + +Presently two rifles exploded with simultaneous roars. Colonel Morton +gave a prodigious bound upward, and dropped to the earth a corpse! Deaf +Smith stood erect, and immediately began to reload his rifle; and then, +having finished his brief task, he hastened away into the +adjacent forest. + +Three days afterward, General Houston, accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten +other men, appeared in Austin, and, without further opposition, removed +the state papers. + +The history of the hero of the foregoing anecdote was one of the most +extraordinary ever known in the West. He made his advent in Texas at an +early period, and continued to reside there until his death, which +happened some two years ago; but, although he had many warm personal +friends, no one could ever ascertain either the land of his birth, or a +single gleam of his previous biography. When he was questioned on the +subject, he laid his finger on his lip; and if pressed more urgently, +his brow writhed, and his dark eye seemed to shoot sparks of livid fire! +He could write with astonishing correctness and facility, considering +his situation; and, although denied the exquisite pleasure and priceless +advantages of the sense of hearing, nature had given him ample +compensation, by an eye, quick and far-seeing as an eagle's; and a +smell, keen and incredible as that of a raven. He could discover objects +moving miles away in the far-off prairie, when others could perceive +nothing but earth and sky; and the rangers used to declare that he could +catch the scent of a Mexican or Indian at as great a distance as a +buzzard could distinguish the odor of a dead carcass. + +It was these qualities which fitted him so well for a spy, in which +capacity he rendered invaluable services to Houston's army during the +war of independence. He always went alone, and generally obtained the +information desired. His habits in private life were equally singular. +He could never be persuaded to sleep under the roof of a house, or even +to use a tent-cloth. Wrapped in his blanket, he loved to lie out in the +open air, under the blue canopy of pure ether, and count the stars, or +gaze, with a yearning look, at the melancholy moon. When not employed as +a spy or guide, he subsisted by hunting, being often absent on solitary +excursions for weeks and even months together, in the wilderness. He was +a genuine son of nature, a grown up child of the woods and prairie, +which he worshiped with a sort of Pagan adoration. Excluded by his +infirmities from cordial fellowship with his kind, he made the inanimate +things of the earth his friends, and entered, by the heart's own +adoption, into brotherhood with the luminaries of heaven! Wherever there +was land or water, barren rocks or tangled brakes of wild, waving cane, +there was Deaf Smith's home, and there he was happy; but in the streets +of great cities, in all the great thoroughfares of men, wherever there +was flattery or fawning, base cunning or craven fear, there was Deaf +Smith an alien and an exile. + +Strange soul! he hath departed on the long journey, away among those +high, bright stars, which were his night-lamps; and he hath either +solved or ceased to ponder the deep mystery of the magic word, "life." +He is dead; therefore let his errors rest in oblivion, and his virtues +be remembered with hope. + + + +ESCAPE FROM A SHARK. + +While she was lying in the harbor at Havana, it was very hot on board +the Royal Consort, about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 14th of +July. There was not the slightest movement in the air; the rays of the +sun seemed to burn down into the water. Silence took hold of the +animated creation. It was too hot to talk, whistle, or sing; to bark, to +crow, or to bray. Every thing crept under cover, but Sambo and Cuffee, +two fine-looking blacks, who sat sunning themselves on the quay, and +thought "him berry pleasant weather," and glistened like a new +Bristol bottle. + +Sambo and Cuffee, as we have said, were sitting on the quay, enjoying +the pleasant sunshine, and making their evening repast of banana, when +they heard the plunge into the water by the side of the Royal Consort, +and presently saw Brook Watson emerging from the deep, his hands to his +eyes to free them from the brine, balancing up and down, spattering the +water from his mouth, and then throwing himself forward, hand over hand, +as if at length he really felt himself in his element. + +"Oh, Massa Bacra!" roared out Sambo, as soon as he could recover from +his astonishment enough to speak, "Oh, Senor! he white man neber go to +swim! Oh, de tiburon! he berry bad bite, come de shark; he hab berry big +mouth; he eatee a Senor all up down!" + +Such was the exclamation of Sambo, in the best English he had been able +to pick up, in a few years' service, in unlading the American vessels, +that came to the Havana. It was intended to apprise the bold but +inexperienced stranger, that the waters were filled with sharks, and +that it was dangerous to swim in them. The words were scarcely uttered, +and, even if they were heard, had not time to produce their effect, when +Cuffee responded to the exclamation of his sable colleague, with-- + +"Oh, Madre de Dios! see, see, de tiburon! de shark!--ah, San Salvador! +ah, pobre joven! matar, todo comer, he eat him all down, berry soon!" + +This second cry had been drawn from the kind-hearted negro, by seeing, +at a distance in the water a smooth-shooting streak, which an +inexperienced eye would not have noticed, but which Sambo and Cuffee +knew full well. It was the wake of a shark. At a distance of a mile or +two, the shark had perceived his prey; and, with the rapidity of sound, +he had shot across the intervening space, scarcely disturbing the +surface with a ripple. Cuffee's practiced eye alone had seen a flash of +his tail, at the distance of a mile and a half; and, raising his voice +to the utmost of his strength, he had endeavored to apprise the +incautious swimmer of his danger. Brook heard the shout, and turned his +eye in the direction in which the negro pointed; and, well skilled in +all the appearances of the water, under which he could see almost as +well as in the open air, he perceived the sharp forehead of the fearful +animal rushing toward him, head on, with a rapidity; which bade defiance +to flight. + +[Illustration: ESCAPE FROM A SHARK] + +In a moment, the dreadful monster had shot across the entire space that +separated him from Brook; and had stopped, as if its vitality had been, +instantly arrested, at the distance of about twelve feet from our +swimmer. Brook had drawn himself up in the most pugnacious attitude +possible, and, was treading water with great activity. The shark, +probably unused to any signs of making battle, remained, for one moment, +quiet; and then, like a flash of lightning, shot sidelong off, and came +round in the rear. Brook, however, was as wide awake as his enemy. + +The plashing of the oars of Sambo and Cuffee warned the sagacious +monster of gathering foes. Whirling himself over on his back, and +turning up his long, white belly, and opening his terrific jaws, set +round with a double row of broad, serrated teeth, the whole roof of his +mouth paved with horrent fangs, all standing erect, sharp, and rigid, +just permitting the blood-bright red to be seen between their roots, he +darted toward Brook. Brook's self-possession stood by him in this trying +moment. He knew very well if the animal reached him in a vital part, +that instant death was his fate; and, with a rapid movement, either of +instinct or calculation, he threw himself backward, kicking, at the same +moment, at the shark. In consequence of this movement, his foot and leg +passed into the horrid maw of the dreadful monster, and were severed in +a moment,--muscles, sinews, and bone. In the next moment, Sambo and +Cuffee were at his side; and lifted him into the boat, convulsed with +pain, and fainting with loss of blood. Brook was taken on board, +bandages and styptics were applied, and in due season the youth +recovered. + +The place of his lost limb was supplied by a wooden one; and industry, +temperance, probity, and zeal, supplied the place of a regiment of legs, +when employed to prop up a lazy and dissipated frame. + + + +ADVENTURE WITH PIRATES. + +FROM "FORTUNE'S ADVENTURES IN CHINA." + +Early in the morning, the whole fleet was in motion, starting all +together, for the sake of mutual protection. The wind and tide were both +fair, and we proceeded along the coast with great rapidity, and were +soon out of sight of the Min and its beautiful and romantic scenery. The +plan of mutual protection soon seemed to be abandoned, and the vessels +soon separated into threes and fours, each getting on as well and as +fast as it could. About four o'clock in the afternoon, and when we were +some fifty or sixty miles from the Min, the captain and the pilot came +hurriedly down to my cabin, and informed me that they saw a number of +Jan-dous, right ahead, lying in wait for us. I ridiculed the idea, and +told them that they imagined every junk they saw to be a pirate; but +they still maintained that they were so, and I therefore considered it +prudent to be prepared for the worst. I got out of bed, ill and feverish +as I was, and carefully examined my fire-arms, clearing the nipples of +my gun and pistols, and putting on fresh caps. I also rammed down a +ball upon the top of each charge of shot in my gun, put a pistol in each +side-pocket, and patiently awaited for the result. By the aid of a small +pocket-telescope, I could see, as the nearest junk approached, that her +deck was crowded with men; I then had no longer any doubts regarding her +intentions. The pilot, an intelligent old man, now came up to me, and +said that he thought resistance would be of no use; I might manage to +beat off one junk, or even two, but I had no chance with five of them. +Being at that time in no mood to take advice, or be dictated by any one, +I ordered him off to look after his own duty. I knew perfectly well, +that if we were taken by the pirates, I had not the slightest chance of +escape; for the first thing they would do, would be to knock me on the +head and throw me overboard, as they would deem it dangerous to +themselves were I to get away. At the same time, I must confess, I had +little hopes of being able to beat off such a number, and devoutly +wished myself anywhere rather than where I was. The scene around me was +a strange one. The captain, pilot, and one or two native passengers were +taking up the boards of the cabin floor, and putting their money and +other valuables out of sight, among the ballast. The common sailors, +too, had their copper cash, or "tsien," to hide; and the whole place +was in a state of bustle and confusion. When all their more valuable +property was hidden, they began to make some preparations for defense. +Baskets of small stones were brought up from the hold, and emptied out +on the most convenient parts of the deck, and were intended to be used +instead of fire-arms, when the pirates came to close quarters. This is a +common mode of defense in various parts of China, and is effectual +enough when the enemy has only similar weapons to bring against them; +but on the coast of Fokien, where we were now, all the pirate junks +carried guns; and, consequently, a whole deck-load of stones could be of +little use against them. + +I was surrounded by several of the crew, who might well be called "Job's +comforters," some suggesting one thing and some another; and many +proposed that we should bring the junk round and run back to the Min. +The nearest pirate was now within two or three hundred yards of us, and, +putting her helm down, gave us a broadside from her guns. All was now +dismay and consternation on board our junk, and every man ran below, +except two who were at the helm. I expected every moment that these also +would leave their post; and then we should have been an easy prey to +the pirates. "My gun is nearer you than those of the Jan-dous," said I +to the two men, "and if you move from the helm, depend upon it, I will +shoot you." The poor fellows looked very uncomfortable; but, I suppose, +thought they had better stand the fire of the pirates than mine, and +kept at their post. Large boards, heaps of old clothes, mats, and things +of that sort, which were at hand, were thrown up to protect us from the +shot; and, as we had every stitch of sail set, and a fair wind, we were +going through the water at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour. + +The shot from the pirate fell considerably short of us, I was therefore +enabled to form an opinion of the range and power of their guns, which +was of some use to me. Assistance from our cowardly crew was quite out +of the question, for there was not a man among them brave enough to use +the stones which he had brought on deck; and which, perhaps, might have +been of some little use when the pirates came nearer. The fair wind and +all the press of sail which we had crowded on the junk proved of no use +to us. Again the nearest pirate fired on us. The shot this time fell +just under our stern. I still remained quiet, as I had determined not to +fire a single shot until I was quite certain my gun would take effect. +The third broadside, which followed this, came whizzing over our heads +and through the sails, without, however, wounding either the men at the +helm or myself. + +The pirates now seemed quite sure of their prize, and came down upon us, +hooting and yelling like demons, at the same time loading their guns, +and evidently determined not to spare their shot. This was a moment of +intense interest. The plan which I had formed from the first, was now +about to be put to proof; and, if the pirates were not the cowards which +I believed them to be, nothing could save us from falling into their +hands. Their fearful yells seem to be ringing in my ears even now, after +this lapse of time, and when I am on the other side of the globe. + +The nearest junk was now within thirty yards of ours; their guns were +loaded, and I knew that the next discharge would completely rake our +decks "Now," said I to our helmsman, "keep your eyes fixed on me, and +the moment you see me fall flat on the deck, you must do the same, or +you will be shot." I knew that the pirate, who was now on our stern, +could not bring his guns to bear upon us, without putting his helm down +and bringing his gangway at right angles with our stern, as his guns +were fired from the gangway. I therefore kept a sharp eye upon the +helmsman, and the moment I saw him putting the helm down, I ordered our +steersman to fall flat on their faces behind some wood, and, at the same +moment, did so myself. We had scarcely done so, when bang! bang! went +their guns, and the shot came whizzing close over us, splintering the +wood about us in all directions. Fortunately none of us were struck. +"Now, mandarin, now! they are quite close enough," cried out my +companions, who did not wish to have another broadside like the last. I, +being of the same opinion, raised myself above the high stern of our +junk; and while the pirates were not more than twenty yards from us, +hooting and yelling, I raked their decks, fore and aft, with shot and +ball from my double-barreled gun. + +Had a thunderbolt fallen among them, they could not have been more +surprised. Doubtless, many were wounded, and probably some killed. At +all events, the whole of the crew, not fewer than forty or fifty men, +who, a moment before, crowded the deck, disappeared in a marvellous +manner; sheltering themselves behind the bulwarks, or lying flat on +their faces. They were so completely taken by surprise, that their junk +was left without a helmsman; her sails flapped in the wind; and, as we +were still carrying all sail, and keeping on her right course, they were +soon left a considerable way astern. + +Another was now bearing down upon us as boldly as his companion had +done, and commenced firing in the same manner. Having been so successful +with the first, I determined to follow the same plan with this one, and +to pay no attention to his firing until he should come to close +quarters. The plot now began to thicken; for the first junk had gathered +way again, and was following in our wake, although keeping at a +respectful distance; and three others, although still further distant, +were making for the scene of action, as fast as they could. In the +meantime, the second was almost alongside, and continued giving us a +broadside, now and then, with his guns. Watching their helm as before, +we sheltered ourselves as well as we could; at the same time, my poor +fellows who were steering, kept begging and praying that I would fire +into our pursuers as soon as possible, or we should be all killed. As +soon as we came within twenty or thirty yards of us, I gave them the +contents of both barrels, raking their decks as before. This time the +helmsman fell, and, doubtless, several were wounded. In a minute or two +I could see nothing but boards and shields, which were held up by the +pirates, to protect themselves from my firing; their junk went up into +the wind, for want of a helmsman, and was soon left some distance +behind us. + +While I was watching this vessel, our men called out to me that there +was another close on our lee-bow, which I had not observed on account of +our mainsail. Luckily, however, it proved to be a Ning-po wood-junk, +like ourselves, which the pirates had taken a short time before, but +which, although manned by these rascals, could do us no harm, having no +guns. The poor Ning-po crew, whom I could plainly see on board, seemed +to be very much down-hearted and frightened. I was afterward informed, +that when a junk is captured, all the principal people, such as the +captain, pilot, and passengers, are taken out of her, and a number of +the pirates go on board and take her into some of their dens among the +islands, and keep her there until a heavy ransom is paid, both for the +junk and the people. Sometimes, when a ransom can not be obtained, the +masts, and spars, and everything else which is of any value, are taken +out of her, and she is set on fire. + +The two other piratical junks which had been following in our wake for +some time, when they saw what had happened, would not venture any +nearer; and at last, much to my satisfaction, the whole set of them +bore away. + + + +A SEA FOWLING ADVENTURE. + +One pleasant afternoon in summer, Frank Costello jumped into his little +boat, and pulling her out of the narrow creek where she lay moored, +crept along the iron-bound shore until he reached the entrance of one of +those deep sea-caves, so common upon the western coast of Ireland. To +the gloomy recesses of these natural caverns, millions of sea-fowl +resort during the breeding season; and it was among the feathered tribes +then congregated in the "Puffin Cave," that Frank meant, on that +evening, to deal death and destruction. Gliding, with lightly-dipping +oars, into the yawning chasm, he stepped nimbly from his boat, and +making the painter fast to a projecting rock, he lighted a torch, and, +armed only with a stout cudgel, penetrated into the innermost recesses +of the cavern. There he found a vast quantity of birds and eggs, and +soon became so engrossed with his sport that he paid no attention to the +lapse of time, until the hollow sound of rushing waters behind him made +him aware that the tide, which was ebbing when he entered the cave, had +turned, and was now rising rapidly. His first impulse was to return to +the spot where he had made his boat fast; but how was he horrified on +perceiving that the rock to which it had been secured was now completely +covered with water. He might, however, still have reached it by +swimming; but, unfortunately, the painter, by which it was attached to +the rock, not having sufficient scope, the boat, on the rising of the +tide, was drawn, stern down, to a level with the water; and Frank, as he +beheld her slowly fill and disappear beneath the waves, felt as if the +last link between the living world and himself had been broken. To go +forward was impossible; and he well knew that there was no way of +retreating from the cave, which, in a few hours, would be filled by the +advancing tide. His heart died within him, as the thought of the horrid +fate which awaited him flashed across his mind. He was not a man who +feared to face death; by flood or field, on the stormy sea and the dizzy +cliff, he had dared it a thousand times with perfect unconcern; but to +meet the grim tyrant there, alone, to struggle hopelessly with him for +life in that dreary tomb, was more than his fortitude could bear. He +shrieked aloud in the agony of despair--the torch fell from his +trembling hand into the dark waters that gurgled at his feet, and, +flashing for a moment upon their inky surface, expired with a hissing +sound, that fell like a death-warning upon his ear. The wind, which had +been scarcely felt during the day, began to rise with the flowing of the +tide, and now drove the tumultuous waves with hoarse and hideous clamor +into the cavern. Every moment increased the violence of the gale that +howled and bellowed as it swept around the echoing roof of that +rock-ribbed prison; while the hoarse dash of the approaching waves, and +the shrill screams of the sea-birds that filled the cavern, formed a +concert of terrible dissonance, well suited for the requiem, of the +hapless wretch who had been enclosed in that living grave! But the love +of life, which makes us cling to it in the most hopeless extremity, was +strong in Frank Costello's breast; his firmness and presence of mind +gradually returned, and he resolved not to perish without a struggle. He +remembered that, at the farther extremity of the cavern, the rock rose +like a flight of rude stairs, sloping from the floor to the roof; he had +often clambered up those rugged steps, and he knew that, by means of +them, he could place himself at an elevation above the reach of the +highest tide. But the hope thus suggested was quickly damped when he +reflected that a deep fissure, which ran perpendicularly through the +rock, formed a chasm ten feet in width, in the floor of the cavern, +between him and his place of refuge. The tide, however, which was now +rising rapidly, compelled him to retire every instant, further into the +cavern, and he felt that the only chance he had left him for life was to +endeavor to cross the chasm. He was young, active, and possessed of +uncommon courage, and he had frequently, by torch-light, leaped across +the abyss, in the presence of his companions, few of whom dared to +follow his example. But now, alone and in utter darkness, how was he to +attempt such a perilous feat? The conviction that death was inevitable +if he remained where he was, decided him. Collecting a handful of loose +pebbles from one of the numerous channels in the floor, he proceeded +cautiously over the slippery rocks, throwing at every step a pebble +before him, to ascertain the security of his footing. At length he heard +the stone, as it fell from his fingers, descend with a hollow, +clattering noise, that continued for several seconds. He knew he was +standing on the brink of the chasm. One quick and earnest prayer he +breathed to the invisible Power, whose hand could protect him in that +dread moment--then, retiring a single pace, and screwing every nerve and +muscle in his body to the utmost tension, he made a step in advance, and +threw himself forward into the dark and fearful void. Who can tell the +whirlwind of thought that rushed through his brain in the brief moment +that he hung above that yawning gulf? Should he have miscalculated his +distance, or chosen a place where the cleft was widest--should his +footing fail, or his strength be unequal to carry him over, what a death +were his! Dashed down that horrible abyss--crashing from rock to rock, +until he lay at the bottom a mutilated corpse. The agony of years was +crowded into one moment--in the next, his feet struck against the firm +rock on the opposite side of the chasm, and he was saved. At least, he +felt that he had for the moment escaped the imminent peril in which he +was placed, and, as he clambered joyfully up the rugged slope at the end +of the cave, he thought little of the dangers he had still to encounter. +All through that long night he sat on the narrow ledge of a rock, while +the angry waves thundered beneath, and cast their cold spray every +instant over him. With the ebbing of the tide, the sea receded from the +cavern; but Frank hesitated to attempt crossing the chasm again; his +limbs had become stiff and benumbed, and his long abstinence had so +weakened his powers that he shrank from the dangerous enterprise. While +giving way to the most desponding reflections, a stentorian hilloa rang +and echoed through the cavern; and never had the human voice sounded so +sweetly in his ear. He replied to it with a thrilling shout of joy, and, +in a few minutes, several persons with torches appeared advancing. A +plank was speedily thrust across the fissure, and Frank Costello once +more found himself amid a group of his friends, who were warmly +congratulating him upon his miraculous escape. They told him that, from +his not having returned home the preceding night, it was generally +concluded that he had been drowned, and a party of his neighbors +proceeded in a boat, early in the morning, in search of his body. On +reaching "Puffin Hole," they discovered his boat fastened to a rock, and +full of water, as she had remained on the ebbing of the tide. This +circumstance induced them to examine the cavern narrowly, and the happy +result of their search is already known. + + + +ADVENTURE WITH A COBRA DI CAPELLO + +I might have slept some four or five hours, and a dreamless and +satisfying sleep it was; but certain it is--let scholiasts say what they +will, and skeptics throw doubts by handfulls on the assertions of +metaphysicians--that, before I awoke, and in my dreamless slumber, I had +a visible perception of peril--a consciousness of the hovering presence +of death! How to describe my feelings I know not; but, as we have all +read and heard that, if the eyes of a watcher are steadily fixed on the +countenance of a sleeper for a certain length of time, the slumberer +will be sure to start up--wakened by the mysterious magnetism of a +recondite principle of clairvoyance; so it was that, with shut eyes and +drowsed-up senses, an inward ability was conferred upon me to detect the +living from the presence of danger near me--to see, though sleep-blind, +the formless shape of a mysterious horror crouching beside me; and, as +if the peril that was my nightmate was of a nature to be quickened into +fatal activity by any motion on my part, I felt in my very stupor the +critical necessity of lying quite still; so that, when I at last awoke +and felt that as I lay with my face toward the roof, there was a thick, +heavy, cold, creeping thing upon my chest, I stirred not, nor uttered a +word of panic. Danger and fear may occasionally dull the sense and +paralyse the faculties, but they more frequently sharpen both, and ere I +could wink my eye, I was broad awake and aware that, coiling and coiling +itself up into a circle of twists, an enormous serpent was on my breast. +When I tell you that the whole of my chest, and even the pit of my +stomach, were covered with the cold, scaly proportions of the reptile, +you will own that it must have been one of considerable size. + +What my thoughts were--so made up of abhorrence, dread, and the +expectation--nay, assurance of speedy death, that must follow any +movement on my part--I can never hope to tell in language sufficiently +distinct and vivid to convey their full force. It was evident the +loathsome creature had at length settled itself to sleep; and I felt +thankful that, attracted by my breath, it had not approached the upper +part of my throat. It became quite still, and its weighty pressure--its +first clammy chillness becoming gradually (so it seemed to me) of a +burning heat--and the odious, indescribable odor which exhaled from its +body and pervaded the whole air--so overwhelmed me, that it was only by +a severe struggle I preserved myself from shrieking. As it was, a cold +sweat burst from every pore. I could hear the beating of my heart--and I +felt, to my increased dismay, that the palsy of terror had began to +agitate my limbs! "It will wake," thought I, "and then all is over!" At +this juncture, something--it might have been a wall-lizard, or a large +beetle--fell from the ceiling upon my left arm, which lay stretched at +my side. The snake, uncoiling its head, raised itself, with a low hiss, +and then, for the first time, I saw it,--saw the hood, the terrible +crest glistening in the moonshine. It was a Cobra di Capello! Shading my +eyes to exclude the dreadful spectacle, I lay almost fainting, until +again all was quiet. Had its fiery glances encountered mine, all would +have been over; but, apparently, it was once more asleep, and presently +I heard the Lascar moving about, undoing the fastenings of the tent, and +striking a light. A thought suddenly struck me, and, with an impulse I +could then ascribe to nothing short of desperation, though its effects +were so providential, I uttered, in a loud, but sepulchral tone, +"Kulassi! Lascar." "Sahib!" was the instantaneous response, and my +heart beat quicker at the success of my attempt. I lay still again, for +the reptile, evidently roused, made a movement, and its head, as I +suppose, fell on my naked arm. Oh God! the agony of that moment, when +suppressed tremor almost gave way to madness! I debated with myself +whether I should again endeavor to attract the attention of the Kulassi, +or remain perfectly quiet; or whether it would not be better than either +to start up at once and shake the disgustful burden from me. But the +latter suggestion was at once abandoned, because of the assurance I felt +that it would prove fatal; impeded by the heavy coils of the creature, +weak and nerveless from excitement, I could not escape its fangs. Again, +therefore, I spoke with the hollow but distinct accents which arise from +the throat when the speaker is afraid to move a muscle:--"Kulassi +Chiragh!"--Lascar, a lanthorn! "Latah own Sahib." I am bringing it, sir. +There was then a sound of clanking metal--light, advancing, flashes +across the roof of the veranda--and, at the noise of coming steps, lo! +one after one its terrible coils unwinding, the grisly monster glided +away from my body; and the last sounds that struck my sense of hearing +were the--"Ya illahi samp!" Oh God! a snake!--of the lascar; for I +fainted away for the first time in my life. + +[Illustration] + + + +COMBAT OF WILD ANIMALS. + +We were conducted to a gallery which commanded a view of a narrow court +or area beneath, inclosed by walls and palisades. This was the arena in +which the spectacle was to take place. Unfortunately, the space allotted +to spectators was so narrowed by the great number of European ladies who +were present, that we could only find indifferent standing room, where, +in addition to this inconvenience, the glare of the sun was very +oppressively felt; but the drama which began to be acted in our sight in +the deep space below, was such that every discomfort was forgotten in +beholding it. We there beheld six mighty buffaloes, not of the tame +species, but the sturdy offspring of the Arni-buffalo of the hill +country, at least four feet and a half high from the ground to the +withers, with enormous widely-spread horns, several feet long. There +they stood, on their short, clumsy hoofs, and, snorting violently, blew +out their angry breath from their protruded muzzles, as if they were +already aware of the nearly approaching danger. What terribly powerful +brutes! what vast strength in their broad and brawny necks! It would +have been a noble sight, had not their eyes the while expressed such +entire stupidity. + +A rattling of sticks, and the cries of several kind? of bestial voices +were heard--to which the buffaloes replied with a deep bellowing. On a +sudden, from an opened side door, there darted forth a huge tiger, +certainly from ten to eleven feet in length, and four in height. Without +much hesitation, he sprang with a single long bound right amid the +buffaloes; one of which, winding his body out of the reach of the +formidable horns, he seized by the neck with both claws and teeth at +once. The weight of the tiger almost overthrew the buffalo. A hideous +combat now took place. Groaning and bellowing, the buffalo dragged his +powerful assailant up and down the arena; while the others, with their +heavy, pointed horns, dealt the tiger fearful gashes, to liberate their +fellow beast. A deep stillness reigned among the public; all the +spectators awaited with eager suspense the issue of this contest between +the tiger and the buffaloes; as well as the fate of some unfortunate +asses, which latter, to increase the sport, being made perforce +witnesses of the sanguinary action, at first looked down upon it from +their poles with inexpressible horror, and afterward, when their +supports were shaken by the butting of the buffaloes, fell to the +ground as if dead, and, with outstretched limbs, lay, expecting their +fate with the greatest resignation--without making a single effort to +save themselves. Two other tigers, of somewhat less stature, were now, +with great difficulty, driven in; while the main struggle was still +going forward. But no efforts could induce them to attempt an attack of +any kind; they shrank down like cats, crouching as closely as possible +to the walls of the inclosure, whenever the buffaloes, who still +continued, however, to butt at their enemy with the utmost desperation, +approached them. The great tiger had, at last, received a push in the +ribs, which lifted him from his seat. He came tumbling down, and crawled +like a craven into a corner; whither he was pursued by the buffalo, +maddened by the pain of his lacerated neck--and there had to endure many +thrusts with his horns, at each of which he only drew up his mouth with +a grimace of pain, without making the smallest motion to ward off +the attack. + +The spectacle was by no means ended here. Other combatants were driven +in, and fought with more or less energy. + + + +PERILOUS INCIDENT + +ON A CANADIAN RIVER. + +A young man and his sister have kept this ferry several years, during +which they have performed many acts of heroic benevolence, and have +rescued numbers of their fellow creatures from a watery grave. One of +these had so much of perilous adventure in it, that I shall make no +apology for giving some account of it, the more especially as I was +myself one of the trembling and anxious spectators of the whole scene. + +A raft of timber, on its way down the river to the nearest port, was +dashed to pieces by the violence of the rapids. There was the usual +number of men upon it, all of whom, except two, were fortunate enough to +get upon a few logs, which kept together, and were comparatively safe, +while their two poor comrades, were helplessly contending with the +tumbling waves, almost within reach of them, but without their being +able to afford them the slightest assistance. After a minute or two, and +when one more would have been their last, a long oar or sweep, +belonging to the wretched raft, came floating by. They instantly seized +it, and held on till they were carried down more than a mile, loudly +calling for help as they went along; but what aid could we render them? +No craft, none, at least, which were on the banks of the river, could +live in such a boiling torrent as that; for it was during one of the +high spring freshets. But the ferryman was of a different opinion, and +could not brook the thought of their dying before his eyes without his +making a single effort to save them. "How could I stand idly looking +on," he said to me afterward, "with a tough ash oar in my hand, and a +tight little craft at my feet, and hear their cries for help, and see +them drowned?" He determined, at all risks, to try to rescue them from +the fate which seemed to us inevitable. He could not, however, go alone, +and there was not another man on that side of the river within half a +mile of him. His sister knew this, and, courageously, like another Grace +Darling, proposed, at once, to accompany him in his perilous adventure. +From being so often on the water with her brother, she knew well how to +handle an oar. Often, indeed, without him she had paddled a passenger +across the ferry in her little canoe. He accepted her proposal, and we +had the satisfaction of seeing the light punt put off from the shore +opposite to that from which we were idly and uselessly looking on, and +go gallantly over the surging torrent toward the sinking men. We feared, +however, that it would not be in time to save them, as their cries for +help grew fainter and fainter, till each one, we thought, would have +been their last. We saw that the oar, with the drowning men clinging to +it, was floating rapidly down the middle of the stream, which, in this +particular locality, is more than a quarter of a mile in breadth, and +would inevitably, in two or three minutes more, be in the white water +among the breakers, when their fate must be sealed, and the boat, if it +followed, dashed to pieces among the rocks. This was the principal point +of danger, and they had to run down within a most fearful proximity of +it, to cross the course down which the drowning men were drifting, and, +as they did so, to seize hold of them without losing their own headway; +for there was not time for that. They succeeded in shooting athwart the +current, rapid as it was, just below the men. With breathless and +painful anxiety we saw them execute this dangerous manoeuver. We saw the +ferryman lean over the side of his boat, for a moment, as it passed +them, while his sister backed water with her oar. + +"They are saved!" some one said, close behind me, in a whisper so deep +and earnest that I started, and turned to look at the speaker; when +another, who heard him, exclaimed, "No, no! they are gone! they are +lost! the boat has left them!" And sure enough, it had. But, in an +instant afterward, just as we thought they were about to be driven into +the fatal breakers, they turned, to our inexpressible delight, as if +drawn by some invisible power (the rope the ferryman had attached to the +oar was, indeed, invisible to us,) and followed the boat. + +The ferryman and his sister had yet to pull a fearful distance for the +time they had to do it in, to get out of that part of the current +leading to the breakers: and they accomplished it. The man had the bow +oar, and we could see the tough ash bend like a willow-wand as he +stretched out to keep the head of the boat partially up the stream. His +sister, too, "kept her own," and the little punt shot out rapidly into +the comparatively quiet stream, beyond the influence of the fearful +current, which was rapidly driving them upon the breakers. When this was +accomplished, our fears for the noble-hearted brother and sister were at +an end, and we took a long breath; it was, indeed, a relief to do so. +Still we continued to watch their further proceedings with the +deepest interest. + +The moment they got into a less rapid current, which, they knew, led +into comparatively still water they ceased rowing, and allowed the punt +to float down with it. The young ferryman now drew up the sweep +alongside, and succeeded in getting the two unfortunate men into his +boat. While he was doing this, his sister went aft, and used her oar as +a rudder to steer the boat. At the foot of the current, which they soon +afterward reached, there was no further danger. But we watched them +still; and we saw them row ashore, on their own side of the river. One +of the poor fellows was so much exhausted, that the ferryman had to +carry him on his back to the nearest house, where he soon recovered. + +Twelve months after this took place, I had the satisfaction of +presenting to this worthy ferryman, in the presence of above five +hundred men, a beautiful silver medallion, sent out to me by the Royal +Humane Society--to which I had transmitted an account of the occurrence. +Nor was the heroine of my story forgotten. A similar medallion was given +to him for his sister. She could not, with propriety, be present +herself, as it was the annual muster-day of the militia in +that locality. + +MEMOIRS OF A CHURCH MISSIONARY IN CANADA. + + + +A WHALE CHASE. + +Down went the boats with a splash. Each boat's crew sprang over the +rail, and in an instant the larboard, starboard, and waist-boats were +manned. There was great rivalry in getting the start. The waist-boat got +off in pretty good time; and away went all three, dashing the water high +over their bows. Nothing could be more exciting than the chase. The +larboard boat, commanded by the mate, and the waist-boat, by the second +mate, were head and head. "Give way, my lads, give way!" shouted P----, +our headsman; "we gain on them; give way! A long, steady stroke! That's +the way to tell it!" "Ay, ay!" cried Tabor, our boat-steerer. "What do +you say, boys? Shall we lick 'em?" "Pull! pull like vengeance!" echoed +the crew; and we danced over the waves, scarcely seeming to touch them. +The chase was now truly soul-stirring. Sometimes the larboard, then the +starboard, then the waist-boat took the lead. It was a severe trial of +skill and muscle. After we had run two miles at this rate, the whales +turned flukes, going dead to windward. "Now for it, my lads!" cried +P----. "We'll have them the next rising. Now pile it on! a long, steady +pull! That's it! that's the way! Those whales belong to us. Don't give +out! Half an hour more, and they're our whales!" The other boats veered +off at either side of us, and continued the chase with renewed ardor. In +about half an hour we lay on our oars to look round for the whales. +"There she blows! right ahead!" shouted Tabor, fairly dancing with +delight. "There she blows--there she blows!" "Oh, Lord, boys, spring!" +cried P----. "Spring it is! What d'ye say, now, chummies? Shall we take +those whales?" To this general appeal, every man replied by putting his +weight on his oar, and exerting his utmost strength. The boat flew +through the water with incredible swiftness, scarcely rising to the +waves. A large bull whale lay about a quarter of a mile ahead of us, +lazily rolling in the trough of the sea. The larboard and starboard +boats were far to leeward of us, tugging hard to get a chance at the +other whales, which were now blowing in every direction. "Give way! give +way, my hearties!" cried P----, putting his weight against the aft oar. +"Do you love gin? A bottle of gin to the best man! Oh, pile it on, while +you have breath! pile it on!" "On with the beef, chummies! Smash every +oar! double 'em up or break 'em!" "Every devil's imp of you, pull! No +talking; lay back to it; now or never!" + +On dashed the boat, cleaving its way through the rough sea, as if the +briny element were blue smoke. The whale, however, turned flukes before +we could reach him. When he appeared again above the surface of the +water, it was evident that he had milled while down, by which manoeuver +he gained on us nearly a mile. The chase was now almost hopeless, as he +was making to windward rapidly. A heavy black cloud was on the horizon, +portending an approaching squall, and the barque was fast fading from +sight. Still we were not to be baffled by discouraging circumstances of +this kind, and we braced our sinews for a grand and final effort. "Never +give up, my lads," said the headsman, in a cheering voice. "Mark my +words, we'll have the whale yet. Only think he's ours, and there's no +mistake about it, he will be ours. Now for a hard, steady pull! Give +way!" "Give way, sir! Give way all!" "There she blows! Oh, pull, my +lively lads! Only a mile off!" "There she blows!" The wind had by this +time increased almost to a gale, and the heavy, black clouds were +scattering over us far and wide. Part of the squall had passed off to +leeward, and entirely concealed the barque. Our situation was rather +unpleasant: in a rough sea, the other boats out of sight, and each +moment the wind increasing. We continued to strain every muscle till we +were hard upon the whale. Tabor sprang to the bow, and stood by with the +harpoon. "Softly, softly, my lads," said the headsman. "Ay, ay sir!" +"Hush-h-h! softly! Now's your time, Tabor!" Tabor let fly the harpoon, +and buried the iron. "Give him another!" "Stern all!" thundered P----. +"Stern all!" And, as we rapidly backed from the whale, he flung his +tremendous fluke high in the air, covering us with a cloud of spray. He +then sounded, making the line whiz as it passed through the chocks. When +he rose to the surface again, we hauled up, and the second mate stood +ready in the bow to dispatch him with lances. "Spouting blood!" said +Tabor, "he's a dead whale! he won't need much lancing." It was true +enough; for, before the officer could get within dart of him, he +commenced his dying struggles. The sea was crimsoned with his blood. By +the time we had reached him, he was belly up. We lay upon our oars a +moment, to witness his last throes, and when he turned his head toward +the sun, a loud, simultaneous cheer, burst from every lip. + + + +LEOPARD HUNTING. + +AND ADVENTURES WITH BUFFALOES AND LIONS. + +Mr. Cumming has published a volume containing a record of his hunting +exploits in Africa, in the year 1848. The following interesting accounts +of adventures are from his work. + +On the morning, says Mr. Cumming, I rode into camp, after unsuccessfully +following the spoor of a herd of elephants for two days, in a westerly +course. Having partaken of some refreshment, I saddled up two steeds and +rode down the bank of Ngotwani, with the Bushman, to seek for any game I +might find. After riding about a mile along the river's green bank, I +came suddenly upon an old male leopard, lying under the shade of a thorn +grove, and panting from the great heat. Although I was within sixty +yards of him, he had not heard the horse's tread. I thought he was a +lioness, and, dismounting, took a rest in my saddle on the Old Gray, and +sent a bullet into him. He sprang to his feet and ran half way down the +river's bank, and stood to look about him, when I sent a second bullet +into his person, and he disappeared over the bank. The ground being +very dangerous, I did not disturb him by following then, but I at once +sent Ruyter back to camp for the dogs. Presently he returned with Wolf +and Boxer, very much done up with the sun. I rode forward, and, on +looking over the bank, the leopard started up and sneaked off alongside +of the tall reeds, and was instantly out of sight. I fired a random shot +from the saddle to encourage the dogs, and shouted to them; they, +however, stood looking stupidly around, and would not take up his scent +at all. I led them over his spoor, again and again, but to no purpose; +the dogs seemed quite stupid, and yet they were Wolf and Boxer, my +two best. + +At length I gave it up as a lost affair, and was riding down the river's +bank, when I heard Wolf give tongue behind me, and, galloping back, +found him at bay with the leopard, immediately beneath where I had fired +at him; he was very severely wounded, and had slipped down into the +river's bed and doubled back, whereby he had thrown out both the dogs +and myself. As I approached, he flew out upon Wolf and knocked him over, +and then, running up the bed of the river, took shelter in a thick bush: +Wolf, however, followed him, and at this moment my other dogs came up, +having heard the shot, and bayed him fiercely. He sprang out upon them, +and then crossed the river's bed, taking shelter beneath some large +tangled roots on the opposite bank. As he crossed the river, I put a +third bullet into him, firing from the saddle, and, as soon as he came +to bay, I gave him a fourth, which finished him. This leopard was a very +fine old male; in the conflict, the unfortunate Alert was wounded, as +usual, getting his face torn open; he was still going upon three legs, +with all his breast laid bare by the first water-buck. + +In the evening I directed my Hottentots to watch a fine pool in the +river, and do their best, while I rode to a distant pool several miles +up the Ngotwani, reported as very good for game, to lie all night and +watch: my Totties, however, fearing "Tao," disobeyed me. On reaching the +water I was bound for, I found it very promising, and, having fastened +my two horses to a tree beneath the river's bank, I prepared a place of +concealment close by, and laid down for the night. + +The river's banks on each side were clad with groves of shady thorn +trees. After I had lain some time, squadrons of buffaloes were heard +coming on, until the shady grove on the east bank of the water +immediately above me was alive with them. After some time the leaders +ventured down the river's bank to drink, and this was the signal for a +general rush into the large pool of water: they came on like a regiment +of cavalry at a gallop, making a mighty din, and obscuring the air with +a dense cloud of dust. At length I sent a ball into one of them, when +the most tremendous rush followed up the bank, where they all stood +still, listening attentively. I knew that the buffalo was severely +wounded, but did not hear him fall. Some time after, I fired at a +second, as they stood on the bank above me; this buffalo was also hard +hit, but did not then fall. A little after, I fired at a third on the +same spot; he ran forty yards, and, falling, groaned fearfully: this at +once brought on a number of the others to butt their dying comrade, +according to their benevolent custom. I then crept in toward them, and, +firing my fourth shot, a second buffalo ran forward a few yards, and, +falling, groaned as the last; her comrades, coming up, served her in the +same manner. A second time I crept in, and, firing a fifth shot, a third +buffalo ran forward, and fell close to her dying comrades: in a few +minutes all the other buffaloes made off, and the sound of teeth tearing +at the flesh was heard immediately. + +I fancied it was the hyaenas, and fired a shot to scare them from the +flesh. All was still; and, being anxious to inspect the heads of the +buffaloes, I went boldly forward, taking the native who accompanied me, +along with me. We were within about five yards of the nearest buffalo, +when I observed a yellow mass lying alongside of him, and at the same +instant a lion gave a deep growl,--I thought it was all over with me. +The native shouted "Tao," and, springing away, instantly commenced +blowing shrilly through a charmed piece of bone which he wore on his +necklace. I retreated to the native, and we then knelt down. The lion +continued his meal, tearing away at the buffalo, and growling at his +wife and family, who, I found next day, by the spoor, had accompanied +him. Knowing that he would not molest me if I left him alone, I proposed +to the native to go to our hole and lie down, but he would not hear of +it, and entreated me to fire at the lion. I fired three different shots +where I thought I saw him, but without any effect; he would not so much +as for a moment cease munching my buffalo. I then proceeded to lie down, +and was soon asleep, the native keeping watch over our destinies. Some +time after midnight other lions were heard coming on from other airts, +and my old friend commenced roaring so loudly that the native thought it +proper to wake me. + +The first old lion now wanted to drink, and held right away for the two +unfortunate steeds, roaring terribly. I felt rather alarmed for their +safety; but, trusting that the lion had had flesh enough for one night, +I lay still, and listened with an attentive ear. In a few minutes, to my +utter horror, I heard him spring upon one of the steeds with an angry +growl, and dash him to the earth; the steed gave a slight groan, and all +was still. I listened to hear the sound of teeth, but all continued +still. Soon after this "Tao," was once more heard to be munching the +buffalo. In a few minutes he came forward, and stood on the bank close +above us, and roared most terribly, walking up and down, as if +meditating some mischief. I now thought it high time to make a fire, +and, quickly collecting some dry reeds and little sticks, in half a +minute we had a cheerful blaze. The lion, which had not yet got our +wind, came forward at once to find out what the deuse was up; but, not +seeing to his entire satisfaction from the top of the bank, he was +proceeding to descend by a game-path into the river-bed within a few +yards of us. I happened at the very moment to go to this spot to fetch +more wood, and, being entirely concealed from the lion's view above by +the intervening high reeds, we actually met face to face! The first +notice I got was his sudden spring to one side, accompanied by repeated +angry growls, while I involuntarily made a convulsive spring backward, +at the same time giving a fearful shriek, such as I never before +remember uttering. I fancied, just as he growled, he was coming upon me. +We now heaped on more wood, and kept up a very strong fire until the day +dawned, the lions feasting beside us all the time, notwithstanding the +remonstrances of the little native, who, with a true Bechuana spirit, +lamenting the loss of so much good flesh, kept continually shouting and +pelting them with flaming brands. + +The next morning, when it was clear, I arose and inspected the +buffaloes. The three that had fallen were fine old cows, and two of them +were partly consumed by the lions. The ground all around was packed flat +with their spoor; one particular spoor was nearly as large as that of a +borele. I then proceeded to inspect the steeds: the sand around them was +also covered with the lion's spoor. He had sprung upon the Old Gray, but +had done him no further injury than scratching his back through the +skin: perhaps the lion had been scared by the rheims, or on discovering +his spare condition, had preferred the buffalo. + + + +HUNTING THE WHITE RHINOCEROS, + +LION, BUFFALO, AND GIRAFFE. + +Upon the 9th, says Mr. Cumming, it rained unceasingly throughout the +day, converting the rich soil on which we were encamped into one mass of +soft, sticky clay. In the forenoon, fearing the rain would continue so +as to render the valley (through which we must pass to gain the firmer +ground) impassible, I ordered my men to prepare to march, and leave the +tent with its contents standing, the point which I wished to gain being +distant only about five hundred yards. When the oxen were inspanned, +however, and we attempted to move, we found my tackle, which was old, so +rotten from the effects of the rain, that something gave way at every +strain. Owing to this and to the softness of the valley, we labored on +till sundown, and only succeeded in bringing one wagon to its +destination, the other two remained fast in the mud in the middle of the +valley. Next morning, luckily, the weather cleared up, when my men +brought over the tent, and in the afternoon the other two wagons. + +We followed up the banks of the river for several days, with the usual +allowance of sport. On the 16th we came suddenly upon an immense old +bull muchocho rolling in mud. He sprang to his feet immediately he saw +me, and, charging up the bank, so frightened our horses, that before I +could get my rifle from my after-rider he was past us. I then gave him +chase, and, after a hard gallop of about a mile, sprang from my horse +and gave him a good shot behind the shoulder. At this moment a cow +rhinoceros of the same species, with her calf, charged out of some +wait-a-bit thorn cover, and stood right in my path. Observing that she +carried an unusually long horn, I turned my attention from the bull to +her, and, after a very long and severe chase, dropped her at the sixth +shot. I carried one of my rifles, which gave me much trouble, that not +being the tool required for this sort of work, where quick loading is +indispensable. + +After breakfast I sent men to cut off the head of this rhinoceros, and +proceeded with Ruyter to take up the spoor of the bull wounded in the +morning. We found that he was very severely hit, and having followed the +spoor for about a mile through very dense thorn cover, he suddenly +rustled out of the bushes close ahead of us, accompanied by a whole host +of rhinoceros birds. I mounted my horse and gave him chase, and in a +few minutes he had received four severe shots. I managed to turn his +course toward camp, when I ceased firing, as he seemed to be nearly done +up, and Ruyter and I rode slowly behind, occasionally shouting to guide +his course. Presently, however, Chukuroo ceased taking any notice of us, +and held leisurely on for the river, into a shallow part of which he +walked, and, after panting there and turning about for a quarter of an +hour, he fell over and expired. This was a remarkably fine old bull, and +from his dentition it was not improbable that a hundred summers had seen +him roaming a peaceful denizen of the forests and open glades along the +fair banks of the secluded Mariqua. + +During our march, on the 19th, we had to cross a range of very rocky +hills, covered with large loose stones, and all hands were required to +be actively employed for about an hour, in clearing them out of the way, +to permit the wagons to pass. The work went on fast and furious, and the +quantity of stones cleared was immense. At length we reached the spot +where we were obliged to bid adieu to the Mariqua, and hold a westerly +course across the country for Sicheley. At sundown we halted under a +lofty mountain, the highest in the district, called "Lynchie a Cheny," +or the Monkey's Mountain. + +Next day, at an early hour, I rode out with Ruyter to hunt, my camp +being entirely without flesh, and we having been rationed upon very +tough old rhinoceros for several days past. It was a cloudy morning, and +soon after starting, it came on to rain heavily. I, however, held on, +skirting a fine, well-wooded range of mountains, and after riding +several miles I shot a zebra. Having covered the carcass well over with +branches to protect it from the vultures, I returned to camp, and, +inspanning my wagons, took it up on the march. We continued trekking on +until sundown, when we started an immense herd of buffaloes, into which +I stalked, and shot a huge old bull. + +Our march this evening was through the most beautiful country I had ever +seen in Africa. We skirted an endless range of well-wooded stony +mountains lying on our left, while to our right the country at first +sloped gently off, and then stretched away into a level green forest, +(occasionally interspersed with open glades,) boundless as the ocean. +This green forest was, however, relieved in one direction by a chain of +excessively bold, detached, well-wooded, rocky, pyramidal mountains, +which stood forth in grand relief. In advance the picture was bounded by +forest and mountain; one bold acclivity, in shape of a dome, standing +prominent among its fellows. It was a lovely evening: the sky, overcast +and gloomy, threw an interesting, wild, mysterious coloring over the +landscape. I gazed forth upon the romantic scene before me with intense +delight, and felt melancholy and sorrowful at passing so fleetingly +through it, and could not help shouting out, as I marched along, "Where +is the coward who would not dare to die for such a land?" + +In the morning we held for a fountain some miles ahead, in a gorge in +the mountains. As we approached the fountain, and were passing close +under a steep, rocky, hillside, well wooded to its summit, I +unexpectedly beheld a lion stealing up the rocky face, and, halting +behind a tree, he stood overhauling us for some minutes. I resolved to +give him battle, and, seizing my rifle, marched against him, followed by +Carey carrying a spare gun, and by three men leading my dogs, now +reduced to eight. When we got close in to the base of the mountain, we +found ourselves enveloped in dense jungle, which extended half-way to +its summit, and entirely obscured from our eyes objects which were quite +apparent from the wagons, I slipped my dogs, however, which, after +snuffing about, took right up the steep face on the spoor of the lions, +for there was a troop of them--a lion and three lionesses. + +The people at the wagons saw the chase in perfection. When the lions +observed the dogs coming on, they took right up, and three of them +crossed over the sky ridge. The dogs, however, turned one rattling old +lioness, which came rumbling down through the cover, close past me. I +ran to meet her, and she came to bay in an open spot near the base of +the mountain, whither I quickly followed, and coming up within thirty +yards, bowled her over with my first shot, which broke her back. My +second entered her shoulder; and, fearing that she might hurt any of the +dogs, as she still evinced signs of life, I finished her with a third in +the breast. The bellies of all the four lions were much distended by +some game they had been gorging, no doubt a buffalo, as a large herd +started out of the jungle immediately under the spot where the noble +beasts were first disturbed. + +Showers of rain fell every hour throughout the day, so I employed my men +in making feldt-schoens, or, in other words, African brogues for me. +These shoes were worthy of a sportsman, being light, yet strong, and +were entirely composed of the skins of game of my shooting. The soles +were made of either buffalo or cameleopard; the front part, perhaps, of +koodoo, or hartebeest, or bushbuck, and the back of the shoe of lion, or +hyaena, or sable antelope, while the rheimpy or thread with which the +whole was sewed, consisted of a thin strip of the skin of a steinbok. + +On the forenoon of this day, I rode forth to hunt, accompanied by +Ruyter; we held west, skirting the wooded, stony mountains. The natives +had here, many years before, waged successful war with elephants, four +of whose skulls I found. Presently I came across two sassaybies, one of +which I knocked over; but, while I was loading, he regained his legs and +made off. We crossed a level stretch of forest, holding a northerly +course for an opposite range of green, well-wooded hills and valleys. +Here I came upon a troop of six fine, old bull buffaloes, into which I +stalked, and wounded one princely fellow very severely, behind the +shoulder, bringing blood from his mouth; he, however, made off with his +comrades, and, the ground being very rough, we failed to overtake him. +They held for Ngotwani. After following the spoor for a couple of miles, +we dropped it, as it led right away from camp. + +Returning from this chase, we had an adventure with another old bull +buffalo, which shows the extreme danger of hunting buffaloes without +dogs. We started him in a green hollow, among the hills, and his course +inclining for camp. I gave him chase. He crossed the level, broad +strath, and made for the opposite densely-wooded range of mountains. +Along the base of these we followed him, sometimes in view, sometimes on +the spoor, keeping the old fellow at a pace which made him pant. At +length, finding himself much distressed, he had recourse to a singular +stratagem. Doubling round some thick bushes, which obscured him from our +view, he found himself beside a small pool of rain-water, just deep +enough to cover his body; into this he walked, and, facing about, lay +gently down and awaited our on-coming, with nothing but his old, gray +face, and massive horns above the water, and these concealed from view +by the overhanging herbage. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF THE BUFFALO.] + +Our attention was entirely engrossed with the spoor, and thus we rode +boldly on until within a few feet of him, when, springing to his feet, +he made a desperate charge after Ruyter, uttering a low, stifled roar, +peculiar to buffaloes, (somewhat similar to the growl of a lion,) and +hurled horse and rider to the earth with fearful violence. His horn laid +the poor horse's haunch open to the bone, making the most fearful rugged +wound. In an instant, Ruyter regained his feet and ran for his life, +which the buffalo observing, gave chase, but most fortunately came down, +with a tremendous somersault, in the mud, his feet slipping from under +him; thus the bushman escaped certain destruction. The buffalo rose +much discomfitted, and, the wounded horse first catching his eye, he +went a second time after him; but he got out of the way. At this moment, +I managed to send one of my patent pacificating pills into his shoulder, +when he instantly quitted the field of action, and sought shelter in a +dense cover on the mountain side, whither I deemed it imprudent to +follow him. + + + +A LEOPARD HUNT. + +The dense jungles of Bengal was the place of the leopard's resort, and +the havoc which it committed among the cattle was prodigious. It was +dreaded, far and near, on this account, by the natives, and they +scrupulously avoided their spotted enemy, knowing well that when his +appetite was whetted with hunger, he was not over scrupulous whether his +victims were beasts or men. On one occasion, the monster made a dash +upon a herd of beeves, and succeeded in carrying off a large ox; and +loud was the lament of the poor Hindoos that one of the sacred herd had +thus unceremoniously been assailed and slaughtered before their eyes. A +party of the Bengal native infantry, consisting of an officer and five +others, having been informed of the circumstance, followed in the +direction of the leopard's den determined, if possible, to punish him +for this and the many other depredations he had committed. Having come +to an intervening ravine, they were about to cross it, when they saw the +object of their search on the opposite side. There he was, lying in his +lair, heedless of danger, and luxuriously feasting on the carcass of his +captive. It was the monster's last meal, however. The party approached +with stealthy steps, as near as they could without crossing the defile. +"Take your aim! fire!" cried the captain, in Hindostanee, we suppose. +They did so, and four balls pierced the leopard, three in the neck and +one in a more dangerous place, through the brain. Startled by this +unpleasant salute, the animal rose, gazed with glaring eyes on its +enemies, at the same time pawing the earth in its pain fury. + +The sepoys were astonished that he did not roll lifeless at their feet; +but, instead of this, before they had time to reload, the creature, +after uttering a terrific cry, sprang across the ravine and seized one +of its assailants. It must have been, in some degree, weakened by its +wounds; but its strength was yet great, for the man seemed to have no +power of resistance to its attack. The leopard, having a hold of the +sepoy in its mouth, darted off in the direction of a jungle close at +hand, the other soldiers following up as fast as they could, but not +daring to fire, lest they should injure their luckless comrade Sometimes +they lost sight of the leopard and its bleeding burden; but the blood +marks on the grass or on the sand enabled them to regain the trail, and +to carry on the pursuit. The animal at length came to a small river; it +hesitated for a little on the brink, and then leaped in, still +tenaciously retaining its prey. The stoppage thus occasioned enabled the +pursuers to gain ground, and, just after the leopard had emerged from +the river, and was shaking its skin free from the watery drops, one of +the party seized the auspicious moment, and fired. The beast dropped its +prey at once, howled furiously, and then fell dead. To their great +surprise and joy, the soldiers found that their comrade was still in +life, though he had fainted from fear and from weakness occasioned by +the loss of blood. He gradually recovered, and, under the stimulating +influence of a cup of brandy, was able to proceed home with his +comrades. It was many weeks, however, before he was fit for service, and +he will retain till his dying day the dental marks received from the +leopard, by way of token what it would like to have done with him had +there been none but themselves two on the desert wide. + +The soldiers returned, some time after, and skinned the animal, carrying +home its spotted covering for a trophy; and now, here it is, with the +marks of the musket-balls upon it, remembrances of the strange story we +have now recounted. + + + +LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. + +Every man, both honest and dishonest, in California, has his own +horse--as a very good-looking, active one can be purchased, tamed to +carry the saddle and rider, from the Indians, for four or five dollars; +so that every one, I may add, of both sexes, ride in California. No one +walks far but the hunter, and he is carried in canoe a long way up the +river before he strikes into the forest after the animals he is in +pursuit of. This last class of men are the most wild, daring, yet +friendly and honest, of the lower class of the white population of +California. Well: as the robber as well as the honest man are equally +mounted, sometimes a very interesting steeple chase ensues,--ground +rough, not being previously chosen, occasionally leaping over pools of +water, large stones, and fallen trees. The Indians who use the lasso, +generally keep the lead, to strive to throw the noose over either the +man or horse they are pursuing. It is made of thongs of bullock-hide +twisted into a small rope about thirty or forty feet long, with a noose +formed by a running knot at the end of it. One end of the lasso is +fastened to the back of the saddle: the entire length of it is kept in a +coil on the right hand, and after two or three swings of it over their +heads, they will throw it with such accuracy that the smallest object +will come within the noose. Thus, then, if an equestrian traveler does +not keep a good look-out as he is passing by a bush or thicket, one of +these lassoes may be thrown out; the noose, falling over his head, will +be jerked tight round his body, and, in the twinkling of an eye, he will +be dragged off his horse, and away into the bush, to be stripped of +everything he has. By all the accounts I have heard, and from what I +have seen, the robbers of California are the most active in the world: +the end of the dangerous lasso being firmly fastened to the saddle, +enables the rider, as soon as his victim, either man or animal, is +noosed, to wheel round his horse, and dash off like an Arab, dragging +whatever he has fast after him. There is one method of averting the +fall of the lasso noose over the body of a man, either on foot or +horseback. If he holds, as he always ought, either sword or gun in his +right hand, when he sees the lasso coming, let him instantly raise +either and his arm in a horizontal position, and if the noose does fall +true, it cannot run farther down, being stopped by sword, gun, or +extended arm; then fling it off quick, or it may be jerked tight round +the neck. I have known this subterfuge save many a man from robbers and +perhaps murderers. + +I once hunted for three months in company with a hunter well known in +California. In idea, he was wild and imaginative in the extreme; but, in +his acts of daring, &c., the most cool and philosophic fellow I ever +knew. A commercianto, or merchant, at San Francisco, on whose veracity I +know from experience I can depend, told me the following story of this +man, which will at once illustrate his general character. This hunter +was, some months before I had fallen in with him, making the best of his +way down the valley of the Tule Lakes from the interior, with a heavy +pack of furs on his back, his never-erring rifle in his hand, and his +two dogs by his side. He was joined at the northermost end of the valley +by the merchant I had spoken of, who was armed only with sword and +pistols. They had scarcely cleared the valley, when a party of robbers +galloped out before them. There were four whites, fully armed, and two +Indians with the lassos coiled up in their right hands, ready for a +throw. The hunter told the merchant, who was on horseback, to dismount +instantly, "and to cover." Fortunately for them, there was a good deal +of thicket, and trunks of large trees that had fallen were strewed about +in a very desirable manner. Behind these logs the merchant and the +hunter quickly took up their position, and as they were in the act of +doing so, two or three shots were fired after them without effect. The +hunter coolly untied the pack of furs from his back, and laid them +beside him. "It's my opinion, merchant," said he, "that them varmint +there wants either your saddle-bags or my pack, but I reckon they'll get +neither." So he took up his rifle, fired, and the foremost Indian, lasso +in hand, rolled off his horse. Another discharge from the rifle, and the +second Indian fell, while in the act of throwing his lasso at the head +and shoulders of the hunter, as he raised himself from behind the log to +fire. "Now," said the hunter, as he reloaded, laying on his back to +avoid the shots of the robbers, "that's what I call the best of the +scrimmage, to get them brown thieves with their lassoes out of the way +first. See them rascally whites now jumping over the logs to charge us +in our cover." They were fast advancing, when the rifle again spoke out, +and the foremost fell; they still came on to within about thirty yards, +when another fell; and the remaining two made a desperate charge up +close to the log. The hunter, from long practice, was dexterous in +reloading his gun. "Now, merchant," said he, "is the time for your +pop-guns, (meaning the pistols,) and don't be at all narvous, keep a +steady hand, and drop either man or horse. A man of them shan't escape." +The two remaining robbers were now up with the log, and fired each a +pistol-shot at the hunter, which he escaped by dodging behind a tree +close to, from which he fired with effect. As only one robber was left, +he wheeled round his horse with the intention of galloping off, when the +pistol-bullets of the merchant shot the horse from under him. "Well +done, merchant," said the hunter, "you've stopped that fellow's galop." +As soon as the robber could disentangle himself from the fallen horse, +he took to his heels and ran down a sloping ground as fast as he could. +The hunter drew his tomahawk from his belt, and gave chase after him. As +he was more of an equestrian than a pedestrian, the nimbleness of the +hunter soon shortened the distance between them, and the last of the +robbers fell. Thus perished this dangerous gang of six, by the single +hand of this brave hunter, and, as the "commercianto" informed me, he +acted as coolly and deliberately as if he were shooting tame bullocks +for the market. The affair was rather advantageous to the hunter, for, +on searching the saddle-bags and pockets of the robbers, he pulled forth +some doubloons, and a few dollars, with other valuables they had, no +doubt, a short time previously, taken from some traveler; the +saddle-bags, arms, and accouterments of the four white men, were packed +up, made fast on the saddles of the two horses, and the hunter mounted a +third, the merchant mounted another, his horse being shot, and thus they +left the scene of action, the bodies of the robbers to the wolves, who +were howling about them, and entered San Francisco in triumph. + + + +A STORM AMONG THE ICEBERGS. + +To prevent the ships separating during the fog, it was necessary to keep +fast to the heavy piece of ice which we had between them as a fender, +and with a reduced amount of sail on them, we made some way through the +pack: as we advanced in this novel mode to the south-west, we found the +ice became more open, and the westerly swell increasing as the wind +veered to the northwest, at midnight, we found it impossible any longer +to hold on by the floe piece. All our hawsers breaking in succession, we +made sail on the ships, and kept company, during the thick fog, by +firing guns, and by means of the usual signals: under the shelter of a +berg of nearly a mile in diameter, we dodged about during the whole day, +waiting for clear weather, that we might select the best lead through +the dispersing pack; but at nine P.M. the wind suddenly freshened to a +violent gale from the northward, compelling us to reduce our sails to a +close-reefed main-topsail and storm-staysails: the sea quickly rising +to a fearful height, breaking over the loftiest bergs, we were unable +any longer to hold our ground, but were driven into the heavy pack under +our lee. Soon after midnight, our ships were involved in an ocean of +rolling fragments of ice, hard as floating rocks of granite, which were +dashed against them by the waves with so much violence, that their masts +quivered as if they would fall, at every successive blow; and the +destruction of the ships seemed inevitable from the tremendous shocks +they received. By backing and filling the sails, we endeavored to avoid +collision with the larger masses; but this was not always possible: in +the early part of the storm, the rudder of the Erebus was so much +damaged as to be no longer of any use; and about the same time, I was +informed by signal that the Terror's was completely destroyed, and +nearly torn away from the stern-post. We had hoped that, as we drifted +deeper into the pack, we should get beyond the reach of the tempest; but +in this we were mistaken. Hour passed away after hour without the least +mitigation of the awful circumstances in which we were placed. Indeed, +there seemed to be but little probability of our ships holding together +much longer, so frequent and violent were the shocks they sustained. The +loud, crashing noise of the straining and working of the timbers and +decks, as she was driven against some of the heavier pieces, which all +the activity and exertions of our people could not prevent, was +sufficient to fill the stoutest heart, that was not supported by trust +in Him, who controls all events, with dismay. + +At two P.M. the storm gained its height, when the barometer stood at +28.40 inches, and, after that time, began to rise. Although we had been +forced many miles deeper into the pack, we could not perceive that the +swell had at all subsided, our ships still rolling and groaning amid the +heavy fragments of crushing bergs, over which the ocean rolled its +mountainous waves, throwing huge masses one upon another, and then again +burying them deep beneath its foaming waters, dashing and grinding them +together with fearful violence. The awful grandeur of such a scene can +neither be imagined nor described, for less can the feelings of those +who witnessed it be understood. Each of us secured our hold, waiting the +issue with resignation to the will of Him who alone could preserve us, +and bring us safely through this extreme danger; watching with +breathless anxiety the effect of each succeeding collision, and the +vibrations of the tottering masts, expecting every moment to see them +give way, without our having the power to make an effort to save them. + +Although the force of the wind had somewhat diminished by four o'clock, +yet the squalls came on with unabated violence, laying the ship over on +her broadside, and threatening to blow the storm-sails to pieces; +fortunately they were quite new, or they never could have withstood such +terrific gusts. At this time, the Terror was so close to us, that, when +she rose to the top of one wave, the Erebus was on the top of that next +to leeward of her; the deep chasm between them filled with heavy rolling +masses; and, as the ships descended into the hollow between the waves, +the main-topsail yard of each could be seen just level with the crest of +the intervening wave, from the deck of the other: from this, some idea +may be formed of the height of the waves, as well as of the perilous +situation of our ships. The night now began to draw on, and cast its +gloomy mantle over the appalling scene, rendering our condition, if +possible, more hopeless and helpless than before; but, at midnight, the +snow, which had been falling thickly for several hours, cleared away, as +the wind suddenly shifted to the westward, and the swell began to +subside; and although the shocks our ships still sustained were such +that must have destroyed any ordinary vessel in less than five minutes, +yet they were feeble compared to those to which we had been exposed, +and our minds became more at ease for their ultimate safety. + +During the darkness of night and the thick weather, we had been carried +through a chain of bergs which were seen in the morning considerably to +windward, and which served to keep off the heavy pressure of the pack, +so that we found the ice much more open, and I was enabled to make my +way, in one of our boats, to the Terror, about whose condition I was +most anxious--for I was aware that her damages were of a much more +serious nature than those of the Erebus, notwithstanding the skillful +and seaman-like manner in which she had been managed, and by which she +maintained her appointed station throughout the gale. I found that her +rudder was completely broken to pieces, and the fastenings to the +stern-post so much strained and twisted, that it would be difficult to +get the spare rudder, with which we were fortunately provided, fitted so +as to be useful, and could only be done, if at all, under very favorable +circumstances. The other damages she had sustained were of less +consequence; and it was as great a satisfaction as it has ever since +been a source of astonishment to us to find that, after so many hours of +constant and violent thumping, both the vessels were nearly as tight as +they were before the gale. We can only ascribe this to the admirable +manner in which they had been fortified for the service, and to our +having their holds so stowed as to form a solid mass throughout. + + + +FALL OF THE ROSSBERG. + +The summer of 1806 had been very rainy; and on the first and second of +September it rained incessantly. New crevices were observed in the flank +of the mountain; a sort of cracking noise was heard internally; stones +started out of the ground; detached fragments of rocks rolled down the +mountain. At two o'clock in the afternoon, on the 2d of September, a +large rock became loose, and in falling, raised a cloud of black dust. +Toward the lower part of the mountain, the ground seemed pressed down +from above; and, when a stick or a spade was driven in, it moved of +itself. A man who had been digging in his garden ran away, from fright +at these extraordinary appearances; soon a fissure, larger than all the +others, was observed; insensibly, it increased: springs of water ceased +all at once to flow, the pine trees of the forest absolutely reeled; +the birds flew away screaming. A few minutes before five o'clock, the +symptoms of some mighty catastrophe became still stronger; the whole +surface of the mountain seemed to glide down, but so slowly as to afford +time to the inhabitants to go away. An old man, who had often predicted +some such disaster, was quietly smoking his pipe; when told by a young +man running by, that the mountain was in the act of falling, he rose and +looked out, but came into his house again, saying he had time to fill +another pipe. The young man, continuing to fly, was thrown down several +times, and escaped with difficulty; looking back, he saw the house +carried off, all at once. + +Another inhabitant, being alarmed, took two of his children, and ran +away with them, calling to his wife to follow with the third; but she +went in for another, who still remained, (Marianne, aged five;) just +then, Francisca Ulrich, their servant, was crossing the room with this +Marianne, whom she held by the hand, and saw her mistress; at that +instant, as Francisca afterward said, "the house appeared to be torn +from its foundation, (it was of wood,) and spun round and round like a +teetotum; I was sometimes on my head, and sometimes on my feet, in total +darkness, and violently separated from the child." When the motion +stopped, she found herself jammed in on all sides, with her head +downward, much bruised; and in extreme pain. She supposed she was buried +alive, at a great depth; with much difficulty, she disengaged her right +hand, and wiped the blood from her eyes. Presently, she heard the faint +moans of Marianne, and called her by her name; the child answered that +she was on her back, among stones and bushes, which held her fast, but +that her hands were free, and that she saw the light, and then something +green; she asked whether people would not come soon to take them out. + +Francisca answered that it was the day of judgment, and that no one was +left to help them, but that they would be released by death, and be +happy in Heaven. They prayed together; at last Francisca's ear was +struck by the sound of a bell, which she knew to be that of Stenenberg; +then seven o'clock struck in another village, and she began to hope +there were still living beings, and endeavored to comfort the child; the +poor little girl was at first clamorous for her supper; but her cries +soon became fainter, and at last quite died away. Francisca, still with +her head downward, and surrounded with damp earth, experienced a sense +of cold in her feet almost insupportable; after prodigious efforts, she +succeeded in disengaging her legs, and thinks this saved her life. Many +hours had passed in this situation, when she again heard the voice of +Marianne, who had been asleep, and now renewed her lamentations. In the +meantime, the unfortunate father, who, with much difficulty, had saved +himself and two children, wandered about till daylight, when he came +among the ruins to look for the rest of his family; he soon discovered +his wife, by a foot which appeared above the ground; she was dead, with +a child in her arms. His cries, and the noise he made in digging, were +heard by Marianne, who called out. She was extricated, with a broken +thigh, and saying that Francisca was not far off, a farther search led +to her release also, but in such a state that her life was despaired of. +She was blind for some days, and remained subject to convulsive fits of +terror. It appeared that the house, or themselves, at least, had been +carried down about one thousand five hundred feet from where it +stood before. + +In another place, a child two years old was found unhurt, lying on his +straw mattress upon the mud, without any vestige of the house from which +he had been separated. Such a mass of earth and stones rushed at once +into the lake of Sowertey, although five miles distant, that one end of +it was filled up, and a prodigious wave passing completely over the +island of Schwanau, seventy feet above the usual level of the water, +overwhelmed the opposite shore, and, as it returned, swept away into the +lake many houses with their inhabitants. The chapel of Olton, built of +wood, was found half a league from the place it had previously occupied, +and many large blocks of stone completely changed their position. + +SIMOND'S SWITZERLAND. + + + +THE RIFLEMAN OF CHIPPEWA. + +At the time of the French and Indian wars, the American army was +encamped on the plains of Chippewa. Colonel St. Clair, the commander, +was a bold and meritorious officer; but there was mixed with his bravery +a large share of rashness or indiscretion. His rashness, in this case, +consisted in encamping on an open plain beside a thick wood, from which +an Indian scout could easily pick off his outposts, without being +exposed, in the least, to the fire of the sentinel. + +Five nights had passed, and every night he had been surprised by the +disappearance of a sentry, who stood at a lonely post in the vicinity of +the forest. These repeated disasters had struck such a dread into the +breasts of the remaining soldiers, that no one would volunteer to take +the post, and the commander, knowing it would be throwing away their +lives, let it remain unoccupied several nights. + +At length a rifleman of the Virginia corps, volunteered his services. He +was told the danger of the duty; but he laughed at the fears of his +comrades, saying he would return safe, to drink the health of his +commander in the morning. The guard marched up soon after, and he +shouldered his rifle, and fell in. He arrived at his bounds, and, +bidding his fellow-sentinels good-night, assumed the duties of his post. + +The night was dark, from the thick clouds that overspread the firmament. +No star shone on the sentinel as he paced his lonely path, and naught +was heard but the mournful hoot of the owl, as she raised her nightly +wail from the withered branch of the venerable oak. At length, a low +rustling among the bushes on the right, caught his ear. He gazed long +toward the spot whence the sound seemed to proceed; but saw nothing, +save the impenetrable gloom of the thick forest which surrounded the +encampment. Then, as he marched onward, he heard the joyful cry of +"all's well," after which he seated himself upon a stump, and fell into +a reverie. While he thus sat, a savage entered the open space behind, +and, after buckling his tunic, with numerous folds, tight around his +body, drew over his head the skin of a wild boar, with the natural +appendages of those animals. Thus accoutred, he walked past the soldier, +who, seeing the object approach, quickly stood upon his guard. But a +well-known grunt eased his fears, and he suffered it to pass, it being +too dark for any one to discover the cheat. The beast, as it appeared to +be, quietly sought the thicket to the left; it was nearly out of sight, +when, through a sudden break in the clouds, the moon shone bright upon +it. The soldier then perceived the ornamented moccasin of an Indian, +and, quick as thought, prepared to fire. But, fearing lest he might be +mistaken, and thus needlessly alarm the camp, and also supposing, if he +were right, the other savages would be near at hand, he refrained, and +having a perfect knowledge of Indian subtlety and craft, quickly took +off his coat and cap, and, after hanging them on the stump where he had +reclined, secured his rifle, and softly groped his way toward the +thicket. He had barely reached it, when the whizzing of an arrow passed +his head, and told him of the danger he had escaped. Turning his eyes +toward a small spot of cleared land within the thicket, he perceived a +dozen of the same _animals_ sitting on their hind legs, instead of +feeding on the acorns, which, at this season, lay plentifully upon the +surface of the leaves; and, listening attentively, he heard them +conversing in the Iroquois tongue. The substance of their conversation +was, that, if the sentinel should not discover them, the next evening, +as soon as the moon should afford them sufficient light for their +operations, they would make an attack upon the American camp. They then +quitted their rendezvous, and soon their tall forms were lost in the +gloom of the forest. The soldier now returned to his post, and found the +arrow sunk deep in the stump, it having passed through the breast of +his coat. + +He directly returned to the encampment, and desired the orderly at the +marquee to inform the commander of his wish to speak with him, having +information of importance of communicate. He was admitted, and, having +been heard, the colonel bestowed on him the vacant post of lieutenant of +the corps, and directed him to be ready, with a picket-guard, to march, +at eight o'clock in the evening, to the spot he had occupied the night +before, where he was to place his hat and coat upon the stump, and then +lie in ambush for the intruders. Accordingly, the party proceeded, and +obeyed the colonel's orders. The moon rose, but shone dimly through the +thick branches of the forest. + +While the new lieutenant was waiting the result of his manoeuver, an +arrow whizzed from the same quarter as before. The mock soldier fell on +his face. A dozen subdued voices sounded from within the thicket, which +were soon followed by the sudden appearance of the Indians themselves. +They barely reached the stump, when our hero gave the order to fire, and +the whole band were stretched dead upon the plain. After stripping them +of their arms and trappings, the Americans returned to the camp. + +Twelve chiefs fell at the destructive fire of the white men, and their +fall was, undoubtedly, one great cause of the French and Indian wars +with the English. The fortunate rifleman, who had originated and +conducted the ambuscade, returned from the war, at its termination, with +a competency. He was not again heard of, until the parent-country raised +her arm against the infant colonies. Then was seen, at the head of a +band of Virginia riflemen our hero as the brave and gallant +Colonel Morgan. + +[Illustration: LOSS OF THE BLENDENHALL.] + + + +SHIPWRECK OF THE BLENDENHALL. + +In the year 1821, the Blendenhall, free trader, bound from England for +Bombay, partly laden with broadcloths, was proceeding on her voyage with +every prospect of a successful issue. While thus pursuing her way +through the Atlantic, she was unfortunately driven from her course, by +adverse winds and currents, more to the southward and westward than was +required, and it became desirable to reach the island of Tristan +d'Acunha, in order to ascertain and rectify the reckoning. + +It was while steering to reach this group of islands, that, one morning +a passenger, on board the Blendenhall, who chanced to be up on deck +earlier than usual, observed great quantities of seaweed occasionally +floating alongside. This excited some alarm, and a man was immediately +sent aloft to keep a good look-out. The weather was then extremely hazy, +though moderate; the weeds continued; all were on the alert; they +shortened sail, and the boatswain piped for breakfast. In less than ten +minutes, "breakers ahead!" startled every soul, and in a moment all +were on deck. "Breakers starboard! breakers larboard! breakers all +around!" was the ominous cry a moment afterward, and all was confusion. +The words were scarcely uttered, when, and before the helm was up, the +ill-fated ship struck, and, after a few tremendous shocks against the +sunken reef, she parted about midship. Ropes and stays were cut +away--all rushed forward, as if instinctively, and had barely reached +the forecastle, when the stern and quarter-deck broke asunder with a +violent crash, and sunk to rise no more. Two of the seamen miserably +perished--the rest, including officers, passengers, and crew, held on +about the head and bows--the struggle was for life! + +At this moment the Inaccessible Island, which till then had been vailed +in thick clouds and mist, appeared frowning above the haze. The wreck +was more than two miles from the frightful shore. The base of the island +was still buried in impenetrable gloom. In this perilous extremity, one +was for cutting away the anchor, which had been got up to the cathead in +time of need; another was for cutting down the foremast, the +foretop-mast being already by the board. The fog totally disappeared, +and the black, rocky island stood in all its rugged deformity before +their eyes. Suddenly the sun broke out in full splendor, as if to expose +more clearly to the view of the sufferers their dreadful predicament. +Despair was in every bosom--death, arrayed in all its terrors, seemed to +hover over the wreck. But exertion was required, and every thing that +human energy could devise was effected. The wreck, on which all eagerly +clung, was fortunately drifted by the tide and wind between ledges of +sunken rocks and thundering breakers, until, after the lapse of several +hours, it entered the only spot on the island where a landing was +possibly practicable,--for all the other parts of the coast consisted of +perpendicular cliffs of granite, rising from amid the deafening surf to +the height of twenty, forty, and sixty feet. As the shore was neared, a +raft was prepared, and on this a few paddled for the cove. At last the +wreck drove right in: ropes were instantly thrown out, and the crew and +passengers, (except two who had been crushed in the wreck,) including +three ladies and a female attendant, were snatched from the watery +grave, which a few short hours before had appeared inevitable, and +safely landed on the beach. Evening had now set in, and every effort was +made to secure whatever could be saved from the wreck. Bales of cloth, +cases of wine, a few boxes of cheese, some hams, the carcass of a milch +cow that had been washed on shore, buckets, tubs, butts, a seaman's +chest, (containing a tinder-box, and needles and thread,) with a number +of elegant mahogany turned bed-posts, and part of an investment for the +India market, were got on shore. The rain poured down in torrents--all +hands were busily at work to procure shelter from the weather; and with +the bed-posts and broadcloths, and part of the foresail, as many tents +were soon pitched as there were individuals on the island. + +Drenched with the sea and with the rain, hungry, cold, and comfortless, +thousands of miles from their native land, almost beyond expectation of +human succor, hope nearly annihilated,--the shipwrecked voyagers retired +to their tents. In the morning the wreck had gone to pieces; and planks, +and spars, and whatever had floated in, were eagerly dragged on shore. +No sooner was the unfortunate ship broken up, than, deeming themselves +freed from the bonds of authority, many began to secure whatever came to +land: and the captain, officers, passengers, and crew were now reduced +to the same level, and obliged to take their turn to fetch water, and +explore the island for food. The work of exploring was soon over--there +was not a bird, nor a quadruped, nor a single tree to be seen. All was +barren and desolate. The low parts were scattered over with stones and +sand, and a few stunted weeds, rocks, ferns, and other plants. The top +of the mountain was found to consist of a fragment of original +table-land, very marshy, and full of deep sloughs, intersected with +small rills of water, pure and pellucid as crystal, and a profusion of +wild parsley and celery. The prospect was one dreary scene of +destitution, without a single ray of hope to relieve the misery of the +desponding crew. After some days, the dead cow, hams, and cheese were +consumed; and, from one end of the island to the other, not a morsel of +food could be seen. Even the celery began to fail. A few bottles of +wine, which for security had been secreted under ground, only remained. +Famine now began to threaten. Every stone near the sea was examined for +shellfish, but in vain. + +In this dreadful extremity, and while the half-famished seamen were at +night squatting in sullen dejection around their fires, a large lot of +sea-birds, allured by the flames, rushed into the midst of them, and +were greedily laid hold of as fast as they could be seized. For several +nights in succession, similar flocks came in; and, by multiplying their +fires, a considerable supply was secured. These visits, however, ceased +at length, and the wretched party were exposed again to the most severe +privation. When their stock of wild fowl had been exhausted for more +than two days, each began to fear they were now approaching that sad +point of necessity, when, between death and casting lots who should be +sacrificed to serve for food for the rest, no alternative remained. +While horror at the bare contemplation of an extremity so repulsive +occupied the thoughts of all, the horizon was observed to be suddenly +obscured, and presently clouds of penguins alighted on the island. The +low grounds were actually covered; and before the evening was dark, the +sand could not be seen for the number of eggs, which, like a sheet of +snow, lay on the surface of the earth. The penguins continued on the +island four or five days, when, as if by signal, the whole took their +flight, and were never seen again. A few were killed, but the flesh was +so extremely rank and nauseous that it could not be eaten. The eggs were +collected and dressed in all manner of ways, and supplied abundance of +food for upward of three weeks. At the expiration of that period, famine +once more seemed inevitable; the third morning began to dawn upon the +unfortunate company after their stock of eggs were exhausted; they had +now been without food for more than forty hours, and were fainting and +dejected; when, as though this desolate rock were really a land of +miracles, a man came running up to the encampment with the unexpected +and joyful tidings that "millions of sea-cows had come on shore." The +crew climbed over the ledge of rocks that flanked their tents, and the +sight of a shoal of manatees immediately beneath them, gladdened their +hearts. These came in with the flood, and were left in the puddles +between the broken rocks of the cove. This supply continued for two or +three weeks. The flesh was mere blubber, and quite unfit for food, for +not a man could retain it on his stomach; but the liver was excellent, +and on this they subsisted. In the meantime, the carpenter with his gang +had constructed a boat, and four of the men had adventured in her for +Tristan d'Acunha, in hopes of ultimately extricating their +fellow-sufferers from their perilous situation. Unfortunately the boat +was lost---whether carried away by the violence of the currents that set +in between the islands, or dashed to pieces against the breakers, was +never known, for no vestige of the boat or crew was ever seen. Before +the manatees, however, began to quit the shore, a second boat was +launched; and in this an officer and some seamen made a second attempt, +and happily succeeded in effecting a landing, after much labor, on +the island. + +It was to this island that the boat's crew of the Blendenhall had beat +their course, and its principal inhabitant, Governor Glass, showed them +every mark of attention. On learning the situation of the crew, on +Inaccessible Island, he instantly launched his boat, and, unawed by +considerations of personal danger, hastened, at the risk of his life, to +deliver his shipwrecked countrymen from the calamities they had so long +endured. He made repeated trips, surmounted all difficulties, and +fortunately succeeded in safely landing them on his own island, after +they had been exposed for nearly three months to the horrors of a +situation almost unparalleled in the recorded sufferings of +seafaring men. + +After being hospitably treated by Glass and his company for three +months, the survivors obtained a passage to the Cape, all except a young +sailor named White, who had formed an attachment to one of the servant +girls on board, and who, in all the miseries which had been endured, had +been her constant protector and companion; while gratitude on her part +prevented her wishing to leave him. Both chose to remain, and were +forthwith adopted as free citizens of the little community. + + + +ADVENTURES OF SERGEANT CHAMPE + +IN HIS ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ARNOLD. + +The treason of General Arnold, the capture of Andre, and the +intelligence received by Washington through his confidential agents in +New York, that many of his officers, and especially a major-general, +whose name was given, were connected with Arnold, could not fail to +arouse the anxiety and vigilance of the commander-in-chief. The moment +he reached the army, then under the orders of Major-General Greene, +encamped in the vicinity of Tappan, he sent for Major Lee, who was +posted with the light troops some distance in front. + +Lee repaired to headquarters, and found Washington in his marquee alone, +busily engaged in writing. Lee was requested to take a seat; and a +bundle of papers, lying on the table, was given to him for perusal. The +purport of these tended to show that Arnold was not alone in his base +conspiracy, but that a major-general, whose name was not concealed, was +also implicated. This officer had enjoyed, without interruption, the +confidence of the commander-in-chief, nor did there exist a single +reason in support of the accusation. It altogether rested on the +intelligence derived from the papers before him. + +Major Lee was naturally shocked at these suspicions, and suggested that +they were an invention of the enemy. Washington admitted the +plausibility of the suggestion, but remarked that he had the same +confidence in Arnold, a few days before, that he now placed in the +persons accused. + +After some further conversation, Washington disclosed a project, which +he had maturely revolved in his own mind. "I have sent for you," he +remarked to Lee, "to learn if you have in your corps any individual +capable of undertaking a delicate and hazardous enterprise. Whoever +comes forward on this occasion will lay me under great obligations +personally; and, in behalf of the United States, I will reward him +amply. No time is to be lost. He must proceed, if possible, this night. +My object is to probe to the bottom the affecting suspicions suggested +by the papers you have just read--to seize Arnold, and, by getting him, +to save Andre. While my emissary is engaged in preparing for the seizure +of Arnold, the agency of others can be traced; and the timely delivery +of Arnold to me, will possibly put it in my power to restore the amiable +and unfortunate Andre to his friends. My instructions are ready, in +which you will find express orders, that Arnold is not to be hurt; but +that he be permitted to escape, if it can be prevented only by killing +him, as his public punishment is the only object in view. This you can +not too forcibly press upon the person who may engage in the enterprise; +and this fail not to do. With my instructions, are two letters, to be +delivered as ordered, and here are some guineas to defray expenses." + +Lee replied, that, as the first step to the enterprise was pretended +desertion, it would be difficult to find a commissioned officer, who +would undertake it. He knew, however, a sergeant-major of the cavalry, +named Champe, who was in all respects qualified for the delicate and +adventurous project. Champe was a native of Loudon county, in Virginia, +about twenty years of age. He had enlisted in 1776; was rather above the +common size, full of bone and muscle, with a saturnine countenance, +grave, thoughtful, and taciturn; of tried courage and inflexible +perseverance. + +Washington was satisfied with this description, and exclaimed that +Champe was the very man for the enterprise. Lee promised to persuade him +to undertake it, and, taking leave of the general, returned to the camp +of the light corps, which he reached about eight o'clock at night. +Sending instantly for the serjeant-major, he informed him of the project +of the commander-in-chief; and urged upon him, that, by succeeding in +the capture and safe delivery of Arnold, he would not only gratify his +general in the most acceptable manner, but would be hailed as the +avenger of the reputation of the army, stained by a foul and wicked +perfidy; and, what could not but be highly pleasing, he would be the +instrument of saving the life of Major Andre. + +Champe listened with attention to the plan unfolded by Lee, and replied +that it met his approbation. Even its partial success was likely to lead +to great good, as it would give relief to Washington's mind, and do +justice, as he hoped, to suspected innocence. Champe added, that he was +not deterred by the danger and difficulty to be encountered, but by the +ignominy of desertion, consequent upon his enlisting with the enemy. It +did not comport with his feelings to be even suspected of such a crime. + +Lee combated the objections of the sergeant with his usual address, and +finally subdued his prejudices so far, that Champe consented to +undertake the enterprise. The instructions of Washington were then read +to him; and Lee particularly cautioned him to exercise the utmost +circumspection in delivering the letters, and to take care to withhold +from the two individuals addressed under feigned names, knowledge of +each other. He was further urged to bear in constant recollection the +solemn injunction, so pointedly expressed in the instructions, of +forbearing to kill Arnold in any event. + +It now remained to arrange the mode of Champe's desertion, for, in order +to be received favorably by the British, it was necessary that he should +desert under circumstances which should assure them of his sincerity. To +cross the numerous patrols of horse and foot, was no small difficulty, +which was now increased in consequence of the swarms of irregulars, who +sometimes ventured down to the very point of Paulus Hook, with the hope +of picking up booty. Evident as were the difficulties in the way, no +relief could be afforded by Major Lee, lest it might induce a belief +that he was privy to the desertion, which opinion getting to the enemy, +would peril the life of Champe. The sergeant was left to his own +resources and management, Lee agreeing that in case Champe's departure +should be discovered before morning, he would take care to delay pursuit +as long as possible. + +Lee placed in the hands of the sergeant some gold for his expenses, and +enjoining it upon him to apprise him of his arrival in New York as soon +as practicable, bade the adventurous Virginian farewell Champe, pulling +out his watch, compared it with that of Lee, reminding him of the +importance of holding back pursuit, which he was convinced would take +place during the night, and which might be fatal, as he would be obliged +to adopt a zigzag course, in order to avoid the patrols, which would +consume time. It was now nearly eleven. The sergeant returned to camp, +and, taking his cloak, valise, and orderly-book, he drew his horse from +the picket, and, mounting, set out upon his novel expedition. + +Hardly half an hour had elapsed, when Captain Carnes, officer of the +day, waited on Major Lee, and, with considerable emotion, told him that +one of the patrol had fallen in with a dragoon, who, on being +challenged, put spur to his horse, and escaped, though vigorously +pursued. Lee, complaining of the interruption, and pretending to be +extremely fatigued, answered as if he did not understand what had been +said, which compelled the captain to repeat his remark. + +"Who can the fellow be that was pursued?" said Lee; "a countryman, +probably." + +"No," replied the captain; "the patrol sufficiently distinguished him to +know that he was a dragoon probably from the army, if not, certainly one +of our own." + +This idea was ridiculed by Lee as improbable, as, during the whole +campaign, but a single dragoon had deserted from the legion. Carnes was +not convinced. Much apprehension was felt, at that time, of the effect +of Arnold's example. The captain withdrew to examine the squadron of +horse, whom he had ordered to assemble in pursuance of established usage +on similar occasions. He speedily returned, stating that the deserter +was known; he was no less a person than the sergeant-major, who was gone +off with his horse, baggage, arms, and orderly-book. Sensibly affected +at the supposed baseness of a soldier, who was generally esteemed, +Carnes added, that he had ordered a party to prepare for pursuit, and +that he had come for written orders from the major. + +In order to gain time for Champe, Lee expressed his belief, that the +sergeant had not deserted, but had merely taken the liberty to leave +camp upon private business or pleasure; an example, Lee said, too often +set by the officers themselves, destructive as it was of discipline, +opposed as it was to orders, and disastrous as it might prove to the +corps in the course of the service. + +Some little delay was thus interposed. Carnes began to grow impatient at +what seemed the long-winded and unseasonable discourse. It being, at +length announced, that the pursuing party were in readiness, Major Lee +directed a change in the officer, giving the command to Cornet +Middleton. His object was to add to the delay. He knew, moreover, that, +from the tenderness of his disposition, Middleton would be reluctant to +do any personal injury to Champe, in the event of a pursuit. + +Within ten minutes Middleton appeared to receive his orders, which were +delivered to him, made out in the customary form, and signed by the +major. The directions were, to pursue as far as could be done with +safety, Sergeant Champe, who was suspected of deserting to the enemy, +and of having taken the road to Paulus Hook; to bring him alive to camp, +that he might suffer in the presence of the army, but to kill him if he +resisted or attempted to escape after being taken. + +Detaining the cornet a few minutes longer, in advising him what course +to pursue--urging him to take care of the horse and accoutrements, if +taken--and enjoining him to be on his guard, lest he might, by a too +eager pursuit, improvidently fall into the hands of the enemy--Lee +dismissed Middleton and his party. A shower of rain had fallen soon +after Champe's departure, which enabled the pursuing dragoons to find +the trail of his horse; for, at that time, the horses being all shod by +our own farriers, the shoes were made in the same form which, with a +private mark annexed to the fore shoes, and known to the troopers, +pointed out the trail of our dragoons, and, in this way, was +often useful. + +When Middleton departed, it was a few minutes past twelve, so that +Champe had the start of his pursuers by little more than an hour. Lee +was very anxious, and passed a sleepless night. The pursuing party were, +on their part, occasionally delayed by the necessary halts to examine +the road, as the impressions of the horse's shoes directed the course. +These were, unfortunately, too evident, no other horse having passed +over the road since the shower. When the day broke, Middleton was no +longer obliged to halt, and he passed on with rapidity. + +As the pursuers ascended an eminence to the north of the village of +Bergen, Champe was descried not more than half a mile in front. +Resembling an Indian in his vigilance, the sergeant at the same moment +discovered Middleton and his men, to whose object he was no stranger, +and giving spur to his horse, he determined to outstrip them. Middleton, +at the same instant, put his horses to the top of their speed; and +being, as the legion all were, well acquainted with the country, he +recollected a route through the woods to the bridge below Bergen, which +diverged from the great road near the Three Pigeons. Reaching the point +of separation, he halted, and, dividing his party, directed a sergeant, +with a few dragoons, to take the near cut, and possess, with all +possible dispatch, the bridge, while he, with the rest of his men, +followed Champe. He could not doubt but that Champe, being thus enclosed +between him and his sergeant, would deliver himself up. Champe did not +forget the short cut, and would have taken it, had he not remembered +that it was the usual route of our parties when returning in the day +from the neighborhood of the enemy. He consequently avoided it, and +wisely resolved to abandon his intention of getting to Paulus Hook, and +to seek refuge from two British galleys, lying a few miles to the west +of Bergen. + +This was a station generally occupied by one or two galleys. Passing +through the village of Bergen, Champe took the road toward Elizabethtown +Point. Middleton's sergeant gained the bridge, where he concealed +himself, ready to intercept Champe as soon as he appeared. In the +meantime, Middleton, pursuing his course through Bergen, soon arrived, +also, at the bridge, when, to his mortification, he found that Champe +had escaped. Returning up the road, he inquired of the villagers of +Bergen, whether a dragoon had been seen that morning preceding his +party. He was answered in the affirmative, but could learn nothing +satisfactory as to the route taken by the fugitive. While engaged in +inquiries himself, he spread his party through the village to discover +the trail of Champe's horse. Some of the dragoons hit it, just as the +sergeant, leaving the village, reached the road to the point. + +Pursuit was now vigorously renewed, and again Champe was descried. +Apprehending the event, he had prepared himself for it by lashing his +valise and orderly-book on his shoulders, and holding his drawn sword in +his hand, having thrown away the scabbard. The delay occasioned by +Champe's preparations for swimming had brought Middleton within two or +three hundred yards. As soon as Champe got abreast of the galleys, he +dismounted, and running through the marsh to the river, plunged into it, +calling on the people in the galley for help. This was readily given. +They fired on our horsemen, and sent a boat to meet Champe, who was +taken in, carried on board, and conveyed to New York, with a letter from +the captain of the galley, describing the scene, which he had himself +witnessed, of Champe's escape. + +The horse belonging to Champe, with his equipments, cloak, and +sword-scabbard, was recovered by Middleton. About three o'clock in the +afternoon, our party returned, and the soldiers, seeing the horse in the +possession of the pursuing party, exclaimed that the deserter had been +killed. Major Lee, at this heart-rending announcement, rushed from his +tent, saw the sergeant's horse led by one of Middleton's dragoons, and +began to reproach himself with having been the means of spilling the +blood of the faithful and intrepid Champe. Concealing his anguish, he +advanced to meet Middleton, but was immediately relieved on seeing the +downcast countenance of the officer and his companions. From their looks +of disappointment, it was evident that Champe had escaped, and this +suspicion was soon confirmed by Middleton's narrative of the issue of +their pursuit. + +Lee's joy was now as great as his depression had been a moment before. +He informed Washington of the affair, who was sensibly affected by the +account of Champe's hair-breadth escape, but was rejoiced that it was of +a character to put at rest the suspicions of the enemy, in regard to the +supposed deserter. + +On the fourth day after Champe's departure, Lee received a letter from +him, written the day before, in a disguised hand, without any signature, +and stating what had passed, after he got on board the galley, where he +was kindly received. He was immediately conducted to New York, and +introduced to the British commandant, to whom he presented a letter from +the captain of the galley. Being asked to what corps he belonged, and a +few other general questions, he was sent under charge of an +orderly-sergeant to the adjutant-general, who was rejoiced to find that +he was sergeant-major of the legion of horse, hitherto remarkable for +their fidelity. + +The adjutant-general noted down, in a large folio book, some particulars +in regard to Champe--his size, figure, place of birth, countenance, the +color of his hair, name of the corps to which he had belonged. After +this was finished, he was sent to the commander-in-chief in charge of +one of the staff, with a letter from the adjutant-general. Sir Henry +Clinton received him very kindly, and detained him more than an hour, +asking many questions in regard to the probable fate of Andre--whether +the example of Arnold's defection had not contaminated many of the +American officers and troops--whether Washington was popular with the +army, and what means might be employed to induce the men to desert. To +these various interrogatories, some of which were perplexing, Champe +answered warily; exciting, nevertheless, hopes that the adoption of +proper measures to encourage desertion, would probably bring off +hundreds of the American soldiers, including some of the best troops, +horse as well as foot. Respecting the fate of Andre, he said he was +ignorant, though there appeared to be a general wish in the army that +his life might not be taken; and that he believed that it would depend +more on the disposition of Congress, than on the will of Washington. + +After the close of this long conversation, Sir Henry presented Champe +with a couple of guineas, and recommended him to wait on General Arnold, +who was engaged in raising an American legion for the service of his +majesty. Arnold expressed much satisfaction on being informed of the +effect of his example, and the manner of Champe's escape. He concluded +his numerous inquiries by assigning quarters to the sergeant. He +afterward proposed to Champe to join his legion, promising him the same +station he had held in the rebel service, and further advancement. +Expressing his wish to retire from the service, and his conviction of +the certainty of his being hung, if ever taken by the rebels, he begged +to be excused from enlistment; assuring the general, that should he +change his mind, he would accept his offer. + +Retiring to the assigned quarters, Champe now turned his attention to +the delivery of his letters, which he could not effect till the next +night, and then only to one of the two incogniti, to whom he was +recommended. This man received the sergeant with attention, and having +read the letter, assured him of his faithful cooperation. The object for +which the aid of this individual was required, regarded those persons +implicated in the information sent to Washington. Promising to enter +with zeal upon the investigation, and engaging to transmit Champe's +letters to Major Lee, he fixed the time and place of their next meeting, +when they separated. A day or two afterward, Champe accepted the +appointment of recruiting sergeant to Arnold, for the purpose of +securing uninterrupted ingress and egress at the house which the +general occupied. + +The letters which Lee received from Champe, announced that the +difficulties in his way were numerous and stubborn, and that his +prospect of success was by no means cheering. With respect to the +charges against certain officers and soldiers in the American army of an +intention to follow Arnold's example, he expressed his decided +conviction that they were unfounded; that they had taken their rise in +the enemy's camp, and that they would be satisfactorily confuted. But +the pleasure which the latter part of this communication afforded was +damped by the tidings it imparted respecting Arnold--as on his speedy +capture and safe delivery depended Andre's relief. + +The interposition of Sir Henry Clinton, who was extremely anxious to +save his much-loved aid-de-camp, still continued. It was expected that +the examination of witnesses in Andre's case and the defense of the +prisoner, would protract the decision of the court of inquiry then +assembled, and give sufficient time for the consummation of the project +confided to Champe. This hope was disappointed in a manner wholly +unexpected. The honorable and accomplished Andre disdained defense, and +prevented the examination of witnesses, by confessing the character of +the mission, in the execution of which he was arrested. The court +reassembled on the second of October. Andre was declared to be a spy, +and condemned to suffer accordingly. + +The painful sentence was executed on the subsequent day, in the usual +form, the commander-in-chief deeming it improper to interpose any delay. +In this decision he was warranted by the unpromising intelligence +received from Champe--by the still existing implication of other +officers in Arnold's conspiracy--by a due regard to public opinion, and +by the inexorable necessity of a severe example. + +The fate of Andre, hastened by himself, deprived the enterprise +committed to Champe of a feature which had been highly prized by the +projector, and which had engaged the heart of the individual selected +for its execution. Washington ordered Major Lee to communicate what had +passed to the sergeant, with directions to encourage him to prosecute +with vigor the remaining objects of his instructions. Champe bitterly +deplored the fate of Andre, and confessed that the hope of saving the +unfortunate young man had been his main inducement in undertaking his +dangerous enterprise. Nothing now remained but to attempt the seizure of +Arnold. To this object Champe gave his undivided attention. Ten days +elapsed before he could conclude his arrangements, at the end of which +time, Lee received from him his final communication, appointing the +third subsequent night for a party of dragoons to meet him at Hoboken, +when he hoped to deliver Arnold to the officer. + +From the moment of his enlistment into Arnold's corps, Champe had every +opportunity he could desire for watching the habits of that individual. +He discovered that it was his custom to return home about twelve every +night, and that, previous to going to bed, he generally walked in his +garden. During this visit, the conspirators were to seize him, gag him, +and carry him across the river. + +Adjoining the house in which Arnold resided, and in which it was +designed to seize and gag him, Champe had taken out several of the +palings and replaced them, so that they might be readily removed, and +open a way to the neighboring alley. Into this alley he meant to have +conveyed his prisoner, aided by his companions, one of two associates +who had been introduced by the friend to whom Champe had been originally +made known by letter from the commander-in-chief, and with whose aid and +counsel he had so far conducted the enterprise. His other associate was +in readiness with the boat at one of the wharves on the Hudson river, to +receive the party. + +Champe and his friend intended to have placed themselves each under +Arnold's shoulder, and to have thus borne him through the most +unfrequented alleys and streets to the boat; representing Arnold, in +case of being questioned, as a drunken sailor, whom they were conveying +to the guard-house. The passage across the river could be easily +accomplished. + +These particulars were communicated by Lee to Washington, who directed +the former to meet Champe, and to take care that Arnold should not be +hurt. The appointed day arrived, and Lee with a party of dragoons, left +camp late in the evening, with three led horses--one for Arnold, one for +the sergeant, and the third for his associate. From the tenor of the +last communication from Champe, no doubt was entertained of the success +of the enterprise. The party from the American camp reached Hoboken +about midnight, where they were concealed in the adjoining wood--Lee, +with three dragoons, stationing himself near the river shore. + +Hour after hour passed. No boat approached. At length the day broke, and +the major retired with his party back to the camp, much chagrined at the +failure of the project. + +In a few days, Lee received an anonymous letter from Champe's patron and +friend, informing him, that on the day preceding the night for the +execution of the plot, Arnold had removed his quarters to another part +of the town, to superintend the embarkation of troops preparing, as was +rumored, for an expedition, to be placed under his own direction. The +American legion, consisting chiefly of American deserters, had been +transferred from the barracks to one of the transports; it being +apprehended that if left on shore till the expedition was ready, many of +them might desert. + +Thus it happened that John Champe, instead of crossing the Hudson that +night, was safely deposited on board one of the transports, from which +he never departed till the troops under Arnold landed in Virginia, Nor +was he able to escape from the British army till after the junction of +Lord Cornwallis, at Petersburgh, when he deserted; and passing through +Virginia and North Carolina, safely joined the American army soon after +it had passed the Congaree, in pursuit of Lord Rawdon. + +Champe's appearance excited extreme surprise among his former comrades, +which was not a little increased when they witnessed the cordial +reception, which he met with from the late Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel +Lee. His whole story soon became known to the corps, and he became an +object of increased respect and regard. + +Champe was munificently rewarded, and General Washington gave him a +discharge from further service, lest, in the vicissitudes of war, he +might fall into the enemy's hands, in which event, if recognized, he +could expect no mercy. Champe resided in London county, Virginia, after +leaving the army. He afterward removed to Kentucky, where he died. For a +full account of his adventures, we may refer the reader to Major Lee's +Memoirs, to which we have been largely indebted. + + + +ADVENTURE WITH PIRATES. + +There lived, not many years ago, on the eastern shore of Mt. Desert--a +large island off the coast of Maine--an old fisherman, by the name of +Jedediah Spinnet, who owned a schooner of some hundred tons burden, in +which he, together with some four stout sons, was wont to go, about once +a year, to the Grand Banks, for the purpose of catching codfish. The old +man had five things, upon the peculiar merits of which he loved to +boast--his schooner, "Betsy Jenkins," and his four sons. The four sons +were all their father represented them to be, and no one ever doubted +his word, when he said that their like was not to be found for fifty +miles around. The oldest was thirty-two, while the youngest had just +completed his twenty-sixth year, and they answered to the names of Seth, +Andrew, John, and Samuel. + +One morning a stranger called upon Jedediah to engage him to take to +Havana some iron machinery belonging to steam engines for sugar +plantations. The terms were soon agreed upon, and the old man and his +sons immediately set about putting the machinery on board; that +accomplished, they set sail for Havana, with a fair wind, and for +several days proceeded on their course without any adventure of any +kind. One morning, however, a vessel was descried off their starboard +quarter, which, after some hesitation, the old man pronounced a pirate. +There was not much time allowed them for doubting, for the vessel soon +saluted them with a very agreeable whizzing of an eighteen pound shot +under the stern. + +"That means for us to heave to," remarked the old man. + +"Then I guess we'd better do it hadn't we?" said Seth. + +"Of course." + +Accordingly, the Betsy Jenkins was brought up into the wind, and her +main-boom hauled over to windward. + +"Now boys," said the old man, as soon as the schooner came to a stand, +"all we can do is to be as cool as possible, and to trust to fortune. +There is no way to escape that I can see now; but, perhaps, if we are +civil, they will take such stuff as they want, then let us go. At any +rate there is no use crying about it, for it can't be helped. Now get +your pistols, and see that they are surely loaded, and have your knives +ready, but be sure and hide them, so that the pirates shall see no show +of resistance. In a few moments all the arms which the schooner +afforded, with the exception of one or two old muskets, were secured +about the persons of our Down Easters, and they quietly awaited the +coming of the schooner. + +"One word more, boys," said the old man, just as the pirate came round +under the stern. + +"Now watch every movement I make, and be ready to jump the moment I +speak." + +As Captain Spinnet ceased speaking, the pirate luffed under the +fisherman's lee-quarter, and, in a moment more, the latter's deck was +graced with the presence of a dozen as savage-looking mortals as eyes +ever rested upon. + +"Are you the captain of this vessel," demanded the leader of the +boarders, as he approached the old man. + +"Yes sir." + +"What is your cargo?" + +"Machinery for ingines." + +"Nothing else?" asked the pirate with a searching look. + +At this moment, Captain Spinnet's eye caught what looked like a sail off +to the southward and eastward, but no sign betrayed the discovery, and, +while a brilliant idea shot through his mind, he hesitatingly replied: + +"Well, there is a leetle something else." + +"Ha! and what is it?" + +"Why, sir, perhaps I hadn't ought to tell," said Captain Spinnet, +counterfeiting the most extreme perturbation. "You see, 'twas given to +me as a sort of trust, an' 't wouldn't be right for me to give up. You +can take any thing else you please, for I s'pose I can't help myself." + +"You are an honest codger, at any rate," said the pirate; "but, if you +would live ten minutes longer, just tell me what you've got on board, +and exactly where it lays." + +The sight of the cocked pistol brought the old man to his senses, and, +in a deprecating tone, he muttered: + +"Don't kill me, sir, don't, I'll tell you all. We have got forty +thousand silver dollars nailed up in boxes and stowed away under some of +the boxes just forward of the cabin bulkhead, but Mr. Defoe didn't +suspect that any body would have thought of looking for it there." + +"Perhaps so," chuckled the pirate, while his eyes sparkled with delight. +And then, turning to his own vessel, he ordered all but three of his men +to jump on board the Yankee. + +In a few moments the pirates had taken off the hatches, and, in their +haste to get at the "silver dollars," they forgot all else; but not so +with Spinnet; he had his wits at work, and no sooner had the last of the +villains disappeared below the hatchway, than he turned to his boys. + +"Now, boys, for our lives. Seth, you clap your knife across the fore +throat and peak halyards; and you, John, cut the main. Be quick now, an' +the moment you've done it, jump aboard the pirate. Andrew and Sam, you +cast off the pirate's graplings; an' then you jump--then we'll walk into +them three chaps aboard the clipper. _Now for it_." + +No sooner were the last words out of the old man's mouth, than his sons +did exactly as they had been directed. The fore and main halyards were +cut, and the two graplings cast off at the same instant, and, as the +heavy gaffs came rattling down, our five heroes leaped on board the +pirate. The moment the clipper felt at liberty, her head swung off, and, +before the astonished buccaneers could gain the decks of the fisherman, +their own vessel was a cable's length to leeward, sweeping gracefully +away before the wind, while the three men left in charge were +easily secured. + +"Halloa, there!" shouted Captain Spinnet, as the luckless pirates +crowded around the lee gangway of their prize, "when you find them +silver dollars, just let us know, will you?" + +Half a dozen pistol shots was all the answer the old man got, but they +did him no harm; and, crowding up all sail, he made for the vessel he +had discovered, which lay dead to leeward of him, and which he made out +to be a large ship. The clipper cut through the water like a dolphin, +and, in a remarkably short space of time, Spinnet luffed up under the +ship's stern, and explained all that had happened. The ship proved to be +an East Indiaman, bound for Charleston, having, all told, thirty men on +board, twenty of whom at once jumped into the clipper and offered their +services in helping to take the pirate. + +Before dark, Captain Spinnet was once more within hailing distance of +his own vessel, and raising a trumpet to his mouth, he shouted: + +"Schooner ahoy! Will you quietly surrender yourselves prisoners, if we +come on board!" + +"Come and try it!" returned the pirate captain, as he brandished his +cutlass above his head in a threatening manner, which seemed to indicate +that he would fight to the last. + +But that was his last moment, for Seth was crouched below the bulwarks, +taking deliberate aim along the barrel of a heavy rifle, and, as the +bloody villain was in the act of turning to his men, the sharp crack of +Seth Spinnet's weapon rang its fatal death-peal, and the next moment the +captain fell back into the arms of his men, with a brace of bullets in +his heart. + +"Now," shouted the old man, as he leveled the long pivot gun, and seized +a lighted match, "I'll give you just five minutes to make your minds up +in, and, if you don't surrender, I'll blow every one of you into the +other world." + +The death of their captain, and, withal the sight of the pivot gun--its +peculiar properties they knew full well--brought the pirates to their +senses, and they threw down their weapons, and agreed to give +themselves up. + +In two days from that time, Captain Spinnet delivered his cargo safely +in Havana, gave the pirates into the hands of the civil authorities, and +delivered the clipper up to the government, in return for which, he +received a sum of money sufficient for an independence during the +remainder of his life, as well as a very handsome medal from the +government. + + + +KENTON THE SPY. + +A secret expedition had been planned by Col. Bowman, of Kentucky, against +an Indian town on the little Miama. Simon Kenton and two young men, +named Clark and Montgomery, were employed to proceed in advance, and +reconnoiter. Kenton was a native of Fauquier county, Virginia, where he +was born the fifteenth of May, 1755; his companions were roving +backwoodsmen, denizens of the wood, and hunters like himself. + +These adventurers set out in obedience to their orders, and reached the +neighborhood of the Indian village without being discovered. They +examined it attentively, and walked around the cabins during the night +with perfect impunity. Had they returned after reconnoitering the place, +they would have accomplished the object of their mission, and avoided a +heavy calamity. They fell martyrs, however to their passion for +horseflesh. + +Unfortunately, during their nightly promenade, they stumbled upon a +pound, in which were a number of Indian horses. The temptation was not +to be resisted. They severally seized a horse and mounted. But there +still remained a number of fine animals; and the adventurers cast +longing, lingering looks behind. It was melancholy--the idea of +forsaking such a goodly prize. Flesh and blood could not resist the +temptation. Getting scalped was nothing to the loss of such beautiful +specimens of horseflesh. They turned back, and took several more. The +horses, however, seemed indisposed to change masters, and so much noise +was made, in the attempt to secure them, that at last the thieves were +discovered. + +The cry rang through the village at once, that the Long-Knives were +stealing their horses right before the doors of their wigwams. A great +hubbub ensued; and Indians, old and young, squaws, children, and +warriors, all sallied out with loud screams, to save their property from +the greedy spoilers. Kenton and his friends saw that they had overshot +their mark, and that they must ride for their lives. Even in this +extremity, however, they could not reconcile their minds to the +surrender of a single horse which they had haltered; and while two of +them rode in front and led a great number of horses, the other brought +up the rear, and, plying his whip from right to left, did not permit a +single animal to lag behind. + +In this manner, they dashed through the woods at a furious rate with +the hue and cry after them, until their course was suddenly stopped by +an impenetrable swamp. Here, from necessity, they paused a few minutes, +and listened attentively. Hearing no sounds of pursuit, they resumed +their course, and, skirting the swamp for some distance in the vain hope +of crossing it, they bent their course in a straight direction to the +Ohio. They rode during the whole night without resting a moment. Halting +a brief space at daylight, they continued their journey throughout the +day, and the whole of the following night; and, by this uncommon +celerity of movement, they succeeded in reaching the northern bank of +the Ohio on the morning of the second day. + +Crossing the river would now insure their safety, but this was likely to +prove a difficult undertaking, and the close pursuit, which they had +reason to expect, rendered it expedient to lose as little time as +possible. The wind was high, and the river rough and boisterous. It was +determined that Kenton should cross with the horses, while Clark and +Montgomery should construct a raft, in order to transport their guns, +baggage, and ammunition, to the opposite shore. The necessary +preparations were soon made, and Kenton, after forcing his horses into +the river, plunged in himself, and swam by their side. + +In a few minutes the high waves completely overwhelmed him, and forced +him considerably below the horses, who stemmed the current much more +successfully than he. + +The horses, being left to themselves, turned about and made for the Ohio +shore, where Kenton was compelled to follow them. Again he forced them +into the water, and again they returned to the same spot, until Kenton +became so exhausted by repeated efforts, as to be unable to swim. What +was to be done? + +That the Indians would pursue them was certain. That the horses would +not and could not be made to cross the river in its present state, was +equally certain. Should they abandon their horses and cross on the raft, +or remain with their horses and brave the consequence? The latter +alternative was adopted unanimously. Death or captivity might be +tolerated, but the loss of such a beautiful lot of horses, after working +so hard for them, was not to be thought of for a moment. + +Should they move up or down the river, or remain where they were? The +latter plan was adopted, and a more indiscreet one could hardly have +been imagined. They supposed that the wind would fall at sunset, and +the river become sufficiently calm to admit of their passage; and, as it +was thought probable that the Indians might be upon them before night, +it was determined to conceal their horses in a neighboring ravine, while +they should take their stations in the adjoining wood. + +The day passed away in tranquility; but at night the wind blew harder +than ever, and the water became so rough, that they would hardly have +been able to cross on their raft. As if totally infatuated, they +remained where they were until morning; thus wasting twenty-four hours +of most precious time in idleness. In the morning, the wind abated, and +the river became calm; but, it was now too late. Their horses had become +obstinate and intractible, and positively and repeatedly refused to take +to the water. + +Their masters at length determined to do what ought to have been done at +first. They severally resolved to mount a horse, and make the best of +their way down the river to Louisville. But their unconquerable +reluctance to lose their horses overcame even this resolution. Instead +of leaving the ground instantly, they went back upon their own trail, in +the vain effort to regain possession of the rest of their horses, which +had broken from them in their last effort to drive them into the water. +They literally fell victims to their love for horseflesh. + +They had scarcely ridden one hundred yards when Kenton, who had +dismounted, heard a loud halloo. He quickly beheld three Indians and one +white man, all well mounted. Wishing to give the alarm to his +companions, he raised his rifle, took a steady aim at the breast of the +foremost Indian, and drew the trigger. His gun had become wet on the +raft, and flashed. + +The enemy were instantly alarmed, and dashed at him. Kenton took to his +heels, and was pursued by four horsemen at full speed. He instantly +directed his steps to the thickest part of the wood, and had succeeded, +as he thought, in baffling his pursuers, when, just as he was entering +the wood, an Indian on horseback galloped up to him with such rapidity +as to render flight useless. The horseman rode up, holding out his hand, +and calling out "Brother! brother!" in a tone of great affection. Kenton +observes, that if his gun would have made fire, he would have +"brothered" him to his heart's content, but, being totally unarmed, he +called out that he would surrender if they would give him quarter and +good treatment. + +Promises were cheap with the Indian, who, advancing, with extended hands +and a withering grin upon his countenance, which was intended for a +smile of courtesy, seized Kenton's hand and grasped it with violence. +Kenton, not liking the manner of his captor, raised his gun to knock him +down, when an Indian, who had followed him closely through the +brushwood, sprung upon his back, and pinioned his arms to his side. The +one, who had been grinning so amiably, then raised him by the hair and +shook him until his teeth rattled, while the rest of the party coming +up, fell upon Kenton with their tongues and ramrods, until he thought +they would scold or beat him to death. They were the owners of the +horses which he had carried off, and now took ample revenge for the loss +of their property. At every stroke of their ramrods over his head, they +would exclaim in a tone of strong indignation, "Steal Indian hoss! hey!" + +Their attention, however, was soon directed to Montgomery, who, having +heard the noise attending Kenton's capture, very gallantly hastened up +to his assistance, while Clark prudently took to his heels. Montgomery +halted within gunshot, and appeared busy with the pan of his gun, as if +preparing to fire. Two Indians instantly sprang off in pursuit of him, +while the rest attended to Kenton. In a few minutes Kenton heard the +crack of two rifles in quick succession, followed by a halloo, which +announced the fate of his friend. The Indians returned, waving the +bloody scalp of Montgomery, and with countenances and gestures which +menaced him with a similar fate. + +They then proceeded to secure their prisoner by pinioning him with stout +sticks, and fastening him with ropes to a tree. During the operation +they cuffed him from time to time with great heartiness, and abused him +for a "tief!--a hoss steal!--a rascal!" + +Kenton remained in this painful position throughout the night, looking +forward to certain death, and most probably torture, as soon as he +should reach their town. Their rage against him displayed itself the +next morning, in rather a singular manner. + +Among the horses which Kenton had taken, was a wild young colt, wholly +unbroken, and with all his honors of mane and tail undocked. Upon him +Kenton was mounted, without saddle or bridle, with his hands tied behind +him, and his feet fastened under the horse's belly. The country was +rough and bushy, and Kenton had no means of protecting his face from the +brambles, through which it was expected that the colt would dash. As +soon as the rider was firmly fastened to his back, the colt was turned +loose with a sudden lash, but, after curvetting and capricoling for +awhile, to the great distress of Kenton, but to the infinite amusement +of the Indians, he appeared to take compassion on his rider, and, +falling into a line with the other horses, avoided the brambles +entirely, and went on very well. In this manner he rode through the day. +At night he was taken from the horse, and confined as before. + +On the third day, they came within a few miles of Chillicothe. Here the +party halted, and sent forward a messenger to prepare for their +reception. In a short time, Blackfish, one of their chiefs, arrived, and +regarding Kenton with a stern countenance, thundered out in very good +English: "You have been stealing horses?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did Captain Boone tell you to steal our horses?" + +"No, sir, I did it of my own accord." + +Blackfish made no reply to this frank confession; but, brandishing a +hickory switch, he applied it so briskly to Kenton's naked back and +shoulders, as to bring the blood freely, and occasion acute pain. + +Thus, alternately scolded and beaten, Kenton was conducted to the +village. All the inhabitants, men, women, and children, ran out to feast +their eyes with a sight of the prisoner; and all, down to the smallest +child, appeared in a paroxysm of rage. They whooped, they yelled, they +hooted, they clapped their hands, and poured upon him a flood of +abuse, to which all that he had yet experienced was courteous and civil. +With loud cries, they demanded that their prisoner should be tied to the +stake. The hint was instantly complied with; but, after being well +thrashed and tormented, he was released for the purpose of furnishing +further amusement to his captors. + +[Illustration: DEATH OF MONTGOMERY.] + +Early in the morning, he beheld the scalp of Montgomery stretched upon a +hoop, and drying in the air, before the door of one of their principal +houses, he was led out, and ordered to run the gauntlet. A row of boys, +women, and men, extended to the distance of a quarter of a mile. At the +starting-place, stood two grim warriors with butcher knives in their +hands. At the extremity of the line, was an Indian beating a drum; and a +few paces beyond the drum was the door of the council-house. Clubs, +switches, hoe-handles, and tomahawks, were brandished along the whole +line, and, as Kenton saw these formidable preparations, the cold sweat +streamed from his pores. + +The moment for starting arrived, the great drum at the door of the +council-house was struck; and Kenton sprang forward in the race. He, +however, avoided the row of his enemies, and, turning to the east, drew +the whole party in pursuit of him. He doubled several times with great +activity, and at length observing an opening he darted through it, and +pressed forward to the council-house with a rapidity which left his +pursuers far behind. One or two of the Indians succeeded in throwing +themselves between him and the goal, and from these alone he received a +few blows, but was much less injured than he could at first have +supposed possible. + +After the race was over, a council to decide his fate was held, while he +was handed over, naked and bound, to the care of a guard in the open +air. The deliberation commenced. Every warrior sat in silence, while a +large warclub was passed round the circle. Those who were opposed to +burning the prisoner on the spot, were to pass the club in silence to +the next warrior. Those in favor of burning were to strike the earth +violently with the club before passing it. + +A teller was appointed to count the votes. This dignitary reported that +the opposition had prevailed; and that it was determined to take the +prisoner to an Indian town on Mad river, called Waughcotomoco. His fate +was announced to him by a renegado white man, who acted as interpreter. +Kenton asked "what the Indians intended to do with him upon reaching +Waughcotomoco." + +"Burn you!" replied the renegado, with a ferocious oath. + +After this pleasant assurance, the laconic and scowling interpreter +walked away. + +The prisoner's clothes were restored to him, and he was permitted to +remain unbound. Thanks to the intimation of the interpreter, he was +aware of the fate in reserve for him, and resolved that he would never +be carried alive to Waughcotomoco. Their route lay through an unprimed +forest, abounding in thickets and undergrowth. During the whole of the +march, Kenton remained abstracted and silent; often meditating an effort +for the recovery of his liberty, and as often shrinking from the peril +of the attempt. + +At length he was aroused from his reverie by the Indians firing off +their guns, and raising the shrill scalp-halloo. The signal was soon +answered, and the deep roll of a drum was heard far in front, announcing +to the unhappy prisoner, that they were approaching an Indian town, +where the gauntlet, certainly, and perhaps the stake awaited him. + +The idea of a repetition of the dreadful scenes he had just encountered, +overcame his indecision, and, with a sudden and startling cry, he sprung +into the bushes, and fled with the speed of a wild deer. The pursuit was +instant and keen. Some of his pursuers were on horseback, some on foot. +But he was flying for his life. The stake and the hot iron, and the +burning splinters were before his eyes, and he soon distanced the +swiftest hunter in pursuit. + +But fate was against him at every turn. Thinking only of the enemy +behind, he forgot that there might be an enemy before; and he suddenly +found that he had plunged into the center of a fresh party of horsemen, +who had sallied from the town at the firing of the guns, and happened, +unfortunately, to stumble upon the poor prisoner, now making a last +effort for freedom. His heart sunk at once from the ardor of hope to the +lowest pit of despair, and he was again haltered and driven into +captivity like an ox to the slaughter. + +On the second day he arrived at Waughcotomoco. Here he was again +compelled to run the gauntlet, in which he was severely hurt. +Immediately after this ceremony, he was taken to the council-house, and +all the warriors once more assembled to determine his fate. + +He sat silent and dejected upon the floor of the cabin, when the door of +the council-house opened, and Simon Girty, James Girty, John Ward, and +an Indian, came in with a woman as a prisoner, together with seven +children and seven scalps. Kenton was immediately removed from the +council-house, and the deliberations of the assembly were protracted to +a very late hour, in consequence of the arrival of the last-named party +with a fresh drove of prisoners. + +At length he was again summoned to attend the council-house, being +informed that his fate was decided. Upon entering, he was greeted with a +savage scowl, which, if he had still cherished a spark of hope, would +have completely extinguished it. Simon Girty threw a blanket upon the +floor, and harshly ordered him to take a seat upon it. The order was not +immediately complied with, and Girty impatiently seizing his arm, jerked +him roughly upon the blanket, and pulled him down. + +In a menacing tone, Girty then interrogated him as to the condition of +Kentucky. + +"How many men are there in Kentucky?" + +"It is impossible for me to answer that question," replied Kenton; "but +I can tell you the number of officers, and their respective ranks, and +you can judge for yourself." + +"Do you know William Stewart?" + +"Perfectly well; he is an old and intimate acquaintance." + +"What is your own name?" + +"Simon Butler!" replied Kenton, who had been known formerly by that +name. + +Never did the announcement of a name produce a more powerful effect. +Girty and Kenton had served as spies together in Dunmore's expedition. +The former had not then abandoned the society of the whites for that of +the savages, and had become warmly attached to Kenton during the short +period of their services together. As soon as he heard the name, he +threw his arms around Kenton's neck, and embraced him with much emotion. + +Then turning to the assembled warriors, who had witnessed this scene +with much surprise, Girty informed them that the prisoner, whom they had +just condemned to the stake, was his ancient companion and bosom-friend; +that they had traveled the same war-path, slept upon the same blanket, +and dwelt in the same wigwam. He entreated them to spare him the anguish +of witnessing the torture, by his adopted brothers, of an old comrade; +and not to refuse so trifling a favor as the life of a white man to the +earnest intercession of one, who had proved, by three years' faithful +service, that he was zealously devoted to the cause of the Indians. + +The speech was listened to in silence, and some of the chiefs were +disposed to grant Girty's request. But others urged the flagrant +misdemeanors of Kenton; that he had not only stolen their horses, but +had flashed his gun at one of their young men; that it was in vain to +suppose that so bad a man could ever become an Indian at heart, like +their brother Girty; that the Kentuckians were all alike, very bad +people, and ought to be killed as fast as they were taken; and, finally, +they observed that many of their people had come from a distance, solely +to assist at the torture of the prisoner; and pathetically painted the +disappointment and chagrin, with which they would hear that all their +trouble had been for nothing. + +Girty continued to urge his request, however, with great earnestness, +and the debate was carried on for an hour and a half, with much energy +and heat. The feelings of Kenton during this suspense may be imagined. + +At length the warclub was produced, and the final vote was taken. It was +in favor of the prisoner's reprieve. Having thus succeeded in his +benevolent purpose, Girty lost no time in attending to the comfort of +his friend. He led him into his own wigwam, and, from his own store, +gave him a pair of moccasins and leggins, a breechcloth, a hat, a coat, +a handkerchief for his neck, and another for his head. + +For the space of three weeks, Kenton lived in tranquility, treated with +much kindness by Girty and the chiefs. But, at the end of that time, as +he was one day with Girty and an Indian named Redpole, another Indian +came from the village toward them, uttering repeatedly a whoop of +peculiar intonation. Girty instantly told Kenton it was the +distress-halloo, and that they must all go instantly to the +council-house. Kenton's heart fluttered at the intelligence, for he +dreaded all whoops, and heartily hated all council-houses, firmly +believing that neither boded him any good. Nothing, however, could be +done, to avoid whatever fate awaited him, and he sadly accompanied Girty +and Redpole back to the village. + +On entering the council-house, Kenton perceived from the ominous scowls +of the chiefs, that they meant no tenderness toward him. Girty and +Redpole were cordially received, but when poor Kenton offered his hand, +it was rejected by six Indians successively, after which, sinking into +despondence, he turned away, and stood apart. + +The debate commenced. Kenton looked eagerly toward Girty, as his last +and only hope. His friend seemed anxious and distressed. The chiefs from +a distance rose one after another, and spoke in a firm and indignant +tone, often looking sternly at Kenton. Girty did not desert him, but his +eloquence was wasted. After a warm discussion, he turned to Kenton and +said, "Well, my friend, _you must die!_" + +One of the stranger chiefs instantly seized him by the collar, and, the +others surrounding him, he was strongly pinioned, committed to a guard, +and marched off. His guard were on horseback, while he was driven before +them on foot, with a long rope round his neck. In this manner they had +marched about two and a half miles, when Girty passed them on horseback, +informing Kenton that he had friends at the next village, with whose aid +he hoped to be able to do something for him. Girty passed on to the +town, but finding that nothing could be done, he would not see his +friend again, but returned to Waughcotomoco by a different route. + +The Indians with their prisoner soon reached a large village upon the +headwaters of the Scioto, where Kenton, for the first time, beheld the +celebrated Mingo chief, Logan, so honorably mentioned in Jefferson's +Notes on Virginia. Logan walked gravely up to the place where Kenton +stood, and the following short conversation ensued: + +"Well, young man, these people seem very mad at you?" + +"Yes, sir, they certainly are." + +"Well; don't be disheartened. I am a great chief. You are to go to +Sandusky. They speak of burning you there. But I will send two runners +to-morrow to help you." + +Logan's form was manly, his countenance calm and noble, and he spoke +the English language with fluency and correctness. Kenton's spirits +revived at the address of the benevolent chief, and he once more looked +upon himself as providentially rescued from the stake. + +On the following morning, two runners were despatched to Sandusky as the +chief had promised. In the evening they returned, and were closeted with +Logan. Kenton felt the most burning anxiety to know the result of their +mission, but Logan did not visit him until the next morning. He then +walked up to him, accompanied by Kenton's guard, and, giving him a piece +of bread, told him that he was instantly to be carried to Sandusky; and +left him without uttering another word. + +Again Kenton's spirits sunk. From Logan's manner, he supposed that his +intercession had been unavailing, and that Sandusky was to be the scene +of his final suffering. This appears to have been the truth. But fortune +had not finished her caprices. On being driven into the town, for the +purpose of being burnt on the following morning, an Indian agent, from +Canada, named Drewyer, interposed, and once more was he rescued from the +stake. Drewyer wished to obtain information for the British commandant +at Detroit; and so earnestly did he insist upon Kenton's being +delivered to him, that the Indians at length consented, upon the express +condition that, after the required information had been obtained, he +should be again restored to their possession. To this Drewyer consented, +and, with out further difficulty, Kenton was transferred to his hands. +Drewyer lost no time in removing him to Detroit. On the road, he +informed Kenton of the condition upon which he had obtained possession +of his person, assuring him, however, that no consideration should +induce him to abandon a prisoner to the mercy of such wretches. + +At Detroit, Kenton's condition was not unpleasant. He was obliged to +report himself every morning to an English officer; and was restricted +to certain boundaries through the day. In other respects he scarcely +felt that he was a prisoner. His wounds were healed, and his emaciated +limbs were again clothed with a fair proportion of flesh. He remained in +this state of easy restraint from October, 1777, until June, 1778, when +he meditated an escape. + +He cautiously broached his project to two young Kentuckians, then at +Detroit, who had been taken with Boone at the Blue Licks, and had been +purchased by the British. He found them as impatient as himself of +captivity, and resolute to accompany him. He commenced instant +preparations. Having formed a close friendship with two Indian hunters, +he deluged them with rum, and bought their guns for a mere trifle. These +he hid in the woods, and returning to Detroit, managed to procure powder +and ball, with another rifle. + +The three prisoners then appointed a night for their attempt, and agreed +upon a place of rendezvous. They met at the time and place appointed, +without discovery, and, taking a circuitous route, avoiding pursuit by +traveling only during the night, they at length arrived safely at +Louisville, after a march of thirty days. + + + +THE DYING VOLUNTEER, + +AN INCIDENT OF MOLINO DEL REY. + +The sun had risen in all his glorious majesty, and hung over the eastern +horizon like a wall of glowing fire; and its bright rays danced merrily +along the lake of Teseneo--over the glittering domes of Mexico--past the +frowning battlements of Chapultepec, and lit, in all their glorious +effulgence, upon, the blood-stained field of Molino del Rey. + +The contest was over--the sound of battle had died away, save an +occasional shot from the distant artillery of the castle, or the fire of +some strolling riflemen. + +I was standing beside the battered remains of the mill door, above which +the first footing had been gained upon the well-contested wall, and +gazing over the plain, now saturated with the blood of my +fellow-soldiers, which that morning waved green with flowing grass, when +I heard a low and feeble wail in the ditch beside me. I turned towards +the spot, and beheld, with his right leg shattered by a cannon ball, a +voltiguer lying amid the mangled. He had been passed by in the haste of +gathering up the wounded under the fire from the castle, and the rays of +the burning sun beat down with terrible fervor upon the wounded limb, +causing heavy groans to issue from his pallid lips, and his marble +countenance to writhe with pain. + +"Water, for God's sake, a drink of water!" he faintly articulated, as I +bent over him. + +Fortunately, I had procured a canteen of water, and placing it to his +lips, he took a long, deep draught, and then sunk back exhausted upon +the ground. + +"The sun," he murmured, "is killing me by its rays; can not you carry me +into the shade?" + +"I can procure assistance, and have you taken to the hospital." + +"No, do not, my sands of life are most out. An hour hence, I shall be a +dead man. Carry me into the shade of the mill, and then, if you have +time to spare, listen to my dying words, and, if you are fortunate +enough to return to the United States, bear me back a message to my +home, and to anoth--" he paused, and motioned me to carry him into the +shade. I did so, and the cold wind which swept along the spot appeared +to revive him, and he continued: + +"You, sir, are a total stranger to me, and, from your uniform belong to +another corps, and yet I must confide this, the great secret of all my +recent actions, and the cause of my being here, to you. Would to God +that I had reflected upon the fatal steps I had taken, and I should now +have been at my home, enjoying the society of kind friends, instead of +dying upon the gory field, and in a foreign land. My father was a +wealthy man, in the town of G----h, in the state of Virginia, and moved +in the best society of the place. I had received an excellent education, +had studied law and was admitted, in the twenty-fourth year of my age, +to practice at the bar. I had early seen and admired a young lady of the +place, a daughter of an intimate friend of father's, and fortunately +the feeling was reciprocated, and we were engaged to be married. The war +in Mexico had been in existence some twelve months, and many flocked to +the standard of their country. It so happened, that about this time, a +recruiting office had been opened in the town, and several of my young +friends had enlisted to go and try their fortunes on the plains of +Mexico. One night there was a grand party in the place, in honor of +those who were about to depart for the seat of war, and both myself and +Eveline were at the hall. Among those who were assembled at that evening +was Augustus P., a talented young man, and accomplished scholar, gay and +lively in his manners, free and cheerful in his disposition, and a +universal favorite with the fair sex. He had been for some time paying +his addresses to Eveline, as I deemed, in rather too pointed a manner. +As the party had assembled in the long hall, and the dance was about to +commence, I asked for her hand for the first set." + +'It is engaged,' she replied, as I thought, rather tartly. + +'To whom, if I may be so bold as to inquire?' I demanded. + +'To Augustus P.,' was the immediate reply. + +I smothered my rising indignation the best I could, and proudly +returned the smile of malignant joy my rival gave me. + +'Perhaps I can engage it for a second set,' I calmly replied. + +'Mr. P. has engaged it for the entire evening,' she pettishly replied, +and rising and taking his hand they took their station upon the floor. + +I remained thunderstruck and rooted to the spot, until I saw the eyes +of my hated rival fixed upon me, and, throwing off the spell that bound +me, I assumed a proud, cold look. As I swept by the dancers, Eveline +paused for a moment when just beside me, and, bending close to her ear, +I whispered, 'Eveline, farewell forever.' + +She turned slightly pale, and asked, 'when?' + +'To-night, I join the army for Mexico,' I firmly replied. + +A deep flush passed haughtily across her brow, and then waving her hand +gracefully, she replied, 'Go,' and glided through the mazes of +the dance. + +I rushed from the spot, and never paused until I had entered the +recruiting office, and offered myself a candidate for the army. + +'Are you a good, moral man, of well-regulated habits?' asked the +sergeant. + +'Can give a hundred certificates, if necessary, I hastily replied. + +'I rather think you'll do,' said the officer with a smile, and he +enrolled me as a soldier. 'When do you wish to leave?' + +'Now--to-night--to-morrow--any time,' I eagerly answered. + +'Promptness is a good quality, you will make a good soldier. Get ready +to start at eight o'clock in the morning, for Newport, Ky.' + +'I will be ready,' and, rushing from the room, I hastened home, packed +up my things, and threw myself down on the bed to sleep. But it was +impossible. Heavy thoughts were crowding my mind with lightning speed, +and I resolved to depart the next day, without bidding adieu to father +or mother, sister or brother; but feeling a deep respect, which I held +for my father's advice, would prevail and I should be induced to remain +at home. I made the resolve and carried it out. The next morning I was +at the office by seven o'clock, was furnished with a suit of +regimentals, and departed for the railroad depot to start for Wheeling. +As I hurried along, who should turn the corner of the street but +Eveline, and we met for the last time on earth. I informed her of my +intentions, and, without manifesting any disposition of regret at my +departure, she gaily said: "'Good bye, and may good luck attend you,' +and she glided away. + +"A new fuel was added to my desire to hasten from such scenes; and I +had soon left the town for the Ohio. I will not weary you with further +details, as my breath is failing fast. Suffice it to say I arrived in +Mexico, and, here I am, perishing by inches upon the battle-field. + +"Here," he continued, "is a ring," taking one from his finger, and +presenting it to me, "which was given me by Eveline as a bond of our +marriage contract. I have worn it ever since, and, as I told her then, +'it shall leave me but with my death,' Take it to her, when you get +back, and, if she be not married, give it to her, and tell her he who +sent it never forgot her for a single moment, even in his dying hour, +and is lying beneath the clods of a foreign soil. This Bible, give back +to my father, and tell him I have studied its precepts: to my mother and +sisters, say that I have sent them a son's and brother's dying love; +tell my brothers to beware of human strife." + +He faltered in his speech, and then murmuring, "I am going," pressed my +hand feebly and expired. I dug a lone grave upon the field, and laid him +to "sleep his last sleep," until that day when all shall be summoned to +a final account. + +One year rolled on, and how chequered by passing events! Chapultepec had +fallen, the city of Mexico was taken, and peace, thrice glorious peace, +had waved her pinions over the land of war. The volunteers were joyfully +hastening to their homes, and, among the rest, I once more trod my +native land, a freeman again in heart and soul. A spell of sickness at +first confined me several weeks, but at length I rose wearied and feeble +from my bed, and my physicians recommended a change of air. I traveled +into Virginia, and one evening I entered the town of G----h. I inquired +for the family of my friend, and was directed to a fine-looking building +upon the principal street. I advanced and rang the bell, and anxiously +waited an answer. At length the door opened, and an old grey-headed man +stood before me, the lines of his face marked by care, and his whole +appearance betokened one who had a deep grief at heart. + +"Mr. ----, I presume?" said I, bowing. + +"The same, sir; won't you walk in?" replied the old man, politely. + +I entered the house, and was soon seated in the parlor, when the old man +started to leave the room. + +"I have something of importance for your private ear," said I, hastily. + +He turned towards me, and taking the Bible from my pocket, I held it up +to view. Quicker than thought, the aged father sprang forward, caught +the book in his hand, and murmured, as the tears fell slowly over his +aged cheeks: + +"My son, my son, you bring news of him." + +"I do, but it is very bad," I answered, my voice trembling as I spoke, +and I retold to him the scenes upon the battle-field. + +When I had finished, the old man clasped his hands in agony, and, +raising his eyes toward the ceiling, exclaimed, in deep and fervent +tones, "God's will be done!" + +At this moment, a young lady of pale, care-worn countenance entered the +parlor, and, rising, I said, "Miss Eveline ----, I believe?" + +"The same," she calmly replied. + +As her eyes glanced at the ring, which I silently presented, she +stretched forth her hand, grasped it convulsively, then fell suddenly +forward upon the carpet, the blood oozing rapidly from her mouth. The +terrible ordeal had broken a blood-vessel, and her spirit passed +unchecked to another world. + +A plain, marble slab, in the graveyard of the town of G----h, upon which +is engraved the lone word, "Eveline," marks the last resting place of +the betrothed of the Dying Volunteer. + + + +ESCAPE FROM A MEXICAN QUICKSAND + +BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. + +A few days afterward, another adventure befell me; and I began to think +I was destined to become a hero among the "mountain men." + +A small party of the traders--myself among the number--had pushed +forward ahead of the caravan. Our object was to arrive at Santa Fé a day +or two before the wagons, in order to have every thing arranged with the +governor for their entrance into the capital. We took the route by +the Cimmaron. + +Our road, for a hundred miles or so, lay through a barren desert, +without game, and almost without water. The buffalo had all disappeared, +and deer were equally scarce. We had to content ourselves on the dried +meat which we had brought from the settlements. We were in the deserts +of the artemisia. Now and then we could see a stray antelope bounding +away before us, but keeping far out of range. They, too, seemed to be +unusually shy. + +On the third day after leaving the caravan, as we were riding near the +Cimmaron, I thought I observed a pronged head disappearing behind a +swell in the prairie. My companions were skeptical, and none of them +would go with me; so, wheeling out of trail, I started alone. One of +them--for Gode was behind--kept charge of my dog, as I did not choose to +take him with me, lest he might alarm the antelopes. My horse was fresh +and willing; and, whether successful or not, I knew I could easily +overtake the party by camping-time. + +I struck directly toward the spot where I had seen the object. It +appeared to be only half a mile or so from the trail. It proved more +distant--a common illusion in the crystal atmosphere of these +upland regions. + +A curiously formed ridge, traversed the plain from east to west. A +thicket of cactus covered part of its summit. Toward the thicket I +directed myself. + +I dismounted at the bottom of the slope, and leading my horse silently +up among the cactus plants, tied him to one of their branches. I then +cautiously crept through the thorny leaves toward the point where I +fancied I had seen the game. To my joy, not one antelope, but a brace of +those beautiful animals, was quietly grazing beyond; but alas! too far +off for the carry of my rifle. They were fully three hundred yards +distant, upon a smooth, grassy slope. There was not even a sage bush to +cover me, should I attempt to approach them. What was to be done? + +I lay for several minutes, thinking over the different tricks, known in +hunter craft, for taking the antelope. Should I imitate their call? +Should I hoist my handkerchief and try to lure them up? I saw that they +were too shy; for, at short intervals, they threw up their graceful +heads, and looked inquiringly around them. I remembered the red blanket +on my saddle. I could display this upon the cactus-bushes, perhaps it +would attract them. + +I had no alternative; and was turning to go back for the blanket; when, +all at once, my eye rested upon a clay-colored line, running across the +prairie, beyond where the animals were feeding. It was a break in the +plain, a buffalo road, or the channel of an _arroyo_, in either case, +the very cover I wanted, for the animals were not a hundred yards from +it; and were getting still nearer to it as they fed. + +Creeping back out of the thicket, I ran along the side of the slope +toward a point, where I had noticed that the ridge was depressed to the +prairie level. Here, to my surprise, I found myself on the banks of a +broad arroyo, whose water, clear and shallow, ran slowly over a bed of +sand and gypsum. + +The banks were low, not over three feet above the surface of the water, +except where the ridge impinged upon the stream. Here there was a high +bluff; and, hurrying around its base, I entered the channel, and +commenced wading upward. + +As I had anticipated, I soon came to a bend where the stream, after +running parallel to the ridge, swept around and canoned through it. At +this place I stopped, and looked cautiously over the bank. The antelopes +had approached within less than rifle range of the arroyo; but they were +yet far above my position. They were still quietly feeding, and +unconscious of danger. I again bent down and waded on. + +It was a difficult task proceeding in this way. The bed of the creek was +soft and yielding, and I was compelled to tread slowly and silently, +lest I should alarm the game; but I was cheered in my exertions by the +prospect of fresh venison for my supper. + +After a weary drag of several hundred yards, I came opposite to a small +clump of wormwood bushes, growing out of the bank. "I may be high +enough," thought I, "these will serve for cover." + +I raised my body gradually, until I could see through the leaves. I was +in the right spot. I brought my rifle to a level; sighted for the heart +of the buck, and fired. The animal leaped from the ground, and fell back +lifeless. I was about to rush forward, and secure my prize, when I +observed the doe, instead of running off as I expected, go up to her +fallen partner, and press her tapering nose to his body. She was not +more than twenty yards from me, and I could plainly see that her look +was one of inquiry and bewilderment. All at once, she seemed to +comprehend the fatal truth; and, throwing back her head, commenced +uttering the most piteous cries, at the same time running in circles +around the body. + +I stood wavering between two minds. My first impulse had been to reload, +and kill the doe; but her plaintive voice entered my heart, disarming me +of all hostile intentions. Had I dreamed of witnessing this painful +spectacle, I should not have left the trail. But the mischief was now +done. "I have worse than killed her," thought I, "it will be better to +despatch her at once." + +Actuated by these principles of common, but to her fatal, humanity, I +rested the butt of my rifle, and reloaded. With a faltering hand, I +again leveled the piece and fired: + +My nerves were steady enough to do the work. When the smoke floated +aside, I could see the little creature bleeding upon the grass--her +head resting upon the body of her murdered mate. + +I shouldered my rifle, and was about to move forward, when, to my +astonishment, I found that I was caught by the feet. I was held firmly +as if my legs had been held in a vice. + +I made an effort to extricate myself; another, more violent, and equally +unsuccessful, and, with a third, I lost my balance, and fell back upon +the water. Half suffocated, I regained my upright position, but only to +find that I was held as fast as ever. Again I struggled to free my +limbs. I could neither move them backward nor forward--to the right nor +the left; and I became sensible that I was gradually going down. Then +the fearful truth flashed upon me--I was sinking in a quicksand! A +feeling of horror came over me. I renewed my efforts with the energy of +desperation. I leaned to one side, then to the other, almost wrenching +my knees from their sockets. My feet remained as fast as ever. I could +not move them an inch. + +The soft, clingy sand already overtopped my horse-skin boots, wedging +them around my ankles, so that I was unable to draw them off; and I +could feel that I was still sinking slowly but surely, as though some +subterraneous monster was leisurely dragging me down. This very thought +caused me a fresh thrill of horror, and I called aloud for help. To +whom? There was no one within miles of me--no living thing. Yes! the +neigh of my horse answered me from the hill, mocking me in my despair. + +I bent forward as well as my constrained position would permit; and, +with frenzied fingers commenced tearing up the sand. I could barely +reach the surface, and the little hollow I was able to make filled up +almost as soon as it had been formed. A thought occurred to me. My rifle +might support me, placed horizontally. I looked for it. It was not to be +seen. It had sunk beneath the sand. Could I throw my body flat, and +prevent myself from sinking deeper? No! The water was two feet in depth. +I should drown at once. This last hope left me as soon as formed. I +could think of no plan to save myself. I could make no further effort. A +strange stupor seized upon me. My very thoughts became paralyzed. I knew +that I was going mad. For a moment I was mad. + +After an interval, my senses returned. I made an effort to rouse my mind +from its paralysis, in order that I might meet death, which I now +believed to be certain, as a man should. I stood erect. My eyes had sunk +to the prairie level, and rested upon the still bleeding victims of my +cruelty. My heart smote me at the sight. Was I suffering a retribution +of God? With humbled and penitent thoughts, I turned my face to heaven, +almost dreading that some sign of omnipotent anger would scowl upon me +from above. But no! The sun was shining as bright as ever; and the blue +canopy of the world was without a cloud. I gazed upward with earnestness +known only to the hearts of men in positions of peril like mine. + +As I continued to look up, an object attracted my attention. Against the +sky, I distinguished the outlines of a large bird. I knew it to be the +obscene bird of the plains, the buzzard vulture. Whence had it come? Who +knows? Far beyond the reach of human eye, it had seen or scented the +slaughtered antelopes; and, on broad, silent wing was now descending to +the feast of death. Presently another, and another, and many others, +mottled the blue field of the heavens, curving and wheeling silently +earthward. Then the foremost swooped down upon the bank, and, after +gazing around for a moment, flapped off toward its prey. In a few +seconds, the prairie was black with filthy birds, who clambered over the +dead antelopes, and beat their wings against each other, while they tore +out the eyes of the quarry with their fetid beaks. And now came gaunt +wolves, sneaking and hungry, stealing out of the cactus thicket; and +loping, coward-like, over the green swells of the prairie. These, after +a battle, drove away the vultures, and tore up the prey, all the while +growling and snapping vengefully at each other. "Thank heaven! I shall +at least be saved from this." + +I was soon relieved from the sight. My eyes had sunk below the level of +the bank. I had looked my last on the fair, green earth. I could now see +only the clayey wall that contained the river, and the water that ran +unheeding past me. Once more I fixed my gaze upon the sky, and, with +prayerful heart, endeavored to resign myself to my fate. In spite of my +endeavors to be calm, the memories of earthly pleasures, and friends, +and home, came over me, causing me, at intervals, to break into wild +paroxysms, and make fresh, though fruitless struggles. And I was +attracted by the neighing of my horse. A thought entered my mind, +filling me with fresh hope. "Perhaps my horse--" I lost not a moment. I +raised my voice to its highest pitch, and called the animal by name. I +knew that he would come at my call. I had tied him but slightly. The +cactus limb would snap off. I called again, repeating words that were +well known to him. I listened with a bounding heart. For a moment there +was silence. Then I heard the quick sounds of his hoof, as though the +animal was rearing and struggling to free himself; then I could +distinguish the stroke of his heels, in a measured and regular gallop. + +Nearer came the sounds; nearer and clearer, until the gallant brute +bounded out on the bank above me. There he halted, and, flinging back +his tossed mane, uttered a shrill neigh. He was bewildered, and looked +upon every side, snorting loudly. + +I knew that, having once seen me, he would not stop until he had pressed +his nose against my cheek--for this was his usual custom. Holding out my +hands I again uttered the magic words. Now looking downward he perceived +me, and, stretching himself, sprang out into the channel. The next +moment, I held him by the bridle. There was no time to be lost. I was +still going down, and my arm-pits were fast nearing the surface of the +quicksand. I caught the lariat, and, passing it under the saddle-girths, +fastened it in a tight, firm knot. I then looped the trailing end, +making it secure around my body. I had left enough of the rope, between +the bit-ring and the girths, to enable me to check and guide the animal, +in case the drag upon my body should be too painful. + +All this while the dumb brute seemed to comprehend what I was about. He +knew, too, the nature of the ground on which he stood, for, during the +operation, he kept lifting his feet alternately to prevent himself from +sinking. My arrangements were at length completed, and, with a feeling +of terrible anxiety, I gave my horse the signal to move forward. Instead +of going off with a start, the intelligent animal stepped away slowly, +as though he understood my situation. The lariat tightened, I felt my +body moving, and the next moment experienced a wild delight, a feeling I +can not describe, as I found myself dragged out of the sand. I sprang to +my feet with a shout of joy. I rushed up to my steed, and, throwing my +arms around his neck, kissed him with as much delight as I would have +kissed a beautiful girl. He answered my embrace with a low whimper, that +told me that I was understood. + +I looked for my rifle. Fortunately, it had not sunk deeply, and I soon +found it. My boots were behind me, but I staid not to look for them, +being smitten with a wholesome dread of the place where I had left them. +I was not long in retreating from the arroyo; and, mounting, I galloped +back to the trail. It was sundown before I reached the camp, where I was +met by the inquiries of my companions. I answered all their questions by +relating my adventures, and, for that night, I was again the hero of the +camp-fire. + + + +CHASED BY A RHINOCEROS. + +On the 22d, says Mr. Cumming, ordering my men to move on toward a +fountain in the center of the plain, I rode forth with Ruyter, and held +east through a grove of lofty and wide-spreading mimosas, most of which +were more or less damaged by the gigantic strength of a troop of +elephants, which had passed there about twelve months before. Having +proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every side, I +observed a crusty-looking, old bull borèlé, or black rhinoceros, cocking +his ears one hundred yards in advance. He had not observed us; and soon +after he walked slowly toward us, and stood broadside to, eating some +wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me. I fired from my saddle, and +sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon which he rushed forward about +one hundred yards in tremendous consternation, blowing like a grampus, +and then stood looking about him. Presently he made off. I followed but +found it hard to come up with him. When I overtook him I saw the blood +running freely from his wound. + +[Illustration: ESCAPE FROM THE RHINOCEROS] + +The chase led through a large herd of blue wildebeests, zebras, and +springboks, which gazed at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my +second barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued +riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance that at length he +would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; when suddenly he fell +flat on his broadside on the ground, but recovering his feet, resumed +his course as if nothing had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the +length of the chase, as I wished to keep my horses fresh for the +elephants, and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, as +I observed that his horn was completely worn down with age and the +violence of his disposition, I determined to bring matters to a crisis; +so, spurring my horse, I dashed ahead, and rode right in his path. Upon +this, the hideous monster instantly charged me in the most resolute +manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and, although I quickly +wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such a furious pace for +several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a few yards of +my horse's tail, that my little Bushman, who was looking on in great +alarm, thought his master's destruction inevitable. It was certainly a +very near thing; my horse was extremely afraid, and exerted his utmost +energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, wheeled about, and +continued his former course; and I, being perfectly satisfied with the +interview which I had already enjoyed with him, had no desire to +cultivate his acquaintance any further, and accordingly made for camp. + + + +BURNING OF THE ERIE. + +The steamboat Erie, under command of Captain Titus, left the dock at +Buffalo on the afternoon of August 9th, 1841, laden with merchandise, +destined for Chicago. As nearly as could be ascertained, she had on +board about two hundred persons, including passengers and crew. + +The boat had been thoroughly overhauled and recently varnished. At the +moment of her starting, though the wind was blowing fresh, every thing +promised a pleasant and prosperous voyage. Nothing occured to mar this +prospect till about eight o'clock in the evening, when the boat was off +Silver Creek, about eight miles from the shore, and thirty-three miles +from the city, when a slight explosion was heard, and immediately, +almost instantaneously, the whole vessel was enveloped in flames. Among +the passengers were six painters, who were going to Erie to paint the +steamboat Madison. They had with them some demijohns filled with spirits +of turpentine and varnish, which, unknown to Captain Titus, were placed +on the boiler-deck directly over the boilers. One of the firemen who was +saved, says he had occasion to go on deck, and seeing the demijons, +removed them. They were replaced, but by whom is not known. Their +inflammable contents undoubtedly aided the flames in their +rapid progress. + +Captain Titus, who was on the upper deck at the time of the explosion, +rushed to the ladies' cabin to obtain the life-preservers, of which +there were about one hundred on board; but, so violent was the heat, he +found it impossible to enter the cabin. He returned to the upper deck, +on his way giving orders to the engineer to stop the engine, the wind +and the headway of the boat increasing the fierceness of the flames and +driving them aft. The engineer replied, that in consequence of the +flames he could not reach the engine. The steersman was instantly +directed to put the helm hard a-starboard. She swung slowly around, +heading to the shore, and the boats--there were three on board--were +then ordered to be lowered. Two of the boats were lowered, but, in +consequence of the heavy sea on, and the headway of the vessel, they +both swamped as soon as they touched the water. + +We will not attempt to describe the awful and appalling condition of the +passengers. Some were frantic with fear and horror, others plunged +headlong madly into the water, others again seized upon any thing +buoyant upon which they could lay hands. The small boat forward had been +lowered. It was alongside the wheel, with three or four persons in it, +when the captain jumped in, and the boat immediately dropped astern, +filled with water. A lady floated by with a life-preserver on. She cried +for help. There was no safety in the boat. The captain threw her the +only oar in the boat. She caught the oar and was saved. It was Mrs. +Lynde of Milwaukie, and she was the only lady who escaped. + +In this condition, the boat, a mass of fierce fire, and the passengers +and crew endeavoring to save themselves by swimming or supporting +themselves by whatever they could reach, they were found by the +steamboat Clinton, at about ten o'clock that night. The Clinton had left +Buffalo in the morning, but, in consequence of the wind, had put into +Dunkirk. She lay there till near sunset, at which time she ran out, and +had proceeded as far as Barcelona, when just at twilight the fire of the +Erie was discovered, some twenty miles astern. The Clinton immediately +put about, and reached the burning wreck. + +It was a fearful sight. All the upper works of the Erie had been burned +away. The engine was standing, but the hull was a mass of dull, red +flames. The passengers and crew were floating around, screaming in their +agony, and shrieking for help. The boats of the Clinton were instantly +lowered and manned, and every person that could be seen or heard was +picked up, and every possible relief afforded. The Lady, a little +steamboat lying at Dunkirk, went out of that harbor as soon as possible, +after the discovery of the fire, and arrived soon after the Clinton. By +one o'clock in the morning, all was still except the melancholy +crackling of the flames. Not a solitary individual could be seen or +heard on the wild waste of waters. A line was then made fast to the +remains of the Erie's rudder, and an effort made to tow the hapless hulk +ashore. About this time the Chautauque came up and lent her assistance. + +The hull of the Erie was towed within about four miles of shore, when it +sank in eleven fathoms of water. By this time it was daylight. The lines +were cast oft. The Clinton headed her course toward Buffalo, which place +she reached about six o'clock. + +Upon inquiry it was found that there had been between thirty and forty +cabin passengers, of whom ten or twelve were ladies. In the steerage +there were about one hundred and forty passengers, nearly all of whom +were Swiss and German emigrants. The whole number of persons on board, +who were saved, did not exceed twenty-seven. + +All that imagination can conceive of the terrible and heart-rending was +realized in the awful destruction of this boat. Scores sank despairingly +under the wild waters; but there is reason to fear that many, very many, +strong men, helpless women, and tender children perished in the flames. + +Among the passengers were a young gentleman and lady, who first became +acquainted with each other on board. The lady was accompanied by her +father. Upon an intimacy of a few hours an attachment seems to have been +formed between this couple. When the passengers rushed to the deck, +after the bursting forth of the flames, the lady discovered her new +acquaintance on a distant part of the deck, forced her way to him, and +implored him to save her. The only alternative left them was to jump +overboard, or to submit to a more horrible fate. They immediately +jumped, the gentleman making the first plunge, with a view of securing +for the young and fair being, who had measurably committed to his hands +her safety, a plank floating a short distance from the boat. As soon as +the plank was secured, the lady leaped into the water and was buoyed up +by her clothes, until the gentleman was enabled to float the plank to +her. For a short time the young man thought that his fair charge was +safe; but soon his hopes were blasted--one of the fallen timbers struck +the lady on the head, her form sank upon the water, a momentary +quivering was perceptible, and she disappeared from human view. Her +father was lost, but the young gentleman was among the number picked up +by the Clinton. + +There was a fine race-horse on board, who, soon after the alarm, broke +from his halter at the bow of the boat, and dashed through the crowd of +passengers, prostrating all in his way; and then, rendered frantic by +terror and pain, he reared and plunged into the devouring fire, and +there ended his agony. + +One of the persons saved, in describing the scene, says:--"The air was +filled with shrieks of agony and despair. The boldest turned pale. I +shall never forget the wail of terror that went up from the poor German +emigrants, who were huddled together on the forward deck. Wives clung to +their husbands, mothers frantically pressed their babes to their bosoms, +and lovers clung madly to each other. One venerable old man, his gray +hairs streaming on the wind, stood on the bows, and, stretching out his +bony hands, prayed to God in the language of his father-land. + +"But if the scene forward was terrible, that aft was appalling, for +there the flames were raging in their greatest fury. Some madly rushed +into the fire; others, with a yell like a demon, maddened with the +flames, which were all around them, sprang headlong into the waves. The +officers of the boat, and the crew, were generally cool, and sprang to +lower the boats, but these were every one successively swamped by those +who threw themselves into them, regardless of the execrations of the +sailors, and of every thing but their own safety. + +"I tried to act coolly--I kept near the captain, who seemed to take +courage from despair, and whose bearing was above all praise. The boat +was veering toward the shore, but the maddened flames now enveloped the +wheel-house, and in a moment the machinery stopped. The last hope had +left us--a wilder shriek rose upon the air. At this moment the second +engineer, the one at the time on duty, who had stood by his machinery as +long as it would work, was seen climbing the gallows-head, a black mass, +with the flames curling all around him. On either side he could not go, +for it was now one mass of fire. He sprang upward, came to the top, one +moment felt madly around him, and then fell into the flames. There was +no more remaining on board, for the boat now broached around and rolled +upon the swelling waves, a mass of fire. I seized upon a settee near me, +and gave one spring, just as the flames were bursting through the deck +where I stood--one moment more and I should have been in the flames. In +another instant I found myself tossed on a wave, grasping my frail +support with a desperate energy." + +One of the not least interesting facts connected with the catastrophe, +was that the helmsman was found burnt to a cinder at his post. He had +not deserted it even in the last extremity, but grasped with his charred +fingers the wheel. His name was Luther Fuller. Honor to his memory! + +A boy of twelve years of age, named Levi T. Beebee, belonging to +Cleveland, Ohio, was among those saved. He exhibited a degree of +self-possession and fortitude rarely surpassed. Though molten lead from +the burning deck was dropping on his head, and his hands were scorched +by the flames, he clung for at least two hours and a half to the chain +leading from the stern to the rudder. + + + +CONFLICT WITH AN INDIAN. + +David Morgan had settled upon the Monongahela during the early part of +the revolutionary war, and at this time had ventured to occupy a cabin +at the distance of several miles from any settlement. + +One morning, having sent his younger children out to a field at a +considerable distance from the house, he became uneasy about them, and +repaired to the spot where they were working. He was armed, as usual, +with a good rifle. While sitting upon the fence and giving some +directions as to their work, he observed two Indians upon the other side +of the field gazing earnestly upon the party. He instantly called to the +children to make their escape, while he should attempt to cover +their retreat. + +The odds were greatly against him, as in addition to other +circumstances, he was nearly seventy years of age, and, of course, +unable to contend with his enemies in running. The house was more than a +mile distant, but the children, having two hundred yards the start, and +being effectually covered by their father, were soon so far in front, +that the Indians turned their attention entirely to the old man. He ran +for several hundred yards with an activity which astonished himself, but +perceiving that he would be overtaken, long before he could reach his +home, he fairly turned at bay, and prepared for a strenuous resistance. +The woods through which they were running were very thin, and consisted +almost entirely of small trees, behind which, it was difficult to obtain +proper shelter. + +Morgan had just passed a large walnut, and, in order to resist with +advantage, it became necessary to run back about ten steps in order to +regain it. The Indians were startled at the sudden advance of the +fugitive, and halted among a cluster of saplings, where they anxiously +strove to shelter themselves. This, however, was impossible; and Morgan, +who was an excellent marksman, saw enough of the person of one of them +to justify him in risking a shot. His enemy instantly fell, +mortally wounded. + +The other Indian, taking advantage of Morgan's empty gun, sprung from +the shelter, and advanced rapidly upon him. The old man, having no time +to reload, was compelled to fly a second time. The Indian gained rapidly +upon him, and, when within twenty steps, fired, but with so unsteady an +aim, that Morgan was wholly unhurt, the ball having passed over +his shoulder. + +He now again stood at bay, clubbing his rifle for a blow, while the +Indian, dropping his empty gun, brandished his tomahawk and prepared to +throw it at his enemy. Morgan struck with the butt of his gun, and the +Indian hurled his tomahawk at one and the same moment. Both blows took +effect; and both of the combatants were at once wounded and disarmed. +The breech of the rifle was broken against the Indian's skull, and the +edge of the tomahawk was shattered against the barrel of the rifle, +having first cut off two of the fingers of Morgan's left hand. The +Indian then attempting to draw his knife, Morgan grappled him, and bore +him to the ground. A furious struggle ensued, in which the old man's +strength failed, and the Indian succeeded in turning him. + +Planting his knee on the breast of his enemy, and yelling loudly, as is +usual with the barbarians upon any turn of fortune, he again felt for +his knife, in order to terminate the struggle at once; but having lately +stolen a woman's apron, and tied it around his waist, his knife was so +much confined, that he had great difficulty in finding the handle. + +Morgan, in the meantime, being an accomplished pugilist, and perfectly +at home in a ground struggle, took advantage of the awkwardness of the +Indian, and got one of the fingers of his right hand between his teeth. +The Indian tugged and roared in vain, struggling to extricate it. Morgan +held him fast, and began to assist him in hunting for the knife. Each +seized it at the same moment, the Indian by the blade, and Morgan by the +handle, but with a very slight hold. + +[Illustration: THE LAST SHOT.] + +The Indian, having the firmest hold, began to draw the knife further out +of its sheath, when Morgan, suddenly giving his finger a furious bite, +twitched the knife dexterously through his hand, cutting it severely. +Both now sprung to their feet, Morgan brandishing his adversary's knife, +and still holding his finger between his teeth. In vain the poor Indian +struggled to get away, rearing, plunging, and bolting, like an unbroken +colt. The teeth of the white man were like a vice, and he at length +succeeded in giving his savage foe a stab in the side. The Indian +received it without falling, the knife having struck his ribs; but a +second blow, aimed at the stomach, proved more effectual, and the savage +fell. Morgan thrust the knife, handle and all, into the body, directed +it upward, and, starting to his feet, made the best of his way home. + + + +FIRE ON THE PRAIRIES. + +The following account of one of those fearfully sublime spectacles--a +fire on the prairie--is from the "_Wild Western Scenes_" by J.B. Jones. +The hunters have been out and are overtaken by night, and are lost in +the darkness. + +Ere long, a change came over the scene. About two-thirds of the distance +around the verge of the horizon a faint light appeared, resembling the +scene when a dense curtain of clouds hangs overhead, and the rays of the +morning sun steal under the edge of the thick vapor. But the stars could +be seen, and the only appearance of clouds was immediately above the +circle of light. In a very few minutes the terrible truth flashed upon +the mind of Glenn. The dim light along