3

 
 an?'' p. 273
 
 I 

 
 STRAY YANKEE 
 
 TEX A S. 
 
 BY PHILIP PAXTON. 
 
 REDFIELD, 
 
 110 A 112 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK. 
 1853.
 
 ENTERED, according to Act of Congress, in the year 1853, 
 
 By J. S. REDFIELD, 
 In the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York. 

 
 v tivtt . 
 
 IT is customary for an author, upon launching his " frail bark," to 
 jump up in the bow and make quite a bow-wow about it. 
 
 My bow shall be hasty and my speech curt. A few ot the suc- 
 ceeding chapters have already appeared in some of the leading 
 periodicals of the day, but as they were intimately connected w4th, 
 .and indispensably necessary to my story, I was forced to re-write 
 and introduce them here. Should, therefore, any reader of the 
 "Whig," or the "Democratic Review," or the "Literary World," or 
 the " Spirit of the Times," find among these pages something that 
 may remind him of an old acquaintance, let him not accuse the 
 author of plagiarism, or indeed of any other literary crime, except 
 perhaps that of occasionally picking his own pockets an excusa- 
 ble offence in one who has drunk of the Sabine waters ; for a sin- 
 gular but veracious account of whose miraculous effects, please 
 examine the " Introduction." 
 
 The author trusts that no apology will be necessary for intro- 
 ducing the two papers at the close of the volume, as they are 
 perfectly germane to the subject.

 
 A STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS. 
 
 PAGE 
 
 PREFACE, . vii 
 
 INTRODUCTION, ix 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 BEAR AND SNAKE. 
 
 Bear Sign A Queer Rig Mr. and Mrs. Joe Feminine Accomplish- 
 mentsBear About The Snakes The Hatchet Misses Fire The 
 Hunting Party The Pack, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 MORE SNAKE THAN BEAR, 
 
 Caesar's Disquisition The " Timber" A Fire in the Rear Repairing 
 damages The Bear Treed Stand from Under Moore puts his 
 Foot in it Snake Bitten Scraps of Early Piety A Miracle, . 27 
 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 MORE BEEF THAN VENISON. 
 
 Fire Hunting Creasing a Horse Neck or Nothing The Fire Pan 
 The "Wrong Customer, 37 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 SALUTATORY A WILD-GOOSE CHASE AND A MARfi's NEST. 
 
 An Arrival Imposing Ceremony A Judge, but no Lawyer Lefe 
 Thompson Reasons for Travelling Uncle Billy Prepares for Action 
 The Enemy's Camp The Sub Sheriff More Plague than Profit, . 48
 
 ii CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 THE BIG THICKET THE AUTHOR IN A FIX. P1GB 
 
 A Native Speculator Nice Travelling Scylla and Charybdis Beau- 
 ties of a Cypress-brake The River Joe, on Sunday Fishing A 
 Round Turn The Labyrinth, 54 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 HOW I CAUGHT A " CAT," AND WHAT I DID WITH IT. 
 
 The River Plunge in the Dark A Self-fishing Pole The Barbecue 
 
 A Tough Customer, 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 THE RIVER CAMP. 
 
 Solitude Our Forest Home Tocalization A Horse Chuckle Pork 
 and Potatoes A 'Chef-d'GEuvre Locomotive Currency Honest 
 Bob, 69 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 STORIES BY THE CAMP FIRE. 
 
 Laffitte The Secret Betrayed A Damp Climate The Old "Woman 
 The Bitter Curse, 81 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A WEDDING AND A WOLF-HUNT. 
 
 Changing Quarters A Wet Bridegroom Muster of the Forces The 
 Chase is up Recruiting The Enemy's Sortie The Hide in Dan. 
 ger, 89 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 MORE WATER THAN PLEASANT. 
 
 The River makes a "Raise" Joe Overboard Yell and Water Navi- 
 gating a Brake Dry Land Coasting, 102 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 NEW ACQUAINTANCES UNCLE BILLY AND HIS VERNACULAR. 
 
 Oft; in the First Boat Roberta and Uncle Billy How Uncle Billy 
 came there Two Grand Divisions Old Rosin-the-Bow 'Ihe Don- 
 key's Entertainment, 110
 
 CONTENTS. ill 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 UNCLE BILLY'S STOET HOW CHARLEY BIKKIIAM -WAS MURDERED. PAGH 
 Shaking off the "Ager" Joe White Joe's Speech The Trail 
 Chalking out the Campaign, 120 
 
 CHAPTER XIIL 
 
 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY CONCLUDED THE FATE OF THE MURDERERS. 
 Bill Stone The Trap Sprung Cabin Surprised Gathering of the 
 Clan Fall of the Curtain, 180 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 THE COLONEL'S STORY A SHIPWRECK AND A SCRIMMAGE. 
 
 Meeting and parting Smoking out a Survey Ladies "Panting" for 
 the Enemy Mexicans in a Quandary A Quarter-race, but no quar- 
 ter, 140 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 THE COLONEL'S STORY CONCLUDED SPECIMEN OF TALL FIGHTING. 
 Seatsfield The Night Alarm The Fog Lifts Battle Won, and Lost, 150 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 SOME OF THE PLEASURES OF A NEW COUNTRY. 
 
 Rather Damp Off, on their own hook Ants on the March A Select 
 Library, 159 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 A CHAPTER ON THE DEER. 
 
 Jack's Cruise Ashore A Family on Low Diei^-Buck Fight A Cool 
 Proceeding, 166 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 A NIGHT IN A SHINGLE PALACE. 
 
 Proposed Compromise Council of War Uncle Billy on Lawyers 
 Benefits of " Lumbering" Taking the " Shute," . . . .177 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 FETER AND PHYSIC. 
 
 Romantic Marriage Great Sam and the Little Major New Pilgrim's 
 Progress Double Entry In a Bad Way, 188
 
 iv CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER XX 
 TERM-TIME IN THE BACKWOODS, AND A MESTANG COURT. PAQ1 
 
 Fine flow of Spirits The Lawyers A Kangaroo Judge Taking a 
 Swear An Indictment and a half The Bird of Freedom well 
 Employed, 200 
 
 CHAPTER XXI. , 
 
 DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND STOCKING THE CARDS. 
 
 A Very Nice Case Sol Wilgus Defining our Position Sol takes the 
 Hint, 213 
 
 CHAPTER XXn. 
 
 A GAME OF BRAG UNCLE BILLY'S OPINION ABOUT " GOING OFF HALF COCKED." 
 
 The Game Opened " Bluffed off" Great Shot A Little too Smart 
 A Dangerous Pair of Spurs, 222 
 
 CHAPTER XXIH. 
 
 GALVESTON. 
 
 A Dull City Temporary Prosperity The " Northers " A Well Wa- 
 tered Town, 232 
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 UP THE BAT. 
 
 Red-fish Bar A Bone of Contention Home-made Marriages A 
 Queer Law-suit, 238 
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 SAN JACINTO BAY. 
 
 Water-Fowl Peggy Attacks the Texan Army " Plunder" The Mill 
 goes off, 245 
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO. 
 
 Rusk in the Field Sherman's Skirmish Sauve qui Pcut The Blow 
 for Freedom Cos and S- ** Anna, 263
 
 CONTENTS. V 
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 ANOTHER STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS. PAGB 
 
 Dolce far Niente Exploring Expedition Brandy Brandy makes a 
 Deposit "Hot and Hot" Playing Possum Improved Mode of 
 Hunting, 264 
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 GENERAL HEIGHT'S TOM A DARK STOEY. 
 
 Pat de Cow-pen Tom and Milly Mysterious Disappearance The 
 Body Found Signs of Foul Play, 2Y9 
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 GENERAL BRIGHr's TOM CONCLUDED. 
 
 Suspicion The Death Shot A Rude Burial Running Jack Voice 
 from the Grave The Murderer's Fate, 290 
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 An Ambush The " Coup de Grace" Important Developments The 
 Pursuit A Sudden Pull Up, 302 
 
 LYNCH LAW. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 THE PIONEER: REGULATORS AND MODERATORS. 
 
 The Four Classes The Pioneer Law a Dead Letter Regulating a 
 County The Widows of Widow's Creek, . . . . 315 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 Judge S The " Court" Indicted Polite Invitation A Slippery 
 
 Customer Unsatisfactory Physiognomy Murders of Taylor and 
 Floyd Lem M'Guire " Coup de Theatre" 327
 
 Vi CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 THE NON RESISTANT AND THE RIVER DESPERADO. PAGE 
 
 The Lecturer Skunked Schools for Scandal Travelling Gamblers- 
 Phalanx of Crime, 347 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE LAND PIRATE. 
 
 Enlisting The Grand Council A Robber Police A Powerful Clan 
 Taken in the Act The Letter Stewart, . . . .354 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 THE WOLF TRAPPED. 
 
 The Revelation A Nam de Guerre The Rendezvous Grand Council 
 At Home Flight and Recapture 364 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 JUDGE LTNCH'S INTERFERENCE. 
 
 The Discovery Emigration of the Clan A Pretty Quarrel A Back- 
 woods Alsatia The Threat Borne Out Death of Stewart and 
 Murrel, .... 374 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 DEFEAT OF THE GAMBLERS. 
 
 Dargin "Leads the Column" The JSatchez Affair A Bad Bargain- 
 Sudden Vengeance, 886 
 
 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 The Levee Eastern and Western Boats The Firemen's Refrain 
 The First Mississippi Steamer Perilous Voyage The F,;irtliquake 
 Snags and Sawyers The Old Boatmen Dick Russel Taking a 
 House in Tow A Great Joke Accidents The " Grave Yard " 
 The Fat Boy of the Brian Boroihme 401
 
 DURING many years Texas was a jest for all nations, except 
 perhaps Mexico, to whom indeed she proved a somewhat 
 unpalatable reality. It was once the fashion at the north, 
 to name Texas as the inevitable terminus of every moon- 
 light flitting, whether occasioned by that innate modesty 
 which impels a reserved man to save his creditors from 
 interviews, unpleasant and unprofitable upon both sides ; by 
 a too warm admiration of a neighbor's wife ; the desire 
 to sever one's own matrimonial fetters, by u cutting" one's 
 self; or, in fine, any of the thousand and one reasons 
 which so suddenly at times impart to men a fondness for 
 travel, or desire for the society of strangers, and render 
 an immediate change of climate equally necessary and 
 agreeable. In fact, in the years '38 and '39, when the 
 commercial horizon was dark and lowering, and the sun of 
 prosperity almost obscured by the dust from the over- 
 thrown Bank, and the smoke of the great fire, it became 
 very unsafe indeed, for the tradesman to doze too long of 
 a morning, for if he did, it was at least an equal chance 
 that upon at last arriving at his shop or store, the three 
 otuinous letters G. T. T., done in white chalk by mis- 
 chievous urchin or suspicious creditor would stare him full 
 in the face from the closed shutters of his window, or the 
 panel of the door that had been too long upon the lock.
 
 X INTRODUCTION. 
 
 The Texans themselves indulged in a sly chuckle over 
 their somewhat dubious reputation, and it was quite a 
 common joke to ask a man what his name was at home, 
 and what he came to Texas for. The waters of the Sabine 
 river which stream separates south-eastern Texas from 
 Louisiana were said to produce peculiar effects upon all 
 who drank, bathed in, or even crossed their yellow cur- 
 rent. They were supposed to be a perfect Lethe to all 
 remaining consciousness of the correct distinction between 
 meum and tuum which the immigrant might yet retain, 
 and it is recorded that one individual was so severely 
 affected by the combined consequences of a draught and 
 & bath, that finding nothing else to appropriate, he 
 * adopted" his own under garment, which he had previ- 
 ously washed and hung out to dry, and concealed it so 
 carefully from himself, that when its services were needed, 
 they were not to be had upon any terms. 
 
 Such, at least, was the tale he told, to account for a very 
 apparent scarcity of linen, and there was thought to be 
 some truth in his story, as it was very evident that he had 
 been drinking something ; although the Sabine water must 
 have been of universal potency, to judge from the aroma 
 that hung around him. An incredulous wight suggested, 
 that as there was a small grocery upon the bank, perhaps 
 the man being very dry, had drunk up his shirt. 
 
 Did Texas deserve the contumely thus unsparingly 
 heaped upon her ? Quite the reverse. The population of 
 this entire territory, consisting of whites, negroes, and 
 Indians, did not exceed forty thousand at the time of the 
 invasion by Santa Anna. There were a number of despe- 
 radoes, of the most dangerous and abandoned kind, to be 
 found upon and near the Sabine and the Red rivers ; some
 
 INTRODUCTION. xi 
 
 living upon the United States and some upon the Texas 
 side, accordingly as the danger of apprehension from either 
 government appeared more imminent at the time. Leav- 
 ing the narrow strip of rascality upon the eastern border 
 and, by the way, there is, and has been no country, 
 civilized or uncivilized, without a similar one you found 
 the young republic dotted here and there with small knots 
 of stock-raisers, principally from Louisiana ; a few down- 
 easters, seduced from their hard and stony farms, by the 
 milk and honey tales of some empressario's agent ; an occa- 
 sional doctor looking for a large crop of disease and death ; 
 or, perhaps, one that had fewer reapers in the field ; a 
 lawyer or two, to make the wills as the doctors finished up 
 the patients, to seek for offices and speculate in wild lands ; 
 a large number of the true pioneers who shot, fished, and 
 trapped for a living, treading closely in the footprints of 
 the retiring Indians ; and certain disappointed men, or 
 those who having lost caste at home went abroad to regain 
 name, and fame, and fortune. 
 
 A more honest, careless, and hospitable community than 
 that of interior Texas it would be impossible to conceive 
 of, or to meet with anywhere this side of Utopia. Crime 
 of any kind was not tolerated. Every stranger was wel- 
 comed, aided, and respected, if he did but conduct himself 
 with propriety. After 1836 the population was much 
 reduced. Fear, famine, and Mexican slaughter had taken 
 away many of the settlers, driven others from the land, 
 and completely checked immigration. 
 
 During the general panic of '38, many cotton planters 
 came to the country and brought their " force" of negroes 
 with them. Some of these left their home in a hurry, and 
 it must be confessed that they had pretty fair reasons for
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 so doing. The banks had been flooding the country with 
 their currency, which was lent in large sums to the few 
 who possessed the right kind of influence. Cotton and 
 sugar had commanded large prices, and the planter bor- 
 rowed money to purchase new plantations and increase 
 their " force." Suddenly the banks went down in one uni- 
 versal crash ; the planters were left with great quantities 
 of the useless " promises to pay," which they had borrowed 
 upon their own notes or on bond and mortgage ; and these 
 amounts were to be paid, although the borrowed bills were 
 valueless. Ruin threatened upon every side ; ruin appa- 
 rently caused by the rascality of the very men who now 
 were to profit by it, by becoming the owners of negroes and 
 lands at the tithe of their value. Those who were not 
 involved in debt for more than one fourth of what their 
 estates were intrinsically worth, saw them absolutely 
 thrown away at a sheriff's sale for perhaps half enough to 
 satisfy the execution. 
 
 There were men who deemed that they had a right to 
 rescue themselves and their families from utter ruin ; so 
 shouldering their rifles, and arming the more trustworthy 
 of their negroes, they departed secretly for Texas ; and 
 there is one county nearly settled by them. With this 
 hegira commenced the culture of cotton in the interior, for 
 it had hitherto been confined to the eastern portion. As 
 the population increased, and money became more plen- 
 tiful, there came, of course, a proportionate increase of 
 crime. 
 
 In '42, preparations were made for settling Fisher & 
 Miller's grant with German emigrants ; and for a year 
 previous to the annexation of the star republic with the 
 United States, they came over in great numbers. These
 
 INTRODUCTION. xiii 
 
 men were miserable settlers. They seemed to have left 
 home with the idea that in future they were to live without 
 work, and had doubtless been amused with very Munchau- 
 senish talcs of the facility with which game could be 
 obtained, for every one of them could be seen staggering 
 up the muddy streets at Houston with an interminable 
 equipage of pouches and game bags hung around their 
 necks, and a pair, at least, of heavy German "yagers" 
 upon their shoulders. 
 
 When they reached the colony, they would not work 
 during the first year, but lived upon the provisions pur- 
 chased by the company, and amused themselves principally 
 in trotting about the prairies, shooting at small birds and 
 getting themselves shot by the Indians. 
 
 " What new tribe," said Santa Anna the Commanche, 
 and not the Mexican chief to Jack Hays ; " what new 
 tribe have come among us ? They ride along slowly with 
 their eyes bent upon the ground, smoking great pipes, 
 knowing nothing of what is around them, and they never 
 wake up until we have sent an arrow right through 
 them?" 
 
 Such men were of little use in a new country. Stupid 
 by nature, they became more stupid still by free indul- 
 gence in coarse gluttony and sottishness, and generally 
 finished themselves off in three or four years. 
 
 Times and people have changed, but still there remains 
 enough of the old leaven, of the simple-hearted stock rais- 
 ers and small farmers, to keep the average morality of 
 Texas up to the standard of that of any other State, not 
 excepting even the boasted land of steady habits. 
 
 The towns in Texas, at the time of the revolution, were 
 few and of small importance ; such as San-Antonio-de-
 
 XIV INTRODUCTION. 
 
 Bcxar, with a population thoroughly Mexican, Nacogdo- 
 ches and San Augustin in the eastern part, several small 
 villages such as Victoria, Liberty, Harrisburg, Jasper, and 
 a few military posts as Anahuac, <fcc. 
 
 The population of these earlier settlements was such as 
 might be expected ; but the arm of the law, even under 
 the somewhat lax administration of the " Alcaldes," was 
 still felt. When " Houston" was founded it became for a 
 time the resort of all the gamblers in the country, until its 
 citizens decided, by a large majority, to turn Congress 
 adrift, and make them seek some other place upon which 
 to inflict their concomitant nuisances. The worst curse 
 that ever fell upon the country came in the form of the 
 disbanded " Murrel gang," who, when their plans had been 
 revealed, and many of their names made known by the 
 courage of Stewart, fled to Texas, thinking there to find a 
 fair field for future operations, but they were very gene- 
 rally checked. They settled in numbers in a few conve- 
 nient places, and established a perfect cordon of posts 
 from Belew's ferry and other points of the eastern frontier, 
 through the entire settled portion of the Republic. They 
 were, however, driven in from the eastern line and forced 
 to scatter in every direction. 
 
 In presenting the following pages to the public, the only 
 object the author has in view is to give a correct idea of 
 scenes and scenery, men and manners, as they exist in a 
 section of our country of which much has been written, 
 but little is really known. 
 
 Men steam it down the Mississippi, probably killing the 
 time with whist and euker ; spend a week in Xew Orleans, 
 lounging about the bar-room of a crack hotel, and in 
 extreme cases some will venture as far as Houston ; then
 
 INTRODUCTION. XV 
 
 leave again with all possible expedition and with the aid of 
 a " Mississippi and Ohio Pilot" (books), half a dozen Gazet- 
 teers, and, perhaps, " Houston and his Republic," or Seats- 
 field's " Cabin Book," and a precious production by one 
 Dey who asserts that Irish potatoes turn to sweet ones 
 in a few years, and a thousand other ridiculous absurdi- 
 ties, for the people found him out, and quizzed him to 
 their hearts' content and having all this vast mass of 
 information on hand, consider themselves perfectly pre- 
 pared to write sketches and volumes, converse and make 
 speeches upon subjects with which they are about as well 
 acquainted as they are with the interior of Africa, or the 
 mountains in the moon. 
 
 If the following chapters can lay claim to no other merit 
 than truth and fidelity of description, the author is deter- 
 mined that these at least they shall deserve, and he has no 
 intention of making up a book by drawing upon his own 
 imagination, or quoting from the works of others, whose 
 writings, were the truth known, are too often entirely void 
 of any pretension to authenticity or correctness. 
 
 Nothing but a familiar acquaintance with the country 
 and its inhabitants, that can only be obtained by a resi- 
 dence of years, not in the cities alone, but among the 
 genuine pioneers of the forest the backwoodsmen as they 
 are termed will entitle any man to lay a just claim to a 
 proper knowledge of either. 
 
 If these pages often treat subjects in an amusing rather 
 than a serious manner, it is out of the author's power to 
 help'it, being by nature a disciple of Democritus, and dia- 
 metrically opposed to the school of his rival. The records 
 of the rights, adventures, and experience of ten years could 
 scarcely be comprised entire in one small volume ; and so
 
 XVI INTRODUCTION. 
 
 the writer has described what he thought best worth 
 describing, and described it too as best pleased himself. 
 If some of the characters appear to have been, cast in a 
 rough mould, so were their prototypes ; if their language 
 occasionally varies from the strict rules of Lindley Mur- 
 ray, so did that of their originals ; and if their humor be 
 of the rudest, such as it truly is and was, has been given. 
 Names, both of persons and places, have been sometimes 
 changed in order to avoid personality ; but the incidents 
 detailed are facts, and the descriptions are as faithful as it 
 has been in the author's power to make them.
 
 STftAY YANKEE IN TEXAS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 BEAR AND SNAKE. 
 
 IT was in the first youth of one of the last born sisters of 
 our Union, who, after a mes-alliance with a Mexican, that 
 greatly annoyed and distressed her friends, terminated- 
 the affair by scratching his eyes out ; taking forcible pos- 
 session of all the property, both personal and real, upon 
 which she could lay her hands ; kicking her would-be lord 
 and master unceremoniously and incontinently out of 
 doors ; and then, like a good child, coming home again, 
 and getting her friends to fight out her battles for her ; 
 as I before said, it was in the younger days of one of our 
 youngest states that the adventure, or rather series of 
 adventures, occurred which I am about to relate. 
 
 In consequence of a certain roving disposition, desirous 
 as Cicero hath it of novelties, I found myself located 
 and domiciled in the bosom of the family of one Joe Hough, 
 a regular backwoodsman, a capital hunter, and a decided 
 character, with nothing in particular to do except to 
 amuse myself as best I might.
 
 18 BEAR AND SNAKE. 
 
 Having thus premised, let us plunge at once in medias 
 
 res. 
 
 ****** 
 
 " DOG on my cat ! ef thar hain't been bar about, ye can 
 take my hat 1" 
 
 " How do you know, Joe ?" 
 
 " Know ! Just you sight that muscadine vine, whar one 
 of the varmint's been a lappin', and look at the sign on 
 that tree, and on the ground." 
 
 I looked, and, as Joe said, there was sign enough. The 
 bark of the tree that supported the grape vine was marked 
 with the bear's claws ; and, as for the vine itself, it had 
 been subjected to the very ingenious operation that bears 
 are wont to perform when they wish a dessert of the fruit, 
 and which is effected by climbing well up the tree, then 
 crawling out upon a limb, and slipping off, legs extended, 
 spread-eagle fashion, bringing vine, grapes, and all with 
 him in ihefacilis descensus. 
 
 Bruin's plan to strip the grapes from the vine is simple, 
 but effective. He twists his tongue as long, as rough, 
 and as potent as that of a maiden-shrew around a por- 
 tion of the vine, and drawing it down, grapes, leaves, 
 bugs, and worms, at one fell swoop, enter his capacious 
 maw. 
 
 But stop one moment. Let us give the reader an 
 inkling of who we were, and what we were about. 
 
 Joe Hough and the reader's humble servant made up 
 the party ; and a party that would have attracted rather 
 more attention had they appeared in Broadway, accoutred 
 as they were, than, perhaps, might have been agreeable to 
 them. Joe was in full Texas rig : a bronzed face, that 
 would not have disgraced Captain Cook when his first
 
 MR. AND MRS. JOE. 19 
 
 voyage round the world was ended, beamed forth from 
 beneath the overshadowing of a home-made palmetto hat, 
 whose style and general appearance gave proof that Genin 
 had not been about in that region lately ; a pair of cot 
 tonade pants, that owed their existence entirely to Joe's 
 industrious wife, who had spun the cotton, woven the yarn 
 in fine, done everything that had been done to call them 
 into being, with the sole exception of making the buttons, 
 and they evidently came from the four quarters of the 
 globe fastened round the waist with a rusty leather 
 belt, and terminating somewhere near, but not quite effect- 
 ing a junction with, a couple of particularly greasy mocca- 
 sins. These, with a very coarse article, which Mrs. Trol- 
 lope insists upon it is known among our ladies as " a 
 pillow case," completed the outer man. The other party's 
 dress bore a striking resemblance to that of the former, 
 except that it had, perhaps, a shade more of pretension, 
 and that a red sash, in lieu of the leather belt, girded the 
 waist. 
 
 Speaking of Joe's wife, reminds me very naturally of 
 the female herself; and as the lady had some peculiar 
 accomplishments of her own, I may as well, en passant, say 
 a word or two of them. A sallow face, with no very 
 striking features, save a pair of small but brilliant black 
 eyes, and lips as expressive of firmness as those of the 
 elder Brutus ; a head of sunburnt hair, whose original hue 
 it would have been extremely difficult to discover, so 
 weather-beaten and discolored had the capillary covering 
 become ; a neck neither long nor short, adorned by a 
 string of golden beads ; a very plain dress, coat, as she 
 termed it, innocent of any attempt at ornament, made, 
 Heaven knows in what fashion, and only remarkable for
 
 20 BEAR AND SNAKE. 
 
 economy in material, both in quantity and quality the 
 groundwork of the structure being of her own manufac- 
 ture ; a pair of hands, evidently ignorant of idleness ; the 
 same number of feet, tanned by exposure, and, except upon 
 occasions of unusual moment, guiltless of any covering, 
 save that which nature had given, and sun and soil 
 impressed ; were the external characteristics of the woman. 
 
 Her gift of speech was limited ; her words blunt, but to 
 the point ; her only mission evidently being to milk the 
 kine, and to prepare the meals and the clothing of her 
 husband and children. Whether she exhibited any signs 
 of woman's nature when in company with her own sex, I 
 know not ; but, in her own home, I never knew her to 
 smile, to attempt a jest, to tell a tale, or even ask a ques- 
 tion, unless it were a matter of absolute and imperative 
 necessity ; yet she went through her daily round of duties 
 cheerfully, and bore the life of hardship, danger, and 
 exposure, which all pioneers must bear, without a mur- 
 mur. She had never known any other. In accomplish- 
 ments, she could ride a horse admirably, shoot a rifle even 
 more truly than Joe, smoke a pipe, masticate the weed, 
 and, at a pinch, manage a little snuff if it were offered 
 her. 
 
 One day Joe and I, on returning from one of our expe- 
 ditions, found her sitting on the door-sill very quietly 
 smoking her pipe. 
 
 " All right ?" asked Joe, as we approached the door. 
 
 The lady drew the pipe from her mouth, and pointed to 
 something dimly visible in the interior of the cabin, which, 
 upon examination, proved to be the skin of a huge pan- 
 ther, shot and skinned by her own ready hands. Upon 
 inquiry, she informed us, with more than Spartan bre-
 
 BEAU ABOUT. 21 
 
 vity, that " the boys see the varmint nigh the house. She 
 called the dogs and tuk the gun ; he tuk a tree, and she 
 fetched him." 
 
 This was her second exploit in panther-killing during 
 the four years of their present residence. 
 
 Now for a countermarch. Joe and I, at the time of the 
 commencement of my tale, were upon the banks of a bayou, 
 in a very dense thicket, and intent upon discovering a 
 cypress brake or grove of white oak, near enough the river 
 to admit of certain staves, shingles, etc., yet to be made, 
 to be drawn to and rafted down it ; and in the pursuance 
 of our quest we have fallen upon the hereinbefore-men- 
 tioned "bear-sign." 
 
 There could be no more timber-hunting that day ; fresh 
 bear-sign, and that so near home, proved too much for 
 Joe's newly-born spirit of industry, and fat bear meat got 
 the better of staves and shingles without much of a strug- 
 gle. 
 
 " Joe," said I, " consider, man : here we are, not a mile 
 from home, and to turn back because you think that a 
 bear has been about here lately! Why, man, bear are 
 almost as plenty as ' 'possums' in this confounded thicket." 
 
 " Bar been about !" replied Joe, " you may swar to that ; 
 and he's about yet, lappin' somewhar less nor sixty rod 
 off, an' as for it's bein' nigh the settlement, and most on 
 the edge of the prairie, that's what I'm goin' back for. 
 The varmint knows the way out, and I'll just bet a hogs- 
 head of niggers he was one of the chaps that smashed up 
 my corn crap. I'm bound to have him." 
 
 Now, as Joe was obstinate as a mule, and exceedingly 
 energetic, industrious, and persevering when anything 
 except pure work was to be done, I made a merit of neces-
 
 22 BEAR AND SXAKE. 
 
 fiity, resigning myself to the chances and mischances of a 
 bear-hunt, with as good a grace as might be expected 
 under the circumstances. 
 
 The trail by which we had entered the forest was very 
 tortuous, but Joe insisted that he knew where he was 
 exactly, and could take a straight route home. So, draw- 
 ing his hack-knife from its sheath, he plunged into a dense 
 cane-brake that adorned the bayou's bank, and commenced 
 cutting and carving a path in true backwoods style. I fol- 
 lowed after him in Indian file, aiding and abetting his 
 rude attempts at road-making whenever a mass of bull- 
 brier or bamboo-vines, crossing and recrossing the cane, 
 forming a natural fence impossible for animals and but 
 barely practicable to man, called for action on the part of 
 self and hatchet. 
 
 Fifteen minutes' hard work brought us to the edge of the 
 open forest, and we were pushing on at a great pace, when 
 Joe suddenly came to a halt, motioning me with his hand 
 to imitate his example. 
 
 Joe's keen eye certainly had seen something, and, after 
 peering at it a moment or so, he beckoned me to his side. 
 
 Following the direction of his finger, I soon beheld, at the 
 foot of a gigantic oak, a pair of those most hideous of all 
 abominable reptiles moccasin snakes. 
 
 These were of unusual size, and appeared quite wide 
 awake, which, for one of the species, is very uncommon. 
 They usually seem to be stupified by their own venom, 
 and never interfere with travellers' rights unless a person 
 should approach sufficiently near for them to give him a 
 snap, and then, coward-like, slink away into the under- 
 brush. 
 
 Our snakes, however, were of different metal ; and,
 
 THE HATCHET MISSES FIRE. 23 
 
 judging from their great size and unusual alacrity, pro- 
 bably the war chiefs of the tribe. With their heads and 
 part of their bodies erect, their demoniac eyes glaring 
 fury, and their bifurcated tongues darting in and out, they 
 evidently meditated an attack. 
 
 Stepping past Joe, I raised my hatchet, took deliberate 
 aim, and blazed away. My shot was perfectly innocuous, 
 for, ducking their heads, the hatchet passed over them, 
 and then, as if animated by a common impulse, they 
 dashed at us. I beat an immediate retreat, being deprived 
 of my only weapon, offensive or defensive ; and moreover 
 having always had implicit faith in the old proverb touch- 
 ing " fighting and running away," in the hope of " living 
 to fight another day." 
 
 Joe stood his ground like a man, and as the first snake 
 approached, struck at the head with his knife. I saw the 
 motion, and immediately after heard him give one of those 
 singular whistles or blows, like the sudden puff of a loco- 
 motive, which seem to belong to the African vernacular, 
 and to imply astonishment, wonder, and perhaps alarm. 
 Joe immediately put his thumb in his mouth and jumped, 
 evidently thinking himself snake-bitten. Having found a 
 club ready for my purpose, and dispatched our enemies in 
 a hurry, I turned to condole and assist poor Joe ; but as I 
 turned, beheld quite a stream of a very valorous and pug- 
 nacious variety of the hornet issuing from the ground 
 where Joe had made his late stand against the snakes. 
 Having no desire to complete the achievements of the 
 morning by a Quixotic attack upon the hornets, I made 
 off for Joe, leaving them in full, if not quiet, possession of 
 thefie"ld. . 
 
 Joe stood sucking his thumb, occasionally stamping with
 
 24 BEAR AND SNAKE. 
 
 pain and anger, like a boy in the sullens, and it was some 
 time before I could persuade him that he was the victim 
 to no greater calamity than a hornet sting ; but when 
 convinced of it, he gave vent to a profusion of strange 
 backwoods oaths, which involved in one common anathema 
 all sorts of reptiles and insects musquitoes, fleas, and horn- 
 toads, being included in the general ruin. 
 
 It seemed that while sucking and examining his thumb, 
 he, for once in life, had his latter end brought clearly in 
 view ; and this circumstance, acting as a curb to his 
 anger, bottled up a vast amount of impiety, which escaped 
 like the notes from Munchausen's horn, when the said 
 wholesome fear was removed. 
 
 After my irate friend had somewhat cooled down, he 
 turned his attention to the results which would indubitably 
 follow our morning's adventure. " It was bad luck, sure" 
 he said, " to have a snake attack you, and we should see more 
 snakes than bears that day" (which I thought very likely), 
 " and maybe some of us would get snake-bit for sartin." 
 
 As if to strengthen Joe's prediction, we killed on our 
 homeward route, two ground and one large prairie rattle- 
 snake, the death of each one eliciting from Joe the remark, 
 " Dog on my cat, I'd a swore it." 
 
 Arrived at the settlement, disappointment awaited us. 
 Joe's brother-in-law, Sam Ming, had gone out turkey-hunt- 
 ing, and taken with him all the curs, which alone are use- 
 ful in turkey or bear-hunting all that is required in either 
 being their noisy bark and moreover, good dogs are very 
 seldom trusted to encounter with Bruin, their courage 
 usually proving fatal to them in such combats. 
 
 Noon arrived, and with it the usual allowance of boiled 
 jerked beef, corn bread and coffee. One, two, three
 
 THE HUNTING PARTY. 25 
 
 o'clock were successively marked by the shadow in the 
 doorway, but no Sam and no dogs. 
 
 Joe bore it like a martyr, amusing himself with his 
 pipe and an occasional nap, until near sundown ; and 
 then saying, " Night with a moon in it was as good for 
 bar as sunlight," he set about mustering his forces. 
 
 First in the ranks appeared a tall, lanky Alabamian, 
 named Poke six feet four inches in height, broad in the 
 shoulders, loose about the hips, thin in the legs, hands 
 and feet of great size, hair as light as that of our modern 
 Horace, eyes green as those of a cat in the dark, a face 
 flabby and white, without expression, and a head as full 
 of emptiness as that horror which nature is said to enter- 
 tain of a vacuum would permit. He was a great braggart, 
 a great bore, and the great butt for the rough jokes of the 
 whole settlement. Next on the list was a bulky, blunder- 
 ing son of Erin, remarkable for nothing but his blun- 
 ders, and, as a proof of it, he had, for the occasion, divested 
 his feet of a heavy pair of " pot metal" boots, and invested 
 them in two old, worn-out, slip-shod brogans, whose size 
 proved, that huge as were Moore's feet, some one existed, 
 or ha<? existed, who could have given them large odds, 
 and beat them. Two brothers of Joe's, Dave and Baze, 
 the missing Sam Ming, who had just made his appearance 
 with the dogs and quite a show of wild turkeys, and a 
 venerable negro in a remarkable state of preservation 
 considering his age, completed our number. 
 
 " Massa Dave," asked old Csesar, " aint a-gwain to fetch 
 Bose along ?" 
 
 " NJO, indeed," replied Dave. " Shan't have him spoiled 
 for no bar." 
 
 " Now, look yeah, Massa Dave," persisted the negro ; 
 2
 
 26 BEAR AND SNAKE. 
 
 "ole Bose aint a-gwain to get heself hurt wid no bar. 
 Dese pups aint no account dey dusnt know a bar from a 
 two-yer-old dey mus hab some one to show em de way, 
 and den dey kin do de yippin' fas enuff." 
 
 Joe and the others chimed in with Caesar, but Dave 
 was deaf to all entreaties, and would not risk the life and 
 limbs of a dog " worth," he said, " three cows and calves." 
 He had better have taken old Africa's advice.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 MORE SNAKE THAN BEAR. 
 
 JOE, as a matter of course, took the lead ; next came the 
 redoubtable Poke, armed with a double-barrel, which ex- 
 cited both the sneers and the laughter of his compatriots ; 
 Dave, Baze, and Sam composed the main body, while old 
 Africa and young New York, in the persons of Cassar and 
 myself, brought up the rear. Csesar was evidently in an 
 especial bad humor ; so bad, indeed, that the forced 
 absence of his favorite " Bose" would hardly account for 
 it ; and, as he stumped along behind me with a fire-pan on 
 his shoulder and an axe in his hand, every time that he 
 made a mis-step, hurt his toe, or that his shin the seat of 
 African honor came in rude contact with unexpected 
 substances, so brimful was he of ire and bitterness, that 
 no small quantity spilled as it were by the jolt would 
 overflow in the form of a round dozen of African oaths, 
 succeeded by a continued rumble of mutterings, for all the 
 world like distant Dutch thunder. 
 
 " Dog gone, de fool 1 who ax him for come, hey ? Antee 
 gwain cotch dis child wid the pups, no how. Mass Joe's 
 sense mus be done gone any how ; das a fac." 
 
 " Why, Ccesar," said I, at length, " what can be the 
 matter ? what has disturbed your equanimity ?" 
 
 " Stnb'd my ekalimity ! massa Phil, dah's nuff to stub 
 enny white folks' ekalimity, let 'lone poor nigga, sah. 
 Dars Mass Dave's gone leff Bose home knows more'n 

 
 28 MORE SNAKE THAN BEAR. 
 
 him, any day and that no count Mass Poke, he got dern 
 fool scatter gun, wid cussed (Casar for percussion) locks, 
 and bofe of the hammers down. Whose gwain to hunt de 
 dogs ahead ob him, I like to know ; faint dis nigga. 
 F'e's gwain to shoot somebody, best send in white folks ; 
 dey don't cost nuffin ; nigga's wuff de money ; cant ford 
 it, sah." 
 
 Csesar was quite right in the matter of Poke and his 
 gun. The gentleman was a sportsman and horseman of 
 the Winkle school, never of any benefit in expeditions of 
 this kind, and generally the cause of mischief. 
 
 As for the situation of his gun, it may not be amiss for 
 me, here, to give a hint to all young sportsmen. 
 
 Never carry a percussion gun with the hammer in any 
 other way than at half cock. A slight blow, a fall, or a 
 projecting limb, may cause a discharge, if the hammer be 
 down ; and I have known lives lost and limbs destroyed 
 for the want of proper caution in this respect. 
 
 By the time we had reached the " timber," the short- 
 lived twilight had waned, and night had fairly set in ; the 
 moon was quite low down in the horizon, but a thousand 
 pretty inquisitive stars were peeping down upon us 
 through the foliage of the old oaks. 
 
 We were pushing lustily forward in Indian file, the 
 canine portion of the party, at least, in fine spirits, when 
 a loud shout from the rear brought us to a halt and to 
 the right about, and in a few moments a new comer was 
 received with a hearty greeting from all hands. He was 
 the pioneer of a race that is destined ere long to overrun 
 this region, a shrewd thorough-going Yankee peddler, 
 who had brought with him into the wilderness a large 
 stock of clocks and other notions, now mostly converted
 
 A FIEE IN THE BEAR. 29 
 
 into cows and calves. He disposed of his wares at exor- 
 bitant prices, receiving in pay the above-named bovine 
 currency of the country, at the customary trade price 
 ten dollars per pair and bid fair so'on to become one of 
 the largest stock owners in the prairie. 
 
 Good-natured, ever ready for " trade," quick at rude 
 repartee, seemingly liberal, and by no means deficient in 
 either tact or courage, he was a great favorite with all. 
 
 Caesar, despite of all remonstrances, was now ordered 
 ahead with the dogs, and went off very sullenly, having 
 previously intrusted our Yankee friend Biggs with the 
 lire-pan. For some time both Joe and the negro had 
 their hands full with the curs, who were running and 
 yelping in every direction, and at all kind of game ; but 
 before long a shout from the men, and a prolonged and 
 general chorus from the dogs, told us that something of 
 consequence was up. 
 