the horizon was changed to an +approaching flame. Columns of smoke could be seen rolling upward, while +the fire beneath imparted a lurid glare to them. The wind blew more +fiercely, and the fire approached from almost every quarter with the +swiftness of a race-horse. The darkened vault above became gradually +illuminated with a crimson reflection, and the young man shuddered with +the horrid apprehension of being burnt alive! It was madness to proceed +in a direction that must inevitably hasten their fate, the fire +extending in one unbroken line from left to right, and in front of them, +and they now turned in a course which seemed to place the greatest +distance between them and the furious element. Ever and anon a +frightened deer or elk leaped past, and the hounds no longer noticed +them, but remained close to the horses. The flames came on with awful +rapidity. The light increased in brilliance, and objects were +distinguishable far over the prairie. A red glare could be seen on the +sides of the deer as they bounded over the tall dry grass, which was +soon to be no longer a refuge for them. The young man heard a low +continued roar, that increased every moment in loudness, and, looking in +the direction whence they supposed it proceeded, they observed an +immense, dark, moving mass, the nature of which they could not divine, +but it threatened to annihilate every thing that opposed it. While +gazing at this additional source of danger, the horses, blinded by the +surrounding light, plunged into a deep ditch that the rain had washed in +the rich soil. Neither men nor horses, fortunately, were injured; and, +after several ineffectual efforts to extricate themselves, they here +resolved to await the coming of the fire. Ringwood and Jowler whined +fearfully on the verge of the ditch for an instant, and then sprang in +and crouched trembling at the feet of their master. The next instant the +dark, thundering mass passed overhead, being nothing less than an +immense herd of buffaloes driven forward by the flames. The horses bowed +their heads as if a thunderbolt were passing. The fire and the heavens +were hid from view, and the roar above resembled the rush of mighty +waters. When the last animal had sprung over the chasm, Glenn thanked +the propitious accident that thus providentially prevented him from +being crushed to atoms, and uttered a prayer to Heaven that he might by +a like means be rescued from the fiery ordeal that awaited him. It now +occurred to him that the accumulation of weeds and grass in the chasm, +which saved them from injury when falling in, would prove fatal when the +flames arrived. And after groping some distance along the trench, he +found the depth diminished, but the fire was not three hundred paces +distant. His heart sank within him. But when on the eve of returning to +his former position, with a resolution to remove as much of the +combustible matter as possible, a gleam of joy spread over his features, +as, casting a glance in a contrary direction from that they had recently +pursued, he beheld the identical mound he had ascended before dark, and +from which his unsteady and erratic riding in the night had fortunately +prevented a distant separation. They now led their horses forth, and, +mounting without delay, whipped forward for life or death. Could the +summit of the mound be attained, they were in safety--for there the soil +was not encumbered with decayed vegetation--and they spurred their +animals to the top of their speed. It was a noble sight to see the +majestic white steed flying toward the mound with the velocity of the +wind, while the diminutive pony miraculously followed in the wake like +an inseparable shadow. The careering flames were not far behind, and, +when the horses gained the summit and Glenn looked back, the fire had +reached the base! + +Fortunately, that portion of the plain over which the scathing element +had spent its fury, was the direction the party should pursue in +retracing their way homeward. + +The light, dry grass had been soon consumed, and the earth now wore a +blackened appearance, and was as smooth as if vegetation had never +covered the surface. As the party rode briskly along, (and the pony now +kept in advance,) the horses' hoofs rattled as loudly on the baked +ground as if it were a plank floor. The reflection of the fire in the +distance still threw a lurid glare over the extended heath. As the smoke +gradually ascended, objects could be discerned at a great distance, and +occasionally a half-roasted deer or elk was seen plunging about, driven +to madness by its tortures. And frequently they found the dead bodies of +smaller animals that could find no safety in flight. + + + +THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. + +At the close of the war with Great Britain, in the year 1815, I took +command of the brig Ganges, owned by Ebenezer Sage, Esq., then a wealthy +and respectable merchant at Middleton. I sailed from New York on the +20th of August, bound for Turk's Island for a cargo of salt, and, on the +5th of September, I arrived at my destined port. It being the season for +hurricanes in that region, it was thought most safe for us to go around +into a small harbor on the south side of the island. In order to reach +this harbor, we had to go through a narrow, crooked channel, with rocks +and dangerous reefs on every side, but, with a skillful pilot, we made +our way through safely, and came to anchor. On the next day we +commenced taking in our cargo of salt. On the 9th of September, a day +that I shall ever remember, my pilot came to me somewhat agitated, and +said that there were strong indications of an approaching hurricane, and +advised me to make all possible preparations to encounter it. + +We therefore quit taking in salt, and made every thing about the ship +snug as possible. At twelve o'clock, midnight, the gale commenced, as +the pilot had anticipated, and continued to increase until six in the +morning, at which time it became most terrific. Every blast grew more +and more violent until our cables all parted, and we were left to the +mercy of the gale. It blew directly from the land. We got the ship +before the wind, as the only course we could pursue. In doing this we +were well aware of the dangerous channel we had to pass, and my only +hope was, that we might get to sea clear of the land. But this hope soon +vanished. In about twenty minutes after we started, the ship struck a +rock, which knocked off her rudder, and set her leaking badly. The +rudder being gone, we of course had no control of the vessel. She came +around side to the wind, and at this moment her mainmast was blown over +the side. We at once cut away the rigging that attached it to the hull, +and it floated off, and the foremast still standing, the ship swung off +again a little before the wind. All hands were soon set to pumping, but +we found that in spite of all our exertions, the water rapidly increased +in the hold. + +The appearance of the elements at this time almost baffles description. +So violent was their commotion that no one could stand without grasping +something for support. Not a word could be heard that was uttered. I had +to communicate every order by means of signs, while I stood on the +quarter-deck holding on to the cabin doors. In this situation I +endeavored calmly to reflect. Here we were, as we supposed, on the open +ocean,--in a tempest of unparalleled violence--with no rudder--one mast +gone--boats all lost--and the ship settling under us from the weight of +water in the hold. The sky was black almost as midnight above us, and +the waves beneath, and around, and over us--for they dashed at quick +intervals, like so many furies, across the devoted ship--seemed ready to +drown us ere we sank into their dread abyss. The voice of the gale as it +howled through the rigging, mingled with the creaking of timbers, and +the roar of waters as they struck the vessel, was an awful wail, as it +appeared to me, over bodies devoted to almost instant death. Destruction +seemed inevitable. It would not, to all human calculation, be protracted +even an hour. We were sinking down, down--inch following inch of the +fated vessel in rapid succession--down remedilessly to our graves in the +maddened sea, amid the monsters of its great deep. + +I descended to the cabin, and attempted calmly to surrender myself to +Him who made me. My thoughts--oh, how they flew at once to my wife and +children at home! I attempted to pray, and for the first time since I +had left my pious mother. I _did_ pray--for my family first--and oh how +fervently, in closing my supplications, I besought for myself pardon and +forgiveness through Him who is ever ready to hear the penitent! + +The water had now got on to the cabin floor, I therefore placed myself +on the stairs leading on deck. Shortly after this the wind shifted, and +in a few minutes the ship struck with a tremendous crash. I rushed on +deck, and at once saw rocks fifty feet high, and perpendicular, but a +few feet from the after part of the ship, which now soon filled with +water, and rolled over toward the land. At its fore part, and at the +only point where we could by any possibility have been saved, the rocks +descended gradually, and the foremast leaned over them. Not a moment was +to be lost. We crawled up the rigging, and, swinging ourselves on to the +rocks, made our way up the precipice on our hands and feet, and, +reaching the summit, at once sought, in holes in the rock, shelter from +the tempest, which still continued so violent that no one could stand +upon his feet. + +Our escape happened about ten o'clock in the morning; at five in the +afternoon the gale had so moderated that we could stand. We then crawled +out from our hiding places, and, assembling together, found that all +were safe except my brother, who was mate of the ship, and he, we +supposed, was lost, in attempting to get on shore. We soon, as was very +natural, approached the precipice to learn the fate of the ship. Nothing +was to be seen of her but plank, timbers, spars, sails, and rigging, all +in one confused, broken mass, and washing up against the rocks. It was +truly to us a most deplorable spectacle. We had no resource in the +vessel; not a thing of value was left. + +As night was approaching, we now walked along before the wind toward the +south part of the island, and there found, by the side of a huge pile of +rocks, a hole or sort of cave, about eight feet square and five feet +high. Here we all crawled in, wet and cold, but with hearts grateful to +God for our wonderful preservation. As we were packed very close to each +other, the natural warmth of our bodies soon relieved us considerably +from the sensation of wetness and cold, and we passed the night as +comfortably as our varied miseries would allow. + +Morning came, and we left our cave. The gale had much abated, and we +could see some distance. We found that we were on a small desolate +island, about a mile long, half a mile wide, and about ten miles from +the place we left the day before. It was covered mostly with huge rocks, +with here and there a small patch of soil, overrun with prickly pear, +and inhabited by no living animal excepting lizards and small poisonous +snakes. We had been now over twenty-four hours without food or water. Of +the latter article, on searching around, we found a little in the +hollows on the rocks, but it was about half salt, having been made so by +the spray which the gale had thrown from the ocean quite over the +island, and the more we drank of it the more thirsty we became. As to +food, we were soon convinced that this was out of the question. Toward +night, we found a cask near the beach, standing on one end, with one +head out, which held about two gallons of water, that had rained in. +This was not salt, but smelled badly. We, however, scooped out with our +hands about one half of it, and left what remained for the next day. We +got some relief from this, and then we returned to our former +resting-place for the night. + +When we crawled out on the following morning we found that the weather +had become fine and clear. We could see vessels passing at a short +distance from us, but had no means of making any signal, nor any for +leaving the shore. This being the third day of our distress and +privation, some of us began to suffer much from hunger. Others suffered +more from thirst. We, however, cheered each other with the faint hope +that some thing would appear for our relief. We wandered about as we had +done the day before, seeking for water but found none. We had nothing to +dig with but our hands; these we used, but in vain; no water appeared. +Toward night we went to the cask, and drank what remained there. We then +returned again to our cave for the night, all much exhausted and +low-spirited. Despair began to shade every countenance. Very little was +said, and we passed the night well as we could, pressed by hunger and +parched by thirst. Morning came, and again we all left our shelter. The +weather continued fine and clear. The men again separated in search of +water, but being myself very feeble, I took my seat on some rocks near +the cave, at a point from whence I could see every thing moving on the +water, and with a lingering hope that something would appear for our +deliverance. + +About ten o'clock, an object loomed up in the distance. I thought it +was a boat, but could not at once tell. It approached, and soon I saw it +distinctly. It _was_ a boat, with one sail, and was steering directly +for a low beach not far from where I was seated. My feelings at this +moment were so overcome that I lost all power of utterance. I could not, +at first, rise from the rock, My strength, however, shortly returned a +little, and I got up and made all the noise I could. Some of the men +near at hand heard me, and came up. I at once pointed to the boat, which +was now near the shore. They shouted to their companions, and we were +all soon at the beach near where the boat was landed. A black man got +out of the boat, and came to me with a letter--but, before reading it, I +besought him for water. To my surprise he had none, but instead of it +had a bottle of rum and a small bag of biscuit. I told him to bring +these on shore, and, taking them, I gave each of my crew a swallow of +the rum and a biscuit. This had the effect of moistening a little our +parched mouths and tongues. I then opened the letter. It was from my +warm and faithful friend Mr. Tucker, of Turk's Island, and it read as +follows, omitting my name: + +"To Captain ----, or any other unfortunate person or persons who may be +found on any of the neighboring islands. Come as many as can safely +and, should any be left, I will find means to convey those that remain." + +The two men, who came in the boat, hesitated about taking all of us at +once, as we were nine in number, and with themselves might overload the +boat. We could not, however, bear the thought of leaving any behind. We +therefore all got aboard, shoved off, and made sail. We had a fair wind, +and a smooth sea, and at six o'clock arrived safely at the harbor we had +left. Many persons ran to the beach to meet us as we landed, and among +the rest was our deliverer, Mr. Tucker. + +The next morning, my friend and deliverer gave me a brief history of +what had taken place with himself and his fellow-inhabitants on the +island, during the gale. Many of their houses were levelled to the +ground, and some were blown into the sea. Their cisterns, their only +dependence for water, were mostly destroyed. Even the cannon mounted on +a small battery were dismounted, and most of the inhabitants were in +great distress. Every vessel and boat, that floated about the island, +were blown to sea or destroyed. Out of the twenty vessels that were at +the island on which Mr. Tucker lived, when the gale came on, only six +were heard ever from after. Five out of these six were wrecked on +adjacent islands, and every soul on board three of these perished. The +gale was said, by the oldest inhabitants, to be the most violent ever +known in that region. We remained on the island ten or twelve days, and +then, taking passage in a ship bound for New York, reached that city +safely on the last of November. + + + +A TUSSLE WITH A WILDCAT. + +In 1781, Lexington, Ky., was only a cluster of cabins, one of which, +near the spot where the courthouse now stands, was used as a +schoolhouse. One morning, in May, McKinley, the teacher, was sitting +alone at his desk, busily engaged in writing, when, hearing a slight +noise at the door, he turned and beheld an enormous wildcat, with her +fore feet upon the step, her tail curled over her back, her bristles +erect, and her eyes glaring rapidly about the room, as if in search of +a mouse. + +McKinley's position at first completely concealed him, but a slight and +involuntary motion of his chair attracted the cat's attention, and their +eyes met, McKinley, having heard much of the powers of "the human face +divine," in quelling the audacity of wild animals, attempted to +disconcert the intruder by a frown. But puss was not to be bullied. Her +eyes flashed fire, her tail waved angrily, and she began to gnash her +teeth. She was evidently bent on mischief. Seeing his danger, McKinley +hastily rose, and attempted to snatch a cylindrical rule from a table +which stood within reach, but the cat was too quick for him. + +Darting furiously upon him, she fastened upon his side with her teeth, +and began to rend and tear with her claws. McKinley's clothes were soon +in tatters, and his flesh dreadfully mangled by the enraged animal, +whose strength and ferocity filled him with astonishment. He in vain +attempted to disengage her from his side. Her long, sharp teeth were +fastened between his ribs, and his efforts served but to enrage her the +more. Seeing his blood flow very copiously from the numerous wounds in +his side, he became seriously alarmed, and, not knowing what else to do, +he threw himself upon the edge of the table, and pressed her against the +sharp corner with the whole weight of his body. + +The cat now began to utter the most wild and discordant cries, and +McKinley, at the same time, lifting up his voice in concert, the two +together sent forth notes so doleful as to alarm the whole town. Women, +who are generally the first to hear and spread news, were now the first +to come to McKinley's assistance. But so strange and unearthly was the +harmony within the schoolhouse, that they hesitated long before +venturing to enter. At length, the boldest of them rushed in, and, +seeing poor McKinley bending ever the corner of the table, she at first +supposed that he was laboring under a severe fit of the colic; but +quickly perceiving the cat, which was now in the agonies of death, she +screamed out, "Why, good heavens, Mr. McKinley, what is the matter?" + +"I have caught a cat, madam!" he gravely replied, turning round, while +the sweat streamed from his face under the mingled operations of fright, +fatigue, and pain. + +Most of the neighbors had now arrived. They attempted to disengage the +dead cat; but so firmly were her tusks locked between his ribs, that +this was a work of no small difficulty. McKinley suffered severely for a +time from the effects of his wounds, but at length fully recovered, and +lived to a good old age. He was heard to say, that of all the pupils +that ever came to his school, the wildcat was the most intractable; that +he would at any time rather fight two Indians than one wildcat. + + + +AN INCIDENT IN FRONTIER LIFE + +A daughter of Boone's, and a Miss Galloway, were amusing themselves in +the immediate neighborhood of the fort, when a party of Indians rushed +from a canebrake, and, intercepting their return, took them prisoners. +The screams of the terrified girls quickly alarmed the family. Boone +hastily collected a party of eight men, and pursued the enemy. So much +time, however, had been lost, that the Indians had got several miles the +start of them. The pursuit was urged through the night with great +keenness by woodsmen capable of following a trail at all times. On the +following day they came up with the fugitives, and fell upon them so +suddenly and so furiously as to allow them no leisure for tomahawking +their prisoners. The girls were rescued, without having sustained any +other injury than excessive fright and fatigue. The Indians lost two +men, while Boone's party was uninjured. + +[Illustration: THE PURSUIT] + + + +FEMALE INTREPIDITY. + +In 1782, Wheeling was besieged by a large number of British and Indians. +So sudden and unexpected was the attack, that no time was afforded for +preparation. The fort, at the period of the assault was commanded by +Colonel Silas Zane. The senior officer, Colonel Ebenezer Zane, was in a +blockhouse some fifty or a hundred yards outside of the wall. The enemy +made several desperate assaults to break into the fort, but at every +onset they were driven back. The ammunition for the defence of the fort +was deposited in the blockhouse, and there had not been time to remove +it before the Indians approached. + +On the afternoon of the second day of the siege, the powder of the fort +was nearly exhausted, and no alternative remained, but for some one to +pass through the enemy's fire to the blockhouse, in order to obtain a +supply. When Silas Zane made the proposition to the men, asking if any +one would undertake the hazardous enterprise, all at first were silent. +After looking at one another for some time, a young man stepped +forward, and said he would undertake the errand. Immediately, half a +dozen offered their services in the dangerous enterprise. + +While they were disputing as to who should go, Elizabeth, sister of the +Zanes, came forward and declared, that she would go for the powder. Her +brother thought she would flinch from the enterprise, but he was +mistaken. She had the intrepidity to dare, and the fortitude to +accomplish the undertaking. Her brother then tried to dissuade her from +her heroic purpose, by saying that a man would be more fleet, and +consequently would run less risk of losing his life. + +She replied, that they had not a man to spare from the defence of the +fort, and that if she should fall, she would scarcely be missed. Then +divesting herself of such articles of clothing as would impede the +celerity of her flight, she prepared to start. + +The gate was opened, and Elizabeth bounded out at the top of her speed, +and ran until she arrived at the door of the blockhouse. Her brother, +Colonel Zane, hastened to open the door to his intrepid sister. The +Indians did not fire a gun, but exclaimed, as if in astonishment, +"_Squaw! squaw! squaw_!" + +When she had told her errand, her brother took a tablecloth, fastened it +around her waist, and poured into it a keg of powder. She then sallied +back to the fort, in high spirits. The moment she was outside of the +blockhouse, the whole of the enemy's line fired at her, but the shower +of balls fell without doing her any injury. She reached the fort in +safety, and the garrison was, in consequence, enabled successfully to +repel their savage foe. Such an instance of female daring is worthy of +all commemoration. + + + +FEARFUL ENCOUNTER WITH ROBBERS. + +The Madrid papers recite the particulars of a terrific scene which took +place on the 14th of August, 1851, at the house of Don Diego Garcia, an +old nobleman, who resided in the vicinity of that capital: + +The night was dark and tempestuous. The rain poured down in torrents, +and induced the night-watch, who had been reinforced since the recent +augmentations of crime in the environs of the capital, to keep close to +their quarters. The roads were completely deserted, and at long +intervals only the shadow of a human figure flitted past the huge +portals of Don Diego's mansion, in anxious haste toward its habitation. + +Juan Munoz, the Don's old valet, had been sent to this city, by his +master, and was now making the best of his way home. His errand to the +capital had been to procure some medicine which his master had been +ordered to take, he being at the time violently afflicted by the gout. +Juan, as we have said, was picking his way, as best he could, through +the deluged streets and roads, when, just as he came in sight of the +mansion, he heard the voices of a number of men behind him, and +supposing them to be a party of his fellow-servants who had been sent in +search of him, since he had been much later than he expected to be, he +drew back into an open recess to await their approach. He discovered +that he was deceived in his expectations; the men were strangers to him, +or, at least, he did not know their voices, but, while passing him, he +plainly heard the name of his master pronounced by one of their number, +and, stepping forward, he asked if they wished to see Don Diego that +night. The men seemed perfectly stupefied by his sudden apparition, but +they soon recovered from their surprise, and, after ascertaining that he +was alone, he was politely asked to go before them and show the way. +Scarcely had he proceeded a dozen yards; when a violent blow on the head +laid him prostrate; a knife was then twice thrust into his breast, and +the lifeless body was hurled into the middle of the road. + +It was close upon midnight, when the wife of Don Diego, while tending +her sick husband, was startled by a noise from the adjoining room. She +immediately rang the bell, and was answered by the major domo, the only +servant who had not retired to rest, being determined to await the +return of Juan. As he entered, the door leading to the ante-chamber was +also quickly opened, and on the threshold appeared five masked men, who +were evidently unprepared to find more than one inmate in the sick +chamber. Quick as thought the major-domo attempted to reach the +bell-rope, that by a violent alarm he might awake the sleepers and +obtain their aid, but quicker even than he was the leader of the masked +band, who seized a pistol from his belt, and, with unerring aim, +discharged it at the devoted servant. There was a faint cry: the old +servant stretched out his hands for support, and then, with a heavy +groan, fell to the floor, where death closed his eyes. + +This unexpected catastrophe seemed to spur on the robbers to instant +work. While one man was posted at each door, the three others insisted +upon being informed by Don Diego where he kept his money and valuables; +but the sick old man had sank into so complete a lethargy by the +dreadful event which had passed under his eye, that he was unable to +answer them. As rapidity of movement was, however, rendered peremptory +to insure the safety of the band, the chief addressed the Donna for the +same purpose, in answer to which, she evinced but little reluctance, and +bade them to follow her. The robbers at once declared their readiness, +and, after passing along the corridor, entered the dining saloon, where +the Donna pointed out a large box, which, she said, contained the plate. +Here another difficulty arose. The box, which in reality contained the +plate, was securely locked, and the key nowhere to be found. Anxious to +get at the rich booty, the leader, with an angry imprecation, put the +muzzle of his heavy horse-pistol to the lock; a sharp report followed, +and the lid thus unceremoniously opened offered no further obstacle to +the rapacity of the invaders. Donna Ignazia took advantage of the joyful +excitement of the band, and left the room to descend into the lower +story of the mansion, where her hurried summons at the chamber doors of +the servants were readily responded to by them, as they had already been +awoke by the double report in their master's apartments. The tempest, +which had raged so fearfully, had meanwhile ceased; the torrents of rain +were followed by a clear night; the fury of the elements appeared as +though, in momentary rest, they would gather strength for a fresh +outbreak--nature's wrath had given place to the wrath of man. + +The inanimate body of Juan Munoz had been discovered by a patrolling +body of soldiery, who carried it to the guard-house. The stabs were +found to be of minor consequence, and the blow on the head, although it +had caused a very severe wound, had occasioned only a temporary loss of +consciousness. It must be borne in mind, that two hours had nearly +elapsed between the assault upon Munoz and the entrance into the house +by the robbers, which time had probably been spent by them in various +efforts to gain access. Strong restoratives, judiciously applied, soon +brought back animation, and, shortly afterward, Munoz could give a +confused narrative of what had befallen him. The officer on duty at once +saw through the scheme, and gave orders to proceed to the mansion of Don +Diego, which they reached at the precise moment when Donna Ignazia, with +an armed body of her own servants, was leading them to the dining +saloon. The summons of the officer at the front door was followed by a +dead silence on the part of the robbers: but when they heard the +measured tramp of the soldiery on the stair-case, they sought for means +of instant flight. This, however, had been provided for; a portion of +the military had surrounded the house, while the others, reinforced by +the servants, approached. The only chance then left to the brigands was +to cut their way through, or sell their lives as dearly as possible. In +an instant the huge oaken doors of the saloon were closed and barred, +the lights were extinguished, the windows opened, and everything made +ready for the last desperate chance. Fortune favored them; for the +soldiery, not anticipating a leap of their enemies from the high +windows, withdrew their sentinels from there in order to make them guard +the side and rear outlets of the mansion. Two of the bold ruffians had +already made their descent by means of tablecloths, tied together, when +the alarm was given. The soldiers rushed to the spot--a third robber was +clinging to the frail chance for life, and was rapidly descending, but a +well-directed shot bereft him of strength, and, after a few frantic +efforts to retain his hold, he fell heavily to the ground. His two +comrades made a firm stand: but vain was their boldness against the +numbers of assailants, and in a few moments they fell, grievously +wounded, into the hands of the victors. + +Two more only remained of this desperate band, and the fact of their +being shielded by strong bolts massive walls, rendered them no +insignificant enemies. Ladders were placed against the windows, but the +true aim of the keen-eyed brigands made four successive shots tell with +appalling effect, since each of them laid low one of their assailants. +At last an attack upon the doors was resolved upon, and soon the heavy +blows of the ponderous axe resounded from the massive panels. One door +gave way: there was a stunning crash, followed by reports of fire-arms, +cries of agony, and the dull sound of falling victims. Again the numbers +were successful, but in this instance the victims knew no mercy, and, +when at last the tumult ceased, the mutilated corpses of the two +brigands could hardly be recognized from three of their late assailants. + +The man who had been shot while descending from the window was found to +be quite dead, the ball having entered his heart. The two survivors were +subsequently identified as Ramon Gomez, and Pietro Vaga, better known as +"the Hunchback," two of the most notorious highwaymen and burglars, for +whose apprehension a large reward had been offered. + + + +SHIPWRECK OF THE MONTICELLO. + +J.V. Brown, Esq., Editor of the Lake Superior Journal, who was on board +the Monticello, gives the following graphic account of the disaster: + +It becomes our painful duty to record the most perilous shipwreck that +has ever occurred on Lake Superior, and having been a passenger on board +the Monticello at the time, we are enabled to give all the particulars +in relation to the loss of the vessel, and the hardships of the +passengers and crew. We went on board the Ontonagon on the afternoon of +the 22d September, 1851, on her return from Fond du Lac. She left the +river at half-past five o'clock bound for the Sault, with about one +hundred persons, twenty tons of copper from the Minnesota mine, and a +few barrels of fish from La Pointe, and in coming out of the harbor one +of the wheels struck a floating log very heavily, and it is supposed to +have loosened the packing boxes around one of the shafts.--She lay on +the bar a few minutes on her way out, but the sea at that time was +light, and we cannot think it possible that she sprang a leak from the +effects of the slight pounding on the light sand. + +[Illustration: LOSS OF THE MONTICELLO.] + +We had been out about half an hour, when the firemen discovered the +water rising around the floors of the engine; they communicated the fact +to Capt. Wilson, and it was made known to the passengers, but the leak +was not thought to be serious, and created but very little alarm. The +pump was put into operation, and on examination the captain and engineer +seemed confident that the pump would keep her clear till we could run +down to Eagle harbor, a distance of sixty miles; but it was soon +discovered, that the water was fast gaining on the pump, and +preparations were made immediately for raising water by means of barrels +and buckets. + +The wind was blowing at first from the westward, but soon changed to the +northwest--it was fresh but fair, and aided by sails and all the steam +that it was prudent to carry, she came on at a rapid rate, still keeping +on her course, in hopes to make the harbor. The passengers and crew +worked steadily at the pumps, but the water continued gradually to gain +on them. The most of the copper and all the other freight was thrown +overboard with a hearty good will--the wealth of the mine seeming of but +little consequence at such a time. Every possible means were employed to +raise water, and every passenger assisted to the utmost of his strength +and ability to keep the sinking vessel afloat. Two pumps, three +barrels, and a half dozen pails were constantly in motion, and still the +water gained steadily, but surely, on their efforts. + +We had now been out about three hours, the wind and waves constantly +increasing, when it was found, there was little hope of reaching Eagle +harbor; the water had risen nearly to the fires, and was fast gaining +ground, notwithstanding all the exertions of those on board. After +remaining on her course a few minutes longer, the boat was headed toward +the land, and new efforts were put forth to encourage all on board to +assist at the pumps and barrels. By this time there was three feet of +water or more in the hold, and she moved and rolled heavily through the +seas, the wood having to be shifted from one side of the vessel to the +other, to keep her in trim. + +One fire after the other was rolled into the water, and it became +evident to the most hopeful that they would be extinguished entirely, +and it was still thought, the wind would take her in under the land even +if the steam should fail. It was not long before the fires were reported +out--the engines worked lazily for a short time, the clicking of the +valves became faint and less frequent, and finally, like the dying +struggle of a strong man, it ceased altogether. + +Wearied with incessant exertions at the pumps, many gave out and +retired to the cabins, seeming to prefer rest to escape from the watery +grave into which they were fast sinking. Some were even forced into the +hold, to fill barrels and pails, and new efforts were put forth to +induce the suffering crew and passengers to hold out an hour longer, +with the assurance that we could reach land in that time. With this +hope, and that influence which strong minds always exert under such +circumstances, many took hold again of the pumps with a kind of +desperate exertion, and for a time they even gained on the water. There +was another circumstance which encouraged them to work. The boat being +careened on one side by the sails, one of the fires was partially out of +water, and a fire was kindled again by means of dry wood, oil, and the +most combustible matter the boat afforded. This not only assisted our +progress toward the land, but it stimulated the passengers to new +exertions. + +The fires were in this way kindled and extinguished several times, and +all felt that they owed much to the irregular exertion of the engines +for their preservation, especially as the wind for some time died away, +so as to scarcely fill the sails. For two long hours the water-logged +vessel drifted in, before soundings could be had. In this region it was +well known, that the coast was rocky, and dangerous for landing, and the +night was too dark to enable the pilot to distinguish one place from +another. A heavy sea rolled in upon the shore, and it seemed like +madness to attempt a landing under such circumstances. Accordingly, +Captain Wilson decided to come to anchor, and endeavor to keep the +vessel afloat till daylight; and as soon as we came into six fathoms +water the anchors were let go, and she swung round heavily in the +furious waves, that threatened speedily to complete the work of +destruction. + +Several insane attempts had been thwarted for cutting away the boats, +which, had they succeeded, we doubt not, would have proved certain +destruction to nine-tenths of all on board; for if the boats had not +been swamped at once, they would undoubtedly have been dashed to pieces +on the rock-bound shore, leaving others to swim ashore as best they +might. The pumping and bailing were continued with the last energies of +a noble crew--two or three hours more would bring the light of another +day, and it was understood that an attempt would be made to land as soon +as it was daylight. + +The time wore tediously away, and the passengers and crew were too much +exhausted to keep down the water, and still they labored to do so with +what strength they had left. Some time before daylight the wind changed +to the north; and commenced blowing hard directly upon the shore, and +the sea increased rapidly, oftentimes washing into the hatchways where +the men were at work bailing, and it became evident to all, that the +vessel could be kept afloat only for a short time longer. + +At five o'clock it was light enough to see that it was a bold rocky +shore, against which the waves dashed high and furiously, but it was too +late to choose a place for landing, and the captain ordered the anchors +raised. Her bow swung around to the east and in fifteen minutes she +struck heavily on the solid rock, about three hundred yards from the +shore. The men kept at work pumping and bailing till she struck, when +the waves at once swept in upon her deck and filled the hold. + +The largest of the two yawls happened to be on the lee side, and it was +soon lowered away, and with a line long enough to reach the land, the +first and second mates, Messrs. Lucas and Barney, W.T. Westbrook, and +one of the crew, started for the shore. The line was made fast to a +tree, and they commenced the far more difficult and dangerous task of +returning. The little boat seemed to be engulphed by every breaker that +it met on its way, and none but strong and true hands could have saved +the boat in this emergency, and no one unaccustomed to the dangers of +the sea, can imagine the nerve necessary to manage a boat under such +circumstances. + +The smaller boat, after much difficulty and delay, was got around under +the lee and bailed out, but it swamped the first trip ashore, and was +not used afterward. By constant, and untiring exertions, the passengers +and crew were all landed at half-past eight o'clock, and after securing +the shattered boats, as best they could, on the steep side of the rocky +shore, they gathered around the fires, to look upon the miserable plight +of one another. All were drenched with the water in coming ashore, cold +and hungry, worn out by the fatigues of the night and morning, they +lopped down around the fires, the sorriest looking gathering that it had +ever been our misfortune to witness. + +All had been so anxious in seeing the passengers and crew landed safely, +that they had not thought about providing for our future wants, and +nothing in the shape of provisions or baggage had been brought ashore. +After they had looked around them for a few moments, the boat was again +manned and the wreck was again explored for provisions, and a few pounds +of hard bread, part of a quarter of fresh beef and some boiled beef were +brought in, which was as one remarked, a "poor show" for a lunch for so +many sharp appetites. After having eaten this mouthful we proposed to +start with as many as possible for Eagle river, which was judged to be +about thirty-five miles distant, and a party of twenty-two in number +set out. + +It was noon when we started, with our clothes still wet and heavy, and +little or nothing to eat. We worked our way slowly through the cedar +swamp; over logs and under logs, up ravines and down ravines, a crooked, +trackless, toilsome way, till the middle of the afternoon, when we met +two of our fellow passengers on their way back to the wreck. They had +been on some distance further, but worn out with the hardships of their +journey and hunger, they had turned back disheartened, and advised us to +do the same. But we decided to go on, and on we went, through the worst +cedar swamps in the world, till the thick woods began to grow dark with +the shades of evening, and till a number of the party became completely +exhausted with fatigue and hunger. We then concluded to encamp for the +night, although we could not have traveled in all the afternoon over +five miles, or about a mile an hour. + +Without an axe, a few sticks were collected, and two or three poor fires +were kindled. All the bits of hard bread, and fresh beef, in all a +scanty meal for one person's supper, was produced and rationed out to +the twenty-two persons. Every one ate as sparingly as possible, and as +we were without tents, we lay down on the cold ground in our wet clothes +before the fire, and dozed and shivered with cold till daylight. As soon +as we could see to travel, we proceeded on our toilsome way, and after +walking about a mile we came to the trail that leads from Lake Superior +to Portage Lake, and saw two or three Indians pushing out through the +surf a bark canoe, which they soon jumped into and paddled away before +the wind. We tried to induce them to return, in hopes to procure +something from them to satisfy our craving hunger, but they scarcely +deigned to look back. + +Some of our party had been from this trail to Eagle river, and it was +some consolation to meet with a land mark that was known. We now +commenced walking along the beach, which was composed of large pebbles, +covered in many places with logs and trees that had washed or tumbled in +from off the overhanging banks, making it as tiresome walking as can +well be imagined. Frequently, in order to keep the beach, we were +obliged to walk within reach of the dash of the waves, and were drenched +with the cold flood. + +About two miles east of the Portage trail, we discovered near the edge +of the bank, which was some ten feet above the lake, the remains of a +human being. The clothes of a man, in a good state of preservation, half +covered the bleaching bones, the sad, sickening, unburied relics of some +poor "shipwrecked brother," who had here ended his voyage "o'er life's +stormy main." He had evidently chosen this spot where he could die +looking off upon the lake, from whence no succor came, and where he +could be easily discovered by the passer by. A description was taken by +one of our party of his clothes and the few articles found on them, and +we learned on inquiring at Eagle river, that they were undoubtedly the +remains of a Mr. Mathews, who got lost from the Algonquin mine a few +weeks previous. A brother of the deceased repaired to the spot as soon +as possible and brought down the remains for burial at Eagle harbor. + +The morning had not far advanced when a number of our party began to lag +behind, exhausted from the effects of hunger and weakness, and it was +evident that some would have to be left behind, while some of the others +might possibly reach Eagle river that day and send assistance. We +confidently expected to find some provisions in a warehouse at Gratiot +river, twelve miles from Eagle river, and all had hopes to reach there +before night. A few of our party pushed forward as fast as possible, to +procure food and fires for those behind, but great was our +disappointment not to find a particle of provisions at that place. + +We kindled a fire, and rested for a few minutes, till a number of our +party came up, the larger number being still far behind. It now became +more important than ever that some one should reach Eagle river, and +seven of our number determined to make the trial. We had now twelve +miles further to go, and in our miserable condition we traveled but +slowly, but the trail grew better as we proceeded, and we came in sight +of Eagle River about four o'clock in the afternoon, and under the +circumstances, a more pleasant, inviting village we do not recollect +ever to have seen before. Four or five of our party came through the +same evening, and a few others of another party came in the next day +with similar hardships. + +On the Tuesday following, Capt. McKay with the schooner Algonquin, +proceeded to the wreck, and brought off the captain, crew, and remaining +passengers, and all that could be saved of valuable property. + + + +A JUNGLE RECOLLECTION. + +The hot season of 1849 was peculiarly oppressive, and the irksome +garrison duty, at Cherootabad, in the south of India, had for many +months been unusually severe. The colonel of my regiment, the brigadier, +and the general, having successively acceded to my application for three +weeks' leave, and that welcome fact having been duly notified in orders, +it was not long before I found myself on the Coimbatore road, snugly +packed, guns and all, in a country bullock cart, lying at full length on +a mattress, with a thick layer of straw spread under it. + +All my preparations had been made beforehand; relays of bullocks were +posted for me at convenient intervals, and I arrived at Goodaloor, a +distance of a hundred and ten miles, in rather more than forty +eight hours. + +Goodaloor is a quiet little village, about eleven miles from +Coimbatore;--but don't suppose I was going to spend my precious three +weeks there. + +All loaded, and pony saddled, let us start: the two white cows and their +calves; the mattress and blanket rolled up and carried on a Cooly's +head Shikaree, horsekeeper, and a village man, with the three guns, +while I, myself, bring up the rear. Over a few ploughed fields, and past +that large banian tree, the jungle begins. + +In a small clump of low jungle, on the sloping bank of a broad, sandy +watercourse, the casual passer-by would not have perceived a snug and +tolerably strong little hut--the white ends of the small branches that +were laid over it, and the mixture of foliage, alone revealing the fact +to the observant eye of a practiced woodman. No praise could be too +strong to bestow on the faithful Shikaree; had I chosen the spot myself, +after a weeks' survey of the country, it could not have been more +happily selected. + +To the deeply-rooted stump of a young tree on the opposite bank, one of +the white cows had been made fast by a double cord passed twice around +her horns. Nothing remains to be done: the little door is fastened +behind me, the prickly acacia boughs are piled up against it on the +outside, and my people are anxious to be off. + +The poor cow, too, listens with dismay to the retreating footsteps of +the party, and has already made some furious plunges to free herself, +and rejoin the rest of the kine, who have been driven off, nothing +loth, toward home. Watch her: how intently she stares along the path by +which the people have deserted her. Were it not for the occasional stamp +of her fore leg, or the impatient side-toss of the head, to keep off the +swarming flies, she might be carved out of marble. And now a fearful and +anxious gaze up the bed of the nullah, and into the thick fringe of +Mimoso, one ear pricked and the other back alternately, show that +_instinct_ has already whispered the warning of impending danger. +Another plunge to get loose, and a searching gaze up the path; see her +sides heave. Now comes what we want--that deep low! It echoes again +among the hills: another and another. Poor wretch! you are hastening +your doom; far or near, the tiger hears you--under the rock or thicket, +where he has lain since morning, sheltered from the scorching sun, his +ears flutter as if they were tickled every time he hears that music; his +huge, green eyes, heretofore half closed, are now wide open, and, alas! +poor cow, gaze truly enough in thy direction; but he has not stirred +yet, and nobody can say in what direction giant death will yet +stalk forth. + +The moon is up--all nature still; the cow, again on her legs, is +restless, and evidently frightened. Oh! reader, even if you have the +soul of a Shikaree, I despair of being able to convey in words a tithe +of the sensations of that solitary vigil: a night like that is to be +enjoyed but seldom--a red-letter day in one's existence. + +Where is the man who has never experienced the poetic influence of a +moonlight scene! Fancy, then, such a one as here described; a crescent +of low hills--craggy, steep, and thickly wooded--around you, on three +sides, and above them, again, at twenty miles' distance, the clear blue +outline of the Neilgherry hills; in your front, the silver sand bed of +the dry watercourse divides the thick and somber jungle with a stream of +light, till you lose it in the deep shadows at the foot of the +hills--all quiet, all still, all bathed in the light of the moon, +yourself the only man for miles to come, a solitary watcher--your only +companion the poor cow, who, full of fears, and suspicious at every +leaf-fall, reminds you that a terrible struggle is about to take place +within a few feet of your bed, and that there will be noise and +confusion, when you must be cool and collected. Your little kennel would +not be strong enough to resist a determined charge, and you are alone, +if three good guns are not true friends. + +Oh! that I could express sounds on paper as music is written in notes. +No, reader, you must do as I have done--you must be placed in a similar +situation, to hear and enjoy the terrible roar of a hungry tiger--not +from afar off, and listened for, but close at hand, and unexpected. It +was like an electric shock;--a moment ago I was dozing off, and the cow, +long since laid down, appeared asleep; that one roar had not died away +among the hills when she had scrambled on her legs, and stood with +elevated head, stiffened limbs, tail raised, and breath suspended, +staring, full of terror, in the direction of the sound. As for the +biped, with less noise, and even more alacrity, he had grasped his "Sam +Nock," whose polished barrels just rested on the lower ledge of the +little peep-hole; perhaps his eyes were as round as saucers, and heart +beating fast and strong. + +Now for the struggle;--pray heaven that I am cool and calm, and do not +fire in a hurry, for one shot will either lose or secure my +well-earned prize. + +There he is again! evidently in that rugged, stony watercourse, which +runs parallel, and about two hundred yards behind the hut. But what is +that? Yes, lightning: two flashes in quick succession, and a cold stream +of air is rustling through the half-withered leaves of my ambush. Taking +a look to the rear, through an accidental opening among the leaves, it +was plain that a storm, or, as it would be called at sea, a squall, was +brewing. An arch of black cloud was approaching from the westward, and, +the rain descending, gave it the appearance of a huge black comb, the +teeth reaching to the earth. The moon, half obscured, showed a white +mist as far as the rain had reached. Then was heard in the puffs of air, +the hissing of the distant but approaching downpour: more +lightning--then some large heavy drops plashed on the roof, and it was +raining cats and dogs. + +How the scene was changed! Half an hour ago, solemn, and still, and +wild, as nature rested, unpolluted, undefaced, unmarked by man--sleeping +in the light of the moon, all was tranquillity; the civilized man lost +his idiosyncrasy in its contemplation--forgot nation, pursuits, +creed--he felt that he was Nature's child, and adored the God of Nature. + +But the beautiful was now exchanged for the sublime, when that scene +appeared lit up suddenly and awfully by lightning, which now momentarily +exchanged a sheet of intensely dazzling blue light, with a darkness +horrible to endure--a light which showed the many streams of water, +which now appeared like ribbons over the smooth slabs of rod that lay on +the slope of the hills, and gave a microscopic accuracy of outline to +every object, exchanged as suddenly for a darkness, which for the +moment might be supposed the darkness of extinction--of utter +annihilation--while the crash of thunder over head rolled over the +echoes of the hills, "I am the Lord thy God." + +The storm was at length over, the nullah run dry again. Damp and sleepy, +with arms folded and eyes sometimes open, but often shut, I kept an +indifferent watch, when the cow, struggling on her legs, and a groan, +brought me to my senses. There they were. It was no dream. A large +tiger, holding her just behind the ears, shaking her like a fighting +dog. By the doubtful light of the watery moon, did I calmly and +noiselessly run out the muzzle of my rifle. + +I saw him, without quitting his grip of the cow's neck, leap over her +back more than once. She sank to the earth, and he lifted her up again. +At the first opportunity, I pulled trigger. The left hand missed, I +tried the right--it went off--bang! + +Whether a hanging fire is an excuse or not, the tiger relinquished his +hold and was off with a bound. The cow staggered and struggled, and, in +few seconds, fell, and, with a heavy groan, ceased to move. The tiger +had killed the cow within a few feet of me, and escaped scathless. + +Night after night did I watch for his return. I had almost despaired +of seeing him again, when, one night, about eleven o'clock, +my ears caught the echo among the rocks, and then the distant +roar--nearer--nearer--nearer; and--oh, joy!--answered. Tiger and +tigress!--above all hope!--coming to recompense me for hundreds of night +watchings--to balance a long account of weary nights in the silent +jungle, in platforms on trees, in huts of leaf and bramble, and in damp +pits on the water's edge--all bootless; coming--coming--nearer +and nearer. + +Music nor words, dear reader, can stand me in any stead to convey the +sound to you; the first note like the trumpet of a peacock, and the rest +the deepest toned thunder. Stones and gravel rattled just behind the hut +on the path by which we came, and went, and a heavy step passed and +descended the slope into the nullah. I heard the sand crunching under +his weight before I dared to look. A little peep. Oh, heavens! looming +in the moonlight, there he stood, long, sleek as satin, and lashing his +tail--he stood stationary, smelling the slaughtered cow. No longer the +cautious, creeping tiger, I felt how awful a brute he was to offend. I +remembered how he had worried a strong cow in half a minute, and that, +with his weight alone, my poor rickety little citadel would fall to +pieces. As if the excitement of the moment was insufficient, the +monster, gazing down the dry watercourse, caught sight of his +companion, who, advancing up the bed of the nullah, stood irresolutely +about twenty yards off. The bully, who was evidently the male, after +smelling at the head, came round the carcass, making a sort of +complaisant purring--"humming a kind of animal song," and to it he went +tooth and nail. + +As he stood with his two fore feet on the haunch, while he tugged and +tore out a beef-steak, I once more grasped old "Sam Nock," and ran the +muzzle out of the little port. The white linen band marked a line behind +his shoulders, and rather low, but, from the continued motion of his +body, it was some moments before eye and finger agreed to pull +trigger--bang! A shower of sand rattled on the dry leaves, and a roar of +rage and pain satisfied me, even before the white smoke, which hung in +the still air, had cleared away, to show the huge monster writhing and +plunging where he had fallen. Either directed by the fire, or by some +slight noise made in the agitation of the moment, he saw me, and, with a +hideous yell, scrambled up: the roaring thunder of his voice filled the +valley, and the echoes among the hills answered it, with the hootings of +tribes of monkeys, who, scared out of sleep, sought the highest +branches, at the sound of the well-known voice of the tyrant of the +jungle. I immediately perceived, to my great joy, that his hind quarters +were paralyzed and useless, and that all danger was out of the +question. He sank down again on his elbows, and as he rested his now +powerless limbs, I saw the blood welling out of a wound in the loins, as +it shone in the moonlight, and trickled off his sleek-painted hide, like +globules of quicksilver. As I looked into his countenance, I saw all the +devil alive there. The will remained--the power only had gone. It was a +sight never to be forgotten. With head raised to the full stretch of his +neck, he glared at me with an expression of such malignity, that it +almost made one quail. I thought of the native superstition of singeing +off the whiskers of the newly killed tiger to lay his spirit, and no +longer wondered at it. With ears back, and mouth bleeding, he growled +and roared in fitful uncertainty, as if he were trying, but unable, to +measure the extent of the force that had laid him low. + +Motionless myself, provocation ceased, and without further attempt to +get on his legs, he continued to gaze on me; when I slowly lowered my +head to the sight, and again pulled trigger. This time, true to the +mark, the ball entered just above the breastbone, and the smoke cleared +off with his death-groan. There he lay, foot to foot with his victim of +last night, motionless--dead. My first impulse was to tear down the door +behind, and get a thorough view of his proportions; but remembering +that his companion, the tigress, had vanished only a short time ago +close to the scene of action, I thought it as well to remain where I +was; so, enlarging the windows with my hands, I took a long look, and +then jovially attacked the coffee without reference to noise, and fell +back on the mattress to sleep, or to think the night's work over. "At +last, I have got him: his skin will be pegged out to-morrow, drying +before the tent door." When my people came in the morning, they found me +seated on the dead tiger. Coolies were sent for to carry the beast, and +I gave the pony his reins all the way back to the tent. + +FRASER'S MAGAZINE + + +[Illustration: ATTACK ON BOONESBOROUGH.] + + +ATTACK OF BOONSBOROUGH. + +On the tenth of March, 1778, Daniel Boone, having been taken prisoner by +the Indians, was conducted to Detroit, when Governor Hamilton himself +offered one hundred pounds sterling, for his ransom; but so great was +the affection of the Indians for their prisoner, that it was positively +refused. Boone's anxiety on account of his wife and children was +incessant, and the more intolerable as he dared not excite the +suspicions of his captors by any indication of a wish to return home. + +The Indians were now preparing for a violent attack upon the settlements +in Kentucky. Early in June, four hundred and fifty of the choicest +warriors were ready to march against Boonesborough, painted and armed in +a fearful manner. Alarmed at these preparations, he determined to make +his escape. He hunted and shot with the Indians as usual, until the +morning of the sixteenth of June, when, taking an early start, he left +Chillicothe and directed his steps to Boonesborough. The distance +exceeded one hundred and sixty miles, but he performed it in four days, +during which he eat only one meal. He appeared before the garrison like +one risen from the dead. He found the fortress in a bad state, and lost +no time in rendering it more capable of defence. He repaired the flanks, +gates, and posterns, formed double bastions, and completed the whole +in ten days. + +On the eighth of August, the enemy appeared. The attack upon the fort +was instantly commenced; and the siege lasted nine days, during which, +an almost incessant firing was kept up. On the twentieth of August, the +enemy retired with a loss of thirty-seven killed and a great many +wounded. This affair was highly creditable to the spirit and skill of +the pioneers. + + + +THRILLING INCIDENTS OF BATTLE. + +There is a man now living in East Dixfield, Oxford county, me, who +actually caught in his mouth a ball discharged from a musket. He was at +the battle of Bridgewater, in the war of 1812, and, while biting off the +end of a cartridge, for the purpose of loading his gun, was struck by a +ball, which entered on the left side of his face, knocking out eight of +his teeth, cut off the end of his tongue, and passed into his throat. He +raised it, went to the hospital, staid out the remainder of his +enlistment, and returned home with the bullet in his pocket. + +The New Orleans Picayune, one of whose editors was an eye-witness of the +most of the leading battles in Mexico, copies the foregoing paragraph, +and appends to it the following relation: + +We can relate an incident even more strange than this. At the siege of +Monterey, in 1846, and, while General Worth's troops were advancing to +storm the small fort, known as La Soldada, a man, named Waters, an +excellent soldier, belonging to Ben McCulloch's Rangers, caught a large +grape-shot directly in his mouth. It was fully the size of a hen's egg, +was rough, uneven in shape, and, in its course, completely carried out +the four upper teeth of the ranger, and part of the jaw, cut off the +four lower teeth, as with a chisel, split his tongue in twain, carried +away his palate, went through the back of his head, and, striking a +tendon, glanced down, and lodged under the skin on the shoulder-blade, +where it was extracted by a surgeon, and safely placed in the pocket of +Waters for future reference. + +No man thought the wounded ranger could live, he could swallow neither +food nor water. We saw him two nights afterward, in a room in the +Bishop's Palace, which had been converted into a hospital, sitting bolt +upright among the wounded and the dying--for the nature of his terrible +hurt was such that he could not lie down without suffocating. His face +was swollen to more than twice its ordinary size--he was speechless of +course--his wants were only made known by means of a broken slate and +pencil, and he was slowly applying a wet sponge to his mouth, +endeavoring to extract moisture, which might quench the fever and +intolerable thirst under which he was suffering. By his side lay young +Thomas, of Maryland, a member of the same company, who was mortally +wounded the morning after, and who was now dying. Wounded men, struck +that afternoon in Worth's advance upon the Grand Plaza, were constantly +being brought in, the surgeons were amputating and dressing the hurts of +the crippled soldiers by a pale and sickly candle-light, and the groans +of those in grievous pain added a new horror to the scene, which was at +best frightful. We recollect, perfectly well, a poor fellow struck in +both legs by a grape-shot, while advancing up one of the streets. He was +begging lustily, after one of his limbs had been amputated, that the +other might be spared him, on which to hobble through the world. Poor +Thomas, as gallant a spirit as ever lived, finally breathed his last; we +brought Waters a fresh cup of water with which to moisten his wounds, +and then left the room to catch an hour's sleep; but the recollections +of that terrible night will not soon be effaced from my memory. + +The above incident occurred on the night of the 23d and morning of the +24th of September, 1846. During the early part of the month of February +following, while passing into the old St. Charles, in this city, we were +accosted with a strange voice by a fine-looking man, who seemed +extremely glad to see us, although he had a most singular and +unaccountable mode of expressing himself. We recollected the eye as one +we had been familiar with, but the lower features of the face, although +in no way disfigured, for the life of us, we could not make out. + +"Why, don't you know me?" in a mumbling, half-indistinct, and forced +manner, said the man, still shaking our hand vigorously. "I'm Waters." + +And Waters it was, in reality, looking as well and as healthy as ever, +without showing the least outward sign that he had ever caught a +grape-shot in his mouth. A luxuriant growth of mustaches completely +covered his upper lip, and concealed any scar the iron missile might +have made; an imperial on his under lip hid any appearance of a wound at +that point; and, with the exception of his speech, there was nothing to +show that he had ever received the slightest injury about the face. His +tongue, which was terribly shattered, was still partially benumbed, +rendering articulation both difficult and tiresome; but he assured us he +was every day gaining more and more the use of it, and, in his own +words, he was soon to be "just as good as new" + +It is needless to say that we were glad to see him--to meet one we had +never expected to encounter again in such excellent plight. Any one who +could have seen him sitting in that apartment of the Bishop's Palace, +his face swollen, and, with a gravity of countenance, which would have +been ludicrous, even to the causing of laughter, had it not been for his +own precarious situation, and the heart-rending scenes around, would +have been equally as much astonished and rejoiced, as we were, on again +so unexpectedly beholding him. + +A correspondent of the "Inquirer" has sent us the following, which is +quite as remarkable as either of the foregoing: + +Very extraordinary incidents have been published lately, of shot having +been caught in the mouths of soldiers, in the course of battle, in the +war of 1812, and in the Mexican war; but an incident, perhaps more +remarkable, for the coolness of the individual on the occasion, occurred +at the battle of Fort Drane, fought, in August, 1837, under the command +of the late Col. B.K. Pierce. This was one of the most signal and +desperate engagements of that bloody war. The Seminoles, under their +renowned chief, Osceola, had taken a very commanding position in an +extensive sugar field, near the stockade, strengthened on the east side +by a dense hammock. Three desperate onsets were made during the battle, +and the enemy were finally driven from the field to the protection of +the hammock. During the hottest of the battle, a soldier belonging to +the detachment under the command of Lieut. Pickell, whose position was a +little in advance of the two wings, of the name of Jackson, having just +fired, received a shot from a tall Indian, not twenty yards distant, +which broke through the outer parts of his pantaloons, and lodged in his +right-hand pocket. Feeling the slight sting of the half-spent ball, he +thrust his hand in his pocket, drew out the bullet, and dropped it into +the barrel of his musket, upon the charge of powder he had just before +put in; then, with the unerring aim of a true marksman, leveled his +piece, and, as quick as lightning, his adversary was measured upon the +ground. The wound was fatal--the warrior survived the shot but a +few minutes. + +The above is one of the many incidents that occurred in the recent war +with the Florida Indians which, for peril and brave feats, on the part +of the American soldiers and officers, has scarcely ever been equaled. +The above incident is stated as it actually occurred. + + + +A FAMILY ATTACKED BY INDIANS. + +On the night of the eleventh of April, 1787, the house of a widow in +Bourbon county, Kentucky, became the scene of a deplorable adventure. +She occupied what was called a double cabin, in a lonely part of the +county. One room was tenanted by the old lady herself, together with two +grown sons, and a widowed daughter with an infant. The other room was +occupied by two unmarried daughters from sixteen to twenty years of age, +together with a little girl. + +The hour was eleven o'clock at night, and the family had retired to +rest. Some symptoms of an alarming nature had engaged the attention of +the young man for an hour, before anything of a decided character took +place. At length hasty steps were heard in the yard, and quickly +afterward several loud knocks at the door, accompanied by the usual +exclamation, "Who keeps house?" in very good English. + +The young man, supposing from the language that some benighted travelers +were at the door, hastily arose, and was advancing to withdraw the bar +that secured it, when his mother, who had long lived upon the frontier, +and had probably detected the Indian tone in the demand for admission, +instantly sprang out of bed, and ordered her son not to admit them, +declaring that they were Indians. + +She instantly awakened her other son, and the young men seizing their +guns, which were always charged, prepared to repel the enemy. The +Indians finding it impossible to enter under their assumed characters, +began to thunder at the door with great violence, but a single shot from +a loop-hole obliged them to shift the attack to some less exposed point, +and, unfortunately, they discovered the door of the other cabin, which +contained the three daughters. The rifles of the brothers could not be +brought to bear on this point; and, by means of several rails taken from +the yard fence, the door was forced from its hinges, and the girls were +at the mercy of the savages. One was instantly secured, but the eldest +defended herself desperately with a knife she had been using at the +loom, and stabbed one of the Indians to the heart, before she was +tomahawked. + +In the meantime, the little girl, who had been overlooked by the enemy +in their eagerness to secure the others, ran out into the yard, and +might have effected her escape, had she taken advantage of the darkness, +and fled; but instead of looking to her own safety, the terrified +little creature ran round the house, wringing her hands, and crying that +her sisters were killed. + +[Illustration: THE INDIANS KILLING THE WIDOW'S DAUGHTER.] + +Just then the child uttered a loud scream, followed by a few faint +moans, and all was silent. Presently the crackling of flames was heard, +accompanied by a triumphant yell from the Indians, announcing that they +had set fire to that division of the house, which had been occupied by +the daughters, and of which they held undisputed possession. + +The fire was quickly communicated to the rest of the building, and it +became necessary to abandon it or perish in the flames. The door was +thrown open, and the old lady, supported by her eldest son, attempted to +cross the fence at one point, while her daughter carrying her child in +her arms, and attended by the younger of the brothers, ran in a +different direction. The blazing roof shed a light over the yard but +little inferior to that of day, and the savages were distinctly seen +awaiting the approach of their victims. The old lady was permitted to +reach the stile unmolested, but in the act of crossing, received several +balls in her breast, and fell dead. Her son, providentially, remained +unhurt, and, by extraordinary agility, effected his escape. + +The other party succeeded in reaching the fence unhurt, but in the act +of crossing were vigorously assailed by several Indians, who, throwing +down their guns, rushed upon them with their tomahawks. The young man +defended his sister gallantly, firing upon the enemy as they approached, +and then wielding the butt of his rifle with a fury that drew their +whole attention upon himself, and gave his sister an opportunity of +effecting her escape. He quickly fell however under the tomahawks of his +enemies, and was found at daylight, scalped and mangled in a shocking +manner. Of the whole family, consisting of eight persons, only three +escaped. Four were killed upon the spot, and one, the second daughter, +carried off as a prisoner. + +The neighborhood was quickly alarmed, and, by daylight, about thirty men +were assembled, under the command of Colonel Edwards. A light snow had +fallen during the latter part of the night, and the Indian trail could +be followed at a gallop. It led directly into the mountainous country +bordering on the Licking, and afforded evidences of great hurry and +precipitation on the part of the fugitives. Unfortunately, a hound had +been permitted to follow the whites, and as the trail became fresh, and +the scent warm, she followed it with eagerness, baying loudly and giving +the alarm to the Indians. The consequences of this imprudence were soon +manifest. The enemy finding the pursuit keen, and perceiving the +strength of their prisoner began to fail, instantly sunk their tomahawks +in her head, and left her still warm and bleeding upon the snow. + +As the whites came up, she regained strength enough to wave her hand in +token of recognition, and appeared desirous of giving them some +information, with regard to the enemy, but her strength was too far +gone. Her brother sprang from his horse and endeavored to stop the +effusion of blood, but in vain. She gave him her hand, muttered some +inarticulate words, and expired. + + + +THRILLING INCIDENT. + +In mid-winter about four years since, says Miss Martineau, in her Norway +and the Norwegians, a young man named Hund, was sent by his master on an +errand about twenty miles, to carry provisions to a village in the upper +country. The village people asked him for charity, to carry three orphan +children on his sledge a few miles on his way to Bergen, and to leave +them at a house on the road, when they would be taken care of until they +could be brought from Bergen. He took the little things, and saw that +the two elder were well wrapped up from the cold. The third he took +within his arms and on his knee, as he drove, clasping it warm against +his breast--so those say who saw them set off, and it is confirmed by +one who met the sledge on the road, and heard the children prattling to +Hund, and Hund laughing merrily at their little talk. Before they got +half way, however, a pack of hungry wolves, burst out upon them from a +hollow in the thicket to the right of the wood. The beasts followed +close to the back of the sledge. Closer and closer the wolves pressed. +Hund saw one about to spring at his throat. It was impossible for the +horse to go faster than he did, for he went like the wind--so did the +wolves. Hund in desperation, snatched up one of the children behind him, +and threw it over the back of the sledge. This stopped the pack a +little. On galloped the horse. But the wolves were soon crowded around +again, with the blood freezing to their muzzles. It was easier to throw +over the second child than the first--and Hund did it. But on came again +the infuriated beasts--gaunt with hunger, and raging like fiends for the +prey. It was harder to give up the third--the dumb infant that nestled +in his breast, but Hund was in mortal terror. Again the hot breath of +the wolves was upon him. He threw a way the infant and saved himself. +Away over the snow flew the sledge, the village was reached, and Hund +just escaped after all the sacrifice he had made. But he was unsettled +and wild, and his talk, for some time whenever he did speak, night or +day, was of wolves--so fearful had been the effect upon his imagination. + +[Illustration] + + + +ADVENTURES + +OF REV. DR. BACON AND HIS PARTY, AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF PERSIA. + +Dr. Bacon and Rev. Mr. Marsh, attempted to cross from the city of Mosul, +on the Tigris, to Oroomiah, the residence of the Nestorian Christians. +On their passage through the Kurdish mountains, they were robbed, and +narrowly escaped being murdered, and were finally forced to return +to Mosul. + +Dr. Bacon, after describing their departure from Diarbekr, says: + +"I defer to another time the description of our romantic and picturesque +passage down the Tigris. By the care of Providence, our whole party +completed this stage, as they had completed the previous and more +fatiguing ones, in safety and comfortable health. We arrived in Mosul +on the 16th of May, in seven days from Diarbekr, and immediately set +about making preparations for continuing our journey into the mountains. + +"The engaging of mules, the hiring of servants, and the preparation of +provisions, detained us in Mosul until Wednesday, the 21st of May. The +meantime was spent by us in visiting the excavations on the opposite +side of the river. In the mound of Koyunjik, we followed our guide +through a labyrinth of narrow corridors, lighted dimly by occasional +openings in the firm clay overhead. Some of the sculptures were +described in Mr. Leyard's volumes; others have been since unearthed, and +some most interesting galleries had just been left by the picks of the +workmen. Time, at present, does not permit me to describe them; but I +may mention as among the most interesting of the recent discoveries, a +succession of slabs carved with a representation of the original +transportation of the great winged bulls which adorned the stately +entrances of the palaces of Ninus and Sardanapalus. A collection of +small, inscribed stones, has also been found, supposed to contain public +records; and, but a day or two ago, the workmen brought in the report of +new and still grander sculptures just discovered. + +"We had expected to start on Wednesday at sunrise; but various petty +hindrances detained us until late in the afternoon. We then united in +prayer with the family in whose cares, anxieties, and dangers we had +shared through so many weary weeks, and hastened to our saddles. Passing +the Tigris by a rude ferry, we rode in the setting sunlight by the once +mysterious mounds of Koyunjik. The reapers who were still busy within +the grassy walls of fallen Ninevah, came up to us as we passed, with +their sickles on their heads, to present the offering of the first +fruits of harvest. We hurried on, however, and stopped for the night at +a small village little more than an hour from the gate of Mosul." + +On the third day they reached the town of Akkre, among the mountains, +where they were obliged to stay three days, waiting for the Kurdish +muleteers. They performed the Sabbath service in a cavern of the +mountain which the native christians had fitted up as a secret chapel. +Leaving Akkre on Monday morning, the 26th of May, they entered the most +dangerous part of the mountains. Mr. B. says: + +"We spent this day's nooning by a spring that bursts out near the top of +a steep mountain, and ate our dinner under a tree that distilled upon +the rocks a fragrant gum. Mounting again at two o'clock, in half an +hour we reached the summit, whence we looked down a giddy descent upon +the swift but winding Zab. Here it became necessary to leave our +animals, and work our way down the almost precipitous road, while the +mules slid, scrambled, and tumbled after us as best they might. As I was +pushing on a little in advance of the party, I was met, in a narrow turn +of the path, by an old bearded man, with a dagger in his girdle, who +reached out his hand toward me. I was uncertain at first how to +understand it; but his only object was to press my hand to his lips with +a fervent '_salam aleikum_' (Peace be with you,) to which I responded, +according to usual form, '_aleikum salam_,' (with you be peace.) Meeting +with others of his party, they asked us if we were Nesrani, +(Nazarenes--Christians,) and saluted us with the same respect, going +some distance back on their path with us to show us a cool water spring. +'They then went their ways, and we saw them no more;' but I shall not +easily forget the satisfaction which they showed in recognizing us as +fellow believers here in the land of the infidel, and the kindness with +which they went out of their way to offer us a 'cup of cold water in the +name of a disciple.'" + +That night they spent on the banks of the river Zab. The next day, +after traversing a wild pass, hemmed in by perpendicular rocks, more +than a thousand feet in hight, they reached the village of Bizeh, in a +valley of the mountains, and secured a house-top for the night: + +"About the middle of the night, Mr. Marsh was waked by a slight noise, +and, lifting his head, saw a party of five or six armed men creeping +stealthily toward our roof, which, on the side toward the hill on which +they were, was only four or five feet from the ground. The foremost man +stopped short for a moment at Mr. Marsh's movement, and turning to his +followers, called out 'Khawaja!' (the gentlemen!) Then seeing that our +old guard was asleep at the stepping stone, he climbed upon the roof at +another corner, and stood for a moment with his long gun at his side. +Mr. Marsh raised himself upon his arm, and demanded in Arabic, 'What do +you want?' The man probably did not understand the language: at any +rate, he made no answer, but turned to the old man, and conversed +earnestly with him in a low tone. The other men gathered near them, as +if to listen and take part. But they all finally went away without doing +any mischief." + +The next morning the sentinel who had kept watch over their baggage +attempted to dissuade them from going the direct road, as the people of +the next village had heard of their coming, and were determined to kill +them. However, they kept on; and, in the course of two or three hours, +their guide was stopped by a company of six armed men: + +"The place was admirably chosen for the purpose. The narrow path along +the cliff by which we had come, here widened into a little platform +large enough for our mules to stand upon together. In front of us, a +ledge of broken rocks jutted from the mountain and ran down, crossing +our path, and leaving only a very small passage. In front of this path +stood our challengers. Six worse-looking men, whether in form, dress, or +feature, it would be difficult to imagine. Each man wore around his +high, conical felt hat, a turban of handkerchiefs of every hue and +texture; in his hand a long gun with short and narrow breech; and in his +belt the universal Kurdish curved and two-edged dagger. The leader of +the gang was a man of middle age, with black eyes and a grisly, +untrimmed beard, and with half his front teeth knocked out." + +After some discussion, the robbers consented to allow them to pass, on +the payment of fifty piastres, (two dollars and a half,) which they +agreed to do, provided they were conducted to the house of the Agha. The +robbers objected to this, and, provoked by the delay, leveled their guns +at the party. At this juncture, the chief muleteer advanced the +necessary money, and they were spared. + +"These transactions, from the time we were stopped, occupied about an +hour. We now passed with our ragged regiment straggling around us, now +with their long guns under our ears, and now cutting off the long bends +of our crooked and little used path. In about ten minutes from the pass, +we were hailed by another party, posted upon a hillside, and a +discussion of many minutes ensued between them and our escort, in which +our Kurdish muleteers took an active part. The result was, that we moved +on with an addition of two men to our guard. We soon began to perceive +that we were going toward the Agha rather as prisoners than as guests. +The castle, (if it may be dignified by the name,) which was now in +sight, was of no promising appearance. It was a rude, rectangular +building, with a small white tower at one corner, on which the workmen +were still engaged. It was situated on the side of a hill which formed +the head of a valley opening into the ravine we had just left. The small +windows and the roof were crowded with men, women, and children, gazing +at our singular cavalcade. As we drew near, some women who were bathing +in a brook, rose, and gazed at us with irrepressible curiosity. We +stopped at the door of the castle. + +"Here the assault began. The men of our guard flew like savage dogs at +our servants: Khudhr and Ablahad seized the arms which were girded about +them, slashing furiously with their daggers, to cut the straps of their +guns and pistols. The turbans were torn from their heads, and +appropriated among the rabble. Similar violence was about to be shown +us, when these operations were suddenly interrupted by the appearance, +from the castle, of Melul Agha. + +"He was a man taller by several inches than any of his tribe, and with +an expression of face which was that of one accustomed to be obeyed, He +was dressed in a more elegant style than could have been expected in +these mountains; wearing upon his head a turban of gray silk, and a long +rifle slung from his shoulders. With a melo-dramatic wave of his hand, +which was at once obeyed, he motioned his noisy tribe to desist, and, +approaching us, pointed out a tree, a few hundred feet up the hill, to +which we might retire. As we moved alone toward this spot, a grim +suspicion of his intentions crossed our minds. Might it not be for +convenience in dispatching us, that we had been removed? We seated +ourselves quietly in the shade, and watched the proceedings. The +property of the muleteers and donkey-drivers had been unloaded and +placed by itself. One of our loads had been thrown from the mule, and +the other was now brought near us, taken from the animal, and laid under +a neighboring tree. Mr. Marsh now went down toward the castle to assist +Khudhr in bringing the rest of our property toward the tree. This done, +Khudhr returned to the crowd to learn what he could of their intentions. +He soon came back to us in evident terror, and said, with a significant +motion of his hand, that they were intending to kill us." + +After sending the servant a second time, he came back with the +announcement that the Agha would examine their baggage, take what he +pleased, and send them on to another Agha; but would not allow them to +return to Mosul. + +This examination was soon made, and the party was plundered of one +thousand piasters, (forty-four dollars,) besides razors, knives, and a +quantity of clothing. + +The whole affair was conducted with a politeness of manner which was +highly creditable to the Agha, and calculated to put us very much at our +ease. He showed himself, in every thing, + + ----"As mild a mannered man + As ever scuttled ship, or cut a throat" + +For instance, in searching our trunk, his eye was caught by a small, +sealed parcel, which I supposed to contain jewelry; I immediately told +him, through a servant, that it was not mine, but had been given to me, +in America, to be delivered in Europe. He immediately put it down, and +proceeded with the search. + +"During these operations, several women, some from curiosity, others +from pity, had gathered around us. Among the latter class, was one, who, +from her dress, beauty, and demeanor, could be no other than the wife +of the Agha. She was dressed in a faded, but once magnificent +robe, and trowsers of silk, and wore upon her head a massive and +elaborately-carved ornament of silver. She moved among the fierce and +blood-thirsty savages, with an air of mingled scorn and anxiety, +reproaching them with the shame of the transaction, and pleading +earnestly that our lives and property be spared. She warned them, also, +that our injuries would inevitably be visited upon their heads. + +"Having finished his search, the Agha, with the old men of the tribe, +gathered on a ledge of rocks, just behind us, and consulted long and +earnestly. We sat down and dined with what appetite we could muster." + +After the robbers had come to their decision, a second search of the +baggage took place, which Mr. Bacon thus describes: + +"The pressure of greater and more important dangers had made me quite +resigned to such petty losses as these, and I watched, with much +amusement, the appropriation of unusual articles. A black silk cravat +which had seen much service in New Haven drawing-rooms, was twisted +about the suspicious-looking head of an uncommonly dirty boy. A pair of +heavy riding-boots were transferred to the shoulders of a youth who bore +the 'gallows mark' upon his features with unmistakable distinctness. A +satin vest of Mr. Marsh's was circulating through the crowd, on the +person of a dirty child, who boasted no other wealth but a ragged shirt +and a green pomegranate. I looked at the youngster with a smile of +congratulation; but he turned upon his heel and strutted gravely away, +his new garment trailing on the ground at every step. + +"Having lightened our baggage considerably at this haul, they proceeded +to search our persons. It had been our first movement, on being placed +by ourselves, to transfer our watches, together with a locket,--all +priceless memorials of distant or departed friends--from the waistcoat +to the pantaloons fob; a pocket compass attached to my watchguard, was +cared for; likewise, the little note-book in which I was accustomed to +place the map of each day's journey. We knew not how soon we might be +wandering in the mountains on foot, and without a guide. Dr. Bacon had +with him two English sovereigns, and we were uncertain what to do with +them. If we should openly give them to the robbers, we dreaded the +effect of the _auri sacra fames_. If discovered in a secret place, we +might be stripped in the search for more. The attempt to conceal them in +the earth might be perilous. They were finally placed in the waistcoat +fob, from which the watch had been taken, with the hope that the clumsy +Kurds might overlook it. + +"They began with me. The Agha, with an irresistible smile and bow of +apology, passed his hand about my waist, feeling for a money belt, then +over my dress; finding that one of my breeches' pockets was full, he +motioned me to empty it, and seemed satisfied when I drew out a +handkerchief and a pair of gloves. Dr. Bacon was then searched, even +more superficially; but as the hand passed over the waistcoat pocket, +something jingled. I held my breath as Dr. B. put in his hand and drew +out a seal, which he had bought at Mosul as an antique Upon Mr. Marsh, +the Agha found a gold pencil case, which pleased him wonderfully. On +being told of its use, he scrawled with the pencil on the beyur-haldeh, +an autograph, for which I have a peculiar value. The mystery of this +was, that he restored the pencil, with a grin of self-righteousness, to +Mr. Marsh." + +After waiting some time in suspense, the travelers were suffered to +leave, in charge of a Kurdish guard: + +"It soon became evident that we were not on the road to Oroomiah. +Whither we were going, was a matter of painful mystery. At the distance +of more than a mile, as we passed a village, a single Christian, a man +of Akkre, came out in a crowd of curious villagers, to offer his +sympathy. As each of us passed him, he bowed, with his head to the +ground, and with the strongest expression of regard, urged us to remain +with him there, as he would guarantee our safety. It was not for us, +however, to say, and we pressed forward; but Khudhr soon brought us the +intelligence, which he had obtained here, that we were being led to the +village of a Mullah, a very holy man, under whose protection we might +feel entirely secure. He added, that toward Oroomiah it would be quite +impossible to go; our only escape was toward Mosul." + +The Mullah received them kindly, entertained them a day in his house, +where all the diseased persons in the neighborhood were brought for them +to cure, and started with them early on the morning of the 30th of May, +to accompany them on their way back to Mosul. On reaching a village, +toward noon, a scene took place, which is of so much interest that we +give Mr. Bacon's account of it in full: + +"We were assisted from our horses by a remarkably ill-looking set of +men, whom we supposed to have come out to see us from curiosity. An +unprepossessing young gentleman, with a scar that divided his nose and +his upper lip, and a silver-mounted dagger, took a seat near the Mullah, +and a violent discussion immediately commenced, of the drift of which, +we were, happily, ignorant. Soon, another party of villagers appeared, +headed by another young man, who was quite the counterpart of the first, +even to the scar in his lip; but his dagger-hilt and sheath were of +solid silver, set with precious stones, and the long ringlets which hung +upon his shoulders, were still more daintily curled. The arrival of this +reinforcement renewed the violence of the discussion, between the Mullah +on one side, and the young men on the other. It plainly related to us, +and the fierce looks of the Kurds, as they walked to and fro with their +hands on their daggers, would have alarmed us, had we not had full +confidence in the power and good will of our friend. The controversy had +a good deal subsided, when the approach of still another party renewed +it once more. The Agha himself was coming. He was a man of fifty years, +with a once gray beard, dyed a bright red, and with his lower eyebrows +stained a livid blue-black. He greeted us with a ferocious smile, and +entered at once into earnest conversation with Mullah Mustafa. The +conversation was interrupted, now and then, by one of his amiable sons +leaping from his seat, and speaking violently, to the great apparent +satisfaction of the crowd. + +"We soon learned the nature of these discussions from Khudr, who had +been an attentive and agitated listener to the whole. The respectable +old gentleman, it seems, had sent his first son to murder us, placing +the second at a convenient distance to assist him. The latter, surprised +that the business lagged, came up to see to it. And the Agha himself, +finding that business lagged, came finally to attend to it himself. The +Mullah urged the danger of injuring persons of consequence. 'The sword +of the Frank is long,' said he. But this argument was without effect. +Mustafa then appealed to him not to disgrace his hospitality. These men +were under his own protection, and he would not see them wronged. This +argument also failed. He now urged that we were men of influence at +Mosul, and were going direct to Constantinople; that, by securing our +influence against his colleague and rival, Melul Agha, he might secure +a perpetual supremacy in the district of Sherwan. + +"This plea gained the case; the eyes of the old savage glistened with +diabolical satisfaction as he thought of the villainous trick he was +about to play upon his rival. He drew from his bosom a letter and handed +it to the Mullah, who read it and handed it to our servant. It was +written by Melul Agha, to Khan Abdul, our present host, directing him to +take the rest of our property, and murder us without fail. This letter +had been written on the blank page of another letter, sent to Melul +Agha, by Mustafa Agha, of Ziba, who resides at Akkre. It was the last +scoundrel who had sent letters in advance of us into the mountains, +inviting them to murder us--and this, all for the sake of making a +little impression on the government at Mosul." + +After these hair-breadth escapes from murder, the party returned in +safety to Mosul. + + + +A BATTLE WITH SNAKES. + +Since the exhibitions in London of the two Hindoo snake-charmers--the +first we believe who ever visited Europe--everything relating to +serpents seems to have acquired additional interest. Many facts +regarding the nature and habits of the various species have been +published, affording much information and still greater astonishment. + +Waterton, in his "Wanderings in South America and the Antilles, in +1812-24," relates some stories of so marvellous a character, that, +coming from a less authentic source, their truth might be +reasonably doubted. + +While in the region of Mibri Hill, Mr. Waterton long sought in vain for +a serpent of large size, and finally, offered a reward to the negroes if +they would find him one. A few days afterward one of the natives, +followed by his little dog, came to him with the information that a +snake of respectable dimensions had been discovered a short distance up +the hill; and armed with an eight feet lance, and accompanied by two +negroes with cutlasses and the dog, he at once started to take a look at +it. Mr. Waterton states that he was barefoot, with an old hat, check +shirt and trousers on, and a pair of braces to keep them up. His +snakeship was pointed out as lying at the roots of a large tree which +had been torn up by a whirlwind. But the remainder of the story shall be +given in the traveler's own words: + +I advanced up to the place slow and cautious. The snake was well +concealed, but at last I made him out; it was a coulacanara, not +poisonous, but large enough to have crushed any of us to death. On +measuring him afterward, he was something more than fourteen feet long. +This species of snake is very rare, and much thicker in proportion to +its length than any other snake in the forest. A coulacanara of fourteen +feet in length, is as thick as a common boa of twenty-four feet. After +skinning this snake, I could easily get my head into his mouth, as the +singular formation of the jaws admits of wonderful extension. + +On ascertaining the size of the serpent, I retired slowly the way I +came, and promised four dollars to the negro who had shown it to me, and +one dollar to the other who had joined us. Aware that the day was on the +decline, and that the approach of night would be detrimental to the +dissection, a thought struck me that I could take him alive. I imagined +that if I could strike him with the lance behind the head, and pin him +to the ground, I might succeed in capturing him. When I told this to the +negroes, they begged and entreated me to let them go for a gun and bring +more force, as they were sure the snake would kill some of us. Taking, +however, a cutlass from one of the negroes, and then ranging both of the +sable slaves behind me, I told them to follow me, and that I would cut +them down if they offered to fly. When we had got up to the place, the +serpent had not stirred: but I could see nothing of his head, and judged +by the folds of his body that it must be at the farthest side of the +den. A species of woodbine formed a complete mantle over the branches of +the fallen tree, almost impervious to the rain or the rays of the sun. +Probably he had resorted to this sequestered place for a length of time, +as it bore marks of an ancient settlement. + +I now took my knife, determined to cut away the woodbine, and break the +twigs in the gentlest manner possible, till I could get a view of his +head. One negro stood guard close behind me with a cutlass. The cutlass +which I had taken from the first negro, was on the ground close beside +me, in case of need. After working in dead silence for a quarter of an +hour, with one knee all the time on the ground, I had cleared away +enough to see his head. It appeared coming out between the first and +second coils of his body, and was flat on the ground. This was the very +position I wished it to be in. I rose in silence, and retreated very +slowly, making a sign to the negroes to do the same. The dog was sitting +at a distance in mute observance. I could now read in the faces of the +negroes, that they considered this a very unpleasant affair; and they +made another vain attempt to persuade me to let them go for a gun. I +smiled in a good-natured manner, and made a feint to cut them down with +the weapon I had in my hand. This was all the answer I made to their +request, and they looked very uneasy. + +It must be observed that we were about twenty yards from the snake's +den. I now ranged the negroes behind me, and told him who stood next to +me, to lay hold of the lance the moment I struck the snake, and that the +other must attend my movements. It now only remained to take their +cutlasses from them; for I was sure that if I did not disarm them, they +would be tempted to strike the snake in time of danger, and thus forever +spoil his skin. On taking their cutlasses from them, if I might judge +from their physiognomy, they seemed to consider it as a most intolerable +act of tyranny. Probably nothing kept them from bolting, but the +consolation that I was betwixt them and the snake. Indeed, my own heart, +in spite of all I could do, beat quicker than usual. We went slowly on +in silence, without moving our arms or heads, in order to prevent all +alarm as much as possible, lest the snake should glide off, or attack us +in self-defence. I carried the lance perpendicularly before me, with the +point about a foot from the ground. The snake had not moved, and on +getting up to him, I struck him with the lance on the near side, just +behind the neck, and pinned him to the ground. That moment the negro +next to me seized the lance and held it firm in its place, while I +dashed head foremost into the den to grapple with the snake, and to get +hold of his tail before he could do any mischief. + +On pinning him to the ground with the lance, he gave a tremendous loud +hiss, and the little dog ran away, howling as he went. We had a sharp +fray in the den, the rotten sticks flying on all sides, and each party +struggling for superiority. I called out to the second negro to throw +himself upon me, as I found I was not heavy enough. He did so, and the +additional weight was of great service. I had now got a firm hold of his +tail, and after a violent struggle or two, he gave in, finding himself +overpowered. This was the moment to secure him. So while the first negro +continued to hold the lance firm to the ground, and the other was +helping me, I contrived to unloosen my braces, and with them tied the +snake's mouth. + +The snake now finding himself in an unpleasant predicament, tried to +better himself, and set resolutely to work, but we overpowered him. We +contrived to make him twist himself round the shaft of the lance, and +then prepared to convey him out of the forest. I stood at his head, and +held it firm under my arm, one negro supporting the belly and the other +the tail. In this order we began to move slowly toward home, and reached +it after resting ten times; for the snake was too heavy for us to +support, without stopping to recruit our strength. As we proceeded +onward with him, he fought hard for freedom, but it was all in vain. We +untied the mouth of the bag, kept him down by main force, and then cut +his throat. + +The week following, a curious conflict took place near the spot where I +had captured the large snake. In the morning I had been following a +species of paroquet, and, the day being rainy, I had taken an umbrella +to keep the gun dry, and had left it under a tree: in the afternoon, I +took Daddy Quashi (the negro) with me to look for it. While he was +searching about, curiosity led me toward the place of the late scene of +action. There was a path where timber had formerly been dragged along. +Here I observed a young coulacanara, ten feet long, slowly moving +onward; and I saw he was thick enough to break my arm, in case he got +twisted around it. There was not a moment to be lost. I laid hold of his +tail with the left hand, one knee being on the ground; and, with the +right hand, I took off my hat, and held it as I would hold a shield +for defence. + +The snake instantly turned, and came on at me with his head about a yard +from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take such +liberties with his tail. I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, +within two feet of my face, and then, with all the force that I was +master of, drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws. He was +stunned and confounded by the blow, and, ere he could recover himself, I +had seized his throat with both hands, in such a position that he could +not bite me. I then allowed him to coil himself around my body and +marched off with him as my lawful prize. He pressed me hard, but not +alarmingly so. + + + +ESTILL'S DEFEAT. + +In the spring of 1782, a party of twenty-five Wyandots secretly +approached Estill's station, and committed shocking outrages. Entering a +cabin, they tomahawked and scalped a woman and her two daughters. The +neighborhood was instantly alarmed. Captain Estill speedily collected a +body of twenty-five men, and pursued the hostile trail with great +rapidity. He came up with the savages on Hinkston fork of Licking, +immediately after they had crossed it; and a most severe and desperate +conflict ensued. + +Estill, unfortunately, sent six of his men under Lieutenant Miller, to +attack the enemy's rear. The Indian leader immediately availed himself +of this dimunition of force, rushed upon the weakened line of his +adversaries, and compelled him to give way. A total route ensued. +Captain Estill was killed together with his gallant lieutenant, South. +Four men were wounded and fortunately escaped. Nine fell under the +tomahawk, and were scalped. The Indians also suffered severely, and are +believed to have lost half of their warriors. + +[Illustration: Attack on Estill's Station.] + + + +INCIDENT AT NIAGARA FALLS. + +On Saturday, the 13th of July, 1850, as a boy, ten years old, was rowing +his father over to their home on Grand Island, the father being so much +intoxicated as not to be able to assist any more than to steer the +canoe, the wind, which was very strong off shore, so frustrated the +efforts of his tiny arm, that the canoe in spite of him, got into the +current, and finally into the rapids, within a very few rods of the +Falls! On went the frail shell, careering and plunging as the mad waters +chose. Still the gallant little oarsman maintained his struggle with the +raging billows, and actually got the canoe, by his persevering +manoeuvring so close to Iris Island, as to have her driven by a +providential wave in between the little islands called the Sisters. Here +the father and his dauntless boy were in still greater danger for an +instant; for there is a fall between the two islands, over which had +they gone, no earthly power could have withheld their final passage to +the terrific precipice, which forms the Horse-shoe Fall. But the sudden +dash of a wave capsized the canoe, and left the two struggling in the +water. Being near a rock, and shallow, the boy lost no time, but +seizing his father by the coat collar, dragged him up to a place of +safety, where the crowd of anxious citizens awaited to lend assistance. +The poor boy on reaching the shore in safety, instantly fainted, while +his miserable father was sufficiently sobered by the perils he had +passed through. The canoe was dashed to pieces on the rocks ere it +reached its final leap. + + + +A SKATER CHASED BY A WOLF. + +A thrilling incident in American country life is vividly sketched in +"Evenings at Donaldson Manor." In the winter of 1844, the relater went +out one evening to skate, on the Kennebec, in Maine, by moonlight, and, +having ascended that river nearly two miles, turned into a little stream +to explore its course. + +"Fir and hemlock of a century's growth," he says, "met overhead and +formed an archway, radiant with frostwork. All was dark within; but I +was young and fearless; and, as I peered into an unbroken forest that +reared itself on the borders of the stream, I laughed with very +joyousness; my wild hurrah rang through the silent woods, and I stood +listening to the echo that reverberated again and again, until all was +hushed. Suddenly a sound arose--it seemed to me to come from beneath the +ice; it sounded low and tremulous at first, until it ended in a low, +wild yell. I was appalled. Never before had such a noise met my ears. I +thought it more than mortal; so fierce, and amid such an unbroken +solitude, it seemed as though from the tread of some brute animal, and +the blood rushed back to my forehead with a bound that made my skin +burn, and I felt relieved that I had to contend with things earthly and +not spiritual; my energies returned, and I looked around me for some +means of escape. As I turned my head to the shore, I could see two dark +objects dashing through the underbrush, at a pace nearly double in speed +to my own. By this rapidity, and the short yells they occasionally gave, +I knew at once that these were the much-dreaded gray wolf. + +"I had never met with these animals, but, from the description given of +them, I had very little pleasure in making their acquaintance. Their +untamable fierceness, and the enduring strength, which seems part of +their nature, render them objects of dread to every benighted traveler. + +"There was no time for thought; so I bent my head and dashed madly +forward. Nature turned me toward home. The light flakes of snow spun +from the iron skates, and I was some distance from my pursuers, when +their fierce howl told me I was their fugitive. I did not look back; I +did not feel afraid, or sorry, or even glad; one thought of home, the +bright faces waiting my return--of their tears, if they should never see +me again, and then every energy of body and mind was exerted for escape. +I was perfectly at home on the ice. Many were the days that I had spent +on my good skates, never thinking that at one time they would be my only +means of safety. Every half minute, an alternate yelp from my ferocious +followers, told me too certain that they were in close pursuit. Nearer +and nearer they came; I heard their feet pattering on the ice nearer +still, until I could feel their breath, and hear their sniffling scent. + +"Every nerve and muscle in my frame was stretched to the utmost tension. +The trees along the shore seemed to dance in the uncertain light, and my +brain turned with my own breathless speed, yet still they seemed to hiss +forth their breath with a sound truly horrible, when an involuntary +motion on my part, turned me out of my course. The wolves, close behind, +unable to stop, and as unable to turn on the smooth ice, slipped and +fell, still going on far ahead; their tongues were lolling out, their +white tusks glaring from their bloody mouths, their dark, shaggy breasts +were fleeced with foam, and, as they passed me, their eyes glared, and +they howled with fury. + +"The thought flashed on my mind, that, by these means, I could avoid +them, viz: by turning aside whenever they came too near; for they, by +the formation of their feet, are unable to run on the ice, except in a +straight line. + +"At one time, by delaying my turning too long, my sanguinary antagonists +came so near, that they threw the white foam over my dress, as they +sprang to seize me, and their teeth clashed together like the spring of +a fox-trap! + +"Had my skates failed for one instant, had I tripped on a stick, or +caught my foot in a fissure in the ice, the story I am now telling would +never have been told. + +"I thought over all the chances; I knew where they would take hold of +me, if I fell; I thought how long it would be before I died; and then +there would be a search for the body that would already have its tomb! +for, oh! how fast man's mind traces out all the dread colors of death's +picture, only those who have been so near the grim original can tell. + +"But I soon came opposite the house, and, my hounds,--I knew their deep +voices,--roused by the noise, bayed furiously from the kennels. I heard +their chains rattle; how I wished they would break them! and then I +would have protectors that would be peer to the fiercest denizens of the +forest. The wolves, taking the hint conveyed by the dogs, stopped in +their mad career, and, after a moment's consideration, turned and fled. +I watched them until their dusky forms disappeared over a neighboring +hill; then, taking off my skates, I wended my way to the house, with +feelings which may be better imagined than described. But, even yet, I +never see a broad sheet of ice in the moonshine, without thinking of the +sniffling breath, and those fearful things that followed me closely down +the frozen Kennebec." + + + +OUR FLAG ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS + +We find the following incident of placing the American flag on the +highest point of the Rocky Mountains, in "Col. Fremont's Narrative:" + +We managed to get our mules up to a little bench about a hundred feet +above the lakes, where there was a patch of good grass, and turned them +loose to graze. During our rough ride to this place, they had exhibited +a wonderful surefootedness. Parts of the defile were filled with +angular, sharp fragments of rock, three or four and eight or ten feet +cube; and among these they had worked their way leaping from one narrow +point to another, rarely making a false step, and giving us no occasion +to dismount. Having divested ourselves of every unnecessary encumbrance, +we commenced the ascent. This time, like experienced travelers, we did +not press ourselves, but climbed leisurely, sitting down so soon as we +found breath beginning to fail. At intervals, we readied places where a +number of springs gushed from the rocks, and, about 1800 feet above the +lakes, came to the snow line. From this point, our progress was +uninterrupted climbing. Hitherto, I had worn a pair of thick moccasins, +with soles of _parfleche_, but here I put on a light, thin pair, which I +had brought for the purpose, as now the use of our toes became necessary +to a further advance. I availed myself of a sort of comb of the +mountain, which stood against the wall like a buttress, and which the +wind and the solar radiation, joined to the steepness of the smooth +rock, had kept almost entirely free from snow. Up this, I made my way +rapidly. Our cautious method of advancing, at the outset, had spared my +strength; and, with the exception of a slight disposition to headache, +I felt no remains of yesterday's illness, In a few minutes we reached a +point where the buttress was overhanging, and there was no other way of +surmounting the difficulty than by passing around one side of it, which +was the face of a vertical precipice of several hundred feet. + +Putting hands and feet in the crevices between the blocks, I succeeded +in getting over it, and, when I reached the top, found my companions in +a small valley below. Descending to them, we continued climbing, and in +a short time reached the crest. I sprang upon the summit, and another +step would have precipitated me into an immense snow field, five hundred +feet below. To the edge of this field was a sheer icy precipice; and +then, with a gradual fall, the field sloped off for about a mile, until +it struck the foot of another lower ridge. I stood on a narrow crest, +about three feet in width, with an inclination of about 20° N., 51° E. +As soon as I had gratified the first feelings of curiosity, I descended, +and each man ascended in his turn; for I would only allow one at a time +to mount the unstable and precarious slab, which, it seemed, a breath +would hurl into the abyss below. We mounted the barometer in the snow of +the summit, and, fixing a ramrod in a crevice, unfurled the national +flag to wave in the breeze, where flag never waved before. + +[Illustration: OUR FLAG ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.] + +During our morning's ascent, we had met no sign of animal life, except +a small sparrow-like bird. A stillness the most profound, and a terrible +solitude, forced themselves constantly on the mind as the great features +of the place. Here, on the summit, where the stillness was absolute, +unbroken by any sound, and solitude complete, we thought ourselves +beyond the region of animated life; but, while we were sitting on the +rock, a solitary bee (_bromus, the humble-bee_) came winging his flight +from the eastern valley, and lit on the knee of one of the men. + +It was a strange place, the icy rock and the highest peak of the Rocky +mountains, for a lover of warm sunshine and flowers; and we pleased +ourselves with the idea that he was the first of his species to cross +the mountain barrier--a solitary pioneer to foretell the advance of +civilization. I believe that a moment's thought would have made us let +him continue his way unharmed; but we carried out the law of this +country, where all animated nature seems at war; and, seizing him +immediately, put him in at least a fit place--in the leaves of a large +book, among the flowers we had collected on our way. + + + +RUNNING THE CANON. + +Col. Fremont, in his narrative, gives the following account of a +perilous adventure of himself and party, in attempting to run a canon, +on the river Platte. They had previously passed three cataracts: + +We reëmbarked at nine o'clock, and, in about twenty minutes, reached the +next canon. Landing on a rocky shore at its commencement, we ascended +the ridge to reconnoiter. Portage was out of the question. So far as we +could see, the jagged rocks pointed out the course of the canon, on a +winding line of seven or eight miles. It was simply a narrow, dark chasm +in the rock; and here the perpendicular faces were much higher than in +the previous pass, being at this end two to three hundred, and further +down, as we afterward ascertained, five hundred feet in vertical height. + +Our previous success had made us bold, and we determined again to run +the canon. Every thing was secured as firmly as possible; and, having +divested ourselves of the greater part of our clothing, we pushed into +the stream. To save our chronometer from accident, Mr. Preuss took it, +and attempted to proceed along the shore on the masses of rock, which, +in places, were piled up on either side; but, after he had walked about +five minutes, every thing like shore disappeared, and the vertical wall +came squarely down into the water. He therefore waited until we came up. + +An ugly pass lay before us. We had made fast to the stern of the boat a +strong rope about fifty feet long; and three of the men clambered along +among the rocks, and, with this rope, let her slowly through the pass. +In several places, high rocks lay scattered about in the channel; and, +in the narrows, it required all our strength and skill to avoid staving +the boat on the sharp points. In one of these, the boat proved a little +too broad, and stuck fast for an instant, while the water flew over us; +fortunately, it was but for an instant, as our united strength forced +her immediately through. The water swept overboard only a sextant and a +pair of saddle-bags. I caught the sextant as it passed by me; but the +saddle-bags became the prey of the whirlpools. We reached the place +where Mr. Preuss was standing, took him on board, and, with the aid of +the boat, put the men with the rope on the succeeding pile of rocks. + +We found this passage much worse than the previous one, and our +position was rather a bad one. To go back was impossible; before us, the +cataract was a sheet of foam; and, shut up in the chasm by the rocks, +which, in some places, seemed almost to meet overhead, the roar of the +water was deafening, We pushed off again; but, after making a little +distance, the force of the current became too great for the men on +shore, and two of them let go the rope. Lajeunesse, the third man, hung +on, and was jerked headforemost into the river, from a rock about twelve +feet high; and down the boat shot, like an arrow, Bazil following us in +the rapid current, and exerting all his strength to keep in mid +channel--his head only seen occasionally like a black spot in the white +foam. How far we went, I do not exactly know; but we succeeded in +turning the boat into an eddy below. "_'Cre Dieu,_" said Bazil +Lajeunesse, as he arrived immediately after us, "_Je crois bien que j'ai +nage un demi mile._" He had owed his life to his skill as a swimmer, and +I determined to take him and two others on board, and trust to skill and +fortune to reach the other end in safety. We placed ourselves on our +knees, with the short paddles in our hands, the most skillful boatman +being at the bow; and again we commenced our rapid descent. We cleared +rock after rock, and shot past fall after fall, our little boat seeming +to play with the cataract. We became flushed with success, and familiar +with danger; and, yielding to the excitement of the occasion, broke +forth into a Canadian boat-song. Singing, or rather shouting, we dashed +along, and were, I believe, in the midst of the chorus, when the boat +struck a concealed rock immediately at the foot of a fall, which whirled +her over in an instant. Three of my men could not swim, and my first +feeling was to assist them, and save some of our effects; but a sharp +concussion or two convinced me that I had not yet saved myself. A few +strokes brought me into an eddy, and I landed on a pile of rocks on the +left side. Looking around, I saw that Mr. Preuss had gained the shore on +the same side, about twenty yards below; and a little climbing and +swimming soon brought him to my side. On the opposite side, against the +wall, lay the boat, bottom up; and Lambert was in the act of saving +Descoteaux, whom he had grasped by the hair, and who could not swim. + +For a hundred yards below, the current was covered with floating books +and boxes, bales and blankets, and scattered articles of clothing; and +so strong and boiling was the stream, that even our heavy instruments, +which were all in cases, kept on the surface, and the sextant, circle, +and the long, black box of the telescope, were in view at once. For a +moment, I felt somewhat disheartened. All our books--almost every record +of the journey--our journals and registers of astronomical and +barometrical observations--had been lost in a moment, But it was no time +to indulge in regrets; and I immediately set about endeavoring to save +something from the wreck. Making ourselves understood as well as +possible by signs, (for nothing could be heard in the roar of the +waters,) we commenced our operations. Of every thing on board, the only +article that had been saved was my double-barreled gun, which Descoteaux +had caught and clung to with drowning tenacity. The men continued down +the river on the left bank. Mr. Preuss and myself descended on the side +we were on; and Lajeunesse, with a paddle in his hand, jumped on the +boat alone, and continued down the canon. She was now light, and cleared +every bad place with much less difficulty. In a short time he was joined +by Lambert and the search was continued for about a mile and a half, +which was as far as the boat could proceed in the pass. + +Here the walls were about five hundred feet high, and the fragments of +rocks from above had choked the river into a hollow pass, but one or two +feet above the surface. Through this, and the interstices of the rock, +the water found its way. Favored beyond our expectations, all our +registers had been recovered, with the exception of one of my journals, +which contained the notes and incidents of travel, and topographical +descriptions, a number of scattered astronomical observations, +principally meridian altitudes of the sun, and our barometrical register +west of Laramie. Fortunately, our other journals contained duplicates of +the most important barometrical observations. In addition to these, we +saved the circle; and these, with a few blankets, constituted every +thing that had been rescued from the waters. + + + +THE RESCUE. + +A young girl has been captured at her father's hut, when all the males +of the household are absent hunting wolves. She is seized by the +Indians, and borne swiftly away to the encampment of a war party of the +Osages. She is then placed in a "land canoe" and hurried rapidly forward +toward their villages. Among the party she recognizes one whose life she +had been instrumental in saving, when a prisoner. He recognizes her, and +promises to assist her escape. At this point the following narrative +commences: + +At a late and solemn hour, the Indian who had been the captive the night +before, suddenly ceased his snoring, which had been heard without +intermission for a great length of time; and when Mary instinctively +cast her eyes toward him, she was surprised to see him gently and slowly +raise his head. He enjoined silence by placing his hand upon his mouth. +After carefully disengaging himself from his comrades, he crept quietly +away, and soon vanished entirely from sight on the northern side of the +spreading beech. Mary expected he would soon return and assist her to +escape. Although she was aware of the hardships and perils that would +attend her flight, yet the thought of again meeting her friends was +enough to nerve her for the undertaking, and she waited with anxious +impatience the coming of her rescuer. But he came not. She could +attribute no other design in his conduct but that of effecting her +escape, and yet he neither came for her, nor beckoned her away. She had +reposed confidence in his promise, for she knew that the Indian, savage +as he was, rarely forfeited his word; but when gratitude inspired a +pledge, she could not believe that he would use deceit. The fire was now +burning quite low, and its waning light scarce cast a beam upon the +branches overhead. It was evidently not far from morning, and every hope +of present escape entirely fled from her bosom. But just as she was +yielding to despair, she saw the Indian returning in a stealthy pace, +bearing some dark object in his arms. He glided to her side, and +motioned to her to leave the snow-canoe, and also to take with her all +her robes with which she had been enveloped. She did his bidding, and +then he carefully deposited the burden he bore in the place she had just +occupied. A portion of the object becoming unwrapped, Mary discovered it +to be a huge mass of snow, resembling in some respects a human form, and +the Indian's stratagem was at once apparent to her. Relinquishing +herself to his guidance, she was led noiselessly through the bushes +about a hundred paces distant from the fire, to a large fallen tree that +had yielded to some furious storm, when her conductor paused. He pointed +to a spot where a curve caused the huge trunk to rise about a foot from +the surface of the snow, under which was a round hole cut through the +drifted snow down to the earth, and in which were deposited several +buffalo robes, and so arranged that a person could repose within, +without coming in contact with the frozen element around. Mary looked +down, and then at her companion to ascertain his intentions. He spoke to +her in a low tone, enough of which she comprehended to understand that +he desired her to descend into the pit without delay. She obeyed, and +when he had carefully folded the robes and divers furs about her body, +he stepped a few paces to one side, and gently lifting up a round lid of +snow-crust, placed it over the aperture. It had been so smoothly cut, +and fitted with such precision when replaced, that no one would have +been able to discover that an incision had been made. He then bid Mary a +"dud by" in bad English, and set off on a run in a northern direction +for the purpose of joining the whites. + +With the first light of morning, the war-party sprang to their feet, and +hastily despatching a slight repast, they set out on their journey with +renewed animation and increased rapidity. Before starting, the chief +called to Mary, and again offered some food; but no reply being +returned, or motion discovered under the robe which he imagined +enveloped her, he supposed she was sleeping, and directed the party to +select the most even route when they emerged in the prairie, that she +might as much as possible enjoy her repose. + +The Indian who had planned and executed the escape of Mary, with the +well-devised cunning for which the race is proverbial, had told his +companions that he would rise before day and pursue the same direction +in advance of them, and endeavor to kill a deer for their next night's +meal. Thus his absence created no suspicion, and the party continued +their precipitate retreat. + +But, about noon, after casting many glances back at the supposed form of +the captive reclining peacefully in the snow-canoe, the chief, with much +excitement, betrayed by his looks, which seemed to be mingled with an +apprehension that she was dead, abruptly ordered the party to halt. He +sprang to the canoe, and convulsively tearing away the skins, discovered +only the roll of snow! He at first compressed his lips in momentary +rage, and then burst into a fit of irrepressible laughter. But the rest +raved and stamped, and uttered direful imprecations and threats of +vengeance. Immediately they were aware of the treachery of the absent +Indian, and resolved with one voice that his blood should be an +atonement for the act. + +The snow was quickly thrown out, and the war-party adjusted their +weapons, with the expectation of encountering the whites; and then +whirling about they retraced their steps far more swiftly than they had +been advancing. Just as the night was setting in, they came in sight of +the grove where they had encamped. They slackened their pace, and +looking eagerly forward, seemed to think it not improbable that the +whites had arrived in the vicinity, and might be lying in ambush +awaiting their return in search of the maid. They then abandoned the +canoe, after having concealed it under some low bushes, and entered the +grove in a stooping and watchful posture. Ere long the chief attained +the immediate neighbor of the spreading tree, and with an arrow drawn to +its head, crept within a few paces of the spot where he had lain the +preceding night. His party were mostly a few feet in the rear, while a +few were approaching in the same manner from the opposite direction. +Hearing no sound whatever, he rose up slowly, and with an "ugh" of +disappointment, strode carelessly across the silent and untenanted place +of encampment. + +Vexation and anger were expressed by the savages in being thus +disappointed. They hoped to wreak their vengeance on the whites, and +resolved to recapture the maiden. Where they expected to find them, the +scene was silent and desolate. And they now sauntered about under the +trees in the partial light of the moon that struggled through the matted +branches, threatening in the most horrid manner, the one who had thus +baffled them. Some struck their tomahawks into the trunks of trees, +while others brandished their knives, and uttered direful threats. The +young chief stood in silence, with his arms folded on his breast. A +small ray of light that fell upon his face exhibited a meditative brow, +and features expressing both firmness and determination. He had said +that the captive should be regained, and his followers ever and anon +regarded his thoughtful attitude with the confidence that his decision +would hasten the accomplishment of their desires. Long he remained thus, +motionless and dignified, and no one dared to address him. + +The young chief called one of the oldest of the party, who was standing +a few paces distant absorbed in thought, to his side, and after a short +conference the old savage prostrated himself on the snow, and +endeavored, like a hound, to scent the tracks of his recreant brother. +At first he met with no success, but when making a wide circuit round +the premises, still applying his nose to the ground occasionally, and +minutely examining the bushes, he paused abruptly, and announced to the +party that he had found the precise direction taken by the maid and her +deliverer. Instantly they all clustered round him, evincing the most +intense interest. Some smelt the surface of the snow, and others +examined the bushes. Small twigs, not larger than pins, were picked up +and closely scrutinized. They well knew that anyone passing through the +frozen and clustered bushes must inevitably sever some of the twigs and +buds Their progress was slow, but unerring. The course they pursued was +the direction taken by Mary and her rescuer. It was not long before they +arrived within a few feet of the place of the maiden's concealment. But +now they were at fault. There were no bushes immediately around the +fallen tree. They paused, the chief in the van, with their bows and +arrows and tomahawks in readiness for instant use. They knew that the +maiden could not return to her friends on foot, or the treacherous +savage be able to bear her far on his shoulder. They thought that one or +both must be concealed somewhere in the neighborhood, and the fallen +tree, were it hollow, was the place most likely to be selected for that +purpose. After scanning the fallen trunk a few minutes in silence, and +discovering nothing to realize their hopes, they uttered a terrific +yell, and commenced striking their tomahawks in the wood, and ripping up +the bark in quest of some hiding-place. But their search was in vain. +The fallen trunk was sound and solid throughout, and the young chief sat +down on it within three paces of Mary! Others, in passing about, +frequently trod on the very verge of the concealed pit. + +Mary was awakened by the yell, but knew not that the sound came from her +enemies. The Indian had told her that he would soon return, and her +heart now fluttered with the hope that her father and her friends were +at hand. Yet she prudently determined not to rush from her concealment +until she was better assured of the fact. She did not think that the +savages would ever suspect that she was hid under the snow, but yet she +thought it very strange that her father did not come to her at once. +Several minutes had elapsed since she had been startled by the sounds in +the immediate vicinity. She heard the tramp of men almost directly over +her head, and the strokes against the fallen trunk. She was several +times on the eve of rising up, but was as often withheld by some +mysterious impulse. She endeavored to reflect calmly, but still she +could not, by any mode of conjecture, realize the probability of her +foes having returned and traced her thither. Yet an undefinable fear +still possessed her, and she endeavored with patience to await the +pleasure of her friends. But when the chief seated himself in her +vicinity, and fell into one of his fits of abstraction, and the whole +party became comparatively still and hushed, the poor girl's suspense +was almost insufferable. She knew that human beings were all around her, +and yet her situation was truly pitiable and lonely. She felt assured +that if the war-party had returned in pursuit of her, the means which +enabled them to trace their victim to the fallen trunk would likewise +have sufficed to indicate her hiding place. Then why should they +hesitate? The yells that awakened her were not heard distinctly, and +under the circumstances she could not believe that she was surrounded by +savages. On the other hand, if they were her friends, why did they not +relieve her? Now a sudden, but, alas! erroneous thought occurred to her. +She was persuaded that they were her friends, but that the friendly +Indian was not with them--he had perhaps directed them where she could +be found, and then returned to his home. Might not her friends, at that +moment, be anxiously searching for her? Would not one word suffice to +dispel their solicitude, and restore the lost one to their arms? She +resolved to speak. Bowing down her head slightly, so that her precise +location might not instantly be ascertained, she uttered in a soft voice +the word "FATHER!" The chief sprang from his seat, and the party was +instantly in commotion. Some of the savages looked above, among the +twining branches, and some shot their arrows in the snow, but +fortunately not in the direction of Mary while others ran about in every +direction, examining all the large trees in the vicinity. The chief was +amazed and utterly confounded. He drew not forth an arrow, nor +brandished a tomahawk. While he thus stood, and the rest of the party +were moving hurriedly about, a few paces distant, Mary again repeated +the word "FATHER!" As suddenly as if by enchantment every savage was +paralyzed. Each stood as devoid of animation as a statue. For many +moments an intense silence reigned, as if naught existed there but the +cheerless forest trees. Slowly at length, the tomahawk was returned to +the belt, and the arrow to the quiver. No longer was a desire to spill +blood manifested. The dusky children of the forest attributed to the +mysterious sound a supernatural agency. They believed it was a voice +from the perennial hunting grounds. Humbly they bowed their heads, and +whispered devotions to the Great Spirit. The young chief alone stood +erect. He gazed at the round moon above him, and sighs burst from his +breast, and burning tears ran down his stained cheek. Impatiently, by a +motion of the hand, he directed the savages to leave him, and when they +withdrew he resumed his seat on the fallen trunk, and reclined his brow +upon his hand. One of the long feathers that decked his head waved +forward, after he had been seated thus a few minutes, and when his eye +rested upon it he started up wildly, and tearing it away, trampled it +under his feet. At that instant the same "FATHER!" was again heard. The +young chief fell upon his knees, and, while he panted convulsively, +said, in English, "Father! Mother! I'm your poor William--you loved me +much--where are you? Oh tell me--I will come to you--I want to see you!" +He then fell prostrate and groaned piteously. "Father! Oh! where +are you?" + +"Whose voice was that?" said Mary, breaking through the slight +incrustation that obscured her, and leaping from her covert. + +The young chief sprang from the earth--gazed a moment at the maid--spoke +rapidly and loudly in the language of his tribe to his party, who were +now at the place of encampment, seated by the fire they had kindled--and +then, seizing his tomahawk, was in the act of hurling it at Mary, when +the yells of the war-party and the ringing discharges of fire-arms +arrested his steel when brandished in the air. The white men had +arrived! The young chief seized Mary by her long, flowing hair--again +prepared to strike the fatal blow--when she turned her face upward, and +he again hesitated. Discharges in quick succession, and nearer than +before, still rang in his ears. Mary strove not to escape. Nor did the +Indian strike. The whites were heard rushing through the bushes--the +chief seized the trembling girl in his arms--a bullet whizzed by his +head---but, unmindful of danger, he vanished among the dark bushes with +his burden. + +"She's gone! she's gone!" exclaimed Roughgrove, looking aghast at the +vacated pit under the fallen trunk. + +"But we will have her yet," said Boone, as he heard Glenn discharge a +pistol a few paces apart in the bushes. The report was followed by a +yell, not from the chief, but Sneak, and the next moment the rifle of +the latter was likewise heard. Still the Indian was not dispatched, for +the instant afterward his tomahawk, which had been hurled without +effect, came sailing over the bushes, and penetrated a tree hard by, +some fifteen or twenty feet above the earth, where it entered the wood +with such a force that it remained firmly fixed. Now succeeded a +struggle--a violent blow was heard--the fall of the Indian, and all was +still. A minute afterward Sneak emerged from the thicket, bearing Mary +in his arms, and followed by Glenn. + +"Is she dead? Oh, she's dead!" cried Roughgrove, snatching her from the +arms of Sneak. + +"She has only fainted!" exclaimed Glenn, examining the body of the girl, +and finding no wounds. + +"She's recovering!" said Boone, feeling her pulse. + +"God be praised!" exclaimed Roughgrove, when returning animation was +manifest. + +"Oh, I know you won't kill me! for pity's sake, spare me!" said Mary. + +"It is your father, my poor child!" said Roughgrove, pressing the girl +to his heart. + +"It is! it is!" cried the happy girl, clinging rapturously to the old +man's neck, and then, seizing the hands of the rest, she seemed to be +half wild with delight. + + + +SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. + +On the 17th of June, 1816, the Medusa, French frigate, commanded by +Captain Chaumareys, and accompanied by three smaller vessels, sailed +from the island of Aix, for the coast of Africa, in order to take +possession of some colonies. On the 1st of July, they entered the +tropics; and there, with a childish disregard to danger, and knowing +that she was surrounded by all the unseen perils of the ocean, her crew +performed the ceremony usual to the occasion, while the vessel was +running headlong on destruction. The captain, presided over the +disgraceful scene of merriment, leaving the ship to the command of an M. +Richefort, who had passed the ten preceding years of his life in an +English prison--a few persons on board remonstrated in vain; though it +was ascertained that they were on the banks of Arguise, she continued +her course, and heaved the lead, without slackening the sail. Every +thing denoted shallow water, but M. Richefort persisted in saying that +they were in one hundred fathoms. At that very moment only six fathoms +were found; and the vessel struck three times, being in about sixteen +feet water, and the tide full flood. At ebb-tide, there remained but +twelve feet water; and after some bungling manoeuvres, all hope of +getting the ship off was abandoned. + +When the frigate struck, she had on board six boats, of various +capacities, all of which could not contain the crew and passengers; and +a raft was constructed. A dreadful scene ensued. All scrambled out of +the wreck without order or precaution. The first who reached the boats +refused to admit any of their fellow-sufferers into them, though there +was ample room for more. Some, apprehending that a plot had been formed +to abandon them in the vessel, flew to arms. No one assisted his +companions; and Captain Chaumareys stole out of a port-hole into his own +boat, leaving a great part of the crew to shift for themselves. At +length they put off to sea, intending to steer for the sandy coast of +the desert, there to land, and thence to proceed with a caravan to the +island of St. Louis. + +The raft had been constructed without foresight or intelligence. It was +about sixty-five feet long and twenty-five broad, but the only part +which could be depended upon was the middle; and that was so small, that +fifteen persons could not lie down upon it. Those who stood on the floor +were in constant danger of slipping through between the planks; the sea +flowed in on all its sides. When one hundred and fifty passengers who +were destined to be its burden, were on board, they stood like a solid +parallelogram, without a possibility of moving; and they were up to +their waists in water. + +The desperate squadron had only proceeded three leagues, when a faulty, +if not treacherous manoeuvre, broke the tow-line which fastened the +captain's boat to the raft; and this became the signal to all to let +loose their cables. The weather was calm. The coast was known to be but +twelve or fifteen leagues distant; and the land was in fact discovered +by the boats on the very same evening on which they abandoned the raft. +They were not therefore driven to this measure by any new perils; and +the cry of "_Nous les abandonons_!" which resounded throughout the line, +was the yell of a spontaneous and instinctive impulse of cowardice, +perfidy, and cruelty; and the impulse was as unanimous as it was +diabolical. The raft was left to the mercy of the waves; one after +another, the boats disappeared, and despair became general. Not one of +the promised articles, no provisions, except a very few casks of wine, +and some spoiled biscuit, sufficient for one single meal was found. A +small pocket compass, which chance had discovered, their last guide in a +trackless ocean, fell between the beams into the sea. As the crew had +taken no nourishment since morning, some wine and biscuit were +distributed; and this day, the first of thirteen on the raft, was the +last on which they tasted any solid food--except such as human nature +shudders at. The only thing which kept them alive was the hope of +revenge on those who had treacherously betrayed them. + +The first night was stormy; and the waves, which had free access, +committed dreadful ravages, and threatened worse. When day appeared, +twelve miserable wretches were found crushed to death between the +openings of the raft, and several more were missing; but the number +could not be ascertained, as several soldiers had taken the billets of +the dead, in order to obtain two, or even three rations. The second +night was still more dreadful, and many were washed off; although the +crew had so crowded together, that some were smothered by the mere +pressure. To soothe their last moments, the soldiers drank immoderately; +and one, who affected to rest himself upon the side, but was +treacherously cutting the ropes, was thrown into the sea. Another, whom +M. Correard had snatched from the waves, turned traitor a second time, +as soon as he recovered his senses; but he too was killed. At length the +revolted, who were chiefly soldiers, threw themselves upon their knees, +and abjectly implored mercy. At midnight, however, they rebelled again. +Those who had no arms, fought with their teeth, and thus many severe +wounds were inflicted. One was most wantonly and dreadfully bitten above +the heel, while his companions were beating him upon the head with their +carbines, before throwing him into the sea. The raft was strewed with +dead bodies, after innumerable instances of treachery and cruelty; and +from sixty to sixty-five perished that night. The force and courage of +the strongest began to yield to their misfortunes; and even the most +resolute labored under mental derangement. In the conflict, the revolted +had thrown two casks of wine, and all the remaining water, into the sea; +and it became necessary to diminish each man's share. + +A day of comparative tranquillity succeeded. The survivors erected their +mast again, which had been wantonly cut down in the battle of the night; +and endeavored to catch some fish, but in vain. They were reduced to +feed on the dead bodies of their companions. A third night followed, +broken by the plaintive cries of wretches, exposed to every kind of +suffering, ten or twelve of whom died of want, and awfully foretold the +fate of the remainder. The following day was fine. Some flying fish were +caught in the raft; which, mixed up with human flesh, afforded one +scanty meal. + +[Illustration] + +A new insurrection to destroy the raft, broke out on the fourth night; +this too, was marked by perfidy, and ended in blood. Most of the rebels +were thrown into the sea. The fifth morning mustered but thirty men +alive; and these sick and wounded, with the skin of their lower +extremities corroded by the salt water. Two soldiers were detected +drinking the wine of the only remaining cask; they were instantly thrown +into the sea. One boy died, and there remained only twenty-seven; of +whom fifteen only seemed likely to live. A council of war, preceded by +the most horrid despair, was held; as the weak consumed a part of the +common store, they determined to throw them into the sea. This sentence +was put into immediate execution! and all the arms on board, which now +filled their minds with horror, were, with the exception of a single +sabre, committed to the deep. Distress and misery increased with an +accelerated ratio; and even after the desperate means of destroying +their companions, and eating the most nauseous aliments, the surviving +fifteen could not hope for more than a few days' existence. A butterfly +lighted on their sail the ninth day, and though it was held to be a +messenger of good, yet many a greedy eye was cast upon it. + +Three days more passed over in inexpressible anguish, when they +constructed a smaller and more manageable raft, in the hope of directing +it to the shore; but on trial it was found insufficient. On the +seventeenth day, a brig was seen; which, after exciting the vicissitude +of hope and fear, proved to be the Argus, sent out in quest of the +Medusa. The inhabitants of the raft were all received on board, and were +again very nearly perishing, by a fire which broke out in the night. The +six boats which had so cruelly cast them adrift, reached the coast of +Africa in safety; and after many dangers among the Moors, the survivors +arrived at St. Louis. + +After this, a vessel was dispatched to the wreck of the Medusa, to carry +away the money and provisions; after beating about for eight days, she +was forced to return. She again put to sea, but after being away five +days, again came back. Ten days more were lost in repairing her; and she +did not reach the spot till fifty-two days after the vessel had been +lost; and dreadful to relate, three miserable sufferers were found on +board. Sixty men had been abandoned there by their magnanimous +countrymen. All these had been carried off except seventeen, some of +whom were drunk, and others refused to leave the vessel. They remained +at peace as long as their provisions lasted. Twelve embarked on board a +raft, for Sahara, and were never more heard of. Another put to sea on a +hen-coop, and sunk immediately. Four remained behind, one of whom, +exhausted with hunger and fatigue, perished. The other three lived in +separate corners of the wreck, and never met but to run at each other +with drawn _knives_. They were put on board the vessel, with all that +could be saved from the wreck of the Medusa. + +The vessel was no sooner seen returning to St. Louis, than every heart +beat high with joy, in the hope of recovering some property. The men and +officers of the Medusa jumped on board, and asked if any thing had been +saved. "Yes," was the reply, "but it is all ours now;" and the naked +Frenchmen, whose calamities had found pity from the Moors of the desert, +were now deliberately plundered by their own countrymen. + +A fair was held in the town, which lasted eight days. The clothes, +furniture, and necessary articles of life belonging to the men and +officers of the Medusa, were publicly sold before their faces. Such of +the French as were able, proceeded to the camp at Daceard, and the sick +remained at St. Louis. The French governor had promised them clothes and +provisions, but sent none; and during five months, they owed their +existence to strangers--to the British. + + + +HUNTING THE MOOSE. + +The habits of the moose, in his manner of defence and attack, are +similar to those of the stag, and may be illustrated by the following +anecdote from the "Random Sketches of a Kentuckian:" + +Who ever saw Bravo without loving him? His sloe-black eyes, his glossy +skin, flecked here and there with blue; his wide-spread thighs, clean +shoulders, broad back, and low-drooping chest, bespoke him the true +stag-hound; and none, who ever saw his bounding form, or heard his +deep-toned bay, as the swift-footed stag flew before him, would dispute +his title. List, gentle reader, and I will tell you an adventure which +will make you love him all the more. + +A bright, frosty morning in November, 1838, tempted me to visit the +forest hunting-grounds. On this occasion, I was followed by a +fine-looking hound, which had been presented to me a few days before by +a fellow-sportsman. I was anxious to test his qualities, and, knowing +that a mean dog will not often hunt well with a good one, I had tied up +the eager Bravo, and was attended by the strange dog alone. A brisk +canter of half an hour brought me to the wild forest hills. Slackening +the rein, I slowly wound my way up a brushy slope some three hundred +yards in length. I had ascended about half way, when the hound began to +exhibit signs of uneasiness, and, at the same instant a stag sprang out +from some underbrush near by, and rushed like a whirlwind up the slope. +A word, and the hound was crouching at my feet, and my trained Cherokee, +with ear erect, and flashing eye, watched the course of the +affrighted animal. + +"On the very summit of the ridge, full one hundred and fifty yards, +every limb standing out in bold relief against the clear, blue sky, the +stag paused, and looked proudly down upon us. After a moment of +indecision, I raised my rifle, and sent the whizzing lead upon its +errand. A single bound, and the antlered monarch was hidden from my +view. Hastily running down a ball, I ascended the slope; my blood ran a +little faster as I saw the gouts of blood' which stained the withered +leaves where he had stood. One moment more, and the excited hound was +leaping breast high on his trail, and the gallant Cherokee bore his +rider like lightning after them. + +"Away--away! for hours we did thus hasten on, without once being at +fault, or checking our headlong speed. The chase had led us miles from +the starting-point, and now appeared to be bearing up a creek, on one +side of which arose a precipitous hill, some two miles in length, which +I knew the wounded animal would never ascend. + +"Half a mile further on, another hill reared its bleak and barren head +on the opposite side of the rivulet. Once fairly in the gorge, there was +no exit save at the upper end of the ravine. Here, then, I must +intercept my game, which I was able to do by taking a nearer cut over +the ridge, that saved at least a mile. + +"Giving one parting shout to cheer my dog, Cherokee bore me headlong to +the pass. I had scarcely arrived, when, black with sweat, the stag came +laboring up the gorge, seemingly, totally reckless of our presence. +Again I poured forth the 'leaden messenger of death,' as meteor-like he +flashed by us. One bound, and the noble animal lay prostrate within +fifty feet of where I stood. Leaping from my horse, and placing one knee +upon his shoulder, and a hand upon his antlers, I drew my hunting +knife; but scarcely had its keen point touched his neck, when, with a +sudden bound, he threw me from his body, and my knife was hurled from my +hand. In hunters' parlance, I had only 'creased him.' I at once saw my +danger, but it was too late. With one bound, he was upon me, wounding +and almost disabling me with his sharp feet and horns. I seized him by +his wide-spread antlers, and sought to regain possession of my knife, +but in vain; each new struggle drew us further from it. Cherokee, +frightened at the unusual scene, had madly fled to the top of the ridge, +where he stood looking down upon the combat, trembling and quivering in +every limb. + +"The ridge road I had taken placed us far in advance of the hound, whose +bay I could not now hear. The struggles of the furious animal had become +dreadful, and every moment I could feel his sharp hoofs cutting deep +into my flesh; my grasp upon his antlers was growing less and less firm, +and yet I relinquished not my hold. The struggle had brought us near a +deep ditch, washed by the fall rains, and into this I endeavored to +force my adversary, but my strength was unequal to the effort; when we +approached to the very brink, he leaped over the drain. I relinquished +my hold and rolled in, hoping thus to escape him; but he returned to +the attack, and, throwing himself upon me, inflicted numerous severe +cuts upon my face and breast before I could again seize him. Locking my +arms around his antlers, I drew his head close to my breast, and was +thus, by great effort, enabled to prevent his doing me any serious +injury. But I felt that this could not last long; every muscle and fiber +of my frame was called into action, and human nature could not long bear +up under such exertion. Faltering a silent prayer to Heaven, I prepared +to meet my fate. + +"At this moment of despair, I heard the faint bayings of the hound; the +stag, too, heard the sound, and, springing from the ditch, drew me with +him. His efforts were now redoubled, and I could scarcely cling to him. +Yet that blessed sound came nearer and nearer! Oh how wildly beat my +heart, as I saw the hound emerge from the ravine, and spring forward +with a short, quick bark, as his eye rested on his game. I released my +hold of the stag, who turned upon the new enemy. Exhausted, and unable +to rise, I still cheered the dog, that, dastard-like, fled before the +infuriated animal, who, seemingly despising such an enemy, again threw +himself upon me. Again did I succeed in throwing my arms around his +antlers, but not until he had inflicted several deep and dangerous +wounds upon my head and face, cutting to the very bone. + +"Blinded by the flowing blood, exhausted and despairing, I cursed the +coward dog, who stood near, baying furiously, yet refusing to seize his +game. Oh! how I prayed for Bravo! The thoughts of death were bitter. To +die thus in the wild forest, alone, with none to help! Thoughts of home +and friends coursed like lightning through my brain. At that moment, +when Hope herself had fled, deep and clear over the neighboring hill, +came the baying of my gallant Bravo! I should have known his voice among +a thousand. I pealed forth in one faint shout, 'On Bravo, on!' The next +moment, with tiger-like bounds, the noble dog came leaping down the +declivity, scattering the dried autumnal leaves like a whirlwind in his +path. 'No pause he knew,' but, fixing his fangs in the stag's throat, he +at once commenced the struggle. + +"I fell back completely exhausted. Blinded with blood, I only knew that +a terrible struggle was going on. In a few moments, all was still, and I +felt the warm breath of my faithful dog, as he licked my wounds. +Clearing my eyes from gore, I saw my late adversary dead at my feet, and +Bravo, 'my own Bravo,' as the heroine of a modern novel would say +standing over me. He yet bore around his neck a fragment of the rope +with which I had tied him. He had gnawed it in two, and, following his +master through all his windings, arrived in time to rescue him from a +horrible death. + +"I have recovered from my wounds. Bravo is lying at my feet. Who does +not love Bravo? I am sure I do, and the rascal knows it--don't you, +Bravo? Come here, sir!" + + + +PERILOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH. + +In the narrative of Moses Van Campen, we find the following incident +related. He was taken prisoner by the Seneca Indians, just after +Sullivan's expedition in the Revolution, on the confines of the white +settlements in one of the border counties of Pennsylvania. He was +marched through the wilderness, and reached the headquarters of the +savages near Fort Niagara. Here he was recognized as having, a year or +two previously, escaped, with two others, from his guard, five of whom +he slew in their sleep with his own hand. + +[Illustration] + +On this discovery being made, the countenances of the savages grew dark +and lowering. He saw at once that his fate was to be decided on the +principles of Indian vengeance, and, being bound, had but little hope of +escape. He, however, put on the appearance of as much unconcern as +possible. The Indians withdrew by themselves to decide in what manner +they should despatch their unhappy victim. They soon returned, their +visages covered with a demoniac expression. A few went to gathering +wood; another selected a spot, and soon a fire was kindled. Van Campen +looked upon these preparations, which were being made to burn him alive, +with feelings wrought up to the highest pitch of agony; yet he, with +much effort, appeared calm and collected. At last, when the preparations +were completed, two Indians approached, and began to unloose the cords +with which he was bound. To this he submitted. But the moment he was +fully loosed, he dashed the two Indians aside--felling one upon the +earth with a blow of his fist--and darted off toward the fort, where he +hoped to receive protection from the British officers. Tomahawks gleamed +in the air behind him--rifle balls whistled around--but onward still he +flew. One unarmed Indian stood in his path and intercepted him. With a +giant spring, he struck him in the breast with his feet, and bore him to +the earth. Recovering himself, he again started for the woods, and, as +he was running for life--with the fire and faggot behind him, and a +lingering death of torture--he soon outstripped all his pursuers. It +being near night, he effected his escape, arrived at the fort, and was +sent down the river to Montreal, to be out of the way of the savage +Senecas, who thirsted for his blood as a recompense for that of their +brethren whom he had slain. + + + +FIRE IN THE FOREST. + +"The summer of 1825 was unusually warm in both hemispheres, particularly +in America, where its effects were fatally visible in the prevalence of +epidemical disorders. During July and August, extensive fires raged in +different parts of Nova Scotia, especially in the eastern division of +the peninsular. The protracted drought of the summer, acting upon the +aridity of the forests, had rendered them more than naturally +combustible; and this, facilitating both the dispersion and the progress +of the fires that appeared in the early part of the season, produced an +unusual warmth. On the 6th of October, the fire was evidently +approaching New Castle; at different intervals fitful blazes and flashes +were observed to issue from different parts of the woods, particularly +up the northwest, at the rear of New Castle, in the vicinity of +Douglasstown and Moorfields, and along the banks of the Bartibog. Many +persons heard the crackling of falling trees and shriveled branches, +while a hoarse rumbling noise, not dissimilar to the roaring of distant +thunder, and divided by pauses, like the intermittent discharges of +artillery, was distinct and audible. On the 7th of October, the heat +increased to such a degree, and became so very oppressive, that many +complained of its enervating effects. About twelve o'clock, a pale, +sickly mist, lightly tinged with purple, emerged from the forest and +settled over it. + +"This cloud soon retreated before a large, dark one, which, occupying +its place, wrapped the firmament in a pall of vapor. This incumbrance +retaining its position till about three o'clock, the heat became +tormentingly sultry. There was not a breath of air; the atmosphere was +overloaded; and irresistible lassitude seized the people. A stupefying +dullness seemed to pervade every place but the woods, which now +trembled, and rustled, and shook with an incessant and thrilling noise +of explosions, rapidly following each other, and mingling their reports +with a discordant variety of loud and boisterous sounds. At this time, +the whole country appeared to be encircled by a _fiery zone_, which, +gradually contracting its circle by the devastation it had made, seemed +as if it would not converge into a point while any thing remained to be +destroyed. A little after four o'clock, an immense pillar of smoke rose, +in a vertical direction, at some distance northeast of New Castle, for a +while, and the sky was absolutely blackened by this huge cloud; but a +light, northerly breeze springing up, it gradually distended, and then +dissipated into a variety of shapeless mists. About an hour after, or +probably at half past five, innumerable large spires of smoke, issuing +from different parts of the woods, and illuminated the flames that +seemed to pierce them, mounted the sky. A heavy and suffocating canopy, +extending to the utmost verge of observation, and appearing mere +terrific by the vivid flashes and blazes that darted irregularly through +it, now hung over New Castle and Douglass in threatening suspension, +while showers of flaming brands, calcined leaves, ashes, and cinders, +seemed to scream through the growling noise that prevailed in the woods. +About nine o'clock, P.M., or shortly after, a succession of loud and +appalling roars thundered through the forests. Peal after peal, crash +after crash, announced the sentence of destruction. Every succeeding +shock created fresh alarm; every clap came loaded with its own +destructive energy. With greedy rapidity did the flames advance to the +devoted scene of their ministry; nothing could impede their progress. +They removed every obstacle by the desolation they occasioned, and +several hundred miles of prostrate forests and smitten woods marked +their devastating way. + +"The river, tortured into violence by the hurricane, foamed with rage, +and flung its boiling spray upon the land. The thunder pealed along the +vault of heaven--the lightning appeared to rend the firmament. For a +moment all was still, and a deep and awful silence reigned over every +thing. All nature appeared to be hushed, when suddenly a lengthened and +sullen roar came booming through the forests, driving a thousand massive +and devouring flames before it. Then New Castle and Douglasstown, and +the whole northern side of the river, extending from Bartibog to the +Naashwaak, a distance of more than one hundred miles in length, became +enveloped in an immense sheet of flame, that spread over nearly six +thousand square miles! That the reader may form a faint idea of the +desolation and misery, which no pen can describe, he must picture to +himself a large and rapid river, thickly settled for one hundred miles +or more on both sides of it. He must also fancy four thriving towns, two +on each side of this river, and then reflect that these towns and +settlements were all composed of wooden houses, stores, stables and +barns; that these barns and stables were filled with crops, and that the +arrival of the fall importations had stocked the warehouses and stores +with spirits, powder, and a variety of cumbustible articles, as well as +with the necessary supplies for the approaching winter. He must then +remember that the cultivated or settled part of the river is but a long, +narrow strip, about a quarter of a mile wide, lying between the river +and almost interminable forests, stretching along the very edge of its +precints and all around it. Extending his conception, he will see the +forests thickly expanding over more than six thousand square miles, and +absolutely parched into tinder by the protracted heat of a long summer. + +"Let him then animate the picture, by scattering countless tribes of +wild animals, and hundreds of domestic ones, and even thousands of men +in the interior. Having done all this, he will have before him a feeble +outline of the extent, features, and general circumstances of the +country, which, in the course of a few hours, was suddenly enveloped in +fire. A more ghastly or a more revolting picture of human misery can not +well be imagined. The whole district of cultivated land was shrouded in +the agonizing memorials of some dreadful deforming havoc. The songs of +gladness that formerly resounded through it were no longer heard, for +the voice of misery had hushed them. Nothing broke upon the ear but the +accents of distress; the eye saw nothing but ruin, and desolation, and +death. New Castle, yesterday a flourishing town, full of trade and +spirit, and containing nearly one thousand inhabitants, was now a heap +of smoking ruins; and Douglasstown, nearly one-third of its size, was +reduced to the same miserable condition. Of the two hundred and sixty +houses and storehouses, that composed the former, but twelve remained; +and of the seventy that comprised the latter, but six were left. The +confusion on board of one hundred and fifty large vessels, then lying in +the Mirimachi, and exposed to imminent danger, was terrible--some burned +to the water's edge, others burning, and the remainder occasionally +on fire. + +"Dispersed groups of half-famished, half-naked, and houseless creatures, +all more or less injured in their persons, many lamenting the loss of +some property, or children, or relations and friends, were wandering +through the country. Of the human bodies, some were seen with their +bowels protruding, others with the flesh all consumed, and the blackened +skeletons smoking; some with headless trunks, and severed extremities; +some bodies were burned to cinders, others reduced to ashes; many +bloated and swollen by suffocation, and several lying in the last +distorted position of convulsing torture; brief and violent was their +passage from life to death, and rude and melancholy was their +sepulchre--'unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.' The immediate loss of +life was upward of five hundred beings! Thousands of wild beasts, too, +had perished in the woods, and from their putrescent carcasses issued +streams of effluvium and stench that formed contagious domes over the +dismantled settlements. Domestic animals of all kinds lay dead and dying +in different parts of the country. Myriads of salmon, trout, bass, and +other fish, which, poisoned by the alkali formed by the ashes +precipitated into the river, now lay dead or floundering and gasping on +the scorched shores and beaches, and the countless variety of wild fowl +and reptiles shared a similar fate. + +"Such was the violence of the hurricane, that large bodies of ignited +timber, and portions of the trunks of trees, and severed limbs, and also +parts of flaming buildings, shingles, boards, &c., were hurried along +through the frowning heavens with terrible velocity, outstripping the +fleetest horses, spreading destruction far in the advance, thus cutting +off retreat. The shrieks of the affrighted inhabitants, mingling with +the discordant bellowing of cattle, the neighing of horses, the howling +of dogs, and the strange notes of distress and fright from other +domestic animals, strangely blending with the roar of the flames and the +thunder of the tornado, beggars description. + +"Their only means of safety was the river, to which there was a +simultaneous rush, seizing whatever was buoyant, however inadequate; +many attempted to effect a crossing; some succeeded; others failed, and +were drowned. One woman actually seized a bull by the tail, just as he +plunged into the river, and was safely towed to the opposite shore. +Those who were unable to make their escape across plunged into the water +to their necks, and, by a constant application of water to the head, +while in this submerged condition, escaped a dreadful burning. In some +portions of the country, the cattle were nearly all destroyed. Whole +crews of men, camping in the interior, and engaged in timber-making, +were consumed. + +"Such was the awful conflagration of 1825, on the Mirimachi." + + + +PIRATES OF THE RED SEA. + +The commerce of the Red Sea has, almost from time immemorial, greatly +suffered from the depredations of Arab pirates, who infest the entire +coasts. The exploits of one individual is dwelt upon by his late +_confreres_ with particular enthusiasm; and his career and deeds were of +so extraordinary a character, that we feel justified in giving the +following brief detail of them, as furnished by an English traveler: + +This dreadful man, Ramah ibn Java, the _beau ideal_ of his order, the +personation of an Arab sea robber, was a native of a small village near +Jiddah. At an early period he commenced a mode of life congenial to his +disposition and nature. Purchasing a boat, he, with a band of about +twelve companions, commenced his career as a pirate, and in the course +of a few months he had been so successful that he became the owner of a +vessel of three hundred tons, and manned with a lawless crew. It was a +part of his system to leave British vessels unmolested, and he even +affected to be on good terms with them. We have heard an old officer +describe his appearance. He was then about forty-five years of age, +short in stature, but with a figure compact and square, a constitution +vigorous, and the characteristic qualities of his countrymen--frugality, +and patience of fatigue. Several scars already seamed his face, and the +bone of his arm had been shattered by a matchlock ball when boarding a +vessel. It is a remarkable fact that the intermediate bones sloughed +away, and the arm, connected only by flesh and muscle, was still, by +means of a silver tube affixed around it, capable of exertion. + +Ramah was born to be the leader of the wild spirits around him. With a +sternness of purpose that awed those who were near him into a degree of +dread, which totally astonished those who had been accustomed to view +the terms of equality in which the Arab chiefs appear with their +followers, he exacted the most implicit obedience to his will; and the +manner in which he acted toward his son exhibits the length he was +disposed to go with those who thwarted, or did not act up to, the spirit +of his views. The young man, then a mere stripling, had been dispatched +to attack some boats, but he was unsuccessful. "This, dastard, and son +of a dog!" said the enraged father, who had been watching the progress +of the affair, "you return unharmed to tell me! Fling him over the +side!" The chief was obeyed; and but for a boat, which by some chance +was passing some miles astern, he would have been drowned. Of his +existence the father for many months was wholly unconscious, and how he +was reconciled we never heard; but during the interval he was never +known to utter his name. No cause, it appears, existed for a repetition +of the punishment; for while yet a youth, he met the death his father +would have most coveted for him. He fell at the head of a party that was +bravely storming a fort. + +Many other acts of cruelty are related of him. Having seized a small +trading boat, he plundered her, and then fastened the crew--five in +number--round the anchor, suspended it from the bows, cut the cable, and +let the anchor, with its living burden, sink to the bottom. He once +attacked a small town on the Persian Gulf. In this town lived one Abder +Russel, a personal friend of the narrator, who related the visit of the +pirates to his dwelling. Seized with a violent illness, he was stretched +on a pallet spread on a floor of his apartment; his wife, to whom he was +devotedly attached, was attending him, his head placed in her lap. A +violent noise arose below--the door was heavily assailed--it yielded--a +sharp conflict took place--shouting and a rushing on the stair-case was +heard, and the pirates were in the apartment. "I read their purpose," +said Abder to me, "In their looks; but I was bed-ridden, and could not +raise a finger to save her for whose life I would gladly have forfeited +my own, Ramah, the pirate captain, approached her. Entreaties for life +were unavailing; yet for an instant her extreme beauty arrested his arm, +but it was only for an instant. His dagger again gleamed on high, and +she sank a bleeding victim beside me. Cold and apparently inanimate as I +was, I nevertheless felt her warm blood flowing past me, and with her +life it ebbed rapidly away. My eyes must have been fixed with the vacant +look of death: I even felt unmoved as he bent down beside me, and, with +spider-like fingers, stripped the jewels from my hand--the touch of that +villain who had deprived me of all which in life I valued. At length, a +happy insensibility stole over me. How long I remained in this condition +I know not; but when I recovered my senses, fever had left me--cool +blood again traversed my veins. Beside me was a faithful slave, who was +engaged bathing my temples. He had escaped the slaughter by secreting +himself while the murderers remained in the house." + +Ramah, although a man of few words with his crew, was nevertheless very +communicative to our officers, whenever he fell in with them. According +to his own account, he managed them by never permitting any +familiarities, nor communicating big plans, and by an impartial +distribution of plunder; but the grand secret, he knew full well, was in +his utter contempt of danger, and that terrible, untaught eloquence, at +the hour of need, where time is brief, and sentences must be condensed +into words, which marked his career. Success crowned all his exploits; +he made war, and levied contributions on whom he pleased. Several times +he kept important sea-port towns in a state of blockade, and his +appearance was every where feared and dreaded. + +He took possession of a small sandy islet, not many miles from his +native place, where he built a fort, and would occasionally sally forth, +and plunder and annoy any vessel that he met with. Although now +perfectly blind and wounded in almost every part of his body, yet such +was the dread inspired by the energy of this old chief, that, for a long +time, no one could be found willing to attack the single vessel which he +possessed. At length, a sheik, bolder than his neighbors, proceeded in +three heavy boats to attack Ramah. The followers of the latter, too well +trained to feel or express alarm, save that which arose from affection +for their chief, painted in strong terms the overwhelming superiority of +the approaching force, and counseled his bearing away from them; but he +spurned the idea. The evening drew near, and closed upon him. After a +severe contest they gained the deck. An instant after, dead and dying, +the victor and the vanquished, were given to the wind. Ramah, with a +spirit in accordance with the tenor of his whole career, finding the day +was going against him, was led by a little boy to the magazine, and +then, it is supposed, applied the pipe he had been smoking during the +action to the powder. Such, to his life, was the fitting end of the +pirate chief. + +[Illustration: GENERAL JACKSON AND WEATHERFORD] + + + +GEN. JACKSON AND WEATHERFORD. + +After the battle of Tallapoosa, General Jackson returned with his +victorious army to Fort Williams; but, determined to give his enemy no +opportunity of retrieving the misfortune that had befallen him, he +recommenced operations immediately afterward. On the 7th of April, 1814, +he again set out for Tallapoosa, with the view of forming a junction +with the Georgia troops under Colonel Milton, and completing the +subjugation of the country. On the 14th of that month, the union of the +two armies was effected, and both bodies moved to a place called the +Hickory Ground, where, it was expected, the last final stand would be +made by the Indians, or terms of submission would be agreed on. The +principal chiefs of the different tribes had assembled here, and, on the +approach of the army, sent a deputation to treat for peace. Among them +was Weatherford, celebrated equally for his talents and cruelty, who had +directed the massacre at Fort Mimms. It had been the intention of +General Jackson, to inflict a signal punishment upon him, if ever in his +power. Struck, however, with the bold and nervous eloquence of this +fearless savage, and persuaded of the sincerity of his wishes for peace, +he dismissed him without injury. Some of the speeches of this warrior +have been preserved, and exhibit a beautiful specimen of the melancholy +but manly tone of a savage hero, lamenting the misfortunes of his race. +Addressing General Jackson, he said, "I am in your power--do with me as +you please. I am a soldier. I have done the white people all the harm I +could; I have fought them, and fought them bravely. There was a time +when I had a choice, and could have answered you: I have none now,--even +hope is ended. Once I could animate my warriors; but I can not animate +the dead. My warriors can no longer hear my voice; their bones are at +Talladega, Tallushatchee, Emuckfaw, and Tohopeka. While there was a +chance of success, I never left my post, nor supplicated peace. But my +people are gone; and I now ask it for my nation and myself." He shortly +afterward became the instrument of restoring peace, which was concluded +by the total submission of the Indians. They agreed to retire in the +rear of the army, and occupy the country to the east of the Coosa; while +a line of American posts was established from Tennessee and Georgia, to +the Alabama, and the power and resources of these tribes were thus +effectually destroyed. + + + +CRUISE OF THE SALDANHA AND TALBOT. + +At midnight of Saturday, the 30th of November, 1811, with a fair wind +and a smooth sea, we weighed from our station, in company with the +Saldanha frigate, of thirty-eight guns, Captain Packenham, with a crew +of three hundred men, on a cruise, as was intended, of twenty days--the +Saldanha taking a westerly course, while we stood in the opposite +direction. + +We had scarcely got out of the lock and cleared the heads, however, when +we plunged at once into all the miseries of a gale of wind blowing from +the west. During the three following days, it continued to increase in +violence, when the islands of Coll and Tiree became visible to us. As +the wind had now chopped round more to the north, and continued unabated +in violence, the danger of getting involved among the numerous small +islands and rugged headlands, on the northwest coast of Inverness-shire, +became evident. It was therefore deemed expedient to wear the ship +round, and make a port with all expedition. With this view, and favored +by the wind, a course was shaped for Lochswilly, and away we scudded +under close-reefed foresail and main-topsail, followed by a tremendous +sea, which threatened every moment to overwhelm us, and accompanied by +piercing showers of hail, and a gale which blew with incredible fury. +The same course was steered until next day about noon, when land was +seen on the lee-bow. The weather being thick, some time elapsed before +it could be distinctly made out, and it was then ascertained to be the +island of North Arran, on the coast of Donegal, westward of Lochswilly. +The ship was therefore hauled up some points, and we yet entertained +hopes of reaching an anchorage before nightfall, when the weather +gradually thickened, and the sea, now that we were upon the wind, broke +over us in all directions. Its violence was such, that in a few minutes +several of our ports were stove in, at which the water poured in in +great abundance, until it was actually breast high on the lee-side of +the main deck. Fortunately, but little got below, and the ship was +relieved by taking in the foresail. But a dreadful addition was now made +to the precariousness of our situation, by the cry of "land a-head!" +which was seen from the forecastle, and must have been very near. Not a +moment was now lost in wearing the ship round on the other tack, and +making what little sail could be carried, to weather the land we had +already passed. This soon proved, however, to be a forlorn prospect, for +it was found that we should run our distance by ten o'clock. All the +horrors of shipwreck now stared us in the face, aggravated tenfold by +the darkness of the night, and the tremendous force of the wind, which +now blew a hurricane. Mountains are insignificant when speaking of the +sea that kept pace with it; its violence was awful beyond description, +and it frequently broke over all the poor little ship, that shivered and +groaned, but behaved admirably. + +The force of the sea may be guessed from the fact of the sheet-anchor, +nearly a ton and a half in weight, being actually lifted on board, to +say nothing of the forechain-plates' board broken, both gangways torn +away, quarter-galleries stove in, &c. In short, on getting into port, +the vessel was found to be loosened through all her frame, and leaking +at every seam. As far as depended on her good qualities, however, I +felt assured at the time, we were safe, for I had seen enough of the +Talbot to be convinced we were in one of the finest sea-boats that ever +swam. But what could all the skill of the ship-builder avail in a +situation like ours? With a night full fifteen hours long before us, and +knowing that we were fast driving on the land, anxiety and dread were on +every face, and every mind felt the terrors of uncertainty and suspense. +At length, about twelve o'clock, the dreadful truth was disclosed to us! + +Judge of my sensation when I saw the frowning rocks of Arran, scarcely +half a mile distant on our lee-bow. To our inexpressible relief, and not +less to our surprise, we fairly weathered all, and were congratulating +each other on our escape, when, on looking forward, I imagined I saw +breakers at no great distance on our lee; and this suspicion was soon +confirmed, when the moon, which shone at intervals, suddenly broke out +from behind a cloud, and presented to us a most terrific spectacle. At +not more than a quarter of a mile's distance on our lee-beam, appeared a +range of tremendous breakers, among which it seemed as if every sea +would throw us. Their height, it may be guessed, was prodigious, when +they could be clearly distinguished from the foaming waters of the +surrounded ocean. It was a scene seldom to be witnessed, and never +forgotten! "Lord have mercy upon us!" was now on the lip of every +one--destruction seemed inevitable. Captain Swaine, whose coolness I +have never seen surpassed, issued his orders clearly and collectedly, +when it was proposed, as a last resource, to drop the anchors, cut away +the masts, and trust to the chance of riding out the gale. This scheme +was actually determined on, and every thing was in readiness, but +happily was deferred until an experiment was tried aloft. In addition to +the close-reefed main-topsail and foresail, the fore-topsail, and +trysail were now set, and the result was almost magical. With a few +plunges, we cleared not only the reef, but a huge rock upon which I +could with ease have tossed a biscuit, and in a few minutes we were +inexpressibly rejoiced to see both far astern. + +We had now miraculously escaped all but certain destruction a second +time, but much was yet to be feared. We had still to pass Cape Jeller, +and the moments dragged on in gloomy apprehension and anxious suspense. +The ship carried sail most wonderfully, and we continued to go along at +the rate of seven knots, shipping very heavy seas, and laboring +much--all with much solicitude looking out for daylight. The dawn at +length appeared, and to our great joy we saw the land several miles +astern, having passed the Cape and many other hidden dangers during +the darkness. + +Matters, on the morning of the 5th, assumed a very different aspect from +that which we had experienced for the last two days; the wind gradually +subsided, and, with it the sea, and a favorable breeze now springing up, +we were enabled to make a good offing. Fortunately, no accident of +consequence occurred, although several of our people were severely +bruised by falls. Poor fellows! they certainly suffered enough; not a +dry stitch, not a dry hammock have they had since we sailed. Happily, +however, their misfortunes are soon forgot in a dry shirt and a can +of grog. + +The most melancholy part of the narrative is still to be told. On coming +up to our anchorage, we observed an unusual degree of curiosity and +bustle in the fort; crowds of people were congregated on both sides, +running to and fro, examining us through spyglasses; in short, an +extraordinary commotion was apparent. The meaning of all this was but +too soon made known to us by a boat coming alongside, from which we +learned that the unfortunate Saldanha had gone to pieces, and every man +perished! Our own destruction had likewise been reckoned inevitable, +from the time of the discovery of the unhappy fate of our consort, five +days beforehand; and hence the astonishment at our unexpected return. +From all that could be learned concerning the dreadful catastrophe, I am +inclined to believe that the Saldanha had been driven on the rocks about +the time our doom appeared so certain in another quarter. Her lights +were seen by the signal-tower at nine o'clock of that fearful Wednesday +night, December 4th, after which it is supposed she went ashore on the +rocks at a small bay called Ballymastaker, almost at the entrance of +Lochswilly harbor. + +Next morning the beach was strewed with fragments of the wreck, and +upward of two hundred of the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers were +washed ashore. One man--and one only--out of the three hundred, was +ascertained to have come ashore alive, but almost in a state of +insensibility. Unhappily, there was no person present to administer to +his wants judiciously, and, upon craving something to drink, about half +a pint of whiskey was given him by the people, which almost instantly +killed him. Poor Packenham's body was recognized amid the others, and +like these, stripped quite naked by the inhuman wretches, who flocked to +the wreck as to a blessing! It is even suspected that he came on shore +alive, but was stripped and left to perish. Nothing could equal the +audacity of the plunderers, although a party of the Lanark militia was +doing duty around the wreck. But this is an ungracious and revolting +subject, which no one of proper feeling would wish to dwell upon. Still +less am I inclined to describe the heart-rending scene at Buncrana, +where the widows of many of the sufferers are residing. The surgeon's +wife, a native of Halifax, has never spoken since the dreadful tidings +arrived. Consolation is inadmissible, and no one has yet ventured +to offer it. + + + +A CARIB'S REVENGE. + +In a work recently published in London, by Captain Millman, are to be +found some of the most thrilling scenes, from life in the tropics, it +has ever been our fortune to meet with. The following account of a +Carib's revenge on a sea captain, named Jack Diver, on one of the narrow +mountain paths of Guadaloupe, is exceedingly graphic and forcible: + +While he was making up his mind, a dark figure had stolen unperceived +close behind him, with a small basket in his hand of split reeds, out of +which came a low buzzing, murmuring sound. He lay down quietly across +the path, at the point of the first angle of the elbow of the mountain +spar, not many feet from the hind legs of the horse. Jack Diver with a +scowling look, turned his horse round with some difficulty. It plunged +and reared slightly, but went on. Occupied with retaining his seat, the +master of the transport scarcely perceived the figure lying in the path. +He could not see who it was, for the face of the man was toward the +ground. But the horse saw it at once. The animal, accustomed to mountain +roads from its birth, had often stepped over both men and animals which +are sometimes forced in the narrowest parts to lie down to let the +heavier and stronger pass, in that highly dangerous and disagreeable +method, lifted his feet cautiously, one by one, so as not to tread on +the prostrate figure. As the horse was above him, the man lifted with +one hand the lid of the basket, and a swarm of wasps flew suddenly out, +buzzing and humming fiercely, and in a moment they began to settle on +the moving object. The horse commenced switching his tail to drive them +away, pricking up his ears, and snorting with terror. + +The man on the path lay quite still until they had thus moved on a few +yards, and then he raised his head a little, and watched them with his +keen black eyes. The wasps, driven off for a moment, became only the +more irritated, and returned with vigor and wonderful pertinacity to the +attack,--beginning to sting the poor animal furiously in all the tender +parts. They assailed the wretched master in his turn, darting their +venomed barbs into his face and hands, and driving him nearly frantic. +The horse plunged furiously, and Jack Diver, losing his stirrups and his +presence of mind together, twisted his hands into the horse's mane, to +keep his seat, letting the reins fall on his neck. At last, with a rear +and a bound into the air, the maddened animal darted off at a gallop; +but the faster he went, the closer stuck the persevering wasps. Jack +Diver shut his eyes, screaming with fear and pain. Then the Carib chief +rose up, and again the hawk-like scream echoed along the valley. The +turn is to be made--can the horse recover himself? Yes, maddened as he +is, he sees the danger instinctively. His speed slackens--he throws +himself on his haunches, with his fore feet on the very brink of the +precipice. One more chance! The blind, infatuated man remains on his +back. Again the horse feels the stings of his deadly persecutors; again +he plunges forward, striving to turn quickly round the corner. Round, +and he is in comparative safety. On a sudden, from behind a buttress of +projecting rock, there start across the path three dusky forms, +flinging their hands wildly in the air. Then was heard that rare and +awful sound, the shriek of a horse in the fear of a certain and coming +death; when swerving one side, he lost his footing on the slippery +shelf, and struggling madly, but unsuccessfully, to recover it, he fell +over and over--down--down--a thousand feet down! From the sailor's lips +there came no cry. + +[Illustration: GEN. COFFEE'S ATTACK ON THE INDIANS.] + + + +MASSACRE OF FORT MIMMS. + +On the 30th of August, 1813, Fort Mimms, which contained one hundred and +fifty men, under the command of Major Beasely, besides a number of women +and children, was surprised by a party of Indians. The houses were set +on fire, and those who escaped the flames fell victims to the tomahawk. +Neither age nor sex was spared; and the most horrible cruelties, of +which the imagination can conceive, were perpetrated. Out of the three +hundred persons which the fort contained, only seventeen escaped to +carry the dreadful intelligence to the neighboring stations. + +This sanguinary and unprovoked massacre excited universal horror, and +the desire of revenge. The state of Tennessee immediately took active +measures for punishing the aggressors. General Jackson was ordered to +draft two thousand of the militia and volunteers of his division; and +General Coffee was directed to proceed with five hundred mounted men to +the frontier of the state. The former, having collected a part of his +force, joined General Coffee on the 12th of October, at Ditto's landing, +on the Tennessee. They then marched to the Ten Islands, in the same +river. A few days afterward, General Coffee was detached with nine +hundred men to attack a body of the enemy, posted at Tallushatchee. He +arrived early in the morning within a short distance of it, and, +dividing his force into two columns, completely surrounded it. The +Indians, for a long time, made a desperate resistance, and did all that +was possible for men to do who were in their situation. But they were +finally overpowered, with the loss of one hundred an eighty-six men. + + + +THE FRESHET. + +The freshet at Bangor, Me., in the spring of 1846, is thus described in +"Forest Life and Forest Trees:" + +The first injury to the city was from the breaking away of a small +section of the jam, which came down and pressed against the ice on our +banks. By this, twenty houses in one immediate neighborhood, on the west +bank of the river alone, were at once inundated, but without loss of +life. This occurred in the daytime, and presented a scene of magnificent +interest. The effect of this small concussion upon the ice near the city +was terrific. The water rose instantly to such a height as to sweep the +buildings and lumber from the ends of the wharves, and to throw up the +ice in huge sheets and pyramids. This shock was resisted by the great +covered bridge on the Penobscot, which is about one thousand feet in +length, and this gave time to save much property But meanwhile another +auxiliary to the fearful work had been preparing, by the breaking up of +the ice in the Kenduskeag river. This river flows through the heart of +the city, dividing it into two equal portions. The whole flat, on the +margin of the river, is covered with stores and public buildings, and is +the place of merchandise for the city. The Kenduskeag runs nearly at +right angles with the Penobscot, at the point where they unite. The +Penobscot skirts the city on the eastern side, and on the banks of this +river are the principal wharves for the deposit of lumber. + +I must mention another circumstance to give you a just idea of our +situation. There is a narrow spot in the river, about a mile below the +city, at High Head, in which is a shoal, and from which the greatest +danger of a jam always arises, and it was this that caused the principal +inundation. + +The next incident occurred at midnight, when the bells were rung to +announce the giving way of the ice. It was a fearful sound and scene. +The streets were thronged with men, women, and children, who rushed +abroad to witness the approach of the icy avalanche. At length it came +rushing on with a power that a thousand locomotives in a body could not +vie with; but it was vailed from the eye by the darkness of a hazy +night, and the ear only could trace its progress by the sounds of +crashing buildings, lumber, and whatever it encountered in its pathway, +except the glimpses that could be caught of it by the light of hundreds +of torches and lanterns that threw their glare upon the misty +atmosphere. The jam passed on, and a portion of it pressed through the +weakest portion of the great bridge, and thus, joining the ice below the +bridge, pressed it down to the narrows at High Head. The destruction, +meanwhile, was in progress on the Kenduskeag, which poured down its +tributary ice, sweeping mills, bridges, shops, and other buildings, with +masses of logs and lumber, to add to the common wreck. + +At that moment, the anxiety and suspense were fearful whether the jam +would force its way through the narrows, or there stop and pour back a +flood of waters upon the city; for it was from the rise of the water +consequent upon such a jam that the great destruction was to be +apprehended. But the suspense was soon over. A cry was heard from the +dense mass of citizens who crowded the streets on the flat, "The river +is flowing back!" and so sudden was the revulsion, that it required the +utmost speed to escape the rising waters. It seemed but a moment before +the entire flat was deluged; and many men did not escape from their +stores before the water was up to their waists. Had you witnessed the +scene, occurring as it did in the midst of a dark and hazy night, and +had you heard the rushing of the waters, and the crash of the ruins, +and seen the multitudes retreating in a mass from the returning flood, +illumined only by the glare of torches and lanterns, and listened to the +shouts and cries that escaped from them to give the alarm to those +beyond, you would not be surprised at my being reminded of the host of +Pharaoh as they fled and sent up their cry from the Red Sea, as it +returned upon them in its strength. + +"The closing scene of this dreadful disaster occurred on Sunday evening, +beginning at about seven o'clock. The alarm was again rung through the +streets that the jam had given way. The citizens again rushed abroad to +witness what they knew must be one of the most sublime and awful scenes +of nature, and also to learn the full extent of their calamity. Few, +however, were able to catch a sight of the breaking up of the jam, +which, for magnitude, it is certain, has not occurred on this river for +more than one hundred years. The whole river was like a boiling +cauldron, with masses of ice upheaved as by a volcano. But soon the +darkness shrouded the scene in part. The ear, however, could hear the +roaring of the waters and the crash of buildings, bridges, and lumber, +and the eye could trace the mammoth ice-jam of four miles long, which +passed on majestically, but with lightning rapidity, bearing the +contents of both rivers on its bosom, The noble covered bridge of the +Penobscot, two bridges of the Kenduskeag, and the two long ranges of +saw-mills, besides other mills, houses, shops, logs, and lumber enough +to build up a considerable village. The new market floated over the +lower bridge across the Kenduskeag, a part of which remains, and, most +happily, landed at a point of the wharves, where it sunk, and formed the +nucleus of a sort of boom, which stopped the masses of floating lumber +in the Kenduskeag, and protected thousands of dollars' worth of lumber +on the wharves below." + + + +THE PANTHER'S DEN. + +The occupants of a few log cabins in the vicinity of the Bayou Manlatte, +a tributary of the noble Bay of Pensacola, situated in the western part +of the then territory of Florida, had been for some weeks annoyed by the +mysterious disappearance of the cattle and goats, which constituted +almost the only wealth of these rude countrymen; and the belated +herdsman was frequently startled by the terrible half human cry of the +dreaded panther, and the next morning, some one of the squatters would +find himself minus of a number of cloven feet. About this time I +happened into the settlement on a hunting excursion, in company with +another son of Nimrod, and learning the state of affairs, resolved, if +possible, to rid the "clearing" of its pest, and bind new laurels on our +brows. The night before our arrival, a heifer had been killed within a +few rods of the cabin, and the carcass dragged off toward the swamp, +some two miles distant, leaving a broad trail to mark the destroyer's +path; this being pointed out to us, Ned and myself resolved to execute +our enterprise without delay--this was to "beard the lion in his den." +Having carefully charged our rifles and pistols, and seen that our +bowies were as keen as razors, we set out on the trail, which soon +brought us to the edge of the Bayou Manlatte swamp--which covers a +surface of some thousands of acres, being a dense muddy hammock of teti, +bay, magnolia, cane, grape vines, &c. A perpetual twilight reigned +beneath the dense foliage supported by the rank soil, and our hearts +beat a few more pulsations to the minute, as we left the scorching glare +of the noon day sun, and plunged into the gloomy fastnesses of the bear +and alligator; to these latter gentlemen, whose clumsy forms were +sprawling through the mud on every side, we gave no further heed other +than to keep without the range of the deadly sweep of their powerful +tails, with which they bring their unsuspecting prey within reach of +their saw-like jaws; the bears we did not happen to meet, or we should +most assuredly have given them some of the balls designed for +the panthers. + +Well, we followed the trail half a mile into the swamp, when on an +elevated spot, we suddenly encountered the half-devoured body of the +unfortunate heifer, apparently just deserted by the captors. We +cautiously advanced a few paces further over a pavement of bones, "clean +scraped and meatless," and entered an open space, when a sight met my +eyes which certainly made me wish myself safe at home, or in fact, +anywhere else but where I was. About twenty-five feet from us we saw, +instead of one, an old she-panther and two cubs nearly grown, while +directly over them, on the blasted and sloping trunk of an immense +gum-tree, crouched the "old he one of all," lashing his sides fiercely +with his tail, and snorting and spitting like an enraged cat, an example +which was imitated by the three below. Here was a dilemma, on the +particularly sharp horns of which we found ourselves most uncomfortably +situated. To retreat would induce an immediate attack, the consequence +of an advance would be ditto, so we stood _en tableaux_, for a brief +second, our guns cocked and aimed, Ned drawing a bead on the dam, while +I did the same on the sire. It seemed madness to fire. We were not long +uncertain as to our course, for the old fellow suddenly bounded from the +trunk upon me, with a deafening roar. I fired as he sprang, and the +report of my piece was re-echoed by that of Ned's. I sprang aside, +dropping my rifle and drawing my long and heavy knife; it was well I did +so, for the mortally-wounded beast alighted on the very spot I had left. +He turned and sprang upon me. I avoided the blow of its powerful paw, +and grappling with him I rolled on the turf, winding my right arm tight +around his neck, and hugging close to his body to avoid his teeth and +claws, while I dealt rapid thrusts with my knife. I was very powerful; +but never was in a situation where I felt more sensibly the need of +exerting all my muscle. The contest was soon decided--my knife passing +through the brute's heart-- + + "And panting from the dreadful close, + And breathless all, the champion rose." + +And it was full time that I should do so, for Ned, having put a ball +through the head of the dam, was now manfully battling with her two +cubs; the poor fellow was sore pressed, streaming with blood from +numberless scratches, and almost in a state of nature, for the sharp +claws of the cubs had literally undressed him by piecemeal. His savage +assailants also, bore upon their bloody hides numerous tokens of his +prowess in wielding his bowie. + +Their system of attack seemed to be to spring suddenly upon him, +striking with their paws, and as they did so, in most instances, +simultaneously, it was impossible for him to defend himself, strong and +active as he was; and had no assistance been at hand, they would +undoubtedly have gained the victory. It was a brave sight though, to see +the tall, strong hunter, meeting their attacks undauntedly, standing +with his left arm raised to defend his head and throat, and darting his +knife into their tough bodies as he threw them from him, but to meet the +next moment their renewed efforts for his destruction. + +All this I caught at one glance, as I rushed to his rescue. "Ned!" +shouted I, mad and reckless with excitement, "take the one on your +left!" And we threw ourselves upon them. I met my antagonist in his +onward leap, and making a desperate blow at him, my wrist struck his +paw, and the knife flew far from my hand. There was nothing else for me +but to seize him by the loose skin of the neck with both hands, and hold +on like "grim death," keeping him at arm's length, while his paws beat a +tattoo to a double quick time on my breast and body, stripping my +garments into ribbons in a most workmanlike manner, and ornamenting my +sensitive skin with a variety of lines and characters, done in red--a +process which I did not care to prolong, however, beyond a period when I +could soonest put a stop to the operation. + +As I was debating how to attain so desirable an end, the remembrance of +the small rifle pistol, in my belt, and which, till now, in the hurry of +the conflict I had forgotten, suddenly flashed upon my mind, and, +disengaging one hand, I drew it forth, cocked it with my thumb, and the +next moment the panther's brains were spattered in my face. + +I turned to look for Ned, and found him trying to free himself from the +dead body of the panther, whose teeth were fastened, in their death +grip, to the small remnant of his hunting coat which hung around his +neck; I separated the strip of cloth with my recovered knife, and we +sank panting to the ground, while our hearts went up in thankfulness for +deliverance from so imminent danger to life and limb. After resting +awhile, we washed the blood--our blood--from our bodies, and decorating +them with "what was left," somewhat after the fashion of the Indian who +wears only a "breech clout," we took the scalps of the four panthers, +and started on our homeward march. Our success was speedily known in the +clearing, and in the evening a barbecue was had in oar honor, to +furnish which a relation of the unfortunate heifer met with a fate +scarcely less terrible. This exploit added not little to our reputation +among the hunter folk. + + + +ADVENTURE WITH ELEPHANTS. + +On the 27th, as day dawned, says Mr. Cumming, I left my shooting-hole, +and proceeded to inspect the spoor of my wounded rhinoceros. After +following it for some distance I came to an abrupt hillock, and fancying +that from the summit a good view might be obtained of the surrounding +country, I left my followers to seek the spoor, while I ascended. I did +not raise my eyes from the ground until I had reached the highest +pinnacle of rock. I then looked east, and to my inexpressible +gratification, beheld a troup of nine or ten elephants quietly browsing +within a quarter of a mile of me. I allowed myself only one glance at +them, and then rushed down to warn my followers to be silent. A council +of war was hastily held, the result of which was my ordering Isaac to +ride hard to camp, with instructions to return as quickly as possible, +accompanied by Kleinboy, and to bring me my dogs, the large Dutch +rifle, and a fresh horse. I once more ascended the hillock to feast my +eyes upon the enchanting sight before me, and, drawing out my spy-glass, +narrowly watched the motions of the elephants. The herd consisted +entirely of females, several of which were followed by small calves. + +Presently, on reconnoitering the surrounding country, I discovered a +second herd, consisting of five bull elephants, which were quietly +feeding about a mile to the northward. The cows were feeding toward a +rocky ridge that stretched away from the base of the hillock on which I +stood. Burning with impatience to commence the attack, I resolved to try +the stalking system with these, and to hunt the troop of bulls with dogs +and horses. Having thus decided, I directed the guides to watch the +elephants from the summit of the hillock, and with a beating heart I +approached them. The ground and wind favoring me, I soon gained the +rocky ridge toward which they were feeding. They were now within one +hundred yards, and I resolved to enjoy the pleasure of watching their +movements for a little before I fired. They continued to feed slowly +toward me, breaking the branches from the trees with their trunks, and +eating the leaves and tender shoots. I soon selected the finest in the +herd, and kept my eye on her in particular. At length two of the troup +had walked slowly past at about sixty yards, and the one which I had +selected was feeding with two others, on a thorny tree before me. + +My hand was now as steady as the rock on which it rested; so, taking a +deliberate aim, I let fly at her head, a little behind the eye. She got +it hard and sharp, just where I aimed, but it did not seem to affect her +much. Uttering a loud cry, she wheeled about, when I gave her the second +ball close behind the shoulder. All the elephants uttered a strange +rumbling noise, and made off in a line to the northward at a brisk +ambling pace, their huge, fan-like ears flapping in the ratio of their +speed. I did not wait to load, but ran back to the hillock to obtain a +view. On gaining its summit, the guides pointed out the elephants: they +were standing in a grove of shady trees, but the wounded one was some +distance behind with another elephant, doubtless its particular friend, +who was endeavoring to assist it. These elephants had probably never +before heard the report of a gun, and, having neither seen nor smelt me, +they were unaware of the presence of man, and did not seem inclined to +go any further. Presently my men hove in sight, bringing the dogs; and +when these came up, I waited some time before commencing the attack, +that the dogs and horses might recover their wind. We then rode slowly +toward the elephants, and had advanced within two hundred yards of them +when, the ground being open, they observed us and made off in an +easterly direction; but the wounded one immediately dropped astern, and +the next moment was surrounded by the dogs, which, barking angrily, +seemed to engross all her attention. + +Having placed myself between her and the retreating troop, I dismounted +to fire, within forty yards of her, in open ground. Colesberg was +extremely afraid of the elephants, and gave me much trouble, jerking my +arm when I tried to fire. At length I let fly; but, on endeavoring to +regain my saddle, Colesberg declined to allow me to mount; and when I +tried to lead him, and run for it, he only backed toward the wounded +elephant. At this moment I heard another elephant close behind; and +looking about, I beheld the "friend," with uplifted trunk, charging down +upon me at top speed, shrilly trumpeting, and following an old black +pointer named Schwart, that was perfectly deaf and trotted along before +the enraged elephant quite unaware of what was behind him. I felt +certain that she would have either me or my horse. I, however, +determined not to relinquish my steed, but to hold on by the bridle. My +men, who, of course, kept at a safe distance, stood aghast with their +mouths open, and for a few seconds my position was certainly not an +enviable one. Fortunately, however, the dogs took off the attention of +the elephants; and just as they were upon me, I managed to spring into +the saddle, where I was safe. As I turned my back to mount, the +elephants were so very near that I really expected to feel one of their +trunks lay hold of me. I rode up to Kleinboy for my double-barreled +two-grooved rifle: he and Isaac were pale and almost speechless with +fright. Returning to the charge, I was soon once more alongside and, +firing from the saddle, I sent another brace of bullets into the wounded +elephant. Colesberg was extremely unsteady, and destroyed the +correctness of my aim. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF THE ELEPHANTS.] + +The friend now seemed resolved to do some mischief, and charged me +furiously, pursuing me to a distance of several hundred yards. I +therefore deemed it proper to give her a gentle hint to act less +officiously, and, accordingly, having loaded, I approached within thirty +yards, and give it her sharp, right and left, behind the shoulder, upon +which she at once made off with drooping trunk, evidently with a mortal +wound. I never recur to this day's elephant shooting without regretting +my folly in contenting myself with securing only one elephant. The +first was now dying, and could not leave the ground, and the second was +also mortally wounded, and I had only to follow and finish her; but I +foolishly allowed her to escape, while I amused myself with the first, +which kept walking backward, and standing by every tree she passed. Two +more shots finished her: on receiving them, she tossed her trunk up and +down two or three times, and, falling on her broadside against a thorny +tree, which yielded like grass before her enormous weight, she uttered a +deep, hoarse cry, and expired. This was a very handsome old cow +elephant, and was decidedly the best in the troop. She was in excellent +condition, and carried a pair of long and perfect tusks. I was in high +spirits at my success, and felt so perfectly satisfied with having +killed one, that, although it was still early in the day, and my horses +were fresh, I allowed the troop of five bulls to remain unmolested, +foolishly trusting to fall in with them next day. + + + +THE SHARK SENTINEL. + +With my companion, one beautiful afternoon, rambling over the rocky +cliffs at the back of the island, (New Providence, W.I.,) we came to a +spot where the stillness and the clear transparency of the water invited +us to bathe. It was not deep. As we stood above, on the promontory, we +could see the bottom in every part. Under the headland, which formed the +opposite side of the cove, there was a cavern, to which, as the shore +was steep, there was no access but by swimming, and we resolved to +explore it. We soon reached its mouth, and were enchanted with its +romantic grandeur and wild beauty. It extended, we found, a long way +back, and had several natural baths, into all of which we successively +threw ourselves; each, as they receded further from the mouth of the +cavern, being colder than the last. The tide, it was evident, had free +ingress, and renewed the water every twelve hours. Here we thoughtlessly +amused ourselves for some time. + +At length the declining sun warned us that it was time to take our +departure from the cave, when, at no great distance from us, we saw the +back or dorsal fin of a monstrous shark above the surface of the water, +and his whole length visible beneath it. We looked at him and at each +other in dismay, hoping that he would soon take his departure, and go in +search of other prey; but the rogue swam to and fro, just like a frigate +blockading an enemy's port. + +The sentinel paraded before us, about ten or fifteen yards in front of +the cave, tack and tack, waiting only to serve one, if not both of us, +as we should have served a shrimp or an oyster. We had no intention, +however, in this, as in other instances, of "throwing ourselves on the +mercy of the court." In vain did we look for relief from other quarters; +the promontory above us was inaccessible; the tide was rising, and the +sun touching the clear, blue edge of the horizon. + +I, being the leader, pretended to a little knowledge in ichthyology, and +told my companion that fish could hear as well as see, and that +therefore the less we said, the better; and the sooner we retreated out +of his sight, the sooner he would take himself off. This was our only +chance, and that a poor one for the flow of the water would soon have +enabled him to enter the cave and help himself, as he seemed perfectly +acquainted with the _locale_, and knew that we had no mode of retreat, +but by the way we came. We drew back out of sight, and I don't know +when I ever passed a more unpleasant quarter of an hour. A suit in +chancery, or even a spring lounge at Newgate, would have been almost a +luxury to what I felt when the shades of night began to darken the mouth +of our cave, and this infernal monster continued to parade, like a +water-bailiff, before its door. At last, not seeing the shark's fin +above the water, I made a sign to Charles, that cost what it might, we +must swim for it, for we had notice to quit by the tide; and if we did +not depart, should soon have an execution in the house. We had been +careful not to utter a word, and, silently pressing each other by the +hand, we slipped into the water; and, recommending ourselves to +Providence, struck out manfully. I must own I never felt more assured of +destruction, not even when I once swam through the blood of a poor +sailor--while the sharks were eating him--for the sharks then had +something to occupy them; but this one had nothing else to do but to +look after us--we had the benefit of his undivided attention. + +My sensations were indescribably horrible. I may occasionally write or +talk of the circumstance with levity, but whenever I recall it to mind, +I tremble at the bare recollection of the dreadful fate that seemed +inevitable. My companion was not so expert a swimmer as I was, so that I +distanced him many feet, when I heard him utter a faint cry. I turned +round, convinced that the shark had seized him, but it was not so; my +having left him so far behind had increased his terror, and induced him +to draw my attention. I returned to him, held him up, and encouraged +him. Without this he would certainly have sunk; he revived with my help, +and we reached the sandy beach in safety, having eluded our enemy, who, +when he neither saw nor heard us, had, as I concluded he would, +quitted the spot. + +Once more on terra firma, we lay gasping for some minutes before we +spoke. What my companions thoughts were, I do not know; mine were +replete with gratitude to God, and renewed vows of amendment; and I have +every reason to think, that although Charles had not so much room for +reform as myself, that his feelings were perfectly in unison with +my own. + +We never repeated this amusement, though we frequently talked of our +escape and laughed at our terrors, yet, on these occasions, our +conversation always took a serious turn; and, upon the whole, I am +convinced that this adventure did us both a vast deal of good. + +[ILLUSTRATION: HUNTING THE TIGER] + + + +HUNTING THE TIGER. + +A Gentleman in the civil service of the British East India Company, +relates the following: + +"When a tiger springs on an elephant, the latter is generally able to +shake him off under his feet, and then woe be to him. The elephant +either kneels on him and crushes him at once, or gives him a kick which +breaks half his ribs, and sends him flying perhaps twenty paces. The +elephants, however, are often dreadfully torn; and a large old tiger +clings too fast to be thus dealt with. In this case it often happens +that the elephant himself falls, from pain, or from the hope of rolling +on his enemy; and the people on his back are in very considerable danger +both from friends and foes. The scratch of a tiger is sometimes +venomous, as that of a cat is said to be. But this does not often +happen; and, in general, persons wounded by his teeth or claws, if not +killed outright, recover easily enough. + +"I was at Jaffna, at the northern extremity of the Island of Ceylon, in +the beginning of the year 1819: when, one morning, my servant called me +an hour or two before my usual time, with, 'Master, master! people sent +for master's dogs--tiger in the town!' Now, my dogs chanced to be some +very degenerate specimens of a fine species, called the _Poligar_ dog, +which I should designate as a sort of wiry-haired grayhound, without +scent. I kept them to hunt jackals; but tigers are very different +things: by the way, there are no real tigers in Ceylon; but leopards and +panthers are always called so, and by ourselves as well as by the +natives. This turned out to be a panther. My gun chanced not to be put +together; and while my servant was doing it, the collector, and two +medical men, who had recently arrived, came to my door, the former armed +with a fowling-piece, and the latter with remarkably blunt hog-spears. +They insisted upon setting off without waiting for my gun, a proceeding +not much to my taste. The tiger (I must continue to call him so) had +taken refuge in a hut, the roof of which, as those of Ceylon huts in +general, spread to the ground like an umbrella; the only aperture into +it was a small door, about four feet high. The collector wanted to get +the tiger out at once. I begged to wait for my gun; but no--the +fowling-piece (loaded with ball, of course) and the two hog-spears were +quite enough. I got a hedge-stake, and awaited my fate, from very shame. +At this moment, to my great delight, there arrived from the fort an +English officer, two artillery-men, and a Malay captain; and a pretty +figure we should have cut without them, as the event will show. I was +now quite ready to attack, and my gun came a minute afterward. The whole +scene which follows took place within an enclosure, about twenty feet +square, formed, on three sides, by a strong fence of palmyra leaves, and +on the fourth by the hut. At the door of this the two artillery-men +planted themselves; and the Malay captain got on the top, to frighten +the tiger out, by worrying it--an easy operation, as the huts there are +covered with cocoa-nut leaves. One of the artillery-men wanted to go in +to the tiger, but we would not suffer it. At last the beast sprang; this +man received him on his bayonet, which he thrust apparently down his +throat, firing his piece at the same moment. The bayonet broke off +short, leaving less than three inches on the musket; the rest remained +in the animal, but was invisible to us: the shot probably went through +his cheek, for it certainly did not seriously injure him, as he +instantly rose upon his legs, with a loud roar, and placed his paws upon +the soldier's breast. At this moment, the animal appeared to me to about +reach the center of the man's face; but I had scarcely time to observe +this, when the tiger, stooping his head, seized the soldier's arm in his +mouth, turned him half round staggering, threw him over on his back, +and fell upon him. Our dread now was, that if we fired upon the tiger, +we might kill the man: for a moment there was a pause, when his comrade +attacked the beast exactly in the same manner as the gallant fellow +himself had done. He struck his bayonet into his head; the tiger rose at +him--he fired; and this time the ball took effect, and in the head. The +animal staggered backward, and we all poured in our fire. He still +kicked and writhed; when the gentlemen with the hog-spears advanced, and +fixed him, while the natives finished him, by beating him on the head +with hedge-stakes. The brave artillery-man was, after all, but slightly +hurt: he claimed the skin, which was very cheerfully given to him. There +was, however, a cry among the natives that the head should be cut off: +it was; and in so doing, the knife came directly across the bayonet. The +animal measured scarcely less than four feet from the root of the tail +to the muzzle There was no tradition of a tiger having been in Jaffna +before; indeed, this one must have either come a distance of almost +twenty miles, or have swam across an arm of the sea nearly two in +breadth; for Jaffna stands on a peninsula, on which there is no jungle +of any magnitude." + + + +INDIAN DEVIL. + +There is an animal in the deep recesses of the forests of Maine, +evidently belonging to the feline race, which, on account of its +ferocity, is significantly called "Indian Devil"--in the Indian +language, "the Lunk Soos;" a terror to the Indians, and the only animal +in New England of which they stand in dread. You may speak of the moose, +the bear, and the wolf even, and the red man is ready for the chase and +the encounter. But name the object of his dread, and he will +significantly shake his head, while he exclaims, "He all one debil!" + +An individual by the name of Smith met with the following adventure in +an encounter with one of these animals on the Arromucto, while on his +way to join a crew engaged in timber-making in the woods. + +He had nearly reached the place of encampment, when he came suddenly +upon one of these ferocious animals. There was no chance for retreat, +neither had he time for reflection on the best method of defence or +escape. As he had no arms or other weapons of defence, his first +impulse, in this truly fearful position, unfortunately, perhaps, was to +spring into a small tree near by; but he had scarcely ascended his +length when the desperate creature, probably rendered still more fierce +by the promptings of hunger, sprang upon and seized him by the heel. +Smith, however, after having his foot badly bitten, disengaged it from +the shoe, which was firmly clinched in the creature's teeth, and let him +drop. The moment he was disengaged, Smith sprang for a more secure +position, and the animal at the same time leaped to another large tree, +about ten feet distant, up which he ascended to an elevation equal to +that of his victim, from which he threw himself upon him, firmly fixing +his teeth in the calf of his leg. Hanging suspended thus until the +flesh, insufficient to sustain the weight, gave way, he dropped again to +the ground, carrying a portion of flesh in his mouth. Having greedily +devoured this morsel, he bounded again up the opposite tree, and from +thence upon Smith, in this manner renewing his attacks, and tearing away +the flesh in mouthfuls from his legs. During this agonizing operation, +Smith contrived to cut a limb from the tree, to which he managed to bind +his jack-knife, with which he could now assail his enemy at every leap. +He succeeded thus in wounding him so badly that at length his attacks +were discontinued, and he finally disappeared in the dense forest. +During the encounter, Smith had exerted his voice to the utmost to alarm +the crew, who, he hoped, might be within hail. He was heard, and in a +short time several of the crew reached the place, but not in time to +save him from the dreadful encounter. The sight was truly appalling. His +garments were not only rent from him, but the flesh literally torn from +his legs, exposing even the bone and sinews. It was with the greatest +difficulty he made the descent of the tree. Exhausted through loss of +blood, and overcome by fright and exertion, he sunk upon the ground and +immediately fainted; but the application of snow restored him to +consciousness. Preparing a litter from poles and boughs, they conveyed +him to the camp, washed and dressed his wounds, as well as circumstances +would allow, and, as soon as possible, removed him to the settlement, +where medical aid was secured. After a protracted period of confinement, +he gradually recovered from his wounds, though still carrying terrible +scars, and sustaining irreparable injury. Such desperate encounters are, +however of rare occurrence, though collisions less sanguinary are not +infrequent. + + + +BEAR FIGHT. + +A sanguinary encounter with bears took place in the vicinity of +Tara-height, on the Madawaska river, a few years since: + +"A trap had been set by one of the men, named Jacob Harrison, who, being +out in search of a yoke of oxen on the evening in question, saw a young +bear fast in the trap, and three others close at hand in a very angry +mood, a fact which rendered it necessary for him to make tracks +immediately. On arriving at the farm, he gave the alarm, and, seizing an +old dragoon sabre, he was followed to the scene of action by Mr. James +Burke, armed with a gun, and the other man with an axe. + +"They proceeded direct to the trap, supplied with a rope, intending to +take the young bear alive. It being a short time after dark, objects +could not be distinctly seen; but, on approaching close to the scene of +action, a crashing among the leaves and dry branches, with sundry other +indications, warned them of the proximity of the old animals. When +within a few steps of the spot, a dark mass was seen on the ground--a +growl was heard--and the confined beast made a furious leap on Jacob, +who was in advance, catching him by the legs. The infuriated animal +inflicted a severe wound on his knee, upon which he drew his sword and +defended himself with great coolness. + +"Upon receiving several wounds from the sabre, the cub commenced to +growl and cry in a frightful and peculiar manner, when the old she-bear, +attracted to the spot, rushed on the adventurous Harrison, and attacked +him from behind with great ferocity. Jacob turned upon the new foe, and +wielded his trusty weapon with such energy and success, that in a short +time he deprived her of one of her fore paws by a lucky stroke, and +completely disabled her, eventually, by a desperate cut across the neck, +which divided the tendons and severed the spinal vertebrae. Having +completed his conquest, he had ample time to dispatch the imprisoned cub +at leisure." + +"During the time this stirring and dangerous scene, we have related, was +enacting, war was going on in equally bloody and vigorous style at a +short distance. Mr. Burke, having discharged his gun at the other old +bear, only slightly wounded him; the enraged Bruin sprang at him with a +furious howl. He was met with a blow from the butt-end of the +fowling-piece. At the first stroke, the stock flew in pieces, and the +next the heavy barrel was hurled a distance of twenty feet among the +underwood by a side blow from the dexterous paw of the bear. Mr. Burke +then retreated a few feet, and placed his back against a large hemlock, +followed the while closely by the bear, but, being acquainted with the +nature of the animal and his mode of attack, he drew a large hunting +knife from his belt, and, placing his arms by his side, coolly awaited +the onset. + +"The maddened brute approached, growling and gnashing his teeth, and, +with a savage spring, encircled the body of the hunter and the tree in +his iron gripe. The next moment, the flashing blade of the _couteau +chasse_ tore his abdomen, and his smoking entrails rolled upon the +ground. At this exciting crisis of the struggle, the other man, +accompanied by the dog, came up in time to witness the triumphal close +of the conflict. + +"Two old bears and a cub were the fruit of this dangerous adventure--all +extremely fat--the largest of which, it is computed, would weigh upward +of two hundred and fifty pounds. We have seldom heard of a more +dangerous encounter with bears, and we are happy to say that Mr. Burke +received no injury; Mr. Jacob Harrison, although torn severely, and +having three ribs broken, recovered under the care of an Indian doctor +of the Algonquin tribe." + + + +THE MINERS OF BOIS-MONZIL. + +On Tuesday, February 22, 1831, a violent detonation was suddenly heard +in the coal mine of Bois-Monzil, belonging to M. Robinot. The waters +from the old works rushed impetuously along the new galleries. "The +waters, the waters!" such was the cry that resounded from the affrighted +workmen throughout the mine. Only ten miners out of twenty-six were able +to reach the entrance. One of them brought off in his arms, a boy eleven +years old, whom he thus saved from sudden death; another impelled by the +air and the water, to a considerable distance, could scarcely credit his +escape from such imminent danger; a third rushed forward with his sack +full of coals on his shoulders, which, in his fright, he had never +thought of throwing down. + +The disastrous news, that sixteen workmen had perished in the mine of M. +Robinot, was soon circulated in the town of St. Etienne. It was regarded +as one of those fatal and deplorable events unfortunately, too common in +that neighborhood, and on the ensuing Thursday it was no longer talked +of. Politics, and the state of parties in Paris, exclusively occupied +the public attention. + +The engineers of the mines, however, and some of their pupils, who, on +the first alarm, had hastened to the spot, still remained there, +continuing their indefatigable endeavors to discover the miners who were +missing. Nothing that mechanical science, manual labor, and +perseverance, prompted by humanity, could perform, was left undone. + +Thirty hours had already elapsed since the fatal accident, when two +workmen announced the discovery of a jacket and some provisions +belonging to the miners. The engineers immediately essayed to penetrate +into the galleries where these objects had been found, which they +accomplished with much difficulty, by crawling on their hands and feet. +In vain they repeatedly called aloud; no voice, save the echo of their +own, answered from those narrow and gloomy vaults. It then occurred to +them to strike with their pickaxes against the roof of the mine. Still +the same uncheering silence! Listen! yes! the sounds are answered by +similar blows! Every heart beats, every pulse quickens, every breath is +contracted; yet, perhaps, it is but an illusion of their wishes--or, +perhaps, some deceitful echo. They again strike the vaulted roof. There +is no longer any doubt. The same number of strokes is returned. No words +can paint the varied feelings that pervaded every heart. It was (to use +the expression of a person present) a veritable delirium of joy, of +fear, and of hope. + +Without losing an instant, the engineers ordered a hole to be bored in +the direction of the galleries, where the miners were presumed to be; at +the same time, they directed, on another point, the formation of an +inclined well, for the purpose of communicating with them. + +Two of the engineer's pupils were now dispatched to the mayor of St. +Etienne, to procure a couple of fire pumps, which they conducted back to +the mine, accompanied by two firemen. In the ardor of youthful humanity, +these young men imagined that the deliverance of the miners was but the +affair of a few hours; and, wishing to prepare an "agreeable surprise" +for the friends of the supposed victims, they gave strict injunctions at +the mayoralty to keep the object of their expedition a profound secret. + +Notwithstanding the untiring efforts made to place these pumps in the +mine, it was found impossible. Either they were upon a plane too much +inclined to admit of their playing with facility, or the water was too +muddy to be received up the pipes; they were therefore abandoned. In +the meantime, the attempts made to reach the miners by sounding or by +the inclined well, seemed to present insurmountable difficulties. The +distance to them was unknown; the sound of their blows on the roof, far +from offering a certain criterion, or, at least, a probable one, seemed +each time to excite fresh doubts; in short, the rock which it was +necessary to pierce, was equally hard and thick, and the gunpowder +unceasingly used to perforate it, made but a hopeless progress. The +consequent anxiety that reigned in the mine may be easily conceived. +Each of the party, in his turn, offered his suggestions, sometimes of +hope, sometimes of apprehension; and the whole felt oppressed by that +vague suspense, which is, perhaps, more painful to support than the +direst certainty. The strokes of the unfortunate miners continued to +reply to theirs, which added to their agitation, from the fear of not +being able to afford them effectual help. They almost thought that in +such a painful moment their situation was more distressing than those +they sought to save, as the latter were, at any rate, sustained by hope. + +While most of the party were thus perplexed by a crowd of disquieting +ideas, produced by the distressing nature of the event itself, and by +their protracted stay in a mine where the few solitary lamps scarcely +rendered "darkness visible," the workmen continued their labors with +redoubled ardor; some of them were hewing to pieces blocks of the rock, +which fell slowly and with much difficulty; others were actively +employed in boring the hole before named, while some of the engineers' +apprentices sought to discover new galleries, either by creeping on "all +fours," or by penetrating through perilous and narrow crevices and +clefts of the rock. + +In the midst of their corporeal and mental labors, their attention was +suddenly excited from another painful source. The wives of the hapless +miners had heard that all hope was not extinct. They hastened to the +spot; with heart-rending cries and through tears alternately of despair +and hope, they exclaimed, "Are they _all_ there?" "Where is the father +of my children? Is _he_ among them, or has he been swallowed up by +the waters?" + +At the bottom of the mine, close to the water-reservoir, a consultation +was held on the plan to be pursued. Engineers, pupils, workmen, all +agreed that the only prospect of success consisted in exhausting the +water, which was already sensibly diminished, by the working of the +steam-pump; the other pumps produced little or no effect, +notwithstanding the vigorous efforts employed to render them +serviceable. It was then proposed remedying the failure of these pumps +by _une chaine a bras_, viz, by forming a line, and passing buckets from +one to the other; this method was adopted, and several of the pupils +proceeded with all speed to St. Etienne. It was midnight. The _generale_ +was beat in two quarters of the town only. The Hotel de Ville was +assigned as the place of rendezvous. On the first alarm, a great number +of persons hurried to the town-hall, imagining a fire had broken out, +but, on ascertaining the real cause, several of them returned home, +apparently unmoved. Yet these same persons, whose supposed apathy had +excited both surprise and indignation, quickly reappeared on the scene, +dressed in the uniform of the National Guard. So powerful is the magic +influence of organized masses, marching under the orders of a chief, and +stimulated by _l'esprit de corps_. + +It was truly admirable to see with what address and rapidity the three +or four hundred men, who had hastened to Bois-Monzil, passed and +repassed the buckets, by forming a chain to the bottom of the mine. But +their generous efforts became too fatiguing to last long. Imagine a +subterranean vault, badly lighted, where they were obliged to maintain +themselves in a rapid descent in a stooping posture, to avoid striking +their heads against the roof of the vault, and, most of the time, up to +the middle in the water, which was dripping from every side; some idea +may then be formed of their painful situation. They were relieved from +this laborious duty by the _Garde Nationale_ of St. Etienne, whose zeal +and enthusiasm exceeded all praise. But a more precious reinforcement +was at hand; the workmen from the adjacent mines now arrived in great +numbers. From their skill and experience every thing might be expected; +if they failed there was no further hope. + +The _chaine a bras_ was again renewed by companies of the National +Guard, relieved every two hours, who, at respective distances, held the +lights, and under whose orders they acted. It was a cheering spectacle +to behold citizens of all ranks engaged in one of the noblest offices of +humanity, under the direction of poor colliers. + +The immense advantages of the organization of the National Guard, were +never more strikingly exemplified than on this occasion. Without them, +there would have been no means or possibility of uniting together an +entire population; of leading the people from a distance of more than +three miles, night and day, so as to insure a regular and continued +service; all would have been trouble and confusion. With them, on the +contrary, every thing was ready, and in motion, at the voice of a single +chief; and the whole was conducted with such precision and regularity +as had never on similar occasions, been witnessed before. + +The road from St. Etienne to Bois-Monzil, exhibited a scene of the most +animated kind. In the midst of the motley and moving multitude, the +National Guards were seen hurrying to and fro; chasseurs, grenadiers, +cavalry and artillery-men, all clothed in their rich new costume, as on +a field day. Some of the crowd were singing _a la Parisienne_, others +were lamenting, praying, hoping, despairing, and, by "fits and starts," +abandoning themselves to those opposite extravagances of sentiment so +peculiarly characteristic of a French population. When night drew her +sable curtains around, the picturesque of the scene was still more +heightened. Fresh bands of miners, conducted by their respective chiefs, +coming in from every side; their sooty visages lighted up by glaring +torches; National Guards arriving from different parts of the country, +to join their comrades of St. Etienne; farmers and peasants, on +horseback and afoot, hastening to offer their humane aid; sentinels +posted--muskets piled--watch-fires blazing, and, in short, the _tout +ensemble_ rendered the approaches of Bois-Monzil like a bivouac on the +eve of an expected battle; happily, however, the object of these brave +men was to preserve life and not to destroy it. + +On Saturday, the _chaine a bras_ was discontinued, as the engineers had +brought the pumps effectually to work. Suddenly a cry of joy was echoed +from mouth to mouth, "They are saved! they are saved! six of them are +freed from their subterraneous prison!" shouted a person at the entrance +of the mine. The rumor was instantly repeated along the crowd, and a +horseman set off at full speed for St. Etienne, with the gratifying +news; another followed, and confirmed the report of his predecessor. The +whole town was in motion, and all classes seemed to partake of the +general joy, with a feeling as if each had been individually interested. +In the exuberance of their delight they were already deliberating on the +subject of a _fete_, to celebrate the happy event, when a third horsemen +arrived. The multitude thronged round him, expecting a more ample +confirmation of the welcome tidings. But their joy was soon turned to +sorrow, when they were informed that nothing had yet been discovered, +save the dead bodies of two unfortunate men, who, together had left +eleven children to lament their untimely fate. + +On Sunday, the workmen continued their labor with equal zeal and +uncertainty as before. A sort of inquietude and hopelessness, however, +occasionally pervaded their minds, which may be easily accounted for, +from the hitherto fruitless result of their fatiguing researches. +Discussions now took place on what was to be done; differences of +opinion arose on the various plans proposed, and, in the meantime, the +sounds of the hapless victims from the recesses of the rocky cavern +continued to be distinctly audible. Every moment the embarrassment and +difficulties of the workmen increased. The flinty rock seemed to grow +more impenetrable; their tools either broke, or became so fixed in the +stone, that it was frequently impossible to regain them. The water +filtered from all parts, through the narrow gallery they were +perforating, and they even began to apprehend another irruption. + +Such was the state of things on Monday morning, when, at four o'clock, +an astounding noise was heard, which re-echoed throughout the Whole +extent of the mine. A general panic seized on every one; it was thought +that the waters had forced a new issue. A rapid and confused flight took +place; but, luckily, their fears were soon allayed on perceiving that it +was only an immense mass of rock, detached from the mine, which had +fallen into a draining-well. This false alarm, however, operated in a +discouraging manner, on the minds of the workmen; and it required some +management to bring them back to their respective stations, and to +revive that ardor and constancy, which they had hitherto so nobly +displayed. + +They had scarcely renewed their endeavors to bore through the rock, when +suddenly one of them felt the instrument drawn from his hands, by the +poor imprisoned miners. It was, indeed, to them, the instrument of +deliverance from their cruel situation. Singular to relate, their first +request was neither for food nor drink, but for _light_, as if they were +more eager to make use of their eyes, than to satisfy the pressing wants +of appetite! It was now ascertained that eight of the sufferers still +survived; and this time an authentic account of the happy discovery was +dispatched to St. Etienne, where it excited the most enthusiastic +demonstrations of sympathy and gladness. But there is no pleasure +unmixed with alloy; no general happiness unaccompanied by particular +exceptions. Among the workmen, was the father of one of the men who had +disappeared in the mine. His paternal feelings seemed to have endowed +him with superhuman strength. Night and day he never quitted his work +but for a few minutes to return to it with redoubled ardor; one sole, +absorbing thought occupied his whole soul; the idea that his son, his +_only_ son, was with those who were heard from within. In vain he was +solicited to retire; in vain they strove to force him from labors too +fatiguing for his age. "My son is among them," said he, "I hear him; +nothing shall prevent my hastening his release;" and, from time to time, +he called on his son, in accents that tore the hearts of the bystanders. +It was from his hand that the instrument had been drawn. His first +question was "my child?" Like Apelles, let me throw a vail over a +father's grief. His Antoine was no more, he had been drowned. + +For four days several medical men were constantly on the spot, to +contribute all the succors that humanity, skill, and science could +afford. It was they who introduced through the hole, broth and soup, by +means of long, tin tubes, which had been carefully prepared beforehand. +The poor captives distributed it with the most scrupulous attention, +first to the oldest and weakest of their companions; for, +notwithstanding their dreadful situation, the spirit of concord and +charity had never ceased for a single moment to preside among them. The +man who was appointed by the others to communicate with, and answer the +questions of their deliverers, displayed, in all his replies, a gayety +quite in keeping with the French character. On being asked what day he +thought it was, and on being informed that it was Monday, instead of +Sunday, as he had supposed, "Ah!" said he, "I ought to have known that, +as we yesterday indulged ourselves freely in drinking--water." Strange +that a man should have the heart to joke, who had been thus "cabin'd, +cribb'd, confin'd," during five days, destitute of food, deprived of +air, agitated by suspense, and in jeopardy of perishing by the most +horrible of all deaths! + +There still remained full sixteen feet of solid rock between the two +anxious parties; but the workmen's labors were now, if possible, +redoubled by the certainty of complete success. At intervals, light +nourishment in regulated quantities, continued to be passed to the +miners; this, however they soon rejected, expressing but one desire, +that their friends would make haste. Their strength began to fail them; +their respiration became more and more difficult; their utterance grew +feebler and fainter; and toward six o'clock in the evening, the last +words that could be distinguished, were--"Brothers make haste!" + +The general anxiety was now wound up to the highest pitch; it was, +perhaps, the most trying crisis yet experienced since the commencement +of their benevolent labors; at length the moment of deliverance was, all +at once, announced, and at ten o'clock it was accomplished. One by one, +they appeared, like specters, gliding along the gallery which had just +been completed; their weak and agitated forms supported by the +engineers, on whom they cast their feeble eyes, filled with +astonishment, yet beaming with gratitude. Accompanied by the doctors, +they all with one single exception, ascended to the entrance of the +mine, without aid; such was their eagerness to inhale the pure air of +liberty. From the mouth of the mine to the temporary residence allotted +them, the whole way was illuminated. The engineers, pupils, and the +workmen, with the National Guard under arms, were drawn up in two lines +to form a passage; and thus, in the midst of a religious silence, did +these poor fellows traverse an attentive and sympathizing crowd, who, as +they passed along, inclined their heads, as a sort of respect and honor +to their sufferings. + +Such are the affecting particulars of an event, during the whole of +which, every kind of business was suspended at St. Etienne; an event +which exhibited the entire population of a large town, forming, as it +were, but one heart, entertaining but one thought, imbued with one +feeling, for the god-like purpose of saving the lives of eight poor, +obscure individuals. Christians, men of all countries, whenever and +wherever suffering humanity claims your aid--"Go ye and do likewise!" + +[Illustration: SHIP TOWED BY BULLOCKS.] + + + +SHIP TOWED TO LAND BY BULLOCKS. + +A few years since the ship Ariadne, freighted principally with live +cattle, started on a voyage from Quebec, bound to Halifax. A gale came +on, which continued to increase in fury, until it became a perfect +hurricane. The ship was dismasted, and when the mainmast fell, three +poor fellows were crushed to death. A little before sunset, on the +second day of the gale, the appalling cry of "Breakers ahead!" was +raised. All eyes were instinctively turned in one direction; and, about +a mile off, the sea was as a boiling caldron. Toward the breakers the +hull was now drifting, unmanageable, every moment threatened with +destruction. For about half an hour, there was intense anxiety, and an +agony of suspense on board. At length she entered the breakers. A large +wave raised her, and she struck heavily on the rocks as the waves +receded; it was evident, from constant striking upon the bottom, that +the vessel must soon go to pieces; and the sea made a clean break over +her, about half of the length from the stern. The officers and crew were +huddled together upon the deck forward, intent upon devising means of +escape; at last the captain thought of a plan, which, though novel, +proved successful. He fastened ropes to the horns of several bullocks, +and drove them into the sea, their strong, instinctive love of life +impelled them forward, and several of them reached the shore. The ropes +were fastened by some men, who had assembled for the relief of those on +the vessel, and after much exertion and danger all on board were rescued +from their perilous situation, and landed in safety. + + + +DESTRUCTION OF A SHIP BY A WHALE. + +The following thrilling account of the destruction of the whale ship Ann +Alexander, Captain John S. Deblois, of New Bedford, by a large sperm +whale, is from the lips of the captain himself. A similar circumstance +has never been known to occur but once in the whole history of +whale-fishing, and that was the destruction of the ship Essex, some +twenty or twenty-five years ago, and which many of our readers fully +remember. We proceed to the narrative as furnished by Captain Deblois, +and which is fully authenticated by nine of the crew, in a protest under +the seal of the United States Consul, Alexander Ruden, Jr., at Paita. + +The ship Ann Alexander, Captain J.S. Deblois, sailed from New Bedford, +Mass., June 1st, 1850, for a cruise in the South Pacific for sperm +whale. Having taken about five hundred barrels of oil in the Atlantic, +the ship proceeded on her voyage to the Pacific. Nothing of unusual +interest occurred until when passing Cape Horn, one of the men, named +Jackson Walker, of Newport, N.H., was lost overboard in a storm. +Reaching the Pacific, she came up the coast and stopped at Valdivia, on +the coast of Chili, for fresh provisions, and the 31st of May last, she +called at Paita for the purpose of shipping a man. The vessel proceeded +on her return voyage to the South Pacific. + +On the 20th of August last she reached what is well known to all +whalers, as the "Off-shore ground," in latitude five degrees fifty +minutes south, longitude one hundred and twenty degrees west. In the +morning of that day, at about nine o'clock, whales were discovered in +the neighborhood, and about noon, the same day, they succeeded in making +fast to one. Two boats had gone after the whales--the larboard and the +starboard, the former commanded by the first mate, the latter by +Captain Deblois. The whale which they had struck, was harpooned by the +larboard boat. After running some time, the whale turned upon the boat, +and rushing at it with tremendous violence lifted open its enormous +jaws, and taking the boat in, actually crushed it into fragments as +small as a common chair! Captain Deblois immediately struck for the +scene of the disaster with the starboard boat, and succeeded, against +all expectation, in rescuing the whole of the crew of the boat--nine +in number! + +There were now eighteen men in the starboard boat, consisting of the +captain, the first mate, and the crews of both boats. The frightful +disaster had been witnessed from the ship, and the waste boat was called +into readiness, and sent to their relief. The distance from the ship was +about six miles. As soon as the waste boat arrived, the crews were +divided, and it was determined to pursue the same whale, and make +another attack upon him. Accordingly they separated, and proceeded at +some distance from each other, as is usual on such occasions, after the +whale. In a short time, they came up to him, and prepared to give him +battle. The waste boat, commanded by the first mate, was in advance. As +soon as the whale perceived the demonstration being made upon him, he +turned his course, suddenly, and making a tremendous dash at this boat, +seized it with his wide-spread jaws, and crushed it to atoms, allowing +the men barely time to escape his vengeance, by throwing themselves into +the ocean. + +Captain Deblois, again seeing the perilous condition of his men, at the +risk of meeting the same fate, directed his boat to hasten to their +rescue, and in a short time succeeded in saving them all from a death +little less horrible than that from which they had twice as narrowly +escaped. He then ordered the boat to put for the ship as speedily as +possible; and no sooner had the order been given, than they discovered +the monster of the deep making toward them with his jaws widely +extended. Fortunately, the monster came up and passed them at a short +distance. The boat then made her way to the ship and they all got on +board in safety. + +After reaching the ship a boat was dispatched for the oars of the +demolished boats, and it was determined to pursue the whale with the +ship. As soon as the boat returned with the oars, sail was set, and the +ship proceeded after the whale. In a short time she overtook him, and a +lance was thrown into his head. The ship passed on by him, and +immediately after they discovered that the whale was making for the +ship. As he came up near her, they hauled on the wind, and suffered the +monster to pass her. After he had fairly passed, they kept off to +overtake and attack him again. When the ship had reached within about +fifty rods of him, they discovered that the whale had settled down deep +below the surface of the water, and, as it was near sundown, they +concluded to give up the pursuit. + +Captain Deblois was at this time standing in the night-heads on the +larboard bow, with lance in hand, ready to strike the monster a deadly +blow should he appear, the ship moving about five knots, when working on +the side of the ship, he discovered the whale rushing toward her at the +rate of fifteen knots! In an instant, the monster struck the ship with +tremendous violence, shaking her from stem to stern! She quivered under +the violence of the shock, as if she had struck upon a rock! Captain +Deblois immediately descended into the forecastle, and there, to his +horror, discovered that the monster had struck the ship two feet from +the keel, abreast the foremast, knocking a great hole entirely through +her bottom. Springing to the deck, he ordered the mate to cut away the +anchors and get the cables overboard, to keep the ship from sinking, as +she had a large quantity of pig iron on board. In doing this, the mate +succeeded in getting only one anchor and one cable clear, the other +having been fastened around the foremast. The ship was then sinking +rapidly. The captain went to the cabin, where he found three feet of +water; he, however, succeeded in procuring a chronometer, sextant, +and chart. + +Reaching the decks, he ordered the boats to be cleared away, and get +water and provisions, as the ship was keeling over. He again descended +to the cabin, but the water was rushing in so rapidly that he could +procure nothing. He then came upon deck, ordered all hands into the +boats, and was the last to leave the ship, which he did by throwing +himself into the sea, and swimming to the nearest boat! The ship was on +her beam end, top-gallant yards under the water. They then pushed off +some distance from the ship, expecting her to sink in a very short time. +Upon an examination of the stores they had been able to save, he +discovered that they had only twelve quarts of water, and not a mouthful +of provisions of any kind! The boats contained eleven men each; were +leaky, and night coming on, they were obliged to bail them all night to +keep them from sinking! + +Next day, at daylight, they returned to the ship, no one daring to +venture on board but the captain, their intention being to cut away the +masts, and fearful that the moment the masts were cut away that the ship +would go down. With a single hatchet, the captain went on board, cut +away the mast, when the ship righted. The boats then came up, and the +men, by the sole aid of spades, cut away the chain cable from around the +foremast, which got the ship nearly on her keel. The men then tied ropes +around their bodies, got into the sea and cut a hole through the decks +to get out provisions. They could procure nothing but about five gallons +of vinegar and twenty pounds of wet bread. The ship threatened to sink, +and they deemed it prudent to remain by her no longer, so they set sail +in their boats and left her. + +On the 22d of August, at about five o'clock P.M., they had the +indescribable joy of seeing a ship in the distance. They made signal and +were soon answered, and in a short time they were reached by the ship +Nantucket, of Nantucket, Mass., Captain Gibbs, who took them all on +board, clothed and fed them, and extended to them in every way the +greatest possible hospitality. + +On the succeeding day Captain Gibbs went to the wreck of the ill-fated +Ann Alexander, for the purpose of trying to procure something; but, as +the sea was rough, and the attempt considered dangerous, he abandoned +the project. The Nantucket then set sail for Paita, where she arrived on +the 15th of September, and where she landed Captain Deblois and his men. +Captain Deblois was kindly received and hospitably entertained at +Paita by Captain Bathurst, an English gentleman residing there, and +subsequently took passage on board the schooner Providence, Captain +Starbuck, for Panama. + +[Illustration: BURNING OF THE KENT--EAST INDIAMAN] + + + +BURNING OF THE KENT. + +The annexed engraving represents the burning of the Kent, East Indiaman, +in the Bay of Biscay. She had on board in all six hundred and forty-one +persons at the time of the accident. The fire broke out in the hold +during a storm. An officer on duty, finding that a spirit cask had +broken loose, was taking measures to secure it, when a lurch of the ship +caused him to drop his lantern, and, in his eagerness to save it, he let +go the cask, which suddenly stove in, the spirits communicated with the +flame, and the whole place was instantly in a blaze. Hopes of subduing +the fire at first were strong, but soon heavy volumes of smoke and a +pitchy smell told that it had reached the cable-room. + +In these awful circumstances, the captain ordered the lower decks to be +scuttled, to admit water; this was done; several poor seamen being +suffocated by the smoke in executing the order; but now a new danger +threatened, the sea rushed in so furiously, that the ship was becoming +water-logged, and all feared her going down. Between six and seven +hundred human beings, were by this time crowded on the deck. Many on +their knees earnestly implored the mercy of an all-powerful God! while +some old stout-hearted sailors quietly seated themselves directly over +the powder magazine,--expecting an explosion every moment, and thinking +thus to put a speedier end to their torture. + +In this time of despair, it occurred to the fourth mate to send a man to +the foremast, hoping, but scarce daring to think it probable, that some +friendly sail might be in sight. The man at the foretop looked around +him; it was a moment of intense anxiety; then waving his hat, he cried +out, "A sail, on the lee-bow!" + +Those on deck received the news with heart-felt gratitude, and answered +with three cheers. Signals of distress were instantly hoisted, and +endeavors used to make toward the stranger, while the minute guns were +fired continuously. She proved to be the brig Cambria, Captain Cook, +master, bound to Vera Cruz, having twenty Cornish miners, and some +agents of the Mining Company on board. For about a quarter of an hour, +the crew of the Kent doubted whether the brig perceived their signals: +but after a period of dreadful suspense, they saw the British colors +hoisted, and the brig making toward them. + +On this, the crew of the Kent got their boats in readiness; the first +was filled with women, passengers, and officers' wives, and was lowered +into a sea so tempestuous as to leave small hope of their reaching the +brig; they did, however, after being nearly swamped through some +entanglement of the ropes, getting clear of the Kent, and were safely +taken on board the Cambria, which prudently lay at some distance off. + +After the first trip, it was found impossible for the boats to come +close alongside of the Kent, and the poor women and children suffered +dreadfully, in being lowered over the stern into them by means of ropes. +Amid this gloomy scene, many beautiful examples occurred of filial and +parental affection, and of disinterested friendship; and many sorrowful +instances of individual loss and suffering. At length, when all had been +removed from the burning vessel, but a few, who were so overcome by fear +as to refuse to make the attempt to reach the brig, the captain quitted +his ill-fated ship. + +The flames which had spread along her upper deck, now mounted rapidly to +the mast and rigging, forming one general conflagration, and lighting +up the heavens to an immense distance around. One by one her stately +masts fell over her sides. By half-past one in the morning the fire +reached the powder magazine; the looked-for explosion took place, and +the burning fragments of the vessel were blown high into the air, like +so many rockets. + +The Cambria, with her crowd of sufferers, made all speed to the nearest +port, and reached Portsmouth in safety, shortly after midnight, on the +3d of March, 1825, the accident having taken place on the 28th of +February. Wonderful to tell, fourteen of the poor creatures, left on the +Kent, were rescued by another ship, the Caroline, on her passage from +Alexandria to Liverpool. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea +by James O. Brayman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THRILLING ADVENTURES *** + +***** This file should be named 10765-8.txt or 10765-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/7/6/10765/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/10765-8.zip b/old/10765-8.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..67b015f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-8.zip diff --git a/old/10765-h.zip b/old/10765-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..b2e2d23 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h.zip diff --git a/old/10765-h/016.png b/old/10765-h/016.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..346478f --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/016.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/047.png b/old/10765-h/047.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..75193c7 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/047.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/084.png b/old/10765-h/084.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d7b4a4e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/084.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/105.png b/old/10765-h/105.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9aa5c5c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/105.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/10765-h.htm b/old/10765-h/10765-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5a6d728 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/10765-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,10009 @@ +<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> +<html> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content= + "text/html; charset=iso-8859-1"> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea, by James O. Brayman. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> + <!-- + * { font-family: Times;} + P { margin-top: .75em; + margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + font-size: 14pt; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; } + H1,H2,H3,H4,H5,H6 { text-align: center; } + HR { width: 33%; } + // --> + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +Project Gutenberg's Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea, by James O. Brayman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea + +Author: James O. Brayman + +Release Date: January 21, 2004 [EBook #10765] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THRILLING ADVENTURES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<h2>THRILLING ADVENTURES</h2> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>LAND AND SEA</h2> +<br><br> + +<h4>BEING</h4> + +<h3>REMARKABLE HISTORICAL FACTS, GATHERED +FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES.</h3> +<br><br> + +<h4>EDITED BY</h4> + +<h2>JAMES O. BRAYMAN.</h2> + +<center>"Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances,<br> + Of moving accidents by flood and field."<br></center> +<br><br><br> + +<h2>PREFACE.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 25%;"> + +<p>There is a large class of readers who seek books for the sake of the +amusement they afford. Many are not very fastidious as to the character +of those they select, and consequently the press of the present day +teems with works which are not only valueless, so far as imparting +information is concerned, but actually deleterious in their moral +tendency, and calculated to vitiate and enervate the mind. Such +publications as pander to a prurient taste find a large circulation with +a portion of society who read them for the same reason that the +inebriate seeks his bowl, or the gambler the instruments of his +vocation--for the excitement they produce. The influence of works of +this description is all bad--there is not a single redeeming feature to +commend them to the favor or toleration of the virtuous or intelligent. +It cannot be expected that minds accustomed to such reading can at once +be elevated into the higher walks of literature or the more rugged paths +of science. An intermediate step, by which they may be lifted into a +higher mental position, is required.</p> + +<p>There is in the adventures of the daring and heroic, something that +interests all. There is a charm about them which, while it partakes of +the nature of Romance, does not exercise the same influence upon the +mind or heart. When there are noble purposes and noble ends connected +with them, they excite in the mind of the reader, noble impulses.</p> + +<p>The object of the present compilation is to form a readable and +instructive volume--a volume of startling incident and exciting +adventure, which shall interest all minds, and by its attractions beget +thirst for reading with those who devote their leisure hours to things +hurtful to themselves and to community. We have endeavored to be +authentic, and to present matter, which, if it sometimes fail to impart +knowledge or instruction, or convey a moral lesson, will, at least, be +innoxious. But we trust we have succeeded in doing more than this--in +placing before the reading public something that is really valuable, and +that will produce valuable results.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>CONTENTS.</h2> + +<hr style="width: 25%;"> + +<br> +<ul> +<li><a href="#INCIDENT_AT_RESACA_DE_LA_PALMA.">Incident at Resaca de la Palma</a></li> +<li><a href="#TRUE_HEROISM.">True Heroism</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_THRILLING_INCIDENT.">Thrilling Incident</a></li> +<li><a href="#AN_INCIDENT">Incident in the War of Mexican Independence</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_SKETCH">Sketch from Life on the Ocean</a></li> +<li><a href="#ESCAPE_FROM_SHIPWRECK.">Escape from Shipwreck</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_HUNTER'S_WIFE.">The Hunter's Wife</a></li> +<li><a href="#DEAF_SMITH,">Deaf Smith, the Texan Spy</a></li> +<li><a href="#ESCAPE_FROM_A_SHARK.">Escape from a Shark</a></li> +<li><a href="#ADVENTURE_WITH_PIRATES.">Adventure with Pirates</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_SEA_FOWLING_ADVENTURE.">A Sea-Fowling Adventure</a></li> +<li><a href="#ADVENTURE_WITH_A_COBRA_DI_CAPELLO">Adventure with a Cobra di Capello</a></li> +<li><a href="#COMBAT_OF_WILD_ANIMALS.">Combat of Wild Animals</a></li> +<li><a href="#PERILOUS_INCIDENT">Perilous Incident on a Canadian River</a></li> +<li><a href="#LEOPARD_HUNTING.">Leopard Hunting</a></li> +<li><a href="#HUNTING_THE_WHITE_RHINOCEROS,">Hunting the White Rhinoceros</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_LEOPARD_HUNT.">A Leopard Hunt</a></li> +<li><a href="#LIFE_IN_CALIFORNIA.">Life in California</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_STORM_AMONG_THE_ICEBERGS.">A Storm among the Icebergs</a></li> +<li><a href="#FALL_OF_THE_ROSSBERG.">Fall of the Rossberg</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_RIFLEMAN_OF_CHIPPEWA.">The Rifleman of Chippewa</a></li> +<li><a href="#SHIPWRECK_OF_THE_BLENDENHALL.">Shipwreck of the Blendenhall</a></li> +<li><a href="#ADVENTURES_OF_SERGEANT_CHAMPE">Adventures of Sergeant Champe</a></li> +<li><a href="#ADVENTURE_WITH_PIRATES2.">Adventures with Pirates</a></li> +<li><a href="#KENTON_THE_SPY.">Kenton, the Spy</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_DYING_VOLUNTEER,">The Dying Volunteer</a></li> +<li><a href="#ESCAPE_FROM_A_MEXICAN_QUICKSAND">Escape from a Mexican Quicksand</a></li> +<li><a href="#CHASED_BY_A_RHINOCEROS.">Charged by a Rhinoceros</a></li> +<li><a href="#BURNING_OF_THE_ERIE.">Burning of the Erie</a></li> +<li><a href="#CONFLICT_WITH_AN_INDIAN.">Conflict with an Indian</a></li> +<li><a href="#FIRE_ON_THE_PRAIRIES.">Fire on the Prairies</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_CAPTAIN'S_STORY.">The Captain's Story</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_TUSSLE_WITH_A_WILDCAT.">Tussle with a Wildcat</a></li> +<li><a href="#AN_INCIDENT_IN_FRONTIER_LIFE">Incident in Frontier Life</a></li> +<li><a href="#FEMALE_INTREPIDITY.">Female Intrepidity</a></li> +<li><a href="#FEARFUL_ENCOUNTER_WITH_ROBBERS.">Encounter with Robbers</a></li> +<li><a href="#SHIPWRECK_OF_THE_MONTICELLO.">Shipwreck of the Monticello</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_JUNGLE_RECOLLECTION.">A Jungle Recollection</a></li> +<li><a href="#ATTACK_OF_BOONSBOROUGH.">Attack of Boonesborough</a></li> +<li><a href="#THRILLING_INCIDENTS_OF_BATTLE.">Thrilling Incidents of Battle</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_FAMILY_ATTACKED_BY_INDIANS.">Family Attacked by Indians</a></li> +<li><a href="#THRILLING_INCIDENT.">Thrilling Incident</a></li> +<li><a href="#ADVENTURES">Adventures of Dr. Bacon</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_BATTLE_WITH_SNAKES.">A Battle with Snakes</a></li> +<li><a href="#ESTILL'S_DEFEAT.">Estill's Defeat</a></li> +<li><a href="#INCIDENT_AT_NIAGARA_FALLS.">Incident at Niagara Falls</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_SKATER_CHASED_BY_A_WOLF.">Skater chased by a Wolf</a></li> +<li><a href="#OUR_FLAG_ON_THE_ROCKY_MOUNTAINS">Our Flag on the Rocky Mountains</a></li> +<li><a href="#RUNNING_THE_CANON.">Running the Canon</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_RESCUE.">The Rescue</a></li> +<li><a href="#SHIPWRECK_OF_THE_MEDUSA.">Shipwreck of the Medusa</a></li> +<li><a href="#HUNTING_THE_MOOSE.">Hunting the Moose</a></li> +<li><a href="#PERILOUS_ESCAPE_FROM_DEATH.">Perilous Escape from Death</a></li> +<li><a href="#FIRE_IN_THE_FOREST.">Fire in the Forest</a></li> +<li><a href="#PIRATES_OF_THE_RED_SEA.">Pirates of the Red Sea</a></li> +<li><a href="#GEN._JACKSON_AND_WEATHERFORD.">General Jackson and Weatherford</a></li> +<li><a href="#CRUISE_OF_THE_SALDANHA_AND_TALBOT">Cruise of the Saldanha and Talbot</a></li> +<li><a href="#A_CARIB'S_REVENGE.">A Carib's Revenge</a></li> +<li><a href="#MASSACRE_OF_FORT_MIMMS.">Massacre of Fort Mimms</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_FRESHET.">The Freshet</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_PANTHER'S_DEN.">The Panther's Den</a></li> +<li><a href="#ADVENTURE_WITH_ELEPHANTS.">Adventure with Elephant's</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_SHARK_SENTINEL.">The Shark Sentinel</a></li> +<li><a href="#HUNTING_THE_TIGER.">Hunting the Tiger</a></li> +<li><a href="#INDIAN_DEVIL.">Indian Devil</a></li> +<li><a href="#BEAR_FIGHT.">Bear Fight</a></li> +<li><a href="#THE_MINERS_OF_BOIS-MONZIL.">The Miners of Bois-Monzil</a></li> +<li><a href="#SHIP_TOWED_TO_LAND_BY_BULLOCKS.">Ship Towed to Land by Bullocks</a></li> +<li><a href="#DESTRUCTION_OF_A_SHIP_BY_A_WHALE.">Destruction of a Ship by a Whale</a></li> +<li><a href="#BURNING_OF_THE_KENT.">Burning of the Kent</a></li> +</ul> + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS.</h2> +<hr style="width: 25%;"> +<br> + +<ul> +<li>Frontispiece</li> +<li><a href="016.png">Attack on the Lighthouse</a></li> +<li><a href="047.png">Before the Gale</a></li> +<li><a href="084.png">Escape from a Shark</a></li> +<li><a href="105.png">Tiger and Buffalo</a></li> +<li><a href="132.png">Charge of the Buffalo</a></li> +<li><a href="157.png">Loss of the Blendenhall</a></li> +<li><a href="202.png">Death of Montgomery</a></li> +<li><a href="235.png">Escape from the Rhinoceros</a></li> +<li><a href="248.png">The Last Shot</a></li> +<li><a href="267.png">The Pursuit</a></li> +<li><a href="278.png">Loss of the Monticello</a></li> +<li><a href="299.png">Attack on Boonesborough</a></li> +<li><a href="310.png">Death of the Widow's Daughter</a></li> +<li><a href="315.png">Attacked by Wolves</a></li> +<li><a href="340.png">Attack on Estill's Station</a></li> +<li><a href="349.png">Our Flag on the Rocky Mountains</a></li> +<li><a href="374.png">A Sail in Sight</a></li> +<li><a href="385.png">Savages Torturing a Captive</a></li> +<li><a href="400.png">Gen. Jackson and Weatherford</a></li> +<li><a href="413.png">Gen. Coffee's Attack on the Indians</a></li> +<li><a href="430.png">Charge of the Elephants</a></li> +<li><a href="437.png">Hunting the Tiger</a></li> +<li><a href="462.png">Ship towed by Bullocks</a></li> +<li><a href="471.png">Burning of the Kent</a></li> +</ul> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h1>THRILLING ADVENTURES</h1> + +<h1>BY</h1> + +<h1>LAND AND SEA.</h1> + +<hr style="width: 25%;"> + +<h2><a name="INCIDENT_AT_RESACA_DE_LA_PALMA."></a>INCIDENT AT RESACA DE LA PALMA.</h2> + +<p>Sergeant Milton gives the following account of an incident which befel +him at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma.</p> + +<p>"At Palo Alto," says he, "I took my rank in the troop as second +sergeant, and while upon the field my horse was wounded in the jaw by a +grape-shot, which disabled him for service. While he was plunging in +agony I dismounted, and the quick eye of Captain May observed me as I +alighted from my horse. He inquired if I was hurt. I answered no--that +my horse was the sufferer. 'I am glad it is not yourself,' replied he; +'there is another,' (pointing at the same time to a steed without a +rider, which was standing with dilated eye, gazing at the strife,) +'mount him,' I approached the horse, and he stood still until I put my +hand upon the rein and patted his neck, when he rubbed his head +alongside of me, as if pleased that some human being was about to become +his companion in the affray.</p> + +<p>"On the second day, at Resaca de la Palma, our troop stood anxiously +waiting for the signal to be given, and never had I looked upon men on +whose countenances were more clearly expressed a fixed determination to +win. The lips of some were pale with excitement, and their eyes wore +that fixed expression which betokens mischief; others, with shut teeth, +would quietly laugh, and catch a tighter grip of the rein, or seat +themselves with care and firmness in the saddle, while quiet words of +confidence and encouragement were passed from each to his neighbor. All +at once Captain May rode to the front of his troop--every rein and sabre +was tightly grasped. Raising himself and pointing at the battery, he +shouted, 'Men, <i>follow</i>!' There was now a clattering of hoofs and a +rattling of sabre sheaths--the fire of the enemy's guns was partly drawn +by Lieutenant Ridgely, and the next moment we were sweeping like the +wind up the ravine. I was in a squad of about nine men, who were +separated by a shower of grape from the battery, and we were in advance, +May leading. He turned his horse opposite the breastwork, in front of +the guns, and with another shout 'to follow,' leaped over them. Several +of the horses did follow, but mine, being new and not well trained, +refused; two others balked, and their riders started down the ravine to +turn the breastwork where the rest of the troop had entered. I made +another attempt to clear the guns with my horse, turning him +around--feeling all the time secure at thinking the guns discharged--I +put his head toward them and gave him spur, but he again balked; so +turning his head down the ravine, I too started to ride round the +breastwork.</p> + +<p>"As I came down, a lancer dashed at me with lance in rest. With my sabre +I parried his thrust, only receiving a slight flesh-wound from its point +in the arm, which felt at the time like the prick of a pin. The lancer +turned and fled; at that moment a ball passed through my horse on the +left side and shattered my right side. The shot killed the horse +instantly, and he fell upon my left leg, fastening me by his weight to +the earth. There I lay, right in the midst of the action, where carnage +was riding riot, and every moment the shot, from our own and the Mexican +guns, tearing up the earth around me. I tried to raise my horse so as to +extricate my leg but I had already grown so weak with my wound that I +was unable, and from the mere attempt, I fell back exhausted. To add to +my horror, a horse, who was careering about, riderless, within a few +yards of me, received a wound, and he commenced struggling and rearing +with pain. Two or three times, he came near falling on me, but at +length, with a scream of agony and a bound, he fell dead--his body +touching my own fallen steed. What I had been in momentary dread of now +occurred--my wounded limb, which was lying across the horse, received +another ball in the ankle.</p> + +<p>"I now felt disposed to give up; and, exhausted through pain and +excitement, a film gathered over my eyes, which I thought was the +precursor of dissolution. From this hopeless state I was aroused by a +wounded Mexican, calling out to me, '<i>Bueno Americano,</i>' and turning my +eyes toward the spot, I saw that he was holding a certificate and +calling to me. The tide of action now rolled away from me and hope again +sprung up. The Mexican uniforms began to disappear from the chapparal, +and squadrons of our troops passed in sight, apparently in pursuit. +While I was thus nursing the prospect of escape, I beheld, not far from +me, a villainous-looking ranchero, armed with an American sergeant's +short sword, dispatching a wounded American soldier, whose body he +robbed--the next he came to was a Mexican, whom he served the same way, +and thus I looked on while he murderously slew four. I drew an +undischarged pistol from my holsters, and laying myself along my horse's +neck, watched him, expecting to be the next victim; but something +frightened him from his vulture-like business, and he fled in another +direction. I need not say that had he visited me I should have taken one +more shot at the enemy, and would have died content, had I succeeded in +making such an assassin bite the dust. Two hours after, I had the +pleasure of shaking some of my comrades by the hand, who were picking up +the wounded. They lifted my Mexican friend, too, and I am pleased to say +he, as well as myself, live to fight over again the sanguine fray of +<i>Resaca de la Palma."</i></p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="TRUE_HEROISM."></a>TRUE HEROISM.</h2> + +<p>While the plague raged violently at Marseilles, every link of affection +was broken, the father turned from the child, the child from the father; +cowardice and ingratitude no longer excited indignation. Misery is at +its height when it thus destroys every generous feeling, thus dissolves +every tie of humanity! the city became a desert, grass grew in the +streets; a funeral met you at every step.</p> + +<p>The physicians assembled in a body at the Hotel de Ville, to hold a +consultation on the fearful disease, for which no remedy had yet been +discovered. After a long deliberation, they decided unanimously, that +the malady had a peculiar and mysterious character, which opening a +corpse alone might develope--an operation it was impossible to attempt, +since the operator must infallibly become a victim in a few hours, +beyond the power of human art to save him, as the violence of the attack +would preclude their administering the customary remedies. A dead pause +succeeded this fatal declaration. Suddenly, a surgeon named Guyon, in +the prime of life, and of great celebrity in his profession, rose and +said firmly, "Be it so: I devote myself for the safety of my country. +Before this numerous assembly I swear, in the name of humanity and +religion, that to-morrow, at the break of day, I will dissect a corpse, +and write down as I proceed, what I observe." He left the assembly +instantly. They admired him, lamented his fate, and doubted whether he +would persist in his design. The intrepid Guyon, animated by all the +sublime energy which patriotism can inspire, acted up to his word. He +had never married, he was rich, and he immediately made a will; he +confessed, and in the middle of the night received the sacraments. A man +had died of the plague in his house within four and twenty hours. +Guyon, at daybreak, shut himself up in the same room; he took with him +an inkstand, paper, and a little crucifix. Full of enthusiasm, and +kneeling before the corpse, he wrote,--"Mouldering remains of an +immortal soul, not only can I gaze on thee without horror, but even with +joy and gratitude. Thou wilt open to me the gates of a glorious +eternity. In discovering to me the secret cause of the terrible disease +which destroys my native city, thou wilt enable me to point out some +salutary remedy--thou wilt render my sacrifice useful. Oh God! thou wilt +bless the action thou hast thyself inspired." He began--he finished the +dreadful operation, and recorded in detail his surgical observations. He +left the room, threw the papers into a vase of vinegar, and afterward +sought the lazaretto, where he died in twelve hours--a death ten +thousand times more glorious than the warrior's, who, to save his +country, rushes on the enemy's ranks,--since he advances with hope, at +least, sustained, admired, and seconded by a whole army.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_THRILLING_INCIDENT."></a>A THRILLING INCIDENT.</h2> + +<p>An incident occurred at the Key Biscayne lighthouse, during the Florida +war, which is perhaps worth recording. The lighthouse, was kept by a man +named Thompson. His only companion was an old negro man; they both lived +in a small hut near the lighthouse. One evening about dark they +discovered a party of some fifteen or twenty Indians creeping upon them, +upon which they immediately retreated into the lighthouse, carrying with +them a keg of gunpowder, with the guns and ammunition. From the windows +of the lighthouse Thompson fired upon them several times, but the moment +he would show himself at the window, the glasses would be instantly +riddled by the rifle balls, and he had no alternative but to lie close. +The Indians meanwhile getting out of patience, at not being able to +force the door, which Thompson had secured, collected piles of wood, +which, being placed against the door and set fire to, in process of time +not only burnt through the door, but also set fire to the stair-case +conducting to the lantern, into which Thompson and the negro were +compelled to retreat. From this, too, they were finally driven by the +encroaching flames, and were forced outside on the parapet wall, which +was not more than three feet wide.</p> + +<center><a href="016.png"><img src="016.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Attack on the Lighthouse.</a></center> + +<p>The flames now began to ascend as from a chimney, some fifteen or twenty +feet above the lighthouse. These men had to lie in this situation, some +seventy feet above the ground, with a blazing furnace roasting them on +one side, and the Indians on the other, embracing every occasion, as +soon as any part of the body was exposed to pop at them. The negro +incautiously exposing himself, was killed, while Thompson received +several balls in his feet, which he had projected beyond the wall.</p> + +<p>Nearly roasted to death, and in a fit of desperation, Thompson seized +the keg of gunpowder, which he had still preserved from the hands of the +enemy, threw it into the blazing lighthouse, hoping to end his own +sufferings and destroy the savages. In a few moments it exploded, but +the walls were too strong to be shaken, and the explosion took place out +of the lighthouse, as though it had been fired from a gun.</p> + +<p>The effect of the concussion was to throw down the blazing materials +level with the ground, so as to produce a subsidence of the flames, and +then Thompson was permitted to remain exempt from their influence. +Before day the Indians were off, and Thompson being left alone, was +compelled to throw off the body of the negro, while strength was left +him, and before it putrefied.</p> + +<p>The explosion was heard on board a revenue cutter at some distance, +which immediately proceeded to the spot to ascertain what had occurred, +when they found the lighthouse burnt, and the keeper above, on top of +it. Various expedients were resorted to, to get him down; and finally a +kite was made, and raised with strong twine, and so manoeuvered as to +bring the line within his reach, to which a rope of good size was next +attached, and hauled up by Thompson. Finally, a block, which being +fastened to the lighthouse, and having a rope to it, enabled the crew to +haul up a couple of men, by whose aid Thompson was safely landed on +terra firma.</p> + +<p>The Indians had attempted to reach him by means of the lightning rod, to +which they had attached thongs of buckskin, but could not succeed in +getting more than half way up.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="AN_INCIDENT"></a>AN INCIDENT</h2> + +<h3>IN THE WAR OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE.</h3> + +<p>The following thrilling narrative is from a translation in Sharpe's +Magazine. A captain in the Mexican insurgent army is giving an account +of a meditated night attack upon a hacienda situated in the Cordilleras, +and occupied by a large force of Spanish soldiers. After a variety of +details, he continues:</p> + +<p>"Having arrived at the hacienda unperceived, thanks for the obscurity of +a moonless night, we came to a halt under some large trees, at some +distance from the building, and I rode forward from my troop, in order +to reconnoitre the place. The hacienda, so far as I could see in gliding +across, formed a huge, massive parallelogram, strengthened by enormous +buttresses of hewn stone. Along this chasm, the walls of the hacienda +almost formed the continuation of another perpendicular one, chiselled +by nature herself in the rocks, to the bottom of which the eye could not +penetrate, for the mists, which incessantly boiled up from below, did +not allow it to measure their awful depth. This place was known, in the +country, by the name of 'the Voladero.'"</p> + +<p>"I had explored all sides of the building except this, when I know not +what scruple of military honor incited me to continue my ride along the +ravine which protected the rear of the hacienda. Between the walls and +the precipice, there was a narrow pathway about six feet wide; by day, +the passage would have been dangerous; but, by night, it was a perilous +enterprize. The walls of the farm took an extensive sweep, the path +crept round their entire basement, and to follow it to the end, in the +darkness, only two paces from the edge of a perpendicular chasm, was no +very easy task, even for as practiced a horseman as myself. +Nevertheless, I did not hesitate, but boldly urged my horse between the +walls of the farm-house and the abyss of the Voladero. I had got over +half the distance without accident, when, all of a sudden, my horse +neighed aloud. This neigh made me shudder. I had just reached a pass +where the ground was but just wide enough for the four legs of a horse, +and it was impossible to retrace my steps."</p> + +<p>"'Hallo!' I exclaimed aloud, at the risk of betraying myself, which was +even less dangerous than encountering a horseman in front of me on such +a road. 'There is a Christian passing along the ravine! Keep back,'"</p> + +<p>"It was too late. At that moment, a man on horseback passed round one +of the buttresses which here and there obstructed this accursed pathway +He advanced toward me. I trembled in my saddle; my forehead bathed in a +cold sweat."</p> + +<p>"'For the love of God! can you not return?' I exclaimed, terrified at +the fearful situation in which we both were placed."</p> + +<p>"'Impossible!' replied the horseman."</p> + +<p>"I recommended my soul to God. To turn our horses round for want of +room, to back them along the path we had traversed, or even to dismount +from them--these were three impossibilities, which placed us both in +presence of a fearful doom. Between two horsemen so placed upon this +fearful path, had they been father and son, one of them must inevitably +have become the prey of the abyss. But a few seconds had passed, and we +were already face to face--the unknown and myself. Our horses were head +to head, and their nostrils, dilated with terror, mingled together their +fiery breathing. Both of us halted in a dead silence. Above was the +smooth and lofty wall of the hacienda; on the other side, but three feet +distant from the wall, opened the horrible gulf. Was it an enemy I had +before my eyes? The love of my country, which boiled, at that period, in +my young bosom, led me to hope it was."</p> + +<p>"'Are you for Mexico and the Insurgents?' I exclaimed in a moment of +excitement, ready to spring upon the unknown horseman, if he answered me +in the negative."</p> + +<p>"'<i>Mexico e Insurgente</i>--that is my password, replied the cavalier. 'I +am the Colonel Garduno.'"</p> + +<p>"'I am the Captain Castanos.'"</p> + +<p>"Our acquaintance was of long standing; and, but for mutual agitation, +we should have had no need to exchange our names. The colonel had left +us two days since, at the head of the detachment, which we supposed to +be either prisoners, or cut off, for he had not been seen to return +to the camp."</p> + +<p>"'Well, colonel,' I exclaimed, 'I am sorry you are not a Spaniard; for, +you perceive, that one of us must yield the pathway to the other."</p> + +<p>"Our horses had the bridle on their necks, and I put my hands to the +holsters of my saddle to draw out my pistols."</p> + +<p>"'I see it so plainly,' returned the colonel, with alarming coolness, +'that I should already have blown out the brains of your horse, but for +the fear lest mine, in a moment of terror, should precipitate me with +yourself, to the bottom of the abyss.'"</p> + +<p>"I remarked, in fact, that the colonel already held his pistols in his +hands. We both maintained almost profound silence. Our horses felt the +danger like ourselves, and remained as immovable as if their feet were +nailed to the ground. My excitement had entirely subsided. 'What are we +going to do?' I demanded of the colonel."</p> + +<p>"'Draw lots which of the two shall leap into the ravine.'"</p> + +<p>"It was, in truth, the sole means of resolving the difficulty. 'There +are, nevertheless, some precautions to take,' said the Colonel."</p> + +<p>"'He who shall be condemned by the lot, shall retire backward. It will +be but a feeble chance of escape for him, I admit; but, in short, there +is a chance, and especially one in favor of the winner,'"</p> + +<p>"'You cling not to life, then?' I cried out, terrified at the +<i>sang-froid</i> with which this proposition was put to me."</p> + +<p>"'I cling to life more than yourself,' sharply replied the colonel, 'for +I have a mortal outrage to avenge. But the time is fast slipping away. +Are you ready to proceed to draw the last lottery at which one of us +will ever exist?"</p> + +<p>"How were we to proceed to this drawing by lot? By means of the wet +finger, like infants; or by head and tail, like the school boys? Both +ways were impracticable. Our hands imprudently stretched out over the +heads of our frightened horses, might cause them to give a fatal start. +Should we toss up a piece of coin, the night was too dark to enable us +to distinguish which side fell upward. The colonel bethought him of an +expedient, of which I never should have dreamed."</p> + +<p>"'Listen to me, captain,' said the colonel, to whom I had communicated +my perplexities. 'I have another way. The terror which our horses feel, +makes them draw every moment a burning breath. The first of us two whose +horse shall neigh,--"</p> + +<p>"'Wins!' I exclaimed, hastily."</p> + +<p>"'Not so; shall be looser. I know that you are a countryman, and, as +such, you can do whatever you please with your horse. As to myself, who, +but last year, wore a gown of a theological student, I fear your +equestrian prowess. You may be able to make your horse neigh: to hinder +him from doing so, is a very different matter.'"</p> + +<p>"We waited in deep and anxious silence until the voice of one of our +horses should break forth. The silence lasted for a minute--for an age! +It was my horse who neighed the first. The colonel gave no external +manifestation of his joy; but, no doubt, he thanked God to the very +bottom of his heart."</p> + +<p>"'You will allow me a minute to make my peace with heaven?' I said, with +falling voice."</p> + +<p>"'Will five minutes be sufficient?'"</p> + +<p>"'It will,' I replied."</p> + +<p>"The colonel pulled out his watch. I addressed toward the heavens, +brilliant with stars, which I thought I was looking to for the last +time, an intense and burning prayer."</p> + +<p>"'It is time,' said the colonel."</p> + +<p>"I answered nothing, and, with a firm hand, gathered up the bridle of my +horse, and drew it within my fingers, which were agitated by a +nervous tremor."</p> + +<p>"'Yet one moment more,' I said to the colonel, for I have need of all my +coolness to carry into execution the fearful manoeuver which I am about +to commence."</p> + +<p>"'Granted,' replied Garduno."</p> + +<p>"My education, as I have told you, had been in the country. My +childhood, and part of my earliest youth, had almost been passed on +horseback. I may say, without flattering myself, that if there was any +one in the world capable of executing this equestrian feat, it was +myself. I rallied myself with an almost supernatural effort, and +succeeded in recovering my entire self-possession, in the very face of +death. Taking it at the worst, I had already braved it too often to be +any longer alarmed at it. From that instant, I dared to hope afresh."</p> + +<p>"As soon as my horse felt, for the first time since my rencounter with +the colonel, the bit compressing his mouth, I perceived that he trembled +beneath me. I strengthened myself firmly on my stirrups, to make the +terrified animal understand that his master no longer trembled. I held +him up with bridle and the hams, as every good horseman does in a +dangerous passage, and, with the bridle, the body, and the spur, +together, succeeded in backing him a few paces. His head was already a +greater distance from that of the horse of the colonel, who encouraged +me all he could with his voice. This done, I let the poor, trembling +brute, who obeyed me in spite of his terror, repose for a few moments, +and then recommenced the same manoeuver. All on a sudden, I felt his +hind legs give way under me. A horrible shudder ran through my whole +frame. I closed my eyes, as if about to roll to the bottom of the abyss, +and I gave to my body a violent impulse on the side next to the +hacienda, the surface of which offered not a single projection, not a +tuft of weeds to check my descent. This sudden movement joined to the +desperate struggles of my horse, was the salvation of my life. He had +sprung up again on his legs, which seemed ready to fall from under him, +so desperately did I feel them tremble."</p> + +<p>"I had succeeded in reaching between the brink of the precipice and the +wall of the building, a spot some few inches broader. A few more would +have enabled me to turn him round; but to attempt it here would have +been fatal, and I dared not venture. I sought to resume my backward +progress, step by step. Twice the horse threw himself on his hind legs, +and fell down upon the same spot. It was in vain to urge him anew, +either with voice, bridle, or spur; the animal obstinately refused to +take a single step in the rear. Nevertheless, I did not feel my courage +yet exhausted, for I had no desire to die. One last, solitary chance of +safety, suddenly appeared to me, like a flash of light, and I resolved +to employ it. Through the fastening of my boot, and in reach of my hand, +was placed a sharp and keen knife, which I drew forth from its sheath. +With my left hand I began caressing the mane of my horse, all the while +letting him hear my voice. The poor animal replied to my caresses by a +plaintive neighing; then, not to alarm him abruptly, my hand followed, +by little and little, the curve of his nervous neck, and finally rested +upon the spot where the last of the vertebrae unites itself with the +cranium. The horse trembled; but I calmed him with my voice. When I felt +his very life, so to speak, palpitate in his brain beneath my fingers, +and leaned over toward the wall, my feet gently slid from the stirrups, +and, with one vigorous blow, I buried the pointed blade of my knife in +the seat of the vital principle. The animal fell as if thunderstruck, +without a single motion; and, for myself, with my knees almost as high +as my chin, I found myself a horseback across a corpse! I was saved! I +uttered a triumphant cry, which was responded to by the colonel, and +which the abyss re-echoed with a hollow sound, as if it felt that its +prey had escaped from it. I quitted the saddle, sat down between the +wall and the body of my horse, and vigorously pushed with my feet +against the carcass of the wretched animal, which rolled down into the +abyss. I then arose, and cleared, at a few bounds, the distance which +separated the place where I was from the plain; and, under the +irresistible reaction of the terror which I had long repressed, I sank +into a swoon upon the ground. When I reopened my eyes, the colonel was +by my side."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_SKETCH"></a>A SKETCH</h2> + +<h3>FROM "LIFE ON THE OCEAN."</h3> + +<p>Carthagena lies in the parallel of ten degrees twenty-six minutes north, +and seventy-five degrees thirty-eight minutes west longitude; the harbor +is good, with an easy entrance; the city is strongly fortified by +extensive and commanding fortifications and batteries, and, I should +suppose, if well garrisoned and manned, they would be perfectly able to +repel any force which might be brought to bear against them. It was well +known, at this time, that all the provinces of Spain had shaken off +their allegiance to the mother country, and declared themselves +independent. Carthagena, the most prominent of the provinces, was a +place of considerable commerce; and, about this time, a few men-of-war, +and a number of privateers, were fitted out there. The Carthagenian flag +now presented a chance of gain to the cupidity of the avaricious and +desperate, among whom was our commander, Captain S. As soon, therefore, +as we had filled up our water, &c., a proposition was made by him, to +the second lieutenant and myself, to cruise under both flags, the +American and Carthagenian, and this to be kept a profound secret from +the crew, until we had sailed from port. Of course, we rejected the +proposition with disdain, and told him the consequence of such a +measure, in the event of being taken by a man-of-war of any +nation,--that it was piracy, to all intents and purposes, according to +the law of nations. We refused to go out in the privateer, if he +persisted in this most nefarious act, and we heard no more of it while +we lay in port.</p> + +<p>In a few days we were ready for sea, and sailed in company with our +companion, her force being rather more than ours, but the vessel very +inferior, in point of sailing. While together, we captured several small +British schooners, the cargoes of which, together with some specie, were +divided between two privateers. Into one of the prizes we put all the +prisoners, gave them plenty of water and provisions, and let them pursue +their course: the remainder of the prizes were burned. We then parted +company, and, being short of water, ran in toward the land, in order to +ascertain if any could be procured. In approaching the shore, the wind +died away to a perfect calm; and, at 4 P.M., a small schooner was seen +in-shore of us. As we had not steerage way upon our craft, of course it +would be impossible to ascertain her character before dark; it was, +therefore, determined by our commander to board her with the boats, +under cover of the night. This was a dangerous service; but there was no +backing out. Volunteers being called for, I stepped forward; and very +soon, a sufficient number of men to man two boats offered their services +to back me. Every disposition was made for the attack. The men were +strongly armed, oars muffled, and a grappling placed in each boat. The +bearings of the strange sail were taken, and night came on perfectly +clear and cloudless. I took command of the expedition, the second +lieutenant having charge of one boat. The arrangement was to keep close +together, until we got sight of the vessel; the second lieutenant was to +board on the bow, and I on the quarter. We proceeded in the most +profound silence; nothing was heard, save now and then a slight splash +of the oars in the water, and, before we obtained sight of the vessel, I +had sufficient time to reflect on this most perilous enterprise.</p> + +<p>My reflections were not of the most pleasant character, and I found +myself inwardly shrinking, when I was aroused by the voice of the bowman +saying, "There she is, sir, two points on the starboard bow." There she +lay, sure enough, with every sail hoisted, and a light was plainly seen, +as we supposed, from her deck, it being too high for her cabin windows. +We now held a consultation, and saw no good reason to change the +disposition of the attack, except that we agreed to board +simultaneously. It may be well to observe here, that any number of men +on a vessel's deck, in the night, have double the advantage to repel +boarders, because they may secrete themselves in such a position as to +fall upon an enemy unawares, and thereby cut them off, with little +difficulty. Being fully aware of this, I ordered the men, as soon as we +had gained the deck of the schooner, to proceed with great caution, and +keep close together, till every hazard of the enterprize was +ascertained. The boats now separated, and pulled for their respective +stations, observing the most profound silence. When we had reached +within a few yards of the schooner, we lay upon our oars for some +moments; but could neither hear nor see any thing. We then pulled away +cheerily, and the next minute were under her counter, and grappled to +her; every man leaped on the deck without opposition. The other boat +boarded nearly at the same moment, and we proceeded, in a body, with +great caution, to examine the decks. A large fire was in the caboose, +and we soon ascertained that her deck was entirely deserted, and that +she neither had any boat on deck nor to her stern. We then proceeded to +examine the cabin, leaving an armed force on deck. The cabin, like the +deck, being deserted, the mystery was easily unraveled. Probably +concluding that we should board them under cover of the night, they, no +doubt, as soon as it was dark, took to their boats, and deserted the +vessel. On the floor of the cabin was a part of an English ensign, and +some papers, which showed that she belonged to Jamaica, The little cargo +on board consisted of Jamaica rum, sugar, fruit, &c.</p> + +<p>The breeze now springing up, and the privateer showing lights, we were +enabled to get alongside of her in a couple of hours. A prize-master and +crew were put on board, with orders to keep company. During the night, +we ran along shore, and, in the morning, took on board the privateer the +greater part of the prize's cargo.</p> + +<p>Being close in shore in the afternoon, we descried a settlement of huts; +and, supposing that water might be obtained there, the two vessels were +run in, and anchored about two miles distant from the beach. A +proposition was made to me, by Captain S., to get the water-casks on +board the prize schooner, and, as she drew a light draught of water, I +was to run her in, and anchor her near the beach, taking with me the two +boats and twenty men. I observed to Captain S. that this was probably +an Indian settlement, and it was well known that all the Indian tribes +on the coast of Rio de La Hache were exceedingly ferocious, and said to +be cannibals; and it was also well known, that whosoever fell into their +hands, never escaped with their lives; so that it was necessary, before +any attempt was made to land, that some of the Indians should be decoyed +on board, and detained as hostages for our safety. At the conclusion of +this statement, a very illiberal allusion was thrown out by Captain S., +and some doubts expressed in reference to my courage; he remarking, that +if I was afraid to undertake the expedition, he would go himself. This +was enough for me; I immediately resolved to proceed, if I sacrificed my +life in the attempt. The next morning, twenty water-casks were put on +board the prize, together with the two boats and twenty men, well armed +with muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, with a supply of ammunition; I +repaired on board, got the prize under way, ran in, and anchored about +one hundred yards from the beach. The boats were got in readiness, and +the men were well armed, and the water casks slung ready to proceed on +shore, I had examined my own pistols narrowly, that morning, and had put +them in complete order, and, as I believed, had taken every precaution +for our future operations, so as to prevent surprise.</p> + +<p>There were about a dozen ill-constructed huts, or wigwams; but no spot +of grass, or shrub, was visible to the eye, with the exception of, here +and there, the trunk of an old tree. One solitary Indian was seen +stalking on the beach, and the whole scene presented the most wild and +savage appearance, and, to my mind, argued very unfavorably. We pulled +in with the casks in tow, seven men being in each boat; when within a +short distance of the beach, the boat's heads were put to seaward, when +the Indian came abreast of us. Addressing him in Spanish, I inquired if +water could be procured, to which he replied in the affirmative. I then +displayed to his view some gewgaws and trinkets, at which he appeared +perfectly delighted, and, with many signs and gestures, invited me on +shore. Thrusting my pistols into my belt, and buckling on my +cartridge-box, I gave orders to the boats' crew, that, in case they +discovered any thing like treachery or surprise, after I had gotten on +shore, to cut the water-casks adrift, and make the best of their way on +board the prize. As soon as I had jumped on shore, I inquired if there +were any live stock, such as fowls, &c., to be had. Pointing to a hut +about thirty yards from the boats, he said that the stock was there, +and invited me to go and see it. I hesitated, suspecting some treachery; +however, after repeating my order to the boats' crews, I proceeded with +the Indian, and when within about half a dozen yards of the hut, at a +preconcerted signal, (as I supposed,) as if by magic, at least one +hundred Indians rushed out, with the rapidity of thought. I was knocked +down, stripped of all my clothing except an inside flannel shirt, tied +hand and foot, and then taken and secured to the trunk of a large tree, +surrounded by about twenty squaws, as a guard, who, with the exception +of two or three, bore a most wild and hideous look in their appearance. +The capture of the boat's crews was simultaneous with my own, they being +so much surprised and confounded at the stratagem of the Indians, that +they had not the power, or presence of mind, to pull off.</p> + +<p>After they had secured our men, a number of them jumped into the boats, +pulled off, and captured the prize, without meeting with any resistance +from those on board, they being only six in number. Her cable was then +cut, and she was run on the beach, when they proceeded to dismantle her, +by cutting the sails from the bolt-ropes, and taking out what little +cargo there was, consisting of Jamaica ram, sugar, &c. This being done, +they led ropes on shore, when about one hundred of them hauled her up +nearly high and dry.</p> + +<p>By this time the privateer had seen our disaster stood boldly in, and +anchored within less than gun shot of the beach; they then very +foolishly opened a brisk cannonade; but every shot was spent in vain. +This exasperated the Indians, and particularly the one who had taken +possession of my pistols. Casting my eye round, I saw him creeping +toward me with one pistol presented, and when about five yards off, he +pulled the trigger. But as Providence had, no doubt, ordered it, the +pistol snapped; at the same moment, a shot from the privateer fell a few +yards from us, when the Indian rose upon his feet, cocked the pistol, +and fired it at the privateer; turning round with a most savage yell, he +threw the pistol with great violence, which grazed my head, and then, +with a large stick, beat and cut me until I was perfectly senseless. +This was about ten o'clock, and I did not recover my consciousness +until, as I supposed, about four o'clock in the afternoon. I perceived +there were four squaws around me, one of whom, from her +appearance,--having on many gewgaws and trinkets,--was the wife of a +chief. As soon as she discovered signs of returning consciousness, she +presented me with a gourd, the contents of which appeared to be Indian +meal mixed with water; she first drank, and then gave it to me, and I +can safely aver that I never drank any beverage, before or since, which +produced such relief.</p> + +<p>Night was now coming on; the privateer had got under weigh, and was +standing off-and-on, with a flag of truce flying at her mast-head. The +treacherous Indian with whom I had first conversed came, and with a +malignant smile, gave me the dreadful intelligence that, at twelve +o'clock that night, we were to be roasted and eaten.</p> + +<p>Accordingly, at sunset, I was unloosed and conducted, by a band of about +half a dozen savages, to the spot, where I found the remainder of our +men firmly secured, by having their hands tied behind them, their legs +lashed together, and each man fastened to a stake that had been driven +into the ground for that purpose. There was no possibility to elude the +vigilance of these miscreants. As soon as night shut in, a large +quantity of brushwood was piled around us, and nothing now was wanting +but the fire to complete this horrible tragedy. Then the same malicious +savage approached us once more, and, with the deepest malignity, taunted +us with our coming fate. Having some knowledge of the Indian character, +I summoned up all the fortitude of which I was capable, and, in terms +of defiance, told him, that twenty Indians would be sacrificed for each +one of us sacrificed by him. I knew very well that it would not do to +exhibit any signs of fear or cowardice; and, having heard much of the +cupidity of the Indian character, I offered the savage a large ransom if +he would use his influence to procure our release. Here the conversation +was abruptly broken off by a most hideous yell from the whole tribe, +occasioned by their having taken large draughts of the rum, which now +began to operate very sensibly upon them; and, as it will be seen, +operated very much to our advantage. This thirst for rum caused them to +relax their vigilance, and we were left alone to pursue our reflections, +which were not of the most enviable or pleasant character. A thousand +melancholy thoughts rushed over my mind. Here I was, and, in all +probability, in a few hours I should be in eternity, and my death one of +the most horrible description. "Oh!" thought I, "how many were the +entreaties and arguments used by my friends to deter me from pursuing an +avocation so full of hazard and peril! If I had taken their advice, and +acceded to their solicitations, in all probability I should, at this +time, have been in the enjoyment of much happiness." I was aroused from +this reverie by the most direful screams from the united voices of the +whole tribe, they having drunk largely of the rum, and become so much +intoxicated that a general fight ensued. Many of them lay stretched on +the ground, with tomahawks deeply implanted in their skulls: and many +others, as the common phrase is, were "dead drunk." This was an +exceedingly fortunate circumstance for us. With their senses benumbed, +of course they had forgotten their avowal to roast us, or, it may be, +the Indian to whom I proposed ransom had conferred with the others, and +they, no doubt, agreed to spare our lives until the morning. It was a +night, however, of pain and terror, as well as of the most anxious +suspense; and when the morning dawn broke upon my vision, I felt an +indescribable emotion of gratitude, as I had fully made up my mind, the +night previous, that long before this time I should have been sleeping +the sleep of death. It was a pitiable sight, when the morning light +appeared, to see twenty human beings stripped naked, with their bodies +cut and lacerated, and the blood issuing from their wounds; with their +hands and feet tied, and their bodies fastened to stakes, with brushwood +piled around them, expecting every moment to be their last. My feelings, +on this occasion, can be better imagined than described; suffice it to +say, that I had given up all hopes of escape, and gloomily resigned +myself to death. When the fumes of the liquor had in some degree worn +off from the benumbed senses of the savages, they arose and approached +us, and, for the first time, the wily Indian informed me that the tribe +had agreed to ransom us. They then cast off the lashings from our bodies +and feet, and, with our hands still secure, drove us before them to the +beach. Then another difficulty arose; the privateer was out of sight, +and the Indians became furious. To satiate their hellish malice, they +obliged us to run on the beach, while they let fly their poisoned arrows +after us. For my own part, my limbs were so benumbed that I could +scarcely walk, and I firmly resolved to stand still and take the worst +of it--which was the best plan I could have adopted; for, when they +perceived that I exhibited no signs of fear, not a single arrow was +discharged at me. Fortunately, before they grew weary of this sport, to +my great joy, the privateer hove in sight. She stood boldly in, with the +flag of truce flying, and the savages consented to let one man of their +own choosing go off in the boat to procure the stipulated ransom. The +boat returned loaded with articles of various descriptions, and two of +our men were released. The boat kept plying to and from the privateer, +bringing such articles as they demanded, until all were released except +myself. Here it may be proper to observe, that the mulatto man, who had +been selected by the Indians, performed all this duty himself, not one +of the privateer's crew daring to hazard their lives with him in the +boat. I then was left alone, and for my release they required a double +ransom. I began now seriously to think that they intended to detain me +altogether. My mulatto friend, however, pledged himself that he would +never leave me.</p> + +<p>Again, for the last time, he sculled the boat off. She quickly returned, +with a larger amount of articles than previously. It was a moment of the +deepest anxiety, for there had now arrived from the interior another +tribe, apparently superior in point of numbers, and elated with the +booty which had been obtained. They demanded a share, and expressed a +determination to detain me for a larger ransom. These demands were +refused, and a conflict ensued of the most frightful and terrific +character. Tomahawks, knives, and arrows, were used indiscriminately, +and many an Indian fell in that bloody contest. The tomahawks were +thrown with the swiftness of arrows, and were generally buried in the +skull or the breast; and whenever two came in contact, with the famous +"Indian hug," the strife was soon over with either one or the other, by +one plunging the deadly knife up to the hilt in the body of his +opponent; nor were the poisoned arrows of less swift execution, for, +wherever they struck, the wretched victim was quickly in eternity. I +shall never forget the frightful barbarity of that hour; although years +have elapsed since its occurrence, still the whole scene in imagination +is before me, the savage yell of the warwhoop, and the direful screams +of the squaws, still ring afresh in my ears. In the height of this +conflict, a tall Indian chief, who, I knew, belonged to the same tribe +with the young squaw who gave me the drink, came down to the beach where +I was. The boat had been discharged, and was lying with her head off. At +a signal given by the squaw to the chief, he caught me up in his arms, +with as much ease as if I had been a child, waded to the boat, threw me +in, and then, with a most expressive gesture, urged us off. Fortunately, +there were two oars in the boat, and, feeble as I was, I threw all the +remaining strength I had to the oar. It was the last effort, as life or +death hung upon the next fifteen minutes. Disappointed of a share of the +booty, the savages were frantic with rage, especially when they saw I +had eluded their grasp. Rushing to the beach, about a dozen threw +themselves into the other boat, which had been captured, and pulled +after us; but, fortunately, in their hurry, they had forgotten the +muskets, and being unacquainted with the method of rowing, of course +they made but little progress, which enabled us to increase +our distance.</p> + +<p>The privateer having narrowly watched all these movements, and seeing +our imminent danger, stood boldly on toward the beach, and in the next +five minutes she lay between us and the Indians, discharging a heavy +fire of musketry among them. Such was the high excitement of my +feelings, that I scarcely recollected how I gained the privateer's deck. +But I was saved, nevertheless, though I was weak with the loss of blood, +and savage treatment,--my limbs benumbed, and body scorched with the +piercing rays of the sun,--the whole scene rushing through my mind with +the celerity of electricity! It unmanned and quite overpowered me; I +fainted, and fell senseless on the deck.</p> + +<p>The usual restoratives and care were administered, and I soon recovered +from the effects of my capture. Some of the others were not so +fortunate; two of them, especially, were cut in a shocking manner, and +the others were so dreadfully beaten and mangled by clubs, that the +greatest care was necessary to save their lives.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ESCAPE_FROM_SHIPWRECK."></a>ESCAPE FROM SHIPWRECK.</h2> + +<h3>FROM "LIFE ON THE OCEAN."</h3> + +<p>Received orders this day to proceed to London with the ship; and, as the +easterly gale abated, and the wind hauled round southward and westward, +we got under way, stood out of Falmouth harbor, and proceeded up the +British Channel. At sunset, it commenced to rain, and the weather was +thick and cloudy. The different lights were seen as far as the Bill of +Portland. At midnight, lost sight of the land, and it blew a gale from +off the French coast: close reefed the topsails, and steered a course so +as to keep in mid-channel. At daybreak, the ship was judged to be off +Beachy Head; the weather being so thick, the land could not be seen. The +fore and mizzen-topsails were now furled, and the ship hove to. The rain +began now to fall in torrents, and the heavy, dense, black clouds rose, +with fearful rapidity, from the northward, over the English coast, when +suddenly the wind shifted from the south-west to the north, and blew a +hurricane. The mist and fog cleared away, and, to our utter +astonishment, we found ourselves on a lee shore, on the coast of +France, off Boulogne heights. The gale was so violent, that no more sail +could be made. The ship was so exceedingly crank, that when she luffed +up on a wind, her bulwarks were under water. As she would not stay, the +only alternative was, to wear; of course, with this evolution, we lost +ground, and, consequently, were driven nearer, every moment, toward the +awful strand of rocks. The scene was now terrific; many vessels were in +sight, two of which we saw dashed on the rocks; with the tremendous roar +of the breakers, and the howling of the tempest, and the heavy sea, +which broke as high as the fore-yard, death appeared inevitable. There +was only one hope left, and that was, that, should the tide change and +take us under our lee-beam, it might possibly set us off on the +Nine-fathom bank, which is situated at a distance of twelve miles +north-northwest, off Boulogne harbor. On the event of reaching this +bank, the safety of the ship and lives of the crew depended,--as it was +determined there to try the anchors, for there was no possibility of +keeping off shore more than two hours, if the gale continued.</p> + +<p>We were now on the larboard tack, and, for the last half hour, it was +perceived that the tide had turned, and was setting to the northward; +this was our last and only chance, for the rocks were not more than +half a mile under our lee, and as it was necessary to get the ship's +head round on the starboard tack, which could only be done by wearing, +it was certain that much ground would be lost by that evolution. The +anchors were got ready, long ranges of cables were hauled on deck, and +the ends were clinched to the mainmast below; this being done, the axes +were at hand to cut away the masts.</p> + +<center><a href="047.png"><img src="047.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Before the Gale.</a></center> + +<p>Captain G. was an old, experienced seaman; and I never saw, before +or since, more coolness, judgment, and seamanship, than were displayed +by him on this trying occasion. In this perilous trial, the most intense +anxiety was manifested by the crew, and then was heard the deep-toned +voice of Captain G., rising above the bellowing storm, commanding +silence. "Take the wheel," said he to me; and then followed the orders, +in quick succession: "Lay aft, and man the braces--see every thing clear +forward, to wear ship--steady--ease her--shiver away the +main-topsail--put your helm up--haul in the weather fore-braces,--gather +in the after-yards." The ship was now running before the wind, for a few +moments, directly for the rocks; the situation and scene were truly +awful, for she was not more than three hundred yards from the breakers. +I turned my head aside--being at the helm--to avoid the terrific sight, +and silently awaited the crisis. I was roused, at this moment, by +Captain G., who shouted, "She luffs, my boys! brace the main-yard sharp +up--haul in the larboard fore-braces--down with the fore-tack, lads, and +haul aft the sheet;--right the helm! steady, so--haul taut the +weather-braces, and belay all." These orders were given and executed in +quick succession. The ship was now on the starboard tack, plunging bows +under at every pitch. Casting a fitful glance over my shoulder, I saw +that we were apparently to leeward of the rocks. Very soon, however, it +was quite perceptible that the tide had taken her on the lee beam, and +was setting her off shore.</p> + +<p>The gloom began now to wear away, although it was doubtful whether we +should be able to reach the bank, and, if successful, whether the +anchors would hold on. Orders were given to lay aloft and send down the +top-gallant-yards, masts, &c. The helm was relieved, and I sprung into +the main rigging, the chief mate going up forward. With much difficulty, +I reached the main-topmast cross-trees, and, when there, it was almost +impossible to work, for the ship lay over at an angle of at least +forty-five degrees, and I found myself swinging, not perpendicularly +over the ship's deck, but at least thirty feet from it. It was no time, +however, for gazing. The yard rope was stoppered out on the quarter of +the yard, the sheets, clewlines, and buntlines, cast off, and the shift +slackened, and then simultaneously from both mast-heads the cry was +heard, "Sway, away!" The parrel cut, the yard was quickly topped and +unrigged, and then lowered away on deck. The next duty to be performed, +was sending down the top-gallant masts. After much difficulty and hard +work, this was also accomplished; and, although I felt some pride in the +performance of a dangerous service, yet, on this occasion, I was not a +little pleased when I reached the deck in safety.</p> + +<p>By this time, we had gained four miles off shore, and it was evident +that the soundings indicated our approach to the bank. Tackles were rove +and stretched along forward of the windlass, as well as deck-stoppers +hooked on to the ringbolts fore and aft. "Loose the fore-topsail!" +shouted Captain G., "we must reach this bank before the tide turns, or, +by morning, there will not be left a timber head of this ship, nor one +of us, to tell the sad tale of our disaster." The topsail was loosed and +set, and the ship groaned heavily under the immense pressure of canvass; +her lee rail was under water, and every moment it was expected that the +topmast or the canvass would yield. The deep-sea-lead was taken forward +and hove: when the line reached the after-part of the main channels, the +seaman's voice rose high in the air, "By the deep, nine!" It was three +o'clock. "Clew up and furl the fore-topsail!" shouted Captain G. The +topsail furled of itself, for the moment the weather sheet was started, +it blew away from the bolt-rope; the foresail was immediately hauled up +and furled. Relieved from the great pressure of canvass, and having now +nothing on her except the main-topsail and fore-topmast-staysail, she +rode more upright. The main-topsail was clewed up and fortunately saved, +the mizzen-staysail was set. "Stand by, to cut away the stoppers of the +best bower anchor--to let it go, stock and fluke," said Captain G. "Man +the fore-topmast-staysail down-haul; put your helm down! haul down the +staysail." This was done, and the ship came up handsomely, head to wind, +"See the cable tiers all clear--what water is there?" said Captain G. +The leadsman sang out in a clear voice, "And a half-eight!" By this +time, the ship had lost her way. "Are you all clear forward there?" "Ay, +ay, sir!" was the reply. "Stream the buoy, and let go the anchor!" +shouted Captain G. The order was executed as rapidly as it was given; +the anchor was on the bottom, and already had fifty fathoms of cable +run out, making the windlass smoke; and, although the cable was +weather-bitted, and every effort was made with the deck-stoppers and +tackles to check her, all was fruitless. Ninety fathoms of cable had run +out. "Stand by, to let go the larboard anchor," said Captain G.; +"Cheerily, men--let go!" In the same breath he shouted, "Hold on!" for +just then there was a lull, and having run out the best bower-cable, +nearly to the better end, she brought up. No time was now lost in +getting service on the cable, to prevent its chafing. She was now riding +to a single anchor of two thousand weight, with one hundred fathoms of a +seventeen-inch hemp cable. The sea rolled heavily, and broke in upon the +deck fore and aft; the lower yards were got down; the topsail-yards +pointed to the wind; and as the tide had now turned, the ship rode +without any strain on her cable, because it tended broad on the beam.</p> + +<p>The next morning presented a dismal scene, for there were more than +fifty sail in-shore of us, some of whom succeeded in reaching the bank, +and anchored with loss of sails, topmasts, &c. Many others were dashed +upon the rocks, and not a soul was left to tell the tale of their +destruction. I shall not forget that, on the second day, a Dutch +galliot was driven in to leeward of us; and although, by carrying on a +tremendous press of canvass, she succeeded in keeping off shore until +five P.M., yet, at sunset she disappeared, and was seen no more. After +our arrival in London, we learned that this unfortunate vessel was +driven on the rocks, and every soul on board perished.</p> + +<p>The gale continued four days, at the expiration of which time, it broke. +At midnight, the wind hauled round to the eastward, and the weather +became so excessively cold, that, although we commenced heaving in the +cable at five A.M., yet we did not get the anchor until nine that night. +Close-reefed topsails were set on the ship and we stood over to the +English coast, and anchored to the westward of Dungeness. During the +whole period of this gale, which lasted four days, Captain G. never for +one moment left the deck; and although well advanced in years, yet his +iron constitution enabled him to overcome the calls of nature for rest; +and, notwithstanding the situation of the ship, was, perhaps more +critical than many of those less fortunate vessels which stranded upon +the rocks, yet his coolness, and the seaman-like manner with which the +ship was handled, no doubt were the means of our being saved.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_HUNTER'S_WIFE."></a>THE HUNTER'S WIFE.</h2> + +<p>Thomas Cooper was a fine specimen of the North American trapper. +Slightly but powerfully made, with a hardy, weather-beaten, yet handsome +face; strong, indefatigable, and a crack shot--he was admirably adapted +for a hunter's life. For many years he knew not what it was to have a +home, but lived like the beasts he hunted--wandering from one part of +the country to another, in pursuit of game. All who knew Tom were much +surprised when he came, with a pretty young wife, to settle within three +miles of a planter's farm. Many pitied the poor young creature, who +would have to lead such a solitary life; while others said, "If she was +fool enough to marry him, it was her own look-out." For nearly four +months Tom remained at home, and employed his time in making the old hut +he had fixed on for their residence more comfortable. He cleared and +tilled a small spot of land around it, and Susan began to hope that, for +her sake, he would settle down quietly as a squatter. But these visions +of happiness were soon dispelled, for, as soon as this work was +finished, he recommenced his old erratic mode of life, and was often +absent for weeks together, leaving his wife alone, yet not unprotected, +for, since his marriage, old Nero, a favorite hound, was always left at +home as her guardian. He was a noble dog--a cross between the old +Scottish deerhound and the bloodhound, and would hunt an Indian as well +as a deer or bear, which, Tom said, "was a proof they Injins was a sort +o' warmint, or why should the brute beast take to hunt 'em, nat'ral +like--him that took no notice of white men?"</p> + +<p>One clear, cold morning, about two years after their marriage, Susan was +awakened by a loud crash, immediately succeeded by Nero's deep baying. +She recollected that she had shut him in the house, as usual, the night +before. Supposing he had winded some solitary wolf or bear prowling +around the hut, and effected his escape, she took little notice of the +circumstance; but a few moments after came a shrill, wild cry, which +made her blood run cold. To spring from her bed, throw on her clothes, +and rush from the hut, was the work of a minute. She no longer doubted +what the hound was in pursuit of. Fearful thoughts shot through her +brain; she called wildly on Nero, and, to her joy, he came dashing +through the thick underwood. As the dog drew near, she saw that he +galloped heavily, and carried in his mouth some large, dark creature. +Her brain reeled; she felt a cold and sickly shudder dart through her +limbs. But Susan was a hunter's daughter, and, all her life, had been +accustomed to witness scenes of danger and of horror, and in this school +had learned to subdue the natural timidity of her character. With a +powerful effort, she recovered herself, just as Nero dropped at her feet +a little Indian child, apparently between three and four years old. She +bent down over him; but there was no sound or motion: she placed her +hand on his little, naked chest; the heart within had ceased to beat: he +was dead! The deep marks of the dog's fangs were visible on the neck; +but the body was untorn. Old Nero stood, with his large, bright eyes +fixed on the face of his mistress, fawning on her, as if he expected to +be praised for what he had done, and seemed to wonder why she looked so +terrified. But Susan spurned him from her; and the fierce animal, who +would have pulled down an Indian as he would a deer, crouched humbly at +the young woman's feet. Susan carried the little body gently in her arms +to the hut, and laid it on her own bed. Her first impulse was to seize +the loaded rifle that hung over the fire-place, and shoot the hound; and +yet she felt she could not do it, for, in the lone life she led, the +faithful animal seemed like a dear and valued friend, who loved and +watched over her, as if aware of the precious charge intrusted to him. +She thought, also, of what her husband would say, when, on his return, +he should find his old companion dead. Susan had never seen Tom roused. +To her he had ever shown nothing but kindness; yet she feared as well as +loved him, for there was a fire in those dark eyes which told of deep, +wild passions hidden in his breast, and she knew that the lives of a +whole tribe of Indians would be light in the balance against that of his +favorite hound.</p> + +<p>Having securely fastened up Nero, Susan, with a heavy heart, proceeded +to examine the ground around the hut. In several places she observed the +impression of a small moccasined foot; but not a child's. The tracks +were deeply marked, unlike the usual light, elastic tread of an Indian. +From this circumstance Susan easily inferred that the woman had been +carrying her child when attacked by the dog. There was nothing to show +why she had come so near the hut: most probably the hopes of some petty +plunder had been the inducement. Susan did not dare to wander far from +home, fearing a band of Indians might be in the neighborhood. She +returned sorrowfully to the hut, and employed herself in blocking up +the window, or rather the hole where the window had been, for the +powerful hound had, in his leap, dashed out the entire frame, and +shattered it to pieces. When this was finished, Susan dug a grave, and +in it laid the little Indian boy. She made it close to the hut, for she +could not bear that wolves should devour those delicate limbs, and she +knew that there it would be safe. The next day Tom returned. He had been +very unsuccessful, and intended setting out again, in a few days, in a +different direction.</p> + +<p>"Susan," he said, when he had heard her sad story, "I wish you'd left +the child where the dog killed him. The squaw's high sartain to come +back a seekin' for the body, and 'tis a pity the poor crittur should be +disappointed. Besides, the Indians will be high sartain to put it down +to us; whereas, if so be as they'd found the body 'pon the spot, may be +they'd onderstand as 'twas an accident like, for they 're unkimmon +cunning warmint, though they an't got sense like Christians."</p> + +<p>"Why do you think the poor woman came here?" said Susan. "I never knew +an Indian squaw so near the hut before?"</p> + +<p>She fancied a dark shadow flitted across her husband's brow. He made no +reply; and, on repeating the question, said angrily, "How should I +know? 'Tis as well to ask for a bear's reasons as an Injin's."</p> + +<p>Tom only staid at home long enough to mend the broken window, and plant +a small spot of Indian corn, and then again set out, telling Susan not +to expect him home in less than a month. "If that squaw comes this way +agin," he said, "as may be she will, just put out any victuals you've +a-got for the poor crittur; though may be she wont come, for they Injins +be onkimmon skeary." Susan wondered at his taking an interest in the +woman, and often thought of that dark look she had noticed, and of Tom's +unwillingness to speak on the subject. She never knew that on his last +hunting expedition, when hiding some skins which he intended to fetch on +his return, he had observed an Indian watching him, and had shot him, +with as little mercy as he would have shown to a wolf. On Tom's return +to the spot, the body was gone; and in the soft, damp soil was the mark +of an Indian squaw's foot; and by its side, a little child's. He was +sorry then for the deed he had done; he thought of the grief of the poor +widow, and how it would be possible for her to live until she could +reach her tribe, who were far, far distant, at the foot of the Rocky +Mountains; and now to feel, that, through his means, too, she had lost +her child, put thoughts into his mind that had never before found a +place there. He thought that one God had formed the red man as well as +the white--of the souls of the many Indians hurried into eternity by his +unerring rifle; and they, perhaps, were more fitted for their "happy +hunting grounds," than he for the white man's heaven. In this state of +mind, every word his wife had said to him seemed a reproach, and he was +glad again to be alone, in the forest, with his rifle and his hounds.</p> + +<p>The afternoon of the third day after Tom's departure, as Susan was +sitting at work, she heard something scratching and whining at the door. +Nero, who was by her side, evinced no signs of anger, but ran to the +door, showing his white teeth, as was his custom when pleased. Susan +unbarred it, when, to her astonishment, the two deerhounds her husband +had taken with him, walked into the hut, looking weary and soiled. At +first she thought Tom might have killed a deer not far from home, and +had brought her a fresh supply of venison; but no one was there. She +rushed from the hut, and soon, breathless and terrified, reached the +squatter's cabin. John Wilton and his three sons were just returned from +the clearings, when Susan ran into their comfortable kitchen; her long, +black hair, streaming on her shoulders, and her wild and bloodshot +eyes, gave her the appearance of a maniac. In a few unconnected words, +she explained to them the cause of her terror, and implored them to set +off immediately in search of her husband. It was in vain they told her +of the uselessness of going at that time--of the impossibility of +following a trail in the dark. She said she would go herself: she felt +sure of finding him; and, at last, they were obliged to use force to +prevent her leaving the house.</p> + +<p>The next morning at daybreak, Wilton and his two sons were mounted, and +ready to set out, intending to take Nero with them; but nothing could +induce him to leave his mistress: he resisted passively for some time, +until one of the young men attempted to pass a rope round his neck, to +drag him away: then his forbearance vanished, and he sprang upon his +tormentor, threw him down, and would have strangled him, if Susan had +not been present. Finding it impossible to make Nero accompany them, +they left without him, but had not proceeded many miles before he and +his mistress were at their side. They begged Susan to return; told her +of the inconvenience she would be to them. It was no avail; she had but +one answer,--"I am a hunter's daughter, and a hunter's wife." She told +them that, knowing how useful Nero would be to them in their search, +she had secretly taken a horse and followed them.</p> + +<p>The party rode first to Tom Cooper's hut, and there, having dismounted, +leading their horses through the forest, followed the trail, as only men +long accustomed to savage life can do. At night they lay on the ground, +covered with their thick, bear-skin cloaks: for Susan only, they heaped +a bed of dried leaves; but she refused to occupy it, saying, it was her +duty to bear the same hardships they did. Ever since their departure, +she had shown no sign of sorrow. Although slight and delicately formed, +she never appeared fatigued: her whole soul was absorbed in one longing +desire--to find her husband's body; for, from the first, she had +abandoned the hope of ever again seeing him in life. This desire +supported her through everything. Early the next morning they were on +the trail. About noon, as they were crossing a small brook, the hound +suddenly dashed away from them, and was lost in the thicket. At first +they fancied they might have crossed the track of a deer or wolf; but a +long, mournful howl soon told the sad truth, for, not far from the +brook, lay the faithful dog on the dead body of his master, which was +pierced to the heart by an Indian arrow.</p> + +<p>The murderer had apparently been afraid to approach on account of the +dogs, for the body was left as it had fallen--not even the rifle was +gone. No sign of Indians could be discovered, save one small footprint, +which was instantly pronounced to be that of a squaw. Susan showed no +grief at the sight of the body: she maintained the same forced calmness, +and seemed comforted that it was found. Old Wilton staid with her to +remove all that now remained of her darling husband, and his two sons +set out on the trail, which soon led them into the open prairie, where +it was easily traced through the tall, thick grass. They continued +riding all that afternoon, and the next morning by daybreak were again +on the track, which they followed to the banks of a wide but shallow +stream. There they saw the remains of a fire. One of the brothers thrust +his hand among the ashes, which were still warm. They crossed the river; +and, in the soft sand on the opposite bank, saw again the print of +small, moccasined footsteps. Here they were at a loss; for the rank +prairie-grass had been consumed by one of those fearful fires so common +in the prairies, and in its stead grew short, sweet herbage, where even +an Indian's eye could observe no trace. They were on the point of +abandoning the pursuit, when Richard, the younger of the two, called his +brother's attention to Nero, who had, of his own accord, left his +mistress to accompany them, an if he now understood what they were +about. The hound was trotting to and fro, with his nose to the ground, +as if endeavoring to pick out a cold scent Edward laughed at his +brother, and pointed to the track of a deer that had come to drink at +the river. At last he agreed to follow Nero, who was now cantering +slowly across the prairie. The pace gradually increased, until, on a +spot where the grass had grown more luxuriantly than elsewhere, Nero +threw up his nose, gave a deep bay, and started off at so furious a +pace, that, although well mounted, they had great difficulty in keeping +up with him. He soon brought them to the borders of another forest, +where, finding it impossible to take their horses further, they tethered +them to a tree, and set off again on foot. They lost sight of the hound, +but still, from time to time, heard his loud baying far away. At last +they fancied it sounded nearer instead of becoming less distinct; and of +this they were soon convinced. They still went on in the direction +whence the sound proceeded, until they saw Nero sitting with his +fore-paws against the trunk of a tree, no longer mouthing like a +well-trained hound, but yelling like a fury. They looked up in the tree, +but could see nothing, until, at last, Edward espied a large hollow +about half way up the trunk. "I was right, you see," he said. "After +all, it nothing but a bear; but we may as well shoot the brute that has +given us so much trouble."</p> + +<p>They set to work immediately with their axes to fell the tree. It began +to totter, when a dark object, they could not tell what, in the dim +twilight, crawled from its place of concealment to the extremity of a +branch, and from thence sprung into the next tree. Snatching up their +rifles, they both fired together; when, to their astonishment, instead +of a bear, a young Indian squaw, with a wild yell, fell to the ground. +They ran to the spot where she lay motionless, and carried her to the +borders of the wood, where they had that morning dismounted. Richard +lifted her on his horse, and springing himself into the saddle, carried +the almost lifeless body before him. The poor creature never spoke. +Several times they stopped, thinking she was dead: her pulse only told +the spirit had not flown from its earthly tenement. When they reached +the river which had been crossed by them before, they washed the wounds, +and sprinkled water on her face. This appeared to revive her; and when +Richard again lifted her in his arms to place her on his horse, he +fancied he heard her mutter, in Iroquois, one word,--"revenged!" It was +a strange sight, those two powerful men tending so carefully the being +they had a few hours before sought to slay, and endeavoring to stanch +the blood that flowed from wounds which they had made! Yet so it was. It +would have appeared to them a sin to leave the Indian woman to die; yet +they felt no remorse at having inflicted the wound, and doubtless would +have been better pleased had it been mortal; but they would not have +murdered a wounded enemy, even an Indian warrior, still less a squaw. +The party continued their journey until midnight, when they stopped, to +rest their jaded horses. Having wrapped the squaw in their bear-skins, +they lay down themselves, with no covering save the clothes they wore. +They were in no want of provisions, as, not knowing when they might +return, they had taken a good supply of bread and dried venison, not +wishing to loose any precious time in seeking food while on the trail. +The brandy still remaining in their flasks, they preserved for the use +of their captive. The evening of the following day, they reached the +trapper's hut, where they were not a little surprised to find Susan. She +told them that, although John Wilton had begged her to live with them, +she could not bear to leave the spot where everything reminded her of +one to think of whom was now her only consolation; and that, while she +had Nero, she feared nothing. They needed not to tell their mournful +tale--Susan already understood it but too clearly. She begged them to +leave the Indian woman with her. "You have no one," said she, "to tend +and watch her as I can do; besides, it is not right that I should lay +such a burden on you." Although unwilling to impose on her mind the +painful task of nursing her husband's murderess, they could not allow +but that she was right; and seeing how earnestly she desired it, at last +consented to leave the Indian woman with her.</p> + +<p>For many weeks Susan nursed her charge, as tenderly as if it had been +her sister. At first she lay almost motionless, and rarely spoke; then +she grew delirious, and raved wildly. Susan fortunately could not +understand what she said, but often turned shuddering away, when the +Indian woman would strive to rise from her bed, and move her arms, as if +drawing a bow; or yell wildly, and cower in terror beneath the +clothes--reacting in her delirium the fearful scenes through which she +had passed. By degrees reason returned; she gradually got better, but +seemed restless and unhappy, and could not bear the sight of Nero. The +first proof of returning reason she had shown, was a shriek of terror +when he once accidentally followed his mistress into the room where she +lay. One morning Susan missed her; she searched around the hut, but she +was gone, without having taken farewell of her kind benefactress.</p> + +<p>A few years after, Susan Cooper,--no longer "pretty Susan," for time and +grief had done their work--heard, late one night, a hurried knock, which +was repeated several times before she could open the door, each time +more loudly than before. She called to ask who it was at that late hour +of night. A few hurried words in Iroquois was the reply, and Susan +congratulated herself on having spoken before unbarring the door. But, +on listening again, she distinctly heard the same voice say, +"Quick--quick!" and recognized it as the Indian woman's voice she had +nursed. The door was instantly opened, when the squaw rushed into the +hut, seized Susan by the arm, and made signs to her to come away. She +was too much excited to remember then the few words of English she had +picked up when living with the white woman. Expressing her meaning by +gestures, with a clearness peculiar to the Indians, she dragged rather +than led Susan from the hut. They had just reached the edge of the +forest when the wild yells of the Indians sounded in their ears. Having +gone with Susan a little way into the forest, her guide left her. For +nearly four hours she lay there, half dead with cold and terror, not +daring to move from her place of concealment. She saw the flames of the +dwelling, where so many lonely hours had been passed, rising above the +trees, and heard the shrill "whoops" of the retiring Indians. Nero, who +was lying by her side, suddenly rose and gave a low growl. Silently a +dark figure came gliding among the trees directly to the spot where she +lay. She gave herself up for lost; but it was the Indian woman, who came +to her, and dropped at her feet a bag of money, the remains of her late +husband's savings. The grateful creature knew where it was kept; and +while the Indians were busied examining the rifles and other objects +more interesting to them, had carried it off unobserved. Waving her arm +around to show that all was now quiet, she pointed in the direction of +Wilton's house, and was again lost among the trees.</p> + +<p>Day was just breaking when Susan reached the squatter's cabin. Having +heard the sad story, Wilton and two of his sons started immediately for +the spot. Nothing was to be seen save a heap of ashes. The party had +apparently consisted of only three or four Indians; but a powerful tribe +being in the neighborhood, they saw it would be too hazardous to follow +them. From this time, Susan lived with the Wiltons. She was as a +daughter to the old man, and a sister to his sons, who often said, +"That, as far as they were concerned, the Indians had never done a +kindlier action than in burning down Susan Cooper's hut."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="DEAF_SMITH,"></a>DEAF SMITH,</h2> + +<h3>THE CELEBRATED TEXAN SPY.</h3> + +<p>About two years after the Texan revolution, a difficulty occurred +between the new government and a portion of the people, which threatened +the most serious consequences--even the bloodshed and horrors of civil +war. Briefly, the cause was this: The constitution had fixed the city of +Austin as the permanent capital, where the public archives were to be +kept, with the reservation, however, of a power in the president to +order their temporary removal, in case of danger from the inroads of a +foreign enemy, or the force of a sudden insurrection.</p> + +<p>Conceiving that the exceptional emergency had arrived, as the Camanches +frequently committed ravages within sight of the capital itself, +Houston, who then resided at Washington, on the Brazos, dispatched an +order commanding his subordinate functionaries to send the state records +to the latter place, which he declared to be, <i>pro tempore</i>, the seat of +government.</p> + +<p>It is impossible to describe the stormy excitement which the +promulgation of this fiat raised in Austin. The keepers of hotels, +boarding-houses, groceries, and faro-banks, were thunderstruck,--maddened +to frenzy; for the measure would be a death-blow to their prosperity +in business; and, accordingly, they determined at once to take the +necessary steps to avert the danger, by opposing the execution of +Houston's mandate. They called a mass meeting of the citizens and +farmers of the circumjacent country, who were all more or less +interested in the question; and, after many fiery speeches against +the asserted tyranny of the administration, it was unanimously resolved +to prevent the removal of the archives, by open and armed resistance. +To that end, they organized a company of four hundred men; one moiety +of whom, relieving the other at regular periods of duty, should keep +constant guard around the state-house until the peril passed by. The +commander of this force was one Colonel Morton, who had achieved +considerable renown in the war for independence, and had still more +recently displayed desperate bravery in two desperate duels, in both of +which he had cut his antagonist nearly to pieces with the bowie-knife. +Indeed, from the notoriety of his character, for revenge as well as +courage, it was thought that President Houston would renounce his +purpose touching the archives, so soon as he should learn who was the +leader of the opposition.</p> + +<p>Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully equaled his personal prowess, +encouraged and justified the prevailing opinion, by his boastful +threats. He swore that if the president did succeed in removing the +records by the march of an overpowering force, he would then, himself, +hunt him down like a wolf, and shoot him with as little ceremony, or +stab him in his bed, or waylay him in his walks of recreation. He even +wrote the hero of San Jacinto to that effect. The latter replied in a +note of laconic brevity:</p> + +<p>"If the people of Austin do not send the archives, I shall certainly +come and take them; and if Colonel Morton can kill me, he is welcome to +my ear-cap."</p> + +<p>On the reception of this answer, the guard was doubled around the +state-house. Chosen sentinels were stationed along the road leading to +the capital, the military paraded the streets from morning till night, +and a select caucus held permanent session in the city hall. In short, +everything betokened a coming tempest.</p> + +<p>One day, while matters were in this precarious condition, the caucus at +the city hall was surprised by the sudden appearance of a stranger, +whose mode of entering was as extraordinary as his looks and dress. He +did not knock at the closed door--he did not seek admission there at +all; but climbing, unseen, a small, bushy-topped, live oak, which grew +beside the wall, he leaped, without sound or warning, through a lofty +window. He was clothed altogether in buckskin, carried a long and heavy +rifle in his hand, wore at the button of his left suspender a large +bowie-knife, and had in his leathern belt a couple of pistols half the +length of his gun. He was tall, straight as an arrow, active as a +panther in his motions, with dark complexion, and luxuriant, jetty hair, +with a severe, iron-like countenance, that seemed never to have known a +smile, and eyes of intense, vivid black, wild and rolling, and piercing +as the point of a dagger. His strange advent inspired a thrill of +involuntary fear, and many present unconsciously grasped the handles of +their side-arms.</p> + +<p>"Who are you, that thus presumes to intrude among gentlemen, without +invitation?" demanded Colonel Morton, ferociously essaying to cow down +the stranger with his eye.</p> + +<p>The latter returned his stare with compound interest, and laid his long, +bony finger on his lip, as a sign--but of what, the spectators could +not imagine.</p> + +<p>"Who are you? Speak! or I will cut an answer out of your heart!" shouted +Morton, almost distracted with rage, by the cool, sneering gaze of the +other, who now removed his finger from his lip, and laid it on the hilt +of his monstrous knife.</p> + +<p>The fiery colonel then drew his dagger, and was in the act of advancing +upon the stranger, when several caught him and held him back, +remonstrating. "Let him alone, Morton, for God's sake. Do you not +perceive that he is crazy?"</p> + +<p>At the moment, Judge Webb, a man of shrewd intellect and courteous +manners, stepped forward, and addressed the intruder in a most +respectful manner:</p> + +<p>"My good friend, I presume you have made a mistake in the house. This is +a private meeting, where none but members are admitted."</p> + +<p>The stranger did not appear to comprehend the words; but he could not +fail to understand the mild and deprecatory manner. His rigid features +relaxed, and moving to a table in the center of the hall, where there +were materials and implements for writing, he seized a pen, and traced +one line: "I am deaf." He then held it up before the spectators, as a +sort of natural apology for his own want of politeness.</p> + +<p>Judge Webb took the paper, and wrote a question: "Dear sir, will you be +so obliging as to inform us what is your business with the +present meeting?"</p> + +<p>The other responded by delivering a letter, inscribed on the back, "To +the citizens of Austin." They broke the seal and read it aloud. It was +from Houston, and showed the usual terse brevity of his style:</p> + +<p>"FELLOW CITIZENS:--Though in error, and deceived by the arts of +traitors, I will give you three days more to decide whether you will +surrender the public archives. At the end of that time you will please +let me know your decision."</p> + +<p>SAM. HOUSTON.</p> + +<p>After the reading, the deaf man waited a few seconds, as if for a reply, +and then turned and was about to leave the hall, when Colonel Morton, +interposed, and sternly beckoned him back to the table. The stranger +obeyed, and Morton wrote: "You were brave enough to insult me by your +threatening looks ten minutes ago; are you brave enough now to give me +satisfaction?"</p> + +<p>The stranger penned his reply: "I am at your service!"</p> + +<p>Morton wrote again: "Who will be your second?"</p> + +<p>The stranger rejoined: "I am too generous to seek an advantage; and too +brave to fear any on part of others; therefore, I never need the aid of +a second."</p> + +<p>Morton penned: "Name your terms."</p> + +<p>The stranger traced, without a moment's hesitation: "Time, sunset this +evening; place, the left bank of the Colorado, opposite Austin; weapons, +rifles; and distance, a hundred yards. Do not fail to be in time!"</p> + +<p>He then took three steps across the floor, and disappeared through the +window, as he had entered.</p> + +<p>"What?" exclaimed Judge Webb, "is it possible Colonel Morton, that you +intend to fight that man? He is a mute, if not a positive maniac. Such a +meeting, I fear, will sadly tarnish the luster of your laurels."</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken," replied Morton, with a smile; "that mute is a hero +whose fame stands in the records of a dozen battles, and at least half +as many bloody duels. Besides, he is the favorite emissary and bosom +friend of Houston. If I have the good fortune to kill him, I think it +will tempt the president to retract his vow against venturing any more +on the field of honor."</p> + +<p>"You know the man, then. Who is he? Who is he?" asked twenty voices +together.</p> + +<p>"Deaf Smith," answered Morton, coolly.</p> + +<p>"Why, no; that can not be. Deaf Smith was slain at San Jacinto," +remarked Judge Webb.</p> + +<p>"There, again, your honor is mistaken," said Morton. "The story of +Smith's death was a mere fiction, got up by Houston to save the life of +his favorite from the sworn vengeance of certain Texans, on whose +conduct he had acted as a spy. I fathomed the artifice twelve +months since."</p> + +<p>"If what you say be true, you are a madman yourself!" exclaimed Webb. +"Deaf Smith was was never known to miss his mark. He has often brought +down ravens in their most rapid flight, and killed Camanches and +Mexicans at a distance of of two hundred and fifty yards!"</p> + +<p>"Say no more," answered Colonel Morton, in tones of deep determination; +"the thing is already settled. I have already agreed to meet him. There +can be no disgrace in falling before such a shot, and, if I succeed, my +triumph will confer the greater glory!"</p> + +<p>Such was the general habit of thought and feeling prevalent throughout +Texas at that period.</p> + +<p>Toward evening a vast crowd assembled at the place appointed to witness +the hostile meeting; and so great was the popular recklessness as to +affairs of the sort, that numerous and considerable sums were wagered on +the result. At length the red orb of the summer sun touched the curved +rim of the western horizon, covering it all with crimson and gold, and +filling the air with a flood of burning glory; and then the two mortal +antagonists, armed with long, ponderous rifles, took their stations, +back to back, and at a preconcerted signal--the waving of a white +handkerchief--walked slowly and steadily off, in opposite directions, +counting their steps until each had measured fifty. They both completed +the given number about the same instant, and then they wheeled, each to +aim and fire when he chose. As the distance was great, both paused for +some seconds--long enough for the beholders to flash their eyes from one +to the other, and mark the striking contrast betwixt them. The face of +Colonel Morton was calm and smiling; but the smile it bore had a most +murderous meaning. On the contrary, the countenance of Deaf Smith was +stern and passionless as ever. A side view of his features might have +been mistaken for a profile done in cast iron. The one, too, was +dressed in the richest cloth; the other in smoke-tinted leather. But +that made no difference in Texas then; for the heirs of heroic courage +were all considered peers--the class of inferiors embraced none +but cowards.</p> + +<p>Presently two rifles exploded with simultaneous roars. Colonel Morton +gave a prodigious bound upward, and dropped to the earth a corpse! Deaf +Smith stood erect, and immediately began to reload his rifle; and then, +having finished his brief task, he hastened away into the +adjacent forest.</p> + +<p>Three days afterward, General Houston, accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten +other men, appeared in Austin, and, without further opposition, removed +the state papers.</p> + +<p>The history of the hero of the foregoing anecdote was one of the most +extraordinary ever known in the West. He made his advent in Texas at an +early period, and continued to reside there until his death, which +happened some two years ago; but, although he had many warm personal +friends, no one could ever ascertain either the land of his birth, or a +single gleam of his previous biography. When he was questioned on the +subject, he laid his finger on his lip; and if pressed more urgently, +his brow writhed, and his dark eye seemed to shoot sparks of livid fire! +He could write with astonishing correctness and facility, considering +his situation; and, although denied the exquisite pleasure and priceless +advantages of the sense of hearing, nature had given him ample +compensation, by an eye, quick and far-seeing as an eagle's; and a +smell, keen and incredible as that of a raven. He could discover objects +moving miles away in the far-off prairie, when others could perceive +nothing but earth and sky; and the rangers used to declare that he could +catch the scent of a Mexican or Indian at as great a distance as a +buzzard could distinguish the odor of a dead carcass.</p> + +<p>It was these qualities which fitted him so well for a spy, in which +capacity he rendered invaluable services to Houston's army during the +war of independence. He always went alone, and generally obtained the +information desired. His habits in private life were equally singular. +He could never be persuaded to sleep under the roof of a house, or even +to use a tent-cloth. Wrapped in his blanket, he loved to lie out in the +open air, under the blue canopy of pure ether, and count the stars, or +gaze, with a yearning look, at the melancholy moon. When not employed as +a spy or guide, he subsisted by hunting, being often absent on solitary +excursions for weeks and even months together, in the wilderness. He was +a genuine son of nature, a grown up child of the woods and prairie, +which he worshiped with a sort of Pagan adoration. Excluded by his +infirmities from cordial fellowship with his kind, he made the inanimate +things of the earth his friends, and entered, by the heart's own +adoption, into brotherhood with the luminaries of heaven! Wherever there +was land or water, barren rocks or tangled brakes of wild, waving cane, +there was Deaf Smith's home, and there he was happy; but in the streets +of great cities, in all the great thoroughfares of men, wherever there +was flattery or fawning, base cunning or craven fear, there was Deaf +Smith an alien and an exile.</p> + +<p>Strange soul! he hath departed on the long journey, away among those +high, bright stars, which were his night-lamps; and he hath either +solved or ceased to ponder the deep mystery of the magic word, "life." +He is dead; therefore let his errors rest in oblivion, and his virtues +be remembered with hope.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ESCAPE_FROM_A_SHARK."></a>ESCAPE FROM A SHARK.</h2> + +<p>While she was lying in the harbor at Havana, it was very hot on board +the Royal Consort, about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 14th of +July. There was not the slightest movement in the air; the rays of the +sun seemed to burn down into the water. Silence took hold of the +animated creation. It was too hot to talk, whistle, or sing; to bark, to +crow, or to bray. Every thing crept under cover, but Sambo and Cuffee, +two fine-looking blacks, who sat sunning themselves on the quay, and +thought "him berry pleasant weather," and glistened like a new +Bristol bottle.</p> + +<p>Sambo and Cuffee, as we have said, were sitting on the quay, enjoying +the pleasant sunshine, and making their evening repast of banana, when +they heard the plunge into the water by the side of the Royal Consort, +and presently saw Brook Watson emerging from the deep, his hands to his +eyes to free them from the brine, balancing up and down, spattering the +water from his mouth, and then throwing himself forward, hand over hand, +as if at length he really felt himself in his element.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Massa Bacra!" roared out Sambo, as soon as he could recover from +his astonishment enough to speak, "Oh, Senor! he white man neber go to +swim! Oh, de tiburon! he berry bad bite, come de shark; he hab berry big +mouth; he eatee a Senor all up down!"</p> + +<p>Such was the exclamation of Sambo, in the best English he had been able +to pick up, in a few years' service, in unlading the American vessels, +that came to the Havana. It was intended to apprise the bold but +inexperienced stranger, that the waters were filled with sharks, and +that it was dangerous to swim in them. The words were scarcely uttered, +and, even if they were heard, had not time to produce their effect, when +Cuffee responded to the exclamation of his sable colleague, with--</p> + +<p>"Oh, Madre de Dios! see, see, de tiburon! de shark!--ah, San Salvador! +ah, pobre joven! matar, todo comer, he eat him all down, berry soon!"</p> + +<p>This second cry had been drawn from the kind-hearted negro, by seeing, +at a distance in the water a smooth-shooting streak, which an +inexperienced eye would not have noticed, but which Sambo and Cuffee +knew full well. It was the wake of a shark. At a distance of a mile or +two, the shark had perceived his prey; and, with the rapidity of sound, +he had shot across the intervening space, scarcely disturbing the +surface with a ripple. Cuffee's practiced eye alone had seen a flash of +his tail, at the distance of a mile and a half; and, raising his voice +to the utmost of his strength, he had endeavored to apprise the +incautious swimmer of his danger. Brook heard the shout, and turned his +eye in the direction in which the negro pointed; and, well skilled in +all the appearances of the water, under which he could see almost as +well as in the open air, he perceived the sharp forehead of the fearful +animal rushing toward him, head on, with a rapidity; which bade defiance +to flight.</p> + +<center><a href="084.png"><img src="084.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Escape from a Shark.</a></center> + +<p>In a moment, the dreadful monster had shot across the entire space that +separated him from Brook; and had stopped, as if its vitality had been, +instantly arrested, at the distance of about twelve feet from our +swimmer. Brook had drawn himself up in the most pugnacious attitude +possible, and, was treading water with great activity. The shark, +probably unused to any signs of making battle, remained, for one moment, +quiet; and then, like a flash of lightning, shot sidelong off, and came +round in the rear. Brook, however, was as wide awake as his enemy.</p> + +<p>The plashing of the oars of Sambo and Cuffee warned the sagacious +monster of gathering foes. Whirling himself over on his back, and +turning up his long, white belly, and opening his terrific jaws, set +round with a double row of broad, serrated teeth, the whole roof of his +mouth paved with horrent fangs, all standing erect, sharp, and rigid, +just permitting the blood-bright red to be seen between their roots, he +darted toward Brook. Brook's self-possession stood by him in this trying +moment. He knew very well if the animal reached him in a vital part, +that instant death was his fate; and, with a rapid movement, either of +instinct or calculation, he threw himself backward, kicking, at the same +moment, at the shark. In consequence of this movement, his foot and leg +passed into the horrid maw of the dreadful monster, and were severed in +a moment,--muscles, sinews, and bone. In the next moment, Sambo and +Cuffee were at his side; and lifted him into the boat, convulsed with +pain, and fainting with loss of blood. Brook was taken on board, +bandages and styptics were applied, and in due season the youth +recovered.</p> + +<p>The place of his lost limb was supplied by a wooden one; and industry, +temperance, probity, and zeal, supplied the place of a regiment of legs, +when employed to prop up a lazy and dissipated frame.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ADVENTURE_WITH_PIRATES."></a>ADVENTURE WITH PIRATES.</h2> + +<h3>FROM "FORTUNE'S ADVENTURES IN CHINA."</h3> + +<p>Early in the morning, the whole fleet was in motion, starting all +together, for the sake of mutual protection. The wind and tide were both +fair, and we proceeded along the coast with great rapidity, and were +soon out of sight of the Min and its beautiful and romantic scenery. The +plan of mutual protection soon seemed to be abandoned, and the vessels +soon separated into threes and fours, each getting on as well and as +fast as it could. About four o'clock in the afternoon, and when we were +some fifty or sixty miles from the Min, the captain and the pilot came +hurriedly down to my cabin, and informed me that they saw a number of +Jan-dous, right ahead, lying in wait for us. I ridiculed the idea, and +told them that they imagined every junk they saw to be a pirate; but +they still maintained that they were so, and I therefore considered it +prudent to be prepared for the worst. I got out of bed, ill and feverish +as I was, and carefully examined my fire-arms, clearing the nipples of +my gun and pistols, and putting on fresh caps. I also rammed down a +ball upon the top of each charge of shot in my gun, put a pistol in each +side-pocket, and patiently awaited for the result. By the aid of a small +pocket-telescope, I could see, as the nearest junk approached, that her +deck was crowded with men; I then had no longer any doubts regarding her +intentions. The pilot, an intelligent old man, now came up to me, and +said that he thought resistance would be of no use; I might manage to +beat off one junk, or even two, but I had no chance with five of them. +Being at that time in no mood to take advice, or be dictated by any one, +I ordered him off to look after his own duty. I knew perfectly well, +that if we were taken by the pirates, I had not the slightest chance of +escape; for the first thing they would do, would be to knock me on the +head and throw me overboard, as they would deem it dangerous to +themselves were I to get away. At the same time, I must confess, I had +little hopes of being able to beat off such a number, and devoutly +wished myself anywhere rather than where I was. The scene around me was +a strange one. The captain, pilot, and one or two native passengers were +taking up the boards of the cabin floor, and putting their money and +other valuables out of sight, among the ballast. The common sailors, +too, had their copper cash, or "tsien," to hide; and the whole place +was in a state of bustle and confusion. When all their more valuable +property was hidden, they began to make some preparations for defense. +Baskets of small stones were brought up from the hold, and emptied out +on the most convenient parts of the deck, and were intended to be used +instead of fire-arms, when the pirates came to close quarters. This is a +common mode of defense in various parts of China, and is effectual +enough when the enemy has only similar weapons to bring against them; +but on the coast of Fokien, where we were now, all the pirate junks +carried guns; and, consequently, a whole deck-load of stones could be of +little use against them.</p> + +<p>I was surrounded by several of the crew, who might well be called "Job's +comforters," some suggesting one thing and some another; and many +proposed that we should bring the junk round and run back to the Min. +The nearest pirate was now within two or three hundred yards of us, and, +putting her helm down, gave us a broadside from her guns. All was now +dismay and consternation on board our junk, and every man ran below, +except two who were at the helm. I expected every moment that these also +would leave their post; and then we should have been an easy prey to +the pirates. "My gun is nearer you than those of the Jan-dous," said I +to the two men, "and if you move from the helm, depend upon it, I will +shoot you." The poor fellows looked very uncomfortable; but, I suppose, +thought they had better stand the fire of the pirates than mine, and +kept at their post. Large boards, heaps of old clothes, mats, and things +of that sort, which were at hand, were thrown up to protect us from the +shot; and, as we had every stitch of sail set, and a fair wind, we were +going through the water at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour.</p> + +<p>The shot from the pirate fell considerably short of us, I was therefore +enabled to form an opinion of the range and power of their guns, which +was of some use to me. Assistance from our cowardly crew was quite out +of the question, for there was not a man among them brave enough to use +the stones which he had brought on deck; and which, perhaps, might have +been of some little use when the pirates came nearer. The fair wind and +all the press of sail which we had crowded on the junk proved of no use +to us. Again the nearest pirate fired on us. The shot this time fell +just under our stern. I still remained quiet, as I had determined not to +fire a single shot until I was quite certain my gun would take effect. +The third broadside, which followed this, came whizzing over our heads +and through the sails, without, however, wounding either the men at the +helm or myself.</p> + +<p>The pirates now seemed quite sure of their prize, and came down upon us, +hooting and yelling like demons, at the same time loading their guns, +and evidently determined not to spare their shot. This was a moment of +intense interest. The plan which I had formed from the first, was now +about to be put to proof; and, if the pirates were not the cowards which +I believed them to be, nothing could save us from falling into their +hands. Their fearful yells seem to be ringing in my ears even now, after +this lapse of time, and when I am on the other side of the globe.</p> + +<p>The nearest junk was now within thirty yards of ours; their guns were +loaded, and I knew that the next discharge would completely rake our +decks "Now," said I to our helmsman, "keep your eyes fixed on me, and +the moment you see me fall flat on the deck, you must do the same, or +you will be shot." I knew that the pirate, who was now on our stern, +could not bring his guns to bear upon us, without putting his helm down +and bringing his gangway at right angles with our stern, as his guns +were fired from the gangway. I therefore kept a sharp eye upon the +helmsman, and the moment I saw him putting the helm down, I ordered our +steersman to fall flat on their faces behind some wood, and, at the same +moment, did so myself. We had scarcely done so, when bang! bang! went +their guns, and the shot came whizzing close over us, splintering the +wood about us in all directions. Fortunately none of us were struck. +"Now, mandarin, now! they are quite close enough," cried out my +companions, who did not wish to have another broadside like the last. I, +being of the same opinion, raised myself above the high stern of our +junk; and while the pirates were not more than twenty yards from us, +hooting and yelling, I raked their decks, fore and aft, with shot and +ball from my double-barreled gun.</p> + +<p>Had a thunderbolt fallen among them, they could not have been more +surprised. Doubtless, many were wounded, and probably some killed. At +all events, the whole of the crew, not fewer than forty or fifty men, +who, a moment before, crowded the deck, disappeared in a marvellous +manner; sheltering themselves behind the bulwarks, or lying flat on +their faces. They were so completely taken by surprise, that their junk +was left without a helmsman; her sails flapped in the wind; and, as we +were still carrying all sail, and keeping on her right course, they were +soon left a considerable way astern.</p> + +<p>Another was now bearing down upon us as boldly as his companion had +done, and commenced firing in the same manner. Having been so successful +with the first, I determined to follow the same plan with this one, and +to pay no attention to his firing until he should come to close +quarters. The plot now began to thicken; for the first junk had gathered +way again, and was following in our wake, although keeping at a +respectful distance; and three others, although still further distant, +were making for the scene of action, as fast as they could. In the +meantime, the second was almost alongside, and continued giving us a +broadside, now and then, with his guns. Watching their helm as before, +we sheltered ourselves as well as we could; at the same time, my poor +fellows who were steering, kept begging and praying that I would fire +into our pursuers as soon as possible, or we should be all killed. As +soon as we came within twenty or thirty yards of us, I gave them the +contents of both barrels, raking their decks as before. This time the +helmsman fell, and, doubtless, several were wounded. In a minute or two +I could see nothing but boards and shields, which were held up by the +pirates, to protect themselves from my firing; their junk went up into +the wind, for want of a helmsman, and was soon left some distance +behind us.</p> + +<p>While I was watching this vessel, our men called out to me that there +was another close on our lee-bow, which I had not observed on account of +our mainsail. Luckily, however, it proved to be a Ning-po wood-junk, +like ourselves, which the pirates had taken a short time before, but +which, although manned by these rascals, could do us no harm, having no +guns. The poor Ning-po crew, whom I could plainly see on board, seemed +to be very much down-hearted and frightened. I was afterward informed, +that when a junk is captured, all the principal people, such as the +captain, pilot, and passengers, are taken out of her, and a number of +the pirates go on board and take her into some of their dens among the +islands, and keep her there until a heavy ransom is paid, both for the +junk and the people. Sometimes, when a ransom can not be obtained, the +masts, and spars, and everything else which is of any value, are taken +out of her, and she is set on fire.</p> + +<p>The two other piratical junks which had been following in our wake for +some time, when they saw what had happened, would not venture any +nearer; and at last, much to my satisfaction, the whole set of them +bore away.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_SEA_FOWLING_ADVENTURE."></a>A SEA FOWLING ADVENTURE.</h2> + +<p>One pleasant afternoon in summer, Frank Costello jumped into his little +boat, and pulling her out of the narrow creek where she lay moored, +crept along the iron-bound shore until he reached the entrance of one of +those deep sea-caves, so common upon the western coast of Ireland. To +the gloomy recesses of these natural caverns, millions of sea-fowl +resort during the breeding season; and it was among the feathered tribes +then congregated in the "Puffin Cave," that Frank meant, on that +evening, to deal death and destruction. Gliding, with lightly-dipping +oars, into the yawning chasm, he stepped nimbly from his boat, and +making the painter fast to a projecting rock, he lighted a torch, and, +armed only with a stout cudgel, penetrated into the innermost recesses +of the cavern. There he found a vast quantity of birds and eggs, and +soon became so engrossed with his sport that he paid no attention to the +lapse of time, until the hollow sound of rushing waters behind him made +him aware that the tide, which was ebbing when he entered the cave, had +turned, and was now rising rapidly. His first impulse was to return to +the spot where he had made his boat fast; but how was he horrified on +perceiving that the rock to which it had been secured was now completely +covered with water. He might, however, still have reached it by +swimming; but, unfortunately, the painter, by which it was attached to +the rock, not having sufficient scope, the boat, on the rising of the +tide, was drawn, stern down, to a level with the water; and Frank, as he +beheld her slowly fill and disappear beneath the waves, felt as if the +last link between the living world and himself had been broken. To go +forward was impossible; and he well knew that there was no way of +retreating from the cave, which, in a few hours, would be filled by the +advancing tide. His heart died within him, as the thought of the horrid +fate which awaited him flashed across his mind. He was not a man who +feared to face death; by flood or field, on the stormy sea and the dizzy +cliff, he had dared it a thousand times with perfect unconcern; but to +meet the grim tyrant there, alone, to struggle hopelessly with him for +life in that dreary tomb, was more than his fortitude could bear. He +shrieked aloud in the agony of despair--the torch fell from his +trembling hand into the dark waters that gurgled at his feet, and, +flashing for a moment upon their inky surface, expired with a hissing +sound, that fell like a death-warning upon his ear. The wind, which had +been scarcely felt during the day, began to rise with the flowing of the +tide, and now drove the tumultuous waves with hoarse and hideous clamor +into the cavern. Every moment increased the violence of the gale that +howled and bellowed as it swept around the echoing roof of that +rock-ribbed prison; while the hoarse dash of the approaching waves, and +the shrill screams of the sea-birds that filled the cavern, formed a +concert of terrible dissonance, well suited for the requiem, of the +hapless wretch who had been enclosed in that living grave! But the love +of life, which makes us cling to it in the most hopeless extremity, was +strong in Frank Costello's breast; his firmness and presence of mind +gradually returned, and he resolved not to perish without a struggle. He +remembered that, at the farther extremity of the cavern, the rock rose +like a flight of rude stairs, sloping from the floor to the roof; he had +often clambered up those rugged steps, and he knew that, by means of +them, he could place himself at an elevation above the reach of the +highest tide. But the hope thus suggested was quickly damped when he +reflected that a deep fissure, which ran perpendicularly through the +rock, formed a chasm ten feet in width, in the floor of the cavern, +between him and his place of refuge. The tide, however, which was now +rising rapidly, compelled him to retire every instant, further into the +cavern, and he felt that the only chance he had left him for life was to +endeavor to cross the chasm. He was young, active, and possessed of +uncommon courage, and he had frequently, by torch-light, leaped across +the abyss, in the presence of his companions, few of whom dared to +follow his example. But now, alone and in utter darkness, how was he to +attempt such a perilous feat? The conviction that death was inevitable +if he remained where he was, decided him. Collecting a handful of loose +pebbles from one of the numerous channels in the floor, he proceeded +cautiously over the slippery rocks, throwing at every step a pebble +before him, to ascertain the security of his footing. At length he heard +the stone, as it fell from his fingers, descend with a hollow, +clattering noise, that continued for several seconds. He knew he was +standing on the brink of the chasm. One quick and earnest prayer he +breathed to the invisible Power, whose hand could protect him in that +dread moment--then, retiring a single pace, and screwing every nerve and +muscle in his body to the utmost tension, he made a step in advance, and +threw himself forward into the dark and fearful void. Who can tell the +whirlwind of thought that rushed through his brain in the brief moment +that he hung above that yawning gulf? Should he have miscalculated his +distance, or chosen a place where the cleft was widest--should his +footing fail, or his strength be unequal to carry him over, what a death +were his! Dashed down that horrible abyss--crashing from rock to rock, +until he lay at the bottom a mutilated corpse. The agony of years was +crowded into one moment--in the next, his feet struck against the firm +rock on the opposite side of the chasm, and he was saved. At least, he +felt that he had for the moment escaped the imminent peril in which he +was placed, and, as he clambered joyfully up the rugged slope at the end +of the cave, he thought little of the dangers he had still to encounter. +All through that long night he sat on the narrow ledge of a rock, while +the angry waves thundered beneath, and cast their cold spray every +instant over him. With the ebbing of the tide, the sea receded from the +cavern; but Frank hesitated to attempt crossing the chasm again; his +limbs had become stiff and benumbed, and his long abstinence had so +weakened his powers that he shrank from the dangerous enterprise. While +giving way to the most desponding reflections, a stentorian hilloa rang +and echoed through the cavern; and never had the human voice sounded so +sweetly in his ear. He replied to it with a thrilling shout of joy, and, +in a few minutes, several persons with torches appeared advancing. A +plank was speedily thrust across the fissure, and Frank Costello once +more found himself amid a group of his friends, who were warmly +congratulating him upon his miraculous escape. They told him that, from +his not having returned home the preceding night, it was generally +concluded that he had been drowned, and a party of his neighbors +proceeded in a boat, early in the morning, in search of his body. On +reaching "Puffin Hole," they discovered his boat fastened to a rock, and +full of water, as she had remained on the ebbing of the tide. This +circumstance induced them to examine the cavern narrowly, and the happy +result of their search is already known.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ADVENTURE_WITH_A_COBRA_DI_CAPELLO"></a>ADVENTURE WITH A COBRA DI CAPELLO</h2> + +<p>I might have slept some four or five hours, and a dreamless and +satisfying sleep it was; but certain it is--let scholiasts say what they +will, and skeptics throw doubts by handfulls on the assertions of +metaphysicians--that, before I awoke, and in my dreamless slumber, I had +a visible perception of peril--a consciousness of the hovering presence +of death! How to describe my feelings I know not; but, as we have all +read and heard that, if the eyes of a watcher are steadily fixed on the +countenance of a sleeper for a certain length of time, the slumberer +will be sure to start up--wakened by the mysterious magnetism of a +recondite principle of clairvoyance; so it was that, with shut eyes and +drowsed-up senses, an inward ability was conferred upon me to detect the +living from the presence of danger near me--to see, though sleep-blind, +the formless shape of a mysterious horror crouching beside me; and, as +if the peril that was my nightmate was of a nature to be quickened into +fatal activity by any motion on my part, I felt in my very stupor the +critical necessity of lying quite still; so that, when I at last awoke +and felt that as I lay with my face toward the roof, there was a thick, +heavy, cold, creeping thing upon my chest, I stirred not, nor uttered a +word of panic. Danger and fear may occasionally dull the sense and +paralyse the faculties, but they more frequently sharpen both, and ere I +could wink my eye, I was broad awake and aware that, coiling and coiling +itself up into a circle of twists, an enormous serpent was on my breast. +When I tell you that the whole of my chest, and even the pit of my +stomach, were covered with the cold, scaly proportions of the reptile, +you will own that it must have been one of considerable size.</p> + +<p>What my thoughts were--so made up of abhorrence, dread, and the +expectation--nay, assurance of speedy death, that must follow any +movement on my part--I can never hope to tell in language sufficiently +distinct and vivid to convey their full force. It was evident the +loathsome creature had at length settled itself to sleep; and I felt +thankful that, attracted by my breath, it had not approached the upper +part of my throat. It became quite still, and its weighty pressure--its +first clammy chillness becoming gradually (so it seemed to me) of a +burning heat--and the odious, indescribable odor which exhaled from its +body and pervaded the whole air--so overwhelmed me, that it was only by +a severe struggle I preserved myself from shrieking. As it was, a cold +sweat burst from every pore. I could hear the beating of my heart--and I +felt, to my increased dismay, that the palsy of terror had began to +agitate my limbs! "It will wake," thought I, "and then all is over!" At +this juncture, something--it might have been a wall-lizard, or a large +beetle--fell from the ceiling upon my left arm, which lay stretched at +my side. The snake, uncoiling its head, raised itself, with a low hiss, +and then, for the first time, I saw it,--saw the hood, the terrible +crest glistening in the moonshine. It was a Cobra di Capello! Shading my +eyes to exclude the dreadful spectacle, I lay almost fainting, until +again all was quiet. Had its fiery glances encountered mine, all would +have been over; but, apparently, it was once more asleep, and presently +I heard the Lascar moving about, undoing the fastenings of the tent, and +striking a light. A thought suddenly struck me, and, with an impulse I +could then ascribe to nothing short of desperation, though its effects +were so providential, I uttered, in a loud, but sepulchral tone, +"Kulassi! Lascar." "Sahib!" was the instantaneous response, and my +heart beat quicker at the success of my attempt. I lay still again, for +the reptile, evidently roused, made a movement, and its head, as I +suppose, fell on my naked arm. Oh God! the agony of that moment, when +suppressed tremor almost gave way to madness! I debated with myself +whether I should again endeavor to attract the attention of the Kulassi, +or remain perfectly quiet; or whether it would not be better than either +to start up at once and shake the disgustful burden from me. But the +latter suggestion was at once abandoned, because of the assurance I felt +that it would prove fatal; impeded by the heavy coils of the creature, +weak and nerveless from excitement, I could not escape its fangs. Again, +therefore, I spoke with the hollow but distinct accents which arise from +the throat when the speaker is afraid to move a muscle:--"Kulassi +Chiragh!"--Lascar, a lanthorn! "Latah own Sahib." I am bringing it, sir. +There was then a sound of clanking metal--light, advancing, flashes +across the roof of the veranda--and, at the noise of coming steps, lo! +one after one its terrible coils unwinding, the grisly monster glided +away from my body; and the last sounds that struck my sense of hearing +were the--"Ya illahi samp!" Oh God! a snake!--of the lascar; for I +fainted away for the first time in my life.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="COMBAT_OF_WILD_ANIMALS."></a>COMBAT OF WILD ANIMALS.</h2> +<center><a href="105.png"><img src="105.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Tiger and Buffalo.</a></center> + +<p>We were conducted to a gallery which commanded a view of a narrow court +or area beneath, inclosed by walls and palisades. This was the arena in +which the spectacle was to take place. Unfortunately, the space allotted +to spectators was so narrowed by the great number of European ladies who +were present, that we could only find indifferent standing room, where, +in addition to this inconvenience, the glare of the sun was very +oppressively felt; but the drama which began to be acted in our sight in +the deep space below, was such that every discomfort was forgotten in +beholding it. We there beheld six mighty buffaloes, not of the tame +species, but the sturdy offspring of the Arni-buffalo of the hill +country, at least four feet and a half high from the ground to the +withers, with enormous widely-spread horns, several feet long. There +they stood, on their short, clumsy hoofs, and, snorting violently, blew +out their angry breath from their protruded muzzles, as if they were +already aware of the nearly approaching danger. What terribly powerful +brutes! what vast strength in their broad and brawny necks! It would +have been a noble sight, had not their eyes the while expressed such +entire stupidity.</p> + +<p>A rattling of sticks, and the cries of several kind? of bestial voices +were heard--to which the buffaloes replied with a deep bellowing. On a +sudden, from an opened side door, there darted forth a huge tiger, +certainly from ten to eleven feet in length, and four in height. Without +much hesitation, he sprang with a single long bound right amid the +buffaloes; one of which, winding his body out of the reach of the +formidable horns, he seized by the neck with both claws and teeth at +once. The weight of the tiger almost overthrew the buffalo. A hideous +combat now took place. Groaning and bellowing, the buffalo dragged his +powerful assailant up and down the arena; while the others, with their +heavy, pointed horns, dealt the tiger fearful gashes, to liberate their +fellow beast. A deep stillness reigned among the public; all the +spectators awaited with eager suspense the issue of this contest between +the tiger and the buffaloes; as well as the fate of some unfortunate +asses, which latter, to increase the sport, being made perforce +witnesses of the sanguinary action, at first looked down upon it from +their poles with inexpressible horror, and afterward, when their +supports were shaken by the butting of the buffaloes, fell to the +ground as if dead, and, with outstretched limbs, lay, expecting their +fate with the greatest resignation--without making a single effort to +save themselves. Two other tigers, of somewhat less stature, were now, +with great difficulty, driven in; while the main struggle was still +going forward. But no efforts could induce them to attempt an attack of +any kind; they shrank down like cats, crouching as closely as possible +to the walls of the inclosure, whenever the buffaloes, who still +continued, however, to butt at their enemy with the utmost desperation, +approached them. The great tiger had, at last, received a push in the +ribs, which lifted him from his seat. He came tumbling down, and crawled +like a craven into a corner; whither he was pursued by the buffalo, +maddened by the pain of his lacerated neck--and there had to endure many +thrusts with his horns, at each of which he only drew up his mouth with +a grimace of pain, without making the smallest motion to ward off +the attack.</p> + +<p>The spectacle was by no means ended here. Other combatants were driven +in, and fought with more or less energy.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="PERILOUS_INCIDENT"></a>PERILOUS INCIDENT</h2> + +<h3>ON A CANADIAN RIVER.</h3> + +<p>A young man and his sister have kept this ferry several years, during +which they have performed many acts of heroic benevolence, and have +rescued numbers of their fellow creatures from a watery grave. One of +these had so much of perilous adventure in it, that I shall make no +apology for giving some account of it, the more especially as I was +myself one of the trembling and anxious spectators of the whole scene.</p> + +<p>A raft of timber, on its way down the river to the nearest port, was +dashed to pieces by the violence of the rapids. There was the usual +number of men upon it, all of whom, except two, were fortunate enough to +get upon a few logs, which kept together, and were comparatively safe, +while their two poor comrades, were helplessly contending with the +tumbling waves, almost within reach of them, but without their being +able to afford them the slightest assistance. After a minute or two, and +when one more would have been their last, a long oar or sweep, +belonging to the wretched raft, came floating by. They instantly seized +it, and held on till they were carried down more than a mile, loudly +calling for help as they went along; but what aid could we render them? +No craft, none, at least, which were on the banks of the river, could +live in such a boiling torrent as that; for it was during one of the +high spring freshets. But the ferryman was of a different opinion, and +could not brook the thought of their dying before his eyes without his +making a single effort to save them. "How could I stand idly looking +on," he said to me afterward, "with a tough ash oar in my hand, and a +tight little craft at my feet, and hear their cries for help, and see +them drowned?" He determined, at all risks, to try to rescue them from +the fate which seemed to us inevitable. He could not, however, go alone, +and there was not another man on that side of the river within half a +mile of him. His sister knew this, and, courageously, like another Grace +Darling, proposed, at once, to accompany him in his perilous adventure. +From being so often on the water with her brother, she knew well how to +handle an oar. Often, indeed, without him she had paddled a passenger +across the ferry in her little canoe. He accepted her proposal, and we +had the satisfaction of seeing the light punt put off from the shore +opposite to that from which we were idly and uselessly looking on, and +go gallantly over the surging torrent toward the sinking men. We feared, +however, that it would not be in time to save them, as their cries for +help grew fainter and fainter, till each one, we thought, would have +been their last. We saw that the oar, with the drowning men clinging to +it, was floating rapidly down the middle of the stream, which, in this +particular locality, is more than a quarter of a mile in breadth, and +would inevitably, in two or three minutes more, be in the white water +among the breakers, when their fate must be sealed, and the boat, if it +followed, dashed to pieces among the rocks. This was the principal point +of danger, and they had to run down within a most fearful proximity of +it, to cross the course down which the drowning men were drifting, and, +as they did so, to seize hold of them without losing their own headway; +for there was not time for that. They succeeded in shooting athwart the +current, rapid as it was, just below the men. With breathless and +painful anxiety we saw them execute this dangerous manoeuver. We saw the +ferryman lean over the side of his boat, for a moment, as it passed +them, while his sister backed water with her oar.</p> + +<p>"They are saved!" some one said, close behind me, in a whisper so deep +and earnest that I started, and turned to look at the speaker; when +another, who heard him, exclaimed, "No, no! they are gone! they are +lost! the boat has left them!" And sure enough, it had. But, in an +instant afterward, just as we thought they were about to be driven into +the fatal breakers, they turned, to our inexpressible delight, as if +drawn by some invisible power (the rope the ferryman had attached to the +oar was, indeed, invisible to us,) and followed the boat.</p> + +<p>The ferryman and his sister had yet to pull a fearful distance for the +time they had to do it in, to get out of that part of the current +leading to the breakers: and they accomplished it. The man had the bow +oar, and we could see the tough ash bend like a willow-wand as he +stretched out to keep the head of the boat partially up the stream. His +sister, too, "kept her own," and the little punt shot out rapidly into +the comparatively quiet stream, beyond the influence of the fearful +current, which was rapidly driving them upon the breakers. When this was +accomplished, our fears for the noble-hearted brother and sister were at +an end, and we took a long breath; it was, indeed, a relief to do so. +Still we continued to watch their further proceedings with the +deepest interest.</p> + +<p>The moment they got into a less rapid current, which, they knew, led +into comparatively still water they ceased rowing, and allowed the punt +to float down with it. The young ferryman now drew up the sweep +alongside, and succeeded in getting the two unfortunate men into his +boat. While he was doing this, his sister went aft, and used her oar as +a rudder to steer the boat. At the foot of the current, which they soon +afterward reached, there was no further danger. But we watched them +still; and we saw them row ashore, on their own side of the river. One +of the poor fellows was so much exhausted, that the ferryman had to +carry him on his back to the nearest house, where he soon recovered.</p> + +<p>Twelve months after this took place, I had the satisfaction of +presenting to this worthy ferryman, in the presence of above five +hundred men, a beautiful silver medallion, sent out to me by the Royal +Humane Society--to which I had transmitted an account of the occurrence. +Nor was the heroine of my story forgotten. A similar medallion was given +to him for his sister. She could not, with propriety, be present +herself, as it was the annual muster-day of the militia in +that locality.</p> + +<p>MEMOIRS OF A CHURCH MISSIONARY IN CANADA.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_WHALE_CHASE."></a>A WHALE CHASE.</h2> + +<p>Down went the boats with a splash. Each boat's crew sprang over the +rail, and in an instant the larboard, starboard, and waist-boats were +manned. There was great rivalry in getting the start. The waist-boat got +off in pretty good time; and away went all three, dashing the water high +over their bows. Nothing could be more exciting than the chase. The +larboard boat, commanded by the mate, and the waist-boat, by the second +mate, were head and head. "Give way, my lads, give way!" shouted P----, +our headsman; "we gain on them; give way! A long, steady stroke! That's +the way to tell it!" "Ay, ay!" cried Tabor, our boat-steerer. "What do +you say, boys? Shall we lick 'em?" "Pull! pull like vengeance!" echoed +the crew; and we danced over the waves, scarcely seeming to touch them. +The chase was now truly soul-stirring. Sometimes the larboard, then the +starboard, then the waist-boat took the lead. It was a severe trial of +skill and muscle. After we had run two miles at this rate, the whales +turned flukes, going dead to windward. "Now for it, my lads!" cried +P----. "We'll have them the next rising. Now pile it on! a long, steady +pull! That's it! that's the way! Those whales belong to us. Don't give +out! Half an hour more, and they're our whales!" The other boats veered +off at either side of us, and continued the chase with renewed ardor. In +about half an hour we lay on our oars to look round for the whales. +"There she blows! right ahead!" shouted Tabor, fairly dancing with +delight. "There she blows--there she blows!" "Oh, Lord, boys, spring!" +cried P----. "Spring it is! What d'ye say, now, chummies? Shall we take +those whales?" To this general appeal, every man replied by putting his +weight on his oar, and exerting his utmost strength. The boat flew +through the water with incredible swiftness, scarcely rising to the +waves. A large bull whale lay about a quarter of a mile ahead of us, +lazily rolling in the trough of the sea. The larboard and starboard +boats were far to leeward of us, tugging hard to get a chance at the +other whales, which were now blowing in every direction. "Give way! give +way, my hearties!" cried P----, putting his weight against the aft oar. +"Do you love gin? A bottle of gin to the best man! Oh, pile it on, while +you have breath! pile it on!" "On with the beef, chummies! Smash every +oar! double 'em up or break 'em!" "Every devil's imp of you, pull! No +talking; lay back to it; now or never!"