 Off we dashed, hurry-scurry, in hot pursuit of the 
 clamor, but little heeding briers and brambles, rents or 
 scratches, in the excitement of the moment. 
 
 Joe and Cassar were soon in sight, then disappeared for 
 a moment as they rushed down a steep gully. Joe's " yip" 
 had just announced that he had reached the opposite bank, 
 when our evil genius Poke, so full of the chase that he 
 had not noticed the dry bayou before him, pitched head- 
 long down the precipitous bank. Off went he, and off 
 went his gun, and in an instant a yell, that no white man's 
 throat could have uttered, announced that the shot had 
 told. 
 
 " 0,'ki' ! bress de Lor', Mass Poke, d n you, sar, 
 
 got this nigga to pay for ; tank de Lor' for dat massy, 
 anyway. Whafor you no shoot yuself, and do sometin
 
 30 MORE SNAKE THAN BEAR. 
 
 good ? Who axed you hit dis chile ? Pray de gorry 
 mity ye broke yer dern fool no count neck" came up from 
 the hollow in broken sentences, as the poor fellow rolled 
 down the opposite side, and finally landed right on top of 
 Poke, who lay on his back shouting for help, and insisting 
 upon it that at least every other bone in his body had 
 been broken. In spite of the certainty that some mischief 
 had been done, and the uncertainty of its extent, we were 
 fairly convulsed with laughter ; and when, after an evi- 
 dent tussle between the two, a crash was heard, and 
 Caesar's voice proclaimed in triumphant tones : " Dar, dat 
 gun's fixed for slow shootin ; won't kill no more niggas ; 
 smash him to pipe stems, dat's some comfit," we had per- 
 force to roar. 
 
 In a moment after both made their appearance, and 
 anger had evidently obtained the mastery of pain and fear. 
 No serious damage had been done to either, and the 
 return of killed and wounded exhibited no greater disas- 
 ters than a barked nose upon Poke, a slight graze of two 
 shots upon a very pinguid and prominent portion of 
 Caesar's person, and a double-barrel the parent of all 
 this mischief put entirely hors-de-combat. 
 
 Having repaired damages and patched up a temporary 
 truce between the contending parties, we dashed off at the 
 best speed we might after the dogs, whose yelping sound- 
 ed more dim in the distance. Joe declared that he had 
 started a bear, and have him he would. To all appear- 
 ance the bear had either taken a tree, or else, relieved 
 from the fear of his great enemy man turned upon his 
 tormenting pursuers. 
 
 The latter proved to be the case, and, having squeezed" 
 through a thick piece of cane, we came suddenly upon as
 
 THE BEAR TREED. 31 
 
 pretty a scene of confusion as ever a somewhat dull moon 
 one-half its beams being tangled with, and intercepted 
 by, the over-hanging branches partly illumined. An un- 
 gainly object in black was dimly visible near a huge tree, 
 and surrounded by a dozen or more dogs, of all colors, 
 breeds, and sizes, barking to the manifest danger of their 
 lungs, dashing at him whenever his back was turned, and 
 he for a moment quiet, but retreating in a most undigni- 
 fied manner in all directions when he launched at them, 
 which operation he performed sometimes upon four feet, 
 and sometimes upon two, accompanying his demonstrations 
 with particularly edifying growls. 
 
 The crackling of the cane and the shouts of his pursuers, 
 partly audible amid the general din, at length aroused 
 Bruin to a lively sense of the true danger of his situation ; 
 and abandoning in haste his inglorious conflict, he, in 
 his hurry, did the very worst of all things possible took 
 a tree. 
 
 Now all of this, although occupying some time in recital, 
 was in transaction but the work of a moment ; and the 
 bear had mounted some twenty feet before a gun was 
 levelled at him. 
 
 " Hold on don't fire," cried Dave the shot on all great 
 occasions to Moore, who was raising his old musket, as 
 I thought, with an insane intention of shooting the moon ; 
 " hold on, let him get quiet." 
 
 Too late. Moore blazed away, and very luckily, con- 
 sidering who it was, did no particular mischief. Another 
 gun was fired, and then Joe's voice was heard in tones of 
 warning : 
 
 " Look out, boys ! He's a coming ; stand clar." Bruin 
 had discovered his error, and although more frightened
 
 32 MORE SNAKE THAN BEAB. 
 
 than hurt, was apparently meditating a retreat. An 
 instant after, and any doubts that might have been enter- 
 tained on the subject, were dissipated ; for, being some- 
 what pressed for time, and under the circumstances pre- 
 ferring the shortest way, Bruin suddenly let go all^ and 
 down he came with a tremendous thug, plump in the midst 
 of the dogs, and very narrowly escaped making a general 
 average among them. 
 
 Every gun yet undischarged was immediately fired at 
 him, and evidently with some effect, for although the 
 gentleman in black made off again upon three legs, there 
 was anything but " grace in his steps," and his pace could 
 scarcely be termed tiptop. 
 
 Moore snatched the axe from old Caesar's hands, and 
 was after the quarry on the instant. 
 
 Away went Bruin, and away went Moore ; the rest of 
 us following closely, and in too much haste to think of a 
 reload. 
 
 It was becoming tight times with Bruin. Moore neared 
 him, aimed a blow with his axe, missed, and went down 
 stem foremost with all sail set ; up again, ran fairly along- 
 side with the intention of boarding the enemy, and the 
 axe was again poised for an effective blow, when Bruin 
 turned and made a claw at him, tearing his nether gar- 
 ments, carrying off one of the overgrown brogans as a 
 trophy, and making his mark pretty legibly upon the foot 
 and ankle of the unfortunate Milesian, who, jumping 
 back, went down this time stern foremost, impinging 
 on Joe, and involving him in the general decline and 
 fall. 
 
 While we gathered around the prostrate pair, Bruin 
 plunged down the banks of a bayou near at hand, and the
 
 MOORE PUTS HIS FOOT IN IT. 33 
 
 crash of the dense cane told that he now was upon pretty 
 safe ground. 
 
 Moore's wounds were neither deep nor dangerous. If 
 he was somewhat deficient in coolness, he certainly was 
 not in courage, but seemed ready to come up to the scratch 
 upon all occasions, as the late affair had proved ; and so, 
 after rubbing his leg a minute, declared his readiness to 
 go on as soon as the missing shoe could be discovered. 
 
 "Shoe," said Joe, " whar's yer boots?" 
 
 " At home," answered Dave, " a-waitin' for him. Lucky 
 he didn't hav one on em on, or the bar would hev put his 
 foot in it !" 
 
 " Which shoe have you lost ?" demanded Poke. 
 
 " The off one, to be sure,'' said Biggs. 
 
 " Hurroo, murther, the curse av Cromwell on ye ! it's 
 myself 7 is got it now," yelled poor Moore in anguish. 
 Poor fellow, he had got it. Stumping along, he had 
 absolutely stuck his unprotected toe into the open 
 jaws of a large rattlesnake, and received a very dangerous 
 wound. 
 
 Joe and Dave commenced masticating tobacco furiously, 
 and Biggs produced a gourd of whiskey, of which at least 
 a tumblerful was poured down the sufferer's throat, with- 
 out any decided effort at resistance upon his part ; then a 
 great poultice of the tobacco was bound upon the wound, 
 and more of the whiskey poured upon that. The internal 
 application operated admirably ; and the patient recover^ 
 ing his courage, now increased by no slight addition of 
 the Dutch article, insisted that he was perfectly able to 
 get home, with no other help than that of Biggs and the 
 gourd of whiskey. 
 
 As be limped off, Poke edged up to old Csesar, and 
 2*
 
 34 MOKE SXAKE THAN BEAR. 
 
 asked in a low and tremulous voice, if he thought there 
 were many more snakes about there. 
 
 " Ki, yes, massa," replied the negro, delighted to witness 
 his fear, " dare's more'n a cartload to de acre, just wha 
 we stan'." 
 
 " I I rather reckon I'd best go after 'em," said Poke, 
 aloud. " Moore'll want to be carried afore he gets far ; 
 and Caesar and Sam had best come along too." 
 
 " No, no," answered Dave, " they'll do well enough ; if 
 you want to go, go. I'm not agoin' to give this up yet." 
 
 All the remainder of the party coincided with Dave 
 except Joe, whose faith in the adverse omen of the morn- 
 ing was marvellously strengthened, and he now insisted 
 that all chance for overtaking the bear was at an end for 
 the present ; that he could be found in the morning with 
 the aid of old Bose and the hounds; and that then he 
 would be not far off, and the stiffness from his wounds 
 and weakness from loss of blood would render him an 
 easy prey. 
 
 Poke endorsed all of Joe's arguments, and called our 
 attention to the threatening appearance of the sky, which 
 was fast becoming overclouded. Dave, Sam, Baze, and 
 old Caesar were for having the bear at any rate ; and how 
 the affair would have terminated I know not, if the negro 
 had not cut the Gordian knot. 
 
 I noticed him stealing slily behind Poke, who was too 
 much engaged in the discussion to notice him ; and in a 
 moment after the long-legged Alabamian gave one terrific 
 yell, and flopped over upon the ground. 
 
 " Snake ! sn-a-a-a-ke ! ! sn-a-a-a-ke 1 1 ! Oh, Lord, I'm a 
 dead man. Help ! murder ! I'm done for ! Carry me 
 home. Send for a doctor. I'm as good as dead now. 1
 
 SCRAPS OF EARLY PIETY. 35 
 
 feel it a comin'. My hand's cold already. Can't some- 
 body pray? 
 
 "'Now I lay me down to sleep 
 
 # * # * 
 
 " ' Your little hands were never made 
 
 To tear each other's eyes.'" 
 
 These rather heterogeneous lines were probably the 
 only remnants of early piety in the storehouse of his 
 memory. 
 
 We tried to comfort him, to ascertain the situation of 
 his wound ; but all in vain, he would die. Nothing could 
 help him. We must carry him home, and let him die in his 
 bed. His limbs were stiffening now, and then he yelled 
 and roared again like a mad bull. 
 
 There was no help for it. So shouldering him bodily, 
 we started for home at a slow pace. The negro would 
 not go near him. Snake-bit people bit others, he had 
 heard, and he would not risk it. 
 
 After a while, Cassar approached Joe, and whispered 
 something in his ear, which caused him to give an emphatic 
 whistle ; then he announced that he was quite tired, and 
 must deposit his precious burden for a moment on mother 
 earth. 
 
 In spite of all Poke's remonstrances and groans this 
 was done. Then Joe whispered the secret to me and to 
 the rest, and leaving the wounded gentleman reclining 
 upon a bed of leaves, we quietly walked off. 
 
 " Hollo, don't leave me ; I ain't dead yet. Don't, oh 
 don'f," shouted Poke. 
 
 " Keep cool," said I, " we are only going to make a lit- 
 ter for you, and will be back in a moment;"
 
 36 MORE SNAKE THAN BEAE. 
 
 We pushed on, regardless of his cries, and very soon our 
 laughter, no longer to be controlled, broke forth. The 
 would-be dying man heard it, and recovering the use of 
 his limbs in a miraculous manner, came up in a run, swear- 
 ing at us for our inhumanity, appealing to our compassion, 
 and insisting upon it that he would not live to reach home, 
 all in a breath. 
 
 " Shut up," said Joe, " the nigger only spurred you a lit- 
 tle with a piece of cane ; that's all the harm you've had ; 
 don't be a fool." 
 
 Instead of a fool, there seemed to be more danger now of 
 his becoming a madman ; and it was as much as we could 
 do to keep him from laying violent hands on the sable 
 joker.
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 MORE BEEF THAN VENISON. 
 
 I HAVE already mentioned that Caesar had made his 
 appearance, equipped with a fire-pan, and as many of 
 my northern readers may not know the article or its use, 
 and as some may think it synonymous with a warming- 
 pan, a little explanation is necessary. 
 
 A " fire-pan " is a kind of basket formed of pieces of 
 iron hoops or straps, to which a long pole is attached as a 
 handle. It is used in " fire-hunting." The hunter having 
 placed a number of pine knots or chips of light wood in 
 the basket, when he has reached his hunting grounds sets 
 them on fire, and proceeds on a search for " eyes." A 
 deer or other wild animal, attracted and astonished by 
 the blaze, will stand very quietly until the hunter has 
 approached quite near to him. The eyes of the animal, 
 reflecting the firelight, are as plainly visible amid the 
 surrounding darkness, as are stars in a moonless night. 
 The hunter, who has previously carried the pan upon his 
 left shoulder ; now transfers it to a companion, and aims, 
 not at the eyes, but so that his ball will take effect on a 
 line equidistant from them, and at a spot about one and a 
 half inches below. This shot, if successful, will kill the 
 game instantly by breaking the animal's neck. 
 
 Backwoodsmen are good anatomists, and know exactly 
 where to find and how to avoid the vital part in any ani- 
 mal ; and this knowledge is sometimes of singular utility 
 to them.
 
 38 MOEE BEEF THAN VENISON. 
 
 The " creasing" of a horse is a feat, which, though com- 
 mon enough among them, would electrify a northern 
 jockey, and play the deuce with the nerves of a northern 
 marksman. 
 
 Horses, after having been branded, are permitted to run 
 wild and free as air upon the prairies, and it sometimes 
 happens that when some particularly fine and fast animal 
 is wanted, he is not to be had upon any ordinary terms. 
 Days are spent, and quite a troop of horsemen employed 
 in hunting him up and driving him to the pen, which, 
 when near to, instead of entering peaceably, he turns up 
 his nose at, and giving a furious snort, dashes open-mouthed 
 at his pursuers, and charges through their thick batta- 
 lions. 
 
 If he has been once properly " roped," all that is neces- 
 sary is to get one upon his neck ; but under these circum- 
 stances who is to bell the cat, and how is it to be done ? 
 
 He is too cunning to permit of a pursuer's coming 
 within reach of him when he is at full speed, and when 
 the rope is certain and effective, and as he wheels and 
 charges, it is almost impossible to throw one effectively. 
 
 One or two such attempts have been made with similar 
 success, or rather with no success at all, and his owner has 
 decided that he is to be " creased." The best marksman in 
 the settlement is selected, the horse, if possible, sur- 
 rounded, and while he is gazing at the extended circle 
 of his pursuers, as if meditating which one it will be most 
 safe to venture .near in his attempt at escape, crack goes 
 the rifle, but before the report reaches his ear, a ball has 
 creased the cartilage, immediately beneath his mane ; he 
 falls powerless and completely unnerved to the ground. 
 In a moment a noose is thrown around his neck, and
 
 NECK OE NOTHING. 39 
 
 when recovering, lie rises slowly and tremblingly ; he sub- 
 mits quietly to the disgraceful rope, or, if previously igno- 
 rant of its power, makes a desperate but ineffectual attempt 
 to escape. 
 
 If the latter be the case, his captor is prepared for him. 
 The other end of the rope is made fast to the pommel of 
 the saddle, and when the wild animal starts off, the ri,der, 
 clapping spurs to his horse, accompanies the fugitive a few 
 rods, until he be under good headway, then throwing his 
 leg over the rope, wheels his horse and dashes off at a 
 right angle. 
 
 In an instant the career of the runaway is terribly 
 checked, and he is hurled, panting and bruised, upon the 
 grass. So severe is this discipline, that a horse never 
 requires a second lesson, and most of them may afterwards 
 be ridden with safety, controlled alone by a rope around 
 the neck. 
 
 Sometimes, indeed, they are killed by the fall, or neck- 
 broken by the rope, but such accidents are not of frequent 
 occurrence. 
 
 The quarrel had been settled by Joe, who ordered the 
 bully to hold his tongue or to " put out ;" and the bully 
 put out for home, all alone, and very much put out 
 indeed. 
 
 " Massa Joe," exclaims Africa, " I see berry fine drove 
 ob deer dis ebenin', jist in de pint of timber bout half mile 
 off. I were fotchin' up the cows > I seed 'em feedin' when 
 I went up de prairie, and when I cum back agin I jist 
 make de pony fass, and crawl out in de timber, and dar 
 dey was, all down, and dey'r mighty apt to be near dar 
 yet das a fac, I'll swore it." 
 
 "Yes, you black scoundrel," returned Dave, "that's
 
 40 MORE BEEF THAN VENISON. 
 
 where you were so late to-night, and that's the way you 
 lost half the COAVS, is it ?" 
 
 " Now, look heah, Massa Dave, don't ye allers told me 
 to keep my eye skinned, and look out for deer meat when 
 I'm about on de prairie ?" 
 
 " I did not tell you," retorted Dave, " to quit your busi- 
 ness, and leave half the cows behind." 
 
 " Never mind that now," interrupted Joe ; " about the 
 deer ; I'd like to get some meat afore I go home anyhow. 
 Casse ! hev you got any fireworks ? I don't want to draw 
 my load." 
 
 Csesar replied to this question by pulling down a hand- 
 ful of moss from an overhanging branch, and selecting 
 from it, by feeling, the black or dead portion of it, he 
 threw the rest away. Next he broke off the tiny twigs 
 from the ends of some fallen boughs, and then putting a 
 few grains of powder upon a wad of cotton, went to work 
 with flint and steel, and soon the mass was on fire. The 
 burning cotton was then placed in the centre of a quantity 
 of the dried moss, and whirled rapidly about until a blaze 
 broke forth. It was then deposited upon the ground, the 
 dead sticks placed upon it, and in a few moments a 
 cheerful fire was burning in the old forest, throwing 
 its light over a small circle, around which appeared a 
 wall of darkness, apparently tenfold more dense than 
 before." 
 
 The negro then drew from his pocket a few chips of 
 light wood, or heart of the pitch pine, and having ignited 
 them, threw them into the pan, and we were ready for our 
 fire-hunt. 
 
 Cassar went ahead, carrying the pan ; Joe nearly 
 abreast of him, claiming the post of honor as being more
 
 THE WRONG CUSTOMER. 41 
 
 experienced in seeing and discriminating between the 
 yarious kinds of " eyes" than any other of the company. 
 
 The rest of us except Baze, who was packed off with 
 the dogs followed closely. Having approached the 
 prairie, we skirted it for some distance, moving along 
 steathily and silently in the now open timber. Joe's 
 keen eyes peered about in every direction, but for a long 
 time in vain. We had proceeded in this manner for 
 nearly two miles, the fire-pan had been replenished seve- 
 ral times before anything worthy of note occurred, and 
 the whole party were about wearied out, when a sharp 
 " hist," sibillated from Joe's lips, brought us to a halt. A 
 slight rustle immediately before us attracted our observa- 
 tion, and we saw glimmering in the surrounding darkness 
 what appeared to be two balls of fire. Joe shook out his 
 priming, carefully wiped the " frizen " and pan with a bit 
 of woollen rag, rubbed his thumb nail across his flint, 
 re-primed, and, bringing his rifle up, took deliberate aim. 
 
 " Massa Joe," whispered Cassar at this critical juncture, 
 " best look sharp ; don't like them eyes, anyway." 
 
 An impatient gesture was Joe's only reply. The aim 
 was again taken, and the crack of the rifle resounded in 
 the still night, making a thousand echoes in among the old 
 woods. 
 
 " Bl-a-a-a," was heard in very bovine accents from the 
 direction of the victim, while from the prairie arose a 
 shout, 
 
 " D-o-o-n't fire. Murder ! Help !" 
 
 "Massa Joe's gone done it dis time for sartin," ex- 
 claimed the negro. " Dat deer's a two-yer-ole, dis chile'll 
 swar." 
 
 A few steps brought us to the scene of bloodshed, and
 
 42 MORE BEEF THAN VENISON. 
 
 there, extended upon the ground, and. in the agonies of 
 death, lay a fine young heifer, bearing Joe's ear-crop and 
 brand. 
 
 Joe's rage and sorrow were as nothing to his shame, for 
 a man who shoots "beef" instead of "deer" is for ever 
 after a laughing-stock to the settlement. A halloo, in 
 reply to the shout from the prairie, soon produced an 
 answer, and a return in the person of the redoubtable 
 Poke, who, fairly bewildered, had been following our mov- 
 ing light, with the idea that it proceeded from the settle- 
 ment. 
 
 Making the best of the accident, Joe and the rest soon 
 had the unfortunate heifer skinned and dressed. Wearied 
 and worn out, wet with the heavy dew, and scratched and 
 torn with thorns and briers, we slowly returned home, bear- 
 ing a very ignoble trophy of our achievements.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SALUTATORY, A WILD-GOOSE CHASE, AND A MARE'S NEST. 
 
 VERY little attempt at early rising was made by any of 
 our hunting party on the following morning, and small 
 was the inclination that Joe or I felt for timber hunting, 
 when once fairly up. He poked about his cabin and field, 
 flattering himself with the delusive idea that he was at 
 work, and I, mounting my horse, galloped off upon the 
 prairie, after nothing in particular. I had returned, din- 
 ner had been eaten during it, Joe's wife asked him if he 
 would have some " deer :" a mistake of hers, probably, as I 
 never knew her to joke the accustomed pipe had been 
 smoked, and all the males of the settlement were stretched 
 out upon their blankets, enjoying their wonted siesta, 
 when a horseman dashed up to the fence, in front of Joe's 
 mansion, and gave the usual " halloo." 
 
 I looked out, and perceived that the horse had evidently 
 been severely pushed, as his reeking flanks and the lather 
 upon his sides bore testimony. The " halloo" brought Joe 
 to his senses first, and then to the door. 
 
 Whatever press of business there may be, a certain 
 necessary ceremonial is always to be sacredly observed 
 before a visit to a cabin is paid. 
 
 First, the rider shouts out "halloo," which means, 
 " Got)d people, I am here, and here I mean to stay until 
 you come out and keep the dogs off;" then, after an inter- 
 val, the proprietor makes his appearance, and very lei-
 
 44 A WILD-GOOSE CHASE AND A MAEE's NEST. 
 
 surely approaches the fence without speaking a word ; he 
 next throws one leg over the fence, then the other follows ; 
 and, having attained the top, seats himself very delibe- 
 rately upon it, and awaits the next move from the other 
 party. 
 
 The latter now brings his horse alongside the fence, and 
 the conversation commences. 
 
 " How are ye, Judge ?" 
 
 " I'm right peart how's yerself ?" 
 
 " Oh, I keep a pushin' how's the old woman and 
 the boys ?" 
 
 " Considerable sassy, only thar's been a smart chance 
 of ager down in our neck of the woods." 
 
 " Got a smart chunk of a pony thar." 
 
 " Yes, sir, he's some pumkins sure ; offered ten cows and 
 calves for him ; he's death on a quarter." 
 
 " Come from down the prairie ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir, and hurried up my critter right smart, I tell 
 you." 
 
 "How's the craps?" 
 
 " Well, they ain't nothin' to brag on, though we've got 
 a gush of peaches." 
 
 The gentleman upon the fence now descends from it 
 with due deliberation, and, approaching the occupant of the 
 horse, shakes hands with him in a most solemn and edify- 
 ing manner ; he then surveys the horse from stem to stern, 
 probably examines his mouth to ascertain his age ; and 
 having performed all these duties with due decorum, he 
 next proceeds to exhibit his hospitality. 
 
 " Come, Judge, 'light and tie your horse out." Without 
 any further remark, the Judge did as he was desired ; and 
 having found a stake driven in the ground, he affixed to it
 
 A JUDGE, BUT NO LAWYER. 45 
 
 one end of the caberos (hair rope) which was attached to 
 his horse's neck, took off saddle and bridle, hung them 
 upon the fence, and made for the house. 
 
 The great gravity with which such affairs are invariably- 
 conducted, amused me very much until I became accustom- 
 ed to it, and came to look upon it as a matter of course. 
 
 The new arrival was no less a personage than Judge 
 Guffey, an Irishman, and the oldest settler in the county. 
 In consequence of his long residence he had been elected 
 Judge of the probate court, although it was a great exer- 
 tion for him to write his name. The office he had held 
 for a number of years, until the business of the court had 
 so increased that it nearly distracted him with the im- 
 mense labor of thinking that it involved ; and the young 
 lawyers had driven him within an inch of madness, by the 
 manifest disrespect that they entertained for his decisions, 
 and the manifold ways they employed to reverse them. 
 He resigned, and was then chosen Justice of the Peace. 
 
 In spite of all the deliberation which had characterized 
 his proceedings, the Judge was in a great hurry. A cer- 
 tain scampish genius, known as Lefe Thompson, who was 
 notoriously addicted to betting upon quarter races, play- 
 ing old sledge and poker, and to little else, having bor- 
 rowed money, and run pretty deeply into debt, had now 
 taken a new step, and run off altogether. 
 
 As he lived in the woods, he expected to get off into 
 the next county before any of his neighbors were aware 
 of it ; but his negro woman had the night previous met 
 her lover " by moonlight alone," and disclosed the secret. 
 The Judge had been called upon to issue some kind of 
 paper to stay Mr. Thompson's further proceedings in the 
 case, and as his usual amanuensis chanced to be absent,
 
 46 A WILD-GOOSE CHASE AXD A MARE'S XEST. 
 
 he had hurried off to beg my assistance, after having dis- 
 patched one party in pursuit of a deputy sheriff, who had 
 been seen on the prairie in the morning, and another to a 
 creditor who had lately obtained a judgment against the 
 runaway, with directions to join him the Judge at 
 Joe's settlement. 
 
 In half an hour the expected party rode up, and the 
 same interesting ceremonial having been gone through 
 with, in a grave and solemn manner, they entered, and we 
 proceeded to business. It appeared that although several 
 of the creditors of the runaway had commenced suits 
 against him, but one of them, however, had approached 
 sufficiently near fruition to have been converted into a 
 judgment. 
 
 In the backwoods, a lawsuit, even a petty one, is an 
 affair of time and moment. About a year is required to 
 bring it as far as a decision in the minor courts ; then of 
 course it is carried up, and after standing upon the calen- 
 dar of the District Court for two or three years, is decided 
 pro or con ; and then the losing party -invariably trans- 
 ports it to be settled before the collected judicial wisdom 
 of the country embodied upon the supreme bench. 
 
 Mr. Lefe Thompson, however, to save all entanglements 
 of the kind, and perhaps with a proper regard for his own 
 purse and those of his neighbors, as soon as suits began 
 to multiply, and legal papers to fall around his devoted 
 dwelling, thick (in number) as leaves are supposed to be 
 in Valombrosa, had cut the Gordian knot, and as Judge 
 Guffey would have said " taken the shute." 
 
 Lefe had conducted the whole affair very shrewdly. 
 The planters and stock-raisers had but very little money 
 among them, and that little was too often used for gam-
 
 REASONS FOR "TRAVELLING." 47 
 
 bling purposes alone ; many knew no other use for it. It 
 would have been a sin to have paid it away for " store 
 goods," since the hides of their slaughtered cattle were 
 always taken in trade for tobacco, coffee, and powder. 
 For all neighborhood purposes, the legal tender was 
 cows and calves ; and so when by any accident a little 
 hard currency was obtained, it was religiously laid aside 
 and husbanded until a game of " seven up," or " poker," 
 caused it to change pockets, generally into those of some 
 of the petty gamblers that are continually travelling to and 
 fro, trading horses, making quarter races,, and always to 
 be met with at every frolic in the county, on the look- 
 out for a customer. 
 
 Lefe had been successful, and was supposed to have amass- 
 ed quite a " pile," which he was very loath indeed to part 
 with ; and when he lost, if the money were not absolutely 
 staked, he would usually put off the winner with some old 
 horse that he had fixed up for sale, or a dubious note that 
 he had received as " lanyappe," (Anglice, boot money.) If 
 he won. however, nothing but the article itself would 
 satisfy him ; and -so by getting what he could, and keeping 
 what he got^ he came to be considered as the " man of 
 money" in his " neck-of-the-woods." 
 
 Some severe losses, however, had lately shaken his 
 credit ; so, collecting all his debts, in some form or 
 another, he had converted their proceeds into a valuable 
 female slave ; and to avoid payment of his obligations, he 
 resolved to cancel them by a moonlight flitting. 
 
 Had he committed any act that the rude people among 
 whom' he lived would have considered a crime, they would 
 have made short work with him. Had he stolen horses, 
 or killed another's beeves, they would have followed him,
 
 48 A WILD-GOOSE CHASE AND A MARE'S NEST. 
 
 stripped him of his property, and, if the offence had been 
 of a sufficiently heinous nature, given him a terrible flog- 
 ging, accompanied by a warning to quit the country. 
 Nay, under sufficient provocation, they might, perchance, 
 have hung him to the nearest tree ; but as this was simply 
 an affair of dollars and cents, coupled with nothing that 
 they considered crime, he was to be overtaken by the law, 
 or allowed to go off scot-free. 
 
 Had he been of a surly, quarrelsome nature, it would, 
 perhaps, have gone hard with him ; but being particularly 
 rollicking, noisy, and good-humored, his creditors only 
 considered that he had been too smart for them, and were 
 rather amused than otherwise at the affair. His principal 
 debts amounted to some five or six hundred dollars ; but 
 the only one for which an execution could be issued, was 
 less than thirty, which he might, and would probably pay, 
 and so escape pretty cheaply, even if overtaken. 
 
 Old Judge Guffey, however, had a plan of his own ; 
 and, in furtherance of it, had dispatched a messenger after 
 the deputy sheriff a man of noted coolness and determin- 
 ed bravery, who would not hesitate a moment in the dis- 
 charge of his duty, even if his own life were staked upon 
 the issue. 
 
 The attachment was drawn up, and we waited until 
 near sundown for the messenger and sheriff. At length 
 the former appeared without the latter. He had failed in 
 overtaking his man. This was very unfortunate for the 
 judge's plan, as the only thing available in the form of a 
 constable, was an old man who had sought the office for 
 the honor of it, and who, from his universal good humor, 
 and careless, obliging disposition, was entirely unfitted 
 for the performance of his duties. He was unanimously
 
 BILLY PREPARES FOR ACTION. 49 
 
 elected, year after year, because no one was willing to 
 oppose or vote against old Billy Perkins. 
 
 He did admirably as far as the service of subpoenas 
 and summonses was concerned ; but when the case was 
 concluded, and an execution placed in his hands, if it ever 
 got out of them, the document was sure to appear endors- 
 ed "no property found." 
 
 During his whole official career he had never been, 
 known to make a levy ; but having conducted the affair 
 to a trial, he invariably washed his hands of it, and left 
 the litigants to settle it as they best could. 
 
 There was, however, no other resource, and so " Uncle 
 Billy" was mounted upon a fast horse, armed with a rifle, 
 and an execution, and ordered to seize upon the wench and 
 bring her back refusing all offer of other settlement. In 
 this manner the claims of the other creditors were to be 
 satisfied, as soon as their suits had been hurried through 
 the requisite forms ; and to expedite matters, Billy carried 
 with him quite a number of summonses to be served upon 
 Lefe. 
 
 Billy now called for a volunteer aid ; and, impelled by 
 the fun of the thing, the desire to know how the old man 
 would act in an emergency, and what trick the supple 
 Lefe would resort to, I offered to accompany him ; warn- 
 ing him, however, that I would have nothing further to do 
 with the affair than to see that he was not interfered with 
 in the performance of his duties. 
 
 As Lefe had taken his departure at about four in the 
 morning, he might, had he followed the direct road, have 
 crossed the county line and been out of danger ere this ; 
 but he had chosen an out-of-the-way trail through the 
 woods, which he was forced to follow for five or six miles, 
 3
 
 50 A WILD-GOOSE CHASE AND A MARE'S XEST. 
 
 and then turning off, to lose as many more before the 
 direct path could be regained. As this made his distance 
 nearly forty miles, it was all but impossible that he could 
 have accomplished it, incumbered as he was with his 
 family, all his household gods, and a Texas wagon, filled 
 with what, in this case, was literally " plunder," drawn by 
 those miserably slow oxen beeves, as a Texan calls them 
 for which this part of the country is noted. 
 
 We hurried on as fast as the bad trail, and the darkness 
 which now set in, would permit. We had to stop now and 
 then to pick up our hats, which overhanging boughs would 
 take a fancy to ; then Uncle Billy's pipe required to be 
 replenished and relit ; then again we had to call at a set- 
 tler's cabin upon the road, where we obtained some intel- 
 ligence of the fugitives, but were forced to remain until a 
 cup of coffee was served a piece of Texan hospitality 
 offered to every visitor, stranger or not, and one that it is 
 an unpardonable breach of etiquette to refuse. We had 
 to swim muddy bayous not a very pleasant operation at 
 any time, but an especially undesirable recreation at night 
 to proceed cautiously over marshy ground, and slowly 
 with declining heads among the tree?, and the " wee short 
 hour ayont the twal " had come and gone, before the light 
 of a smouldering fire by the roadside, at some distance 
 before us, gave token that we were approaching a 
 camp. 
 
 " Thar they are," said Uncle Billy, exultingly, " best 
 look to our guns." 
 
 While we were taking the usual precaution of fresh 
 priming our arms, the shooting up of a more brilliant 
 light, and the rising of a cloud of sparks from the camp- 
 fire, proved that not only was Lefe stirred up himself, but
 
 THE ENEMY'S CAMP. 51 
 
 that he had stirred up his fire to receive us, perhaps to 
 treat us to a fire of a more unpleasant nature. 
 
 Approaching nearer, the figure of a man appeared in 
 the centre of the road, gun in hand. 
 
 " Hold on, strangers," he cried, " I ain't fond of company 
 this time of night. Keep off, or I'll fotch ye." 
 
 " No ye don't, Lefe," said Uncle Billy ; " drop yer shoot- 
 in' iron, or ye'll git mor'n ye send ; there's two agin one, 
 my sonny." 
 
 " Hoppee ! why, Uncle Billy, is that you ? Dog-on-my- 
 cat, ef I ain't glad to see you. Come, ride up and light. 
 Here, Sally ! jump about, and make Uncle Billy and the 
 stranger a cup of coffee." 
 
 We alighted from our horses, and poor Billy unfolded 
 his business to the runaway. 
 
 " Why, bless yer old soul, I ain't got nothing. Ask 
 Sally, there ; I ain't got but five dollars to take all on us 
 clar to San Antone ; and ye wouldn't take that, would ye, 
 Uncle Billy ?" 
 
 "No, Lefe, ye can keep your money* I'm consarned 
 sorry for it, but I must take that ar yaller gal back with 
 me." 
 
 " My yaller gal ? Why, thar ain't but one execution 
 out agin me, and that's for twenty dollars and costs. You 
 can't touch the gal for that." 
 
 Here quite a scene ensued ; the wife crying, the girl 
 absolutely yelling out her grief, the children bringing up 
 the chorus, and at last Lefe himself set up a regular 
 bohoo* 
 
 At last, Lefe took Billy on one side, and, showing him a 
 valuable horse that was staked out, offered, with a sigh, to 
 give him up. For some time Billy refused, but at length
 
 52 A WILD-GOOSE CHASE AND A MARE'S NEST. 
 
 Lefe's arguments touching the illegality of seizing the 
 wench when proper security was offered him, worked upon 
 his fears, and the dismal howl kept up by the feminine and 
 juvenile portion of the assemblage, touched his heart, and 
 he consented. 
 
 The storm passed away, and all was bright again. 
 Lefe forced us to take a cup of coffee, brought out the 
 whiskey-bottle, and pressed us warmly to stay all night. 
 "We, however, thought it best to decline his solicita- 
 tions ; and after shaking hands with us, as if we were 
 his best friends, he bade us good-by, remarking as 
 we rode off, " Next time I'm within a mile of the 
 river, I reckon I'll cross over, and 'camp on t' other 
 side." 
 
 What a pleasant ride we had homeward, and how 
 delightful an assistance to a journey is a led horse, it 
 boots not now to describe. 
 
 We arrived at Joe's as the whole party we had left 
 there were taking breakfast. The judge, being defrauded 
 of his fees, swore mildly ; but the rest considered it a 
 pretty good joke, as much as might be expected from 
 Uncle Billy, who, upon the whole, was rather proud of his 
 exploit. 
 
 Ere our meal was finished, a " halloo " called us to the 
 door. It was the sub-sheriff. 
 
 " I want to see Uncle Billy," said he. 
 
 " Here's Uncle Billy," replied the gentleman. " What 
 is it, Dick?" 
 
 " I've a message for ye from Lefe Thompson," continued 
 the sub-sheriff. "I called at his camp very early this 
 morning, and he sent his thanks to you for leading back 
 his father's horse, that he had borrowed to carry his wife
 
 MORE PLAGUE THAN PROFIT. 53 
 
 to the river, and wanted you to send him to the old man 
 to-day, if possible." 
 
 " There," said Judge Guffey ; " Uncle Billy, you are like 
 your last night's job, more plague than profit."
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 THE BIG THICKET THE AUTHOR " IN A FIX." 
 
 A DAY or two had passed by, after Mr. Lefe Johnson's 
 escapade, when Joe and I again took up our line of march 
 for the " Big Thicket." 
 
 Had Joe been a Gothamite " to the manner born," his 
 genius and inclination would have led him to Wall street, 
 for he was great upon speculation, usually spending one 
 third of his time in expeditions " up country " in search of 
 silver mines ; another third in hunting " bee trees," and 
 taking possession ; and the greater part of the remainder 
 in studying how to get a living without work. 
 
 But, alas 1 Joe had never heard of " bulls" without 
 horns, nor dreamed of meeting a " bear" unless there was 
 mischief " bruin." The labor of a few days sufficed to 
 make his somewhat scanty crop a few more to gather his 
 stock of cattle, and this left him the rest of the year to 
 follow the bent of his inclination, which, without being 
 what may be technically described as " crooked," never- 
 theless had as many twists and ramifications as the horn 
 of a veteran of the flock and fold. 
 
 His last silver mine speculation had, as usual, proved 
 unfortunate. He had spent six months in vainly search- 
 ing the banks of the upper " Trinity," for the much covet- 
 ed treasure, but found no banks there that paid specie. 
 He had barely escaped starvation, and being scalped by the 
 Indians, had returned home not particularly overburdened
 
 BACKWOODS INDEPENDENCE. 55 
 
 with clothing, and with the little that remained, of a 
 multifarious and forlorn character, for his tailoring had 
 been of the rudest ; somewhat approaching the Adam and 
 Eve style of the art. 
 
 His tobacco, coffee, and ammunition the three sine qua 
 nons of a backwoodsman were nearly expended, and so 
 he set his scheming head to work, to find or invent aut 
 viam invenit aut fecit some plan to procure a proper 
 supply. These three aforesaid articles, as I have just 
 hinted, to a frontier man, are strictly speaking the indis- 
 pensables, for a small patch of cotton and an industrious 
 wife provide his clothing, or if necessary the never failing 
 rifle is called into requisition for a buckskin. A minute 
 portion of the surface .of our universal mother supplies 
 his bread ; almost all are provided with a stock of cattle 
 or drove of hogs, and if not, the universal rifle is again 
 summoned into the field. 
 
 A wolf skin, or the nearest palmetto brake, furnishes 
 him with a hat, and a raw hide or deer skin, with a cover- 
 ing to his feet. So that if his be not a life of genuine, 
 though too often lazy independence, we know not the cor- 
 rect interpretation of the term. 
 
 Within four miles of Joe's cabin, through a thicket so 
 dense that even in that country of tangled forest, it is 
 known par excellence as the big thicket, runs the San 
 Jacinto, a stream whose waters, pure and pellucid, traverse 
 the finest timber in the world, and according to Joe's 
 account, are patronized by an extensive variety of very 
 superior fish. Xow this fish part of the business was put 
 in -as a magnet, lo attract me, and I had to trust Joe's 
 word for it, as he was the only man in the settlement who 
 had ventured to explore the tangled maze.
 
 56 THE AUTHOR " IN A FIX." 
 
 Joe's brain had generated a prodigious idea, worthy at 
 the least of the immortal Jack Tibbets, and the sum of it 
 was, to go to Houston and pick up a score or so of the 
 disbanded volunteers that were hanging about the town, 
 with whom to enter into an extensive lumbering operation 
 in the stave and shingle line. According to his calcula- 
 tion a fortune was to be realized in a very short time ; 
 but having had some slight experience in his vagaries, I 
 determined to reason the matter with him, and try an 
 experiment ere we plunged blindly into a serious matter. 
 
 Reason he would not hear he had thought the affair 
 over to his perfect satisfaction, but the experiment he 
 finally agreed to try, and thus the compromise had been 
 ultimately settled. We were first to spend a month in 
 the " timber," to prospect, as they would say nowadays. 
 Joe as master workman and director-in-general ; I as 
 occasional assistant in the shingle business, and fisherman 
 in ordinary attached to the commissariat department. 
 
 This plan was perfectly satisfactory to me, for one 
 month, I knew, was quite sufficient to give a quietus to any 
 of Joe's plans, that included personal exertions upon his 
 own part ; and in truth I had heard so much of the fish, 
 that a desire had seized me to capture and taste of them. 
 
 Our first excursion, or rather incursion, was made sim- 
 ply and solely as a voyage of discovery. Our only sure 
 guide to the spot was the fact that some two miles up the 
 prairie ran, or perhaps as often stood, a " bayou," which 
 crossed it on its way to the river, and three miles below 
 us was a " marais" or slough, which, according to my friend 
 Joe's account, changed into a " branch :" then after run- 
 ning through a cypress brake or two, ultimately assumed 
 the form of a palmetto swamp, and in that guise joined
 
 BCYLLA AND CHARYBDIS. 57 
 
 the river. Now these two land, or rather water-marks, 
 gradually converged, and at last nearly met, so that all 
 we had to do was to keep the " bayou" upon the right 
 hand, and the swamp upon the- left a modern version 
 of Scylla and Charybdis and with the aid of patience, 
 a huge hack-knife, Joe's woodcraft, and extreme good 
 luck, we might, barring accidents, and the over-clouding 
 of the sun, finally hope to attain the point proposed. 
 
 There was, to be sure, a kind of path rather a mytho- 
 logical affair supposed to have been originally marked 
 out by some ancient party of surveyors partly kept open 
 by cattle where the thicket was not very dense, and 
 occasionally in other parts by such of the " varmint''' as 
 could crawl through the cane and under the briers, so that 
 now and then a remnant was visible ; but as both ends 
 were totally blotted out from existence, and only a few 
 marks of where it had been, remained, it. was, if anything, 
 rather worse than useless. 
 
 The first part of our journey was effected on horseback ; 
 but after proceeding some half a mile into the " timber," 
 this mode of progression was suddenly brought to a period 
 by the dense undergrowth, and we were reduced to a very 
 natural and primitive style of locomotion. 
 
 This spot had been aptly named the " big thicket." 
 Immense bamboo briers, like vegetable Pythons, twined 
 and intertwined, crossed and recrossed, from tree to tree, 
 and shrub to shrub, forming a natural trellis-work for 
 the thousand and one wild and beautiful vines that 
 abounded there. The "passion vine," with its singular 
 flower and luscious fruit ; the cypress vine, with its daz- 
 zling gem-like blossoms, whose form is said to have sug- 
 gested the pentagonal star of the Texan flag ; the morn- 
 3*
 
 58 THE AUTHOR " IN A FIX." 
 
 ing-glory trebling in size and beauty the stunted dwarfish 
 thing found in our northern gardens, and an immea- 
 surable host of others of minor importance, clung to 
 them. 
 
 Above our heads the gigantic wax-like blossoms of the 
 magnificent magnolia grandiflora shed a perfume rivalling 
 that of the lotus, while from the branches of every tree, 
 the trumpet-creeper, the parasite par excellence of the 
 vegetable kingdom, suspended her crimson coniform cups. 
 Birds of showy plumage and joyous voice the dandy 
 paroquet the log-cock with his gaudy head-dress the 
 dusky mocking-bird, whose imitative but inimitable song 
 more than compensates for his Quaker attire were flit- 
 ting to and fro, hopping from twig to twig so careless and 
 unconcerned, that it was evident they were seldom annoyed 
 with a visit from the fell destroyer, man. 
 
 We had now to contend for every step we gained ; 
 knife and hatchet were in constant requisition, and for 
 one hour we pressed on in Indian file as fast as we could. 
 Joe now announced the discovery of a tree, which we 
 recognised as one that grew near to the neglected trail, and 
 towards it we made our way. On reaching it, we found it 
 truly near something that might have been a trail, or might 
 have been a rabbit-path, and which led us in a few minutes 
 into a cane-brake, where the rank cane grew in wild luxu- 
 nance, thick, according to Joe, as " the hars on a dog." 
 Joe said, " he allowed this wouldn't pay for powder," for 
 we had certainly stumbled into the slough which formed 
 our southern boundary and so off we started in an oppo- 
 site direction. Unfortunately, while following our trail, 
 the sun had become obscured ; and we had been so busy 
 cutting our way, and keeping in the path, that we had 

 
 BEAUTIES OP A CYPRESS-BE AKE. 59 
 
 neglected to take an observation of the prominent trees 
 ahead of us. 
 
 The backwoodsman's compass the black and rough 
 bark upon the north side of trees failed to assist us, for 
 so thoroughly defended were they by the dense thicket, 
 that the bitter northers seemed to have produced no effect 
 upon them. Under these circumstances, it was perhaps 
 not in the least surprising that, after floundering about 
 awhile in the bush, we found ourselves in an immense and 
 gloomy cypress-brake. 
 
 Reader, did you ever see a cypress-brake ? If not, you 
 have yet one nameless horror to experience your first emo- 
 tion upon beholding one. The brake is always upon low 
 ground, or rather in a swale, which, during the rainy sea- 
 son, is filled with water ; but the one into which we had 
 stumbled was perfectly dry, excepting here and there a pud- 
 dle, containing rather more mud than water, and densely 
 populated with that most vile of reptiles, the moccasin 
 snake great numbers of which had congregated there. 
 
 The ground was -perfectly bare, fibrous, and free from 
 anything like grass or vegetation, save an occasional 
 cluster of rank and noxious vines, of a sickening, deadly 
 green. From this drear abode arose the trunk of many a 
 huge cypress, shooting up its straight and living shaft far, 
 far above our heads, seeming almost to pierce the clouds, 
 and at a great height outstretching its sp'ectral arms, 
 shrouded and draped with the fatal " hanging moss," 
 which lives, and feeds, and thrives only upon malaria and 
 vapor of the most deadly kind. No settler builds his 
 cabin near the spot where its sombre curtain is seen wav- 
 ing to and fro, but he shuns it as being a sure token of the 
 presence of pestilence and death.
 
 60 THE AUTHOR " IN A FIX." 
 
 Around the foot of each tree are standing a number of 
 those singular conical-shaped shoots, termed needles, 
 resembling so many grave-stones, and slowly crawling 
 among them, or lying stupid and sullen, with its mouth 
 wide agape, is ever found the filthy moccasin. No token 
 gives he of his presence like the tocsin of the chivalrous 
 rattlesnake ; but, should you approach too near, you 
 would soon feel his venomous fangs, more fatal even than 
 those of the latter. He is the most hateful of his hateful 
 kind, a truculent coward, and never, save in one solitary 
 instance, have I known one to offer an attack, or to 
 notice one in any other manner than by slinking hissingly 
 away. 
 
 To my surprise, Joe seemed quite satisfied that we had 
 fallen in with the swamp. His reasons, however, were 
 good : " For," said he, " this is either a part of the slough 
 and, if so, must be near the river or it joins the bayou, 
 and if this be the case, we cannot be far from it either, 
 because the slough and the bayou do not approach each 
 other until near it," 
 
 Out of the brake we scrambled, intending to make our 
 way between the two obstacles, but we had not proceeded 
 far when the sun made his appearance, shining, to my 
 astonishment, not in our faces, but upon our backs. Joe, 
 however, nothing daunted, took it very quietly, merely 
 muttering something about having taken a " back-track," 
 and then wheeling about, with the sun for his pilot, guided 
 me directly to the river. 
 
 A more beautiful stream never gladdened my eyes ; run- 
 ning over a bed of pebble and rock, between shelving 
 banks of glistening sand, white as the unsullied siiow- 
 flake, it resembled rather one of our pure and joyous
 
 JOE ON SUNDAY FISHING. 61 
 
 northern waters, than anything of the kind I had before 
 seen in the south. 
 
 In a deep pool immediately beneath the overhanging 
 bank upon which I was standing, however, a half grown 
 alligator, floating lazily upon the surface, and the occa- 
 sional flash of the fins and tail of that shark of the fresh 
 water the gar assured me of the southern locality. 
 
 Strong was the temptation to cast a line into the blue 
 depths below, but alas ! the means and appliances were 
 wanting. The day was Sunday, and Joe, albeit far from 
 a bigot, was a very aristocrat in his feelings, and had 
 put a decided veto upon taking with us any tackle for fish- 
 ing. 
 
 " He was not," he said, " sot up about Sunday, but 
 huntin' and fishin 7 on that day wer clar nigger, and went 
 agin him ;" and so I dropped the subject. 
 
 After strolling down stream and selecting an eligible 
 spot for our camp, we returned ; and, although we lost 
 our way again which, by the by, we never after failed 
 of doing, either in going in or in coming out of the brake 
 yet, at length arriving safely at the place where our 
 horses were tied up, we mounted them, and soon reached 
 home. 
 
 During the evening I thought of nothing but the fish ; 
 my dreams that night were full of them, and I awoke 
 next morning with the full and fixed determination, that 
 come what might, that day would I cast my line into 
 the crystal waters of the San Jacinto. 
 
 Joe, for a wonder, had something to do, and after ad- 
 vising me to abandon the idea of visiting the river alone, 
 finally submitted, saying that there was nothing like 
 learning, after all, and giving me the best advice and
 
 62 THE AUTHOR " IN A FIX." 
 
 direction in his power, bade me God speed, in his own 
 rough fashion. 
 
 At an early hour of a bright morning did I set forth 
 upon my mad-cap expedition, and after some three or four 
 hours of vigorous exertion, found myself, heaven knows 
 where. The thicket seemed to grow more dense at every 
 step, until at last I reached something that resembled a 
 new-made path. The thick tall cane had been trampled 
 and crushed, so that for a time I made famous headway. 
 As I was pressing onward, a rattling of cane caught my 
 ear, and peering into the thicket, I saw something that I 
 was convinced at a glance must be either a clergyman, a 
 chimney-sweep, or a bear, and as there was not the 
 slightest probability of either of the former gentry being 
 in such a latitude, I conjectured, and rightly, that it must 
 be no less a personage than Sir Bruin himself. 
 
 At the identical moment when I made the discovery, 
 my sable-coated friend had also ascertained my proximity, 
 and not knowing but that I might be fair game for him, 
 wheeled in his track and returned. 
 
 Totally unarmed, save a large hack-knife, I stepped 
 aside to a huge tree, and placing my back against it, 
 awaited his coming. It was but a moment ; the cane 
 parted, and there he stood, but stood not long. 
 
 I have before in my life made some noise, yet it was 
 surely but as silence, when compared to the yell with 
 which I greeted him. Which of us was the more alarmed 
 I know not, but the victory was with me. Bruin retreated 
 without tap of drum, and, with a snort resembling that of 
 a plethoric specimen of the porcine genus in a state of 
 excessive alarm, abandoned the field. 
 
 My joy at his departure was much increased by the dis
 
 NOT A MERRY-GO-ROUND. 63 
 
 covery that the tree where I was standing, was upon the 
 bank of the bayou, which I now determined to keep in 
 sight until the end and aim of my journey was attained. 
 
 In a few minutes I fell in with a path newly cut in the 
 dense cane, and pressed onward with renewed vigor. 
 
 Presently I came to a tree which bore so striking a 
 resemblance to the one which stood upon the scene of the 
 bear's stampede, that I paused to look at it, but remem- 
 bering that it was no phenomenon to find, two trees similar 
 to each other in the forest, I resumed my course. 
 
 After the lapse of a short interval, I passed a third, 
 then a fourth, and finally a fifth tree, all alike, and for the 
 first time, the many tales I had heard of lost travellers 
 moving round and round in a circle, from which there 
 seemed no escape, flashed upon my mind. 
 
 But no, this might not be ; I had kept the banks of the 
 bayou upon my right, and must now be going down stream. 
 However, for my satisfaction, I determined to mark the 
 tree with a " blaze," did so, and went on. In a short time 
 my vegetable " old man of the sea " again hove in sight, 
 and upon examination there was the " blaze " I had so 
 lately cut. 
 
 It was perfectly inexplicable. Had I gone mad ? Was 
 this some illusion of the senses? I thought, and with a 
 shudder, of a certain old, withered, parchment-faced Afri- 
 can negres-s, a privileged character in Joe's settlement, 
 whose hitherto undisputed claims io the possession of 
 magic power I had seen tit to call in question and ridicule 
 only the previous evening, to the manifest alarm of the 
 listeners. 
 
 A moment's reflection, however, banished all this, and 
 laughing at my singular situation, I determined, coute qui
 
 64 THE AUTHOR " IN A FIX." 
 
 coute, to escape from this modern labyrinth. Down the 
 precipitate banks of the bayou I dashed, and made my 
 way, now upon one side of the nearly dried up stream, 
 now upon the other, and now through the shallow water 
 in its bed. Once more and for the last time my tree was 
 seen, and the mystery was solved. It appears that I had 
 stumbled upon a peninsula formed by the bayou's doubling 
 upon itself. The entrance was but a step from bank to 
 bank, and my chance of finding the way out by the same 
 isthmus was smaYl indeed. 
 
 By the time I reached the river, the sun was declining, 
 and threatening clouds warned me to make the best of my 
 way homeward. Without experiencing any serious mis- 
 hap, save my reaching the prairie, three miles above the 
 proper place, I arrived in safety, perfectly satisfied with 
 my exploit, and willing in future to wait Joe's motions.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 HOW I CAUGHT A " CAT," AND WHAT I DID WITH IT. 
 
 AT last behold us fairly located upon the banks of the 
 river, where Joe had selected a fine, hard shingle beach 
 upon which to pitch our camp. This same camp was an 
 extemporaneous affair, a kind of al fresco home, formed by 
 setting up a few crotches to sustain a rude roof of un- 
 dressed shingles, manufactured impromptu, there known 
 as " boards," supported upon diminutive rafters of cane. 
 
 This done, a cypress suitable for a canoe, or " dug out," 
 was selected, and in two days shaped, hollowed out, and 
 launched. Fairly embarked now in the business, I found 
 but little difficulty in obtaining a supply of green trout 
 and other kinds of river fish, but the huge " Cats" where 
 were they ? I fished at early morn and dewy eve, ere the 
 light had faded out from the stars of morning, and after 
 dame Nature had donned her robe de nuit, all was vain. 
 
 Joe counselled patience, and hinted that the larger 
 species of " Cats" never ran but during a rise or fall in 
 the river, and must then be fished for at night. 
 
 One morning, heavy clouds in the north, and the sound of 
 distant thunder, informed us that a storm was in progress 
 near the head waters of our stream. My rude tackle was 
 looked after, and bait prepared in anticipation of the pro- 
 mised fish, which the perturbed waters of the river were 
 to incite to motion. 
 
 Night came, and I left for a spot where I knew the Cats
 
 66 HOW I CAUGHT A " CAT." 
 
 must frequent; a deep dark hole, immediately above a 
 sedgy flat. My patience and perseverance at length met 
 with their reward. I felt something very carefully examin- 
 ing the bait, and at last tired of waiting for the bite, struck 
 with force. 
 
 I had him, a huge fellow too ; backwards and forwards 
 he dashed, up and down, in and out. No fancy tackle 
 was mine, but plain and trustworthy, at least so I fondly 
 imagined. 
 
 At last I trailed the gentleman upon the sedge, and was 
 upon the eve of wading in and securing him, when a splash 
 in the water which threw it in every direction, announced 
 that something new had turned up, and away went I, hook, 
 and line, into the black hole below. At this moment my 
 tackle parted, the robber whether alligator or gar I 
 knew not disappeared with my half captured prey, and I 
 crawled out upon the bank in a blessed humor. 
 
 My fishing was finished for the evening ; but repairing 
 the tackle as best I could, casting the line again into the 
 pool, and fixing the pole firmly in the knot-hole of a fallen 
 tree, I abandoned it, to fish upon its own hook. 
 
 When I arose in the morning, a cold " norther" was 
 blowing fiercely, and the river had risen in the world 
 during the night. The log to which my pole had formed 
 a temporary attachment, had taken its departure for parts 
 unknown, and was in all human probability at that 
 moment engaged in making an experimental voyage on 
 account of " whom it may concern." 
 
 The keen eyes of Joe, who had been peering up and 
 down the river, however, discovered something upon the 
 opposite side that bore a strong resemblance to the missing 
 pole, and when the sun had fairly risen, we found that
 
 A SELF-FISHING POLE. 67 
 
 there it surely was, and moreover its bowing to the water's 
 edge, and subsequent straightening up, gave proof that a 
 fish was fast to the line. 
 
 The northern blast blew shrill and cold, and the ordi- 
 narily gentle current of the river was now a mad torrent, 
 lashing the banks in its fury, and foaming over the rocks 
 and trees that obstructed its increased volume. 
 
 Joe and I looked despairingly at each other, and shook 
 our heads in silence and in sorrow. 
 
 Yet there was the pole waving to and fro, at times when 
 the fish would repeat his efforts to escape it was worse 
 than the Cup of Tantalus, and after bearing it as long 
 as I could, I prepared for a plunge into the maddened 
 stream. One plunge, however, quite satisfied me ; I was 
 thrown back upon the shore, cold and dispirited. 
 
 During the entire day there stood, or swung to and fro, 
 the wretched pole, now upright as an orderly serjeant, 
 now bending down and kissing the waters at its feet. 
 
 The sight I bore until flesh and blood could no more 
 endure. The sun had sunk to rest, the twilight was fading 
 away, and the stars were beginning to peep out from their 
 sheltering places inquiringly, as if to know why the night 
 came not on, when I, stung to the soul, determined at any 
 hazard to dare the venture. 
 
 Wringing the hand of Joe, who shook his head dubi- 
 ously, up the stream I bent my course until I reached a 
 point some distance above, from which the current passing, 
 dashed with violence against the bank, and shot directly 
 over to the very spot where waved and wagged my 
 wretched rod, cribbed by the waters, and cabined and 
 confined among the logs. 
 
 I plunged in, and swift as arrow from the bow, the
 
 68 HOW I CAUGHT A " CAT." 
 
 water hurried me on, a companion to its mad career. The 
 point was almost gained, when a shout from Joe called 
 my attention to the pole : alas, the fish was gone, and the 
 line was streaming out in the fierce wind. 
 
 That night was I avenged ; a huge cat was borne home 
 in triumph. How I took it, or where, it matters not ; for 
 so much time having been occupied in narrating how I 
 did not, I can spare no more to tell how I did. 
 
 The next point was to decide as to the cooking of him. 
 Joe advised a barbacue ; " a fine fellow like that," he said, 
 " with two inches of clear fat upon his back-bone, would 
 make a noble feast." Let not the " two inches of clear fat" 
 startle the incredulous reader, for in that country of lean 
 swine, I have often heard that the catfish are used to fry 
 bacon in. 
 
 But to the cooking, 
 
 We cooked him that night, and we cooked him next day, 
 And we cooked him in vain until both passed away. 
 
 He would not be cooked, and was in fact much worse, and 
 not half so honest as a worthy old gander once pur- 
 chased by a very innocent friend of mine that was found 
 to contain in its maw a paper embracing both his genea- 
 logy and directions with reference to the advisable mode 
 of preparing him for the table ; of which all that I 
 remember is, that parboiling for sixteen days was warmly 
 recommended as an initial step. 
 
 Sixteen days' parboiling I am convinced would but have 
 rendered our friend the tougher. We tried him over a 
 hot fire, and a slow one, we smoked him, singed him, and 
 in fine tried all known methods in vain, and finally 
 consigned him again uneaten, to the waters.
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 THE RIVER CAMP. 
 
 THE location of our camp upon the river was very roman- 
 tic, if the purpose to which it was devoted was not ; and 
 for solitude, it might have suited Zimmerman himself. 
 The banks of the river were quite high, but did not rise at 
 once or precipitously, bearing no resemblance to the bold 
 bluff shores that confine nearly all southern rivers, and 
 invariably impart a desolate and lonesome feeling to the 
 traveller ; seeming, as it were, to shut him out from the 
 world by some new Chinese wall. 
 
 The banks of the Upper San Jacinto, on the contrary, 
 rise terrace upon terrace, one above and behind another, 
 covered with a thousand varieties of luxuriant plants and 
 flowers, and might compare favorably with the hanging 
 gardens of the East. Above, upon the height, towered 
 immense trees, indicating in their varieties the nature of 
 the soil that gave them birth and fostered them. 
 
 Here a grove of majestic magnolias, that pierced the 
 clouds with their heaven-aspiring shafts, announced the 
 presence of a warm, sandy loam ; there the funereal 
 cypress, spreading widely and boldly its skeleton arms 
 abroad, draped with festoons of the deadly moss, told that 
 its roots were imbedded in some moist swale or brake, at 
 once the home of the moccasin and rattlesnake, and the 
 pasture of the wild bee, who distils honey from the rank 
 and noisome weeds that flourish, and the creaming pools
 
 70 THE RIVER CAMP. 
 
 of stagnant water that abound there, and finds a home in 
 the vacant heart of some aged giant of the woods. Fur- 
 ther down, a number of tall pines exhibited their dark 
 green pyramids in bold relief against the clear sky, and 
 spoke of the barrenness of the land ; while opposite, the 
 luxuriant growth of cane, and the wild peach, announced, in 
 a language very intelligible to the land hunter, inexhausti- 
 ble treasures beneath their feet. As far as the river was 
 visible to us, the different varieties of trees bent their tops 
 from the main bank, as if saluting the fair stream that was 
 carelessly straying beneath their feet. 
 
 Our camp was located in a bend, where the river spread 
 out into a mimic bay. Some quarter of a mile above us it 
 suddenly burst upon the sight, as seemingly in a great 
 hurry it turned a very short corner ; but perhaps finding 
 that it had chanced upon a spot that was passing fair, or 
 for some other reason not half as good, forgetting its 
 haste, it moved along more gently, dallying with the 
 banks, and scooping out a deep place where it turned 
 around for awhile for all the world like a kitten chasing 
 its tail, and then, as if tired of its fun, or catching sight 
 of our camp ashamed, like some grave people, of being 
 caught engaged in a frolic, it spread itself out, and strolled 
 by us with its hands in its pockets, and in a very majestic 
 and dignified manner. A few rods more, and a new idea 
 entering its brain, or desirous of making up for lost time, 
 off it hurried again at top speed, in a shallow way, but 
 enjoying the best of spirits, kicking up quite a dust among 
 the pebbles at its feet, as it rolled them merrily along, 
 bringing the poor little fish that were endeavoring to get 
 up in the world, to a stand-still they, wagging their 
 tails, and wondering what the deuce was the matter
 
 OUR FOREST HOME. 71 
 
 now ; and finally changing the merry roundelay that it 
 had been gaily trolling into a loud, boisterous, brawling 
 song, it dashed around another corner in a prodigious 
 fury, breaking its head against a troublesome ledge of 
 rocks that were lying in ambush on purpose to play it 
 this scaly trick. It was now entirely lost to sight, but 
 could be heard for quite a distance as it pursued its noisy 
 way, evidently in anything but the best of tempers, and 
 raising its voice, now hoarse and quarrelsome, in bitter 
 complaint of the ill treatment that it had received. 
 
 In the exact centre of the aforesaid bend, a very pretty 
 piece of sedge that skirted the shore in the form of a 
 crescent, united the water and the land ; and immediately 
 in its rear, but perhaps not more than one foot higher 
 than the river, extended a broad platform of hard sand, 
 white as the snow from heaven, and sparkling like frost 
 gems upon a winter night. Some fifteen feet again above 
 this, and joined to it by a gradual and easy slope, was 
 another flat of similar material, forming a small but per- 
 fect piece of tableland. Upon the latter did we pitch our 
 tent in the wilderness. 
 
 Being in great haste to catch my catfish, I dismissed 
 the very important matter of the construction of our forest 
 home in an exceedingly summary and contemptuous man- 
 ner, and one entirely unworthy so important an event. 
 
 To retrace my footsteps : We arrived at the river, and 
 selected our building spot about 2 P.M., and Joe immedi- 
 ately announced that, if we did not intend to use the sky 
 for a Blanket, and did intend to sleep like white folks, we 
 had better be stirring at once. 
 
 I looked around rather troubled, not seeing anything to 
 stir, and moreover not being particularly burdened with
 
 72 THE RIVER CAMP. 
 
 any great skill in woodcraft as yet, and felt quite uncer- 
 tain as to how we were to complete a building suitable to 
 contain " white folks " before the already declining sun 
 should have gently edged himself out of sight behind the 
 lofty tree tops. 
 
 Consoling myself, however, with the reflection that Joe 
 was truly wide awake in the woods, however fully his 
 somnolent propensities might have been developed in the 
 settlement, I concluded to place full reliance upon his tact 
 and sagacity, and to obey his orders if convenient and 
 satisfactory, which was, perhaps, the wisest course I could 
 have pursued, especially as I could not help myself. 
 
 By his directions, I went to work at fire-building, and 
 was to cook our rude meal, while he should search a 
 cypress brake at a short distance down stream, until he 
 might discover a tree that would answer the double pur- 
 pose of boat-building and shingle-making ; and when one 
 should have been found, f was to be informed of his suc- 
 cess by one of his peculiar "yips," which would also 
 answer a double purpose keep up my spirits, and show 
 me where I should direct my more feeble and unpractised 
 voice when the pork, potatoes, and coffee were prepared. 
 
 Joe must on that day have been in high favor with the 
 fickle goddess, for scarcely had the faint flame flashed up 
 from among the crackling sticks, when a yell was heard, to 
 which the roar of a bull was but as a gentle whisper, and 
 the screech-owl's note but as the song of the nightingale. 
 I stood transfixed for a moment, until old Echo, having 
 taken up the cry and bandied it from shore to shore, 
 finally carried it afar off, and lost it in the dim distance, 
 and then I tried my voice at a reply. It would not seem 
 that my attempt at rivalry was crowned with any distin-
 
 A HORSE-CHUCKLE PORK AXD POTATOES. 73 
 
 guislied success, for I beard a very distinct rumbling 
 away in Joe's direction, which, if there be any inferior 
 denomination of the horse laugh, known as the horse 
 chuckle, would certainly have come up to my idea of one. 
 It sounded like a bear suffering under a severe dispensa- 
 tion of bronchitis. 
 
 Abandoning all idea of excelling Joe's performance as 
 " the yett-er" flower of the forest, I went to work in the 
 culinary department in good earnest, but ere the faint 
 odor from the frying pork pervaded the atmosphere, 
 causing the " varmint " that inhaled it to wonder what 
 new celestial perfume had visited their " diggins," and 
 inflicting the cruel pangs of a severe appetite, and nothing 
 at hand to remedy it, upon any stray wolf that chanced to 
 be within a mile, the ponderous ring of Joe's well applied 
 axe astonishing the old woods for the first time told 
 that he had commenced operations in a determined man- 
 ner. As the fresh and grateful air of the river fanned 
 my brow, moist from the unwonted occupation in which I 
 was engaged, a thought occurred to me that it was now 
 my time to smile ; that Joe was getting the worst of it, 
 and that I should not be compelled to make my debut 
 with an axe for that day at least. 
 
 The pork was at last fried to a turn, and safely depo- 
 sited in an old tin pan that served us for table, dishes, 
 and all ; a batter of corn meal and water had taken the 
 pork's place in the frying-pan, and was converted into very 
 respectable something I cannot stop to invent a name ; 
 the delicious aroma of coffee filled the air with fragrance, 
 and the nicely roasted sweet potatoes were prepared for 
 the table in imitation of the celebrated roots of Marion ; 
 all was ready, and this time Joe did not scorn my cry. 
 4
 
 V4 THE RIVER CAMP. 
 
 Reader, did you ever eat a dinner in the wild woods? 
 I do not mean one of those miserable counterfeits known 
 as " pic-nics," consisting of city delicacies for sated appe- 
 tites, but a true, rude, yet appetizing meal, far away from 
 the demoralizing influence of French cookery, and served 
 up with the most potent of sauces a genuine woodsman's 
 unaffected hunger. If you have, you would have given a 
 month of Delmonico's delicacies for a few minutes' chance 
 at the rude but cheerful board, although the said board 
 was but a tin pan after all. 
 
 A hearty drink of cool and excellent water from the 
 river beneath us, and two stone pipes, with handles of 
 young cane, were produced from our respective pockets, 
 and soon in full operation. 
 
 The serious business of discussing dinner and a dessert 
 of pipe-smoke being duly concluded, I thought it time to 
 descend to more trivial matters, and inquire of Joe if the 
 work went bravely on. 
 
 " Well, Joe," said I, " from the style of attack you have 
 kept up on that unfortunate tree, I reckon you don't need 
 much of my help to get it down." 
 
 "Don't, eh?" replied Joe. "Well, if you allow that I 
 can lay out a cypress four feet thick as high up as I can 
 chop, in half an hour, you must put me up as some punkins. 
 No, sir, thar's a good hour's work for both, and we'd bet- 
 ter be at it." 
 
 So at it we went, and after due time, the outlay of much 
 misapplied exertion, and at the expense of a pair of 
 severely blistered hands upon my part, down came the 
 huge tree with a thundering crash, frightening many a 
 bird and beast, to say nothing of the prodigious alarm it 
 must have caused among the large fraternity of snakes
 
 OUE SHED-OVEK A " CHEF D ? (EUVRE." 75 
 
 that inhabited the brake, and that probably took the 
 unusual noise and commotion for little less than an earth- 
 quake. 
 
 Actively plying now the cross-cut saw, we severed from 
 the trunk a proper log for the construction of our boat, and 
 then took off several blocks, wherewith to manufacture the 
 requisite covering for our rustic mansion. We rolled the 
 latter to our camp, and soon split them in parts ready for the 
 riving iron or " frow," and then procured ten crotches of 
 proper length, and fixed them firmly in their places. The 
 two centre sticks were longer than the rest ; in front of 
 these we placed four in pairs opposite each other, while 
 for the rear support, we cut them much shorter, allowing 
 the last pair to project but little from the ground. We 
 then cut stout straight poles, and placed them in the 
 crotches, and across these again a quantity of green cane 
 from the adjacent brake to form our roof timbers. 
 
 Half an hour.'s work now furnished us with a supply of 
 boards, as undressed shingles are called, and beheld our 
 house completed and ready to receive us before night. Of 
 course this, like all other new buildings, required some 
 additions and alterations ; for instance, on the north side 
 we afterwards appended a shed, which sloped to the 
 ground, had a large hole in the roof, and answered as a 
 kitchen in wet weather. This and one or two minor 
 improvements completed a hut that perhaps would not 
 have been much protection from the severities of a more 
 northern climate, but was just the thing for us, and per- 
 fectly ^weather-proof as far as rain was concerned. 
 
 Immediately "opposite, grew a great number of fine 
 cypress trees, which we felled as we needed, and found 
 but little difficulty in getting the raw material to our
 
 76 THE RIVER CAMP. 
 
 camp. Cut in proper lengths, we rolled them down and 
 floated them over, to be piled up in front of our work- 
 shop. 
 
 In the beginning, we made a few experiments at shingle- 
 making in the " timber," but soon found that it would not 
 pay, for the musquitoes, that did not at all affect our hard 
 sand beach, swarmed in countless myriads in the swamp, 
 and could only be kept at a respectable distance by build- 
 ing fires about us and working in an atmosphere of smoke. 
 We therefore deemed it advisable to do our finishing 
 work in the camp above, and soon a noble pile of shingles 
 arose behind it witnesses of our industry. 
 
 Joe estimated their number every night, and calculated 
 to a fraction something in the style of the milkmaid in 
 the spelling-book the exact amount of necessaries and 
 luxuries into which they could be converted when once 
 boated and rafted to Galveston. 
 
 It may seem strange that Joe, owning as he did a fine 
 herd of cattle and a sufficient clearing, should resort to 
 labor which was evidently not homogeneous to his disposi- 
 tion, in order to procure a little money, or a few pounds 
 of coffee or tobacco, powder or lead. 
 
 As is the case with all new countries, there was no cur- 
 rency ; literally, no money. The republic has been flooded 
 with countless government bills, some of them issued and 
 passed at seven dollars for one, and at the time of which I 
 write, not of the slightest use, except, perhaps, to light 
 a pipe with. 
 
 Among the limited number of planters that then raised 
 cotton, a little money was sometimes to be found, if their 
 store bill did not overrun their crops ; but with the stock- 
 raisers who occupied all the prairie-coast country, not one
 
 LOCOMOTIVE CURRENCY. 77 
 
 in ten could boast of a dollar. Their circulating medium 
 possessed locomotive powers, and circulated upon its own 
 legs. It consisted simply and solely of cows and calves. 
 "We have all heard of riches taking wings to themselves and 
 flying away. Their wealth often walked off upon four feet, 
 and when most needed, was very apt to turn up missing. 
 
 A cow and calf always passed current as ten dollars, and 
 BO was it understood in all transactions. If a man were 
 asked the price of his horse and he should reply " Fifty 
 dollars," he would mean five cows and calves, and nothing 
 else. A note for so many dollars implied only a certain 
 number of quadrupeds, and unless a money form of pay- 
 ment had been particularly specified, it could not be col- 
 lected even by law. 
 
 Now, cows and calves are very useful things in their 
 way when not in your way. They look very pretty upon 
 a green prairie, and appear to great advantage, if skilfully 
 depicted, in a fair landscape ; they are also indispensable 
 necessities in the milk, butter, and cheese department ; but 
 when it comes to travelling about with a dozen or so in 
 one's pocket, and shelling out a calf for a pair of shoes, or 
 asking a man to take his change out of a cow for a tavern 
 bill, the thing is quite preposterous. 
 
 The man who has to travel fifty miles to procure his 
 little luxuries, would be puzzled to drive a few cattle every 
 time he went ; nothing but a large herd could be driven, 
 and then, with a number of men, it would be slow business. 
 More than all, the merchants would not acknowledge the 
 currency as legal tender, or receive anything in payment 
 for their high-priced articles, but what they could turn 
 into money, wherewith to pay their debts, and refill their 
 exhausted shelves and empty barrels.
 
 78 . THE RIVER CAMP. 
 
 It therefore must appear to the most careless observer, 
 that although there was no want of this kind of stock in 
 the land, yet it could scarcely be ranked among the " con- 
 vertibles." 
 
 There was, to be sure, a business house at Brazoria that 
 issued small bills, from twelve and a half cents upwards ; 
 there was also another at Galveston ; and again, the 
 Government had put forth a few exchange notes that were 
 at par, but all of them small enough in the aggre- 
 gate could only be obtained by money itself, or its equi- 
 valent. 
 
 Congress indeed undertook to legislate the difficulty out 
 of existence in their own peculiar way. A bill was intro- 
 duced to establish a Government Bank, which was to loan 
 money upon all fields of growing cotton. Had this plan 
 succeeded, it is probable that each legislator would have 
 abandoned his post almost instanter, rushed home, set to 
 work every negro that he could hire or purchase upon 
 credit, and, having planted as many acres as possible, 
 have posted up to the bank immediately for his share of 
 the spoils. 
 
 The bill was in direct violation of the Constitution, 
 which prohibits banks in toto, and as the Congress was then 
 in session at Houston, where a mercantile community might 
 have rewarded so high-handed a piece of business on the 
 spot, and even upon the honorable person of the projector, 
 it was deemed advisable to discuss the matter in secret 
 session and with closed doors. 
 
 One of the Senators, however, who either had too much 
 liquor in his head, or honesty in his heart, to keep the 
 secret, left the State-house and addfessed the people upon 
 the subject. Congress deprived him of his seat and dis-
 
 HONEST BOB VICTORIOUS. 79 
 
 missed him from the Senate, but a new election being held 
 immediately, he was reinstated ; carried by acclamation, 
 and absolutely borne upon the shoulders of his friends, he 
 was ushered into the Senate accompanied by a shouting 
 crowd. 
 
 Congress took the hint, and neither prosecuted the bill 
 nor persecuted their Senator any further. 
 
 The hero of this event was known and is yet, if he be 
 alive as Honest Bob, and upon the strength of this title 
 ran for the Presidency, and received, I believe one vote. 
 
 The hides of slaughtered beeves and they amounted to 
 a goodly number in the course of a year, for economy of 
 meat is by no means one of the stock-raiser's virtues 
 were cash articles ; these, with a few hard and miserable 
 cheeses, were all that a very large class of settlers had to 
 depend upon, to secure those articles which they were 
 forced to buy. 
 
 A family of genuine Down-Easters, that had settled some 
 twenty miles below, had tried their hands at shingle- 
 making, and succeeded very well in a small way. They 
 rafted their " plunder" some fifty miles down the river, and 
 then shipped it upon trading vessels bound for Galveston, 
 where it was disposed of at large prices. Joe, however, 
 as I have previously stated, had other and more extended 
 ideas. Having chanced to light upon the price of white 
 oak staves in some old newspaper, he determined, as soon 
 as a few dollars could be realized, to pave the way, that he 
 would engage a large gang of hands and slaughter the old 
 oaks .without stay or remorse. 
 
 Well, go thy ways, Joe, for despite a crotchety brain, 
 an unsteadiness of purpose, and a determined grasping after 
 some ideal mode of easily acquiring wealth, a truer,
 
 80 THE RIVER CAMP. 
 
 more kindly, and more honest heart never beat in manly 
 bosom. 
 
 One great impediment to the successful prosecution of 
 our business was the difficulty we experienced in keeping a 
 supply of food on hand. Joe was for no half rations ; and 
 the inexorable demand of an appetite, occasioned by our 
 mode of life, made such severe requisitions upon our larder, 
 that it required replenishing every week, and the exodus 
 from, and return to, our forest home was rather a 
 serious matter, generally with the time occupied in 
 preparing provisions and seeing to home wants wast- 
 ing two days. 
 
 Joe was an early riser ; the sun never found him repos- 
 ing upon the pile of shavings that formed his humble 
 couch. I, however, could not so soon shake off my city- 
 acquired bad habits, and so all the drudgery of making 
 fire and preparing breakfast fell to the share of my compa- 
 nion. 
 
 One morning, as we were wending our way to the 
 swamp, Joe stopped, and directed my attention to a small 
 pile of half decayed twigs of the white birch. Upon its 
 outer edge, and within a circumference no larger than the 
 head of a hogshead, were coiled up five venomous- 
 snakes, who had not yet aroused themselves and shaken 
 off the torpor occasioned by the chill of night. Exactly 
 in the centre was the mark of one of Joe's bare 
 feet, where it had crushed through the rotten wood and 
 made its print in the sand without alarming the sleepers. 
 
 We made short work with them, and ever after Joe took 
 the precaution of booting himself before making any more 
 early excursions.
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 STORIES BY THE CAMP FIRE. 
 
 OUR nights by the camp fire were hours long to be remem- 
 bered. Joe was a capital story-teller ; he believed tho- 
 roughly in all the marvels that he narrated, while very 
 common and ordinary events in the great world would 
 appear to him incredible indeed. It was with him a realiza- 
 tion of the story touching the old lady, her sailor son, and 
 Pharaoh's chariot wheels. 
 
 Lafitte and his piracies formed the great staple of his 
 conversation ; and, stretched at full length before the blaz- 
 ing logs, I have listened for hours, to his wonderful 
 accounts, as much interested in the man and his stories, as 
 ever the Caliph of the Arabian Nights was in his wife's 
 narrations. 
 
 Joe knew where a vast sum of Lafitte's money was 
 buried. He had had the very spot, nay the identical tree, 
 so accurately described to him, that there could not be the 
 least doubt of his obtaining the treasure, if he could but 
 find a proper assistant to accompany him. Not deeming 
 that Joe will be a loser by any breach of confidence upon 
 my part, I will impart the great secret to my readers. 
 