</p> + +<p>On dashed the boat, cleaving its way through the rough sea, as if the +briny element were blue smoke. The whale, however, turned flukes before +we could reach him. When he appeared again above the surface of the +water, it was evident that he had milled while down, by which manoeuver +he gained on us nearly a mile. The chase was now almost hopeless, as he +was making to windward rapidly. A heavy black cloud was on the horizon, +portending an approaching squall, and the barque was fast fading from +sight. Still we were not to be baffled by discouraging circumstances of +this kind, and we braced our sinews for a grand and final effort. "Never +give up, my lads," said the headsman, in a cheering voice. "Mark my +words, we'll have the whale yet. Only think he's ours, and there's no +mistake about it, he will be ours. Now for a hard, steady pull! Give +way!" "Give way, sir! Give way all!" "There she blows! Oh, pull, my +lively lads! Only a mile off!" "There she blows!" The wind had by this +time increased almost to a gale, and the heavy, black clouds were +scattering over us far and wide. Part of the squall had passed off to +leeward, and entirely concealed the barque. Our situation was rather +unpleasant: in a rough sea, the other boats out of sight, and each +moment the wind increasing. We continued to strain every muscle till we +were hard upon the whale. Tabor sprang to the bow, and stood by with the +harpoon. "Softly, softly, my lads," said the headsman. "Ay, ay sir!" +"Hush-h-h! softly! Now's your time, Tabor!" Tabor let fly the harpoon, +and buried the iron. "Give him another!" "Stern all!" thundered P----. +"Stern all!" And, as we rapidly backed from the whale, he flung his +tremendous fluke high in the air, covering us with a cloud of spray. He +then sounded, making the line whiz as it passed through the chocks. When +he rose to the surface again, we hauled up, and the second mate stood +ready in the bow to dispatch him with lances. "Spouting blood!" said +Tabor, "he's a dead whale! he won't need much lancing." It was true +enough; for, before the officer could get within dart of him, he +commenced his dying struggles. The sea was crimsoned with his blood. By +the time we had reached him, he was belly up. We lay upon our oars a +moment, to witness his last throes, and when he turned his head toward +the sun, a loud, simultaneous cheer, burst from every lip.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="LEOPARD_HUNTING."></a>LEOPARD HUNTING.</h2> + +<h3>AND ADVENTURES WITH BUFFALOES AND LIONS.</h3> + +<p>Mr. Cumming has published a volume containing a record of his hunting +exploits in Africa, in the year 1848. The following interesting accounts +of adventures are from his work.</p> + +<p>On the morning, says Mr. Cumming, I rode into camp, after unsuccessfully +following the spoor of a herd of elephants for two days, in a westerly +course. Having partaken of some refreshment, I saddled up two steeds and +rode down the bank of Ngotwani, with the Bushman, to seek for any game I +might find. After riding about a mile along the river's green bank, I +came suddenly upon an old male leopard, lying under the shade of a thorn +grove, and panting from the great heat. Although I was within sixty +yards of him, he had not heard the horse's tread. I thought he was a +lioness, and, dismounting, took a rest in my saddle on the Old Gray, and +sent a bullet into him. He sprang to his feet and ran half way down the +river's bank, and stood to look about him, when I sent a second bullet +into his person, and he disappeared over the bank. The ground being +very dangerous, I did not disturb him by following then, but I at once +sent Ruyter back to camp for the dogs. Presently he returned with Wolf +and Boxer, very much done up with the sun. I rode forward, and, on +looking over the bank, the leopard started up and sneaked off alongside +of the tall reeds, and was instantly out of sight. I fired a random shot +from the saddle to encourage the dogs, and shouted to them; they, +however, stood looking stupidly around, and would not take up his scent +at all. I led them over his spoor, again and again, but to no purpose; +the dogs seemed quite stupid, and yet they were Wolf and Boxer, my +two best.</p> + +<p>At length I gave it up as a lost affair, and was riding down the river's +bank, when I heard Wolf give tongue behind me, and, galloping back, +found him at bay with the leopard, immediately beneath where I had fired +at him; he was very severely wounded, and had slipped down into the +river's bed and doubled back, whereby he had thrown out both the dogs +and myself. As I approached, he flew out upon Wolf and knocked him over, +and then, running up the bed of the river, took shelter in a thick bush: +Wolf, however, followed him, and at this moment my other dogs came up, +having heard the shot, and bayed him fiercely. He sprang out upon them, +and then crossed the river's bed, taking shelter beneath some large +tangled roots on the opposite bank. As he crossed the river, I put a +third bullet into him, firing from the saddle, and, as soon as he came +to bay, I gave him a fourth, which finished him. This leopard was a very +fine old male; in the conflict, the unfortunate Alert was wounded, as +usual, getting his face torn open; he was still going upon three legs, +with all his breast laid bare by the first water-buck.</p> + +<p>In the evening I directed my Hottentots to watch a fine pool in the +river, and do their best, while I rode to a distant pool several miles +up the Ngotwani, reported as very good for game, to lie all night and +watch: my Totties, however, fearing "Tao," disobeyed me. On reaching the +water I was bound for, I found it very promising, and, having fastened +my two horses to a tree beneath the river's bank, I prepared a place of +concealment close by, and laid down for the night.</p> + +<p>The river's banks on each side were clad with groves of shady thorn +trees. After I had lain some time, squadrons of buffaloes were heard +coming on, until the shady grove on the east bank of the water +immediately above me was alive with them. After some time the leaders +ventured down the river's bank to drink, and this was the signal for a +general rush into the large pool of water: they came on like a regiment +of cavalry at a gallop, making a mighty din, and obscuring the air with +a dense cloud of dust. At length I sent a ball into one of them, when +the most tremendous rush followed up the bank, where they all stood +still, listening attentively. I knew that the buffalo was severely +wounded, but did not hear him fall. Some time after, I fired at a +second, as they stood on the bank above me; this buffalo was also hard +hit, but did not then fall. A little after, I fired at a third on the +same spot; he ran forty yards, and, falling, groaned fearfully: this at +once brought on a number of the others to butt their dying comrade, +according to their benevolent custom. I then crept in toward them, and, +firing my fourth shot, a second buffalo ran forward a few yards, and, +falling, groaned as the last; her comrades, coming up, served her in the +same manner. A second time I crept in, and, firing a fifth shot, a third +buffalo ran forward, and fell close to her dying comrades: in a few +minutes all the other buffaloes made off, and the sound of teeth tearing +at the flesh was heard immediately.</p> + +<p>I fancied it was the hyaenas, and fired a shot to scare them from the +flesh. All was still; and, being anxious to inspect the heads of the +buffaloes, I went boldly forward, taking the native who accompanied me, +along with me. We were within about five yards of the nearest buffalo, +when I observed a yellow mass lying alongside of him, and at the same +instant a lion gave a deep growl,--I thought it was all over with me. +The native shouted "Tao," and, springing away, instantly commenced +blowing shrilly through a charmed piece of bone which he wore on his +necklace. I retreated to the native, and we then knelt down. The lion +continued his meal, tearing away at the buffalo, and growling at his +wife and family, who, I found next day, by the spoor, had accompanied +him. Knowing that he would not molest me if I left him alone, I proposed +to the native to go to our hole and lie down, but he would not hear of +it, and entreated me to fire at the lion. I fired three different shots +where I thought I saw him, but without any effect; he would not so much +as for a moment cease munching my buffalo. I then proceeded to lie down, +and was soon asleep, the native keeping watch over our destinies. Some +time after midnight other lions were heard coming on from other airts, +and my old friend commenced roaring so loudly that the native thought it +proper to wake me.</p> + +<p>The first old lion now wanted to drink, and held right away for the two +unfortunate steeds, roaring terribly. I felt rather alarmed for their +safety; but, trusting that the lion had had flesh enough for one night, +I lay still, and listened with an attentive ear. In a few minutes, to my +utter horror, I heard him spring upon one of the steeds with an angry +growl, and dash him to the earth; the steed gave a slight groan, and all +was still. I listened to hear the sound of teeth, but all continued +still. Soon after this "Tao," was once more heard to be munching the +buffalo. In a few minutes he came forward, and stood on the bank close +above us, and roared most terribly, walking up and down, as if +meditating some mischief. I now thought it high time to make a fire, +and, quickly collecting some dry reeds and little sticks, in half a +minute we had a cheerful blaze. The lion, which had not yet got our +wind, came forward at once to find out what the deuse was up; but, not +seeing to his entire satisfaction from the top of the bank, he was +proceeding to descend by a game-path into the river-bed within a few +yards of us. I happened at the very moment to go to this spot to fetch +more wood, and, being entirely concealed from the lion's view above by +the intervening high reeds, we actually met face to face! The first +notice I got was his sudden spring to one side, accompanied by repeated +angry growls, while I involuntarily made a convulsive spring backward, +at the same time giving a fearful shriek, such as I never before +remember uttering. I fancied, just as he growled, he was coming upon me. +We now heaped on more wood, and kept up a very strong fire until the day +dawned, the lions feasting beside us all the time, notwithstanding the +remonstrances of the little native, who, with a true Bechuana spirit, +lamenting the loss of so much good flesh, kept continually shouting and +pelting them with flaming brands.</p> + +<p>The next morning, when it was clear, I arose and inspected the +buffaloes. The three that had fallen were fine old cows, and two of them +were partly consumed by the lions. The ground all around was packed flat +with their spoor; one particular spoor was nearly as large as that of a +borele. I then proceeded to inspect the steeds: the sand around them was +also covered with the lion's spoor. He had sprung upon the Old Gray, but +had done him no further injury than scratching his back through the +skin: perhaps the lion had been scared by the rheims, or on discovering +his spare condition, had preferred the buffalo.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="HUNTING_THE_WHITE_RHINOCEROS,"></a>HUNTING THE WHITE RHINOCEROS,</h2> + +<h3>LION, BUFFALO, AND GIRAFFE.</h3> + +<p>Upon the 9th, says Mr. Cumming, it rained unceasingly throughout the +day, converting the rich soil on which we were encamped into one mass of +soft, sticky clay. In the forenoon, fearing the rain would continue so +as to render the valley (through which we must pass to gain the firmer +ground) impassible, I ordered my men to prepare to march, and leave the +tent with its contents standing, the point which I wished to gain being +distant only about five hundred yards. When the oxen were inspanned, +however, and we attempted to move, we found my tackle, which was old, so +rotten from the effects of the rain, that something gave way at every +strain. Owing to this and to the softness of the valley, we labored on +till sundown, and only succeeded in bringing one wagon to its +destination, the other two remained fast in the mud in the middle of the +valley. Next morning, luckily, the weather cleared up, when my men +brought over the tent, and in the afternoon the other two wagons.</p> + +<p>We followed up the banks of the river for several days, with the usual +allowance of sport. On the 16th we came suddenly upon an immense old +bull muchocho rolling in mud. He sprang to his feet immediately he saw +me, and, charging up the bank, so frightened our horses, that before I +could get my rifle from my after-rider he was past us. I then gave him +chase, and, after a hard gallop of about a mile, sprang from my horse +and gave him a good shot behind the shoulder. At this moment a cow +rhinoceros of the same species, with her calf, charged out of some +wait-a-bit thorn cover, and stood right in my path. Observing that she +carried an unusually long horn, I turned my attention from the bull to +her, and, after a very long and severe chase, dropped her at the sixth +shot. I carried one of my rifles, which gave me much trouble, that not +being the tool required for this sort of work, where quick loading is +indispensable.</p> + +<p>After breakfast I sent men to cut off the head of this rhinoceros, and +proceeded with Ruyter to take up the spoor of the bull wounded in the +morning. We found that he was very severely hit, and having followed the +spoor for about a mile through very dense thorn cover, he suddenly +rustled out of the bushes close ahead of us, accompanied by a whole host +of rhinoceros birds. I mounted my horse and gave him chase, and in a +few minutes he had received four severe shots. I managed to turn his +course toward camp, when I ceased firing, as he seemed to be nearly done +up, and Ruyter and I rode slowly behind, occasionally shouting to guide +his course. Presently, however, Chukuroo ceased taking any notice of us, +and held leisurely on for the river, into a shallow part of which he +walked, and, after panting there and turning about for a quarter of an +hour, he fell over and expired. This was a remarkably fine old bull, and +from his dentition it was not improbable that a hundred summers had seen +him roaming a peaceful denizen of the forests and open glades along the +fair banks of the secluded Mariqua.</p> + +<p>During our march, on the 19th, we had to cross a range of very rocky +hills, covered with large loose stones, and all hands were required to +be actively employed for about an hour, in clearing them out of the way, +to permit the wagons to pass. The work went on fast and furious, and the +quantity of stones cleared was immense. At length we reached the spot +where we were obliged to bid adieu to the Mariqua, and hold a westerly +course across the country for Sicheley. At sundown we halted under a +lofty mountain, the highest in the district, called "Lynchie a Cheny," +or the Monkey's Mountain.</p> + +<p>Next day, at an early hour, I rode out with Ruyter to hunt, my camp +being entirely without flesh, and we having been rationed upon very +tough old rhinoceros for several days past. It was a cloudy morning, and +soon after starting, it came on to rain heavily. I, however, held on, +skirting a fine, well-wooded range of mountains, and after riding +several miles I shot a zebra. Having covered the carcass well over with +branches to protect it from the vultures, I returned to camp, and, +inspanning my wagons, took it up on the march. We continued trekking on +until sundown, when we started an immense herd of buffaloes, into which +I stalked, and shot a huge old bull.</p> + +<p>Our march this evening was through the most beautiful country I had ever +seen in Africa. We skirted an endless range of well-wooded stony +mountains lying on our left, while to our right the country at first +sloped gently off, and then stretched away into a level green forest, +(occasionally interspersed with open glades,) boundless as the ocean. +This green forest was, however, relieved in one direction by a chain of +excessively bold, detached, well-wooded, rocky, pyramidal mountains, +which stood forth in grand relief. In advance the picture was bounded by +forest and mountain; one bold acclivity, in shape of a dome, standing +prominent among its fellows. It was a lovely evening: the sky, overcast +and gloomy, threw an interesting, wild, mysterious coloring over the +landscape. I gazed forth upon the romantic scene before me with intense +delight, and felt melancholy and sorrowful at passing so fleetingly +through it, and could not help shouting out, as I marched along, "Where +is the coward who would not dare to die for such a land?"</p> + +<p>In the morning we held for a fountain some miles ahead, in a gorge in +the mountains. As we approached the fountain, and were passing close +under a steep, rocky, hillside, well wooded to its summit, I +unexpectedly beheld a lion stealing up the rocky face, and, halting +behind a tree, he stood overhauling us for some minutes. I resolved to +give him battle, and, seizing my rifle, marched against him, followed by +Carey carrying a spare gun, and by three men leading my dogs, now +reduced to eight. When we got close in to the base of the mountain, we +found ourselves enveloped in dense jungle, which extended half-way to +its summit, and entirely obscured from our eyes objects which were quite +apparent from the wagons, I slipped my dogs, however, which, after +snuffing about, took right up the steep face on the spoor of the lions, +for there was a troop of them--a lion and three lionesses.</p> + +<p>The people at the wagons saw the chase in perfection. When the lions +observed the dogs coming on, they took right up, and three of them +crossed over the sky ridge. The dogs, however, turned one rattling old +lioness, which came rumbling down through the cover, close past me. I +ran to meet her, and she came to bay in an open spot near the base of +the mountain, whither I quickly followed, and coming up within thirty +yards, bowled her over with my first shot, which broke her back. My +second entered her shoulder; and, fearing that she might hurt any of the +dogs, as she still evinced signs of life, I finished her with a third in +the breast. The bellies of all the four lions were much distended by +some game they had been gorging, no doubt a buffalo, as a large herd +started out of the jungle immediately under the spot where the noble +beasts were first disturbed.</p> + +<p>Showers of rain fell every hour throughout the day, so I employed my men +in making feldt-schoens, or, in other words, African brogues for me. +These shoes were worthy of a sportsman, being light, yet strong, and +were entirely composed of the skins of game of my shooting. The soles +were made of either buffalo or cameleopard; the front part, perhaps, of +koodoo, or hartebeest, or bushbuck, and the back of the shoe of lion, or +hyaena, or sable antelope, while the rheimpy or thread with which the +whole was sewed, consisted of a thin strip of the skin of a steinbok.</p> + +<p>On the forenoon of this day, I rode forth to hunt, accompanied by +Ruyter; we held west, skirting the wooded, stony mountains. The natives +had here, many years before, waged successful war with elephants, four +of whose skulls I found. Presently I came across two sassaybies, one of +which I knocked over; but, while I was loading, he regained his legs and +made off. We crossed a level stretch of forest, holding a northerly +course for an opposite range of green, well-wooded hills and valleys. +Here I came upon a troop of six fine, old bull buffaloes, into which I +stalked, and wounded one princely fellow very severely, behind the +shoulder, bringing blood from his mouth; he, however, made off with his +comrades, and, the ground being very rough, we failed to overtake him. +They held for Ngotwani. After following the spoor for a couple of miles, +we dropped it, as it led right away from camp.</p> + +<p>Returning from this chase, we had an adventure with another old bull +buffalo, which shows the extreme danger of hunting buffaloes without +dogs. We started him in a green hollow, among the hills, and his course +inclining for camp. I gave him chase. He crossed the level, broad +strath, and made for the opposite densely-wooded range of mountains. +Along the base of these we followed him, sometimes in view, sometimes on +the spoor, keeping the old fellow at a pace which made him pant. At +length, finding himself much distressed, he had recourse to a singular +stratagem. Doubling round some thick bushes, which obscured him from our +view, he found himself beside a small pool of rain-water, just deep +enough to cover his body; into this he walked, and, facing about, lay +gently down and awaited our on-coming, with nothing but his old, gray +face, and massive horns above the water, and these concealed from view +by the overhanging herbage.</p> + +<center><a href="132.png"><img src="132.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Charge of the Buffalo.</a></center> + +<p>Our attention was entirely engrossed with the spoor, and thus we rode +boldly on until within a few feet of him, when, springing to his feet, +he made a desperate charge after Ruyter, uttering a low, stifled roar, +peculiar to buffaloes, (somewhat similar to the growl of a lion,) and +hurled horse and rider to the earth with fearful violence. His horn laid +the poor horse's haunch open to the bone, making the most fearful rugged +wound. In an instant, Ruyter regained his feet and ran for his life, +which the buffalo observing, gave chase, but most fortunately came down, +with a tremendous somersault, in the mud, his feet slipping from under +him; thus the bushman escaped certain destruction. The buffalo rose +much discomfitted, and, the wounded horse first catching his eye, he +went a second time after him; but he got out of the way. At this moment, +I managed to send one of my patent pacificating pills into his shoulder, +when he instantly quitted the field of action, and sought shelter in a +dense cover on the mountain side, whither I deemed it imprudent to +follow him.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_LEOPARD_HUNT."></a>A LEOPARD HUNT.</h2> + +<p>The dense jungles of Bengal was the place of the leopard's resort, and +the havoc which it committed among the cattle was prodigious. It was +dreaded, far and near, on this account, by the natives, and they +scrupulously avoided their spotted enemy, knowing well that when his +appetite was whetted with hunger, he was not over scrupulous whether his +victims were beasts or men. On one occasion, the monster made a dash +upon a herd of beeves, and succeeded in carrying off a large ox; and +loud was the lament of the poor Hindoos that one of the sacred herd had +thus unceremoniously been assailed and slaughtered before their eyes. A +party of the Bengal native infantry, consisting of an officer and five +others, having been informed of the circumstance, followed in the +direction of the leopard's den determined, if possible, to punish him +for this and the many other depredations he had committed. Having come +to an intervening ravine, they were about to cross it, when they saw the +object of their search on the opposite side. There he was, lying in his +lair, heedless of danger, and luxuriously feasting on the carcass of his +captive. It was the monster's last meal, however. The party approached +with stealthy steps, as near as they could without crossing the defile. +"Take your aim! fire!" cried the captain, in Hindostanee, we suppose. +They did so, and four balls pierced the leopard, three in the neck and +one in a more dangerous place, through the brain. Startled by this +unpleasant salute, the animal rose, gazed with glaring eyes on its +enemies, at the same time pawing the earth in its pain fury.</p> + +<p>The sepoys were astonished that he did not roll lifeless at their feet; +but, instead of this, before they had time to reload, the creature, +after uttering a terrific cry, sprang across the ravine and seized one +of its assailants. It must have been, in some degree, weakened by its +wounds; but its strength was yet great, for the man seemed to have no +power of resistance to its attack. The leopard, having a hold of the +sepoy in its mouth, darted off in the direction of a jungle close at +hand, the other soldiers following up as fast as they could, but not +daring to fire, lest they should injure their luckless comrade Sometimes +they lost sight of the leopard and its bleeding burden; but the blood +marks on the grass or on the sand enabled them to regain the trail, and +to carry on the pursuit. The animal at length came to a small river; it +hesitated for a little on the brink, and then leaped in, still +tenaciously retaining its prey. The stoppage thus occasioned enabled the +pursuers to gain ground, and, just after the leopard had emerged from +the river, and was shaking its skin free from the watery drops, one of +the party seized the auspicious moment, and fired. The beast dropped its +prey at once, howled furiously, and then fell dead. To their great +surprise and joy, the soldiers found that their comrade was still in +life, though he had fainted from fear and from weakness occasioned by +the loss of blood. He gradually recovered, and, under the stimulating +influence of a cup of brandy, was able to proceed home with his +comrades. It was many weeks, however, before he was fit for service, and +he will retain till his dying day the dental marks received from the +leopard, by way of token what it would like to have done with him had +there been none but themselves two on the desert wide.</p> + +<p>The soldiers returned, some time after, and skinned the animal, carrying +home its spotted covering for a trophy; and now, here it is, with the +marks of the musket-balls upon it, remembrances of the strange story we +have now recounted.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="LIFE_IN_CALIFORNIA."></a>LIFE IN CALIFORNIA.</h2> + +<p>Every man, both honest and dishonest, in California, has his own +horse--as a very good-looking, active one can be purchased, tamed to +carry the saddle and rider, from the Indians, for four or five dollars; +so that every one, I may add, of both sexes, ride in California. No one +walks far but the hunter, and he is carried in canoe a long way up the +river before he strikes into the forest after the animals he is in +pursuit of. This last class of men are the most wild, daring, yet +friendly and honest, of the lower class of the white population of +California. Well: as the robber as well as the honest man are equally +mounted, sometimes a very interesting steeple chase ensues,--ground +rough, not being previously chosen, occasionally leaping over pools of +water, large stones, and fallen trees. The Indians who use the lasso, +generally keep the lead, to strive to throw the noose over either the +man or horse they are pursuing. It is made of thongs of bullock-hide +twisted into a small rope about thirty or forty feet long, with a noose +formed by a running knot at the end of it. One end of the lasso is +fastened to the back of the saddle: the entire length of it is kept in a +coil on the right hand, and after two or three swings of it over their +heads, they will throw it with such accuracy that the smallest object +will come within the noose. Thus, then, if an equestrian traveler does +not keep a good look-out as he is passing by a bush or thicket, one of +these lassoes may be thrown out; the noose, falling over his head, will +be jerked tight round his body, and, in the twinkling of an eye, he will +be dragged off his horse, and away into the bush, to be stripped of +everything he has. By all the accounts I have heard, and from what I +have seen, the robbers of California are the most active in the world: +the end of the dangerous lasso being firmly fastened to the saddle, +enables the rider, as soon as his victim, either man or animal, is +noosed, to wheel round his horse, and dash off like an Arab, dragging +whatever he has fast after him. There is one method of averting the +fall of the lasso noose over the body of a man, either on foot or +horseback. If he holds, as he always ought, either sword or gun in his +right hand, when he sees the lasso coming, let him instantly raise +either and his arm in a horizontal position, and if the noose does fall +true, it cannot run farther down, being stopped by sword, gun, or +extended arm; then fling it off quick, or it may be jerked tight round +the neck. I have known this subterfuge save many a man from robbers and +perhaps murderers.</p> + +<p>I once hunted for three months in company with a hunter well known in +California. In idea, he was wild and imaginative in the extreme; but, in +his acts of daring, &c., the most cool and philosophic fellow I ever +knew. A commercianto, or merchant, at San Francisco, on whose veracity I +know from experience I can depend, told me the following story of this +man, which will at once illustrate his general character. This hunter +was, some months before I had fallen in with him, making the best of his +way down the valley of the Tule Lakes from the interior, with a heavy +pack of furs on his back, his never-erring rifle in his hand, and his +two dogs by his side. He was joined at the northermost end of the valley +by the merchant I had spoken of, who was armed only with sword and +pistols. They had scarcely cleared the valley, when a party of robbers +galloped out before them. There were four whites, fully armed, and two +Indians with the lassos coiled up in their right hands, ready for a +throw. The hunter told the merchant, who was on horseback, to dismount +instantly, "and to cover." Fortunately for them, there was a good deal +of thicket, and trunks of large trees that had fallen were strewed about +in a very desirable manner. Behind these logs the merchant and the +hunter quickly took up their position, and as they were in the act of +doing so, two or three shots were fired after them without effect. The +hunter coolly untied the pack of furs from his back, and laid them +beside him. "It's my opinion, merchant," said he, "that them varmint +there wants either your saddle-bags or my pack, but I reckon they'll get +neither." So he took up his rifle, fired, and the foremost Indian, lasso +in hand, rolled off his horse. Another discharge from the rifle, and the +second Indian fell, while in the act of throwing his lasso at the head +and shoulders of the hunter, as he raised himself from behind the log to +fire. "Now," said the hunter, as he reloaded, laying on his back to +avoid the shots of the robbers, "that's what I call the best of the +scrimmage, to get them brown thieves with their lassoes out of the way +first. See them rascally whites now jumping over the logs to charge us +in our cover." They were fast advancing, when the rifle again spoke out, +and the foremost fell; they still came on to within about thirty yards, +when another fell; and the remaining two made a desperate charge up +close to the log. The hunter, from long practice, was dexterous in +reloading his gun. "Now, merchant," said he, "is the time for your +pop-guns, (meaning the pistols,) and don't be at all narvous, keep a +steady hand, and drop either man or horse. A man of them shan't escape." +The two remaining robbers were now up with the log, and fired each a +pistol-shot at the hunter, which he escaped by dodging behind a tree +close to, from which he fired with effect. As only one robber was left, +he wheeled round his horse with the intention of galloping off, when the +pistol-bullets of the merchant shot the horse from under him. "Well +done, merchant," said the hunter, "you've stopped that fellow's galop." +As soon as the robber could disentangle himself from the fallen horse, +he took to his heels and ran down a sloping ground as fast as he could. +The hunter drew his tomahawk from his belt, and gave chase after him. As +he was more of an equestrian than a pedestrian, the nimbleness of the +hunter soon shortened the distance between them, and the last of the +robbers fell. Thus perished this dangerous gang of six, by the single +hand of this brave hunter, and, as the "commercianto" informed me, he +acted as coolly and deliberately as if he were shooting tame bullocks +for the market. The affair was rather advantageous to the hunter, for, +on searching the saddle-bags and pockets of the robbers, he pulled forth +some doubloons, and a few dollars, with other valuables they had, no +doubt, a short time previously, taken from some traveler; the +saddle-bags, arms, and accouterments of the four white men, were packed +up, made fast on the saddles of the two horses, and the hunter mounted a +third, the merchant mounted another, his horse being shot, and thus they +left the scene of action, the bodies of the robbers to the wolves, who +were howling about them, and entered San Francisco in triumph.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_STORM_AMONG_THE_ICEBERGS."></a>A STORM AMONG THE ICEBERGS.</h2> + +<p>To prevent the ships separating during the fog, it was necessary to keep +fast to the heavy piece of ice which we had between them as a fender, +and with a reduced amount of sail on them, we made some way through the +pack: as we advanced in this novel mode to the south-west, we found the +ice became more open, and the westerly swell increasing as the wind +veered to the northwest, at midnight, we found it impossible any longer +to hold on by the floe piece. All our hawsers breaking in succession, we +made sail on the ships, and kept company, during the thick fog, by +firing guns, and by means of the usual signals: under the shelter of a +berg of nearly a mile in diameter, we dodged about during the whole day, +waiting for clear weather, that we might select the best lead through +the dispersing pack; but at nine P.M. the wind suddenly freshened to a +violent gale from the northward, compelling us to reduce our sails to a +close-reefed main-topsail and storm-staysails: the sea quickly rising +to a fearful height, breaking over the loftiest bergs, we were unable +any longer to hold our ground, but were driven into the heavy pack under +our lee. Soon after midnight, our ships were involved in an ocean of +rolling fragments of ice, hard as floating rocks of granite, which were +dashed against them by the waves with so much violence, that their masts +quivered as if they would fall, at every successive blow; and the +destruction of the ships seemed inevitable from the tremendous shocks +they received. By backing and filling the sails, we endeavored to avoid +collision with the larger masses; but this was not always possible: in +the early part of the storm, the rudder of the Erebus was so much +damaged as to be no longer of any use; and about the same time, I was +informed by signal that the Terror's was completely destroyed, and +nearly torn away from the stern-post. We had hoped that, as we drifted +deeper into the pack, we should get beyond the reach of the tempest; but +in this we were mistaken. Hour passed away after hour without the least +mitigation of the awful circumstances in which we were placed. Indeed, +there seemed to be but little probability of our ships holding together +much longer, so frequent and violent were the shocks they sustained. The +loud, crashing noise of the straining and working of the timbers and +decks, as she was driven against some of the heavier pieces, which all +the activity and exertions of our people could not prevent, was +sufficient to fill the stoutest heart, that was not supported by trust +in Him, who controls all events, with dismay.</p> + +<p>At two P.M. the storm gained its height, when the barometer stood at +28.40 inches, and, after that time, began to rise. Although we had been +forced many miles deeper into the pack, we could not perceive that the +swell had at all subsided, our ships still rolling and groaning amid the +heavy fragments of crushing bergs, over which the ocean rolled its +mountainous waves, throwing huge masses one upon another, and then again +burying them deep beneath its foaming waters, dashing and grinding them +together with fearful violence. The awful grandeur of such a scene can +neither be imagined nor described, for less can the feelings of those +who witnessed it be understood. Each of us secured our hold, waiting the +issue with resignation to the will of Him who alone could preserve us, +and bring us safely through this extreme danger; watching with +breathless anxiety the effect of each succeeding collision, and the +vibrations of the tottering masts, expecting every moment to see them +give way, without our having the power to make an effort to save them.</p> + +<p>Although the force of the wind had somewhat diminished by four o'clock, +yet the squalls came on with unabated violence, laying the ship over on +her broadside, and threatening to blow the storm-sails to pieces; +fortunately they were quite new, or they never could have withstood such +terrific gusts. At this time, the Terror was so close to us, that, when +she rose to the top of one wave, the Erebus was on the top of that next +to leeward of her; the deep chasm between them filled with heavy rolling +masses; and, as the ships descended into the hollow between the waves, +the main-topsail yard of each could be seen just level with the crest of +the intervening wave, from the deck of the other: from this, some idea +may be formed of the height of the waves, as well as of the perilous +situation of our ships. The night now began to draw on, and cast its +gloomy mantle over the appalling scene, rendering our condition, if +possible, more hopeless and helpless than before; but, at midnight, the +snow, which had been falling thickly for several hours, cleared away, as +the wind suddenly shifted to the westward, and the swell began to +subside; and although the shocks our ships still sustained were such +that must have destroyed any ordinary vessel in less than five minutes, +yet they were feeble compared to those to which we had been exposed, +and our minds became more at ease for their ultimate safety.</p> + +<p>During the darkness of night and the thick weather, we had been carried +through a chain of bergs which were seen in the morning considerably to +windward, and which served to keep off the heavy pressure of the pack, +so that we found the ice much more open, and I was enabled to make my +way, in one of our boats, to the Terror, about whose condition I was +most anxious--for I was aware that her damages were of a much more +serious nature than those of the Erebus, notwithstanding the skillful +and seaman-like manner in which she had been managed, and by which she +maintained her appointed station throughout the gale. I found that her +rudder was completely broken to pieces, and the fastenings to the +stern-post so much strained and twisted, that it would be difficult to +get the spare rudder, with which we were fortunately provided, fitted so +as to be useful, and could only be done, if at all, under very favorable +circumstances. The other damages she had sustained were of less +consequence; and it was as great a satisfaction as it has ever since +been a source of astonishment to us to find that, after so many hours of +constant and violent thumping, both the vessels were nearly as tight as +they were before the gale. We can only ascribe this to the admirable +manner in which they had been fortified for the service, and to our +having their holds so stowed as to form a solid mass throughout.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="FALL_OF_THE_ROSSBERG."></a>FALL OF THE ROSSBERG.</h2> + +<p>The summer of 1806 had been very rainy; and on the first and second of +September it rained incessantly. New crevices were observed in the flank +of the mountain; a sort of cracking noise was heard internally; stones +started out of the ground; detached fragments of rocks rolled down the +mountain. At two o'clock in the afternoon, on the 2d of September, a +large rock became loose, and in falling, raised a cloud of black dust. +Toward the lower part of the mountain, the ground seemed pressed down +from above; and, when a stick or a spade was driven in, it moved of +itself. A man who had been digging in his garden ran away, from fright +at these extraordinary appearances; soon a fissure, larger than all the +others, was observed; insensibly, it increased: springs of water ceased +all at once to flow, the pine trees of the forest absolutely reeled; +the birds flew away screaming. A few minutes before five o'clock, the +symptoms of some mighty catastrophe became still stronger; the whole +surface of the mountain seemed to glide down, but so slowly as to afford +time to the inhabitants to go away. An old man, who had often predicted +some such disaster, was quietly smoking his pipe; when told by a young +man running by, that the mountain was in the act of falling, he rose and +looked out, but came into his house again, saying he had time to fill +another pipe. The young man, continuing to fly, was thrown down several +times, and escaped with difficulty; looking back, he saw the house +carried off, all at once.</p> + +<p>Another inhabitant, being alarmed, took two of his children, and ran +away with them, calling to his wife to follow with the third; but she +went in for another, who still remained, (Marianne, aged five;) just +then, Francisca Ulrich, their servant, was crossing the room with this +Marianne, whom she held by the hand, and saw her mistress; at that +instant, as Francisca afterward said, "the house appeared to be torn +from its foundation, (it was of wood,) and spun round and round like a +teetotum; I was sometimes on my head, and sometimes on my feet, in total +darkness, and violently separated from the child." When the motion +stopped, she found herself jammed in on all sides, with her head +downward, much bruised; and in extreme pain. She supposed she was buried +alive, at a great depth; with much difficulty, she disengaged her right +hand, and wiped the blood from her eyes. Presently, she heard the faint +moans of Marianne, and called her by her name; the child answered that +she was on her back, among stones and bushes, which held her fast, but +that her hands were free, and that she saw the light, and then something +green; she asked whether people would not come soon to take them out.</p> + +<p>Francisca answered that it was the day of judgment, and that no one was +left to help them, but that they would be released by death, and be +happy in Heaven. They prayed together; at last Francisca's ear was +struck by the sound of a bell, which she knew to be that of Stenenberg; +then seven o'clock struck in another village, and she began to hope +there were still living beings, and endeavored to comfort the child; the +poor little girl was at first clamorous for her supper; but her cries +soon became fainter, and at last quite died away. Francisca, still with +her head downward, and surrounded with damp earth, experienced a sense +of cold in her feet almost insupportable; after prodigious efforts, she +succeeded in disengaging her legs, and thinks this saved her life. Many +hours had passed in this situation, when she again heard the voice of +Marianne, who had been asleep, and now renewed her lamentations. In the +meantime, the unfortunate father, who, with much difficulty, had saved +himself and two children, wandered about till daylight, when he came +among the ruins to look for the rest of his family; he soon discovered +his wife, by a foot which appeared above the ground; she was dead, with +a child in her arms. His cries, and the noise he made in digging, were +heard by Marianne, who called out. She was extricated, with a broken +thigh, and saying that Francisca was not far off, a farther search led +to her release also, but in such a state that her life was despaired of. +She was blind for some days, and remained subject to convulsive fits of +terror. It appeared that the house, or themselves, at least, had been +carried down about one thousand five hundred feet from where it +stood before.</p> + +<p>In another place, a child two years old was found unhurt, lying on his +straw mattress upon the mud, without any vestige of the house from which +he had been separated. Such a mass of earth and stones rushed at once +into the lake of Sowertey, although five miles distant, that one end of +it was filled up, and a prodigious wave passing completely over the +island of Schwanau, seventy feet above the usual level of the water, +overwhelmed the opposite shore, and, as it returned, swept away into the +lake many houses with their inhabitants. The chapel of Olton, built of +wood, was found half a league from the place it had previously occupied, +and many large blocks of stone completely changed their position.</p> + +<p>SIMOND'S SWITZERLAND.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_RIFLEMAN_OF_CHIPPEWA."></a>THE RIFLEMAN OF CHIPPEWA.</h2> + +<p>At the time of the French and Indian wars, the American army was +encamped on the plains of Chippewa. Colonel St. Clair, the commander, +was a bold and meritorious officer; but there was mixed with his bravery +a large share of rashness or indiscretion. His rashness, in this case, +consisted in encamping on an open plain beside a thick wood, from which +an Indian scout could easily pick off his outposts, without being +exposed, in the least, to the fire of the sentinel.</p> + +<p>Five nights had passed, and every night he had been surprised by the +disappearance of a sentry, who stood at a lonely post in the vicinity of +the forest. These repeated disasters had struck such a dread into the +breasts of the remaining soldiers, that no one would volunteer to take +the post, and the commander, knowing it would be throwing away their +lives, let it remain unoccupied several nights.</p> + +<p>At length a rifleman of the Virginia corps, volunteered his services. He +was told the danger of the duty; but he laughed at the fears of his +comrades, saying he would return safe, to drink the health of his +commander in the morning. The guard marched up soon after, and he +shouldered his rifle, and fell in. He arrived at his bounds, and, +bidding his fellow-sentinels good-night, assumed the duties of his post.</p> + +<p>The night was dark, from the thick clouds that overspread the firmament. +No star shone on the sentinel as he paced his lonely path, and naught +was heard but the mournful hoot of the owl, as she raised her nightly +wail from the withered branch of the venerable oak. At length, a low +rustling among the bushes on the right, caught his ear. He gazed long +toward the spot whence the sound seemed to proceed; but saw nothing, +save the impenetrable gloom of the thick forest which surrounded the +encampment. Then, as he marched onward, he heard the joyful cry of +"all's well," after which he seated himself upon a stump, and fell into +a reverie. While he thus sat, a savage entered the open space behind, +and, after buckling his tunic, with numerous folds, tight around his +body, drew over his head the skin of a wild boar, with the natural +appendages of those animals. Thus accoutred, he walked past the soldier, +who, seeing the object approach, quickly stood upon his guard. But a +well-known grunt eased his fears, and he suffered it to pass, it being +too dark for any one to discover the cheat. The beast, as it appeared to +be, quietly sought the thicket to the left; it was nearly out of sight, +when, through a sudden break in the clouds, the moon shone bright upon +it. The soldier then perceived the ornamented moccasin of an Indian, +and, quick as thought, prepared to fire. But, fearing lest he might be +mistaken, and thus needlessly alarm the camp, and also supposing, if he +were right, the other savages would be near at hand, he refrained, and +having a perfect knowledge of Indian subtlety and craft, quickly took +off his coat and cap, and, after hanging them on the stump where he had +reclined, secured his rifle, and softly groped his way toward the +thicket. He had barely reached it, when the whizzing of an arrow passed +his head, and told him of the danger he had escaped. Turning his eyes +toward a small spot of cleared land within the thicket, he perceived a +dozen of the same <i>animals</i> sitting on their hind legs, instead of +feeding on the acorns, which, at this season, lay plentifully upon the +surface of the leaves; and, listening attentively, he heard them +conversing in the Iroquois tongue. The substance of their conversation +was, that, if the sentinel should not discover them, the next evening, +as soon as the moon should afford them sufficient light for their +operations, they would make an attack upon the American camp. They then +quitted their rendezvous, and soon their tall forms were lost in the +gloom of the forest. The soldier now returned to his post, and found the +arrow sunk deep in the stump, it having passed through the breast of +his coat.</p> + +<p>He directly returned to the encampment, and desired the orderly at the +marquee to inform the commander of his wish to speak with him, having +information of importance of communicate. He was admitted, and, having +been heard, the colonel bestowed on him the vacant post of lieutenant of +the corps, and directed him to be ready, with a picket-guard, to march, +at eight o'clock in the evening, to the spot he had occupied the night +before, where he was to place his hat and coat upon the stump, and then +lie in ambush for the intruders. Accordingly, the party proceeded, and +obeyed the colonel's orders. The moon rose, but shone dimly through the +thick branches of the forest.</p> + +<p>While the new lieutenant was waiting the result of his manoeuver, an +arrow whizzed from the same quarter as before. The mock soldier fell on +his face. A dozen subdued voices sounded from within the thicket, which +were soon followed by the sudden appearance of the Indians themselves. +They barely reached the stump, when our hero gave the order to fire, and +the whole band were stretched dead upon the plain. After stripping them +of their arms and trappings, the Americans returned to the camp.</p> + +<p>Twelve chiefs fell at the destructive fire of the white men, and their +fall was, undoubtedly, one great cause of the French and Indian wars +with the English. The fortunate rifleman, who had originated and +conducted the ambuscade, returned from the war, at its termination, with +a competency. He was not again heard of, until the parent-country raised +her arm against the infant colonies. Then was seen, at the head of a +band of Virginia riflemen our hero as the brave and gallant +Colonel Morgan.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="SHIPWRECK_OF_THE_BLENDENHALL."></a>SHIPWRECK OF THE BLENDENHALL.</h2> +<center><a href="157.png"><img src="157.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Loss of the Blendenhall.</a></center> + +<p>In the year 1821, the Blendenhall, free trader, bound from England for +Bombay, partly laden with broadcloths, was proceeding on her voyage with +every prospect of a successful issue. While thus pursuing her way +through the Atlantic, she was unfortunately driven from her course, by +adverse winds and currents, more to the southward and westward than was +required, and it became desirable to reach the island of Tristan +d'Acunha, in order to ascertain and rectify the reckoning.</p> + +<p>It was while steering to reach this group of islands, that, one morning +a passenger, on board the Blendenhall, who chanced to be up on deck +earlier than usual, observed great quantities of seaweed occasionally +floating alongside. This excited some alarm, and a man was immediately +sent aloft to keep a good look-out. The weather was then extremely hazy, +though moderate; the weeds continued; all were on the alert; they +shortened sail, and the boatswain piped for breakfast. In less than ten +minutes, "breakers ahead!" startled every soul, and in a moment all +were on deck. "Breakers starboard! breakers larboard! breakers all +around!" was the ominous cry a moment afterward, and all was confusion. +The words were scarcely uttered, when, and before the helm was up, the +ill-fated ship struck, and, after a few tremendous shocks against the +sunken reef, she parted about midship. Ropes and stays were cut +away--all rushed forward, as if instinctively, and had barely reached +the forecastle, when the stern and quarter-deck broke asunder with a +violent crash, and sunk to rise no more. Two of the seamen miserably +perished--the rest, including officers, passengers, and crew, held on +about the head and bows--the struggle was for life!</p> + +<p>At this moment the Inaccessible Island, which till then had been vailed +in thick clouds and mist, appeared frowning above the haze. The wreck +was more than two miles from the frightful shore. The base of the island +was still buried in impenetrable gloom. In this perilous extremity, one +was for cutting away the anchor, which had been got up to the cathead in +time of need; another was for cutting down the foremast, the +foretop-mast being already by the board. The fog totally disappeared, +and the black, rocky island stood in all its rugged deformity before +their eyes. Suddenly the sun broke out in full splendor, as if to expose +more clearly to the view of the sufferers their dreadful predicament. +Despair was in every bosom--death, arrayed in all its terrors, seemed to +hover over the wreck. But exertion was required, and every thing that +human energy could devise was effected. The wreck, on which all eagerly +clung, was fortunately drifted by the tide and wind between ledges of +sunken rocks and thundering breakers, until, after the lapse of several +hours, it entered the only spot on the island where a landing was +possibly practicable,--for all the other parts of the coast consisted of +perpendicular cliffs of granite, rising from amid the deafening surf to +the height of twenty, forty, and sixty feet. As the shore was neared, a +raft was prepared, and on this a few paddled for the cove. At last the +wreck drove right in: ropes were instantly thrown out, and the crew and +passengers, (except two who had been crushed in the wreck,) +including three ladies and a female attendant, were snatched from the +watery grave, which a few short hours before had appeared inevitable, +and safely landed on the beach. Evening had now set in, and every effort +was made to secure whatever could be saved from the wreck. Bales of +cloth, cases of wine, a few boxes of cheese, some hams, the carcass of a +milch cow that had been washed on shore, buckets, tubs, butts, a +seaman's chest, (containing a tinder-box, and needles and thread,) with +a number of elegant mahogany turned bed-posts, and part of an investment +for the India market, were got on shore. The rain poured down in +torrents--all hands were busily at work to procure shelter from the +weather; and with the bed-posts and broadcloths, and part of the +foresail, as many tents were soon pitched as there were individuals on +the island.</p> + +<p>Drenched with the sea and with the rain, hungry, cold, and comfortless, +thousands of miles from their native land, almost beyond expectation of +human succor, hope nearly annihilated,--the shipwrecked voyagers retired +to their tents. In the morning the wreck had gone to pieces; and planks, +and spars, and whatever had floated in, were eagerly dragged on shore. +No sooner was the unfortunate ship broken up, than, deeming themselves +freed from the bonds of authority, many began to secure whatever came to +land: and the captain, officers, passengers, and crew were now reduced +to the same level, and obliged to take their turn to fetch water, and +explore the island for food. The work of exploring was soon over--there +was not a bird, nor a quadruped, nor a single tree to be seen. All was +barren and desolate. The low parts were scattered over with stones and +sand, and a few stunted weeds, rocks, ferns, and other plants. The top +of the mountain was found to consist of a fragment of original +table-land, very marshy, and full of deep sloughs, intersected with +small rills of water, pure and pellucid as crystal, and a profusion of +wild parsley and celery. The prospect was one dreary scene of +destitution, without a single ray of hope to relieve the misery of the +desponding crew. After some days, the dead cow, hams, and cheese were +consumed; and, from one end of the island to the other, not a morsel of +food could be seen. Even the celery began to fail. A few bottles of +wine, which for security had been secreted under ground, only remained. +Famine now began to threaten. Every stone near the sea was examined for +shellfish, but in vain.</p> + +<p>In this dreadful extremity, and while the half-famished seamen were at +night squatting in sullen dejection around their fires, a large lot of +sea-birds, allured by the flames, rushed into the midst of them, and +were greedily laid hold of as fast as they could be seized. For several +nights in succession, similar flocks came in; and, by multiplying their +fires, a considerable supply was secured. These visits, however, ceased +at length, and the wretched party were exposed again to the most severe +privation. When their stock of wild fowl had been exhausted for more +than two days, each began to fear they were now approaching that sad +point of necessity, when, between death and casting lots who should be +sacrificed to serve for food for the rest, no alternative remained. +While horror at the bare contemplation of an extremity so repulsive +occupied the thoughts of all, the horizon was observed to be suddenly +obscured, and presently clouds of penguins alighted on the island. The +low grounds were actually covered; and before the evening was dark, the +sand could not be seen for the number of eggs, which, like a sheet of +snow, lay on the surface of the earth. The penguins continued on the +island four or five days, when, as if by signal, the whole took their +flight, and were never seen again. A few were killed, but the flesh was +so extremely rank and nauseous that it could not be eaten. The eggs were +collected and dressed in all manner of ways, and supplied abundance of +food for upward of three weeks. At the expiration of that period, famine +once more seemed inevitable; the third morning began to dawn upon the +unfortunate company after their stock of eggs were exhausted; they had +now been without food for more than forty hours, and were fainting and +dejected; when, as though this desolate rock were really a land of +miracles, a man came running up to the encampment with the unexpected +and joyful tidings that "millions of sea-cows had come on shore." The +crew climbed over the ledge of rocks that flanked their tents, and the +sight of a shoal of manatees immediately beneath them, gladdened their +hearts. These came in with the flood, and were left in the puddles +between the broken rocks of the cove. This supply continued for two or +three weeks. The flesh was mere blubber, and quite unfit for food, for +not a man could retain it on his stomach; but the liver was excellent, +and on this they subsisted. In the meantime, the carpenter with his gang +had constructed a boat, and four of the men had adventured in her for +Tristan d'Acunha, in hopes of ultimately extricating their +fellow-sufferers from their perilous situation. Unfortunately the boat +was lost---whether carried away by the violence of the currents that set +in between the islands, or dashed to pieces against the breakers, was +never known, for no vestige of the boat or crew was ever seen. Before +the manatees, however, began to quit the shore, a second boat was +launched; and in this an officer and some seamen made a second attempt, +and happily succeeded in effecting a landing, after much labor, on +the island.</p> + +<p>It was to this island that the boat's crew of the Blendenhall had beat +their course, and its principal inhabitant, Governor Glass, showed them +every mark of attention. On learning the situation of the crew, on +Inaccessible Island, he instantly launched his boat, and, unawed by +considerations of personal danger, hastened, at the risk of his life, to +deliver his shipwrecked countrymen from the calamities they had so long +endured. He made repeated trips, surmounted all difficulties, and +fortunately succeeded in safely landing them on his own island, after +they had been exposed for nearly three months to the horrors of a +situation almost unparalleled in the recorded sufferings of +seafaring men.</p> + +<p>After being hospitably treated by Glass and his company for three +months, the survivors obtained a passage to the Cape, all except a young +sailor named White, who had formed an attachment to one of the servant +girls on board, and who, in all the miseries which had been endured, had +been her constant protector and companion; while gratitude on her part +prevented her wishing to leave him. Both chose to remain, and were +forthwith adopted as free citizens of the little community.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ADVENTURES_OF_SERGEANT_CHAMPE"></a>ADVENTURES OF SERGEANT CHAMPE</h2> + +<h3>IN HIS ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ARNOLD.</h3> + +<p>The treason of General Arnold, the capture of Andre, and the +intelligence received by Washington through his confidential agents in +New York, that many of his officers, and especially a major-general, +whose name was given, were connected with Arnold, could not fail to +arouse the anxiety and vigilance of the commander-in-chief. The moment +he reached the army, then under the orders of Major-General Greene, +encamped in the vicinity of Tappan, he sent for Major Lee, who was +posted with the light troops some distance in front.</p> + +<p>Lee repaired to headquarters, and found Washington in his marquee alone, +busily engaged in writing. Lee was requested to take a seat; and a +bundle of papers, lying on the table, was given to him for perusal. The +purport of these tended to show that Arnold was not alone in his base +conspiracy, but that a major-general, whose name was not concealed, was +also implicated. This officer had enjoyed, without interruption, the +confidence of the commander-in-chief, nor did there exist a single +reason in support of the accusation. It altogether rested on the +intelligence derived from the papers before him.</p> + +<p>Major Lee was naturally shocked at these suspicions, and suggested that +they were an invention of the enemy. Washington admitted the +plausibility of the suggestion, but remarked that he had the same +confidence in Arnold, a few days before, that he now placed in the +persons accused.</p> + +<p>After some further conversation, Washington disclosed a project, which +he had maturely revolved in his own mind. "I have sent for you," he +remarked to Lee, "to learn if you have in your corps any individual +capable of undertaking a delicate and hazardous enterprise. Whoever +comes forward on this occasion will lay me under great obligations +personally; and, in behalf of the United States, I will reward him +amply. No time is to be lost. He must proceed, if possible, this night. +My object is to probe to the bottom the affecting suspicions suggested +by the papers you have just read--to seize Arnold, and, by getting him, +to save Andre. While my emissary is engaged in preparing for the seizure +of Arnold, the agency of others can be traced; and the timely delivery +of Arnold to me, will possibly put it in my power to restore the amiable +and unfortunate Andre to his friends. My instructions are ready, in +which you will find express orders, that Arnold is not to be hurt; but +that he be permitted to escape, if it can be prevented only by killing +him, as his public punishment is the only object in view. This you can +not too forcibly press upon the person who may engage in the enterprise; +and this fail not to do. With my instructions, are two letters, to be +delivered as ordered, and here are some guineas to defray expenses."</p> + +<p>Lee replied, that, as the first step to the enterprise was pretended +desertion, it would be difficult to find a commissioned officer, who +would undertake it. He knew, however, a sergeant-major of the cavalry, +named Champe, who was in all respects qualified for the delicate and +adventurous project. Champe was a native of Loudon county, in Virginia, +about twenty years of age. He had enlisted in 1776; was rather above the +common size, full of bone and muscle, with a saturnine countenance, +grave, thoughtful, and taciturn; of tried courage and inflexible +perseverance.</p> + +<p>Washington was satisfied with this description, and exclaimed that +Champe was the very man for the enterprise. Lee promised to persuade him +to undertake it, and, taking leave of the general, returned to the camp +of the light corps, which he reached about eight o'clock at night. +Sending instantly for the serjeant-major, he informed him of the project +of the commander-in-chief; and urged upon him, that, by succeeding in +the capture and safe delivery of Arnold, he would not only gratify his +general in the most acceptable manner, but would be hailed as the +avenger of the reputation of the army, stained by a foul and wicked +perfidy; and, what could not but be highly pleasing, he would be the +instrument of saving the life of Major Andre.</p> + +<p>Champe listened with attention to the plan unfolded by Lee, and replied +that it met his approbation. Even its partial success was likely to lead +to great good, as it would give relief to Washington's mind, and do +justice, as he hoped, to suspected innocence. Champe added, that he was +not deterred by the danger and difficulty to be encountered, but by the +ignominy of desertion, consequent upon his enlisting with the enemy. It +did not comport with his feelings to be even suspected of such a crime.</p> + +<p>Lee combated the objections of the sergeant with his usual address, and +finally subdued his prejudices so far, that Champe consented to +undertake the enterprise. The instructions of Washington were then read +to him; and Lee particularly cautioned him to exercise the utmost +circumspection in delivering the letters, and to take care to withhold +from the two individuals addressed under feigned names, knowledge of +each other. He was further urged to bear in constant recollection the +solemn injunction, so pointedly expressed in the instructions, of +forbearing to kill Arnold in any event.</p> + +<p>It now remained to arrange the mode of Champe's desertion, for, in order +to be received favorably by the British, it was necessary that he should +desert under circumstances which should assure them of his sincerity. To +cross the numerous patrols of horse and foot, was no small difficulty, +which was now increased in consequence of the swarms of irregulars, who +sometimes ventured down to the very point of Paulus Hook, with the hope +of picking up booty. Evident as were the difficulties in the way, no +relief could be afforded by Major Lee, lest it might induce a belief +that he was privy to the desertion, which opinion getting to the enemy, +would peril the life of Champe. The sergeant was left to his own +resources and management, Lee agreeing that in case Champe's departure +should be discovered before morning, he would take care to delay pursuit +as long as possible.</p> + +<p>Lee placed in the hands of the sergeant some gold for his expenses, and +enjoining it upon him to apprise him of his arrival in New York as soon +as practicable, bade the adventurous Virginian farewell Champe, pulling +out his watch, compared it with that of Lee, reminding him of the +importance of holding back pursuit, which he was convinced would take +place during the night, and which might be fatal, as he would be obliged +to adopt a zigzag course, in order to avoid the patrols, which would +consume time. It was now nearly eleven. The sergeant returned to camp, +and, taking his cloak, valise, and orderly-book, he drew his horse from +the picket, and, mounting, set out upon his novel expedition.</p> + +<p>Hardly half an hour had elapsed, when Captain Carnes, officer of the +day, waited on Major Lee, and, with considerable emotion, told him that +one of the patrol had fallen in with a dragoon, who, on being +challenged, put spur to his horse, and escaped, though vigorously +pursued. Lee, complaining of the interruption, and pretending to be +extremely fatigued, answered as if he did not understand what had been +said, which compelled the captain to repeat his remark.</p> + +<p>"Who can the fellow be that was pursued?" said Lee; "a countryman, +probably."</p> + +<p>"No," replied the captain; "the patrol sufficiently distinguished him to +know that he was a dragoon probably from the army, if not, certainly one +of our own."</p> + +<p>This idea was ridiculed by Lee as improbable, as, during the whole +campaign, but a single dragoon had deserted from the legion. Carnes was +not convinced. Much apprehension was felt, at that time, of the effect +of Arnold's example. The captain withdrew to examine the squadron of +horse, whom he had ordered to assemble in pursuance of established usage +on similar occasions. He speedily returned, stating that the deserter +was known; he was no less a person than the sergeant-major, who was gone +off with his horse, baggage, arms, and orderly-book. Sensibly affected +at the supposed baseness of a soldier, who was generally esteemed, +Carnes added, that he had ordered a party to prepare for pursuit, and +that he had come for written orders from the major.</p> + +<p>In order to gain time for Champe, Lee expressed his belief, that the +sergeant had not deserted, but had merely taken the liberty to leave +camp upon private business or pleasure; an example, Lee said, too often +set by the officers themselves, destructive as it was of discipline, +opposed as it was to orders, and disastrous as it might prove to the +corps in the course of the service.</p> + +<p>Some little delay was thus interposed. Carnes began to grow impatient at +what seemed the long-winded and unseasonable discourse. It being, at +length announced, that the pursuing party were in readiness, Major Lee +directed a change in the officer, giving the command to Cornet +Middleton. His object was to add to the delay. He knew, moreover, that, +from the tenderness of his disposition, Middleton would be reluctant to +do any personal injury to Champe, in the event of a pursuit.</p> + +<p>Within ten minutes Middleton appeared to receive his orders, which were +delivered to him, made out in the customary form, and signed by the +major. The directions were, to pursue as far as could be done with +safety, Sergeant Champe, who was suspected of deserting to the enemy, +and of having taken the road to Paulus Hook; to bring him alive to camp, +that he might suffer in the presence of the army, but to kill him if he +resisted or attempted to escape after being taken.</p> + +<p>Detaining the cornet a few minutes longer, in advising him what course +to pursue--urging him to take care of the horse and accoutrements, if +taken--and enjoining him to be on his guard, lest he might, by a too +eager pursuit, improvidently fall into the hands of the enemy--Lee +dismissed Middleton and his party. A shower of rain had fallen soon +after Champe's departure, which enabled the pursuing dragoons to find +the trail of his horse; for, at that time, the horses being all shod by +our own farriers, the shoes were made in the same form which, with a +private mark annexed to the fore shoes, and known to the troopers, +pointed out the trail of our dragoons, and, in this way, was +often useful.</p> + +<p>When Middleton departed, it was a few minutes past twelve, so that +Champe had the start of his pursuers by little more than an hour. Lee +was very anxious, and passed a sleepless night. The pursuing party were, +on their part, occasionally delayed by the necessary halts to examine +the road, as the impressions of the horse's shoes directed the course. +These were, unfortunately, too evident, no other horse having passed +over the road since the shower. When the day broke, Middleton was no +longer obliged to halt, and he passed on with rapidity.</p> + +<p>As the pursuers ascended an eminence to the north of the village of +Bergen, Champe was descried not more than half a mile in front. +Resembling an Indian in his vigilance, the sergeant at the same moment +discovered Middleton and his men, to whose object he was no stranger, +and giving spur to his horse, he determined to outstrip them. Middleton, +at the same instant, put his horses to the top of their speed; and +being, as the legion all were, well acquainted with the country, he +recollected a route through the woods to the bridge below Bergen, which +diverged from the great road near the Three Pigeons. Reaching the point +of separation, he halted, and, dividing his party, directed a sergeant, +with a few dragoons, to take the near cut, and possess, with all +possible dispatch, the bridge, while he, with the rest of his men, +followed Champe. He could not doubt but that Champe, being thus enclosed +between him and his sergeant, would deliver himself up. Champe did not +forget the short cut, and would have taken it, had he not remembered +that it was the usual route of our parties when returning in the day +from the neighborhood of the enemy. He consequently avoided it, and +wisely resolved to abandon his intention of getting to Paulus Hook, and +to seek refuge from two British galleys, lying a few miles to the west +of Bergen.</p> + +<p>This was a station generally occupied by one or two galleys. Passing +through the village of Bergen, Champe took the road toward Elizabethtown +Point. Middleton's sergeant gained the bridge, where he concealed +himself, ready to intercept Champe as soon as he appeared. In the +meantime, Middleton, pursuing his course through Bergen, soon arrived, +also, at the bridge, when, to his mortification, he found that Champe +had escaped. Returning up the road, he inquired of the villagers of +Bergen, whether a dragoon had been seen that morning preceding his +party. He was answered in the affirmative, but could learn nothing +satisfactory as to the route taken by the fugitive. While engaged in +inquiries himself, he spread his party through the village to discover +the trail of Champe's horse. Some of the dragoons hit it, just as the +sergeant, leaving the village, reached the road to the point.</p> + +<p>Pursuit was now vigorously renewed, and again Champe was descried. +Apprehending the event, he had prepared himself for it by lashing his +valise and orderly-book on his shoulders, and holding his drawn sword in +his hand, having thrown away the scabbard. The delay occasioned by +Champe's preparations for swimming had brought Middleton within two or +three hundred yards. As soon as Champe got abreast of the galleys, he +dismounted, and running through the marsh to the river, plunged into it, +calling on the people in the galley for help. This was readily given. +They fired on our horsemen, and sent a boat to meet Champe, who was +taken in, carried on board, and conveyed to New York, with a letter from +the captain of the galley, describing the scene, which he had himself +witnessed, of Champe's escape.</p> + +<p>The horse belonging to Champe, with his equipments, cloak, and +sword-scabbard, was recovered by Middleton. About three o'clock in the +afternoon, our party returned, and the soldiers, seeing the horse in the +possession of the pursuing party, exclaimed that the deserter had been +killed. Major Lee, at this heart-rending announcement, rushed from his +tent, saw the sergeant's horse led by one of Middleton's dragoons, and +began to reproach himself with having been the means of spilling the +blood of the faithful and intrepid Champe. Concealing his anguish, he +advanced to meet Middleton, but was immediately relieved on seeing the +downcast countenance of the officer and his companions. From their looks +of disappointment, it was evident that Champe had escaped, and this +suspicion was soon confirmed by Middleton's narrative of the issue of +their pursuit.</p> + +<p>Lee's joy was now as great as his depression had been a moment before. +He informed Washington of the affair, who was sensibly affected by the +account of Champe's hair-breadth escape, but was rejoiced that it was of +a character to put at rest the suspicions of the enemy, in regard to the +supposed deserter.</p> + +<p>On the fourth day after Champe's departure, Lee received a letter from +him, written the day before, in a disguised hand, without any signature, +and stating what had passed, after he got on board the galley, where he +was kindly received. He was immediately conducted to New York, and +introduced to the British commandant, to whom he presented a letter from +the captain of the galley. Being asked to what corps he belonged, and a +few other general questions, he was sent under charge of an +orderly-sergeant to the adjutant-general, who was rejoiced to find that +he was sergeant-major of the legion of horse, hitherto remarkable for +their fidelity.</p> + +<p>The adjutant-general noted down, in a large folio book, some particulars +in regard to Champe--his size, figure, place of birth, countenance, the +color of his hair, name of the corps to which he had belonged. After +this was finished, he was sent to the commander-in-chief in charge of +one of the staff, with a letter from the adjutant-general. Sir Henry +Clinton received him very kindly, and detained him more than an hour, +asking many questions in regard to the probable fate of Andre--whether +the example of Arnold's defection had not contaminated many of the +American officers and troops--whether Washington was popular with the +army, and what means might be employed to induce the men to desert. To +these various interrogatories, some of which were perplexing, Champe +answered warily; exciting, nevertheless, hopes that the adoption of +proper measures to encourage desertion, would probably bring off +hundreds of the American soldiers, including some of the best troops, +horse as well as foot. Respecting the fate of Andre, he said he was +ignorant, though there appeared to be a general wish in the army that +his life might not be taken; and that he believed that it would depend +more on the disposition of Congress, than on the will of Washington.</p> + +<p>After the close of this long conversation, Sir Henry presented Champe +with a couple of guineas, and recommended him to wait on General Arnold, +who was engaged in raising an American legion for the service of his +majesty. Arnold expressed much satisfaction on being informed of the +effect of his example, and the manner of Champe's escape. He concluded +his numerous inquiries by assigning quarters to the sergeant. He +afterward proposed to Champe to join his legion, promising him the same +station he had held in the rebel service, and further advancement. +Expressing his wish to retire from the service, and his conviction of +the certainty of his being hung, if ever taken by the rebels, he begged +to be excused from enlistment; assuring the general, that should he +change his mind, he would accept his offer.</p> + +<p>Retiring to the assigned quarters, Champe now turned his attention to +the delivery of his letters, which he could not effect till the next +night, and then only to one of the two incogniti, to whom he was +recommended. This man received the sergeant with attention, and having +read the letter, assured him of his faithful cooperation. The object for +which the aid of this individual was required, regarded those persons +implicated in the information sent to Washington. Promising to enter +with zeal upon the investigation, and engaging to transmit Champe's +letters to Major Lee, he fixed the time and place of their next meeting, +when they separated. A day or two afterward, Champe accepted the +appointment of recruiting sergeant to Arnold, for the purpose of +securing uninterrupted ingress and egress at the house which the +general occupied.</p> + +<p>The letters which Lee received from Champe, announced that the +difficulties in his way were numerous and stubborn, and that his +prospect of success was by no means cheering. With respect to the +charges against certain officers and soldiers in the American army of an +intention to follow Arnold's example, he expressed his decided +conviction that they were unfounded; that they had taken their rise in +the enemy's camp, and that they would be satisfactorily confuted. But +the pleasure which the latter part of this communication afforded was +damped by the tidings it imparted respecting Arnold--as on his speedy +capture and safe delivery depended Andre's relief.</p> + +<p>The interposition of Sir Henry Clinton, who was extremely anxious to +save his much-loved aid-de-camp, still continued. It was expected that +the examination of witnesses in Andre's case and the defense of the +prisoner, would protract the decision of the court of inquiry then +assembled, and give sufficient time for the consummation of the project +confided to Champe. This hope was disappointed in a manner wholly +unexpected. The honorable and accomplished Andre disdained defense, and +prevented the examination of witnesses, by confessing the character of +the mission, in the execution of which he was arrested. The court +reassembled on the second of October. Andre was declared to be a spy, +and condemned to suffer accordingly.</p> + +<p>The painful sentence was executed on the subsequent day, in the usual +form, the commander-in-chief deeming it improper to interpose any delay. +In this decision he was warranted by the unpromising intelligence +received from Champe--by the still existing implication of other +officers in Arnold's conspiracy--by a due regard to public opinion, and +by the inexorable necessity of a severe example.</p> + +<p>The fate of Andre, hastened by himself, deprived the enterprise +committed to Champe of a feature which had been highly prized by the +projector, and which had engaged the heart of the individual selected +for its execution. Washington ordered Major Lee to communicate what had +passed to the sergeant, with directions to encourage him to prosecute +with vigor the remaining objects of his instructions. Champe bitterly +deplored the fate of Andre, and confessed that the hope of saving the +unfortunate young man had been his main inducement in undertaking his +dangerous enterprise. Nothing now remained but to attempt the seizure of +Arnold. To this object Champe gave his undivided attention. Ten days +elapsed before he could conclude his arrangements, at the end of which +time, Lee received from him his final communication, appointing the +third subsequent night for a party of dragoons to meet him at Hoboken, +when he hoped to deliver Arnold to the officer.</p> + +<p>From the moment of his enlistment into Arnold's corps, Champe had every +opportunity he could desire for watching the habits of that individual. +He discovered that it was his custom to return home about twelve every +night, and that, previous to going to bed, he generally walked in his +garden. During this visit, the conspirators were to seize him, gag him, +and carry him across the river.</p> + +<p>Adjoining the house in which Arnold resided, and in which it was +designed to seize and gag him, Champe had taken out several of the +palings and replaced them, so that they might be readily removed, and +open a way to the neighboring alley. Into this alley he meant to have +conveyed his prisoner, aided by his companions, one of two associates +who had been introduced by the friend to whom Champe had been originally +made known by letter from the commander-in-chief, and with whose aid and +counsel he had so far conducted the enterprise. His other associate was +in readiness with the boat at one of the wharves on the Hudson river, to +receive the party.</p> + +<p>Champe and his friend intended to have placed themselves each under +Arnold's shoulder, and to have thus borne him through the most +unfrequented alleys and streets to the boat; representing Arnold, in +case of being questioned, as a drunken sailor, whom they were conveying +to the guard-house. The passage across the river could be easily +accomplished.</p> + +<p>These particulars were communicated by Lee to Washington, who directed +the former to meet Champe, and to take care that Arnold should not be +hurt. The appointed day arrived, and Lee with a party of dragoons, left +camp late in the evening, with three led horses--one for Arnold, one for +the sergeant, and the third for his associate. From the tenor of the +last communication from Champe, no doubt was entertained of the success +of the enterprise. The party from the American camp reached Hoboken +about midnight, where they were concealed in the adjoining wood--Lee, +with three dragoons, stationing himself near the river shore.</p> + +<p>Hour after hour passed. No boat approached. At length the day broke, and +the major retired with his party back to the camp, much chagrined at the +failure of the project.</p> + +<p>In a few days, Lee received an anonymous letter from Champe's patron and +friend, informing him, that on the day preceding the night for the +execution of the plot, Arnold had removed his quarters to another part +of the town, to superintend the embarkation of troops preparing, as was +rumored, for an expedition, to be placed under his own direction. The +American legion, consisting chiefly of American deserters, had been +transferred from the barracks to one of the transports; it being +apprehended that if left on shore till the expedition was ready, many of +them might desert.</p> + +<p>Thus it happened that John Champe, instead of crossing the Hudson that +night, was safely deposited on board one of the transports, from which +he never departed till the troops under Arnold landed in Virginia, Nor +was he able to escape from the British army till after the junction of +Lord Cornwallis, at Petersburgh, when he deserted; and passing through +Virginia and North Carolina, safely joined the American army soon after +it had passed the Congaree, in pursuit of Lord Rawdon.</p> + +<p>Champe's appearance excited extreme surprise among his former comrades, +which was not a little increased when they witnessed the cordial +reception, which he met with from the late Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel +Lee. His whole story soon became known to the corps, and he became an +object of increased respect and regard.</p> + +<p>Champe was munificently rewarded, and General Washington gave him a +discharge from further service, lest, in the vicissitudes of war, he +might fall into the enemy's hands, in which event, if recognized, he +could expect no mercy. Champe resided in London county, Virginia, after +leaving the army. He afterward removed to Kentucky, where he died. For a +full account of his adventures, we may refer the reader to Major Lee's +Memoirs, to which we have been largely indebted.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ADVENTURE_WITH_PIRATES2."></a>ADVENTURE WITH PIRATES.</h2> + +<p>There lived, not many years ago, on the eastern shore of Mt. Desert--a +large island off the coast of Maine--an old fisherman, by the name of +Jedediah Spinnet, who owned a schooner of some hundred tons burden, in +which he, together with some four stout sons, was wont to go, about once +a year, to the Grand Banks, for the purpose of catching codfish. The old +man had five things, upon the peculiar merits of which he loved to +boast--his schooner, "Betsy Jenkins," and his four sons. The four sons +were all their father represented them to be, and no one ever doubted +his word, when he said that their like was not to be found for fifty +miles around. The oldest was thirty-two, while the youngest had just +completed his twenty-sixth year, and they answered to the names of Seth, +Andrew, John, and Samuel.</p> + +<p>One morning a stranger called upon Jedediah to engage him to take to +Havana some iron machinery belonging to steam engines for sugar +plantations. The terms were soon agreed upon, and the old man and his +sons immediately set about putting the machinery on board; that +accomplished, they set sail for Havana, with a fair wind, and for +several days proceeded on their course without any adventure of any +kind. One morning, however, a vessel was descried off their starboard +quarter, which, after some hesitation, the old man pronounced a pirate. +There was not much time allowed them for doubting, for the vessel soon +saluted them with a very agreeable whizzing of an eighteen pound shot +under the stern.</p> + +<p>"That means for us to heave to," remarked the old man.</p> + +<p>"Then I guess we'd better do it hadn't we?" said Seth.</p> + +<p>"Of course."</p> + +<p>Accordingly, the Betsy Jenkins was brought up into the wind, and her +main-boom hauled over to windward.</p> + +<p>"Now boys," said the old man, as soon as the schooner came to a stand, +"all we can do is to be as cool as possible, and to trust to fortune. +There is no way to escape that I can see now; but, perhaps, if we are +civil, they will take such stuff as they want, then let us go. At any +rate there is no use crying about it, for it can't be helped. Now get +your pistols, and see that they are surely loaded, and have your knives +ready, but be sure and hide them, so that the pirates shall see no show +of resistance. In a few moments all the arms which the schooner +afforded, with the exception of one or two old muskets, were secured +about the persons of our Down Easters, and they quietly awaited the +coming of the schooner.</p> + +<p>"One word more, boys," said the old man, just as the pirate came round +under the stern.</p> + +<p>"Now watch every movement I make, and be ready to jump the moment I +speak."</p> + +<p>As Captain Spinnet ceased speaking, the pirate luffed under the +fisherman's lee-quarter, and, in a moment more, the latter's deck was +graced with the presence of a dozen as savage-looking mortals as eyes +ever rested upon.</p> + +<p>"Are you the captain of this vessel," demanded the leader of the +boarders, as he approached the old man.</p> + +<p>"Yes sir."</p> + +<p>"What is your cargo?"</p> + +<p>"Machinery for ingines."</p> + +<p>"Nothing else?" asked the pirate with a searching look.</p> + +<p>At this moment, Captain Spinnet's eye caught what looked like a sail off +to the southward and eastward, but no sign betrayed the discovery, and, +while a brilliant idea shot through his mind, he hesitatingly replied:</p> + +<p>"Well, there is a leetle something else."</p> + +<p>"Ha! and what is it?"</p> + +<p>"Why, sir, perhaps I hadn't ought to tell," said Captain Spinnet, +counterfeiting the most extreme perturbation. "You see, 'twas given to +me as a sort of trust, an' 't wouldn't be right for me to give up. You +can take any thing else you please, for I s'pose I can't help myself."</p> + +<p>"You are an honest codger, at any rate," said the pirate; "but, if you +would live ten minutes longer, just tell me what you've got on board, +and exactly where it lays."</p> + +<p>The sight of the cocked pistol brought the old man to his senses, and, +in a deprecating tone, he muttered:</p> + +<p>"Don't kill me, sir, don't, I'll tell you all. We have got forty +thousand silver dollars nailed up in boxes and stowed away under some of +the boxes just forward of the cabin bulkhead, but Mr. Defoe didn't +suspect that any body would have thought of looking for it there."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," chuckled the pirate, while his eyes sparkled with delight. +And then, turning to his own vessel, he ordered all but three of his men +to jump on board the Yankee.</p> + +<p>In a few moments the pirates had taken off the hatches, and, in their +haste to get at the "silver dollars," they forgot all else; but not so +with Spinnet; he had his wits at work, and no sooner had the last of the +villains disappeared below the hatchway, than he turned to his boys.</p> + +<p>"Now, boys, for our lives. Seth, you clap your knife across the fore +throat and peak halyards; and you, John, cut the main. Be quick now, an' +the moment you've done it, jump aboard the pirate. Andrew and Sam, you +cast off the pirate's graplings; an' then you jump--then we'll walk into +them three chaps aboard the clipper. <i>Now for it</i>."</p> + +<p>No sooner were the last words out of the old man's mouth, than his sons +did exactly as they had been directed. The fore and main halyards were +cut, and the two graplings cast off at the same instant, and, as the +heavy gaffs came rattling down, our five heroes leaped on board the +pirate. The moment the clipper felt at liberty, her head swung off, and, +before the astonished buccaneers could gain the decks of the fisherman, +their own vessel was a cable's length to leeward, sweeping gracefully +away before the wind, while the three men left in charge were +easily secured.</p> + +<p>"Halloa, there!" shouted Captain Spinnet, as the luckless pirates +crowded around the lee gangway of their prize, "when you find them +silver dollars, just let us know, will you?"</p> + +<p>Half a dozen pistol shots was all the answer the old man got, but they +did him no harm; and, crowding up all sail, he made for the vessel he +had discovered, which lay dead to leeward of him, and which he made out +to be a large ship. The clipper cut through the water like a dolphin, +and, in a remarkably short space of time, Spinnet luffed up under the +ship's stern, and explained all that had happened. The ship proved to be +an East Indiaman, bound for Charleston, having, all told, thirty men on +board, twenty of whom at once jumped into the clipper and offered their +services in helping to take the pirate.</p> + +<p>Before dark, Captain Spinnet was once more within hailing distance of +his own vessel, and raising a trumpet to his mouth, he shouted:</p> + +<p>"Schooner ahoy! Will you quietly surrender yourselves prisoners, if we +come on board!"</p> + +<p>"Come and try it!" returned the pirate captain, as he brandished his +cutlass above his head in a threatening manner, which seemed to indicate +that he would fight to the last.</p> + +<p>But that was his last moment, for Seth was crouched below the bulwarks, +taking deliberate aim along the barrel of a heavy rifle, and, as the +bloody villain was in the act of turning to his men, the sharp crack of +Seth Spinnet's weapon rang its fatal death-peal, and the next moment the +captain fell back into the arms of his men, with a brace of bullets in +his heart.</p> + +<p>"Now," shouted the old man, as he leveled the long pivot gun, and seized +a lighted match, "I'll give you just five minutes to make your minds up +in, and, if you don't surrender, I'll blow every one of you into the +other world."</p> + +<p>The death of their captain, and, withal the sight of the pivot gun--its +peculiar properties they knew full well--brought the pirates to their +senses, and they threw down their weapons, and agreed to give +themselves up.</p> + +<p>In two days from that time, Captain Spinnet delivered his cargo safely +in Havana, gave the pirates into the hands of the civil authorities, and +delivered the clipper up to the government, in return for which, he +received a sum of money sufficient for an independence during the +remainder of his life, as well as a very handsome medal from the +government.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="KENTON_THE_SPY."></a>KENTON THE SPY.</h2> + +<p>A secret expedition had been planned by Col. Bowman, of Kentucky, against +an Indian town on the little Miama. Simon Kenton and two young men, +named Clark and Montgomery, were employed to proceed in advance, and +reconnoiter. Kenton was a native of Fauquier county, Virginia, where he +was born the fifteenth of May, 1755; his companions were roving +backwoodsmen, denizens of the wood, and hunters like himself.</p> + +<p>These adventurers set out in obedience to their orders, and reached the +neighborhood of the Indian village without being discovered. They +examined it attentively, and walked around the cabins during the night +with perfect impunity. Had they returned after reconnoitering the place, +they would have accomplished the object of their mission, and avoided a +heavy calamity. They fell martyrs, however to their passion for +horseflesh.</p> + +<p>Unfortunately, during their nightly promenade, they stumbled upon a +pound, in which were a number of Indian horses. The temptation was not +to be resisted. They severally seized a horse and mounted. But there +still remained a number of fine animals; and the adventurers cast +longing, lingering looks behind. It was melancholy--the idea of +forsaking such a goodly prize. Flesh and blood could not resist the +temptation. Getting scalped was nothing to the loss of such beautiful +specimens of horseflesh. They turned back, and took several more. The +horses, however, seemed indisposed to change masters, and so much noise +was made, in the attempt to secure them, that at last the thieves were +discovered.</p> + +<p>The cry rang through the village at once, that the Long-Knives were +stealing their horses right before the doors of their wigwams. A great +hubbub ensued; and Indians, old and young, squaws, children, and +warriors, all sallied out with loud screams, to save their property from +the greedy spoilers. Kenton and his friends saw that they had overshot +their mark, and that they must ride for their lives. Even in this +extremity, however, they could not reconcile their minds to the +surrender of a single horse which they had haltered; and while two of +them rode in front and led a great number of horses, the other brought +up the rear, and, plying his whip from right to left, did not permit a +single animal to lag behind.</p> + +<p>In this manner, they dashed through the woods at a furious rate with +the hue and cry after them, until their course was suddenly stopped by +an impenetrable swamp. Here, from necessity, they paused a few minutes, +and listened attentively. Hearing no sounds of pursuit, they resumed +their course, and, skirting the swamp for some distance in the vain hope +of crossing it, they bent their course in a straight direction to the +Ohio. They rode during the whole night without resting a moment. Halting +a brief space at daylight, they continued their journey throughout the +day, and the whole of the following night; and, by this uncommon +celerity of movement, they succeeded in reaching the northern bank of +the Ohio on the morning of the second day.</p> + +<p>Crossing the river would now insure their safety, but this was likely to +prove a difficult undertaking, and the close pursuit, which they had +reason to expect, rendered it expedient to lose as little time as +possible. The wind was high, and the river rough and boisterous. It was +determined that Kenton should cross with the horses, while Clark and +Montgomery should construct a raft, in order to transport their guns, +baggage, and ammunition, to the opposite shore. The necessary +preparations were soon made, and Kenton, after forcing his horses into +the river, plunged in himself, and swam by their side.</p> + +<p>In a few minutes the high waves completely overwhelmed him, and forced +him considerably below the horses, who stemmed the current much more +successfully than he.</p> + +<p>The horses, being left to themselves, turned about and made for the Ohio +shore, where Kenton was compelled to follow them. Again he forced them +into the water, and again they returned to the same spot, until Kenton +became so exhausted by repeated efforts, as to be unable to swim. What +was to be done?</p> + +<p>That the Indians would pursue them was certain. That the horses would +not and could not be made to cross the river in its present state, was +equally certain. Should they abandon their horses and cross on the raft, +or remain with their horses and brave the consequence? The latter +alternative was adopted unanimously. Death or captivity might be +tolerated, but the loss of such a beautiful lot of horses, after working +so hard for them, was not to be thought of for a moment.</p> + +<p>Should they move up or down the river, or remain where they were? The +latter plan was adopted, and a more indiscreet one could hardly have +been imagined. They supposed that the wind would fall at sunset, and +the river become sufficiently calm to admit of their passage; and, as it +was thought probable that the Indians might be upon them before night, +it was determined to conceal their horses in a neighboring ravine, while +they should take their stations in the adjoining wood.</p> + +<p>The day passed away in tranquility; but at night the wind blew harder +than ever, and the water became so rough, that they would hardly have +been able to cross on their raft. As if totally infatuated, they +remained where they were until morning; thus wasting twenty-four hours +of most precious time in idleness. In the morning, the wind abated, and +the river became calm; but, it was now too late. Their horses had become +obstinate and intractible, and positively and repeatedly refused to take +to the water.</p> + +<p>Their masters at length determined to do what ought to have been done at +first. They severally resolved to mount a horse, and make the best of +their way down the river to Louisville. But their unconquerable +reluctance to lose their horses overcame even this resolution. Instead +of leaving the ground instantly, they went back upon their own trail, in +the vain effort to regain possession of the rest of their horses, which +had broken from them in their last effort to drive them into the water. +They literally fell victims to their love for horseflesh.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely ridden one hundred yards when Kenton, who had +dismounted, heard a loud halloo. He quickly beheld three Indians and one +white man, all well mounted. Wishing to give the alarm to his +companions, he raised his rifle, took a steady aim at the breast of the +foremost Indian, and drew the trigger. His gun had become wet on the +raft, and flashed.</p> + +<p>The enemy were instantly alarmed, and dashed at him. Kenton took to his +heels, and was pursued by four horsemen at full speed. He instantly +directed his steps to the thickest part of the wood, and had succeeded, +as he thought, in baffling his pursuers, when, just as he was entering +the wood, an Indian on horseback galloped up to him with such rapidity +as to render flight useless. The horseman rode up, holding out his hand, +and calling out "Brother! brother!" in a tone of great affection. Kenton +observes, that if his gun would have made fire, he would have +"brothered" him to his heart's content, but, being totally unarmed, he +called out that he would surrender if they would give him quarter and +good treatment.</p> + +<p>Promises were cheap with the Indian, who, advancing, with extended hands +and a withering grin upon his countenance, which was intended for a +smile of courtesy, seized Kenton's hand and grasped it with violence. +Kenton, not liking the manner of his captor, raised his gun to knock him +down, when an Indian, who had followed him closely through the +brushwood, sprung upon his back, and pinioned his arms to his side. The +one, who had been grinning so amiably, then raised him by the hair and +shook him until his teeth rattled, while the rest of the party coming +up, fell upon Kenton with their tongues and ramrods, until he thought +they would scold or beat him to death. They were the owners of the +horses which he had carried off, and now took ample revenge for the loss +of their property. At every stroke of their ramrods over his head, they +would exclaim in a tone of strong indignation, "Steal Indian hoss! hey!"</p> + +<p>Their attention, however, was soon directed to Montgomery, who, having +heard the noise attending Kenton's capture, very gallantly hastened up +to his assistance, while Clark prudently took to his heels. Montgomery +halted within gunshot, and appeared busy with the pan of his gun, as if +preparing to fire. Two Indians instantly sprang off in pursuit of him, +while the rest attended to Kenton. In a few minutes Kenton heard the +crack of two rifles in quick succession, followed by a halloo, which +announced the fate of his friend. The Indians returned, waving the +bloody scalp of Montgomery, and with countenances and gestures which +menaced him with a similar fate.</p> + +<p>They then proceeded to secure their prisoner by pinioning him with stout +sticks, and fastening him with ropes to a tree. During the operation +they cuffed him from time to time with great heartiness, and abused him +for a "tief!--a hoss steal!--a rascal!"</p> + +<p>Kenton remained in this painful position throughout the night, looking +forward to certain death, and most probably torture, as soon as he +should reach their town. Their rage against him displayed itself the +next morning, in rather a singular manner.</p> + +<p>Among the horses which Kenton had taken, was a wild young colt, wholly +unbroken, and with all his honors of mane and tail undocked. Upon him +Kenton was mounted, without saddle or bridle, with his hands tied behind +him, and his feet fastened under the horse's belly. The country was +rough and bushy, and Kenton had no means of protecting his face from the +brambles, through which it was expected that the colt would dash. As +soon as the rider was firmly fastened to his back, the colt was turned +loose with a sudden lash, but, after curvetting and capricoling for +awhile, to the great distress of Kenton, but to the infinite amusement +of the Indians, he appeared to take compassion on his rider, and, +falling into a line with the other horses, avoided the brambles +entirely, and went on very well. In this manner he rode through the day. +At night he was taken from the horse, and confined as before.</p> + +<p>On the third day, they came within a few miles of Chillicothe. Here the +party halted, and sent forward a messenger to prepare for their +reception. In a short time, Blackfish, one of their chiefs, arrived, and +regarding Kenton with a stern countenance, thundered out in very good +English: "You have been stealing horses?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir."</p> + +<p>"Did Captain Boone tell you to steal our horses?"</p> + +<p>"No, sir, I did it of my own accord."</p> + +<p>Blackfish made no reply to this frank confession; but, brandishing a +hickory switch, he applied it so briskly to Kenton's naked back and +shoulders, as to bring the blood freely, and occasion acute pain.</p> + +<p>Thus, alternately scolded and beaten, Kenton was conducted to the +village. All the inhabitants, men, women, and children, ran out to feast +their eyes with a sight of the prisoner; and all, down to the smallest +child, appeared in a paroxysm of rage. They whooped, they yelled, they +hooted, they clapped their hands, and poured upon him a flood of +abuse, to which all that he had yet experienced was courteous and civil. +With loud cries, they demanded that their prisoner should be tied to the +stake. The hint was instantly complied with; but, after being well +thrashed and tormented, he was released for the purpose of furnishing +further amusement to his captors.</p> + +<center><a href="202.png"><img src="202.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Death of Montgomery.</a></center> + +<p>Early in the morning, he beheld the scalp of Montgomery stretched upon a +hoop, and drying in the air, before the door of one of their principal +houses, he was led out, and ordered to run the gauntlet. A row of boys, +women, and men, extended to the distance of a quarter of a mile. At the +starting-place, stood two grim warriors with butcher knives in their +hands. At the extremity of the line, was an Indian beating a drum; and a +few paces beyond the drum was the door of the council-house. Clubs, +switches, hoe-handles, and tomahawks, were brandished along the whole +line, and, as Kenton saw these formidable preparations, the cold sweat +streamed from his pores.</p> + +<p>The moment for starting arrived, the great drum at the door of the +council-house was struck; and Kenton sprang forward in the race. He, +however, avoided the row of his enemies, and, turning to the east, drew +the whole party in pursuit of him. He doubled several times with great +activity, and at length observing an opening he darted through it, and +pressed forward to the council-house with a rapidity which left his +pursuers far behind. One or two of the Indians succeeded in throwing +themselves between him and the goal, and from these alone he received a +few blows, but was much less injured than he could at first have +supposed possible.</p> + +<p>After the race was over, a council to decide his fate was held, while he +was handed over, naked and bound, to the care of a guard in the open +air. The deliberation commenced. Every warrior sat in silence, while a +large warclub was passed round the circle. Those who were opposed to +burning the prisoner on the spot, were to pass the club in silence to +the next warrior. Those in favor of burning were to strike the earth +violently with the club before passing it.</p> + +<p>A teller was appointed to count the votes. This dignitary reported that +the opposition had prevailed; and that it was determined to take the +prisoner to an Indian town on Mad river, called Waughcotomoco. His fate +was announced to him by a renegado white man, who acted as interpreter. +Kenton asked "what the Indians intended to do with him upon reaching +Waughcotomoco."</p> + +<p>"Burn you!" replied the renegado, with a ferocious oath.</p> + +<p>After this pleasant assurance, the laconic and scowling interpreter +walked away.</p> + +<p>The prisoner's clothes were restored to him, and he was permitted to +remain unbound. Thanks to the intimation of the interpreter, he was +aware of the fate in reserve for him, and resolved that he would never +be carried alive to Waughcotomoco. Their route lay through an unprimed +forest, abounding in thickets and undergrowth. During the whole of the +march, Kenton remained abstracted and silent; often meditating an effort +for the recovery of his liberty, and as often shrinking from the peril +of the attempt.</p> + +<p>At length he was aroused from his reverie by the Indians firing off +their guns, and raising the shrill scalp-halloo. The signal was soon +answered, and the deep roll of a drum was heard far in front, announcing +to the unhappy prisoner, that they were approaching an Indian town, +where the gauntlet, certainly, and perhaps the stake awaited him.</p> + +<p>The idea of a repetition of the dreadful scenes he had just encountered, +overcame his indecision, and, with a sudden and startling cry, he sprung +into the bushes, and fled with the speed of a wild deer. The pursuit was +instant and keen. Some of his pursuers were on horseback, some on foot. +But he was flying for his life. The stake and the hot iron, and the +burning splinters were before his eyes, and he soon distanced the +swiftest hunter in pursuit.</p> + +<p>But fate was against him at every turn. Thinking only of the enemy +behind, he forgot that there might be an enemy before; and he suddenly +found that he had plunged into the center of a fresh party of horsemen, +who had sallied from the town at the firing of the guns, and happened, +unfortunately, to stumble upon the poor prisoner, now making a last +effort for freedom. His heart sunk at once from the ardor of hope to the +lowest pit of despair, and he was again haltered and driven into +captivity like an ox to the slaughter.</p> + +<p>On the second day he arrived at Waughcotomoco. Here he was again +compelled to run the gauntlet, in which he was severely hurt. +Immediately after this ceremony, he was taken to the council-house, and +all the warriors once more assembled to determine his fate.</p> + +<p>He sat silent and dejected upon the floor of the cabin, when the door of +the council-house opened, and Simon Girty, James Girty, John Ward, and +an Indian, came in with a woman as a prisoner, together with seven +children and seven scalps. Kenton was immediately removed from the +council-house, and the deliberations of the assembly were protracted to +a very late hour, in consequence of the arrival of the last-named party +with a fresh drove of prisoners.</p> + +<p>At length he was again summoned to attend the council-house, being +informed that his fate was decided. Upon entering, he was greeted with a +savage scowl, which, if he had still cherished a spark of hope, would +have completely extinguished it. Simon Girty threw a blanket upon the +floor, and harshly ordered him to take a seat upon it. The order was not +immediately complied with, and Girty impatiently seizing his arm, jerked +him roughly upon the blanket, and pulled him down.</p> + +<p>In a menacing tone, Girty then interrogated him as to the condition of +Kentucky.</p> + +<p>"How many men are there in Kentucky?"</p> + +<p>"It is impossible for me to answer that question," replied Kenton; "but +I can tell you the number of officers, and their respective ranks, and +you can judge for yourself."</p> + +<p>"Do you know William Stewart?"</p> + +<p>"Perfectly well; he is an old and intimate acquaintance."</p> + +<p>"What is your own name?"</p> + +<p>"Simon Butler!" replied Kenton, who had been known formerly by that +name.</p> + +<p>Never did the announcement of a name produce a more powerful effect. +Girty and Kenton had served as spies together in Dunmore's expedition. +The former had not then abandoned the society of the whites for that of +the savages, and had become warmly attached to Kenton during the short +period of their services together. As soon as he heard the name, he +threw his arms around Kenton's neck, and embraced him with much emotion.</p> + +<p>Then turning to the assembled warriors, who had witnessed this scene +with much surprise, Girty informed them that the prisoner, whom they had +just condemned to the stake, was his ancient companion and bosom-friend; +that they had traveled the same war-path, slept upon the same blanket, +and dwelt in the same wigwam. He entreated them to spare him the anguish +of witnessing the torture, by his adopted brothers, of an old comrade; +and not to refuse so trifling a favor as the life of a white man to the +earnest intercession of one, who had proved, by three years' faithful +service, that he was zealously devoted to the cause of the Indians.</p> + +<p>The speech was listened to in silence, and some of the chiefs were +disposed to grant Girty's request. But others urged the flagrant +misdemeanors of Kenton; that he had not only stolen their horses, but +had flashed his gun at one of their young men; that it was in vain to +suppose that so bad a man could ever become an Indian at heart, like +their brother Girty; that the Kentuckians were all alike, very bad +people, and ought to be killed as fast as they were taken; and, finally, +they observed that many of their people had come from a distance, solely +to assist at the torture of the prisoner; and pathetically painted the +disappointment and chagrin, with which they would hear that all their +trouble had been for nothing.</p> + +<p>Girty continued to urge his request, however, with great earnestness, +and the debate was carried on for an hour and a half, with much energy +and heat. The feelings of Kenton during this suspense may be imagined.</p> + +<p>At length the warclub was produced, and the final vote was taken. It was +in favor of the prisoner's reprieve. Having thus succeeded in his +benevolent purpose, Girty lost no time in attending to the comfort of +his friend. He led him into his own wigwam, and, from his own store, +gave him a pair of moccasins and leggins, a breechcloth, a hat, a coat, +a handkerchief for his neck, and another for his head.</p> + +<p>For the space of three weeks, Kenton lived in tranquility, treated with +much kindness by Girty and the chiefs. But, at the end of that time, as +he was one day with Girty and an Indian named Redpole, another Indian +came from the village toward them, uttering repeatedly a whoop of +peculiar intonation. Girty instantly told Kenton it was the +distress-halloo, and that they must all go instantly to the +council-house. Kenton's heart fluttered at the intelligence, for he +dreaded all whoops, and heartily hated all council-houses, firmly +believing that neither boded him any good. Nothing, however, could be +done, to avoid whatever fate awaited him, and he sadly accompanied Girty +and Redpole back to the village.</p> + +<p>On entering the council-house, Kenton perceived from the ominous scowls +of the chiefs, that they meant no tenderness toward him. Girty and +Redpole were cordially received, but when poor Kenton offered his hand, +it was rejected by six Indians successively, after which, sinking into +despondence, he turned away, and stood apart.</p> + +<p>The debate commenced. Kenton looked eagerly toward Girty, as his last +and only hope. His friend seemed anxious and distressed. The chiefs from +a distance rose one after another, and spoke in a firm and indignant +tone, often looking sternly at Kenton. Girty did not desert him, but his +eloquence was wasted. After a warm discussion, he turned to Kenton and +said, "Well, my friend, <i>you must die!</i>"</p> + +<p>One of the stranger chiefs instantly seized him by the collar, and, the +others surrounding him, he was strongly pinioned, committed to a guard, +and marched off. His guard were on horseback, while he was driven before +them on foot, with a long rope round his neck. In this manner they had +marched about two and a half miles, when Girty passed them on horseback, +informing Kenton that he had friends at the next village, with whose aid +he hoped to be able to do something for him. Girty passed on to the +town, but finding that nothing could be done, he would not see his +friend again, but returned to Waughcotomoco by a different route.</p> + +<p>The Indians with their prisoner soon reached a large village upon the +headwaters of the Scioto, where Kenton, for the first time, beheld the +celebrated Mingo chief, Logan, so honorably mentioned in Jefferson's +Notes on Virginia. Logan walked gravely up to the place where Kenton +stood, and the following short conversation ensued:</p> + +<p>"Well, young man, these people seem very mad at you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, sir, they certainly are."</p> + +<p>"Well; don't be disheartened. I am a great chief. You are to go to +Sandusky. They speak of burning you there. But I will send two runners +to-morrow to help you."</p> + +<p>Logan's form was manly, his countenance calm and noble, and he spoke +the English language with fluency and correctness. Kenton's spirits +revived at the address of the benevolent chief, and he once more looked +upon himself as providentially rescued from the stake.</p> + +<p>On the following morning, two runners were despatched to Sandusky as the +chief had promised. In the evening they returned, and were closeted with +Logan. Kenton felt the most burning anxiety to know the result of their +mission, but Logan did not visit him until the next morning. He then +walked up to him, accompanied by Kenton's guard, and, giving him a piece +of bread, told him that he was instantly to be carried to Sandusky; and +left him without uttering another word.</p> + +<p>Again Kenton's spirits sunk. From Logan's manner, he supposed that his +intercession had been unavailing, and that Sandusky was to be the scene +of his final suffering. This appears to have been the truth. But fortune +had not finished her caprices. On being driven into the town, for the +purpose of being burnt on the following morning, an Indian agent, from +Canada, named Drewyer, interposed, and once more was he rescued from the +stake. Drewyer wished to obtain information for the British commandant +at Detroit; and so earnestly did he insist upon Kenton's being +delivered to him, that the Indians at length consented, upon the express +condition that, after the required information had been obtained, he +should be again restored to their possession. To this Drewyer consented, +and, with out further difficulty, Kenton was transferred to his hands. +Drewyer lost no time in removing him to Detroit. On the road, he +informed Kenton of the condition upon which he had obtained possession +of his person, assuring him, however, that no consideration should +induce him to abandon a prisoner to the mercy of such wretches.</p> + +<p>At Detroit, Kenton's condition was not unpleasant. He was obliged to +report himself every morning to an English officer; and was restricted +to certain boundaries through the day. In other respects he scarcely +felt that he was a prisoner. His wounds were healed, and his emaciated +limbs were again clothed with a fair proportion of flesh. He remained in +this state of easy restraint from October, 1777, until June, 1778, when +he meditated an escape.</p> + +<p>He cautiously broached his project to two young Kentuckians, then at +Detroit, who had been taken with Boone at the Blue Licks, and had been +purchased by the British. He found them as impatient as himself of +captivity, and resolute to accompany him. He commenced instant +preparations. Having formed a close friendship with two Indian hunters, +he deluged them with rum, and bought their guns for a mere trifle. These +he hid in the woods, and returning to Detroit, managed to procure powder +and ball, with another rifle.</p> + +<p>The three prisoners then appointed a night for their attempt, and agreed +upon a place of rendezvous. They met at the time and place appointed, +without discovery, and, taking a circuitous route, avoiding pursuit by +traveling only during the night, they at length arrived safely at +Louisville, after a march of thirty days.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_DYING_VOLUNTEER,"></a>THE DYING VOLUNTEER,</h2> + +<h3>AN INCIDENT OF MOLINO DEL REY.</h3> + +<p>The sun had risen in all his glorious majesty, and hung over the eastern +horizon like a wall of glowing fire; and its bright rays danced merrily +along the lake of Teseneo--over the glittering domes of Mexico--past the +frowning battlements of Chapultepec, and lit, in all their glorious +effulgence, upon, the blood-stained field of Molino del Rey.</p> + +<p>The contest was over--the sound of battle had died away, save an +occasional shot from the distant artillery of the castle, or the fire of +some strolling riflemen.</p> + +<p>I was standing beside the battered remains of the mill door, above which +the first footing had been gained upon the well-contested wall, and +gazing over the plain, now saturated with the blood of my +fellow-soldiers, which that morning waved green with flowing grass, when +I heard a low and feeble wail in the ditch beside me. I turned towards +the spot, and beheld, with his right leg shattered by a cannon ball, a +voltiguer lying amid the mangled. He had been passed by in the haste of +gathering up the wounded under the fire from the castle, and the rays of +the burning sun beat down with terrible fervor upon the wounded limb, +causing heavy groans to issue from his pallid lips, and his marble +countenance to writhe with pain.</p> + +<p>"Water, for God's sake, a drink of water!" he faintly articulated, as I +bent over him.</p> + +<p>Fortunately, I had procured a canteen of water, and placing it to his +lips, he took a long, deep draught, and then sunk back exhausted upon +the ground.</p> + +<p>"The sun," he murmured, "is killing me by its rays; can not you carry me +into the shade?"</p> + +<p>"I can procure assistance, and have you taken to the hospital."</p> + +<p>"No, do not, my sands of life are most out. An hour hence, I shall be a +dead man. Carry me into the shade of the mill, and then, if you have +time to spare, listen to my dying words, and, if you are fortunate +enough to return to the United States, bear me back a message to my +home, and to anoth--" he paused, and motioned me to carry him into the +shade. I did so, and the cold wind which swept along the spot appeared +to revive him, and he continued:</p> + +<p>"You, sir, are a total stranger to me, and, from your uniform belong to +another corps, and yet I must confide this, the great secret of all my +recent actions, and the cause of my being here, to you. Would to God +that I had reflected upon the fatal steps I had taken, and I should now +have been at my home, enjoying the society of kind friends, instead of +dying upon the gory field, and in a foreign land. My father was a +wealthy man, in the town of G----h, in the state of Virginia, and moved +in the best society of the place. I had received an excellent education, +had studied law and was admitted, in the twenty-fourth year of my age, +to practice at the bar. I had early seen and admired a young lady of the +place, a daughter of an intimate friend of father's, and fortunately +the feeling was reciprocated, and we were engaged to be married. The war +in Mexico had been in existence some twelve months, and many flocked to +the standard of their country. It so happened, that about this time, a +recruiting office had been opened in the town, and several of my young +friends had enlisted to go and try their fortunes on the plains of +Mexico. One night there was a grand party in the place, in honor of +those who were about to depart for the seat of war, and both myself and +Eveline were at the hall. Among those who were assembled at that evening +was Augustus P., a talented young man, and accomplished scholar, gay and +lively in his manners, free and cheerful in his disposition, and a +universal favorite with the fair sex. He had been for some time paying +his addresses to Eveline, as I deemed, in rather too pointed a manner. +As the party had assembled in the long hall, and the dance was about to +commence, I asked for her hand for the first set."</p> + +<p>'It is engaged,' she replied, as I thought, rather tartly.</p> + +<p>'To whom, if I may be so bold as to inquire?' I demanded.</p> + +<p>'To Augustus P.,' was the immediate reply.</p> + +<p>I smothered my rising indignation the best I could, and proudly +returned the smile of malignant joy my rival gave me.</p> + +<p>'Perhaps I can engage it for a second set,' I calmly replied.</p> + +<p>'Mr. P. has engaged it for the entire evening,' she pettishly replied, +and rising and taking his hand they took their station upon the floor.</p> + +<p>I remained thunderstruck and rooted to the spot, until I saw the eyes +of my hated rival fixed upon me, and, throwing off the spell that bound +me, I assumed a proud, cold look. As I swept by the dancers, Eveline +paused for a moment when just beside me, and, bending close to her ear, +I whispered, 'Eveline, farewell forever.'</p> + +<p>She turned slightly pale, and asked, 'when?'</p> + +<p>'To-night, I join the army for Mexico,' I firmly replied.</p> + +<p>A deep flush passed haughtily across her brow, and then waving her hand +gracefully, she replied, 'Go,' and glided through the mazes of +the dance.</p> + +<p>I rushed from the spot, and never paused until I had entered the +recruiting office, and offered myself a candidate for the army.</p> + +<p>'Are you a good, moral man, of well-regulated habits?' asked the +sergeant.</p> + +<p>'Can give a hundred certificates, if necessary, I hastily replied.</p> + +<p>'I rather think you'll do,' said the officer with a smile, and he +enrolled me as a soldier. 'When do you wish to leave?'</p> + +<p>'Now--to-night--to-morrow--any time,' I eagerly answered.</p> + +<p>'Promptness is a good quality, you will make a good soldier. Get ready +to start at eight o'clock in the morning, for Newport, Ky.'</p> + +<p>'I will be ready,' and, rushing from the room, I hastened home, packed +up my things, and threw myself down on the bed to sleep. But it was +impossible. Heavy thoughts were crowding my mind with lightning speed, +and I resolved to depart the next day, without bidding adieu to father +or mother, sister or brother; but feeling a deep respect, which I held +for my father's advice, would prevail and I should be induced to remain +at home. I made the resolve and carried it out. The next morning I was +at the office by seven o'clock, was furnished with a suit of +regimentals, and departed for the railroad depot to start for Wheeling. +As I hurried along, who should turn the corner of the street but +Eveline, and we met for the last time on earth. I informed her of my +intentions, and, without manifesting any disposition of regret at my +departure, she gaily said: "'Good bye, and may good luck attend you,' +and she glided away.</p> + +<p>"A new fuel was added to my desire to hasten from such scenes; and I +had soon left the town for the Ohio. I will not weary you with further +details, as my breath is failing fast. Suffice it to say I arrived in +Mexico, and, here I am, perishing by inches upon the battle-field.</p> + +<p>"Here," he continued, "is a ring," taking one from his finger, and +presenting it to me, "which was given me by Eveline as a bond of our +marriage contract. I have worn it ever since, and, as I told her then, +'it shall leave me but with my death,' Take it to her, when you get +back, and, if she be not married, give it to her, and tell her he who +sent it never forgot her for a single moment, even in his dying hour, +and is lying beneath the clods of a foreign soil. This Bible, give back +to my father, and tell him I have studied its precepts: to my mother and +sisters, say that I have sent them a son's and brother's dying love; +tell my brothers to beware of human strife."</p> + +<p>He faltered in his speech, and then murmuring, "I am going," pressed my +hand feebly and expired. I dug a lone grave upon the field, and laid him +to "sleep his last sleep," until that day when all shall be summoned to +a final account.</p> + +<p>One year rolled on, and how chequered by passing events! Chapultepec had +fallen, the city of Mexico was taken, and peace, thrice glorious peace, +had waved her pinions over the land of war. The volunteers were joyfully +hastening to their homes, and, among the rest, I once more trod my +native land, a freeman again in heart and soul. A spell of sickness at +first confined me several weeks, but at length I rose wearied and feeble +from my bed, and my physicians recommended a change of air. I traveled +into Virginia, and one evening I entered the town of G----h. I inquired +for the family of my friend, and was directed to a fine-looking building +upon the principal street. I advanced and rang the bell, and anxiously +waited an answer. At length the door opened, and an old grey-headed man +stood before me, the lines of his face marked by care, and his whole +appearance betokened one who had a deep grief at heart.</p> + +<p>"Mr. ----, I presume?" said I, bowing.</p> + +<p>"The same, sir; won't you walk in?" replied the old man, politely.</p> + +<p>I entered the house, and was soon seated in the parlor, when the old man +started to leave the room.</p> + +<p>"I have something of importance for your private ear," said I, hastily.</p> + +<p>He turned towards me, and taking the Bible from my pocket, I held it up +to view. Quicker than thought, the aged father sprang forward, caught +the book in his hand, and murmured, as the tears fell slowly over his +aged cheeks:</p> + +<p>"My son, my son, you bring news of him."</p> + +<p>"I do, but it is very bad," I answered, my voice trembling as I spoke, +and I retold to him the scenes upon the battle-field.</p> + +<p>When I had finished, the old man clasped his hands in agony, and, +raising his eyes toward the ceiling, exclaimed, in deep and fervent +tones, "God's will be done!"</p> + +<p>At this moment, a young lady of pale, care-worn countenance entered the +parlor, and, rising, I said, "Miss Eveline ----, I believe?"</p> + +<p>"The same," she calmly replied.</p> + +<p>As her eyes glanced at the ring, which I silently presented, she +stretched forth her hand, grasped it convulsively, then fell suddenly +forward upon the carpet, the blood oozing rapidly from her mouth. The +terrible ordeal had broken a blood-vessel, and her spirit passed +unchecked to another world.</p> + +<p>A plain, marble slab, in the graveyard of the town of G----h, upon which +is engraved the lone word, "Eveline," marks the last resting place of +the betrothed of the Dying Volunteer.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ESCAPE_FROM_A_MEXICAN_QUICKSAND"></a>ESCAPE FROM A MEXICAN QUICKSAND</h2> + +<h3>BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID.</h3> + +<p>A few days afterward, another adventure befell me; and I began to think +I was destined to become a hero among the "mountain men."</p> + +<p>A small party of the traders--myself among the number--had pushed +forward ahead of the caravan. Our object was to arrive at Santa Fé a day +or two before the wagons, in order to have every thing arranged with the +governor for their entrance into the capital. We took the route by +the Cimmaron.</p> + +<p>Our road, for a hundred miles or so, lay through a barren desert, +without game, and almost without water. The buffalo had all disappeared, +and deer were equally scarce. We had to content ourselves on the dried +meat which we had brought from the settlements. We were in the deserts +of the artemisia. Now and then we could see a stray antelope bounding +away before us, but keeping far out of range. They, too, seemed to be +unusually shy.</p> + +<p>On the third day after leaving the caravan, as we were riding near the +Cimmaron, I thought I observed a pronged head disappearing behind a +swell in the prairie. My companions were skeptical, and none of them +would go with me; so, wheeling out of trail, I started alone. One of +them--for Gode was behind--kept charge of my dog, as I did not choose to +take him with me, lest he might alarm the antelopes. My horse was fresh +and willing; and, whether successful or not, I knew I could easily +overtake the party by camping-time.</p> + +<p>I struck directly toward the spot where I had seen the object. It +appeared to be only half a mile or so from the trail. It proved more +distant--a common illusion in the crystal atmosphere of these +upland regions.</p> + +<p>A curiously formed ridge, traversed the plain from east to west. A +thicket of cactus covered part of its summit. Toward the thicket I +directed myself.</p> + +<p>I dismounted at the bottom of the slope, and leading my horse silently +up among the cactus plants, tied him to one of their branches. I then +cautiously crept through the thorny leaves toward the point where I +fancied I had seen the game. To my joy, not one antelope, but a brace of +those beautiful animals, was quietly grazing beyond; but alas! too far +off for the carry of my rifle. They were fully three hundred yards +distant, upon a smooth, grassy slope. There was not even a sage bush to +cover me, should I attempt to approach them. What was to be done?</p> + +<p>I lay for several minutes, thinking over the different tricks, known in +hunter craft, for taking the antelope. Should I imitate their call? +Should I hoist my handkerchief and try to lure them up? I saw that they +were too shy; for, at short intervals, they threw up their graceful +heads, and looked inquiringly around them. I remembered the red blanket +on my saddle. I could display this upon the cactus-bushes, perhaps it +would attract them.</p> + +<p>I had no alternative; and was turning to go back for the blanket; when, +all at once, my eye rested upon a clay-colored line, running across the +prairie, beyond where the animals were feeding. It was a break in the +plain, a buffalo road, or the channel of an <i>arroyo</i>, in either case, +the very cover I wanted, for the animals were not a hundred yards from +it; and were getting still nearer to it as they fed.</p> + +<p>Creeping back out of the thicket, I ran along the side of the slope +toward a point, where I had noticed that the ridge was depressed to the +prairie level. Here, to my surprise, I found myself on the banks of a +broad arroyo, whose water, clear and shallow, ran slowly over a bed of +sand and gypsum.</p> + +<p>The banks were low, not over three feet above the surface of the water, +except where the ridge impinged upon the stream. Here there was a high +bluff; and, hurrying around its base, I entered the channel, and +commenced wading upward.</p> + +<p>As I had anticipated, I soon came to a bend where the stream, after +running parallel to the ridge, swept around and canoned through it. At +this place I stopped, and looked cautiously over the bank. The antelopes +had approached within less than rifle range of the arroyo; but they were +yet far above my position. They were still quietly feeding, and +unconscious of danger. I again bent down and waded on.</p> + +<p>It was a difficult task proceeding in this way. The bed of the creek was +soft and yielding, and I was compelled to tread slowly and silently, +lest I should alarm the game; but I was cheered in my exertions by the +prospect of fresh venison for my supper.</p> + +<p>After a weary drag of several hundred yards, I came opposite to a small +clump of wormwood bushes, growing out of the bank. "I may be high +enough," thought I, "these will serve for cover."</p> + +<p>I raised my body gradually, until I could see through the leaves. I was +in the right spot. I brought my rifle to a level; sighted for the heart +of the buck, and fired. The animal leaped from the ground, and fell back +lifeless. I was about to rush forward, and secure my prize, when I +observed the doe, instead of running off as I expected, go up to her +fallen partner, and press her tapering nose to his body. She was not +more than twenty yards from me, and I could plainly see that her look +was one of inquiry and bewilderment. All at once, she seemed to +comprehend the fatal truth; and, throwing back her head, commenced +uttering the most piteous cries, at the same time running in circles +around the body.</p> + +<p>I stood wavering between two minds. My first impulse had been to reload, +and kill the doe; but her plaintive voice entered my heart, disarming me +of all hostile intentions. Had I dreamed of witnessing this painful +spectacle, I should not have left the trail. But the mischief was now +done. "I have worse than killed her," thought I, "it will be better to +despatch her at once."</p> + +<p>Actuated by these principles of common, but to her fatal, humanity, I +rested the butt of my rifle, and reloaded. With a faltering hand, I +again leveled the piece and fired:</p> + +<p>My nerves were steady enough to do the work. When the smoke floated +aside, I could see the little creature bleeding upon the grass--her +head resting upon the body of her murdered mate.</p> + +<p>I shouldered my rifle, and was about to move forward, when, to my +astonishment, I found that I was caught by the feet. I was held firmly +as if my legs had been held in a vice.</p> + +<p>I made an effort to extricate myself; another, more violent, and equally +unsuccessful, and, with a third, I lost my balance, and fell back upon +the water. Half suffocated, I regained my upright position, but only to +find that I was held as fast as ever. Again I struggled to free my +limbs. I could neither move them backward nor forward--to the right nor +the left; and I became sensible that I was gradually going down. Then +the fearful truth flashed upon me--I was sinking in a quicksand! A +feeling of horror came over me. I renewed my efforts with the energy of +desperation. I leaned to one side, then to the other, almost wrenching +my knees from their sockets. My feet remained as fast as ever. I could +not move them an inch.</p> + +<p>The soft, clingy sand already overtopped my horse-skin boots, wedging +them around my ankles, so that I was unable to draw them off; and I +could feel that I was still sinking slowly but surely, as though some +subterraneous monster was leisurely dragging me down. This very thought +caused me a fresh thrill of horror, and I called aloud for help. To +whom? There was no one within miles of me--no living thing. Yes! the +neigh of my horse answered me from the hill, mocking me in my despair.</p> + +<p>I bent forward as well as my constrained position would permit; and, +with frenzied fingers commenced tearing up the sand. I could barely +reach the surface, and the little hollow I was able to make filled up +almost as soon as it had been formed. A thought occurred to me. My rifle +might support me, placed horizontally. I looked for it. It was not to be +seen. It had sunk beneath the sand. Could I throw my body flat, and +prevent myself from sinking deeper? No! The water was two feet in depth. +I should drown at once. This last hope left me as soon as formed. I +could think of no plan to save myself. I could make no further effort. A +strange stupor seized upon me. My very thoughts became paralyzed. I knew +that I was going mad. For a moment I was mad.</p> + +<p>After an interval, my senses returned. I made an effort to rouse my mind +from its paralysis, in order that I might meet death, which I now +believed to be certain, as a man should. I stood erect. My eyes had sunk +to the prairie level, and rested upon the still bleeding victims of my +cruelty. My heart smote me at the sight. Was I suffering a retribution +of God? With humbled and penitent thoughts, I turned my face to heaven, +almost dreading that some sign of omnipotent anger would scowl upon me +from above. But no! The sun was shining as bright as ever; and the blue +canopy of the world was without a cloud. I gazed upward with earnestness +known only to the hearts of men in positions of peril like mine.</p> + +<p>As I continued to look up, an object attracted my attention. Against the +sky, I distinguished the outlines of a large bird. I knew it to be the +obscene bird of the plains, the buzzard vulture. Whence had it come? Who +knows? Far beyond the reach of human eye, it had seen or scented the +slaughtered antelopes; and, on broad, silent wing was now descending to +the feast of death. Presently another, and another, and many others, +mottled the blue field of the heavens, curving and wheeling silently +earthward. Then the foremost swooped down upon the bank, and, after +gazing around for a moment, flapped off toward its prey. In a few +seconds, the prairie was black with filthy birds, who clambered over the +dead antelopes, and beat their wings against each other, while they tore +out the eyes of the quarry with their fetid beaks. And now came gaunt +wolves, sneaking and hungry, stealing out of the cactus thicket; and +loping, coward-like, over the green swells of the prairie. These, after +a battle, drove away the vultures, and tore up the prey, all the while +growling and snapping vengefully at each other. "Thank heaven! I shall +at least be saved from this."</p> + +<p>I was soon relieved from the sight. My eyes had sunk below the level of +the bank. I had looked my last on the fair, green earth. I could now see +only the clayey wall that contained the river, and the water that ran +unheeding past me. Once more I fixed my gaze upon the sky, and, with +prayerful heart, endeavored to resign myself to my fate. In spite of my +endeavors to be calm, the memories of earthly pleasures, and friends, +and home, came over me, causing me, at intervals, to break into wild +paroxysms, and make fresh, though fruitless struggles. And I was +attracted by the neighing of my horse. A thought entered my mind, +filling me with fresh hope. "Perhaps my horse--" I lost not a moment. I +raised my voice to its highest pitch, and called the animal by name. I +knew that he would come at my call. I had tied him but slightly. The +cactus limb would snap off. I called again, repeating words that were +well known to him. I listened with a bounding heart. For a moment there +was silence. Then I heard the quick sounds of his hoof, as though the +animal was rearing and struggling to free himself; then I could +distinguish the stroke of his heels, in a measured and regular gallop.</p> + +<p>Nearer came the sounds; nearer and clearer, until the gallant brute +bounded out on the bank above me. There he halted, and, flinging back +his tossed mane, uttered a shrill neigh. He was bewildered, and looked +upon every side, snorting loudly.</p> + +<p>I knew that, having once seen me, he would not stop until he had pressed +his nose against my cheek--for this was his usual custom. Holding out my +hands I again uttered the magic words. Now looking downward he perceived +me, and, stretching himself, sprang out into the channel. The next +moment, I held him by the bridle. There was no time to be lost. I was +still going down, and my arm-pits were fast nearing the surface of the +quicksand. I caught the lariat, and, passing it under the saddle-girths, +fastened it in a tight, firm knot. I then looped the trailing end, +making it secure around my body. I had left enough of the rope, between +the bit-ring and the girths, to enable me to check and guide the animal, +in case the drag upon my body should be too painful.</p> + +<p>All this while the dumb brute seemed to comprehend what I was about. He +knew, too, the nature of the ground on which he stood, for, during the +operation, he kept lifting his feet alternately to prevent himself from +sinking. My arrangements were at length completed, and, with a feeling +of terrible anxiety, I gave my horse the signal to move forward. Instead +of going off with a start, the intelligent animal stepped away slowly, +as though he understood my situation. The lariat tightened, I felt my +body moving, and the next moment experienced a wild delight, a feeling I +can not describe, as I found myself dragged out of the sand. I sprang to +my feet with a shout of joy. I rushed up to my steed, and, throwing my +arms around his neck, kissed him with as much delight as I would have +kissed a beautiful girl. He answered my embrace with a low whimper, that +told me that I was understood.</p> + +<p>I looked for my rifle. Fortunately, it had not sunk deeply, and I soon +found it. My boots were behind me, but I staid not to look for them, +being smitten with a wholesome dread of the place where I had left them. +I was not long in retreating from the arroyo; and, mounting, I galloped +back to the trail. It was sundown before I reached the camp, where I was +met by the inquiries of my companions. I answered all their questions by +relating my adventures, and, for that night, I was again the hero of the +camp-fire.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="CHASED_BY_A_RHINOCEROS."></a>CHASED BY A RHINOCEROS.</h2> + +<p>On the 22d, says Mr. Cumming, ordering my men to move on toward a +fountain in the center of the plain, I rode forth with Ruyter, and held +east through a grove of lofty and wide-spreading mimosas, most of which +were more or less damaged by the gigantic strength of a troop of +elephants, which had passed there about twelve months before. Having +proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every side, I +observed a crusty-looking, old bull borèlé, or black rhinoceros, cocking +his ears one hundred yards in advance. He had not observed us; and soon +after he walked slowly toward us, and stood broadside to, eating some +wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me. I fired from my saddle, and +sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon which he rushed forward about +one hundred yards in tremendous consternation, blowing like a grampus, +and then stood looking about him. Presently he made off. I followed but +found it hard to come up with him. When I overtook him I saw the blood +running freely from his wound.</p> + +<center><a href="235.png"><img src="235.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Escape from the Rhinoceros.</a></center> + +<p>The chase led through a large herd of blue wildebeests, zebras, and +springboks, which gazed at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my +second barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued +riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance that at length he +would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; when suddenly he fell +flat on his broadside on the ground, but recovering his feet, resumed +his course as if nothing had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the +length of the chase, as I wished to keep my horses fresh for the +elephants, and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, as +I observed that his horn was completely worn down with age and the +violence of his disposition, I determined to bring matters to a crisis; +so, spurring my horse, I dashed ahead, and rode right in his path. Upon +this, the hideous monster instantly charged me in the most resolute +manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and, although I quickly +wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such a furious pace for +several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a few yards of +my horse's tail, that my little Bushman, who was looking on in great +alarm, thought his master's destruction inevitable. It was certainly a +very near thing; my horse was extremely afraid, and exerted his utmost +energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, wheeled about, and +continued his former course; and I, being perfectly satisfied with the +interview which I had already enjoyed with him, had no desire to +cultivate his acquaintance any further, and accordingly made for camp.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="BURNING_OF_THE_ERIE."></a>BURNING OF THE ERIE.</h2> + +<p>The steamboat Erie, under command of Captain Titus, left the dock at +Buffalo on the afternoon of August 9th, 1841, laden with merchandise, +destined for Chicago. As nearly as could be ascertained, she had on +board about two hundred persons, including passengers and crew.</p> + +<p>The boat had been thoroughly overhauled and recently varnished. At the +moment of her starting, though the wind was blowing fresh, every thing +promised a pleasant and prosperous voyage. Nothing occured to mar this +prospect till about eight o'clock in the evening, when the boat was off +Silver Creek, about eight miles from the shore, and thirty-three miles +from the city, when a slight explosion was heard, and immediately, +almost instantaneously, the whole vessel was enveloped in flames. Among +the passengers were six painters, who were going to Erie to paint the +steamboat Madison. They had with them some demijohns filled with spirits +of turpentine and varnish, which, unknown to Captain Titus, were placed +on the boiler-deck directly over the boilers. One of the firemen who was +saved, says he had occasion to go on deck, and seeing the demijons, +removed them. They were replaced, but by whom is not known. Their +inflammable contents undoubtedly aided the flames in their +rapid progress.</p> + +<p>Captain Titus, who was on the upper deck at the time of the explosion, +rushed to the ladies' cabin to obtain the life-preservers, of which +there were about one hundred on board; but, so violent was the heat, he +found it impossible to enter the cabin. He returned to the upper deck, +on his way giving orders to the engineer to stop the engine, the wind +and the headway of the boat increasing the fierceness of the flames and +driving them aft. The engineer replied, that in consequence of the +flames he could not reach the engine. The steersman was instantly +directed to put the helm hard a-starboard. She swung slowly around, +heading to the shore, and the boats--there were three on board--were +then ordered to be lowered. Two of the boats were lowered, but, in +consequence of the heavy sea on, and the headway of the vessel, they +both swamped as soon as they touched the water.</p> + +<p>We will not attempt to describe the awful and appalling condition of the +passengers. Some were frantic with fear and horror, others plunged +headlong madly into the water, others again seized upon any thing +buoyant upon which they could lay hands. The small boat forward had been +lowered. It was alongside the wheel, with three or four persons in it, +when the captain jumped in, and the boat immediately dropped astern, +filled with water. A lady floated by with a life-preserver on. She cried +for help. There was no safety in the boat. The captain threw her the +only oar in the boat. She caught the oar and was saved. It was Mrs. +Lynde of Milwaukie, and she was the only lady who escaped.</p> + +<p>In this condition, the boat, a mass of fierce fire, and the passengers +and crew endeavoring to save themselves by swimming or supporting +themselves by whatever they could reach, they were found by the +steamboat Clinton, at about ten o'clock that night. The Clinton had left +Buffalo in the morning, but, in consequence of the wind, had put into +Dunkirk. She lay there till near sunset, at which time she ran out, and +had proceeded as far as Barcelona, when just at twilight the fire of the +Erie was discovered, some twenty miles astern. The Clinton immediately +put about, and reached the burning wreck.</p> + +<p>It was a fearful sight. All the upper works of the Erie had been burned +away. The engine was standing, but the hull was a mass of dull, red +flames. The passengers and crew were floating around, screaming in their +agony, and shrieking for help. The boats of the Clinton were instantly +lowered and manned, and every person that could be seen or heard was +picked up, and every possible relief afforded. The Lady, a little +steamboat lying at Dunkirk, went out of that harbor as soon as possible, +after the discovery of the fire, and arrived soon after the Clinton. By +one o'clock in the morning, all was still except the melancholy +crackling of the flames. Not a solitary individual could be seen or +heard on the wild waste of waters. A line was then made fast to the +remains of the Erie's rudder, and an effort made to tow the hapless hulk +ashore. About this time the Chautauque came up and lent her assistance.</p> + +<p>The hull of the Erie was towed within about four miles of shore, when it +sank in eleven fathoms of water. By this time it was daylight. The lines +were cast oft. The Clinton headed her course toward Buffalo, which place +she reached about six o'clock.</p> + +<p>Upon inquiry it was found that there had been between thirty and forty +cabin passengers, of whom ten or twelve were ladies. In the steerage +there were about one hundred and forty passengers, nearly all of whom +were Swiss and German emigrants. The whole number of persons on board, +who were saved, did not exceed twenty-seven.</p> + +<p>All that imagination can conceive of the terrible and heart-rending was +realized in the awful destruction of this boat. Scores sank despairingly +under the wild waters; but there is reason to fear that many, very many, +strong men, helpless women, and tender children perished in the flames.</p> + +<p>Among the passengers were a young gentleman and lady, who first became +acquainted with each other on board. The lady was accompanied by her +father. Upon an intimacy of a few hours an attachment seems to have been +formed between this couple. When the passengers rushed to the deck, +after the bursting forth of the flames, the lady discovered her new +acquaintance on a distant part of the deck, forced her way to him, and +implored him to save her. The only alternative left them was to jump +overboard, or to submit to a more horrible fate. They immediately +jumped, the gentleman making the first plunge, with a view of securing +for the young and fair being, who had measurably committed to his hands +her safety, a plank floating a short distance from the boat. As soon as +the plank was secured, the lady leaped into the water and was buoyed up +by her clothes, until the gentleman was enabled to float the plank to +her. For a short time the young man thought that his fair charge was +safe; but soon his hopes were blasted--one of the fallen timbers struck +the lady on the head, her form sank upon the water, a momentary +quivering was perceptible, and she disappeared from human view. Her +father was lost, but the young gentleman was among the number picked up +by the Clinton.</p> + +<p>There was a fine race-horse on board, who, soon after the alarm, broke +from his halter at the bow of the boat, and dashed through the crowd of +passengers, prostrating all in his way; and then, rendered frantic by +terror and pain, he reared and plunged into the devouring fire, and +there ended his agony.</p> + +<p>One of the persons saved, in describing the scene, says:--"The air was +filled with shrieks of agony and despair. The boldest turned pale. I +shall never forget the wail of terror that went up from the poor German +emigrants, who were huddled together on the forward deck. Wives clung to +their husbands, mothers frantically pressed their babes to their bosoms, +and lovers clung madly to each other. One venerable old man, his gray +hairs streaming on the wind, stood on the bows, and, stretching out his +bony hands, prayed to God in the language of his father-land.</p> + +<p>"But if the scene forward was terrible, that aft was appalling, for +there the flames were raging in their greatest fury. Some madly rushed +into the fire; others, with a yell like a demon, maddened with the +flames, which were all around them, sprang headlong into the waves. The +officers of the boat, and the crew, were generally cool, and sprang to +lower the boats, but these were every one successively swamped by those +who threw themselves into them, regardless of the execrations of the +sailors, and of every thing but their own safety.</p> + +<p>"I tried to act coolly--I kept near the captain, who seemed to take +courage from despair, and whose bearing was above all praise. The boat +was veering toward the shore, but the maddened flames now enveloped the +wheel-house, and in a moment the machinery stopped. The last hope had +left us--a wilder shriek rose upon the air. At this moment the second +engineer, the one at the time on duty, who had stood by his machinery as +long as it would work, was seen climbing the gallows-head, a black mass, +with the flames curling all around him. On either side he could not go, +for it was now one mass of fire. He sprang upward, came to the top, one +moment felt madly around him, and then fell into the flames. There was +no more remaining on board, for the boat now broached around and rolled +upon the swelling waves, a mass of fire. I seized upon a settee near me, +and gave one spring, just as the flames were bursting through the deck +where I stood--one moment more and I should have been in the flames. In +another instant I found myself tossed on a wave, grasping my frail +support with a desperate energy."</p> + +<p>One of the not least interesting facts connected with the catastrophe, +was that the helmsman was found burnt to a cinder at his post. He had +not deserted it even in the last extremity, but grasped with his charred +fingers the wheel. His name was Luther Fuller. Honor to his memory!</p> + +<p>A boy of twelve years of age, named Levi T. Beebee, belonging to +Cleveland, Ohio, was among those saved. He exhibited a degree of +self-possession and fortitude rarely surpassed. Though molten lead from +the burning deck was dropping on his head, and his hands were scorched +by the flames, he clung for at least two hours and a half to the chain +leading from the stern to the rudder.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="CONFLICT_WITH_AN_INDIAN."></a>CONFLICT WITH AN INDIAN.</h2> + +<p>David Morgan had settled upon the Monongahela during the early part of +the revolutionary war, and at this time had ventured to occupy a cabin +at the distance of several miles from any settlement.</p> + +<p>One morning, having sent his younger children out to a field at a +considerable distance from the house, he became uneasy about them, and +repaired to the spot where they were working. He was armed, as usual, +with a good rifle. While sitting upon the fence and giving some +directions as to their work, he observed two Indians upon the other side +of the field gazing earnestly upon the party. He instantly called to the +children to make their escape, while he should attempt to cover +their retreat.</p> + +<p>The odds were greatly against him, as in addition to other +circumstances, he was nearly seventy years of age, and, of course, +unable to contend with his enemies in running. The house was more than a +mile distant, but the children, having two hundred yards the start, and +being effectually covered by their father, were soon so far in front, +that the Indians turned their attention entirely to the old man. He ran +for several hundred yards with an activity which astonished himself, but +perceiving that he would be overtaken, long before he could reach his +home, he fairly turned at bay, and prepared for a strenuous resistance. +The woods through which they were running were very thin, and consisted +almost entirely of small trees, behind which, it was difficult to obtain +proper shelter.</p> + +<p>Morgan had just passed a large walnut, and, in order to resist with +advantage, it became necessary to run back about ten steps in order to +regain it. The Indians were startled at the sudden advance of the +fugitive, and halted among a cluster of saplings, where they anxiously +strove to shelter themselves. This, however, was impossible; and Morgan, +who was an excellent marksman, saw enough of the person of one of them +to justify him in risking a shot. His enemy instantly fell, +mortally wounded.</p> + +<p>The other Indian, taking advantage of Morgan's empty gun, sprung from +the shelter, and advanced rapidly upon him. The old man, having no time +to reload, was compelled to fly a second time. The Indian gained rapidly +upon him, and, when within twenty steps, fired, but with so unsteady an +aim, that Morgan was wholly unhurt, the ball having passed over +his shoulder.</p> + +<p>He now again stood at bay, clubbing his rifle for a blow, while the +Indian, dropping his empty gun, brandished his tomahawk and prepared to +throw it at his enemy. Morgan struck with the butt of his gun, and the +Indian hurled his tomahawk at one and the same moment. Both blows took +effect; and both of the combatants were at once wounded and disarmed. +The breech of the rifle was broken against the Indian's skull, and the +edge of the tomahawk was shattered against the barrel of the rifle, +having first cut off two of the fingers of Morgan's left hand. The +Indian then attempting to draw his knife, Morgan grappled him, and bore +him to the ground. A furious struggle ensued, in which the old man's +strength failed, and the Indian succeeded in turning him.</p> + +<p>Planting his knee on the breast of his enemy, and yelling loudly, as is +usual with the barbarians upon any turn of fortune, he again felt for +his knife, in order to terminate the struggle at once; but having lately +stolen a woman's apron, and tied it around his waist, his knife was so +much confined, that he had great difficulty in finding the handle.</p> + +<p>Morgan, in the meantime, being an accomplished pugilist, and perfectly +at home in a ground struggle, took advantage of the awkwardness of the +Indian, and got one of the fingers of his right hand between his teeth. +The Indian tugged and roared in vain, struggling to extricate it. Morgan +held him fast, and began to assist him in hunting for the knife. Each +seized it at the same moment, the Indian by the blade, and Morgan by the +handle, but with a very slight hold.</p> + +<center><a href="248.png"><img src="248.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +The Last Shot.</a></center> + +<p>The Indian, having the firmest hold, began to draw the knife further out +of its sheath, when Morgan, suddenly giving his finger a furious bite, +twitched the knife dexterously through his hand, cutting it severely. +Both now sprung to their feet, Morgan brandishing his adversary's knife, +and still holding his finger between his teeth. In vain the poor Indian +struggled to get away, rearing, plunging, and bolting, like an unbroken +colt. The teeth of the white man were like a vice, and he at length +succeeded in giving his savage foe a stab in the side. The Indian +received it without falling, the knife having struck his ribs; but a +second blow, aimed at the stomach, proved more effectual, and the savage +fell. Morgan thrust the knife, handle and all, into the body, directed +it upward, and, starting to his feet, made the best of his way home.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="FIRE_ON_THE_PRAIRIES."></a>FIRE ON THE PRAIRIES.</h2> + +<p>The following account of one of those fearfully sublime spectacles--a +fire on the prairie--is from the "<i>Wild Western Scenes</i>" by J.B. Jones. +The hunters have been out and are overtaken by night, and are lost in +the darkness.</p> + +<p>Ere long, a change came over the scene. About two-thirds of the distance +around the verge of the horizon a faint light appeared, resembling the +scene when a dense curtain of clouds hangs overhead, and the rays of the +morning sun steal under the edge of the thick vapor. But the stars could +be seen, and the only appearance of clouds was immediately above the +circle of light. In a very few minutes the terrible truth flashed upon +the mind of Glenn. The dim light along the horizon was changed to an +approaching flame. Columns of smoke could be seen rolling upward, while +the fire beneath imparted a lurid glare to them. The wind blew more +fiercely, and the fire approached from almost every quarter with the +swiftness of a race-horse. The darkened vault above became gradually +illuminated with a crimson reflection, and the young man shuddered with +the horrid apprehension of being burnt alive! It was madness to proceed +in a direction that must inevitably hasten their fate, the fire +extending in one unbroken line from left to right, and in front of them, +and they now turned in a course which seemed to place the greatest +distance between them and the furious element. Ever and anon a +frightened deer or elk leaped past, and the hounds no longer noticed +them, but remained close to the horses. The flames came on with awful +rapidity. The light increased in brilliance, and objects were +distinguishable far over the prairie. A red glare could be seen on the +sides of the deer as they bounded over the tall dry grass, which was +soon to be no longer a refuge for them. The young man heard a low +continued roar, that increased every moment in loudness, and, looking in +the direction whence they supposed it proceeded, they observed an +immense, dark, moving mass, the nature of which they could not divine, +but it threatened to annihilate every thing that opposed it. While +gazing at this additional source of danger, the horses, blinded by the +surrounding light, plunged into a deep ditch that the rain had washed in +the rich soil. Neither men nor horses, fortunately, were injured; and, +after several ineffectual efforts to extricate themselves, they here +resolved to await the coming of the fire. Ringwood and Jowler whined +fearfully on the verge of the ditch for an instant, and then sprang in +and crouched trembling at the feet of their master. The next instant the +dark, thundering mass passed overhead, being nothing less than an +immense herd of buffaloes driven forward by the flames. The horses bowed +their heads as if a thunderbolt were passing. The fire and the heavens +were hid from view, and the roar above resembled the rush of mighty +waters. When the last animal had sprung over the chasm, Glenn thanked +the propitious accident that thus providentially prevented him from +being crushed to atoms, and uttered a prayer to Heaven that he might by +a like means be rescued from the fiery ordeal that awaited him. It now +occurred to him that the accumulation of weeds and grass in the chasm, +which saved them from injury when falling in, would prove fatal when the +flames arrived. And after groping some distance along the trench, he +found the depth diminished, but the fire was not three hundred paces +distant. His heart sank within him. But when on the eve of returning to +his former position, with a resolution to remove as much of the +combustible matter as possible, a gleam of joy spread over his features, +as, casting a glance in a contrary direction from that they had recently +pursued, he beheld the identical mound he had ascended before dark, and +from which his unsteady and erratic riding in the night had fortunately +prevented a distant separation. They now led their horses forth, and, +mounting without delay, whipped forward for life or death. Could the +summit of the mound be attained, they were in safety--for there the soil +was not encumbered with decayed vegetation--and they spurred their +animals to the top of their speed. It was a noble sight to see the +majestic white steed flying toward the mound with the velocity of the +wind, while the diminutive pony miraculously followed in the wake like +an inseparable shadow. The careering flames were not far behind, and, +when the horses gained the summit and Glenn looked back, the fire had +reached the base!</p> + +<p>Fortunately, that portion of the plain over which the scathing element +had spent its fury, was the direction the party should pursue in +retracing their way homeward.</p> + +<p>The light, dry grass had been soon consumed, and the earth now wore a +blackened appearance, and was as smooth as if vegetation had never +covered the surface. As the party rode briskly along, (and the pony now +kept in advance,) the horses' hoofs rattled as loudly on the baked +ground as if it were a plank floor. The reflection of the fire in the +distance still threw a lurid glare over the extended heath. As the smoke +gradually ascended, objects could be discerned at a great distance, and +occasionally a half-roasted deer or elk was seen plunging about, driven +to madness by its tortures. And frequently they found the dead bodies of +smaller animals that could find no safety in flight.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_CAPTAIN'S_STORY."></a>THE CAPTAIN'S STORY.</h2> + +<p>At the close of the war with Great Britain, in the year 1815, I took +command of the brig Ganges, owned by Ebenezer Sage, Esq., then a wealthy +and respectable merchant at Middleton. I sailed from New York on the +20th of August, bound for Turk's Island for a cargo of salt, and, on the +5th of September, I arrived at my destined port. It being the season for +hurricanes in that region, it was thought most safe for us to go around +into a small harbor on the south side of the island. In order to reach +this harbor, we had to go through a narrow, crooked channel, with rocks +and dangerous reefs on every side, but, with a skillful pilot, we made +our way through safely, and came to anchor. On the next day we +commenced taking in our cargo of salt. On the 9th of September, a day +that I shall ever remember, my pilot came to me somewhat agitated, and +said that there were strong indications of an approaching hurricane, and +advised me to make all possible preparations to encounter it.</p> + +<p>We therefore quit taking in salt, and made every thing about the ship +snug as possible. At twelve o'clock, midnight, the gale commenced, as +the pilot had anticipated, and continued to increase until six in the +morning, at which time it became most terrific. Every blast grew more +and more violent until our cables all parted, and we were left to the +mercy of the gale. It blew directly from the land. We got the ship +before the wind, as the only course we could pursue. In doing this we +were well aware of the dangerous channel we had to pass, and my only +hope was, that we might get to sea clear of the land. But this hope soon +vanished. In about twenty minutes after we started, the ship struck a +rock, which knocked off her rudder, and set her leaking badly. The +rudder being gone, we of course had no control of the vessel. She came +around side to the wind, and at this moment her mainmast was blown over +the side. We at once cut away the rigging that attached it to the hull, +and it floated off, and the foremast still standing, the ship swung off +again a little before the wind. All hands were soon set to pumping, but +we found that in spite of all our exertions, the water rapidly increased +in the hold.</p> + +<p>The appearance of the elements at this time almost baffles description. +So violent was their commotion that no one could stand without grasping +something for support. Not a word could be heard that was uttered. I had +to communicate every order by means of signs, while I stood on the +quarter-deck holding on to the cabin doors. In this situation I +endeavored calmly to reflect. Here we were, as we supposed, on the open +ocean,--in a tempest of unparalleled violence--with no rudder--one mast +gone--boats all lost--and the ship settling under us from the weight of +water in the hold. The sky was black almost as midnight above us, and +the waves beneath, and around, and over us--for they dashed at quick +intervals, like so many furies, across the devoted ship--seemed ready to +drown us ere we sank into their dread abyss. The voice of the gale as it +howled through the rigging, mingled with the creaking of timbers, and +the roar of waters as they struck the vessel, was an awful wail, as it +appeared to me, over bodies devoted to almost instant death. Destruction +seemed inevitable. It would not, to all human calculation, be protracted +even an hour. We were sinking down, down--inch following inch of the +fated vessel in rapid succession--down remedilessly to our graves in the +maddened sea, amid the monsters of its great deep.</p> + +<p>I descended to the cabin, and attempted calmly to surrender myself to +Him who made me. My thoughts--oh, how they flew at once to my wife and +children at home! I attempted to pray, and for the first time since I +had left my pious mother. I <i>did</i> pray--for my family first--and oh how +fervently, in closing my supplications, I besought for myself pardon and +forgiveness through Him who is ever ready to hear the penitent!</p> + +<p>The water had now got on to the cabin floor, I therefore placed myself +on the stairs leading on deck. Shortly after this the wind shifted, and +in a few minutes the ship struck with a tremendous crash. I rushed on +deck, and at once saw rocks fifty feet high, and perpendicular, but a +few feet from the after part of the ship, which now soon filled with +water, and rolled over toward the land. At its fore part, and at the +only point where we could by any possibility have been saved, the rocks +descended gradually, and the foremast leaned over them. Not a moment was +to be lost. We crawled up the rigging, and, swinging ourselves on to the +rocks, made our way up the precipice on our hands and feet, and, +reaching the summit, at once sought, in holes in the rock, shelter from +the tempest, which still continued so violent that no one could stand +upon his feet.</p> + +<p>Our escape happened about ten o'clock in the morning; at five in the +afternoon the gale had so moderated that we could stand. We then crawled +out from our hiding places, and, assembling together, found that all +were safe except my brother, who was mate of the ship, and he, we +supposed, was lost, in attempting to get on shore. We soon, as was very +natural, approached the precipice to learn the fate of the ship. Nothing +was to be seen of her but plank, timbers, spars, sails, and rigging, all +in one confused, broken mass, and washing up against the rocks. It was +truly to us a most deplorable spectacle. We had no resource in the +vessel; not a thing of value was left.</p> + +<p>As night was approaching, we now walked along before the wind toward the +south part of the island, and there found, by the side of a huge pile of +rocks, a hole or sort of cave, about eight feet square and five feet +high. Here we all crawled in, wet and cold, but with hearts grateful to +God for our wonderful preservation. As we were packed very close to each +other, the natural warmth of our bodies soon relieved us considerably +from the sensation of wetness and cold, and we passed the night as +comfortably as our varied miseries would allow.</p> + +<p>Morning came, and we left our cave. The gale had much abated, and we +could see some distance. We found that we were on a small desolate +island, about a mile long, half a mile wide, and about ten miles from +the place we left the day before. It was covered mostly with huge rocks, +with here and there a small patch of soil, overrun with prickly pear, +and inhabited by no living animal excepting lizards and small poisonous +snakes. We had been now over twenty-four hours without food or water. Of +the latter article, on searching around, we found a little in the +hollows on the rocks, but it was about half salt, having been made so by +the spray which the gale had thrown from the ocean quite over the +island, and the more we drank of it the more thirsty we became. As to +food, we were soon convinced that this was out of the question. Toward +night, we found a cask near the beach, standing on one end, with one +head out, which held about two gallons of water, that had rained in. +This was not salt, but smelled badly. We, however, scooped out with our +hands about one half of it, and left what remained for the next day. We +got some relief from this, and then we returned to our former +resting-place for the night.</p> + +<p>When we crawled out on the following morning we found that the weather +had become fine and clear. We could see vessels passing at a short +distance from us, but had no means of making any signal, nor any for +leaving the shore. This being the third day of our distress and +privation, some of us began to suffer much from hunger. Others suffered +more from thirst. We, however, cheered each other with the faint hope +that some thing would appear for our relief. We wandered about as we had +done the day before, seeking for water but found none. We had nothing to +dig with but our hands; these we used, but in vain; no water appeared. +Toward night we went to the cask, and drank what remained there. We then +returned again to our cave for the night, all much exhausted and +low-spirited. Despair began to shade every countenance. Very little was +said, and we passed the night well as we could, pressed by hunger and +parched by thirst. Morning came, and again we all left our shelter. The +weather continued fine and clear. The men again separated in search of +water, but being myself very feeble, I took my seat on some rocks near +the cave, at a point from whence I could see every thing moving on the +water, and with a lingering hope that something would appear for our +deliverance.</p> + +<p>About ten o'clock, an object loomed up in the distance. I thought it +was a boat, but could not at once tell. It approached, and soon I saw it +distinctly. It <i>was</i> a boat, with one sail, and was steering directly +for a low beach not far from where I was seated. My feelings at this +moment were so overcome that I lost all power of utterance. I could not, +at first, rise from the rock, My strength, however, shortly returned a +little, and I got up and made all the noise I could. Some of the men +near at hand heard me, and came up. I at once pointed to the boat, which +was now near the shore. They shouted to their companions, and we were +all soon at the beach near where the boat was landed. A black man got +out of the boat, and came to me with a letter--but, before reading it, I +besought him for water. To my surprise he had none, but instead of it +had a bottle of rum and a small bag of biscuit. I told him to bring +these on shore, and, taking them, I gave each of my crew a swallow of +the rum and a biscuit. This had the effect of moistening a little our +parched mouths and tongues. I then opened the letter. It was from my +warm and faithful friend Mr. Tucker, of Turk's Island, and it read as +follows, omitting my name:</p> + +<p>"To Captain ----, or any other unfortunate person or persons who may be +found on any of the neighboring islands. Come as many as can safely +and, should any be left, I will find means to convey those that remain."</p> + +<p>The two men, who came in the boat, hesitated about taking all of us at +once, as we were nine in number, and with themselves might overload the +boat. We could not, however, bear the thought of leaving any behind. We +therefore all got aboard, shoved off, and made sail. We had a fair wind, +and a smooth sea, and at six o'clock arrived safely at the harbor we had +left. Many persons ran to the beach to meet us as we landed, and among +the rest was our deliverer, Mr. Tucker.</p> + +<p>The next morning, my friend and deliverer gave me a brief history of +what had taken place with himself and his fellow-inhabitants on the +island, during the gale. Many of their houses were levelled to the +ground, and some were blown into the sea. Their cisterns, their only +dependence for water, were mostly destroyed. Even the cannon mounted on +a small battery were dismounted, and most of the inhabitants were in +great distress. Every vessel and boat, that floated about the island, +were blown to sea or destroyed. Out of the twenty vessels that were at +the island on which Mr. Tucker lived, when the gale came on, only six +were heard ever from after. Five out of these six were wrecked on +adjacent islands, and every soul on board three of these perished. The +gale was said, by the oldest inhabitants, to be the most violent ever +known in that region. We remained on the island ten or twelve days, and +then, taking passage in a ship bound for New York, reached that city +safely on the last of November.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_TUSSLE_WITH_A_WILDCAT."></a>A TUSSLE WITH A WILDCAT.</h2> + +<p>In 1781, Lexington, Ky., was only a cluster of cabins, one of which, +near the spot where the courthouse now stands, was used as a +schoolhouse. One morning, in May, McKinley, the teacher, was sitting +alone at his desk, busily engaged in writing, when, hearing a slight +noise at the door, he turned and beheld an enormous wildcat, with her +fore feet upon the step, her tail curled over her back, her bristles +erect, and her eyes glaring rapidly about the room, as if in search of +a mouse.</p> + +<p>McKinley's position at first completely concealed him, but a slight and +involuntary motion of his chair attracted the cat's attention, and their +eyes met, McKinley, having heard much of the powers of "the human face +divine," in quelling the audacity of wild animals, attempted to +disconcert the intruder by a frown. But puss was not to be bullied. Her +eyes flashed fire, her tail waved angrily, and she began to gnash her +teeth. She was evidently bent on mischief. Seeing his danger, McKinley +hastily rose, and attempted to snatch a cylindrical rule from a table +which stood within reach, but the cat was too quick for him.</p> + +<p>Darting furiously upon him, she fastened upon his side with her teeth, +and began to rend and tear with her claws. McKinley's clothes were soon +in tatters, and his flesh dreadfully mangled by the enraged animal, +whose strength and ferocity filled him with astonishment. He in vain +attempted to disengage her from his side. Her long, sharp teeth were +fastened between his ribs, and his efforts served but to enrage her the +more. Seeing his blood flow very copiously from the numerous wounds in +his side, he became seriously alarmed, and, not knowing what else to do, +he threw himself upon the edge of the table, and pressed her against the +sharp corner with the whole weight of his body.</p> + +<p>The cat now began to utter the most wild and discordant cries, and +McKinley, at the same time, lifting up his voice in concert, the two +together sent forth notes so doleful as to alarm the whole town. Women, +who are generally the first to hear and spread news, were now the first +to come to McKinley's assistance. But so strange and unearthly was the +harmony within the schoolhouse, that they hesitated long before +venturing to enter. At length, the boldest of them rushed in, and, +seeing poor McKinley bending ever the corner of the table, she at first +supposed that he was laboring under a severe fit of the colic; but +quickly perceiving the cat, which was now in the agonies of death, she +screamed out, "Why, good heavens, Mr. McKinley, what is the matter?"</p> + +<p>"I have caught a cat, madam!" he gravely replied, turning round, while +the sweat streamed from his face under the mingled operations of fright, +fatigue, and pain.</p> + +<p>Most of the neighbors had now arrived. They attempted to disengage the +dead cat; but so firmly were her tusks locked between his ribs, that +this was a work of no small difficulty. McKinley suffered severely for a +time from the effects of his wounds, but at length fully recovered, and +lived to a good old age. He was heard to say, that of all the pupils +that ever came to his school, the wildcat was the most intractable; that +he would at any time rather fight two Indians than one wildcat.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="AN_INCIDENT_IN_FRONTIER_LIFE"></a>AN INCIDENT IN FRONTIER LIFE</h2> + +<p>A daughter of Boone's, and a Miss Galloway, were amusing themselves in +the immediate neighborhood of the fort, when a party of Indians rushed +from a canebrake, and, intercepting their return, took them prisoners. +The screams of the terrified girls quickly alarmed the family. Boone +hastily collected a party of eight men, and pursued the enemy. So much +time, however, had been lost, that the Indians had got several miles the +start of them. The pursuit was urged through the night with great +keenness by woodsmen capable of following a trail at all times. On the +following day they came up with the fugitives, and fell upon them so +suddenly and so furiously as to allow them no leisure for tomahawking +their prisoners. The girls were rescued, without having sustained any +other injury than excessive fright and fatigue. The Indians lost two +men, while Boone's party was uninjured.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="FEMALE_INTREPIDITY."></a>FEMALE INTREPIDITY.</h2> +<center><a href="267.png"><img src="267.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +The Pursuit.</a></center> + +<p>In 1782, Wheeling was besieged by a large number of British and Indians. +So sudden and unexpected was the attack, that no time was afforded for +preparation. The fort, at the period of the assault was commanded by +Colonel Silas Zane. The senior officer, Colonel Ebenezer Zane, was in a +blockhouse some fifty or a hundred yards outside of the wall. The enemy +made several desperate assaults to break into the fort, but at every +onset they were driven back. The ammunition for the defence of the fort +was deposited in the blockhouse, and there had not been time to remove +it before the Indians approached.</p> + +<p>On the afternoon of the second day of the siege, the powder of the fort +was nearly exhausted, and no alternative remained, but for some one to +pass through the enemy's fire to the blockhouse, in order to obtain a +supply. When Silas Zane made the proposition to the men, asking if any +one would undertake the hazardous enterprise, all at first were silent. +After looking at one another for some time, a young man stepped +forward, and said he would undertake the errand. Immediately, half a +dozen offered their services in the dangerous enterprise.</p> + +<p>While they were disputing as to who should go, Elizabeth, sister of the +Zanes, came forward and declared, that she would go for the powder. Her +brother thought she would flinch from the enterprise, but he was +mistaken. She had the intrepidity to dare, and the fortitude to +accomplish the undertaking. Her brother then tried to dissuade her from +her heroic purpose, by saying that a man would be more fleet, and +consequently would run less risk of losing his life.</p> + +<p>She replied, that they had not a man to spare from the defence of the +fort, and that if she should fall, she would scarcely be missed. Then +divesting herself of such articles of clothing as would impede the +celerity of her flight, she prepared to start.</p> + +<p>The gate was opened, and Elizabeth bounded out at the top of her speed, +and ran until she arrived at the door of the blockhouse. Her brother, +Colonel Zane, hastened to open the door to his intrepid sister. The +Indians did not fire a gun, but exclaimed, as if in astonishment, +"<i>Squaw! squaw! squaw</i>!"</p> + +<p>When she had told her errand, her brother took a tablecloth, fastened it +around her waist, and poured into it a keg of powder. She then sallied +back to the fort, in high spirits. The moment she was outside of the +blockhouse, the whole of the enemy's line fired at her, but the shower +of balls fell without doing her any injury. She reached the fort in +safety, and the garrison was, in consequence, enabled successfully to +repel their savage foe. Such an instance of female daring is worthy of +all commemoration.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="FEARFUL_ENCOUNTER_WITH_ROBBERS."></a>FEARFUL ENCOUNTER WITH ROBBERS.</h2> + +<p>The Madrid papers recite the particulars of a terrific scene which took +place on the 14th of August, 1851, at the house of Don Diego Garcia, an +old nobleman, who resided in the vicinity of that capital:</p> + +<p>The night was dark and tempestuous. The rain poured down in torrents, +and induced the night-watch, who had been reinforced since the recent +augmentations of crime in the environs of the capital, to keep close to +their quarters. The roads were completely deserted, and at long +intervals only the shadow of a human figure flitted past the huge +portals of Don Diego's mansion, in anxious haste toward its habitation.</p> + +<p>Juan Munoz, the Don's old valet, had been sent to this city, by his +master, and was now making the best of his way home. His errand to the +capital had been to procure some medicine which his master had been +ordered to take, he being at the time violently afflicted by the gout. +Juan, as we have said, was picking his way, as best he could, through +the deluged streets and roads, when, just as he came in sight of the +mansion, he heard the voices of a number of men behind him, and +supposing them to be a party of his fellow-servants who had been sent in +search of him, since he had been much later than he expected to be, he +drew back into an open recess to await their approach. He discovered +that he was deceived in his expectations; the men were strangers to him, +or, at least, he did not know their voices, but, while passing him, he +plainly heard the name of his master pronounced by one of their number, +and, stepping forward, he asked if they wished to see Don Diego that +night. The men seemed perfectly stupefied by his sudden apparition, but +they soon recovered from their surprise, and, after ascertaining that he +was alone, he was politely asked to go before them and show the way. +Scarcely had he proceeded a dozen yards; when a violent blow on the head +laid him prostrate; a knife was then twice thrust into his breast, and +the lifeless body was hurled into the middle of the road.</p> + +<p>It was close upon midnight, when the wife of Don Diego, while tending +her sick husband, was startled by a noise from the adjoining room. She +immediately rang the bell, and was answered by the major domo, the only +servant who had not retired to rest, being determined to await the +return of Juan. As he entered, the door leading to the ante-chamber was +also quickly opened, and on the threshold appeared five masked men, who +were evidently unprepared to find more than one inmate in the sick +chamber. Quick as thought the major-domo attempted to reach the +bell-rope, that by a violent alarm he might awake the sleepers and +obtain their aid, but quicker even than he was the leader of the masked +band, who seized a pistol from his belt, and, with unerring aim, +discharged it at the devoted servant. There was a faint cry: the old +servant stretched out his hands for support, and then, with a heavy +groan, fell to the floor, where death closed his eyes.</p> + +<p>This unexpected catastrophe seemed to spur on the robbers to instant +work. While one man was posted at each door, the three others insisted +upon being informed by Don Diego where he kept his money and valuables; +but the sick old man had sank into so complete a lethargy by the +dreadful event which had passed under his eye, that he was unable to +answer them. As rapidity of movement was, however, rendered peremptory +to insure the safety of the band, the chief addressed the Donna for the +same purpose, in answer to which, she evinced but little reluctance, and +bade them to follow her. The robbers at once declared their readiness, +and, after passing along the corridor, entered the dining saloon, where +the Donna pointed out a large box, which, she said, contained the plate. +Here another difficulty arose. The box, which in reality contained the +plate, was securely locked, and the key nowhere to be found. Anxious to +get at the rich booty, the leader, with an angry imprecation, put the +muzzle of his heavy horse-pistol to the lock; a sharp report followed, +and the lid thus unceremoniously opened offered no further obstacle to +the rapacity of the invaders. Donna Ignazia took advantage of the joyful +excitement of the band, and left the room to descend into the lower +story of the mansion, where her hurried summons at the chamber doors of +the servants were readily responded to by them, as they had already been +awoke by the double report in their master's apartments. The tempest, +which had raged so fearfully, had meanwhile ceased; the torrents of rain +were followed by a clear night; the fury of the elements appeared as +though, in momentary rest, they would gather strength for a fresh +outbreak--nature's wrath had given place to the wrath of man.</p> + +<p>The inanimate body of Juan Munoz had been discovered by a patrolling +body of soldiery, who carried it to the guard-house. The stabs were +found to be of minor consequence, and the blow on the head, although it +had caused a very severe wound, had occasioned only a temporary loss of +consciousness. It must be borne in mind, that two hours had nearly +elapsed between the assault upon Munoz and the entrance into the house +by the robbers, which time had probably been spent by them in various +efforts to gain access. Strong restoratives, judiciously applied, soon +brought back animation, and, shortly afterward, Munoz could give a +confused narrative of what had befallen him. The officer on duty at once +saw through the scheme, and gave orders to proceed to the mansion of Don +Diego, which they reached at the precise moment when Donna Ignazia, with +an armed body of her own servants, was leading them to the dining +saloon. The summons of the officer at the front door was followed by a +dead silence on the part of the robbers: but when they heard the +measured tramp of the soldiery on the stair-case, they sought for means +of instant flight. This, however, had been provided for; a portion of +the military had surrounded the house, while the others, reinforced by +the servants, approached. The only chance then left to the brigands was +to cut their way through, or sell their lives as dearly as possible. In +an instant the huge oaken doors of the saloon were closed and barred, +the lights were extinguished, the windows opened, and everything made +ready for the last desperate chance. Fortune favored them; for the +soldiery, not anticipating a leap of their enemies from the high +windows, withdrew their sentinels from there in order to make them guard +the side and rear outlets of the mansion. Two of the bold ruffians had +already made their descent by means of tablecloths, tied together, when +the alarm was given. The soldiers rushed to the spot--a third robber was +clinging to the frail chance for life, and was rapidly descending, but a +well-directed shot bereft him of strength, and, after a few frantic +efforts to retain his hold, he fell heavily to the ground. His two +comrades made a firm stand: but vain was their boldness against the +numbers of assailants, and in a few moments they fell, grievously +wounded, into the hands of the victors.</p> + +<p>Two more only remained of this desperate band, and the fact of their +being shielded by strong bolts massive walls, rendered them no +insignificant enemies. Ladders were placed against the windows, but the +true aim of the keen-eyed brigands made four successive shots tell with +appalling effect, since each of them laid low one of their assailants. +At last an attack upon the doors was resolved upon, and soon the heavy +blows of the ponderous axe resounded from the massive panels. One door +gave way: there was a stunning crash, followed by reports of fire-arms, +cries of agony, and the dull sound of falling victims. Again the numbers +were successful, but in this instance the victims knew no mercy, and, +when at last the tumult ceased, the mutilated corpses of the two +brigands could hardly be recognized from three of their late assailants.</p> + +<p>The man who had been shot while descending from the window was found to +be quite dead, the ball having entered his heart. The two survivors were +subsequently identified as Ramon Gomez, and Pietro Vaga, better known as +"the Hunchback," two of the most notorious highwaymen and burglars, for +whose apprehension a large reward had been offered.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="SHIPWRECK_OF_THE_MONTICELLO."></a>SHIPWRECK OF THE MONTICELLO.</h2> + +<p>J.V. Brown, Esq., Editor of the Lake Superior Journal, who was on board +the Monticello, gives the following graphic account of the disaster:</p> + +<p>It becomes our painful duty to record the most perilous shipwreck that +has ever occurred on Lake Superior, and having been a passenger on board +the Monticello at the time, we are enabled to give all the particulars +in relation to the loss of the vessel, and the hardships of the +passengers and crew. We went on board the Ontonagon on the afternoon of +the 22d September, 1851, on her return from Fond du Lac. She left the +river at half-past five o'clock bound for the Sault, with about one +hundred persons, twenty tons of copper from the Minnesota mine, and a +few barrels of fish from La Pointe, and in coming out of the harbor one +of the wheels struck a floating log very heavily, and it is supposed to +have loosened the packing boxes around one of the shafts.--She lay on +the bar a few minutes on her way out, but the sea at that time was +light, and we cannot think it possible that she sprang a leak from the +effects of the slight pounding on the light sand.</p> + +<center><a href="278.png"><img src="278.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Loss of the Monticello.</a></center> + +<p>We had been out about half an hour, when the firemen discovered the +water rising around the floors of the engine; they communicated the fact +to Capt. Wilson, and it was made known to the passengers, but the leak +was not thought to be serious, and created but very little alarm. The +pump was put into operation, and on examination the captain and engineer +seemed confident that the pump would keep her clear till we could run +down to Eagle harbor, a distance of sixty miles; but it was soon +discovered, that the water was fast gaining on the pump, and +preparations were made immediately for raising water by means of barrels +and buckets.</p> + +<p>The wind was blowing at first from the westward, but soon changed to the +northwest--it was fresh but fair, and aided by sails and all the steam +that it was prudent to carry, she came on at a rapid rate, still keeping +on her course, in hopes to make the harbor. The passengers and crew +worked steadily at the pumps, but the water continued gradually to gain +on them. The most of the copper and all the other freight was thrown +overboard with a hearty good will--the wealth of the mine seeming of but +little consequence at such a time. Every possible means were employed to +raise water, and every passenger assisted to the utmost of his strength +and ability to keep the sinking vessel afloat. Two pumps, three +barrels, and a half dozen pails were constantly in motion, and still the +water gained steadily, but surely, on their efforts.</p> + +<p>We had now been out about three hours, the wind and waves constantly +increasing, when it was found, there was little hope of reaching Eagle +harbor; the water had risen nearly to the fires, and was fast gaining +ground, notwithstanding all the exertions of those on board. After +remaining on her course a few minutes longer, the boat was headed toward +the land, and new efforts were put forth to encourage all on board to +assist at the pumps and barrels. By this time there was three feet of +water or more in the hold, and she moved and rolled heavily through the +seas, the wood having to be shifted from one side of the vessel to the +other, to keep her in trim.</p> + +<p>One fire after the other was rolled into the water, and it became +evident to the most hopeful that they would be extinguished entirely, +and it was still thought, the wind would take her in under the land even +if the steam should fail. It was not long before the fires were reported +out--the engines worked lazily for a short time, the clicking of the +valves became faint and less frequent, and finally, like the dying +struggle of a strong man, it ceased altogether.</p> + +<p>Wearied with incessant exertions at the pumps, many gave out and +retired to the cabins, seeming to prefer rest to escape from the watery +grave into which they were fast sinking. Some were even forced into the +hold, to fill barrels and pails, and new efforts were put forth to +induce the suffering crew and passengers to hold out an hour longer, +with the assurance that we could reach land in that time. With this +hope, and that influence which strong minds always exert under such +circumstances, many took hold again of the pumps with a kind of +desperate exertion, and for a time they even gained on the water. There +was another circumstance which encouraged them to work. The boat being +careened on one side by the sails, one of the fires was partially out of +water, and a fire was kindled again by means of dry wood, oil, and the +most combustible matter the boat afforded. This not only assisted our +progress toward the land, but it stimulated the passengers to new +exertions.</p> + +<p>The fires were in this way kindled and extinguished several times, and +all felt that they owed much to the irregular exertion of the engines +for their preservation, especially as the wind for some time died away, +so as to scarcely fill the sails. For two long hours the water-logged +vessel drifted in, before soundings could be had. In this region it was +well known, that the coast was rocky, and dangerous for landing, and the +night was too dark to enable the pilot to distinguish one place from +another. A heavy sea rolled in upon the shore, and it seemed like +madness to attempt a landing under such circumstances. Accordingly, +Captain Wilson decided to come to anchor, and endeavor to keep the +vessel afloat till daylight; and as soon as we came into six fathoms +water the anchors were let go, and she swung round heavily in the +furious waves, that threatened speedily to complete the work of +destruction.</p> + +<p>Several insane attempts had been thwarted for cutting away the boats, +which, had they succeeded, we doubt not, would have proved certain +destruction to nine-tenths of all on board; for if the boats had not +been swamped at once, they would undoubtedly have been dashed to pieces +on the rock-bound shore, leaving others to swim ashore as best they +might. The pumping and bailing were continued with the last energies of +a noble crew--two or three hours more would bring the light of another +day, and it was understood that an attempt would be made to land as soon +as it was daylight.