 A few miles inland from the Gulf of Mexico, and con- 
 nected with it by a narrow outlet, is a large strange lake, 
 unfrequented and almost unexplored by man. It is known 
 as Lake Mermentou, and receives into its sluggish bosom 
 the waters of a filthy bayou, as muddy as itself. 
 4*
 
 82 STOEIES BY THE CAMP FIRE. 
 
 In the very centre of this lake and it is large enough 
 to appear to good advantage upon our maps is a solitary 
 island, and upon the centre of the solitary island grows a 
 solitary tree. The tree is a peccan tree, and the island is 
 -Peccan Island, and upon the island, and immediately 
 ,imderneath this tree, is deposited according to Joe's 
 belief a mint of money. 
 
 It was hidden there by the pirate himself, who ascended 
 the lake in a small boat, containing a chest of gold and 
 gems, and manned by one person besides himself. They 
 dug a deep pit beneath the solitary tree, and with many 
 heathenish and blasphemous ceremonies, in which the 
 devil is supposed to have borne a prominent part, depo- 
 sited the treasure. Before filling up the pit, the pirate 
 chief performed one ceremony more, which his aid had 
 not calculated upon, and which was neither to be found 
 upon the bills, nor included in the general orders for the 
 day, but was probably suggested impromptu to Lafitte by 
 Old Nick, who is supposed to have stood at his elbow aid- 
 ing and abetting. 
 
 When the heavy chest had been lowered down to its 
 abiding place, Lafitte ordered his mortal assistant to 
 jump down also, and stuff a quantity of canvas and 
 oakum about the strong box, to protect it, it may be, from 
 the dampness of the ground. When this duty had been care- 
 fully performed, as the man arose and his head appeared 
 once more above the surface, Lafitte, clapping a pistol to 
 it, pulled trigger, blowing out what few brains were in it ? 
 thus binding the owner to keep the peace and the secret 
 for all time in a most effectual manner, and also filling up 
 the cavity in an expeditious and an economical way. 
 
 The man, of course, could not get out, but, according to
 
 THE SECRET BETRAYED. 83 
 
 the old saw, the murder and the secret did. Lafitte's 
 tender conscience smote him so severely, that, while 
 immersed in the slumbers of midnight, he gave a long and 
 most particular account of the place and the transaction, 
 and the thirsty ears of an old salt drank in the whole 
 quite greedily. Nay, so scurvily did Somnus serve the 
 sleeper, that he even divulged where lay snugly concealed 
 a map of the lake, and also a paper containing directions 
 as to the ceremony to be performed in disinterring the 
 money. 
 
 These valuable and authentic documents the old scamp 
 purloined, and had actually exhibited them to Joe. He 
 also offered his services to Joe to accompany him and con- 
 duct the search ; but the latter, although fully possessed of 
 the existence of the treasure, strange to say, entertained 
 some doubts of honesty of purpose on the old sailor's part, 
 and fearing to incur a fate similar to that of Lafitte's con- 
 fidant, declined the transaction. 
 
 Some time after, the sailor found a man who was willing 
 to risk one of his negroes for a share in the spoils, and 
 who furnished a small sum of money by way of outfit. 
 The pair started upon their excursion, but were never 
 after heard of, and Joe entertained no doubt but that the 
 devil had caught them in the very act, and without a Bible 
 to defend themselves with. I suggested the possibility of 
 the sailor's using the money to run off the slave, and after- 
 wards to dispose of him, but Joe scouted the idea. 
 
 There was perhaps some foundation for Joe's piratical 
 legend. Lafitte, who for many years had levied upon all 
 flags but that of our country, had absolutely undisputed 
 possession of the numerous bayous that, straggling off 
 from the lower Mississippi, wind in every direction
 
 84 STORIES BY THE CAMP FIRE. 
 
 through southwestern Louisiana, and after forming a 
 labyrinth of swamps, lakes, and streams, finally find their 
 way to the gulf. These were the avenues up which the 
 pirate chief transported his plunder, and disposed of it to 
 the settlers living upon or near to the streams, and many 
 fortunes were made by this nefarious commerce. 
 
 Great quantities of various descriptions of merchandise 
 found their way to New Orleans by the Mississippi, and 
 were sold without question, if not without suspicion. So 
 many persons had been engaged in this illegal traffic that 
 they, with the refugees, at one time endeavored to stir up 
 the state to an active resistance to the transfer of the 
 country to the United States, and an ill feeling was 
 engendered among the French that has not yet entirely 
 subsided. 
 
 On the western bank of the Mississippi, about one hun- 
 dred and thirty miles above New Orleans, stands the little 
 town of Plaquemine, which consists of a tavern, a ware- 
 house, a store, and perhaps three or four more buildings. 
 It is known from its race-track, where twice each year a 
 few petty races are run ; and from its situation at the 
 mouth of the very troublesome bayou Plaquemine, the key 
 to all the great body of waters that wind through a large 
 portion of western Louisiana. The water rushes in 
 this aperture with great velocity, so great indeed that 
 steamers descending the bayou are forced to run a number 
 of miles stern foremost, and working against the stream 
 with half a head of steam. 
 
 After retrograding down the bayou in this manner for 
 nine miles, they arrive at the " Devil's Elbow ;" and here, 
 with their bows tied to the shore, the stern is hauled 
 around by a hawser ; and, then descending some six miles
 
 A DAMP CLIMATE. 85 
 
 further " with a perfect rush," enter Grand Riviere, a huge 
 lake-like body of water, doubtless once the old bed of the 
 Mississippi, from four to six miles in width, and which 
 connects with Bayou Atchafalaya, and a number of smaller 
 streams. 
 
 Steaming for some 40 miles through Grand River the 
 mouth of Bayou C our tableau is reached. So narrow is 
 this stream, that the tops of the old forest trees arch over 
 it, and its navigation must be puzzling indeed to a tyro. 
 From its conflux with Grand River to the head of naviga- 
 tion, it runs through one immense forest or swamp, almost 
 always under water, without a clearing or other sign of 
 the presence of man, than two or three wood-piles and as 
 many wood-cutters' shanties, elevated upon piles, each door 
 adorned by a boat the only means of locomotion from the 
 hut to the wood-yard for half the year. During the dry 
 months the " pile" is recruited. 
 
 At last, wearied to death with the gloomy and mono- 
 tonous scenery, you emerge from the dark forest, and the 
 little town of " Lafayette," the beginning of the prairie 
 country, and the port of " Opelousas," a place of some im- 
 portance^is before you. 
 
 Here was one of Lafitte's trading stations, and the scene 
 of one of Joe's most approved legends, in which I took an 
 especial interest from my personal knowledge of the locali- 
 ty, and acquaintance with one of the actors. 
 
 Opelousas, the shire town of the parish of St. Landry, 
 had and I believe yet has one inhabitant who is 
 regarded with universal and superstitious awe by the 
 others. She was a negress, a native of St. Domingo, a per- 
 son doubtless of infinite cunning, and of education far supe- 
 rior to that of many of the whites among whom she lived.
 
 86 STORIES BY THE CAMP FIRE. 
 
 Her name I have forgotten, but have had, years since, 
 the honor of a personal interview with her. In fact,. hav- 
 ing need of, I engaged her services, not with any satanic 
 or diabolical intent, but simply to get up my linen, and 
 must say that she proved to be a very superior person for 
 her line of life and color, and also a most unexceptionable 
 blanchisseuse. She appeared then to have been about forty 
 years of age, but the Opelousans insisted upon it that she 
 had seen twice as many summers. 
 
 This woman could, according to universal report, pene- 
 trate the walls of any prison and rescue its inmates, and it 
 was generally believed that she had contrived a plan to 
 carry off Xapoleon from the English, and that it was only 
 prevented by his death. 
 
 Ridiculous as this may seem, I have conversed with 
 many who had placed implicit faith in it, and professed to 
 the having been personally cognizant of her frequent inter- 
 views with agents from France. It is much more proba- 
 ble that they were agents of Lafitte, with whose affairs she 
 evidently had much to do. Over the negroes she posseted 
 unlimited power, and I have no doubt but that by the 
 exercise of cunning, address, and a little gold, she has 
 effected the escape of more than one criminal. One case 
 in particular occurs to me. A wealthy planter lay confined 
 in prison under sentence of death, for the crime of murder. 
 At that time the cholera was raging, and it was soon re- 
 ported that the condemned man had fallen a victim to the 
 disease. Those who saw the corpse professed themselves 
 satisfied with its identity, but few indeed had enough of 
 courage and curiosity combined, to venture upon the 
 spectacle. 
 
 A year or two after the planter's supposed death, it was
 
 THE BITTER CUESE. 87 
 
 reported that lie had been seen by several who knew 
 him. They had met him upon the upper Mississippi. Of 
 course the negress received the credit of the affair, and it 
 is not impossible but she might have either substituted 
 a corpse for him, with the connivance of the jailor, or else 
 produced a counterfeit presentment of death upon his part, 
 sufficient to deceive those who were paid to be deceived. 
 It is certain that the body was given up immediately to 
 his family. 
 
 According to Joe, a certain Frenchman had acquired an 
 immense fortune by his transactions with Lafitte. One 
 day, among a certain number of bales received by him, was 
 one which bore the mark of a bloody female hand. 
 
 This the negress happened to see, and for some unknown 
 reason, it excited her utmost ire. Whether it was that 
 she was really tender-hearted after all, and had issued her 
 commands against the shedding of blood, or whether she 
 entertained a private pique against the merchant, is not 
 known ; but upon seeing the bloody impress on the bale, 
 she knelt down with bare head, a midday sun beating 
 down upon it, and cursed the recipient of evil gains with 
 a most bitter curse. She cursed him, and prayed in an 
 awful manner that the lightning might at a stroke blast 
 all of his ill-gained wealth. 
 
 As his possessions were somewhat widely scattered, 
 the merchant felt inclined to scoff at her curses, and 
 indulged in the idea that it would be somewhat dif- 
 ficult for one thunderbolt to destroy all of his for- 
 tune 
 
 Years rolled on, and the trader settled down into 
 a merchant, forgot the prediction, and built an immense 
 store and warehouse upon the banks of the bayou, and
 
 88 STORIES BY THE CAMP FIRE. 
 
 on the very spot where lay the bloody bale, and where 
 knelt the. negress. 
 
 His buildings were just completed, the warehouse was 
 filled with cotton that he had purchased, and the store 
 groaned under the weight of the largest stock of goods 
 ever brought to the prairie. The last blow of the 
 carpenter's hammer was struck upon the building, and 
 the last case of goods from the steamboat before the 
 door, had been rolled in. It was just noon, the sky 
 clear and without a cloud, and the owner, his friends, 
 and the workmen, were sitting down to partake of a 
 little dinner, expressly got up to " warm the store," 
 when a deafening noise was heard, and in a few moments 
 store and warehouse were on fire in every part. Every 
 effort to subdue the flames was unavailing, and the owner 
 was reduced by one blow from wealth to bankruptcy. 
 
 Joe said it was evident that the lightning did not come 
 from heaven, but quite the reverse, and argued therefrom, 
 that the negress had power only over the things below. 
 
 Time wore on, our pile of shingles began to assume 
 quite an imposing aspect, and there is no telling how much 
 we might have obtained for them, but that, just as we had 
 almost completed as many as we had intended to raft, for 
 our first essay, the near approach of a most important day 
 the wedding day of one of Joe's sisters called us from 
 pursuits in the green woods to a frolic at home.
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 A WEDDING AND A WOLF-HUNT. 
 
 A NEW phase of frontier life and a scamper across the 
 prairie on a half wild Spanish horse at break-neck speed, 
 were quite welcome after our toil, and far more congenial 
 to my feelings than felling trees, handling cross-cuts, roll- 
 ing blocks, or even such a night-hunt as Joe had intro- 
 duced me to. 
 
 This was the first scene of the kind that I had ever wit- 
 nessed ; it occurred in the days of my freshest verdure, 
 and I enjoyed it to the fullest extent. 
 
 Here let me drop a word of advice, en passant, to any 
 and every one who may try his fortune in a new coun- 
 try. Do not pretend to any knowledge that you do not 
 possess. If everything appears new, and queer, and 
 strange, say so. Ask as many questions as you please ; 
 the more the better. You will find the backwoodsman 
 not only willing, but happy to impart any information 
 in his power, and he will take pleasure in showing you 
 everything that may amuse and astonish you ; but for 
 the man who would play the Indian, and refuse an expres- 
 sion of either surprise or pleasure, small pains will be 
 bestowed upon his edification. 
 
 Some years since the Hough family resided in Louisiana, 
 but finding the range for their cattle becoming every year 
 worse, one of the sons-^our friend Joe set forth as a 
 pioneer to explore, and locate himself upon the more fertile
 
 90 A WEDDING AND A WOLF-HUXT. 
 
 plains of Texas, taking with him his wife and children. 
 Here, in the days of the patriarchs, he would have pitched 
 his tent, but having no tent to pitch, or no taste for a life 
 in tents, or being intent upon a more permanent mansion, 
 he set to work, and with the friendly assistance of a few 
 near neighbors, living not more than fifteen or twenty 
 miles distant, put up a log cabin. A sturdy arm, a sharp 
 axe, and a willing heart, require but few days to furnish 
 the backwoodsman with a secure shelter. Joe had 
 travelled in a covered wagon, which contained his small 
 family, and small stock of furniture the latter pro- 
 bably consisting of an old chest containing the family 
 wardrobe, a coffee-pot, a few tin cups, a steel mill to grind 
 his corn, a skillet to bake his bread in, with a few spoons, 
 knives, forks, pans, and pails. 
 
 His farming utensils were even fewer in number a 
 plough, an axe, and hoe, perhaps nothing else. As for 
 provisions, a supply of coffee and tobacco was indispensa- 
 ble ; for everything else, except a little meal for immedi- 
 ate use, he relied upon his stock of cattle, to sell or 
 to kill. Having completed his cabin, he now made a 
 small clearing in the adjoining woods where to raise the 
 corn for his family's bread. The next year his brother 
 came out ; the two lived and prospered. Their cattle grew 
 in numbers. Before long, rumors of the fatness of the 
 land reached the ears of the other members of the family, 
 and out they trooped men, women, children, and negroes, 
 horses and cattle, until Joe began to imagine the popula- 
 tion too dense for health and comfort. In fact, he ci mi- 
 plained bitterly to me, and expressed a determination of 
 moving further, where he would have room to breathe, 
 and the women could not quarrel about their chickens. 

 
 A WET BRIDEGROOM. 91 
 
 This settlement, whose density of population distressed 
 our friend Joe so much, consisted at this time of live 
 families, and not over forty individuals of all hues, ages, 
 and sexes. Cupid had found his way into the wilds, and 
 tempted a young man to commit matrimony with one of 
 the daughters of the family after a very curt court- 
 ship, which was perhaps excusable, as the lover had to 
 ride fifty miles every time he would visit his inamorata. 
 Unfortunately for all who anticipated the fun and frolic 
 usually incident to such affairs, death had been busy in the 
 family but a short time previous, having with his remorse- 
 less scythe clipped off its head and in consequence banjo 
 and fiddle were tabooed, and dancing decidedly vetoed. 
 On the wedding morning, the rain fell as it only falls in 
 Texas, and the happy man, arriving drenched to the skin, 
 was obliged to change his dress before he did his condi- 
 tion. However, as he had ridden in homespun, and pre- 
 served his best suit in his saddle-bags intact, he soon 
 made his appearance decidedly renovated. If there was 
 no dancing, there was plenty of feasting. The Houston 
 stores had been laid under contribution, a host of fat 
 things were spread before the assembled guests, and 
 although I cannot affirm, as it is customary to do in simi- 
 lar cases, that the tables groaned under their unwonted 
 burden since, according to the very best information I 
 have been able to obtain upon the subject, tables never do 
 groan, but are basely slandered in this respect, yet they 
 certainly creaked and to make up the deficiency, the 
 majority of the guests groaned in concert before morning. 
 The old lady seemed to have taken an exact measure of 
 each one's capacity, and as long as she imagined a stray 
 corner existed unoccupied, so long she continued to heap
 
 92 A WEDDING AND A WOLF-HUNT. 
 
 her luxuries upon the unfortunate proprietor's plate. In 
 the evening songs and stories, nearly as broad as they 
 were long, intimately mixed with whiskey and water, cir- 
 culated among us, and long ere midnight the majority 
 of the males at least, were in admirable condition for 
 bed. 
 
 A bed was prepared rather remarkable, for its longi- 
 tude, as it extended the entire length of the porch, being 
 formed simply by laying down a succession of blankets 
 and counterpanes, with anything and everything stuck 
 under the end for " heading" and upon this the males 
 threw themselves down, each man using his own blanket, 
 which no Texan travels without, for cover. 
 
 The next morning all were astir betimes', and it certainly 
 appeared to me that had the most of them entertained 
 even a remote idea of the thirst they were to experience, 
 they certainly would have taken a drop more before retir- 
 ing. A wedding without anything of a frolic connected 
 with it would have been deemed a species of sacrilege, 
 and so, " faute de mieux," the wolf-hunt was declared the 
 order of the day. 
 
 Directly in front of the house, at a distance of four 
 miles, is an " island of timber," known as Lake Island. It 
 is one mile in length, and through it runs or stands, as the 
 case may be, a narrow, shallow, and muddy strip of water. 
 Four miles again beyond this, is another and a smaller 
 " island," called from its usual inhabitants " Wolf Island." 
 I would here beg the reader to remark, that in speaking 
 of " Islands," clusters of trees are meant to be implied 
 the same relative terms being applied to prairie and wood- 
 land as we use in speaking of land and water a strip of 
 prairie extending into the woods is known as a " Cove"
 
 A MUiiTLll CF THE FORCES. 93 
 
 or " Bay," while a projecting piece of wood is called a 
 " Point" a cluster of trees, an " Island," &c. 
 
 It appears that among the innumerable wolves that 
 ravaged the prairie, one had acquired for herself a very 
 unenviable notoriety, and had been long marked for 
 destruction. Her size was great ; in fact, she was repre- 
 sented as being a monster in her way. She had had the 
 audacity to venture boldly into the cow-pens, and drive 
 off all the dogs of the settlement except the old vete- 
 ran, Bose, with whom she respectfully declined mea- 
 suring her strength. Our plans were easily arranged, 
 the caviarde of horses driven into the pen, and we were 
 soon very busy catching and saddling each man paying 
 particular attention to the fastenings of his girth, in the 
 anticipation of a hard race over a hog-wallow prairie. 
 Among the more prominent actors were our friend 
 " Joe," his younger brother " Dave," mounted upon a fine 
 blooded animal, and the brother-in-law, " Sam," who, 
 being almost as much of a Johnny Newcome as myself, 
 and considering himself " some punkins" in hunting, must 
 needs bring his rifle into the field, for which he was well 
 laughed at. The rest relied for offence and defence upon 
 their long cow whips an implement consisting of a short 
 eighteen inch handle, to which a very heavy lash from 
 twelve to eighteen feet long is attached, and usually car- 
 ried over the shoulder with the lash trailing upon the 
 ground the " caberos" or hair rope, and, in cases of 
 emergency, their stirrups, which, weighing from three to five 
 pounds*; and easily unshipped, as a sailor would say, make 
 very efficient instruments of destruction. 
 
 All were ready, and, with a shout, off we started at a 
 rattling pace ; but our ardor abating, after a burst of a
 
 94 A WEDDING AND A WOLF-HUXT. 
 
 mile, we cooled down to a steady trot. Bearing to the 
 right of Lake' Island is a " marais" almost impassable in 
 the wet season, but at this time in good order for travel- 
 ling, and as we dashed into its high grass up started as 
 fine a drove of deer as ever gladdened a hunter's eye. 
 The sight was not lost upon our friend Sam, who, driving 
 his rowels into the sides of his young horse, dashed off in 
 hot pursuit. " Look out, Sam !" cried Joe, " look out ! that 
 critter wont stand fire she'll give you fits directly." The 
 caution came too late ; a shout of exultation from Sam 
 had brought a fine buck to the right about, anxious, with 
 all the curiosity of his kind, to know what in the world 
 that unearthly noise might mean ; and ere he was satisfied, 
 Sam was within range ; in an instant, without the least 
 check of his horse's speed, the rifle was at his cheek, and 
 off went the gun, Sam, and deer, "unanimous," as Mr. 
 George Christy observes, "upon that last note." The 
 buck evidently had the best of it. With his flag raised in 
 triumph, he scoured over the prairie, throwing himself 
 clear above the high grass at every jump. The rifle, the 
 parent of all the mischief, lay reposing in quiet upon the 
 ground, and Sam, well bruised, and almost stunned, flat 
 upon his back, was holding on to one end of his "caberos," 
 endeavoring to restrain his horse, who, fastened to the 
 other, was prancing, snorting, and trying his best to escape 
 his human anchor. A fall from a horse being too trivial a 
 thing to occasion anything but a laugh at the expense of 
 the fallen, without more ado we secured the animal, righted 
 the man, and again bent our course to the Island. On 
 arriving there I found it to be a cluster of trees cover- 
 ing about two acres, with a heavy thicket of underbrush 
 and an admirable place to shelter all kinds of " varmint.
 
 THE CHASE IS UP. 95 
 
 The best mounted men were selected to guard the Island, 
 and if the wolf or wolves should break through our formi- 
 dable pack of dogs, to cut them off from taking shelter in 
 Lake Island. Dave and myself were posted without upon 
 one side ; we had dismounted for a moment to tighten the 
 girths, and I was just securing mine, when a shout from 
 him brought me to saddle in an instant, and looking round 
 I espied the identical wolf not more than one hundred 
 yards ahead, making the best of her way across the prairie, 
 and maintaining a running fight with " old Bose," while 
 the rest of the pack of hounds and curs were scouring 
 along after them as near as they might. 
 
 We gave chase immediately. It was just noon, on an 
 intensely hot day in the first part of September ; the 
 ground we were riding over, of the description known as 
 " hog- wallow," being a succession of . small mounds and 
 corresponding hollows the wolf, gaunt and in fine run- 
 ning order. In short, the chances were against us ; how- 
 ever, off we dashed, shouting like madmen, Dave right on 
 the trail of the wolf, and I striving to head her off from 
 Lake Island. 
 
 It was an animated scene the wolf right ahead, running 
 side by side with " old Bose," and gaining ground every 
 moment ; the space between us dotted with dogs of all 
 colors and sizes, and scattered from us to the starting- 
 ground, some twenty riders, every man of them making 
 the best possible use of both lungs and spurs. 
 
 Whether it was owing to the heat of the day, the rough- 
 ness oP the ground, or the fact that the wolf was contend- 
 ing for life, and we only for her skin, I know not, but in a 
 heat of four miles she certainly beat us fairly over a 
 quarter.
 
 96 A WEDDING AND A WOLF-HUNT. 
 
 Upon reaching Lake Island not only the old hound, but 
 the smaller fry, abandoned all idea of the chase, and rush- 
 ed indiscriminately into the water, whence they refused 
 most doggedly to stir. They were completely done over 
 and used up, and most of our horses in no better condi- 
 tion. 
 
 After beating the bush vainly for a while, we called a 
 council of war, and determined to ride our reeking, pant- 
 ing steeds homeward, procure fresh ones, and other dogs, 
 and return again, feeling very sure that " Sir Isengrim" 
 would not dream of leaving his quarters for some time, 
 unless cavalierly ousted ; and that we should find him 
 waiting us, stiffened with his morning's work, and in no 
 condition to make the same " time" again. 
 
 On our homeward route Dave and myself, to whom the 
 escape of the wolf was imputed, caught it finely from all 
 quarters. " Look heah, Dave, whar's the ' Jack ov Diniins' 
 you war gwine to hunt on, that could give a wolf fits 
 directly?" "I say, strarmger, that's a powerful smart 
 lookin' chunk ov a poney you've got atwixt yer legs thar, 
 bnt poneys is mighty oncertain." 
 
 " Now, boys, jest cum out squr and say ef yer did run 
 ater the varment, or if ye took a sorter skear and put out 
 tother way." 
 
 " I tell what is, boys," said a fourth, " yer all barkiu.' 
 up the wrong tree. I smell a bug. Dave and that ar 
 strannger's ondly play in' possum, an want to get a quarter 
 race out on us, but they can't pull the wool over this 
 child's eyes ; he's got 'em both skinned." 
 
 " Shut up," replied Dave, " and let the stranger and me 
 alone. Thar warnt one ov ye in half a mile ov the tail 
 ov our horses. Ill dar ye now to run a race over that
 
 RECRUIT OP THE FORCES. 97 
 
 Eame hog-wallow, and anti ten cows and calves on ither 
 the stranger er me, and I'll bet a plug ov tobacker I hev. 
 a saddle cover off that varmint's back afore I camp down." 
 
 On nearing the plantation we perceived a number of 
 dark objects perched upon the fence, which at first I mis- 
 took for buzzards, but they proved to be a general assort- 
 ment of all the young negroes in the place, chattering like 
 so many monkeys, their white eyes and teeth glistening in 
 their setting of jet, who had assembled to get an early 
 view of the " varmint" we had gone forth to do battle with. 
 
 As soon as we arrived at the house, one of the young 
 darkies was dispatched to the river with an invitation 
 for a man who was there living to come up and bring all 
 his pups ; two or three more were mounted, and sent into 
 the prairie in search of the " caviarde" of horses and we 
 went in to dinner. 
 
 To use a very expressive Westernism, "Dave's tail was 
 up," and every possible preparation was made to preclude 
 a failure. The dogs that had returned were cared for, 
 the very best cow horses (horses trained to cow hunting) 
 selected, a complete and well digested plan of the cam- 
 paign devised and explained. It was, however, thought 
 that the difficulties of the chase had very much increased 
 since morning. In the place of a small island that might 
 be easily drawn, the wolf was now in a dense thicket a 
 mile in length, with a stream of water in its midst, which 
 the cunning old rascal might use to great advantage in 
 washing his trail, and throwing the dogs off the scent. 
 
 Four -o'clock found us all prepared for a start, and half 
 
 an hour's sharp riding brought us to the hunting-ground. 
 
 One person was now stationed at either end of the island, 
 
 and one on either side, all of them at a sufficient distance 
 
 5
 
 98 A WEDDING AND A WOLF-HUXT. 
 
 from it to permit tlicir glance to take in everything from 
 one outpost to another. 
 
 We then commenced operations at the southern end, 
 spreading ourselves entirely across the thicket, and forcing 
 our way slowly and surely, keeping back the dogs ; and 
 at the same time three of the party riding even with our 
 line upon the outside. 
 
 In this way we proceeded through the island, but no 
 ' " sign" of wolf could we see. Our dogs started all sorts 
 of strange game, but not the kind we were in search of. 
 Dave was in despair. " The ' varmint's' gone home again/ 7 
 said he. " I rayther reckon not," replied Joe. " I rayther 
 reckon not ; hit's clar agin the cunnin' of the varmint to 
 think so. He's pretty much used up to begin with, and 
 then he knows we're arter him, and you don't catch him 
 showin' his profile in the perara tell dark, and ef thar's a 
 bright moon he'll keep shady tell nigh sun up, and then 
 he'll make a break. I tell you what, gentlemen, he's here, 
 I'll bet a horse on that. The critter's ben in the lake, 
 and jumped clar across the path into the bush, and thar he 
 lies we've been within, a rod of him. Ef old Bose would 
 get up and go to work we'd fetch him soon, but these dern 
 no-account pups arn't worth shucks, and so we must do the 
 tracking ; so, boys, let's light, some on us, and take it 
 afoot, whilst the rest keep along on their critters." 
 
 Joe's advice was taken ; he started off on the lead, and, 
 strange to say, within ten rods of the spot where the con- 
 sultation had been held stopped, and intimated by a 
 very significant whistle that he saw " sign." 
 
 Old hunter as Joe was he for once allowed himself to 
 be thrown off his guard instead of passing quietly on, 
 giving us " item" as he would have called it, and permit-
 
 THE ENEMY MAKES A SORTIE. 99 
 
 ting us to surround the beast, and make a sure thing of it : 
 at the sight of the "footprints in the sand," he first 
 whistled, then peeping into the bush, and espying tho 
 much-sought-for " varmint," he allowed the exuberance of 
 his joy to evaporate in a yell that would have aroused the 
 dead. The wolf did not move, until Joe very imprudently 
 seized a stick and poked it in her lair. Then with but 
 one spring she dashed at her tormentor, who, slipping, fell 
 backwards into the water ; and without waiting even to 
 crawl out, gave us a succession of shouts that would have 
 done honor to a Commanche. 
 
 The wolf had evidently made up her mind that there 
 was nothing left for her but a run for life, and, crossing 
 the water, made for the open prairie but her situation 
 was far from agreeable. Seen by three of the outposts, 
 she was immediately headed off, and, turning, she had to 
 encounter the party stationed on the edge of the island ; her 
 speed was sensibly diminished, and her pursuers now felt 
 sure of her. Keeping her right between them, they now 
 forced her to a course parallel with the island, by which 
 manoeuvre not only would our whole party be gathered, 
 but she would be driven into the main prairie, without 
 any chance of finding shelter, except by taking the back 
 track, and from that they could easily cut her off. As 
 they passed the end of the island the whole party fell in, 
 and we all obeyed Dave's direction to the very letter. 
 
 The chase headed down the prairie, running parallel 
 with the wolf, and at a distance of a quarter of a mile on 
 either side were three riders, while the rest, spread out 
 widely, followed at about the same distance behind the 
 dogs semi-distant between us thus forming three sides of 
 a hollow square, with the wolf and dogs in the centre.
 
 100 A WEDDING AND A WOLF-HUNT. 
 
 Riding at half speed, and watching every motion of the 
 animal, we now commenced drawing in, four or five riders 
 leaving the back, and joining the side line, until we felt that 
 we had her safe, and then Dave prepared to fulfil his pro- 
 mise. Leaving the line, he took his " caberos" from the 
 pommel of the saddle, passed it underneath his leg, then 
 unfastening it, gathered it in a coil in his left hand, in 
 which the bridle was also firmly grasped. In his right 
 hand was the noose at the end of the rope. 
 
 Rising in his stirrups, with an encouraging shout to his 
 horse, he dashed directly at the wolf, who, now maddened 
 with fear, rage, and pain, made a rush first on one side 
 and then on the other, in hopes of escape, but giving up in 
 despair, resumed her straightforward course. 
 
 Dave approached behind, and driving the spurs into his 
 horse's flanks, was soon parallel with her, and not more 
 than twenty feet off. 
 
 Giving the noose three or four twirls around his head, 
 he launched it with the certainty of a bullet at the head 
 of the animal, and without one instant's pause wheeled his 
 horse. 
 
 The rope ran out, and Sir Isengrim, jerked suddenly 
 about from his headlong career, found himself heels in air, 
 with a half-broken neck, dragged on his back at a rattling 
 pace over the prairie. 
 
 At this very moment the yell of a dog was heard, and 
 " old Bose," lame, tired, half-dead as he was, running on 
 two, three, or four legs by turns, -made his appearance, 
 and dashing through the throng of his useless fellows, 
 fastened upon the wolfs throat. Over and over they 
 went together, Bose having all the fighting and biting to 
 himself.
 
 THE HIDE IN DANGEE. 101 
 
 Dave checked his speed ; found the poor wolf past 
 praying for ; and it was with difficulty that he could drive 
 the dogs off, so as to redeem his promise, " that he would 
 cover his saddle with that wolfs hide."
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 
 
 MORE WATER THAN PLEASANT. 
 
 THE wolf hunt had been conducted with so much spirit 
 that a good deal more was required to finish out the 
 night. Hosts and guests crowded the long piazza of the 
 bride's house, and the stories and the bottle went round, 
 until many heads imitated their example. 
 
 The next morning the party was to break up, and Joe 
 and I were to return to our thicket ; but I regret to say 
 that Joe albeit on ordinary occasions a most staid and 
 sedate personage had for once gone to bed in too merry 
 a mood to feel much like work when he arose, and so 
 another day was passed by us among the debris of the wed- 
 ding. We were not the only loiterers. 
 
 The third morning beheld us again in the thicket, and 
 hard at work. The day was excessively warm, and the 
 air very oppressive. Joe predicted thunder and heavy 
 rain, and in the course of the afternoon dark clouds in the 
 north, and distant thunder, gave warning that a storm was 
 raging near the source of our little river. Joe shook his 
 head, and wished that we might not get more water than 
 pleasant, but consoled himself finally with the thought that 
 we needed a foot more in the river for rafting purposes, 
 and that the ground had become so dry that there was but 
 little fear of a freshet. 
 
 We had just finished our coffee, and were lighting our 
 pipes, when a few heavy drops, pattering upon the roof,
 
 THE EIVER MAKES A " RAISE." 103 
 
 announced the arrival of the tempest. So well secured 
 were we in our snug nook, that, but little fearing the 
 weather, we built our camp-fire inside our hut, and smoked 
 our pipes in quietness, looking forth upon the rain that 
 now fell in sheets, on the torrents of water that poured 
 down the banks, and the river rapidly swelling and grow- 
 ing darker, rather as some scene got up for our enter- 
 tainment than anything threatening us with misfortune or 
 danger. 
 
 Throwing a fresh log upon the fire, we lay down at our 
 usual time, hugging our blankets closer around us as the 
 blast whistled shriller, and enjoying that kind of quiet 
 comfort every one experiences when safely housed from 
 the bitter storm that seems fairly howling with rage at 
 being disappointed of a victim. About midnight I awoke, 
 and hearing an unwonted rushing noise, arose and went 
 out of the camp. I walked to the end of the platform of 
 sand without difficulty, but my first step from that, upon 
 the descending ground plunged me half leg deep in swiftly 
 running water. 
 
 I withdrew immediately, having no desire of a cold 
 bath in the dark, and hastening to the camp, awoke Joe, 
 and rekindled the fire, so that it might throw a light 
 across the river. The sight was an ugly one. The 
 stream, usually about three feet deep, was now eighteen 
 or twenty, and swept along, overwhelming everything 
 that obstructed its progress. Logs of wood, trees torn 
 up by the roots, and heaps of cane, swept by us with fear- 
 ful rapidity, and the river whirled and foamed and eddied, 
 as if it were lashing itself into a fury. There was no 
 time to be lost if we would save our shingles, and so, 
 building up a huge fire, we commenced carrying them
 
 
 104 MOKE WATEE THAN PLEASUEE. 
 
 higher up the bank. At least twenty feet above us was 
 another platform, and all night we toiled, transporting 
 there our shingles, our tools, and the component materials 
 of our camp. 
 
 In the morning the weather changed, and the sun came 
 out to look upon the mischief that had been done in his 
 absence. We prepared a hasty and candor compels me 
 to add rather poor breakfast, and then looked around 
 upon the scene of desolation. The river swept over our 
 camp-ground, and was gradually creeping up the bank, 
 but Joe said that our " possibles" were now beyond its 
 reach. We must, however, search for another camp, 
 and at it we went, not in the best humors in the 
 world. 
 
 Immediately above us was the outlet of a palmetto 
 brake, which was sufficiently low to admit the now 
 aspiring waters of the river, and therefore we must 
 venture in the canoe if we would go up stream, or 
 even if we would find the trail such as it was that 
 led homeward. 
 
 It looked rather squally, but could not be helped ; so 
 embarking our provisions and tools in the canoe, we set 
 forth upon a somewhat perilous voyage. 
 
 Koeping close to the bank, and obtaining what advan- 
 tage we could by catching hold of the branches on shore, 
 and when it depended upon paddles alone, wielding them 
 with all our might, we finally, and after an hour's hard 
 labor, reached the spot which Joe had designated for our 
 new home. 
 
 I jumped on shore, tied up the boat, and then 
 received our little freight from the hands of Joe, who 
 stood up in the tottering craft, balancing himself and
 
 JOE OVERBOARD. 105 
 
 her with apparent unconcern, and no little pride at 
 his skill. All was discharged save Joe and the pro- 
 visions, and the former, catching up the bag which 
 contained the latter, was just about stepping ashore, 
 when the idea struck him that ' so great a feat as we 
 had lately performed would be but imperfectly con- 
 cluded unless duly celebrated by a right honest yell. 
 So, turning round to stare the river right in the face, 
 he commenced what was intended for the loudest shout on 
 record, but alas ! was nipped in the very bud by the ope- 
 rator, bag and all, tumbling overboard. Away swept the 
 tide, away swept Joe, and away swept the bag. They 
 had vanished from my sight for we had turned a short 
 corner just before landing and in an instant after the 
 catastrophe, nothing remained visible or audible except a 
 sort of mixture of yell and water, that seemed to come 
 from beneath the surface. I jumped into the canoe again 
 and was carried down stream in a hurry, having the mor- 
 tification to whirl right by Joe, who was very composedly 
 hanging to an extending limb, not ten yards from the spot 
 where he fell in, and inquired in a petulant manner what 
 I " cut that dern fool caper for," and " where I expected 
 to go to?" Luckily for me, I also caught a branch, 
 and Joe, letting go all, except the provision bag, to 
 which he clung with his teeth, was alongside immedi- 
 ately. In a few minutes we were back in harbor again, 
 and I gave Joe a piece of my mind about "hallooing 
 before he was out of the woods," to which he retorted 
 in the same strain and not intended as a complimentary 
 one either some remarks touching my skill in canoe 
 navigation. 
 
 No harm had been done after all, except the wetting of 
 5*
 
 106 MORE WATER THAN PLEASURE. 
 
 our provisions, which, by the way, were very near a total 
 loss. The meal was ruined, the salt dissolved, and flavor- 
 ing the coffee, and nothing but a piece of junk beef 
 remaining in anything of an eatable condition, so that, 
 excepting the said beef, our dinner was a thing past pray 
 ing for. Beef, Joe would have relinquished without a 
 murmur ; the meal even, might have been ruined without 
 exciting his ire ; but to do without coffee was monstrous, 
 and not to be conceived of, and a return home for a new 
 supply that very evening was proposed and carried nem. 
 con, 
 
 Selecting a partially formed cave near the top of the 
 bank, we soon improvised a temporary residence, and then 
 we found, in a brake a few rods behind us, some admirable 
 cypress. To work we went, felled a tree, . cut it into 
 proper lengths, and then, to try its adaptability for 
 shingles, we must needs split up and shave a few. All 
 of these occupations consumed so much time, that when 
 we returned to our new home, the sun had abandoned 
 our side of terra firma, and was upon a visit to foreign 
 parts. 
 
 I strenuously objected to returning by night, but Joe 
 would have it that the moon must soon make her appear- 
 ,ance, and that even without her light he could find his 
 way, and so, as usual, I yielded. 
 
 Disdaining all attempt at following the trail, which 
 indeed would have been useless at night, Joe boldly 
 struck what he called a bee-line for home, and in ten 
 minutes we found ourselves knee-deep in water, floun- 
 dering about in the abominable palmetto brake. Joe 
 swore a little, and so completely worn out was I 
 with the fatigue of the night and day, that laughing
 
 NAVIGATING A EHAKE. IV, 7 
 
 at him was entirely out of the question upon my part. 
 There was now but one course to be pursued. If we 
 endeavored to escape from the brake, we should cer- 
 tainly and inevitably pass a night in the woods, and 
 as we had very foolishly left behind us all means of 
 making a fire, this would have been anything but plea- 
 sant. "We could but follow out the brake to the prairie, 
 or at least until such time as the moon rose, and trust 
 to fortune for keeping us as straight as possible. Our 
 plan was ingenious, but slow of execution. As often 
 as once in four feet grew one of those high hum- 
 mocks caused by the roots of the palmetto and of 
 course on it the plant itself. Jumping from one to 
 another of these hummocks was the only mode by which 
 we could avoid wading, and to keep our course we hit 
 upon the following expedient : Joe, having satisfied him- 
 self by some mysterious kind of astronomy for trees were 
 not in the way where we then were he turned his 
 face in the right direction, and grasping a palmetto to 
 retain his footing, remained firm and immovable until 
 I had preceded him for some distance, hopping squirrel- 
 like from bunch to bunch. "When I had made a proper 
 offing, I shouted, and was then ordered to the right or 
 the left, accordingly as I varied from the proper course. 
 When I was rightly placed, then Joe went ahead, while 
 I remained still, and so proceeding, we made sure but 
 slow progress. 
 
 In about an hour and a half the moon at last appeared, 
 and we found ourselves very near the open pine woods, 
 which we entered with joy, for our swamp journey had 
 been none of the most delightful. To say nothing of the 
 abominable " moccasins " that abounded there, there was
 
 108 MOKE WATER THAN PLEASURE. 
 
 no want of panthers or bear, in and around the swamp, 
 and we stood a pretty good chance of stumbling upon 
 some travelling alligator. We came off unscathed, to be 
 sure, but that night I made a vow against any more 
 voluntary swamp escapades, and determined that my first 
 speculation in wood should be my last. 
 
 The next day it recommenced raining, and kept it 
 up for a week, and when at last we started upon our 
 return, Joe, after walking a mile, complained of illness, 
 and back we went again. It was fortunate that we did 
 go, for the next day he was delirious from a violent 
 fever. 
 
 Everything in the shape of a man, excepting Sam 
 Ming, Old Caesar, and ourselves, had left the settle- 
 ment, and engaged in a general " cow-hunt." Sam and 
 Old Africa had been left as a necessary guard, but the 
 former had taken it into his head to indulge in a fit 
 of shakes, and the latter was incapacitated for severe 
 horseback exercise, and so perforce I must make a trip 
 down the prairie for the nearest doctor, who enjoyed 
 a convenient little circle of practice, of which the radii 
 were something over thirty miles. 
 
 We lived upon the very verge of the circle, and my 
 ride through an open prairie, without path or trail, was 
 not a joke for a neophyte like myself. I need not now 
 tell how, after floundering on from one marais to another, 
 jumping gullies when I could, and heading them when I 
 could not, wading an extempore creek here, and swim- 
 ming another there, I finally about sunset reached the 
 doctor's settlement. 
 
 This prairie travelling is very like the coasting service. 
 You set off with some lone tree, miles off in the mid
 
 DRY LAND COASTING. 
 
 prairie, for your guide, keeping a good offing from the 
 timber, but steering in towards one point, and bearing 
 away from another, for all the world as a pilot would 
 take a vessel through Long Island Sound.
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 NEW ACQUAINTANCES UNCLE BILLY AND HIS VERNACULAR. 
 
 A LARGE frame house, with a number of small barns and 
 outhouses, very rude, and entirely innocent of paint 
 indeed, but yet of more pretension than Texan build- 
 ings generally, loomed up quite largely on the prairie, 
 and the doctor's settlement stood confessed before me. 
 My wearied horse evidently knew it also, and without 
 any hint from me, took the straightest possible course for 
 the plantation. Riding up to the bars, I gave the usual 
 " hallo," and out rushed the customary number of dogs to 
 greet me, barking and yelping as if some wild animal had 
 arrived. 
 
 At last the doctor himself came out. He was a very 
 large, and particularly good-humored looking man, over 
 six feet in height, and dressed oddly enough in broad- 
 cloth pantaloons, seated and "foxed" with buckskin, no 
 vest, and a kind of pea jacket of white flannel. He wore 
 a huge flap-eared Quaker hat, and, as I afterwards dis- 
 covered, belonged to the persuasion of Friends. Rather 
 a queer country for Quakers, it would appear, and rather 
 a difficult one to retain the plain language and plain dress 
 in ; indeed the hat was the only outward sign left, except- 
 ing an occasional " thee " when the good lady of the house 
 was addressed. 
 
 " Come, sir, light and get out and be hanged to you
 
 OFF, IN THE FIKST BOAT. Ill 
 
 (to the dogs) come in, the boys will see to your horse ; 
 here, boys !" was the Doctor's salutation. 
 
 Dismounting, I placed my horse in the hands of two 
 stalwart lads, and as I walked towards the house, I deli- 
 vered my message. 
 
 " What ! Joe sick ? tough Joe ? who'd have thought it ?" 
 said the Doctor. " Wants me to-night, eh ? Well, I don't 
 know any one that I'd ride up the prairie for in such tra- 
 velling as quick as I would for Joe ; and so. I'll be off ; 
 but you must stay all night. I'd be glad of your com- 
 pany, but you're not used to such night work, and there 
 are two gentlemen in the house who are going up to-mor- 
 row, and will ride with you. Come in." 
 
 " Thank you," I replied ; " I must own to being pretty 
 well tired, but still I fear I shall be needed at Joe's." 
 
 " Oh, no," answered the Doctor, " I'll see to Joe until 
 you return ; and besides these two gentlemen here want to 
 have a talk with you." 
 
 " With me ?" I demanded, in some astonishment. 
 
 " Yes, sir, if you are Mr. P., as I suppose you are. 
 They are going up country to-morrow, and intended stop- 
 ping at the Houghs on purpose to see you. They are 
 pretty largely mixed up in land speculation, and want 
 assistance somebody that they can trust to examine 
 titles, make out and copy papers, hunt up testimony, 
 and I don't know what else. They'll pay well." 
 
 " But, Doctor, what do they know about me, how did 
 they hear of me, and who are they ?" 
 
 " Oh, they heard of you from somebody at Houston, and 
 as to who they are ; one of 'em's Col. Ting, a sharp go-a- 
 head fellow, I tell you ; was in nearly every scrimmage in 
 * '36,' an old soldier every inch of him ; and the other's
 
 112 UNCLE BILLY AND HIS VERNACULAR. 
 
 known all over Texas, and Alabama too, I believe, as 
 Uncle Billy Roberts, a rich, jolly old planter, works a 
 hundred negroes, is a partner of the Colonel's in some 
 land operations, knows how to tell a funny story in the 
 worst possible English in fact, he delights in outlandish 
 expressions and is altogether one of the most kindly- 
 hearted men I know of. But come, let's go into the 
 house." 
 
 The principal room was tenanted by the two gentlemen 
 aforesaid the Colonel, a man over six feet in height, thin 
 as a latch, dressed with some pretension, and looking as 
 sharp and martinet-ish as possible ; Uncle Billy, quite as 
 tall as the other, but large and jovial, looming up in a full 
 suit of home-made jeans, of a reddish brown color and 
 the Doctor's wife, and daughter. 
 
 After an off-hand introduction, we sat down to supper ; 
 and after supper, the Doctor took his departure, and the 
 two strangers and I walked out in front -of the house, took 
 seats upon the fence, and commenced negotiations. Dur- 
 ing the whole conversation, the Colonel whittled away at 
 a bit of stick in the most Yankeefied way possible, while 
 Uncle Billy tugged away at his short-stemmed stone 
 pipe. The agreement was soon made ; they wanted me, 
 and I was anxious to see as much of the country as I 
 could, and to engage in some employment more congenial 
 to my feelings and habits than shingle-making. 
 
 Seated at length around the huge fire-place, where a 
 small fire had been kindled to banish the damps of even- 
 ing, Uncle Billy remarked to me : 
 
 " Well, stranger, seen rough times, I reckon ; allers the 
 case with new comers ; never knew it fail. Thar's the 
 Cun'nle, ask him ; ask old Doctor Wheaton, but you can't,
 
 HOW UNCLE BILLY CAME THERE. 113 
 
 seein' he's half way up the prairie by this time ; but thar's 
 his old woman, she'll tell you." 
 
 To this very general speech, Col. Ting assumed the duty 
 of replying, and his reply was very Down-East indeed. 
 
 " Pray, Uncle Billy," said he, " what first brought you 
 to Texas?" 
 
 " Me ! why the consarned ' fever an' ager ' did it. I 
 shan't forget my first trip, ner what happened soon arter 
 neither, I tell yow," replied Uncle Billy. " Why, Cun'nle, 
 I sfaid with Old Charley Birkham. You knew him, I 
 reckon?" 
 
 " I have heard of him," replied Ting, " and if you know 
 anything about his death and that lynching affair, I 
 should like to hear it." 
 
 " Well," said Uncle Billy, " I reckon I might as well 
 tell the whole on 't ; so here goes " 
 
 Before I give Uncle Billy's story, in its own unadul- 
 terated native vernacular, a few remarks on the singular 
 idioms of the South West will not be mal-apropos and as 
 this is the age of plagiarism, I trust I shall commit no 
 very heinous offence in stealing from myself the following 
 extract from a somewhat lengthy paper on the subject, 
 written some years since : 
 
 The origin and perpetuity of many of our queer and 
 out-of-the-way phrases, may be traced to the semi-annual 
 meetings of gentlemen of the bar at the courts of our 
 Southern and Western States. 
 
 These gentlemen, living as they do in the thinly inha- 
 bited portion of our land, and among a class of persons 
 generally very far their inferiors in point of education, 
 rarely enjoying anything that may deserve the name of
 
 114 UNCLE BILLY AND HIS VERNACULAR. 
 
 intellectual society, are too apt to seek for amusement in 
 listening to the droll stories and odd things always to be 
 heard at the country store or bar-room. Every new 
 expression and queer tale is treasured up, and new ones 
 manufactured against the happy time when they shall 
 meet their brothers-in-law at the approaching term of the 
 district court. 
 
 If ever pure fun, broad humor, and " Laughter holding 
 both his sides," reign supreme, it is during the evening 
 of these sessions. Each one empties and distributes -his 
 well filled budget of wit and oddities, receiving ample 
 payment in like coin, which he pouches, to again dissemi- 
 nate at his earliest opportunity. 
 
 Although I may lay down, as a general rule, that the 
 same words and phrases prevail throughout the South and 
 West, yet almost every State has its local peculiarities ; 
 Texas, for instance, the large admixture of Spanish words ; 
 Louisiana, of French ; Georgia and Alabama borrow 
 many from the Indians. North Carolina is notorious for a 
 peculiar flatness of pronunciation in such words as crap for 
 " crop," earn for " corn," peert for " pert," <fec. " / allow," 
 meaning " I think," " I consider," is, I believe, of Ala- 
 bama origin, and so is that funny expression, " done gone" 
 " done done" implying " entirely gone," and " entirely 
 done." In Virginia many of the lower class pronounce th 
 as ddat for " that," dar for " there," dis for " this." 
 
 These and other similar derelictions may be traced 
 to the fact that all children are inclined to make compa- 
 nions of the negroes, to listen to their queer rambling 
 tales, to accompany them upon their " coon hunts," &c., 
 and thus acquire a negro style of pronunciation, and 
 many negro words that nothing, save a good education,
 
 THE TWO GRAND DIVISIONS. 115 
 
 can eradicate, and even that does not always perfectly 
 succeed. 
 
 There arc two great and distinct classes in the United 
 States, the Yankee and the Virginian ; the former occupy- 
 ing the New England States, and thence spreading in 
 almost every direction, claiming a great portion of the 
 State of Ohio, and even a share of Indiana and Illinois, 
 although in these two last-mentioned states the Southern 
 peculiarities of speech are more common ; the latter pro- 
 perly commencing at that imaginary division, " Mason 
 and Dixon's line," and thence running south and west. 
 The intermediate states are divided between the two. 
 New York, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have indeed 
 been well inoculated with a solid basis of Dutch and 
 Swedish in their infancy, yet, save here and there some 
 stray neighborhood of ancient Hollanders or sturdy 
 Swedes, whose manners, customs, and language our intru- 
 sive Yankees have been unable to corrupt, a few terms 
 and phrases that have crept into general usage, alone give 
 token that a foreign tongue once reigned over so large a 
 section of our land. 
 
 The distinction between these two great classes (the 
 Yankee and the Virginian) is so wide and so clearly drawn 
 as to be visible and palpable to every casual observer. 
 Should one, however, ever hesitate as to the place of nati- 
 vity of one of our free and enlightened citizens, there 
 exists a test, which, potent as the spear of Ithuriel, will 
 dispel all clouds of doubt that may overshadow his mind. 
 Let the person in question be requested to give an opinion 
 upon any subject. Should he guess, write him down a 
 Yankee ; does he reckon, you may swear him a Southron. 
 The Yankee guesses, the Southron reckons, which our New
 
 116 UNCLE BILLY AND HIS VERNACULAR. 
 
 England friend never does, except by and with the aid, 
 assistance, and advice of "that estimable arithmetician and 
 pedagogue, Nathan Daboll, Esq. Per contra, however, 
 the Yankee calculates, and pretty shrewdly also, while the 
 Southron allows. The one wouldn't wonder if some expected 
 event should take place, while the other, more ardent and 
 careless of assertion, " goes his death upon it " that it will. 
 To the latter, drawing his comparison from his idolized 
 rifle, a thing is " as sure as shooting" while to the former, 
 more pious or more hypocritical, it is " as sartin as preach- 
 in?." The one will be " darned," and the other " derned," 
 both evading an oath in nearly the same manner, the only 
 difference being the substitution of one vowel for another. 
 Should this asseveration require, additional force, the 
 Northern man will be " gaul darned" and the Southron 
 " dod derned" a curious perversion of sacred names to 
 ease the conscience, while giving vent to one's temper. 
 In fact, it is almost impossible, among the many cor- 
 ruptions of language of which both are guilty, to cite an 
 expression in which some slight but marked difference 
 does not exist. 
 
 To the Northern man, every silicious mass is a stone, be 
 it large enough to weigh a ton, while the Southern ignores 
 the word in toto, and calls everything of that description 
 a rock", though no larger than a midge's wing. The 
 application of this word is extremely ludicrous to one 
 whose ears are unaccustomed to it, and I remember laugh- 
 ing heartily at the idea of picking up a rock to throw at a 
 bird. When man or boy, biped or quadruped , bird or 
 beast is pelted, the unfortunate recipient of projectile 
 favors is said to be rocked, unless indeed wood be put in 
 requisition, and then he is chunked.
 
 OLD " ROSIN-THE-BOW." 117 
 
 In Arkansas, however, the term donoch usurps the place 
 of either rock or stone. That touching and popular 
 Southern ballad, yclept "Rosin the bow," concludes in 
 these pathetic words : 
 
 " Then fetch me a couple of donochs, 
 
 Place one at my head and my toe, 
 And do not forget to write on it, 
 The name of old Rosin-the-bow." 
 
 No shadow of doubt can possibly remain in the mind of 
 any unprejudiced person, but that the sovereign State of 
 Arkansas may lay just and true claim to the honor of hav- 
 ing given birth to the interesting individual in question. 
 The further south you travel, the more rude, wild, and 
 energetic the language you will hear. Texas excels all 
 others in additions and corruptions. The old Texan has 
 no farm, it is a ranche. A rope he knows not ; everything 
 in that line is either a larriat or a caberos, the one being 
 made of raw-hide twisted or plaited, and the latter spun 
 by hand from the hair of horses or neat cattle. He never 
 seeks or looks for anything, but always hunts it. He 
 hunts bees, cattle, a missing pair of oxen (he calls them 
 beeves'), or a doctor. Nothing leaves a mark to him, he 
 only sees sign, whether of bird or beast, friend or enemy. 
 You hear of turkey sign, bear sign, hog sign, cow sign, 
 Indian sign, etc., etc. When he wishes to leave, he does 
 not say with the Yankee, " Well, we'd better be a goinV 
 but " Let's vamos". or " Let's vamos the ranche." He never 
 asks afout the situation of the grass on the prairie, but 
 inquires about the summer or winter range. A fish spear 
 is to him a groin ', a boat, a dugout ; a halter, a bosaal ; a 
 whip, a quirt ; a house, no house, but a log-pen ; a drove
 
 118 UNCLE BILLY AND HIS VEKNACULAR. 
 
 of horses is a caviarde, and when a universal fright among 
 them occurs, it is a stampede. He does not kill his game, 
 he saves, or gets it, or makes it come. Apropos of this, I 
 will record an anecdote, for the authenticity of which I 
 can vouch. 
 
 The noted Judge TV., better known as " Three-legged 
 Willie" once attended a barbacue for the purpose of 
 addressing the assembled multitude, and soliciting their 
 votes for Congress. His opponent had slain a man in a 
 duel or street-fight, and was endeavoring to apologize and 
 explain the circumstances connected with the act. Willie 
 listened attentively with a sneer upon his countenance, 
 and when he had finished, arose and remarked : " The 
 gentleman need not have wasted so much breath in 
 excusing himself for having saved a notorious rascal ; all 
 of you know that I have shot three, and two of them I 
 got." 
 
 The monosyllable " there," or in the backwoodsman's 
 language, thar, has its original meaning so singularly per- 
 verted and enlarged, and lays claim to so many and such 
 peculiar significations, that it is worthy our especial 
 notice. 
 
 A man who accepts an invitation to a frolic or a fight, 
 a wedding or a funeral, probably answers, I'm thar. A 
 person wishing to imply that he is perfectly at home in 
 anything, says he is thar ; a good hunter or fisher is also 
 thar. A jockey once sold a draught-horse with this recom- 
 mendation : " He ain't no pertikeler beauty, stranger, to 
 boast on, but when you get to the bottom of a hill with a 
 heavy load, he's thar, I tell you." The poor man, how- 
 ever, found out that his new purchase, under such circum- 
 stances, certainly was thar, and thar he was likely to
 
 THE DONKEY'S ENTERTAINMENT. 119 
 
 remain, as neither words nor blows could induce him to 
 budge a foot. 
 
 An amusing story is told in the South, which illustrates 
 very well one of the many uses of this word. The king 
 of beasts, it is said, invited all his subjects to a ball, and 
 all attended in compliance with the princely invitation, 
 with the exception of the poor donkey, who remained out- 
 side, solacing himself with the music of the violins, that 
 were merrily keeping time to the very fantastic toes of the 
 jocund dancers. Several messengers in vain were sent to 
 press his entrance, and finally his majesty himself conde- 
 scended to seek the sage, and insist upon his returning 
 with him. " Your majesty," replied Jack, " I'm not much 
 of a hand at dancing, but if there's singing to be done, 
 why I'm thar."
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY HOW CHARLEY BIRKHAM WAS 
 MURDERED. 
 
 " THE first time, stranger, I ever see Old Charley Birkham 
 wer a smart piece ago, nigh on to a year or so arter I 
 left up thar in Tennessee, whar I was raised, and came 
 down and settled on the Warrior in Alabama. 
 
 " The fever-n-ager got fastened to me, and tho' I shuk 
 mighty hard, it wouldn't be shuk off no way I could fix it. 
 Thar hit (it) stuck, just like one of them dern Cam- 
 manches on a mestang, the worse hit jumps, the tighter 
 he'll stick, s 7 if the biggest part of him wer glued to the 
 saddle, or like he wer one of them rale half horse 'n half 
 alligator fellers, that fit in the Trojan war, or soniewheres 
 else, that I used to read on when I went to school. 
 
 " Well, the doctors in them days warn't exactly up to 
 fci-nine ; they war sorter skeared at it, hit wer so awda- 
 cious powerful they's mighty apt to feed a feller on it 
 now 'til he kin hear all the drums in the Mexican army, 
 and a few of Uncle Sam's thrown in but they warn't up 
 to it then ; so they jest fed me on lodlum and epecack, 
 washed down with myrtle tea t'warn't no sorter use ; 
 then they tried aguer-forty ef it had been aguer hundred 
 t'wouldn't hev half done ; then they give me some stuff 
 that tasted like iron hoops stewd down, but t'wouldn't 
 make a center shot nither. 
 
 " I stood it all quite docious, tell the doctor talked of 
 trying arsenic, and then I kicked. Next day he brought
 
 SHAKING OFF THE 'ACER. 121 
 
 me a little bottle, and told me to take ten drops every 
 morning in a whiskey toddy with the chill off", and then I 
 spoke up, and says : 
 
 " ' Jest look here-, old Pill Box, you've trotted your hull 
 drug store through me. I've swallowed all the physic 
 you've got, without shyin, tell I'm a walking potercarry's 
 shop, but now, that you've come to the pisons, I'll bolt 
 and go to doctern on my own hook. I've had as much 
 med'sen as you could tote on a wheelbarrow. I'm goin' 
 to try horse and saddle in the mornin' with the chill on 
 faint no use a talkin'. I've got some kin settled over 
 onto Old Red, and I'm goin' to scare 'em up, and see how 
 they like, and try and ride off this consarned ager.' 
 
 " Well, stranger, when he see I wer sot on it, he give in, 
 and said it wer the best thing I could do. 
 
 " I'm mighty easy on the trigger, and the next mornin' 
 I wer done gone. I kissed the old woman, spanked the 
 children, threatened the niggers, promised the overseer a 
 new covering and a jug of ' red eye ' if all went straight, 
 got all my fixins together, and off I sot. I rode an all 
 fired smart chunk of a pony real Creole, cane raised 
 walk six miles an hour, and run like a scared deer in a 
 perara afire. I win a quarter-race with him, four bales 
 anti, just afore I took sick beating a mare that wer 
 allowed to be the fastest critter agoin'. 
 
 " Well, as I war sayin', off I sot ; went through Massas- 
 sippi, crossed the 'Big Drink/ came to now and then, 
 when the chill come it too strong, rode around, visited my 
 kin, butr couldn't get shut of the ager. So I allowed I'd 
 try the piney woods a spell, and go over to Tayhas as 
 they used to call it and take a sort of land-hunt. 
 
 " I went up country a bit, struck ' Trammel's Trace '
 
 122 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY. 
 
 nothing but a blazed road then and kept on till I got to 
 Old Charley Birkem's. If you've never heard tell of Old 
 Charley, you ought to. He lived on the frontier among 
 the Ingens, and cattle-raisers, and renegades, and despera- 
 does, many years, but none of 'em ever thought of harming 
 him. Everybody loved him as well as if he wer thar own 
 father ; even the Ingens listened to him, and many a stolen 
 critter has he coaxed 'em to give up. If any of the neigh- 
 borhood had a difficulty, they never thought of goin' to 
 the Alcalde, but jest left it out to Old Charley, and he did 
 the right thing. Uncle Sam paid him something for being 
 a sorter agent and keepin' the Red-skins in order, and 
 people that come a land-huntin' always hired him to help 
 'em ; he had a nigger or two of his own, and so got a 
 comfortable livin'. His cabin and his crib were open to 
 anybody and anybody's critter that come along come 
 when you pleased, go when you pleased, no questions 
 asked, and all free gratis for nothiu'. 
 
 " I stayed with him nigh onto a month ; his old woman 
 doctored me, and give me ' number six ' lucky it warn't 
 one number higher, or 'twould hev fixed my flint cured me 
 and the ager at the same time. Well, I had a nice time 
 a-huntin' and a-fishin', and when I got ready to start, the 
 old man had his critter a great roan mule got up, and 
 he rid with me the first day's journey. 
 
 " When we parted, I wanted to pay him, but he wouldn't 
 take nothing but an X to buy some wimmin's fixins for 
 the old lady, as a compliment from me. I've often 
 thought that day's ride warn't so much to keep me com- 
 pany, as to see me through a settlement nigh the line, 
 what he thought they might like me so well they'd never 
 let me leave.
 
 JOE WHITE. 123 
 
 " In them days men would sometimes come into towns 
 tellin' of their being robbed on the mail-road, but no 
 man plundered in a frontier settlement ever told the tale. 
 
 " Well, stranger, we took a parting grip, and I never 
 see the old man agin. The next time I heard of him, he'd 
 been murdered. Yes, Charley Birkem, the best man 
 the Almighty ever planted on this sile, had been awfully 
 murdered. Stranger, I can't bear to think of it now, but 
 when I heard it the first time and it wer jest arter I'd 
 got religion I couldn't help it I swore nigh onto half 
 an hour, right straight on eend. I can hardly keep my 
 tongue docious now to talk about it. 
 
 " It's a curus story, and I'll tell you all of it I can 
 think on, but some things perhaps I may disremember. 
 
 " It seems that there wer a goin' to be a ' raisin' ' or a 
 ' log-rollin' ' a good piece off that the old man wer a goin' 
 to. He reckoned he had better put out in the evenin' 
 before, and camp somewhar on the road, or get to stay at 
 some of the neighbors' cabins, and allowed to take an 
 airly start in the mornin'. He got all his fixins ready for 
 camping his little wallet, and tin cup, and larriat to 
 stake out his mule ; put a couple of log chains in his sad- 
 dle-bags, thinkin' they might be wanting ; got up his mule, 
 and took the shute, sun two hours high. 
 
 " Two days after, a raft of people came along, and 
 stopped at Old Charley's, and when the old woman asked 
 after him, they told her that he hadn't been at the frolic. 
 She wer awful skeart, and they felt right curus too. 
 There wer one fellow among 'em his name wer Joe 
 White ; he wer one of the breed you never meet with in 
 the white settlements ; they'd be vagabones there, but the 
 backwoodsmen can't get along without 'em. I must try
 
 124 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY. 
 
 and pictur him out to you. Joe wer six foot and up'ards, 
 big boned, and lean ; sot a horse like a Cammanche ; good- 
 natured, and open-handed, when he had anything, and 
 when he hadn't, happier yet ; always kept two or three 
 good critters, sometimes a dozen, picked up a pocketful of 
 rocks when cattle-huntin' wer in season, and when he'd 
 nothing else to do, lazed about anybody's log-pen that he 
 pleased ; slept on his own blanket ; found the folks in deer 
 meat and turkey ; could turn his hand to anything but 
 work ; spent sometimes weeks in the woods alone or with 
 the Indians, and wer allers ready to give away anything 
 he had, or do anything for any man, 'cept work, which he 
 said wer made for niggers. Howsever, he didn't reckon 
 helpin' pile up log-cabins, or cuttin' down bee-trees, work. 
 He always allowed they were scientific. 
 
 " Well, Joe wer the first one that answered ; he told the 
 old lady it were all right ; that Charley had stopped to 
 pilot some one or other, or maybe his mule had broke the 
 larriat, or pulled up the stake, and he wer a huntin' him ; 
 but, says he, ' I'll be sartin to hunt him up ; I don't car 
 whar he is, I'm bound to light on him.' 
 
 " They comforted the poor old madam as well as they 
 could, got all the items about Charley's leavin', and pro- 
 mised to start right out and hunt his trail. They left 
 his cabin, startin' off on the back track, and maybe 
 covered half a mile or so without anybody's sayin' 
 anything they wer all too busy a thinkin'. At last 
 says Joe, ' I reckon, boys, we'd best light and talk this 
 over.' 
 
 " Now Joe had a heap of the Indian in him ; two things 
 he wer mighty cautious about wastin' words and ammu- 
 nition. In any sort of expedition, his word wer law,
 
 JOE MAKES A SPEECH. 125 
 
 although he wer by a long shot the poorest man in the 
 settlement that passed for an honest one. 
 
 " I tell you, stranger, in the white settlements men pass 
 for what they look to be, but in the backwoods for what 
 they are ; you'll find plenty of bogus money here some- 
 times, but bogus men can't shine. We're mighty apt to 
 weigh 'em. They hev to stand worse things than Kimi- 
 kles, and the gilt wears off powerful soon. 
 
 " Well, when Joe said the word, down they drapped, 
 and took a seat on the convenientest log they could find, 
 waitin' for Joe to open, but when they heard what he'd to 
 tell 'em, they all riz, and thar bristles ris too ; but they 
 jest shut thar teeth clus, and said nothin'. 
 
 " ' Boys/ says Joe, ' you all know me. I don't talk 
 often, ner say much ; but now I've a smart chance to say, 
 and I want you all to keep still till I've got clear through 
 don't yell nor curss ondly to yourselves. Boys, Charley 
 Birkham's murdered yes, murdered, that's the word ; 
 thar warn't no fight about it ; the old man never had a 
 quarrel in his life. You'll wonder, maybe, that I didn't 
 tell you afore I got to the house ; I didn't know it myself, 
 but when the old woman first asked arter him, I knew it ; 
 and what's more, I knew who did it, and can go straight 
 to the spot whar his life wer took. You know, boys, I 
 rode a smart piece ahead of ye. I allers do ; I like to 
 read the road. I can't tell much 'bout what's writ on 
 books ; I ain't much of a schollard ; but I kin read what's 
 writ on the airth pretty plain. Thar hain't been much 
 traveflin' along this bridle-path sense we went on, but 
 thar have been some. Thar's been devils, or critters worse 
 than devils, along here. You see, the first thing I noticed 
 wer the old man's mule track turned out into that blazed
 
 126 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY. 
 
 road to Boggy. The old man hadn't rid him nither. 
 The fellow that had, didn't weigh more nor a hundred 
 and fifty at the outside. 
 
 " ' Well, I thought it wer mighty curus who could be on 
 the critter, and so I lit and looked at the road clus. I 
 seen a heap ! The mule had gone on, but two horses that 
 come up the road and turned into the " blaze," went up a 
 little piece to a big water-hole, and follered it into the 
 timber, then rounded agin into the old road, and the men 
 on 'em had tried to make their critters step as nigh as 
 they could into their old tracks. The fools reckoned 
 they'd blinded the trail, but it didn't take me as long to 
 find it all out, as it have to tell the story. 
 
 " ' One of the critters was old Jake Williams's, and 
 the other belonged to that no 'count whelp and pica- 
 yune gambler, Bill Stone. I've been a lookin' out for 
 them chaps to get into mischief for a long time, and 
 took a sharp sight at their critters' feet every time I got 
 a good chance. 
 
 " ' Jake's has had the shoe off the nigh fore foot for 
 three weeks ; t'other's shod forard, both hind hoofs badly 
 cracked, and interferes. I could swar to them tracks 
 anywhar. Williams wer ridin' on on 'em ; t'other 
 hadn't got his master on his back, but a boy, or some 
 light weight. Well, a piece further on I found out 
 whar they'd come out of the timber ; it wer a water- 
 hole again. I'd been expectin' another dodge, and so 
 looked sharp wheniver I see one. They'd come right out 
 at this hole, and what's more,, they'd gone in thar too. 
 I went in about ten rod, and found whar the mule had 
 been tied out. She must heve been thar seven or eight 
 hours, by the grass she eat ; a pony had been hitched
 
 THE MUEDERERS' TRAIL. 127 
 
 thar too, and after the mule had been catched up for 
 his rope let him into the ring whar the mule had stamped 
 about, and the pony's hoof marks wer over the marks of 
 t'other. 
 
 " ' The pony had stayed perhaps an hour ; the other 
 critters had been hitched to limbs, and I pulled 'em down 
 to see how tall the men war. One of 'em wer just my 
 height, and t'other about three inches shorter. They 
 all three must hev come into the timber together the 
 lightest one on the pony that wer old Jake's boy Dick, 
 for Bill Stone's horse had a heavier rider when he went 
 in than when he come out. Bill rode him in, and tuk 
 the mule, and Dick rode Bill's horse out, and left the 
 pony ; then come back again and tuk up the pony, and 
 Bill's critter follered him home. 
 
 " ' The mule had gone in long afore they had ; it rained 
 night afore last a little, and I see whar some drops had 
 fell on her track, but thar warn't none on ither of the 
 other critters'. If you go and ask Jake about Bill 
 Stone's horse, he'll tell you Bill stayed thar, night afore 
 last, and a led critter he had, got away from him, and he 
 and Dick went out and helped him catch it, and that 
 they brought his own horse back to keep till he come 
 back again. If he don't tell you this, jest say Joe 
 White's a liar. You see they've been a leetle too smart ; 
 thar warn't no use of makin' all that trail ; thar warn't 
 no use of tyin' out the pony ; they might hev turned 
 him loose^ I see, too, whar they'd changed saddles. It 
 takes a. smart strain to pull up one of these Spanish 
 girts tight, and it throws a man hard on his heels. I 
 saw the marks of Bill's and the boy's. I looked around 
 and saw whar all three had sot on a log ; I measured
 
 128 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY. 
 
 the length of the feet, and I found, too, whar that fool 
 of a boy had cut a big gad. I cut off a piece from the 
 butt he left, and it's got the mark of the knife on it ; 
 thar's two big gaps in the blade. We'll get that knife 
 afore long, and see if it don't make marks alike. Well, 
 I was shure some mischief had been done, and reckoned 
 Old Charley's mule had been stole, so I come out at the 
 water-hole whar they'd gone in and come out, and rode 
 along watchin' the road mighty sharp. When you come 
 up with me, I wer lookin' whar the mule had come out of 
 the timber on the other side ; he carried a heavy load 
 then ; Old Jake and Dick must both have been on him. 
 Well, I rode on a piece further, and thar had been a 
 camp-fire lately ; it wer a smokin' yet, and right agin 
 it, wer the trail whar Charley had rid his mule in. I 
 wer skeared then ; but as two nights had passed, and 
 we'd had a sprinklin' of rain, I warn't sartin, but I am 
 now. 
 
 " ' Well, men, you've heerd my story. Shall I go on 
 and tell you how I think we'd best go to work, or 
 prehaps some of the rest would like to have thar say ?' 
 
 " All the company, however, said no, and so Joe went 
 on: 
 
 " ' First,' says he, ' I must tell you how it all happened. 
 The old woman said Charley didn't take his fire-works. 
 Now, you see, he stopped at Jake Williams's and got a 
 chunk of fire, and then camped down about half a milo 
 further on. Old Jake and Dick went down to the camp 
 in the night, and killed him knocked him in the head, I 
 reckon. They must have heard the log-chains chink 
 in the saddle-bags when he stopped thar, and thought 
 Charley had a smart chance of money with him. They
 
 THE CAMPAIGN CHALKED OUT. 129 
 
 wer disappointed, and got into this awful scrape for 
 nothing. 
 
 " ' I reckon they left the poor old man's body thar, 
 and took the mule off up the road a piece, and then 
 into the timber, and tied him out. Then they must 
 have gone home and found Bill Stone thar. Some time 
 afore mornin' they all three started out on horseback, 
 and rode to whar the mule wer hitched, then went on 
 foot and hid the old man's body, then back to thar horses 
 agin, and went out, jest as I've told you, to the blazed 
 road, and then parted. Jake will tell us that his son 
 turned back, and he went onto the road, and into the 
 timber whar they found Bill's critter, and Bill kept on 
 arter he'd changed his saddle, and that he led the other 
 horse back. 
 
 " ' Now I'll tell you what we must do. The first thing 
 is to hunt up that varmint Bill Stone. That's my job. 
 The rest of you ride on to Jake's, hear what he's got to 
 say, and make sarch for Old Charley, but shut pan on 
 everything I've said. Act jest as if you knowed nothing 
 till you've hearn from me. Keep your eyes skinned and 
 your rifles clean, and the minute you get item that I'm 
 back, catch up your horses, meet me at the cross-roads, 
 and bring all the good men in the settlement with you. 
 If we don't come out in force and do things open and 
 above board, we'll hev a tall fight with the gang ; but if we 
 show- 'em we're too strong for 'em to meddle with, and not 
 afeard to do our duty in the face of God and man, we'll 
 cow 'em like whipped hounds.' "
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY CONCLUDED THE FATE OF THE 
 MURDERERS. 
 
 " WELL, gentlemen, after Joe had said his say, they had 
 some talk among themselves. Some on 'em allowed 
 things warn't so bad, and some reckoned they'd best 
 lynch Old Williams on the turn, but at last all agreed to 
 take Joe's advice. Joe shuk hands all round, warned 'em 
 to keep shady, mounted his critter, and rode off. After 
 he'd gone, the rest of the company went down to Old Wil- 
 liams's, and heard pretty much such a story as Joe said 
 they would. Williams said the old man had stopped and 
 got a chunk of fire, wouldn't stay, and said he wer agoin' 
 to camp out a piece up the road. They got Williams to 
 go with 'em and hunt, but didn't find anything, only one 
 of 'em traded knives with the boy, and when they ex- 
 amined the blade, after they rode off, they see the marks 
 on it wer just like them on the stick that Joe cut. 
 
 " What trail Joe took, I don't rightly know, but reckon 
 none in pertikeler, for he knew the woods like a book, 
 and had a pretty good idee whar Bill Stone would fotch 
 up. Joe had a rifle and blanket for himself, and a stout 
 caberos for his horse, and so didn't show himself much, 
 nor bother anybody about feedin' ither him er his critter. 
 It's shure though, that he struck Bill's trail, and follered it 
 like an Ingun. When Joe got nigh to Nachitosh, he 
 bunted up one or two men of his own sort, that wer down
 
 BILL STONE TREED. 131 
 
 sellin' thar skins, told 'em what business he wer on, and 
 they agreed to back him up. After thar plans wer fixed, 
 Joe rode into town, and a funny lookin' critter he wer ; 
 an Ingun wouldn't hev knowed him, nor his critter 
 nither. He'd stained her up with poke berries and red 
 clay, clipped her long tail, hogged her mane, and as for 
 him, a hump had sprouted rite suddint on his shoulders ; 
 he sot in his saddle drawed up like a Cammanche, his face 
 so dirty you couldn't tell what the color ought to be, and 
 he wer a reelin' as if he wer drunk as a lord. He knew 
 Bill warn't more than three hours ahead of him when he 
 stopped at the hunters' camp ; and he knew, too, that the 
 varmint couldn't pass a grocery without callin' ; and so, 
 when he saw the old roan mule hitched afore the Brian- 
 Boru House, he warn't surprised a bit, but made a bee 
 line for the store of a merchant in the place. The 
 clerks didn't know him, and sot in to makin' fun, till old 
 Mr. R. come in. Joe soon let him know who he wer and 
 what he wer after. Mr. R. wer Old Charley's merchant, 
 and the best man Joe could have asked help from. They 
 settled things between 'em, and Joe went over to the 
 tavern, and thar shure enough sot Bill Stone, down at 
 poker, and little more'n half whiskey'd. It didn't take 
 Joe long to scrape acquaintance with the nice set, and 
 while they wer drinkin' with him, in walks Mr. R. 
 
 " ' Hallo, gentle/Tien,' says he, ' can you tell me who owns 
 that great roan mule hitched out here ?' 
 
 " ' I reckon,' says Bill Stone, ' you'll hev to take me for 
 owner if you can't find any better.' 
 
 " ' Will you sell him, if you can get your price ?' asked 
 Mr. R. 
 
 " ' I ha'n't thought of sellin' him/ said Bill ; ' Least-
 
 132 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY CONCLUDED. 
 
 ways, I hadn't, till you asked me the question. What'll 
 you give, stranger, for the mule, bridle, saddle, riggin', 
 and all ?' 
 
 " ' Why/ answered Mr. R., ' seein' he's a likely critter, 
 and the riggin's sort of so so , I wouldn't mind givin' a 
 fifty for him.' 
 
 " ' 'Twont half do/ says Bill. ' Say a hundred, and take 
 him.' 
 
 " ' Well/ answered Mr. R., ' I don't mind a few dollars 
 when a critter suits my fancy, but it's a big pile to give 
 for a saddle mule. You look out for the beast till dark ; 
 I've got no place to put him, and don't want to be 
 bothered with him till I get ready to go home, then 
 bring him over to the store, and I'll give you the hun- 
 dred.' 
 
 " Bill agreed, and sot down to his cards agin. Joe sot 
 nigh him, pretending to be mighty interested with the 
 game, and takin' Bill's part whenever any dispute wer 
 riz ; the mule all the time being watched sharp by Joe's 
 friends, who wer haugin' round outside. 
 
 " The game wer pretty tight, and they stayed nigh onto 
 an hour later than the time sot, but Bill finally settled up 
 at the bar, and started off for Mr. R.'s store, Joe takin' 
 himself off as soon as he see him on the right track, and 
 his friends on the lookout. 
 
 " Bill hitched his mule and went in. Mr. R. called 
 him into a back room, and began counting out the money, 
 and while Bill wer watchin' the dollars the merchant wer 
 a pilin' up, in walked Joe, his hump-back gone, his face 
 clean, and he as sober as a judge ought to be. Bill 
 knew him, and if the old sarpint himself had popped his 
 head through the puncheon floor and claimed him for his
 
 THE TEAP SPRUNG. 133 
 
 brand and crap, he couldn't hev been more skeared. He 
 made a dash for the back door, and rushed right into the 
 hands of Joe's two men, who had been put thar to stop 
 the gap. When he saw he wer trapped, he come in quiet 
 enough, and wanted to know what he wer picked up for. 
 Joe looked him right in the face and said : 
 
 " ' Bill, Old Charley Birkham sent me arter you and the 
 mule.' 
 