</p> + +<p>The time wore tediously away, and the passengers and crew were too much +exhausted to keep down the water, and still they labored to do so with +what strength they had left. Some time before daylight the wind changed +to the north; and commenced blowing hard directly upon the shore, and +the sea increased rapidly, oftentimes washing into the hatchways where +the men were at work bailing, and it became evident to all, that the +vessel could be kept afloat only for a short time longer.</p> + +<p>At five o'clock it was light enough to see that it was a bold rocky +shore, against which the waves dashed high and furiously, but it was too +late to choose a place for landing, and the captain ordered the anchors +raised. Her bow swung around to the east and in fifteen minutes she +struck heavily on the solid rock, about three hundred yards from the +shore. The men kept at work pumping and bailing till she struck, when +the waves at once swept in upon her deck and filled the hold.</p> + +<p>The largest of the two yawls happened to be on the lee side, and it was +soon lowered away, and with a line long enough to reach the land, the +first and second mates, Messrs. Lucas and Barney, W.T. Westbrook, and +one of the crew, started for the shore. The line was made fast to a +tree, and they commenced the far more difficult and dangerous task of +returning. The little boat seemed to be engulphed by every breaker that +it met on its way, and none but strong and true hands could have saved +the boat in this emergency, and no one unaccustomed to the dangers of +the sea, can imagine the nerve necessary to manage a boat under such +circumstances.</p> + +<p>The smaller boat, after much difficulty and delay, was got around under +the lee and bailed out, but it swamped the first trip ashore, and was +not used afterward. By constant, and untiring exertions, the passengers +and crew were all landed at half-past eight o'clock, and after securing +the shattered boats, as best they could, on the steep side of the rocky +shore, they gathered around the fires, to look upon the miserable plight +of one another. All were drenched with the water in coming ashore, cold +and hungry, worn out by the fatigues of the night and morning, they +lopped down around the fires, the sorriest looking gathering that it had +ever been our misfortune to witness.</p> + +<p>All had been so anxious in seeing the passengers and crew landed safely, +that they had not thought about providing for our future wants, and +nothing in the shape of provisions or baggage had been brought ashore. +After they had looked around them for a few moments, the boat was again +manned and the wreck was again explored for provisions, and a few pounds +of hard bread, part of a quarter of fresh beef and some boiled beef were +brought in, which was as one remarked, a "poor show" for a lunch for so +many sharp appetites. After having eaten this mouthful we proposed to +start with as many as possible for Eagle river, which was judged to be +about thirty-five miles distant, and a party of twenty-two in number +set out.</p> + +<p>It was noon when we started, with our clothes still wet and heavy, and +little or nothing to eat. We worked our way slowly through the cedar +swamp; over logs and under logs, up ravines and down ravines, a crooked, +trackless, toilsome way, till the middle of the afternoon, when we met +two of our fellow passengers on their way back to the wreck. They had +been on some distance further, but worn out with the hardships of their +journey and hunger, they had turned back disheartened, and advised us to +do the same. But we decided to go on, and on we went, through the worst +cedar swamps in the world, till the thick woods began to grow dark with +the shades of evening, and till a number of the party became completely +exhausted with fatigue and hunger. We then concluded to encamp for the +night, although we could not have traveled in all the afternoon over +five miles, or about a mile an hour.</p> + +<p>Without an axe, a few sticks were collected, and two or three poor fires +were kindled. All the bits of hard bread, and fresh beef, in all a +scanty meal for one person's supper, was produced and rationed out to +the twenty-two persons. Every one ate as sparingly as possible, and as +we were without tents, we lay down on the cold ground in our wet clothes +before the fire, and dozed and shivered with cold till daylight. As soon +as we could see to travel, we proceeded on our toilsome way, and after +walking about a mile we came to the trail that leads from Lake Superior +to Portage Lake, and saw two or three Indians pushing out through the +surf a bark canoe, which they soon jumped into and paddled away before +the wind. We tried to induce them to return, in hopes to procure +something from them to satisfy our craving hunger, but they scarcely +deigned to look back.</p> + +<p>Some of our party had been from this trail to Eagle river, and it was +some consolation to meet with a land mark that was known. We now +commenced walking along the beach, which was composed of large pebbles, +covered in many places with logs and trees that had washed or tumbled in +from off the overhanging banks, making it as tiresome walking as can +well be imagined. Frequently, in order to keep the beach, we were +obliged to walk within reach of the dash of the waves, and were drenched +with the cold flood.</p> + +<p>About two miles east of the Portage trail, we discovered near the edge +of the bank, which was some ten feet above the lake, the remains of a +human being. The clothes of a man, in a good state of preservation, half +covered the bleaching bones, the sad, sickening, unburied relics of some +poor "shipwrecked brother," who had here ended his voyage "o'er life's +stormy main." He had evidently chosen this spot where he could die +looking off upon the lake, from whence no succor came, and where he +could be easily discovered by the passer by. A description was taken by +one of our party of his clothes and the few articles found on them, and +we learned on inquiring at Eagle river, that they were undoubtedly the +remains of a Mr. Mathews, who got lost from the Algonquin mine a few +weeks previous. A brother of the deceased repaired to the spot as soon +as possible and brought down the remains for burial at Eagle harbor.</p> + +<p>The morning had not far advanced when a number of our party began to lag +behind, exhausted from the effects of hunger and weakness, and it was +evident that some would have to be left behind, while some of the others +might possibly reach Eagle river that day and send assistance. We +confidently expected to find some provisions in a warehouse at Gratiot +river, twelve miles from Eagle river, and all had hopes to reach there +before night. A few of our party pushed forward as fast as possible, to +procure food and fires for those behind, but great was our +disappointment not to find a particle of provisions at that place.</p> + +<p>We kindled a fire, and rested for a few minutes, till a number of our +party came up, the larger number being still far behind. It now became +more important than ever that some one should reach Eagle river, and +seven of our number determined to make the trial. We had now twelve +miles further to go, and in our miserable condition we traveled but +slowly, but the trail grew better as we proceeded, and we came in sight +of Eagle River about four o'clock in the afternoon, and under the +circumstances, a more pleasant, inviting village we do not recollect +ever to have seen before. Four or five of our party came through the +same evening, and a few others of another party came in the next day +with similar hardships.</p> + +<p>On the Tuesday following, Capt. McKay with the schooner Algonquin, +proceeded to the wreck, and brought off the captain, crew, and remaining +passengers, and all that could be saved of valuable property.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_JUNGLE_RECOLLECTION."></a>A JUNGLE RECOLLECTION.</h2> + +<p>The hot season of 1849 was peculiarly oppressive, and the irksome +garrison duty, at Cherootabad, in the south of India, had for many +months been unusually severe. The colonel of my regiment, the brigadier, +and the general, having successively acceded to my application for three +weeks' leave, and that welcome fact having been duly notified in orders, +it was not long before I found myself on the Coimbatore road, snugly +packed, guns and all, in a country bullock cart, lying at full length on +a mattress, with a thick layer of straw spread under it.</p> + +<p>All my preparations had been made beforehand; relays of bullocks were +posted for me at convenient intervals, and I arrived at Goodaloor, a +distance of a hundred and ten miles, in rather more than forty +eight hours.</p> + +<p>Goodaloor is a quiet little village, about eleven miles from +Coimbatore;--but don't suppose I was going to spend my precious three +weeks there.</p> + +<p>All loaded, and pony saddled, let us start: the two white cows and their +calves; the mattress and blanket rolled up and carried on a Cooly's +head Shikaree, horsekeeper, and a village man, with the three guns, +while I, myself, bring up the rear. Over a few ploughed fields, and past +that large banian tree, the jungle begins.</p> + +<p>In a small clump of low jungle, on the sloping bank of a broad, sandy +watercourse, the casual passer-by would not have perceived a snug and +tolerably strong little hut--the white ends of the small branches that +were laid over it, and the mixture of foliage, alone revealing the fact +to the observant eye of a practiced woodman. No praise could be too +strong to bestow on the faithful Shikaree; had I chosen the spot myself, +after a weeks' survey of the country, it could not have been more +happily selected.</p> + +<p>To the deeply-rooted stump of a young tree on the opposite bank, one of +the white cows had been made fast by a double cord passed twice around +her horns. Nothing remains to be done: the little door is fastened +behind me, the prickly acacia boughs are piled up against it on the +outside, and my people are anxious to be off.</p> + +<p>The poor cow, too, listens with dismay to the retreating footsteps of +the party, and has already made some furious plunges to free herself, +and rejoin the rest of the kine, who have been driven off, nothing +loth, toward home. Watch her: how intently she stares along the path by +which the people have deserted her. Were it not for the occasional stamp +of her fore leg, or the impatient side-toss of the head, to keep off the +swarming flies, she might be carved out of marble. And now a fearful and +anxious gaze up the bed of the nullah, and into the thick fringe of +Mimoso, one ear pricked and the other back alternately, show that +<i>instinct</i> has already whispered the warning of impending danger. +Another plunge to get loose, and a searching gaze up the path; see her +sides heave. Now comes what we want--that deep low! It echoes again +among the hills: another and another. Poor wretch! you are hastening +your doom; far or near, the tiger hears you--under the rock or thicket, +where he has lain since morning, sheltered from the scorching sun, his +ears flutter as if they were tickled every time he hears that music; his +huge, green eyes, heretofore half closed, are now wide open, and, alas! +poor cow, gaze truly enough in thy direction; but he has not stirred +yet, and nobody can say in what direction giant death will yet +stalk forth.</p> + +<p>The moon is up--all nature still; the cow, again on her legs, is +restless, and evidently frightened. Oh! reader, even if you have the +soul of a Shikaree, I despair of being able to convey in words a tithe +of the sensations of that solitary vigil: a night like that is to be +enjoyed but seldom--a red-letter day in one's existence.</p> + +<p>Where is the man who has never experienced the poetic influence of a +moonlight scene! Fancy, then, such a one as here described; a crescent +of low hills--craggy, steep, and thickly wooded--around you, on three +sides, and above them, again, at twenty miles' distance, the clear blue +outline of the Neilgherry hills; in your front, the silver sand bed of +the dry watercourse divides the thick and somber jungle with a stream of +light, till you lose it in the deep shadows at the foot of the +hills--all quiet, all still, all bathed in the light of the moon, +yourself the only man for miles to come, a solitary watcher--your only +companion the poor cow, who, full of fears, and suspicious at every +leaf-fall, reminds you that a terrible struggle is about to take place +within a few feet of your bed, and that there will be noise and +confusion, when you must be cool and collected. Your little kennel would +not be strong enough to resist a determined charge, and you are alone, +if three good guns are not true friends.</p> + +<p>Oh! that I could express sounds on paper as music is written in notes. +No, reader, you must do as I have done--you must be placed in a similar +situation, to hear and enjoy the terrible roar of a hungry tiger--not +from afar off, and listened for, but close at hand, and unexpected. It +was like an electric shock;--a moment ago I was dozing off, and the cow, +long since laid down, appeared asleep; that one roar had not died away +among the hills when she had scrambled on her legs, and stood with +elevated head, stiffened limbs, tail raised, and breath suspended, +staring, full of terror, in the direction of the sound. As for the +biped, with less noise, and even more alacrity, he had grasped his "Sam +Nock," whose polished barrels just rested on the lower ledge of the +little peep-hole; perhaps his eyes were as round as saucers, and heart +beating fast and strong.</p> + +<p>Now for the struggle;--pray heaven that I am cool and calm, and do not +fire in a hurry, for one shot will either lose or secure my +well-earned prize.</p> + +<p>There he is again! evidently in that rugged, stony watercourse, which +runs parallel, and about two hundred yards behind the hut. But what is +that? Yes, lightning: two flashes in quick succession, and a cold stream +of air is rustling through the half-withered leaves of my ambush. Taking +a look to the rear, through an accidental opening among the leaves, it +was plain that a storm, or, as it would be called at sea, a squall, was +brewing. An arch of black cloud was approaching from the westward, and, +the rain descending, gave it the appearance of a huge black comb, the +teeth reaching to the earth. The moon, half obscured, showed a white +mist as far as the rain had reached. Then was heard in the puffs of air, +the hissing of the distant but approaching downpour: more +lightning--then some large heavy drops plashed on the roof, and it was +raining cats and dogs.</p> + +<p>How the scene was changed! Half an hour ago, solemn, and still, and +wild, as nature rested, unpolluted, undefaced, unmarked by man--sleeping +in the light of the moon, all was tranquillity; the civilized man lost +his idiosyncrasy in its contemplation--forgot nation, pursuits, +creed--he felt that he was Nature's child, and adored the God of Nature.</p> + +<p>But the beautiful was now exchanged for the sublime, when that scene +appeared lit up suddenly and awfully by lightning, which now momentarily +exchanged a sheet of intensely dazzling blue light, with a darkness +horrible to endure--a light which showed the many streams of water, +which now appeared like ribbons over the smooth slabs of rod that lay on +the slope of the hills, and gave a microscopic accuracy of outline to +every object, exchanged as suddenly for a darkness, which for the +moment might be supposed the darkness of extinction--of utter +annihilation--while the crash of thunder over head rolled over the +echoes of the hills, "I am the Lord thy God."</p> + +<p>The storm was at length over, the nullah run dry again. Damp and sleepy, +with arms folded and eyes sometimes open, but often shut, I kept an +indifferent watch, when the cow, struggling on her legs, and a groan, +brought me to my senses. There they were. It was no dream. A large +tiger, holding her just behind the ears, shaking her like a fighting +dog. By the doubtful light of the watery moon, did I calmly and +noiselessly run out the muzzle of my rifle.</p> + +<p>I saw him, without quitting his grip of the cow's neck, leap over her +back more than once. She sank to the earth, and he lifted her up again. +At the first opportunity, I pulled trigger. The left hand missed, I +tried the right--it went off--bang!</p> + +<p>Whether a hanging fire is an excuse or not, the tiger relinquished his +hold and was off with a bound. The cow staggered and struggled, and, in +few seconds, fell, and, with a heavy groan, ceased to move. The tiger +had killed the cow within a few feet of me, and escaped scathless.</p> + +<p>Night after night did I watch for his return. I had almost despaired +of seeing him again, when, one night, about eleven o'clock, +my ears caught the echo among the rocks, and then the distant +roar--nearer--nearer--nearer; and--oh, joy!--answered. Tiger and +tigress!--above all hope!--coming to recompense me for hundreds of night +watchings--to balance a long account of weary nights in the silent +jungle, in platforms on trees, in huts of leaf and bramble, and in damp +pits on the water's edge--all bootless; coming--coming--nearer +and nearer.</p> + +<p>Music nor words, dear reader, can stand me in any stead to convey the +sound to you; the first note like the trumpet of a peacock, and the rest +the deepest toned thunder. Stones and gravel rattled just behind the hut +on the path by which we came, and went, and a heavy step passed and +descended the slope into the nullah. I heard the sand crunching under +his weight before I dared to look. A little peep. Oh, heavens! looming +in the moonlight, there he stood, long, sleek as satin, and lashing his +tail--he stood stationary, smelling the slaughtered cow. No longer the +cautious, creeping tiger, I felt how awful a brute he was to offend. I +remembered how he had worried a strong cow in half a minute, and that, +with his weight alone, my poor rickety little citadel would fall to +pieces. As if the excitement of the moment was insufficient, the +monster, gazing down the dry watercourse, caught sight of his +companion, who, advancing up the bed of the nullah, stood irresolutely +about twenty yards off. The bully, who was evidently the male, after +smelling at the head, came round the carcass, making a sort of +complaisant purring--"humming a kind of animal song," and to it he went +tooth and nail.</p> + +<p>As he stood with his two fore feet on the haunch, while he tugged and +tore out a beef-steak, I once more grasped old "Sam Nock," and ran the +muzzle out of the little port. The white linen band marked a line behind +his shoulders, and rather low, but, from the continued motion of his +body, it was some moments before eye and finger agreed to pull +trigger--bang! A shower of sand rattled on the dry leaves, and a roar of +rage and pain satisfied me, even before the white smoke, which hung in +the still air, had cleared away, to show the huge monster writhing and +plunging where he had fallen. Either directed by the fire, or by some +slight noise made in the agitation of the moment, he saw me, and, with a +hideous yell, scrambled up: the roaring thunder of his voice filled the +valley, and the echoes among the hills answered it, with the hootings of +tribes of monkeys, who, scared out of sleep, sought the highest +branches, at the sound of the well-known voice of the tyrant of the +jungle. I immediately perceived, to my great joy, that his hind quarters +were paralyzed and useless, and that all danger was out of the +question. He sank down again on his elbows, and as he rested his now +powerless limbs, I saw the blood welling out of a wound in the loins, as +it shone in the moonlight, and trickled off his sleek-painted hide, like +globules of quicksilver. As I looked into his countenance, I saw all the +devil alive there. The will remained--the power only had gone. It was a +sight never to be forgotten. With head raised to the full stretch of his +neck, he glared at me with an expression of such malignity, that it +almost made one quail. I thought of the native superstition of singeing +off the whiskers of the newly killed tiger to lay his spirit, and no +longer wondered at it. With ears back, and mouth bleeding, he growled +and roared in fitful uncertainty, as if he were trying, but unable, to +measure the extent of the force that had laid him low.</p> + +<p>Motionless myself, provocation ceased, and without further attempt to +get on his legs, he continued to gaze on me; when I slowly lowered my +head to the sight, and again pulled trigger. This time, true to the +mark, the ball entered just above the breastbone, and the smoke cleared +off with his death-groan. There he lay, foot to foot with his victim of +last night, motionless--dead. My first impulse was to tear down the door +behind, and get a thorough view of his proportions; but remembering +that his companion, the tigress, had vanished only a short time ago +close to the scene of action, I thought it as well to remain where I +was; so, enlarging the windows with my hands, I took a long look, and +then jovially attacked the coffee without reference to noise, and fell +back on the mattress to sleep, or to think the night's work over. "At +last, I have got him: his skin will be pegged out to-morrow, drying +before the tent door." When my people came in the morning, they found me +seated on the dead tiger. Coolies were sent for to carry the beast, and +I gave the pony his reins all the way back to the tent.</p> + +<p>FRASER'S MAGAZINE</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> + +<h2><a name="ATTACK_OF_BOONSBOROUGH."></a>ATTACK OF BOONSBOROUGH.</h2> +<center><a href="299.png"><img src="299.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Attack on Boonesborough.</a></center> + +<p>On the tenth of March, 1778, Daniel Boone, having been taken prisoner by +the Indians, was conducted to Detroit, when Governor Hamilton himself +offered one hundred pounds sterling, for his ransom; but so great was +the affection of the Indians for their prisoner, that it was positively +refused. Boone's anxiety on account of his wife and children was +incessant, and the more intolerable as he dared not excite the +suspicions of his captors by any indication of a wish to return home.</p> + +<p>The Indians were now preparing for a violent attack upon the settlements +in Kentucky. Early in June, four hundred and fifty of the choicest +warriors were ready to march against Boonesborough, painted and armed in +a fearful manner. Alarmed at these preparations, he determined to make +his escape. He hunted and shot with the Indians as usual, until the +morning of the sixteenth of June, when, taking an early start, he left +Chillicothe and directed his steps to Boonesborough. The distance +exceeded one hundred and sixty miles, but he performed it in four days, +during which he eat only one meal. He appeared before the garrison like +one risen from the dead. He found the fortress in a bad state, and lost +no time in rendering it more capable of defence. He repaired the flanks, +gates, and posterns, formed double bastions, and completed the whole +in ten days.</p> + +<p>On the eighth of August, the enemy appeared. The attack upon the fort +was instantly commenced; and the siege lasted nine days, during which, +an almost incessant firing was kept up. On the twentieth of August, the +enemy retired with a loss of thirty-seven killed and a great many +wounded. This affair was highly creditable to the spirit and skill of +the pioneers.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THRILLING_INCIDENTS_OF_BATTLE."></a>THRILLING INCIDENTS OF BATTLE.</h2> + +<p>There is a man now living in East Dixfield, Oxford county, me, who +actually caught in his mouth a ball discharged from a musket. He was at +the battle of Bridgewater, in the war of 1812, and, while biting off the +end of a cartridge, for the purpose of loading his gun, was struck by a +ball, which entered on the left side of his face, knocking out eight of +his teeth, cut off the end of his tongue, and passed into his throat. He +raised it, went to the hospital, staid out the remainder of his +enlistment, and returned home with the bullet in his pocket.</p> + +<p>The New Orleans Picayune, one of whose editors was an eye-witness of the +most of the leading battles in Mexico, copies the foregoing paragraph, +and appends to it the following relation:</p> + +<p>We can relate an incident even more strange than this. At the siege of +Monterey, in 1846, and, while General Worth's troops were advancing to +storm the small fort, known as La Soldada, a man, named Waters, an +excellent soldier, belonging to Ben McCulloch's Rangers, caught a large +grape-shot directly in his mouth. It was fully the size of a hen's egg, +was rough, uneven in shape, and, in its course, completely carried out +the four upper teeth of the ranger, and part of the jaw, cut off the +four lower teeth, as with a chisel, split his tongue in twain, carried +away his palate, went through the back of his head, and, striking a +tendon, glanced down, and lodged under the skin on the shoulder-blade, +where it was extracted by a surgeon, and safely placed in the pocket of +Waters for future reference.</p> + +<p>No man thought the wounded ranger could live, he could swallow neither +food nor water. We saw him two nights afterward, in a room in the +Bishop's Palace, which had been converted into a hospital, sitting bolt +upright among the wounded and the dying--for the nature of his terrible +hurt was such that he could not lie down without suffocating. His face +was swollen to more than twice its ordinary size--he was speechless of +course--his wants were only made known by means of a broken slate and +pencil, and he was slowly applying a wet sponge to his mouth, +endeavoring to extract moisture, which might quench the fever and +intolerable thirst under which he was suffering. By his side lay young +Thomas, of Maryland, a member of the same company, who was mortally +wounded the morning after, and who was now dying. Wounded men, struck +that afternoon in Worth's advance upon the Grand Plaza, were constantly +being brought in, the surgeons were amputating and dressing the hurts of +the crippled soldiers by a pale and sickly candle-light, and the groans +of those in grievous pain added a new horror to the scene, which was at +best frightful. We recollect, perfectly well, a poor fellow struck in +both legs by a grape-shot, while advancing up one of the streets. He was +begging lustily, after one of his limbs had been amputated, that the +other might be spared him, on which to hobble through the world. Poor +Thomas, as gallant a spirit as ever lived, finally breathed his last; we +brought Waters a fresh cup of water with which to moisten his wounds, +and then left the room to catch an hour's sleep; but the recollections +of that terrible night will not soon be effaced from my memory.</p> + +<p>The above incident occurred on the night of the 23d and morning of the +24th of September, 1846. During the early part of the month of February +following, while passing into the old St. Charles, in this city, we were +accosted with a strange voice by a fine-looking man, who seemed +extremely glad to see us, although he had a most singular and +unaccountable mode of expressing himself. We recollected the eye as one +we had been familiar with, but the lower features of the face, although +in no way disfigured, for the life of us, we could not make out.</p> + +<p>"Why, don't you know me?" in a mumbling, half-indistinct, and forced +manner, said the man, still shaking our hand vigorously. "I'm Waters."</p> + +<p>And Waters it was, in reality, looking as well and as healthy as ever, +without showing the least outward sign that he had ever caught a +grape-shot in his mouth. A luxuriant growth of mustaches completely +covered his upper lip, and concealed any scar the iron missile might +have made; an imperial on his under lip hid any appearance of a wound at +that point; and, with the exception of his speech, there was nothing to +show that he had ever received the slightest injury about the face. His +tongue, which was terribly shattered, was still partially benumbed, +rendering articulation both difficult and tiresome; but he assured us he +was every day gaining more and more the use of it, and, in his own +words, he was soon to be "just as good as new"</p> + +<p>It is needless to say that we were glad to see him--to meet one we had +never expected to encounter again in such excellent plight. Any one who +could have seen him sitting in that apartment of the Bishop's Palace, +his face swollen, and, with a gravity of countenance, which would have +been ludicrous, even to the causing of laughter, had it not been for his +own precarious situation, and the heart-rending scenes around, would +have been equally as much astonished and rejoiced, as we were, on again +so unexpectedly beholding him.</p> + +<p>A correspondent of the "Inquirer" has sent us the following, which is +quite as remarkable as either of the foregoing:</p> + +<p>Very extraordinary incidents have been published lately, of shot having +been caught in the mouths of soldiers, in the course of battle, in the +war of 1812, and in the Mexican war; but an incident, perhaps more +remarkable, for the coolness of the individual on the occasion, occurred +at the battle of Fort Drane, fought, in August, 1837, under the command +of the late Col. B.K. Pierce. This was one of the most signal and +desperate engagements of that bloody war. The Seminoles, under their +renowned chief, Osceola, had taken a very commanding position in an +extensive sugar field, near the stockade, strengthened on the east side +by a dense hammock. Three desperate onsets were made during the battle, +and the enemy were finally driven from the field to the protection of +the hammock. During the hottest of the battle, a soldier belonging to +the detachment under the command of Lieut. Pickell, whose position was a +little in advance of the two wings, of the name of Jackson, having just +fired, received a shot from a tall Indian, not twenty yards distant, +which broke through the outer parts of his pantaloons, and lodged in his +right-hand pocket. Feeling the slight sting of the half-spent ball, he +thrust his hand in his pocket, drew out the bullet, and dropped it into +the barrel of his musket, upon the charge of powder he had just before +put in; then, with the unerring aim of a true marksman, leveled his +piece, and, as quick as lightning, his adversary was measured upon the +ground. The wound was fatal--the warrior survived the shot but a +few minutes.</p> + +<p>The above is one of the many incidents that occurred in the recent war +with the Florida Indians which, for peril and brave feats, on the part +of the American soldiers and officers, has scarcely ever been equaled. +The above incident is stated as it actually occurred.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_FAMILY_ATTACKED_BY_INDIANS."></a>A FAMILY ATTACKED BY INDIANS.</h2> + +<p>On the night of the eleventh of April, 1787, the house of a widow in +Bourbon county, Kentucky, became the scene of a deplorable adventure. +She occupied what was called a double cabin, in a lonely part of the +county. One room was tenanted by the old lady herself, together with two +grown sons, and a widowed daughter with an infant. The other room was +occupied by two unmarried daughters from sixteen to twenty years of age, +together with a little girl.</p> + +<p>The hour was eleven o'clock at night, and the family had retired to +rest. Some symptoms of an alarming nature had engaged the attention of +the young man for an hour, before anything of a decided character took +place. At length hasty steps were heard in the yard, and quickly +afterward several loud knocks at the door, accompanied by the usual +exclamation, "Who keeps house?" in very good English.</p> + +<p>The young man, supposing from the language that some benighted travelers +were at the door, hastily arose, and was advancing to withdraw the bar +that secured it, when his mother, who had long lived upon the frontier, +and had probably detected the Indian tone in the demand for admission, +instantly sprang out of bed, and ordered her son not to admit them, +declaring that they were Indians.</p> + +<p>She instantly awakened her other son, and the young men seizing their +guns, which were always charged, prepared to repel the enemy. The +Indians finding it impossible to enter under their assumed characters, +began to thunder at the door with great violence, but a single shot from +a loop-hole obliged them to shift the attack to some less exposed point, +and, unfortunately, they discovered the door of the other cabin, which +contained the three daughters. The rifles of the brothers could not be +brought to bear on this point; and, by means of several rails taken from +the yard fence, the door was forced from its hinges, and the girls were +at the mercy of the savages. One was instantly secured, but the eldest +defended herself desperately with a knife she had been using at the +loom, and stabbed one of the Indians to the heart, before she was +tomahawked.</p> + +<p>In the meantime, the little girl, who had been overlooked by the enemy +in their eagerness to secure the others, ran out into the yard, and +might have effected her escape, had she taken advantage of the darkness, +and fled; but instead of looking to her own safety, the terrified +little creature ran round the house, wringing her hands, and crying that +her sisters were killed.</p> + +<center><a href="310.png"><img src="310.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +The Indians Killing the Widow's Daughter.</a></center> + +<p>Just then the child uttered a loud scream, followed by a few faint +moans, and all was silent. Presently the crackling of flames was heard, +accompanied by a triumphant yell from the Indians, announcing that they +had set fire to that division of the house, which had been occupied by +the daughters, and of which they held undisputed possession.</p> + +<p>The fire was quickly communicated to the rest of the building, and it +became necessary to abandon it or perish in the flames. The door was +thrown open, and the old lady, supported by her eldest son, attempted to +cross the fence at one point, while her daughter carrying her child in +her arms, and attended by the younger of the brothers, ran in a +different direction. The blazing roof shed a light over the yard but +little inferior to that of day, and the savages were distinctly seen +awaiting the approach of their victims. The old lady was permitted to +reach the stile unmolested, but in the act of crossing, received several +balls in her breast, and fell dead. Her son, providentially, remained +unhurt, and, by extraordinary agility, effected his escape.</p> + +<p>The other party succeeded in reaching the fence unhurt, but in the act +of crossing were vigorously assailed by several Indians, who, throwing +down their guns, rushed upon them with their tomahawks. The young man +defended his sister gallantly, firing upon the enemy as they approached, +and then wielding the butt of his rifle with a fury that drew their +whole attention upon himself, and gave his sister an opportunity of +effecting her escape. He quickly fell however under the tomahawks of his +enemies, and was found at daylight, scalped and mangled in a shocking +manner. Of the whole family, consisting of eight persons, only three +escaped. Four were killed upon the spot, and one, the second daughter, +carried off as a prisoner.</p> + +<p>The neighborhood was quickly alarmed, and, by daylight, about thirty men +were assembled, under the command of Colonel Edwards. A light snow had +fallen during the latter part of the night, and the Indian trail could +be followed at a gallop. It led directly into the mountainous country +bordering on the Licking, and afforded evidences of great hurry and +precipitation on the part of the fugitives. Unfortunately, a hound had +been permitted to follow the whites, and as the trail became fresh, and +the scent warm, she followed it with eagerness, baying loudly and giving +the alarm to the Indians. The consequences of this imprudence were soon +manifest. The enemy finding the pursuit keen, and perceiving the +strength of their prisoner began to fail, instantly sunk their tomahawks +in her head, and left her still warm and bleeding upon the snow.</p> + +<p>As the whites came up, she regained strength enough to wave her hand in +token of recognition, and appeared desirous of giving them some +information, with regard to the enemy, but her strength was too far +gone. Her brother sprang from his horse and endeavored to stop the +effusion of blood, but in vain. She gave him her hand, muttered some +inarticulate words, and expired.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THRILLING_INCIDENT."></a>THRILLING INCIDENT.</h2> + +<p>In mid-winter about four years since, says Miss Martineau, in her Norway +and the Norwegians, a young man named Hund, was sent by his master on an +errand about twenty miles, to carry provisions to a village in the upper +country. The village people asked him for charity, to carry three orphan +children on his sledge a few miles on his way to Bergen, and to leave +them at a house on the road, when they would be taken care of until they +could be brought from Bergen. He took the little things, and saw that +the two elder were well wrapped up from the cold. The third he took +within his arms and on his knee, as he drove, clasping it warm against +his breast--so those say who saw them set off, and it is confirmed by +one who met the sledge on the road, and heard the children prattling to +Hund, and Hund laughing merrily at their little talk. Before they got +half way, however, a pack of hungry wolves, burst out upon them from a +hollow in the thicket to the right of the wood. The beasts followed +close to the back of the sledge. Closer and closer the wolves pressed. +Hund saw one about to spring at his throat. It was impossible for the +horse to go faster than he did, for he went like the wind--so did the +wolves. Hund in desperation, snatched up one of the children behind him, +and threw it over the back of the sledge. This stopped the pack a +little. On galloped the horse. But the wolves were soon crowded around +again, with the blood freezing to their muzzles. It was easier to throw +over the second child than the first--and Hund did it. But on came again +the infuriated beasts--gaunt with hunger, and raging like fiends for the +prey. It was harder to give up the third--the dumb infant that nestled +in his breast, but Hund was in mortal terror. Again the hot breath of +the wolves was upon him. He threw a way the infant and saved himself. +Away over the snow flew the sledge, the village was reached, and Hund +just escaped after all the sacrifice he had made. But he was unsettled +and wild, and his talk, for some time whenever he did speak, night or +day, was of wolves--so fearful had been the effect upon his imagination.</p> + +<center><a href="315.png"><img src="315.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Attacked by Wolves.</a></center> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ADVENTURES"></a>ADVENTURES</h2> + +<h3>OF REV. DR. BACON AND HIS PARTY, AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF PERSIA.</h3> + +<p>Dr. Bacon and Rev. Mr. Marsh, attempted to cross from the city of Mosul, +on the Tigris, to Oroomiah, the residence of the Nestorian Christians. +On their passage through the Kurdish mountains, they were robbed, and +narrowly escaped being murdered, and were finally forced to return +to Mosul.</p> + +<p>Dr. Bacon, after describing their departure from Diarbekr, says:</p> + +<p>"I defer to another time the description of our romantic and picturesque +passage down the Tigris. By the care of Providence, our whole party +completed this stage, as they had completed the previous and more +fatiguing ones, in safety and comfortable health. We arrived in Mosul +on the 16th of May, in seven days from Diarbekr, and immediately set +about making preparations for continuing our journey into the mountains.</p> + +<p>"The engaging of mules, the hiring of servants, and the preparation of +provisions, detained us in Mosul until Wednesday, the 21st of May. The +meantime was spent by us in visiting the excavations on the opposite +side of the river. In the mound of Koyunjik, we followed our guide +through a labyrinth of narrow corridors, lighted dimly by occasional +openings in the firm clay overhead. Some of the sculptures were +described in Mr. Leyard's volumes; others have been since unearthed, and +some most interesting galleries had just been left by the picks of the +workmen. Time, at present, does not permit me to describe them; but I +may mention as among the most interesting of the recent discoveries, a +succession of slabs carved with a representation of the original +transportation of the great winged bulls which adorned the stately +entrances of the palaces of Ninus and Sardanapalus. A collection of +small, inscribed stones, has also been found, supposed to contain public +records; and, but a day or two ago, the workmen brought in the report of +new and still grander sculptures just discovered.</p> + +<p>"We had expected to start on Wednesday at sunrise; but various petty +hindrances detained us until late in the afternoon. We then united in +prayer with the family in whose cares, anxieties, and dangers we had +shared through so many weary weeks, and hastened to our saddles. Passing +the Tigris by a rude ferry, we rode in the setting sunlight by the once +mysterious mounds of Koyunjik. The reapers who were still busy within +the grassy walls of fallen Ninevah, came up to us as we passed, with +their sickles on their heads, to present the offering of the first +fruits of harvest. We hurried on, however, and stopped for the night at +a small village little more than an hour from the gate of Mosul."</p> + +<p>On the third day they reached the town of Akkre, among the mountains, +where they were obliged to stay three days, waiting for the Kurdish +muleteers. They performed the Sabbath service in a cavern of the +mountain which the native christians had fitted up as a secret chapel. +Leaving Akkre on Monday morning, the 26th of May, they entered the most +dangerous part of the mountains. Mr. B. says:</p> + +<p>"We spent this day's nooning by a spring that bursts out near the top of +a steep mountain, and ate our dinner under a tree that distilled upon +the rocks a fragrant gum. Mounting again at two o'clock, in half an +hour we reached the summit, whence we looked down a giddy descent upon +the swift but winding Zab. Here it became necessary to leave our +animals, and work our way down the almost precipitous road, while the +mules slid, scrambled, and tumbled after us as best they might. As I was +pushing on a little in advance of the party, I was met, in a narrow turn +of the path, by an old bearded man, with a dagger in his girdle, who +reached out his hand toward me. I was uncertain at first how to +understand it; but his only object was to press my hand to his lips with +a fervent '<i>salam aleikum</i>' (Peace be with you,) to which I responded, +according to usual form, '<i>aleikum salam</i>,' (with you be peace.) Meeting +with others of his party, they asked us if we were Nesrani, +(Nazarenes--Christians,) and saluted us with the same respect, going +some distance back on their path with us to show us a cool water spring. +'They then went their ways, and we saw them no more;' but I shall not +easily forget the satisfaction which they showed in recognizing us as +fellow believers here in the land of the infidel, and the kindness with +which they went out of their way to offer us a 'cup of cold water in the +name of a disciple.'"</p> + +<p>That night they spent on the banks of the river Zab. The next day, +after traversing a wild pass, hemmed in by perpendicular rocks, more +than a thousand feet in hight, they reached the village of Bizeh, in a +valley of the mountains, and secured a house-top for the night:</p> + +<p>"About the middle of the night, Mr. Marsh was waked by a slight noise, +and, lifting his head, saw a party of five or six armed men creeping +stealthily toward our roof, which, on the side toward the hill on which +they were, was only four or five feet from the ground. The foremost man +stopped short for a moment at Mr. Marsh's movement, and turning to his +followers, called out 'Khawaja!' (the gentlemen!) Then seeing that our +old guard was asleep at the stepping stone, he climbed upon the roof at +another corner, and stood for a moment with his long gun at his side. +Mr. Marsh raised himself upon his arm, and demanded in Arabic, 'What do +you want?' The man probably did not understand the language: at any +rate, he made no answer, but turned to the old man, and conversed +earnestly with him in a low tone. The other men gathered near them, as +if to listen and take part. But they all finally went away without doing +any mischief."</p> + +<p>The next morning the sentinel who had kept watch over their baggage +attempted to dissuade them from going the direct road, as the people of +the next village had heard of their coming, and were determined to kill +them. However, they kept on; and, in the course of two or three hours, +their guide was stopped by a company of six armed men:</p> + +<p>"The place was admirably chosen for the purpose. The narrow path along +the cliff by which we had come, here widened into a little platform +large enough for our mules to stand upon together. In front of us, a +ledge of broken rocks jutted from the mountain and ran down, crossing +our path, and leaving only a very small passage. In front of this path +stood our challengers. Six worse-looking men, whether in form, dress, or +feature, it would be difficult to imagine. Each man wore around his +high, conical felt hat, a turban of handkerchiefs of every hue and +texture; in his hand a long gun with short and narrow breech; and in his +belt the universal Kurdish curved and two-edged dagger. The leader of +the gang was a man of middle age, with black eyes and a grisly, +untrimmed beard, and with half his front teeth knocked out."</p> + +<p>After some discussion, the robbers consented to allow them to pass, on +the payment of fifty piastres, (two dollars and a half,) which they +agreed to do, provided they were conducted to the house of the Agha. The +robbers objected to this, and, provoked by the delay, leveled their guns +at the party. At this juncture, the chief muleteer advanced the +necessary money, and they were spared.</p> + +<p>"These transactions, from the time we were stopped, occupied about an +hour. We now passed with our ragged regiment straggling around us, now +with their long guns under our ears, and now cutting off the long bends +of our crooked and little used path. In about ten minutes from the pass, +we were hailed by another party, posted upon a hillside, and a +discussion of many minutes ensued between them and our escort, in which +our Kurdish muleteers took an active part. The result was, that we moved +on with an addition of two men to our guard. We soon began to perceive +that we were going toward the Agha rather as prisoners than as guests. +The castle, (if it may be dignified by the name,) which was now in +sight, was of no promising appearance. It was a rude, rectangular +building, with a small white tower at one corner, on which the workmen +were still engaged. It was situated on the side of a hill which formed +the head of a valley opening into the ravine we had just left. The small +windows and the roof were crowded with men, women, and children, gazing +at our singular cavalcade. As we drew near, some women who were bathing +in a brook, rose, and gazed at us with irrepressible curiosity. We +stopped at the door of the castle.</p> + +<p>"Here the assault began. The men of our guard flew like savage dogs at +our servants: Khudhr and Ablahad seized the arms which were girded about +them, slashing furiously with their daggers, to cut the straps of their +guns and pistols. The turbans were torn from their heads, and +appropriated among the rabble. Similar violence was about to be shown +us, when these operations were suddenly interrupted by the appearance, +from the castle, of Melul Agha.</p> + +<p>"He was a man taller by several inches than any of his tribe, and with +an expression of face which was that of one accustomed to be obeyed, He +was dressed in a more elegant style than could have been expected in +these mountains; wearing upon his head a turban of gray silk, and a long +rifle slung from his shoulders. With a melo-dramatic wave of his hand, +which was at once obeyed, he motioned his noisy tribe to desist, and, +approaching us, pointed out a tree, a few hundred feet up the hill, to +which we might retire. As we moved alone toward this spot, a grim +suspicion of his intentions crossed our minds. Might it not be for +convenience in dispatching us, that we had been removed? We seated +ourselves quietly in the shade, and watched the proceedings. The +property of the muleteers and donkey-drivers had been unloaded and +placed by itself. One of our loads had been thrown from the mule, and +the other was now brought near us, taken from the animal, and laid under +a neighboring tree. Mr. Marsh now went down toward the castle to assist +Khudhr in bringing the rest of our property toward the tree. This done, +Khudhr returned to the crowd to learn what he could of their intentions. +He soon came back to us in evident terror, and said, with a significant +motion of his hand, that they were intending to kill us."</p> + +<p>After sending the servant a second time, he came back with the +announcement that the Agha would examine their baggage, take what he +pleased, and send them on to another Agha; but would not allow them to +return to Mosul.</p> + +<p>This examination was soon made, and the party was plundered of one +thousand piasters, (forty-four dollars,) besides razors, knives, and a +quantity of clothing.</p> + +<p>The whole affair was conducted with a politeness of manner which was +highly creditable to the Agha, and calculated to put us very much at our +ease. He showed himself, in every thing,</p> + +<blockquote><center>----"As mild a mannered man<br> +As ever scuttled ship, or cut a throat"<br></center></blockquote> + +<p>For instance, in searching our trunk, his eye was caught by a small, +sealed parcel, which I supposed to contain jewelry; I immediately told +him, through a servant, that it was not mine, but had been given to me, +in America, to be delivered in Europe. He immediately put it down, and +proceeded with the search.</p> + +<p>"During these operations, several women, some from curiosity, others +from pity, had gathered around us. Among the latter class, was one, who, +from her dress, beauty, and demeanor, could be no other than the wife +of the Agha. She was dressed in a faded, but once magnificent +robe, and trowsers of silk, and wore upon her head a massive and +elaborately-carved ornament of silver. She moved among the fierce and +blood-thirsty savages, with an air of mingled scorn and anxiety, +reproaching them with the shame of the transaction, and pleading +earnestly that our lives and property be spared. She warned them, also, +that our injuries would inevitably be visited upon their heads.</p> + +<p>"Having finished his search, the Agha, with the old men of the tribe, +gathered on a ledge of rocks, just behind us, and consulted long and +earnestly. We sat down and dined with what appetite we could muster."</p> + +<p>After the robbers had come to their decision, a second search of the +baggage took place, which Mr. Bacon thus describes:</p> + +<p>"The pressure of greater and more important dangers had made me quite +resigned to such petty losses as these, and I watched, with much +amusement, the appropriation of unusual articles. A black silk cravat +which had seen much service in New Haven drawing-rooms, was twisted +about the suspicious-looking head of an uncommonly dirty boy. A pair of +heavy riding-boots were transferred to the shoulders of a youth who bore +the 'gallows mark' upon his features with unmistakable distinctness. A +satin vest of Mr. Marsh's was circulating through the crowd, on the +person of a dirty child, who boasted no other wealth but a ragged shirt +and a green pomegranate. I looked at the youngster with a smile of +congratulation; but he turned upon his heel and strutted gravely away, +his new garment trailing on the ground at every step.</p> + +<p>"Having lightened our baggage considerably at this haul, they proceeded +to search our persons. It had been our first movement, on being placed +by ourselves, to transfer our watches, together with a locket,--all +priceless memorials of distant or departed friends--from the waistcoat +to the pantaloons fob; a pocket compass attached to my watchguard, was +cared for; likewise, the little note-book in which I was accustomed to +place the map of each day's journey. We knew not how soon we might be +wandering in the mountains on foot, and without a guide. Dr. Bacon had +with him two English sovereigns, and we were uncertain what to do with +them. If we should openly give them to the robbers, we dreaded the +effect of the <i>auri sacra fames</i>. If discovered in a secret place, we +might be stripped in the search for more. The attempt to conceal them in +the earth might be perilous. They were finally placed in the waistcoat +fob, from which the watch had been taken, with the hope that the clumsy +Kurds might overlook it.</p> + +<p>"They began with me. The Agha, with an irresistible smile and bow of +apology, passed his hand about my waist, feeling for a money belt, then +over my dress; finding that one of my breeches' pockets was full, he +motioned me to empty it, and seemed satisfied when I drew out a +handkerchief and a pair of gloves. Dr. Bacon was then searched, even +more superficially; but as the hand passed over the waistcoat pocket, +something jingled. I held my breath as Dr. B. put in his hand and drew +out a seal, which he had bought at Mosul as an antique Upon Mr. Marsh, +the Agha found a gold pencil case, which pleased him wonderfully. On +being told of its use, he scrawled with the pencil on the beyur-haldeh, +an autograph, for which I have a peculiar value. The mystery of this +was, that he restored the pencil, with a grin of self-righteousness, to +Mr. Marsh."</p> + +<p>After waiting some time in suspense, the travelers were suffered to +leave, in charge of a Kurdish guard:</p> + +<p>"It soon became evident that we were not on the road to Oroomiah. +Whither we were going, was a matter of painful mystery. At the distance +of more than a mile, as we passed a village, a single Christian, a man +of Akkre, came out in a crowd of curious villagers, to offer his +sympathy. As each of us passed him, he bowed, with his head to the +ground, and with the strongest expression of regard, urged us to remain +with him there, as he would guarantee our safety. It was not for us, +however, to say, and we pressed forward; but Khudhr soon brought us the +intelligence, which he had obtained here, that we were being led to the +village of a Mullah, a very holy man, under whose protection we might +feel entirely secure. He added, that toward Oroomiah it would be quite +impossible to go; our only escape was toward Mosul."</p> + +<p>The Mullah received them kindly, entertained them a day in his house, +where all the diseased persons in the neighborhood were brought for them +to cure, and started with them early on the morning of the 30th of May, +to accompany them on their way back to Mosul. On reaching a village, +toward noon, a scene took place, which is of so much interest that we +give Mr. Bacon's account of it in full:</p> + +<p>"We were assisted from our horses by a remarkably ill-looking set of +men, whom we supposed to have come out to see us from curiosity. An +unprepossessing young gentleman, with a scar that divided his nose and +his upper lip, and a silver-mounted dagger, took a seat near the Mullah, +and a violent discussion immediately commenced, of the drift of which, +we were, happily, ignorant. Soon, another party of villagers appeared, +headed by another young man, who was quite the counterpart of the first, +even to the scar in his lip; but his dagger-hilt and sheath were of +solid silver, set with precious stones, and the long ringlets which hung +upon his shoulders, were still more daintily curled. The arrival of this +reinforcement renewed the violence of the discussion, between the Mullah +on one side, and the young men on the other. It plainly related to us, +and the fierce looks of the Kurds, as they walked to and fro with their +hands on their daggers, would have alarmed us, had we not had full +confidence in the power and good will of our friend. The controversy had +a good deal subsided, when the approach of still another party renewed +it once more. The Agha himself was coming. He was a man of fifty years, +with a once gray beard, dyed a bright red, and with his lower eyebrows +stained a livid blue-black. He greeted us with a ferocious smile, and +entered at once into earnest conversation with Mullah Mustafa. The +conversation was interrupted, now and then, by one of his amiable sons +leaping from his seat, and speaking violently, to the great apparent +satisfaction of the crowd.</p> + +<p>"We soon learned the nature of these discussions from Khudr, who had +been an attentive and agitated listener to the whole. The respectable +old gentleman, it seems, had sent his first son to murder us, placing +the second at a convenient distance to assist him. The latter, surprised +that the business lagged, came up to see to it. And the Agha himself, +finding that business lagged, came finally to attend to it himself. The +Mullah urged the danger of injuring persons of consequence. 'The sword +of the Frank is long,' said he. But this argument was without effect. +Mustafa then appealed to him not to disgrace his hospitality. These men +were under his own protection, and he would not see them wronged. This +argument also failed. He now urged that we were men of influence at +Mosul, and were going direct to Constantinople; that, by securing our +influence against his colleague and rival, Melul Agha, he might secure +a perpetual supremacy in the district of Sherwan.</p> + +<p>"This plea gained the case; the eyes of the old savage glistened with +diabolical satisfaction as he thought of the villainous trick he was +about to play upon his rival. He drew from his bosom a letter and handed +it to the Mullah, who read it and handed it to our servant. It was +written by Melul Agha, to Khan Abdul, our present host, directing him to +take the rest of our property, and murder us without fail. This letter +had been written on the blank page of another letter, sent to Melul +Agha, by Mustafa Agha, of Ziba, who resides at Akkre. It was the last +scoundrel who had sent letters in advance of us into the mountains, +inviting them to murder us--and this, all for the sake of making a +little impression on the government at Mosul."</p> + +<p>After these hair-breadth escapes from murder, the party returned in +safety to Mosul.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_BATTLE_WITH_SNAKES."></a>A BATTLE WITH SNAKES.</h2> + +<p>Since the exhibitions in London of the two Hindoo snake-charmers--the +first we believe who ever visited Europe--everything relating to +serpents seems to have acquired additional interest. Many facts +regarding the nature and habits of the various species have been +published, affording much information and still greater astonishment.</p> + +<p>Waterton, in his "Wanderings in South America and the Antilles, in +1812-24," relates some stories of so marvellous a character, that, +coming from a less authentic source, their truth might be +reasonably doubted.</p> + +<p>While in the region of Mibri Hill, Mr. Waterton long sought in vain for +a serpent of large size, and finally, offered a reward to the negroes if +they would find him one. A few days afterward one of the natives, +followed by his little dog, came to him with the information that a +snake of respectable dimensions had been discovered a short distance up +the hill; and armed with an eight feet lance, and accompanied by two +negroes with cutlasses and the dog, he at once started to take a look at +it. Mr. Waterton states that he was barefoot, with an old hat, check +shirt and trousers on, and a pair of braces to keep them up. His +snakeship was pointed out as lying at the roots of a large tree which +had been torn up by a whirlwind. But the remainder of the story shall be +given in the traveler's own words:</p> + +<p>I advanced up to the place slow and cautious. The snake was well +concealed, but at last I made him out; it was a coulacanara, not +poisonous, but large enough to have crushed any of us to death. On +measuring him afterward, he was something more than fourteen feet long. +This species of snake is very rare, and much thicker in proportion to +its length than any other snake in the forest. A coulacanara of fourteen +feet in length, is as thick as a common boa of twenty-four feet. After +skinning this snake, I could easily get my head into his mouth, as the +singular formation of the jaws admits of wonderful extension.</p> + +<p>On ascertaining the size of the serpent, I retired slowly the way I +came, and promised four dollars to the negro who had shown it to me, and +one dollar to the other who had joined us. Aware that the day was on the +decline, and that the approach of night would be detrimental to the +dissection, a thought struck me that I could take him alive. I imagined +that if I could strike him with the lance behind the head, and pin him +to the ground, I might succeed in capturing him. When I told this to the +negroes, they begged and entreated me to let them go for a gun and bring +more force, as they were sure the snake would kill some of us. Taking, +however, a cutlass from one of the negroes, and then ranging both of the +sable slaves behind me, I told them to follow me, and that I would cut +them down if they offered to fly. When we had got up to the place, the +serpent had not stirred: but I could see nothing of his head, and judged +by the folds of his body that it must be at the farthest side of the +den. A species of woodbine formed a complete mantle over the branches of +the fallen tree, almost impervious to the rain or the rays of the sun. +Probably he had resorted to this sequestered place for a length of time, +as it bore marks of an ancient settlement.</p> + +<p>I now took my knife, determined to cut away the woodbine, and break the +twigs in the gentlest manner possible, till I could get a view of his +head. One negro stood guard close behind me with a cutlass. The cutlass +which I had taken from the first negro, was on the ground close beside +me, in case of need. After working in dead silence for a quarter of an +hour, with one knee all the time on the ground, I had cleared away +enough to see his head. It appeared coming out between the first and +second coils of his body, and was flat on the ground. This was the very +position I wished it to be in. I rose in silence, and retreated very +slowly, making a sign to the negroes to do the same. The dog was sitting +at a distance in mute observance. I could now read in the faces of the +negroes, that they considered this a very unpleasant affair; and they +made another vain attempt to persuade me to let them go for a gun. I +smiled in a good-natured manner, and made a feint to cut them down with +the weapon I had in my hand. This was all the answer I made to their +request, and they looked very uneasy.</p> + +<p>It must be observed that we were about twenty yards from the snake's +den. I now ranged the negroes behind me, and told him who stood next to +me, to lay hold of the lance the moment I struck the snake, and that the +other must attend my movements. It now only remained to take their +cutlasses from them; for I was sure that if I did not disarm them, they +would be tempted to strike the snake in time of danger, and thus forever +spoil his skin. On taking their cutlasses from them, if I might judge +from their physiognomy, they seemed to consider it as a most intolerable +act of tyranny. Probably nothing kept them from bolting, but the +consolation that I was betwixt them and the snake. Indeed, my own heart, +in spite of all I could do, beat quicker than usual. We went slowly on +in silence, without moving our arms or heads, in order to prevent all +alarm as much as possible, lest the snake should glide off, or attack us +in self-defence. I carried the lance perpendicularly before me, with the +point about a foot from the ground. The snake had not moved, and on +getting up to him, I struck him with the lance on the near side, just +behind the neck, and pinned him to the ground. That moment the negro +next to me seized the lance and held it firm in its place, while I +dashed head foremost into the den to grapple with the snake, and to get +hold of his tail before he could do any mischief.</p> + +<p>On pinning him to the ground with the lance, he gave a tremendous loud +hiss, and the little dog ran away, howling as he went. We had a sharp +fray in the den, the rotten sticks flying on all sides, and each party +struggling for superiority. I called out to the second negro to throw +himself upon me, as I found I was not heavy enough. He did so, and the +additional weight was of great service. I had now got a firm hold of his +tail, and after a violent struggle or two, he gave in, finding himself +overpowered. This was the moment to secure him. So while the first negro +continued to hold the lance firm to the ground, and the other was +helping me, I contrived to unloosen my braces, and with them tied the +snake's mouth.</p> + +<p>The snake now finding himself in an unpleasant predicament, tried to +better himself, and set resolutely to work, but we overpowered him. We +contrived to make him twist himself round the shaft of the lance, and +then prepared to convey him out of the forest. I stood at his head, and +held it firm under my arm, one negro supporting the belly and the other +the tail. In this order we began to move slowly toward home, and reached +it after resting ten times; for the snake was too heavy for us to +support, without stopping to recruit our strength. As we proceeded +onward with him, he fought hard for freedom, but it was all in vain. We +untied the mouth of the bag, kept him down by main force, and then cut +his throat.</p> + +<p>The week following, a curious conflict took place near the spot where I +had captured the large snake. In the morning I had been following a +species of paroquet, and, the day being rainy, I had taken an umbrella +to keep the gun dry, and had left it under a tree: in the afternoon, I +took Daddy Quashi (the negro) with me to look for it. While he was +searching about, curiosity led me toward the place of the late scene of +action. There was a path where timber had formerly been dragged along. +Here I observed a young coulacanara, ten feet long, slowly moving +onward; and I saw he was thick enough to break my arm, in case he got +twisted around it. There was not a moment to be lost. I laid hold of his +tail with the left hand, one knee being on the ground; and, with the +right hand, I took off my hat, and held it as I would hold a shield +for defence.</p> + +<p>The snake instantly turned, and came on at me with his head about a yard +from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take such +liberties with his tail. I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, +within two feet of my face, and then, with all the force that I was +master of, drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws. He was +stunned and confounded by the blow, and, ere he could recover himself, I +had seized his throat with both hands, in such a position that he could +not bite me. I then allowed him to coil himself around my body and +marched off with him as my lawful prize. He pressed me hard, but not +alarmingly so.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ESTILL'S_DEFEAT."></a>ESTILL'S DEFEAT.</h2> + +<p>In the spring of 1782, a party of twenty-five Wyandots secretly +approached Estill's station, and committed shocking outrages. Entering a +cabin, they tomahawked and scalped a woman and her two daughters. The +neighborhood was instantly alarmed. Captain Estill speedily collected a +body of twenty-five men, and pursued the hostile trail with great +rapidity. He came up with the savages on Hinkston fork of Licking, +immediately after they had crossed it; and a most severe and desperate +conflict ensued.</p> + +<p>Estill, unfortunately, sent six of his men under Lieutenant Miller, to +attack the enemy's rear. The Indian leader immediately availed himself +of this dimunition of force, rushed upon the weakened line of his +adversaries, and compelled him to give way. A total route ensued. +Captain Estill was killed together with his gallant lieutenant, South. +Four men were wounded and fortunately escaped. Nine fell under the +tomahawk, and were scalped. The Indians also suffered severely, and are +believed to have lost half of their warriors.</p> + +<center><a href="340.png"><img src="340.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Attack on Estill's Station.</a></center> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="INCIDENT_AT_NIAGARA_FALLS."></a>INCIDENT AT NIAGARA FALLS.</h2> + +<p>On Saturday, the 13th of July, 1850, as a boy, ten years old, was rowing +his father over to their home on Grand Island, the father being so much +intoxicated as not to be able to assist any more than to steer the +canoe, the wind, which was very strong off shore, so frustrated the +efforts of his tiny arm, that the canoe in spite of him, got into the +current, and finally into the rapids, within a very few rods of the +Falls! On went the frail shell, careering and plunging as the mad waters +chose. Still the gallant little oarsman maintained his struggle with the +raging billows, and actually got the canoe, by his persevering +manoeuvring so close to Iris Island, as to have her driven by a +providential wave in between the little islands called the Sisters. Here +the father and his dauntless boy were in still greater danger for an +instant; for there is a fall between the two islands, over which had +they gone, no earthly power could have withheld their final passage to +the terrific precipice, which forms the Horse-shoe Fall. But the sudden +dash of a wave capsized the canoe, and left the two struggling in the +water. Being near a rock, and shallow, the boy lost no time, but +seizing his father by the coat collar, dragged him up to a place of +safety, where the crowd of anxious citizens awaited to lend assistance. +The poor boy on reaching the shore in safety, instantly fainted, while +his miserable father was sufficiently sobered by the perils he had +passed through. The canoe was dashed to pieces on the rocks ere it +reached its final leap.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_SKATER_CHASED_BY_A_WOLF."></a>A SKATER CHASED BY A WOLF.</h2> + +<p>A thrilling incident in American country life is vividly sketched in +"Evenings at Donaldson Manor." In the winter of 1844, the relater went +out one evening to skate, on the Kennebec, in Maine, by moonlight, and, +having ascended that river nearly two miles, turned into a little stream +to explore its course.</p> + +<p>"Fir and hemlock of a century's growth," he says, "met overhead and +formed an archway, radiant with frostwork. All was dark within; but I +was young and fearless; and, as I peered into an unbroken forest that +reared itself on the borders of the stream, I laughed with very +joyousness; my wild hurrah rang through the silent woods, and I stood +listening to the echo that reverberated again and again, until all was +hushed. Suddenly a sound arose--it seemed to me to come from beneath the +ice; it sounded low and tremulous at first, until it ended in a low, +wild yell. I was appalled. Never before had such a noise met my ears. I +thought it more than mortal; so fierce, and amid such an unbroken +solitude, it seemed as though from the tread of some brute animal, and +the blood rushed back to my forehead with a bound that made my skin +burn, and I felt relieved that I had to contend with things earthly and +not spiritual; my energies returned, and I looked around me for some +means of escape. As I turned my head to the shore, I could see two dark +objects dashing through the underbrush, at a pace nearly double in speed +to my own. By this rapidity, and the short yells they occasionally gave, +I knew at once that these were the much-dreaded gray wolf.</p> + +<p>"I had never met with these animals, but, from the description given of +them, I had very little pleasure in making their acquaintance. Their +untamable fierceness, and the enduring strength, which seems part of +their nature, render them objects of dread to every benighted traveler.</p> + +<p>"There was no time for thought; so I bent my head and dashed madly +forward. Nature turned me toward home. The light flakes of snow spun +from the iron skates, and I was some distance from my pursuers, when +their fierce howl told me I was their fugitive. I did not look back; I +did not feel afraid, or sorry, or even glad; one thought of home, the +bright faces waiting my return--of their tears, if they should never see +me again, and then every energy of body and mind was exerted for escape. +I was perfectly at home on the ice. Many were the days that I had spent +on my good skates, never thinking that at one time they would be my only +means of safety. Every half minute, an alternate yelp from my ferocious +followers, told me too certain that they were in close pursuit. Nearer +and nearer they came; I heard their feet pattering on the ice nearer +still, until I could feel their breath, and hear their sniffling scent.</p> + +<p>"Every nerve and muscle in my frame was stretched to the utmost tension. +The trees along the shore seemed to dance in the uncertain light, and my +brain turned with my own breathless speed, yet still they seemed to hiss +forth their breath with a sound truly horrible, when an involuntary +motion on my part, turned me out of my course. The wolves, close behind, +unable to stop, and as unable to turn on the smooth ice, slipped and +fell, still going on far ahead; their tongues were lolling out, their +white tusks glaring from their bloody mouths, their dark, shaggy breasts +were fleeced with foam, and, as they passed me, their eyes glared, and +they howled with fury.</p> + +<p>"The thought flashed on my mind, that, by these means, I could avoid +them, viz: by turning aside whenever they came too near; for they, by +the formation of their feet, are unable to run on the ice, except in a +straight line.</p> + +<p>"At one time, by delaying my turning too long, my sanguinary antagonists +came so near, that they threw the white foam over my dress, as they +sprang to seize me, and their teeth clashed together like the spring of +a fox-trap!</p> + +<p>"Had my skates failed for one instant, had I tripped on a stick, or +caught my foot in a fissure in the ice, the story I am now telling would +never have been told.</p> + +<p>"I thought over all the chances; I knew where they would take hold of +me, if I fell; I thought how long it would be before I died; and then +there would be a search for the body that would already have its tomb! +for, oh! how fast man's mind traces out all the dread colors of death's +picture, only those who have been so near the grim original can tell.</p> + +<p>"But I soon came opposite the house, and, my hounds,--I knew their deep +voices,--roused by the noise, bayed furiously from the kennels. I heard +their chains rattle; how I wished they would break them! and then I +would have protectors that would be peer to the fiercest denizens of the +forest. The wolves, taking the hint conveyed by the dogs, stopped in +their mad career, and, after a moment's consideration, turned and fled. +I watched them until their dusky forms disappeared over a neighboring +hill; then, taking off my skates, I wended my way to the house, with +feelings which may be better imagined than described. But, even yet, I +never see a broad sheet of ice in the moonshine, without thinking of the +sniffling breath, and those fearful things that followed me closely down +the frozen Kennebec."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="OUR_FLAG_ON_THE_ROCKY_MOUNTAINS"></a>OUR FLAG ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS</h2> + +<p>We find the following incident of placing the American flag on the +highest point of the Rocky Mountains, in "Col. Fremont's Narrative:"</p> + +<p>We managed to get our mules up to a little bench about a hundred feet +above the lakes, where there was a patch of good grass, and turned them +loose to graze. During our rough ride to this place, they had exhibited +a wonderful surefootedness. Parts of the defile were filled with +angular, sharp fragments of rock, three or four and eight or ten feet +cube; and among these they had worked their way leaping from one narrow +point to another, rarely making a false step, and giving us no occasion +to dismount. Having divested ourselves of every unnecessary encumbrance, +we commenced the ascent. This time, like experienced travelers, we did +not press ourselves, but climbed leisurely, sitting down so soon as we +found breath beginning to fail. At intervals, we readied places where a +number of springs gushed from the rocks, and, about 1800 feet above the +lakes, came to the snow line. From this point, our progress was +uninterrupted climbing. Hitherto, I had worn a pair of thick moccasins, +with soles of <i>parfleche</i>, but here I put on a light, thin pair, which I +had brought for the purpose, as now the use of our toes became necessary +to a further advance. I availed myself of a sort of comb of the +mountain, which stood against the wall like a buttress, and which the +wind and the solar radiation, joined to the steepness of the smooth +rock, had kept almost entirely free from snow. Up this, I made my way +rapidly. Our cautious method of advancing, at the outset, had spared my +strength; and, with the exception of a slight disposition to headache, +I felt no remains of yesterday's illness, In a few minutes we reached a +point where the buttress was overhanging, and there was no other way of +surmounting the difficulty than by passing around one side of it, which +was the face of a vertical precipice of several hundred feet.</p> + +<p>Putting hands and feet in the crevices between the blocks, I succeeded +in getting over it, and, when I reached the top, found my companions in +a small valley below. Descending to them, we continued climbing, and in +a short time reached the crest. I sprang upon the summit, and another +step would have precipitated me into an immense snow field, five hundred +feet below. To the edge of this field was a sheer icy precipice; and +then, with a gradual fall, the field sloped off for about a mile, until +it struck the foot of another lower ridge. I stood on a narrow crest, +about three feet in width, with an inclination of about 20° N., 51° E. +As soon as I had gratified the first feelings of curiosity, I descended, +and each man ascended in his turn; for I would only allow one at a time +to mount the unstable and precarious slab, which, it seemed, a breath +would hurl into the abyss below. We mounted the barometer in the snow of +the summit, and, fixing a ramrod in a crevice, unfurled the national +flag to wave in the breeze, where flag never waved before.</p> + +<center><a href="349.png"><img src="349.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Our Flag on the Rocky Mountains.</a></center> + +<p>During our morning's ascent, we had met no sign of animal life, except +a small sparrow-like bird. A stillness the most profound, and a terrible +solitude, forced themselves constantly on the mind as the great features +of the place. Here, on the summit, where the stillness was absolute, +unbroken by any sound, and solitude complete, we thought ourselves +beyond the region of animated life; but, while we were sitting on the +rock, a solitary bee (<i>bromus, the humble-bee</i>) came winging his flight +from the eastern valley, and lit on the knee of one of the men.</p> + +<p>It was a strange place, the icy rock and the highest peak of the Rocky +mountains, for a lover of warm sunshine and flowers; and we pleased +ourselves with the idea that he was the first of his species to cross +the mountain barrier--a solitary pioneer to foretell the advance of +civilization. I believe that a moment's thought would have made us let +him continue his way unharmed; but we carried out the law of this +country, where all animated nature seems at war; and, seizing him +immediately, put him in at least a fit place--in the leaves of a large +book, among the flowers we had collected on our way.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="RUNNING_THE_CANON."></a>RUNNING THE CANON.</h2> + +<p>Col. Fremont, in his narrative, gives the following account of a +perilous adventure of himself and party, in attempting to run a canon, +on the river Platte. They had previously passed three cataracts:</p> + +<p>We reëmbarked at nine o'clock, and, in about twenty minutes, reached the +next canon. Landing on a rocky shore at its commencement, we ascended +the ridge to reconnoiter. Portage was out of the question. So far as we +could see, the jagged rocks pointed out the course of the canon, on a +winding line of seven or eight miles. It was simply a narrow, dark chasm +in the rock; and here the perpendicular faces were much higher than in +the previous pass, being at this end two to three hundred, and further +down, as we afterward ascertained, five hundred feet in vertical height.</p> + +<p>Our previous success had made us bold, and we determined again to run +the canon. Every thing was secured as firmly as possible; and, having +divested ourselves of the greater part of our clothing, we pushed into +the stream. To save our chronometer from accident, Mr. Preuss took it, +and attempted to proceed along the shore on the masses of rock, which, +in places, were piled up on either side; but, after he had walked about +five minutes, every thing like shore disappeared, and the vertical wall +came squarely down into the water. He therefore waited until we came up.</p> + +<p>An ugly pass lay before us. We had made fast to the stern of the boat a +strong rope about fifty feet long; and three of the men clambered along +among the rocks, and, with this rope, let her slowly through the pass. +In several places, high rocks lay scattered about in the channel; and, +in the narrows, it required all our strength and skill to avoid staving +the boat on the sharp points. In one of these, the boat proved a little +too broad, and stuck fast for an instant, while the water flew over us; +fortunately, it was but for an instant, as our united strength forced +her immediately through. The water swept overboard only a sextant and a +pair of saddle-bags. I caught the sextant as it passed by me; but the +saddle-bags became the prey of the whirlpools. We reached the place +where Mr. Preuss was standing, took him on board, and, with the aid of +the boat, put the men with the rope on the succeeding pile of rocks.</p> + +<p>We found this passage much worse than the previous one, and our +position was rather a bad one. To go back was impossible; before us, the +cataract was a sheet of foam; and, shut up in the chasm by the rocks, +which, in some places, seemed almost to meet overhead, the roar of the +water was deafening, We pushed off again; but, after making a little +distance, the force of the current became too great for the men on +shore, and two of them let go the rope. Lajeunesse, the third man, hung +on, and was jerked headforemost into the river, from a rock about twelve +feet high; and down the boat shot, like an arrow, Bazil following us in +the rapid current, and exerting all his strength to keep in mid +channel--his head only seen occasionally like a black spot in the white +foam. How far we went, I do not exactly know; but we succeeded in +turning the boat into an eddy below. "<i>'Cre Dieu,</i>" said Bazil +Lajeunesse, as he arrived immediately after us, "<i>Je crois bien que j'ai +nage un demi mile.</i>" He had owed his life to his skill as a swimmer, and +I determined to take him and two others on board, and trust to skill and +fortune to reach the other end in safety. We placed ourselves on our +knees, with the short paddles in our hands, the most skillful boatman +being at the bow; and again we commenced our rapid descent. We cleared +rock after rock, and shot past fall after fall, our little boat seeming +to play with the cataract. We became flushed with success, and familiar +with danger; and, yielding to the excitement of the occasion, broke +forth into a Canadian boat-song. Singing, or rather shouting, we dashed +along, and were, I believe, in the midst of the chorus, when the boat +struck a concealed rock immediately at the foot of a fall, which whirled +her over in an instant. Three of my men could not swim, and my first +feeling was to assist them, and save some of our effects; but a sharp +concussion or two convinced me that I had not yet saved myself. A few +strokes brought me into an eddy, and I landed on a pile of rocks on the +left side. Looking around, I saw that Mr. Preuss had gained the shore on +the same side, about twenty yards below; and a little climbing and +swimming soon brought him to my side. On the opposite side, against the +wall, lay the boat, bottom up; and Lambert was in the act of saving +Descoteaux, whom he had grasped by the hair, and who could not swim.</p> + +<p>For a hundred yards below, the current was covered with floating books +and boxes, bales and blankets, and scattered articles of clothing; and +so strong and boiling was the stream, that even our heavy instruments, +which were all in cases, kept on the surface, and the sextant, circle, +and the long, black box of the telescope, were in view at once. For a +moment, I felt somewhat disheartened. All our books--almost every record +of the journey--our journals and registers of astronomical and +barometrical observations--had been lost in a moment, But it was no time +to indulge in regrets; and I immediately set about endeavoring to save +something from the wreck. Making ourselves understood as well as +possible by signs, (for nothing could be heard in the roar of the +waters,) we commenced our operations. Of every thing on board, the only +article that had been saved was my double-barreled gun, which Descoteaux +had caught and clung to with drowning tenacity. The men continued down +the river on the left bank. Mr. Preuss and myself descended on the side +we were on; and Lajeunesse, with a paddle in his hand, jumped on the +boat alone, and continued down the canon. She was now light, and cleared +every bad place with much less difficulty. In a short time he was joined +by Lambert and the search was continued for about a mile and a half, +which was as far as the boat could proceed in the pass.</p> + +<p>Here the walls were about five hundred feet high, and the fragments of +rocks from above had choked the river into a hollow pass, but one or two +feet above the surface. Through this, and the interstices of the rock, +the water found its way. Favored beyond our expectations, all our +registers had been recovered, with the exception of one of my journals, +which contained the notes and incidents of travel, and topographical +descriptions, a number of scattered astronomical observations, +principally meridian altitudes of the sun, and our barometrical register +west of Laramie. Fortunately, our other journals contained duplicates of +the most important barometrical observations. In addition to these, we +saved the circle; and these, with a few blankets, constituted every +thing that had been rescued from the waters.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_RESCUE."></a>THE RESCUE.</h2> + +<p>A young girl has been captured at her father's hut, when all the males +of the household are absent hunting wolves. She is seized by the +Indians, and borne swiftly away to the encampment of a war party of the +Osages. She is then placed in a "land canoe" and hurried rapidly forward +toward their villages. Among the party she recognizes one whose life she +had been instrumental in saving, when a prisoner. He recognizes her, and +promises to assist her escape. At this point the following narrative +commences:</p> + +<p>At a late and solemn hour, the Indian who had been the captive the night +before, suddenly ceased his snoring, which had been heard without +intermission for a great length of time; and when Mary instinctively +cast her eyes toward him, she was surprised to see him gently and slowly +raise his head. He enjoined silence by placing his hand upon his mouth. +After carefully disengaging himself from his comrades, he crept quietly +away, and soon vanished entirely from sight on the northern side of the +spreading beech. Mary expected he would soon return and assist her to +escape. Although she was aware of the hardships and perils that would +attend her flight, yet the thought of again meeting her friends was +enough to nerve her for the undertaking, and she waited with anxious +impatience the coming of her rescuer. But he came not. She could +attribute no other design in his conduct but that of effecting her +escape, and yet he neither came for her, nor beckoned her away. She had +reposed confidence in his promise, for she knew that the Indian, savage +as he was, rarely forfeited his word; but when gratitude inspired a +pledge, she could not believe that he would use deceit. The fire was now +burning quite low, and its waning light scarce cast a beam upon the +branches overhead. It was evidently not far from morning, and every hope +of present escape entirely fled from her bosom. But just as she was +yielding to despair, she saw the Indian returning in a stealthy pace, +bearing some dark object in his arms. He glided to her side, and +motioned to her to leave the snow-canoe, and also to take with her all +her robes with which she had been enveloped. She did his bidding, and +then he carefully deposited the burden he bore in the place she had just +occupied. A portion of the object becoming unwrapped, Mary discovered it +to be a huge mass of snow, resembling in some respects a human form, and +the Indian's stratagem was at once apparent to her. Relinquishing +herself to his guidance, she was led noiselessly through the bushes +about a hundred paces distant from the fire, to a large fallen tree that +had yielded to some furious storm, when her conductor paused. He pointed +to a spot where a curve caused the huge trunk to rise about a foot from +the surface of the snow, under which was a round hole cut through the +drifted snow down to the earth, and in which were deposited several +buffalo robes, and so arranged that a person could repose within, +without coming in contact with the frozen element around. Mary looked +down, and then at her companion to ascertain his intentions. He spoke to +her in a low tone, enough of which she comprehended to understand that +he desired her to descend into the pit without delay. She obeyed, and +when he had carefully folded the robes and divers furs about her body, +he stepped a few paces to one side, and gently lifting up a round lid of +snow-crust, placed it over the aperture. It had been so smoothly cut, +and fitted with such precision when replaced, that no one would have +been able to discover that an incision had been made. He then bid Mary a +"dud by" in bad English, and set off on a run in a northern direction +for the purpose of joining the whites.</p> + +<p>With the first light of morning, the war-party sprang to their feet, and +hastily despatching a slight repast, they set out on their journey with +renewed animation and increased rapidity. Before starting, the chief +called to Mary, and again offered some food; but no reply being +returned, or motion discovered under the robe which he imagined +enveloped her, he supposed she was sleeping, and directed the party to +select the most even route when they emerged in the prairie, that she +might as much as possible enjoy her repose.</p> + +<p>The Indian who had planned and executed the escape of Mary, with the +well-devised cunning for which the race is proverbial, had told his +companions that he would rise before day and pursue the same direction +in advance of them, and endeavor to kill a deer for their next night's +meal. Thus his absence created no suspicion, and the party continued +their precipitate retreat.</p> + +<p>But, about noon, after casting many glances back at the supposed form of +the captive reclining peacefully in the snow-canoe, the chief, with much +excitement, betrayed by his looks, which seemed to be mingled with an +apprehension that she was dead, abruptly ordered the party to halt. He +sprang to the canoe, and convulsively tearing away the skins, discovered +only the roll of snow! He at first compressed his lips in momentary +rage, and then burst into a fit of irrepressible laughter. But the rest +raved and stamped, and uttered direful imprecations and threats of +vengeance. Immediately they were aware of the treachery of the absent +Indian, and resolved with one voice that his blood should be an +atonement for the act.</p> + +<p>The snow was quickly thrown out, and the war-party adjusted their +weapons, with the expectation of encountering the whites; and then +whirling about they retraced their steps far more swiftly than they had +been advancing. Just as the night was setting in, they came in sight of +the grove where they had encamped. They slackened their pace, and +looking eagerly forward, seemed to think it not improbable that the +whites had arrived in the vicinity, and might be lying in ambush +awaiting their return in search of the maid. They then abandoned the +canoe, after having concealed it under some low bushes, and entered the +grove in a stooping and watchful posture. Ere long the chief attained +the immediate neighbor of the spreading tree, and with an arrow drawn to +its head, crept within a few paces of the spot where he had lain the +preceding night. His party were mostly a few feet in the rear, while a +few were approaching in the same manner from the opposite direction. +Hearing no sound whatever, he rose up slowly, and with an "ugh" of +disappointment, strode carelessly across the silent and untenanted place +of encampment.</p> + +<p>Vexation and anger were expressed by the savages in being thus +disappointed. They hoped to wreak their vengeance on the whites, and +resolved to recapture the maiden. Where they expected to find them, the +scene was silent and desolate. And they now sauntered about under the +trees in the partial light of the moon that struggled through the matted +branches, threatening in the most horrid manner, the one who had thus +baffled them. Some struck their tomahawks into the trunks of trees, +while others brandished their knives, and uttered direful threats. The +young chief stood in silence, with his arms folded on his breast. A +small ray of light that fell upon his face exhibited a meditative brow, +and features expressing both firmness and determination. He had said +that the captive should be regained, and his followers ever and anon +regarded his thoughtful attitude with the confidence that his decision +would hasten the accomplishment of their desires. Long he remained thus, +motionless and dignified, and no one dared to address him.</p> + +<p>The young chief called one of the oldest of the party, who was standing +a few paces distant absorbed in thought, to his side, and after a short +conference the old savage prostrated himself on the snow, and +endeavored, like a hound, to scent the tracks of his recreant brother. +At first he met with no success, but when making a wide circuit round +the premises, still applying his nose to the ground occasionally, and +minutely examining the bushes, he paused abruptly, and announced to the +party that he had found the precise direction taken by the maid and her +deliverer. Instantly they all clustered round him, evincing the most +intense interest. Some smelt the surface of the snow, and others +examined the bushes. Small twigs, not larger than pins, were picked up +and closely scrutinized. They well knew that anyone passing through the +frozen and clustered bushes must inevitably sever some of the twigs and +buds Their progress was slow, but unerring. The course they pursued was +the direction taken by Mary and her rescuer. It was not long before they +arrived within a few feet of the place of the maiden's concealment. But +now they were at fault. There were no bushes immediately around the +fallen tree. They paused, the chief in the van, with their bows and +arrows and tomahawks in readiness for instant use. They knew that the +maiden could not return to her friends on foot, or the treacherous +savage be able to bear her far on his shoulder. They thought that one or +both must be concealed somewhere in the neighborhood, and the fallen +tree, were it hollow, was the place most likely to be selected for that +purpose. After scanning the fallen trunk a few minutes in silence, and +discovering nothing to realize their hopes, they uttered a terrific +yell, and commenced striking their tomahawks in the wood, and ripping up +the bark in quest of some hiding-place. But their search was in vain. +The fallen trunk was sound and solid throughout, and the young chief sat +down on it within three paces of Mary! Others, in passing about, +frequently trod on the very verge of the concealed pit.</p> + +<p>Mary was awakened by the yell, but knew not that the sound came from her +enemies. The Indian had told her that he would soon return, and her +heart now fluttered with the hope that her father and her friends were +at hand. Yet she prudently determined not to rush from her concealment +until she was better assured of the fact. She did not think that the +savages would ever suspect that she was hid under the snow, but yet she +thought it very strange that her father did not come to her at once. +Several minutes had elapsed since she had been startled by the sounds in +the immediate vicinity. She heard the tramp of men almost directly over +her head, and the strokes against the fallen trunk. She was several +times on the eve of rising up, but was as often withheld by some +mysterious impulse. She endeavored to reflect calmly, but still she +could not, by any mode of conjecture, realize the probability of her +foes having returned and traced her thither. Yet an undefinable fear +still possessed her, and she endeavored with patience to await the +pleasure of her friends. But when the chief seated himself in her +vicinity, and fell into one of his fits of abstraction, and the whole +party became comparatively still and hushed, the poor girl's suspense +was almost insufferable. She knew that human beings were all around her, +and yet her situation was truly pitiable and lonely. She felt assured +that if the war-party had returned in pursuit of her, the means which +enabled them to trace their victim to the fallen trunk would likewise +have sufficed to indicate her hiding place. Then why should they +hesitate? The yells that awakened her were not heard distinctly, and +under the circumstances she could not believe that she was surrounded by +savages. On the other hand, if they were her friends, why did they not +relieve her? Now a sudden, but, alas! erroneous thought occurred to her. +She was persuaded that they were her friends, but that the friendly +Indian was not with them--he had perhaps directed them where she could +be found, and then returned to his home. Might not her friends, at that +moment, be anxiously searching for her? Would not one word suffice to +dispel their solicitude, and restore the lost one to their arms? She +resolved to speak. Bowing down her head slightly, so that her precise +location might not instantly be ascertained, she uttered in a soft voice +the word "FATHER!" The chief sprang from his seat, and the party was +instantly in commotion. Some of the savages looked above, among the +twining branches, and some shot their arrows in the snow, but +fortunately not in the direction of Mary while others ran about in every +direction, examining all the large trees in the vicinity. The chief was +amazed and utterly confounded. He drew not forth an arrow, nor +brandished a tomahawk. While he thus stood, and the rest of the party +were moving hurriedly about, a few paces distant, Mary again repeated +the word "FATHER!" As suddenly as if by enchantment every savage was +paralyzed. Each stood as devoid of animation as a statue. For many +moments an intense silence reigned, as if naught existed there but the +cheerless forest trees. Slowly at length, the tomahawk was returned to +the belt, and the arrow to the quiver. No longer was a desire to spill +blood manifested. The dusky children of the forest attributed to the +mysterious sound a supernatural agency. They believed it was a voice +from the perennial hunting grounds. Humbly they bowed their heads, and +whispered devotions to the Great Spirit. The young chief alone stood +erect. He gazed at the round moon above him, and sighs burst from his +breast, and burning tears ran down his stained cheek. Impatiently, by a +motion of the hand, he directed the savages to leave him, and when they +withdrew he resumed his seat on the fallen trunk, and reclined his brow +upon his hand. One of the long feathers that decked his head waved +forward, after he had been seated thus a few minutes, and when his eye +rested upon it he started up wildly, and tearing it away, trampled it +under his feet. At that instant the same "FATHER!" was again heard. The +young chief fell upon his knees, and, while he panted convulsively, +said, in English, "Father! Mother! I'm your poor William--you loved me +much--where are you? Oh tell me--I will come to you--I want to see you!" +He then fell prostrate and groaned piteously. "Father! Oh! where +are you?"</p> + +<p>"Whose voice was that?" said Mary, breaking through the slight +incrustation that obscured her, and leaping from her covert.</p> + +<p>The young chief sprang from the earth--gazed a moment at the maid--spoke +rapidly and loudly in the language of his tribe to his party, who were +now at the place of encampment, seated by the fire they had kindled--and +then, seizing his tomahawk, was in the act of hurling it at Mary, when +the yells of the war-party and the ringing discharges of fire-arms +arrested his steel when brandished in the air. The white men had +arrived! The young chief seized Mary by her long, flowing hair--again +prepared to strike the fatal blow--when she turned her face upward, and +he again hesitated. Discharges in quick succession, and nearer than +before, still rang in his ears. Mary strove not to escape. Nor did the +Indian strike. The whites were heard rushing through the bushes--the +chief seized the trembling girl in his arms--a bullet whizzed by his +head---but, unmindful of danger, he vanished among the dark bushes with +his burden.</p> + +<p>"She's gone! she's gone!" exclaimed Roughgrove, looking aghast at the +vacated pit under the fallen trunk.</p> + +<p>"But we will have her yet," said Boone, as he heard Glenn discharge a +pistol a few paces apart in the bushes. The report was followed by a +yell, not from the chief, but Sneak, and the next moment the rifle of +the latter was likewise heard. Still the Indian was not dispatched, for +the instant afterward his tomahawk, which had been hurled without +effect, came sailing over the bushes, and penetrated a tree hard by, +some fifteen or twenty feet above the earth, where it entered the wood +with such a force that it remained firmly fixed. Now succeeded a +struggle--a violent blow was heard--the fall of the Indian, and all was +still. A minute afterward Sneak emerged from the thicket, bearing Mary +in his arms, and followed by Glenn.</p> + +<p>"Is she dead? Oh, she's dead!" cried Roughgrove, snatching her from the +arms of Sneak.</p> + +<p>"She has only fainted!" exclaimed Glenn, examining the body of the girl, +and finding no wounds.</p> + +<p>"She's recovering!" said Boone, feeling her pulse.</p> + +<p>"God be praised!" exclaimed Roughgrove, when returning animation was +manifest.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know you won't kill me! for pity's sake, spare me!" said Mary.</p> + +<p>"It is your father, my poor child!" said Roughgrove, pressing the girl +to his heart.</p> + +<p>"It is! it is!" cried the happy girl, clinging rapturously to the old +man's neck, and then, seizing the hands of the rest, she seemed to be +half wild with delight.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="SHIPWRECK_OF_THE_MEDUSA."></a>SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA.</h2> + +<p>On the 17th of June, 1816, the Medusa, French frigate, commanded by +Captain Chaumareys, and accompanied by three smaller vessels, sailed +from the island of Aix, for the coast of Africa, in order to take +possession of some colonies. On the 1st of July, they entered the +tropics; and there, with a childish disregard to danger, and knowing +that she was surrounded by all the unseen perils of the ocean, her crew +performed the ceremony usual to the occasion, while the vessel was +running headlong on destruction. The captain, presided over the +disgraceful scene of merriment, leaving the ship to the command of an M. +Richefort, who had passed the ten preceding years of his life in an +English prison--a few persons on board remonstrated in vain; though it +was ascertained that they were on the banks of Arguise, she continued +her course, and heaved the lead, without slackening the sail. Every +thing denoted shallow water, but M. Richefort persisted in saying that +they were in one hundred fathoms. At that very moment only six fathoms +were found; and the vessel struck three times, being in about sixteen +feet water, and the tide full flood. At ebb-tide, there remained but +twelve feet water; and after some bungling manoeuvres, all hope of +getting the ship off was abandoned.</p> + +<p>When the frigate struck, she had on board six boats, of various +capacities, all of which could not contain the crew and passengers; and +a raft was constructed. A dreadful scene ensued. All scrambled out of +the wreck without order or precaution. The first who reached the boats +refused to admit any of their fellow-sufferers into them, though there +was ample room for more. Some, apprehending that a plot had been formed +to abandon them in the vessel, flew to arms. No one assisted his +companions; and Captain Chaumareys stole out of a port-hole into his own +boat, leaving a great part of the crew to shift for themselves. At +length they put off to sea, intending to steer for the sandy coast of +the desert, there to land, and thence to proceed with a caravan to the +island of St. Louis.</p> + +<p>The raft had been constructed without foresight or intelligence. It was +about sixty-five feet long and twenty-five broad, but the only part +which could be depended upon was the middle; and that was so small, that +fifteen persons could not lie down upon it. Those who stood on the floor +were in constant danger of slipping through between the planks; the sea +flowed in on all its sides. When one hundred and fifty passengers who +were destined to be its burden, were on board, they stood like a solid +parallelogram, without a possibility of moving; and they were up to +their waists in water.</p> + +<p>The desperate squadron had only proceeded three leagues, when a faulty, +if not treacherous manoeuvre, broke the tow-line which fastened the +captain's boat to the raft; and this became the signal to all to let +loose their cables. The weather was calm. The coast was known to be but +twelve or fifteen leagues distant; and the land was in fact discovered +by the boats on the very same evening on which they abandoned the raft. +They were not therefore driven to this measure by any new perils; and +the cry of "<i>Nous les abandonons</i>!" which resounded throughout the line, +was the yell of a spontaneous and instinctive impulse of cowardice, +perfidy, and cruelty; and the impulse was as unanimous as it was +diabolical. The raft was left to the mercy of the waves; one after +another, the boats disappeared, and despair became general. Not one of +the promised articles, no provisions, except a very few casks of wine, +and some spoiled biscuit, sufficient for one single meal was found. A +small pocket compass, which chance had discovered, their last guide in a +trackless ocean, fell between the beams into the sea. As the crew had +taken no nourishment since morning, some wine and biscuit were +distributed; and this day, the first of thirteen on the raft, was the +last on which they tasted any solid food--except such as human nature +shudders at. The only thing which kept them alive was the hope of +revenge on those who had treacherously betrayed them.</p> + +<p>The first night was stormy; and the waves, which had free access, +committed dreadful ravages, and threatened worse. When day appeared, +twelve miserable wretches were found crushed to death between the +openings of the raft, and several more were missing; but the number +could not be ascertained, as several soldiers had taken the billets of +the dead, in order to obtain two, or even three rations. The second +night was still more dreadful, and many were washed off; although the +crew had so crowded together, that some were smothered by the mere +pressure. To soothe their last moments, the soldiers drank immoderately; +and one, who affected to rest himself upon the side, but was +treacherously cutting the ropes, was thrown into the sea. Another, whom +M. Correard had snatched from the waves, turned traitor a second time, +as soon as he recovered his senses; but he too was killed. At length the +revolted, who were chiefly soldiers, threw themselves upon their knees, +and abjectly implored mercy. At midnight, however, they rebelled again. +Those who had no arms, fought with their teeth, and thus many severe +wounds were inflicted. One was most wantonly and dreadfully bitten above +the heel, while his companions were beating him upon the head with their +carbines, before throwing him into the sea. The raft was strewed with +dead bodies, after innumerable instances of treachery and cruelty; and +from sixty to sixty-five perished that night. The force and courage of +the strongest began to yield to their misfortunes; and even the most +resolute labored under mental derangement. In the conflict, the revolted +had thrown two casks of wine, and all the remaining water, into the sea; +and it became necessary to diminish each man's share.</p> + +<p>A day of comparative tranquillity succeeded. The survivors erected their +mast again, which had been wantonly cut down in the battle of the night; +and endeavored to catch some fish, but in vain. They were reduced to +feed on the dead bodies of their companions. A third night followed, +broken by the plaintive cries of wretches, exposed to every kind of +suffering, ten or twelve of whom died of want, and awfully foretold the +fate of the remainder. The following day was fine. Some flying fish were +caught in the raft; which, mixed up with human flesh, afforded one +scanty meal.</p> + +<center><a href="374.png"><img src="374.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +A Sail in Sight.</a></center> + +<p>A new insurrection to destroy the raft, broke out on the fourth night; +this too, was marked by perfidy, and ended in blood. Most of the rebels +were thrown into the sea. The fifth morning mustered but thirty men +alive; and these sick and wounded, with the skin of their lower +extremities corroded by the salt water. Two soldiers were detected +drinking the wine of the only remaining cask; they were instantly thrown +into the sea. One boy died, and there remained only twenty-seven; of +whom fifteen only seemed likely to live. A council of war, preceded by +the most horrid despair, was held; as the weak consumed a part of the +common store, they determined to throw them into the sea. This sentence +was put into immediate execution! and all the arms on board, which now +filled their minds with horror, were, with the exception of a single +sabre, committed to the deep. Distress and misery increased with an +accelerated ratio; and even after the desperate means of destroying +their companions, and eating the most nauseous aliments, the surviving +fifteen could not hope for more than a few days' existence. A butterfly +lighted on their sail the ninth day, and though it was held to be a +messenger of good, yet many a greedy eye was cast upon it.</p> + +<p>Three days more passed over in inexpressible anguish, when they +constructed a smaller and more manageable raft, in the hope of directing +it to the shore; but on trial it was found insufficient. On the +seventeenth day, a brig was seen; which, after exciting the vicissitude +of hope and fear, proved to be the Argus, sent out in quest of the +Medusa. The inhabitants of the raft were all received on board, and were +again very nearly perishing, by a fire which broke out in the night. The +six boats which had so cruelly cast them adrift, reached the coast of +Africa in safety; and after many dangers among the Moors, the survivors +arrived at St. Louis.</p> + +<p>After this, a vessel was dispatched to the wreck of the Medusa, to carry +away the money and provisions; after beating about for eight days, she +was forced to return. She again put to sea, but after being away five +days, again came back. Ten days more were lost in repairing her; and she +did not reach the spot till fifty-two days after the vessel had been +lost; and dreadful to relate, three miserable sufferers were found on +board. Sixty men had been abandoned there by their magnanimous +countrymen. All these had been carried off except seventeen, some of +whom were drunk, and others refused to leave the vessel. They remained +at peace as long as their provisions lasted. Twelve embarked on board a +raft, for Sahara, and were never more heard of. Another put to sea on a +hen-coop, and sunk immediately. Four remained behind, one of whom, +exhausted with hunger and fatigue, perished. The other three lived in +separate corners of the wreck, and never met but to run at each other +with drawn <i>knives</i>. They were put on board the vessel, with all that +could be saved from the wreck of the Medusa.</p> + +<p>The vessel was no sooner seen returning to St. Louis, than every heart +beat high with joy, in the hope of recovering some property. The men and +officers of the Medusa jumped on board, and asked if any thing had been +saved. "Yes," was the reply, "but it is all ours now;" and the naked +Frenchmen, whose calamities had found pity from the Moors of the desert, +were now deliberately plundered by their own countrymen.</p> + +<p>A fair was held in the town, which lasted eight days. The clothes, +furniture, and necessary articles of life belonging to the men and +officers of the Medusa, were publicly sold before their faces. Such of +the French as were able, proceeded to the camp at Daceard, and the sick +remained at St. Louis. The French governor had promised them clothes and +provisions, but sent none; and during five months, they owed their +existence to strangers--to the British.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="HUNTING_THE_MOOSE."></a>HUNTING THE MOOSE.</h2> + +<p>The habits of the moose, in his manner of defence and attack, are +similar to those of the stag, and may be illustrated by the following +anecdote from the "Random Sketches of a Kentuckian:"</p> + +<p>Who ever saw Bravo without loving him? His sloe-black eyes, his glossy +skin, flecked here and there with blue; his wide-spread thighs, clean +shoulders, broad back, and low-drooping chest, bespoke him the true +stag-hound; and none, who ever saw his bounding form, or heard his +deep-toned bay, as the swift-footed stag flew before him, would dispute +his title. List, gentle reader, and I will tell you an adventure which +will make you love him all the more.</p> + +<p>A bright, frosty morning in November, 1838, tempted me to visit the +forest hunting-grounds. On this occasion, I was followed by a +fine-looking hound, which had been presented to me a few days before by +a fellow-sportsman. I was anxious to test his qualities, and, knowing +that a mean dog will not often hunt well with a good one, I had tied up +the eager Bravo, and was attended by the strange dog alone. A brisk +canter of half an hour brought me to the wild forest hills. Slackening +the rein, I slowly wound my way up a brushy slope some three hundred +yards in length. I had ascended about half way, when the hound began to +exhibit signs of uneasiness, and, at the same instant a stag sprang out +from some underbrush near by, and rushed like a whirlwind up the slope. +A word, and the hound was crouching at my feet, and my trained Cherokee, +with ear erect, and flashing eye, watched the course of the +affrighted animal.</p> + +<p>"On the very summit of the ridge, full one hundred and fifty yards, +every limb standing out in bold relief against the clear, blue sky, the +stag paused, and looked proudly down upon us. After a moment of +indecision, I raised my rifle, and sent the whizzing lead upon its +errand. A single bound, and the antlered monarch was hidden from my +view. Hastily running down a ball, I ascended the slope; my blood ran a +little faster as I saw the gouts of blood' which stained the withered +leaves where he had stood. One moment more, and the excited hound was +leaping breast high on his trail, and the gallant Cherokee bore his +rider like lightning after them.</p> + +<p>"Away--away! for hours we did thus hasten on, without once being at +fault, or checking our headlong speed. The chase had led us miles from +the starting-point, and now appeared to be bearing up a creek, on one +side of which arose a precipitous hill, some two miles in length, which +I knew the wounded animal would never ascend.</p> + +<p>"Half a mile further on, another hill reared its bleak and barren head +on the opposite side of the rivulet. Once fairly in the gorge, there was +no exit save at the upper end of the ravine. Here, then, I must +intercept my game, which I was able to do by taking a nearer cut over +the ridge, that saved at least a mile.</p> + +<p>"Giving one parting shout to cheer my dog, Cherokee bore me headlong to +the pass. I had scarcely arrived, when, black with sweat, the stag came +laboring up the gorge, seemingly, totally reckless of our presence. +Again I poured forth the 'leaden messenger of death,' as meteor-like he +flashed by us. One bound, and the noble animal lay prostrate within +fifty feet of where I stood. Leaping from my horse, and placing one knee +upon his shoulder, and a hand upon his antlers, I drew my hunting +knife; but scarcely had its keen point touched his neck, when, with a +sudden bound, he threw me from his body, and my knife was hurled from my +hand. In hunters' parlance, I had only 'creased him.' I at once saw my +danger, but it was too late. With one bound, he was upon me, wounding +and almost disabling me with his sharp feet and horns. I seized him by +his wide-spread antlers, and sought to regain possession of my knife, +but in vain; each new struggle drew us further from it. Cherokee, +frightened at the unusual scene, had madly fled to the top of the ridge, +where he stood looking down upon the combat, trembling and quivering in +every limb.</p> + +<p>"The ridge road I had taken placed us far in advance of the hound, whose +bay I could not now hear. The struggles of the furious animal had become +dreadful, and every moment I could feel his sharp hoofs cutting deep +into my flesh; my grasp upon his antlers was growing less and less firm, +and yet I relinquished not my hold. The struggle had brought us near a +deep ditch, washed by the fall rains, and into this I endeavored to +force my adversary, but my strength was unequal to the effort; when we +approached to the very brink, he leaped over the drain. I relinquished +my hold and rolled in, hoping thus to escape him; but he returned to +the attack, and, throwing himself upon me, inflicted numerous severe +cuts upon my face and breast before I could again seize him. Locking my +arms around his antlers, I drew his head close to my breast, and was +thus, by great effort, enabled to prevent his doing me any serious +injury. But I felt that this could not last long; every muscle and fiber +of my frame was called into action, and human nature could not long bear +up under such exertion. Faltering a silent prayer to Heaven, I prepared +to meet my fate.</p> + +<p>"At this moment of despair, I heard the faint bayings of the hound; the +stag, too, heard the sound, and, springing from the ditch, drew me with +him. His efforts were now redoubled, and I could scarcely cling to him. +Yet that blessed sound came nearer and nearer! Oh how wildly beat my +heart, as I saw the hound emerge from the ravine, and spring forward +with a short, quick bark, as his eye rested on his game. I released my +hold of the stag, who turned upon the new enemy. Exhausted, and unable +to rise, I still cheered the dog, that, dastard-like, fled before the +infuriated animal, who, seemingly despising such an enemy, again threw +himself upon me. Again did I succeed in throwing my arms around his +antlers, but not until he had inflicted several deep and dangerous +wounds upon my head and face, cutting to the very bone.</p> + +<p>"Blinded by the flowing blood, exhausted and despairing, I cursed the +coward dog, who stood near, baying furiously, yet refusing to seize his +game. Oh! how I prayed for Bravo! The thoughts of death were bitter. To +die thus in the wild forest, alone, with none to help! Thoughts of home +and friends coursed like lightning through my brain. At that moment, +when Hope herself had fled, deep and clear over the neighboring hill, +came the baying of my gallant Bravo! I should have known his voice among +a thousand. I pealed forth in one faint shout, 'On Bravo, on!' The next +moment, with tiger-like bounds, the noble dog came leaping down the +declivity, scattering the dried autumnal leaves like a whirlwind in his +path. 'No pause he knew,' but, fixing his fangs in the stag's throat, he +at once commenced the struggle.</p> + +<p>"I fell back completely exhausted. Blinded with blood, I only knew that +a terrible struggle was going on. In a few moments, all was still, and I +felt the warm breath of my faithful dog, as he licked my wounds. +Clearing my eyes from gore, I saw my late adversary dead at my feet, and +Bravo, 'my own Bravo,' as the heroine of a modern novel would say +standing over me. He yet bore around his neck a fragment of the rope +with which I had tied him. He had gnawed it in two, and, following his +master through all his windings, arrived in time to rescue him from a +horrible death.</p> + +<p>"I have recovered from my wounds. Bravo is lying at my feet. Who does +not love Bravo? I am sure I do, and the rascal knows it--don't you, +Bravo? Come here, sir!"</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="PERILOUS_ESCAPE_FROM_DEATH."></a>PERILOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH.</h2> + +<p>In the narrative of Moses Van Campen, we find the following incident +related. He was taken prisoner by the Seneca Indians, just after +Sullivan's expedition in the Revolution, on the confines of the white +settlements in one of the border counties of Pennsylvania. He was +marched through the wilderness, and reached the headquarters of the +savages near Fort Niagara. Here he was recognized as having, a year or +two previously, escaped, with two others, from his guard, five of whom +he slew in their sleep with his own hand.</p> + +<center><a href="385.png"><img src="385.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Savages Torturing a Captive.</a></center> + +<p>On this discovery being made, the countenances of the savages grew dark +and lowering. He saw at once that his fate was to be decided on the +principles of Indian vengeance, and, being bound, had but little hope of +escape. He, however, put on the appearance of as much unconcern as +possible. The Indians withdrew by themselves to decide in what manner +they should despatch their unhappy victim. They soon returned, their +visages covered with a demoniac expression. A few went to gathering +wood; another selected a spot, and soon a fire was kindled. Van Campen +looked upon these preparations, which were being made to burn him alive, +with feelings wrought up to the highest pitch of agony; yet he, with +much effort, appeared calm and collected. At last, when the preparations +were completed, two Indians approached, and began to unloose the cords +with which he was bound. To this he submitted. But the moment he was +fully loosed, he dashed the two Indians aside--felling one upon the +earth with a blow of his fist--and darted off toward the fort, where he +hoped to receive protection from the British officers. Tomahawks gleamed +in the air behind him--rifle balls whistled around--but onward still he +flew. One unarmed Indian stood in his path and intercepted him. With a +giant spring, he struck him in the breast with his feet, and bore him to +the earth. Recovering himself, he again started for the woods, and, as +he was running for life--with the fire and faggot behind him, and a +lingering death of torture--he soon outstripped all his pursuers. It +being near night, he effected his escape, arrived at the fort, and was +sent down the river to Montreal, to be out of the way of the savage +Senecas, who thirsted for his blood as a recompense for that of their +brethren whom he had slain.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="FIRE_IN_THE_FOREST."></a>FIRE IN THE FOREST.</h2> + +<p>"The summer of 1825 was unusually warm in both hemispheres, particularly +in America, where its effects were fatally visible in the prevalence of +epidemical disorders. During July and August, extensive fires raged in +different parts of Nova Scotia, especially in the eastern division of +the peninsular. The protracted drought of the summer, acting upon the +aridity of the forests, had rendered them more than naturally +combustible; and this, facilitating both the dispersion and the progress +of the fires that appeared in the early part of the season, produced an +unusual warmth. On the 6th of October, the fire was evidently +approaching New Castle; at different intervals fitful blazes and flashes +were observed to issue from different parts of the woods, particularly +up the northwest, at the rear of New Castle, in the vicinity of +Douglasstown and Moorfields, and along the banks of the Bartibog. Many +persons heard the crackling of falling trees and shriveled branches, +while a hoarse rumbling noise, not dissimilar to the roaring of distant +thunder, and divided by pauses, like the intermittent discharges of +artillery, was distinct and audible. On the 7th of October, the heat +increased to such a degree, and became so very oppressive, that many +complained of its enervating effects. About twelve o'clock, a pale, +sickly mist, lightly tinged with purple, emerged from the forest and +settled over it.</p> + +<p>"This cloud soon retreated before a large, dark one, which, occupying +its place, wrapped the firmament in a pall of vapor. This incumbrance +retaining its position till about three o'clock, the heat became +tormentingly sultry. There was not a breath of air; the atmosphere was +overloaded; and irresistible lassitude seized the people. A stupefying +dullness seemed to pervade every place but the woods, which now +trembled, and rustled, and shook with an incessant and thrilling noise +of explosions, rapidly following each other, and mingling their reports +with a discordant variety of loud and boisterous sounds. At this time, +the whole country appeared to be encircled by a <i>fiery zone</i>, which, +gradually contracting its circle by the devastation it had made, seemed +as if it would not converge into a point while any thing remained to be +destroyed. A little after four o'clock, an immense pillar of smoke rose, +in a vertical direction, at some distance northeast of New Castle, for a +while, and the sky was absolutely blackened by this huge cloud; but a +light, northerly breeze springing up, it gradually distended, and then +dissipated into a variety of shapeless mists. About an hour after, or +probably at half past five, innumerable large spires of smoke, issuing +from different parts of the woods, and illuminated the flames that +seemed to pierce them, mounted the sky. A heavy and suffocating canopy, +extending to the utmost verge of observation, and appearing mere +terrific by the vivid flashes and blazes that darted irregularly through +it, now hung over New Castle and Douglass in threatening suspension, +while showers of flaming brands, calcined leaves, ashes, and cinders, +seemed to scream through the growling noise that prevailed in the woods. +About nine o'clock, P.M., or shortly after, a succession of loud and +appalling roars thundered through the forests. Peal after peal, crash +after crash, announced the sentence of destruction. Every succeeding +shock created fresh alarm; every clap came loaded with its own +destructive energy. With greedy rapidity did the flames advance to the +devoted scene of their ministry; nothing could impede their progress. +They removed every obstacle by the desolation they occasioned, and +several hundred miles of prostrate forests and smitten woods marked +their devastating way.</p> + +<p>"The river, tortured into violence by the hurricane, foamed with rage, +and flung its boiling spray upon the land. The thunder pealed along the +vault of heaven--the lightning appeared to rend the firmament. For a +moment all was still, and a deep and awful silence reigned over every +thing. All nature appeared to be hushed, when suddenly a lengthened and +sullen roar came booming through the forests, driving a thousand massive +and devouring flames before it. Then New Castle and Douglasstown, and +the whole northern side of the river, extending from Bartibog to the +Naashwaak, a distance of more than one hundred miles in length, became +enveloped in an immense sheet of flame, that spread over nearly six +thousand square miles! That the reader may form a faint idea of the +desolation and misery, which no pen can describe, he must picture to +himself a large and rapid river, thickly settled for one hundred miles +or more on both sides of it. He must also fancy four thriving towns, two +on each side of this river, and then reflect that these towns and +settlements were all composed of wooden houses, stores, stables and +barns; that these barns and stables were filled with crops, and that the +arrival of the fall importations had stocked the warehouses and stores +with spirits, powder, and a variety of cumbustible articles, as well as +with the necessary supplies for the approaching winter. He must then +remember that the cultivated or settled part of the river is but a long, +narrow strip, about a quarter of a mile wide, lying between the river +and almost interminable forests, stretching along the very edge of its +precints and all around it. Extending his conception, he will see the +forests thickly expanding over more than six thousand square miles, and +absolutely parched into tinder by the protracted heat of a long summer.</p> + +<p>"Let him then animate the picture, by scattering countless tribes of +wild animals, and hundreds of domestic ones, and even thousands of men +in the interior. Having done all this, he will have before him a feeble +outline of the extent, features, and general circumstances of the +country, which, in the course of a few hours, was suddenly enveloped in +fire. A more ghastly or a more revolting picture of human misery can not +well be imagined. The whole district of cultivated land was shrouded in +the agonizing memorials of some dreadful deforming havoc. The songs of +gladness that formerly resounded through it were no longer heard, for +the voice of misery had hushed them. Nothing broke upon the ear but the +accents of distress; the eye saw nothing but ruin, and desolation, and +death. New Castle, yesterday a flourishing town, full of trade and +spirit, and containing nearly one thousand inhabitants, was now a heap +of smoking ruins; and Douglasstown, nearly one-third of its size, was +reduced to the same miserable condition. Of the two hundred and sixty +houses and storehouses, that composed the former, but twelve remained; +and of the seventy that comprised the latter, but six were left. The +confusion on board of one hundred and fifty large vessels, then lying in +the Mirimachi, and exposed to imminent danger, was terrible--some burned +to the water's edge, others burning, and the remainder occasionally +on fire.</p> + +<p>"Dispersed groups of half-famished, half-naked, and houseless creatures, +all more or less injured in their persons, many lamenting the loss of +some property, or children, or relations and friends, were wandering +through the country. Of the human bodies, some were seen with their +bowels protruding, others with the flesh all consumed, and the blackened +skeletons smoking; some with headless trunks, and severed extremities; +some bodies were burned to cinders, others reduced to ashes; many +bloated and swollen by suffocation, and several lying in the last +distorted position of convulsing torture; brief and violent was their +passage from life to death, and rude and melancholy was their +sepulchre--'unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.' The immediate loss of +life was upward of five hundred beings! Thousands of wild beasts, too, +had perished in the woods, and from their putrescent carcasses issued +streams of effluvium and stench that formed contagious domes over the +dismantled settlements. Domestic animals of all kinds lay dead and dying +in different parts of the country. Myriads of salmon, trout, bass, and +other fish, which, poisoned by the alkali formed by the ashes +precipitated into the river, now lay dead or floundering and gasping on +the scorched shores and beaches, and the countless variety of wild fowl +and reptiles shared a similar fate.</p> + +<p>"Such was the violence of the hurricane, that large bodies of ignited +timber, and portions of the trunks of trees, and severed limbs, and also +parts of flaming buildings, shingles, boards, &c., were hurried along +through the frowning heavens with terrible velocity, outstripping the +fleetest horses, spreading destruction far in the advance, thus cutting +off retreat. The shrieks of the affrighted inhabitants, mingling with +the discordant bellowing of cattle, the neighing of horses, the howling +of dogs, and the strange notes of distress and fright from other +domestic animals, strangely blending with the roar of the flames and the +thunder of the tornado, beggars description.</p> + +<p>"Their only means of safety was the river, to which there was a +simultaneous rush, seizing whatever was buoyant, however inadequate; +many attempted to effect a crossing; some succeeded; others failed, and +were drowned. One woman actually seized a bull by the tail, just as he +plunged into the river, and was safely towed to the opposite shore. +Those who were unable to make their escape across plunged into the water +to their necks, and, by a constant application of water to the head, +while in this submerged condition, escaped a dreadful burning. In some +portions of the country, the cattle were nearly all destroyed. Whole +crews of men, camping in the interior, and engaged in timber-making, +were consumed.</p> + +<p>"Such was the awful conflagration of 1825, on the Mirimachi."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="PIRATES_OF_THE_RED_SEA."></a>PIRATES OF THE RED SEA.</h2> + +<p>The commerce of the Red Sea has, almost from time immemorial, greatly +suffered from the depredations of Arab pirates, who infest the entire +coasts. The exploits of one individual is dwelt upon by his late +<i>confreres</i> with particular enthusiasm; and his career and deeds were of +so extraordinary a character, that we feel justified in giving the +following brief detail of them, as furnished by an English traveler:</p> + +<p>This dreadful man, Ramah ibn Java, the <i>beau ideal</i> of his order, the +personation of an Arab sea robber, was a native of a small village near +Jiddah. At an early period he commenced a mode of life congenial to his +disposition and nature. Purchasing a boat, he, with a band of about +twelve companions, commenced his career as a pirate, and in the course +of a few months he had been so successful that he became the owner of a +vessel of three hundred tons, and manned with a lawless crew. It was a +part of his system to leave British vessels unmolested, and he even +affected to be on good terms with them. We have heard an old officer +describe his appearance. He was then about forty-five years of age, +short in stature, but with a figure compact and square, a constitution +vigorous, and the characteristic qualities of his countrymen--frugality, +and patience of fatigue. Several scars already seamed his face, and the +bone of his arm had been shattered by a matchlock ball when boarding a +vessel. It is a remarkable fact that the intermediate bones sloughed +away, and the arm, connected only by flesh and muscle, was still, by +means of a silver tube affixed around it, capable of exertion.</p> + +<p>Ramah was born to be the leader of the wild spirits around him. With a +sternness of purpose that awed those who were near him into a degree of +dread, which totally astonished those who had been accustomed to view +the terms of equality in which the Arab chiefs appear with their +followers, he exacted the most implicit obedience to his will; and the +manner in which he acted toward his son exhibits the length he was +disposed to go with those who thwarted, or did not act up to, the spirit +of his views. The young man, then a mere stripling, had been dispatched +to attack some boats, but he was unsuccessful. "This, dastard, and son +of a dog!" said the enraged father, who had been watching the progress +of the affair, "you return unharmed to tell me! Fling him over the +side!" The chief was obeyed; and but for a boat, which by some chance +was passing some miles astern, he would have been drowned. Of his +existence the father for many months was wholly unconscious, and how he +was reconciled we never heard; but during the interval he was never +known to utter his name. No cause, it appears, existed for a repetition +of the punishment; for while yet a youth, he met the death his father +would have most coveted for him. He fell at the head of a party that was +bravely storming a fort.</p> + +<p>Many other acts of cruelty are related of him. Having seized a small +trading boat, he plundered her, and then fastened the crew--five in +number--round the anchor, suspended it from the bows, cut the cable, and +let the anchor, with its living burden, sink to the bottom. He once +attacked a small town on the Persian Gulf. In this town lived one Abder +Russel, a personal friend of the narrator, who related the visit of the +pirates to his dwelling. Seized with a violent illness, he was stretched +on a pallet spread on a floor of his apartment; his wife, to whom he was +devotedly attached, was attending him, his head placed in her lap. A +violent noise arose below--the door was heavily assailed--it yielded--a +sharp conflict took place--shouting and a rushing on the stair-case was +heard, and the pirates were in the apartment. "I read their purpose," +said Abder to me, "In their looks; but I was bed-ridden, and could not +raise a finger to save her for whose life I would gladly have forfeited +my own, Ramah, the pirate captain, approached her. Entreaties for life +were unavailing; yet for an instant her extreme beauty arrested his arm, +but it was only for an instant. His dagger again gleamed on high, and +she sank a bleeding victim beside me. Cold and apparently inanimate as I +was, I nevertheless felt her warm blood flowing past me, and with her +life it ebbed rapidly away. My eyes must have been fixed with the vacant +look of death: I even felt unmoved as he bent down beside me, and, with +spider-like fingers, stripped the jewels from my hand--the touch of that +villain who had deprived me of all which in life I valued. At length, a +happy insensibility stole over me. How long I remained in this condition +I know not; but when I recovered my senses, fever had left me--cool +blood again traversed my veins. Beside me was a faithful slave, who was +engaged bathing my temples. He had escaped the slaughter by secreting +himself while the murderers remained in the house."</p> + +<p>Ramah, although a man of few words with his crew, was nevertheless very +communicative to our officers, whenever he fell in with them. According +to his own account, he managed them by never permitting any +familiarities, nor communicating big plans, and by an impartial +distribution of plunder; but the grand secret, he knew full well, was in +his utter contempt of danger, and that terrible, untaught eloquence, at +the hour of need, where time is brief, and sentences must be condensed +into words, which marked his career. Success crowned all his exploits; +he made war, and levied contributions on whom he pleased. Several times +he kept important sea-port towns in a state of blockade, and his +appearance was every where feared and dreaded.</p> + +<p>He took possession of a small sandy islet, not many miles from his +native place, where he built a fort, and would occasionally sally forth, +and plunder and annoy any vessel that he met with. Although now +perfectly blind and wounded in almost every part of his body, yet such +was the dread inspired by the energy of this old chief, that, for a long +time, no one could be found willing to attack the single vessel which he +possessed. At length, a sheik, bolder than his neighbors, proceeded in +three heavy boats to attack Ramah. The followers of the latter, too well +trained to feel or express alarm, save that which arose from affection +for their chief, painted in strong terms the overwhelming superiority of +the approaching force, and counseled his bearing away from them; but he +spurned the idea. The evening drew near, and closed upon him. After a +severe contest they gained the deck. An instant after, dead and dying, +the victor and the vanquished, were given to the wind. Ramah, with a +spirit in accordance with the tenor of his whole career, finding the day +was going against him, was led by a little boy to the magazine, and +then, it is supposed, applied the pipe he had been smoking during the +action to the powder. Such, to his life, was the fitting end of the +pirate chief.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> + +<h2><a name="GEN._JACKSON_AND_WEATHERFORD."></a>GEN. JACKSON AND WEATHERFORD.</h2> +<center><a href="400.png"><img src="400.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +General Jackson and Weatherford.</a></center> + +<p>After the battle of Tallapoosa, General Jackson returned with his +victorious army to Fort Williams; but, determined to give his enemy no +opportunity of retrieving the misfortune that had befallen him, he +recommenced operations immediately afterward. On the 7th of April, 1814, +he again set out for Tallapoosa, with the view of forming a junction +with the Georgia troops under Colonel Milton, and completing the +subjugation of the country. On the 14th of that month, the union of the +two armies was effected, and both bodies moved to a place called the +Hickory Ground, where, it was expected, the last final stand would be +made by the Indians, or terms of submission would be agreed on. The +principal chiefs of the different tribes had assembled here, and, on the +approach of the army, sent a deputation to treat for peace. Among them +was Weatherford, celebrated equally for his talents and cruelty, who had +directed the massacre at Fort Mimms. It had been the intention of +General Jackson, to inflict a signal punishment upon him, if ever in his +power. Struck, however, with the bold and nervous eloquence of this +fearless savage, and persuaded of the sincerity of his wishes for peace, +he dismissed him without injury. Some of the speeches of this warrior +have been preserved, and exhibit a beautiful specimen of the melancholy +but manly tone of a savage hero, lamenting the misfortunes of his race. +Addressing General Jackson, he said, "I am in your power--do with me as +you please. I am a soldier. I have done the white people all the harm I +could; I have fought them, and fought them bravely. There was a time +when I had a choice, and could have answered you: I have none now,--even +hope is ended. Once I could animate my warriors; but I can not animate +the dead. My warriors can no longer hear my voice; their bones are at +Talladega, Tallushatchee, Emuckfaw, and Tohopeka. While there was a +chance of success, I never left my post, nor supplicated peace. But my +people are gone; and I now ask it for my nation and myself." He shortly +afterward became the instrument of restoring peace, which was concluded +by the total submission of the Indians. They agreed to retire in the +rear of the army, and occupy the country to the east of the Coosa; while +a line of American posts was established from Tennessee and Georgia, to +the Alabama, and the power and resources of these tribes were thus +effectually destroyed.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="CRUISE_OF_THE_SALDANHA_AND_TALBOT"></a>CRUISE OF THE SALDANHA AND TALBOT.</h2> + +<p>At midnight of Saturday, the 30th of November, 1811, with a fair wind +and a smooth sea, we weighed from our station, in company with the +Saldanha frigate, of thirty-eight guns, Captain Packenham, with a crew +of three hundred men, on a cruise, as was intended, of twenty days--the +Saldanha taking a westerly course, while we stood in the opposite +direction.</p> + +<p>We had scarcely got out of the lock and cleared the heads, however, when +we plunged at once into all the miseries of a gale of wind blowing from +the west. During the three following days, it continued to increase in +violence, when the islands of Coll and Tiree became visible to us. As +the wind had now chopped round more to the north, and continued unabated +in violence, the danger of getting involved among the numerous small +islands and rugged headlands, on the northwest coast of Inverness-shire, +became evident. It was therefore deemed expedient to wear the ship +round, and make a port with all expedition. With this view, and favored +by the wind, a course was shaped for Lochswilly, and away we scudded +under close-reefed foresail and main-topsail, followed by a tremendous +sea, which threatened every moment to overwhelm us, and accompanied by +piercing showers of hail, and a gale which blew with incredible fury. +The same course was steered until next day about noon, when land was +seen on the lee-bow. The weather being thick, some time elapsed before +it could be distinctly made out, and it was then ascertained to be the +island of North Arran, on the coast of Donegal, westward of Lochswilly. +The ship was therefore hauled up some points, and we yet entertained +hopes of reaching an anchorage before nightfall, when the weather +gradually thickened, and the sea, now that we were upon the wind, broke +over us in all directions. Its violence was such, that in a few minutes +several of our ports were stove in, at which the water poured in in +great abundance, until it was actually breast high on the lee-side of +the main deck. Fortunately, but little got below, and the ship was +relieved by taking in the foresail. But a dreadful addition was now made +to the precariousness of our situation, by the cry of "land a-head!" +which was seen from the forecastle, and must have been very near. Not a +moment was now lost in wearing the ship round on the other tack, and +making what little sail could be carried, to weather the land we had +already passed. This soon proved, however, to be a forlorn prospect, for +it was found that we should run our distance by ten o'clock. All the +horrors of shipwreck now stared us in the face, aggravated tenfold by +the darkness of the night, and the tremendous force of the wind, which +now blew a hurricane. Mountains are insignificant when speaking of the +sea that kept pace with it; its violence was awful beyond description, +and it frequently broke over all the poor little ship, that shivered and +groaned, but behaved admirably.</p> + +<p>The force of the sea may be guessed from the fact of the sheet-anchor, +nearly a ton and a half in weight, being actually lifted on board, to +say nothing of the forechain-plates' board broken, both gangways torn +away, quarter-galleries stove in, &c. In short, on getting into port, +the vessel was found to be loosened through all her frame, and leaking +at every seam. As far as depended on her good qualities, however, I +felt assured at the time, we were safe, for I had seen enough of the +Talbot to be convinced we were in one of the finest sea-boats that ever +swam. But what could all the skill of the ship-builder avail in a +situation like ours? With a night full fifteen hours long before us, and +knowing that we were fast driving on the land, anxiety and dread were on +every face, and every mind felt the terrors of uncertainty and suspense. +At length, about twelve o'clock, the dreadful truth was disclosed to us!</p> + +<p>Judge of my sensation when I saw the frowning rocks of Arran, scarcely +half a mile distant on our lee-bow. To our inexpressible relief, and not +less to our surprise, we fairly weathered all, and were congratulating +each other on our escape, when, on looking forward, I imagined I saw +breakers at no great distance on our lee; and this suspicion was soon +confirmed, when the moon, which shone at intervals, suddenly broke out +from behind a cloud, and presented to us a most terrific spectacle. At +not more than a quarter of a mile's distance on our lee-beam, appeared a +range of tremendous breakers, among which it seemed as if every sea +would throw us. Their height, it may be guessed, was prodigious, when +they could be clearly distinguished from the foaming waters of the +surrounded ocean. It was a scene seldom to be witnessed, and never +forgotten! "Lord have mercy upon us!" was now on the lip of every +one--destruction seemed inevitable. Captain Swaine, whose coolness I +have never seen surpassed, issued his orders clearly and collectedly, +when it was proposed, as a last resource, to drop the anchors, cut away +the masts, and trust to the chance of riding out the gale. This scheme +was actually determined on, and every thing was in readiness, but +happily was deferred until an experiment was tried aloft. In addition to +the close-reefed main-topsail and foresail, the fore-topsail, and +trysail were now set, and the result was almost magical. With a few +plunges, we cleared not only the reef, but a huge rock upon which I +could with ease have tossed a biscuit, and in a few minutes we were +inexpressibly rejoiced to see both far astern.</p> + +<p>We had now miraculously escaped all but certain destruction a second +time, but much was yet to be feared. We had still to pass Cape Jeller, +and the moments dragged on in gloomy apprehension and anxious suspense. +The ship carried sail most wonderfully, and we continued to go along at +the rate of seven knots, shipping very heavy seas, and laboring +much--all with much solicitude looking out for daylight. The dawn at +length appeared, and to our great joy we saw the land several miles +astern, having passed the Cape and many other hidden dangers during +the darkness.</p> + +<p>Matters, on the morning of the 5th, assumed a very different aspect from +that which we had experienced for the last two days; the wind gradually +subsided, and, with it the sea, and a favorable breeze now springing up, +we were enabled to make a good offing. Fortunately, no accident of +consequence occurred, although several of our people were severely +bruised by falls. Poor fellows! they certainly suffered enough; not a +dry stitch, not a dry hammock have they had since we sailed. Happily, +however, their misfortunes are soon forgot in a dry shirt and a can +of grog.</p> + +<p>The most melancholy part of the narrative is still to be told. On coming +up to our anchorage, we observed an unusual degree of curiosity and +bustle in the fort; crowds of people were congregated on both sides, +running to and fro, examining us through spyglasses; in short, an +extraordinary commotion was apparent. The meaning of all this was but +too soon made known to us by a boat coming alongside, from which we +learned that the unfortunate Saldanha had gone to pieces, and every man +perished! Our own destruction had likewise been reckoned inevitable, +from the time of the discovery of the unhappy fate of our consort, five +days beforehand; and hence the astonishment at our unexpected return. +From all that could be learned concerning the dreadful catastrophe, I am +inclined to believe that the Saldanha had been driven on the rocks about +the time our doom appeared so certain in another quarter. Her lights +were seen by the signal-tower at nine o'clock of that fearful Wednesday +night, December 4th, after which it is supposed she went ashore on the +rocks at a small bay called Ballymastaker, almost at the entrance of +Lochswilly harbor.</p> + +<p>Next morning the beach was strewed with fragments of the wreck, and +upward of two hundred of the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers were +washed ashore. One man--and one only--out of the three hundred, was +ascertained to have come ashore alive, but almost in a state of +insensibility. Unhappily, there was no person present to administer to +his wants judiciously, and, upon craving something to drink, about half +a pint of whiskey was given him by the people, which almost instantly +killed him. Poor Packenham's body was recognized amid the others, and +like these, stripped quite naked by the inhuman wretches, who flocked to +the wreck as to a blessing! It is even suspected that he came on shore +alive, but was stripped and left to perish. Nothing could equal the +audacity of the plunderers, although a party of the Lanark militia was +doing duty around the wreck. But this is an ungracious and revolting +subject, which no one of proper feeling would wish to dwell upon. Still +less am I inclined to describe the heart-rending scene at Buncrana, +where the widows of many of the sufferers are residing. The surgeon's +wife, a native of Halifax, has never spoken since the dreadful tidings +arrived. Consolation is inadmissible, and no one has yet ventured +to offer it.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="A_CARIB'S_REVENGE."></a>A CARIB'S REVENGE.</h2> + +<p>In a work recently published in London, by Captain Millman, are to be +found some of the most thrilling scenes, from life in the tropics, it +has ever been our fortune to meet with. The following account of a +Carib's revenge on a sea captain, named Jack Diver, on one of the narrow +mountain paths of Guadaloupe, is exceedingly graphic and forcible:</p> + +<p>While he was making up his mind, a dark figure had stolen unperceived +close behind him, with a small basket in his hand of split reeds, out of +which came a low buzzing, murmuring sound. He lay down quietly across +the path, at the point of the first angle of the elbow of the mountain +spar, not many feet from the hind legs of the horse. Jack Diver with a +scowling look, turned his horse round with some difficulty. It plunged +and reared slightly, but went on. Occupied with retaining his seat, the +master of the transport scarcely perceived the figure lying in the path. +He could not see who it was, for the face of the man was toward the +ground. But the horse saw it at once. The animal, accustomed to mountain +roads from its birth, had often stepped over both men and animals which +are sometimes forced in the narrowest parts to lie down to let the +heavier and stronger pass, in that highly dangerous and disagreeable +method, lifted his feet cautiously, one by one, so as not to tread on +the prostrate figure. As the horse was above him, the man lifted with +one hand the lid of the basket, and a swarm of wasps flew suddenly out, +buzzing and humming fiercely, and in a moment they began to settle on +the moving object. The horse commenced switching his tail to drive them +away, pricking up his ears, and snorting with terror.</p> + +<p>The man on the path lay quite still until they had thus moved on a few +yards, and then he raised his head a little, and watched them with his +keen black eyes. The wasps, driven off for a moment, became only the +more irritated, and returned with vigor and wonderful pertinacity to the +attack,--beginning to sting the poor animal furiously in all the tender +parts. They assailed the wretched master in his turn, darting their +venomed barbs into his face and hands, and driving him nearly frantic. +The horse plunged furiously, and Jack Diver, losing his stirrups and his +presence of mind together, twisted his hands into the horse's mane, to +keep his seat, letting the reins fall on his neck. At last, with a rear +and a bound into the air, the maddened animal darted off at a gallop; +but the faster he went, the closer stuck the persevering wasps. Jack +Diver shut his eyes, screaming with fear and pain. Then the Carib chief +rose up, and again the hawk-like scream echoed along the valley. The +turn is to be made--can the horse recover himself? Yes, maddened as he +is, he sees the danger instinctively. His speed slackens--he throws +himself on his haunches, with his fore feet on the very brink of the +precipice. One more chance! The blind, infatuated man remains on his +back. Again the horse feels the stings of his deadly persecutors; again +he plunges forward, striving to turn quickly round the corner. Round, +and he is in comparative safety. On a sudden, from behind a buttress of +projecting rock, there start across the path three dusky forms, +flinging their hands wildly in the air. Then was heard that rare and +awful sound, the shriek of a horse in the fear of a certain and coming +death; when swerving one side, he lost his footing on the slippery +shelf, and struggling madly, but unsuccessfully, to recover it, he fell +over and over--down--down--a thousand feet down! From the sailor's lips +there came no cry.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="MASSACRE_OF_FORT_MIMMS."></a>MASSACRE OF FORT MIMMS.</h2> +<center><a href="413.png"><img src="413.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Gen Coffee's Attack on the Indians.</a></center> + +<p>On the 30th of August, 1813, Fort Mimms, which contained one hundred and +fifty men, under the command of Major Beasely, besides a number of women +and children, was surprised by a party of Indians. The houses were set +on fire, and those who escaped the flames fell victims to the tomahawk. +Neither age nor sex was spared; and the most horrible cruelties, of +which the imagination can conceive, were perpetrated. Out of the three +hundred persons which the fort contained, only seventeen escaped to +carry the dreadful intelligence to the neighboring stations.</p> + +<p>This sanguinary and unprovoked massacre excited universal horror, and +the desire of revenge. The state of Tennessee immediately took active +measures for punishing the aggressors. General Jackson was ordered to +draft two thousand of the militia and volunteers of his division; and +General Coffee was directed to proceed with five hundred mounted men to +the frontier of the state. The former, having collected a part of his +force, joined General Coffee on the 12th of October, at Ditto's landing, +on the Tennessee. They then marched to the Ten Islands, in the same +river. A few days afterward, General Coffee was detached with nine +hundred men to attack a body of the enemy, posted at Tallushatchee. He +arrived early in the morning within a short distance of it, and, +dividing his force into two columns, completely surrounded it. The +Indians, for a long time, made a desperate resistance, and did all that +was possible for men to do who were in their situation. But they were +finally overpowered, with the loss of one hundred an eighty-six men.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_FRESHET."></a>THE FRESHET.</h2> + +<p>The freshet at Bangor, Me., in the spring of 1846, is thus described in +"Forest Life and Forest Trees:"</p> + +<p>The first injury to the city was from the breaking away of a small +section of the jam, which came down and pressed against the ice on our +banks. By this, twenty houses in one immediate neighborhood, on the west +bank of the river alone, were at once inundated, but without loss of +life. This occurred in the daytime, and presented a scene of magnificent +interest. The effect of this small concussion upon the ice near the city +was terrific. The water rose instantly to such a height as to sweep the +buildings and lumber from the ends of the wharves, and to throw up the +ice in huge sheets and pyramids. This shock was resisted by the great +covered bridge on the Penobscot, which is about one thousand feet in +length, and this gave time to save much property But meanwhile another +auxiliary to the fearful work had been preparing, by the breaking up of +the ice in the Kenduskeag river. This river flows through the heart of +the city, dividing it into two equal portions. The whole flat, on the +margin of the river, is covered with stores and public buildings, and is +the place of merchandise for the city. The Kenduskeag runs nearly at +right angles with the Penobscot, at the point where they unite. The +Penobscot skirts the city on the eastern side, and on the banks of this +river are the principal wharves for the deposit of lumber.</p> + +<p>I must mention another circumstance to give you a just idea of our +situation. There is a narrow spot in the river, about a mile below the +city, at High Head, in which is a shoal, and from which the greatest +danger of a jam always arises, and it was this that caused the principal +inundation.</p> + +<p>The next incident occurred at midnight, when the bells were rung to +announce the giving way of the ice. It was a fearful sound and scene. +The streets were thronged with men, women, and children, who rushed +abroad to witness the approach of the icy avalanche. At length it came +rushing on with a power that a thousand locomotives in a body could not +vie with; but it was vailed from the eye by the darkness of a hazy +night, and the ear only could trace its progress by the sounds of +crashing buildings, lumber, and whatever it encountered in its pathway, +except the glimpses that could be caught of it by the light of hundreds +of torches and lanterns that threw their glare upon the misty +atmosphere. The jam passed on, and a portion of it pressed through the +weakest portion of the great bridge, and thus, joining the ice below the +bridge, pressed it down to the narrows at High Head. The destruction, +meanwhile, was in progress on the Kenduskeag, which poured down its +tributary ice, sweeping mills, bridges, shops, and other buildings, with +masses of logs and lumber, to add to the common wreck.</p> + +<p>At that moment, the anxiety and suspense were fearful whether the jam +would force its way through the narrows, or there stop and pour back a +flood of waters upon the city; for it was from the rise of the water +consequent upon such a jam that the great destruction was to be +apprehended. But the suspense was soon over. A cry was heard from the +dense mass of citizens who crowded the streets on the flat, "The river +is flowing back!" and so sudden was the revulsion, that it required the +utmost speed to escape the rising waters. It seemed but a moment before +the entire flat was deluged; and many men did not escape from their +stores before the water was up to their waists. Had you witnessed the +scene, occurring as it did in the midst of a dark and hazy night, and +had you heard the rushing of the waters, and the crash of the ruins, +and seen the multitudes retreating in a mass from the returning flood, +illumined only by the glare of torches and lanterns, and listened to the +shouts and cries that escaped from them to give the alarm to those +beyond, you would not be surprised at my being reminded of the host of +Pharaoh as they fled and sent up their cry from the Red Sea, as it +returned upon them in its strength.</p> + +<p>"The closing scene of this dreadful disaster occurred on Sunday evening, +beginning at about seven o'clock. The alarm was again rung through the +streets that the jam had given way. The citizens again rushed abroad to +witness what they knew must be one of the most sublime and awful scenes +of nature, and also to learn the full extent of their calamity. Few, +however, were able to catch a sight of the breaking up of the jam, +which, for magnitude, it is certain, has not occurred on this river for +more than one hundred years. The whole river was like a boiling +cauldron, with masses of ice upheaved as by a volcano. But soon the +darkness shrouded the scene in part. The ear, however, could hear the +roaring of the waters and the crash of buildings, bridges, and lumber, +and the eye could trace the mammoth ice-jam of four miles long, which +passed on majestically, but with lightning rapidity, bearing the +contents of both rivers on its bosom, The noble covered bridge of the +Penobscot, two bridges of the Kenduskeag, and the two long ranges of +saw-mills, besides other mills, houses, shops, logs, and lumber enough +to build up a considerable village. The new market floated over the +lower bridge across the Kenduskeag, a part of which remains, and, most +happily, landed at a point of the wharves, where it sunk, and formed the +nucleus of a sort of boom, which stopped the masses of floating lumber +in the Kenduskeag, and protected thousands of dollars' worth of lumber +on the wharves below."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_PANTHER'S_DEN."></a>THE PANTHER'S DEN.</h2> + +<p>The occupants of a few log cabins in the vicinity of the Bayou Manlatte, +a tributary of the noble Bay of Pensacola, situated in the western part +of the then territory of Florida, had been for some weeks annoyed by the +mysterious disappearance of the cattle and goats, which constituted +almost the only wealth of these rude countrymen; and the belated +herdsman was frequently startled by the terrible half human cry of the +dreaded panther, and the next morning, some one of the squatters would +find himself minus of a number of cloven feet. About this time I +happened into the settlement on a hunting excursion, in company with +another son of Nimrod, and learning the state of affairs, resolved, if +possible, to rid the "clearing" of its pest, and bind new laurels on our +brows. The night before our arrival, a heifer had been killed within a +few rods of the cabin, and the carcass dragged off toward the swamp, +some two miles distant, leaving a broad trail to mark the destroyer's +path; this being pointed out to us, Ned and myself resolved to execute +our enterprise without delay--this was to "beard the lion in his den." +Having carefully charged our rifles and pistols, and seen that our +bowies were as keen as razors, we set out on the trail, which soon +brought us to the edge of the Bayou Manlatte swamp--which covers a +surface of some thousands of acres, being a dense muddy hammock of teti, +bay, magnolia, cane, grape vines, &c. A perpetual twilight reigned +beneath the dense foliage supported by the rank soil, and our hearts +beat a few more pulsations to the minute, as we left the scorching glare +of the noon day sun, and plunged into the gloomy fastnesses of the bear +and alligator; to these latter gentlemen, whose clumsy forms were +sprawling through the mud on every side, we gave no further heed other +than to keep without the range of the deadly sweep of their powerful +tails, with which they bring their unsuspecting prey within reach of +their saw-like jaws; the bears we did not happen to meet, or we should +most assuredly have given them some of the balls designed for +the panthers.</p> + +<p>Well, we followed the trail half a mile into the swamp, when on an +elevated spot, we suddenly encountered the half-devoured body of the +unfortunate heifer, apparently just deserted by the captors. We +cautiously advanced a few paces further over a pavement of bones, "clean +scraped and meatless," and entered an open space, when a sight met my +eyes which certainly made me wish myself safe at home, or in fact, +anywhere else but where I was. About twenty-five feet from us we saw, +instead of one, an old she-panther and two cubs nearly grown, while +directly over them, on the blasted and sloping trunk of an immense +gum-tree, crouched the "old he one of all," lashing his sides fiercely +with his tail, and snorting and spitting like an enraged cat, an example +which was imitated by the three below. Here was a dilemma, on the +particularly sharp horns of which we found ourselves most uncomfortably +situated. To retreat would induce an immediate attack, the consequence +of an advance would be ditto, so we stood <i>en tableaux</i>, for a brief +second, our guns cocked and aimed, Ned drawing a bead on the dam, while +I did the same on the sire. It seemed madness to fire. We were not long +uncertain as to our course, for the old fellow suddenly bounded from the +trunk upon me, with a deafening roar. I fired as he sprang, and the +report of my piece was re-echoed by that of Ned's. I sprang aside, +dropping my rifle and drawing my long and heavy knife; it was well I did +so, for the mortally-wounded beast alighted on the very spot I had left. +He turned and sprang upon me. I avoided the blow of its powerful paw, +and grappling with him I rolled on the turf, winding my right arm tight +around his neck, and hugging close to his body to avoid his teeth and +claws, while I dealt rapid thrusts with my knife. I was very powerful; +but never was in a situation where I felt more sensibly the need of +exerting all my muscle. The contest was soon decided--my knife passing +through the brute's heart--</p> + +<center>"And panting from the dreadful close,<br> + And breathless all, the champion rose."<br></center> + +<p>And it was full time that I should do so, for Ned, having put a ball +through the head of the dam, was now manfully battling with her two +cubs; the poor fellow was sore pressed, streaming with blood from +numberless scratches, and almost in a state of nature, for the sharp +claws of the cubs had literally undressed him by piecemeal. His savage +assailants also, bore upon their bloody hides numerous tokens of his +prowess in wielding his bowie.</p> + +<p>Their system of attack seemed to be to spring suddenly upon him, +striking with their paws, and as they did so, in most instances, +simultaneously, it was impossible for him to defend himself, strong and +active as he was; and had no assistance been at hand, they would +undoubtedly have gained the victory. It was a brave sight though, to see +the tall, strong hunter, meeting their attacks undauntedly, standing +with his left arm raised to defend his head and throat, and darting his +knife into their tough bodies as he threw them from him, but to meet the +next moment their renewed efforts for his destruction.</p> + +<p>All this I caught at one glance, as I rushed to his rescue. "Ned!" +shouted I, mad and reckless with excitement, "take the one on your +left!" And we threw ourselves upon them. I met my antagonist in his +onward leap, and making a desperate blow at him, my wrist struck his +paw, and the knife flew far from my hand. There was nothing else for me +but to seize him by the loose skin of the neck with both hands, and hold +on like "grim death," keeping him at arm's length, while his paws beat a +tattoo to a double quick time on my breast and body, stripping my +garments into ribbons in a most workmanlike manner, and ornamenting my +sensitive skin with a variety of lines and characters, done in red--a +process which I did not care to prolong, however, beyond a period when I +could soonest put a stop to the operation.</p> + +<p>As I was debating how to attain so desirable an end, the remembrance of +the small rifle pistol, in my belt, and which, till now, in the hurry of +the conflict I had forgotten, suddenly flashed upon my mind, and, +disengaging one hand, I drew it forth, cocked it with my thumb, and the +next moment the panther's brains were spattered in my face.</p> + +<p>I turned to look for Ned, and found him trying to free himself from the +dead body of the panther, whose teeth were fastened, in their death +grip, to the small remnant of his hunting coat which hung around his +neck; I separated the strip of cloth with my recovered knife, and we +sank panting to the ground, while our hearts went up in thankfulness for +deliverance from so imminent danger to life and limb. After resting +awhile, we washed the blood--our blood--from our bodies, and decorating +them with "what was left," somewhat after the fashion of the Indian who +wears only a "breech clout," we took the scalps of the four panthers, +and started on our homeward march. Our success was speedily known in the +clearing, and in the evening a barbecue was had in oar honor, to +furnish which a relation of the unfortunate heifer met with a fate +scarcely less terrible. This exploit added not little to our reputation +among the hunter folk.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="ADVENTURE_WITH_ELEPHANTS."></a>ADVENTURE WITH ELEPHANTS.</h2> + +<p>On the 27th, as day dawned, says Mr. Cumming, I left my shooting-hole, +and proceeded to inspect the spoor of my wounded rhinoceros. After +following it for some distance I came to an abrupt hillock, and fancying +that from the summit a good view might be obtained of the surrounding +country, I left my followers to seek the spoor, while I ascended. I did +not raise my eyes from the ground until I had reached the highest +pinnacle of rock. I then looked east, and to my inexpressible +gratification, beheld a troup of nine or ten elephants quietly browsing +within a quarter of a mile of me. I allowed myself only one glance at +them, and then rushed down to warn my followers to be silent. A council +of war was hastily held, the result of which was my ordering Isaac to +ride hard to camp, with instructions to return as quickly as possible, +accompanied by Kleinboy, and to bring me my dogs, the large Dutch +rifle, and a fresh horse. I once more ascended the hillock to feast my +eyes upon the enchanting sight before me, and, drawing out my spy-glass, +narrowly watched the motions of the elephants. The herd consisted +entirely of females, several of which were followed by small calves.</p> + +<p>Presently, on reconnoitering the surrounding country, I discovered a +second herd, consisting of five bull elephants, which were quietly +feeding about a mile to the northward. The cows were feeding toward a +rocky ridge that stretched away from the base of the hillock on which I +stood. Burning with impatience to commence the attack, I resolved to try +the stalking system with these, and to hunt the troop of bulls with dogs +and horses. Having thus decided, I directed the guides to watch the +elephants from the summit of the hillock, and with a beating heart I +approached them. The ground and wind favoring me, I soon gained the +rocky ridge toward which they were feeding. They were now within one +hundred yards, and I resolved to enjoy the pleasure of watching their +movements for a little before I fired. They continued to feed slowly +toward me, breaking the branches from the trees with their trunks, and +eating the leaves and tender shoots. I soon selected the finest in the +herd, and kept my eye on her in particular. At length two of the troup +had walked slowly past at about sixty yards, and the one which I had +selected was feeding with two others, on a thorny tree before me.</p> + +<p>My hand was now as steady as the rock on which it rested; so, taking a +deliberate aim, I let fly at her head, a little behind the eye. She got +it hard and sharp, just where I aimed, but it did not seem to affect her +much. Uttering a loud cry, she wheeled about, when I gave her the second +ball close behind the shoulder. All the elephants uttered a strange +rumbling noise, and made off in a line to the northward at a brisk +ambling pace, their huge, fan-like ears flapping in the ratio of their +speed. I did not wait to load, but ran back to the hillock to obtain a +view. On gaining its summit, the guides pointed out the elephants: they +were standing in a grove of shady trees, but the wounded one was some +distance behind with another elephant, doubtless its particular friend, +who was endeavoring to assist it. These elephants had probably never +before heard the report of a gun, and, having neither seen nor smelt me, +they were unaware of the presence of man, and did not seem inclined to +go any further. Presently my men hove in sight, bringing the dogs; and +when these came up, I waited some time before commencing the attack, +that the dogs and horses might recover their wind. We then rode slowly +toward the elephants, and had advanced within two hundred yards of them +when, the ground being open, they observed us and made off in an +easterly direction; but the wounded one immediately dropped astern, and +the next moment was surrounded by the dogs, which, barking angrily, +seemed to engross all her attention.</p> + +<p>Having placed myself between her and the retreating troop, I dismounted +to fire, within forty yards of her, in open ground. Colesberg was +extremely afraid of the elephants, and gave me much trouble, jerking my +arm when I tried to fire. At length I let fly; but, on endeavoring to +regain my saddle, Colesberg declined to allow me to mount; and when I +tried to lead him, and run for it, he only backed toward the wounded +elephant. At this moment I heard another elephant close behind; and +looking about, I beheld the "friend," with uplifted trunk, charging down +upon me at top speed, shrilly trumpeting, and following an old black +pointer named Schwart, that was perfectly deaf and trotted along before +the enraged elephant quite unaware of what was behind him. I felt +certain that she would have either me or my horse. I, however, +determined not to relinquish my steed, but to hold on by the bridle. My +men, who, of course, kept at a safe distance, stood aghast with their +mouths open, and for a few seconds my position was certainly not an +enviable one. Fortunately, however, the dogs took off the attention of +the elephants; and just as they were upon me, I managed to spring into +the saddle, where I was safe. As I turned my back to mount, the +elephants were so very near that I really expected to feel one of their +trunks lay hold of me. I rode up to Kleinboy for my double-barreled +two-grooved rifle: he and Isaac were pale and almost speechless with +fright. Returning to the charge, I was soon once more alongside and, +firing from the saddle, I sent another brace of bullets into the wounded +elephant. Colesberg was extremely unsteady, and destroyed the +correctness of my aim.</p> + +<center><a href="430.png"><img src="430.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Charge of the Elephants.</a></center> + +<p>The friend now seemed resolved to do some mischief, and charged me +furiously, pursuing me to a distance of several hundred yards. I +therefore deemed it proper to give her a gentle hint to act less +officiously, and, accordingly, having loaded, I approached within thirty +yards, and give it her sharp, right and left, behind the shoulder, upon +which she at once made off with drooping trunk, evidently with a mortal +wound. I never recur to this day's elephant shooting without regretting +my folly in contenting myself with securing only one elephant. The +first was now dying, and could not leave the ground, and the second was +also mortally wounded, and I had only to follow and finish her; but I +foolishly allowed her to escape, while I amused myself with the first, +which kept walking backward, and standing by every tree she passed. Two +more shots finished her: on receiving them, she tossed her trunk up and +down two or three times, and, falling on her broadside against a thorny +tree, which yielded like grass before her enormous weight, she uttered a +deep, hoarse cry, and expired. This was a very handsome old cow +elephant, and was decidedly the best in the troop. She was in excellent +condition, and carried a pair of long and perfect tusks. I was in high +spirits at my success, and felt so perfectly satisfied with having +killed one, that, although it was still early in the day, and my horses +were fresh, I allowed the troop of five bulls to remain unmolested, +foolishly trusting to fall in with them next day.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_SHARK_SENTINEL."></a>THE SHARK SENTINEL.</h2> + +<p>With my companion, one beautiful afternoon, rambling over the rocky +cliffs at the back of the island, (New Providence, W.I.,) we came to a +spot where the stillness and the clear transparency of the water invited +us to bathe. It was not deep. As we stood above, on the promontory, we +could see the bottom in every part. Under the headland, which formed the +opposite side of the cove, there was a cavern, to which, as the shore +was steep, there was no access but by swimming, and we resolved to +explore it. We soon reached its mouth, and were enchanted with its +romantic grandeur and wild beauty. It extended, we found, a long way +back, and had several natural baths, into all of which we successively +threw ourselves; each, as they receded further from the mouth of the +cavern, being colder than the last. The tide, it was evident, had free +ingress, and renewed the water every twelve hours. Here we thoughtlessly +amused ourselves for some time.</p> + +<p>At length the declining sun warned us that it was time to take our +departure from the cave, when, at no great distance from us, we saw the +back or dorsal fin of a monstrous shark above the surface of the water, +and his whole length visible beneath it. We looked at him and at each +other in dismay, hoping that he would soon take his departure, and go in +search of other prey; but the rogue swam to and fro, just like a frigate +blockading an enemy's port.</p> + +<p>The sentinel paraded before us, about ten or fifteen yards in front of +the cave, tack and tack, waiting only to serve one, if not both of us, +as we should have served a shrimp or an oyster. We had no intention, +however, in this, as in other instances, of "throwing ourselves on the +mercy of the court." In vain did we look for relief from other quarters; +the promontory above us was inaccessible; the tide was rising, and the +sun touching the clear, blue edge of the horizon.</p> + +<p>I, being the leader, pretended to a little knowledge in ichthyology, and +told my companion that fish could hear as well as see, and that +therefore the less we said, the better; and the sooner we retreated out +of his sight, the sooner he would take himself off. This was our only +chance, and that a poor one for the flow of the water would soon have +enabled him to enter the cave and help himself, as he seemed perfectly +acquainted with the <i>locale</i>, and knew that we had no mode of retreat, +but by the way we came. We drew back out of sight, and I don't know +when I ever passed a more unpleasant quarter of an hour. A suit in +chancery, or even a spring lounge at Newgate, would have been almost a +luxury to what I felt when the shades of night began to darken the mouth +of our cave, and this infernal monster continued to parade, like a +water-bailiff, before its door. At last, not seeing the shark's fin +above the water, I made a sign to Charles, that cost what it might, we +must swim for it, for we had notice to quit by the tide; and if we did +not depart, should soon have an execution in the house. We had been +careful not to utter a word, and, silently pressing each other by the +hand, we slipped into the water; and, recommending ourselves to +Providence, struck out manfully. I must own I never felt more assured of +destruction, not even when I once swam through the blood of a poor +sailor--while the sharks were eating him--for the sharks then had +something to occupy them; but this one had nothing else to do but to +look after us--we had the benefit of his undivided attention.</p> + +<p>My sensations were indescribably horrible. I may occasionally write or +talk of the circumstance with levity, but whenever I recall it to mind, +I tremble at the bare recollection of the dreadful fate that seemed +inevitable. My companion was not so expert a swimmer as I was, so that I +distanced him many feet, when I heard him utter a faint cry. I turned +round, convinced that the shark had seized him, but it was not so; my +having left him so far behind had increased his terror, and induced him +to draw my attention. I returned to him, held him up, and encouraged +him. Without this he would certainly have sunk; he revived with my help, +and we reached the sandy beach in safety, having eluded our enemy, who, +when he neither saw nor heard us, had, as I concluded he would, +quitted the spot.</p> + +<p>Once more on terra firma, we lay gasping for some minutes before we +spoke. What my companions thoughts were, I do not know; mine were +replete with gratitude to God, and renewed vows of amendment; and I have +every reason to think, that although Charles had not so much room for +reform as myself, that his feelings were perfectly in unison with +my own.</p> + +<p>We never repeated this amusement, though we frequently talked of our +escape and laughed at our terrors, yet, on these occasions, our +conversation always took a serious turn; and, upon the whole, I am +convinced that this adventure did us both a vast deal of good.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="HUNTING_THE_TIGER."></a>HUNTING THE TIGER.</h2> +<center><a href="437.png"><img src="437.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Hunting the Tiger.</a></center> + +<p>A Gentleman in the civil service of the British East India Company, +relates the following:</p> + +<p>"When a tiger springs on an elephant, the latter is generally able to +shake him off under his feet, and then woe be to him. The elephant +either kneels on him and crushes him at once, or gives him a kick which +breaks half his ribs, and sends him flying perhaps twenty paces. The +elephants, however, are often dreadfully torn; and a large old tiger +clings too fast to be thus dealt with. In this case it often happens +that the elephant himself falls, from pain, or from the hope of rolling +on his enemy; and the people on his back are in very considerable danger +both from friends and foes. The scratch of a tiger is sometimes +venomous, as that of a cat is said to be. But this does not often +happen; and, in general, persons wounded by his teeth or claws, if not +killed outright, recover easily enough.</p> + +<p>"I was at Jaffna, at the northern extremity of the Island of Ceylon, in +the beginning of the year 1819: when, one morning, my servant called me +an hour or two before my usual time, with, 'Master, master! people sent +for master's dogs--tiger in the town!' Now, my dogs chanced to be some +very degenerate specimens of a fine species, called the <i>Poligar</i> dog, +which I should designate as a sort of wiry-haired grayhound, without +scent. I kept them to hunt jackals; but tigers are very different +things: by the way, there are no real tigers in Ceylon; but leopards and +panthers are always called so, and by ourselves as well as by the +natives. This turned out to be a panther. My gun chanced not to be put +together; and while my servant was doing it, the collector, and two +medical men, who had recently arrived, came to my door, the former armed +with a fowling-piece, and the latter with remarkably blunt hog-spears. +They insisted upon setting off without waiting for my gun, a proceeding +not much to my taste. The tiger (I must continue to call him so) had +taken refuge in a hut, the roof of which, as those of Ceylon huts in +general, spread to the ground like an umbrella; the only aperture into +it was a small door, about four feet high. The collector wanted to get +the tiger out at once. I begged to wait for my gun; but no--the +fowling-piece (loaded with ball, of course) and the two hog-spears were +quite enough. I got a hedge-stake, and awaited my fate, from very shame. +At this moment, to my great delight, there arrived from the fort an +English officer, two artillery-men, and a Malay captain; and a pretty +figure we should have cut without them, as the event will show. I was +now quite ready to attack, and my gun came a minute afterward. The whole +scene which follows took place within an enclosure, about twenty feet +square, formed, on three sides, by a strong fence of palmyra leaves, and +on the fourth by the hut. At the door of this the two artillery-men +planted themselves; and the Malay captain got on the top, to frighten +the tiger out, by worrying it--an easy operation, as the huts there are +covered with cocoa-nut leaves. One of the artillery-men wanted to go in +to the tiger, but we would not suffer it. At last the beast sprang; this +man received him on his bayonet, which he thrust apparently down his +throat, firing his piece at the same moment. The bayonet broke off +short, leaving less than three inches on the musket; the rest remained +in the animal, but was invisible to us: the shot probably went through +his cheek, for it certainly did not seriously injure him, as he +instantly rose upon his legs, with a loud roar, and placed his paws upon +the soldier's breast. At this moment, the animal appeared to me to about +reach the center of the man's face; but I had scarcely time to observe +this, when the tiger, stooping his head, seized the soldier's arm in his +mouth, turned him half round staggering, threw him over on his back, +and fell upon him. Our dread now was, that if we fired upon the tiger, +we might kill the man: for a moment there was a pause, when his comrade +attacked the beast exactly in the same manner as the gallant fellow +himself had done. He struck his bayonet into his head; the tiger rose at +him--he fired; and this time the ball took effect, and in the head. The +animal staggered backward, and we all poured in our fire. He still +kicked and writhed; when the gentlemen with the hog-spears advanced, and +fixed him, while the natives finished him, by beating him on the head +with hedge-stakes. The brave artillery-man was, after all, but slightly +hurt: he claimed the skin, which was very cheerfully given to him. There +was, however, a cry among the natives that the head should be cut off: +it was; and in so doing, the knife came directly across the bayonet. The +animal measured scarcely less than four feet from the root of the tail +to the muzzle There was no tradition of a tiger having been in Jaffna +before; indeed, this one must have either come a distance of almost +twenty miles, or have swam across an arm of the sea nearly two in +breadth; for Jaffna stands on a peninsula, on which there is no jungle +of any magnitude."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="INDIAN_DEVIL."></a>INDIAN DEVIL.</h2> + +<p>There is an animal in the deep recesses of the forests of Maine, +evidently belonging to the feline race, which, on account of its +ferocity, is significantly called "Indian Devil"--in the Indian +language, "the Lunk Soos;" a terror to the Indians, and the only animal +in New England of which they stand in dread. You may speak of the moose, +the bear, and the wolf even, and the red man is ready for the chase and +the encounter. But name the object of his dread, and he will +significantly shake his head, while he exclaims, "He all one debil!"</p> + +<p>An individual by the name of Smith met with the following adventure in +an encounter with one of these animals on the Arromucto, while on his +way to join a crew engaged in timber-making in the woods.</p> + +<p>He had nearly reached the place of encampment, when he came suddenly +upon one of these ferocious animals. There was no chance for retreat, +neither had he time for reflection on the best method of defence or +escape. As he had no arms or other weapons of defence, his first +impulse, in this truly fearful position, unfortunately, perhaps, was to +spring into a small tree near by; but he had scarcely ascended his +length when the desperate creature, probably rendered still more fierce +by the promptings of hunger, sprang upon and seized him by the heel. +Smith, however, after having his foot badly bitten, disengaged it from +the shoe, which was firmly clinched in the creature's teeth, and let him +drop. The moment he was disengaged, Smith sprang for a more secure +position, and the animal at the same time leaped to another large tree, +about ten feet distant, up which he ascended to an elevation equal to +that of his victim, from which he threw himself upon him, firmly fixing +his teeth in the calf of his leg. Hanging suspended thus until the +flesh, insufficient to sustain the weight, gave way, he dropped again to +the ground, carrying a portion of flesh in his mouth. Having greedily +devoured this morsel, he bounded again up the opposite tree, and from +thence upon Smith, in this manner renewing his attacks, and tearing away +the flesh in mouthfuls from his legs. During this agonizing operation, +Smith contrived to cut a limb from the tree, to which he managed to bind +his jack-knife, with which he could now assail his enemy at every leap. +He succeeded thus in wounding him so badly that at length his attacks +were discontinued, and he finally disappeared in the dense forest. +During the encounter, Smith had exerted his voice to the utmost to alarm +the crew, who, he hoped, might be within hail. He was heard, and in a +short time several of the crew reached the place, but not in time to +save him from the dreadful encounter. The sight was truly appalling. His +garments were not only rent from him, but the flesh literally torn from +his legs, exposing even the bone and sinews. It was with the greatest +difficulty he made the descent of the tree. Exhausted through loss of +blood, and overcome by fright and exertion, he sunk upon the ground and +immediately fainted; but the application of snow restored him to +consciousness. Preparing a litter from poles and boughs, they conveyed +him to the camp, washed and dressed his wounds, as well as circumstances +would allow, and, as soon as possible, removed him to the settlement, +where medical aid was secured. After a protracted period of confinement, +he gradually recovered from his wounds, though still carrying terrible +scars, and sustaining irreparable injury. Such desperate encounters are, +however of rare occurrence, though collisions less sanguinary are not +infrequent.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="BEAR_FIGHT."></a>BEAR FIGHT.</h2> + +<p>A sanguinary encounter with bears took place in the vicinity of +Tara-height, on the Madawaska river, a few years since:</p> + +<p>"A trap had been set by one of the men, named Jacob Harrison, who, being +out in search of a yoke of oxen on the evening in question, saw a young +bear fast in the trap, and three others close at hand in a very angry +mood, a fact which rendered it necessary for him to make tracks +immediately. On arriving at the farm, he gave the alarm, and, seizing an +old dragoon sabre, he was followed to the scene of action by Mr. James +Burke, armed with a gun, and the other man with an axe.</p> + +<p>"They proceeded direct to the trap, supplied with a rope, intending to +take the young bear alive. It being a short time after dark, objects +could not be distinctly seen; but, on approaching close to the scene of +action, a crashing among the leaves and dry branches, with sundry other +indications, warned them of the proximity of the old animals. When +within a few steps of the spot, a dark mass was seen on the ground--a +growl was heard--and the confined beast made a furious leap on Jacob, +who was in advance, catching him by the legs. The infuriated animal +inflicted a severe wound on his knee, upon which he drew his sword and +defended himself with great coolness.</p> + +<p>"Upon receiving several wounds from the sabre, the cub commenced to +growl and cry in a frightful and peculiar manner, when the old she-bear, +attracted to the spot, rushed on the adventurous Harrison, and attacked +him from behind with great ferocity. Jacob turned upon the new foe, and +wielded his trusty weapon with such energy and success, that in a short +time he deprived her of one of her fore paws by a lucky stroke, and +completely disabled her, eventually, by a desperate cut across the neck, +which divided the tendons and severed the spinal vertebrae. Having +completed his conquest, he had ample time to dispatch the imprisoned cub +at leisure."</p> + +<p>"During the time this stirring and dangerous scene, we have related, was +enacting, war was going on in equally bloody and vigorous style at a +short distance. Mr. Burke, having discharged his gun at the other old +bear, only slightly wounded him; the enraged Bruin sprang at him with a +furious howl. He was met with a blow from the butt-end of the +fowling-piece. At the first stroke, the stock flew in pieces, and the +next the heavy barrel was hurled a distance of twenty feet among the +underwood by a side blow from the dexterous paw of the bear. Mr. Burke +then retreated a few feet, and placed his back against a large hemlock, +followed the while closely by the bear, but, being acquainted with the +nature of the animal and his mode of attack, he drew a large hunting +knife from his belt, and, placing his arms by his side, coolly awaited +the onset.</p> + +<p>"The maddened brute approached, growling and gnashing his teeth, and, +with a savage spring, encircled the body of the hunter and the tree in +his iron gripe. The next moment, the flashing blade of the <i>couteau +chasse</i> tore his abdomen, and his smoking entrails rolled upon the +ground. At this exciting crisis of the struggle, the other man, +accompanied by the dog, came up in time to witness the triumphal close +of the conflict.</p> + +<p>"Two old bears and a cub were the fruit of this dangerous adventure--all +extremely fat--the largest of which, it is computed, would weigh upward +of two hundred and fifty pounds. We have seldom heard of a more +dangerous encounter with bears, and we are happy to say that Mr. Burke +received no injury; Mr. Jacob Harrison, although torn severely, and +having three ribs broken, recovered under the care of an Indian doctor +of the Algonquin tribe."</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="THE_MINERS_OF_BOIS-MONZIL."></a>THE MINERS OF BOIS-MONZIL.</h2> + +<p>On Tuesday, February 22, 1831, a violent detonation was suddenly heard +in the coal mine of Bois-Monzil, belonging to M. Robinot. The waters +from the old works rushed impetuously along the new galleries. "The +waters, the waters!" such was the cry that resounded from the affrighted +workmen throughout the mine. Only ten miners out of twenty-six were able +to reach the entrance. One of them brought off in his arms, a boy eleven +years old, whom he thus saved from sudden death; another impelled by the +air and the water, to a considerable distance, could scarcely credit his +escape from such imminent danger; a third rushed forward with his sack +full of coals on his shoulders, which, in his fright, he had never +thought of throwing down.</p> + +<p>The disastrous news, that sixteen workmen had perished in the mine of M. +Robinot, was soon circulated in the town of St. Etienne. It was regarded +as one of those fatal and deplorable events unfortunately, too common in +that neighborhood, and on the ensuing Thursday it was no longer talked +of. Politics, and the state of parties in Paris, exclusively occupied +the public attention.</p> + +<p>The engineers of the mines, however, and some of their pupils, who, on +the first alarm, had hastened to the spot, still remained there, +continuing their indefatigable endeavors to discover the miners who were +missing. Nothing that mechanical science, manual labor, and +perseverance, prompted by humanity, could perform, was left undone.</p> + +<p>Thirty hours had already elapsed since the fatal accident, when two +workmen announced the discovery of a jacket and some provisions +belonging to the miners. The engineers immediately essayed to penetrate +into the galleries where these objects had been found, which they +accomplished with much difficulty, by crawling on their hands and feet. +In vain they repeatedly called aloud; no voice, save the echo of their +own, answered from those narrow and gloomy vaults. It then occurred to +them to strike with their pickaxes against the roof of the mine. Still +the same uncheering silence! Listen! yes! the sounds are answered by +similar blows! Every heart beats, every pulse quickens, every breath is +contracted; yet, perhaps, it is but an illusion of their wishes--or, +perhaps, some deceitful echo. They again strike the vaulted roof. There +is no longer any doubt. The same number of strokes is returned. No words +can paint the varied feelings that pervaded every heart. It was (to use +the expression of a person present) a veritable delirium of joy, of +fear, and of hope.</p> + +<p>Without losing an instant, the engineers ordered a hole to be bored in +the direction of the galleries, where the miners were presumed to be; at +the same time, they directed, on another point, the formation of an +inclined well, for the purpose of communicating with them.</p> + +<p>Two of the engineer's pupils were now dispatched to the mayor of St. +Etienne, to procure a couple of fire pumps, which they conducted back to +the mine, accompanied by two firemen. In the ardor of youthful humanity, +these young men imagined that the deliverance of the miners was but the +affair of a few hours; and, wishing to prepare an "agreeable surprise" +for the friends of the supposed victims, they gave strict injunctions at +the mayoralty to keep the object of their expedition a profound secret.</p> + +<p>Notwithstanding the untiring efforts made to place these pumps in the +mine, it was found impossible. Either they were upon a plane too much +inclined to admit of their playing with facility, or the water was too +muddy to be received up the pipes; they were therefore abandoned. In +the meantime, the attempts made to reach the miners by sounding or by +the inclined well, seemed to present insurmountable difficulties. The +distance to them was unknown; the sound of their blows on the roof, far +from offering a certain criterion, or, at least, a probable one, seemed +each time to excite fresh doubts; in short, the rock which it was +necessary to pierce, was equally hard and thick, and the gunpowder +unceasingly used to perforate it, made but a hopeless progress. The +consequent anxiety that reigned in the mine may be easily conceived. +Each of the party, in his turn, offered his suggestions, sometimes of +hope, sometimes of apprehension; and the whole felt oppressed by that +vague suspense, which is, perhaps, more painful to support than the +direst certainty. The strokes of the unfortunate miners continued to +reply to theirs, which added to their agitation, from the fear of not +being able to afford them effectual help. They almost thought that in +such a painful moment their situation was more distressing than those +they sought to save, as the latter were, at any rate, sustained by hope.</p> + +<p>While most of the party were thus perplexed by a crowd of disquieting +ideas, produced by the distressing nature of the event itself, and by +their protracted stay in a mine where the few solitary lamps scarcely +rendered "darkness visible," the workmen continued their labors with +redoubled ardor; some of them were hewing to pieces blocks of the rock, +which fell slowly and with much difficulty; others were actively +employed in boring the hole before named, while some of the engineers' +apprentices sought to discover new galleries, either by creeping on "all +fours," or by penetrating through perilous and narrow crevices and +clefts of the rock.