 " Bill turned powerful white about the gills, and wer 
 just fixin' to give tongue, and try and skeer up some of 
 his friends, but they tied his hands and gagged him afore 
 you could crack a rifle. They mounted him on the mule, 
 tied his feet to the stirrups, fastened them to each other 
 by a strap under the critter's belly, put a running noose 
 round his neck, tied the other end of the rope to the ring 
 behind the saddle, fastened his hands to the pommel, and 
 started off, leading the mule by a back way to the hunters' 
 camp. Then Bill's mouth were unstrapped, and Joe said 
 to him, 
 
 " ' Now look heah, Bill, you've got to tell these men the 
 hull truth 1 know it already and if you bolt an inch 
 from the straight track, " Sweetlips" ' (slapping his dead 
 sure rifle), ' will make it the last words you iver speak. 
 You've got five minutes to think about it, and if you don't 
 open in that time, or if you begin to palava about inno- 
 cence and marcy, the first word brings a ball through your 
 head? 
 
 " ' I tell ye, gentlemen, Bill thought a good deal, and 
 thought pretty fast. He knew Joe White, and he knew 
 that nothing would scar him off a track when he'd once 
 barked on it ; he didn't dar to lie, for he nither knew how 
 much Joe had learned, ner how he found it out, and ho
 
 134 UNCLE BILLY'S STOEY CONCLUDED. 
 
 didn't dar to hold his tongue. He thought tliar might 
 be some chance of his given Joe the slip on the road, or 
 of some of the gang's rescuing him. So he up and told 
 the truth. 
 
 " It seems that he and Williams had laid a plan to rob 
 and murder the old man, if they couldn't get the money 
 they thought he had without it ; but Bill wer not at Wil- 
 liams's cabin when .Old Charley stopped thar. The boy 
 had lifted the saddle-bags, and as soon as the old man 
 left, told his father and mother they wer full of money. 
 After holding a short council, they agreed to do the job 
 that night. They waited some time for Stone, but he 
 didn't come ; the man and boy set out, found Charley 
 asleep, and Williams killed him with a club. After the 
 deed wer done, they found that the devil had fooled 'em, 
 and thar wer no money in the saddle-bags. They mounted 
 the mule and hid him whar.Joe had seen his sign ; then 
 returned to the cabin, and all three started to hide the 
 body. Thar wer a branch (brook] nigh the camp, and put- 
 ting the body on a kind of litter, they carried it off, walk- 
 ing in the stream so as to wash their trail. They found 
 whar a large oak had blowed over, and in the hole the 
 roots had turned up, they dug the grave, placed the body 
 in it, and after covering it up, put the litter and some 
 light stuff over it, and set it on fire, thinkin' that, as the 
 timber had been lately burnt over, the grave wer entirely 
 cached, and then they returned by the branch. 
 
 " It all turned out jest as Joe had said, and he could 
 hardly keep his fingers from pulling trigger, but he only 
 put the gag in Bill's mouth agin, and got ready for a 
 start. 
 
 " The hunters had several led horses. So leavin' one
 
 THE CABIN SURPRISED. 135 
 
 man to finish the tradin', and takin' a spar critter apiece, 
 Joe and his two friends sot out, with Bill on the mule, 
 They travelled all night by the road, and when day broke, 
 took to the bush, camped down a smart piece of the trail, 
 stayed till noon, cotched up thar fresh critters, took a bee 
 line through the timber, and when night come, pushed for 
 the trail again. Twice, one of 'em wer sent to some out- 
 of-the-way cabin to buy corn for the horses, tellin' the peo- 
 ple it were for a party of movers, who wer travellin' the 
 road. Shoving along this way, they reached the cross- 
 roads about sundown, a little inside of four days. All 
 this time Bill wer never one minute unwatched, awake nor 
 asleep ; he warn't let to speak, though he wer fed and 
 not abused, and he had pretty much made up his mind 
 he wer a gone coon. Joe's two friends rode off to give 
 item of his being back, and afore midnight, the men come 
 in pretty thick, but mostly one by one, and mighty quiet. 
 
 " When Joe had force enough to be right sure of every- 
 thing, he made a break for Williams's cabin, leavin' orders 
 at the cross-roads for all that might come, to ride on and 
 jine him. 
 
 " ' When they come to Williams's clearin', a part closed 
 round the clearin', so's to stop ivery hole, while Joe and 
 two others went up to the cabin Joe holdin' Bill by the 
 throat, and a pistol at his head, and orders wer given to 
 shoot him down if he made the first move towards gettin' 
 off. They knocked pretty loud at the door, and heard 
 Williams stampin' round the dog had woke him up. 
 Presently he sings out 
 
 " ' Who's thar ?' 
 
 " ' Hit's me,' says Bill. 
 
 " ' Is that you, Bill Stone ?' asked old Jake.
 
 136 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY CONCLUDED. 
 
 " ' Yes, it's me. Open the door, quick,' answered Bill. 
 
 " Williams opened the shutter (door), all the time cussin' 
 Bill for ' a dern no 'count fool.' The miuit thar wer a 
 chance, in jumped the two men and fastened on the rascal. 
 He sung out loud for the boy and old woman to shoot 'em 
 down, but afore ither could do anything, the others rushed 
 in and had them fast too. When the old man saw Bill 
 Stone, he knew it wer all up with him if he didn't get 
 help from his gang ; the boy wer stuffy, and didn't whim- 
 per. Nither made any fuss, but the old woman let on 
 powerful, till the old man said a word to her, and then 
 she shut up too. 
 
 " Joe now picked out a dozen men that could be de- 
 pended on, more to keep the crowd from lynchin' the vil- 
 lains than anything else. 
 
 " By sun up, nigh onto seventy men had got together, 
 and about all of the right kind. They chose a smart 
 chap, Col. Spicer, an old settler, to be judge, and he 
 picked out twelve men for a jury. 
 
 "Well, gentlemen, they didn't make any such long 
 jobs in them days in the backwoods, as they did in the 
 white settlement ; they'd no place to put thar prisoners, 
 and as soon as the jury wer ready, the Judge said he'd 
 go to trial. 
 
 " A party had been sent out, and found the old man's 
 body ; the log-chains wer lugged out of the fodder stack, 
 whar Bill Stone had told them they wer hid ; the jury all 
 agreed they were guilty, and the Judge sentenced the 
 men and the boy to be hung in an hour. The old woman 
 wer to be sent out of the range ; the improvements to be 
 valued, and she to be paid for 'em ; but if she ventured 
 back, she wer to be served like the rest. The old man
 
 GATHEEING OF THE CLAN. 137 
 
 and boy stuck to it they wer innocent, and the old 
 woman prayed, howled, and cursed, pretty much all to 
 onst. 
 
 " As soon as the Judge had got through, the men and 
 boy wer took to the spot whar the murder had been 
 done. 
 
 " While all this wer going on, the gang of which Old 
 Williams wer a sort of chief, hadn't been idle. Bill wer 
 missed the night he wer took away, but it wer done so 
 shady, that not a clerk in R.'s store knew anything about 
 it. Next mornin' Mr. R. come down to the store quite 
 late, and when he wer questioned about Bill, told 'em 
 he'd been took by a company that wer after him, and 
 wer on his way back to Texas, to be tried for murder. 
 
 " This made a fuss in camp, I reckon, and a party put 
 out after Joe. They tried to slow track him at first, 
 and wasted nigh onto a day, and then did what they 
 ought to hev done at first made a bee-line for Birkhain's 
 settlement. They pushed ahead night and day, and got 
 into the diggins about six hours after Joe. By this time 
 the whole country were up, and the Nackitosh party got 
 together a company of about twenty of prehaps the biggest 
 rascals in the whole South. 
 
 " They allowed they had force enough to do pretty 
 much as they pleased, but when they come to the ground, 
 found out they wer a barkin' up the wrong tree. They 
 had with them a long-legged chap, a sorter jack-leg 
 lawyer, and he advised 'em to try and get the punishment 
 put off by peaceable means, and that would give a chance 
 to run 'em off. 
 
 " When they rode up and mixed with the crowd, the 
 lawyer and one or two more of 'em made tracks for
 
 138 UNCLE BILLY'S STORY CONCLUDED. 
 
 the prisoners, but they had a dozen rifles cocked and 
 drawed on 'em, and got thar orders about keepin' off. 
 Then the lawyer begun to talk pretty loud about the out- 
 rage to free citizens, and all that, and said he demanded 
 to be heerd. Col. Spicer now see it had gone far enough, 
 and turnin' round to the new comers, said in his deter- 
 mined way : 
 
 " ' Men, you come in rayther too late in this business to 
 hev much to say, and I reckon if some of you had 
 stayed away all-together, you wouldn't hev been missed. 
 If any of you don't know what this gathering means, I'll 
 tell you. Those two men and that boy hev had a far 
 trial, and hev been found guilty of the murder of our old 
 friend, Charley Birkham. This isn't the first time they've 
 deserved death, we all know, but this time they're bound 
 to get what they've arned. The old woman is as bad as 
 ither, but she's a woman ; law would hang her, but we'll 
 let her run, only she must keep clar of these diggins. 
 Now, Squire, you've got some men in your crowd that 
 don't suit us much ; the less they hev to say, the better, or 
 they may come in for a share, and I advise you all to keep 
 a sharp look-out for the future. 
 
 " ' These men hev just half an hour to live, and if you, 
 Squire, want to make a speech, go ahead, and see that you 
 don't overrun your time, and mind that none of you med- 
 dle with our doins.' 
 
 " Well, stranger, the lawyer got up and lumbered away 
 at a powerful rate, while they put the prisoners on horses, 
 slipped the nooses round their necks, and made the other 
 end of the ropes fast to the limbs overhead. When the 
 half hour wer up, at a signal from the Colonel, his whole 
 crowd drew round the tree, ivery man with his rifle cocked
 
 FALL OF THE CURTAIN. 139 
 
 and his trigger sot. Spicer raised his hand to stop the 
 speech, but the lawyer wouldn't shut pan, till a look 
 brought Joe White's rifle to his cheek ; he drew a bead 
 mighty peert, and the lawyer quit his lumbering and 
 moved off. . 
 
 " The man who held Bill Stone's critter let go the bri-. 
 die, and Bill wer told ef he had anything to say, he must 
 out with it quick. 
 
 " Bill owned up, and prayed to be forgive, and soon as 
 he wer done, some one hit the horse a smart blow, and Bill 
 wer a swingin' in the air. 
 
 " The old man's turn come next, and he died cussing the 
 hull of 'em. The boy wer stuffy enough till the old man 
 swung off, and then he give in, and told the truth. Spicer 
 said a good deal to him about the awful crime he'd had a 
 hand in, and then told him they had made up their minds 
 to save him, in hopes that what he had seen and felt 
 might prove a warnin'. 
 
 " The bodies of the murderers were buried on the spot 
 whar they died. The old woman and boy wer moved 
 next day outen the range, and I reckon went clar to Ala- 
 bama. Old Charley's wife wer took good car on while 
 she lived, which wasn't long ; and this, gentlemen, is the 
 end of my story. 
 
 " Now, Cunnle, let's hev some of your first experence."
 
 CHAPTER XIY. 
 
 THE COLONEL'S STORY A SHIPWRECK AND A SCRIMMAGE. 
 
 " MY first experience of the country, as you say, Mr. 
 Roberts, was of the rudest. I came here to survey and 
 locate lands some of the very ones, by the way, in which 
 you became afterwards jointly interested, and which are 
 now giving us so much trouble. I brought a surveying 
 party with me, and a nice time we had of it. We char- 
 tered a small schooner, and set sail to find Galveston Bay, 
 if possible. No easy job, for then the city had not been 
 invented, and the flat island of sand that lies across the 
 mouth of the Bay, with here and there a stunted tree, 
 presented no very serviceable landmark to the mariner. 
 
 " We boxed about for a week or ten days, and then 
 in a fog ran plump into the mouth of the Brazos. It was 
 a mere matter of luck and chance that we did not go to 
 the dogs. The fog happening to lift for a moment, we 
 saw where we were, but how we got there, or how we 
 were to get away, not one of us could tell. I said we saw 
 where we were, but do not mean that we recognised the 
 spot, by any means. We only knew that we had run up 
 the mouth of a river without knocking our bottom out, 
 but what river was the question. The captain being a 
 true republican, and having moreover entirely lost his 
 latitude, called a meeting, inducted himself in the chair, 
 and put our position to vote. He, was of the opinion that 
 it was the Sabine ; /, rather favored the idea that we had 

 
 A MEETING, AND A PARTING. Ill 
 
 made the Brazos. As neither of us had any notion of tho 
 appearance of either river, our opinions were certainly 
 unprejudiced. The mass, or more properly, mast meeting 
 for the chairman supported himself against one of those 
 important sticks of timber were somewhat divided in 
 opinion, especially as we had only obtained a single 
 glimpse of one shore, and then dropped anchor immedi- 
 ately, for fear that we might soon get an altogether too 
 well grounded idea of our whereabouts. One suggested 
 that we were probably somewhere ; another, that he 
 rather thought we were nowhere at all ; but at last the 
 captain, having the firm support of two sailors, the cook, 
 and the cabin boy, and moreover the idea that being a 
 seaman, he ought to know, although he owned that he did 
 not, carried the day. 
 
 " Having christened the stream the Sabine, our next 
 step was to get away from it as soon as possible, and 
 accordingly, the first moment the fog permitted us to see 
 ten yards ahead, we up anchor and clawed out as gingerly 
 as possible. Getting in, was a feat to be remembered, but 
 getting out without being set upon shore, or run on a bar 
 by the current, was but little short of a miracle. 
 
 " About every third vessel that attempted the entrance, 
 even under the most favorable auspices, was lost ; for 
 without a sign of a bay, or anything of a mouth to speak 
 of, the Brazos runs plump into the Gulf, over a very ugly 
 bar, aifd between the worst kind of breakers. As soon as 
 we were fairly clear, the captain ' about ship,' and shaped 
 a southerly course, probably in the direction of Yera 
 Cruz. 
 
 " Away we went, feeling our way, and trying to find a 
 hole somewhere in the coast, until bread and water ran
 
 142 THE COLONEL'S STORY. 
 
 short I say the bread and water ran, for the bread was 
 quite capable of going alone. Then we called another 
 meeting, and this time I was declared, nem. con., to have 
 been in the right. Our private stores, laid up for the sur- 
 veying expedition, were walked into, and bacon and 
 brandy suffered some. It was now about ship again, and 
 after near a week we hailed a craft that informed us that 
 we were right off Ship Island shoals, about halfway 
 between Galveston Island and the Balize. My temper 
 rather gave out. / called the captain a Judy, and talked 
 of deposing him. He accused me of being a Jonah, and 
 threw out some idea of throwing me overboard. Now, as 
 acting the part of Jonah in full, and without any cutting, 
 implies something to be done in whaling, I turned to and 
 gave him a good one ; my men and the crew joining in 
 the amusement. It did a great de^il of good, so much so, 
 that the very next night he not only found Galveston 
 Island, but nearly ran over it. The wind being light, and 
 off shore, we were fortunate enough to save ourselves and 
 our bacon, together with most of our provisions and 
 instruments. The vessel was past praying for, and as she 
 was sure to go to the dogs, the captain proposed to go 
 with me to the Indians. I have no idea of giving you 
 my whole Texan history in detail, but will only say of the 
 surveying, that it was rather difficult, as usually neither 
 corner, nor anything like a boundary-line could be found. 
 The Mexican mode of measuring land was, perhaps, origi- 
 nal and very ingenious, but far from satisfactory to the 
 man who wanted to ascertain the extent of his posses- 
 sions. 
 
 " An Indian was usually placed upon a horse, and fur- 
 nished the Indian, not the horse with three cigars.
 
 SMOKING OUT A SURVEY. 143 
 
 He set off upon a gallop, and as much land as he could 
 ride around while his cigars were being smoked up, was 
 called a league. I suppose they gave them a certain 
 length of ' old soldier ' to define the exact quantity of a 
 ' labore' (eighty acres). 
 
 '' You will perceive that the size of the league depended 
 entirely upon the horse's legs and the length of the cigars. 
 I can assure you that it was a nice piece of work to smoke 
 out these boundaries. 
 
 " As we were upon the buffalo ground, we had no 
 want of either fun or fresh meat. We had purchased 
 good horses, and hired two good guides old hunters, 
 that knew exactly what they were about. As our buffalo 
 hunting was only for a supply of meat, and not for an 
 indiscriminate slaughter of the animals for the sake of 
 their skins, we seldom failed in obtaining what we sought 
 for, and this was our mode of proceeding. Buffaloes 
 have a regular drinking-place, and visit it regularly at 
 a certain hour. Now our hunters soon found out those 
 places that were in our neighborhood, and watched the 
 drove when they came down. As soon as the huge 
 brutes had filled their skins nigh to bursting, off they 
 went in a clumsy gallop. Then the men dashed out 
 from their hiding-places, and rushed their horses at the 
 end of the drove. Selecting a young and fat cow, that 
 might be walloping along on the outside, and among 
 the last, the hunter would run his trained horse right 
 alongside, and clapping a holster pistol to the shaggy 
 brute's ear, pop a bullet in her brain. Nothing could 
 be more simple, more easy, or more safe, provided the 
 man was up to the business and the horse well trained. 
 So well did this kind of life agree with me, that had
 
 144 THE COLONEL'S STORY. 
 
 it not been for a wife and children in old Alabama, and 
 certain qualms at night-fall about the uncertainty of find- 
 ing my hair in its usual place in the morning, I do not 
 know but that I might have gone on, Robinson Crusoeing 
 it yet. 
 
 " At last, however, our work was completed, and all my 
 party, with the exception of two, had left for the States, 
 going by the upper route and Traumel's Trace, and we, 
 the remainder, went off west. 
 
 " The troubles had already commenced, and the Mexican 
 garrisons had been expelled from Nacogdoches and Anna- 
 huac. We were packing our portmanteaus to start upon 
 our homeward route, when news were brought that the 
 Mexicans were advancing upon Gonzales ; and anxious to 
 have a chance at them, we left for the scene of the antici- 
 pated scrimmage immediately. 
 
 " When we arrived, the village was in a precious state 
 of confusion, its dozen men and boys running about fright- 
 ened to death, and doing nothing, and the women tearing 
 their hair and what little linen they possessed. The Mexi- 
 cans were said to be on the other side of the river, a few 
 miles below. 
 
 " We immediately collected every sheet, counterpane, 
 and tablecloth that the village could boast of, and setting 
 men and boys to work at cutting and carrying poles, soon 
 erected at the back of the village what appeared to be 
 tents enough for a respectable encampment. 
 
 " Two crotches, with a pole across them, and a couple 
 of sheets thrown over it, with their ends carried out and 
 fastened to the ground, makes quite a personable tent 
 when viewed at a distance I can assure you. 
 
 "Having everything properly prepared in the tent
 
 LADIES PANT-ING FOB THE EXEMY. 145 
 
 line, it was only necessary to mount a sufficient num- 
 ber of sentinels, and for this duty we detailed a number 
 of the women, who for that purpo'se were inducted into 
 the breeches, let us hope, for the first time. Five or 
 six marching along very stiffly and formally indeed, in 
 front of the mock encampment, gave it a quite a grand 
 appearance ; and upon the river's bank some of the men 
 were stationed, while the rest were preparing and repair- 
 ing arms, saddles, and bridles, for the coming fight. We 
 had not been there an hour before my great surveying tent 
 arrived. 
 
 " When we left for Gonzales in such haste, I engaged a 
 friendly Mexican to bring it along as soon as he could, 
 upon pack mules. The tent was a huge one, and divided 
 into two parts, so as to make it the more readily porta- 
 ble. This we pitched in a conspicuous spot, and having 
 hoisted a small flag above, it answered remarkably well 
 for an officer's marquee. 
 
 " Now all this humbug had but one object to keep the 
 enemy at a respectable distance until we were ready for 
 him. 
 
 " We had not long to wait. Even as we were putting 
 the finishing touches upon our marquee, a troop of 
 cavalry came dashing up at a hand gallop to the opposite 
 shore of the river. They intended to have surprised 
 the town ; but instead of taking the ford when they had 
 reached it, came to a sudden halt, and then made a very 
 decisive movement to the rear. They retreated behind 
 the skirt of timber, and did not make any further demon- 
 stration, although every little while some officer would 
 ride up to the bank, and after looking very wisely and 
 curiously upon our arrangements, trot off again, probably 
 7
 
 146 THE COLONEL'S STORY. 
 
 shaking his head, and without doubt pouring forth a per- 
 fect flood of ' caraccos' and ' carambos.' 
 
 " In this position stood affairs at sundown, except that 
 our force was continually upon the increase, and by that 
 time we numbered sixty effective, hardy men, and had also 
 two small pieces of artillery, of which the veteran Col. 
 Neil took command. We were now quite ready for a 
 fight if we could only get one, for your Mexican has never 
 a stomach for anything of the kind unless he happens to 
 catch you unawares and unprepared. 
 
 " Selecting the best rifle in the corps, I walked down to 
 the spot opposite which the Mexicans repeated, from time 
 to time, their reconnoitre. I did not think the rifle had 
 force enough to carry a ball across the stream with suffi- 
 cient strength to do any good after it got there, but still, I 
 determined to give the next ' cabalero' a right good scare, 
 for they believe that the power of our shooting irons, and 
 our skill in wielding them, are both supernatural and dia- 
 bolical. 
 
 " I did not have to wait long. Two gaudily-dressed 
 officers rode up to the bank, and shading their eyes with 
 their hands, prepared to take a long and careful squint at 
 its. 
 
 " Shading myself behind a bush, I prepared to take 
 a long and careful squint at them, in the hope of mak- 
 ing them see sights, as that was evidently their desire, 
 but the only sights that I cared .for were those of my 
 rifle. I took the shot, and they took the ' shute.' I 
 can't for the life of me -tell which went off first, they 
 or the gun. The blaze had barely poked its nose from 
 the muzzle, when in went the spurs, and off went the 
 warriors, not waiting for report or bullet-in. As I heard
 
 
 MEXICANS IN A QUANDAKY. 147 
 
 their spurs and sabres jingling, and watched their nod- 
 ding plumes, I consoled myself with the idea that I had 
 made the feathers fly, even if I had not brought down my 
 birds. 
 
 " As soon as it was fairly dark, we marched down 
 stream about half a mile, to a bend where we had a 
 flat concealed. We had with us fifty men, and our two 
 small cannon. The horses swam alongside the flat, and 
 in three trips we were all safely over. At our camp, 
 the remainder of our forces were parading back and 
 forth in true military style, and the large camp-fires 
 that illuminated the village gave quite an imposing air 
 to the whole affair. When we had drawn up in order 
 upon the bank, two experienced scouts were sent out to 
 spy upon the enemy. They found them without trouble, 
 and soon reported their position. The Mexicans were in 
 sad perplexity, and evidently badly scared. 
 
 " Fearing an attack, they did not dare to light their 
 camp-fires, or even strip their horses, but were allowing 
 them to feed, every man holding his animal by a slipped 
 bridle. 
 
 " Most of our party were for making a sudden and des- 
 perate onslaught upon them ; but the veterans all vetoed 
 such a proceeding most decidedly. If our object were a 
 fright instead of a fight, it would have done ; but a fight 
 we were burning for, and, as the enemy were not more 
 than two to our one, the odds were nothing at all. The 
 Mexican is as cutming as a fox, as slippery as an eel, as 
 bloodthirsty and as cowardl^ as a wolf, and has not the 
 most remote idea what a lair fight is like. The enemy 
 were well mounted, and had the heels of us without doubt. 
 If we attempted a charge, they would be off before we had
 
 148 THE COLONEL'S STORY. 
 
 half a chance. A few experienced hands might indeed 
 creep up to their stamping ground, and drop a man or 
 two ; but the moon shone too brightly to allow of any but 
 old hunters trying the experiment, and so we determined 
 upon an ambush. Six of the best mounted men were 
 despatched to draw the enemy along the edge of the tim- 
 ber, while we were to treat them to a discharge of our 
 field-pieces loaded with trace chains, for the want of 
 grape-shot and our rifles. 
 
 " The squad made a circuit, and came upon the Mexicans 
 on the prairie side. They rode along slowly, as if entirely 
 ignorant of the hostile presence, and, when they came as 
 near as was advisable to the picquet, hailed to know who 
 were there. 
 
 " The enemy were all alive in a moment. Here was a 
 chance for glory and immortality not to be lightly thrown 
 away ; here, a fight exactly to their liking. Not waiting 
 for the trumpet's ' boot and saddle,' not waiting for officer 
 or word of command, scarcely sparing the time to replace 
 the bits in their horses' mouths, away they dashed, helter- 
 skelter, in wild and most admired confusion. A short 
 burst brought them right opposite us, and, had the old 
 colonel waited for the main body of the rascals, we had 
 emptied many a saddle ; but his desire to be at them 
 brooked neither delay nor advice, and as soon as the first 
 came straggling by at full speed, bang went the cannon, 
 down came three or four Mexicans and their horses, cut 
 into mince-meat, and away for their lives sped the rest. 
 They had suspected something was wrong all the after- 
 noon, and now they knew it, and were satisfied with the 
 limited amount of that knowledge, without any further 
 inquiry into the matter.
 
 QUARTER RACE BUT NO QUARTER. 149 
 
 "Away sped the Mexicans, and away sped we after 
 them ; the rifle-balls whistled ; the flashes from the frequent 
 discharges, like meteors, lighted up the scene ; the enemy 
 yelled with fear ; the boys shouted with rage ; and, except- 
 ing the celebrated San Jacinto races, it was never my lot 
 to behold such a scene of confusion. It was all of no use, 
 however, for their horses beat us, if the men could not, and 
 I do not think we saved a single Mexican, but those whom 
 we got at the first discharge."
 
 CHAPTER XY. 
 
 THE COLONEL'S STORY CONTINUED SPECIMENS OP TALL 
 
 FIGHTING. 
 
 " I DO not now remember, not a battle alone, but any kind 
 of a fight with the Mexicans, in which they did not outnum- 
 ber us immensely. The Alamo was stormed in the face of 
 ten to one, and when the cowards sent out a flag, such an 
 unorganized set were we, that there was no proper officer 
 to receive it. We were out of ammunition, and began to 
 feel pretty badly whipped. Word was passed from house 
 to house that it was about time to be off, and I never was 
 more astonished in my life than when the enemy exhibited 
 their white flag. Think of twenty-five hundred regular 
 troops in a fortress surrendering to less than three hun- 
 dred civilians, without discipline, and almost without 
 officers ! I asked General Cos when he was a prisoner 
 in Galveston how such a thing could happen ? 
 
 " ' Why, sir,' he replied, ' what were we to do ? We 
 could not even show a finger but it was shot off ; my men 
 would not stand it any longer ; they would as soon have 
 fought the devil himself. I had to surrender.' 
 
 " The battle of San Jacinto was fought against three to 
 one, and not much of a fight at that. The defence of the 
 Alamo was against^/ty to one, and at least a thousand of 
 the enemy bit the dust. General Baker, with but thirty 
 men, kept the first division of the grand army at bay for 
 several days at Brazoria, and that little fight at Lipantit-
 
 SEATSFIELD. 151 
 
 Ian, some four months since, was not to be laughed at. 
 When eight hundred cavalry surprise and surround one 
 hundred and seventy infantry, it is no joke, even though 
 the enemy be Mexicans. 
 
 " But of all the fights that ever I was in, give me the 
 battle of Conception, or, as it was better known at the 
 time, ' the battle of the Horse Shoe.' It seems now to be 
 quite forgotten at home, and was never known of abroad. 
 The capture of the Alamo made so much noise as to com- 
 pletely swamp the glory of my pet scrimmage. That 
 German, who calls himself Seatsfield, the author of a 
 good many readable books, has given so good a picture 
 of the battle, that I think he must have been in it or 
 near it. He has romanced so much, however, that 
 everybody thinks the whole affair a mere offspring of 
 his imagination, as indeed was his fish story of the old 
 hunter, who was lynched and came to life again. I think 
 he had some idea of Deaf Smith when he drew that cha- 
 racter. 
 
 " The truth about the battle is this : Burlison, with 
 eight hundred men, had taken post on the San Antone 
 river, some distance below the town, and there he lay 
 waiting for reinforcements before he should attack a 
 place that, defended by as many Americans as it had 
 Mexicans, would have been impregnable. 
 
 " It was deemed advisable to advance nearer upon the 
 town r and accordingly volunteers were called for to recon- 
 noitre the country about the enemy's position, and to 
 search for a safe and convenient spot for the army to 
 advance and encamp upon. 
 
 " Ninety-two men stepped forward, and I among them. 
 We were ordered to proceed up the river until within six
 
 152 THE COLONEL'S STOBY CONTINUED. 
 
 or seven miles of San Antone, and, after selecting a pro- 
 per spot, to return before night. The army was to march 
 and take up their new position on the next day. So off 
 we started, every man upon his own hook, for although 
 we had those among us that afterwards distinguished 
 themselves as officers, yet, with the exception of an old 
 Indian-fighting general, no one assumed any particular 
 command. We had especial orders to avoid any collision 
 with the enemy, and to retreat upon the least symptom of 
 danger. As the men, however, were fairly ' froze for a 
 fight/ there was little chance of these orders being obeyed, 
 if fortune should send the Mexicans in our way. 
 
 "Not finding any within the prescribed distance, we 
 determined to advance nearer upon the town, and pushed 
 on until we found, near the old mission Conception, and 
 three miles below Bexar, as lovely a camp-ground as ever 
 fell to the lot of weary soldiers. A bend in the river, 
 known as the ' Horse Shoe,' had upon its shore a strip of 
 bottom land, above which the prairie arose like a line of 
 wall, so as to form a perfect breastwork, and although the 
 latter was not more than four feet higher than the ' bot- 
 tom,' yet as it curved around on either side until it met 
 the river, a better position for infantry could hardly be 
 conceived of. Wood and water on the spot, the river for 
 our rear defence, and the prairie wall for our front, no 
 wonder that we gave a cheer when we found it, and 
 no wonder either that we determined not to return to the 
 main body, but to send back two messengers, and for 
 ourselves, to camp for the night, and await Burlison's 
 arrival. 
 
 " All notion of fighting passed away, and we foolishly 
 imagined that our present situation was unknown to the
 
 THE NIGHT ALARM. 153 
 
 enemy. We were about as wise as the silly bird that 
 hides her head in the bush, and thinks herself perfectly 
 safe until ' a fire in the rear' convinces her too late of her 
 error. We had not been at our new camp an hour before 
 Mexican women began to come in, with ' polonces' and 
 ' tortillas' for sale. We bought of their wares, and they, 
 immediately after leaving camp, went up to Bexar and 
 reported our exact number. I found afterwards that they 
 had stated our force as ninety-two, which it was at the 
 time, although two men were subsequently sent back to 
 Burlison. 
 
 " Night drew on. We made our fires, cooked our sup- 
 pers, eat, drank, smoked, and were merry. A guard was 
 set, and one by one the rest departed for the land of Nod. 
 Although camped on a 'bottom,' I slept like a top. To- 
 wards morning my neighbor I had almost said bed-fel- 
 low, for our blankets touched grasped my leg gently, 
 and woke me up. 
 
 " ' Hist !' said he, in a low voice. 
 
 " ' What is it ?' inquired I, in a half-asleep and tho- 
 roughly cross tone. 
 
 " ' Hush, for your life !' he replied, in a whisper j ' listen, 
 do you not hear anything ?' 
 
 " Like Bottom, I was all ears in a moment. Above 
 the noise made by the rushing waters at our feet, I heard 
 a mournful and dismal sound, as like the low moan of a 
 dog "as anything that I could compare it to. 
 
 " ' Pshaw !' said I, ' it's nothing but a wolf or a hound.' 
 
 " ' Yes,' replied my companion who was no other than 
 the noted Col. Bowie 'yes, you are right; there are 
 wolves about, but that sound you hear is the creak of artil- 
 lery wheels.' 
 
 7*
 
 154 THE COLONEL'S STORY CONTINUED. 
 
 " ' Let us alarm our men instantly,' said I. 
 
 " ' No such, thing,' he answered ; ' keep still ; those rascals 
 are npon the opposite side of the river, and they expect to 
 surprise us. Let them think so, if possible, until they 
 make the attack. That wheel has saved us. You do not 
 hear it again, and you will not, for if they have no means 
 of quieting it, they'll send back for grease. I'll bet now 
 that those wheels are bound round with straw or rags, 
 and that the horses' feet are covered with cloth or buck- 
 skin, to prevent any sound from reaching us. Unless 
 something goes wrong with them when they ford the 
 stream, you will hear nothing further until the artillery 
 
 " It was a fortunate thing for us that they were obliged 
 to cross not more than two hundred yards below the 
 camp, for had they come down upon the prairie side, we 
 should probably not have heard them, as we would have 
 been to the windward. 
 
 " Bowie went cautiously about the camp, and arousing a 
 few old scouts to help him, soon had every man in camp 
 awake and prepared, without the least noise being made 
 in the premature reveille. 
 
 " We spread ourselves entirely around our small piece 
 of bottom land, facing the prairie, knowing that thence 
 must come the attack. Presently we heard the enemy 
 cross the river. Had our senses not been sharpened to 
 the utmost by a knowledge of the impending and immi- 
 nent danger, we probably could not have distinguished the 
 slight noise attending their crossing, from the rushing 
 sweep of the river ; but so preternaturally acute did our 
 hearing become, that the low toned words of command 
 could be distinctly separated from the other surrounding
 
 THE FOG LIFTING. 155 
 
 sounds. There was just air enough to convey the slightest 
 noise to us, without there being sufficient to disturb even a 
 leaf. 
 
 " At last they were all over, and then slowly and care- 
 fully did they march round to take post on our front, pre- 
 paratory to their intended attack. We could hear them 
 range themselves, but a thick mist was rising from the 
 river, and everything was by this time concealed from our 
 eyes. We could even hear them unlimber the cannon, 
 and were very sure that they were in reach of our rifles. 
 What weary moments were those, as we lay, silent as the 
 grave, expecting every instant to hear the roar, and feel 
 the hurtling storm of their artillery. But the fog had dis- 
 concerted them, and although it was but little past three 
 when we were first alarmed, the ruddy tint imparted to 
 the dense mass of vapor, now told us plainly that the sun 
 was rising. 
 
 " Never can I forget that weary watching, but its pro- 
 longed anxiety was as nothing to the dreadful feeling of 
 suspense we experienced when the fog commenced lifting, 
 and we could see the feet of the horses and the lower part 
 of the wheels of the artillery. At this moment word 
 was whispered cautiously through the ranks for each 
 man to pick out his mark, and to fire from a rest, at 
 the word of command. Higher and higher the fog 
 drew up. It was evident that the decisive moment was 
 at hand. Officers passed in front of the line of horse, 
 issuing orders. 
 
 " ' Take a tree,' whispered Bowie to me ; ' take a tree, 
 the nearest one to our breastwork that you can.' 
 
 " A cool breeze fans our fevered cheeks, the dense mass 
 of vapor rolls up as a curtain ; there stand the horse
 
 156 THE COLONEL'S STORY CONTINUED. 
 
 fully revealed, there are the cannon, there the gunners 
 whirling their matches, there the trumpeter with his 
 instrument already at his lips to sound the charge. All 
 this we saw, but only saw it, for at this very instant the 
 matches were extended towards the cannon, the horsemen 
 drove their long rowels deep into the horses' sides, but ere 
 the iron storm burst forth, ere the horses had made the 
 first leap, or the trumpeter blown his first note, a stento- 
 rian voice from our ranks shouted ' Fire !' 
 
 " Down went horse and rider, down gunner and trum- 
 peter, and rifle ball and grape shot met careering in mid 
 air. The confusion in their ranks was indescribable. 
 Checked in full career, the horses wheeled and ran ; every 
 man at the guns was shot down, and for a moment we 
 thought that the contest was over. But no ; they knew 
 our numerical weakness too well, and having again formed, 
 here they came dashing up in splendid style. The strife 
 was now to obtain the mastery of the artillery. We 
 dared not take them, and determined that they should 
 not. 
 
 " ' Give it to them in the face and eyes, boys,' shouted 
 Bowie, ' never mind their backs.' 
 
 " Up they came, and just as the leading squadron 
 reached the guns, down went every man of the front rank, 
 and away went the rest. 
 
 " Another charge, and the same result ; then came a 
 bold attempt to withdraw the cannon without our line 
 of fire, and here more courage was exhibited than I have 
 ever seen in Mexicans since. They surrounded the guns, 
 dismounted some men, and absolutely gave us a harmless 
 salute ; but again every artillery-man bit the dust. 
 
 " The enemy, forced to abandon their field-pieces, once
 
 THE BATTLE WON, AND LOST. 157 
 
 more retreated, and their officers evidently held a long 
 and warm consultation, in full sight, but out of our line of 
 fire. Some of our men wished to make a rush for the 
 cannon, but to have been caught upon the prairie, would 
 have been destruction, and the proposition was decidedly 
 overruled. 
 
 " The enemy were in trouble ; the men had apparently 
 had quite enough of it, and we could see the officers whip- 
 ping them into rank with their swords. 
 
 " On they come again, and as they draw near, Bowie's 
 voice is heard once more : 
 
 " ' Steady, boys, steady ! wait your time !' 
 
 " We did ; and I firmly believe that three out of four 
 of our shot told. The destruction was awful ; no Mexi- 
 can could stand it. As they broke in confusion, a ma 
 the Sergeant Major dropped from his horse, hammer in 
 hand, and endeavored to spike one of the guns. He fell, 
 shot through the head. Our men, no longer to be 
 restrained, now dashed out upon the prairie, seized the 
 guns, and the fight was over. 
 
 " Had they done this before the enemy were thoroughly 
 disheartened and cut up, not one of us would have lived 
 to have told the tale, but all the fight was fairly taken out 
 of our foes. 
 
 " The field was won, with no greater loss upon our 
 side than two men slightly wounded. Bowie approached 
 me " 
 
 " ' Colonel/ said he, ' I believe this is your first fight. 
 What tree did you take ?' 
 
 " ' I could not tell for the life of me/ said I. 
 
 " ' Well, come with me, and I'll show it to you,' he 
 answered, and taking me a few steps, pointed out a sap- 
 
 four 
 
 cxi- 
 n
 
 158 THE COLONEL'S STORY CONTINUED. 
 
 ling about six inches through. ' A pretty shield for a 
 full grown man/ said he, and I thought so too. 
 
 " We did not wait for another visit from our Mexican 
 friends, but, having spiked the cannon, we threw them in 
 the river, carried off the ammunition, and made the best 
 of our way back to Burlison's camp. 
 
 " And now, gentlemen, to our blankets."
 
 CHAPTER XYI. 
 
 SOME OF THE PLEASURES OF A NEW COUNTRY. 
 
 THE next day saw the Colonel, Uncle Billy, and the 
 reader's humble servant en route for the up-prairie settle- 
 ment, where it was arranged that I should remain a 
 month, and then, with the two land litigants, proceed to 
 Maiden as for reasons, a certain county town shall be 
 designated. 
 
 Four days' attention of the doctor, and something 1 
 than a pound of calomel, put Joe, not exactly upon 
 legs again they being rather shaky for some time but 
 quite the other side of the fever. In Texas, the physician 
 must make short work of the disease, or the disease will 
 of the patient, and when the body-curer has twenty-five or 
 thirty miles to ride to a case, it is customary for him to 
 remain until the affair terminates one way or another. 
 The patient finds a double advantage in this, for he avoids 
 more than one payment of the somewhat serious charge of 
 mileage a dollar a mile and also is hurried out of his 
 fever or out of the world with all possible celerity by the 
 doctor, ,who fears being called away before his work is 
 half done. 
 
 In Joe's weak state, the shingles were a very heavy 
 weight upon his mind. The rain recommenced on the 
 day after my return, and for a week poured, until the 
 porous earth would drink in no more, and then the fluid 
 made wide and unaccustomed lakes upon the level ground,
 
 160 PLEASURES OF A NEW COUNTRY. 
 
 or went off in extemporaneous rivers, wherever a descent 
 of surface gave it a chance to run. Joe's mind, sleeping 
 or waking, dwelt upon nothing but shingles ; now he 
 would flatter himself that they were safe, and then again 
 in his mind's eye he would see miles of the river, and the 
 entire surface of the bay, covered over with a very unne- 
 cessary roof as it were at his expense. 
 
 Determined to set at rest a matter that was evidently 
 producing an injurious effect upon the convalescent, I 
 persuaded one of his brothers to accompany me to the 
 thicket. Long before we reached the river, a deep rush- 
 ing and moaning sound, breaking the sacred silence that 
 usually dwelt in the old woods, admonished us of what we 
 had to expect, and yet, when we at last reached the bank, 
 ,nd pushing our way through the dense cane that formed a 
 wall impervious to the eye, had a fair view of the swollen 
 current, the effect of the sight was truly startling. 
 
 To me there is always something fearful and soul-sub- 
 duing in the mighty rush of dark and resistless waters, and 
 when such a sight suddenly burst upon my view, in the wild 
 and lonely forest, I fairly shuddered. 
 
 The river was bank full, and swept by us with frightful 
 velocity, tearing down huge trees, and hurrying them off 
 as if they were but straws upon its surface. The quiet, 
 gentle stream, that once tripped merrily along, with its 
 clear waters sparkling in the sunbeams, had changed to a 
 savage monster, a giant refreshed with sleep, who in a 
 fury was hurrying on, lashing the banks, ravenously 
 devouring everything in its path, to try conclusions with 
 the tides of the bay. 
 
 It was evidently all up with our timber speculation. 
 Our shingles had cleared for the gulf and a market, with- 

 
 OFF, ON THEIK OWN HOOK. 161 
 
 out due clearance, and in all human probability "our 
 bark was on the sea" at that particular moment. My 
 companion came to the same conclusion, and expressed it 
 too in his own way. 
 
 " Them shingles," said he, " is done gone, and the ' dug- 
 out' 's arter 'em. Wont the red fish bark thar noses and 
 spile thar teeth, and the grand-ecoys" (large and ravenous 
 fish) " choke theyselves jumpin' at 'em for mullet ? Mighty 
 apt, I tell ye. Aint the river a humping it tho ? Reckon 
 we'd best be a-barkin' on the back track, for dern my 
 skin ef the ' drink' aint up and a-coming like a quarter 
 horse." 
 
 I thought so too, and accordingly home we went. Now 
 that Joe knew the worst, he was perfectly resigned and 
 quiet about it. All his speculations had had equally 
 unfortunate terminations, and if this had succeeded I am 
 convinced that he would have been really disappointed, 
 and have looked upon his success as something quite 
 unnatural and portentous. The excitement of the chase 
 was all that he craved, and but little cared he for the 
 game. 
 
 " I'd a swore it," was the only reply that my tale of 
 destruction elicited, and evidently as relieved in his mind 
 as Marryat's Captain upon discovering that his son had 
 certainly been swallowed by a shark, our speculative phi- 
 losopher turned over and went to sleep. 
 
 A miserable dreary month of drizzling rain succeeded 
 my return, enlivened only by the musquitoes, red ants, 
 and a semi-occasional ray of moist, half-asleep sunshine. 
 Musquitoes are not usually troublesome in Texas. The 
 heavy winds sweep them from the prairie, a day's hot sun 
 or a heavy shower destroy all within their reach, but the 

 
 162 PLEASURES OF A NEW COUNTRY. 
 
 drizzling misty weather we then experienced was just the 
 thing for them, and words can convey but a slight idea of 
 the nuisance they became. Horses and cattle herded 
 closely together in great droves, taught by instinct that 
 the steam from their reeking sides would banish the tor- 
 mentors. Stock-raisers made huge fires nightly in front 
 of their cow-pens, and the poor animals would assemble 
 from all parts of the prairie, and pass the night under the 
 friendly protection of the smoke. Out-door work was in 
 many places suspended, for men needed both hands to pro- 
 tect their faces, and consequently had none to spare for 
 any other purpose. Those who remained in the house 
 kept near by them a pan of coals and cobs, made living 
 bacon of themselves all day, and sweltered and suffocated 
 all night with their heads under a blanket unless indeed 
 they were the fortunate proprietors of a musquito bar. 
 But the ants! the intolerable, indestructible, unconquer- 
 able ants. The termites of Africa are fools to them. I 
 have no question but that the frequent mounds upon the 
 prairies of Texas are the work of the large white ant. 
 You will find no mound without one or more of their 
 hills upon it. This variety, and also the large black ant, 
 if left alone, cause little trouble ; but the small red ant, 
 that invades houses, stables, and corn cribs, in hordes of 
 untold myriads, heaping up piles of dirt three and four 
 feet in height against the side of any building which may 
 be convenient, and invading every part, are truly an 
 Egyptian plague. 
 
 I once saw three men spend the whole of a long sum- 
 mers day a rainy one in heating and pouring water 
 down one of those miniature caves that lead to the domi- 
 cile of a new colony. On the next morning, the sun
 
 ANTS ON THE MARCH. 163 
 
 shone brightly, and his first rays fell upon millions of the 
 unfortunates, who had been scalded in their holes, and as 
 soon as the rain had ceased, were brought up by their liv- 
 ing brethren, and lay strewn all around the vicinity of 
 their hole. 
 
 The only advantage one possesses in living, as it were, 
 among the ants, is, that other vermin give this small and 
 spiteful insect a very wide berth. The common cock- 
 roach and the Spanish roach known to ears polite and 
 scientific as the "cimex lectularius" keep at a very 
 respectful distance, and that especial torment, the flea, 
 will turn and flee. 
 
 Texas, in fact, may be entomologically divided into two 
 great sections : the ant country and the roach and flea 
 country. The musquitoes, snakes, scorpions, centipedes, 
 red bugs, and tarantulas, are impartially distributed 
 between both. Of the two grand divisions, I much prefer 
 the land of ants, for there you can manage to exist during 
 the dry weather, although when a heavy rain sets in, the 
 sight of a line of ants marching and countermarching 
 across the floor, perhaps up the bed-posts, and right 
 through your bed, all engaged in removing their house- 
 hold gods to some drier latitude, is more astonishing than 
 agreeable. 
 
 One night, during a severe storm, I slept in a large 
 room, with a companion who was to depart at daybreak 
 for up-country. On entering our sleeping apartments, we 
 noticed several lines of ants marching across the floor, 
 but as there was no such thing as interrupting their 
 march, we retired for the night, praying fervently that 
 they might not take it into their heads to make a " covered 
 way" of either of our beds before morning.
 
 k 
 
 164 PLEASURES OF A NEW COUNTRY. 
 
 About light, I was aroused by a tremendous uproar, and 
 found my friend dancing up and down the room " in natu 
 ralibus," yelling, stamping, and slapping himself with such 
 violence that he appeared as if animated with an insane 
 desire to reduce himself to a human jelly as soon as possi- 
 ble. 
 
 " What on earth is the matter ?" inquired I. 
 
 No answer did I obtain, but after a few more salta- 
 torial performances upon the gentleman's part, I saw him 
 jerk open the door, rush out, accoutred as he was his 
 only garment swaying and flapping about in the morning 
 breeze run at top speed to a small stream near at hand, 
 and, without a moment's hesitation, plunge head-foremost 
 in it. 
 
 '' Sudden insanity and felo-de-se," thought I, but no 
 such thing. As soon as my friend having cooled him- 
 self off had returned and recovered his breath, he 
 informed me that his inferior garment, chancing to fall in 
 a straight line upon the floor during the night, the main 
 array or principal column of ants had changed somewhat 
 the order of their going, and marched directly through 
 the very convenient tunnel that chance had provided for 
 them. Being somewhat nearer asleep than awake when 
 he jumped up, he did not perceive the black stream that 
 was footing it through the feet, nor the issue of the bands 
 from the waist-bands of his trowsers. Seizing the article 
 in both hands like Cassius when playing "follow my 
 leader" with the immortal captain of Rome he plunged in, 
 and bade me, not follow, but awake in haste. If the torrent 
 did not roar, he did ; stemming it and throwing it aside 
 with hands of controversy, and finally ended his frolic 
 where the Romans began theirs with a cold bath.
 
 A SELECT LIBRARY. 165 
 
 The month rolled slowly by ; the rain fell, the musqui- 
 toes swarmed and bit, the ants changed their quarters 
 often, and sometimes a heavy shower at night, and a fresh 
 leak in the roof, compelled me to change mine. 
 
 Besides these amusements, I played a little upon the 
 ordinary stone pipe, and spent much of my time in drink- 
 ing coffee, chatting, and reading. The library of the 
 Hough settlement was not large to be sure, but it was 
 select. A well thumbed copy of Webster's spelling-book 
 and one of Hale's History of the United States were all 
 that the shelf contained. If I remember rightly, I read 
 the latter book through seventeen times, and regret to say 
 that ennui so got the better of my peaceful principles that 
 I sincerely regretted the war had not lasted ten years 
 longer. At length we had a few days' sunshine, and in 
 desperation I plunged into deer-hunting, and devoted 
 and mind to the pursuit. 
 
 But the fine animals merit a chapter to themselves.
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 A CHAPTER ON THE DEEE. 
 
 i Some love the green wood's shady grove. 
 
 And some the mountain side. 
 Some would in peaceful valleys rove, 
 And in their rich fields pride. 
 
 The prairie's grass-waved landward sea, 
 The broad expanse of green, 
 And countless herds of deer, to me 
 Are better far I ween. 
 
 OF all the animals with whose natural history I am 
 acquainted, the Red Deer is the most curious. Curious in 
 both significations of the word are they, singular in all 
 their habits, and also possessing a greater share of pure 
 unmistakable curiosity, than falls to the lot of any other 
 living things that boast of FOUR legs to carry them through 
 the world. I have sometimes thought the generic term, 
 DEAR woman, had been bestowed upon the sex by some 
 mighty hunter, who, equally cunning in the field and bou- 
 doir, thus embodied and concealed a fine sugar-coated sar- 
 casm, and capital pun. 
 
 The deer appears to me to have been intended for a 
 domestic animal ; and we have none that so soon becomes 
 familiar with, and attached to man. Run down a fawn of 
 two or three months, throw him across the saddle in front 
 of you, and as soon as you have reached home, you may set 
 the little fellow upon the ground, and leave him untied and 
 unwatched, for the short ride of a mile or so in your com- 
 pany is quite sufficient to thoroughly tame him.
 
 JACK'S CRUISE ASHORE. 167 
 
 Be careful, however, lest you meddle or make with those 
 of a more advanced age. Their hoofs cut like razors, and 
 every muscle in their bony legs has the force and elasticity 
 of a bow-string. 
 
 The stories travellers are wont to tell, concerning the 
 dangers to be apprehended from bears, catamounts, wolves, 
 and wild cats, are all a gigantic humbug. 
 
 Wolves at least southern ones are cowardly as 
 whipped curs. A catamount or panther is a huge creature 
 in truth, and doubtless might make a formidable fight 
 and so might an ox ; and is in fact quite as likely to. I 
 have slept upon the ground night after night, without the 
 least apprehension, in a thicket where I knew catamounts 
 abounded, and although they left the sign manual of their 
 huge paws in the sand, about the camp, they never dared 
 meddle with the inmates. 
 
 The bear has a species of sullen courage, when too closely 
 pressed, too badly treated, or especially if a female, 
 should the family circle and the little ones be too rudely 
 intruded on. But leave Bruin to himself, don't tread upon 
 his toes, and he is a very respectable, quiet, stupid indivi- 
 dual, with a species of surly humor and fun about him, that 
 is excessively amusing. The tiger cat, or wild cat, is 
 harmless as far as anything larger than poultry is con- 
 cerned ; at least I have never known of more than one 
 person being injured by them, and he brought the punish- 
 ment upon himself. 
 
 A sailor had escaped from some man-of-war at Savan- 
 nah ; fearful of being retaken, and meeting the punishment 
 of a deserter, he made a straight wake up the river for 
 Augusta. Before entering the town, he determined to 
 reconnoitre a little, or as he would have expressed it, stand
 
 168 A CHAPTER ON THE DEER. 
 
 off and on, and pick up a stray negro perhaps, who might 
 furnish him with food and information. 
 
 Fatigued with his hasty journey, honest Jack turned in, 
 in a dense thicket, hoping to recruit his wasted energies, 
 and brighten his brain with a cat's nap, which, however, 
 was but of short duration. A mingled howling, yelling, 
 spitting, barking, and caterwauling, in his immediate vici- 
 nity, suddenly awoke him, and jumping up in haste, he 
 beheld a huge wild cat backed up against a tree, doing 
 battle against some dozen hounds, whelps, and curs, of 
 every degree. 
 
 Now, everybody acquainted with Jack's idiosyncrasies, 
 knows that Nature or Neptune has implanted in his breast 
 a singular fondness for out-of-the-way birds and beasts ; 
 and our worthy friend could not resist the temptation of 
 making captive so charming a stranger. Drawing off his 
 monkey jacket, he cautiously approached the tree where 
 sat the chivalrous cat, not dreaming of her new enemy, and 
 suddenly throwing the said jacket over the cat, he enfolded 
 ier in it, and drew her to him in a close, if not loving 
 embrace. 
 
 He had better have hugged the gunner's daughter, for 
 the alarmed and infuriated beast fastened upon him, and 
 tore away with tooth and toe-nail. Poor Jack, not emu- 
 lous of repeating the tale of the Spartan boy and fox, cast 
 off from- the strange sail as soon as he could get clear of 
 her grapnels, and then had to make the best of his way into 
 town for medical assistance. 
 
 I presume he learnt from this, the necessity of giving 
 strange craft a wide berth when cruising in strange lati- 
 tudes without a chart. 
 - I am sorry to demolish the wonderful tales of so many
 
 A FAMILY ON LOW DIET. 169 
 
 of our western travellers at one blow, but I can assure my 
 readers that as far as my experience serves, the beasts of 
 prey of the Southwest are a perfectly harmless and much- 
 abused race of individuals, and that a person incurs more 
 danger from passing through a barnyard, when occupied 
 by its horses, cows, and oxen, than from staying a week in 
 the wild woods, and listening to the nightlong serenade of 
 the wolf, and the rattle of other and larger beasts in the 
 cane. 
 
 But from the stock cattle of the prairies there is real 
 danger. And the deer like dear woman again when 
 thoroughly aroused, is no contemptible enemy, as any one 
 will believe who' has seen a buck with his hair thrown 
 back, and his flashing eyes, preparing for a charge. 
 
 I knew a very worthy old gentleman who, en route for 
 Texas, had been shipwrecked, and lost all his worldly 
 goods, save and except the materfamilias, and a dozen or so 
 of youngsters of both sexes, all provided by dame Nature 
 with prodigious mouths, and appetites to match. 
 
 For some time after their exodus, the family practised a 
 series of experiments like the Milesian horse educated to 
 live on nothing to ascertain how near they might 
 approach the verge of starvation without going quite over 
 the dam, and when at last the old gentleman became the 
 possessor of a musket, there was great rejoicing among his 
 famishing brood. 
 
 Likejnany others, he imagined that as there were always 
 great numbers of deer upon the prairie, all that he had to 
 do was to go out and shoot them down ; but being no 
 great sportsman a Quaker to boot, and therefore not to 
 the manner of shooting born, he made a sad mistake. 
 
 Loading his musket in such a manner that it would pro-
 
 170 A CHAPTER OX THE DEER. 
 
 bably do execution, at one end if it did not at the other, 
 he sallied forth a-field. 
 
 At a distance, a large drove of deer were quietly crop- 
 ping the prairie grass, and towards them he bent his way. 
 Having heard the mode of crawling for deer described, when 
 he had approached them somewhat, down he dropped upon 
 his knees and commenced Nebuchadnezzarising towards 
 his intended victims, drawing his gun behind him. It was 
 slow and wearisome work, and the old gentleman was 
 wheezing and panting along like- a high-pressure steamer, 
 when he suddenly heard something behind him blowing 
 rather harder than his own pipe. 
 
 He turned, and right in his track a large buck was fol- 
 lowing, smelling and snuffling the trail, his eye flashing, 
 his hair all turned the wrong way, and the beast evidently 
 quite ready for a fight. Not so our friend but dropping 
 his musket, without a thought of putting it to its legiti- 
 mate use, off he went instead of his gun, and scoured for 
 home to endure the reproaches of his wife and family, and 
 to have his first and last hunting adventure fastened to 
 him, a joke in perpetuo. 
 
 I knew an instance of a man who had been at the house 
 of a neighbor to borrow a shovel, and was returning home 
 with the implement upon his shoulder, when a large buck 
 made a fierce and entirely unprovoked attack upon him. 
 
 Being a determined and powerful man, he gave the pug- 
 nacious animal rather more than a Roland for his Oliver, 
 and finally laid him out or as he said, made meat of him ; 
 but for the aid of the shovel aforesaid the result might 
 have been different. Spades, certainly, were trumps with 
 him. 
 
 The most singular affair of the kind that ever occurred
 
 A BUCK FIGHT. 171 
 
 to my knowledge, was a regular up and down fight, 
 between a wounded buck and an old, experienced, and 
 athletic hunter. The latter had crossed the bayou, upon 
 whose brink his cabin stood, and in a very short time 
 crawled up to a fine deer, who fell in his tracks at the 
 rifle's crack. 
 
 There are three things to be done when a deer is shot 
 down, and your true hunter seldom neglects them he first 
 reloads his rifle then hamstrings his game then cuts its 
 throat. Our hunter imprudently neglected the first pre- 
 caution, and thinking the deer dead, or entirely hors de 
 combat, drew his hunting knife, and approached with the 
 intention of cutting the hamstrings. A sad mistake he 
 made ; for just as he was about to cut, the deer gave him 
 such a kick as a deer can give, the man landed upon his 
 back, and the knife went heaven knows where. 
 
 In an instant, both the deer and our friend were 
 upon their feet the deer rushed at the man, who seiz- 
 ing the horns and giving them a violent twist, down 
 went both of the combatants ; this was repeated again 
 and again, until the contending parties were entirely 
 exhausted. 
 
 At last, the quadruped marched off a few rods,, and 
 stood looking intently at the biped. The latter, after 
 patiently waiting for half an hour, endeavored to creep to 
 the spot where his gun was lying. In an instant the deer 
 was upon him, and again the same scene was re-acted. 
 Once more the deer left him, and this time our hunter had 
 the good sense to lie perfectly still until night-fall, when 
 the deer slowly moved off, and the man then crawled on 
 his hands and knees for walk he could not to the bank 
 of the bayou, and by his shouts obtained assistance. He
 
 172 A CHAPTER ON THE DEER. 
 
 was taken over to his cabin, and there lay for nearly two 
 months before he recovered from his severe bruises. 
 
 The yearly shedding of the deer's horns is not the least 
 singular peculiarity of the animal. The horns commence 
 growing at the end of the second year ; in one year 
 after, they drop off and soon reappear with an addi- 
 tional point, so that to ascertain the age of the animal, all 
 that you have to do, is to count the points upon either 
 horn, and by adding two to them you will obtain a correct 
 result. 
 
 I have mentioned the curiosity of the deer, and truly 
 their inquisitive disposition is marvellous ; it overcomes 
 their timidity, and frequently proves fatal to them. 
 
 Place yourself in a tuft of high prairie grass, within 
 sight of, and not too far from a drove, and by popping up 
 one arm, then another, then your foot, then waving a hand- 
 kerchief from the end of your ramrod, you will soon have 
 the animals' curiosity thoroughly awakened. 
 
 First they will snuff the air, to endeavor to ascertain 
 by the scent what new creature has made his appearance 
 in their domain ; then they will commence walking slowly 
 up to you, nor stop, until satisfied that it is a man, or met 
 by your rifle-ball. 
 
 They make very troublesome pets ; perfectly at home, 
 they will roam over every part of the field, garden, and 
 house, poke their noses in the dairy taste the milk, upset 
 a pan or two, and if they meet with anything not to their 
 liking, give it a butt with their head, or horns, if they 
 have any walk out, nip a cabbage or so, eat a few sweet 
 potatoe vines, try a dozen roses, and perhaps finish their 
 lunch with a cambric handkerchief or a choice bit of a 
 flannel petticoat, should there be any spread out upon the
 
 NEGEO HUNTERS. 173 
 
 grass. I have even seen one make fair headway with a 
 chew of tobacco, although he ultimately came to the con- 
 clusion that it was not good for his complaint. 
 
 Upon one point I have never met with any exaggera- 
 tion the abundance of deer and other species of game in 
 the prairies and timber lands of Texas, and in fact it 
 would be difficult to exaggerate. 
 
 I have lived upon the bank of a bayou, and counted 
 night after night, from five or six to twenty droves come 
 down to the stream to drink. 
 
 They are there, plain to be seen ; killing them is how- 
 ever entirely a different affair, and few persons ever 
 become successful hunters. You may ride among them, 
 and you will find them more approachable and less timid 
 than even the stock cattle ; but dismount, and they are 
 shy enough. 
 
 The most successful mode, and the most practised one 
 of hunting them, is to crawl; that is,' upon discovering a 
 drove near you, go down upon your hands and knees, get- 
 ting a tree or a prairie mound before you, and slowly 
 approach the deer, and if you are very fortunate, and have 
 patience enough, you may get a shot at them ; provided, 
 always, your gun will go off. 
 
 The most uniformly fortunate hunters are negroes ; some 
 of whom, trained to the business to supply a plantation 
 with meat, seem to make a sure thing of it. I remember 
 one in particular, that, to my knowledge, was sent out 
 usually as often as twice a week after meat, and during a 
 period of a year he failed but once ; and then, overtaken 
 with an ague fit, he was forced to seek shelter under the 
 shade of a tree, and give up to it. 
 
 This fellow seemed to hunt by intuition ; he would leave
 
 174 A CHAPTER ON THE DEER. 
 
 his hat at home, tie a flaming red bandanna around his 
 woolly sconce, and marching off quite unconcernedly into 
 the prairie, seat himself in a place where you would be 
 sure the drove in sight would never visit ; yet there would 
 he sit, motionless as a statue, and it seemed that the deer 
 never failed to put themselves within reach of his fatal rifle. 
 
 Hunting anything is hard work ; but hunting deer is 
 worse than all other. There is more danger of tearing 
 your clothes from your back, scratching face and hands, 
 and bruising limbs in a bear hunt, but then there is the 
 superior excitement of the latter. 
 
 A man does meet with so many woeful disappointments 
 in the former r that, after a few attempts, nine persons out 
 of ten resign in disgust all pretension to Nimrodism in 
 that line. 
 
 Par exemple, one fine winter's morning I crossed the 
 stream, gun in hand, having previously announced at the 
 breakfast-table my intention not to return without meat. 
 Whereat every one laughed, as the same determination 
 had been heard before, from more than one about the 
 board, without being succeeded by any very decided 
 results. 
 
 As I was saying, I crossed the bayou, and then looked 
 around me for my game, but none were in sight, where 
 usually hundreds were to be found. 
 
 Near the stream was a fine grove of trees, and one of 
 these I ascended, for the purpose of " prospecting," as a 
 Californian would say, for deer. I looked around the 
 wide prairie, and finally discovered one solitary animal at 
 a distance of perhaps a mile, and after him I started, 
 knowing that with but one chance I must take especial 
 pains and caution.
 
 A COOL PROCEEDING. 175 
 
 When I had diminished the space between us by one 
 half, down I dropped, and went to creeping, for fear my 
 intended prey might discover me ; and once seen, all hope 
 of getting him would be lost. 
 
 Here let me remark, that one of those gentle, genial 
 showers which occasionally visit Texas in winter, some- 
 times beginning and ending with it although of but ten 
 days' duration, had drenched the prairie, and left a stand- 
 ing coat and covering of water, from one to two feet in 
 depth. 
 
 Under these circumstances, the reader will perhaps 
 appreciate the true delight I must have experienced in 
 creeping upon hands or on one hand, the other of neces- 
 sity sustaining my gun above the water and knees, 
 through half a mile of sharp, high grass, and particularly 
 cool water. 
 
 When I had, not perambulated, but genuflected over 
 what I ^upposed to be a sufficient distance, I raised my 
 head carefully, and looked around me. No deer was to 
 be seen. At length, within fifteen feet of me, I spied a 
 pair of ears, just visible above the grass ; there lay my 
 game. 
 
 " But stop," thought I, " may it not be a mule ? I had 
 better make sure, before I put my foot in it !" 
 
 I stood up, and although nothing but the ears and a 
 small bit of the head was visible, I was satisfied that my 
 " dear" friend, for whom I had been wading and crawling 
 for a mortal hour, was before me. Down I sat, shook out 
 my priming, wiped the frizen, then up again, and taking a 
 long, deliberate aim. touched the hair trigger, and the 
 gun missed fire. Before the deer could have seen me if 
 the noise should have awakened him down I dropped
 
 176 A CHAPTER ON THE DEEE. 
 
 again, and this time removed my flint, and put in a fresh 
 one, then, standing up, repeated my attempt, with no better 
 
 Again I took out the flint, rubbed the frizcn, scratched 
 its face, reprimed, and taking aim, again my gun missed 
 fire. 
 
 The deer, who had been disturbed by the second snap, 
 at the third jumped as if she had been hit, and started off 
 at top speed ; but bleating arrested her progress, and she 
 turned and looked me full in the face, while I had time to 
 take a fair aim, and miss fire again ! 
 
 Oh Job ! thou Prince of Patience, who refused to boil 
 over with rage, although covered over with boils and bad- 
 gered with friends, hadst thou been in my stead, and had 
 swearing been then invented, methinks thou wouldst have 
 given thy tongue and temper a holiday. 
 
 What made the matter infinitely more annoying was, 
 that when the deer was entirely out of shot, the gum which 
 I had been snapping, finally consented to go off. 
 
 Had there been a tree near, that gun had never played 
 me another trick.
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 A NIGHT IN A SHINGLE PALACE. 
 
 THE weary month drew at last to an end ; the time and 
 the men came, and I took my departure from the settle- 
 ment of my primitive and kind-hearted friends. The 
 prairies were covered with water ; every marais overflow- 
 ing, and each river, bayou, and branch, not content with 
 its own bank-fulness of the element, must needs throw 
 out aqueous colonies in every direction, and inundate 
 all the bottom lands. Some streams were miles in 
 width. 
 
 Had it not been for the inexhaustible good-humor of 
 Uncle Billy, our long ride would have been quite as dry 
 in one sense, as it was wet, in another. The Colonel was 
 undeniably in a bad humor, and with some cause for it. 
 Some time after the expulsion of the Mexicans from the 
 country, a board of travelling commissioners was appointed 
 to examine the claims of all landed proprietors ; to con- 
 firm the titles of all good citizens, and of those who, if 
 absent, had furnished aid in proportion to their property ; 
 and also to deprive of their land all who might have 
 favored the enemy in any manner, or refused their assist- 
 ance to the popular cause. About the time that this board 
 was organized, Colonel Ting was obliged to be absent, 
 and to spend some months in Alabama. 
 
 Having fought bravely through the war, and even 
 recruited and taken to the country a company of infantry, 
 8*
 
 178 A NIGHT IN A SHINGLE PALACE. 
 
 i 
 
 there could be but little danger of his being accused of 
 incivisme ; but he had dipped largely in land speculation. 
 Many of his surveys were very valuable, some as yet 
 imperfect in title, and he well knew they were looked 
 upon with covetous eyes by men in office and in power. 
 Under these circumstances he deemed it advisable to have 
 a portion of his interest represented by some one who 
 would be in the country at the time the " travelling 
 board" should investigate his claims. He chose a man 
 who had been one of his' surveying party, had served dur- 
 ing the war under him, and was then in his employ, and 
 promising him a very liberal reward if he conducted the 
 business properly, intrusted him with papers of great 
 value, upon the proper management of which depended 
 many a fat tract of land. 
 
 The agent whose name, by the way, was Horsely 
 improved the opportunity, let his employer's case go by 
 default, and was rewarded for his rascality by a large 
 slice of the very spoil, and money enough to set him up in 
 business. 
 
 The postal arrangements between Texas and the mother 
 country were then somewhat imperfect, and before any of 
 Ting's friends could send him a word of warning, the mis- 
 chief was done. 
 
 Ting returned as soon as possible, consulted the shrewd- 
 est lawyers in the republic, and wherever it was possible 
 the disputed lands were taken absolute possession of by 
 his agents, who commenced improvements upon them. It 
 was soon discovered that Horsely had not given up tho 
 papers, which were now of the greatest value, as upon 
 their production or destruction probably depended the 
 issue pf a}l the suits. The traitor apparently meditated
 
 PROPOSED COMPROMISE. 179 
 
 a double treachery. He took care to keep very far out 
 of the Colonel's way, but at last was brought to something 
 like terms by one of his counsel. 
 
 According to his own story, Horsely was very innocent 
 indeed. He said that he had done all in his power to pro- 
 tect the rights of Colonel Ting, but had been outgeneralled, 
 and thtt the best that he could do was to come to temporize 
 wilh the enemy. He had received about two leagues of 
 land, and two thousand dollars, but had yet the possession 
 of the papers, which he had pretended to the adverse 
 party were destroyed. At the time, they were considered 
 to be of but little value, but recent trials proved the con- 
 trary to be the case, and now he was ready to resign them, 
 and assist the Colonel in regaining his land, provided he 
 should be properly compensated for his great trouble, 
 fatigue, and expense. His share of the spoils, he only 
 deemed as part payment of his just claim, and modestly 
 asked to be secured in the possession of it, and also for 
 five thousand dollars more, or a mortgage upon the lands 
 for that amount, if the Colonel should win his suits 
 through his assistance. 
 
 The Colonel refused any compromise, and sent him 
 word that if he considered his life of the least value, he 
 must keep out of the reach of his the Colonel's rifle. 
 Ting further informed him that he would not hunt him 
 down, unless he should appear as a witness in the case for 
 the ^adverse party, or should destroy the papers ; but if 
 either of these things occurred, he would not rest day or 
 night until he was revenged. 
 
 Lately, the Colonel's lawyers had ascertained that 
 Horsely was connected with a gang of thieves and des- 
 peradoes an offshoot of the well known " Murrell clan "
 
 180 A NIGHT IN A SHINGLE PALACE. 
 
 who had escaped to Texas, and while ostensibly follow- 
 ing honest trades and professions, were in reality engaged 
 in any villany that came readily to hand. 
 
 As the citizens of one of the eastern counties were 
 about taking up the matter, with the intention of ridding 
 their borders of them, it was thought that some discoveries 
 might be made during the secret but thorough system of 
 investigation that had been adopted, which might impli- 
 cate Horsely in such a manner that legal or popular jus- 
 tice would lay claim to him, and in that case doubtless 
 many things would come to light, of benefit to the Colonel 
 and his claims. 
 
 A suit of very great importance had in consequence 
 been put off from term to term, until heavy costs had 
 accrued, and it was feared that it must go to trial at the 
 approaching spring term of the court at Maiden. 
 
 Upon the decision in this case depended several others, 
 and as the lawyers predicted a defeat unless further delay 
 could be interposed, it was no wonder that the Colonel's 
 humor was of the sourest. Immersed in his own plans 
 and thoughts, he kept some distance ahead of Mr. Roberts 
 and myself, and scarcely exchanged a word with us during 
 our first day's journey. 
 
 Far different was it with "Uncle Billy;" his good 
 humor flowed on in an unceasing . stream- of fun, stories, 
 and droll remarks, whenever the path such as it was 
 would admit of us travelling side by side. 
 
 A weary day's journey we had of it ; the water upon 
 the prairies often being mid-leg deep to our horses, the 
 gullies mostly in fine swimming condition, with "head" 
 enough to carry half a dozen saw mills, and the " marais " 
 soft enough to " bog a blanket," as Uncle Billy expressed
 
 A COUNCIL OP WAR. 181 
 
 it. We had followed the prairie trail all day, had seen 
 but two houses, and those miles away upon the edge of the 
 " timber," and night was fast drawing on, when immediately 
 before us arose a heavy line of forest, which told of our 
 near approach to the upper crossing of the San Jacinto, 
 and also promised us three good miles of heavy travelling 
 in rich " bottom " mud this side of the river, and eight 
 more quite as bad upon the other. 
 
 The Colonel, whose impatient spirit had carried him far 
 ahead of us, halted as he reached the timber, evidently 
 with the intention of calling a council of war. 
 
 " I tell you what," said he, when we rode up, " before we 
 get to the river, it will be as dark as my boy Tom, and 
 it's all nonsense to think of going any further than the 
 ferry. Shall we camp down here on the driest spot we 
 can find, 'or go on and stop at Jenks's cabin ?" 
 
 " I'm for Jenkses," replied Uncle Billy j " the woman's 
 got a long tongue, and one that can't be beat for a quarter 
 not easy, I reckon ; but I'm for a dry s^pot for my blanket 
 and a good supper ; these we'll find, you may swar to it, 
 fer the critter's some punkins at a fryin'-pan, I can tell 
 you," 
 
 " Well, then, we'll tie up at the ferry-house," said the 
 Colonel, and off he rode. 
 
 " Hello, Cunnle," shouted Uncle Billy ; " when you get 
 thar, you needn't holler fer 'em to call off the dogs, for 
 they-don't keep none." 
 
 " No dogs ?" inquired I ; " that's strange. Why not ?" 
 
 " 'Cause dogs eat meat, and the madam goes in fer savin' 
 it," was Uncle Billy's reply. 
 
 An hour's slow crawling through the soft black mud 
 brought us to our destined haven, and I saw before me a
 
 182 A NIGHT IN A SHINGLE PALACE. 
 
 small clearing, and as good an imitation of a Down-East 
 shingle palace as the patriotic Yankees had been able to 
 erect in the wilderness. It was a very long, very low, 
 and a very narrow building, covered sides, ends, and 
 roof with rude shingles. It also boasted of two doors, 
 and about a dozen windows, perhaps two feet square. 
 Altogether it was a great curiosity for Texas. The win- 
 dows had small sash evidently once the property of some 
 unfortunate steamboat, and probably purchased at Gal- 
 veston for a trifle without any panes of glass, but 
 in their places were to be seen the usual display of 
 hats, bonnets, rags, and an occasional square of oiled 
 paper. 
 
 The family who inhabited this distinguished mansion 
 consisted of two brothers, the wife of the elder, and quite 
 a number of tow-headed boys. The men were shrewd, 
 industrious, and managing Yankees. They came there 
 with little or nothing, bought a piece of valuable land on 
 credit and for a stmg, made shingles, which they rafted 
 down the river, and shipped to Oalveston, did stray jobs 
 of carpenter's work, rough cabinet-work, and even wagon- 
 making, for any of their neighbors within thirty miles, 
 took any kind of pay, kept a ferry and a kind of roadside 
 inn, and were in a fair way of becoming quite indepen- 
 dent. 
 
 We were warmly welcomed, our horses well cared for, 
 and very soon a capital supper was smoking upon the 
 table. As soon as the meal was fairly discussed and 
 that was no light matter the inevitable pipes were pro- 
 duced and set in motion, and the Colonel determined that 
 Uncle Billy's tongue should follow their example, not for 
 our amusement alone, but to check, if possible, the deluge
 
 UNCLE BILLY ON LAWYERS. 183 
 
 of inquiries that poured in a ceaseless and resistless stream 
 from the lips of our fair hostess. 
 
 " I think, Uncle Billy," commenced the Colonel, " that 
 although you take our legal troubles so good-humoredly, 
 this being in the law does not quite suit you. Don't you 
 think we should get along just as well without law or 
 lawyers ?" 
 
 " Well, now, Cunnle," replied Uncle Billy, hitching up 
 his chair, and evidently setting in for a long yarn " well, 
 now, Cunnle, I'm rayther jubous about it. Thar's some 
 men tho' I ain't one of 'em who hev a mighty likin' fer 
 bein' allers in the lor ; they ain't never satisfied tell 
 they're fitin' and quarrellin 7 , accordin' to the ax of Con- 
 gress, in such cases made and provided. Arter all, I 
 reckon the lor's of some use, fer it gives a livin' to them 
 lawyer chaps, and ef they couldn't get it so, I'm rayther 
 afeareM they're too smart and too lazy a set to make the 
 best sorter citizens. 
 
 " An old planter onst said to me, when he met me inside 
 of one of them preambulating circuses and merry-jer- 
 ries : 
 
 "'I ain't here 'cause I've any pretickeler likin' fur 
 these things, but, ye see, these chaps is bound to get a 
 livin', and ye know they wont work, so I allow it's 
 rayther the cheapest way fer us to give 'em a dollar 
 apiece now and then, than to hev 'em help theyselves.' 
 
 "'What a time thar is tho' in a county town when the 
 court's a settin'. All the rogues is thar fer some reason 
 or nother some 'cause they're sent fer, and has to come ; 
 some to swar to owdacious lies, to clar thar friends ; some 
 to stock a jury, and a pile to ' spread the tiger' and play 
 poker. Thar's more mischief, and gamblin', and drinkin'
 
 184 A NIGHT IN A SHINGLE PALACE. 
 
 a goin' on while the court's a holdin', than in a hull year 
 besides. 
 
 " I've seen some funny things at these gatherins. I 
 remember a young lawyer's comin' to Opelousas, to set up, 
 just as court was commin' on. He hung his shingle out 
 to let people know .he wer up fur all the courts, although 
 he expected to do the reglar quantity of starvin', which 
 the young ones has to go through with ; and so he wer 
 quite took aback when a lanky, slab-sided, squint-eyed 
 lookin' critter walked into the office, without knockin' and 
 opened with 
 
 " ' Hallo, stranger, how'dy ? You're one of them lawyer 
 fellers, I reckon, ain't you ?' 
 
 " ' Why, yes, sir, that's my perfeshion ; happy to do any- 
 thing in my line for yourself or friends.' 
 
 " ' Yes, sir-e-e ; that's what I calkelated ; you see, 
 Squire, I've got into a right smart differkilty, and me and 
 my friends has been havin' a talk about it. We allowed 
 our old pack of lawyers warn't worth shuks, and as we'd 
 hearn tell of a stranger jest havin' arrove, we reckoned I'd 
 best gin him a try.' 
 
 " ' Much obliged, sir ; being a new comer, I have nothin' 
 else on my hands, and kin give my hull time to your bis- 
 
 "'Well, stranger, all I want you to do is to make 
 a speech fur me half an hour long, and here's a 'fifty.' 
 All I want is the speech, and don't disremember it must 
 last half an hour, and nothin' shorter.' 
 
 '"Really, sir, you're very liberal, very liberal, indeed ; 
 but what is the case ?' 
 
 " ' Oh, nuthin pertikeler, ondly I happen to kill one of 
 my own beeves, that some thievin critter had sot his
 
 BENEFITS OF "LUMBERING." 185 
 
 brand on afore it was a yearlin'. You don't want no 
 items nor witnesses nither, ondly you be to court to-mor- 
 row mornin' at nine. Good day.' 
 
 " This was all our lawyer got out of the chap though, 
 bein' his first case, he was mighty anxious to know all 
 about it, so that he could do sumthin' uncommon smart in 
 the defence. 
 
 " He looked on the fifty as a sorter godsend ; and as 
 he'd hern tell of Old Nick's lookin' like an angel of light, 
 he didn't know why wisey wersey moughtn't be the case, 
 and that this chap might be a gardeen angel in a awful 
 ugly war painfc Howsumever, next mornin' to the court- 
 house he went, and sure enuff thar war his hansum cus- 
 tomer ; his case came on too, and a sweet one it war. 
 The lawyer soon see it 'twarn't no manner of use tryin' 
 to clar him, so he turned round to his man, handed 
 him the fifty, and told him he couldn't do him no good. 
 