</p> + +<p>In the midst of their corporeal and mental labors, their attention was +suddenly excited from another painful source. The wives of the hapless +miners had heard that all hope was not extinct. They hastened to the +spot; with heart-rending cries and through tears alternately of despair +and hope, they exclaimed, "Are they <i>all</i> there?" "Where is the father +of my children? Is <i>he</i> among them, or has he been swallowed up by +the waters?"</p> + +<p>At the bottom of the mine, close to the water-reservoir, a consultation +was held on the plan to be pursued. Engineers, pupils, workmen, all +agreed that the only prospect of success consisted in exhausting the +water, which was already sensibly diminished, by the working of the +steam-pump; the other pumps produced little or no effect, +notwithstanding the vigorous efforts employed to render them +serviceable. It was then proposed remedying the failure of these pumps +by <i>une chaine a bras</i>, viz, by forming a line, and passing buckets from +one to the other; this method was adopted, and several of the pupils +proceeded with all speed to St. Etienne. It was midnight. The <i>generale</i> +was beat in two quarters of the town only. The Hotel de Ville was +assigned as the place of rendezvous. On the first alarm, a great number +of persons hurried to the town-hall, imagining a fire had broken out, +but, on ascertaining the real cause, several of them returned home, +apparently unmoved. Yet these same persons, whose supposed apathy had +excited both surprise and indignation, quickly reappeared on the scene, +dressed in the uniform of the National Guard. So powerful is the magic +influence of organized masses, marching under the orders of a chief, and +stimulated by <i>l'esprit de corps</i>.</p> + +<p>It was truly admirable to see with what address and rapidity the three +or four hundred men, who had hastened to Bois-Monzil, passed and +repassed the buckets, by forming a chain to the bottom of the mine. But +their generous efforts became too fatiguing to last long. Imagine a +subterranean vault, badly lighted, where they were obliged to maintain +themselves in a rapid descent in a stooping posture, to avoid striking +their heads against the roof of the vault, and, most of the time, up to +the middle in the water, which was dripping from every side; some idea +may then be formed of their painful situation. They were relieved from +this laborious duty by the <i>Garde Nationale</i> of St. Etienne, whose zeal +and enthusiasm exceeded all praise. But a more precious reinforcement +was at hand; the workmen from the adjacent mines now arrived in great +numbers. From their skill and experience every thing might be expected; +if they failed there was no further hope.</p> + +<p>The <i>chaine a bras</i> was again renewed by companies of the National +Guard, relieved every two hours, who, at respective distances, held the +lights, and under whose orders they acted. It was a cheering spectacle +to behold citizens of all ranks engaged in one of the noblest offices of +humanity, under the direction of poor colliers.</p> + +<p>The immense advantages of the organization of the National Guard, were +never more strikingly exemplified than on this occasion. Without them, +there would have been no means or possibility of uniting together an +entire population; of leading the people from a distance of more than +three miles, night and day, so as to insure a regular and continued +service; all would have been trouble and confusion. With them, on the +contrary, every thing was ready, and in motion, at the voice of a single +chief; and the whole was conducted with such precision and regularity +as had never on similar occasions, been witnessed before.</p> + +<p>The road from St. Etienne to Bois-Monzil, exhibited a scene of the most +animated kind. In the midst of the motley and moving multitude, the +National Guards were seen hurrying to and fro; chasseurs, grenadiers, +cavalry and artillery-men, all clothed in their rich new costume, as on +a field day. Some of the crowd were singing <i>a la Parisienne</i>, others +were lamenting, praying, hoping, despairing, and, by "fits and starts," +abandoning themselves to those opposite extravagances of sentiment so +peculiarly characteristic of a French population. When night drew her +sable curtains around, the picturesque of the scene was still more +heightened. Fresh bands of miners, conducted by their respective chiefs, +coming in from every side; their sooty visages lighted up by glaring +torches; National Guards arriving from different parts of the country, +to join their comrades of St. Etienne; farmers and peasants, on +horseback and afoot, hastening to offer their humane aid; sentinels +posted--muskets piled--watch-fires blazing, and, in short, the <i>tout +ensemble</i> rendered the approaches of Bois-Monzil like a bivouac on the +eve of an expected battle; happily, however, the object of these brave +men was to preserve life and not to destroy it.</p> + +<p>On Saturday, the <i>chaine a bras</i> was discontinued, as the engineers had +brought the pumps effectually to work. Suddenly a cry of joy was echoed +from mouth to mouth, "They are saved! they are saved! six of them are +freed from their subterraneous prison!" shouted a person at the entrance +of the mine. The rumor was instantly repeated along the crowd, and a +horseman set off at full speed for St. Etienne, with the gratifying +news; another followed, and confirmed the report of his predecessor. The +whole town was in motion, and all classes seemed to partake of the +general joy, with a feeling as if each had been individually interested. +In the exuberance of their delight they were already deliberating on the +subject of a <i>fete</i>, to celebrate the happy event, when a third horsemen +arrived. The multitude thronged round him, expecting a more ample +confirmation of the welcome tidings. But their joy was soon turned to +sorrow, when they were informed that nothing had yet been discovered, +save the dead bodies of two unfortunate men, who, together had left +eleven children to lament their untimely fate.</p> + +<p>On Sunday, the workmen continued their labor with equal zeal and +uncertainty as before. A sort of inquietude and hopelessness, however, +occasionally pervaded their minds, which may be easily accounted for, +from the hitherto fruitless result of their fatiguing researches. +Discussions now took place on what was to be done; differences of +opinion arose on the various plans proposed, and, in the meantime, the +sounds of the hapless victims from the recesses of the rocky cavern +continued to be distinctly audible. Every moment the embarrassment and +difficulties of the workmen increased. The flinty rock seemed to grow +more impenetrable; their tools either broke, or became so fixed in the +stone, that it was frequently impossible to regain them. The water +filtered from all parts, through the narrow gallery they were +perforating, and they even began to apprehend another irruption.</p> + +<p>Such was the state of things on Monday morning, when, at four o'clock, +an astounding noise was heard, which re-echoed throughout the Whole +extent of the mine. A general panic seized on every one; it was thought +that the waters had forced a new issue. A rapid and confused flight took +place; but, luckily, their fears were soon allayed on perceiving that it +was only an immense mass of rock, detached from the mine, which had +fallen into a draining-well. This false alarm, however, operated in a +discouraging manner, on the minds of the workmen; and it required some +management to bring them back to their respective stations, and to +revive that ardor and constancy, which they had hitherto so nobly +displayed.</p> + +<p>They had scarcely renewed their endeavors to bore through the rock, when +suddenly one of them felt the instrument drawn from his hands, by the +poor imprisoned miners. It was, indeed, to them, the instrument of +deliverance from their cruel situation. Singular to relate, their first +request was neither for food nor drink, but for <i>light</i>, as if they were +more eager to make use of their eyes, than to satisfy the pressing wants +of appetite! It was now ascertained that eight of the sufferers still +survived; and this time an authentic account of the happy discovery was +dispatched to St. Etienne, where it excited the most enthusiastic +demonstrations of sympathy and gladness. But there is no pleasure +unmixed with alloy; no general happiness unaccompanied by particular +exceptions. Among the workmen, was the father of one of the men who had +disappeared in the mine. His paternal feelings seemed to have endowed +him with superhuman strength. Night and day he never quitted his work +but for a few minutes to return to it with redoubled ardor; one sole, +absorbing thought occupied his whole soul; the idea that his son, his +<i>only</i> son, was with those who were heard from within. In vain he was +solicited to retire; in vain they strove to force him from labors too +fatiguing for his age. "My son is among them," said he, "I hear him; +nothing shall prevent my hastening his release;" and, from time to time, +he called on his son, in accents that tore the hearts of the bystanders. +It was from his hand that the instrument had been drawn. His first +question was "my child?" Like Apelles, let me throw a vail over a +father's grief. His Antoine was no more, he had been drowned.</p> + +<p>For four days several medical men were constantly on the spot, to +contribute all the succors that humanity, skill, and science could +afford. It was they who introduced through the hole, broth and soup, by +means of long, tin tubes, which had been carefully prepared beforehand. +The poor captives distributed it with the most scrupulous attention, +first to the oldest and weakest of their companions; for, +notwithstanding their dreadful situation, the spirit of concord and +charity had never ceased for a single moment to preside among them. The +man who was appointed by the others to communicate with, and answer the +questions of their deliverers, displayed, in all his replies, a gayety +quite in keeping with the French character. On being asked what day he +thought it was, and on being informed that it was Monday, instead of +Sunday, as he had supposed, "Ah!" said he, "I ought to have known that, +as we yesterday indulged ourselves freely in drinking--water." Strange +that a man should have the heart to joke, who had been thus "cabin'd, +cribb'd, confin'd," during five days, destitute of food, deprived of +air, agitated by suspense, and in jeopardy of perishing by the most +horrible of all deaths!</p> + +<p>There still remained full sixteen feet of solid rock between the two +anxious parties; but the workmen's labors were now, if possible, +redoubled by the certainty of complete success. At intervals, light +nourishment in regulated quantities, continued to be passed to the +miners; this, however they soon rejected, expressing but one desire, +that their friends would make haste. Their strength began to fail them; +their respiration became more and more difficult; their utterance grew +feebler and fainter; and toward six o'clock in the evening, the last +words that could be distinguished, were--"Brothers make haste!"</p> + +<p>The general anxiety was now wound up to the highest pitch; it was, +perhaps, the most trying crisis yet experienced since the commencement +of their benevolent labors; at length the moment of deliverance was, all +at once, announced, and at ten o'clock it was accomplished. One by one, +they appeared, like specters, gliding along the gallery which had just +been completed; their weak and agitated forms supported by the +engineers, on whom they cast their feeble eyes, filled with +astonishment, yet beaming with gratitude. Accompanied by the doctors, +they all with one single exception, ascended to the entrance of the +mine, without aid; such was their eagerness to inhale the pure air of +liberty. From the mouth of the mine to the temporary residence allotted +them, the whole way was illuminated. The engineers, pupils, and the +workmen, with the National Guard under arms, were drawn up in two lines +to form a passage; and thus, in the midst of a religious silence, did +these poor fellows traverse an attentive and sympathizing crowd, who, as +they passed along, inclined their heads, as a sort of respect and honor +to their sufferings.</p> + +<p>Such are the affecting particulars of an event, during the whole of +which, every kind of business was suspended at St. Etienne; an event +which exhibited the entire population of a large town, forming, as it +were, but one heart, entertaining but one thought, imbued with one +feeling, for the god-like purpose of saving the lives of eight poor, +obscure individuals. Christians, men of all countries, whenever and +wherever suffering humanity claims your aid--"Go ye and do likewise!"</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="SHIP_TOWED_TO_LAND_BY_BULLOCKS."></a>SHIP TOWED TO LAND BY BULLOCKS.</h2> +<center><a href="462.png"><img src="462.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Ship Towed by Bullocks.</a></center> + +<p>A few years since the ship Ariadne, freighted principally with live +cattle, started on a voyage from Quebec, bound to Halifax. A gale came +on, which continued to increase in fury, until it became a perfect +hurricane. The ship was dismasted, and when the mainmast fell, three +poor fellows were crushed to death. A little before sunset, on the +second day of the gale, the appalling cry of "Breakers ahead!" was +raised. All eyes were instinctively turned in one direction; and, about +a mile off, the sea was as a boiling caldron. Toward the breakers the +hull was now drifting, unmanageable, every moment threatened with +destruction. For about half an hour, there was intense anxiety, and an +agony of suspense on board. At length she entered the breakers. A large +wave raised her, and she struck heavily on the rocks as the waves +receded; it was evident, from constant striking upon the bottom, that +the vessel must soon go to pieces; and the sea made a clean break over +her, about half of the length from the stern. The officers and crew were +huddled together upon the deck forward, intent upon devising means of +escape; at last the captain thought of a plan, which, though novel, +proved successful. He fastened ropes to the horns of several bullocks, +and drove them into the sea, their strong, instinctive love of life +impelled them forward, and several of them reached the shore. The ropes +were fastened by some men, who had assembled for the relief of those on +the vessel, and after much exertion and danger all on board were rescued +from their perilous situation, and landed in safety.</p> + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="DESTRUCTION_OF_A_SHIP_BY_A_WHALE."></a>DESTRUCTION OF A SHIP BY A WHALE.</h2> + +<p>The following thrilling account of the destruction of the whale ship Ann +Alexander, Captain John S. Deblois, of New Bedford, by a large sperm +whale, is from the lips of the captain himself. A similar circumstance +has never been known to occur but once in the whole history of +whale-fishing, and that was the destruction of the ship Essex, some +twenty or twenty-five years ago, and which many of our readers fully +remember. We proceed to the narrative as furnished by Captain Deblois, +and which is fully authenticated by nine of the crew, in a protest under +the seal of the United States Consul, Alexander Ruden, Jr., at Paita.</p> + +<p>The ship Ann Alexander, Captain J.S. Deblois, sailed from New Bedford, +Mass., June 1st, 1850, for a cruise in the South Pacific for sperm +whale. Having taken about five hundred barrels of oil in the Atlantic, +the ship proceeded on her voyage to the Pacific. Nothing of unusual +interest occurred until when passing Cape Horn, one of the men, named +Jackson Walker, of Newport, N.H., was lost overboard in a storm. +Reaching the Pacific, she came up the coast and stopped at Valdivia, on +the coast of Chili, for fresh provisions, and the 31st of May last, she +called at Paita for the purpose of shipping a man. The vessel proceeded +on her return voyage to the South Pacific.</p> + +<p>On the 20th of August last she reached what is well known to all +whalers, as the "Off-shore ground," in latitude five degrees fifty +minutes south, longitude one hundred and twenty degrees west. In the +morning of that day, at about nine o'clock, whales were discovered in +the neighborhood, and about noon, the same day, they succeeded in making +fast to one. Two boats had gone after the whales--the larboard and the +starboard, the former commanded by the first mate, the latter by +Captain Deblois. The whale which they had struck, was harpooned by the +larboard boat. After running some time, the whale turned upon the boat, +and rushing at it with tremendous violence lifted open its enormous +jaws, and taking the boat in, actually crushed it into fragments as +small as a common chair! Captain Deblois immediately struck for the +scene of the disaster with the starboard boat, and succeeded, against +all expectation, in rescuing the whole of the crew of the boat--nine +in number!</p> + +<p>There were now eighteen men in the starboard boat, consisting of the +captain, the first mate, and the crews of both boats. The frightful +disaster had been witnessed from the ship, and the waste boat was called +into readiness, and sent to their relief. The distance from the ship was +about six miles. As soon as the waste boat arrived, the crews were +divided, and it was determined to pursue the same whale, and make +another attack upon him. Accordingly they separated, and proceeded at +some distance from each other, as is usual on such occasions, after the +whale. In a short time, they came up to him, and prepared to give him +battle. The waste boat, commanded by the first mate, was in advance. As +soon as the whale perceived the demonstration being made upon him, he +turned his course, suddenly, and making a tremendous dash at this boat, +seized it with his wide-spread jaws, and crushed it to atoms, allowing +the men barely time to escape his vengeance, by throwing themselves into +the ocean.</p> + +<p>Captain Deblois, again seeing the perilous condition of his men, at the +risk of meeting the same fate, directed his boat to hasten to their +rescue, and in a short time succeeded in saving them all from a death +little less horrible than that from which they had twice as narrowly +escaped. He then ordered the boat to put for the ship as speedily as +possible; and no sooner had the order been given, than they discovered +the monster of the deep making toward them with his jaws widely +extended. Fortunately, the monster came up and passed them at a short +distance. The boat then made her way to the ship and they all got on +board in safety.</p> + +<p>After reaching the ship a boat was dispatched for the oars of the +demolished boats, and it was determined to pursue the whale with the +ship. As soon as the boat returned with the oars, sail was set, and the +ship proceeded after the whale. In a short time she overtook him, and a +lance was thrown into his head. The ship passed on by him, and +immediately after they discovered that the whale was making for the +ship. As he came up near her, they hauled on the wind, and suffered the +monster to pass her. After he had fairly passed, they kept off to +overtake and attack him again. When the ship had reached within about +fifty rods of him, they discovered that the whale had settled down deep +below the surface of the water, and, as it was near sundown, they +concluded to give up the pursuit.</p> + +<p>Captain Deblois was at this time standing in the night-heads on the +larboard bow, with lance in hand, ready to strike the monster a deadly +blow should he appear, the ship moving about five knots, when working on +the side of the ship, he discovered the whale rushing toward her at the +rate of fifteen knots! In an instant, the monster struck the ship with +tremendous violence, shaking her from stem to stern! She quivered under +the violence of the shock, as if she had struck upon a rock! Captain +Deblois immediately descended into the forecastle, and there, to his +horror, discovered that the monster had struck the ship two feet from +the keel, abreast the foremast, knocking a great hole entirely through +her bottom. Springing to the deck, he ordered the mate to cut away the +anchors and get the cables overboard, to keep the ship from sinking, as +she had a large quantity of pig iron on board. In doing this, the mate +succeeded in getting only one anchor and one cable clear, the other +having been fastened around the foremast. The ship was then sinking +rapidly. The captain went to the cabin, where he found three feet of +water; he, however, succeeded in procuring a chronometer, sextant, +and chart.</p> + +<p>Reaching the decks, he ordered the boats to be cleared away, and get +water and provisions, as the ship was keeling over. He again descended +to the cabin, but the water was rushing in so rapidly that he could +procure nothing. He then came upon deck, ordered all hands into the +boats, and was the last to leave the ship, which he did by throwing +himself into the sea, and swimming to the nearest boat! The ship was on +her beam end, top-gallant yards under the water. They then pushed off +some distance from the ship, expecting her to sink in a very short time. +Upon an examination of the stores they had been able to save, he +discovered that they had only twelve quarts of water, and not a mouthful +of provisions of any kind! The boats contained eleven men each; were +leaky, and night coming on, they were obliged to bail them all night to +keep them from sinking!</p> + +<p>Next day, at daylight, they returned to the ship, no one daring to +venture on board but the captain, their intention being to cut away the +masts, and fearful that the moment the masts were cut away that the ship +would go down. With a single hatchet, the captain went on board, cut +away the mast, when the ship righted. The boats then came up, and the +men, by the sole aid of spades, cut away the chain cable from around the +foremast, which got the ship nearly on her keel. The men then tied ropes +around their bodies, got into the sea and cut a hole through the decks +to get out provisions. They could procure nothing but about five gallons +of vinegar and twenty pounds of wet bread. The ship threatened to sink, +and they deemed it prudent to remain by her no longer, so they set sail +in their boats and left her.</p> + +<p>On the 22d of August, at about five o'clock P.M., they had the +indescribable joy of seeing a ship in the distance. They made signal and +were soon answered, and in a short time they were reached by the ship +Nantucket, of Nantucket, Mass., Captain Gibbs, who took them all on +board, clothed and fed them, and extended to them in every way the +greatest possible hospitality.</p> + +<p>On the succeeding day Captain Gibbs went to the wreck of the ill-fated +Ann Alexander, for the purpose of trying to procure something; but, as +the sea was rough, and the attempt considered dangerous, he abandoned +the project. The Nantucket then set sail for Paita, where she arrived on +the 15th of September, and where she landed Captain Deblois and his men. +Captain Deblois was kindly received and hospitably entertained at +Paita by Captain Bathurst, an English gentleman residing there, and +subsequently took passage on board the schooner Providence, Captain +Starbuck, for Panama.</p> + + + +<br><br><hr style="width: 35%;"><br><br> +<h2><a name="BURNING_OF_THE_KENT."></a>BURNING OF THE KENT.</h2> +<center><a href="471.png"><img src="471.png" width="30%" align="middle" alt=""><br> +Burning of the Kent--East Indiaman.</a></center> + +<p>The annexed engraving represents the burning of the Kent, East Indiaman, +in the Bay of Biscay. She had on board in all six hundred and forty-one +persons at the time of the accident. The fire broke out in the hold +during a storm. An officer on duty, finding that a spirit cask had +broken loose, was taking measures to secure it, when a lurch of the ship +caused him to drop his lantern, and, in his eagerness to save it, he let +go the cask, which suddenly stove in, the spirits communicated with the +flame, and the whole place was instantly in a blaze. Hopes of subduing +the fire at first were strong, but soon heavy volumes of smoke and a +pitchy smell told that it had reached the cable-room.</p> + +<p>In these awful circumstances, the captain ordered the lower decks to be +scuttled, to admit water; this was done; several poor seamen being +suffocated by the smoke in executing the order; but now a new danger +threatened, the sea rushed in so furiously, that the ship was becoming +water-logged, and all feared her going down. Between six and seven +hundred human beings, were by this time crowded on the deck. Many on +their knees earnestly implored the mercy of an all-powerful God! while +some old stout-hearted sailors quietly seated themselves directly over +the powder magazine,--expecting an explosion every moment, and thinking +thus to put a speedier end to their torture.</p> + +<p>In this time of despair, it occurred to the fourth mate to send a man to +the foremast, hoping, but scarce daring to think it probable, that some +friendly sail might be in sight. The man at the foretop looked around +him; it was a moment of intense anxiety; then waving his hat, he cried +out, "A sail, on the lee-bow!"</p> + +<p>Those on deck received the news with heart-felt gratitude, and answered +with three cheers. Signals of distress were instantly hoisted, and +endeavors used to make toward the stranger, while the minute guns were +fired continuously. She proved to be the brig Cambria, Captain Cook, +master, bound to Vera Cruz, having twenty Cornish miners, and some +agents of the Mining Company on board. For about a quarter of an hour, +the crew of the Kent doubted whether the brig perceived their signals: +but after a period of dreadful suspense, they saw the British colors +hoisted, and the brig making toward them.</p> + +<p>On this, the crew of the Kent got their boats in readiness; the first +was filled with women, passengers, and officers' wives, and was lowered +into a sea so tempestuous as to leave small hope of their reaching the +brig; they did, however, after being nearly swamped through some +entanglement of the ropes, getting clear of the Kent, and were safely +taken on board the Cambria, which prudently lay at some distance off.</p> + +<p>After the first trip, it was found impossible for the boats to come +close alongside of the Kent, and the poor women and children suffered +dreadfully, in being lowered over the stern into them by means of ropes. +Amid this gloomy scene, many beautiful examples occurred of filial and +parental affection, and of disinterested friendship; and many sorrowful +instances of individual loss and suffering. At length, when all had been +removed from the burning vessel, but a few, who were so overcome by fear +as to refuse to make the attempt to reach the brig, the captain quitted +his ill-fated ship.</p> + +<p>The flames which had spread along her upper deck, now mounted rapidly to +the mast and rigging, forming one general conflagration, and lighting +up the heavens to an immense distance around. One by one her stately +masts fell over her sides. By half-past one in the morning the fire +reached the powder magazine; the looked-for explosion took place, and +the burning fragments of the vessel were blown high into the air, like +so many rockets.</p> + +<p>The Cambria, with her crowd of sufferers, made all speed to the nearest +port, and reached Portsmouth in safety, shortly after midnight, on the +3d of March, 1825, the accident having taken place on the 28th of +February. Wonderful to tell, fourteen of the poor creatures, left on the +Kent, were rescued by another ship, the Caroline, on her passage from +Alexandria to Liverpool.</p> +<br> + +<p>THE END</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea +by James O. Brayman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THRILLING ADVENTURES *** + +***** This file should be named 10765-h.htm or 10765-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/7/6/10765/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + + + +</pre> + +</body> +</html> + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + diff --git a/old/10765-h/132.png b/old/10765-h/132.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..c508064 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/132.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/157.png b/old/10765-h/157.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..9f92150 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/157.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/202.png b/old/10765-h/202.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..f3be62c --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/202.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/235.png b/old/10765-h/235.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..4187b69 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/235.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/248.png b/old/10765-h/248.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..784216d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/248.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/267.png b/old/10765-h/267.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..26891b4 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/267.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/278.png b/old/10765-h/278.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0e90ab5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/278.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/299.png b/old/10765-h/299.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e971893 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/299.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/310.png b/old/10765-h/310.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..0c522b6 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/310.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/315.png b/old/10765-h/315.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..2d0760d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/315.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/340.png b/old/10765-h/340.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..6db066d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/340.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/349.png b/old/10765-h/349.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..492f758 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/349.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/374.png b/old/10765-h/374.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..463c902 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/374.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/385.png b/old/10765-h/385.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..022d49e --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/385.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/400.png b/old/10765-h/400.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..5b7a697 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/400.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/413.png b/old/10765-h/413.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..bed30a2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/413.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/430.png b/old/10765-h/430.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..144266d --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/430.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/437.png b/old/10765-h/437.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..7f18ed2 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/437.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/462.png b/old/10765-h/462.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..fcecc95 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/462.png diff --git a/old/10765-h/471.png b/old/10765-h/471.png Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..697116a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765-h/471.png diff --git a/old/10765.txt b/old/10765.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7fe20f5 --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9896 @@ +Project Gutenberg's Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea, by James O. Brayman + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + + +Title: Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea + +Author: James O. Brayman + +Release Date: January 21, 2004 [EBook #10765] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THRILLING ADVENTURES *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + + + + +THRILLING ADVENTURES + +BY + +LAND AND SEA + +BEING + +REMARKABLE HISTORICAL FACTS, GATHERED +FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES. + +EDITED BY + +JAMES O. BRAYMAN. + + "Wherein I spoke of most disastrous chances, + Of moving accidents by flood and field." + + +PREFACE. + +There is a large class of readers who seek books for the sake of the +amusement they afford. Many are not very fastidious as to the character +of those they select, and consequently the press of the present day +teems with works which are not only valueless, so far as imparting +information is concerned, but actually deleterious in their moral +tendency, and calculated to vitiate and enervate the mind. Such +publications as pander to a prurient taste find a large circulation with +a portion of society who read them for the same reason that the +inebriate seeks his bowl, or the gambler the instruments of his +vocation--for the excitement they produce. The influence of works of +this description is all bad--there is not a single redeeming feature to +commend them to the favor or toleration of the virtuous or intelligent. +It cannot be expected that minds accustomed to such reading can at once +be elevated into the higher walks of literature or the more rugged paths +of science. An intermediate step, by which they may be lifted into a +higher mental position, is required. + +There is in the adventures of the daring and heroic, something that +interests all. There is a charm about them which, while it partakes of +the nature of Romance, does not exercise the same influence upon the +mind or heart. When there are noble purposes and noble ends connected +with them, they excite in the mind of the reader, noble impulses. + +The object of the present compilation is to form a readable and +instructive volume--a volume of startling incident and exciting +adventure, which shall interest all minds, and by its attractions beget +thirst for reading with those who devote their leisure hours to things +hurtful to themselves and to community. We have endeavored to be +authentic, and to present matter, which, if it sometimes fail to impart +knowledge or instruction, or convey a moral lesson, will, at least, be +innoxious. But we trust we have succeeded in doing more than this--in +placing before the reading public something that is really valuable, and +that will produce valuable results. + + + + +CONTENTS. + +Incident at Resaca de la Palma +True Heroism +Thrilling Incident +Incident in the War of Mexican Independence +Sketch from Life on the Ocean +Escape from Shipwreck +The Hunter's Wife +Deaf Smith, the Texan Spy +Escape from a Shark +Adventure with Pirates +A Sea-Fowling Adventure +Adventure with a Cobra di Capello +Combat of Wild Animals +Perilous Incident on a Canadian River +Leopard Hunting +Hunting the White Rhinoceros +A Leopard Hunt +Life in California +A Storm among the Icebergs +Fall of the Rossberg +The Rifleman of Chippewa +Shipwreck of the Blendenhall +Adventures of Sergeant Champe +Adventure with Pirates +Kenton, the Spy +The Dying Volunteer +Escape from a Mexican Quicksand +Charged by a Rhinoceros +Burning of the Erie +Conflict with an Indian +Fire on the Prairies +The Captain's Story +Tussle with a Wildcat +Incident in Frontier Life +Encounter with Robbers +Shipwreck of the Monticello +A Jungle Recollection +Attack of Boonesborough +Thrilling Incidents of Battle +Family Attacked by Indians +Thrilling Incident +Adventures of Dr. Bacon +A Battle with Snakes +Estill's Defeat +Incident at Niagara Falls +Skater chased by a Wolf +Our Flag on the Rocky Mountains +Running the Canon +The Rescue +Shipwreck of the Medusa +Hunting the Moose +Perilous Escape from Death +Fire in the Forest +Pirates of the Red Sea +General Jackson and Weatherford +Cruise of the Saldanha and Talbot +A Carib's Revenge +Massacre of Fort Mimms +The Freshet +The Panther's Den +Adventure with Elephant's +The Shark Sentinel +Hunting the Tiger +Indian Devil +Bear Fight +The Miners of Bois-Monzil +Ship Towed to Land by Bullocks +Destruction of a Ship by a Whale +Burning of the Kent + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +Frontispiece +Attack on the Lighthouse +Before the Gale +Escape from a Shark +Tiger and Buffalo +Charge of the Buffalo +Loss of the Blendenhall +Death of Montgomery +Escape from the Rhinoceros +The Pursuit +Loss of the Monticello +Attack on Boonesborough +Death of the Widow's Daughter +Attacked by Wolves +Attack on Estill's Station +Our Flag on the Rocky Mountains +A Sail in Sight +Savages Torturing a Captive +Gen. Jackson and Weatherford +Gen. Coffee's Attack on the Indians +Hunting the Rhinoceros +Hunting the Tiger +Ship towed by Bullocks +Burning of the Kent + + + + +THRILLING ADVENTURES BY LAND AND SEA. + + +INCIDENT AT RESACA DE LA PALMA. + +Sergeant Milton gives the following account of an incident which befel +him at the Battle of Resaca de la Palma. + +"At Palo Alto," says he, "I took my rank in the troop as second +sergeant, and while upon the field my horse was wounded in the jaw by a +grape-shot, which disabled him for service. While he was plunging in +agony I dismounted, and the quick eye of Captain May observed me as I +alighted from my horse. He inquired if I was hurt. I answered no--that +my horse was the sufferer. I am glad it is not yourself,' replied he; +'there is another,' (pointing at the same time to a steed without a +rider, which was standing with dilated eye, gazing at the strife,) +'mount him,' I approached the horse, and he stood still until I put my +hand upon the rein and patted his neck, when he rubbed his head +alongside of me, as if pleased that some human being was about to become +his companion in the affray. + +"On the second day, at Resaca de la Palma, our troop stood anxiously +waiting for the signal to be given, and never had I looked upon men on +whose countenances were more clearly expressed a fixed determination to +win. The lips of some were pale with excitement, and their eyes wore +that fixed expression which betokens mischief; others, with shut teeth, +would quietly laugh, and catch a tighter grip of the rein, or seat +themselves with care and firmness in the saddle, while quiet words of +confidence and encouragement were passed from each to his neighbor. All +at once Captain May rode to the front of his troop--every rein and sabre +was tightly grasped. Raising himself and pointing at the battery, he +shouted, 'Men, _follow_!' There was now a clattering of hoofs and a +rattling of sabre sheaths--the fire of the enemy's guns was partly drawn +by Lieutenant Ridgely, and the next moment we were sweeping like the +wind up the ravine. I was in a squad of about nine men, who were +separated by a shower of grape from the battery, and we were in advance, +May leading. He turned his horse opposite the breastwork, in front of +the guns, and with another shout 'to follow,' leaped over them. Several +of the horses did follow, but mine, being new and not well trained, +refused; two others balked, and their riders started down the ravine to +turn the breastwork where the rest of the troop had entered. I made +another attempt to clear the guns with my horse, turning him +around--feeling all the time secure at thinking the guns discharged--I +put his head toward them and gave him spur, but he again balked; so +turning his head down the ravine, I too started to ride round the +breastwork. + +"As I came down, a lancer dashed at me with lance in rest. With my sabre +I parried his thrust, only receiving a slight flesh-wound from its point +in the arm, which felt at the time like the prick of a pin. The lancer +turned and fled; at that moment a ball passed through my horse on the +left side and shattered my right side. The shot killed the horse +instantly, and he fell upon my left leg, fastening me by his weight to +the earth. There I lay, right in the midst of the action, where carnage +was riding riot, and every moment the shot, from our own and the Mexican +guns, tearing up the earth around me. I tried to raise my horse so as to +extricate my leg but I had already grown so weak with my wound that I +was unable, and from the mere attempt, I fell back exhausted. To add to +my horror, a horse, who was careering about, riderless, within a few +yards of me, received a wound, and he commenced struggling and rearing +with pain. Two or three times, he came near falling on me, but at +length, with a scream of agony and a bound, he fell dead--his body +touching my own fallen steed. What I had been in momentary dread of now +occurred--my wounded limb, which was lying across the horse, received +another ball in the ankle. + +"I now felt disposed to give up; and, exhausted through pain and +excitement, a film gathered over my eyes, which I thought was the +precursor of dissolution. From this hopeless state I was aroused by a +wounded Mexican, calling out to me, '_Bueno Americano,_' and turning my +eyes toward the spot, I saw that he was holding a certificate and +calling to me. The tide of action now rolled away from me and hope again +sprung up. The Mexican uniforms began to disappear from the chapparal, +and squadrons of our troops passed in sight, apparently in pursuit. +While I was thus nursing the prospect of escape, I beheld, not far from +me, a villainous-looking ranchero, armed with an American sergeant's +short sword, dispatching a wounded American soldier, whose body he +robbed--the next he came to was a Mexican, whom he served the same way, +and thus I looked on while he murderously slew four. I drew an +undischarged pistol from my holsters, and laying myself along my horse's +neck, watched him, expecting to be the next victim; but something +frightened him from his vulture-like business, and he fled in another +direction. I need not say that had he visited me I should have taken one +more shot at the enemy, and would have died content, had I succeeded in +making such an assassin bite the dust. Two hours after, I had the +pleasure of shaking some of my comrades by the hand, who were picking up +the wounded. They lifted my Mexican friend, too, and I am pleased to say +he, as well as myself, live to fight over again the sanguine fray of +_Resaca de la Palma."_ + + + +TRUE HEROISM. + +While the plague raged violently at Marseilles, every link of affection +was broken, the father turned from the child, the child from the father; +cowardice and ingratitude no longer excited indignation. Misery is at +its height when it thus destroys every generous feeling, thus dissolves +every tie of humanity! the city became a desert, grass grew in the +streets; a funeral met you at every step. + +The physicians assembled in a body at the Hotel de Ville, to hold a +consultation on the fearful disease, for which no remedy had yet been +discovered. After a long deliberation, they decided unanimously, that +the malady had a peculiar and mysterious character, which opening a +corpse alone might develope--an operation it was impossible to attempt, +since the operator must infallibly become a victim in a few hours, +beyond the power of human art to save him, as the violence of the attack +would preclude their administering the customary remedies. A dead pause +succeeded this fatal declaration. Suddenly, a surgeon named Guyon, in +the prime of life, and of great celebrity in his profession, rose and +said firmly, "Be it so: I devote myself for the safety of my country. +Before this numerous assembly I swear, in the name of humanity and +religion, that to-morrow, at the break of day, I will dissect a corpse, +and write down as I proceed, what I observe." He left the assembly +instantly. They admired him, lamented his fate, and doubted whether he +would persist in his design. The intrepid Guyon, animated by all the +sublime energy which patriotism can inspire, acted up to his word. He +had never married, he was rich, and he immediately made a will; he +confessed, and in the middle of the night received the sacraments. A man +had died of the plague in his house within four and twenty hours. +Guyon, at daybreak, shut himself up in the same room; he took with him +an inkstand, paper, and a little crucifix. Full of enthusiasm, and +kneeling before the corpse, he wrote,--"Mouldering remains of an +immortal soul, not only can I gaze on thee without horror, but even with +joy and gratitude. Thou wilt open to me the gates of a glorious +eternity. In discovering to me the secret cause of the terrible disease +which destroys my native city, thou wilt enable me to point out some +salutary remedy--thou wilt render my sacrifice useful. Oh God! thou wilt +bless the action thou hast thyself inspired." He began--he finished the +dreadful operation, and recorded in detail his surgical observations. He +left the room, threw the papers into a vase of vinegar, and afterward +sought the lazaretto, where he died in twelve hours--a death ten +thousand times more glorious than the warrior's, who, to save his +country, rushes on the enemy's ranks,--since he advances with hope, at +least, sustained, admired, and seconded by a whole army. + + + +A THRILLING INCIDENT. + +An incident occurred at the Key Biscayne lighthouse, during the Florida +war, which is perhaps worth recording. The lighthouse, was kept by a man +named Thompson. His only companion was an old negro man; they both lived +in a small hut near the lighthouse. One evening about dark they +discovered a party of some fifteen or twenty Indians creeping upon them, +upon which they immediately retreated into the lighthouse, carrying with +them a keg of gunpowder, with the guns and ammunition. From the windows +of the lighthouse Thompson fired upon them several times, but the moment +he would show himself at the window, the glasses would be instantly +riddled by the rifle balls, and he had no alternative but to lie close. +The Indians meanwhile getting out of patience, at not being able to +force the door, which Thompson had secured, collected piles of wood, +which, being placed against the door and set fire to, in process of time +not only burnt through the door, but also set fire to the stair-case +conducting to the lantern, into which Thompson and the negro were +compelled to retreat. From this, too, they were finally driven by the +encroaching flames, and were forced outside on the parapet wall, which +was not more than three feet wide. + +[Illustration: ATTACK ON THE LIGHTHOUSE.] + +The flames now began to ascend as from a chimney, some fifteen or twenty +feet above the lighthouse. These men had to lie in this situation, some +seventy feet above the ground, with a blazing furnace roasting them on +one side, and the Indians on the other, embracing every occasion, as +soon as any part of the body was exposed to pop at them. The negro +incautiously exposing himself, was killed, while Thompson received +several balls in his feet, which he had projected beyond the wall. + +Nearly roasted to death, and in a fit of desperation, Thompson seized +the keg of gunpowder, which he had still preserved from the hands of the +enemy, threw it into the blazing lighthouse, hoping to end his own +sufferings and destroy the savages. In a few moments it exploded, but +the walls were too strong to be shaken, and the explosion took place out +of the lighthouse, as though it had been fired from a gun. + +The effect of the concussion was to throw down the blazing materials +level with the ground, so as to produce a subsidence of the flames, and +then Thompson was permitted to remain exempt from their influence. +Before day the Indians were off, and Thompson being left alone, was +compelled to throw off the body of the negro, while strength was left +him, and before it putrefied. + +The explosion was heard on board a revenue cutter at some distance, +which immediately proceeded to the spot to ascertain what had occurred, +when they found the lighthouse burnt, and the keeper above, on top of +it. Various expedients were resorted to, to get him down; and finally a +kite was made, and raised with strong twine, and so manoeuvered as to +bring the line within his reach, to which a rope of good size was next +attached, and hauled up by Thompson. Finally, a block, which being +fastened to the lighthouse, and having a rope to it, enabled the crew to +haul up a couple of men, by whose aid Thompson was safely landed on +terra firma. + +The Indians had attempted to reach him by means of the lightning rod, to +which they had attached thongs of buckskin, but could not succeed in +getting more than half way up. + + + +AN INCIDENT + +IN THE WAR OF MEXICAN INDEPENDENCE. + +The following thrilling narrative is from a translation in Sharpe's +Magazine. A captain in the Mexican insurgent army is giving an account +of a meditated night attack upon a hacienda situated in the Cordilleras, +and occupied by a large force of Spanish soldiers. After a variety of +details, he continues: + +"Having arrived at the hacienda unperceived, thanks for the obscurity of +a moonless night, we came to a halt under some large trees, at some +distance from the building, and I rode forward from my troop, in order +to reconnoitre the place. The hacienda, so far as I could see in gliding +across, formed a huge, massive parallelogram, strengthened by enormous +buttresses of hewn stone. Along this chasm, the walls of the hacienda +almost formed the continuation of another perpendicular one, chiselled +by nature herself in the rocks, to the bottom of which the eye could not +penetrate, for the mists, which incessantly boiled up from below, did +not allow it to measure their awful depth. This place was known, in the +country, by the name of 'the Voladero.'" + +"I had explored all sides of the building except this, when I know not +what scruple of military honor incited me to continue my ride along the +ravine which protected the rear of the hacienda. Between the walls and +the precipice, there was a narrow pathway about six feet wide; by day, +the passage would have been dangerous; but, by night, it was a perilous +enterprize. The walls of the farm took an extensive sweep, the path +crept round their entire basement, and to follow it to the end, in the +darkness, only two paces from the edge of a perpendicular chasm, was no +very easy task, even for as practiced a horseman as myself. +Nevertheless, I did not hesitate, but boldly urged my horse between the +walls of the farm-house and the abyss of the Voladero. I had got over +half the distance without accident, when, all of a sudden, my horse +neighed aloud. This neigh made me shudder. I had just reached a pass +where the ground was but just wide enough for the four legs of a horse, +and it was impossible to retrace my steps." + +"'Hallo!' I exclaimed aloud, at the risk of betraying myself, which was +even less dangerous than encountering a horseman in front of me on such +a road. 'There is a Christian passing along the ravine! Keep back,'" + +"It was too late. At that moment, a man on horseback passed round one +of the buttresses which here and there obstructed this accursed pathway +He advanced toward me. I trembled in my saddle; my forehead bathed in a +cold sweat." + +"'For the love of God! can you not return?' I exclaimed, terrified at +the fearful situation in which we both were placed." + +"'Impossible!' replied the horseman." + +"I recommended my soul to God. To turn our horses round for want of +room, to back them along the path we had traversed, or even to dismount +from them--these were three impossibilities, which placed us both in +presence of a fearful doom. Between two horsemen so placed upon this +fearful path, had they been father and son, one of them must inevitably +have become the prey of the abyss. But a few seconds had passed, and we +were already face to face--the unknown and myself. Our horses were head +to head, and their nostrils, dilated with terror, mingled together their +fiery breathing. Both of us halted in a dead silence. Above was the +smooth and lofty wall of the hacienda; on the other side, but three feet +distant from the wall, opened the horrible gulf. Was it an enemy I had +before my eyes? The love of my country, which boiled, at that period, in +my young bosom, led me to hope it was." + +"'Are you for Mexico and the Insurgents?' I exclaimed in a moment of +excitement, ready to spring upon the unknown horseman, if he answered me +in the negative." + +"'_Mexico e Insurgente_--that is my password, replied the cavalier. 'I +am the Colonel Garduno.'" + +"'I am the Captain Castanos.'" + +"Our acquaintance was of long standing; and, but for mutual agitation, +we should have had no need to exchange our names. The colonel had left +us two days since, at the head of the detachment, which we supposed to +be either prisoners, or cut off, for he had not been seen to return +to the camp." + +"'Well, colonel,' I exclaimed, 'I am sorry you are not a Spaniard; for, +you perceive, that one of us must yield the pathway to the other." + +"Our horses had the bridle on their necks, and I put my hands to the +holsters of my saddle to draw out my pistols." + +"'I see it so plainly,' returned the colonel, with alarming coolness, +'that I should already have blown out the brains of your horse, but for +the fear lest mine, in a moment of terror, should precipitate me with +yourself, to the bottom of the abyss.'" + +"I remarked, in fact, that the colonel already held his pistols in his +hands. We both maintained almost profound silence. Our horses felt the +danger like ourselves, and remained as immovable as if their feet were +nailed to the ground. My excitement had entirely subsided. 'What are we +going to do?' I demanded of the colonel." + +"'Draw lots which of the two shall leap into the ravine.'" + +"It was, in truth, the sole means of resolving the difficulty. 'There +are, nevertheless, some precautions to take,' said the Colonel." + +"'He who shall be condemned by the lot, shall retire backward. It will +be but a feeble chance of escape for him, I admit; but, in short, there +is a chance, and especially one in favor of the winner,'" + +"'You cling not to life, then?' I cried out, terrified at the +_sang-froid_ with which this proposition was put to me." + +"'I cling to life more than yourself,' sharply replied the colonel, 'for +I have a mortal outrage to avenge. But the time is fast slipping away. +Are you ready to proceed to draw the last lottery at which one of us +will ever exist?" + +"How were we to proceed to this drawing by lot? By means of the wet +finger, like infants; or by head and tail, like the school boys? Both +ways were impracticable. Our hands imprudently stretched out over the +heads of our frightened horses, might cause them to give a fatal start. +Should we toss up a piece of coin, the night was too dark to enable us +to distinguish which side fell upward. The colonel bethought him of an +expedient, of which I never should have dreamed." + +"'Listen to me, captain,' said the colonel, to whom I had communicated +my perplexities. 'I have another way. The terror which our horses feel, +makes them draw every moment a burning breath. The first of us two whose +horse shall neigh,--" + +"'Wins!' I exclaimed, hastily." + +"'Not so; shall be looser. I know that you are a countryman, and, as +such, you can do whatever you please with your horse. As to myself, who, +but last year, wore a gown of a theological student, I fear your +equestrian prowess. You may be able to make your horse neigh: to hinder +him from doing so, is a very different matter.'" + +"We waited in deep and anxious silence until the voice of one of our +horses should break forth. The silence lasted for a minute--for an age! +It was my horse who neighed the first. The colonel gave no external +manifestation of his joy; but, no doubt, he thanked God to the very +bottom of his heart." + +"'You will allow me a minute to make my peace with heaven?' I said, with +falling voice." + +"'Will five minutes be sufficient?'" + +"'It will,' I replied." + +"The colonel pulled out his watch. I addressed toward the heavens, +brilliant with stars, which I thought I was looking to for the last +time, an intense and burning prayer." + +"'It is time,' said the colonel." + +"I answered nothing, and, with a firm hand, gathered up the bridle of my +horse, and drew it within my fingers, which were agitated by a +nervous tremor." + +"'Yet one moment more,' I said to the colonel, for I have need of all my +coolness to carry into execution the fearful manoeuver which I am about +to commence." + +"'Granted,' replied Garduno." + +"My education, as I have told you, had been in the country. My +childhood, and part of my earliest youth, had almost been passed on +horseback. I may say, without flattering myself, that if there was any +one in the world capable of executing this equestrian feat, it was +myself. I rallied myself with an almost supernatural effort, and +succeeded in recovering my entire self-possession, in the very face of +death. Taking it at the worst, I had already braved it too often to be +any longer alarmed at it. From that instant, I dared to hope afresh." + +"As soon as my horse felt, for the first time since my rencounter with +the colonel, the bit compressing his mouth, I perceived that he trembled +beneath me. I strengthened myself firmly on my stirrups, to make the +terrified animal understand that his master no longer trembled. I held +him up with bridle and the hams, as every good horseman does in a +dangerous passage, and, with the bridle, the body, and the spur, +together, succeeded in backing him a few paces. His head was already a +greater distance from that of the horse of the colonel, who encouraged +me all he could with his voice. This done, I let the poor, trembling +brute, who obeyed me in spite of his terror, repose for a few moments, +and then recommenced the same manoeuver. All on a sudden, I felt his +hind legs give way under me. A horrible shudder ran through my whole +frame. I closed my eyes, as if about to roll to the bottom of the abyss, +and I gave to my body a violent impulse on the side next to the +hacienda, the surface of which offered not a single projection, not a +tuft of weeds to check my descent. This sudden movement joined to the +desperate struggles of my horse, was the salvation of my life. He had +sprung up again on his legs, which seemed ready to fall from under him, +so desperately did I feel them tremble." + +"I had succeeded in reaching between the brink of the precipice and the +wall of the building, a spot some few inches broader. A few more would +have enabled me to turn him round; but to attempt it here would have +been fatal, and I dared not venture. I sought to resume my backward +progress, step by step. Twice the horse threw himself on his hind legs, +and fell down upon the same spot. It was in vain to urge him anew, +either with voice, bridle, or spur; the animal obstinately refused to +take a single step in the rear. Nevertheless, I did not feel my courage +yet exhausted, for I had no desire to die. One last, solitary chance of +safety, suddenly appeared to me, like a flash of light, and I resolved +to employ it. Through the fastening of my boot, and in reach of my hand, +was placed a sharp and keen knife, which I drew forth from its sheath. +With my left hand I began caressing the mane of my horse, all the while +letting him hear my voice. The poor animal replied to my caresses by a +plaintive neighing; then, not to alarm him abruptly, my hand followed, +by little and little, the curve of his nervous neck, and finally rested +upon the spot where the last of the vertebrae unites itself with the +cranium. The horse trembled; but I calmed him with my voice. When I felt +his very life, so to speak, palpitate in his brain beneath my fingers, +and leaned over toward the wall, my feet gently slid from the stirrups, +and, with one vigorous blow, I buried the pointed blade of my knife in +the seat of the vital principle. The animal fell as if thunderstruck, +without a single motion; and, for myself, with my knees almost as high +as my chin, I found myself a horseback across a corpse! I was saved! I +uttered a triumphant cry, which was responded to by the colonel, and +which the abyss re-echoed with a hollow sound, as if it felt that its +prey had escaped from it. I quitted the saddle, sat down between the +wall and the body of my horse, and vigorously pushed with my feet +against the carcass of the wretched animal, which rolled down into the +abyss. I then arose, and cleared, at a few bounds, the distance which +separated the place where I was from the plain; and, under the +irresistible reaction of the terror which I had long repressed, I sank +into a swoon upon the ground. When I reopened my eyes, the colonel was +by my side." + + + +A SKETCH + +FROM "LIFE ON THE OCEAN." + +Carthagena lies in the parallel of ten degrees twenty-six minutes north, +and seventy-five degrees thirty-eight minutes west longitude; the harbor +is good, with an easy entrance; the city is strongly fortified by +extensive and commanding fortifications and batteries, and, I should +suppose, if well garrisoned and manned, they would be perfectly able to +repel any force which might be brought to bear against them. It was well +known, at this time, that all the provinces of Spain had shaken off +their allegiance to the mother country, and declared themselves +independent. Carthagena, the most prominent of the provinces, was a +place of considerable commerce; and, about this time, a few men-of-war, +and a number of privateers, were fitted out there. The Carthagenian flag +now presented a chance of gain to the cupidity of the avaricious and +desperate, among whom was our commander, Captain S. As soon, therefore, +as we had filled up our water, &c., a proposition was made by him, to +the second lieutenant and myself, to cruise under both flags, the +American and Carthagenian, and this to be kept a profound secret from +the crew, until we had sailed from port. Of course, we rejected the +proposition with disdain, and told him the consequence of such a +measure, in the event of being taken by a man-of-war of any +nation,--that it was piracy, to all intents and purposes, according to +the law of nations. We refused to go out in the privateer, if he +persisted in this most nefarious act, and we heard no more of it while +we lay in port. + +In a few days we were ready for sea, and sailed in company with our +companion, her force being rather more than ours, but the vessel very +inferior, in point of sailing. While together, we captured several small +British schooners, the cargoes of which, together with some specie, were +divided between two privateers. Into one of the prizes we put all the +prisoners, gave them plenty of water and provisions, and let them pursue +their course: the remainder of the prizes were burned. We then parted +company, and, being short of water, ran in toward the land, in order to +ascertain if any could be procured. In approaching the shore, the wind +died away to a perfect calm; and, at 4 P.M., a small schooner was seen +in-shore of us. As we had not steerage way upon our craft, of course it +would be impossible to ascertain her character before dark; it was, +therefore, determined by our commander to board her with the boats, +under cover of the night. This was a dangerous service; but there was no +backing out. Volunteers being called for, I stepped forward; and very +soon, a sufficient number of men to man two boats offered their services +to back me. Every disposition was made for the attack. The men were +strongly armed, oars muffled, and a grappling placed in each boat. The +bearings of the strange sail were taken, and night came on perfectly +clear and cloudless. I took command of the expedition, the second +lieutenant having charge of one boat. The arrangement was to keep close +together, until we got sight of the vessel; the second lieutenant was to +board on the bow, and I on the quarter. We proceeded in the most +profound silence; nothing was heard, save now and then a slight splash +of the oars in the water, and, before we obtained sight of the vessel, I +had sufficient time to reflect on this most perilous enterprise. + +My reflections were not of the most pleasant character, and I found +myself inwardly shrinking, when I was aroused by the voice of the bowman +saying, "There she is, sir, two points on the starboard bow." There she +lay, sure enough, with every sail hoisted, and a light was plainly seen, +as we supposed, from her deck, it being too high for her cabin windows. +We now held a consultation, and saw no good reason to change the +disposition of the attack, except that we agreed to board +simultaneously. It may be well to observe here, that any number of men +on a vessel's deck, in the night, have double the advantage to repel +boarders, because they may secrete themselves in such a position as to +fall upon an enemy unawares, and thereby cut them off, with little +difficulty. Being fully aware of this, I ordered the men, as soon as we +had gained the deck of the schooner, to proceed with great caution, and +keep close together, till every hazard of the enterprize was +ascertained. The boats now separated, and pulled for their respective +stations, observing the most profound silence. When we had reached +within a few yards of the schooner, we lay upon our oars for some +moments; but could neither hear nor see any thing. We then pulled away +cheerily, and the next minute were under her counter, and grappled to +her; every man leaped on the deck without opposition. The other boat +boarded nearly at the same moment, and we proceeded, in a body, with +great caution, to examine the decks. A large fire was in the caboose, +and we soon ascertained that her deck was entirely deserted, and that +she neither had any boat on deck nor to her stern. We then proceeded to +examine the cabin, leaving an armed force on deck. The cabin, like the +deck, being deserted, the mystery was easily unraveled. Probably +concluding that we should board them under cover of the night, they, no +doubt, as soon as it was dark, took to their boats, and deserted the +vessel. On the floor of the cabin was a part of an English ensign, and +some papers, which showed that she belonged to Jamaica, The little cargo +on board consisted of Jamaica rum, sugar, fruit, &c. + +The breeze now springing up, and the privateer showing lights, we were +enabled to get alongside of her in a couple of hours. A prize-master and +crew were put on board, with orders to keep company. During the night, +we ran along shore, and, in the morning, took on board the privateer the +greater part of the prize's cargo. + +Being close in shore in the afternoon, we descried a settlement of huts; +and, supposing that water might be obtained there, the two vessels were +run in, and anchored about two miles distant from the beach. A +proposition was made to me, by Captain S., to get the water-casks on +board the prize schooner, and, as she drew a light draught of water, I +was to run her in, and anchor her near the beach, taking with me the two +boats and twenty men. I observed to Captain S. that this was probably +an Indian settlement, and it was well known that all the Indian tribes +on the coast of Rio de La Hache were exceedingly ferocious, and said to +be cannibals; and it was also well known, that whosoever fell into their +hands, never escaped with their lives; so that it was necessary, before +any attempt was made to land, that some of the Indians should be decoyed +on board, and detained as hostages for our safety. At the conclusion of +this statement, a very illiberal allusion was thrown out by Captain S., +and some doubts expressed in reference to my courage; he remarking, that +if I was afraid to undertake the expedition, he would go himself. This +was enough for me; I immediately resolved to proceed, if I sacrificed my +life in the attempt. The next morning, twenty water-casks were put on +board the prize, together with the two boats and twenty men, well armed +with muskets, pistols, and cutlasses, with a supply of ammunition; I +repaired on board, got the prize under way, ran in, and anchored about +one hundred yards from the beach. The boats were got in readiness, and +the men were well armed, and the water casks slung ready to proceed on +shore, I had examined my own pistols narrowly, that morning, and had put +them in complete order, and, as I believed, had taken every precaution +for our future operations, so as to prevent surprise. + +There were about a dozen ill-constructed huts, or wigwams; but no spot +of grass, or shrub, was visible to the eye, with the exception of, here +and there, the trunk of an old tree. One solitary Indian was seen +stalking on the beach, and the whole scene presented the most wild and +savage appearance, and, to my mind, argued very unfavorably. We pulled +in with the casks in tow, seven men being in each boat; when within a +short distance of the beach, the boat's heads were put to seaward, when +the Indian came abreast of us. Addressing him in Spanish, I inquired if +water could be procured, to which he replied in the affirmative. I then +displayed to his view some gewgaws and trinkets, at which he appeared +perfectly delighted, and, with many signs and gestures, invited me on +shore. Thrusting my pistols into my belt, and buckling on my +cartridge-box, I gave orders to the boats' crew, that, in case they +discovered any thing like treachery or surprise, after I had gotten on +shore, to cut the water-casks adrift, and make the best of their way on +board the prize. As soon as I had jumped on shore, I inquired if there +were any live stock, such as fowls, &c., to be had. Pointing to a hut +about thirty yards from the boats, he said that the stock was there, +and invited me to go and see it. I hesitated, suspecting some treachery; +however, after repeating my order to the boats' crews, I proceeded with +the Indian, and when within about half a dozen yards of the hut, at a +preconcerted signal, (as I supposed,) as if by magic, at least one +hundred Indians rushed out, with the rapidity of thought. I was knocked +down, stripped of all my clothing except an inside flannel shirt, tied +hand and foot, and then taken and secured to the trunk of a large tree, +surrounded by about twenty squaws, as a guard, who, with the exception +of two or three, bore a most wild and hideous look in their appearance. +The capture of the boat's crews was simultaneous with my own, they being +so much surprised and confounded at the stratagem of the Indians, that +they had not the power, or presence of mind, to pull off. + +After they had secured our men, a number of them jumped into the boats, +pulled off, and captured the prize, without meeting with any resistance +from those on board, they being only six in number. Her cable was then +cut, and she was run on the beach, when they proceeded to dismantle her, +by cutting the sails from the bolt-ropes, and taking out what little +cargo there was, consisting of Jamaica ram, sugar, &c. This being done, +they led ropes on shore, when about one hundred of them hauled her up +nearly high and dry. + +By this time the privateer had seen our disaster stood boldly in, and +anchored within less than gun shot of the beach; they then very +foolishly opened a brisk cannonade; but every shot was spent in vain. +This exasperated the Indians, and particularly the one who had taken +possession of my pistols. Casting my eye round, I saw him creeping +toward me with one pistol presented, and when about five yards off, he +pulled the trigger. But as Providence had, no doubt, ordered it, the +pistol snapped; at the same moment, a shot from the privateer fell a few +yards from us, when the Indian rose upon his feet, cocked the pistol, +and fired it at the privateer; turning round with a most savage yell, he +threw the pistol with great violence, which grazed my head, and then, +with a large stick, beat and cut me until I was perfectly senseless. +This was about ten o'clock, and I did not recover my consciousness +until, as I supposed, about four o'clock in the afternoon. I perceived +there were four squaws around me, one of whom, from her +appearance,--having on many gewgaws and trinkets,--was the wife of a +chief. As soon as she discovered signs of returning consciousness, she +presented me with a gourd, the contents of which appeared to be Indian +meal mixed with water; she first drank, and then gave it to me, and I +can safely aver that I never drank any beverage, before or since, which +produced such relief. + +Night was now coming on; the privateer had got under weigh, and was +standing off-and-on, with a flag of truce flying at her mast-head. The +treacherous Indian with whom I had first conversed came, and with a +malignant smile, gave me the dreadful intelligence that, at twelve +o'clock that night, we were to be roasted and eaten. + +Accordingly, at sunset, I was unloosed and conducted, by a band of about +half a dozen savages, to the spot, where I found the remainder of our +men firmly secured, by having their hands tied behind them, their legs +lashed together, and each man fastened to a stake that had been driven +into the ground for that purpose. There was no possibility to elude the +vigilance of these miscreants. As soon as night shut in, a large +quantity of brushwood was piled around us, and nothing now was wanting +but the fire to complete this horrible tragedy. Then the same malicious +savage approached us once more, and, with the deepest malignity, taunted +us with our coming fate. Having some knowledge of the Indian character, +I summoned up all the fortitude of which I was capable, and, in terms +of defiance, told him, that twenty Indians would be sacrificed for each +one of us sacrificed by him. I knew very well that it would not do to +exhibit any signs of fear or cowardice; and, having heard much of the +cupidity of the Indian character, I offered the savage a large ransom if +he would use his influence to procure our release. Here the conversation +was abruptly broken off by a most hideous yell from the whole tribe, +occasioned by their having taken large draughts of the rum, which now +began to operate very sensibly upon them; and, as it will be seen, +operated very much to our advantage. This thirst for rum caused them to +relax their vigilance, and we were left alone to pursue our reflections, +which were not of the most enviable or pleasant character. A thousand +melancholy thoughts rushed over my mind. Here I was, and, in all +probability, in a few hours I should be in eternity, and my death one of +the most horrible description. "Oh!" thought I, "how many were the +entreaties and arguments used by my friends to deter me from pursuing an +avocation so full of hazard and peril! If I had taken their advice, and +acceded to their solicitations, in all probability I should, at this +time, have been in the enjoyment of much happiness." I was aroused from +this reverie by the most direful screams from the united voices of the +whole tribe, they having drunk largely of the rum, and become so much +intoxicated that a general fight ensued. Many of them lay stretched on +the ground, with tomahawks deeply implanted in their skulls: and many +others, as the common phrase is, were "dead drunk." This was an +exceedingly fortunate circumstance for us. With their senses benumbed, +of course they had forgotten their avowal to roast us, or, it may be, +the Indian to whom I proposed ransom had conferred with the others, and +they, no doubt, agreed to spare our lives until the morning. It was a +night, however, of pain and terror, as well as of the most anxious +suspense; and when the morning dawn broke upon my vision, I felt an +indescribable emotion of gratitude, as I had fully made up my mind, the +night previous, that long before this time I should have been sleeping +the sleep of death. It was a pitiable sight, when the morning light +appeared, to see twenty human beings stripped naked, with their bodies +cut and lacerated, and the blood issuing from their wounds; with their +hands and feet tied, and their bodies fastened to stakes, with brushwood +piled around them, expecting every moment to be their last. My feelings, +on this occasion, can be better imagined than described; suffice it to +say, that I had given up all hopes of escape, and gloomily resigned +myself to death. When the fumes of the liquor had in some degree worn +off from the benumbed senses of the savages, they arose and approached +us, and, for the first time, the wily Indian informed me that the tribe +had agreed to ransom us. They then cast off the lashings from our bodies +and feet, and, with our hands still secure, drove us before them to the +beach. Then another difficulty arose; the privateer was out of sight, +and the Indians became furious. To satiate their hellish malice, they +obliged us to run on the beach, while they let fly their poisoned arrows +after us. For my own part, my limbs were so benumbed that I could +scarcely walk, and I firmly resolved to stand still and take the worst +of it--which was the best plan I could have adopted; for, when they +perceived that I exhibited no signs of fear, not a single arrow was +discharged at me. Fortunately, before they grew weary of this sport, to +my great joy, the privateer hove in sight. She stood boldly in, with the +flag of truce flying, and the savages consented to let one man of their +own choosing go off in the boat to procure the stipulated ransom. The +boat returned loaded with articles of various descriptions, and two of +our men were released. The boat kept plying to and from the privateer, +bringing such articles as they demanded, until all were released except +myself. Here it may be proper to observe, that the mulatto man, who had +been selected by the Indians, performed all this duty himself, not one +of the privateer's crew daring to hazard their lives with him in the +boat. I then was left alone, and for my release they required a double +ransom. I began now seriously to think that they intended to detain me +altogether. My mulatto friend, however, pledged himself that he would +never leave me. + +Again, for the last time, he sculled the boat off. She quickly returned, +with a larger amount of articles than previously. It was a moment of the +deepest anxiety, for there had now arrived from the interior another +tribe, apparently superior in point of numbers, and elated with the +booty which had been obtained. They demanded a share, and expressed a +determination to detain me for a larger ransom. These demands were +refused, and a conflict ensued of the most frightful and terrific +character. Tomahawks, knives, and arrows, were used indiscriminately, +and many an Indian fell in that bloody contest. The tomahawks were +thrown with the swiftness of arrows, and were generally buried in the +skull or the breast; and whenever two came in contact, with the famous +"Indian hug," the strife was soon over with either one or the other, by +one plunging the deadly knife up to the hilt in the body of his +opponent; nor were the poisoned arrows of less swift execution, for, +wherever they struck, the wretched victim was quickly in eternity. I +shall never forget the frightful barbarity of that hour; although years +have elapsed since its occurrence, still the whole scene in imagination +is before me, the savage yell of the warwhoop, and the direful screams +of the squaws, still ring afresh in my ears. In the height of this +conflict, a tall Indian chief, who, I knew, belonged to the same tribe +with the young squaw who gave me the drink, came down to the beach where +I was. The boat had been discharged, and was lying with her head off. At +a signal given by the squaw to the chief, he caught me up in his arms, +with as much ease as if I had been a child, waded to the boat, threw me +in, and then, with a most expressive gesture, urged us off. Fortunately, +there were two oars in the boat, and, feeble as I was, I threw all the +remaining strength I had to the oar. It was the last effort, as life or +death hung upon the next fifteen minutes. Disappointed of a share of the +booty, the savages were frantic with rage, especially when they saw I +had eluded their grasp. Rushing to the beach, about a dozen threw +themselves into the other boat, which had been captured, and pulled +after us; but, fortunately, in their hurry, they had forgotten the +muskets, and being unacquainted with the method of rowing, of course +they made but little progress, which enabled us to increase +our distance. + +The privateer having narrowly watched all these movements, and seeing +our imminent danger, stood boldly on toward the beach, and in the next +five minutes she lay between us and the Indians, discharging a heavy +fire of musketry among them. Such was the high excitement of my +feelings, that I scarcely recollected how I gained the privateer's deck. +But I was saved, nevertheless, though I was weak with the loss of blood, +and savage treatment,--my limbs benumbed, and body scorched with the +piercing rays of the sun,--the whole scene rushing through my mind with +the celerity of electricity! It unmanned and quite overpowered me; I +fainted, and fell senseless on the deck. + +The usual restoratives and care were administered, and I soon recovered +from the effects of my capture. Some of the others were not so +fortunate; two of them, especially, were cut in a shocking manner, and +the others were so dreadfully beaten and mangled by clubs, that the +greatest care was necessary to save their lives. + + + +ESCAPE FROM SHIPWRECK. + +FROM "LIFE ON THE OCEAN." + +Received orders this day to proceed to London with the ship; and, as the +easterly gale abated, and the wind hauled round southward and westward, +we got under way, stood out of Falmouth harbor, and proceeded up the +British Channel. At sunset, it commenced to rain, and the weather was +thick and cloudy. The different lights were seen as far as the Bill of +Portland. At midnight, lost sight of the land, and it blew a gale from +off the French coast: close reefed the topsails, and steered a course so +as to keep in mid-channel. At daybreak, the ship was judged to be off +Beachy Head; the weather being so thick, the land could not be seen. The +fore and mizzen-topsails were now furled, and the ship hove to. The rain +began now to fall in torrents, and the heavy, dense, black clouds rose, +with fearful rapidity, from the northward, over the English coast, when +suddenly the wind shifted from the south-west to the north, and blew a +hurricane. The mist and fog cleared away, and, to our utter +astonishment, we found ourselves on a lee shore, on the coast of +France, off Boulogne heights. The gale was so violent, that no more sail +could be made. The ship was so exceedingly crank, that when she luffed +up on a wind, her bulwarks were under water. As she would not stay, the +only alternative was, to wear; of course, with this evolution, we lost +ground, and, consequently, were driven nearer, every moment, toward the +awful strand of rocks. The scene was now terrific; many vessels were in +sight, two of which we saw dashed on the rocks; with the tremendous roar +of the breakers, and the howling of the tempest, and the heavy sea, +which broke as high as the fore-yard, death appeared inevitable. There +was only one hope left, and that was, that, should the tide change and +take us under our lee-beam, it might possibly set us off on the +Nine-fathom bank, which is situated at a distance of twelve miles +north-northwest, off Boulogne harbor. On the event of reaching this +bank, the safety of the ship and lives of the crew depended,--as it was +determined there to try the anchors, for there was no possibility of +keeping off shore more than two hours, if the gale continued. + +We were now on the larboard tack, and, for the last half hour, it was +perceived that the tide had turned, and was setting to the northward; +this was our last and only chance, for the rocks were not more than +half a mile under our lee, and as it was necessary to get the ship's +head round on the starboard tack, which could only be done by wearing, +it was certain that much ground would be lost by that evolution. The +anchors were got ready, long ranges of cables were hauled on deck, and +the ends were clinched to the mainmast below; this being done, the axes +were at hand to cut away the masts. + +[Illustration: BEFORE THE GALE.] + +Captain G. was an old, experienced seaman; and I never saw, before +or since, more coolness, judgment, and seamanship, than were displayed +by him on this trying occasion. In this perilous trial, the most intense +anxiety was manifested by the crew, and then was heard the deep-toned +voice of Captain G., rising above the bellowing storm, commanding +silence. "Take the wheel," said he to me; and then followed the orders, +in quick succession: "Lay aft, and man the braces--see every thing clear +forward, to wear ship--steady--ease her--shiver away the +main-topsail--put your helm up--haul in the weather fore-braces,--gather +in the after-yards." The ship was now running before the wind, for a few +moments, directly for the rocks; the situation and scene were truly +awful, for she was not more than three hundred yards from the breakers. +I turned my head aside--being at the helm--to avoid the terrific sight, +and silently awaited the crisis. I was roused, at this moment, by +Captain G., who shouted, "She luffs, my boys! brace the main-yard sharp +up--haul in the larboard fore-braces--down with the fore-tack, lads, and +haul aft the sheet;--right the helm! steady, so--haul taut the +weather-braces, and belay all." These orders were given and executed in +quick succession. The ship was now on the starboard tack, plunging bows +under at every pitch. Casting a fitful glance over my shoulder, I saw +that we were apparently to leeward of the rocks. Very soon, however, it +was quite perceptible that the tide had taken her on the lee beam, and +was setting her off shore. + +The gloom began now to wear away, although it was doubtful whether we +should be able to reach the bank, and, if successful, whether the +anchors would hold on. Orders were given to lay aloft and send down the +top-gallant-yards, masts, &c. The helm was relieved, and I sprung into +the main rigging, the chief mate going up forward. With much difficulty, +I reached the main-topmast cross-trees, and, when there, it was almost +impossible to work, for the ship lay over at an angle of at least +forty-five degrees, and I found myself swinging, not perpendicularly +over the ship's deck, but at least thirty feet from it. It was no time, +however, for gazing. The yard rope was stoppered out on the quarter of +the yard, the sheets, clewlines, and buntlines, cast off, and the shift +slackened, and then simultaneously from both mast-heads the cry was +heard, "Sway, away!" The parrel cut, the yard was quickly topped and +unrigged, and then lowered away on deck. The next duty to be performed, +was sending down the top-gallant masts. After much difficulty and hard +work, this was also accomplished; and, although I felt some pride in the +performance of a dangerous service, yet, on this occasion, I was not a +little pleased when I reached the deck in safety. + +By this time, we had gained four miles off shore, and it was evident +that the soundings indicated our approach to the bank. Tackles were rove +and stretched along forward of the windlass, as well as deck-stoppers +hooked on to the ringbolts fore and aft. "Loose the fore-topsail!" +shouted Captain G., "we must reach this bank before the tide turns, or, +by morning, there will not be left a timber head of this ship, nor one +of us, to tell the sad tale of our disaster." The topsail was loosed and +set, and the ship groaned heavily under the immense pressure of canvass; +her lee rail was under water, and every moment it was expected that the +topmast or the canvass would yield. The deep-sea-lead was taken forward +and hove: when the line reached the after-part of the main channels, the +seaman's voice rose high in the air, "By the deep, nine!" It was three +o'clock. "Clew up and furl the fore-topsail!" shouted Captain G. The +topsail furled of itself, for the moment the weather sheet was started, +it blew away from the bolt-rope; the foresail was immediately hauled up +and furled. Relieved from the great pressure of canvass, and having now +nothing on her except the main-topsail and fore-topmast-staysail, she +rode more upright. The main-topsail was clewed up and fortunately saved, +the mizzen-staysail was set. "Stand by, to cut away the stoppers of the +best bower anchor--to let it go, stock and fluke," said Captain G. "Man +the fore-topmast-staysail down-haul; put your helm down! haul down the +staysail." This was done, and the ship came up handsomely, head to wind, +"See the cable tiers all clear--what water is there?" said Captain G. +The leadsman sang out in a clear voice, "And a half-eight!" By this +time, the ship had lost her way. "Are you all clear forward there?" "Ay, +ay, sir!" was the reply. "Stream the buoy, and let go the anchor!" +shouted Captain G. The order was executed as rapidly as it was given; +the anchor was on the bottom, and already had fifty fathoms of cable +run out, making the windlass smoke; and, although the cable was +weather-bitted, and every effort was made with the deck-stoppers and +tackles to check her, all was fruitless. Ninety fathoms of cable had run +out. "Stand by, to let go the larboard anchor," said Captain G.; +"Cheerily, men--let go!" In the same breath he shouted, "Hold on!" for +just then there was a lull, and having run out the best bower-cable, +nearly to the better end, she brought up. No time was now lost in +getting service on the cable, to prevent its chafing. She was now riding +to a single anchor of two thousand weight, with one hundred fathoms of a +seventeen-inch hemp cable. The sea rolled heavily, and broke in upon the +deck fore and aft; the lower yards were got down; the topsail-yards +pointed to the wind; and as the tide had now turned, the ship rode +without any strain on her cable, because it tended broad on the beam. + +The next morning presented a dismal scene, for there were more than +fifty sail in-shore of us, some of whom succeeded in reaching the bank, +and anchored with loss of sails, topmasts, &c. Many others were dashed +upon the rocks, and not a soul was left to tell the tale of their +destruction. I shall not forget that, on the second day, a Dutch +galliot was driven in to leeward of us; and although, by carrying on a +tremendous press of canvass, she succeeded in keeping off shore until +five P.M., yet, at sunset she disappeared, and was seen no more. After +our arrival in London, we learned that this unfortunate vessel was +driven on the rocks, and every soul on board perished. + +The gale continued four days, at the expiration of which time, it broke. +At midnight, the wind hauled round to the eastward, and the weather +became so excessively cold, that, although we commenced heaving in the +cable at five A.M., yet we did not get the anchor until nine that night. +Close-reefed topsails were set on the ship and we stood over to the +English coast, and anchored to the westward of Dungeness. During the +whole period of this gale, which lasted four days, Captain G. never for +one moment left the deck; and although well advanced in years, yet his +iron constitution enabled him to overcome the calls of nature for rest; +and, notwithstanding the situation of the ship, was, perhaps more +critical than many of those less fortunate vessels which stranded upon +the rocks, yet his coolness, and the seaman-like manner with which the +ship was handled, no doubt were the means of our being saved. + + + +THE HUNTER'S WIFE. + +Thomas Cooper was a fine specimen of the North American trapper. +Slightly but powerfully made, with a hardy, weather-beaten, yet handsome +face; strong, indefatigable, and a crack shot--he was admirably adapted +for a hunter's life. For many years he knew not what it was to have a +home, but lived like the beasts he hunted--wandering from one part of +the country to another, in pursuit of game. All who knew Tom were much +surprised when he came, with a pretty young wife, to settle within three +miles of a planter's farm. Many pitied the poor young creature, who +would have to lead such a solitary life; while others said, "If she was +fool enough to marry him, it was her own look-out." For nearly four +months Tom remained at home, and employed his time in making the old hut +he had fixed on for their residence more comfortable. He cleared and +tilled a small spot of land around it, and Susan began to hope that, for +her sake, he would settle down quietly as a squatter. But these visions +of happiness were soon dispelled, for, as soon as this work was +finished, he recommenced his old erratic mode of life, and was often +absent for weeks together, leaving his wife alone, yet not unprotected, +for, since his marriage, old Nero, a favorite hound, was always left at +home as her guardian. He was a noble dog--a cross between the old +Scottish deerhound and the bloodhound, and would hunt an Indian as well +as a deer or bear, which, Tom said, "was a proof they Injins was a sort +o' warmint, or why should the brute beast take to hunt 'em, nat'ral +like--him that took no notice of white men?" + +One clear, cold morning, about two years after their marriage, Susan was +awakened by a loud crash, immediately succeeded by Nero's deep baying. +She recollected that she had shut him in the house, as usual, the night +before. Supposing he had winded some solitary wolf or bear prowling +around the hut, and effected his escape, she took little notice of the +circumstance; but a few moments after came a shrill, wild cry, which +made her blood run cold. To spring from her bed, throw on her clothes, +and rush from the hut, was the work of a minute. She no longer doubted +what the hound was in pursuit of. Fearful thoughts shot through her +brain; she called wildly on Nero, and, to her joy, he came dashing +through the thick underwood. As the dog drew near, she saw that he +galloped heavily, and carried in his mouth some large, dark creature. +Her brain reeled; she felt a cold and sickly shudder dart through her +limbs. But Susan was a hunter's daughter, and, all her life, had been +accustomed to witness scenes of danger and of horror, and in this school +had learned to subdue the natural timidity of her character. With a +powerful effort, she recovered herself, just as Nero dropped at her feet +a little Indian child, apparently between three and four years old. She +bent down over him; but there was no sound or motion: she placed her +hand on his little, naked chest; the heart within had ceased to beat: he +was dead! The deep marks of the dog's fangs were visible on the neck; +but the body was untorn. Old Nero stood, with his large, bright eyes +fixed on the face of his mistress, fawning on her, as if he expected to +be praised for what he had done, and seemed to wonder why she looked so +terrified. But Susan spurned him from her; and the fierce animal, who +would have pulled down an Indian as he would a deer, crouched humbly at +the young woman's feet. Susan carried the little body gently in her arms +to the hut, and laid it on her own bed. Her first impulse was to seize +the loaded rifle that hung over the fire-place, and shoot the hound; and +yet she felt she could not do it, for, in the lone life she led, the +faithful animal seemed like a dear and valued friend, who loved and +watched over her, as if aware of the precious charge intrusted to him. +She thought, also, of what her husband would say, when, on his return, +he should find his old companion dead. Susan had never seen Tom roused. +To her he had ever shown nothing but kindness; yet she feared as well as +loved him, for there was a fire in those dark eyes which told of deep, +wild passions hidden in his breast, and she knew that the lives of a +whole tribe of Indians would be light in the balance against that of his +favorite hound. + +Having securely fastened up Nero, Susan, with a heavy heart, proceeded +to examine the ground around the hut. In several places she observed the +impression of a small moccasined foot; but not a child's. The tracks +were deeply marked, unlike the usual light, elastic tread of an Indian. +From this circumstance Susan easily inferred that the woman had been +carrying her child when attacked by the dog. There was nothing to show +why she had come so near the hut: most probably the hopes of some petty +plunder had been the inducement. Susan did not dare to wander far from +home, fearing a band of Indians might be in the neighborhood. She +returned sorrowfully to the hut, and employed herself in blocking up +the window, or rather the hole where the window had been, for the +powerful hound had, in his leap, dashed out the entire frame, and +shattered it to pieces. When this was finished, Susan dug a grave, and +in it laid the little Indian boy. She made it close to the hut, for she +could not bear that wolves should devour those delicate limbs, and she +knew that there it would be safe. The next day Tom returned. He had been +very unsuccessful, and intended setting out again, in a few days, in a +different direction. + +"Susan," he said, when he had heard her sad story, "I wish you'd left +the child where the dog killed him. The squaw's high sartain to come +back a seekin' for the body, and 'tis a pity the poor crittur should be +disappointed. Besides, the Indians will be high sartain to put it down +to us; whereas, if so be as they'd found the body 'pon the spot, may be +they'd onderstand as 'twas an accident like, for they 're unkimmon +cunning warmint, though they an't got sense like Christians." + +"Why do you think the poor woman came here?" said Susan. "I never knew +an Indian squaw so near the hut before?" + +She fancied a dark shadow flitted across her husband's brow. He made no +reply; and, on repeating the question, said angrily, "How should I +know? 'Tis as well to ask for a bear's reasons as an Injin's." + +Tom only staid at home long enough to mend the broken window, and plant +a small spot of Indian corn, and then again set out, telling Susan not +to expect him home in less than a month. "If that squaw comes this way +agin," he said, "as may be she will, just put out any victuals you've +a-got for the poor crittur; though may be she wont come, for they Injins +be onkimmon skeary." Susan wondered at his taking an interest in the +woman, and often thought of that dark look she had noticed, and of Tom's +unwillingness to speak on the subject. She never knew that on his last +hunting expedition, when hiding some skins which he intended to fetch on +his return, he had observed an Indian watching him, and had shot him, +with as little mercy as he would have shown to a wolf. On Tom's return +to the spot, the body was gone; and in the soft, damp soil was the mark +of an Indian squaw's foot; and by its side, a little child's. He was +sorry then for the deed he had done; he thought of the grief of the poor +widow, and how it would be possible for her to live until she could +reach her tribe, who were far, far distant, at the foot of the Rocky +Mountains; and now to feel, that, through his means, too, she had lost +her child, put thoughts into his mind that had never before found a +place there. He thought that one God had formed the red man as well as +the white--of the souls of the many Indians hurried into eternity by his +unerring rifle; and they, perhaps, were more fitted for their "happy +hunting grounds," than he for the white man's heaven. In this state of +mind, every word his wife had said to him seemed a reproach, and he was +glad again to be alone, in the forest, with his rifle and his hounds. + +The afternoon of the third day after Tom's departure, as Susan was +sitting at work, she heard something scratching and whining at the door. +Nero, who was by her side, evinced no signs of anger, but ran to the +door, showing his white teeth, as was his custom when pleased. Susan +unbarred it, when, to her astonishment, the two deerhounds her husband +had taken with him, walked into the hut, looking weary and soiled. At +first she thought Tom might have killed a deer not far from home, and +had brought her a fresh supply of venison; but no one was there. She +rushed from the hut, and soon, breathless and terrified, reached the +squatter's cabin. John Wilton and his three sons were just returned from +the clearings, when Susan ran into their comfortable kitchen; her long, +black hair, streaming on her shoulders, and her wild and bloodshot +eyes, gave her the appearance of a maniac. In a few unconnected words, +she explained to them the cause of her terror, and implored them to set +off immediately in search of her husband. It was in vain they told her +of the uselessness of going at that time--of the impossibility of +following a trail in the dark. She said she would go herself: she felt +sure of finding him; and, at last, they were obliged to use force to +prevent her leaving the house. + +The next morning at daybreak, Wilton and his two sons were mounted, and +ready to set out, intending to take Nero with them; but nothing could +induce him to leave his mistress: he resisted passively for some time, +until one of the young men attempted to pass a rope round his neck, to +drag him away: then his forbearance vanished, and he sprang upon his +tormentor, threw him down, and would have strangled him, if Susan had +not been present. Finding it impossible to make Nero accompany them, +they left without him, but had not proceeded many miles before he and +his mistress were at their side. They begged Susan to return; told her +of the inconvenience she would be to them. It was no avail; she had but +one answer,--"I am a hunter's daughter, and a hunter's wife." She told +them that, knowing how useful Nero would be to them in their search, +she had secretly taken a horse and followed them. + +The party rode first to Tom Cooper's hut, and there, having dismounted, +leading their horses through the forest, followed the trail, as only men +long accustomed to savage life can do. At night they lay on the ground, +covered with their thick, bear-skin cloaks: for Susan only, they heaped +a bed of dried leaves; but she refused to occupy it, saying, it was her +duty to bear the same hardships they did. Ever since their departure, +she had shown no sign of sorrow. Although slight and delicately formed, +she never appeared fatigued: her whole soul was absorbed in one longing +desire--to find her husband's body; for, from the first, she had +abandoned the hope of ever again seeing him in life. This desire +supported her through everything. Early the next morning they were on +the trail. About noon, as they were crossing a small brook, the hound +suddenly dashed away from them, and was lost in the thicket. At first +they fancied they might have crossed the track of a deer or wolf; but a +long, mournful howl soon told the sad truth, for, not far from the +brook, lay the faithful dog on the dead body of his master, which was +pierced to the heart by an Indian arrow. + +The murderer had apparently been afraid to approach on account of the +dogs, for the body was left as it had fallen--not even the rifle was +gone. No sign of Indians could be discovered, save one small footprint, +which was instantly pronounced to be that of a squaw. Susan showed no +grief at the sight of the body: she maintained the same forced calmness, +and seemed comforted that it was found. Old Wilton staid with her to +remove all that now remained of her darling husband, and his two sons +set out on the trail, which soon led them into the open prairie, where +it was easily traced through the tall, thick grass. They continued +riding all that afternoon, and the next morning by daybreak were again +on the track, which they followed to the banks of a wide but shallow +stream. There they saw the remains of a fire. One of the brothers thrust +his hand among the ashes, which were still warm. They crossed the river; +and, in the soft sand on the opposite bank, saw again the print of +small, moccasined footsteps. Here they were at a loss; for the rank +prairie-grass had been consumed by one of those fearful fires so common +in the prairies, and in its stead grew short, sweet herbage, where even +an Indian's eye could observe no trace. They were on the point of +abandoning the pursuit, when Richard, the younger of the two, called his +brother's attention to Nero, who had, of his own accord, left his +mistress to accompany them, an if he now understood what they were +about. The hound was trotting to and fro, with his nose to the ground, +as if endeavoring to pick out a cold scent Edward laughed at his +brother, and pointed to the track of a deer that had come to drink at +the river. At last he agreed to follow Nero, who was now cantering +slowly across the prairie. The pace gradually increased, until, on a +spot where the grass had grown more luxuriantly than elsewhere, Nero +threw up his nose, gave a deep bay, and started off at so furious a +pace, that, although well mounted, they had great difficulty in keeping +up with him. He soon brought them to the borders of another forest, +where, finding it impossible to take their horses further, they tethered +them to a tree, and set off again on foot. They lost sight of the hound, +but still, from time to time, heard his loud baying far away. At last +they fancied it sounded nearer instead of becoming less distinct; and of +this they were soon convinced. They still went on in the direction +whence the sound proceeded, until they saw Nero sitting with his +fore-paws against the trunk of a tree, no longer mouthing like a +well-trained hound, but yelling like a fury. They looked up in the tree, +but could see nothing, until, at last, Edward espied a large hollow +about half way up the trunk. "I was right, you see," he said. "After +all, it nothing but a bear; but we may as well shoot the brute that has +given us so much trouble." + +They set to work immediately with their axes to fell the tree. It began +to totter, when a dark object, they could not tell what, in the dim +twilight, crawled from its place of concealment to the extremity of a +branch, and from thence sprung into the next tree. Snatching up their +rifles, they both fired together; when, to their astonishment, instead +of a bear, a young Indian squaw, with a wild yell, fell to the ground. +They ran to the spot where she lay motionless, and carried her to the +borders of the wood, where they had that morning dismounted. Richard +lifted her on his horse, and springing himself into the saddle, carried +the almost lifeless body before him. The poor creature never spoke. +Several times they stopped, thinking she was dead: her pulse only told +the spirit had not flown from its earthly tenement. When they reached +the river which had been crossed by them before, they washed the wounds, +and sprinkled water on her face. This appeared to revive her; and when +Richard again lifted her in his arms to place her on his horse, he +fancied he heard her mutter, in Iroquois, one word,--"revenged!" It was +a strange sight, those two powerful men tending so carefully the being +they had a few hours before sought to slay, and endeavoring to stanch +the blood that flowed from wounds which they had made! Yet so it was. It +would have appeared to them a sin to leave the Indian woman to die; yet +they felt no remorse at having inflicted the wound, and doubtless would +have been better pleased had it been mortal; but they would not have +murdered a wounded enemy, even an Indian warrior, still less a squaw. +The party continued their journey until midnight, when they stopped, to +rest their jaded horses. Having wrapped the squaw in their bear-skins, +they lay down themselves, with no covering save the clothes they wore. +They were in no want of provisions, as, not knowing when they might +return, they had taken a good supply of bread and dried venison, not +wishing to loose any precious time in seeking food while on the trail. +The brandy still remaining in their flasks, they preserved for the use +of their captive. The evening of the following day, they reached the +trapper's hut, where they were not a little surprised to find Susan. She +told them that, although John Wilton had begged her to live with them, +she could not bear to leave the spot where everything reminded her of +one to think of whom was now her only consolation; and that, while she +had Nero, she feared nothing. They needed not to tell their mournful +tale--Susan already understood it but too clearly. She begged them to +leave the Indian woman with her. "You have no one," said she, "to tend +and watch her as I can do; besides, it is not right that I should lay +such a burden on you." Although unwilling to impose on her mind the +painful task of nursing her husband's murderess, they could not allow +but that she was right; and seeing how earnestly she desired it, at last +consented to leave the Indian woman with her. + +For many weeks Susan nursed her charge, as tenderly as if it had been +her sister. At first she lay almost motionless, and rarely spoke; then +she grew delirious, and raved wildly. Susan fortunately could not +understand what she said, but often turned shuddering away, when the +Indian woman would strive to rise from her bed, and move her arms, as if +drawing a bow; or yell wildly, and cower in terror beneath the +clothes--reacting in her delirium the fearful scenes through which she +had passed. By degrees reason returned; she gradually got better, but +seemed restless and unhappy, and could not bear the sight of Nero. The +first proof of returning reason she had shown, was a shriek of terror +when he once accidentally followed his mistress into the room where she +lay. One morning Susan missed her; she searched around the hut, but she +was gone, without having taken farewell of her kind benefactress. + +A few years after, Susan Cooper,--no longer "pretty Susan," for time and +grief had done their work--heard, late one night, a hurried knock, which +was repeated several times before she could open the door, each time +more loudly than before. She called to ask who it was at that late hour +of night. A few hurried words in Iroquois was the reply, and Susan +congratulated herself on having spoken before unbarring the door. But, +on listening again, she distinctly heard the same voice say, +"Quick--quick!" and recognized it as the Indian woman's voice she had +nursed. The door was instantly opened, when the squaw rushed into the +hut, seized Susan by the arm, and made signs to her to come away. She +was too much excited to remember then the few words of English she had +picked up when living with the white woman. Expressing her meaning by +gestures, with a clearness peculiar to the Indians, she dragged rather +than led Susan from the hut. They had just reached the edge of the +forest when the wild yells of the Indians sounded in their ears. Having +gone with Susan a little way into the forest, her guide left her. For +nearly four hours she lay there, half dead with cold and terror, not +daring to move from her place of concealment. She saw the flames of the +dwelling, where so many lonely hours had been passed, rising above the +trees, and heard the shrill "whoops" of the retiring Indians. Nero, who +was lying by her side, suddenly rose and gave a low growl. Silently a +dark figure came gliding among the trees directly to the spot where she +lay. She gave herself up for lost; but it was the Indian woman, who came +to her, and dropped at her feet a bag of money, the remains of her late +husband's savings. The grateful creature knew where it was kept; and +while the Indians were busied examining the rifles and other objects +more interesting to them, had carried it off unobserved. Waving her arm +around to show that all was now quiet, she pointed in the direction of +Wilton's house, and was again lost among the trees. + +Day was just breaking when Susan reached the squatter's cabin. Having +heard the sad story, Wilton and two of his sons started immediately for +the spot. Nothing was to be seen save a heap of ashes. The party had +apparently consisted of only three or four Indians; but a powerful tribe +being in the neighborhood, they saw it would be too hazardous to follow +them. From this time, Susan lived with the Wiltons. She was as a +daughter to the old man, and a sister to his sons, who often said, +"That, as far as they were concerned, the Indians had never done a +kindlier action than in burning down Susan Cooper's hut." + + + +DEAF SMITH, + +THE CELEBRATED TEXAN SPY. + +About two years after the Texan revolution, a difficulty occurred +between the new government and a portion of the people, which threatened +the most serious consequences--even the bloodshed and horrors of civil +war. Briefly, the cause was this: The constitution had fixed the city of +Austin as the permanent capital, where the public archives were to be +kept, with the reservation, however, of a power in the president to +order their temporary removal, in case of danger from the inroads of a +foreign enemy, or the force of a sudden insurrection. + +Conceiving that the exceptional emergency had arrived, as the Camanches +frequently committed ravages within sight of the capital itself, +Houston, who then resided at Washington, on the Brazos, dispatched an +order commanding his subordinate functionaries to send the state records +to the latter place, which he declared to be, _pro tempore_, the seat of +government. + +It is impossible to describe the stormy excitement which the +promulgation of this fiat raised in Austin. The keepers of hotels, +boarding-houses, groceries, and faro-banks, were thunderstruck,--maddened +to frenzy; for the measure would be a death-blow to their prosperity +in business; and, accordingly, they determined at once to take the +necessary steps to avert the danger, by opposing the execution of +Houston's mandate. They called a mass meeting of the citizens and +farmers of the circumjacent country, who were all more or less +interested in the question; and, after many fiery speeches against +the asserted tyranny of the administration, it was unanimously resolved +to prevent the removal of the archives, by open and armed resistance. +To that end, they organized a company of four hundred men; one moiety +of whom, relieving the other at regular periods of duty, should keep +constant guard around the state-house until the peril passed by. The +commander of this force was one Colonel Morton, who had achieved +considerable renown in the war for independence, and had still more +recently displayed desperate bravery in two desperate duels, in both of +which he had cut his antagonist nearly to pieces with the bowie-knife. +Indeed, from the notoriety of his character, for revenge as well as +courage, it was thought that President Houston would renounce his +purpose touching the archives, so soon as he should learn who was the +leader of the opposition. + +Morton, on his part, whose vanity fully equaled his personal prowess, +encouraged and justified the prevailing opinion, by his boastful +threats. He swore that if the president did succeed in removing the +records by the march of an overpowering force, he would then, himself, +hunt him down like a wolf, and shoot him with as little ceremony, or +stab him in his bed, or waylay him in his walks of recreation. He even +wrote the hero of San Jacinto to that effect. The latter replied in a +note of laconic brevity: + +"If the people of Austin do not send the archives, I shall certainly +come and take them; and if Colonel Morton can kill me, he is welcome to +my ear-cap." + +On the reception of this answer, the guard was doubled around the +state-house. Chosen sentinels were stationed along the road leading to +the capital, the military paraded the streets from morning till night, +and a select caucus held permanent session in the city hall. In short, +everything betokened a coming tempest. + +One day, while matters were in this precarious condition, the caucus at +the city hall was surprised by the sudden appearance of a stranger, +whose mode of entering was as extraordinary as his looks and dress. He +did not knock at the closed door--he did not seek admission there at +all; but climbing, unseen, a small, bushy-topped, live oak, which grew +beside the wall, he leaped, without sound or warning, through a lofty +window. He was clothed altogether in buckskin, carried a long and heavy +rifle in his hand, wore at the button of his left suspender a large +bowie-knife, and had in his leathern belt a couple of pistols half the +length of his gun. He was tall, straight as an arrow, active as a +panther in his motions, with dark complexion, and luxuriant, jetty hair, +with a severe, iron-like countenance, that seemed never to have known a +smile, and eyes of intense, vivid black, wild and rolling, and piercing +as the point of a dagger. His strange advent inspired a thrill of +involuntary fear, and many present unconsciously grasped the handles of +their side-arms. + +"Who are you, that thus presumes to intrude among gentlemen, without +invitation?" demanded Colonel Morton, ferociously essaying to cow down +the stranger with his eye. + +The latter returned his stare with compound interest, and laid his long, +bony finger on his lip, as a sign--but of what, the spectators could +not imagine. + +"Who are you? Speak! or I will cut an answer out of your heart!" shouted +Morton, almost distracted with rage, by the cool, sneering gaze of the +other, who now removed his finger from his lip, and laid it on the hilt +of his monstrous knife. + +The fiery colonel then drew his dagger, and was in the act of advancing +upon the stranger, when several caught him and held him back, +remonstrating. "Let him alone, Morton, for God's sake. Do you not +perceive that he is crazy?" + +At the moment, Judge Webb, a man of shrewd intellect and courteous +manners, stepped forward, and addressed the intruder in a most +respectful manner: + +"My good friend, I presume you have made a mistake in the house. This is +a private meeting, where none but members are admitted." + +The stranger did not appear to comprehend the words; but he could not +fail to understand the mild and deprecatory manner. His rigid features +relaxed, and moving to a table in the center of the hall, where there +were materials and implements for writing, he seized a pen, and traced +one line: "I am deaf." He then held it up before the spectators, as a +sort of natural apology for his own want of politeness. + +Judge Webb took the paper, and wrote a question: "Dear sir, will you be +so obliging as to inform us what is your business with the +present meeting?" + +The other responded by delivering a letter, inscribed on the back, "To +the citizens of Austin." They broke the seal and read it aloud. It was +from Houston, and showed the usual terse brevity of his style: + +"FELLOW CITIZENS:--Though in error, and deceived by the arts of +traitors, I will give you three days more to decide whether you will +surrender the public archives. At the end of that time you will please +let me know your decision." + +SAM. HOUSTON. + +After the reading, the deaf man waited a few seconds, as if for a reply, +and then turned and was about to leave the hall, when Colonel Morton, +interposed, and sternly beckoned him back to the table. The stranger +obeyed, and Morton wrote: "You were brave enough to insult me by your +threatening looks ten minutes ago; are you brave enough now to give me +satisfaction?" + +The stranger penned his reply: "I am at your service!" + +Morton wrote again: "Who will be your second?" + +The stranger rejoined: "I am too generous to seek an advantage; and too +brave to fear any on part of others; therefore, I never need the aid of +a second." + +Morton penned: "Name your terms." + +The stranger traced, without a moment's hesitation: "Time, sunset this +evening; place, the left bank of the Colorado, opposite Austin; weapons, +rifles; and distance, a hundred yards. Do not fail to be in time!" + +He then took three steps across the floor, and disappeared through the +window, as he had entered. + +"What?" exclaimed Judge Webb, "is it possible Colonel Morton, that you +intend to fight that man? He is a mute, if not a positive maniac. Such a +meeting, I fear, will sadly tarnish the luster of your laurels." + +"You are mistaken," replied Morton, with a smile; "that mute is a hero +whose fame stands in the records of a dozen battles, and at least half +as many bloody duels. Besides, he is the favorite emissary and bosom +friend of Houston. If I have the good fortune to kill him, I think it +will tempt the president to retract his vow against venturing any more +on the field of honor." + +"You know the man, then. Who is he? Who is he?" asked twenty voices +together. + +"Deaf Smith," answered Morton, coolly. + +"Why, no; that can not be. Deaf Smith was slain at San Jacinto," +remarked Judge Webb. + +"There, again, your honor is mistaken," said Morton. "The story of +Smith's death was a mere fiction, got up by Houston to save the life of +his favorite from the sworn vengeance of certain Texans, on whose +conduct he had acted as a spy. I fathomed the artifice twelve +months since." + +"If what you say be true, you are a madman yourself!" exclaimed Webb. +"Deaf Smith was was never known to miss his mark. He has often brought +down ravens in their most rapid flight, and killed Camanches and +Mexicans at a distance of of two hundred and fifty yards!" + +"Say no more," answered Colonel Morton, in tones of deep determination; +"the thing is already settled. I have already agreed to meet him. There +can be no disgrace in falling before such a shot, and, if I succeed, my +triumph will confer the greater glory!" + +Such was the general habit of thought and feeling prevalent throughout +Texas at that period. + +Toward evening a vast crowd assembled at the place appointed to witness +the hostile meeting; and so great was the popular recklessness as to +affairs of the sort, that numerous and considerable sums were wagered on +the result. At length the red orb of the summer sun touched the curved +rim of the western horizon, covering it all with crimson and gold, and +filling the air with a flood of burning glory; and then the two mortal +antagonists, armed with long, ponderous rifles, took their stations, +back to back, and at a preconcerted signal--the waving of a white +handkerchief--walked slowly and steadily off, in opposite directions, +counting their steps until each had measured fifty. They both completed +the given number about the same instant, and then they wheeled, each to +aim and fire when he chose. As the distance was great, both paused for +some seconds--long enough for the beholders to flash their eyes from one +to the other, and mark the striking contrast betwixt them. The face of +Colonel Morton was calm and smiling; but the smile it bore had a most +murderous meaning. On the contrary, the countenance of Deaf Smith was +stern and passionless as ever. A side view of his features might have +been mistaken for a profile done in cast iron. The one, too, was +dressed in the richest cloth; the other in smoke-tinted leather. But +that made no difference in Texas then; for the heirs of heroic courage +were all considered peers--the class of inferiors embraced none +but cowards. + +Presently two rifles exploded with simultaneous roars. Colonel Morton +gave a prodigious bound upward, and dropped to the earth a corpse! Deaf +Smith stood erect, and immediately began to reload his rifle; and then, +having finished his brief task, he hastened away into the +adjacent forest. + +Three days afterward, General Houston, accompanied by Deaf Smith and ten +other men, appeared in Austin, and, without further opposition, removed +the state papers. + +The history of the hero of the foregoing anecdote was one of the most +extraordinary ever known in the West. He made his advent in Texas at an +early period, and continued to reside there until his death, which +happened some two years ago; but, although he had many warm personal +friends, no one could ever ascertain either the land of his birth, or a +single gleam of his previous biography. When he was questioned on the +subject, he laid his finger on his lip; and if pressed more urgently, +his brow writhed, and his dark eye seemed to shoot sparks of livid fire! +He could write with astonishing correctness and facility, considering +his situation; and, although denied the exquisite pleasure and priceless +advantages of the sense of hearing, nature had given him ample +compensation, by an eye, quick and far-seeing as an eagle's; and a +smell, keen and incredible as that of a raven. He could discover objects +moving miles away in the far-off prairie, when others could perceive +nothing but earth and sky; and the rangers used to declare that he could +catch the scent of a Mexican or Indian at as great a distance as a +buzzard could distinguish the odor of a dead carcass. + +It was these qualities which fitted him so well for a spy, in which +capacity he rendered invaluable services to Houston's army during the +war of independence. He always went alone, and generally obtained the +information desired. His habits in private life were equally singular. +He could never be persuaded to sleep under the roof of a house, or even +to use a tent-cloth. Wrapped in his blanket, he loved to lie out in the +open air, under the blue canopy of pure ether, and count the stars, or +gaze, with a yearning look, at the melancholy moon. When not employed as +a spy or guide, he subsisted by hunting, being often absent on solitary +excursions for weeks and even months together, in the wilderness. He was +a genuine son of nature, a grown up child of the woods and prairie, +which he worshiped with a sort of Pagan adoration. Excluded by his +infirmities from cordial fellowship with his kind, he made the inanimate +things of the earth his friends, and entered, by the heart's own +adoption, into brotherhood with the luminaries of heaven! Wherever there +was land or water, barren rocks or tangled brakes of wild, waving cane, +there was Deaf Smith's home, and there he was happy; but in the streets +of great cities, in all the great thoroughfares of men, wherever there +was flattery or fawning, base cunning or craven fear, there was Deaf +Smith an alien and an exile. + +Strange soul! he hath departed on the long journey, away among those +high, bright stars, which were his night-lamps; and he hath either +solved or ceased to ponder the deep mystery of the magic word, "life." +He is dead; therefore let his errors rest in oblivion, and his virtues +be remembered with hope. + + + +ESCAPE FROM A SHARK. + +While she was lying in the harbor at Havana, it was very hot on board +the Royal Consort, about four o'clock in the afternoon of the 14th of +July. There was not the slightest movement in the air; the rays of the +sun seemed to burn down into the water. Silence took hold of the +animated creation. It was too hot to talk, whistle, or sing; to bark, to +crow, or to bray. Every thing crept under cover, but Sambo and Cuffee, +two fine-looking blacks, who sat sunning themselves on the quay, and +thought "him berry pleasant weather," and glistened like a new +Bristol bottle. + +Sambo and Cuffee, as we have said, were sitting on the quay, enjoying +the pleasant sunshine, and making their evening repast of banana, when +they heard the plunge into the water by the side of the Royal Consort, +and presently saw Brook Watson emerging from the deep, his hands to his +eyes to free them from the brine, balancing up and down, spattering the +water from his mouth, and then throwing himself forward, hand over hand, +as if at length he really felt himself in his element. + +"Oh, Massa Bacra!" roared out Sambo, as soon as he could recover from +his astonishment enough to speak, "Oh, Senor! he white man neber go to +swim! Oh, de tiburon! he berry bad bite, come de shark; he hab berry big +mouth; he eatee a Senor all up down!" + +Such was the exclamation of Sambo, in the best English he had been able +to pick up, in a few years' service, in unlading the American vessels, +that came to the Havana. It was intended to apprise the bold but +inexperienced stranger, that the waters were filled with sharks, and +that it was dangerous to swim in them. The words were scarcely uttered, +and, even if they were heard, had not time to produce their effect, when +Cuffee responded to the exclamation of his sable colleague, with-- + +"Oh, Madre de Dios! see, see, de tiburon! de shark!--ah, San Salvador! +ah, pobre joven! matar, todo comer, he eat him all down, berry soon!" + +This second cry had been drawn from the kind-hearted negro, by seeing, +at a distance in the water a smooth-shooting streak, which an +inexperienced eye would not have noticed, but which Sambo and Cuffee +knew full well. It was the wake of a shark. At a distance of a mile or +two, the shark had perceived his prey; and, with the rapidity of sound, +he had shot across the intervening space, scarcely disturbing the +surface with a ripple. Cuffee's practiced eye alone had seen a flash of +his tail, at the distance of a mile and a half; and, raising his voice +to the utmost of his strength, he had endeavored to apprise the +incautious swimmer of his danger. Brook heard the shout, and turned his +eye in the direction in which the negro pointed; and, well skilled in +all the appearances of the water, under which he could see almost as +well as in the open air, he perceived the sharp forehead of the fearful +animal rushing toward him, head on, with a rapidity; which bade defiance +to flight. + +[Illustration: ESCAPE FROM A SHARK] + +In a moment, the dreadful monster had shot across the entire space that +separated him from Brook; and had stopped, as if its vitality had been, +instantly arrested, at the distance of about twelve feet from our +swimmer. Brook had drawn himself up in the most pugnacious attitude +possible, and, was treading water with great activity. The shark, +probably unused to any signs of making battle, remained, for one moment, +quiet; and then, like a flash of lightning, shot sidelong off, and came +round in the rear. Brook, however, was as wide awake as his enemy. + +The plashing of the oars of Sambo and Cuffee warned the sagacious +monster of gathering foes. Whirling himself over on his back, and +turning up his long, white belly, and opening his terrific jaws, set +round with a double row of broad, serrated teeth, the whole roof of his +mouth paved with horrent fangs, all standing erect, sharp, and rigid, +just permitting the blood-bright red to be seen between their roots, he +darted toward Brook. Brook's self-possession stood by him in this trying +moment. He knew very well if the animal reached him in a vital part, +that instant death was his fate; and, with a rapid movement, either of +instinct or calculation, he threw himself backward, kicking, at the same +moment, at the shark. In consequence of this movement, his foot and leg +passed into the horrid maw of the dreadful monster, and were severed in +a moment,--muscles, sinews, and bone. In the next moment, Sambo and +Cuffee were at his side; and lifted him into the boat, convulsed with +pain, and fainting with loss of blood. Brook was taken on board, +bandages and styptics were applied, and in due season the youth +recovered. + +The place of his lost limb was supplied by a wooden one; and industry, +temperance, probity, and zeal, supplied the place of a regiment of legs, +when employed to prop up a lazy and dissipated frame. + + + +ADVENTURE WITH PIRATES. + +FROM "FORTUNE'S ADVENTURES IN CHINA." + +Early in the morning, the whole fleet was in motion, starting all +together, for the sake of mutual protection. The wind and tide were both +fair, and we proceeded along the coast with great rapidity, and were +soon out of sight of the Min and its beautiful and romantic scenery. The +plan of mutual protection soon seemed to be abandoned, and the vessels +soon separated into threes and fours, each getting on as well and as +fast as it could. About four o'clock in the afternoon, and when we were +some fifty or sixty miles from the Min, the captain and the pilot came +hurriedly down to my cabin, and informed me that they saw a number of +Jan-dous, right ahead, lying in wait for us. I ridiculed the idea, and +told them that they imagined every junk they saw to be a pirate; but +they still maintained that they were so, and I therefore considered it +prudent to be prepared for the worst. I got out of bed, ill and feverish +as I was, and carefully examined my fire-arms, clearing the nipples of +my gun and pistols, and putting on fresh caps. I also rammed down a +ball upon the top of each charge of shot in my gun, put a pistol in each +side-pocket, and patiently awaited for the result. By the aid of a small +pocket-telescope, I could see, as the nearest junk approached, that her +deck was crowded with men; I then had no longer any doubts regarding her +intentions. The pilot, an intelligent old man, now came up to me, and +said that he thought resistance would be of no use; I might manage to +beat off one junk, or even two, but I had no chance with five of them. +Being at that time in no mood to take advice, or be dictated by any one, +I ordered him off to look after his own duty. I knew perfectly well, +that if we were taken by the pirates, I had not the slightest chance of +escape; for the first thing they would do, would be to knock me on the +head and throw me overboard, as they would deem it dangerous to +themselves were I to get away. At the same time, I must confess, I had +little hopes of being able to beat off such a number, and devoutly +wished myself anywhere rather than where I was. The scene around me was +a strange one. The captain, pilot, and one or two native passengers were +taking up the boards of the cabin floor, and putting their money and +other valuables out of sight, among the ballast. The common sailors, +too, had their copper cash, or "tsien," to hide; and the whole place +was in a state of bustle and confusion. When all their more valuable +property was hidden, they began to make some preparations for defense. +Baskets of small stones were brought up from the hold, and emptied out +on the most convenient parts of the deck, and were intended to be used +instead of fire-arms, when the pirates came to close quarters. This is a +common mode of defense in various parts of China, and is effectual +enough when the enemy has only similar weapons to bring against them; +but on the coast of Fokien, where we were now, all the pirate junks +carried guns; and, consequently, a whole deck-load of stones could be of +little use against them. + +I was surrounded by several of the crew, who might well be called "Job's +comforters," some suggesting one thing and some another; and many +proposed that we should bring the junk round and run back to the Min. +The nearest pirate was now within two or three hundred yards of us, and, +putting her helm down, gave us a broadside from her guns. All was now +dismay and consternation on board our junk, and every man ran below, +except two who were at the helm. I expected every moment that these also +would leave their post; and then we should have been an easy prey to +the pirates. "My gun is nearer you than those of the Jan-dous," said I +to the two men, "and if you move from the helm, depend upon it, I will +shoot you." The poor fellows looked very uncomfortable; but, I suppose, +thought they had better stand the fire of the pirates than mine, and +kept at their post. Large boards, heaps of old clothes, mats, and things +of that sort, which were at hand, were thrown up to protect us from the +shot; and, as we had every stitch of sail set, and a fair wind, we were +going through the water at the rate of seven or eight miles an hour. + +The shot from the pirate fell considerably short of us, I was therefore +enabled to form an opinion of the range and power of their guns, which +was of some use to me. Assistance from our cowardly crew was quite out +of the question, for there was not a man among them brave enough to use +the stones which he had brought on deck; and which, perhaps, might have +been of some little use when the pirates came nearer. The fair wind and +all the press of sail which we had crowded on the junk proved of no use +to us. Again the nearest pirate fired on us. The shot this time fell +just under our stern. I still remained quiet, as I had determined not to +fire a single shot until I was quite certain my gun would take effect. +The third broadside, which followed this, came whizzing over our heads +and through the sails, without, however, wounding either the men at the +helm or myself. + +The pirates now seemed quite sure of their prize, and came down upon us, +hooting and yelling like demons, at the same time loading their guns, +and evidently determined not to spare their shot. This was a moment of +intense interest. The plan which I had formed from the first, was now +about to be put to proof; and, if the pirates were not the cowards which +I believed them to be, nothing could save us from falling into their +hands. Their fearful yells seem to be ringing in my ears even now, after +this lapse of time, and when I am on the other side of the globe. + +The nearest junk was now within thirty yards of ours; their guns were +loaded, and I knew that the next discharge would completely rake our +decks "Now," said I to our helmsman, "keep your eyes fixed on me, and +the moment you see me fall flat on the deck, you must do the same, or +you will be shot." I knew that the pirate, who was now on our stern, +could not bring his guns to bear upon us, without putting his helm down +and bringing his gangway at right angles with our stern, as his guns +were fired from the gangway. I therefore kept a sharp eye upon the +helmsman, and the moment I saw him putting the helm down, I ordered our +steersman to fall flat on their faces behind some wood, and, at the same +moment, did so myself. We had scarcely done so, when bang! bang! went +their guns, and the shot came whizzing close over us, splintering the +wood about us in all directions. Fortunately none of us were struck. +"Now, mandarin, now! they are quite close enough," cried out my +companions, who did not wish to have another broadside like the last. I, +being of the same opinion, raised myself above the high stern of our +junk; and while the pirates were not more than twenty yards from us, +hooting and yelling, I raked their decks, fore and aft, with shot and +ball from my double-barreled gun. + +Had a thunderbolt fallen among them, they could not have been more +surprised. Doubtless, many were wounded, and probably some killed. At +all events, the whole of the crew, not fewer than forty or fifty men, +who, a moment before, crowded the deck, disappeared in a marvellous +manner; sheltering themselves behind the bulwarks, or lying flat on +their faces. They were so completely taken by surprise, that their junk +was left without a helmsman; her sails flapped in the wind; and, as we +were still carrying all sail, and keeping on her right course, they were +soon left a considerable way astern. + +Another was now bearing down upon us as boldly as his companion had +done, and commenced firing in the same manner. Having been so successful +with the first, I determined to follow the same plan with this one, and +to pay no attention to his firing until he should come to close +quarters. The plot now began to thicken; for the first junk had gathered +way again, and was following in our wake, although keeping at a +respectful distance; and three others, although still further distant, +were making for the scene of action, as fast as they could. In the +meantime, the second was almost alongside, and continued giving us a +broadside, now and then, with his guns. Watching their helm as before, +we sheltered ourselves as well as we could; at the same time, my poor +fellows who were steering, kept begging and praying that I would fire +into our pursuers as soon as possible, or we should be all killed. As +soon as we came within twenty or thirty yards of us, I gave them the +contents of both barrels, raking their decks as before. This time the +helmsman fell, and, doubtless, several were wounded. In a minute or two +I could see nothing but boards and shields, which were held up by the +pirates, to protect themselves from my firing; their junk went up into +the wind, for want of a helmsman, and was soon left some distance +behind us. + +While I was watching this vessel, our men called out to me that there +was another close on our lee-bow, which I had not observed on account of +our mainsail. Luckily, however, it proved to be a Ning-po wood-junk, +like ourselves, which the pirates had taken a short time before, but +which, although manned by these rascals, could do us no harm, having no +guns. The poor Ning-po crew, whom I could plainly see on board, seemed +to be very much down-hearted and frightened. I was afterward informed, +that when a junk is captured, all the principal people, such as the +captain, pilot, and passengers, are taken out of her, and a number of +the pirates go on board and take her into some of their dens among the +islands, and keep her there until a heavy ransom is paid, both for the +junk and the people. Sometimes, when a ransom can not be obtained, the +masts, and spars, and everything else which is of any value, are taken +out of her, and she is set on fire. + +The two other piratical junks which had been following in our wake for +some time, when they saw what had happened, would not venture any +nearer; and at last, much to my satisfaction, the whole set of them +bore away. + + + +A SEA FOWLING ADVENTURE. + +One pleasant afternoon in summer, Frank Costello jumped into his little +boat, and pulling her out of the narrow creek where she lay moored, +crept along the iron-bound shore until he reached the entrance of one of +those deep sea-caves, so common upon the western coast of Ireland. To +the gloomy recesses of these natural caverns, millions of sea-fowl +resort during the breeding season; and it was among the feathered tribes +then congregated in the "Puffin Cave," that Frank meant, on that +evening, to deal death and destruction. Gliding, with lightly-dipping +oars, into the yawning chasm, he stepped nimbly from his boat, and +making the painter fast to a projecting rock, he lighted a torch, and, +armed only with a stout cudgel, penetrated into the innermost recesses +of the cavern. There he found a vast quantity of birds and eggs, and +soon became so engrossed with his sport that he paid no attention to the +lapse of time, until the hollow sound of rushing waters behind him made +him aware that the tide, which was ebbing when he entered the cave, had +turned, and was now rising rapidly. His first impulse was to return to +the spot where he had made his boat fast; but how was he horrified on +perceiving that the rock to which it had been secured was now completely +covered with water. He might, however, still have reached it by +swimming; but, unfortunately, the painter, by which it was attached to +the rock, not having sufficient scope, the boat, on the rising of the +tide, was drawn, stern down, to a level with the water; and Frank, as he +beheld her slowly fill and disappear beneath the waves, felt as if the +last link between the living world and himself had been broken. To go +forward was impossible; and he well knew that there was no way of +retreating from the cave, which, in a few hours, would be filled by the +advancing tide. His heart died within him, as the thought of the horrid +fate which awaited him flashed across his mind. He was not a man who +feared to face death; by flood or field, on the stormy sea and the dizzy +cliff, he had dared it a thousand times with perfect unconcern; but to +meet the grim tyrant there, alone, to struggle hopelessly with him for +life in that dreary tomb, was more than his fortitude could bear. He +shrieked aloud in the agony of despair--the torch fell from his +trembling hand into the dark waters that gurgled at his feet, and, +flashing for a moment upon their inky surface, expired with a hissing +sound, that fell like a death-warning upon his ear. The wind, which had +been scarcely felt during the day, began to rise with the flowing of the +tide, and now drove the tumultuous waves with hoarse and hideous clamor +into the cavern. Every moment increased the violence of the gale that +howled and bellowed as it swept around the echoing roof of that +rock-ribbed prison; while the hoarse dash of the approaching waves, and +the shrill screams of the sea-birds that filled the cavern, formed a +concert of terrible dissonance, well suited for the requiem, of the +hapless wretch who had been enclosed in that living grave! But the love +of life, which makes us cling to it in the most hopeless extremity, was +strong in Frank Costello's breast; his firmness and presence of mind +gradually returned, and he resolved not to perish without a struggle. He +remembered that, at the farther extremity of the cavern, the rock rose +like a flight of rude stairs, sloping from the floor to the roof; he had +often clambered up those rugged steps, and he knew that, by means of +them, he could place himself at an elevation above the reach of the +highest tide. But the hope thus suggested was quickly damped when he +reflected that a deep fissure, which ran perpendicularly through the +rock, formed a chasm ten feet in width, in the floor of the cavern, +between him and his place of refuge. The tide, however, which was now +rising rapidly, compelled him to retire every instant, further into the +cavern, and he felt that the only chance he had left him for life was to +endeavor to cross the chasm. He was young, active, and possessed of +uncommon courage, and he had frequently, by torch-light, leaped across +the abyss, in the presence of his companions, few of whom dared to +follow his example. But now, alone and in utter darkness, how was he to +attempt such a perilous feat? The conviction that death was inevitable +if he remained where he was, decided him. Collecting a handful of loose +pebbles from one of the numerous channels in the floor, he proceeded +cautiously over the slippery rocks, throwing at every step a pebble +before him, to ascertain the security of his footing. At length he heard +the stone, as it fell from his fingers, descend with a hollow, +clattering noise, that continued for several seconds. He knew he was +standing on the brink of the chasm. One quick and earnest prayer he +breathed to the invisible Power, whose hand could protect him in that +dread moment--then, retiring a single pace, and screwing every nerve and +muscle in his body to the utmost tension, he made a step in advance, and +threw himself forward into the dark and fearful void. Who can tell the +whirlwind of thought that rushed through his brain in the brief moment +that he hung above that yawning gulf? Should he have miscalculated his +distance, or chosen a place where the cleft was widest--should his +footing fail, or his strength be unequal to carry him over, what a death +were his! Dashed down that horrible abyss--crashing from rock to rock, +until he lay at the bottom a mutilated corpse. The agony of years was +crowded into one moment--in the next, his feet struck against the firm +rock on the opposite side of the chasm, and he was saved. At least, he +felt that he had for the moment escaped the imminent peril in which he +was placed, and, as he clambered joyfully up the rugged slope at the end +of the cave, he thought little of the dangers he had still to encounter. +All through that long night he sat on the narrow ledge of a rock, while +the angry waves thundered beneath, and cast their cold spray every +instant over him. With the ebbing of the tide, the sea receded from the +cavern; but Frank hesitated to attempt crossing the chasm again; his +limbs had become stiff and benumbed, and his long abstinence had so +weakened his powers that he shrank from the dangerous enterprise. While +giving way to the most desponding reflections, a stentorian hilloa rang +and echoed through the cavern; and never had the human voice sounded so +sweetly in his ear. He replied to it with a thrilling shout of joy, and, +in a few minutes, several persons with torches appeared advancing. A +plank was speedily thrust across the fissure, and Frank Costello once +more found himself amid a group of his friends, who were warmly +congratulating him upon his miraculous escape. They told him that, from +his not having returned home the preceding night, it was generally +concluded that he had been drowned, and a party of his neighbors +proceeded in a boat, early in the morning, in search of his body. On +reaching "Puffin Hole," they discovered his boat fastened to a rock, and +full of water, as she had remained on the ebbing of the tide. This +circumstance induced them to examine the cavern narrowly, and the happy +result of their search is already known. + + + +ADVENTURE WITH A COBRA DI CAPELLO + +I might have slept some four or five hours, and a dreamless and +satisfying sleep it was; but certain it is--let scholiasts say what they +will, and skeptics throw doubts by handfulls on the assertions of +metaphysicians--that, before I awoke, and in my dreamless slumber, I had +a visible perception of peril--a consciousness of the hovering presence +of death! How to describe my feelings I know not; but, as we have all +read and heard that, if the eyes of a watcher are steadily fixed on the +countenance of a sleeper for a certain length of time, the slumberer +will be sure to start up--wakened by the mysterious magnetism of a +recondite principle of clairvoyance; so it was that, with shut eyes and +drowsed-up senses, an inward ability was conferred upon me to detect the +living from the presence of danger near me--to see, though sleep-blind, +the formless shape of a mysterious horror crouching beside me; and, as +if the peril that was my nightmate was of a nature to be quickened into +fatal activity by any motion on my part, I felt in my very stupor the +critical necessity of lying quite still; so that, when I at last awoke +and felt that as I lay with my face toward the roof, there was a thick, +heavy, cold, creeping thing upon my chest, I stirred not, nor uttered a +word of panic. Danger and fear may occasionally dull the sense and +paralyse the faculties, but they more frequently sharpen both, and ere I +could wink my eye, I was broad awake and aware that, coiling and coiling +itself up into a circle of twists, an enormous serpent was on my breast. +When I tell you that the whole of my chest, and even the pit of my +stomach, were covered with the cold, scaly proportions of the reptile, +you will own that it must have been one of considerable size. + +What my thoughts were--so made up of abhorrence, dread, and the +expectation--nay, assurance of speedy death, that must follow any +movement on my part--I can never hope to tell in language sufficiently +distinct and vivid to convey their full force. It was evident the +loathsome creature had at length settled itself to sleep; and I felt +thankful that, attracted by my breath, it had not approached the upper +part of my throat. It became quite still, and its weighty pressure--its +first clammy chillness becoming gradually (so it seemed to me) of a +burning heat--and the odious, indescribable odor which exhaled from its +body and pervaded the whole air--so overwhelmed me, that it was only by +a severe struggle I preserved myself from shrieking. As it was, a cold +sweat burst from every pore. I could hear the beating of my heart--and I +felt, to my increased dismay, that the palsy of terror had began to +agitate my limbs! "It will wake," thought I, "and then all is over!" At +this juncture, something--it might have been a wall-lizard, or a large +beetle--fell from the ceiling upon my left arm, which lay stretched at +my side. The snake, uncoiling its head, raised itself, with a low hiss, +and then, for the first time, I saw it,--saw the hood, the terrible +crest glistening in the moonshine. It was a Cobra di Capello! Shading my +eyes to exclude the dreadful spectacle, I lay almost fainting, until +again all was quiet. Had its fiery glances encountered mine, all would +have been over; but, apparently, it was once more asleep, and presently +I heard the Lascar moving about, undoing the fastenings of the tent, and +striking a light. A thought suddenly struck me, and, with an impulse I +could then ascribe to nothing short of desperation, though its effects +were so providential, I uttered, in a loud, but sepulchral tone, +"Kulassi! Lascar." "Sahib!" was the instantaneous response, and my +heart beat quicker at the success of my attempt. I lay still again, for +the reptile, evidently roused, made a movement, and its head, as I +suppose, fell on my naked arm. Oh God! the agony of that moment, when +suppressed tremor almost gave way to madness! I debated with myself +whether I should again endeavor to attract the attention of the Kulassi, +or remain perfectly quiet; or whether it would not be better than either +to start up at once and shake the disgustful burden from me. But the +latter suggestion was at once abandoned, because of the assurance I felt +that it would prove fatal; impeded by the heavy coils of the creature, +weak and nerveless from excitement, I could not escape its fangs. Again, +therefore, I spoke with the hollow but distinct accents which arise from +the throat when the speaker is afraid to move a muscle:--"Kulassi +Chiragh!"--Lascar, a lanthorn! "Latah own Sahib." I am bringing it, sir. +There was then a sound of clanking metal--light, advancing, flashes +across the roof of the veranda--and, at the noise of coming steps, lo! +one after one its terrible coils unwinding, the grisly monster glided +away from my body; and the last sounds that struck my sense of hearing +were the--"Ya illahi samp!" Oh God! a snake!--of the lascar; for I +fainted away for the first time in my life. + +[Illustration] + + + +COMBAT OF WILD ANIMALS. + +We were conducted to a gallery which commanded a view of a narrow court +or area beneath, inclosed by walls and palisades. This was the arena in +which the spectacle was to take place. Unfortunately, the space allotted +to spectators was so narrowed by the great number of European ladies who +were present, that we could only find indifferent standing room, where, +in addition to this inconvenience, the glare of the sun was very +oppressively felt; but the drama which began to be acted in our sight in +the deep space below, was such that every discomfort was forgotten in +beholding it. We there beheld six mighty buffaloes, not of the tame +species, but the sturdy offspring of the Arni-buffalo of the hill +country, at least four feet and a half high from the ground to the +withers, with enormous widely-spread horns, several feet long. There +they stood, on their short, clumsy hoofs, and, snorting violently, blew +out their angry breath from their protruded muzzles, as if they were +already aware of the nearly approaching danger. What terribly powerful +brutes! what vast strength in their broad and brawny necks! It would +have been a noble sight, had not their eyes the while expressed such +entire stupidity. + +A rattling of sticks, and the cries of several kind? of bestial voices +were heard--to which the buffaloes replied with a deep bellowing. On a +sudden, from an opened side door, there darted forth a huge tiger, +certainly from ten to eleven feet in length, and four in height. Without +much hesitation, he sprang with a single long bound right amid the +buffaloes; one of which, winding his body out of the reach of the +formidable horns, he seized by the neck with both claws and teeth at +once. The weight of the tiger almost overthrew the buffalo. A hideous +combat now took place. Groaning and bellowing, the buffalo dragged his +powerful assailant up and down the arena; while the others, with their +heavy, pointed horns, dealt the tiger fearful gashes, to liberate their +fellow beast. A deep stillness reigned among the public; all the +spectators awaited with eager suspense the issue of this contest between +the tiger and the buffaloes; as well as the fate of some unfortunate +asses, which latter, to increase the sport, being made perforce +witnesses of the sanguinary action, at first looked down upon it from +their poles with inexpressible horror, and afterward, when their +supports were shaken by the butting of the buffaloes, fell to the +ground as if dead, and, with outstretched limbs, lay, expecting their +fate with the greatest resignation--without making a single effort to +save themselves. Two other tigers, of somewhat less stature, were now, +with great difficulty, driven in; while the main struggle was still +going forward. But no efforts could induce them to attempt an attack of +any kind; they shrank down like cats, crouching as closely as possible +to the walls of the inclosure, whenever the buffaloes, who still +continued, however, to butt at their enemy with the utmost desperation, +approached them. The great tiger had, at last, received a push in the +ribs, which lifted him from his seat. He came tumbling down, and crawled +like a craven into a corner; whither he was pursued by the buffalo, +maddened by the pain of his lacerated neck--and there had to endure many +thrusts with his horns, at each of which he only drew up his mouth with +a grimace of pain, without making the smallest motion to ward off +the attack. + +The spectacle was by no means ended here. Other combatants were driven +in, and fought with more or less energy. + + + +PERILOUS INCIDENT + +ON A CANADIAN RIVER. + +A young man and his sister have kept this ferry several years, during +which they have performed many acts of heroic benevolence, and have +rescued numbers of their fellow creatures from a watery grave. One of +these had so much of perilous adventure in it, that I shall make no +apology for giving some account of it, the more especially as I was +myself one of the trembling and anxious spectators of the whole scene. + +A raft of timber, on its way down the river to the nearest port, was +dashed to pieces by the violence of the rapids. There was the usual +number of men upon it, all of whom, except two, were fortunate enough to +get upon a few logs, which kept together, and were comparatively safe, +while their two poor comrades, were helplessly contending with the +tumbling waves, almost within reach of them, but without their being +able to afford them the slightest assistance. After a minute or two, and +when one more would have been their last, a long oar or sweep, +belonging to the wretched raft, came floating by. They instantly seized +it, and held on till they were carried down more than a mile, loudly +calling for help as they went along; but what aid could we render them? +No craft, none, at least, which were on the banks of the river, could +live in such a boiling torrent as that; for it was during one of the +high spring freshets. But the ferryman was of a different opinion, and +could not brook the thought of their dying before his eyes without his +making a single effort to save them. "How could I stand idly looking +on," he said to me afterward, "with a tough ash oar in my hand, and a +tight little craft at my feet, and hear their cries for help, and see +them drowned?" He determined, at all risks, to try to rescue them from +the fate which seemed to us inevitable. He could not, however, go alone, +and there was not another man on that side of the river within half a +mile of him. His sister knew this, and, courageously, like another Grace +Darling, proposed, at once, to accompany him in his perilous adventure. +From being so often on the water with her brother, she knew well how to +handle an oar. Often, indeed, without him she had paddled a passenger +across the ferry in her little canoe. He accepted her proposal, and we +had the satisfaction of seeing the light punt put off from the shore +opposite to that from which we were idly and uselessly looking on, and +go gallantly over the surging torrent toward the sinking men. We feared, +however, that it would not be in time to save them, as their cries for +help grew fainter and fainter, till each one, we thought, would have +been their last. We saw that the oar, with the drowning men clinging to +it, was floating rapidly down the middle of the stream, which, in this +particular locality, is more than a quarter of a mile in breadth, and +would inevitably, in two or three minutes more, be in the white water +among the breakers, when their fate must be sealed, and the boat, if it +followed, dashed to pieces among the rocks. This was the principal point +of danger, and they had to run down within a most fearful proximity of +it, to cross the course down which the drowning men were drifting, and, +as they did so, to seize hold of them without losing their own headway; +for there was not time for that. They succeeded in shooting athwart the +current, rapid as it was, just below the men. With breathless and +painful anxiety we saw them execute this dangerous manoeuver. We saw the +ferryman lean over the side of his boat, for a moment, as it passed +them, while his sister backed water with her oar. + +"They are saved!" some one said, close behind me, in a whisper so deep +and earnest that I started, and turned to look at the speaker; when +another, who heard him, exclaimed, "No, no! they are gone! they are +lost! the boat has left them!" And sure enough, it had. But, in an +instant afterward, just as we thought they were about to be driven into +the fatal breakers, they turned, to our inexpressible delight, as if +drawn by some invisible power (the rope the ferryman had attached to the +oar was, indeed, invisible to us,) and followed the boat. + +The ferryman and his sister had yet to pull a fearful distance for the +time they had to do it in, to get out of that part of the current +leading to the breakers: and they accomplished it. The man had the bow +oar, and we could see the tough ash bend like a willow-wand as he +stretched out to keep the head of the boat partially up the stream. His +sister, too, "kept her own," and the little punt shot out rapidly into +the comparatively quiet stream, beyond the influence of the fearful +current, which was rapidly driving them upon the breakers. When this was +accomplished, our fears for the noble-hearted brother and sister were at +an end, and we took a long breath; it was, indeed, a relief to do so. +Still we continued to watch their further proceedings with the +deepest interest. + +The moment they got into a less rapid current, which, they knew, led +into comparatively still water they ceased rowing, and allowed the punt +to float down with it. The young ferryman now drew up the sweep +alongside, and succeeded in getting the two unfortunate men into his +boat. While he was doing this, his sister went aft, and used her oar as +a rudder to steer the boat. At the foot of the current, which they soon +afterward reached, there was no further danger. But we watched them +still; and we saw them row ashore, on their own side of the river. One +of the poor fellows was so much exhausted, that the ferryman had to +carry him on his back to the nearest house, where he soon recovered. + +Twelve months after this took place, I had the satisfaction of +presenting to this worthy ferryman, in the presence of above five +hundred men, a beautiful silver medallion, sent out to me by the Royal +Humane Society--to which I had transmitted an account of the occurrence. +Nor was the heroine of my story forgotten. A similar medallion was given +to him for his sister. She could not, with propriety, be present +herself, as it was the annual muster-day of the militia in +that locality. + +MEMOIRS OF A CHURCH MISSIONARY IN CANADA. + + + +A WHALE CHASE. + +Down went the boats with a splash. Each boat's crew sprang over the +rail, and in an instant the larboard, starboard, and waist-boats were +manned. There was great rivalry in getting the start. The waist-boat got +off in pretty good time; and away went all three, dashing the water high +over their bows. Nothing could be more exciting than the chase. The +larboard boat, commanded by the mate, and the waist-boat, by the second +mate, were head and head. "Give way, my lads, give way!" shouted P----, +our headsman; "we gain on them; give way! A long, steady stroke! That's +the way to tell it!" "Ay, ay!" cried Tabor, our boat-steerer. "What do +you say, boys? Shall we lick 'em?" "Pull! pull like vengeance!" echoed +the crew; and we danced over the waves, scarcely seeming to touch them. +The chase was now truly soul-stirring. Sometimes the larboard, then the +starboard, then the waist-boat took the lead. It was a severe trial of +skill and muscle. After we had run two miles at this rate, the whales +turned flukes, going dead to windward. "Now for it, my lads!" cried +P----. "We'll have them the next rising. Now pile it on! a long, steady +pull! That's it! that's the way! Those whales belong to us. Don't give +out! Half an hour more, and they're our whales!" The other boats veered +off at either side of us, and continued the chase with renewed ardor. In +about half an hour we lay on our oars to look round for the whales. +"There she blows! right ahead!" shouted Tabor, fairly dancing with +delight. "There she blows--there she blows!" "Oh, Lord, boys, spring!" +cried P----. "Spring it is! What d'ye say, now, chummies? Shall we take +those whales?" To this general appeal, every man replied by putting his +weight on his oar, and exerting his utmost strength. The boat flew +through the water with incredible swiftness, scarcely rising to the +waves. A large bull whale lay about a quarter of a mile ahead of us, +lazily rolling in the trough of the sea. The larboard and starboard +boats were far to leeward of us, tugging hard to get a chance at the +other whales, which were now blowing in every direction. "Give way! give +way, my hearties!" cried P----, putting his weight against the aft oar. +"Do you love gin? A bottle of gin to the best man! Oh, pile it on, while +you have breath! pile it on!" "On with the beef, chummies! Smash every +oar! double 'em up or break 'em!" "Every devil's imp of you, pull! No +talking; lay back to it; now or never!" + +On dashed the boat, cleaving its way through the rough sea, as if the +briny element were blue smoke. The whale, however, turned flukes before +we could reach him. When he appeared again above the surface of the +water, it was evident that he had milled while down, by which manoeuver +he gained on us nearly a mile. The chase was now almost hopeless, as he +was making to windward rapidly. A heavy black cloud was on the horizon, +portending an approaching squall, and the barque was fast fading from +sight. Still we were not to be baffled by discouraging circumstances of +this kind, and we braced our sinews for a grand and final effort. "Never +give up, my lads," said the headsman, in a cheering voice. "Mark my +words, we'll have the whale yet. Only think he's ours, and there's no +mistake about it, he will be ours. Now for a hard, steady pull! Give +way!" "Give way, sir! Give way all!" "There she blows! Oh, pull, my +lively lads! Only a mile off!" "There she blows!" The wind had by this +time increased almost to a gale, and the heavy, black clouds were +scattering over us far and wide. Part of the squall had passed off to +leeward, and entirely concealed the barque. Our situation was rather +unpleasant: in a rough sea, the other boats out of sight, and each +moment the wind increasing. We continued to strain every muscle till we +were hard upon the whale. Tabor sprang to the bow, and stood by with the +harpoon. "Softly, softly, my lads," said the headsman. "Ay, ay sir!" +"Hush-h-h! softly! Now's your time, Tabor!" Tabor let fly the harpoon, +and buried the iron. "Give him another!" "Stern all!" thundered P----. +"Stern all!" And, as we rapidly backed from the whale, he flung his +tremendous fluke high in the air, covering us with a cloud of spray. He +then sounded, making the line whiz as it passed through the chocks. When +he rose to the surface again, we hauled up, and the second mate stood +ready in the bow to dispatch him with lances. "Spouting blood!" said +Tabor, "he's a dead whale! he won't need much lancing." It was true +enough; for, before the officer could get within dart of him, he +commenced his dying struggles. The sea was crimsoned with his blood. By +the time we had reached him, he was belly up. We lay upon our oars a +moment, to witness his last throes, and when he turned his head toward +the sun, a loud, simultaneous cheer, burst from every lip. + + + +LEOPARD HUNTING. + +AND ADVENTURES WITH BUFFALOES AND LIONS. + +Mr. Cumming has published a volume containing a record of his hunting +exploits in Africa, in the year 1848. The following interesting accounts +of adventures are from his work. + +On the morning, says Mr. Cumming, I rode into camp, after unsuccessfully +following the spoor of a herd of elephants for two days, in a westerly +course. Having partaken of some refreshment, I saddled up two steeds and +rode down the bank of Ngotwani, with the Bushman, to seek for any game I +might find. After riding about a mile along the river's green bank, I +came suddenly upon an old male leopard, lying under the shade of a thorn +grove, and panting from the great heat. Although I was within sixty +yards of him, he had not heard the horse's tread. I thought he was a +lioness, and, dismounting, took a rest in my saddle on the Old Gray, and +sent a bullet into him. He sprang to his feet and ran half way down the +river's bank, and stood to look about him, when I sent a second bullet +into his person, and he disappeared over the bank. The ground being +very dangerous, I did not disturb him by following then, but I at once +sent Ruyter back to camp for the dogs. Presently he returned with Wolf +and Boxer, very much done up with the sun. I rode forward, and, on +looking over the bank, the leopard started up and sneaked off alongside +of the tall reeds, and was instantly out of sight. I fired a random shot +from the saddle to encourage the dogs, and shouted to them; they, +however, stood looking stupidly around, and would not take up his scent +at all. I led them over his spoor, again and again, but to no purpose; +the dogs seemed quite stupid, and yet they were Wolf and Boxer, my +two best. + +At length I gave it up as a lost affair, and was riding down the river's +bank, when I heard Wolf give tongue behind me, and, galloping back, +found him at bay with the leopard, immediately beneath where I had fired +at him; he was very severely wounded, and had slipped down into the +river's bed and doubled back, whereby he had thrown out both the dogs +and myself. As I approached, he flew out upon Wolf and knocked him over, +and then, running up the bed of the river, took shelter in a thick bush: +Wolf, however, followed him, and at this moment my other dogs came up, +having heard the shot, and bayed him fiercely. He sprang out upon them, +and then crossed the river's bed, taking shelter beneath some large +tangled roots on the opposite bank. As he crossed the river, I put a +third bullet into him, firing from the saddle, and, as soon as he came +to bay, I gave him a fourth, which finished him. This leopard was a very +fine old male; in the conflict, the unfortunate Alert was wounded, as +usual, getting his face torn open; he was still going upon three legs, +with all his breast laid bare by the first water-buck. + +In the evening I directed my Hottentots to watch a fine pool in the +river, and do their best, while I rode to a distant pool several miles +up the Ngotwani, reported as very good for game, to lie all night and +watch: my Totties, however, fearing "Tao," disobeyed me. On reaching the +water I was bound for, I found it very promising, and, having fastened +my two horses to a tree beneath the river's bank, I prepared a place of +concealment close by, and laid down for the night. + +The river's banks on each side were clad with groves of shady thorn +trees. After I had lain some time, squadrons of buffaloes were heard +coming on, until the shady grove on the east bank of the water +immediately above me was alive with them. After some time the leaders +ventured down the river's bank to drink, and this was the signal for a +general rush into the large pool of water: they came on like a regiment +of cavalry at a gallop, making a mighty din, and obscuring the air with +a dense cloud of dust. At length I sent a ball into one of them, when +the most tremendous rush followed up the bank, where they all stood +still, listening attentively. I knew that the buffalo was severely +wounded, but did not hear him fall. Some time after, I fired at a +second, as they stood on the bank above me; this buffalo was also hard +hit, but did not then fall. A little after, I fired at a third on the +same spot; he ran forty yards, and, falling, groaned fearfully: this at +once brought on a number of the others to butt their dying comrade, +according to their benevolent custom. I then crept in toward them, and, +firing my fourth shot, a second buffalo ran forward a few yards, and, +falling, groaned as the last; her comrades, coming up, served her in the +same manner. A second time I crept in, and, firing a fifth shot, a third +buffalo ran forward, and fell close to her dying comrades: in a few +minutes all the other buffaloes made off, and the sound of teeth tearing +at the flesh was heard immediately. + +I fancied it was the hyaenas, and fired a shot to scare them from the +flesh. All was still; and, being anxious to inspect the heads of the +buffaloes, I went boldly forward, taking the native who accompanied me, +along with me. We were within about five yards of the nearest buffalo, +when I observed a yellow mass lying alongside of him, and at the same +instant a lion gave a deep growl,--I thought it was all over with me. +The native shouted "Tao," and, springing away, instantly commenced +blowing shrilly through a charmed piece of bone which he wore on his +necklace. I retreated to the native, and we then knelt down. The lion +continued his meal, tearing away at the buffalo, and growling at his +wife and family, who, I found next day, by the spoor, had accompanied +him. Knowing that he would not molest me if I left him alone, I proposed +to the native to go to our hole and lie down, but he would not hear of +it, and entreated me to fire at the lion. I fired three different shots +where I thought I saw him, but without any effect; he would not so much +as for a moment cease munching my buffalo. I then proceeded to lie down, +and was soon asleep, the native keeping watch over our destinies. Some +time after midnight other lions were heard coming on from other airts, +and my old friend commenced roaring so loudly that the native thought it +proper to wake me. + +The first old lion now wanted to drink, and held right away for the two +unfortunate steeds, roaring terribly. I felt rather alarmed for their +safety; but, trusting that the lion had had flesh enough for one night, +I lay still, and listened with an attentive ear. In a few minutes, to my +utter horror, I heard him spring upon one of the steeds with an angry +growl, and dash him to the earth; the steed gave a slight groan, and all +was still. I listened to hear the sound of teeth, but all continued +still. Soon after this "Tao," was once more heard to be munching the +buffalo. In a few minutes he came forward, and stood on the bank close +above us, and roared most terribly, walking up and down, as if +meditating some mischief. I now thought it high time to make a fire, +and, quickly collecting some dry reeds and little sticks, in half a +minute we had a cheerful blaze. The lion, which had not yet got our +wind, came forward at once to find out what the deuse was up; but, not +seeing to his entire satisfaction from the top of the bank, he was +proceeding to descend by a game-path into the river-bed within a few +yards of us. I happened at the very moment to go to this spot to fetch +more wood, and, being entirely concealed from the lion's view above by +the intervening high reeds, we actually met face to face! The first +notice I got was his sudden spring to one side, accompanied by repeated +angry growls, while I involuntarily made a convulsive spring backward, +at the same time giving a fearful shriek, such as I never before +remember uttering. I fancied, just as he growled, he was coming upon me. +We now heaped on more wood, and kept up a very strong fire until the day +dawned, the lions feasting beside us all the time, notwithstanding the +remonstrances of the little native, who, with a true Bechuana spirit, +lamenting the loss of so much good flesh, kept continually shouting and +pelting them with flaming brands. + +The next morning, when it was clear, I arose and inspected the +buffaloes. The three that had fallen were fine old cows, and two of them +were partly consumed by the lions. The ground all around was packed flat +with their spoor; one particular spoor was nearly as large as that of a +borele. I then proceeded to inspect the steeds: the sand around them was +also covered with the lion's spoor. He had sprung upon the Old Gray, but +had done him no further injury than scratching his back through the +skin: perhaps the lion had been scared by the rheims, or on discovering +his spare condition, had preferred the buffalo. + + + +HUNTING THE WHITE RHINOCEROS, + +LION, BUFFALO, AND GIRAFFE. + +Upon the 9th, says Mr. Cumming, it rained unceasingly throughout the +day, converting the rich soil on which we were encamped into one mass of +soft, sticky clay. In the forenoon, fearing the rain would continue so +as to render the valley (through which we must pass to gain the firmer +ground) impassible, I ordered my men to prepare to march, and leave the +tent with its contents standing, the point which I wished to gain being +distant only about five hundred yards. When the oxen were inspanned, +however, and we attempted to move, we found my tackle, which was old, so +rotten from the effects of the rain, that something gave way at every +strain. Owing to this and to the softness of the valley, we labored on +till sundown, and only succeeded in bringing one wagon to its +destination, the other two remained fast in the mud in the middle of the +valley. Next morning, luckily, the weather cleared up, when my men +brought over the tent, and in the afternoon the other two wagons. + +We followed up the banks of the river for several days, with the usual +allowance of sport. On the 16th we came suddenly upon an immense old +bull muchocho rolling in mud. He sprang to his feet immediately he saw +me, and, charging up the bank, so frightened our horses, that before I +could get my rifle from my after-rider he was past us. I then gave him +chase, and, after a hard gallop of about a mile, sprang from my horse +and gave him a good shot behind the shoulder. At this moment a cow +rhinoceros of the same species, with her calf, charged out of some +wait-a-bit thorn cover, and stood right in my path. Observing that she +carried an unusually long horn, I turned my attention from the bull to +her, and, after a very long and severe chase, dropped her at the sixth +shot. I carried one of my rifles, which gave me much trouble, that not +being the tool required for this sort of work, where quick loading is +indispensable. + +After breakfast I sent men to cut off the head of this rhinoceros, and +proceeded with Ruyter to take up the spoor of the bull wounded in the +morning. We found that he was very severely hit, and having followed the +spoor for about a mile through very dense thorn cover, he suddenly +rustled out of the bushes close ahead of us, accompanied by a whole host +of rhinoceros birds. I mounted my horse and gave him chase, and in a +few minutes he had received four severe shots. I managed to turn his +course toward camp, when I ceased firing, as he seemed to be nearly done +up, and Ruyter and I rode slowly behind, occasionally shouting to guide +his course. Presently, however, Chukuroo ceased taking any notice of us, +and held leisurely on for the river, into a shallow part of which he +walked, and, after panting there and turning about for a quarter of an +hour, he fell over and expired. This was a remarkably fine old bull, and +from his dentition it was not improbable that a hundred summers had seen +him roaming a peaceful denizen of the forests and open glades along the +fair banks of the secluded Mariqua. + +During our march, on the 19th, we had to cross a range of very rocky +hills, covered with large loose stones, and all hands were required to +be actively employed for about an hour, in clearing them out of the way, +to permit the wagons to pass. The work went on fast and furious, and the +quantity of stones cleared was immense. At length we reached the spot +where we were obliged to bid adieu to the Mariqua, and hold a westerly +course across the country for Sicheley. At sundown we halted under a +lofty mountain, the highest in the district, called "Lynchie a Cheny," +or the Monkey's Mountain. + +Next day, at an early hour, I rode out with Ruyter to hunt, my camp +being entirely without flesh, and we having been rationed upon very +tough old rhinoceros for several days past. It was a cloudy morning, and +soon after starting, it came on to rain heavily. I, however, held on, +skirting a fine, well-wooded range of mountains, and after riding +several miles I shot a zebra. Having covered the carcass well over with +branches to protect it from the vultures, I returned to camp, and, +inspanning my wagons, took it up on the march. We continued trekking on +until sundown, when we started an immense herd of buffaloes, into which +I stalked, and shot a huge old bull. + +Our march this evening was through the most beautiful country I had ever +seen in Africa. We skirted an endless range of well-wooded stony +mountains lying on our left, while to our right the country at first +sloped gently off, and then stretched away into a level green forest, +(occasionally interspersed with open glades,) boundless as the ocean. +This green forest was, however, relieved in one direction by a chain of +excessively bold, detached, well-wooded, rocky, pyramidal mountains, +which stood forth in grand relief. In advance the picture was bounded by +forest and mountain; one bold acclivity, in shape of a dome, standing +prominent among its fellows. It was a lovely evening: the sky, overcast +and gloomy, threw an interesting, wild, mysterious coloring over the +landscape. I gazed forth upon the romantic scene before me with intense +delight, and felt melancholy and sorrowful at passing so fleetingly +through it, and could not help shouting out, as I marched along, "Where +is the coward who would not dare to die for such a land?" + +In the morning we held for a fountain some miles ahead, in a gorge in +the mountains. As we approached the fountain, and were passing close +under a steep, rocky, hillside, well wooded to its summit, I +unexpectedly beheld a lion stealing up the rocky face, and, halting +behind a tree, he stood overhauling us for some minutes. I resolved to +give him battle, and, seizing my rifle, marched against him, followed by +Carey carrying a spare gun, and by three men leading my dogs, now +reduced to eight. When we got close in to the base of the mountain, we +found ourselves enveloped in dense jungle, which extended half-way to +its summit, and entirely obscured from our eyes objects which were quite +apparent from the wagons, I slipped my dogs, however, which, after +snuffing about, took right up the steep face on the spoor of the lions, +for there was a troop of them--a lion and three lionesses. + +The people at the wagons saw the chase in perfection. When the lions +observed the dogs coming on, they took right up, and three of them +crossed over the sky ridge. The dogs, however, turned one rattling old +lioness, which came rumbling down through the cover, close past me. I +ran to meet her, and she came to bay in an open spot near the base of +the mountain, whither I quickly followed, and coming up within thirty +yards, bowled her over with my first shot, which broke her back. My +second entered her shoulder; and, fearing that she might hurt any of the +dogs, as she still evinced signs of life, I finished her with a third in +the breast. The bellies of all the four lions were much distended by +some game they had been gorging, no doubt a buffalo, as a large herd +started out of the jungle immediately under the spot where the noble +beasts were first disturbed. + +Showers of rain fell every hour throughout the day, so I employed my men +in making feldt-schoens, or, in other words, African brogues for me. +These shoes were worthy of a sportsman, being light, yet strong, and +were entirely composed of the skins of game of my shooting. The soles +were made of either buffalo or cameleopard; the front part, perhaps, of +koodoo, or hartebeest, or bushbuck, and the back of the shoe of lion, or +hyaena, or sable antelope, while the rheimpy or thread with which the +whole was sewed, consisted of a thin strip of the skin of a steinbok. + +On the forenoon of this day, I rode forth to hunt, accompanied by +Ruyter; we held west, skirting the wooded, stony mountains. The natives +had here, many years before, waged successful war with elephants, four +of whose skulls I found. Presently I came across two sassaybies, one of +which I knocked over; but, while I was loading, he regained his legs and +made off. We crossed a level stretch of forest, holding a northerly +course for an opposite range of green, well-wooded hills and valleys. +Here I came upon a troop of six fine, old bull buffaloes, into which I +stalked, and wounded one princely fellow very severely, behind the +shoulder, bringing blood from his mouth; he, however, made off with his +comrades, and, the ground being very rough, we failed to overtake him. +They held for Ngotwani. After following the spoor for a couple of miles, +we dropped it, as it led right away from camp. + +Returning from this chase, we had an adventure with another old bull +buffalo, which shows the extreme danger of hunting buffaloes without +dogs. We started him in a green hollow, among the hills, and his course +inclining for camp. I gave him chase. He crossed the level, broad +strath, and made for the opposite densely-wooded range of mountains. +Along the base of these we followed him, sometimes in view, sometimes on +the spoor, keeping the old fellow at a pace which made him pant. At +length, finding himself much distressed, he had recourse to a singular +stratagem. Doubling round some thick bushes, which obscured him from our +view, he found himself beside a small pool of rain-water, just deep +enough to cover his body; into this he walked, and, facing about, lay +gently down and awaited our on-coming, with nothing but his old, gray +face, and massive horns above the water, and these concealed from view +by the overhanging herbage. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF THE BUFFALO.] + +Our attention was entirely engrossed with the spoor, and thus we rode +boldly on until within a few feet of him, when, springing to his feet, +he made a desperate charge after Ruyter, uttering a low, stifled roar, +peculiar to buffaloes, (somewhat similar to the growl of a lion,) and +hurled horse and rider to the earth with fearful violence. His horn laid +the poor horse's haunch open to the bone, making the most fearful rugged +wound. In an instant, Ruyter regained his feet and ran for his life, +which the buffalo observing, gave chase, but most fortunately came down, +with a tremendous somersault, in the mud, his feet slipping from under +him; thus the bushman escaped certain destruction. The buffalo rose +much discomfitted, and, the wounded horse first catching his eye, he +went a second time after him; but he got out of the way. At this moment, +I managed to send one of my patent pacificating pills into his shoulder, +when he instantly quitted the field of action, and sought shelter in a +dense cover on the mountain side, whither I deemed it imprudent to +follow him. + + + +A LEOPARD HUNT. + +The dense jungles of Bengal was the place of the leopard's resort, and +the havoc which it committed among the cattle was prodigious. It was +dreaded, far and near, on this account, by the natives, and they +scrupulously avoided their spotted enemy, knowing well that when his +appetite was whetted with hunger, he was not over scrupulous whether his +victims were beasts or men. On one occasion, the monster made a dash +upon a herd of beeves, and succeeded in carrying off a large ox; and +loud was the lament of the poor Hindoos that one of the sacred herd had +thus unceremoniously been assailed and slaughtered before their eyes. A +party of the Bengal native infantry, consisting of an officer and five +others, having been informed of the circumstance, followed in the +direction of the leopard's den determined, if possible, to punish him +for this and the many other depredations he had committed. Having come +to an intervening ravine, they were about to cross it, when they saw the +object of their search on the opposite side. There he was, lying in his +lair, heedless of danger, and luxuriously feasting on the carcass of his +captive. It was the monster's last meal, however. The party approached +with stealthy steps, as near as they could without crossing the defile. +"Take your aim! fire!" cried the captain, in Hindostanee, we suppose. +They did so, and four balls pierced the leopard, three in the neck and +one in a more dangerous place, through the brain. Startled by this +unpleasant salute, the animal rose, gazed with glaring eyes on its +enemies, at the same time pawing the earth in its pain fury. + +The sepoys were astonished that he did not roll lifeless at their feet; +but, instead of this, before they had time to reload, the creature, +after uttering a terrific cry, sprang across the ravine and seized one +of its assailants. It must have been, in some degree, weakened by its +wounds; but its strength was yet great, for the man seemed to have no +power of resistance to its attack. The leopard, having a hold of the +sepoy in its mouth, darted off in the direction of a jungle close at +hand, the other soldiers following up as fast as they could, but not +daring to fire, lest they should injure their luckless comrade Sometimes +they lost sight of the leopard and its bleeding burden; but the blood +marks on the grass or on the sand enabled them to regain the trail, and +to carry on the pursuit. The animal at length came to a small river; it +hesitated for a little on the brink, and then leaped in, still +tenaciously retaining its prey. The stoppage thus occasioned enabled the +pursuers to gain ground, and, just after the leopard had emerged from +the river, and was shaking its skin free from the watery drops, one of +the party seized the auspicious moment, and fired. The beast dropped its +prey at once, howled furiously, and then fell dead. To their great +surprise and joy, the soldiers found that their comrade was still in +life, though he had fainted from fear and from weakness occasioned by +the loss of blood. He gradually recovered, and, under the stimulating +influence of a cup of brandy, was able to proceed home with his +comrades. It was many weeks, however, before he was fit for service, and +he will retain till his dying day the dental marks received from the +leopard, by way of token what it would like to have done with him had +there been none but themselves two on the desert wide. + +The soldiers returned, some time after, and skinned the animal, carrying +home its spotted covering for a trophy; and now, here it is, with the +marks of the musket-balls upon it, remembrances of the strange story we +have now recounted. + + + +LIFE IN CALIFORNIA. + +Every man, both honest and dishonest, in California, has his own +horse--as a very good-looking, active one can be purchased, tamed to +carry the saddle and rider, from the Indians, for four or five dollars; +so that every one, I may add, of both sexes, ride in California. No one +walks far but the hunter, and he is carried in canoe a long way up the +river before he strikes into the forest after the animals he is in +pursuit of. This last class of men are the most wild, daring, yet +friendly and honest, of the lower class of the white population of +California. Well: as the robber as well as the honest man are equally +mounted, sometimes a very interesting steeple chase ensues,--ground +rough, not being previously chosen, occasionally leaping over pools of +water, large stones, and fallen trees. The Indians who use the lasso, +generally keep the lead, to strive to throw the noose over either the +man or horse they are pursuing. It is made of thongs of bullock-hide +twisted into a small rope about thirty or forty feet long, with a noose +formed by a running knot at the end of it. One end of the lasso is +fastened to the back of the saddle: the entire length of it is kept in a +coil on the right hand, and after two or three swings of it over their +heads, they will throw it with such accuracy that the smallest object +will come within the noose. Thus, then, if an equestrian traveler does +not keep a good look-out as he is passing by a bush or thicket, one of +these lassoes may be thrown out; the noose, falling over his head, will +be jerked tight round his body, and, in the twinkling of an eye, he will +be dragged off his horse, and away into the bush, to be stripped of +everything he has. By all the accounts I have heard, and from what I +have seen, the robbers of California are the most active in the world: +the end of the dangerous lasso being firmly fastened to the saddle, +enables the rider, as soon as his victim, either man or animal, is +noosed, to wheel round his horse, and dash off like an Arab, dragging +whatever he has fast after him. There is one method of averting the +fall of the lasso noose over the body of a man, either on foot or +horseback. If he holds, as he always ought, either sword or gun in his +right hand, when he sees the lasso coming, let him instantly raise +either and his arm in a horizontal position, and if the noose does fall +true, it cannot run farther down, being stopped by sword, gun, or +extended arm; then fling it off quick, or it may be jerked tight round +the neck. I have known this subterfuge save many a man from robbers and +perhaps murderers. + +I once hunted for three months in company with a hunter well known in +California. In idea, he was wild and imaginative in the extreme; but, in +his acts of daring, &c., the most cool and philosophic fellow I ever +knew. A commercianto, or merchant, at San Francisco, on whose veracity I +know from experience I can depend, told me the following story of this +man, which will at once illustrate his general character. This hunter +was, some months before I had fallen in with him, making the best of his +way down the valley of the Tule Lakes from the interior, with a heavy +pack of furs on his back, his never-erring rifle in his hand, and his +two dogs by his side. He was joined at the northermost end of the valley +by the merchant I had spoken of, who was armed only with sword and +pistols. They had scarcely cleared the valley, when a party of robbers +galloped out before them. There were four whites, fully armed, and two +Indians with the lassos coiled up in their right hands, ready for a +throw. The hunter told the merchant, who was on horseback, to dismount +instantly, "and to cover." Fortunately for them, there was a good deal +of thicket, and trunks of large trees that had fallen were strewed about +in a very desirable manner. Behind these logs the merchant and the +hunter quickly took up their position, and as they were in the act of +doing so, two or three shots were fired after them without effect. The +hunter coolly untied the pack of furs from his back, and laid them +beside him. "It's my opinion, merchant," said he, "that them varmint +there wants either your saddle-bags or my pack, but I reckon they'll get +neither." So he took up his rifle, fired, and the foremost Indian, lasso +in hand, rolled off his horse. Another discharge from the rifle, and the +second Indian fell, while in the act of throwing his lasso at the head +and shoulders of the hunter, as he raised himself from behind the log to +fire. "Now," said the hunter, as he reloaded, laying on his back to +avoid the shots of the robbers, "that's what I call the best of the +scrimmage, to get them brown thieves with their lassoes out of the way +first. See them rascally whites now jumping over the logs to charge us +in our cover." They were fast advancing, when the rifle again spoke out, +and the foremost fell; they still came on to within about thirty yards, +when another fell; and the remaining two made a desperate charge up +close to the log. The hunter, from long practice, was dexterous in +reloading his gun. "Now, merchant," said he, "is the time for your +pop-guns, (meaning the pistols,) and don't be at all narvous, keep a +steady hand, and drop either man or horse. A man of them shan't escape." +The two remaining robbers were now up with the log, and fired each a +pistol-shot at the hunter, which he escaped by dodging behind a tree +close to, from which he fired with effect. As only one robber was left, +he wheeled round his horse with the intention of galloping off, when the +pistol-bullets of the merchant shot the horse from under him. "Well +done, merchant," said the hunter, "you've stopped that fellow's galop." +As soon as the robber could disentangle himself from the fallen horse, +he took to his heels and ran down a sloping ground as fast as he could. +The hunter drew his tomahawk from his belt, and gave chase after him. As +he was more of an equestrian than a pedestrian, the nimbleness of the +hunter soon shortened the distance between them, and the last of the +robbers fell. Thus perished this dangerous gang of six, by the single +hand of this brave hunter, and, as the "commercianto" informed me, he +acted as coolly and deliberately as if he were shooting tame bullocks +for the market. The affair was rather advantageous to the hunter, for, +on searching the saddle-bags and pockets of the robbers, he pulled forth +some doubloons, and a few dollars, with other valuables they had, no +doubt, a short time previously, taken from some traveler; the +saddle-bags, arms, and accouterments of the four white men, were packed +up, made fast on the saddles of the two horses, and the hunter mounted a +third, the merchant mounted another, his horse being shot, and thus they +left the scene of action, the bodies of the robbers to the wolves, who +were howling about them, and entered San Francisco in triumph. + + + +A STORM AMONG THE ICEBERGS. + +To prevent the ships separating during the fog, it was necessary to keep +fast to the heavy piece of ice which we had between them as a fender, +and with a reduced amount of sail on them, we made some way through the +pack: as we advanced in this novel mode to the south-west, we found the +ice became more open, and the westerly swell increasing as the wind +veered to the northwest, at midnight, we found it impossible any longer +to hold on by the floe piece. All our hawsers breaking in succession, we +made sail on the ships, and kept company, during the thick fog, by +firing guns, and by means of the usual signals: under the shelter of a +berg of nearly a mile in diameter, we dodged about during the whole day, +waiting for clear weather, that we might select the best lead through +the dispersing pack; but at nine P.M. the wind suddenly freshened to a +violent gale from the northward, compelling us to reduce our sails to a +close-reefed main-topsail and storm-staysails: the sea quickly rising +to a fearful height, breaking over the loftiest bergs, we were unable +any longer to hold our ground, but were driven into the heavy pack under +our lee. Soon after midnight, our ships were involved in an ocean of +rolling fragments of ice, hard as floating rocks of granite, which were +dashed against them by the waves with so much violence, that their masts +quivered as if they would fall, at every successive blow; and the +destruction of the ships seemed inevitable from the tremendous shocks +they received. By backing and filling the sails, we endeavored to avoid +collision with the larger masses; but this was not always possible: in +the early part of the storm, the rudder of the Erebus was so much +damaged as to be no longer of any use; and about the same time, I was +informed by signal that the Terror's was completely destroyed, and +nearly torn away from the stern-post. We had hoped that, as we drifted +deeper into the pack, we should get beyond the reach of the tempest; but +in this we were mistaken. Hour passed away after hour without the least +mitigation of the awful circumstances in which we were placed. Indeed, +there seemed to be but little probability of our ships holding together +much longer, so frequent and violent were the shocks they sustained. The +loud, crashing noise of the straining and working of the timbers and +decks, as she was driven against some of the heavier pieces, which all +the activity and exertions of our people could not prevent, was +sufficient to fill the stoutest heart, that was not supported by trust +in Him, who controls all events, with dismay. + +At two P.M. the storm gained its height, when the barometer stood at +28.40 inches, and, after that time, began to rise. Although we had been +forced many miles deeper into the pack, we could not perceive that the +swell had at all subsided, our ships still rolling and groaning amid the +heavy fragments of crushing bergs, over which the ocean rolled its +mountainous waves, throwing huge masses one upon another, and then again +burying them deep beneath its foaming waters, dashing and grinding them +together with fearful violence. The awful grandeur of such a scene can +neither be imagined nor described, for less can the feelings of those +who witnessed it be understood. Each of us secured our hold, waiting the +issue with resignation to the will of Him who alone could preserve us, +and bring us safely through this extreme danger; watching with +breathless anxiety the effect of each succeeding collision, and the +vibrations of the tottering masts, expecting every moment to see them +give way, without our having the power to make an effort to save them. + +Although the force of the wind had somewhat diminished by four o'clock, +yet the squalls came on with unabated violence, laying the ship over on +her broadside, and threatening to blow the storm-sails to pieces; +fortunately they were quite new, or they never could have withstood such +terrific gusts. At this time, the Terror was so close to us, that, when +she rose to the top of one wave, the Erebus was on the top of that next +to leeward of her; the deep chasm between them filled with heavy rolling +masses; and, as the ships descended into the hollow between the waves, +the main-topsail yard of each could be seen just level with the crest of +the intervening wave, from the deck of the other: from this, some idea +may be formed of the height of the waves, as well as of the perilous +situation of our ships. The night now began to draw on, and cast its +gloomy mantle over the appalling scene, rendering our condition, if +possible, more hopeless and helpless than before; but, at midnight, the +snow, which had been falling thickly for several hours, cleared away, as +the wind suddenly shifted to the westward, and the swell began to +subside; and although the shocks our ships still sustained were such +that must have destroyed any ordinary vessel in less than five minutes, +yet they were feeble compared to those to which we had been exposed, +and our minds became more at ease for their ultimate safety. + +During the darkness of night and the thick weather, we had been carried +through a chain of bergs which were seen in the morning considerably to +windward, and which served to keep off the heavy pressure of the pack, +so that we found the ice much more open, and I was enabled to make my +way, in one of our boats, to the Terror, about whose condition I was +most anxious--for I was aware that her damages were of a much more +serious nature than those of the Erebus, notwithstanding the skillful +and seaman-like manner in which she had been managed, and by which she +maintained her appointed station throughout the gale. I found that her +rudder was completely broken to pieces, and the fastenings to the +stern-post so much strained and twisted, that it would be difficult to +get the spare rudder, with which we were fortunately provided, fitted so +as to be useful, and could only be done, if at all, under very favorable +circumstances. The other damages she had sustained were of less +consequence; and it was as great a satisfaction as it has ever since +been a source of astonishment to us to find that, after so many hours of +constant and violent thumping, both the vessels were nearly as tight as +they were before the gale. We can only ascribe this to the admirable +manner in which they had been fortified for the service, and to our +having their holds so stowed as to form a solid mass throughout. + + + +FALL OF THE ROSSBERG. + +The summer of 1806 had been very rainy; and on the first and second of +September it rained incessantly. New crevices were observed in the flank +of the mountain; a sort of cracking noise was heard internally; stones +started out of the ground; detached fragments of rocks rolled down the +mountain. At two o'clock in the afternoon, on the 2d of September, a +large rock became loose, and in falling, raised a cloud of black dust. +Toward the lower part of the mountain, the ground seemed pressed down +from above; and, when a stick or a spade was driven in, it moved of +itself. A man who had been digging in his garden ran away, from fright +at these extraordinary appearances; soon a fissure, larger than all the +others, was observed; insensibly, it increased: springs of water ceased +all at once to flow, the pine trees of the forest absolutely reeled; +the birds flew away screaming. A few minutes before five o'clock, the +symptoms of some mighty catastrophe became still stronger; the whole +surface of the mountain seemed to glide down, but so slowly as to afford +time to the inhabitants to go away. An old man, who had often predicted +some such disaster, was quietly smoking his pipe; when told by a young +man running by, that the mountain was in the act of falling, he rose and +looked out, but came into his house again, saying he had time to fill +another pipe. The young man, continuing to fly, was thrown down several +times, and escaped with difficulty; looking back, he saw the house +carried off, all at once. + +Another inhabitant, being alarmed, took two of his children, and ran +away with them, calling to his wife to follow with the third; but she +went in for another, who still remained, (Marianne, aged five;) just +then, Francisca Ulrich, their servant, was crossing the room with this +Marianne, whom she held by the hand, and saw her mistress; at that +instant, as Francisca afterward said, "the house appeared to be torn +from its foundation, (it was of wood,) and spun round and round like a +teetotum; I was sometimes on my head, and sometimes on my feet, in total +darkness, and violently separated from the child." When the motion +stopped, she found herself jammed in on all sides, with her head +downward, much bruised; and in extreme pain. She supposed she was buried +alive, at a great depth; with much difficulty, she disengaged her right +hand, and wiped the blood from her eyes. Presently, she heard the faint +moans of Marianne, and called her by her name; the child answered that +she was on her back, among stones and bushes, which held her fast, but +that her hands were free, and that she saw the light, and then something +green; she asked whether people would not come soon to take them out. + +Francisca answered that it was the day of judgment, and that no one was +left to help them, but that they would be released by death, and be +happy in Heaven. They prayed together; at last Francisca's ear was +struck by the sound of a bell, which she knew to be that of Stenenberg; +then seven o'clock struck in another village, and she began to hope +there were still living beings, and endeavored to comfort the child; the +poor little girl was at first clamorous for her supper; but her cries +soon became fainter, and at last quite died away. Francisca, still with +her head downward, and surrounded with damp earth, experienced a sense +of cold in her feet almost insupportable; after prodigious efforts, she +succeeded in disengaging her legs, and thinks this saved her life. Many +hours had passed in this situation, when she again heard the voice of +Marianne, who had been asleep, and now renewed her lamentations. In the +meantime, the unfortunate father, who, with much difficulty, had saved +himself and two children, wandered about till daylight, when he came +among the ruins to look for the rest of his family; he soon discovered +his wife, by a foot which appeared above the ground; she was dead, with +a child in her arms. His cries, and the noise he made in digging, were +heard by Marianne, who called out. She was extricated, with a broken +thigh, and saying that Francisca was not far off, a farther search led +to her release also, but in such a state that her life was despaired of. +She was blind for some days, and remained subject to convulsive fits of +terror. It appeared that the house, or themselves, at least, had been +carried down about one thousand five hundred feet from where it +stood before. + +In another place, a child two years old was found unhurt, lying on his +straw mattress upon the mud, without any vestige of the house from which +he had been separated. Such a mass of earth and stones rushed at once +into the lake of Sowertey, although five miles distant, that one end of +it was filled up, and a prodigious wave passing completely over the +island of Schwanau, seventy feet above the usual level of the water, +overwhelmed the opposite shore, and, as it returned, swept away into the +lake many houses with their inhabitants. The chapel of Olton, built of +wood, was found half a league from the place it had previously occupied, +and many large blocks of stone completely changed their position. + +SIMOND'S SWITZERLAND. + + + +THE RIFLEMAN OF CHIPPEWA. + +At the time of the French and Indian wars, the American army was +encamped on the plains of Chippewa. Colonel St. Clair, the commander, +was a bold and meritorious officer; but there was mixed with his bravery +a large share of rashness or indiscretion. His rashness, in this case, +consisted in encamping on an open plain beside a thick wood, from which +an Indian scout could easily pick off his outposts, without being +exposed, in the least, to the fire of the sentinel. + +Five nights had passed, and every night he had been surprised by the +disappearance of a sentry, who stood at a lonely post in the vicinity of +the forest. These repeated disasters had struck such a dread into the +breasts of the remaining soldiers, that no one would volunteer to take +the post, and the commander, knowing it would be throwing away their +lives, let it remain unoccupied several nights. + +At length a rifleman of the Virginia corps, volunteered his services. He +was told the danger of the duty; but he laughed at the fears of his +comrades, saying he would return safe, to drink the health of his +commander in the morning. The guard marched up soon after, and he +shouldered his rifle, and fell in. He arrived at his bounds, and, +bidding his fellow-sentinels good-night, assumed the duties of his post. + +The night was dark, from the thick clouds that overspread the firmament. +No star shone on the sentinel as he paced his lonely path, and naught +was heard but the mournful hoot of the owl, as she raised her nightly +wail from the withered branch of the venerable oak. At length, a low +rustling among the bushes on the right, caught his ear. He gazed long +toward the spot whence the sound seemed to proceed; but saw nothing, +save the impenetrable gloom of the thick forest which surrounded the +encampment. Then, as he marched onward, he heard the joyful cry of +"all's well," after which he seated himself upon a stump, and fell into +a reverie. While he thus sat, a savage entered the open space behind, +and, after buckling his tunic, with numerous folds, tight around his +body, drew over his head the skin of a wild boar, with the natural +appendages of those animals. Thus accoutred, he walked past the soldier, +who, seeing the object approach, quickly stood upon his guard. But a +well-known grunt eased his fears, and he suffered it to pass, it being +too dark for any one to discover the cheat. The beast, as it appeared to +be, quietly sought the thicket to the left; it was nearly out of sight, +when, through a sudden break in the clouds, the moon shone bright upon +it. The soldier then perceived the ornamented moccasin of an Indian, +and, quick as thought, prepared to fire. But, fearing lest he might be +mistaken, and thus needlessly alarm the camp, and also supposing, if he +were right, the other savages would be near at hand, he refrained, and +having a perfect knowledge of Indian subtlety and craft, quickly took +off his coat and cap, and, after hanging them on the stump where he had +reclined, secured his rifle, and softly groped his way toward the +thicket. He had barely reached it, when the whizzing of an arrow passed +his head, and told him of the danger he had escaped. Turning his eyes +toward a small spot of cleared land within the thicket, he perceived a +dozen of the same _animals_ sitting on their hind legs, instead of +feeding on the acorns, which, at this season, lay plentifully upon the +surface of the leaves; and, listening attentively, he heard them +conversing in the Iroquois tongue. The substance of their conversation +was, that, if the sentinel should not discover them, the next evening, +as soon as the moon should afford them sufficient light for their +operations, they would make an attack upon the American camp. They then +quitted their rendezvous, and soon their tall forms were lost in the +gloom of the forest. The soldier now returned to his post, and found the +arrow sunk deep in the stump, it having passed through the breast of +his coat. + +He directly returned to the encampment, and desired the orderly at the +marquee to inform the commander of his wish to speak with him, having +information of importance of communicate. He was admitted, and, having +been heard, the colonel bestowed on him the vacant post of lieutenant of +the corps, and directed him to be ready, with a picket-guard, to march, +at eight o'clock in the evening, to the spot he had occupied the night +before, where he was to place his hat and coat upon the stump, and then +lie in ambush for the intruders. Accordingly, the party proceeded, and +obeyed the colonel's orders. The moon rose, but shone dimly through the +thick branches of the forest. + +While the new lieutenant was waiting the result of his manoeuver, an +arrow whizzed from the same quarter as before. The mock soldier fell on +his face. A dozen subdued voices sounded from within the thicket, which +were soon followed by the sudden appearance of the Indians themselves. +They barely reached the stump, when our hero gave the order to fire, and +the whole band were stretched dead upon the plain. After stripping them +of their arms and trappings, the Americans returned to the camp. + +Twelve chiefs fell at the destructive fire of the white men, and their +fall was, undoubtedly, one great cause of the French and Indian wars +with the English. The fortunate rifleman, who had originated and +conducted the ambuscade, returned from the war, at its termination, with +a competency. He was not again heard of, until the parent-country raised +her arm against the infant colonies. Then was seen, at the head of a +band of Virginia riflemen our hero as the brave and gallant +Colonel Morgan. + +[Illustration: LOSS OF THE BLENDENHALL.] + + + +SHIPWRECK OF THE BLENDENHALL. + +In the year 1821, the Blendenhall, free trader, bound from England for +Bombay, partly laden with broadcloths, was proceeding on her voyage with +every prospect of a successful issue. While thus pursuing her way +through the Atlantic, she was unfortunately driven from her course, by +adverse winds and currents, more to the southward and westward than was +required, and it became desirable to reach the island of Tristan +d'Acunha, in order to ascertain and rectify the reckoning. + +It was while steering to reach this group of islands, that, one morning +a passenger, on board the Blendenhall, who chanced to be up on deck +earlier than usual, observed great quantities of seaweed occasionally +floating alongside. This excited some alarm, and a man was immediately +sent aloft to keep a good look-out. The weather was then extremely hazy, +though moderate; the weeds continued; all were on the alert; they +shortened sail, and the boatswain piped for breakfast. In less than ten +minutes, "breakers ahead!" startled every soul, and in a moment all +were on deck. "Breakers starboard! breakers larboard! breakers all +around!" was the ominous cry a moment afterward, and all was confusion. +The words were scarcely uttered, when, and before the helm was up, the +ill-fated ship struck, and, after a few tremendous shocks against the +sunken reef, she parted about midship. Ropes and stays were cut +away--all rushed forward, as if instinctively, and had barely reached +the forecastle, when the stern and quarter-deck broke asunder with a +violent crash, and sunk to rise no more. Two of the seamen miserably +perished--the rest, including officers, passengers, and crew, held on +about the head and bows--the struggle was for life! + +At this moment the Inaccessible Island, which till then had been vailed +in thick clouds and mist, appeared frowning above the haze. The wreck +was more than two miles from the frightful shore. The base of the island +was still buried in impenetrable gloom. In this perilous extremity, one +was for cutting away the anchor, which had been got up to the cathead in +time of need; another was for cutting down the foremast, the +foretop-mast being already by the board. The fog totally disappeared, +and the black, rocky island stood in all its rugged deformity before +their eyes. Suddenly the sun broke out in full splendor, as if to expose +more clearly to the view of the sufferers their dreadful predicament. +Despair was in every bosom--death, arrayed in all its terrors, seemed to +hover over the wreck. But exertion was required, and every thing that +human energy could devise was effected. The wreck, on which all eagerly +clung, was fortunately drifted by the tide and wind between ledges of +sunken rocks and thundering breakers, until, after the lapse of several +hours, it entered the only spot on the island where a landing was +possibly practicable,--for all the other parts of the coast consisted of +perpendicular cliffs of granite, rising from amid the deafening surf to +the height of twenty, forty, and sixty feet. As the shore was neared, a +raft was prepared, and on this a few paddled for the cove. At last the +wreck drove right in: ropes were instantly thrown out, and the crew and +passengers, (except two who had been crushed in the wreck,) including +three ladies and a female attendant, were snatched from the watery +grave, which a few short hours before had appeared inevitable, and +safely landed on the beach. Evening had now set in, and every effort was +made to secure whatever could be saved from the wreck. Bales of cloth, +cases of wine, a few boxes of cheese, some hams, the carcass of a milch +cow that had been washed on shore, buckets, tubs, butts, a seaman's +chest, (containing a tinder-box, and needles and thread,) with a number +of elegant mahogany turned bed-posts, and part of an investment for the +India market, were got on shore. The rain poured down in torrents--all +hands were busily at work to procure shelter from the weather; and with +the bed-posts and broadcloths, and part of the foresail, as many tents +were soon pitched as there were individuals on the island. + +Drenched with the sea and with the rain, hungry, cold, and comfortless, +thousands of miles from their native land, almost beyond expectation of +human succor, hope nearly annihilated,--the shipwrecked voyagers retired +to their tents. In the morning the wreck had gone to pieces; and planks, +and spars, and whatever had floated in, were eagerly dragged on shore. +No sooner was the unfortunate ship broken up, than, deeming themselves +freed from the bonds of authority, many began to secure whatever came to +land: and the captain, officers, passengers, and crew were now reduced +to the same level, and obliged to take their turn to fetch water, and +explore the island for food. The work of exploring was soon over--there +was not a bird, nor a quadruped, nor a single tree to be seen. All was +barren and desolate. The low parts were scattered over with stones and +sand, and a few stunted weeds, rocks, ferns, and other plants. The top +of the mountain was found to consist of a fragment of original +table-land, very marshy, and full of deep sloughs, intersected with +small rills of water, pure and pellucid as crystal, and a profusion of +wild parsley and celery. The prospect was one dreary scene of +destitution, without a single ray of hope to relieve the misery of the +desponding crew. After some days, the dead cow, hams, and cheese were +consumed; and, from one end of the island to the other, not a morsel of +food could be seen. Even the celery began to fail. A few bottles of +wine, which for security had been secreted under ground, only remained. +Famine now began to threaten. Every stone near the sea was examined for +shellfish, but in vain. + +In this dreadful extremity, and while the half-famished seamen were at +night squatting in sullen dejection around their fires, a large lot of +sea-birds, allured by the flames, rushed into the midst of them, and +were greedily laid hold of as fast as they could be seized. For several +nights in succession, similar flocks came in; and, by multiplying their +fires, a considerable supply was secured. These visits, however, ceased +at length, and the wretched party were exposed again to the most severe +privation. When their stock of wild fowl had been exhausted for more +than two days, each began to fear they were now approaching that sad +point of necessity, when, between death and casting lots who should be +sacrificed to serve for food for the rest, no alternative remained. +While horror at the bare contemplation of an extremity so repulsive +occupied the thoughts of all, the horizon was observed to be suddenly +obscured, and presently clouds of penguins alighted on the island. The +low grounds were actually covered; and before the evening was dark, the +sand could not be seen for the number of eggs, which, like a sheet of +snow, lay on the surface of the earth. The penguins continued on the +island four or five days, when, as if by signal, the whole took their +flight, and were never seen again. A few were killed, but the flesh was +so extremely rank and nauseous that it could not be eaten. The eggs were +collected and dressed in all manner of ways, and supplied abundance of +food for upward of three weeks. At the expiration of that period, famine +once more seemed inevitable; the third morning began to dawn upon the +unfortunate company after their stock of eggs were exhausted; they had +now been without food for more than forty hours, and were fainting and +dejected; when, as though this desolate rock were really a land of +miracles, a man came running up to the encampment with the unexpected +and joyful tidings that "millions of sea-cows had come on shore." The +crew climbed over the ledge of rocks that flanked their tents, and the +sight of a shoal of manatees immediately beneath them, gladdened their +hearts. These came in with the flood, and were left in the puddles +between the broken rocks of the cove. This supply continued for two or +three weeks. The flesh was mere blubber, and quite unfit for food, for +not a man could retain it on his stomach; but the liver was excellent, +and on this they subsisted. In the meantime, the carpenter with his gang +had constructed a boat, and four of the men had adventured in her for +Tristan d'Acunha, in hopes of ultimately extricating their +fellow-sufferers from their perilous situation. Unfortunately the boat +was lost---whether carried away by the violence of the currents that set +in between the islands, or dashed to pieces against the breakers, was +never known, for no vestige of the boat or crew was ever seen. Before +the manatees, however, began to quit the shore, a second boat was +launched; and in this an officer and some seamen made a second attempt, +and happily succeeded in effecting a landing, after much labor, on +the island. + +It was to this island that the boat's crew of the Blendenhall had beat +their course, and its principal inhabitant, Governor Glass, showed them +every mark of attention. On learning the situation of the crew, on +Inaccessible Island, he instantly launched his boat, and, unawed by +considerations of personal danger, hastened, at the risk of his life, to +deliver his shipwrecked countrymen from the calamities they had so long +endured. He made repeated trips, surmounted all difficulties, and +fortunately succeeded in safely landing them on his own island, after +they had been exposed for nearly three months to the horrors of a +situation almost unparalleled in the recorded sufferings of +seafaring men. + +After being hospitably treated by Glass and his company for three +months, the survivors obtained a passage to the Cape, all except a young +sailor named White, who had formed an attachment to one of the servant +girls on board, and who, in all the miseries which had been endured, had +been her constant protector and companion; while gratitude on her part +prevented her wishing to leave him. Both chose to remain, and were +forthwith adopted as free citizens of the little community. + + + +ADVENTURES OF SERGEANT CHAMPE + +IN HIS ATTEMPT TO CAPTURE ARNOLD. + +The treason of General Arnold, the capture of Andre, and the +intelligence received by Washington through his confidential agents in +New York, that many of his officers, and especially a major-general, +whose name was given, were connected with Arnold, could not fail to +arouse the anxiety and vigilance of the commander-in-chief. The moment +he reached the army, then under the orders of Major-General Greene, +encamped in the vicinity of Tappan, he sent for Major Lee, who was +posted with the light troops some distance in front. + +Lee repaired to headquarters, and found Washington in his marquee alone, +busily engaged in writing. Lee was requested to take a seat; and a +bundle of papers, lying on the table, was given to him for perusal. The +purport of these tended to show that Arnold was not alone in his base +conspiracy, but that a major-general, whose name was not concealed, was +also implicated. This officer had enjoyed, without interruption, the +confidence of the commander-in-chief, nor did there exist a single +reason in support of the accusation. It altogether rested on the +intelligence derived from the papers before him. + +Major Lee was naturally shocked at these suspicions, and suggested that +they were an invention of the enemy. Washington admitted the +plausibility of the suggestion, but remarked that he had the same +confidence in Arnold, a few days before, that he now placed in the +persons accused. + +After some further conversation, Washington disclosed a project, which +he had maturely revolved in his own mind. "I have sent for you," he +remarked to Lee, "to learn if you have in your corps any individual +capable of undertaking a delicate and hazardous enterprise. Whoever +comes forward on this occasion will lay me under great obligations +personally; and, in behalf of the United States, I will reward him +amply. No time is to be lost. He must proceed, if possible, this night. +My object is to probe to the bottom the affecting suspicions suggested +by the papers you have just read--to seize Arnold, and, by getting him, +to save Andre. While my emissary is engaged in preparing for the seizure +of Arnold, the agency of others can be traced; and the timely delivery +of Arnold to me, will possibly put it in my power to restore the amiable +and unfortunate Andre to his friends. My instructions are ready, in +which you will find express orders, that Arnold is not to be hurt; but +that he be permitted to escape, if it can be prevented only by killing +him, as his public punishment is the only object in view. This you can +not too forcibly press upon the person who may engage in the enterprise; +and this fail not to do. With my instructions, are two letters, to be +delivered as ordered, and here are some guineas to defray expenses." + +Lee replied, that, as the first step to the enterprise was pretended +desertion, it would be difficult to find a commissioned officer, who +would undertake it. He knew, however, a sergeant-major of the cavalry, +named Champe, who was in all respects qualified for the delicate and +adventurous project. Champe was a native of Loudon county, in Virginia, +about twenty years of age. He had enlisted in 1776; was rather above the +common size, full of bone and muscle, with a saturnine countenance, +grave, thoughtful, and taciturn; of tried courage and inflexible +perseverance. + +Washington was satisfied with this description, and exclaimed that +Champe was the very man for the enterprise. Lee promised to persuade him +to undertake it, and, taking leave of the general, returned to the camp +of the light corps, which he reached about eight o'clock at night. +Sending instantly for the serjeant-major, he informed him of the project +of the commander-in-chief; and urged upon him, that, by succeeding in +the capture and safe delivery of Arnold, he would not only gratify his +general in the most acceptable manner, but would be hailed as the +avenger of the reputation of the army, stained by a foul and wicked +perfidy; and, what could not but be highly pleasing, he would be the +instrument of saving the life of Major Andre. + +Champe listened with attention to the plan unfolded by Lee, and replied +that it met his approbation. Even its partial success was likely to lead +to great good, as it would give relief to Washington's mind, and do +justice, as he hoped, to suspected innocence. Champe added, that he was +not deterred by the danger and difficulty to be encountered, but by the +ignominy of desertion, consequent upon his enlisting with the enemy. It +did not comport with his feelings to be even suspected of such a crime. + +Lee combated the objections of the sergeant with his usual address, and +finally subdued his prejudices so far, that Champe consented to +undertake the enterprise. The instructions of Washington were then read +to him; and Lee particularly cautioned him to exercise the utmost +circumspection in delivering the letters, and to take care to withhold +from the two individuals addressed under feigned names, knowledge of +each other. He was further urged to bear in constant recollection the +solemn injunction, so pointedly expressed in the instructions, of +forbearing to kill Arnold in any event. + +It now remained to arrange the mode of Champe's desertion, for, in order +to be received favorably by the British, it was necessary that he should +desert under circumstances which should assure them of his sincerity. To +cross the numerous patrols of horse and foot, was no small difficulty, +which was now increased in consequence of the swarms of irregulars, who +sometimes ventured down to the very point of Paulus Hook, with the hope +of picking up booty. Evident as were the difficulties in the way, no +relief could be afforded by Major Lee, lest it might induce a belief +that he was privy to the desertion, which opinion getting to the enemy, +would peril the life of Champe. The sergeant was left to his own +resources and management, Lee agreeing that in case Champe's departure +should be discovered before morning, he would take care to delay pursuit +as long as possible. + +Lee placed in the hands of the sergeant some gold for his expenses, and +enjoining it upon him to apprise him of his arrival in New York as soon +as practicable, bade the adventurous Virginian farewell Champe, pulling +out his watch, compared it with that of Lee, reminding him of the +importance of holding back pursuit, which he was convinced would take +place during the night, and which might be fatal, as he would be obliged +to adopt a zigzag course, in order to avoid the patrols, which would +consume time. It was now nearly eleven. The sergeant returned to camp, +and, taking his cloak, valise, and orderly-book, he drew his horse from +the picket, and, mounting, set out upon his novel expedition. + +Hardly half an hour had elapsed, when Captain Carnes, officer of the +day, waited on Major Lee, and, with considerable emotion, told him that +one of the patrol had fallen in with a dragoon, who, on being +challenged, put spur to his horse, and escaped, though vigorously +pursued. Lee, complaining of the interruption, and pretending to be +extremely fatigued, answered as if he did not understand what had been +said, which compelled the captain to repeat his remark. + +"Who can the fellow be that was pursued?" said Lee; "a countryman, +probably." + +"No," replied the captain; "the patrol sufficiently distinguished him to +know that he was a dragoon probably from the army, if not, certainly one +of our own." + +This idea was ridiculed by Lee as improbable, as, during the whole +campaign, but a single dragoon had deserted from the legion. Carnes was +not convinced. Much apprehension was felt, at that time, of the effect +of Arnold's example. The captain withdrew to examine the squadron of +horse, whom he had ordered to assemble in pursuance of established usage +on similar occasions. He speedily returned, stating that the deserter +was known; he was no less a person than the sergeant-major, who was gone +off with his horse, baggage, arms, and orderly-book. Sensibly affected +at the supposed baseness of a soldier, who was generally esteemed, +Carnes added, that he had ordered a party to prepare for pursuit, and +that he had come for written orders from the major. + +In order to gain time for Champe, Lee expressed his belief, that the +sergeant had not deserted, but had merely taken the liberty to leave +camp upon private business or pleasure; an example, Lee said, too often +set by the officers themselves, destructive as it was of discipline, +opposed as it was to orders, and disastrous as it might prove to the +corps in the course of the service. + +Some little delay was thus interposed. Carnes began to grow impatient at +what seemed the long-winded and unseasonable discourse. It being, at +length announced, that the pursuing party were in readiness, Major Lee +directed a change in the officer, giving the command to Cornet +Middleton. His object was to add to the delay. He knew, moreover, that, +from the tenderness of his disposition, Middleton would be reluctant to +do any personal injury to Champe, in the event of a pursuit. + +Within ten minutes Middleton appeared to receive his orders, which were +delivered to him, made out in the customary form, and signed by the +major. The directions were, to pursue as far as could be done with +safety, Sergeant Champe, who was suspected of deserting to the enemy, +and of having taken the road to Paulus Hook; to bring him alive to camp, +that he might suffer in the presence of the army, but to kill him if he +resisted or attempted to escape after being taken. + +Detaining the cornet a few minutes longer, in advising him what course +to pursue--urging him to take care of the horse and accoutrements, if +taken--and enjoining him to be on his guard, lest he might, by a too +eager pursuit, improvidently fall into the hands of the enemy--Lee +dismissed Middleton and his party. A shower of rain had fallen soon +after Champe's departure, which enabled the pursuing dragoons to find +the trail of his horse; for, at that time, the horses being all shod by +our own farriers, the shoes were made in the same form which, with a +private mark annexed to the fore shoes, and known to the troopers, +pointed out the trail of our dragoons, and, in this way, was +often useful. + +When Middleton departed, it was a few minutes past twelve, so that +Champe had the start of his pursuers by little more than an hour. Lee +was very anxious, and passed a sleepless night. The pursuing party were, +on their part, occasionally delayed by the necessary halts to examine +the road, as the impressions of the horse's shoes directed the course. +These were, unfortunately, too evident, no other horse having passed +over the road since the shower. When the day broke, Middleton was no +longer obliged to halt, and he passed on with rapidity. + +As the pursuers ascended an eminence to the north of the village of +Bergen, Champe was descried not more than half a mile in front. +Resembling an Indian in his vigilance, the sergeant at the same moment +discovered Middleton and his men, to whose object he was no stranger, +and giving spur to his horse, he determined to outstrip them. Middleton, +at the same instant, put his horses to the top of their speed; and +being, as the legion all were, well acquainted with the country, he +recollected a route through the woods to the bridge below Bergen, which +diverged from the great road near the Three Pigeons. Reaching the point +of separation, he halted, and, dividing his party, directed a sergeant, +with a few dragoons, to take the near cut, and possess, with all +possible dispatch, the bridge, while he, with the rest of his men, +followed Champe. He could not doubt but that Champe, being thus enclosed +between him and his sergeant, would deliver himself up. Champe did not +forget the short cut, and would have taken it, had he not remembered +that it was the usual route of our parties when returning in the day +from the neighborhood of the enemy. He consequently avoided it, and +wisely resolved to abandon his intention of getting to Paulus Hook, and +to seek refuge from two British galleys, lying a few miles to the west +of Bergen. + +This was a station generally occupied by one or two galleys. Passing +through the village of Bergen, Champe took the road toward Elizabethtown +Point. Middleton's sergeant gained the bridge, where he concealed +himself, ready to intercept Champe as soon as he appeared. In the +meantime, Middleton, pursuing his course through Bergen, soon arrived, +also, at the bridge, when, to his mortification, he found that Champe +had escaped. Returning up the road, he inquired of the villagers of +Bergen, whether a dragoon had been seen that morning preceding his +party. He was answered in the affirmative, but could learn nothing +satisfactory as to the route taken by the fugitive. While engaged in +inquiries himself, he spread his party through the village to discover +the trail of Champe's horse. Some of the dragoons hit it, just as the +sergeant, leaving the village, reached the road to the point. + +Pursuit was now vigorously renewed, and again Champe was descried. +Apprehending the event, he had prepared himself for it by lashing his +valise and orderly-book on his shoulders, and holding his drawn sword in +his hand, having thrown away the scabbard. The delay occasioned by +Champe's preparations for swimming had brought Middleton within two or +three hundred yards. As soon as Champe got abreast of the galleys, he +dismounted, and running through the marsh to the river, plunged into it, +calling on the people in the galley for help. This was readily given. +They fired on our horsemen, and sent a boat to meet Champe, who was +taken in, carried on board, and conveyed to New York, with a letter from +the captain of the galley, describing the scene, which he had himself +witnessed, of Champe's escape. + +The horse belonging to Champe, with his equipments, cloak, and +sword-scabbard, was recovered by Middleton. About three o'clock in the +afternoon, our party returned, and the soldiers, seeing the horse in the +possession of the pursuing party, exclaimed that the deserter had been +killed. Major Lee, at this heart-rending announcement, rushed from his +tent, saw the sergeant's horse led by one of Middleton's dragoons, and +began to reproach himself with having been the means of spilling the +blood of the faithful and intrepid Champe. Concealing his anguish, he +advanced to meet Middleton, but was immediately relieved on seeing the +downcast countenance of the officer and his companions. From their looks +of disappointment, it was evident that Champe had escaped, and this +suspicion was soon confirmed by Middleton's narrative of the issue of +their pursuit. + +Lee's joy was now as great as his depression had been a moment before. +He informed Washington of the affair, who was sensibly affected by the +account of Champe's hair-breadth escape, but was rejoiced that it was of +a character to put at rest the suspicions of the enemy, in regard to the +supposed deserter. + +On the fourth day after Champe's departure, Lee received a letter from +him, written the day before, in a disguised hand, without any signature, +and stating what had passed, after he got on board the galley, where he +was kindly received. He was immediately conducted to New York, and +introduced to the British commandant, to whom he presented a letter from +the captain of the galley. Being asked to what corps he belonged, and a +few other general questions, he was sent under charge of an +orderly-sergeant to the adjutant-general, who was rejoiced to find that +he was sergeant-major of the legion of horse, hitherto remarkable for +their fidelity. + +The adjutant-general noted down, in a large folio book, some particulars +in regard to Champe--his size, figure, place of birth, countenance, the +color of his hair, name of the corps to which he had belonged. After +this was finished, he was sent to the commander-in-chief in charge of +one of the staff, with a letter from the adjutant-general. Sir Henry +Clinton received him very kindly, and detained him more than an hour, +asking many questions in regard to the probable fate of Andre--whether +the example of Arnold's defection had not contaminated many of the +American officers and troops--whether Washington was popular with the +army, and what means might be employed to induce the men to desert. To +these various interrogatories, some of which were perplexing, Champe +answered warily; exciting, nevertheless, hopes that the adoption of +proper measures to encourage desertion, would probably bring off +hundreds of the American soldiers, including some of the best troops, +horse as well as foot. Respecting the fate of Andre, he said he was +ignorant, though there appeared to be a general wish in the army that +his life might not be taken; and that he believed that it would depend +more on the disposition of Congress, than on the will of Washington. + +After the close of this long conversation, Sir Henry presented Champe +with a couple of guineas, and recommended him to wait on General Arnold, +who was engaged in raising an American legion for the service of his +majesty. Arnold expressed much satisfaction on being informed of the +effect of his example, and the manner of Champe's escape. He concluded +his numerous inquiries by assigning quarters to the sergeant. He +afterward proposed to Champe to join his legion, promising him the same +station he had held in the rebel service, and further advancement. +Expressing his wish to retire from the service, and his conviction of +the certainty of his being hung, if ever taken by the rebels, he begged +to be excused from enlistment; assuring the general, that should he +change his mind, he would accept his offer. + +Retiring to the assigned quarters, Champe now turned his attention to +the delivery of his letters, which he could not effect till the next +night, and then only to one of the two incogniti, to whom he was +recommended. This man received the sergeant with attention, and having +read the letter, assured him of his faithful cooperation. The object for +which the aid of this individual was required, regarded those persons +implicated in the information sent to Washington. Promising to enter +with zeal upon the investigation, and engaging to transmit Champe's +letters to Major Lee, he fixed the time and place of their next meeting, +when they separated. A day or two afterward, Champe accepted the +appointment of recruiting sergeant to Arnold, for the purpose of +securing uninterrupted ingress and egress at the house which the +general occupied. + +The letters which Lee received from Champe, announced that the +difficulties in his way were numerous and stubborn, and that his +prospect of success was by no means cheering. With respect to the +charges against certain officers and soldiers in the American army of an +intention to follow Arnold's example, he expressed his decided +conviction that they were unfounded; that they had taken their rise in +the enemy's camp, and that they would be satisfactorily confuted. But +the pleasure which the latter part of this communication afforded was +damped by the tidings it imparted respecting Arnold--as on his speedy +capture and safe delivery depended Andre's relief. + +The interposition of Sir Henry Clinton, who was extremely anxious to +save his much-loved aid-de-camp, still continued. It was expected that +the examination of witnesses in Andre's case and the defense of the +prisoner, would protract the decision of the court of inquiry then +assembled, and give sufficient time for the consummation of the project +confided to Champe. This hope was disappointed in a manner wholly +unexpected. The honorable and accomplished Andre disdained defense, and +prevented the examination of witnesses, by confessing the character of +the mission, in the execution of which he was arrested. The court +reassembled on the second of October. Andre was declared to be a spy, +and condemned to suffer accordingly. + +The painful sentence was executed on the subsequent day, in the usual +form, the commander-in-chief deeming it improper to interpose any delay. +In this decision he was warranted by the unpromising intelligence +received from Champe--by the still existing implication of other +officers in Arnold's conspiracy--by a due regard to public opinion, and +by the inexorable necessity of a severe example. + +The fate of Andre, hastened by himself, deprived the enterprise +committed to Champe of a feature which had been highly prized by the +projector, and which had engaged the heart of the individual selected +for its execution. Washington ordered Major Lee to communicate what had +passed to the sergeant, with directions to encourage him to prosecute +with vigor the remaining objects of his instructions. Champe bitterly +deplored the fate of Andre, and confessed that the hope of saving the +unfortunate young man had been his main inducement in undertaking his +dangerous enterprise. Nothing now remained but to attempt the seizure of +Arnold. To this object Champe gave his undivided attention. Ten days +elapsed before he could conclude his arrangements, at the end of which +time, Lee received from him his final communication, appointing the +third subsequent night for a party of dragoons to meet him at Hoboken, +when he hoped to deliver Arnold to the officer. + +From the moment of his enlistment into Arnold's corps, Champe had every +opportunity he could desire for watching the habits of that individual. +He discovered that it was his custom to return home about twelve every +night, and that, previous to going to bed, he generally walked in his +garden. During this visit, the conspirators were to seize him, gag him, +and carry him across the river. + +Adjoining the house in which Arnold resided, and in which it was +designed to seize and gag him, Champe had taken out several of the +palings and replaced them, so that they might be readily removed, and +open a way to the neighboring alley. Into this alley he meant to have +conveyed his prisoner, aided by his companions, one of two associates +who had been introduced by the friend to whom Champe had been originally +made known by letter from the commander-in-chief, and with whose aid and +counsel he had so far conducted the enterprise. His other associate was +in readiness with the boat at one of the wharves on the Hudson river, to +receive the party. + +Champe and his friend intended to have placed themselves each under +Arnold's shoulder, and to have thus borne him through the most +unfrequented alleys and streets to the boat; representing Arnold, in +case of being questioned, as a drunken sailor, whom they were conveying +to the guard-house. The passage across the river could be easily +accomplished. + +These particulars were communicated by Lee to Washington, who directed +the former to meet Champe, and to take care that Arnold should not be +hurt. The appointed day arrived, and Lee with a party of dragoons, left +camp late in the evening, with three led horses--one for Arnold, one for +the sergeant, and the third for his associate. From the tenor of the +last communication from Champe, no doubt was entertained of the success +of the enterprise. The party from the American camp reached Hoboken +about midnight, where they were concealed in the adjoining wood--Lee, +with three dragoons, stationing himself near the river shore. + +Hour after hour passed. No boat approached. At length the day broke, and +the major retired with his party back to the camp, much chagrined at the +failure of the project. + +In a few days, Lee received an anonymous letter from Champe's patron and +friend, informing him, that on the day preceding the night for the +execution of the plot, Arnold had removed his quarters to another part +of the town, to superintend the embarkation of troops preparing, as was +rumored, for an expedition, to be placed under his own direction. The +American legion, consisting chiefly of American deserters, had been +transferred from the barracks to one of the transports; it being +apprehended that if left on shore till the expedition was ready, many of +them might desert. + +Thus it happened that John Champe, instead of crossing the Hudson that +night, was safely deposited on board one of the transports, from which +he never departed till the troops under Arnold landed in Virginia, Nor +was he able to escape from the British army till after the junction of +Lord Cornwallis, at Petersburgh, when he deserted; and passing through +Virginia and North Carolina, safely joined the American army soon after +it had passed the Congaree, in pursuit of Lord Rawdon. + +Champe's appearance excited extreme surprise among his former comrades, +which was not a little increased when they witnessed the cordial +reception, which he met with from the late Major, now Lieutenant-Colonel +Lee. His whole story soon became known to the corps, and he became an +object of increased respect and regard. + +Champe was munificently rewarded, and General Washington gave him a +discharge from further service, lest, in the vicissitudes of war, he +might fall into the enemy's hands, in which event, if recognized, he +could expect no mercy. Champe resided in London county, Virginia, after +leaving the army. He afterward removed to Kentucky, where he died. For a +full account of his adventures, we may refer the reader to Major Lee's +Memoirs, to which we have been largely indebted. + + + +ADVENTURE WITH PIRATES. + +There lived, not many years ago, on the eastern shore of Mt. Desert--a +large island off the coast of Maine--an old fisherman, by the name of +Jedediah Spinnet, who owned a schooner of some hundred tons burden, in +which he, together with some four stout sons, was wont to go, about once +a year, to the Grand Banks, for the purpose of catching codfish. The old +man had five things, upon the peculiar merits of which he loved to +boast--his schooner, "Betsy Jenkins," and his four sons. The four sons +were all their father represented them to be, and no one ever doubted +his word, when he said that their like was not to be found for fifty +miles around. The oldest was thirty-two, while the youngest had just +completed his twenty-sixth year, and they answered to the names of Seth, +Andrew, John, and Samuel. + +One morning a stranger called upon Jedediah to engage him to take to +Havana some iron machinery belonging to steam engines for sugar +plantations. The terms were soon agreed upon, and the old man and his +sons immediately set about putting the machinery on board; that +accomplished, they set sail for Havana, with a fair wind, and for +several days proceeded on their course without any adventure of any +kind. One morning, however, a vessel was descried off their starboard +quarter, which, after some hesitation, the old man pronounced a pirate. +There was not much time allowed them for doubting, for the vessel soon +saluted them with a very agreeable whizzing of an eighteen pound shot +under the stern. + +"That means for us to heave to," remarked the old man. + +"Then I guess we'd better do it hadn't we?" said Seth. + +"Of course." + +Accordingly, the Betsy Jenkins was brought up into the wind, and her +main-boom hauled over to windward. + +"Now boys," said the old man, as soon as the schooner came to a stand, +"all we can do is to be as cool as possible, and to trust to fortune. +There is no way to escape that I can see now; but, perhaps, if we are +civil, they will take such stuff as they want, then let us go. At any +rate there is no use crying about it, for it can't be helped. Now get +your pistols, and see that they are surely loaded, and have your knives +ready, but be sure and hide them, so that the pirates shall see no show +of resistance. In a few moments all the arms which the schooner +afforded, with the exception of one or two old muskets, were secured +about the persons of our Down Easters, and they quietly awaited the +coming of the schooner. + +"One word more, boys," said the old man, just as the pirate came round +under the stern. + +"Now watch every movement I make, and be ready to jump the moment I +speak." + +As Captain Spinnet ceased speaking, the pirate luffed under the +fisherman's lee-quarter, and, in a moment more, the latter's deck was +graced with the presence of a dozen as savage-looking mortals as eyes +ever rested upon. + +"Are you the captain of this vessel," demanded the leader of the +boarders, as he approached the old man. + +"Yes sir." + +"What is your cargo?" + +"Machinery for ingines." + +"Nothing else?" asked the pirate with a searching look. + +At this moment, Captain Spinnet's eye caught what looked like a sail off +to the southward and eastward, but no sign betrayed the discovery, and, +while a brilliant idea shot through his mind, he hesitatingly replied: + +"Well, there is a leetle something else." + +"Ha! and what is it?" + +"Why, sir, perhaps I hadn't ought to tell," said Captain Spinnet, +counterfeiting the most extreme perturbation. "You see, 'twas given to +me as a sort of trust, an' 't wouldn't be right for me to give up. You +can take any thing else you please, for I s'pose I can't help myself." + +"You are an honest codger, at any rate," said the pirate; "but, if you +would live ten minutes longer, just tell me what you've got on board, +and exactly where it lays." + +The sight of the cocked pistol brought the old man to his senses, and, +in a deprecating tone, he muttered: + +"Don't kill me, sir, don't, I'll tell you all. We have got forty +thousand silver dollars nailed up in boxes and stowed away under some of +the boxes just forward of the cabin bulkhead, but Mr. Defoe didn't +suspect that any body would have thought of looking for it there." + +"Perhaps so," chuckled the pirate, while his eyes sparkled with delight. +And then, turning to his own vessel, he ordered all but three of his men +to jump on board the Yankee. + +In a few moments the pirates had taken off the hatches, and, in their +haste to get at the "silver dollars," they forgot all else; but not so +with Spinnet; he had his wits at work, and no sooner had the last of the +villains disappeared below the hatchway, than he turned to his boys. + +"Now, boys, for our lives. Seth, you clap your knife across the fore +throat and peak halyards; and you, John, cut the main. Be quick now, an' +the moment you've done it, jump aboard the pirate. Andrew and Sam, you +cast off the pirate's graplings; an' then you jump--then we'll walk into +them three chaps aboard the clipper. _Now for it_." + +No sooner were the last words out of the old man's mouth, than his sons +did exactly as they had been directed. The fore and main halyards were +cut, and the two graplings cast off at the same instant, and, as the +heavy gaffs came rattling down, our five heroes leaped on board the +pirate. The moment the clipper felt at liberty, her head swung off, and, +before the astonished buccaneers could gain the decks of the fisherman, +their own vessel was a cable's length to leeward, sweeping gracefully +away before the wind, while the three men left in charge were +easily secured. + +"Halloa, there!" shouted Captain Spinnet, as the luckless pirates +crowded around the lee gangway of their prize, "when you find them +silver dollars, just let us know, will you?" + +Half a dozen pistol shots was all the answer the old man got, but they +did him no harm; and, crowding up all sail, he made for the vessel he +had discovered, which lay dead to leeward of him, and which he made out +to be a large ship. The clipper cut through the water like a dolphin, +and, in a remarkably short space of time, Spinnet luffed up under the +ship's stern, and explained all that had happened. The ship proved to be +an East Indiaman, bound for Charleston, having, all told, thirty men on +board, twenty of whom at once jumped into the clipper and offered their +services in helping to take the pirate. + +Before dark, Captain Spinnet was once more within hailing distance of +his own vessel, and raising a trumpet to his mouth, he shouted: + +"Schooner ahoy! Will you quietly surrender yourselves prisoners, if we +come on board!" + +"Come and try it!" returned the pirate captain, as he brandished his +cutlass above his head in a threatening manner, which seemed to indicate +that he would fight to the last. + +But that was his last moment, for Seth was crouched below the bulwarks, +taking deliberate aim along the barrel of a heavy rifle, and, as the +bloody villain was in the act of turning to his men, the sharp crack of +Seth Spinnet's weapon rang its fatal death-peal, and the next moment the +captain fell back into the arms of his men, with a brace of bullets in +his heart. + +"Now," shouted the old man, as he leveled the long pivot gun, and seized +a lighted match, "I'll give you just five minutes to make your minds up +in, and, if you don't surrender, I'll blow every one of you into the +other world." + +The death of their captain, and, withal the sight of the pivot gun--its +peculiar properties they knew full well--brought the pirates to their +senses, and they threw down their weapons, and agreed to give +themselves up. + +In two days from that time, Captain Spinnet delivered his cargo safely +in Havana, gave the pirates into the hands of the civil authorities, and +delivered the clipper up to the government, in return for which, he +received a sum of money sufficient for an independence during the +remainder of his life, as well as a very handsome medal from the +government. + + + +KENTON THE SPY. + +A secret expedition had been planned by Col. Bowman, of Kentucky, against +an Indian town on the little Miama. Simon Kenton and two young men, +named Clark and Montgomery, were employed to proceed in advance, and +reconnoiter. Kenton was a native of Fauquier county, Virginia, where he +was born the fifteenth of May, 1755; his companions were roving +backwoodsmen, denizens of the wood, and hunters like himself. + +These adventurers set out in obedience to their orders, and reached the +neighborhood of the Indian village without being discovered. They +examined it attentively, and walked around the cabins during the night +with perfect impunity. Had they returned after reconnoitering the place, +they would have accomplished the object of their mission, and avoided a +heavy calamity. They fell martyrs, however to their passion for +horseflesh. + +Unfortunately, during their nightly promenade, they stumbled upon a +pound, in which were a number of Indian horses. The temptation was not +to be resisted. They severally seized a horse and mounted. But there +still remained a number of fine animals; and the adventurers cast +longing, lingering looks behind. It was melancholy--the idea of +forsaking such a goodly prize. Flesh and blood could not resist the +temptation. Getting scalped was nothing to the loss of such beautiful +specimens of horseflesh. They turned back, and took several more. The +horses, however, seemed indisposed to change masters, and so much noise +was made, in the attempt to secure them, that at last the thieves were +discovered. + +The cry rang through the village at once, that the Long-Knives were +stealing their horses right before the doors of their wigwams. A great +hubbub ensued; and Indians, old and young, squaws, children, and +warriors, all sallied out with loud screams, to save their property from +the greedy spoilers. Kenton and his friends saw that they had overshot +their mark, and that they must ride for their lives. Even in this +extremity, however, they could not reconcile their minds to the +surrender of a single horse which they had haltered; and while two of +them rode in front and led a great number of horses, the other brought +up the rear, and, plying his whip from right to left, did not permit a +single animal to lag behind. + +In this manner, they dashed through the woods at a furious rate with +the hue and cry after them, until their course was suddenly stopped by +an impenetrable swamp. Here, from necessity, they paused a few minutes, +and listened attentively. Hearing no sounds of pursuit, they resumed +their course, and, skirting the swamp for some distance in the vain hope +of crossing it, they bent their course in a straight direction to the +Ohio. They rode during the whole night without resting a moment. Halting +a brief space at daylight, they continued their journey throughout the +day, and the whole of the following night; and, by this uncommon +celerity of movement, they succeeded in reaching the northern bank of +the Ohio on the morning of the second day. + +Crossing the river would now insure their safety, but this was likely to +prove a difficult undertaking, and the close pursuit, which they had +reason to expect, rendered it expedient to lose as little time as +possible. The wind was high, and the river rough and boisterous. It was +determined that Kenton should cross with the horses, while Clark and +Montgomery should construct a raft, in order to transport their guns, +baggage, and ammunition, to the opposite shore. The necessary +preparations were soon made, and Kenton, after forcing his horses into +the river, plunged in himself, and swam by their side. + +In a few minutes the high waves completely overwhelmed him, and forced +him considerably below the horses, who stemmed the current much more +successfully than he. + +The horses, being left to themselves, turned about and made for the Ohio +shore, where Kenton was compelled to follow them. Again he forced them +into the water, and again they returned to the same spot, until Kenton +became so exhausted by repeated efforts, as to be unable to swim. What +was to be done? + +That the Indians would pursue them was certain. That the horses would +not and could not be made to cross the river in its present state, was +equally certain. Should they abandon their horses and cross on the raft, +or remain with their horses and brave the consequence? The latter +alternative was adopted unanimously. Death or captivity might be +tolerated, but the loss of such a beautiful lot of horses, after working +so hard for them, was not to be thought of for a moment. + +Should they move up or down the river, or remain where they were? The +latter plan was adopted, and a more indiscreet one could hardly have +been imagined. They supposed that the wind would fall at sunset, and +the river become sufficiently calm to admit of their passage; and, as it +was thought probable that the Indians might be upon them before night, +it was determined to conceal their horses in a neighboring ravine, while +they should take their stations in the adjoining wood. + +The day passed away in tranquility; but at night the wind blew harder +than ever, and the water became so rough, that they would hardly have +been able to cross on their raft. As if totally infatuated, they +remained where they were until morning; thus wasting twenty-four hours +of most precious time in idleness. In the morning, the wind abated, and +the river became calm; but, it was now too late. Their horses had become +obstinate and intractible, and positively and repeatedly refused to take +to the water. + +Their masters at length determined to do what ought to have been done at +first. They severally resolved to mount a horse, and make the best of +their way down the river to Louisville. But their unconquerable +reluctance to lose their horses overcame even this resolution. Instead +of leaving the ground instantly, they went back upon their own trail, in +the vain effort to regain possession of the rest of their horses, which +had broken from them in their last effort to drive them into the water. +They literally fell victims to their love for horseflesh. + +They had scarcely ridden one hundred yards when Kenton, who had +dismounted, heard a loud halloo. He quickly beheld three Indians and one +white man, all well mounted. Wishing to give the alarm to his +companions, he raised his rifle, took a steady aim at the breast of the +foremost Indian, and drew the trigger. His gun had become wet on the +raft, and flashed. + +The enemy were instantly alarmed, and dashed at him. Kenton took to his +heels, and was pursued by four horsemen at full speed. He instantly +directed his steps to the thickest part of the wood, and had succeeded, +as he thought, in baffling his pursuers, when, just as he was entering +the wood, an Indian on horseback galloped up to him with such rapidity +as to render flight useless. The horseman rode up, holding out his hand, +and calling out "Brother! brother!" in a tone of great affection. Kenton +observes, that if his gun would have made fire, he would have +"brothered" him to his heart's content, but, being totally unarmed, he +called out that he would surrender if they would give him quarter and +good treatment. + +Promises were cheap with the Indian, who, advancing, with extended hands +and a withering grin upon his countenance, which was intended for a +smile of courtesy, seized Kenton's hand and grasped it with violence. +Kenton, not liking the manner of his captor, raised his gun to knock him +down, when an Indian, who had followed him closely through the +brushwood, sprung upon his back, and pinioned his arms to his side. The +one, who had been grinning so amiably, then raised him by the hair and +shook him until his teeth rattled, while the rest of the party coming +up, fell upon Kenton with their tongues and ramrods, until he thought +they would scold or beat him to death. They were the owners of the +horses which he had carried off, and now took ample revenge for the loss +of their property. At every stroke of their ramrods over his head, they +would exclaim in a tone of strong indignation, "Steal Indian hoss! hey!" + +Their attention, however, was soon directed to Montgomery, who, having +heard the noise attending Kenton's capture, very gallantly hastened up +to his assistance, while Clark prudently took to his heels. Montgomery +halted within gunshot, and appeared busy with the pan of his gun, as if +preparing to fire. Two Indians instantly sprang off in pursuit of him, +while the rest attended to Kenton. In a few minutes Kenton heard the +crack of two rifles in quick succession, followed by a halloo, which +announced the fate of his friend. The Indians returned, waving the +bloody scalp of Montgomery, and with countenances and gestures which +menaced him with a similar fate. + +They then proceeded to secure their prisoner by pinioning him with stout +sticks, and fastening him with ropes to a tree. During the operation +they cuffed him from time to time with great heartiness, and abused him +for a "tief!--a hoss steal!--a rascal!" + +Kenton remained in this painful position throughout the night, looking +forward to certain death, and most probably torture, as soon as he +should reach their town. Their rage against him displayed itself the +next morning, in rather a singular manner. + +Among the horses which Kenton had taken, was a wild young colt, wholly +unbroken, and with all his honors of mane and tail undocked. Upon him +Kenton was mounted, without saddle or bridle, with his hands tied behind +him, and his feet fastened under the horse's belly. The country was +rough and bushy, and Kenton had no means of protecting his face from the +brambles, through which it was expected that the colt would dash. As +soon as the rider was firmly fastened to his back, the colt was turned +loose with a sudden lash, but, after curvetting and capricoling for +awhile, to the great distress of Kenton, but to the infinite amusement +of the Indians, he appeared to take compassion on his rider, and, +falling into a line with the other horses, avoided the brambles +entirely, and went on very well. In this manner he rode through the day. +At night he was taken from the horse, and confined as before. + +On the third day, they came within a few miles of Chillicothe. Here the +party halted, and sent forward a messenger to prepare for their +reception. In a short time, Blackfish, one of their chiefs, arrived, and +regarding Kenton with a stern countenance, thundered out in very good +English: "You have been stealing horses?" + +"Yes, sir." + +"Did Captain Boone tell you to steal our horses?" + +"No, sir, I did it of my own accord." + +Blackfish made no reply to this frank confession; but, brandishing a +hickory switch, he applied it so briskly to Kenton's naked back and +shoulders, as to bring the blood freely, and occasion acute pain. + +Thus, alternately scolded and beaten, Kenton was conducted to the +village. All the inhabitants, men, women, and children, ran out to feast +their eyes with a sight of the prisoner; and all, down to the smallest +child, appeared in a paroxysm of rage. They whooped, they yelled, they +hooted, they clapped their hands, and poured upon him a flood of +abuse, to which all that he had yet experienced was courteous and civil. +With loud cries, they demanded that their prisoner should be tied to the +stake. The hint was instantly complied with; but, after being well +thrashed and tormented, he was released for the purpose of furnishing +further amusement to his captors. + +[Illustration: DEATH OF MONTGOMERY.] + +Early in the morning, he beheld the scalp of Montgomery stretched upon a +hoop, and drying in the air, before the door of one of their principal +houses, he was led out, and ordered to run the gauntlet. A row of boys, +women, and men, extended to the distance of a quarter of a mile. At the +starting-place, stood two grim warriors with butcher knives in their +hands. At the extremity of the line, was an Indian beating a drum; and a +few paces beyond the drum was the door of the council-house. Clubs, +switches, hoe-handles, and tomahawks, were brandished along the whole +line, and, as Kenton saw these formidable preparations, the cold sweat +streamed from his pores. + +The moment for starting arrived, the great drum at the door of the +council-house was struck; and Kenton sprang forward in the race. He, +however, avoided the row of his enemies, and, turning to the east, drew +the whole party in pursuit of him. He doubled several times with great +activity, and at length observing an opening he darted through it, and +pressed forward to the council-house with a rapidity which left his +pursuers far behind. One or two of the Indians succeeded in throwing +themselves between him and the goal, and from these alone he received a +few blows, but was much less injured than he could at first have +supposed possible. + +After the race was over, a council to decide his fate was held, while he +was handed over, naked and bound, to the care of a guard in the open +air. The deliberation commenced. Every warrior sat in silence, while a +large warclub was passed round the circle. Those who were opposed to +burning the prisoner on the spot, were to pass the club in silence to +the next warrior. Those in favor of burning were to strike the earth +violently with the club before passing it. + +A teller was appointed to count the votes. This dignitary reported that +the opposition had prevailed; and that it was determined to take the +prisoner to an Indian town on Mad river, called Waughcotomoco. His fate +was announced to him by a renegado white man, who acted as interpreter. +Kenton asked "what the Indians intended to do with him upon reaching +Waughcotomoco." + +"Burn you!" replied the renegado, with a ferocious oath. + +After this pleasant assurance, the laconic and scowling interpreter +walked away. + +The prisoner's clothes were restored to him, and he was permitted to +remain unbound. Thanks to the intimation of the interpreter, he was +aware of the fate in reserve for him, and resolved that he would never +be carried alive to Waughcotomoco. Their route lay through an unprimed +forest, abounding in thickets and undergrowth. During the whole of the +march, Kenton remained abstracted and silent; often meditating an effort +for the recovery of his liberty, and as often shrinking from the peril +of the attempt. + +At length he was aroused from his reverie by the Indians firing off +their guns, and raising the shrill scalp-halloo. The signal was soon +answered, and the deep roll of a drum was heard far in front, announcing +to the unhappy prisoner, that they were approaching an Indian town, +where the gauntlet, certainly, and perhaps the stake awaited him. + +The idea of a repetition of the dreadful scenes he had just encountered, +overcame his indecision, and, with a sudden and startling cry, he sprung +into the bushes, and fled with the speed of a wild deer. The pursuit was +instant and keen. Some of his pursuers were on horseback, some on foot. +But he was flying for his life. The stake and the hot iron, and the +burning splinters were before his eyes, and he soon distanced the +swiftest hunter in pursuit. + +But fate was against him at every turn. Thinking only of the enemy +behind, he forgot that there might be an enemy before; and he suddenly +found that he had plunged into the center of a fresh party of horsemen, +who had sallied from the town at the firing of the guns, and happened, +unfortunately, to stumble upon the poor prisoner, now making a last +effort for freedom. His heart sunk at once from the ardor of hope to the +lowest pit of despair, and he was again haltered and driven into +captivity like an ox to the slaughter. + +On the second day he arrived at Waughcotomoco. Here he was again +compelled to run the gauntlet, in which he was severely hurt. +Immediately after this ceremony, he was taken to the council-house, and +all the warriors once more assembled to determine his fate. + +He sat silent and dejected upon the floor of the cabin, when the door of +the council-house opened, and Simon Girty, James Girty, John Ward, and +an Indian, came in with a woman as a prisoner, together with seven +children and seven scalps. Kenton was immediately removed from the +council-house, and the deliberations of the assembly were protracted to +a very late hour, in consequence of the arrival of the last-named party +with a fresh drove of prisoners. + +At length he was again summoned to attend the council-house, being +informed that his fate was decided. Upon entering, he was greeted with a +savage scowl, which, if he had still cherished a spark of hope, would +have completely extinguished it. Simon Girty threw a blanket upon the +floor, and harshly ordered him to take a seat upon it. The order was not +immediately complied with, and Girty impatiently seizing his arm, jerked +him roughly upon the blanket, and pulled him down. + +In a menacing tone, Girty then interrogated him as to the condition of +Kentucky. + +"How many men are there in Kentucky?" + +"It is impossible for me to answer that question," replied Kenton; "but +I can tell you the number of officers, and their respective ranks, and +you can judge for yourself." + +"Do you know William Stewart?" + +"Perfectly well; he is an old and intimate acquaintance." + +"What is your own name?" + +"Simon Butler!" replied Kenton, who had been known formerly by that +name. + +Never did the announcement of a name produce a more powerful effect. +Girty and Kenton had served as spies together in Dunmore's expedition. +The former had not then abandoned the society of the whites for that of +the savages, and had become warmly attached to Kenton during the short +period of their services together. As soon as he heard the name, he +threw his arms around Kenton's neck, and embraced him with much emotion. + +Then turning to the assembled warriors, who had witnessed this scene +with much surprise, Girty informed them that the prisoner, whom they had +just condemned to the stake, was his ancient companion and bosom-friend; +that they had traveled the same war-path, slept upon the same blanket, +and dwelt in the same wigwam. He entreated them to spare him the anguish +of witnessing the torture, by his adopted brothers, of an old comrade; +and not to refuse so trifling a favor as the life of a white man to the +earnest intercession of one, who had proved, by three years' faithful +service, that he was zealously devoted to the cause of the Indians. + +The speech was listened to in silence, and some of the chiefs were +disposed to grant Girty's request. But others urged the flagrant +misdemeanors of Kenton; that he had not only stolen their horses, but +had flashed his gun at one of their young men; that it was in vain to +suppose that so bad a man could ever become an Indian at heart, like +their brother Girty; that the Kentuckians were all alike, very bad +people, and ought to be killed as fast as they were taken; and, finally, +they observed that many of their people had come from a distance, solely +to assist at the torture of the prisoner; and pathetically painted the +disappointment and chagrin, with which they would hear that all their +trouble had been for nothing. + +Girty continued to urge his request, however, with great earnestness, +and the debate was carried on for an hour and a half, with much energy +and heat. The feelings of Kenton during this suspense may be imagined. + +At length the warclub was produced, and the final vote was taken. It was +in favor of the prisoner's reprieve. Having thus succeeded in his +benevolent purpose, Girty lost no time in attending to the comfort of +his friend. He led him into his own wigwam, and, from his own store, +gave him a pair of moccasins and leggins, a breechcloth, a hat, a coat, +a handkerchief for his neck, and another for his head. + +For the space of three weeks, Kenton lived in tranquility, treated with +much kindness by Girty and the chiefs. But, at the end of that time, as +he was one day with Girty and an Indian named Redpole, another Indian +came from the village toward them, uttering repeatedly a whoop of +peculiar intonation. Girty instantly told Kenton it was the +distress-halloo, and that they must all go instantly to the +council-house. Kenton's heart fluttered at the intelligence, for he +dreaded all whoops, and heartily hated all council-houses, firmly +believing that neither boded him any good. Nothing, however, could be +done, to avoid whatever fate awaited him, and he sadly accompanied Girty +and Redpole back to the village. + +On entering the council-house, Kenton perceived from the ominous scowls +of the chiefs, that they meant no tenderness toward him. Girty and +Redpole were cordially received, but when poor Kenton offered his hand, +it was rejected by six Indians successively, after which, sinking into +despondence, he turned away, and stood apart. + +The debate commenced. Kenton looked eagerly toward Girty, as his last +and only hope. His friend seemed anxious and distressed. The chiefs from +a distance rose one after another, and spoke in a firm and indignant +tone, often looking sternly at Kenton. Girty did not desert him, but his +eloquence was wasted. After a warm discussion, he turned to Kenton and +said, "Well, my friend, _you must die!_" + +One of the stranger chiefs instantly seized him by the collar, and, the +others surrounding him, he was strongly pinioned, committed to a guard, +and marched off. His guard were on horseback, while he was driven before +them on foot, with a long rope round his neck. In this manner they had +marched about two and a half miles, when Girty passed them on horseback, +informing Kenton that he had friends at the next village, with whose aid +he hoped to be able to do something for him. Girty passed on to the +town, but finding that nothing could be done, he would not see his +friend again, but returned to Waughcotomoco by a different route. + +The Indians with their prisoner soon reached a large village upon the +headwaters of the Scioto, where Kenton, for the first time, beheld the +celebrated Mingo chief, Logan, so honorably mentioned in Jefferson's +Notes on Virginia. Logan walked gravely up to the place where Kenton +stood, and the following short conversation ensued: + +"Well, young man, these people seem very mad at you?" + +"Yes, sir, they certainly are." + +"Well; don't be disheartened. I am a great chief. You are to go to +Sandusky. They speak of burning you there. But I will send two runners +to-morrow to help you." + +Logan's form was manly, his countenance calm and noble, and he spoke +the English language with fluency and correctness. Kenton's spirits +revived at the address of the benevolent chief, and he once more looked +upon himself as providentially rescued from the stake. + +On the following morning, two runners were despatched to Sandusky as the +chief had promised. In the evening they returned, and were closeted with +Logan. Kenton felt the most burning anxiety to know the result of their +mission, but Logan did not visit him until the next morning. He then +walked up to him, accompanied by Kenton's guard, and, giving him a piece +of bread, told him that he was instantly to be carried to Sandusky; and +left him without uttering another word. + +Again Kenton's spirits sunk. From Logan's manner, he supposed that his +intercession had been unavailing, and that Sandusky was to be the scene +of his final suffering. This appears to have been the truth. But fortune +had not finished her caprices. On being driven into the town, for the +purpose of being burnt on the following morning, an Indian agent, from +Canada, named Drewyer, interposed, and once more was he rescued from the +stake. Drewyer wished to obtain information for the British commandant +at Detroit; and so earnestly did he insist upon Kenton's being +delivered to him, that the Indians at length consented, upon the express +condition that, after the required information had been obtained, he +should be again restored to their possession. To this Drewyer consented, +and, with out further difficulty, Kenton was transferred to his hands. +Drewyer lost no time in removing him to Detroit. On the road, he +informed Kenton of the condition upon which he had obtained possession +of his person, assuring him, however, that no consideration should +induce him to abandon a prisoner to the mercy of such wretches. + +At Detroit, Kenton's condition was not unpleasant. He was obliged to +report himself every morning to an English officer; and was restricted +to certain boundaries through the day. In other respects he scarcely +felt that he was a prisoner. His wounds were healed, and his emaciated +limbs were again clothed with a fair proportion of flesh. He remained in +this state of easy restraint from October, 1777, until June, 1778, when +he meditated an escape. + +He cautiously broached his project to two young Kentuckians, then at +Detroit, who had been taken with Boone at the Blue Licks, and had been +purchased by the British. He found them as impatient as himself of +captivity, and resolute to accompany him. He commenced instant +preparations. Having formed a close friendship with two Indian hunters, +he deluged them with rum, and bought their guns for a mere trifle. These +he hid in the woods, and returning to Detroit, managed to procure powder +and ball, with another rifle. + +The three prisoners then appointed a night for their attempt, and agreed +upon a place of rendezvous. They met at the time and place appointed, +without discovery, and, taking a circuitous route, avoiding pursuit by +traveling only during the night, they at length arrived safely at +Louisville, after a march of thirty days. + + + +THE DYING VOLUNTEER, + +AN INCIDENT OF MOLINO DEL REY. + +The sun had risen in all his glorious majesty, and hung over the eastern +horizon like a wall of glowing fire; and its bright rays danced merrily +along the lake of Teseneo--over the glittering domes of Mexico--past the +frowning battlements of Chapultepec, and lit, in all their glorious +effulgence, upon, the blood-stained field of Molino del Rey. + +The contest was over--the sound of battle had died away, save an +occasional shot from the distant artillery of the castle, or the fire of +some strolling riflemen. + +I was standing beside the battered remains of the mill door, above which +the first footing had been gained upon the well-contested wall, and +gazing over the plain, now saturated with the blood of my +fellow-soldiers, which that morning waved green with flowing grass, when +I heard a low and feeble wail in the ditch beside me. I turned towards +the spot, and beheld, with his right leg shattered by a cannon ball, a +voltiguer lying amid the mangled. He had been passed by in the haste of +gathering up the wounded under the fire from the castle, and the rays of +the burning sun beat down with terrible fervor upon the wounded limb, +causing heavy groans to issue from his pallid lips, and his marble +countenance to writhe with pain. + +"Water, for God's sake, a drink of water!" he faintly articulated, as I +bent over him. + +Fortunately, I had procured a canteen of water, and placing it to his +lips, he took a long, deep draught, and then sunk back exhausted upon +the ground. + +"The sun," he murmured, "is killing me by its rays; can not you carry me +into the shade?" + +"I can procure assistance, and have you taken to the hospital." + +"No, do not, my sands of life are most out. An hour hence, I shall be a +dead man. Carry me into the shade of the mill, and then, if you have +time to spare, listen to my dying words, and, if you are fortunate +enough to return to the United States, bear me back a message to my +home, and to anoth--" he paused, and motioned me to carry him into the +shade. I did so, and the cold wind which swept along the spot appeared +to revive him, and he continued: + +"You, sir, are a total stranger to me, and, from your uniform belong to +another corps, and yet I must confide this, the great secret of all my +recent actions, and the cause of my being here, to you. Would to God +that I had reflected upon the fatal steps I had taken, and I should now +have been at my home, enjoying the society of kind friends, instead of +dying upon the gory field, and in a foreign land. My father was a +wealthy man, in the town of G----h, in the state of Virginia, and moved +in the best society of the place. I had received an excellent education, +had studied law and was admitted, in the twenty-fourth year of my age, +to practice at the bar. I had early seen and admired a young lady of the +place, a daughter of an intimate friend of father's, and fortunately +the feeling was reciprocated, and we were engaged to be married. The war +in Mexico had been in existence some twelve months, and many flocked to +the standard of their country. It so happened, that about this time, a +recruiting office had been opened in the town, and several of my young +friends had enlisted to go and try their fortunes on the plains of +Mexico. One night there was a grand party in the place, in honor of +those who were about to depart for the seat of war, and both myself and +Eveline were at the hall. Among those who were assembled at that evening +was Augustus P., a talented young man, and accomplished scholar, gay and +lively in his manners, free and cheerful in his disposition, and a +universal favorite with the fair sex. He had been for some time paying +his addresses to Eveline, as I deemed, in rather too pointed a manner. +As the party had assembled in the long hall, and the dance was about to +commence, I asked for her hand for the first set." + +'It is engaged,' she replied, as I thought, rather tartly. + +'To whom, if I may be so bold as to inquire?' I demanded. + +'To Augustus P.,' was the immediate reply. + +I smothered my rising indignation the best I could, and proudly +returned the smile of malignant joy my rival gave me. + +'Perhaps I can engage it for a second set,' I calmly replied. + +'Mr. P. has engaged it for the entire evening,' she pettishly replied, +and rising and taking his hand they took their station upon the floor. + +I remained thunderstruck and rooted to the spot, until I saw the eyes +of my hated rival fixed upon me, and, throwing off the spell that bound +me, I assumed a proud, cold look. As I swept by the dancers, Eveline +paused for a moment when just beside me, and, bending close to her ear, +I whispered, 'Eveline, farewell forever.' + +She turned slightly pale, and asked, 'when?' + +'To-night, I join the army for Mexico,' I firmly replied. + +A deep flush passed haughtily across her brow, and then waving her hand +gracefully, she replied, 'Go,' and glided through the mazes of +the dance. + +I rushed from the spot, and never paused until I had entered the +recruiting office, and offered myself a candidate for the army. + +'Are you a good, moral man, of well-regulated habits?' asked the +sergeant. + +'Can give a hundred certificates, if necessary, I hastily replied. + +'I rather think you'll do,' said the officer with a smile, and he +enrolled me as a soldier. 'When do you wish to leave?' + +'Now--to-night--to-morrow--any time,' I eagerly answered. + +'Promptness is a good quality, you will make a good soldier. Get ready +to start at eight o'clock in the morning, for Newport, Ky.' + +'I will be ready,' and, rushing from the room, I hastened home, packed +up my things, and threw myself down on the bed to sleep. But it was +impossible. Heavy thoughts were crowding my mind with lightning speed, +and I resolved to depart the next day, without bidding adieu to father +or mother, sister or brother; but feeling a deep respect, which I held +for my father's advice, would prevail and I should be induced to remain +at home. I made the resolve and carried it out. The next morning I was +at the office by seven o'clock, was furnished with a suit of +regimentals, and departed for the railroad depot to start for Wheeling. +As I hurried along, who should turn the corner of the street but +Eveline, and we met for the last time on earth. I informed her of my +intentions, and, without manifesting any disposition of regret at my +departure, she gaily said: "'Good bye, and may good luck attend you,' +and she glided away. + +"A new fuel was added to my desire to hasten from such scenes; and I +had soon left the town for the Ohio. I will not weary you with further +details, as my breath is failing fast. Suffice it to say I arrived in +Mexico, and, here I am, perishing by inches upon the battle-field. + +"Here," he continued, "is a ring," taking one from his finger, and +presenting it to me, "which was given me by Eveline as a bond of our +marriage contract. I have worn it ever since, and, as I told her then, +'it shall leave me but with my death,' Take it to her, when you get +back, and, if she be not married, give it to her, and tell her he who +sent it never forgot her for a single moment, even in his dying hour, +and is lying beneath the clods of a foreign soil. This Bible, give back +to my father, and tell him I have studied its precepts: to my mother and +sisters, say that I have sent them a son's and brother's dying love; +tell my brothers to beware of human strife." + +He faltered in his speech, and then murmuring, "I am going," pressed my +hand feebly and expired. I dug a lone grave upon the field, and laid him +to "sleep his last sleep," until that day when all shall be summoned to +a final account. + +One year rolled on, and how chequered by passing events! Chapultepec had +fallen, the city of Mexico was taken, and peace, thrice glorious peace, +had waved her pinions over the land of war. The volunteers were joyfully +hastening to their homes, and, among the rest, I once more trod my +native land, a freeman again in heart and soul. A spell of sickness at +first confined me several weeks, but at length I rose wearied and feeble +from my bed, and my physicians recommended a change of air. I traveled +into Virginia, and one evening I entered the town of G----h. I inquired +for the family of my friend, and was directed to a fine-looking building +upon the principal street. I advanced and rang the bell, and anxiously +waited an answer. At length the door opened, and an old grey-headed man +stood before me, the lines of his face marked by care, and his whole +appearance betokened one who had a deep grief at heart. + +"Mr. ----, I presume?" said I, bowing. + +"The same, sir; won't you walk in?" replied the old man, politely. + +I entered the house, and was soon seated in the parlor, when the old man +started to leave the room. + +"I have something of importance for your private ear," said I, hastily. + +He turned towards me, and taking the Bible from my pocket, I held it up +to view. Quicker than thought, the aged father sprang forward, caught +the book in his hand, and murmured, as the tears fell slowly over his +aged cheeks: + +"My son, my son, you bring news of him." + +"I do, but it is very bad," I answered, my voice trembling as I spoke, +and I retold to him the scenes upon the battle-field. + +When I had finished, the old man clasped his hands in agony, and, +raising his eyes toward the ceiling, exclaimed, in deep and fervent +tones, "God's will be done!" + +At this moment, a young lady of pale, care-worn countenance entered the +parlor, and, rising, I said, "Miss Eveline ----, I believe?" + +"The same," she calmly replied. + +As her eyes glanced at the ring, which I silently presented, she +stretched forth her hand, grasped it convulsively, then fell suddenly +forward upon the carpet, the blood oozing rapidly from her mouth. The +terrible ordeal had broken a blood-vessel, and her spirit passed +unchecked to another world. + +A plain, marble slab, in the graveyard of the town of G----h, upon which +is engraved the lone word, "Eveline," marks the last resting place of +the betrothed of the Dying Volunteer. + + + +ESCAPE FROM A MEXICAN QUICKSAND + +BY CAPTAIN MAYNE REID. + +A few days afterward, another adventure befell me; and I began to think +I was destined to become a hero among the "mountain men." + +A small party of the traders--myself among the number--had pushed +forward ahead of the caravan. Our object was to arrive at Santa Fe a day +or two before the wagons, in order to have every thing arranged with the +governor for their entrance into the capital. We took the route by +the Cimmaron. + +Our road, for a hundred miles or so, lay through a barren desert, +without game, and almost without water. The buffalo had all disappeared, +and deer were equally scarce. We had to content ourselves on the dried +meat which we had brought from the settlements. We were in the deserts +of the artemisia. Now and then we could see a stray antelope bounding +away before us, but keeping far out of range. They, too, seemed to be +unusually shy. + +On the third day after leaving the caravan, as we were riding near the +Cimmaron, I thought I observed a pronged head disappearing behind a +swell in the prairie. My companions were skeptical, and none of them +would go with me; so, wheeling out of trail, I started alone. One of +them--for Gode was behind--kept charge of my dog, as I did not choose to +take him with me, lest he might alarm the antelopes. My horse was fresh +and willing; and, whether successful or not, I knew I could easily +overtake the party by camping-time. + +I struck directly toward the spot where I had seen the object. It +appeared to be only half a mile or so from the trail. It proved more +distant--a common illusion in the crystal atmosphere of these +upland regions. + +A curiously formed ridge, traversed the plain from east to west. A +thicket of cactus covered part of its summit. Toward the thicket I +directed myself. + +I dismounted at the bottom of the slope, and leading my horse silently +up among the cactus plants, tied him to one of their branches. I then +cautiously crept through the thorny leaves toward the point where I +fancied I had seen the game. To my joy, not one antelope, but a brace of +those beautiful animals, was quietly grazing beyond; but alas! too far +off for the carry of my rifle. They were fully three hundred yards +distant, upon a smooth, grassy slope. There was not even a sage bush to +cover me, should I attempt to approach them. What was to be done? + +I lay for several minutes, thinking over the different tricks, known in +hunter craft, for taking the antelope. Should I imitate their call? +Should I hoist my handkerchief and try to lure them up? I saw that they +were too shy; for, at short intervals, they threw up their graceful +heads, and looked inquiringly around them. I remembered the red blanket +on my saddle. I could display this upon the cactus-bushes, perhaps it +would attract them. + +I had no alternative; and was turning to go back for the blanket; when, +all at once, my eye rested upon a clay-colored line, running across the +prairie, beyond where the animals were feeding. It was a break in the +plain, a buffalo road, or the channel of an _arroyo_, in either case, +the very cover I wanted, for the animals were not a hundred yards from +it; and were getting still nearer to it as they fed. + +Creeping back out of the thicket, I ran along the side of the slope +toward a point, where I had noticed that the ridge was depressed to the +prairie level. Here, to my surprise, I found myself on the banks of a +broad arroyo, whose water, clear and shallow, ran slowly over a bed of +sand and gypsum. + +The banks were low, not over three feet above the surface of the water, +except where the ridge impinged upon the stream. Here there was a high +bluff; and, hurrying around its base, I entered the channel, and +commenced wading upward. + +As I had anticipated, I soon came to a bend where the stream, after +running parallel to the ridge, swept around and canoned through it. At +this place I stopped, and looked cautiously over the bank. The antelopes +had approached within less than rifle range of the arroyo; but they were +yet far above my position. They were still quietly feeding, and +unconscious of danger. I again bent down and waded on. + +It was a difficult task proceeding in this way. The bed of the creek was +soft and yielding, and I was compelled to tread slowly and silently, +lest I should alarm the game; but I was cheered in my exertions by the +prospect of fresh venison for my supper. + +After a weary drag of several hundred yards, I came opposite to a small +clump of wormwood bushes, growing out of the bank. "I may be high +enough," thought I, "these will serve for cover." + +I raised my body gradually, until I could see through the leaves. I was +in the right spot. I brought my rifle to a level; sighted for the heart +of the buck, and fired. The animal leaped from the ground, and fell back +lifeless. I was about to rush forward, and secure my prize, when I +observed the doe, instead of running off as I expected, go up to her +fallen partner, and press her tapering nose to his body. She was not +more than twenty yards from me, and I could plainly see that her look +was one of inquiry and bewilderment. All at once, she seemed to +comprehend the fatal truth; and, throwing back her head, commenced +uttering the most piteous cries, at the same time running in circles +around the body. + +I stood wavering between two minds. My first impulse had been to reload, +and kill the doe; but her plaintive voice entered my heart, disarming me +of all hostile intentions. Had I dreamed of witnessing this painful +spectacle, I should not have left the trail. But the mischief was now +done. "I have worse than killed her," thought I, "it will be better to +despatch her at once." + +Actuated by these principles of common, but to her fatal, humanity, I +rested the butt of my rifle, and reloaded. With a faltering hand, I +again leveled the piece and fired: + +My nerves were steady enough to do the work. When the smoke floated +aside, I could see the little creature bleeding upon the grass--her +head resting upon the body of her murdered mate. + +I shouldered my rifle, and was about to move forward, when, to my +astonishment, I found that I was caught by the feet. I was held firmly +as if my legs had been held in a vice. + +I made an effort to extricate myself; another, more violent, and equally +unsuccessful, and, with a third, I lost my balance, and fell back upon +the water. Half suffocated, I regained my upright position, but only to +find that I was held as fast as ever. Again I struggled to free my +limbs. I could neither move them backward nor forward--to the right nor +the left; and I became sensible that I was gradually going down. Then +the fearful truth flashed upon me--I was sinking in a quicksand! A +feeling of horror came over me. I renewed my efforts with the energy of +desperation. I leaned to one side, then to the other, almost wrenching +my knees from their sockets. My feet remained as fast as ever. I could +not move them an inch. + +The soft, clingy sand already overtopped my horse-skin boots, wedging +them around my ankles, so that I was unable to draw them off; and I +could feel that I was still sinking slowly but surely, as though some +subterraneous monster was leisurely dragging me down. This very thought +caused me a fresh thrill of horror, and I called aloud for help. To +whom? There was no one within miles of me--no living thing. Yes! the +neigh of my horse answered me from the hill, mocking me in my despair. + +I bent forward as well as my constrained position would permit; and, +with frenzied fingers commenced tearing up the sand. I could barely +reach the surface, and the little hollow I was able to make filled up +almost as soon as it had been formed. A thought occurred to me. My rifle +might support me, placed horizontally. I looked for it. It was not to be +seen. It had sunk beneath the sand. Could I throw my body flat, and +prevent myself from sinking deeper? No! The water was two feet in depth. +I should drown at once. This last hope left me as soon as formed. I +could think of no plan to save myself. I could make no further effort. A +strange stupor seized upon me. My very thoughts became paralyzed. I knew +that I was going mad. For a moment I was mad. + +After an interval, my senses returned. I made an effort to rouse my mind +from its paralysis, in order that I might meet death, which I now +believed to be certain, as a man should. I stood erect. My eyes had sunk +to the prairie level, and rested upon the still bleeding victims of my +cruelty. My heart smote me at the sight. Was I suffering a retribution +of God? With humbled and penitent thoughts, I turned my face to heaven, +almost dreading that some sign of omnipotent anger would scowl upon me +from above. But no! The sun was shining as bright as ever; and the blue +canopy of the world was without a cloud. I gazed upward with earnestness +known only to the hearts of men in positions of peril like mine. + +As I continued to look up, an object attracted my attention. Against the +sky, I distinguished the outlines of a large bird. I knew it to be the +obscene bird of the plains, the buzzard vulture. Whence had it come? Who +knows? Far beyond the reach of human eye, it had seen or scented the +slaughtered antelopes; and, on broad, silent wing was now descending to +the feast of death. Presently another, and another, and many others, +mottled the blue field of the heavens, curving and wheeling silently +earthward. Then the foremost swooped down upon the bank, and, after +gazing around for a moment, flapped off toward its prey. In a few +seconds, the prairie was black with filthy birds, who clambered over the +dead antelopes, and beat their wings against each other, while they tore +out the eyes of the quarry with their fetid beaks. And now came gaunt +wolves, sneaking and hungry, stealing out of the cactus thicket; and +loping, coward-like, over the green swells of the prairie. These, after +a battle, drove away the vultures, and tore up the prey, all the while +growling and snapping vengefully at each other. "Thank heaven! I shall +at least be saved from this." + +I was soon relieved from the sight. My eyes had sunk below the level of +the bank. I had looked my last on the fair, green earth. I could now see +only the clayey wall that contained the river, and the water that ran +unheeding past me. Once more I fixed my gaze upon the sky, and, with +prayerful heart, endeavored to resign myself to my fate. In spite of my +endeavors to be calm, the memories of earthly pleasures, and friends, +and home, came over me, causing me, at intervals, to break into wild +paroxysms, and make fresh, though fruitless struggles. And I was +attracted by the neighing of my horse. A thought entered my mind, +filling me with fresh hope. "Perhaps my horse--" I lost not a moment. I +raised my voice to its highest pitch, and called the animal by name. I +knew that he would come at my call. I had tied him but slightly. The +cactus limb would snap off. I called again, repeating words that were +well known to him. I listened with a bounding heart. For a moment there +was silence. Then I heard the quick sounds of his hoof, as though the +animal was rearing and struggling to free himself; then I could +distinguish the stroke of his heels, in a measured and regular gallop. + +Nearer came the sounds; nearer and clearer, until the gallant brute +bounded out on the bank above me. There he halted, and, flinging back +his tossed mane, uttered a shrill neigh. He was bewildered, and looked +upon every side, snorting loudly. + +I knew that, having once seen me, he would not stop until he had pressed +his nose against my cheek--for this was his usual custom. Holding out my +hands I again uttered the magic words. Now looking downward he perceived +me, and, stretching himself, sprang out into the channel. The next +moment, I held him by the bridle. There was no time to be lost. I was +still going down, and my arm-pits were fast nearing the surface of the +quicksand. I caught the lariat, and, passing it under the saddle-girths, +fastened it in a tight, firm knot. I then looped the trailing end, +making it secure around my body. I had left enough of the rope, between +the bit-ring and the girths, to enable me to check and guide the animal, +in case the drag upon my body should be too painful. + +All this while the dumb brute seemed to comprehend what I was about. He +knew, too, the nature of the ground on which he stood, for, during the +operation, he kept lifting his feet alternately to prevent himself from +sinking. My arrangements were at length completed, and, with a feeling +of terrible anxiety, I gave my horse the signal to move forward. Instead +of going off with a start, the intelligent animal stepped away slowly, +as though he understood my situation. The lariat tightened, I felt my +body moving, and the next moment experienced a wild delight, a feeling I +can not describe, as I found myself dragged out of the sand. I sprang to +my feet with a shout of joy. I rushed up to my steed, and, throwing my +arms around his neck, kissed him with as much delight as I would have +kissed a beautiful girl. He answered my embrace with a low whimper, that +told me that I was understood. + +I looked for my rifle. Fortunately, it had not sunk deeply, and I soon +found it. My boots were behind me, but I staid not to look for them, +being smitten with a wholesome dread of the place where I had left them. +I was not long in retreating from the arroyo; and, mounting, I galloped +back to the trail. It was sundown before I reached the camp, where I was +met by the inquiries of my companions. I answered all their questions by +relating my adventures, and, for that night, I was again the hero of the +camp-fire. + + + +CHASED BY A RHINOCEROS. + +On the 22d, says Mr. Cumming, ordering my men to move on toward a +fountain in the center of the plain, I rode forth with Ruyter, and held +east through a grove of lofty and wide-spreading mimosas, most of which +were more or less damaged by the gigantic strength of a troop of +elephants, which had passed there about twelve months before. Having +proceeded about two miles with large herds of game on every side, I +observed a crusty-looking, old bull borele, or black rhinoceros, cocking +his ears one hundred yards in advance. He had not observed us; and soon +after he walked slowly toward us, and stood broadside to, eating some +wait-a-bit thorns within fifty yards of me. I fired from my saddle, and +sent a bullet in behind his shoulder, upon which he rushed forward about +one hundred yards in tremendous consternation, blowing like a grampus, +and then stood looking about him. Presently he made off. I followed but +found it hard to come up with him. When I overtook him I saw the blood +running freely from his wound. + +[Illustration: ESCAPE FROM THE RHINOCEROS] + +The chase led through a large herd of blue wildebeests, zebras, and +springboks, which gazed at us in utter amazement. At length I fired my +second barrel, but my horse was fidgety, and I missed. I continued +riding alongside of him, expecting in my ignorance that at length he +would come to bay, which rhinoceroses never do; when suddenly he fell +flat on his broadside on the ground, but recovering his feet, resumed +his course as if nothing had happened. Becoming at last annoyed at the +length of the chase, as I wished to keep my horses fresh for the +elephants, and being indifferent whether I got the rhinoceros or not, as +I observed that his horn was completely worn down with age and the +violence of his disposition, I determined to bring matters to a crisis; +so, spurring my horse, I dashed ahead, and rode right in his path. Upon +this, the hideous monster instantly charged me in the most resolute +manner, blowing loudly through his nostrils; and, although I quickly +wheeled about to my left, he followed me at such a furious pace for +several hundred yards, with his horrid horny snout within a few yards of +my horse's tail, that my little Bushman, who was looking on in great +alarm, thought his master's destruction inevitable. It was certainly a +very near thing; my horse was extremely afraid, and exerted his utmost +energies on the occasion. The rhinoceros, however, wheeled about, and +continued his former course; and I, being perfectly satisfied with the +interview which I had already enjoyed with him, had no desire to +cultivate his acquaintance any further, and accordingly made for camp. + + + +BURNING OF THE ERIE. + +The steamboat Erie, under command of Captain Titus, left the dock at +Buffalo on the afternoon of August 9th, 1841, laden with merchandise, +destined for Chicago. As nearly as could be ascertained, she had on +board about two hundred persons, including passengers and crew. + +The boat had been thoroughly overhauled and recently varnished. At the +moment of her starting, though the wind was blowing fresh, every thing +promised a pleasant and prosperous voyage. Nothing occured to mar this +prospect till about eight o'clock in the evening, when the boat was off +Silver Creek, about eight miles from the shore, and thirty-three miles +from the city, when a slight explosion was heard, and immediately, +almost instantaneously, the whole vessel was enveloped in flames. Among +the passengers were six painters, who were going to Erie to paint the +steamboat Madison. They had with them some demijohns filled with spirits +of turpentine and varnish, which, unknown to Captain Titus, were placed +on the boiler-deck directly over the boilers. One of the firemen who was +saved, says he had occasion to go on deck, and seeing the demijons, +removed them. They were replaced, but by whom is not known. Their +inflammable contents undoubtedly aided the flames in their +rapid progress. + +Captain Titus, who was on the upper deck at the time of the explosion, +rushed to the ladies' cabin to obtain the life-preservers, of which +there were about one hundred on board; but, so violent was the heat, he +found it impossible to enter the cabin. He returned to the upper deck, +on his way giving orders to the engineer to stop the engine, the wind +and the headway of the boat increasing the fierceness of the flames and +driving them aft. The engineer replied, that in consequence of the +flames he could not reach the engine. The steersman was instantly +directed to put the helm hard a-starboard. She swung slowly around, +heading to the shore, and the boats--there were three on board--were +then ordered to be lowered. Two of the boats were lowered, but, in +consequence of the heavy sea on, and the headway of the vessel, they +both swamped as soon as they touched the water. + +We will not attempt to describe the awful and appalling condition of the +passengers. Some were frantic with fear and horror, others plunged +headlong madly into the water, others again seized upon any thing +buoyant upon which they could lay hands. The small boat forward had been +lowered. It was alongside the wheel, with three or four persons in it, +when the captain jumped in, and the boat immediately dropped astern, +filled with water. A lady floated by with a life-preserver on. She cried +for help. There was no safety in the boat. The captain threw her the +only oar in the boat. She caught the oar and was saved. It was Mrs. +Lynde of Milwaukie, and she was the only lady who escaped. + +In this condition, the boat, a mass of fierce fire, and the passengers +and crew endeavoring to save themselves by swimming or supporting +themselves by whatever they could reach, they were found by the +steamboat Clinton, at about ten o'clock that night. The Clinton had left +Buffalo in the morning, but, in consequence of the wind, had put into +Dunkirk. She lay there till near sunset, at which time she ran out, and +had proceeded as far as Barcelona, when just at twilight the fire of the +Erie was discovered, some twenty miles astern. The Clinton immediately +put about, and reached the burning wreck. + +It was a fearful sight. All the upper works of the Erie had been burned +away. The engine was standing, but the hull was a mass of dull, red +flames. The passengers and crew were floating around, screaming in their +agony, and shrieking for help. The boats of the Clinton were instantly +lowered and manned, and every person that could be seen or heard was +picked up, and every possible relief afforded. The Lady, a little +steamboat lying at Dunkirk, went out of that harbor as soon as possible, +after the discovery of the fire, and arrived soon after the Clinton. By +one o'clock in the morning, all was still except the melancholy +crackling of the flames. Not a solitary individual could be seen or +heard on the wild waste of waters. A line was then made fast to the +remains of the Erie's rudder, and an effort made to tow the hapless hulk +ashore. About this time the Chautauque came up and lent her assistance. + +The hull of the Erie was towed within about four miles of shore, when it +sank in eleven fathoms of water. By this time it was daylight. The lines +were cast oft. The Clinton headed her course toward Buffalo, which place +she reached about six o'clock. + +Upon inquiry it was found that there had been between thirty and forty +cabin passengers, of whom ten or twelve were ladies. In the steerage +there were about one hundred and forty passengers, nearly all of whom +were Swiss and German emigrants. The whole number of persons on board, +who were saved, did not exceed twenty-seven. + +All that imagination can conceive of the terrible and heart-rending was +realized in the awful destruction of this boat. Scores sank despairingly +under the wild waters; but there is reason to fear that many, very many, +strong men, helpless women, and tender children perished in the flames. + +Among the passengers were a young gentleman and lady, who first became +acquainted with each other on board. The lady was accompanied by her +father. Upon an intimacy of a few hours an attachment seems to have been +formed between this couple. When the passengers rushed to the deck, +after the bursting forth of the flames, the lady discovered her new +acquaintance on a distant part of the deck, forced her way to him, and +implored him to save her. The only alternative left them was to jump +overboard, or to submit to a more horrible fate. They immediately +jumped, the gentleman making the first plunge, with a view of securing +for the young and fair being, who had measurably committed to his hands +her safety, a plank floating a short distance from the boat. As soon as +the plank was secured, the lady leaped into the water and was buoyed up +by her clothes, until the gentleman was enabled to float the plank to +her. For a short time the young man thought that his fair charge was +safe; but soon his hopes were blasted--one of the fallen timbers struck +the lady on the head, her form sank upon the water, a momentary +quivering was perceptible, and she disappeared from human view. Her +father was lost, but the young gentleman was among the number picked up +by the Clinton. + +There was a fine race-horse on board, who, soon after the alarm, broke +from his halter at the bow of the boat, and dashed through the crowd of +passengers, prostrating all in his way; and then, rendered frantic by +terror and pain, he reared and plunged into the devouring fire, and +there ended his agony. + +One of the persons saved, in describing the scene, says:--"The air was +filled with shrieks of agony and despair. The boldest turned pale. I +shall never forget the wail of terror that went up from the poor German +emigrants, who were huddled together on the forward deck. Wives clung to +their husbands, mothers frantically pressed their babes to their bosoms, +and lovers clung madly to each other. One venerable old man, his gray +hairs streaming on the wind, stood on the bows, and, stretching out his +bony hands, prayed to God in the language of his father-land. + +"But if the scene forward was terrible, that aft was appalling, for +there the flames were raging in their greatest fury. Some madly rushed +into the fire; others, with a yell like a demon, maddened with the +flames, which were all around them, sprang headlong into the waves. The +officers of the boat, and the crew, were generally cool, and sprang to +lower the boats, but these were every one successively swamped by those +who threw themselves into them, regardless of the execrations of the +sailors, and of every thing but their own safety. + +"I tried to act coolly--I kept near the captain, who seemed to take +courage from despair, and whose bearing was above all praise. The boat +was veering toward the shore, but the maddened flames now enveloped the +wheel-house, and in a moment the machinery stopped. The last hope had +left us--a wilder shriek rose upon the air. At this moment the second +engineer, the one at the time on duty, who had stood by his machinery as +long as it would work, was seen climbing the gallows-head, a black mass, +with the flames curling all around him. On either side he could not go, +for it was now one mass of fire. He sprang upward, came to the top, one +moment felt madly around him, and then fell into the flames. There was +no more remaining on board, for the boat now broached around and rolled +upon the swelling waves, a mass of fire. I seized upon a settee near me, +and gave one spring, just as the flames were bursting through the deck +where I stood--one moment more and I should have been in the flames. In +another instant I found myself tossed on a wave, grasping my frail +support with a desperate energy." + +One of the not least interesting facts connected with the catastrophe, +was that the helmsman was found burnt to a cinder at his post. He had +not deserted it even in the last extremity, but grasped with his charred +fingers the wheel. His name was Luther Fuller. Honor to his memory! + +A boy of twelve years of age, named Levi T. Beebee, belonging to +Cleveland, Ohio, was among those saved. He exhibited a degree of +self-possession and fortitude rarely surpassed. Though molten lead from +the burning deck was dropping on his head, and his hands were scorched +by the flames, he clung for at least two hours and a half to the chain +leading from the stern to the rudder. + + + +CONFLICT WITH AN INDIAN. + +David Morgan had settled upon the Monongahela during the early part of +the revolutionary war, and at this time had ventured to occupy a cabin +at the distance of several miles from any settlement. + +One morning, having sent his younger children out to a field at a +considerable distance from the house, he became uneasy about them, and +repaired to the spot where they were working. He was armed, as usual, +with a good rifle. While sitting upon the fence and giving some +directions as to their work, he observed two Indians upon the other side +of the field gazing earnestly upon the party. He instantly called to the +children to make their escape, while he should attempt to cover +their retreat. + +The odds were greatly against him, as in addition to other +circumstances, he was nearly seventy years of age, and, of course, +unable to contend with his enemies in running. The house was more than a +mile distant, but the children, having two hundred yards the start, and +being effectually covered by their father, were soon so far in front, +that the Indians turned their attention entirely to the old man. He ran +for several hundred yards with an activity which astonished himself, but +perceiving that he would be overtaken, long before he could reach his +home, he fairly turned at bay, and prepared for a strenuous resistance. +The woods through which they were running were very thin, and consisted +almost entirely of small trees, behind which, it was difficult to obtain +proper shelter. + +Morgan had just passed a large walnut, and, in order to resist with +advantage, it became necessary to run back about ten steps in order to +regain it. The Indians were startled at the sudden advance of the +fugitive, and halted among a cluster of saplings, where they anxiously +strove to shelter themselves. This, however, was impossible; and Morgan, +who was an excellent marksman, saw enough of the person of one of them +to justify him in risking a shot. His enemy instantly fell, +mortally wounded. + +The other Indian, taking advantage of Morgan's empty gun, sprung from +the shelter, and advanced rapidly upon him. The old man, having no time +to reload, was compelled to fly a second time. The Indian gained rapidly +upon him, and, when within twenty steps, fired, but with so unsteady an +aim, that Morgan was wholly unhurt, the ball having passed over +his shoulder. + +He now again stood at bay, clubbing his rifle for a blow, while the +Indian, dropping his empty gun, brandished his tomahawk and prepared to +throw it at his enemy. Morgan struck with the butt of his gun, and the +Indian hurled his tomahawk at one and the same moment. Both blows took +effect; and both of the combatants were at once wounded and disarmed. +The breech of the rifle was broken against the Indian's skull, and the +edge of the tomahawk was shattered against the barrel of the rifle, +having first cut off two of the fingers of Morgan's left hand. The +Indian then attempting to draw his knife, Morgan grappled him, and bore +him to the ground. A furious struggle ensued, in which the old man's +strength failed, and the Indian succeeded in turning him. + +Planting his knee on the breast of his enemy, and yelling loudly, as is +usual with the barbarians upon any turn of fortune, he again felt for +his knife, in order to terminate the struggle at once; but having lately +stolen a woman's apron, and tied it around his waist, his knife was so +much confined, that he had great difficulty in finding the handle. + +Morgan, in the meantime, being an accomplished pugilist, and perfectly +at home in a ground struggle, took advantage of the awkwardness of the +Indian, and got one of the fingers of his right hand between his teeth. +The Indian tugged and roared in vain, struggling to extricate it. Morgan +held him fast, and began to assist him in hunting for the knife. Each +seized it at the same moment, the Indian by the blade, and Morgan by the +handle, but with a very slight hold. + +[Illustration: THE LAST SHOT.] + +The Indian, having the firmest hold, began to draw the knife further out +of its sheath, when Morgan, suddenly giving his finger a furious bite, +twitched the knife dexterously through his hand, cutting it severely. +Both now sprung to their feet, Morgan brandishing his adversary's knife, +and still holding his finger between his teeth. In vain the poor Indian +struggled to get away, rearing, plunging, and bolting, like an unbroken +colt. The teeth of the white man were like a vice, and he at length +succeeded in giving his savage foe a stab in the side. The Indian +received it without falling, the knife having struck his ribs; but a +second blow, aimed at the stomach, proved more effectual, and the savage +fell. Morgan thrust the knife, handle and all, into the body, directed +it upward, and, starting to his feet, made the best of his way home. + + + +FIRE ON THE PRAIRIES. + +The following account of one of those fearfully sublime spectacles--a +fire on the prairie--is from the "_Wild Western Scenes_" by J.B. Jones. +The hunters have been out and are overtaken by night, and are lost in +the darkness. + +Ere long, a change came over the scene. About two-thirds of the distance +around the verge of the horizon a faint light appeared, resembling the +scene when a dense curtain of clouds hangs overhead, and the rays of the +morning sun steal under the edge of the thick vapor. But the stars could +be seen, and the only appearance of clouds was immediately above the +circle of light. In a very few minutes the terrible truth flashed upon +the mind of Glenn. The dim light along the horizon was changed to an +approaching flame. Columns of smoke could be seen rolling upward, while +the fire beneath imparted a lurid glare to them. The wind blew more +fiercely, and the fire approached from almost every quarter with the +swiftness of a race-horse. The darkened vault above became gradually +illuminated with a crimson reflection, and the young man shuddered with +the horrid apprehension of being burnt alive! It was madness to proceed +in a direction that must inevitably hasten their fate, the fire +extending in one unbroken line from left to right, and in front of them, +and they now turned in a course which seemed to place the greatest +distance between them and the furious element. Ever and anon a +frightened deer or elk leaped past, and the hounds no longer noticed +them, but remained close to the horses. The flames came on with awful +rapidity. The light increased in brilliance, and objects were +distinguishable far over the prairie. A red glare could be seen on the +sides of the deer as they bounded over the tall dry grass, which was +soon to be no longer a refuge for them. The young man heard a low +continued roar, that increased every moment in loudness, and, looking in +the direction whence they supposed it proceeded, they observed an +immense, dark, moving mass, the nature of which they could not divine, +but it threatened to annihilate every thing that opposed it. While +gazing at this additional source of danger, the horses, blinded by the +surrounding light, plunged into a deep ditch that the rain had washed in +the rich soil. Neither men nor horses, fortunately, were injured; and, +after several ineffectual efforts to extricate themselves, they here +resolved to await the coming of the fire. Ringwood and Jowler whined +fearfully on the verge of the ditch for an instant, and then sprang in +and crouched trembling at the feet of their master. The next instant the +dark, thundering mass passed overhead, being nothing less than an +immense herd of buffaloes driven forward by the flames. The horses bowed +their heads as if a thunderbolt were passing. The fire and the heavens +were hid from view, and the roar above resembled the rush of mighty +waters. When the last animal had sprung over the chasm, Glenn thanked +the propitious accident that thus providentially prevented him from +being crushed to atoms, and uttered a prayer to Heaven that he might by +a like means be rescued from the fiery ordeal that awaited him. It now +occurred to him that the accumulation of weeds and grass in the chasm, +which saved them from injury when falling in, would prove fatal when the +flames arrived. And after groping some distance along the trench, he +found the depth diminished, but the fire was not three hundred paces +distant. His heart sank within him. But when on the eve of returning to +his former position, with a resolution to remove as much of the +combustible matter as possible, a gleam of joy spread over his features, +as, casting a glance in a contrary direction from that they had recently +pursued, he beheld the identical mound he had ascended before dark, and +from which his unsteady and erratic riding in the night had fortunately +prevented a distant separation. They now led their horses forth, and, +mounting without delay, whipped forward for life or death. Could the +summit of the mound be attained, they were in safety--for there the soil +was not encumbered with decayed vegetation--and they spurred their +animals to the top of their speed. It was a noble sight to see the +majestic white steed flying toward the mound with the velocity of the +wind, while the diminutive pony miraculously followed in the wake like +an inseparable shadow. The careering flames were not far behind, and, +when the horses gained the summit and Glenn looked back, the fire had +reached the base! + +Fortunately, that portion of the plain over which the scathing element +had spent its fury, was the direction the party should pursue in +retracing their way homeward. + +The light, dry grass had been soon consumed, and the earth now wore a +blackened appearance, and was as smooth as if vegetation had never +covered the surface. As the party rode briskly along, (and the pony now +kept in advance,) the horses' hoofs rattled as loudly on the baked +ground as if it were a plank floor. The reflection of the fire in the +distance still threw a lurid glare over the extended heath. As the smoke +gradually ascended, objects could be discerned at a great distance, and +occasionally a half-roasted deer or elk was seen plunging about, driven +to madness by its tortures. And frequently they found the dead bodies of +smaller animals that could find no safety in flight. + + + +THE CAPTAIN'S STORY. + +At the close of the war with Great Britain, in the year 1815, I took +command of the brig Ganges, owned by Ebenezer Sage, Esq., then a wealthy +and respectable merchant at Middleton. I sailed from New York on the +20th of August, bound for Turk's Island for a cargo of salt, and, on the +5th of September, I arrived at my destined port. It being the season for +hurricanes in that region, it was thought most safe for us to go around +into a small harbor on the south side of the island. In order to reach +this harbor, we had to go through a narrow, crooked channel, with rocks +and dangerous reefs on every side, but, with a skillful pilot, we made +our way through safely, and came to anchor. On the next day we +commenced taking in our cargo of salt. On the 9th of September, a day +that I shall ever remember, my pilot came to me somewhat agitated, and +said that there were strong indications of an approaching hurricane, and +advised me to make all possible preparations to encounter it. + +We therefore quit taking in salt, and made every thing about the ship +snug as possible. At twelve o'clock, midnight, the gale commenced, as +the pilot had anticipated, and continued to increase until six in the +morning, at which time it became most terrific. Every blast grew more +and more violent until our cables all parted, and we were left to the +mercy of the gale. It blew directly from the land. We got the ship +before the wind, as the only course we could pursue. In doing this we +were well aware of the dangerous channel we had to pass, and my only +hope was, that we might get to sea clear of the land. But this hope soon +vanished. In about twenty minutes after we started, the ship struck a +rock, which knocked off her rudder, and set her leaking badly. The +rudder being gone, we of course had no control of the vessel. She came +around side to the wind, and at this moment her mainmast was blown over +the side. We at once cut away the rigging that attached it to the hull, +and it floated off, and the foremast still standing, the ship swung off +again a little before the wind. All hands were soon set to pumping, but +we found that in spite of all our exertions, the water rapidly increased +in the hold. + +The appearance of the elements at this time almost baffles description. +So violent was their commotion that no one could stand without grasping +something for support. Not a word could be heard that was uttered. I had +to communicate every order by means of signs, while I stood on the +quarter-deck holding on to the cabin doors. In this situation I +endeavored calmly to reflect. Here we were, as we supposed, on the open +ocean,--in a tempest of unparalleled violence--with no rudder--one mast +gone--boats all lost--and the ship settling under us from the weight of +water in the hold. The sky was black almost as midnight above us, and +the waves beneath, and around, and over us--for they dashed at quick +intervals, like so many furies, across the devoted ship--seemed ready to +drown us ere we sank into their dread abyss. The voice of the gale as it +howled through the rigging, mingled with the creaking of timbers, and +the roar of waters as they struck the vessel, was an awful wail, as it +appeared to me, over bodies devoted to almost instant death. Destruction +seemed inevitable. It would not, to all human calculation, be protracted +even an hour. We were sinking down, down--inch following inch of the +fated vessel in rapid succession--down remedilessly to our graves in the +maddened sea, amid the monsters of its great deep. + +I descended to the cabin, and attempted calmly to surrender myself to +Him who made me. My thoughts--oh, how they flew at once to my wife and +children at home! I attempted to pray, and for the first time since I +had left my pious mother. I _did_ pray--for my family first--and oh how +fervently, in closing my supplications, I besought for myself pardon and +forgiveness through Him who is ever ready to hear the penitent! + +The water had now got on to the cabin floor, I therefore placed myself +on the stairs leading on deck. Shortly after this the wind shifted, and +in a few minutes the ship struck with a tremendous crash. I rushed on +deck, and at once saw rocks fifty feet high, and perpendicular, but a +few feet from the after part of the ship, which now soon filled with +water, and rolled over toward the land. At its fore part, and at the +only point where we could by any possibility have been saved, the rocks +descended gradually, and the foremast leaned over them. Not a moment was +to be lost. We crawled up the rigging, and, swinging ourselves on to the +rocks, made our way up the precipice on our hands and feet, and, +reaching the summit, at once sought, in holes in the rock, shelter from +the tempest, which still continued so violent that no one could stand +upon his feet. + +Our escape happened about ten o'clock in the morning; at five in the +afternoon the gale had so moderated that we could stand. We then crawled +out from our hiding places, and, assembling together, found that all +were safe except my brother, who was mate of the ship, and he, we +supposed, was lost, in attempting to get on shore. We soon, as was very +natural, approached the precipice to learn the fate of the ship. Nothing +was to be seen of her but plank, timbers, spars, sails, and rigging, all +in one confused, broken mass, and washing up against the rocks. It was +truly to us a most deplorable spectacle. We had no resource in the +vessel; not a thing of value was left. + +As night was approaching, we now walked along before the wind toward the +south part of the island, and there found, by the side of a huge pile of +rocks, a hole or sort of cave, about eight feet square and five feet +high. Here we all crawled in, wet and cold, but with hearts grateful to +God for our wonderful preservation. As we were packed very close to each +other, the natural warmth of our bodies soon relieved us considerably +from the sensation of wetness and cold, and we passed the night as +comfortably as our varied miseries would allow. + +Morning came, and we left our cave. The gale had much abated, and we +could see some distance. We found that we were on a small desolate +island, about a mile long, half a mile wide, and about ten miles from +the place we left the day before. It was covered mostly with huge rocks, +with here and there a small patch of soil, overrun with prickly pear, +and inhabited by no living animal excepting lizards and small poisonous +snakes. We had been now over twenty-four hours without food or water. Of +the latter article, on searching around, we found a little in the +hollows on the rocks, but it was about half salt, having been made so by +the spray which the gale had thrown from the ocean quite over the +island, and the more we drank of it the more thirsty we became. As to +food, we were soon convinced that this was out of the question. Toward +night, we found a cask near the beach, standing on one end, with one +head out, which held about two gallons of water, that had rained in. +This was not salt, but smelled badly. We, however, scooped out with our +hands about one half of it, and left what remained for the next day. We +got some relief from this, and then we returned to our former +resting-place for the night. + +When we crawled out on the following morning we found that the weather +had become fine and clear. We could see vessels passing at a short +distance from us, but had no means of making any signal, nor any for +leaving the shore. This being the third day of our distress and +privation, some of us began to suffer much from hunger. Others suffered +more from thirst. We, however, cheered each other with the faint hope +that some thing would appear for our relief. We wandered about as we had +done the day before, seeking for water but found none. We had nothing to +dig with but our hands; these we used, but in vain; no water appeared. +Toward night we went to the cask, and drank what remained there. We then +returned again to our cave for the night, all much exhausted and +low-spirited. Despair began to shade every countenance. Very little was +said, and we passed the night well as we could, pressed by hunger and +parched by thirst. Morning came, and again we all left our shelter. The +weather continued fine and clear. The men again separated in search of +water, but being myself very feeble, I took my seat on some rocks near +the cave, at a point from whence I could see every thing moving on the +water, and with a lingering hope that something would appear for our +deliverance. + +About ten o'clock, an object loomed up in the distance. I thought it +was a boat, but could not at once tell. It approached, and soon I saw it +distinctly. It _was_ a boat, with one sail, and was steering directly +for a low beach not far from where I was seated. My feelings at this +moment were so overcome that I lost all power of utterance. I could not, +at first, rise from the rock, My strength, however, shortly returned a +little, and I got up and made all the noise I could. Some of the men +near at hand heard me, and came up. I at once pointed to the boat, which +was now near the shore. They shouted to their companions, and we were +all soon at the beach near where the boat was landed. A black man got +out of the boat, and came to me with a letter--but, before reading it, I +besought him for water. To my surprise he had none, but instead of it +had a bottle of rum and a small bag of biscuit. I told him to bring +these on shore, and, taking them, I gave each of my crew a swallow of +the rum and a biscuit. This had the effect of moistening a little our +parched mouths and tongues. I then opened the letter. It was from my +warm and faithful friend Mr. Tucker, of Turk's Island, and it read as +follows, omitting my name: + +"To Captain ----, or any other unfortunate person or persons who may be +found on any of the neighboring islands. Come as many as can safely +and, should any be left, I will find means to convey those that remain." + +The two men, who came in the boat, hesitated about taking all of us at +once, as we were nine in number, and with themselves might overload the +boat. We could not, however, bear the thought of leaving any behind. We +therefore all got aboard, shoved off, and made sail. We had a fair wind, +and a smooth sea, and at six o'clock arrived safely at the harbor we had +left. Many persons ran to the beach to meet us as we landed, and among +the rest was our deliverer, Mr. Tucker. + +The next morning, my friend and deliverer gave me a brief history of +what had taken place with himself and his fellow-inhabitants on the +island, during the gale. Many of their houses were levelled to the +ground, and some were blown into the sea. Their cisterns, their only +dependence for water, were mostly destroyed. Even the cannon mounted on +a small battery were dismounted, and most of the inhabitants were in +great distress. Every vessel and boat, that floated about the island, +were blown to sea or destroyed. Out of the twenty vessels that were at +the island on which Mr. Tucker lived, when the gale came on, only six +were heard ever from after. Five out of these six were wrecked on +adjacent islands, and every soul on board three of these perished. The +gale was said, by the oldest inhabitants, to be the most violent ever +known in that region. We remained on the island ten or twelve days, and +then, taking passage in a ship bound for New York, reached that city +safely on the last of November. + + + +A TUSSLE WITH A WILDCAT. + +In 1781, Lexington, Ky., was only a cluster of cabins, one of which, +near the spot where the courthouse now stands, was used as a +schoolhouse. One morning, in May, McKinley, the teacher, was sitting +alone at his desk, busily engaged in writing, when, hearing a slight +noise at the door, he turned and beheld an enormous wildcat, with her +fore feet upon the step, her tail curled over her back, her bristles +erect, and her eyes glaring rapidly about the room, as if in search of +a mouse. + +McKinley's position at first completely concealed him, but a slight and +involuntary motion of his chair attracted the cat's attention, and their +eyes met, McKinley, having heard much of the powers of "the human face +divine," in quelling the audacity of wild animals, attempted to +disconcert the intruder by a frown. But puss was not to be bullied. Her +eyes flashed fire, her tail waved angrily, and she began to gnash her +teeth. She was evidently bent on mischief. Seeing his danger, McKinley +hastily rose, and attempted to snatch a cylindrical rule from a table +which stood within reach, but the cat was too quick for him. + +Darting furiously upon him, she fastened upon his side with her teeth, +and began to rend and tear with her claws. McKinley's clothes were soon +in tatters, and his flesh dreadfully mangled by the enraged animal, +whose strength and ferocity filled him with astonishment. He in vain +attempted to disengage her from his side. Her long, sharp teeth were +fastened between his ribs, and his efforts served but to enrage her the +more. Seeing his blood flow very copiously from the numerous wounds in +his side, he became seriously alarmed, and, not knowing what else to do, +he threw himself upon the edge of the table, and pressed her against the +sharp corner with the whole weight of his body. + +The cat now began to utter the most wild and discordant cries, and +McKinley, at the same time, lifting up his voice in concert, the two +together sent forth notes so doleful as to alarm the whole town. Women, +who are generally the first to hear and spread news, were now the first +to come to McKinley's assistance. But so strange and unearthly was the +harmony within the schoolhouse, that they hesitated long before +venturing to enter. At length, the boldest of them rushed in, and, +seeing poor McKinley bending ever the corner of the table, she at first +supposed that he was laboring under a severe fit of the colic; but +quickly perceiving the cat, which was now in the agonies of death, she +screamed out, "Why, good heavens, Mr. McKinley, what is the matter?" + +"I have caught a cat, madam!" he gravely replied, turning round, while +the sweat streamed from his face under the mingled operations of fright, +fatigue, and pain. + +Most of the neighbors had now arrived. They attempted to disengage the +dead cat; but so firmly were her tusks locked between his ribs, that +this was a work of no small difficulty. McKinley suffered severely for a +time from the effects of his wounds, but at length fully recovered, and +lived to a good old age. He was heard to say, that of all the pupils +that ever came to his school, the wildcat was the most intractable; that +he would at any time rather fight two Indians than one wildcat. + + + +AN INCIDENT IN FRONTIER LIFE + +A daughter of Boone's, and a Miss Galloway, were amusing themselves in +the immediate neighborhood of the fort, when a party of Indians rushed +from a canebrake, and, intercepting their return, took them prisoners. +The screams of the terrified girls quickly alarmed the family. Boone +hastily collected a party of eight men, and pursued the enemy. So much +time, however, had been lost, that the Indians had got several miles the +start of them. The pursuit was urged through the night with great +keenness by woodsmen capable of following a trail at all times. On the +following day they came up with the fugitives, and fell upon them so +suddenly and so furiously as to allow them no leisure for tomahawking +their prisoners. The girls were rescued, without having sustained any +other injury than excessive fright and fatigue. The Indians lost two +men, while Boone's party was uninjured. + +[Illustration: THE PURSUIT] + + + +FEMALE INTREPIDITY. + +In 1782, Wheeling was besieged by a large number of British and Indians. +So sudden and unexpected was the attack, that no time was afforded for +preparation. The fort, at the period of the assault was commanded by +Colonel Silas Zane. The senior officer, Colonel Ebenezer Zane, was in a +blockhouse some fifty or a hundred yards outside of the wall. The enemy +made several desperate assaults to break into the fort, but at every +onset they were driven back. The ammunition for the defence of the fort +was deposited in the blockhouse, and there had not been time to remove +it before the Indians approached. + +On the afternoon of the second day of the siege, the powder of the fort +was nearly exhausted, and no alternative remained, but for some one to +pass through the enemy's fire to the blockhouse, in order to obtain a +supply. When Silas Zane made the proposition to the men, asking if any +one would undertake the hazardous enterprise, all at first were silent. +After looking at one another for some time, a young man stepped +forward, and said he would undertake the errand. Immediately, half a +dozen offered their services in the dangerous enterprise. + +While they were disputing as to who should go, Elizabeth, sister of the +Zanes, came forward and declared, that she would go for the powder. Her +brother thought she would flinch from the enterprise, but he was +mistaken. She had the intrepidity to dare, and the fortitude to +accomplish the undertaking. Her brother then tried to dissuade her from +her heroic purpose, by saying that a man would be more fleet, and +consequently would run less risk of losing his life. + +She replied, that they had not a man to spare from the defence of the +fort, and that if she should fall, she would scarcely be missed. Then +divesting herself of such articles of clothing as would impede the +celerity of her flight, she prepared to start. + +The gate was opened, and Elizabeth bounded out at the top of her speed, +and ran until she arrived at the door of the blockhouse. Her brother, +Colonel Zane, hastened to open the door to his intrepid sister. The +Indians did not fire a gun, but exclaimed, as if in astonishment, +"_Squaw! squaw! squaw_!" + +When she had told her errand, her brother took a tablecloth, fastened it +around her waist, and poured into it a keg of powder. She then sallied +back to the fort, in high spirits. The moment she was outside of the +blockhouse, the whole of the enemy's line fired at her, but the shower +of balls fell without doing her any injury. She reached the fort in +safety, and the garrison was, in consequence, enabled successfully to +repel their savage foe. Such an instance of female daring is worthy of +all commemoration. + + + +FEARFUL ENCOUNTER WITH ROBBERS. + +The Madrid papers recite the particulars of a terrific scene which took +place on the 14th of August, 1851, at the house of Don Diego Garcia, an +old nobleman, who resided in the vicinity of that capital: + +The night was dark and tempestuous. The rain poured down in torrents, +and induced the night-watch, who had been reinforced since the recent +augmentations of crime in the environs of the capital, to keep close to +their quarters. The roads were completely deserted, and at long +intervals only the shadow of a human figure flitted past the huge +portals of Don Diego's mansion, in anxious haste toward its habitation. + +Juan Munoz, the Don's old valet, had been sent to this city, by his +master, and was now making the best of his way home. His errand to the +capital had been to procure some medicine which his master had been +ordered to take, he being at the time violently afflicted by the gout. +Juan, as we have said, was picking his way, as best he could, through +the deluged streets and roads, when, just as he came in sight of the +mansion, he heard the voices of a number of men behind him, and +supposing them to be a party of his fellow-servants who had been sent in +search of him, since he had been much later than he expected to be, he +drew back into an open recess to await their approach. He discovered +that he was deceived in his expectations; the men were strangers to him, +or, at least, he did not know their voices, but, while passing him, he +plainly heard the name of his master pronounced by one of their number, +and, stepping forward, he asked if they wished to see Don Diego that +night. The men seemed perfectly stupefied by his sudden apparition, but +they soon recovered from their surprise, and, after ascertaining that he +was alone, he was politely asked to go before them and show the way. +Scarcely had he proceeded a dozen yards; when a violent blow on the head +laid him prostrate; a knife was then twice thrust into his breast, and +the lifeless body was hurled into the middle of the road. + +It was close upon midnight, when the wife of Don Diego, while tending +her sick husband, was startled by a noise from the adjoining room. She +immediately rang the bell, and was answered by the major domo, the only +servant who had not retired to rest, being determined to await the +return of Juan. As he entered, the door leading to the ante-chamber was +also quickly opened, and on the threshold appeared five masked men, who +were evidently unprepared to find more than one inmate in the sick +chamber. Quick as thought the major-domo attempted to reach the +bell-rope, that by a violent alarm he might awake the sleepers and +obtain their aid, but quicker even than he was the leader of the masked +band, who seized a pistol from his belt, and, with unerring aim, +discharged it at the devoted servant. There was a faint cry: the old +servant stretched out his hands for support, and then, with a heavy +groan, fell to the floor, where death closed his eyes. + +This unexpected catastrophe seemed to spur on the robbers to instant +work. While one man was posted at each door, the three others insisted +upon being informed by Don Diego where he kept his money and valuables; +but the sick old man had sank into so complete a lethargy by the +dreadful event which had passed under his eye, that he was unable to +answer them. As rapidity of movement was, however, rendered peremptory +to insure the safety of the band, the chief addressed the Donna for the +same purpose, in answer to which, she evinced but little reluctance, and +bade them to follow her. The robbers at once declared their readiness, +and, after passing along the corridor, entered the dining saloon, where +the Donna pointed out a large box, which, she said, contained the plate. +Here another difficulty arose. The box, which in reality contained the +plate, was securely locked, and the key nowhere to be found. Anxious to +get at the rich booty, the leader, with an angry imprecation, put the +muzzle of his heavy horse-pistol to the lock; a sharp report followed, +and the lid thus unceremoniously opened offered no further obstacle to +the rapacity of the invaders. Donna Ignazia took advantage of the joyful +excitement of the band, and left the room to descend into the lower +story of the mansion, where her hurried summons at the chamber doors of +the servants were readily responded to by them, as they had already been +awoke by the double report in their master's apartments. The tempest, +which had raged so fearfully, had meanwhile ceased; the torrents of rain +were followed by a clear night; the fury of the elements appeared as +though, in momentary rest, they would gather strength for a fresh +outbreak--nature's wrath had given place to the wrath of man. + +The inanimate body of Juan Munoz had been discovered by a patrolling +body of soldiery, who carried it to the guard-house. The stabs were +found to be of minor consequence, and the blow on the head, although it +had caused a very severe wound, had occasioned only a temporary loss of +consciousness. It must be borne in mind, that two hours had nearly +elapsed between the assault upon Munoz and the entrance into the house +by the robbers, which time had probably been spent by them in various +efforts to gain access. Strong restoratives, judiciously applied, soon +brought back animation, and, shortly afterward, Munoz could give a +confused narrative of what had befallen him. The officer on duty at once +saw through the scheme, and gave orders to proceed to the mansion of Don +Diego, which they reached at the precise moment when Donna Ignazia, with +an armed body of her own servants, was leading them to the dining +saloon. The summons of the officer at the front door was followed by a +dead silence on the part of the robbers: but when they heard the +measured tramp of the soldiery on the stair-case, they sought for means +of instant flight. This, however, had been provided for; a portion of +the military had surrounded the house, while the others, reinforced by +the servants, approached. The only chance then left to the brigands was +to cut their way through, or sell their lives as dearly as possible. In +an instant the huge oaken doors of the saloon were closed and barred, +the lights were extinguished, the windows opened, and everything made +ready for the last desperate chance. Fortune favored them; for the +soldiery, not anticipating a leap of their enemies from the high +windows, withdrew their sentinels from there in order to make them guard +the side and rear outlets of the mansion. Two of the bold ruffians had +already made their descent by means of tablecloths, tied together, when +the alarm was given. The soldiers rushed to the spot--a third robber was +clinging to the frail chance for life, and was rapidly descending, but a +well-directed shot bereft him of strength, and, after a few frantic +efforts to retain his hold, he fell heavily to the ground. His two +comrades made a firm stand: but vain was their boldness against the +numbers of assailants, and in a few moments they fell, grievously +wounded, into the hands of the victors. + +Two more only remained of this desperate band, and the fact of their +being shielded by strong bolts massive walls, rendered them no +insignificant enemies. Ladders were placed against the windows, but the +true aim of the keen-eyed brigands made four successive shots tell with +appalling effect, since each of them laid low one of their assailants. +At last an attack upon the doors was resolved upon, and soon the heavy +blows of the ponderous axe resounded from the massive panels. One door +gave way: there was a stunning crash, followed by reports of fire-arms, +cries of agony, and the dull sound of falling victims. Again the numbers +were successful, but in this instance the victims knew no mercy, and, +when at last the tumult ceased, the mutilated corpses of the two +brigands could hardly be recognized from three of their late assailants. + +The man who had been shot while descending from the window was found to +be quite dead, the ball having entered his heart. The two survivors were +subsequently identified as Ramon Gomez, and Pietro Vaga, better known as +"the Hunchback," two of the most notorious highwaymen and burglars, for +whose apprehension a large reward had been offered. + + + +SHIPWRECK OF THE MONTICELLO. + +J.V. Brown, Esq., Editor of the Lake Superior Journal, who was on board +the Monticello, gives the following graphic account of the disaster: + +It becomes our painful duty to record the most perilous shipwreck that +has ever occurred on Lake Superior, and having been a passenger on board +the Monticello at the time, we are enabled to give all the particulars +in relation to the loss of the vessel, and the hardships of the +passengers and crew. We went on board the Ontonagon on the afternoon of +the 22d September, 1851, on her return from Fond du Lac. She left the +river at half-past five o'clock bound for the Sault, with about one +hundred persons, twenty tons of copper from the Minnesota mine, and a +few barrels of fish from La Pointe, and in coming out of the harbor one +of the wheels struck a floating log very heavily, and it is supposed to +have loosened the packing boxes around one of the shafts.--She lay on +the bar a few minutes on her way out, but the sea at that time was +light, and we cannot think it possible that she sprang a leak from the +effects of the slight pounding on the light sand. + +[Illustration: LOSS OF THE MONTICELLO.] + +We had been out about half an hour, when the firemen discovered the +water rising around the floors of the engine; they communicated the fact +to Capt. Wilson, and it was made known to the passengers, but the leak +was not thought to be serious, and created but very little alarm. The +pump was put into operation, and on examination the captain and engineer +seemed confident that the pump would keep her clear till we could run +down to Eagle harbor, a distance of sixty miles; but it was soon +discovered, that the water was fast gaining on the pump, and +preparations were made immediately for raising water by means of barrels +and buckets. + +The wind was blowing at first from the westward, but soon changed to the +northwest--it was fresh but fair, and aided by sails and all the steam +that it was prudent to carry, she came on at a rapid rate, still keeping +on her course, in hopes to make the harbor. The passengers and crew +worked steadily at the pumps, but the water continued gradually to gain +on them. The most of the copper and all the other freight was thrown +overboard with a hearty good will--the wealth of the mine seeming of but +little consequence at such a time. Every possible means were employed to +raise water, and every passenger assisted to the utmost of his strength +and ability to keep the sinking vessel afloat. Two pumps, three +barrels, and a half dozen pails were constantly in motion, and still the +water gained steadily, but surely, on their efforts. + +We had now been out about three hours, the wind and waves constantly +increasing, when it was found, there was little hope of reaching Eagle +harbor; the water had risen nearly to the fires, and was fast gaining +ground, notwithstanding all the exertions of those on board. After +remaining on her course a few minutes longer, the boat was headed toward +the land, and new efforts were put forth to encourage all on board to +assist at the pumps and barrels. By this time there was three feet of +water or more in the hold, and she moved and rolled heavily through the +seas, the wood having to be shifted from one side of the vessel to the +other, to keep her in trim. + +One fire after the other was rolled into the water, and it became +evident to the most hopeful that they would be extinguished entirely, +and it was still thought, the wind would take her in under the land even +if the steam should fail. It was not long before the fires were reported +out--the engines worked lazily for a short time, the clicking of the +valves became faint and less frequent, and finally, like the dying +struggle of a strong man, it ceased altogether. + +Wearied with incessant exertions at the pumps, many gave out and +retired to the cabins, seeming to prefer rest to escape from the watery +grave into which they were fast sinking. Some were even forced into the +hold, to fill barrels and pails, and new efforts were put forth to +induce the suffering crew and passengers to hold out an hour longer, +with the assurance that we could reach land in that time. With this +hope, and that influence which strong minds always exert under such +circumstances, many took hold again of the pumps with a kind of +desperate exertion, and for a time they even gained on the water. There +was another circumstance which encouraged them to work. The boat being +careened on one side by the sails, one of the fires was partially out of +water, and a fire was kindled again by means of dry wood, oil, and the +most combustible matter the boat afforded. This not only assisted our +progress toward the land, but it stimulated the passengers to new +exertions. + +The fires were in this way kindled and extinguished several times, and +all felt that they owed much to the irregular exertion of the engines +for their preservation, especially as the wind for some time died away, +so as to scarcely fill the sails. For two long hours the water-logged +vessel drifted in, before soundings could be had. In this region it was +well known, that the coast was rocky, and dangerous for landing, and the +night was too dark to enable the pilot to distinguish one place from +another. A heavy sea rolled in upon the shore, and it seemed like +madness to attempt a landing under such circumstances. Accordingly, +Captain Wilson decided to come to anchor, and endeavor to keep the +vessel afloat till daylight; and as soon as we came into six fathoms +water the anchors were let go, and she swung round heavily in the +furious waves, that threatened speedily to complete the work of +destruction. + +Several insane attempts had been thwarted for cutting away the boats, +which, had they succeeded, we doubt not, would have proved certain +destruction to nine-tenths of all on board; for if the boats had not +been swamped at once, they would undoubtedly have been dashed to pieces +on the rock-bound shore, leaving others to swim ashore as best they +might. The pumping and bailing were continued with the last energies of +a noble crew--two or three hours more would bring the light of another +day, and it was understood that an attempt would be made to land as soon +as it was daylight. + +The time wore tediously away, and the passengers and crew were too much +exhausted to keep down the water, and still they labored to do so with +what strength they had left. Some time before daylight the wind changed +to the north; and commenced blowing hard directly upon the shore, and +the sea increased rapidly, oftentimes washing into the hatchways where +the men were at work bailing, and it became evident to all, that the +vessel could be kept afloat only for a short time longer. + +At five o'clock it was light enough to see that it was a bold rocky +shore, against which the waves dashed high and furiously, but it was too +late to choose a place for landing, and the captain ordered the anchors +raised. Her bow swung around to the east and in fifteen minutes she +struck heavily on the solid rock, about three hundred yards from the +shore. The men kept at work pumping and bailing till she struck, when +the waves at once swept in upon her deck and filled the hold. + +The largest of the two yawls happened to be on the lee side, and it was +soon lowered away, and with a line long enough to reach the land, the +first and second mates, Messrs. Lucas and Barney, W.T. Westbrook, and +one of the crew, started for the shore. The line was made fast to a +tree, and they commenced the far more difficult and dangerous task of +returning. The little boat seemed to be engulphed by every breaker that +it met on its way, and none but strong and true hands could have saved +the boat in this emergency, and no one unaccustomed to the dangers of +the sea, can imagine the nerve necessary to manage a boat under such +circumstances. + +The smaller boat, after much difficulty and delay, was got around under +the lee and bailed out, but it swamped the first trip ashore, and was +not used afterward. By constant, and untiring exertions, the passengers +and crew were all landed at half-past eight o'clock, and after securing +the shattered boats, as best they could, on the steep side of the rocky +shore, they gathered around the fires, to look upon the miserable plight +of one another. All were drenched with the water in coming ashore, cold +and hungry, worn out by the fatigues of the night and morning, they +lopped down around the fires, the sorriest looking gathering that it had +ever been our misfortune to witness. + +All had been so anxious in seeing the passengers and crew landed safely, +that they had not thought about providing for our future wants, and +nothing in the shape of provisions or baggage had been brought ashore. +After they had looked around them for a few moments, the boat was again +manned and the wreck was again explored for provisions, and a few pounds +of hard bread, part of a quarter of fresh beef and some boiled beef were +brought in, which was as one remarked, a "poor show" for a lunch for so +many sharp appetites. After having eaten this mouthful we proposed to +start with as many as possible for Eagle river, which was judged to be +about thirty-five miles distant, and a party of twenty-two in number +set out. + +It was noon when we started, with our clothes still wet and heavy, and +little or nothing to eat. We worked our way slowly through the cedar +swamp; over logs and under logs, up ravines and down ravines, a crooked, +trackless, toilsome way, till the middle of the afternoon, when we met +two of our fellow passengers on their way back to the wreck. They had +been on some distance further, but worn out with the hardships of their +journey and hunger, they had turned back disheartened, and advised us to +do the same. But we decided to go on, and on we went, through the worst +cedar swamps in the world, till the thick woods began to grow dark with +the shades of evening, and till a number of the party became completely +exhausted with fatigue and hunger. We then concluded to encamp for the +night, although we could not have traveled in all the afternoon over +five miles, or about a mile an hour. + +Without an axe, a few sticks were collected, and two or three poor fires +were kindled. All the bits of hard bread, and fresh beef, in all a +scanty meal for one person's supper, was produced and rationed out to +the twenty-two persons. Every one ate as sparingly as possible, and as +we were without tents, we lay down on the cold ground in our wet clothes +before the fire, and dozed and shivered with cold till daylight. As soon +as we could see to travel, we proceeded on our toilsome way, and after +walking about a mile we came to the trail that leads from Lake Superior +to Portage Lake, and saw two or three Indians pushing out through the +surf a bark canoe, which they soon jumped into and paddled away before +the wind. We tried to induce them to return, in hopes to procure +something from them to satisfy our craving hunger, but they scarcely +deigned to look back. + +Some of our party had been from this trail to Eagle river, and it was +some consolation to meet with a land mark that was known. We now +commenced walking along the beach, which was composed of large pebbles, +covered in many places with logs and trees that had washed or tumbled in +from off the overhanging banks, making it as tiresome walking as can +well be imagined. Frequently, in order to keep the beach, we were +obliged to walk within reach of the dash of the waves, and were drenched +with the cold flood. + +About two miles east of the Portage trail, we discovered near the edge +of the bank, which was some ten feet above the lake, the remains of a +human being. The clothes of a man, in a good state of preservation, half +covered the bleaching bones, the sad, sickening, unburied relics of some +poor "shipwrecked brother," who had here ended his voyage "o'er life's +stormy main." He had evidently chosen this spot where he could die +looking off upon the lake, from whence no succor came, and where he +could be easily discovered by the passer by. A description was taken by +one of our party of his clothes and the few articles found on them, and +we learned on inquiring at Eagle river, that they were undoubtedly the +remains of a Mr. Mathews, who got lost from the Algonquin mine a few +weeks previous. A brother of the deceased repaired to the spot as soon +as possible and brought down the remains for burial at Eagle harbor. + +The morning had not far advanced when a number of our party began to lag +behind, exhausted from the effects of hunger and weakness, and it was +evident that some would have to be left behind, while some of the others +might possibly reach Eagle river that day and send assistance. We +confidently expected to find some provisions in a warehouse at Gratiot +river, twelve miles from Eagle river, and all had hopes to reach there +before night. A few of our party pushed forward as fast as possible, to +procure food and fires for those behind, but great was our +disappointment not to find a particle of provisions at that place. + +We kindled a fire, and rested for a few minutes, till a number of our +party came up, the larger number being still far behind. It now became +more important than ever that some one should reach Eagle river, and +seven of our number determined to make the trial. We had now twelve +miles further to go, and in our miserable condition we traveled but +slowly, but the trail grew better as we proceeded, and we came in sight +of Eagle River about four o'clock in the afternoon, and under the +circumstances, a more pleasant, inviting village we do not recollect +ever to have seen before. Four or five of our party came through the +same evening, and a few others of another party came in the next day +with similar hardships. + +On the Tuesday following, Capt. McKay with the schooner Algonquin, +proceeded to the wreck, and brought off the captain, crew, and remaining +passengers, and all that could be saved of valuable property. + + + +A JUNGLE RECOLLECTION. + +The hot season of 1849 was peculiarly oppressive, and the irksome +garrison duty, at Cherootabad, in the south of India, had for many +months been unusually severe. The colonel of my regiment, the brigadier, +and the general, having successively acceded to my application for three +weeks' leave, and that welcome fact having been duly notified in orders, +it was not long before I found myself on the Coimbatore road, snugly +packed, guns and all, in a country bullock cart, lying at full length on +a mattress, with a thick layer of straw spread under it. + +All my preparations had been made beforehand; relays of bullocks were +posted for me at convenient intervals, and I arrived at Goodaloor, a +distance of a hundred and ten miles, in rather more than forty +eight hours. + +Goodaloor is a quiet little village, about eleven miles from +Coimbatore;--but don't suppose I was going to spend my precious three +weeks there. + +All loaded, and pony saddled, let us start: the two white cows and their +calves; the mattress and blanket rolled up and carried on a Cooly's +head Shikaree, horsekeeper, and a village man, with the three guns, +while I, myself, bring up the rear. Over a few ploughed fields, and past +that large banian tree, the jungle begins. + +In a small clump of low jungle, on the sloping bank of a broad, sandy +watercourse, the casual passer-by would not have perceived a snug and +tolerably strong little hut--the white ends of the small branches that +were laid over it, and the mixture of foliage, alone revealing the fact +to the observant eye of a practiced woodman. No praise could be too +strong to bestow on the faithful Shikaree; had I chosen the spot myself, +after a weeks' survey of the country, it could not have been more +happily selected. + +To the deeply-rooted stump of a young tree on the opposite bank, one of +the white cows had been made fast by a double cord passed twice around +her horns. Nothing remains to be done: the little door is fastened +behind me, the prickly acacia boughs are piled up against it on the +outside, and my people are anxious to be off. + +The poor cow, too, listens with dismay to the retreating footsteps of +the party, and has already made some furious plunges to free herself, +and rejoin the rest of the kine, who have been driven off, nothing +loth, toward home. Watch her: how intently she stares along the path by +which the people have deserted her. Were it not for the occasional stamp +of her fore leg, or the impatient side-toss of the head, to keep off the +swarming flies, she might be carved out of marble. And now a fearful and +anxious gaze up the bed of the nullah, and into the thick fringe of +Mimoso, one ear pricked and the other back alternately, show that +_instinct_ has already whispered the warning of impending danger. +Another plunge to get loose, and a searching gaze up the path; see her +sides heave. Now comes what we want--that deep low! It echoes again +among the hills: another and another. Poor wretch! you are hastening +your doom; far or near, the tiger hears you--under the rock or thicket, +where he has lain since morning, sheltered from the scorching sun, his +ears flutter as if they were tickled every time he hears that music; his +huge, green eyes, heretofore half closed, are now wide open, and, alas! +poor cow, gaze truly enough in thy direction; but he has not stirred +yet, and nobody can say in what direction giant death will yet +stalk forth. + +The moon is up--all nature still; the cow, again on her legs, is +restless, and evidently frightened. Oh! reader, even if you have the +soul of a Shikaree, I despair of being able to convey in words a tithe +of the sensations of that solitary vigil: a night like that is to be +enjoyed but seldom--a red-letter day in one's existence. + +Where is the man who has never experienced the poetic influence of a +moonlight scene! Fancy, then, such a one as here described; a crescent +of low hills--craggy, steep, and thickly wooded--around you, on three +sides, and above them, again, at twenty miles' distance, the clear blue +outline of the Neilgherry hills; in your front, the silver sand bed of +the dry watercourse divides the thick and somber jungle with a stream of +light, till you lose it in the deep shadows at the foot of the +hills--all quiet, all still, all bathed in the light of the moon, +yourself the only man for miles to come, a solitary watcher--your only +companion the poor cow, who, full of fears, and suspicious at every +leaf-fall, reminds you that a terrible struggle is about to take place +within a few feet of your bed, and that there will be noise and +confusion, when you must be cool and collected. Your little kennel would +not be strong enough to resist a determined charge, and you are alone, +if three good guns are not true friends. + +Oh! that I could express sounds on paper as music is written in notes. +No, reader, you must do as I have done--you must be placed in a similar +situation, to hear and enjoy the terrible roar of a hungry tiger--not +from afar off, and listened for, but close at hand, and unexpected. It +was like an electric shock;--a moment ago I was dozing off, and the cow, +long since laid down, appeared asleep; that one roar had not died away +among the hills when she had scrambled on her legs, and stood with +elevated head, stiffened limbs, tail raised, and breath suspended, +staring, full of terror, in the direction of the sound. As for the +biped, with less noise, and even more alacrity, he had grasped his "Sam +Nock," whose polished barrels just rested on the lower ledge of the +little peep-hole; perhaps his eyes were as round as saucers, and heart +beating fast and strong. + +Now for the struggle;--pray heaven that I am cool and calm, and do not +fire in a hurry, for one shot will either lose or secure my +well-earned prize. + +There he is again! evidently in that rugged, stony watercourse, which +runs parallel, and about two hundred yards behind the hut. But what is +that? Yes, lightning: two flashes in quick succession, and a cold stream +of air is rustling through the half-withered leaves of my ambush. Taking +a look to the rear, through an accidental opening among the leaves, it +was plain that a storm, or, as it would be called at sea, a squall, was +brewing. An arch of black cloud was approaching from the westward, and, +the rain descending, gave it the appearance of a huge black comb, the +teeth reaching to the earth. The moon, half obscured, showed a white +mist as far as the rain had reached. Then was heard in the puffs of air, +the hissing of the distant but approaching downpour: more +lightning--then some large heavy drops plashed on the roof, and it was +raining cats and dogs. + +How the scene was changed! Half an hour ago, solemn, and still, and +wild, as nature rested, unpolluted, undefaced, unmarked by man--sleeping +in the light of the moon, all was tranquillity; the civilized man lost +his idiosyncrasy in its contemplation--forgot nation, pursuits, +creed--he felt that he was Nature's child, and adored the God of Nature. + +But the beautiful was now exchanged for the sublime, when that scene +appeared lit up suddenly and awfully by lightning, which now momentarily +exchanged a sheet of intensely dazzling blue light, with a darkness +horrible to endure--a light which showed the many streams of water, +which now appeared like ribbons over the smooth slabs of rod that lay on +the slope of the hills, and gave a microscopic accuracy of outline to +every object, exchanged as suddenly for a darkness, which for the +moment might be supposed the darkness of extinction--of utter +annihilation--while the crash of thunder over head rolled over the +echoes of the hills, "I am the Lord thy God." + +The storm was at length over, the nullah run dry again. Damp and sleepy, +with arms folded and eyes sometimes open, but often shut, I kept an +indifferent watch, when the cow, struggling on her legs, and a groan, +brought me to my senses. There they were. It was no dream. A large +tiger, holding her just behind the ears, shaking her like a fighting +dog. By the doubtful light of the watery moon, did I calmly and +noiselessly run out the muzzle of my rifle. + +I saw him, without quitting his grip of the cow's neck, leap over her +back more than once. She sank to the earth, and he lifted her up again. +At the first opportunity, I pulled trigger. The left hand missed, I +tried the right--it went off--bang! + +Whether a hanging fire is an excuse or not, the tiger relinquished his +hold and was off with a bound. The cow staggered and struggled, and, in +few seconds, fell, and, with a heavy groan, ceased to move. The tiger +had killed the cow within a few feet of me, and escaped scathless. + +Night after night did I watch for his return. I had almost despaired +of seeing him again, when, one night, about eleven o'clock, +my ears caught the echo among the rocks, and then the distant +roar--nearer--nearer--nearer; and--oh, joy!--answered. Tiger and +tigress!--above all hope!--coming to recompense me for hundreds of night +watchings--to balance a long account of weary nights in the silent +jungle, in platforms on trees, in huts of leaf and bramble, and in damp +pits on the water's edge--all bootless; coming--coming--nearer +and nearer. + +Music nor words, dear reader, can stand me in any stead to convey the +sound to you; the first note like the trumpet of a peacock, and the rest +the deepest toned thunder. Stones and gravel rattled just behind the hut +on the path by which we came, and went, and a heavy step passed and +descended the slope into the nullah. I heard the sand crunching under +his weight before I dared to look. A little peep. Oh, heavens! looming +in the moonlight, there he stood, long, sleek as satin, and lashing his +tail--he stood stationary, smelling the slaughtered cow. No longer the +cautious, creeping tiger, I felt how awful a brute he was to offend. I +remembered how he had worried a strong cow in half a minute, and that, +with his weight alone, my poor rickety little citadel would fall to +pieces. As if the excitement of the moment was insufficient, the +monster, gazing down the dry watercourse, caught sight of his +companion, who, advancing up the bed of the nullah, stood irresolutely +about twenty yards off. The bully, who was evidently the male, after +smelling at the head, came round the carcass, making a sort of +complaisant purring--"humming a kind of animal song," and to it he went +tooth and nail. + +As he stood with his two fore feet on the haunch, while he tugged and +tore out a beef-steak, I once more grasped old "Sam Nock," and ran the +muzzle out of the little port. The white linen band marked a line behind +his shoulders, and rather low, but, from the continued motion of his +body, it was some moments before eye and finger agreed to pull +trigger--bang! A shower of sand rattled on the dry leaves, and a roar of +rage and pain satisfied me, even before the white smoke, which hung in +the still air, had cleared away, to show the huge monster writhing and +plunging where he had fallen. Either directed by the fire, or by some +slight noise made in the agitation of the moment, he saw me, and, with a +hideous yell, scrambled up: the roaring thunder of his voice filled the +valley, and the echoes among the hills answered it, with the hootings of +tribes of monkeys, who, scared out of sleep, sought the highest +branches, at the sound of the well-known voice of the tyrant of the +jungle. I immediately perceived, to my great joy, that his hind quarters +were paralyzed and useless, and that all danger was out of the +question. He sank down again on his elbows, and as he rested his now +powerless limbs, I saw the blood welling out of a wound in the loins, as +it shone in the moonlight, and trickled off his sleek-painted hide, like +globules of quicksilver. As I looked into his countenance, I saw all the +devil alive there. The will remained--the power only had gone. It was a +sight never to be forgotten. With head raised to the full stretch of his +neck, he glared at me with an expression of such malignity, that it +almost made one quail. I thought of the native superstition of singeing +off the whiskers of the newly killed tiger to lay his spirit, and no +longer wondered at it. With ears back, and mouth bleeding, he growled +and roared in fitful uncertainty, as if he were trying, but unable, to +measure the extent of the force that had laid him low. + +Motionless myself, provocation ceased, and without further attempt to +get on his legs, he continued to gaze on me; when I slowly lowered my +head to the sight, and again pulled trigger. This time, true to the +mark, the ball entered just above the breastbone, and the smoke cleared +off with his death-groan. There he lay, foot to foot with his victim of +last night, motionless--dead. My first impulse was to tear down the door +behind, and get a thorough view of his proportions; but remembering +that his companion, the tigress, had vanished only a short time ago +close to the scene of action, I thought it as well to remain where I +was; so, enlarging the windows with my hands, I took a long look, and +then jovially attacked the coffee without reference to noise, and fell +back on the mattress to sleep, or to think the night's work over. "At +last, I have got him: his skin will be pegged out to-morrow, drying +before the tent door." When my people came in the morning, they found me +seated on the dead tiger. Coolies were sent for to carry the beast, and +I gave the pony his reins all the way back to the tent. + +FRASER'S MAGAZINE + + +[Illustration: ATTACK ON BOONESBOROUGH.] + + +ATTACK OF BOONSBOROUGH. + +On the tenth of March, 1778, Daniel Boone, having been taken prisoner by +the Indians, was conducted to Detroit, when Governor Hamilton himself +offered one hundred pounds sterling, for his ransom; but so great was +the affection of the Indians for their prisoner, that it was positively +refused. Boone's anxiety on account of his wife and children was +incessant, and the more intolerable as he dared not excite the +suspicions of his captors by any indication of a wish to return home. + +The Indians were now preparing for a violent attack upon the settlements +in Kentucky. Early in June, four hundred and fifty of the choicest +warriors were ready to march against Boonesborough, painted and armed in +a fearful manner. Alarmed at these preparations, he determined to make +his escape. He hunted and shot with the Indians as usual, until the +morning of the sixteenth of June, when, taking an early start, he left +Chillicothe and directed his steps to Boonesborough. The distance +exceeded one hundred and sixty miles, but he performed it in four days, +during which he eat only one meal. He appeared before the garrison like +one risen from the dead. He found the fortress in a bad state, and lost +no time in rendering it more capable of defence. He repaired the flanks, +gates, and posterns, formed double bastions, and completed the whole +in ten days. + +On the eighth of August, the enemy appeared. The attack upon the fort +was instantly commenced; and the siege lasted nine days, during which, +an almost incessant firing was kept up. On the twentieth of August, the +enemy retired with a loss of thirty-seven killed and a great many +wounded. This affair was highly creditable to the spirit and skill of +the pioneers. + + + +THRILLING INCIDENTS OF BATTLE. + +There is a man now living in East Dixfield, Oxford county, me, who +actually caught in his mouth a ball discharged from a musket. He was at +the battle of Bridgewater, in the war of 1812, and, while biting off the +end of a cartridge, for the purpose of loading his gun, was struck by a +ball, which entered on the left side of his face, knocking out eight of +his teeth, cut off the end of his tongue, and passed into his throat. He +raised it, went to the hospital, staid out the remainder of his +enlistment, and returned home with the bullet in his pocket. + +The New Orleans Picayune, one of whose editors was an eye-witness of the +most of the leading battles in Mexico, copies the foregoing paragraph, +and appends to it the following relation: + +We can relate an incident even more strange than this. At the siege of +Monterey, in 1846, and, while General Worth's troops were advancing to +storm the small fort, known as La Soldada, a man, named Waters, an +excellent soldier, belonging to Ben McCulloch's Rangers, caught a large +grape-shot directly in his mouth. It was fully the size of a hen's egg, +was rough, uneven in shape, and, in its course, completely carried out +the four upper teeth of the ranger, and part of the jaw, cut off the +four lower teeth, as with a chisel, split his tongue in twain, carried +away his palate, went through the back of his head, and, striking a +tendon, glanced down, and lodged under the skin on the shoulder-blade, +where it was extracted by a surgeon, and safely placed in the pocket of +Waters for future reference. + +No man thought the wounded ranger could live, he could swallow neither +food nor water. We saw him two nights afterward, in a room in the +Bishop's Palace, which had been converted into a hospital, sitting bolt +upright among the wounded and the dying--for the nature of his terrible +hurt was such that he could not lie down without suffocating. His face +was swollen to more than twice its ordinary size--he was speechless of +course--his wants were only made known by means of a broken slate and +pencil, and he was slowly applying a wet sponge to his mouth, +endeavoring to extract moisture, which might quench the fever and +intolerable thirst under which he was suffering. By his side lay young +Thomas, of Maryland, a member of the same company, who was mortally +wounded the morning after, and who was now dying. Wounded men, struck +that afternoon in Worth's advance upon the Grand Plaza, were constantly +being brought in, the surgeons were amputating and dressing the hurts of +the crippled soldiers by a pale and sickly candle-light, and the groans +of those in grievous pain added a new horror to the scene, which was at +best frightful. We recollect, perfectly well, a poor fellow struck in +both legs by a grape-shot, while advancing up one of the streets. He was +begging lustily, after one of his limbs had been amputated, that the +other might be spared him, on which to hobble through the world. Poor +Thomas, as gallant a spirit as ever lived, finally breathed his last; we +brought Waters a fresh cup of water with which to moisten his wounds, +and then left the room to catch an hour's sleep; but the recollections +of that terrible night will not soon be effaced from my memory. + +The above incident occurred on the night of the 23d and morning of the +24th of September, 1846. During the early part of the month of February +following, while passing into the old St. Charles, in this city, we were +accosted with a strange voice by a fine-looking man, who seemed +extremely glad to see us, although he had a most singular and +unaccountable mode of expressing himself. We recollected the eye as one +we had been familiar with, but the lower features of the face, although +in no way disfigured, for the life of us, we could not make out. + +"Why, don't you know me?" in a mumbling, half-indistinct, and forced +manner, said the man, still shaking our hand vigorously. "I'm Waters." + +And Waters it was, in reality, looking as well and as healthy as ever, +without showing the least outward sign that he had ever caught a +grape-shot in his mouth. A luxuriant growth of mustaches completely +covered his upper lip, and concealed any scar the iron missile might +have made; an imperial on his under lip hid any appearance of a wound at +that point; and, with the exception of his speech, there was nothing to +show that he had ever received the slightest injury about the face. His +tongue, which was terribly shattered, was still partially benumbed, +rendering articulation both difficult and tiresome; but he assured us he +was every day gaining more and more the use of it, and, in his own +words, he was soon to be "just as good as new" + +It is needless to say that we were glad to see him--to meet one we had +never expected to encounter again in such excellent plight. Any one who +could have seen him sitting in that apartment of the Bishop's Palace, +his face swollen, and, with a gravity of countenance, which would have +been ludicrous, even to the causing of laughter, had it not been for his +own precarious situation, and the heart-rending scenes around, would +have been equally as much astonished and rejoiced, as we were, on again +so unexpectedly beholding him. + +A correspondent of the "Inquirer" has sent us the following, which is +quite as remarkable as either of the foregoing: + +Very extraordinary incidents have been published lately, of shot having +been caught in the mouths of soldiers, in the course of battle, in the +war of 1812, and in the Mexican war; but an incident, perhaps more +remarkable, for the coolness of the individual on the occasion, occurred +at the battle of Fort Drane, fought, in August, 1837, under the command +of the late Col. B.K. Pierce. This was one of the most signal and +desperate engagements of that bloody war. The Seminoles, under their +renowned chief, Osceola, had taken a very commanding position in an +extensive sugar field, near the stockade, strengthened on the east side +by a dense hammock. Three desperate onsets were made during the battle, +and the enemy were finally driven from the field to the protection of +the hammock. During the hottest of the battle, a soldier belonging to +the detachment under the command of Lieut. Pickell, whose position was a +little in advance of the two wings, of the name of Jackson, having just +fired, received a shot from a tall Indian, not twenty yards distant, +which broke through the outer parts of his pantaloons, and lodged in his +right-hand pocket. Feeling the slight sting of the half-spent ball, he +thrust his hand in his pocket, drew out the bullet, and dropped it into +the barrel of his musket, upon the charge of powder he had just before +put in; then, with the unerring aim of a true marksman, leveled his +piece, and, as quick as lightning, his adversary was measured upon the +ground. The wound was fatal--the warrior survived the shot but a +few minutes. + +The above is one of the many incidents that occurred in the recent war +with the Florida Indians which, for peril and brave feats, on the part +of the American soldiers and officers, has scarcely ever been equaled. +The above incident is stated as it actually occurred. + + + +A FAMILY ATTACKED BY INDIANS. + +On the night of the eleventh of April, 1787, the house of a widow in +Bourbon county, Kentucky, became the scene of a deplorable adventure. +She occupied what was called a double cabin, in a lonely part of the +county. One room was tenanted by the old lady herself, together with two +grown sons, and a widowed daughter with an infant. The other room was +occupied by two unmarried daughters from sixteen to twenty years of age, +together with a little girl. + +The hour was eleven o'clock at night, and the family had retired to +rest. Some symptoms of an alarming nature had engaged the attention of +the young man for an hour, before anything of a decided character took +place. At length hasty steps were heard in the yard, and quickly +afterward several loud knocks at the door, accompanied by the usual +exclamation, "Who keeps house?" in very good English. + +The young man, supposing from the language that some benighted travelers +were at the door, hastily arose, and was advancing to withdraw the bar +that secured it, when his mother, who had long lived upon the frontier, +and had probably detected the Indian tone in the demand for admission, +instantly sprang out of bed, and ordered her son not to admit them, +declaring that they were Indians. + +She instantly awakened her other son, and the young men seizing their +guns, which were always charged, prepared to repel the enemy. The +Indians finding it impossible to enter under their assumed characters, +began to thunder at the door with great violence, but a single shot from +a loop-hole obliged them to shift the attack to some less exposed point, +and, unfortunately, they discovered the door of the other cabin, which +contained the three daughters. The rifles of the brothers could not be +brought to bear on this point; and, by means of several rails taken from +the yard fence, the door was forced from its hinges, and the girls were +at the mercy of the savages. One was instantly secured, but the eldest +defended herself desperately with a knife she had been using at the +loom, and stabbed one of the Indians to the heart, before she was +tomahawked. + +In the meantime, the little girl, who had been overlooked by the enemy +in their eagerness to secure the others, ran out into the yard, and +might have effected her escape, had she taken advantage of the darkness, +and fled; but instead of looking to her own safety, the terrified +little creature ran round the house, wringing her hands, and crying that +her sisters were killed. + +[Illustration: THE INDIANS KILLING THE WIDOW'S DAUGHTER.] + +Just then the child uttered a loud scream, followed by a few faint +moans, and all was silent. Presently the crackling of flames was heard, +accompanied by a triumphant yell from the Indians, announcing that they +had set fire to that division of the house, which had been occupied by +the daughters, and of which they held undisputed possession. + +The fire was quickly communicated to the rest of the building, and it +became necessary to abandon it or perish in the flames. The door was +thrown open, and the old lady, supported by her eldest son, attempted to +cross the fence at one point, while her daughter carrying her child in +her arms, and attended by the younger of the brothers, ran in a +different direction. The blazing roof shed a light over the yard but +little inferior to that of day, and the savages were distinctly seen +awaiting the approach of their victims. The old lady was permitted to +reach the stile unmolested, but in the act of crossing, received several +balls in her breast, and fell dead. Her son, providentially, remained +unhurt, and, by extraordinary agility, effected his escape. + +The other party succeeded in reaching the fence unhurt, but in the act +of crossing were vigorously assailed by several Indians, who, throwing +down their guns, rushed upon them with their tomahawks. The young man +defended his sister gallantly, firing upon the enemy as they approached, +and then wielding the butt of his rifle with a fury that drew their +whole attention upon himself, and gave his sister an opportunity of +effecting her escape. He quickly fell however under the tomahawks of his +enemies, and was found at daylight, scalped and mangled in a shocking +manner. Of the whole family, consisting of eight persons, only three +escaped. Four were killed upon the spot, and one, the second daughter, +carried off as a prisoner. + +The neighborhood was quickly alarmed, and, by daylight, about thirty men +were assembled, under the command of Colonel Edwards. A light snow had +fallen during the latter part of the night, and the Indian trail could +be followed at a gallop. It led directly into the mountainous country +bordering on the Licking, and afforded evidences of great hurry and +precipitation on the part of the fugitives. Unfortunately, a hound had +been permitted to follow the whites, and as the trail became fresh, and +the scent warm, she followed it with eagerness, baying loudly and giving +the alarm to the Indians. The consequences of this imprudence were soon +manifest. The enemy finding the pursuit keen, and perceiving the +strength of their prisoner began to fail, instantly sunk their tomahawks +in her head, and left her still warm and bleeding upon the snow. + +As the whites came up, she regained strength enough to wave her hand in +token of recognition, and appeared desirous of giving them some +information, with regard to the enemy, but her strength was too far +gone. Her brother sprang from his horse and endeavored to stop the +effusion of blood, but in vain. She gave him her hand, muttered some +inarticulate words, and expired. + + + +THRILLING INCIDENT. + +In mid-winter about four years since, says Miss Martineau, in her Norway +and the Norwegians, a young man named Hund, was sent by his master on an +errand about twenty miles, to carry provisions to a village in the upper +country. The village people asked him for charity, to carry three orphan +children on his sledge a few miles on his way to Bergen, and to leave +them at a house on the road, when they would be taken care of until they +could be brought from Bergen. He took the little things, and saw that +the two elder were well wrapped up from the cold. The third he took +within his arms and on his knee, as he drove, clasping it warm against +his breast--so those say who saw them set off, and it is confirmed by +one who met the sledge on the road, and heard the children prattling to +Hund, and Hund laughing merrily at their little talk. Before they got +half way, however, a pack of hungry wolves, burst out upon them from a +hollow in the thicket to the right of the wood. The beasts followed +close to the back of the sledge. Closer and closer the wolves pressed. +Hund saw one about to spring at his throat. It was impossible for the +horse to go faster than he did, for he went like the wind--so did the +wolves. Hund in desperation, snatched up one of the children behind him, +and threw it over the back of the sledge. This stopped the pack a +little. On galloped the horse. But the wolves were soon crowded around +again, with the blood freezing to their muzzles. It was easier to throw +over the second child than the first--and Hund did it. But on came again +the infuriated beasts--gaunt with hunger, and raging like fiends for the +prey. It was harder to give up the third--the dumb infant that nestled +in his breast, but Hund was in mortal terror. Again the hot breath of +the wolves was upon him. He threw a way the infant and saved himself. +Away over the snow flew the sledge, the village was reached, and Hund +just escaped after all the sacrifice he had made. But he was unsettled +and wild, and his talk, for some time whenever he did speak, night or +day, was of wolves--so fearful had been the effect upon his imagination. + +[Illustration] + + + +ADVENTURES + +OF REV. DR. BACON AND HIS PARTY, AMONG THE MOUNTAINS OF PERSIA. + +Dr. Bacon and Rev. Mr. Marsh, attempted to cross from the city of Mosul, +on the Tigris, to Oroomiah, the residence of the Nestorian Christians. +On their passage through the Kurdish mountains, they were robbed, and +narrowly escaped being murdered, and were finally forced to return +to Mosul. + +Dr. Bacon, after describing their departure from Diarbekr, says: + +"I defer to another time the description of our romantic and picturesque +passage down the Tigris. By the care of Providence, our whole party +completed this stage, as they had completed the previous and more +fatiguing ones, in safety and comfortable health. We arrived in Mosul +on the 16th of May, in seven days from Diarbekr, and immediately set +about making preparations for continuing our journey into the mountains. + +"The engaging of mules, the hiring of servants, and the preparation of +provisions, detained us in Mosul until Wednesday, the 21st of May. The +meantime was spent by us in visiting the excavations on the opposite +side of the river. In the mound of Koyunjik, we followed our guide +through a labyrinth of narrow corridors, lighted dimly by occasional +openings in the firm clay overhead. Some of the sculptures were +described in Mr. Leyard's volumes; others have been since unearthed, and +some most interesting galleries had just been left by the picks of the +workmen. Time, at present, does not permit me to describe them; but I +may mention as among the most interesting of the recent discoveries, a +succession of slabs carved with a representation of the original +transportation of the great winged bulls which adorned the stately +entrances of the palaces of Ninus and Sardanapalus. A collection of +small, inscribed stones, has also been found, supposed to contain public +records; and, but a day or two ago, the workmen brought in the report of +new and still grander sculptures just discovered. + +"We had expected to start on Wednesday at sunrise; but various petty +hindrances detained us until late in the afternoon. We then united in +prayer with the family in whose cares, anxieties, and dangers we had +shared through so many weary weeks, and hastened to our saddles. Passing +the Tigris by a rude ferry, we rode in the setting sunlight by the once +mysterious mounds of Koyunjik. The reapers who were still busy within +the grassy walls of fallen Ninevah, came up to us as we passed, with +their sickles on their heads, to present the offering of the first +fruits of harvest. We hurried on, however, and stopped for the night at +a small village little more than an hour from the gate of Mosul." + +On the third day they reached the town of Akkre, among the mountains, +where they were obliged to stay three days, waiting for the Kurdish +muleteers. They performed the Sabbath service in a cavern of the +mountain which the native christians had fitted up as a secret chapel. +Leaving Akkre on Monday morning, the 26th of May, they entered the most +dangerous part of the mountains. Mr. B. says: + +"We spent this day's nooning by a spring that bursts out near the top of +a steep mountain, and ate our dinner under a tree that distilled upon +the rocks a fragrant gum. Mounting again at two o'clock, in half an +hour we reached the summit, whence we looked down a giddy descent upon +the swift but winding Zab. Here it became necessary to leave our +animals, and work our way down the almost precipitous road, while the +mules slid, scrambled, and tumbled after us as best they might. As I was +pushing on a little in advance of the party, I was met, in a narrow turn +of the path, by an old bearded man, with a dagger in his girdle, who +reached out his hand toward me. I was uncertain at first how to +understand it; but his only object was to press my hand to his lips with +a fervent '_salam aleikum_' (Peace be with you,) to which I responded, +according to usual form, '_aleikum salam_,' (with you be peace.) Meeting +with others of his party, they asked us if we were Nesrani, +(Nazarenes--Christians,) and saluted us with the same respect, going +some distance back on their path with us to show us a cool water spring. +'They then went their ways, and we saw them no more;' but I shall not +easily forget the satisfaction which they showed in recognizing us as +fellow believers here in the land of the infidel, and the kindness with +which they went out of their way to offer us a 'cup of cold water in the +name of a disciple.'" + +That night they spent on the banks of the river Zab. The next day, +after traversing a wild pass, hemmed in by perpendicular rocks, more +than a thousand feet in hight, they reached the village of Bizeh, in a +valley of the mountains, and secured a house-top for the night: + +"About the middle of the night, Mr. Marsh was waked by a slight noise, +and, lifting his head, saw a party of five or six armed men creeping +stealthily toward our roof, which, on the side toward the hill on which +they were, was only four or five feet from the ground. The foremost man +stopped short for a moment at Mr. Marsh's movement, and turning to his +followers, called out 'Khawaja!' (the gentlemen!) Then seeing that our +old guard was asleep at the stepping stone, he climbed upon the roof at +another corner, and stood for a moment with his long gun at his side. +Mr. Marsh raised himself upon his arm, and demanded in Arabic, 'What do +you want?' The man probably did not understand the language: at any +rate, he made no answer, but turned to the old man, and conversed +earnestly with him in a low tone. The other men gathered near them, as +if to listen and take part. But they all finally went away without doing +any mischief." + +The next morning the sentinel who had kept watch over their baggage +attempted to dissuade them from going the direct road, as the people of +the next village had heard of their coming, and were determined to kill +them. However, they kept on; and, in the course of two or three hours, +their guide was stopped by a company of six armed men: + +"The place was admirably chosen for the purpose. The narrow path along +the cliff by which we had come, here widened into a little platform +large enough for our mules to stand upon together. In front of us, a +ledge of broken rocks jutted from the mountain and ran down, crossing +our path, and leaving only a very small passage. In front of this path +stood our challengers. Six worse-looking men, whether in form, dress, or +feature, it would be difficult to imagine. Each man wore around his +high, conical felt hat, a turban of handkerchiefs of every hue and +texture; in his hand a long gun with short and narrow breech; and in his +belt the universal Kurdish curved and two-edged dagger. The leader of +the gang was a man of middle age, with black eyes and a grisly, +untrimmed beard, and with half his front teeth knocked out." + +After some discussion, the robbers consented to allow them to pass, on +the payment of fifty piastres, (two dollars and a half,) which they +agreed to do, provided they were conducted to the house of the Agha. The +robbers objected to this, and, provoked by the delay, leveled their guns +at the party. At this juncture, the chief muleteer advanced the +necessary money, and they were spared. + +"These transactions, from the time we were stopped, occupied about an +hour. We now passed with our ragged regiment straggling around us, now +with their long guns under our ears, and now cutting off the long bends +of our crooked and little used path. In about ten minutes from the pass, +we were hailed by another party, posted upon a hillside, and a +discussion of many minutes ensued between them and our escort, in which +our Kurdish muleteers took an active part. The result was, that we moved +on with an addition of two men to our guard. We soon began to perceive +that we were going toward the Agha rather as prisoners than as guests. +The castle, (if it may be dignified by the name,) which was now in +sight, was of no promising appearance. It was a rude, rectangular +building, with a small white tower at one corner, on which the workmen +were still engaged. It was situated on the side of a hill which formed +the head of a valley opening into the ravine we had just left. The small +windows and the roof were crowded with men, women, and children, gazing +at our singular cavalcade. As we drew near, some women who were bathing +in a brook, rose, and gazed at us with irrepressible curiosity. We +stopped at the door of the castle. + +"Here the assault began. The men of our guard flew like savage dogs at +our servants: Khudhr and Ablahad seized the arms which were girded about +them, slashing furiously with their daggers, to cut the straps of their +guns and pistols. The turbans were torn from their heads, and +appropriated among the rabble. Similar violence was about to be shown +us, when these operations were suddenly interrupted by the appearance, +from the castle, of Melul Agha. + +"He was a man taller by several inches than any of his tribe, and with +an expression of face which was that of one accustomed to be obeyed, He +was dressed in a more elegant style than could have been expected in +these mountains; wearing upon his head a turban of gray silk, and a long +rifle slung from his shoulders. With a melo-dramatic wave of his hand, +which was at once obeyed, he motioned his noisy tribe to desist, and, +approaching us, pointed out a tree, a few hundred feet up the hill, to +which we might retire. As we moved alone toward this spot, a grim +suspicion of his intentions crossed our minds. Might it not be for +convenience in dispatching us, that we had been removed? We seated +ourselves quietly in the shade, and watched the proceedings. The +property of the muleteers and donkey-drivers had been unloaded and +placed by itself. One of our loads had been thrown from the mule, and +the other was now brought near us, taken from the animal, and laid under +a neighboring tree. Mr. Marsh now went down toward the castle to assist +Khudhr in bringing the rest of our property toward the tree. This done, +Khudhr returned to the crowd to learn what he could of their intentions. +He soon came back to us in evident terror, and said, with a significant +motion of his hand, that they were intending to kill us." + +After sending the servant a second time, he came back with the +announcement that the Agha would examine their baggage, take what he +pleased, and send them on to another Agha; but would not allow them to +return to Mosul. + +This examination was soon made, and the party was plundered of one +thousand piasters, (forty-four dollars,) besides razors, knives, and a +quantity of clothing. + +The whole affair was conducted with a politeness of manner which was +highly creditable to the Agha, and calculated to put us very much at our +ease. He showed himself, in every thing, + + ----"As mild a mannered man + As ever scuttled ship, or cut a throat" + +For instance, in searching our trunk, his eye was caught by a small, +sealed parcel, which I supposed to contain jewelry; I immediately told +him, through a servant, that it was not mine, but had been given to me, +in America, to be delivered in Europe. He immediately put it down, and +proceeded with the search. + +"During these operations, several women, some from curiosity, others +from pity, had gathered around us. Among the latter class, was one, who, +from her dress, beauty, and demeanor, could be no other than the wife +of the Agha. She was dressed in a faded, but once magnificent +robe, and trowsers of silk, and wore upon her head a massive and +elaborately-carved ornament of silver. She moved among the fierce and +blood-thirsty savages, with an air of mingled scorn and anxiety, +reproaching them with the shame of the transaction, and pleading +earnestly that our lives and property be spared. She warned them, also, +that our injuries would inevitably be visited upon their heads. + +"Having finished his search, the Agha, with the old men of the tribe, +gathered on a ledge of rocks, just behind us, and consulted long and +earnestly. We sat down and dined with what appetite we could muster." + +After the robbers had come to their decision, a second search of the +baggage took place, which Mr. Bacon thus describes: + +"The pressure of greater and more important dangers had made me quite +resigned to such petty losses as these, and I watched, with much +amusement, the appropriation of unusual articles. A black silk cravat +which had seen much service in New Haven drawing-rooms, was twisted +about the suspicious-looking head of an uncommonly dirty boy. A pair of +heavy riding-boots were transferred to the shoulders of a youth who bore +the 'gallows mark' upon his features with unmistakable distinctness. A +satin vest of Mr. Marsh's was circulating through the crowd, on the +person of a dirty child, who boasted no other wealth but a ragged shirt +and a green pomegranate. I looked at the youngster with a smile of +congratulation; but he turned upon his heel and strutted gravely away, +his new garment trailing on the ground at every step. + +"Having lightened our baggage considerably at this haul, they proceeded +to search our persons. It had been our first movement, on being placed +by ourselves, to transfer our watches, together with a locket,--all +priceless memorials of distant or departed friends--from the waistcoat +to the pantaloons fob; a pocket compass attached to my watchguard, was +cared for; likewise, the little note-book in which I was accustomed to +place the map of each day's journey. We knew not how soon we might be +wandering in the mountains on foot, and without a guide. Dr. Bacon had +with him two English sovereigns, and we were uncertain what to do with +them. If we should openly give them to the robbers, we dreaded the +effect of the _auri sacra fames_. If discovered in a secret place, we +might be stripped in the search for more. The attempt to conceal them in +the earth might be perilous. They were finally placed in the waistcoat +fob, from which the watch had been taken, with the hope that the clumsy +Kurds might overlook it. + +"They began with me. The Agha, with an irresistible smile and bow of +apology, passed his hand about my waist, feeling for a money belt, then +over my dress; finding that one of my breeches' pockets was full, he +motioned me to empty it, and seemed satisfied when I drew out a +handkerchief and a pair of gloves. Dr. Bacon was then searched, even +more superficially; but as the hand passed over the waistcoat pocket, +something jingled. I held my breath as Dr. B. put in his hand and drew +out a seal, which he had bought at Mosul as an antique Upon Mr. Marsh, +the Agha found a gold pencil case, which pleased him wonderfully. On +being told of its use, he scrawled with the pencil on the beyur-haldeh, +an autograph, for which I have a peculiar value. The mystery of this +was, that he restored the pencil, with a grin of self-righteousness, to +Mr. Marsh." + +After waiting some time in suspense, the travelers were suffered to +leave, in charge of a Kurdish guard: + +"It soon became evident that we were not on the road to Oroomiah. +Whither we were going, was a matter of painful mystery. At the distance +of more than a mile, as we passed a village, a single Christian, a man +of Akkre, came out in a crowd of curious villagers, to offer his +sympathy. As each of us passed him, he bowed, with his head to the +ground, and with the strongest expression of regard, urged us to remain +with him there, as he would guarantee our safety. It was not for us, +however, to say, and we pressed forward; but Khudhr soon brought us the +intelligence, which he had obtained here, that we were being led to the +village of a Mullah, a very holy man, under whose protection we might +feel entirely secure. He added, that toward Oroomiah it would be quite +impossible to go; our only escape was toward Mosul." + +The Mullah received them kindly, entertained them a day in his house, +where all the diseased persons in the neighborhood were brought for them +to cure, and started with them early on the morning of the 30th of May, +to accompany them on their way back to Mosul. On reaching a village, +toward noon, a scene took place, which is of so much interest that we +give Mr. Bacon's account of it in full: + +"We were assisted from our horses by a remarkably ill-looking set of +men, whom we supposed to have come out to see us from curiosity. An +unprepossessing young gentleman, with a scar that divided his nose and +his upper lip, and a silver-mounted dagger, took a seat near the Mullah, +and a violent discussion immediately commenced, of the drift of which, +we were, happily, ignorant. Soon, another party of villagers appeared, +headed by another young man, who was quite the counterpart of the first, +even to the scar in his lip; but his dagger-hilt and sheath were of +solid silver, set with precious stones, and the long ringlets which hung +upon his shoulders, were still more daintily curled. The arrival of this +reinforcement renewed the violence of the discussion, between the Mullah +on one side, and the young men on the other. It plainly related to us, +and the fierce looks of the Kurds, as they walked to and fro with their +hands on their daggers, would have alarmed us, had we not had full +confidence in the power and good will of our friend. The controversy had +a good deal subsided, when the approach of still another party renewed +it once more. The Agha himself was coming. He was a man of fifty years, +with a once gray beard, dyed a bright red, and with his lower eyebrows +stained a livid blue-black. He greeted us with a ferocious smile, and +entered at once into earnest conversation with Mullah Mustafa. The +conversation was interrupted, now and then, by one of his amiable sons +leaping from his seat, and speaking violently, to the great apparent +satisfaction of the crowd. + +"We soon learned the nature of these discussions from Khudr, who had +been an attentive and agitated listener to the whole. The respectable +old gentleman, it seems, had sent his first son to murder us, placing +the second at a convenient distance to assist him. The latter, surprised +that the business lagged, came up to see to it. And the Agha himself, +finding that business lagged, came finally to attend to it himself. The +Mullah urged the danger of injuring persons of consequence. 'The sword +of the Frank is long,' said he. But this argument was without effect. +Mustafa then appealed to him not to disgrace his hospitality. These men +were under his own protection, and he would not see them wronged. This +argument also failed. He now urged that we were men of influence at +Mosul, and were going direct to Constantinople; that, by securing our +influence against his colleague and rival, Melul Agha, he might secure +a perpetual supremacy in the district of Sherwan. + +"This plea gained the case; the eyes of the old savage glistened with +diabolical satisfaction as he thought of the villainous trick he was +about to play upon his rival. He drew from his bosom a letter and handed +it to the Mullah, who read it and handed it to our servant. It was +written by Melul Agha, to Khan Abdul, our present host, directing him to +take the rest of our property, and murder us without fail. This letter +had been written on the blank page of another letter, sent to Melul +Agha, by Mustafa Agha, of Ziba, who resides at Akkre. It was the last +scoundrel who had sent letters in advance of us into the mountains, +inviting them to murder us--and this, all for the sake of making a +little impression on the government at Mosul." + +After these hair-breadth escapes from murder, the party returned in +safety to Mosul. + + + +A BATTLE WITH SNAKES. + +Since the exhibitions in London of the two Hindoo snake-charmers--the +first we believe who ever visited Europe--everything relating to +serpents seems to have acquired additional interest. Many facts +regarding the nature and habits of the various species have been +published, affording much information and still greater astonishment. + +Waterton, in his "Wanderings in South America and the Antilles, in +1812-24," relates some stories of so marvellous a character, that, +coming from a less authentic source, their truth might be +reasonably doubted. + +While in the region of Mibri Hill, Mr. Waterton long sought in vain for +a serpent of large size, and finally, offered a reward to the negroes if +they would find him one. A few days afterward one of the natives, +followed by his little dog, came to him with the information that a +snake of respectable dimensions had been discovered a short distance up +the hill; and armed with an eight feet lance, and accompanied by two +negroes with cutlasses and the dog, he at once started to take a look at +it. Mr. Waterton states that he was barefoot, with an old hat, check +shirt and trousers on, and a pair of braces to keep them up. His +snakeship was pointed out as lying at the roots of a large tree which +had been torn up by a whirlwind. But the remainder of the story shall be +given in the traveler's own words: + +I advanced up to the place slow and cautious. The snake was well +concealed, but at last I made him out; it was a coulacanara, not +poisonous, but large enough to have crushed any of us to death. On +measuring him afterward, he was something more than fourteen feet long. +This species of snake is very rare, and much thicker in proportion to +its length than any other snake in the forest. A coulacanara of fourteen +feet in length, is as thick as a common boa of twenty-four feet. After +skinning this snake, I could easily get my head into his mouth, as the +singular formation of the jaws admits of wonderful extension. + +On ascertaining the size of the serpent, I retired slowly the way I +came, and promised four dollars to the negro who had shown it to me, and +one dollar to the other who had joined us. Aware that the day was on the +decline, and that the approach of night would be detrimental to the +dissection, a thought struck me that I could take him alive. I imagined +that if I could strike him with the lance behind the head, and pin him +to the ground, I might succeed in capturing him. When I told this to the +negroes, they begged and entreated me to let them go for a gun and bring +more force, as they were sure the snake would kill some of us. Taking, +however, a cutlass from one of the negroes, and then ranging both of the +sable slaves behind me, I told them to follow me, and that I would cut +them down if they offered to fly. When we had got up to the place, the +serpent had not stirred: but I could see nothing of his head, and judged +by the folds of his body that it must be at the farthest side of the +den. A species of woodbine formed a complete mantle over the branches of +the fallen tree, almost impervious to the rain or the rays of the sun. +Probably he had resorted to this sequestered place for a length of time, +as it bore marks of an ancient settlement. + +I now took my knife, determined to cut away the woodbine, and break the +twigs in the gentlest manner possible, till I could get a view of his +head. One negro stood guard close behind me with a cutlass. The cutlass +which I had taken from the first negro, was on the ground close beside +me, in case of need. After working in dead silence for a quarter of an +hour, with one knee all the time on the ground, I had cleared away +enough to see his head. It appeared coming out between the first and +second coils of his body, and was flat on the ground. This was the very +position I wished it to be in. I rose in silence, and retreated very +slowly, making a sign to the negroes to do the same. The dog was sitting +at a distance in mute observance. I could now read in the faces of the +negroes, that they considered this a very unpleasant affair; and they +made another vain attempt to persuade me to let them go for a gun. I +smiled in a good-natured manner, and made a feint to cut them down with +the weapon I had in my hand. This was all the answer I made to their +request, and they looked very uneasy. + +It must be observed that we were about twenty yards from the snake's +den. I now ranged the negroes behind me, and told him who stood next to +me, to lay hold of the lance the moment I struck the snake, and that the +other must attend my movements. It now only remained to take their +cutlasses from them; for I was sure that if I did not disarm them, they +would be tempted to strike the snake in time of danger, and thus forever +spoil his skin. On taking their cutlasses from them, if I might judge +from their physiognomy, they seemed to consider it as a most intolerable +act of tyranny. Probably nothing kept them from bolting, but the +consolation that I was betwixt them and the snake. Indeed, my own heart, +in spite of all I could do, beat quicker than usual. We went slowly on +in silence, without moving our arms or heads, in order to prevent all +alarm as much as possible, lest the snake should glide off, or attack us +in self-defence. I carried the lance perpendicularly before me, with the +point about a foot from the ground. The snake had not moved, and on +getting up to him, I struck him with the lance on the near side, just +behind the neck, and pinned him to the ground. That moment the negro +next to me seized the lance and held it firm in its place, while I +dashed head foremost into the den to grapple with the snake, and to get +hold of his tail before he could do any mischief. + +On pinning him to the ground with the lance, he gave a tremendous loud +hiss, and the little dog ran away, howling as he went. We had a sharp +fray in the den, the rotten sticks flying on all sides, and each party +struggling for superiority. I called out to the second negro to throw +himself upon me, as I found I was not heavy enough. He did so, and the +additional weight was of great service. I had now got a firm hold of his +tail, and after a violent struggle or two, he gave in, finding himself +overpowered. This was the moment to secure him. So while the first negro +continued to hold the lance firm to the ground, and the other was +helping me, I contrived to unloosen my braces, and with them tied the +snake's mouth. + +The snake now finding himself in an unpleasant predicament, tried to +better himself, and set resolutely to work, but we overpowered him. We +contrived to make him twist himself round the shaft of the lance, and +then prepared to convey him out of the forest. I stood at his head, and +held it firm under my arm, one negro supporting the belly and the other +the tail. In this order we began to move slowly toward home, and reached +it after resting ten times; for the snake was too heavy for us to +support, without stopping to recruit our strength. As we proceeded +onward with him, he fought hard for freedom, but it was all in vain. We +untied the mouth of the bag, kept him down by main force, and then cut +his throat. + +The week following, a curious conflict took place near the spot where I +had captured the large snake. In the morning I had been following a +species of paroquet, and, the day being rainy, I had taken an umbrella +to keep the gun dry, and had left it under a tree: in the afternoon, I +took Daddy Quashi (the negro) with me to look for it. While he was +searching about, curiosity led me toward the place of the late scene of +action. There was a path where timber had formerly been dragged along. +Here I observed a young coulacanara, ten feet long, slowly moving +onward; and I saw he was thick enough to break my arm, in case he got +twisted around it. There was not a moment to be lost. I laid hold of his +tail with the left hand, one knee being on the ground; and, with the +right hand, I took off my hat, and held it as I would hold a shield +for defence. + +The snake instantly turned, and came on at me with his head about a yard +from the ground, as if to ask me what business I had to take such +liberties with his tail. I let him come, hissing and open-mouthed, +within two feet of my face, and then, with all the force that I was +master of, drove my fist, shielded by my hat, full in his jaws. He was +stunned and confounded by the blow, and, ere he could recover himself, I +had seized his throat with both hands, in such a position that he could +not bite me. I then allowed him to coil himself around my body and +marched off with him as my lawful prize. He pressed me hard, but not +alarmingly so. + + + +ESTILL'S DEFEAT. + +In the spring of 1782, a party of twenty-five Wyandots secretly +approached Estill's station, and committed shocking outrages. Entering a +cabin, they tomahawked and scalped a woman and her two daughters. The +neighborhood was instantly alarmed. Captain Estill speedily collected a +body of twenty-five men, and pursued the hostile trail with great +rapidity. He came up with the savages on Hinkston fork of Licking, +immediately after they had crossed it; and a most severe and desperate +conflict ensued. + +Estill, unfortunately, sent six of his men under Lieutenant Miller, to +attack the enemy's rear. The Indian leader immediately availed himself +of this dimunition of force, rushed upon the weakened line of his +adversaries, and compelled him to give way. A total route ensued. +Captain Estill was killed together with his gallant lieutenant, South. +Four men were wounded and fortunately escaped. Nine fell under the +tomahawk, and were scalped. The Indians also suffered severely, and are +believed to have lost half of their warriors. + +[Illustration: Attack on Estill's Station.] + + + +INCIDENT AT NIAGARA FALLS. + +On Saturday, the 13th of July, 1850, as a boy, ten years old, was rowing +his father over to their home on Grand Island, the father being so much +intoxicated as not to be able to assist any more than to steer the +canoe, the wind, which was very strong off shore, so frustrated the +efforts of his tiny arm, that the canoe in spite of him, got into the +current, and finally into the rapids, within a very few rods of the +Falls! On went the frail shell, careering and plunging as the mad waters +chose. Still the gallant little oarsman maintained his struggle with the +raging billows, and actually got the canoe, by his persevering +manoeuvring so close to Iris Island, as to have her driven by a +providential wave in between the little islands called the Sisters. Here +the father and his dauntless boy were in still greater danger for an +instant; for there is a fall between the two islands, over which had +they gone, no earthly power could have withheld their final passage to +the terrific precipice, which forms the Horse-shoe Fall. But the sudden +dash of a wave capsized the canoe, and left the two struggling in the +water. Being near a rock, and shallow, the boy lost no time, but +seizing his father by the coat collar, dragged him up to a place of +safety, where the crowd of anxious citizens awaited to lend assistance. +The poor boy on reaching the shore in safety, instantly fainted, while +his miserable father was sufficiently sobered by the perils he had +passed through. The canoe was dashed to pieces on the rocks ere it +reached its final leap. + + + +A SKATER CHASED BY A WOLF. + +A thrilling incident in American country life is vividly sketched in +"Evenings at Donaldson Manor." In the winter of 1844, the relater went +out one evening to skate, on the Kennebec, in Maine, by moonlight, and, +having ascended that river nearly two miles, turned into a little stream +to explore its course. + +"Fir and hemlock of a century's growth," he says, "met overhead and +formed an archway, radiant with frostwork. All was dark within; but I +was young and fearless; and, as I peered into an unbroken forest that +reared itself on the borders of the stream, I laughed with very +joyousness; my wild hurrah rang through the silent woods, and I stood +listening to the echo that reverberated again and again, until all was +hushed. Suddenly a sound arose--it seemed to me to come from beneath the +ice; it sounded low and tremulous at first, until it ended in a low, +wild yell. I was appalled. Never before had such a noise met my ears. I +thought it more than mortal; so fierce, and amid such an unbroken +solitude, it seemed as though from the tread of some brute animal, and +the blood rushed back to my forehead with a bound that made my skin +burn, and I felt relieved that I had to contend with things earthly and +not spiritual; my energies returned, and I looked around me for some +means of escape. As I turned my head to the shore, I could see two dark +objects dashing through the underbrush, at a pace nearly double in speed +to my own. By this rapidity, and the short yells they occasionally gave, +I knew at once that these were the much-dreaded gray wolf. + +"I had never met with these animals, but, from the description given of +them, I had very little pleasure in making their acquaintance. Their +untamable fierceness, and the enduring strength, which seems part of +their nature, render them objects of dread to every benighted traveler. + +"There was no time for thought; so I bent my head and dashed madly +forward. Nature turned me toward home. The light flakes of snow spun +from the iron skates, and I was some distance from my pursuers, when +their fierce howl told me I was their fugitive. I did not look back; I +did not feel afraid, or sorry, or even glad; one thought of home, the +bright faces waiting my return--of their tears, if they should never see +me again, and then every energy of body and mind was exerted for escape. +I was perfectly at home on the ice. Many were the days that I had spent +on my good skates, never thinking that at one time they would be my only +means of safety. Every half minute, an alternate yelp from my ferocious +followers, told me too certain that they were in close pursuit. Nearer +and nearer they came; I heard their feet pattering on the ice nearer +still, until I could feel their breath, and hear their sniffling scent. + +"Every nerve and muscle in my frame was stretched to the utmost tension. +The trees along the shore seemed to dance in the uncertain light, and my +brain turned with my own breathless speed, yet still they seemed to hiss +forth their breath with a sound truly horrible, when an involuntary +motion on my part, turned me out of my course. The wolves, close behind, +unable to stop, and as unable to turn on the smooth ice, slipped and +fell, still going on far ahead; their tongues were lolling out, their +white tusks glaring from their bloody mouths, their dark, shaggy breasts +were fleeced with foam, and, as they passed me, their eyes glared, and +they howled with fury. + +"The thought flashed on my mind, that, by these means, I could avoid +them, viz: by turning aside whenever they came too near; for they, by +the formation of their feet, are unable to run on the ice, except in a +straight line. + +"At one time, by delaying my turning too long, my sanguinary antagonists +came so near, that they threw the white foam over my dress, as they +sprang to seize me, and their teeth clashed together like the spring of +a fox-trap! + +"Had my skates failed for one instant, had I tripped on a stick, or +caught my foot in a fissure in the ice, the story I am now telling would +never have been told. + +"I thought over all the chances; I knew where they would take hold of +me, if I fell; I thought how long it would be before I died; and then +there would be a search for the body that would already have its tomb! +for, oh! how fast man's mind traces out all the dread colors of death's +picture, only those who have been so near the grim original can tell. + +"But I soon came opposite the house, and, my hounds,--I knew their deep +voices,--roused by the noise, bayed furiously from the kennels. I heard +their chains rattle; how I wished they would break them! and then I +would have protectors that would be peer to the fiercest denizens of the +forest. The wolves, taking the hint conveyed by the dogs, stopped in +their mad career, and, after a moment's consideration, turned and fled. +I watched them until their dusky forms disappeared over a neighboring +hill; then, taking off my skates, I wended my way to the house, with +feelings which may be better imagined than described. But, even yet, I +never see a broad sheet of ice in the moonshine, without thinking of the +sniffling breath, and those fearful things that followed me closely down +the frozen Kennebec." + + + +OUR FLAG ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS + +We find the following incident of placing the American flag on the +highest point of the Rocky Mountains, in "Col. Fremont's Narrative:" + +We managed to get our mules up to a little bench about a hundred feet +above the lakes, where there was a patch of good grass, and turned them +loose to graze. During our rough ride to this place, they had exhibited +a wonderful surefootedness. Parts of the defile were filled with +angular, sharp fragments of rock, three or four and eight or ten feet +cube; and among these they had worked their way leaping from one narrow +point to another, rarely making a false step, and giving us no occasion +to dismount. Having divested ourselves of every unnecessary encumbrance, +we commenced the ascent. This time, like experienced travelers, we did +not press ourselves, but climbed leisurely, sitting down so soon as we +found breath beginning to fail. At intervals, we readied places where a +number of springs gushed from the rocks, and, about 1800 feet above the +lakes, came to the snow line. From this point, our progress was +uninterrupted climbing. Hitherto, I had worn a pair of thick moccasins, +with soles of _parfleche_, but here I put on a light, thin pair, which I +had brought for the purpose, as now the use of our toes became necessary +to a further advance. I availed myself of a sort of comb of the +mountain, which stood against the wall like a buttress, and which the +wind and the solar radiation, joined to the steepness of the smooth +rock, had kept almost entirely free from snow. Up this, I made my way +rapidly. Our cautious method of advancing, at the outset, had spared my +strength; and, with the exception of a slight disposition to headache, +I felt no remains of yesterday's illness, In a few minutes we reached a +point where the buttress was overhanging, and there was no other way of +surmounting the difficulty than by passing around one side of it, which +was the face of a vertical precipice of several hundred feet. + +Putting hands and feet in the crevices between the blocks, I succeeded +in getting over it, and, when I reached the top, found my companions in +a small valley below. Descending to them, we continued climbing, and in +a short time reached the crest. I sprang upon the summit, and another +step would have precipitated me into an immense snow field, five hundred +feet below. To the edge of this field was a sheer icy precipice; and +then, with a gradual fall, the field sloped off for about a mile, until +it struck the foot of another lower ridge. I stood on a narrow crest, +about three feet in width, with an inclination of about 20 deg. N., 51 deg. E. +As soon as I had gratified the first feelings of curiosity, I descended, +and each man ascended in his turn; for I would only allow one at a time +to mount the unstable and precarious slab, which, it seemed, a breath +would hurl into the abyss below. We mounted the barometer in the snow of +the summit, and, fixing a ramrod in a crevice, unfurled the national +flag to wave in the breeze, where flag never waved before. + +[Illustration: OUR FLAG ON THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.] + +During our morning's ascent, we had met no sign of animal life, except +a small sparrow-like bird. A stillness the most profound, and a terrible +solitude, forced themselves constantly on the mind as the great features +of the place. Here, on the summit, where the stillness was absolute, +unbroken by any sound, and solitude complete, we thought ourselves +beyond the region of animated life; but, while we were sitting on the +rock, a solitary bee (_bromus, the humble-bee_) came winging his flight +from the eastern valley, and lit on the knee of one of the men. + +It was a strange place, the icy rock and the highest peak of the Rocky +mountains, for a lover of warm sunshine and flowers; and we pleased +ourselves with the idea that he was the first of his species to cross +the mountain barrier--a solitary pioneer to foretell the advance of +civilization. I believe that a moment's thought would have made us let +him continue his way unharmed; but we carried out the law of this +country, where all animated nature seems at war; and, seizing him +immediately, put him in at least a fit place--in the leaves of a large +book, among the flowers we had collected on our way. + + + +RUNNING THE CANON. + +Col. Fremont, in his narrative, gives the following account of a +perilous adventure of himself and party, in attempting to run a canon, +on the river Platte. They had previously passed three cataracts: + +We reembarked at nine o'clock, and, in about twenty minutes, reached the +next canon. Landing on a rocky shore at its commencement, we ascended +the ridge to reconnoiter. Portage was out of the question. So far as we +could see, the jagged rocks pointed out the course of the canon, on a +winding line of seven or eight miles. It was simply a narrow, dark chasm +in the rock; and here the perpendicular faces were much higher than in +the previous pass, being at this end two to three hundred, and further +down, as we afterward ascertained, five hundred feet in vertical height. + +Our previous success had made us bold, and we determined again to run +the canon. Every thing was secured as firmly as possible; and, having +divested ourselves of the greater part of our clothing, we pushed into +the stream. To save our chronometer from accident, Mr. Preuss took it, +and attempted to proceed along the shore on the masses of rock, which, +in places, were piled up on either side; but, after he had walked about +five minutes, every thing like shore disappeared, and the vertical wall +came squarely down into the water. He therefore waited until we came up. + +An ugly pass lay before us. We had made fast to the stern of the boat a +strong rope about fifty feet long; and three of the men clambered along +among the rocks, and, with this rope, let her slowly through the pass. +In several places, high rocks lay scattered about in the channel; and, +in the narrows, it required all our strength and skill to avoid staving +the boat on the sharp points. In one of these, the boat proved a little +too broad, and stuck fast for an instant, while the water flew over us; +fortunately, it was but for an instant, as our united strength forced +her immediately through. The water swept overboard only a sextant and a +pair of saddle-bags. I caught the sextant as it passed by me; but the +saddle-bags became the prey of the whirlpools. We reached the place +where Mr. Preuss was standing, took him on board, and, with the aid of +the boat, put the men with the rope on the succeeding pile of rocks. + +We found this passage much worse than the previous one, and our +position was rather a bad one. To go back was impossible; before us, the +cataract was a sheet of foam; and, shut up in the chasm by the rocks, +which, in some places, seemed almost to meet overhead, the roar of the +water was deafening, We pushed off again; but, after making a little +distance, the force of the current became too great for the men on +shore, and two of them let go the rope. Lajeunesse, the third man, hung +on, and was jerked headforemost into the river, from a rock about twelve +feet high; and down the boat shot, like an arrow, Bazil following us in +the rapid current, and exerting all his strength to keep in mid +channel--his head only seen occasionally like a black spot in the white +foam. How far we went, I do not exactly know; but we succeeded in +turning the boat into an eddy below. "_'Cre Dieu,_" said Bazil +Lajeunesse, as he arrived immediately after us, "_Je crois bien que j'ai +nage un demi mile._" He had owed his life to his skill as a swimmer, and +I determined to take him and two others on board, and trust to skill and +fortune to reach the other end in safety. We placed ourselves on our +knees, with the short paddles in our hands, the most skillful boatman +being at the bow; and again we commenced our rapid descent. We cleared +rock after rock, and shot past fall after fall, our little boat seeming +to play with the cataract. We became flushed with success, and familiar +with danger; and, yielding to the excitement of the occasion, broke +forth into a Canadian boat-song. Singing, or rather shouting, we dashed +along, and were, I believe, in the midst of the chorus, when the boat +struck a concealed rock immediately at the foot of a fall, which whirled +her over in an instant. Three of my men could not swim, and my first +feeling was to assist them, and save some of our effects; but a sharp +concussion or two convinced me that I had not yet saved myself. A few +strokes brought me into an eddy, and I landed on a pile of rocks on the +left side. Looking around, I saw that Mr. Preuss had gained the shore on +the same side, about twenty yards below; and a little climbing and +swimming soon brought him to my side. On the opposite side, against the +wall, lay the boat, bottom up; and Lambert was in the act of saving +Descoteaux, whom he had grasped by the hair, and who could not swim. + +For a hundred yards below, the current was covered with floating books +and boxes, bales and blankets, and scattered articles of clothing; and +so strong and boiling was the stream, that even our heavy instruments, +which were all in cases, kept on the surface, and the sextant, circle, +and the long, black box of the telescope, were in view at once. For a +moment, I felt somewhat disheartened. All our books--almost every record +of the journey--our journals and registers of astronomical and +barometrical observations--had been lost in a moment, But it was no time +to indulge in regrets; and I immediately set about endeavoring to save +something from the wreck. Making ourselves understood as well as +possible by signs, (for nothing could be heard in the roar of the +waters,) we commenced our operations. Of every thing on board, the only +article that had been saved was my double-barreled gun, which Descoteaux +had caught and clung to with drowning tenacity. The men continued down +the river on the left bank. Mr. Preuss and myself descended on the side +we were on; and Lajeunesse, with a paddle in his hand, jumped on the +boat alone, and continued down the canon. She was now light, and cleared +every bad place with much less difficulty. In a short time he was joined +by Lambert and the search was continued for about a mile and a half, +which was as far as the boat could proceed in the pass. + +Here the walls were about five hundred feet high, and the fragments of +rocks from above had choked the river into a hollow pass, but one or two +feet above the surface. Through this, and the interstices of the rock, +the water found its way. Favored beyond our expectations, all our +registers had been recovered, with the exception of one of my journals, +which contained the notes and incidents of travel, and topographical +descriptions, a number of scattered astronomical observations, +principally meridian altitudes of the sun, and our barometrical register +west of Laramie. Fortunately, our other journals contained duplicates of +the most important barometrical observations. In addition to these, we +saved the circle; and these, with a few blankets, constituted every +thing that had been rescued from the waters. + + + +THE RESCUE. + +A young girl has been captured at her father's hut, when all the males +of the household are absent hunting wolves. She is seized by the +Indians, and borne swiftly away to the encampment of a war party of the +Osages. She is then placed in a "land canoe" and hurried rapidly forward +toward their villages. Among the party she recognizes one whose life she +had been instrumental in saving, when a prisoner. He recognizes her, and +promises to assist her escape. At this point the following narrative +commences: + +At a late and solemn hour, the Indian who had been the captive the night +before, suddenly ceased his snoring, which had been heard without +intermission for a great length of time; and when Mary instinctively +cast her eyes toward him, she was surprised to see him gently and slowly +raise his head. He enjoined silence by placing his hand upon his mouth. +After carefully disengaging himself from his comrades, he crept quietly +away, and soon vanished entirely from sight on the northern side of the +spreading beech. Mary expected he would soon return and assist her to +escape. Although she was aware of the hardships and perils that would +attend her flight, yet the thought of again meeting her friends was +enough to nerve her for the undertaking, and she waited with anxious +impatience the coming of her rescuer. But he came not. She could +attribute no other design in his conduct but that of effecting her +escape, and yet he neither came for her, nor beckoned her away. She had +reposed confidence in his promise, for she knew that the Indian, savage +as he was, rarely forfeited his word; but when gratitude inspired a +pledge, she could not believe that he would use deceit. The fire was now +burning quite low, and its waning light scarce cast a beam upon the +branches overhead. It was evidently not far from morning, and every hope +of present escape entirely fled from her bosom. But just as she was +yielding to despair, she saw the Indian returning in a stealthy pace, +bearing some dark object in his arms. He glided to her side, and +motioned to her to leave the snow-canoe, and also to take with her all +her robes with which she had been enveloped. She did his bidding, and +then he carefully deposited the burden he bore in the place she had just +occupied. A portion of the object becoming unwrapped, Mary discovered it +to be a huge mass of snow, resembling in some respects a human form, and +the Indian's stratagem was at once apparent to her. Relinquishing +herself to his guidance, she was led noiselessly through the bushes +about a hundred paces distant from the fire, to a large fallen tree that +had yielded to some furious storm, when her conductor paused. He pointed +to a spot where a curve caused the huge trunk to rise about a foot from +the surface of the snow, under which was a round hole cut through the +drifted snow down to the earth, and in which were deposited several +buffalo robes, and so arranged that a person could repose within, +without coming in contact with the frozen element around. Mary looked +down, and then at her companion to ascertain his intentions. He spoke to +her in a low tone, enough of which she comprehended to understand that +he desired her to descend into the pit without delay. She obeyed, and +when he had carefully folded the robes and divers furs about her body, +he stepped a few paces to one side, and gently lifting up a round lid of +snow-crust, placed it over the aperture. It had been so smoothly cut, +and fitted with such precision when replaced, that no one would have +been able to discover that an incision had been made. He then bid Mary a +"dud by" in bad English, and set off on a run in a northern direction +for the purpose of joining the whites. + +With the first light of morning, the war-party sprang to their feet, and +hastily despatching a slight repast, they set out on their journey with +renewed animation and increased rapidity. Before starting, the chief +called to Mary, and again offered some food; but no reply being +returned, or motion discovered under the robe which he imagined +enveloped her, he supposed she was sleeping, and directed the party to +select the most even route when they emerged in the prairie, that she +might as much as possible enjoy her repose. + +The Indian who had planned and executed the escape of Mary, with the +well-devised cunning for which the race is proverbial, had told his +companions that he would rise before day and pursue the same direction +in advance of them, and endeavor to kill a deer for their next night's +meal. Thus his absence created no suspicion, and the party continued +their precipitate retreat. + +But, about noon, after casting many glances back at the supposed form of +the captive reclining peacefully in the snow-canoe, the chief, with much +excitement, betrayed by his looks, which seemed to be mingled with an +apprehension that she was dead, abruptly ordered the party to halt. He +sprang to the canoe, and convulsively tearing away the skins, discovered +only the roll of snow! He at first compressed his lips in momentary +rage, and then burst into a fit of irrepressible laughter. But the rest +raved and stamped, and uttered direful imprecations and threats of +vengeance. Immediately they were aware of the treachery of the absent +Indian, and resolved with one voice that his blood should be an +atonement for the act. + +The snow was quickly thrown out, and the war-party adjusted their +weapons, with the expectation of encountering the whites; and then +whirling about they retraced their steps far more swiftly than they had +been advancing. Just as the night was setting in, they came in sight of +the grove where they had encamped. They slackened their pace, and +looking eagerly forward, seemed to think it not improbable that the +whites had arrived in the vicinity, and might be lying in ambush +awaiting their return in search of the maid. They then abandoned the +canoe, after having concealed it under some low bushes, and entered the +grove in a stooping and watchful posture. Ere long the chief attained +the immediate neighbor of the spreading tree, and with an arrow drawn to +its head, crept within a few paces of the spot where he had lain the +preceding night. His party were mostly a few feet in the rear, while a +few were approaching in the same manner from the opposite direction. +Hearing no sound whatever, he rose up slowly, and with an "ugh" of +disappointment, strode carelessly across the silent and untenanted place +of encampment. + +Vexation and anger were expressed by the savages in being thus +disappointed. They hoped to wreak their vengeance on the whites, and +resolved to recapture the maiden. Where they expected to find them, the +scene was silent and desolate. And they now sauntered about under the +trees in the partial light of the moon that struggled through the matted +branches, threatening in the most horrid manner, the one who had thus +baffled them. Some struck their tomahawks into the trunks of trees, +while others brandished their knives, and uttered direful threats. The +young chief stood in silence, with his arms folded on his breast. A +small ray of light that fell upon his face exhibited a meditative brow, +and features expressing both firmness and determination. He had said +that the captive should be regained, and his followers ever and anon +regarded his thoughtful attitude with the confidence that his decision +would hasten the accomplishment of their desires. Long he remained thus, +motionless and dignified, and no one dared to address him. + +The young chief called one of the oldest of the party, who was standing +a few paces distant absorbed in thought, to his side, and after a short +conference the old savage prostrated himself on the snow, and +endeavored, like a hound, to scent the tracks of his recreant brother. +At first he met with no success, but when making a wide circuit round +the premises, still applying his nose to the ground occasionally, and +minutely examining the bushes, he paused abruptly, and announced to the +party that he had found the precise direction taken by the maid and her +deliverer. Instantly they all clustered round him, evincing the most +intense interest. Some smelt the surface of the snow, and others +examined the bushes. Small twigs, not larger than pins, were picked up +and closely scrutinized. They well knew that anyone passing through the +frozen and clustered bushes must inevitably sever some of the twigs and +buds Their progress was slow, but unerring. The course they pursued was +the direction taken by Mary and her rescuer. It was not long before they +arrived within a few feet of the place of the maiden's concealment. But +now they were at fault. There were no bushes immediately around the +fallen tree. They paused, the chief in the van, with their bows and +arrows and tomahawks in readiness for instant use. They knew that the +maiden could not return to her friends on foot, or the treacherous +savage be able to bear her far on his shoulder. They thought that one or +both must be concealed somewhere in the neighborhood, and the fallen +tree, were it hollow, was the place most likely to be selected for that +purpose. After scanning the fallen trunk a few minutes in silence, and +discovering nothing to realize their hopes, they uttered a terrific +yell, and commenced striking their tomahawks in the wood, and ripping up +the bark in quest of some hiding-place. But their search was in vain. +The fallen trunk was sound and solid throughout, and the young chief sat +down on it within three paces of Mary! Others, in passing about, +frequently trod on the very verge of the concealed pit. + +Mary was awakened by the yell, but knew not that the sound came from her +enemies. The Indian had told her that he would soon return, and her +heart now fluttered with the hope that her father and her friends were +at hand. Yet she prudently determined not to rush from her concealment +until she was better assured of the fact. She did not think that the +savages would ever suspect that she was hid under the snow, but yet she +thought it very strange that her father did not come to her at once. +Several minutes had elapsed since she had been startled by the sounds in +the immediate vicinity. She heard the tramp of men almost directly over +her head, and the strokes against the fallen trunk. She was several +times on the eve of rising up, but was as often withheld by some +mysterious impulse. She endeavored to reflect calmly, but still she +could not, by any mode of conjecture, realize the probability of her +foes having returned and traced her thither. Yet an undefinable fear +still possessed her, and she endeavored with patience to await the +pleasure of her friends. But when the chief seated himself in her +vicinity, and fell into one of his fits of abstraction, and the whole +party became comparatively still and hushed, the poor girl's suspense +was almost insufferable. She knew that human beings were all around her, +and yet her situation was truly pitiable and lonely. She felt assured +that if the war-party had returned in pursuit of her, the means which +enabled them to trace their victim to the fallen trunk would likewise +have sufficed to indicate her hiding place. Then why should they +hesitate? The yells that awakened her were not heard distinctly, and +under the circumstances she could not believe that she was surrounded by +savages. On the other hand, if they were her friends, why did they not +relieve her? Now a sudden, but, alas! erroneous thought occurred to her. +She was persuaded that they were her friends, but that the friendly +Indian was not with them--he had perhaps directed them where she could +be found, and then returned to his home. Might not her friends, at that +moment, be anxiously searching for her? Would not one word suffice to +dispel their solicitude, and restore the lost one to their arms? She +resolved to speak. Bowing down her head slightly, so that her precise +location might not instantly be ascertained, she uttered in a soft voice +the word "FATHER!" The chief sprang from his seat, and the party was +instantly in commotion. Some of the savages looked above, among the +twining branches, and some shot their arrows in the snow, but +fortunately not in the direction of Mary while others ran about in every +direction, examining all the large trees in the vicinity. The chief was +amazed and utterly confounded. He drew not forth an arrow, nor +brandished a tomahawk. While he thus stood, and the rest of the party +were moving hurriedly about, a few paces distant, Mary again repeated +the word "FATHER!" As suddenly as if by enchantment every savage was +paralyzed. Each stood as devoid of animation as a statue. For many +moments an intense silence reigned, as if naught existed there but the +cheerless forest trees. Slowly at length, the tomahawk was returned to +the belt, and the arrow to the quiver. No longer was a desire to spill +blood manifested. The dusky children of the forest attributed to the +mysterious sound a supernatural agency. They believed it was a voice +from the perennial hunting grounds. Humbly they bowed their heads, and +whispered devotions to the Great Spirit. The young chief alone stood +erect. He gazed at the round moon above him, and sighs burst from his +breast, and burning tears ran down his stained cheek. Impatiently, by a +motion of the hand, he directed the savages to leave him, and when they +withdrew he resumed his seat on the fallen trunk, and reclined his brow +upon his hand. One of the long feathers that decked his head waved +forward, after he had been seated thus a few minutes, and when his eye +rested upon it he started up wildly, and tearing it away, trampled it +under his feet. At that instant the same "FATHER!" was again heard. The +young chief fell upon his knees, and, while he panted convulsively, +said, in English, "Father! Mother! I'm your poor William--you loved me +much--where are you? Oh tell me--I will come to you--I want to see you!" +He then fell prostrate and groaned piteously. "Father! Oh! where +are you?" + +"Whose voice was that?" said Mary, breaking through the slight +incrustation that obscured her, and leaping from her covert. + +The young chief sprang from the earth--gazed a moment at the maid--spoke +rapidly and loudly in the language of his tribe to his party, who were +now at the place of encampment, seated by the fire they had kindled--and +then, seizing his tomahawk, was in the act of hurling it at Mary, when +the yells of the war-party and the ringing discharges of fire-arms +arrested his steel when brandished in the air. The white men had +arrived! The young chief seized Mary by her long, flowing hair--again +prepared to strike the fatal blow--when she turned her face upward, and +he again hesitated. Discharges in quick succession, and nearer than +before, still rang in his ears. Mary strove not to escape. Nor did the +Indian strike. The whites were heard rushing through the bushes--the +chief seized the trembling girl in his arms--a bullet whizzed by his +head---but, unmindful of danger, he vanished among the dark bushes with +his burden. + +"She's gone! she's gone!" exclaimed Roughgrove, looking aghast at the +vacated pit under the fallen trunk. + +"But we will have her yet," said Boone, as he heard Glenn discharge a +pistol a few paces apart in the bushes. The report was followed by a +yell, not from the chief, but Sneak, and the next moment the rifle of +the latter was likewise heard. Still the Indian was not dispatched, for +the instant afterward his tomahawk, which had been hurled without +effect, came sailing over the bushes, and penetrated a tree hard by, +some fifteen or twenty feet above the earth, where it entered the wood +with such a force that it remained firmly fixed. Now succeeded a +struggle--a violent blow was heard--the fall of the Indian, and all was +still. A minute afterward Sneak emerged from the thicket, bearing Mary +in his arms, and followed by Glenn. + +"Is she dead? Oh, she's dead!" cried Roughgrove, snatching her from the +arms of Sneak. + +"She has only fainted!" exclaimed Glenn, examining the body of the girl, +and finding no wounds. + +"She's recovering!" said Boone, feeling her pulse. + +"God be praised!" exclaimed Roughgrove, when returning animation was +manifest. + +"Oh, I know you won't kill me! for pity's sake, spare me!" said Mary. + +"It is your father, my poor child!" said Roughgrove, pressing the girl +to his heart. + +"It is! it is!" cried the happy girl, clinging rapturously to the old +man's neck, and then, seizing the hands of the rest, she seemed to be +half wild with delight. + + + +SHIPWRECK OF THE MEDUSA. + +On the 17th of June, 1816, the Medusa, French frigate, commanded by +Captain Chaumareys, and accompanied by three smaller vessels, sailed +from the island of Aix, for the coast of Africa, in order to take +possession of some colonies. On the 1st of July, they entered the +tropics; and there, with a childish disregard to danger, and knowing +that she was surrounded by all the unseen perils of the ocean, her crew +performed the ceremony usual to the occasion, while the vessel was +running headlong on destruction. The captain, presided over the +disgraceful scene of merriment, leaving the ship to the command of an M. +Richefort, who had passed the ten preceding years of his life in an +English prison--a few persons on board remonstrated in vain; though it +was ascertained that they were on the banks of Arguise, she continued +her course, and heaved the lead, without slackening the sail. Every +thing denoted shallow water, but M. Richefort persisted in saying that +they were in one hundred fathoms. At that very moment only six fathoms +were found; and the vessel struck three times, being in about sixteen +feet water, and the tide full flood. At ebb-tide, there remained but +twelve feet water; and after some bungling manoeuvres, all hope of +getting the ship off was abandoned. + +When the frigate struck, she had on board six boats, of various +capacities, all of which could not contain the crew and passengers; and +a raft was constructed. A dreadful scene ensued. All scrambled out of +the wreck without order or precaution. The first who reached the boats +refused to admit any of their fellow-sufferers into them, though there +was ample room for more. Some, apprehending that a plot had been formed +to abandon them in the vessel, flew to arms. No one assisted his +companions; and Captain Chaumareys stole out of a port-hole into his own +boat, leaving a great part of the crew to shift for themselves. At +length they put off to sea, intending to steer for the sandy coast of +the desert, there to land, and thence to proceed with a caravan to the +island of St. Louis. + +The raft had been constructed without foresight or intelligence. It was +about sixty-five feet long and twenty-five broad, but the only part +which could be depended upon was the middle; and that was so small, that +fifteen persons could not lie down upon it. Those who stood on the floor +were in constant danger of slipping through between the planks; the sea +flowed in on all its sides. When one hundred and fifty passengers who +were destined to be its burden, were on board, they stood like a solid +parallelogram, without a possibility of moving; and they were up to +their waists in water. + +The desperate squadron had only proceeded three leagues, when a faulty, +if not treacherous manoeuvre, broke the tow-line which fastened the +captain's boat to the raft; and this became the signal to all to let +loose their cables. The weather was calm. The coast was known to be but +twelve or fifteen leagues distant; and the land was in fact discovered +by the boats on the very same evening on which they abandoned the raft. +They were not therefore driven to this measure by any new perils; and +the cry of "_Nous les abandonons_!" which resounded throughout the line, +was the yell of a spontaneous and instinctive impulse of cowardice, +perfidy, and cruelty; and the impulse was as unanimous as it was +diabolical. The raft was left to the mercy of the waves; one after +another, the boats disappeared, and despair became general. Not one of +the promised articles, no provisions, except a very few casks of wine, +and some spoiled biscuit, sufficient for one single meal was found. A +small pocket compass, which chance had discovered, their last guide in a +trackless ocean, fell between the beams into the sea. As the crew had +taken no nourishment since morning, some wine and biscuit were +distributed; and this day, the first of thirteen on the raft, was the +last on which they tasted any solid food--except such as human nature +shudders at. The only thing which kept them alive was the hope of +revenge on those who had treacherously betrayed them. + +The first night was stormy; and the waves, which had free access, +committed dreadful ravages, and threatened worse. When day appeared, +twelve miserable wretches were found crushed to death between the +openings of the raft, and several more were missing; but the number +could not be ascertained, as several soldiers had taken the billets of +the dead, in order to obtain two, or even three rations. The second +night was still more dreadful, and many were washed off; although the +crew had so crowded together, that some were smothered by the mere +pressure. To soothe their last moments, the soldiers drank immoderately; +and one, who affected to rest himself upon the side, but was +treacherously cutting the ropes, was thrown into the sea. Another, whom +M. Correard had snatched from the waves, turned traitor a second time, +as soon as he recovered his senses; but he too was killed. At length the +revolted, who were chiefly soldiers, threw themselves upon their knees, +and abjectly implored mercy. At midnight, however, they rebelled again. +Those who had no arms, fought with their teeth, and thus many severe +wounds were inflicted. One was most wantonly and dreadfully bitten above +the heel, while his companions were beating him upon the head with their +carbines, before throwing him into the sea. The raft was strewed with +dead bodies, after innumerable instances of treachery and cruelty; and +from sixty to sixty-five perished that night. The force and courage of +the strongest began to yield to their misfortunes; and even the most +resolute labored under mental derangement. In the conflict, the revolted +had thrown two casks of wine, and all the remaining water, into the sea; +and it became necessary to diminish each man's share. + +A day of comparative tranquillity succeeded. The survivors erected their +mast again, which had been wantonly cut down in the battle of the night; +and endeavored to catch some fish, but in vain. They were reduced to +feed on the dead bodies of their companions. A third night followed, +broken by the plaintive cries of wretches, exposed to every kind of +suffering, ten or twelve of whom died of want, and awfully foretold the +fate of the remainder. The following day was fine. Some flying fish were +caught in the raft; which, mixed up with human flesh, afforded one +scanty meal. + +[Illustration] + +A new insurrection to destroy the raft, broke out on the fourth night; +this too, was marked by perfidy, and ended in blood. Most of the rebels +were thrown into the sea. The fifth morning mustered but thirty men +alive; and these sick and wounded, with the skin of their lower +extremities corroded by the salt water. Two soldiers were detected +drinking the wine of the only remaining cask; they were instantly thrown +into the sea. One boy died, and there remained only twenty-seven; of +whom fifteen only seemed likely to live. A council of war, preceded by +the most horrid despair, was held; as the weak consumed a part of the +common store, they determined to throw them into the sea. This sentence +was put into immediate execution! and all the arms on board, which now +filled their minds with horror, were, with the exception of a single +sabre, committed to the deep. Distress and misery increased with an +accelerated ratio; and even after the desperate means of destroying +their companions, and eating the most nauseous aliments, the surviving +fifteen could not hope for more than a few days' existence. A butterfly +lighted on their sail the ninth day, and though it was held to be a +messenger of good, yet many a greedy eye was cast upon it. + +Three days more passed over in inexpressible anguish, when they +constructed a smaller and more manageable raft, in the hope of directing +it to the shore; but on trial it was found insufficient. On the +seventeenth day, a brig was seen; which, after exciting the vicissitude +of hope and fear, proved to be the Argus, sent out in quest of the +Medusa. The inhabitants of the raft were all received on board, and were +again very nearly perishing, by a fire which broke out in the night. The +six boats which had so cruelly cast them adrift, reached the coast of +Africa in safety; and after many dangers among the Moors, the survivors +arrived at St. Louis. + +After this, a vessel was dispatched to the wreck of the Medusa, to carry +away the money and provisions; after beating about for eight days, she +was forced to return. She again put to sea, but after being away five +days, again came back. Ten days more were lost in repairing her; and she +did not reach the spot till fifty-two days after the vessel had been +lost; and dreadful to relate, three miserable sufferers were found on +board. Sixty men had been abandoned there by their magnanimous +countrymen. All these had been carried off except seventeen, some of +whom were drunk, and others refused to leave the vessel. They remained +at peace as long as their provisions lasted. Twelve embarked on board a +raft, for Sahara, and were never more heard of. Another put to sea on a +hen-coop, and sunk immediately. Four remained behind, one of whom, +exhausted with hunger and fatigue, perished. The other three lived in +separate corners of the wreck, and never met but to run at each other +with drawn _knives_. They were put on board the vessel, with all that +could be saved from the wreck of the Medusa. + +The vessel was no sooner seen returning to St. Louis, than every heart +beat high with joy, in the hope of recovering some property. The men and +officers of the Medusa jumped on board, and asked if any thing had been +saved. "Yes," was the reply, "but it is all ours now;" and the naked +Frenchmen, whose calamities had found pity from the Moors of the desert, +were now deliberately plundered by their own countrymen. + +A fair was held in the town, which lasted eight days. The clothes, +furniture, and necessary articles of life belonging to the men and +officers of the Medusa, were publicly sold before their faces. Such of +the French as were able, proceeded to the camp at Daceard, and the sick +remained at St. Louis. The French governor had promised them clothes and +provisions, but sent none; and during five months, they owed their +existence to strangers--to the British. + + + +HUNTING THE MOOSE. + +The habits of the moose, in his manner of defence and attack, are +similar to those of the stag, and may be illustrated by the following +anecdote from the "Random Sketches of a Kentuckian:" + +Who ever saw Bravo without loving him? His sloe-black eyes, his glossy +skin, flecked here and there with blue; his wide-spread thighs, clean +shoulders, broad back, and low-drooping chest, bespoke him the true +stag-hound; and none, who ever saw his bounding form, or heard his +deep-toned bay, as the swift-footed stag flew before him, would dispute +his title. List, gentle reader, and I will tell you an adventure which +will make you love him all the more. + +A bright, frosty morning in November, 1838, tempted me to visit the +forest hunting-grounds. On this occasion, I was followed by a +fine-looking hound, which had been presented to me a few days before by +a fellow-sportsman. I was anxious to test his qualities, and, knowing +that a mean dog will not often hunt well with a good one, I had tied up +the eager Bravo, and was attended by the strange dog alone. A brisk +canter of half an hour brought me to the wild forest hills. Slackening +the rein, I slowly wound my way up a brushy slope some three hundred +yards in length. I had ascended about half way, when the hound began to +exhibit signs of uneasiness, and, at the same instant a stag sprang out +from some underbrush near by, and rushed like a whirlwind up the slope. +A word, and the hound was crouching at my feet, and my trained Cherokee, +with ear erect, and flashing eye, watched the course of the +affrighted animal. + +"On the very summit of the ridge, full one hundred and fifty yards, +every limb standing out in bold relief against the clear, blue sky, the +stag paused, and looked proudly down upon us. After a moment of +indecision, I raised my rifle, and sent the whizzing lead upon its +errand. A single bound, and the antlered monarch was hidden from my +view. Hastily running down a ball, I ascended the slope; my blood ran a +little faster as I saw the gouts of blood' which stained the withered +leaves where he had stood. One moment more, and the excited hound was +leaping breast high on his trail, and the gallant Cherokee bore his +rider like lightning after them. + +"Away--away! for hours we did thus hasten on, without once being at +fault, or checking our headlong speed. The chase had led us miles from +the starting-point, and now appeared to be bearing up a creek, on one +side of which arose a precipitous hill, some two miles in length, which +I knew the wounded animal would never ascend. + +"Half a mile further on, another hill reared its bleak and barren head +on the opposite side of the rivulet. Once fairly in the gorge, there was +no exit save at the upper end of the ravine. Here, then, I must +intercept my game, which I was able to do by taking a nearer cut over +the ridge, that saved at least a mile. + +"Giving one parting shout to cheer my dog, Cherokee bore me headlong to +the pass. I had scarcely arrived, when, black with sweat, the stag came +laboring up the gorge, seemingly, totally reckless of our presence. +Again I poured forth the 'leaden messenger of death,' as meteor-like he +flashed by us. One bound, and the noble animal lay prostrate within +fifty feet of where I stood. Leaping from my horse, and placing one knee +upon his shoulder, and a hand upon his antlers, I drew my hunting +knife; but scarcely had its keen point touched his neck, when, with a +sudden bound, he threw me from his body, and my knife was hurled from my +hand. In hunters' parlance, I had only 'creased him.' I at once saw my +danger, but it was too late. With one bound, he was upon me, wounding +and almost disabling me with his sharp feet and horns. I seized him by +his wide-spread antlers, and sought to regain possession of my knife, +but in vain; each new struggle drew us further from it. Cherokee, +frightened at the unusual scene, had madly fled to the top of the ridge, +where he stood looking down upon the combat, trembling and quivering in +every limb. + +"The ridge road I had taken placed us far in advance of the hound, whose +bay I could not now hear. The struggles of the furious animal had become +dreadful, and every moment I could feel his sharp hoofs cutting deep +into my flesh; my grasp upon his antlers was growing less and less firm, +and yet I relinquished not my hold. The struggle had brought us near a +deep ditch, washed by the fall rains, and into this I endeavored to +force my adversary, but my strength was unequal to the effort; when we +approached to the very brink, he leaped over the drain. I relinquished +my hold and rolled in, hoping thus to escape him; but he returned to +the attack, and, throwing himself upon me, inflicted numerous severe +cuts upon my face and breast before I could again seize him. Locking my +arms around his antlers, I drew his head close to my breast, and was +thus, by great effort, enabled to prevent his doing me any serious +injury. But I felt that this could not last long; every muscle and fiber +of my frame was called into action, and human nature could not long bear +up under such exertion. Faltering a silent prayer to Heaven, I prepared +to meet my fate. + +"At this moment of despair, I heard the faint bayings of the hound; the +stag, too, heard the sound, and, springing from the ditch, drew me with +him. His efforts were now redoubled, and I could scarcely cling to him. +Yet that blessed sound came nearer and nearer! Oh how wildly beat my +heart, as I saw the hound emerge from the ravine, and spring forward +with a short, quick bark, as his eye rested on his game. I released my +hold of the stag, who turned upon the new enemy. Exhausted, and unable +to rise, I still cheered the dog, that, dastard-like, fled before the +infuriated animal, who, seemingly despising such an enemy, again threw +himself upon me. Again did I succeed in throwing my arms around his +antlers, but not until he had inflicted several deep and dangerous +wounds upon my head and face, cutting to the very bone. + +"Blinded by the flowing blood, exhausted and despairing, I cursed the +coward dog, who stood near, baying furiously, yet refusing to seize his +game. Oh! how I prayed for Bravo! The thoughts of death were bitter. To +die thus in the wild forest, alone, with none to help! Thoughts of home +and friends coursed like lightning through my brain. At that moment, +when Hope herself had fled, deep and clear over the neighboring hill, +came the baying of my gallant Bravo! I should have known his voice among +a thousand. I pealed forth in one faint shout, 'On Bravo, on!' The next +moment, with tiger-like bounds, the noble dog came leaping down the +declivity, scattering the dried autumnal leaves like a whirlwind in his +path. 'No pause he knew,' but, fixing his fangs in the stag's throat, he +at once commenced the struggle. + +"I fell back completely exhausted. Blinded with blood, I only knew that +a terrible struggle was going on. In a few moments, all was still, and I +felt the warm breath of my faithful dog, as he licked my wounds. +Clearing my eyes from gore, I saw my late adversary dead at my feet, and +Bravo, 'my own Bravo,' as the heroine of a modern novel would say +standing over me. He yet bore around his neck a fragment of the rope +with which I had tied him. He had gnawed it in two, and, following his +master through all his windings, arrived in time to rescue him from a +horrible death. + +"I have recovered from my wounds. Bravo is lying at my feet. Who does +not love Bravo? I am sure I do, and the rascal knows it--don't you, +Bravo? Come here, sir!" + + + +PERILOUS ESCAPE FROM DEATH. + +In the narrative of Moses Van Campen, we find the following incident +related. He was taken prisoner by the Seneca Indians, just after +Sullivan's expedition in the Revolution, on the confines of the white +settlements in one of the border counties of Pennsylvania. He was +marched through the wilderness, and reached the headquarters of the +savages near Fort Niagara. Here he was recognized as having, a year or +two previously, escaped, with two others, from his guard, five of whom +he slew in their sleep with his own hand. + +[Illustration] + +On this discovery being made, the countenances of the savages grew dark +and lowering. He saw at once that his fate was to be decided on the +principles of Indian vengeance, and, being bound, had but little hope of +escape. He, however, put on the appearance of as much unconcern as +possible. The Indians withdrew by themselves to decide in what manner +they should despatch their unhappy victim. They soon returned, their +visages covered with a demoniac expression. A few went to gathering +wood; another selected a spot, and soon a fire was kindled. Van Campen +looked upon these preparations, which were being made to burn him alive, +with feelings wrought up to the highest pitch of agony; yet he, with +much effort, appeared calm and collected. At last, when the preparations +were completed, two Indians approached, and began to unloose the cords +with which he was bound. To this he submitted. But the moment he was +fully loosed, he dashed the two Indians aside--felling one upon the +earth with a blow of his fist--and darted off toward the fort, where he +hoped to receive protection from the British officers. Tomahawks gleamed +in the air behind him--rifle balls whistled around--but onward still he +flew. One unarmed Indian stood in his path and intercepted him. With a +giant spring, he struck him in the breast with his feet, and bore him to +the earth. Recovering himself, he again started for the woods, and, as +he was running for life--with the fire and faggot behind him, and a +lingering death of torture--he soon outstripped all his pursuers. It +being near night, he effected his escape, arrived at the fort, and was +sent down the river to Montreal, to be out of the way of the savage +Senecas, who thirsted for his blood as a recompense for that of their +brethren whom he had slain. + + + +FIRE IN THE FOREST. + +"The summer of 1825 was unusually warm in both hemispheres, particularly +in America, where its effects were fatally visible in the prevalence of +epidemical disorders. During July and August, extensive fires raged in +different parts of Nova Scotia, especially in the eastern division of +the peninsular. The protracted drought of the summer, acting upon the +aridity of the forests, had rendered them more than naturally +combustible; and this, facilitating both the dispersion and the progress +of the fires that appeared in the early part of the season, produced an +unusual warmth. On the 6th of October, the fire was evidently +approaching New Castle; at different intervals fitful blazes and flashes +were observed to issue from different parts of the woods, particularly +up the northwest, at the rear of New Castle, in the vicinity of +Douglasstown and Moorfields, and along the banks of the Bartibog. Many +persons heard the crackling of falling trees and shriveled branches, +while a hoarse rumbling noise, not dissimilar to the roaring of distant +thunder, and divided by pauses, like the intermittent discharges of +artillery, was distinct and audible. On the 7th of October, the heat +increased to such a degree, and became so very oppressive, that many +complained of its enervating effects. About twelve o'clock, a pale, +sickly mist, lightly tinged with purple, emerged from the forest and +settled over it. + +"This cloud soon retreated before a large, dark one, which, occupying +its place, wrapped the firmament in a pall of vapor. This incumbrance +retaining its position till about three o'clock, the heat became +tormentingly sultry. There was not a breath of air; the atmosphere was +overloaded; and irresistible lassitude seized the people. A stupefying +dullness seemed to pervade every place but the woods, which now +trembled, and rustled, and shook with an incessant and thrilling noise +of explosions, rapidly following each other, and mingling their reports +with a discordant variety of loud and boisterous sounds. At this time, +the whole country appeared to be encircled by a _fiery zone_, which, +gradually contracting its circle by the devastation it had made, seemed +as if it would not converge into a point while any thing remained to be +destroyed. A little after four o'clock, an immense pillar of smoke rose, +in a vertical direction, at some distance northeast of New Castle, for a +while, and the sky was absolutely blackened by this huge cloud; but a +light, northerly breeze springing up, it gradually distended, and then +dissipated into a variety of shapeless mists. About an hour after, or +probably at half past five, innumerable large spires of smoke, issuing +from different parts of the woods, and illuminated the flames that +seemed to pierce them, mounted the sky. A heavy and suffocating canopy, +extending to the utmost verge of observation, and appearing mere +terrific by the vivid flashes and blazes that darted irregularly through +it, now hung over New Castle and Douglass in threatening suspension, +while showers of flaming brands, calcined leaves, ashes, and cinders, +seemed to scream through the growling noise that prevailed in the woods. +About nine o'clock, P.M., or shortly after, a succession of loud and +appalling roars thundered through the forests. Peal after peal, crash +after crash, announced the sentence of destruction. Every succeeding +shock created fresh alarm; every clap came loaded with its own +destructive energy. With greedy rapidity did the flames advance to the +devoted scene of their ministry; nothing could impede their progress. +They removed every obstacle by the desolation they occasioned, and +several hundred miles of prostrate forests and smitten woods marked +their devastating way. + +"The river, tortured into violence by the hurricane, foamed with rage, +and flung its boiling spray upon the land. The thunder pealed along the +vault of heaven--the lightning appeared to rend the firmament. For a +moment all was still, and a deep and awful silence reigned over every +thing. All nature appeared to be hushed, when suddenly a lengthened and +sullen roar came booming through the forests, driving a thousand massive +and devouring flames before it. Then New Castle and Douglasstown, and +the whole northern side of the river, extending from Bartibog to the +Naashwaak, a distance of more than one hundred miles in length, became +enveloped in an immense sheet of flame, that spread over nearly six +thousand square miles! That the reader may form a faint idea of the +desolation and misery, which no pen can describe, he must picture to +himself a large and rapid river, thickly settled for one hundred miles +or more on both sides of it. He must also fancy four thriving towns, two +on each side of this river, and then reflect that these towns and +settlements were all composed of wooden houses, stores, stables and +barns; that these barns and stables were filled with crops, and that the +arrival of the fall importations had stocked the warehouses and stores +with spirits, powder, and a variety of cumbustible articles, as well as +with the necessary supplies for the approaching winter. He must then +remember that the cultivated or settled part of the river is but a long, +narrow strip, about a quarter of a mile wide, lying between the river +and almost interminable forests, stretching along the very edge of its +precints and all around it. Extending his conception, he will see the +forests thickly expanding over more than six thousand square miles, and +absolutely parched into tinder by the protracted heat of a long summer. + +"Let him then animate the picture, by scattering countless tribes of +wild animals, and hundreds of domestic ones, and even thousands of men +in the interior. Having done all this, he will have before him a feeble +outline of the extent, features, and general circumstances of the +country, which, in the course of a few hours, was suddenly enveloped in +fire. A more ghastly or a more revolting picture of human misery can not +well be imagined. The whole district of cultivated land was shrouded in +the agonizing memorials of some dreadful deforming havoc. The songs of +gladness that formerly resounded through it were no longer heard, for +the voice of misery had hushed them. Nothing broke upon the ear but the +accents of distress; the eye saw nothing but ruin, and desolation, and +death. New Castle, yesterday a flourishing town, full of trade and +spirit, and containing nearly one thousand inhabitants, was now a heap +of smoking ruins; and Douglasstown, nearly one-third of its size, was +reduced to the same miserable condition. Of the two hundred and sixty +houses and storehouses, that composed the former, but twelve remained; +and of the seventy that comprised the latter, but six were left. The +confusion on board of one hundred and fifty large vessels, then lying in +the Mirimachi, and exposed to imminent danger, was terrible--some burned +to the water's edge, others burning, and the remainder occasionally +on fire. + +"Dispersed groups of half-famished, half-naked, and houseless creatures, +all more or less injured in their persons, many lamenting the loss of +some property, or children, or relations and friends, were wandering +through the country. Of the human bodies, some were seen with their +bowels protruding, others with the flesh all consumed, and the blackened +skeletons smoking; some with headless trunks, and severed extremities; +some bodies were burned to cinders, others reduced to ashes; many +bloated and swollen by suffocation, and several lying in the last +distorted position of convulsing torture; brief and violent was their +passage from life to death, and rude and melancholy was their +sepulchre--'unknelled, uncoffined, and unknown.' The immediate loss of +life was upward of five hundred beings! Thousands of wild beasts, too, +had perished in the woods, and from their putrescent carcasses issued +streams of effluvium and stench that formed contagious domes over the +dismantled settlements. Domestic animals of all kinds lay dead and dying +in different parts of the country. Myriads of salmon, trout, bass, and +other fish, which, poisoned by the alkali formed by the ashes +precipitated into the river, now lay dead or floundering and gasping on +the scorched shores and beaches, and the countless variety of wild fowl +and reptiles shared a similar fate. + +"Such was the violence of the hurricane, that large bodies of ignited +timber, and portions of the trunks of trees, and severed limbs, and also +parts of flaming buildings, shingles, boards, &c., were hurried along +through the frowning heavens with terrible velocity, outstripping the +fleetest horses, spreading destruction far in the advance, thus cutting +off retreat. The shrieks of the affrighted inhabitants, mingling with +the discordant bellowing of cattle, the neighing of horses, the howling +of dogs, and the strange notes of distress and fright from other +domestic animals, strangely blending with the roar of the flames and the +thunder of the tornado, beggars description. + +"Their only means of safety was the river, to which there was a +simultaneous rush, seizing whatever was buoyant, however inadequate; +many attempted to effect a crossing; some succeeded; others failed, and +were drowned. One woman actually seized a bull by the tail, just as he +plunged into the river, and was safely towed to the opposite shore. +Those who were unable to make their escape across plunged into the water +to their necks, and, by a constant application of water to the head, +while in this submerged condition, escaped a dreadful burning. In some +portions of the country, the cattle were nearly all destroyed. Whole +crews of men, camping in the interior, and engaged in timber-making, +were consumed. + +"Such was the awful conflagration of 1825, on the Mirimachi." + + + +PIRATES OF THE RED SEA. + +The commerce of the Red Sea has, almost from time immemorial, greatly +suffered from the depredations of Arab pirates, who infest the entire +coasts. The exploits of one individual is dwelt upon by his late +_confreres_ with particular enthusiasm; and his career and deeds were of +so extraordinary a character, that we feel justified in giving the +following brief detail of them, as furnished by an English traveler: + +This dreadful man, Ramah ibn Java, the _beau ideal_ of his order, the +personation of an Arab sea robber, was a native of a small village near +Jiddah. At an early period he commenced a mode of life congenial to his +disposition and nature. Purchasing a boat, he, with a band of about +twelve companions, commenced his career as a pirate, and in the course +of a few months he had been so successful that he became the owner of a +vessel of three hundred tons, and manned with a lawless crew. It was a +part of his system to leave British vessels unmolested, and he even +affected to be on good terms with them. We have heard an old officer +describe his appearance. He was then about forty-five years of age, +short in stature, but with a figure compact and square, a constitution +vigorous, and the characteristic qualities of his countrymen--frugality, +and patience of fatigue. Several scars already seamed his face, and the +bone of his arm had been shattered by a matchlock ball when boarding a +vessel. It is a remarkable fact that the intermediate bones sloughed +away, and the arm, connected only by flesh and muscle, was still, by +means of a silver tube affixed around it, capable of exertion. + +Ramah was born to be the leader of the wild spirits around him. With a +sternness of purpose that awed those who were near him into a degree of +dread, which totally astonished those who had been accustomed to view +the terms of equality in which the Arab chiefs appear with their +followers, he exacted the most implicit obedience to his will; and the +manner in which he acted toward his son exhibits the length he was +disposed to go with those who thwarted, or did not act up to, the spirit +of his views. The young man, then a mere stripling, had been dispatched +to attack some boats, but he was unsuccessful. "This, dastard, and son +of a dog!" said the enraged father, who had been watching the progress +of the affair, "you return unharmed to tell me! Fling him over the +side!" The chief was obeyed; and but for a boat, which by some chance +was passing some miles astern, he would have been drowned. Of his +existence the father for many months was wholly unconscious, and how he +was reconciled we never heard; but during the interval he was never +known to utter his name. No cause, it appears, existed for a repetition +of the punishment; for while yet a youth, he met the death his father +would have most coveted for him. He fell at the head of a party that was +bravely storming a fort. + +Many other acts of cruelty are related of him. Having seized a small +trading boat, he plundered her, and then fastened the crew--five in +number--round the anchor, suspended it from the bows, cut the cable, and +let the anchor, with its living burden, sink to the bottom. He once +attacked a small town on the Persian Gulf. In this town lived one Abder +Russel, a personal friend of the narrator, who related the visit of the +pirates to his dwelling. Seized with a violent illness, he was stretched +on a pallet spread on a floor of his apartment; his wife, to whom he was +devotedly attached, was attending him, his head placed in her lap. A +violent noise arose below--the door was heavily assailed--it yielded--a +sharp conflict took place--shouting and a rushing on the stair-case was +heard, and the pirates were in the apartment. "I read their purpose," +said Abder to me, "In their looks; but I was bed-ridden, and could not +raise a finger to save her for whose life I would gladly have forfeited +my own, Ramah, the pirate captain, approached her. Entreaties for life +were unavailing; yet for an instant her extreme beauty arrested his arm, +but it was only for an instant. His dagger again gleamed on high, and +she sank a bleeding victim beside me. Cold and apparently inanimate as I +was, I nevertheless felt her warm blood flowing past me, and with her +life it ebbed rapidly away. My eyes must have been fixed with the vacant +look of death: I even felt unmoved as he bent down beside me, and, with +spider-like fingers, stripped the jewels from my hand--the touch of that +villain who had deprived me of all which in life I valued. At length, a +happy insensibility stole over me. How long I remained in this condition +I know not; but when I recovered my senses, fever had left me--cool +blood again traversed my veins. Beside me was a faithful slave, who was +engaged bathing my temples. He had escaped the slaughter by secreting +himself while the murderers remained in the house." + +Ramah, although a man of few words with his crew, was nevertheless very +communicative to our officers, whenever he fell in with them. According +to his own account, he managed them by never permitting any +familiarities, nor communicating big plans, and by an impartial +distribution of plunder; but the grand secret, he knew full well, was in +his utter contempt of danger, and that terrible, untaught eloquence, at +the hour of need, where time is brief, and sentences must be condensed +into words, which marked his career. Success crowned all his exploits; +he made war, and levied contributions on whom he pleased. Several times +he kept important sea-port towns in a state of blockade, and his +appearance was every where feared and dreaded. + +He took possession of a small sandy islet, not many miles from his +native place, where he built a fort, and would occasionally sally forth, +and plunder and annoy any vessel that he met with. Although now +perfectly blind and wounded in almost every part of his body, yet such +was the dread inspired by the energy of this old chief, that, for a long +time, no one could be found willing to attack the single vessel which he +possessed. At length, a sheik, bolder than his neighbors, proceeded in +three heavy boats to attack Ramah. The followers of the latter, too well +trained to feel or express alarm, save that which arose from affection +for their chief, painted in strong terms the overwhelming superiority of +the approaching force, and counseled his bearing away from them; but he +spurned the idea. The evening drew near, and closed upon him. After a +severe contest they gained the deck. An instant after, dead and dying, +the victor and the vanquished, were given to the wind. Ramah, with a +spirit in accordance with the tenor of his whole career, finding the day +was going against him, was led by a little boy to the magazine, and +then, it is supposed, applied the pipe he had been smoking during the +action to the powder. Such, to his life, was the fitting end of the +pirate chief. + +[Illustration: GENERAL JACKSON AND WEATHERFORD] + + + +GEN. JACKSON AND WEATHERFORD. + +After the battle of Tallapoosa, General Jackson returned with his +victorious army to Fort Williams; but, determined to give his enemy no +opportunity of retrieving the misfortune that had befallen him, he +recommenced operations immediately afterward. On the 7th of April, 1814, +he again set out for Tallapoosa, with the view of forming a junction +with the Georgia troops under Colonel Milton, and completing the +subjugation of the country. On the 14th of that month, the union of the +two armies was effected, and both bodies moved to a place called the +Hickory Ground, where, it was expected, the last final stand would be +made by the Indians, or terms of submission would be agreed on. The +principal chiefs of the different tribes had assembled here, and, on the +approach of the army, sent a deputation to treat for peace. Among them +was Weatherford, celebrated equally for his talents and cruelty, who had +directed the massacre at Fort Mimms. It had been the intention of +General Jackson, to inflict a signal punishment upon him, if ever in his +power. Struck, however, with the bold and nervous eloquence of this +fearless savage, and persuaded of the sincerity of his wishes for peace, +he dismissed him without injury. Some of the speeches of this warrior +have been preserved, and exhibit a beautiful specimen of the melancholy +but manly tone of a savage hero, lamenting the misfortunes of his race. +Addressing General Jackson, he said, "I am in your power--do with me as +you please. I am a soldier. I have done the white people all the harm I +could; I have fought them, and fought them bravely. There was a time +when I had a choice, and could have answered you: I have none now,--even +hope is ended. Once I could animate my warriors; but I can not animate +the dead. My warriors can no longer hear my voice; their bones are at +Talladega, Tallushatchee, Emuckfaw, and Tohopeka. While there was a +chance of success, I never left my post, nor supplicated peace. But my +people are gone; and I now ask it for my nation and myself." He shortly +afterward became the instrument of restoring peace, which was concluded +by the total submission of the Indians. They agreed to retire in the +rear of the army, and occupy the country to the east of the Coosa; while +a line of American posts was established from Tennessee and Georgia, to +the Alabama, and the power and resources of these tribes were thus +effectually destroyed. + + + +CRUISE OF THE SALDANHA AND TALBOT. + +At midnight of Saturday, the 30th of November, 1811, with a fair wind +and a smooth sea, we weighed from our station, in company with the +Saldanha frigate, of thirty-eight guns, Captain Packenham, with a crew +of three hundred men, on a cruise, as was intended, of twenty days--the +Saldanha taking a westerly course, while we stood in the opposite +direction. + +We had scarcely got out of the lock and cleared the heads, however, when +we plunged at once into all the miseries of a gale of wind blowing from +the west. During the three following days, it continued to increase in +violence, when the islands of Coll and Tiree became visible to us. As +the wind had now chopped round more to the north, and continued unabated +in violence, the danger of getting involved among the numerous small +islands and rugged headlands, on the northwest coast of Inverness-shire, +became evident. It was therefore deemed expedient to wear the ship +round, and make a port with all expedition. With this view, and favored +by the wind, a course was shaped for Lochswilly, and away we scudded +under close-reefed foresail and main-topsail, followed by a tremendous +sea, which threatened every moment to overwhelm us, and accompanied by +piercing showers of hail, and a gale which blew with incredible fury. +The same course was steered until next day about noon, when land was +seen on the lee-bow. The weather being thick, some time elapsed before +it could be distinctly made out, and it was then ascertained to be the +island of North Arran, on the coast of Donegal, westward of Lochswilly. +The ship was therefore hauled up some points, and we yet entertained +hopes of reaching an anchorage before nightfall, when the weather +gradually thickened, and the sea, now that we were upon the wind, broke +over us in all directions. Its violence was such, that in a few minutes +several of our ports were stove in, at which the water poured in in +great abundance, until it was actually breast high on the lee-side of +the main deck. Fortunately, but little got below, and the ship was +relieved by taking in the foresail. But a dreadful addition was now made +to the precariousness of our situation, by the cry of "land a-head!" +which was seen from the forecastle, and must have been very near. Not a +moment was now lost in wearing the ship round on the other tack, and +making what little sail could be carried, to weather the land we had +already passed. This soon proved, however, to be a forlorn prospect, for +it was found that we should run our distance by ten o'clock. All the +horrors of shipwreck now stared us in the face, aggravated tenfold by +the darkness of the night, and the tremendous force of the wind, which +now blew a hurricane. Mountains are insignificant when speaking of the +sea that kept pace with it; its violence was awful beyond description, +and it frequently broke over all the poor little ship, that shivered and +groaned, but behaved admirably. + +The force of the sea may be guessed from the fact of the sheet-anchor, +nearly a ton and a half in weight, being actually lifted on board, to +say nothing of the forechain-plates' board broken, both gangways torn +away, quarter-galleries stove in, &c. In short, on getting into port, +the vessel was found to be loosened through all her frame, and leaking +at every seam. As far as depended on her good qualities, however, I +felt assured at the time, we were safe, for I had seen enough of the +Talbot to be convinced we were in one of the finest sea-boats that ever +swam. But what could all the skill of the ship-builder avail in a +situation like ours? With a night full fifteen hours long before us, and +knowing that we were fast driving on the land, anxiety and dread were on +every face, and every mind felt the terrors of uncertainty and suspense. +At length, about twelve o'clock, the dreadful truth was disclosed to us! + +Judge of my sensation when I saw the frowning rocks of Arran, scarcely +half a mile distant on our lee-bow. To our inexpressible relief, and not +less to our surprise, we fairly weathered all, and were congratulating +each other on our escape, when, on looking forward, I imagined I saw +breakers at no great distance on our lee; and this suspicion was soon +confirmed, when the moon, which shone at intervals, suddenly broke out +from behind a cloud, and presented to us a most terrific spectacle. At +not more than a quarter of a mile's distance on our lee-beam, appeared a +range of tremendous breakers, among which it seemed as if every sea +would throw us. Their height, it may be guessed, was prodigious, when +they could be clearly distinguished from the foaming waters of the +surrounded ocean. It was a scene seldom to be witnessed, and never +forgotten! "Lord have mercy upon us!" was now on the lip of every +one--destruction seemed inevitable. Captain Swaine, whose coolness I +have never seen surpassed, issued his orders clearly and collectedly, +when it was proposed, as a last resource, to drop the anchors, cut away +the masts, and trust to the chance of riding out the gale. This scheme +was actually determined on, and every thing was in readiness, but +happily was deferred until an experiment was tried aloft. In addition to +the close-reefed main-topsail and foresail, the fore-topsail, and +trysail were now set, and the result was almost magical. With a few +plunges, we cleared not only the reef, but a huge rock upon which I +could with ease have tossed a biscuit, and in a few minutes we were +inexpressibly rejoiced to see both far astern. + +We had now miraculously escaped all but certain destruction a second +time, but much was yet to be feared. We had still to pass Cape Jeller, +and the moments dragged on in gloomy apprehension and anxious suspense. +The ship carried sail most wonderfully, and we continued to go along at +the rate of seven knots, shipping very heavy seas, and laboring +much--all with much solicitude looking out for daylight. The dawn at +length appeared, and to our great joy we saw the land several miles +astern, having passed the Cape and many other hidden dangers during +the darkness. + +Matters, on the morning of the 5th, assumed a very different aspect from +that which we had experienced for the last two days; the wind gradually +subsided, and, with it the sea, and a favorable breeze now springing up, +we were enabled to make a good offing. Fortunately, no accident of +consequence occurred, although several of our people were severely +bruised by falls. Poor fellows! they certainly suffered enough; not a +dry stitch, not a dry hammock have they had since we sailed. Happily, +however, their misfortunes are soon forgot in a dry shirt and a can +of grog. + +The most melancholy part of the narrative is still to be told. On coming +up to our anchorage, we observed an unusual degree of curiosity and +bustle in the fort; crowds of people were congregated on both sides, +running to and fro, examining us through spyglasses; in short, an +extraordinary commotion was apparent. The meaning of all this was but +too soon made known to us by a boat coming alongside, from which we +learned that the unfortunate Saldanha had gone to pieces, and every man +perished! Our own destruction had likewise been reckoned inevitable, +from the time of the discovery of the unhappy fate of our consort, five +days beforehand; and hence the astonishment at our unexpected return. +From all that could be learned concerning the dreadful catastrophe, I am +inclined to believe that the Saldanha had been driven on the rocks about +the time our doom appeared so certain in another quarter. Her lights +were seen by the signal-tower at nine o'clock of that fearful Wednesday +night, December 4th, after which it is supposed she went ashore on the +rocks at a small bay called Ballymastaker, almost at the entrance of +Lochswilly harbor. + +Next morning the beach was strewed with fragments of the wreck, and +upward of two hundred of the bodies of the unfortunate sufferers were +washed ashore. One man--and one only--out of the three hundred, was +ascertained to have come ashore alive, but almost in a state of +insensibility. Unhappily, there was no person present to administer to +his wants judiciously, and, upon craving something to drink, about half +a pint of whiskey was given him by the people, which almost instantly +killed him. Poor Packenham's body was recognized amid the others, and +like these, stripped quite naked by the inhuman wretches, who flocked to +the wreck as to a blessing! It is even suspected that he came on shore +alive, but was stripped and left to perish. Nothing could equal the +audacity of the plunderers, although a party of the Lanark militia was +doing duty around the wreck. But this is an ungracious and revolting +subject, which no one of proper feeling would wish to dwell upon. Still +less am I inclined to describe the heart-rending scene at Buncrana, +where the widows of many of the sufferers are residing. The surgeon's +wife, a native of Halifax, has never spoken since the dreadful tidings +arrived. Consolation is inadmissible, and no one has yet ventured +to offer it. + + + +A CARIB'S REVENGE. + +In a work recently published in London, by Captain Millman, are to be +found some of the most thrilling scenes, from life in the tropics, it +has ever been our fortune to meet with. The following account of a +Carib's revenge on a sea captain, named Jack Diver, on one of the narrow +mountain paths of Guadaloupe, is exceedingly graphic and forcible: + +While he was making up his mind, a dark figure had stolen unperceived +close behind him, with a small basket in his hand of split reeds, out of +which came a low buzzing, murmuring sound. He lay down quietly across +the path, at the point of the first angle of the elbow of the mountain +spar, not many feet from the hind legs of the horse. Jack Diver with a +scowling look, turned his horse round with some difficulty. It plunged +and reared slightly, but went on. Occupied with retaining his seat, the +master of the transport scarcely perceived the figure lying in the path. +He could not see who it was, for the face of the man was toward the +ground. But the horse saw it at once. The animal, accustomed to mountain +roads from its birth, had often stepped over both men and animals which +are sometimes forced in the narrowest parts to lie down to let the +heavier and stronger pass, in that highly dangerous and disagreeable +method, lifted his feet cautiously, one by one, so as not to tread on +the prostrate figure. As the horse was above him, the man lifted with +one hand the lid of the basket, and a swarm of wasps flew suddenly out, +buzzing and humming fiercely, and in a moment they began to settle on +the moving object. The horse commenced switching his tail to drive them +away, pricking up his ears, and snorting with terror. + +The man on the path lay quite still until they had thus moved on a few +yards, and then he raised his head a little, and watched them with his +keen black eyes. The wasps, driven off for a moment, became only the +more irritated, and returned with vigor and wonderful pertinacity to the +attack,--beginning to sting the poor animal furiously in all the tender +parts. They assailed the wretched master in his turn, darting their +venomed barbs into his face and hands, and driving him nearly frantic. +The horse plunged furiously, and Jack Diver, losing his stirrups and his +presence of mind together, twisted his hands into the horse's mane, to +keep his seat, letting the reins fall on his neck. At last, with a rear +and a bound into the air, the maddened animal darted off at a gallop; +but the faster he went, the closer stuck the persevering wasps. Jack +Diver shut his eyes, screaming with fear and pain. Then the Carib chief +rose up, and again the hawk-like scream echoed along the valley. The +turn is to be made--can the horse recover himself? Yes, maddened as he +is, he sees the danger instinctively. His speed slackens--he throws +himself on his haunches, with his fore feet on the very brink of the +precipice. One more chance! The blind, infatuated man remains on his +back. Again the horse feels the stings of his deadly persecutors; again +he plunges forward, striving to turn quickly round the corner. Round, +and he is in comparative safety. On a sudden, from behind a buttress of +projecting rock, there start across the path three dusky forms, +flinging their hands wildly in the air. Then was heard that rare and +awful sound, the shriek of a horse in the fear of a certain and coming +death; when swerving one side, he lost his footing on the slippery +shelf, and struggling madly, but unsuccessfully, to recover it, he fell +over and over--down--down--a thousand feet down! From the sailor's lips +there came no cry. + +[Illustration: GEN. COFFEE'S ATTACK ON THE INDIANS.] + + + +MASSACRE OF FORT MIMMS. + +On the 30th of August, 1813, Fort Mimms, which contained one hundred and +fifty men, under the command of Major Beasely, besides a number of women +and children, was surprised by a party of Indians. The houses were set +on fire, and those who escaped the flames fell victims to the tomahawk. +Neither age nor sex was spared; and the most horrible cruelties, of +which the imagination can conceive, were perpetrated. Out of the three +hundred persons which the fort contained, only seventeen escaped to +carry the dreadful intelligence to the neighboring stations. + +This sanguinary and unprovoked massacre excited universal horror, and +the desire of revenge. The state of Tennessee immediately took active +measures for punishing the aggressors. General Jackson was ordered to +draft two thousand of the militia and volunteers of his division; and +General Coffee was directed to proceed with five hundred mounted men to +the frontier of the state. The former, having collected a part of his +force, joined General Coffee on the 12th of October, at Ditto's landing, +on the Tennessee. They then marched to the Ten Islands, in the same +river. A few days afterward, General Coffee was detached with nine +hundred men to attack a body of the enemy, posted at Tallushatchee. He +arrived early in the morning within a short distance of it, and, +dividing his force into two columns, completely surrounded it. The +Indians, for a long time, made a desperate resistance, and did all that +was possible for men to do who were in their situation. But they were +finally overpowered, with the loss of one hundred an eighty-six men. + + + +THE FRESHET. + +The freshet at Bangor, Me., in the spring of 1846, is thus described in +"Forest Life and Forest Trees:" + +The first injury to the city was from the breaking away of a small +section of the jam, which came down and pressed against the ice on our +banks. By this, twenty houses in one immediate neighborhood, on the west +bank of the river alone, were at once inundated, but without loss of +life. This occurred in the daytime, and presented a scene of magnificent +interest. The effect of this small concussion upon the ice near the city +was terrific. The water rose instantly to such a height as to sweep the +buildings and lumber from the ends of the wharves, and to throw up the +ice in huge sheets and pyramids. This shock was resisted by the great +covered bridge on the Penobscot, which is about one thousand feet in +length, and this gave time to save much property But meanwhile another +auxiliary to the fearful work had been preparing, by the breaking up of +the ice in the Kenduskeag river. This river flows through the heart of +the city, dividing it into two equal portions. The whole flat, on the +margin of the river, is covered with stores and public buildings, and is +the place of merchandise for the city. The Kenduskeag runs nearly at +right angles with the Penobscot, at the point where they unite. The +Penobscot skirts the city on the eastern side, and on the banks of this +river are the principal wharves for the deposit of lumber. + +I must mention another circumstance to give you a just idea of our +situation. There is a narrow spot in the river, about a mile below the +city, at High Head, in which is a shoal, and from which the greatest +danger of a jam always arises, and it was this that caused the principal +inundation. + +The next incident occurred at midnight, when the bells were rung to +announce the giving way of the ice. It was a fearful sound and scene. +The streets were thronged with men, women, and children, who rushed +abroad to witness the approach of the icy avalanche. At length it came +rushing on with a power that a thousand locomotives in a body could not +vie with; but it was vailed from the eye by the darkness of a hazy +night, and the ear only could trace its progress by the sounds of +crashing buildings, lumber, and whatever it encountered in its pathway, +except the glimpses that could be caught of it by the light of hundreds +of torches and lanterns that threw their glare upon the misty +atmosphere. The jam passed on, and a portion of it pressed through the +weakest portion of the great bridge, and thus, joining the ice below the +bridge, pressed it down to the narrows at High Head. The destruction, +meanwhile, was in progress on the Kenduskeag, which poured down its +tributary ice, sweeping mills, bridges, shops, and other buildings, with +masses of logs and lumber, to add to the common wreck. + +At that moment, the anxiety and suspense were fearful whether the jam +would force its way through the narrows, or there stop and pour back a +flood of waters upon the city; for it was from the rise of the water +consequent upon such a jam that the great destruction was to be +apprehended. But the suspense was soon over. A cry was heard from the +dense mass of citizens who crowded the streets on the flat, "The river +is flowing back!" and so sudden was the revulsion, that it required the +utmost speed to escape the rising waters. It seemed but a moment before +the entire flat was deluged; and many men did not escape from their +stores before the water was up to their waists. Had you witnessed the +scene, occurring as it did in the midst of a dark and hazy night, and +had you heard the rushing of the waters, and the crash of the ruins, +and seen the multitudes retreating in a mass from the returning flood, +illumined only by the glare of torches and lanterns, and listened to the +shouts and cries that escaped from them to give the alarm to those +beyond, you would not be surprised at my being reminded of the host of +Pharaoh as they fled and sent up their cry from the Red Sea, as it +returned upon them in its strength. + +"The closing scene of this dreadful disaster occurred on Sunday evening, +beginning at about seven o'clock. The alarm was again rung through the +streets that the jam had given way. The citizens again rushed abroad to +witness what they knew must be one of the most sublime and awful scenes +of nature, and also to learn the full extent of their calamity. Few, +however, were able to catch a sight of the breaking up of the jam, +which, for magnitude, it is certain, has not occurred on this river for +more than one hundred years. The whole river was like a boiling +cauldron, with masses of ice upheaved as by a volcano. But soon the +darkness shrouded the scene in part. The ear, however, could hear the +roaring of the waters and the crash of buildings, bridges, and lumber, +and the eye could trace the mammoth ice-jam of four miles long, which +passed on majestically, but with lightning rapidity, bearing the +contents of both rivers on its bosom, The noble covered bridge of the +Penobscot, two bridges of the Kenduskeag, and the two long ranges of +saw-mills, besides other mills, houses, shops, logs, and lumber enough +to build up a considerable village. The new market floated over the +lower bridge across the Kenduskeag, a part of which remains, and, most +happily, landed at a point of the wharves, where it sunk, and formed the +nucleus of a sort of boom, which stopped the masses of floating lumber +in the Kenduskeag, and protected thousands of dollars' worth of lumber +on the wharves below." + + + +THE PANTHER'S DEN. + +The occupants of a few log cabins in the vicinity of the Bayou Manlatte, +a tributary of the noble Bay of Pensacola, situated in the western part +of the then territory of Florida, had been for some weeks annoyed by the +mysterious disappearance of the cattle and goats, which constituted +almost the only wealth of these rude countrymen; and the belated +herdsman was frequently startled by the terrible half human cry of the +dreaded panther, and the next morning, some one of the squatters would +find himself minus of a number of cloven feet. About this time I +happened into the settlement on a hunting excursion, in company with +another son of Nimrod, and learning the state of affairs, resolved, if +possible, to rid the "clearing" of its pest, and bind new laurels on our +brows. The night before our arrival, a heifer had been killed within a +few rods of the cabin, and the carcass dragged off toward the swamp, +some two miles distant, leaving a broad trail to mark the destroyer's +path; this being pointed out to us, Ned and myself resolved to execute +our enterprise without delay--this was to "beard the lion in his den." +Having carefully charged our rifles and pistols, and seen that our +bowies were as keen as razors, we set out on the trail, which soon +brought us to the edge of the Bayou Manlatte swamp--which covers a +surface of some thousands of acres, being a dense muddy hammock of teti, +bay, magnolia, cane, grape vines, &c. A perpetual twilight reigned +beneath the dense foliage supported by the rank soil, and our hearts +beat a few more pulsations to the minute, as we left the scorching glare +of the noon day sun, and plunged into the gloomy fastnesses of the bear +and alligator; to these latter gentlemen, whose clumsy forms were +sprawling through the mud on every side, we gave no further heed other +than to keep without the range of the deadly sweep of their powerful +tails, with which they bring their unsuspecting prey within reach of +their saw-like jaws; the bears we did not happen to meet, or we should +most assuredly have given them some of the balls designed for +the panthers. + +Well, we followed the trail half a mile into the swamp, when on an +elevated spot, we suddenly encountered the half-devoured body of the +unfortunate heifer, apparently just deserted by the captors. We +cautiously advanced a few paces further over a pavement of bones, "clean +scraped and meatless," and entered an open space, when a sight met my +eyes which certainly made me wish myself safe at home, or in fact, +anywhere else but where I was. About twenty-five feet from us we saw, +instead of one, an old she-panther and two cubs nearly grown, while +directly over them, on the blasted and sloping trunk of an immense +gum-tree, crouched the "old he one of all," lashing his sides fiercely +with his tail, and snorting and spitting like an enraged cat, an example +which was imitated by the three below. Here was a dilemma, on the +particularly sharp horns of which we found ourselves most uncomfortably +situated. To retreat would induce an immediate attack, the consequence +of an advance would be ditto, so we stood _en tableaux_, for a brief +second, our guns cocked and aimed, Ned drawing a bead on the dam, while +I did the same on the sire. It seemed madness to fire. We were not long +uncertain as to our course, for the old fellow suddenly bounded from the +trunk upon me, with a deafening roar. I fired as he sprang, and the +report of my piece was re-echoed by that of Ned's. I sprang aside, +dropping my rifle and drawing my long and heavy knife; it was well I did +so, for the mortally-wounded beast alighted on the very spot I had left. +He turned and sprang upon me. I avoided the blow of its powerful paw, +and grappling with him I rolled on the turf, winding my right arm tight +around his neck, and hugging close to his body to avoid his teeth and +claws, while I dealt rapid thrusts with my knife. I was very powerful; +but never was in a situation where I felt more sensibly the need of +exerting all my muscle. The contest was soon decided--my knife passing +through the brute's heart-- + + "And panting from the dreadful close, + And breathless all, the champion rose." + +And it was full time that I should do so, for Ned, having put a ball +through the head of the dam, was now manfully battling with her two +cubs; the poor fellow was sore pressed, streaming with blood from +numberless scratches, and almost in a state of nature, for the sharp +claws of the cubs had literally undressed him by piecemeal. His savage +assailants also, bore upon their bloody hides numerous tokens of his +prowess in wielding his bowie. + +Their system of attack seemed to be to spring suddenly upon him, +striking with their paws, and as they did so, in most instances, +simultaneously, it was impossible for him to defend himself, strong and +active as he was; and had no assistance been at hand, they would +undoubtedly have gained the victory. It was a brave sight though, to see +the tall, strong hunter, meeting their attacks undauntedly, standing +with his left arm raised to defend his head and throat, and darting his +knife into their tough bodies as he threw them from him, but to meet the +next moment their renewed efforts for his destruction. + +All this I caught at one glance, as I rushed to his rescue. "Ned!" +shouted I, mad and reckless with excitement, "take the one on your +left!" And we threw ourselves upon them. I met my antagonist in his +onward leap, and making a desperate blow at him, my wrist struck his +paw, and the knife flew far from my hand. There was nothing else for me +but to seize him by the loose skin of the neck with both hands, and hold +on like "grim death," keeping him at arm's length, while his paws beat a +tattoo to a double quick time on my breast and body, stripping my +garments into ribbons in a most workmanlike manner, and ornamenting my +sensitive skin with a variety of lines and characters, done in red--a +process which I did not care to prolong, however, beyond a period when I +could soonest put a stop to the operation. + +As I was debating how to attain so desirable an end, the remembrance of +the small rifle pistol, in my belt, and which, till now, in the hurry of +the conflict I had forgotten, suddenly flashed upon my mind, and, +disengaging one hand, I drew it forth, cocked it with my thumb, and the +next moment the panther's brains were spattered in my face. + +I turned to look for Ned, and found him trying to free himself from the +dead body of the panther, whose teeth were fastened, in their death +grip, to the small remnant of his hunting coat which hung around his +neck; I separated the strip of cloth with my recovered knife, and we +sank panting to the ground, while our hearts went up in thankfulness for +deliverance from so imminent danger to life and limb. After resting +awhile, we washed the blood--our blood--from our bodies, and decorating +them with "what was left," somewhat after the fashion of the Indian who +wears only a "breech clout," we took the scalps of the four panthers, +and started on our homeward march. Our success was speedily known in the +clearing, and in the evening a barbecue was had in oar honor, to +furnish which a relation of the unfortunate heifer met with a fate +scarcely less terrible. This exploit added not little to our reputation +among the hunter folk. + + + +ADVENTURE WITH ELEPHANTS. + +On the 27th, as day dawned, says Mr. Cumming, I left my shooting-hole, +and proceeded to inspect the spoor of my wounded rhinoceros. After +following it for some distance I came to an abrupt hillock, and fancying +that from the summit a good view might be obtained of the surrounding +country, I left my followers to seek the spoor, while I ascended. I did +not raise my eyes from the ground until I had reached the highest +pinnacle of rock. I then looked east, and to my inexpressible +gratification, beheld a troup of nine or ten elephants quietly browsing +within a quarter of a mile of me. I allowed myself only one glance at +them, and then rushed down to warn my followers to be silent. A council +of war was hastily held, the result of which was my ordering Isaac to +ride hard to camp, with instructions to return as quickly as possible, +accompanied by Kleinboy, and to bring me my dogs, the large Dutch +rifle, and a fresh horse. I once more ascended the hillock to feast my +eyes upon the enchanting sight before me, and, drawing out my spy-glass, +narrowly watched the motions of the elephants. The herd consisted +entirely of females, several of which were followed by small calves. + +Presently, on reconnoitering the surrounding country, I discovered a +second herd, consisting of five bull elephants, which were quietly +feeding about a mile to the northward. The cows were feeding toward a +rocky ridge that stretched away from the base of the hillock on which I +stood. Burning with impatience to commence the attack, I resolved to try +the stalking system with these, and to hunt the troop of bulls with dogs +and horses. Having thus decided, I directed the guides to watch the +elephants from the summit of the hillock, and with a beating heart I +approached them. The ground and wind favoring me, I soon gained the +rocky ridge toward which they were feeding. They were now within one +hundred yards, and I resolved to enjoy the pleasure of watching their +movements for a little before I fired. They continued to feed slowly +toward me, breaking the branches from the trees with their trunks, and +eating the leaves and tender shoots. I soon selected the finest in the +herd, and kept my eye on her in particular. At length two of the troup +had walked slowly past at about sixty yards, and the one which I had +selected was feeding with two others, on a thorny tree before me. + +My hand was now as steady as the rock on which it rested; so, taking a +deliberate aim, I let fly at her head, a little behind the eye. She got +it hard and sharp, just where I aimed, but it did not seem to affect her +much. Uttering a loud cry, she wheeled about, when I gave her the second +ball close behind the shoulder. All the elephants uttered a strange +rumbling noise, and made off in a line to the northward at a brisk +ambling pace, their huge, fan-like ears flapping in the ratio of their +speed. I did not wait to load, but ran back to the hillock to obtain a +view. On gaining its summit, the guides pointed out the elephants: they +were standing in a grove of shady trees, but the wounded one was some +distance behind with another elephant, doubtless its particular friend, +who was endeavoring to assist it. These elephants had probably never +before heard the report of a gun, and, having neither seen nor smelt me, +they were unaware of the presence of man, and did not seem inclined to +go any further. Presently my men hove in sight, bringing the dogs; and +when these came up, I waited some time before commencing the attack, +that the dogs and horses might recover their wind. We then rode slowly +toward the elephants, and had advanced within two hundred yards of them +when, the ground being open, they observed us and made off in an +easterly direction; but the wounded one immediately dropped astern, and +the next moment was surrounded by the dogs, which, barking angrily, +seemed to engross all her attention. + +Having placed myself between her and the retreating troop, I dismounted +to fire, within forty yards of her, in open ground. Colesberg was +extremely afraid of the elephants, and gave me much trouble, jerking my +arm when I tried to fire. At length I let fly; but, on endeavoring to +regain my saddle, Colesberg declined to allow me to mount; and when I +tried to lead him, and run for it, he only backed toward the wounded +elephant. At this moment I heard another elephant close behind; and +looking about, I beheld the "friend," with uplifted trunk, charging down +upon me at top speed, shrilly trumpeting, and following an old black +pointer named Schwart, that was perfectly deaf and trotted along before +the enraged elephant quite unaware of what was behind him. I felt +certain that she would have either me or my horse. I, however, +determined not to relinquish my steed, but to hold on by the bridle. My +men, who, of course, kept at a safe distance, stood aghast with their +mouths open, and for a few seconds my position was certainly not an +enviable one. Fortunately, however, the dogs took off the attention of +the elephants; and just as they were upon me, I managed to spring into +the saddle, where I was safe. As I turned my back to mount, the +elephants were so very near that I really expected to feel one of their +trunks lay hold of me. I rode up to Kleinboy for my double-barreled +two-grooved rifle: he and Isaac were pale and almost speechless with +fright. Returning to the charge, I was soon once more alongside and, +firing from the saddle, I sent another brace of bullets into the wounded +elephant. Colesberg was extremely unsteady, and destroyed the +correctness of my aim. + +[Illustration: CHARGE OF THE ELEPHANTS.] + +The friend now seemed resolved to do some mischief, and charged me +furiously, pursuing me to a distance of several hundred yards. I +therefore deemed it proper to give her a gentle hint to act less +officiously, and, accordingly, having loaded, I approached within thirty +yards, and give it her sharp, right and left, behind the shoulder, upon +which she at once made off with drooping trunk, evidently with a mortal +wound. I never recur to this day's elephant shooting without regretting +my folly in contenting myself with securing only one elephant. The +first was now dying, and could not leave the ground, and the second was +also mortally wounded, and I had only to follow and finish her; but I +foolishly allowed her to escape, while I amused myself with the first, +which kept walking backward, and standing by every tree she passed. Two +more shots finished her: on receiving them, she tossed her trunk up and +down two or three times, and, falling on her broadside against a thorny +tree, which yielded like grass before her enormous weight, she uttered a +deep, hoarse cry, and expired. This was a very handsome old cow +elephant, and was decidedly the best in the troop. She was in excellent +condition, and carried a pair of long and perfect tusks. I was in high +spirits at my success, and felt so perfectly satisfied with having +killed one, that, although it was still early in the day, and my horses +were fresh, I allowed the troop of five bulls to remain unmolested, +foolishly trusting to fall in with them next day. + + + +THE SHARK SENTINEL. + +With my companion, one beautiful afternoon, rambling over the rocky +cliffs at the back of the island, (New Providence, W.I.,) we came to a +spot where the stillness and the clear transparency of the water invited +us to bathe. It was not deep. As we stood above, on the promontory, we +could see the bottom in every part. Under the headland, which formed the +opposite side of the cove, there was a cavern, to which, as the shore +was steep, there was no access but by swimming, and we resolved to +explore it. We soon reached its mouth, and were enchanted with its +romantic grandeur and wild beauty. It extended, we found, a long way +back, and had several natural baths, into all of which we successively +threw ourselves; each, as they receded further from the mouth of the +cavern, being colder than the last. The tide, it was evident, had free +ingress, and renewed the water every twelve hours. Here we thoughtlessly +amused ourselves for some time. + +At length the declining sun warned us that it was time to take our +departure from the cave, when, at no great distance from us, we saw the +back or dorsal fin of a monstrous shark above the surface of the water, +and his whole length visible beneath it. We looked at him and at each +other in dismay, hoping that he would soon take his departure, and go in +search of other prey; but the rogue swam to and fro, just like a frigate +blockading an enemy's port. + +The sentinel paraded before us, about ten or fifteen yards in front of +the cave, tack and tack, waiting only to serve one, if not both of us, +as we should have served a shrimp or an oyster. We had no intention, +however, in this, as in other instances, of "throwing ourselves on the +mercy of the court." In vain did we look for relief from other quarters; +the promontory above us was inaccessible; the tide was rising, and the +sun touching the clear, blue edge of the horizon. + +I, being the leader, pretended to a little knowledge in ichthyology, and +told my companion that fish could hear as well as see, and that +therefore the less we said, the better; and the sooner we retreated out +of his sight, the sooner he would take himself off. This was our only +chance, and that a poor one for the flow of the water would soon have +enabled him to enter the cave and help himself, as he seemed perfectly +acquainted with the _locale_, and knew that we had no mode of retreat, +but by the way we came. We drew back out of sight, and I don't know +when I ever passed a more unpleasant quarter of an hour. A suit in +chancery, or even a spring lounge at Newgate, would have been almost a +luxury to what I felt when the shades of night began to darken the mouth +of our cave, and this infernal monster continued to parade, like a +water-bailiff, before its door. At last, not seeing the shark's fin +above the water, I made a sign to Charles, that cost what it might, we +must swim for it, for we had notice to quit by the tide; and if we did +not depart, should soon have an execution in the house. We had been +careful not to utter a word, and, silently pressing each other by the +hand, we slipped into the water; and, recommending ourselves to +Providence, struck out manfully. I must own I never felt more assured of +destruction, not even when I once swam through the blood of a poor +sailor--while the sharks were eating him--for the sharks then had +something to occupy them; but this one had nothing else to do but to +look after us--we had the benefit of his undivided attention. + +My sensations were indescribably horrible. I may occasionally write or +talk of the circumstance with levity, but whenever I recall it to mind, +I tremble at the bare recollection of the dreadful fate that seemed +inevitable. My companion was not so expert a swimmer as I was, so that I +distanced him many feet, when I heard him utter a faint cry. I turned +round, convinced that the shark had seized him, but it was not so; my +having left him so far behind had increased his terror, and induced him +to draw my attention. I returned to him, held him up, and encouraged +him. Without this he would certainly have sunk; he revived with my help, +and we reached the sandy beach in safety, having eluded our enemy, who, +when he neither saw nor heard us, had, as I concluded he would, +quitted the spot. + +Once more on terra firma, we lay gasping for some minutes before we +spoke. What my companions thoughts were, I do not know; mine were +replete with gratitude to God, and renewed vows of amendment; and I have +every reason to think, that although Charles had not so much room for +reform as myself, that his feelings were perfectly in unison with +my own. + +We never repeated this amusement, though we frequently talked of our +escape and laughed at our terrors, yet, on these occasions, our +conversation always took a serious turn; and, upon the whole, I am +convinced that this adventure did us both a vast deal of good. + +[ILLUSTRATION: HUNTING THE TIGER] + + + +HUNTING THE TIGER. + +A Gentleman in the civil service of the British East India Company, +relates the following: + +"When a tiger springs on an elephant, the latter is generally able to +shake him off under his feet, and then woe be to him. The elephant +either kneels on him and crushes him at once, or gives him a kick which +breaks half his ribs, and sends him flying perhaps twenty paces. The +elephants, however, are often dreadfully torn; and a large old tiger +clings too fast to be thus dealt with. In this case it often happens +that the elephant himself falls, from pain, or from the hope of rolling +on his enemy; and the people on his back are in very considerable danger +both from friends and foes. The scratch of a tiger is sometimes +venomous, as that of a cat is said to be. But this does not often +happen; and, in general, persons wounded by his teeth or claws, if not +killed outright, recover easily enough. + +"I was at Jaffna, at the northern extremity of the Island of Ceylon, in +the beginning of the year 1819: when, one morning, my servant called me +an hour or two before my usual time, with, 'Master, master! people sent +for master's dogs--tiger in the town!' Now, my dogs chanced to be some +very degenerate specimens of a fine species, called the _Poligar_ dog, +which I should designate as a sort of wiry-haired grayhound, without +scent. I kept them to hunt jackals; but tigers are very different +things: by the way, there are no real tigers in Ceylon; but leopards and +panthers are always called so, and by ourselves as well as by the +natives. This turned out to be a panther. My gun chanced not to be put +together; and while my servant was doing it, the collector, and two +medical men, who had recently arrived, came to my door, the former armed +with a fowling-piece, and the latter with remarkably blunt hog-spears. +They insisted upon setting off without waiting for my gun, a proceeding +not much to my taste. The tiger (I must continue to call him so) had +taken refuge in a hut, the roof of which, as those of Ceylon huts in +general, spread to the ground like an umbrella; the only aperture into +it was a small door, about four feet high. The collector wanted to get +the tiger out at once. I begged to wait for my gun; but no--the +fowling-piece (loaded with ball, of course) and the two hog-spears were +quite enough. I got a hedge-stake, and awaited my fate, from very shame. +At this moment, to my great delight, there arrived from the fort an +English officer, two artillery-men, and a Malay captain; and a pretty +figure we should have cut without them, as the event will show. I was +now quite ready to attack, and my gun came a minute afterward. The whole +scene which follows took place within an enclosure, about twenty feet +square, formed, on three sides, by a strong fence of palmyra leaves, and +on the fourth by the hut. At the door of this the two artillery-men +planted themselves; and the Malay captain got on the top, to frighten +the tiger out, by worrying it--an easy operation, as the huts there are +covered with cocoa-nut leaves. One of the artillery-men wanted to go in +to the tiger, but we would not suffer it. At last the beast sprang; this +man received him on his bayonet, which he thrust apparently down his +throat, firing his piece at the same moment. The bayonet broke off +short, leaving less than three inches on the musket; the rest remained +in the animal, but was invisible to us: the shot probably went through +his cheek, for it certainly did not seriously injure him, as he +instantly rose upon his legs, with a loud roar, and placed his paws upon +the soldier's breast. At this moment, the animal appeared to me to about +reach the center of the man's face; but I had scarcely time to observe +this, when the tiger, stooping his head, seized the soldier's arm in his +mouth, turned him half round staggering, threw him over on his back, +and fell upon him. Our dread now was, that if we fired upon the tiger, +we might kill the man: for a moment there was a pause, when his comrade +attacked the beast exactly in the same manner as the gallant fellow +himself had done. He struck his bayonet into his head; the tiger rose at +him--he fired; and this time the ball took effect, and in the head. The +animal staggered backward, and we all poured in our fire. He still +kicked and writhed; when the gentlemen with the hog-spears advanced, and +fixed him, while the natives finished him, by beating him on the head +with hedge-stakes. The brave artillery-man was, after all, but slightly +hurt: he claimed the skin, which was very cheerfully given to him. There +was, however, a cry among the natives that the head should be cut off: +it was; and in so doing, the knife came directly across the bayonet. The +animal measured scarcely less than four feet from the root of the tail +to the muzzle There was no tradition of a tiger having been in Jaffna +before; indeed, this one must have either come a distance of almost +twenty miles, or have swam across an arm of the sea nearly two in +breadth; for Jaffna stands on a peninsula, on which there is no jungle +of any magnitude." + + + +INDIAN DEVIL. + +There is an animal in the deep recesses of the forests of Maine, +evidently belonging to the feline race, which, on account of its +ferocity, is significantly called "Indian Devil"--in the Indian +language, "the Lunk Soos;" a terror to the Indians, and the only animal +in New England of which they stand in dread. You may speak of the moose, +the bear, and the wolf even, and the red man is ready for the chase and +the encounter. But name the object of his dread, and he will +significantly shake his head, while he exclaims, "He all one debil!" + +An individual by the name of Smith met with the following adventure in +an encounter with one of these animals on the Arromucto, while on his +way to join a crew engaged in timber-making in the woods. + +He had nearly reached the place of encampment, when he came suddenly +upon one of these ferocious animals. There was no chance for retreat, +neither had he time for reflection on the best method of defence or +escape. As he had no arms or other weapons of defence, his first +impulse, in this truly fearful position, unfortunately, perhaps, was to +spring into a small tree near by; but he had scarcely ascended his +length when the desperate creature, probably rendered still more fierce +by the promptings of hunger, sprang upon and seized him by the heel. +Smith, however, after having his foot badly bitten, disengaged it from +the shoe, which was firmly clinched in the creature's teeth, and let him +drop. The moment he was disengaged, Smith sprang for a more secure +position, and the animal at the same time leaped to another large tree, +about ten feet distant, up which he ascended to an elevation equal to +that of his victim, from which he threw himself upon him, firmly fixing +his teeth in the calf of his leg. Hanging suspended thus until the +flesh, insufficient to sustain the weight, gave way, he dropped again to +the ground, carrying a portion of flesh in his mouth. Having greedily +devoured this morsel, he bounded again up the opposite tree, and from +thence upon Smith, in this manner renewing his attacks, and tearing away +the flesh in mouthfuls from his legs. During this agonizing operation, +Smith contrived to cut a limb from the tree, to which he managed to bind +his jack-knife, with which he could now assail his enemy at every leap. +He succeeded thus in wounding him so badly that at length his attacks +were discontinued, and he finally disappeared in the dense forest. +During the encounter, Smith had exerted his voice to the utmost to alarm +the crew, who, he hoped, might be within hail. He was heard, and in a +short time several of the crew reached the place, but not in time to +save him from the dreadful encounter. The sight was truly appalling. His +garments were not only rent from him, but the flesh literally torn from +his legs, exposing even the bone and sinews. It was with the greatest +difficulty he made the descent of the tree. Exhausted through loss of +blood, and overcome by fright and exertion, he sunk upon the ground and +immediately fainted; but the application of snow restored him to +consciousness. Preparing a litter from poles and boughs, they conveyed +him to the camp, washed and dressed his wounds, as well as circumstances +would allow, and, as soon as possible, removed him to the settlement, +where medical aid was secured. After a protracted period of confinement, +he gradually recovered from his wounds, though still carrying terrible +scars, and sustaining irreparable injury. Such desperate encounters are, +however of rare occurrence, though collisions less sanguinary are not +infrequent. + + + +BEAR FIGHT. + +A sanguinary encounter with bears took place in the vicinity of +Tara-height, on the Madawaska river, a few years since: + +"A trap had been set by one of the men, named Jacob Harrison, who, being +out in search of a yoke of oxen on the evening in question, saw a young +bear fast in the trap, and three others close at hand in a very angry +mood, a fact which rendered it necessary for him to make tracks +immediately. On arriving at the farm, he gave the alarm, and, seizing an +old dragoon sabre, he was followed to the scene of action by Mr. James +Burke, armed with a gun, and the other man with an axe. + +"They proceeded direct to the trap, supplied with a rope, intending to +take the young bear alive. It being a short time after dark, objects +could not be distinctly seen; but, on approaching close to the scene of +action, a crashing among the leaves and dry branches, with sundry other +indications, warned them of the proximity of the old animals. When +within a few steps of the spot, a dark mass was seen on the ground--a +growl was heard--and the confined beast made a furious leap on Jacob, +who was in advance, catching him by the legs. The infuriated animal +inflicted a severe wound on his knee, upon which he drew his sword and +defended himself with great coolness. + +"Upon receiving several wounds from the sabre, the cub commenced to +growl and cry in a frightful and peculiar manner, when the old she-bear, +attracted to the spot, rushed on the adventurous Harrison, and attacked +him from behind with great ferocity. Jacob turned upon the new foe, and +wielded his trusty weapon with such energy and success, that in a short +time he deprived her of one of her fore paws by a lucky stroke, and +completely disabled her, eventually, by a desperate cut across the neck, +which divided the tendons and severed the spinal vertebrae. Having +completed his conquest, he had ample time to dispatch the imprisoned cub +at leisure." + +"During the time this stirring and dangerous scene, we have related, was +enacting, war was going on in equally bloody and vigorous style at a +short distance. Mr. Burke, having discharged his gun at the other old +bear, only slightly wounded him; the enraged Bruin sprang at him with a +furious howl. He was met with a blow from the butt-end of the +fowling-piece. At the first stroke, the stock flew in pieces, and the +next the heavy barrel was hurled a distance of twenty feet among the +underwood by a side blow from the dexterous paw of the bear. Mr. Burke +then retreated a few feet, and placed his back against a large hemlock, +followed the while closely by the bear, but, being acquainted with the +nature of the animal and his mode of attack, he drew a large hunting +knife from his belt, and, placing his arms by his side, coolly awaited +the onset. + +"The maddened brute approached, growling and gnashing his teeth, and, +with a savage spring, encircled the body of the hunter and the tree in +his iron gripe. The next moment, the flashing blade of the _couteau +chasse_ tore his abdomen, and his smoking entrails rolled upon the +ground. At this exciting crisis of the struggle, the other man, +accompanied by the dog, came up in time to witness the triumphal close +of the conflict. + +"Two old bears and a cub were the fruit of this dangerous adventure--all +extremely fat--the largest of which, it is computed, would weigh upward +of two hundred and fifty pounds. We have seldom heard of a more +dangerous encounter with bears, and we are happy to say that Mr. Burke +received no injury; Mr. Jacob Harrison, although torn severely, and +having three ribs broken, recovered under the care of an Indian doctor +of the Algonquin tribe." + + + +THE MINERS OF BOIS-MONZIL. + +On Tuesday, February 22, 1831, a violent detonation was suddenly heard +in the coal mine of Bois-Monzil, belonging to M. Robinot. The waters +from the old works rushed impetuously along the new galleries. "The +waters, the waters!" such was the cry that resounded from the affrighted +workmen throughout the mine. Only ten miners out of twenty-six were able +to reach the entrance. One of them brought off in his arms, a boy eleven +years old, whom he thus saved from sudden death; another impelled by the +air and the water, to a considerable distance, could scarcely credit his +escape from such imminent danger; a third rushed forward with his sack +full of coals on his shoulders, which, in his fright, he had never +thought of throwing down. + +The disastrous news, that sixteen workmen had perished in the mine of M. +Robinot, was soon circulated in the town of St. Etienne. It was regarded +as one of those fatal and deplorable events unfortunately, too common in +that neighborhood, and on the ensuing Thursday it was no longer talked +of. Politics, and the state of parties in Paris, exclusively occupied +the public attention. + +The engineers of the mines, however, and some of their pupils, who, on +the first alarm, had hastened to the spot, still remained there, +continuing their indefatigable endeavors to discover the miners who were +missing. Nothing that mechanical science, manual labor, and +perseverance, prompted by humanity, could perform, was left undone. + +Thirty hours had already elapsed since the fatal accident, when two +workmen announced the discovery of a jacket and some provisions +belonging to the miners. The engineers immediately essayed to penetrate +into the galleries where these objects had been found, which they +accomplished with much difficulty, by crawling on their hands and feet. +In vain they repeatedly called aloud; no voice, save the echo of their +own, answered from those narrow and gloomy vaults. It then occurred to +them to strike with their pickaxes against the roof of the mine. Still +the same uncheering silence! Listen! yes! the sounds are answered by +similar blows! Every heart beats, every pulse quickens, every breath is +contracted; yet, perhaps, it is but an illusion of their wishes--or, +perhaps, some deceitful echo. They again strike the vaulted roof. There +is no longer any doubt. The same number of strokes is returned. No words +can paint the varied feelings that pervaded every heart. It was (to use +the expression of a person present) a veritable delirium of joy, of +fear, and of hope. + +Without losing an instant, the engineers ordered a hole to be bored in +the direction of the galleries, where the miners were presumed to be; at +the same time, they directed, on another point, the formation of an +inclined well, for the purpose of communicating with them. + +Two of the engineer's pupils were now dispatched to the mayor of St. +Etienne, to procure a couple of fire pumps, which they conducted back to +the mine, accompanied by two firemen. In the ardor of youthful humanity, +these young men imagined that the deliverance of the miners was but the +affair of a few hours; and, wishing to prepare an "agreeable surprise" +for the friends of the supposed victims, they gave strict injunctions at +the mayoralty to keep the object of their expedition a profound secret. + +Notwithstanding the untiring efforts made to place these pumps in the +mine, it was found impossible. Either they were upon a plane too much +inclined to admit of their playing with facility, or the water was too +muddy to be received up the pipes; they were therefore abandoned. In +the meantime, the attempts made to reach the miners by sounding or by +the inclined well, seemed to present insurmountable difficulties. The +distance to them was unknown; the sound of their blows on the roof, far +from offering a certain criterion, or, at least, a probable one, seemed +each time to excite fresh doubts; in short, the rock which it was +necessary to pierce, was equally hard and thick, and the gunpowder +unceasingly used to perforate it, made but a hopeless progress. The +consequent anxiety that reigned in the mine may be easily conceived. +Each of the party, in his turn, offered his suggestions, sometimes of +hope, sometimes of apprehension; and the whole felt oppressed by that +vague suspense, which is, perhaps, more painful to support than the +direst certainty. The strokes of the unfortunate miners continued to +reply to theirs, which added to their agitation, from the fear of not +being able to afford them effectual help. They almost thought that in +such a painful moment their situation was more distressing than those +they sought to save, as the latter were, at any rate, sustained by hope. + +While most of the party were thus perplexed by a crowd of disquieting +ideas, produced by the distressing nature of the event itself, and by +their protracted stay in a mine where the few solitary lamps scarcely +rendered "darkness visible," the workmen continued their labors with +redoubled ardor; some of them were hewing to pieces blocks of the rock, +which fell slowly and with much difficulty; others were actively +employed in boring the hole before named, while some of the engineers' +apprentices sought to discover new galleries, either by creeping on "all +fours," or by penetrating through perilous and narrow crevices and +clefts of the rock. + +In the midst of their corporeal and mental labors, their attention was +suddenly excited from another painful source. The wives of the hapless +miners had heard that all hope was not extinct. They hastened to the +spot; with heart-rending cries and through tears alternately of despair +and hope, they exclaimed, "Are they _all_ there?" "Where is the father +of my children? Is _he_ among them, or has he been swallowed up by +the waters?" + +At the bottom of the mine, close to the water-reservoir, a consultation +was held on the plan to be pursued. Engineers, pupils, workmen, all +agreed that the only prospect of success consisted in exhausting the +water, which was already sensibly diminished, by the working of the +steam-pump; the other pumps produced little or no effect, +notwithstanding the vigorous efforts employed to render them +serviceable. It was then proposed remedying the failure of these pumps +by _une chaine a bras_, viz, by forming a line, and passing buckets from +one to the other; this method was adopted, and several of the pupils +proceeded with all speed to St. Etienne. It was midnight. The _generale_ +was beat in two quarters of the town only. The Hotel de Ville was +assigned as the place of rendezvous. On the first alarm, a great number +of persons hurried to the town-hall, imagining a fire had broken out, +but, on ascertaining the real cause, several of them returned home, +apparently unmoved. Yet these same persons, whose supposed apathy had +excited both surprise and indignation, quickly reappeared on the scene, +dressed in the uniform of the National Guard. So powerful is the magic +influence of organized masses, marching under the orders of a chief, and +stimulated by _l'esprit de corps_. + +It was truly admirable to see with what address and rapidity the three +or four hundred men, who had hastened to Bois-Monzil, passed and +repassed the buckets, by forming a chain to the bottom of the mine. But +their generous efforts became too fatiguing to last long. Imagine a +subterranean vault, badly lighted, where they were obliged to maintain +themselves in a rapid descent in a stooping posture, to avoid striking +their heads against the roof of the vault, and, most of the time, up to +the middle in the water, which was dripping from every side; some idea +may then be formed of their painful situation. They were relieved from +this laborious duty by the _Garde Nationale_ of St. Etienne, whose zeal +and enthusiasm exceeded all praise. But a more precious reinforcement +was at hand; the workmen from the adjacent mines now arrived in great +numbers. From their skill and experience every thing might be expected; +if they failed there was no further hope. + +The _chaine a bras_ was again renewed by companies of the National +Guard, relieved every two hours, who, at respective distances, held the +lights, and under whose orders they acted. It was a cheering spectacle +to behold citizens of all ranks engaged in one of the noblest offices of +humanity, under the direction of poor colliers. + +The immense advantages of the organization of the National Guard, were +never more strikingly exemplified than on this occasion. Without them, +there would have been no means or possibility of uniting together an +entire population; of leading the people from a distance of more than +three miles, night and day, so as to insure a regular and continued +service; all would have been trouble and confusion. With them, on the +contrary, every thing was ready, and in motion, at the voice of a single +chief; and the whole was conducted with such precision and regularity +as had never on similar occasions, been witnessed before. + +The road from St. Etienne to Bois-Monzil, exhibited a scene of the most +animated kind. In the midst of the motley and moving multitude, the +National Guards were seen hurrying to and fro; chasseurs, grenadiers, +cavalry and artillery-men, all clothed in their rich new costume, as on +a field day. Some of the crowd were singing _a la Parisienne_, others +were lamenting, praying, hoping, despairing, and, by "fits and starts," +abandoning themselves to those opposite extravagances of sentiment so +peculiarly characteristic of a French population. When night drew her +sable curtains around, the picturesque of the scene was still more +heightened. Fresh bands of miners, conducted by their respective chiefs, +coming in from every side; their sooty visages lighted up by glaring +torches; National Guards arriving from different parts of the country, +to join their comrades of St. Etienne; farmers and peasants, on +horseback and afoot, hastening to offer their humane aid; sentinels +posted--muskets piled--watch-fires blazing, and, in short, the _tout +ensemble_ rendered the approaches of Bois-Monzil like a bivouac on the +eve of an expected battle; happily, however, the object of these brave +men was to preserve life and not to destroy it. + +On Saturday, the _chaine a bras_ was discontinued, as the engineers had +brought the pumps effectually to work. Suddenly a cry of joy was echoed +from mouth to mouth, "They are saved! they are saved! six of them are +freed from their subterraneous prison!" shouted a person at the entrance +of the mine. The rumor was instantly repeated along the crowd, and a +horseman set off at full speed for St. Etienne, with the gratifying +news; another followed, and confirmed the report of his predecessor. The +whole town was in motion, and all classes seemed to partake of the +general joy, with a feeling as if each had been individually interested. +In the exuberance of their delight they were already deliberating on the +subject of a _fete_, to celebrate the happy event, when a third horsemen +arrived. The multitude thronged round him, expecting a more ample +confirmation of the welcome tidings. But their joy was soon turned to +sorrow, when they were informed that nothing had yet been discovered, +save the dead bodies of two unfortunate men, who, together had left +eleven children to lament their untimely fate. + +On Sunday, the workmen continued their labor with equal zeal and +uncertainty as before. A sort of inquietude and hopelessness, however, +occasionally pervaded their minds, which may be easily accounted for, +from the hitherto fruitless result of their fatiguing researches. +Discussions now took place on what was to be done; differences of +opinion arose on the various plans proposed, and, in the meantime, the +sounds of the hapless victims from the recesses of the rocky cavern +continued to be distinctly audible. Every moment the embarrassment and +difficulties of the workmen increased. The flinty rock seemed to grow +more impenetrable; their tools either broke, or became so fixed in the +stone, that it was frequently impossible to regain them. The water +filtered from all parts, through the narrow gallery they were +perforating, and they even began to apprehend another irruption. + +Such was the state of things on Monday morning, when, at four o'clock, +an astounding noise was heard, which re-echoed throughout the Whole +extent of the mine. A general panic seized on every one; it was thought +that the waters had forced a new issue. A rapid and confused flight took +place; but, luckily, their fears were soon allayed on perceiving that it +was only an immense mass of rock, detached from the mine, which had +fallen into a draining-well. This false alarm, however, operated in a +discouraging manner, on the minds of the workmen; and it required some +management to bring them back to their respective stations, and to +revive that ardor and constancy, which they had hitherto so nobly +displayed. + +They had scarcely renewed their endeavors to bore through the rock, when +suddenly one of them felt the instrument drawn from his hands, by the +poor imprisoned miners. It was, indeed, to them, the instrument of +deliverance from their cruel situation. Singular to relate, their first +request was neither for food nor drink, but for _light_, as if they were +more eager to make use of their eyes, than to satisfy the pressing wants +of appetite! It was now ascertained that eight of the sufferers still +survived; and this time an authentic account of the happy discovery was +dispatched to St. Etienne, where it excited the most enthusiastic +demonstrations of sympathy and gladness. But there is no pleasure +unmixed with alloy; no general happiness unaccompanied by particular +exceptions. Among the workmen, was the father of one of the men who had +disappeared in the mine. His paternal feelings seemed to have endowed +him with superhuman strength. Night and day he never quitted his work +but for a few minutes to return to it with redoubled ardor; one sole, +absorbing thought occupied his whole soul; the idea that his son, his +_only_ son, was with those who were heard from within. In vain he was +solicited to retire; in vain they strove to force him from labors too +fatiguing for his age. "My son is among them," said he, "I hear him; +nothing shall prevent my hastening his release;" and, from time to time, +he called on his son, in accents that tore the hearts of the bystanders. +It was from his hand that the instrument had been drawn. His first +question was "my child?" Like Apelles, let me throw a vail over a +father's grief. His Antoine was no more, he had been drowned. + +For four days several medical men were constantly on the spot, to +contribute all the succors that humanity, skill, and science could +afford. It was they who introduced through the hole, broth and soup, by +means of long, tin tubes, which had been carefully prepared beforehand. +The poor captives distributed it with the most scrupulous attention, +first to the oldest and weakest of their companions; for, +notwithstanding their dreadful situation, the spirit of concord and +charity had never ceased for a single moment to preside among them. The +man who was appointed by the others to communicate with, and answer the +questions of their deliverers, displayed, in all his replies, a gayety +quite in keeping with the French character. On being asked what day he +thought it was, and on being informed that it was Monday, instead of +Sunday, as he had supposed, "Ah!" said he, "I ought to have known that, +as we yesterday indulged ourselves freely in drinking--water." Strange +that a man should have the heart to joke, who had been thus "cabin'd, +cribb'd, confin'd," during five days, destitute of food, deprived of +air, agitated by suspense, and in jeopardy of perishing by the most +horrible of all deaths! + +There still remained full sixteen feet of solid rock between the two +anxious parties; but the workmen's labors were now, if possible, +redoubled by the certainty of complete success. At intervals, light +nourishment in regulated quantities, continued to be passed to the +miners; this, however they soon rejected, expressing but one desire, +that their friends would make haste. Their strength began to fail them; +their respiration became more and more difficult; their utterance grew +feebler and fainter; and toward six o'clock in the evening, the last +words that could be distinguished, were--"Brothers make haste!" + +The general anxiety was now wound up to the highest pitch; it was, +perhaps, the most trying crisis yet experienced since the commencement +of their benevolent labors; at length the moment of deliverance was, all +at once, announced, and at ten o'clock it was accomplished. One by one, +they appeared, like specters, gliding along the gallery which had just +been completed; their weak and agitated forms supported by the +engineers, on whom they cast their feeble eyes, filled with +astonishment, yet beaming with gratitude. Accompanied by the doctors, +they all with one single exception, ascended to the entrance of the +mine, without aid; such was their eagerness to inhale the pure air of +liberty. From the mouth of the mine to the temporary residence allotted +them, the whole way was illuminated. The engineers, pupils, and the +workmen, with the National Guard under arms, were drawn up in two lines +to form a passage; and thus, in the midst of a religious silence, did +these poor fellows traverse an attentive and sympathizing crowd, who, as +they passed along, inclined their heads, as a sort of respect and honor +to their sufferings. + +Such are the affecting particulars of an event, during the whole of +which, every kind of business was suspended at St. Etienne; an event +which exhibited the entire population of a large town, forming, as it +were, but one heart, entertaining but one thought, imbued with one +feeling, for the god-like purpose of saving the lives of eight poor, +obscure individuals. Christians, men of all countries, whenever and +wherever suffering humanity claims your aid--"Go ye and do likewise!" + +[Illustration: SHIP TOWED BY BULLOCKS.] + + + +SHIP TOWED TO LAND BY BULLOCKS. + +A few years since the ship Ariadne, freighted principally with live +cattle, started on a voyage from Quebec, bound to Halifax. A gale came +on, which continued to increase in fury, until it became a perfect +hurricane. The ship was dismasted, and when the mainmast fell, three +poor fellows were crushed to death. A little before sunset, on the +second day of the gale, the appalling cry of "Breakers ahead!" was +raised. All eyes were instinctively turned in one direction; and, about +a mile off, the sea was as a boiling caldron. Toward the breakers the +hull was now drifting, unmanageable, every moment threatened with +destruction. For about half an hour, there was intense anxiety, and an +agony of suspense on board. At length she entered the breakers. A large +wave raised her, and she struck heavily on the rocks as the waves +receded; it was evident, from constant striking upon the bottom, that +the vessel must soon go to pieces; and the sea made a clean break over +her, about half of the length from the stern. The officers and crew were +huddled together upon the deck forward, intent upon devising means of +escape; at last the captain thought of a plan, which, though novel, +proved successful. He fastened ropes to the horns of several bullocks, +and drove them into the sea, their strong, instinctive love of life +impelled them forward, and several of them reached the shore. The ropes +were fastened by some men, who had assembled for the relief of those on +the vessel, and after much exertion and danger all on board were rescued +from their perilous situation, and landed in safety. + + + +DESTRUCTION OF A SHIP BY A WHALE. + +The following thrilling account of the destruction of the whale ship Ann +Alexander, Captain John S. Deblois, of New Bedford, by a large sperm +whale, is from the lips of the captain himself. A similar circumstance +has never been known to occur but once in the whole history of +whale-fishing, and that was the destruction of the ship Essex, some +twenty or twenty-five years ago, and which many of our readers fully +remember. We proceed to the narrative as furnished by Captain Deblois, +and which is fully authenticated by nine of the crew, in a protest under +the seal of the United States Consul, Alexander Ruden, Jr., at Paita. + +The ship Ann Alexander, Captain J.S. Deblois, sailed from New Bedford, +Mass., June 1st, 1850, for a cruise in the South Pacific for sperm +whale. Having taken about five hundred barrels of oil in the Atlantic, +the ship proceeded on her voyage to the Pacific. Nothing of unusual +interest occurred until when passing Cape Horn, one of the men, named +Jackson Walker, of Newport, N.H., was lost overboard in a storm. +Reaching the Pacific, she came up the coast and stopped at Valdivia, on +the coast of Chili, for fresh provisions, and the 31st of May last, she +called at Paita for the purpose of shipping a man. The vessel proceeded +on her return voyage to the South Pacific. + +On the 20th of August last she reached what is well known to all +whalers, as the "Off-shore ground," in latitude five degrees fifty +minutes south, longitude one hundred and twenty degrees west. In the +morning of that day, at about nine o'clock, whales were discovered in +the neighborhood, and about noon, the same day, they succeeded in making +fast to one. Two boats had gone after the whales--the larboard and the +starboard, the former commanded by the first mate, the latter by +Captain Deblois. The whale which they had struck, was harpooned by the +larboard boat. After running some time, the whale turned upon the boat, +and rushing at it with tremendous violence lifted open its enormous +jaws, and taking the boat in, actually crushed it into fragments as +small as a common chair! Captain Deblois immediately struck for the +scene of the disaster with the starboard boat, and succeeded, against +all expectation, in rescuing the whole of the crew of the boat--nine +in number! + +There were now eighteen men in the starboard boat, consisting of the +captain, the first mate, and the crews of both boats. The frightful +disaster had been witnessed from the ship, and the waste boat was called +into readiness, and sent to their relief. The distance from the ship was +about six miles. As soon as the waste boat arrived, the crews were +divided, and it was determined to pursue the same whale, and make +another attack upon him. Accordingly they separated, and proceeded at +some distance from each other, as is usual on such occasions, after the +whale. In a short time, they came up to him, and prepared to give him +battle. The waste boat, commanded by the first mate, was in advance. As +soon as the whale perceived the demonstration being made upon him, he +turned his course, suddenly, and making a tremendous dash at this boat, +seized it with his wide-spread jaws, and crushed it to atoms, allowing +the men barely time to escape his vengeance, by throwing themselves into +the ocean. + +Captain Deblois, again seeing the perilous condition of his men, at the +risk of meeting the same fate, directed his boat to hasten to their +rescue, and in a short time succeeded in saving them all from a death +little less horrible than that from which they had twice as narrowly +escaped. He then ordered the boat to put for the ship as speedily as +possible; and no sooner had the order been given, than they discovered +the monster of the deep making toward them with his jaws widely +extended. Fortunately, the monster came up and passed them at a short +distance. The boat then made her way to the ship and they all got on +board in safety. + +After reaching the ship a boat was dispatched for the oars of the +demolished boats, and it was determined to pursue the whale with the +ship. As soon as the boat returned with the oars, sail was set, and the +ship proceeded after the whale. In a short time she overtook him, and a +lance was thrown into his head. The ship passed on by him, and +immediately after they discovered that the whale was making for the +ship. As he came up near her, they hauled on the wind, and suffered the +monster to pass her. After he had fairly passed, they kept off to +overtake and attack him again. When the ship had reached within about +fifty rods of him, they discovered that the whale had settled down deep +below the surface of the water, and, as it was near sundown, they +concluded to give up the pursuit. + +Captain Deblois was at this time standing in the night-heads on the +larboard bow, with lance in hand, ready to strike the monster a deadly +blow should he appear, the ship moving about five knots, when working on +the side of the ship, he discovered the whale rushing toward her at the +rate of fifteen knots! In an instant, the monster struck the ship with +tremendous violence, shaking her from stem to stern! She quivered under +the violence of the shock, as if she had struck upon a rock! Captain +Deblois immediately descended into the forecastle, and there, to his +horror, discovered that the monster had struck the ship two feet from +the keel, abreast the foremast, knocking a great hole entirely through +her bottom. Springing to the deck, he ordered the mate to cut away the +anchors and get the cables overboard, to keep the ship from sinking, as +she had a large quantity of pig iron on board. In doing this, the mate +succeeded in getting only one anchor and one cable clear, the other +having been fastened around the foremast. The ship was then sinking +rapidly. The captain went to the cabin, where he found three feet of +water; he, however, succeeded in procuring a chronometer, sextant, +and chart. + +Reaching the decks, he ordered the boats to be cleared away, and get +water and provisions, as the ship was keeling over. He again descended +to the cabin, but the water was rushing in so rapidly that he could +procure nothing. He then came upon deck, ordered all hands into the +boats, and was the last to leave the ship, which he did by throwing +himself into the sea, and swimming to the nearest boat! The ship was on +her beam end, top-gallant yards under the water. They then pushed off +some distance from the ship, expecting her to sink in a very short time. +Upon an examination of the stores they had been able to save, he +discovered that they had only twelve quarts of water, and not a mouthful +of provisions of any kind! The boats contained eleven men each; were +leaky, and night coming on, they were obliged to bail them all night to +keep them from sinking! + +Next day, at daylight, they returned to the ship, no one daring to +venture on board but the captain, their intention being to cut away the +masts, and fearful that the moment the masts were cut away that the ship +would go down. With a single hatchet, the captain went on board, cut +away the mast, when the ship righted. The boats then came up, and the +men, by the sole aid of spades, cut away the chain cable from around the +foremast, which got the ship nearly on her keel. The men then tied ropes +around their bodies, got into the sea and cut a hole through the decks +to get out provisions. They could procure nothing but about five gallons +of vinegar and twenty pounds of wet bread. The ship threatened to sink, +and they deemed it prudent to remain by her no longer, so they set sail +in their boats and left her. + +On the 22d of August, at about five o'clock P.M., they had the +indescribable joy of seeing a ship in the distance. They made signal and +were soon answered, and in a short time they were reached by the ship +Nantucket, of Nantucket, Mass., Captain Gibbs, who took them all on +board, clothed and fed them, and extended to them in every way the +greatest possible hospitality. + +On the succeeding day Captain Gibbs went to the wreck of the ill-fated +Ann Alexander, for the purpose of trying to procure something; but, as +the sea was rough, and the attempt considered dangerous, he abandoned +the project. The Nantucket then set sail for Paita, where she arrived on +the 15th of September, and where she landed Captain Deblois and his men. +Captain Deblois was kindly received and hospitably entertained at +Paita by Captain Bathurst, an English gentleman residing there, and +subsequently took passage on board the schooner Providence, Captain +Starbuck, for Panama. + +[Illustration: BURNING OF THE KENT--EAST INDIAMAN] + + + +BURNING OF THE KENT. + +The annexed engraving represents the burning of the Kent, East Indiaman, +in the Bay of Biscay. She had on board in all six hundred and forty-one +persons at the time of the accident. The fire broke out in the hold +during a storm. An officer on duty, finding that a spirit cask had +broken loose, was taking measures to secure it, when a lurch of the ship +caused him to drop his lantern, and, in his eagerness to save it, he let +go the cask, which suddenly stove in, the spirits communicated with the +flame, and the whole place was instantly in a blaze. Hopes of subduing +the fire at first were strong, but soon heavy volumes of smoke and a +pitchy smell told that it had reached the cable-room. + +In these awful circumstances, the captain ordered the lower decks to be +scuttled, to admit water; this was done; several poor seamen being +suffocated by the smoke in executing the order; but now a new danger +threatened, the sea rushed in so furiously, that the ship was becoming +water-logged, and all feared her going down. Between six and seven +hundred human beings, were by this time crowded on the deck. Many on +their knees earnestly implored the mercy of an all-powerful God! while +some old stout-hearted sailors quietly seated themselves directly over +the powder magazine,--expecting an explosion every moment, and thinking +thus to put a speedier end to their torture. + +In this time of despair, it occurred to the fourth mate to send a man to +the foremast, hoping, but scarce daring to think it probable, that some +friendly sail might be in sight. The man at the foretop looked around +him; it was a moment of intense anxiety; then waving his hat, he cried +out, "A sail, on the lee-bow!" + +Those on deck received the news with heart-felt gratitude, and answered +with three cheers. Signals of distress were instantly hoisted, and +endeavors used to make toward the stranger, while the minute guns were +fired continuously. She proved to be the brig Cambria, Captain Cook, +master, bound to Vera Cruz, having twenty Cornish miners, and some +agents of the Mining Company on board. For about a quarter of an hour, +the crew of the Kent doubted whether the brig perceived their signals: +but after a period of dreadful suspense, they saw the British colors +hoisted, and the brig making toward them. + +On this, the crew of the Kent got their boats in readiness; the first +was filled with women, passengers, and officers' wives, and was lowered +into a sea so tempestuous as to leave small hope of their reaching the +brig; they did, however, after being nearly swamped through some +entanglement of the ropes, getting clear of the Kent, and were safely +taken on board the Cambria, which prudently lay at some distance off. + +After the first trip, it was found impossible for the boats to come +close alongside of the Kent, and the poor women and children suffered +dreadfully, in being lowered over the stern into them by means of ropes. +Amid this gloomy scene, many beautiful examples occurred of filial and +parental affection, and of disinterested friendship; and many sorrowful +instances of individual loss and suffering. At length, when all had been +removed from the burning vessel, but a few, who were so overcome by fear +as to refuse to make the attempt to reach the brig, the captain quitted +his ill-fated ship. + +The flames which had spread along her upper deck, now mounted rapidly to +the mast and rigging, forming one general conflagration, and lighting +up the heavens to an immense distance around. One by one her stately +masts fell over her sides. By half-past one in the morning the fire +reached the powder magazine; the looked-for explosion took place, and +the burning fragments of the vessel were blown high into the air, like +so many rockets. + +The Cambria, with her crowd of sufferers, made all speed to the nearest +port, and reached Portsmouth in safety, shortly after midnight, on the +3d of March, 1825, the accident having taken place on the 28th of +February. Wonderful to tell, fourteen of the poor creatures, left on the +Kent, were rescued by another ship, the Caroline, on her passage from +Alexandria to Liverpool. + + +THE END + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Thrilling Adventures by Land and Sea +by James O. Brayman + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THRILLING ADVENTURES *** + +***** This file should be named 10765.txt or 10765.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/7/6/10765/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charlie Kirschner and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team. + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions 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. Special rules, +set forth in the General Terms of Use part of this license, apply to +copying and distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works to +protect the PROJECT GUTENBERG-tm concept and trademark. Project +Gutenberg is a registered trademark, and may not be used if you +charge for the eBooks, unless you receive specific permission. If you +do not charge anything for copies of this eBook, complying with the +rules is very easy. You may use this eBook for nearly any purpose +such as creation of derivative works, reports, performances and +research. They may be modified and printed and given away--you may do +practically ANYTHING with public domain eBooks. Redistribution is +subject to the trademark license, especially commercial +redistribution. + + + +*** START: FULL LICENSE *** + +THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG LICENSE +PLEASE READ THIS BEFORE YOU DISTRIBUTE OR USE THIS WORK + +To protect the Project Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting the free +distribution of electronic works, by using or distributing this work +(or any other work associated in any way with the phrase "Project +Gutenberg"), you agree to comply with all the terms of the Full Project +Gutenberg-tm License (available with this file or online at +https://gutenberg.org/license). + + +Section 1. General Terms of Use and Redistributing Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic works + +1.A. By reading or using any part of this Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work, you indicate that you have read, understand, agree to +and accept all the terms of this license and intellectual property +(trademark/copyright) agreement. If you do not agree to abide by all +the terms of this agreement, you must cease using and return or destroy +all copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in your possession. +If you paid a fee for obtaining a copy of or access to a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work and you do not agree to be bound by the +terms of this agreement, you may obtain a refund from the person or +entity to whom you paid the fee as set forth in paragraph 1.E.8. + +1.B. "Project Gutenberg" is a registered trademark. It may only be +used on or associated in any way with an electronic work by people who +agree to be bound by the terms of this agreement. There are a few +things that you can do with most Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works +even without complying with the full terms of this agreement. See +paragraph 1.C below. There are a lot of things you can do with Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works if you follow the terms of this agreement +and help preserve free future access to Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. See paragraph 1.E below. + +1.C. The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation ("the Foundation" +or PGLAF), owns a compilation copyright in the collection of Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic works. Nearly all the individual works in the +collection are in the public domain in the United States. If an +individual work is in the public domain in the United States and you are +located in the United States, we do not claim a right to prevent you from +copying, distributing, performing, displaying or creating derivative +works based on the work as long as all references to Project Gutenberg +are removed. Of course, we hope that you will support the Project +Gutenberg-tm mission of promoting free access to electronic works by +freely sharing Project Gutenberg-tm works in compliance with the terms of +this agreement for keeping the Project Gutenberg-tm name associated with +the work. You can easily comply with the terms of this agreement by +keeping this work in the same format with its attached full Project +Gutenberg-tm License when you share it without charge with others. + +1.D. The copyright laws of the place where you are located also govern +what you can do with this work. Copyright laws in most countries are in +a constant state of change. If you are outside the United States, check +the laws of your country in addition to the terms of this agreement +before downloading, copying, displaying, performing, distributing or +creating derivative works based on this work or any other Project +Gutenberg-tm work. The Foundation makes no representations concerning +the copyright status of any work in any country outside the United +States. + +1.E. Unless you have removed all references to Project Gutenberg: + +1.E.1. The following sentence, with active links to, or other immediate +access to, the full Project Gutenberg-tm License must appear prominently +whenever any copy of a Project Gutenberg-tm work (any work on which the +phrase "Project Gutenberg" appears, or with which the phrase "Project +Gutenberg" is associated) is accessed, displayed, performed, viewed, +copied or distributed: + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere 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 + +1.E.2. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is derived +from the public domain (does not contain a notice indicating that it is +posted with permission of the copyright holder), the work can be copied +and distributed to anyone in the United States without paying any fees +or charges. If you are redistributing or providing access to a work +with the phrase "Project Gutenberg" associated with or appearing on the +work, you must comply either with the requirements of paragraphs 1.E.1 +through 1.E.7 or obtain permission for the use of the work and the +Project Gutenberg-tm trademark as set forth in paragraphs 1.E.8 or +1.E.9. + +1.E.3. If an individual Project Gutenberg-tm electronic work is posted +with the permission of the copyright holder, your use and distribution +must comply with both paragraphs 1.E.1 through 1.E.7 and any additional +terms imposed by the copyright holder. Additional terms will be linked +to the Project Gutenberg-tm License for all works posted with the +permission of the copyright holder found at the beginning of this work. + +1.E.4. Do not unlink or detach or remove the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License terms from this work, or any files containing a part of this +work or any other work associated with Project Gutenberg-tm. + +1.E.5. Do not copy, display, perform, distribute or redistribute this +electronic work, or any part of this electronic work, without +prominently displaying the sentence set forth in paragraph 1.E.1 with +active links or immediate access to the full terms of the Project +Gutenberg-tm License. + +1.E.6. You may convert to and distribute this work in any binary, +compressed, marked up, nonproprietary or proprietary form, including any +word processing or hypertext form. However, if you provide access to or +distribute copies of a Project Gutenberg-tm work in a format other than +"Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other format used in the official version +posted on the official Project Gutenberg-tm web site (www.gutenberg.org), +you must, at no additional cost, fee or expense to the user, provide a +copy, a means of exporting a copy, or a means of obtaining a copy upon +request, of the work in its original "Plain Vanilla ASCII" or other +form. Any alternate format must include the full Project Gutenberg-tm +License as specified in paragraph 1.E.1. + +1.E.7. Do not charge a fee for access to, viewing, displaying, +performing, copying or distributing any Project Gutenberg-tm works +unless you comply with paragraph 1.E.8 or 1.E.9. + +1.E.8. You may charge a reasonable fee for copies of or providing +access to or distributing Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works provided +that + +- You pay a royalty fee of 20% of the gross profits you derive from + the use of Project Gutenberg-tm works calculated using the method + you already use to calculate your applicable taxes. The fee is + owed to the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark, but he + has agreed to donate royalties under this paragraph to the + Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation. Royalty payments + must be paid within 60 days following each date on which you + prepare (or are legally required to prepare) your periodic tax + returns. Royalty payments should be clearly marked as such and + sent to the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation at the + address specified in Section 4, "Information about donations to + the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation." + +- You provide a full refund of any money paid by a user who notifies + you in writing (or by e-mail) within 30 days of receipt that s/he + does not agree to the terms of the full Project Gutenberg-tm + License. You must require such a user to return or + destroy all copies of the works possessed in a physical medium + and discontinue all use of and all access to other copies of + Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +- You provide, in accordance with paragraph 1.F.3, a full refund of any + money paid for a work or a replacement copy, if a defect in the + electronic work is discovered and reported to you within 90 days + of receipt of the work. + +- You comply with all other terms of this agreement for free + distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm works. + +1.E.9. If you wish to charge a fee or distribute a Project Gutenberg-tm +electronic work or group of works on different terms than are set +forth in this agreement, you must obtain permission in writing from +both the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation and Michael +Hart, the owner of the Project Gutenberg-tm trademark. Contact the +Foundation as set forth in Section 3 below. + +1.F. + +1.F.1. Project Gutenberg volunteers and employees expend considerable +effort to identify, do copyright research on, transcribe and proofread +public domain works in creating the Project Gutenberg-tm +collection. Despite these efforts, Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works, and the medium on which they may be stored, may contain +"Defects," such as, but not limited to, incomplete, inaccurate or +corrupt data, transcription errors, a copyright or other intellectual +property infringement, a defective or damaged disk or other medium, a +computer virus, or computer codes that damage or cannot be read by +your equipment. + +1.F.2. LIMITED WARRANTY, DISCLAIMER OF DAMAGES - Except for the "Right +of Replacement or Refund" described in paragraph 1.F.3, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation, the owner of the Project +Gutenberg-tm trademark, and any other party distributing a Project +Gutenberg-tm electronic work under this agreement, disclaim all +liability to you for damages, costs and expenses, including legal +fees. YOU AGREE THAT YOU HAVE NO REMEDIES FOR NEGLIGENCE, STRICT +LIABILITY, BREACH OF WARRANTY OR BREACH OF CONTRACT EXCEPT THOSE +PROVIDED IN PARAGRAPH F3. YOU AGREE THAT THE FOUNDATION, THE +TRADEMARK OWNER, AND ANY DISTRIBUTOR UNDER THIS AGREEMENT WILL NOT BE +LIABLE TO YOU FOR ACTUAL, DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL, PUNITIVE OR +INCIDENTAL DAMAGES EVEN IF YOU GIVE NOTICE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH +DAMAGE. + +1.F.3. LIMITED RIGHT OF REPLACEMENT OR REFUND - If you discover a +defect in this electronic work within 90 days of receiving it, you can +receive a refund of the money (if any) you paid for it by sending a +written explanation to the person you received the work from. If you +received the work on a physical medium, you must return the medium with +your written explanation. The person or entity that provided you with +the defective work may elect to provide a replacement copy in lieu of a +refund. If you received the work electronically, the person or entity +providing it to you may choose to give you a second opportunity to +receive the work electronically in lieu of a refund. If the second copy +is also defective, you may demand a refund in writing without further +opportunities to fix the problem. + +1.F.4. Except for the limited right of replacement or refund set forth +in paragraph 1.F.3, this work is provided to you 'AS-IS' WITH NO OTHER +WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO +WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTIBILITY OR FITNESS FOR ANY PURPOSE. + +1.F.5. Some states do not allow disclaimers of certain implied +warranties or the exclusion or limitation of certain types of damages. +If any disclaimer or limitation set forth in this agreement violates the +law of the state applicable to this agreement, the agreement shall be +interpreted to make the maximum disclaimer or limitation permitted by +the applicable state law. The invalidity or unenforceability of any +provision of this agreement shall not void the remaining provisions. + +1.F.6. INDEMNITY - You agree to indemnify and hold the Foundation, the +trademark owner, any agent or employee of the Foundation, anyone +providing copies of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works in accordance +with this agreement, and any volunteers associated with the production, +promotion and distribution of Project Gutenberg-tm electronic works, +harmless from all liability, costs and expenses, including legal fees, +that arise directly or indirectly from any of the following which you do +or cause to occur: (a) distribution of this or any Project Gutenberg-tm +work, (b) alteration, modification, or additions or deletions to any +Project Gutenberg-tm work, and (c) any Defect you cause. + + +Section 2. Information about the Mission of Project Gutenberg-tm + +Project Gutenberg-tm is synonymous with the free distribution of +electronic works in formats readable by the widest variety of computers +including obsolete, old, middle-aged and new computers. It exists +because of the efforts of hundreds of volunteers and donations from +people in all walks of life. + +Volunteers and financial support to provide volunteers with the +assistance they need, is critical to reaching Project Gutenberg-tm's +goals and ensuring that the Project Gutenberg-tm collection will +remain freely available for generations to come. In 2001, the Project +Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation was created to provide a secure +and permanent future for Project Gutenberg-tm and future generations. +To learn more about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation +and how your efforts and donations can help, see Sections 3 and 4 +and the Foundation web page at https://www.pglaf.org. + + +Section 3. Information about the Project Gutenberg Literary Archive +Foundation + +The Project Gutenberg Literary Archive Foundation is a non profit +501(c)(3) educational corporation organized under the laws of the +state of Mississippi and granted tax exempt status by the Internal +Revenue Service. The Foundation's EIN or federal tax identification +number is 64-6221541. Its 501(c)(3) letter is posted at +https://pglaf.org/fundraising. Contributions to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation are tax deductible to the full extent +permitted by U.S. federal laws and your state's laws. + +The Foundation's principal office is located at 4557 Melan Dr. S. +Fairbanks, AK, 99712., but its volunteers and employees are scattered +throughout numerous locations. Its business office is located at +809 North 1500 West, Salt Lake City, UT 84116, (801) 596-1887, email +business@pglaf.org. Email contact links and up to date contact +information can be found at the Foundation's web site and official +page at https://pglaf.org + +For additional contact information: + Dr. Gregory B. Newby + Chief Executive and Director + gbnewby@pglaf.org + +Section 4. Information about Donations to the Project Gutenberg +Literary Archive Foundation + +Project Gutenberg-tm depends upon and cannot survive without wide +spread public support and donations to carry out its mission of +increasing the number of public domain and licensed works that can be +freely distributed in machine readable form accessible by the widest +array of equipment including outdated equipment. Many small donations +($1 to $5,000) are particularly important to maintaining tax exempt +status with the IRS. + +The Foundation is committed to complying with the laws regulating +charities and charitable donations in all 50 states of the United +States. Compliance requirements are not uniform and it takes a +considerable effort, much paperwork and many fees to meet and keep up +with these requirements. We do not solicit donations in locations +where we have not received written confirmation of compliance. To +SEND DONATIONS or determine the status of compliance for any +particular state visit https://pglaf.org + +While we cannot and do not solicit contributions from states where we +have not met the solicitation requirements, we know of no prohibition +against accepting unsolicited donations from donors in such states who +approach us with offers to donate. + +International donations are gratefully accepted, but we cannot make +any statements concerning tax treatment of donations received from +outside the United States. U.S. laws alone swamp our small staff. + +Please check the Project Gutenberg Web pages for current donation +methods and addresses. Donations are accepted in a number of other +ways including including checks, online payments and credit card +donations. To donate, please visit: https://pglaf.org/donate + + +Section 5. General Information About Project Gutenberg-tm electronic +works. + +Professor Michael S. Hart was the originator of the Project Gutenberg-tm +concept of a library of electronic works that could be freely shared +with anyone. For thirty years, he produced and distributed Project +Gutenberg-tm eBooks with only a loose network of volunteer support. + +Project Gutenberg-tm eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the U.S. +unless a copyright notice is included. Thus, we do not necessarily +keep eBooks in compliance with any particular paper edition. + +Each eBook is in a subdirectory of the same number as the eBook's +eBook number, often in several formats including plain vanilla ASCII, +compressed (zipped), HTML and others. + +Corrected EDITIONS of our eBooks replace the old file and take over +the old filename and etext number. The replaced older file is renamed. +VERSIONS based on separate sources are treated as new eBooks receiving +new filenames and etext numbers. + +Most people start at our Web site which has the main PG search facility: + + https://www.gutenberg.org + +This Web site includes information about Project Gutenberg-tm, +including how to make donations to the Project Gutenberg Literary +Archive Foundation, how to help produce our new eBooks, and how to +subscribe to our email newsletter to hear about new eBooks. + +EBooks posted prior to November 2003, with eBook numbers BELOW #10000, +are filed in directories based on their release date. If you want to +download any of these eBooks directly, rather than using the regular +search system you may utilize the following addresses and just +download by the etext year. + + https://www.gutenberg.org/etext06 + + (Or /etext 05, 04, 03, 02, 01, 00, 99, + 98, 97, 96, 95, 94, 93, 92, 92, 91 or 90) + +EBooks posted since November 2003, with etext numbers OVER #10000, are +filed in a different way. The year of a release date is no longer part +of the directory path. The path is based on the etext number (which is +identical to the filename). The path to the file is made up of single +digits corresponding to all but the last digit in the filename. For +example an eBook of filename 10234 would be found at: + + https://www.gutenberg.org/1/0/2/3/10234 + +or filename 24689 would be found at: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/4/6/8/24689 + +An alternative method of locating eBooks: + https://www.gutenberg.org/GUTINDEX.ALL + + diff --git a/old/10765.zip b/old/10765.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..e26b3ac --- /dev/null +++ b/old/10765.zip |