 " ' No you don't,' says the beauty, ' no you don't. I 
 hired you a purpose to lumber away for me, so now jest 
 get up and lumber 1' 
 
 " Seein' he couldn't help it, up jumped the lawyer, and 
 begun ; he went pretty much all over creation, and talked 
 about mighty nigh everything, except the case, as he 
 rayther reckoned the less said about it the better, and 
 when he got done, wer entirely stumped up to hear the 
 jury bring in ' Not guilty' without even leaving their box * 
 but this wonderment didn't last long, fur when he and his 
 friend went out ' to wood up,' he asked him how on earth 
 the jury could clar him ? 
 
 " ' Why,' says the chap, ' eleven of them fellers has 
 been indited fur cow-stealin', and t'other will be, afore 
 court's over. I knew they wouldn't fasten me, but I
 
 186 A NIGHT IN A SHINGLE PALACE. 
 
 had to get some one to make a show, and so I settled. 
 on you ; and, to tell you the truth, I \ver a leetle afeared 
 the old ones that know'd me. wouldn't hev nothin' to do 
 with it.' 
 
 " But these sort of chaps don't allers get off so cheap, 
 'specially if they haven't got a pocketful of rocks to pay 
 all hands. I wer travellin' once, and met a man I hadn't 
 seen for a long time. 
 
 " ' Hello !' says I, ' Bill, whar hev you been this coon's 
 age?' 
 
 " ' Why,' says he, ' Mr. Roberts, I'll tell yer jest how 
 it happened. I went out one day to ki^ a beef, and 
 afore I'd fairly got the critter skinned, up rode a man 
 that claimed the brand. I told him it wer all a mis- 
 take, and that I wouldn't hev killed it ef I'd a knowed 
 he wer so nigh ; but this only made him madder yet, and 
 BO afore long the sheriff called on me, and told me I wer 
 wanted very perticuler up to court. Well, I didn't like 
 to disoblige, and so I went along with him ; and when 
 we got thar, they made me set down, and pretty soon 
 a feller got up and begin to talk about me in a way 
 that warn't flatterin' to my feelins at all. He seemed to 
 hev took a prejudice agin me. After he'd done, the old 
 chap that sot on a high bench had his say, and, deem 
 him, he'd got a prejudice agin me too. When he'd got 
 through, the jury had their turn, and hang my pictur, 
 Mr. Roberts, ef they hadn't got a prejudice agin me 1 
 
 " ' Arter they'd all done, the sheriff and me went out 
 into a sorter yard whar there wer a big tree, and I tell 
 yer, Mr. Roberts, ef we didn't hev a hot time of it fur 
 a few minits. 
 
 " ' Now, Squire, who'd hev looked fur such treatment in
 
 TAKES THE " SHUTE." 187 
 
 a neck of the woods, whar no man ever eats his own beef 
 unless he eats at a neighbor's ? I thought it might hurt 
 their feelins to see me agin, and so I wer took with a 
 leavin' the same night. Ef you're likely to stay about 
 here, I'd leetle rayther you'd say nothin' about it, as 
 I wouldn't like to hev the folks I was raised among git a 
 bad name.' "
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 FEVER AND PHYSIC. 
 
 ON the next morning we arose with the dawn, and while 
 our horses were getting their breakfast, and the good lady 
 of the house preparing ours proceeded to the river bank, 
 to see what were the prospects of crossing the stream. 
 The river is here confined between high banks, and 
 although wide enough to be forded with perfect safety 
 at the ordinary stage of water, was now running almost 
 bank full, and evidently impassable. On the preceding 
 day it had fallen several feet, and the ferrymen spoke 
 quite favorably of our anticipated passage, but there had 
 been a change of affairs, and it was evident that not only 
 both forks of the San Jacinto, but also the lower tribu- 
 taries, Cypress and Spring Creeks, must have lately 
 received very large accessions to their currents. 
 
 This was annoying in the extreme, as the next ferry 
 below was now certainly impracticable, for there the 
 water was out upon a very extended visit to the bottom 
 lands. 
 
 No route therefore remained for us but the lower ferry, 
 and we must perforce ride twenty miles down the prairie 
 to Lynchburg, then cross the main San Jacinto or more 
 correctly the head of the bay and take the bayou road 
 to Houston, which would give us a ride of fifty miles 
 in the place of thirty, and a probable opportunity of
 
 *A ROMANTIC MARRIAGE. 189 
 
 swimming Vince's, Simm's, and Bray's bayous if we 
 could. 
 
 Our horses were luckily in fine condition, and before 
 sunrise we were under way. Abandoning the slight trail 
 that led down prairie, we kept near the timber, and upon 
 higher and drier ground. 
 
 By 10 o'clock the river was crossed, and we were rid- 
 ing slowly along the edge, of the celebrated battle-field of 
 San Jacinto, the discussion of which I shaU reserve for an 
 after chapter. 
 
 Immediately opposite us, however, and upon the other 
 side of the bayou, stood a pretty cottage, which is quite 
 worthy of notice. It was once the residence of Lorenzo 
 de Lavalla, and was then occupied by his widow. Lavalla 
 was a Mexican of superior abilities, wealth, and distin- 
 guished position. His contempt for the stolid ignorance 
 and disgraceful pusillanimity of his own people was only 
 equalled by his admiration of the Americans ; and when 
 Santa Anna was "opposed in his attempt at a military 
 dictatorship, by Texas alone, Lavalla abandoned his 
 estates and his people, and joined the Texans. He was 
 elected the first Vice-President of the new Republic. 
 His marriage with the lady who then occupied the cot- 
 tage in question was romantic in the extreme. 
 
 Many years since he had been sent upon a foreign mis- 
 sion, and, upon his return, travelled over the United 
 States, stopping some time at New York. His hotel was 
 near the Battery, and he was in the habit of walking 
 there every morning before breakfast. A young and 
 very pretty American girl whom he met often, with two 
 children under her charge, attracted his attention, and 
 interested him so deeply, that, after ascertaining her cha-
 
 190 FEVEE AND PHYSIC. 
 
 racter to be unexceptionable, and her modesty equal to 
 her bteauty, he raised her from her menial condition, 
 placed her at school, gave her an accomplished education, 
 and then married her. 
 
 As our day's journey was anything but romantic, it 
 affords me much pleasure to have fallen in with this cot- 
 tage just in the very nick of time, and thus add a grain 
 of salt to a very vapid chapter. 
 
 Just about noon a heavy cloud, that had been hanging 
 like a huge blanket over us, suddenly " let go all," and 
 down it came upon our devoted heads. There was no 
 rain about it. The waterfall did not last three minutes, 
 but in that space of time we should if it had been possi- 
 ble have been soaked through twenty times. I certainly 
 have never received so unpremeditated a ducking before 
 or since. 
 
 As soon as the cloud had suspended payment, out came 
 the sun, evidently in a rage at the unfair advantage that 
 had been taken of his absence, and blazed away at such a 
 rate that we were dried about as suddenly as we had been 
 wetted. I felt a little qualmish, and had a mild headache 
 and a slight chill, very soon after. These, at the time, 
 did not amount to much, but a subsequent succession of 
 headaches that were not mild, and chills that were any- 
 thing but slight, caused me to remember that day's work 
 for some time in fact, as the reader will perceive, I hav 
 not forgotten it yet. 
 
 But why relate all the desagremens of the day ? Whj 
 tell how we splashed about on the prairie, or floundered 
 in the " timber ?" how we waded through extempore seaa 
 and swam streams that in ordinary times could not havt 
 afforded water enough to have given our horses a fau
 
 GEE AT "SAM" AND THE LITTLE MAJOR. 191 
 
 drink ? Why tell how, when the day had departed, we 
 barked ourselves against the trees, or how the dogs 
 barked at us as at midnight we slowly ploughed our way 
 through the .mortar, that is supposed in Houston to repre- 
 sent the street pavement-? 
 
 To judge from my early impressions, thus obtained, I 
 should say that the city is quite a soft place, although many 
 persons assert that it is a hard one. 
 
 We reined up it was raining down then, by the way 
 at the " Old Capitol ;" a commodious and sightly building, 
 once occupied by the legislative wisdom of the nation, 
 when in Congress assembled, but then converted into an 
 excellent hotel, having been leased for that purpose by the 
 proprietress, one of the most amiable, energetic, and intel- 
 ligent women that I have ever known. 
 
 Houston, at the time of which I write, had just achieved 
 the victory over Galveston, at least as far as business was 
 concerned. Of the appearance of the thriving, 'bustling 
 town, the least said the better, for a more forlorn-looking 
 place, considering its pretensions, it has never been my 
 fortune to visit, while its rival, on the contrary, is perhaps 
 the most beautiful city, of its size, in the South. 
 
 On the morning succeeding our arrival, our horses 
 exhibited unequivocal signs of overwork ; in fact, they 
 were completely used up, and, as my companions had some 
 business to transact in town, we remained there all day 
 time enough for me to pick up two new jokes, at which 
 everybody was laughing. 
 
 The great " Sam" the " Chief," as he was often called 
 had lately been there, and being quite out of humor at 
 something that one of his particular friends Major E. 
 had said or done, he the said " Sam " took the liberty
 
 192 FEVER AND PHYSIC. 
 
 of calling him the said Major all the names in the 
 calendar, behind his back. 
 
 As the little Major was extremely popular, and the 
 great General quite the reverse, the opprobrious terms 
 used by the latter soon reached the former's ears. 
 
 At first, he would not credit the report, but being 
 finally convinced of its authenticity, set forth in quest 
 of his calumniator, intent upon explanation or revenge. 
 The General, however, was not to be found ; probably he 
 had an inkling of what was on foot, and kept himself 
 perdu until the time came for the steamer to leave for Gal- 
 veston, and upon her he took passage. 
 
 A few moments before she started, however, the Major, 
 having a hint of the General's whereabouts, boarded 
 the boat, and finding his customer holding forth in the 
 cabin to a circle of admiring friends, boarded him also, 
 with 
 
 " General H., I am told you have abused me scandal- 
 ously, and said ' so and so ' about me. Is this true or not ?" 
 
 The General looked upon the crowd around them, and 
 seeing several who had heard his expressions, made up his 
 mind that denial was in vain, and in a melancholy tone of 
 voice replied to his querist : 
 
 " Why, Billy, I always thought you were a friend of 
 minel" 
 
 " So I have been," answered Billy ; " but I allow no man 
 to abuse me." 
 
 "I- should like to know, sir," thundered out the General, 
 
 " if a man can't abuse his friends, who the d 1 he can 
 
 abuse?" 
 
 Billy was forced to join in the universal laugh, and so 
 the matter ended.
 
 "NIP AND TUCK/ 193 
 
 At the time of which I write and I sincerely hope it 
 may be so now among the men of mark in Houston 
 was a certain stable-keeper and mail-contractor, named 
 T. one of the most jovial of human kind, and an invete- 
 rate practical joker. 
 
 As he had often taken off other persons, the " conges- 
 tive fever," being probably in a jesting mood, took it in 
 its head to take him off also ; in fact, carried the joke 
 almost as far as the graveyard, and would doubtless have 
 completed it but for the active interference of the medical 
 faculty. It was a " neck-and-neck" heat, between the dis- 
 ease and the diseased, until they rounded the last stretch 
 and approached the distance pole, when an excellent con- 
 stitution and a determined will, lifted the patient's head, 
 and enabled him to win by a hand's breadth. 
 
 During his long illness, T. thought often and sadly of 
 the dulness of the town, deprived of his exhilarating fun 
 for so long a time ; he lamented sincerely the impossibility 
 of carrying into effect the countless admirable jests that 
 his fever-heated brain engendered, but finally determined 
 to make amends by concentrating his powers upon one 
 monster joke, to be perpetrated as soon as he might again 
 be fairly upon his own legs, and out of the doctor's 
 hands. 
 
 At last T. was able to mount his horse again, and on a 
 very sultry day he took it in his head that a ride up the 
 bayou would materially benefit his health. 
 
 A short time previous to this excursion, the attempted 
 robbery of a house of rather ill-repute, not far from Hous- 
 ton, had caused no little excitement in town. A woman 
 had fired from a window upon the robbers, who immedi- 
 ately fled one of them at least badly wounded. Many 
 9
 
 194 FEVER AND PHYSIC. 
 
 efforts were made to discover the ruffians, but without 
 success, and after being for three days the town's talk, 
 some newer wonder banished the affair from the minds of 
 all, except perhaps that of the woman who fired the shot, 
 and of the man who received lead when he expected gold. 
 Here was a theme for a joker, and he determined to 
 improve it. 
 
 About ten o'clock, he came dashing back through the 
 main street, the mud flying from his horse's hoofs in every 
 direction, rode up to the office of the coroner, and pre- 
 sented himself to that gentleman with a face of extraordi- 
 nary longitude, and a very shocking story indeed. In the 
 bayou, entangled among some brush, he had seen the body 
 of a man, who had evidently died a violent death, and 
 was, beyond doubt, the remains of the above mentioned 
 robber. 
 
 As the bayou was then running very swiftly, it was 
 necessary that the coroner should make haste, for fear the 
 body might be floated off, and carried down stream, and 
 while the officer was preparing for his excursion, T. volun- 
 teered to select and summon a jury. 
 
 Among the Houston merchants, there were quite a num- 
 ber of short dumpy men, of unusual abdominal and funda- 
 mental development, and so nearly of a size and age were 
 they, that the appearance of three or four of them toge- 
 ther was truly ludicrous. From this comfortable-looking 
 set T. selected his jury ; and as he and the coroner were 
 precisely of the same pattern, the whole array looked as 
 much alike as peas from the same pod. In all his hurry 
 and running about to find the right men, T. had not 
 neglected to inform his friends and the public generally, 
 that exactly at twelve a sight would be seen in the main
 
 THE NEW PILGRIM'S PROGRESS. 195 
 
 street that would be worth riding a dozen miles to behold, 
 and precisely as the clock tolled the hour, fourteen pecu- 
 liarly pinguid individuals guide, coroner, and the twelve 
 jurymen were plainly visible marching along in " Indian, 
 file" on foot, and picking their way through the mud 
 in the middle of the street, each man armed with a huge 
 bandanna, wiping off the fast gathering drops from a 
 countenance whose lugubrious expression contrasted sin- 
 gularly enough with a funny rolling gait, and a jolly 
 rotundity of person. T. led them up the bayou, inspect- 
 ing it every few minutes, but unable to find the spot 
 or the body, until they had travelled some three miles, 
 and then, declaring that the accomplice of the man must 
 have found and concealed him, back he led them again. 
 
 As weary, draggled, dispirited, and almost melted, they 
 tramped through the street on their return, a prolonged 
 shout from at least one half of the citizens, who had assem- 
 bled to see the spectacle, greeted them. It was understood 
 not to be the thing to take offence at anything T. said or 
 did, and so they did not take his hide off, but went peace- 
 ably to their several homes, covered with mud, if not with 
 glory. 
 
 As for the immortal joker himself, besides the meed of 
 an approving conscience, and the general roar of the com- 
 munity, he was rewarded that very night with a relapse, 
 and ran quite as narrow a chance for his life as he did 
 before. 
 
 This strange procession is known to this day as T.'s 
 parade. 
 
 But to resume my own story. After a day's delay at 
 Houston, we again set forth for Maiden, and the third 
 sunset beheld us crossing a little gem of a prairie, while
 
 196 FEVER AND PHYSIC. 
 
 immediately before us arose a beautiful wooded slope. 
 Turning a short corner in the road, and passing a thick 
 cluster of trees, we came, very unexpectedly to me, plump 
 upon the important town of Maiden. 
 
 At the end of the street stood, first, two shingle-covered 
 edifices, facing each other, the one perhaps twelve feet 
 square, and the other ten feet by twenty, the one a " con- 
 fectionery " " confectionery " means whiskey in Texas 
 the other a " general store ;" then on alternate sides again 
 two small log-pens the one a lawyer's office, the other 
 another " confectionery " or " grocery ;" then on the left a 
 little box of a frame-house this was the jeweller's shop, 
 where the gold-headed canes, that all Southerners, young 
 and old, delight to carry, were manufactured ; further on, 
 another general store, and staring this right in the face, 
 yet another. Then came the town-pump, and the county 
 clerk's office, and on the other side, the court-house itself 
 and the district-clerk's office. All of these buildings were 
 of a dull slate color, that told of age and exposure, 
 except the first and last store, on which the new pine clap- 
 boards glistened quite brilliantly. 
 
 A road crossed the main street, separating the legal 
 buildings from the others, and upon it at some distance 
 were two rambling hotels, one story each, and a black- 
 smith's shop, while on a back road, or " street," as they 
 called it, stood two very comfortable dwelling-houses. 
 These completed the " town," and the town, exactly as it 
 stood, was a very fair sample of all the county towns that 
 I have seen in Texas, except perhaps that it presented a 
 rather more imposing appearance than the majority. 
 
 We were now in the cotton region, where goods were 
 sold at extravagant prices on long credit, and the " groce-
 
 NEW SYSTEM OP " DOUBLE ENTRY." 197 
 
 ries " disposed of their liquids at a " picayune " the cor- 
 rect orthography is " picallion" a glass, for cash down, 
 and a bit (just double) for credit. I am happy to inform 
 all advocates for the credit system that ninety -nine glasses 
 out of each hundred were charged, not only with liquor, 
 but also with the pen. 
 
 Having some time after, an opportunity of inspecting 
 one of the journals true " double " entry I was very 
 much struck with the original mode in which the young 
 gentleman who was " clerking it " in the establishment, 
 managed his spelling, as for example : 
 
 MOLDN, Genewerre 1, 184*. 
 KUNLE RODS: 
 
 1 Gog of Wiske $2 00 
 
 IDecKeerds 1 00 
 
 $y oo 
 
 Whether Colonel Rhoads ever paid three dollars for 
 his jug of whiskey and deck (pack) of cards, I could not 
 find out. 
 
 After examining some records, and giving me minute 
 instructions as to my business, my friend, the Colonel, 
 departed for Montgomery, in quest of an all important 
 witness, and soon after, Mr. Roberts, after having told I 
 know not how many of his peculiar stories, left also. 
 The slight chill that I had experienced on the day of 
 my sudden ducking, returned on every succeeding one 
 with increased violence, and at the end of a week, I 
 found myself fairly in for a sharp attack of fever. Calo- 
 mel, rhubarb, senna, castor-oil combined with spirits of 
 turpentine, Cook's pills, quinine, and sundry other such 
 dainties, were liberally administered. I was a most 
 intractable patient; the moment that the violence of
 
 198 FEVER AND PHYSIC. 
 
 the fever commenced to abate, up would I jump, bathe 
 head, breast, wrists, and ankles with cold water, and 
 then my little strength being exhausted down would 
 I drop again, pull out a book from beneath my pillow, 
 and read as well as I could. 
 
 When the shades began to lengthen, I had my horse 
 brought up, and, being placed upon his back, walked him 
 a mile or so. The Doctor remonstrated, and my kind 
 landlady scolded, but I persisted. 
 
 At last, my fever was broken, and on the third day 
 after, off went I " a fishing." I returned with a violent 
 pain across my forehead, that almost drove me mad. 
 
 This recurred again on the next day, at the same hour 
 that the fever had been accustomed to call. Quinine was 
 again administered, and the enemy again routed, but only 
 routed to return again in a new form. 
 
 Its next appearance was in a line running through tem- 
 ple, ear, and jaw, and when once more driven from the 
 field, it yet returned to the charge for the fourth time, and 
 made a violent assault upon the back of my head. I con- 
 quered this at last, and now thought my troubles over. 
 Mistaken mortal ; they had but commenced. All that I 
 had suffered was but the overture to the fever-and-ague, 
 which now set in in due form. For two months I rang 
 the changes upon opium, morphine, quinine, laudanum, cin- 
 chona, myrtle-tea, red-pepper, cold-bath?, hard riding dur- 
 ing the chill, chopping wood ditto ditto, strong coffee, 
 brandy, and port wine. 
 
 At last, giving up all hope of any permanent relief from 
 the doctors, I commenced experimenting upon myself, and 
 at last effected a cure, although it came very near finishing 
 patient and disease at one blow.
 
 IN A BAD WAY. 199 
 
 When I was able to get about, I had my hands full. 
 The term of the court was near at hand, Roberts sick at 
 home, the Colonel off in the West in search of a man who 
 had joined the party in pursuit of Gen. Wool's (the Mexi- 
 can) army that last fall invaded the country as far as San 
 Antone ; our leading counsel, who should have been in 
 Maiden ere this, did not appear, and at last, in despair of 
 seeing him, I despatched a messenger for Judge Onnsby, 
 a distinguished lawyer of Eastern Texas, who, I had heard, 
 was attending the court in the next county. 
 
 A week rolled by ; my messenger did not return, the- 
 Judge had not replied in any way ; the Saturday before 
 the term came and went, "but no lawyer ; the Sunday was 
 almost enrolled among the things that were, and the sun 
 was just disappearing behind the old woods, when, to my 
 great delight, up rode the Judge. 
 
 On Monday commenced the term ; but this saturnalia 
 of the backwoods must have a new pen and a new chapter.
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 TERM-TIME IN THE BACKWOODS, AND A MESTANG COURT. 
 
 Lawyers, scenting prey afar, 
 Hasten to the scene of war ; 
 Gamblers, parsons, culprits, clients, 
 Fat men, lean men, dwarfs, and giants ; 
 Buckskin shirts and broadcloth coats ; 
 Bare feet, moccasins, and boots ; 
 Dress of every, and no fashion ; 
 Men from all parts of creation, 
 Until the town is all alive. 
 And swarming, seems a human hive. 
 
 IF any one would see the backwoods' character in perfec- 
 tion, let him visit some frontier county town during 
 " court week." One may ride through and through a 
 thickly-settled county, from north to south, and from east 
 to west, until he delusively imagines he has seen every 
 face in it, and that he can count the settlers. But let him 
 be in " town " on the first day of court, and he will soon 
 find how much deceived he has been with regard to the 
 population. He will see them pouring in from every 
 imaginable direction, by every possible road, and some 
 that appear decidedly impossible ; wagon roads, main 
 roads. " cow trails," and " blazes," all alive, and with a 
 truly heterogeneous mass. The lawyers from the other 
 counties, who, scenting the spoil afar off, have just drop- 
 ped in for their share ; district attorneys and state attor- 
 neys, judges and jurymen, criminals and witnesses, par- 
 sons and gamblers, horse-jockeys and hard-fisted planters ;
 
 A FINE FLOW OF SPIRITS. 201 
 
 peripatetic pie and gingerbread venders, who come with 
 the intent of establishing an extemporaneous hotel, spread- 
 ing their table under the trees, and cooking their " chicken 
 fixin's," al fresco all swell the throng, and fill up the 
 " town," even to overflowing. 
 
 For the time being, not only every house in the village 
 is filled, but the country for miles around is laid under 
 contribution to provide the crowd with food and shelter. 
 
 During the day the streets resemble the purlieus of a 
 bee-hive, when something unusual has excited its noisy lit- 
 tle inmates ; but at night they are again emptied, the 
 lawyers herding together for a frolic, a game of poker, or 
 to ponder over some knotty point ; the jovial gentry, who 
 came for the fun of it, either gone home, or far past going 
 anywhere, and everything quiet except at the " groceries," 
 which are usually filled with a jolly set, imbibing " old 
 corn," or indulging in a little " faro" in the back room. 
 
 The dress of the dramatis persona differs as widely as 
 the persons. Here is a gentleman in broadcloth, with his 
 invariable accompaniment, the gold-headed cane, taking a 
 friendly drink with that rough-looking customer in the 
 buckskin hunting shirt, or perhaps unprovided with the 
 latter article. 
 
 There comes a fellow, whooping and yelling down the 
 street on a scrub of a mestang. " Captain Whiskey " has 
 taken him in charge certainly ; but see, he stops, jumps 
 from his horse, and salutes that grave and quiet-looking 
 gentleman, who might pass for a judge or a clergyman, 
 with a slap on the back, and " Hello, old hoss, whar hev 
 you been this coon's age ?" and they go in to " wood up." 
 
 The people seem to look upon law as a species of amuse- 
 ment, and to regard " court week" in something of the 
 9*
 
 202 TERM-TIME IN THE BACKWOODS. 
 
 light that the Down-Easter does the " General Training*" 
 The most petty cases, even in the Justice's Court, are 
 ushered in with a formality, and conducted with an 
 earnestness which is but little in keeping with the amount 
 at stake. Some years since a very sensible and worthy 
 Yankee a physician having been elected " Justice," was, 
 in a few days after he had been properly qualified for the 
 office, called upon to decide in a weighty matter, probably 
 involving the value of five dollars. At nine in the morn- 
 ing the Doctor made his appearance, and shortly after the 
 rival attorneys followed suit, each loaded down with 
 books, as if they were about to engage in some such 
 momentous affair as the suit of Mrs. Gaines, or the heirs 
 of Anike Jans. 
 
 " For heaven's sake, gentlemen," exclaimed the alarmed 
 magistrate, " you do not expect to read them through to 
 me 1 If you do, I shall tell you once for all, that I am 
 appointed, not to judge of nice points of law, but to give 
 my decisions according to the simple dictates of justice 
 and common sense ; and if you do not like that, you can 
 take your case out of my shop, and carry it up." 
 
 To work, the opposing counsel went, and despite the 
 deprecatory prayer of the afflicted magistrate, read page 
 after page, hurled point after point, precedent after prece- 
 dent, Coke upon Littleton, and Littleton upon somebody 
 else, on his devoted head ; until, perfectly bewildered, he 
 allowed them to have their own way. 
 
 As usual, the " court " adjourned for dinner ; and after 
 dinner, at it they went again until dark, and the case was 
 then put over until the morrow. After the adjournment, 
 
 and before leaving the house, Dr. turned to Mr. , 
 
 the longer-winded of the two pettifoggers, and said :
 
 THE LAWYERS, SOLD. 203 
 
 " Mr. I have heard you with patience, and have 
 
 wasted one entire day about this trifling case. If your 
 time is worth nothing, mine is, and I shall come here to- 
 morrow at nine to give you my decision. If you can pos- 
 sibly have any more to say, you must say it within one 
 hour after my arrival, or you can settle the affair between 
 yourselves, as you best may." 
 
 Mr. assured the Doctor that he would conclude in 
 
 a few words, arid they parted for the night. 
 
 At the appointed time the Doctor arrived on horseback, 
 hitched his horse, went in, took his seat, and, as he did so, 
 pulled out his watch and laid it upon the table before 
 him. 
 
 The case re-commenced, and again went on with 
 
 his interminable argument. After listening for an hour, 
 the Doctor very quietly put his watch in his pocket, left 
 the room, mounted his horse, and rode off upon his busi- 
 ness, leaving Mr. continuing his harangue, and sup- 
 posing the Doctor's absence would be but temporary. How 
 long he continued I know not, but it was long a standing 
 joke against him ; and it is said the Doctor was bored 
 with no more tedious trials. 
 
 To the town, where for the time being the district 
 court is in session, flock all the petty gamblers of the 
 adjoining county. As a general thing, they are men of 
 very small capital indeed. In fact, of the dozen or more 
 of these " chevaliers d? Industrie" who are always to be 
 found upon such occasions, it is very seldom that more 
 than one of them possesses enough of the res pecuniee to 
 commence business, with a very moderate Faro Sank. 
 Around the bank, when opened, the remainder of the 
 gang cling, until a run of luck shall have made some one
 
 204 TERM-TIME IN THE BACK-WOODS. 
 
 of them master of the funds, and broken the pro tern, 
 banker. 
 
 The then holder of their very circulating medium, now 
 commences business himself, and continues until tripped 
 up in the same manner as his predecessor, and the game 
 continues to be played day after day, and week after 
 week, reminding one for all the world of a flock of 
 hens pursuing the fortunate finder of a kernel of corn, 
 chasing her until she drops it ; and then the loser join- 
 ing with her compeers in the chase all hands start after 
 the finder, until the disputed article is usually lost ; 
 whereas, had they all attended to their legitimate busi- 
 ness, each might have found a kernel of her own. 
 
 The " picayune gambler," as he is there called, usually 
 owns a horse and rigging, and a floating capital of from 
 fifty cents to one hundred dollars. The horse is his last 
 resource, and only staked when affairs become desperate 
 indeed ; when lost, the quondam owner is said to be flat 
 broke or flat footed, and must beg, borrow, or steal, for a 
 stake. 
 
 As they never work, and are always hanging about the 
 taverns and groceries, it is rather astonishing how they 
 contrive to subsist ; but subsist they do, and as each clique 
 about every little town seems to have just a certain 
 amount of money, I imagine that stray pigeons are 
 found in sufficient numbers, from time to time, whose 
 plucking serves to keep their expenses from eating up 
 their capital. 
 
 The quiet inhabitants do not dare to interfere with the 
 clan openly, but on the contrary, prefer keeping up some 
 pretence of good fellowship with them ; and all attempts 
 to uproot them by law have entirely failed.
 
 THE KANGAROO JUDGE. 205 
 
 One of the principal amusements of the bar during these 
 sessions of the court, is to assemble in some sufficiently 
 capacious room, and after indulging in all the boyish 
 games that occur to them, to institute mock proceedings 
 against some one of their number, for some ridiculous, 
 imaginary offence. 
 
 One of these " circuit evenings" is very green in my 
 memory and I do not ever remember to have laughed so 
 long or so heartily before or since, as I did then, at seeing 
 the wisest and most intelligent men in the country entering 
 with perfectly childish enjoyment and abandon, into child- 
 ish jokes and childish games. 
 
 The scene was a log hut, containing one room and 
 some dozen beds, upon which, lying, sitting, or in an 
 intermediate posture, were at least thirty members of the 
 courts. 
 
 After playing " Simon," " What is my Thought Like ?" 
 and a dozen similar games, one of the company arose and 
 announced in a most funereal tone that a member of the 
 bar had he deeply and sincerely regretted to state been 
 guilty of a most aggravated offence against decency, and 
 the dignity of his profession, and he therefore moved 
 that a Judge be appointed and the case regularly inquired 
 into. 
 
 By an unanimous vote, Judge G. the fattest and 
 funniest of the assembly was elected to the bench, 
 and the " Mestang" or " Kangaroo Court" regularly orga- 
 nized. Impossible as it would be for any one to convey 
 to the reader a correct idea of the ludicrous and supremely 
 ridiculous scene which ensued, I will yet attempt it. 
 
 The Judge opened the court something in this wise : 
 
 11 Gentlemen of the Bar, Jury, Witnesses, Criminals, and
 
 206 TERM-TIME IN THE BACK-WOODS. 
 
 Constables, Clerks of the Court, and Prosecuting Attor- 
 neys It has been a source of deep regret to me and 
 doubtless to many of you, that our bar of the grocery, I 
 mean has of late fallen into disuse, owing to the criminal 
 want of criminal fines properly imposed, whereby the 
 pockets of the bar-tenders, and throats of our honorable 
 body have suffered an unprecedented dryness. 
 
 " It therefore behoves us all, acting in our several capa- 
 cities, to do our duty most strictly in this matter. Suffer- 
 ing no criminal to go unpunished no innocent accused, 
 to escape conviction, but each one striving for the common 
 end, heap up fines to be liquidated in liquors at the bar, 
 payable in a circulating medium, whose circulation has not 
 been above medium in these latter days and thus evade 
 the deep and heavy mantle of disgrace which is fast set- 
 tling around our once honored shoulders. 
 
 " The case about to be submitted to you is one of an 
 extraordinary and atrocious character " 
 
 SPECTATOR. " Had not your honor better appoint a jury 
 before proceeding to trial ?" 
 
 JUDGE. " Silence, sir ; do you dare instruct the court ? 
 Mr. Sheriff, I fine this person ' whiskey straight ' for con- 
 tempt of court, and do you attend to the collection." 
 
 SECOND SPECTATOR. " Please your honor, no sheriff has 
 yet been nominated." 
 
 JUDGE. " Thomas Jones, you are hereby appointed the 
 High Sheriff of this, our honorable court, and will collect 
 of the contumacious individual who last volunteered his 
 knowledge, a treat all around, as soon as I shall have 
 administered the customary oaths of office. Stand up, sir, 
 take off your coat now. You, Thomas Jones, in the 
 presence of this hon. body, do most distinctly affirm that
 
 TAKING "A SWEAR." 207 
 
 you will perform the duties of your onerous office in a 
 worthy and dignified manner ; that when sent after a cri- 
 minal you will never return a ' non est comeatibus ;' but 
 in default of the guilty party, pick up the first man you 
 can lay hands on ; that when sent to the grocery to col- 
 lect a fine, you will not drink more than half the liquor on 
 your homeward path, that you will never fob any change, 
 without handing over one half the net proceeds to the 
 court all this you promise truly and faithfully to per- 
 form, as you fear your wife, and love brandy and water." 
 
 SHERIFF (looking around and speaking hesitatingly). " If 
 any gentleman will hold will hold my hat, while I 
 take a swear " 
 
 JUDGE. " No you don't, sir, no swearing here, or I'll fine 
 you your word is as good as your bond, and neither of 
 them worth a copper. Select a jury, sir." 
 
 The jury being properly selected, his honor proceeded 
 to address them : 
 
 JUDGE. " Gentlemen of the Jury the case about to be 
 presented to you, as I have before remarked, is one of 
 an extraordinary and atrocious character. One who has 
 hitherto concealed his crime beneath the exterior of 
 respectable age, is now to be stripped of the cloak that 
 has so long shrouded him from a prying world. Mr. 
 Sheriff, trot out the individual." 
 
 The sheriff here produced the youngest, most correctly 
 attired, and by far the finest looking member present. 
 
 JUDGE. " Ah, well, not so old after all, but, gentlemen, 
 it makes no difference, he will be, should he live long 
 enough. Who appears upon the part of the Republic? 
 Mr. Clerk, read the indictment :"
 
 208 TERM-TIME IN THE BACK-WOODS. 
 
 THE INDICTMENT. 
 
 The Mestang Republic. 
 
 Kangaroo, to wit : At the special court of Kangaroo 
 county, begun and holden in the very extensive city of 
 Kangaroo, to wit : One old shed for a court-house, two 
 taverns such as they are, one blacksmith shop, with a post- 
 office attachment, six groceries which we mean to leave as 
 dry as an old maid's lips, five banks (faro), and nothing 
 else : on the last Tuesday of pea time, and Anno Domini 
 not a soul of us can distinctly remember, having very 
 lately dined, although the last is of very little conse- 
 quence : 
 
 The Jurors for the Mestang Republic on their oaths, 
 present that JOHN SMITH, of no particular place, calling 
 himself a gentleman, although no one believes him, did, 
 somewhere in the vicinity of the last " cotton scraping 
 time," there or thereabouts, and not much matter when, so 
 he did it with sticks, stones, guns and pistols, and a pair 
 of instruments called, known, and described, in vulgar par- 
 lance " lips," being the labial protuberances of the human 
 face divine [Any one, however, who might call the said 
 John Smith's face divine, if not quite a fool, must at least 
 be six degrees the other side of idiocy], inflict upon the 
 right cheek of a certain juvenile female colored person, of 
 the age of seventy there or thereabouts, known to the 
 community in general, as Polly, a kiss of about the size of 
 a dollar, or perhaps a dollar and a half, or perhaps two 
 dollars, thereby injuring the feelings, compromising the 
 character, and undermining the health of the said " Polly," 
 occasioning an explosion, which disturbed the slumbers of
 
 AN INDICTMENT AND A HALF. 209 
 
 many citizens who were then enjoying a siesta, intruding 
 upon the majesty of this republic, and reflecting upon the 
 dignity of a profession, of which, however, the least said 
 the better. 
 
 And the jurors aforesaid do further present that they 
 could add any given number of counts to this indictment, 
 but as it would consume some time, the Court will suppose 
 anything found against the said Smith which the said 
 Court may please. 
 
 THOMAS JENKINS, Foreman of the Grand Jury. 
 
 WILLIAM BROWN, Attorney General^ 
 
 The testimony upon the part of the prosecution was upon 
 a par with the indictment. One witness swearing that he 
 saw the woman Polly emerge from the prisoner's room 
 with a large white spot upon her cheek ; another, that 
 aroused by a terrific explosion, he saw Polly rushing out ; 
 a third, that Polly had applied to him for a plaster to 
 draw " the fire" from the wound ; and several testified to 
 the excessively delicate condition of the sufferer's health 
 since the sad accident. 
 
 After a flaming speech by the prosecuting attorney, the 
 prisoner, being called upon for his defence, arose and 
 replied as follows : 
 
 " Gentlemen of the Jury : Suddenly arrested in the midst 
 of a career of usefulness, honor, and happiness ; charged 
 with an ignominious crime, it is to me a source of most 
 heartfelt gratification, that I am to appear before a body 
 of men of so much intelligence, so highly favored by 
 nature, with noble forms, and expressive countenances, and 
 endowed by the faithful Schneider's art with such unex- 
 ceptionable vestments.
 
 210 TERM-TIME IN THE BACK-WOODS. 
 
 " The prosecuting Attorney, he, of the petrified heart and 
 revolting phiz, flatters himself that he has macadamized the 
 road which will conduct me to the silent tomb ; which, 
 gentlemen, he is full well aware would be my tenement, 
 should your fateful voices not declare me free from spot 
 or stain. 
 
 " He has magnetized a rope of sand, and bound me with 
 it ; but see, how with one touch of the wand of Truth, 
 potent as Ithuriel's spear, it shall fall asunder. 
 
 Brought up in my earlier days by a father and mother, 
 I soon was taught 
 
 Since innocence is bliss, 'tis the height of folly to do any otherwise, 
 
 and have continued to increase in virtue and in size, until 
 a few short years past, when finding my full perfectness 
 attained, I shut down, and have done no more in that line 
 since. 
 
 " This, .gentlemen, is the first rude blight that has fallen 
 upon my budding fame ; the first cloud that has darkened 
 my brilliant horizon of future promise, but that cloud shall 
 be swept away by the breath of your all potent voice. My 
 sun shall shine again in your smiles ; the bud refreshed by 
 my fast falling, falling tears (applying a handkerchief to his 
 eyes), shall rejuvenate to its primeval lustre." 
 
 SPECTATOR (interrupting). " T'wont, salt water aint good 
 for plants." 
 
 PRISONER (resuming). " Silence, Sir, and pity the sorrows 
 of a poor young man. Gentlemen, on that sad day upon 
 which I am charged with the commission of so heinous an 
 offence, having partaken with you of a full, but not sump, 
 tuous dinner, I retired to my accustomed room to recupe- 
 rate wearied nature with a restorative siesta.
 
 THE BIRD OF FREEDOM, WELL EMPLOYED. 211 
 
 " My waking senses lapsed soon into forgetfulness. I had 
 been thinking, I remember, of our hope for annexation, 
 and busy imagination pictured me to myself, as wrapped 
 to sleep in the folds of the star-spangled banner, while the 
 Eagle of Freedom, with slow-moving wings, fanned my 
 moist, but burning brow. I walked in Elysium, in the 
 yale of Tempe, rare flowers were blooming around me, 
 filling the eye with beauty, and the air with fragrance. 
 Birds of gorgeous plumage flitted to and fro, or rested 
 upon some flower-clad tree, and breathed forth their deli- 
 cious notes. Fat turkeys that I had not dined upon, were 
 swimming before me in a duck pond of cranberry sauce, 
 and gobbling ferociously at a particularly tough and dys- 
 peptic piece of hung beef upon which I had. 
 
 " A. change came over the spirit of my dream, the heavens 
 were clothed with black, a peal of thunder burst upon my 
 ear, and rolled in terrific grandeur, echoing from crag to 
 crag. I sprang up in affright, and, behold, it was Judge 
 G., saluting my washerwoman. The sufferer, taken at 
 surprise by the rude assault, rushed from the apartment. 
 The culprit quaked with fear, waddled towards the bed, 
 and ducked under it, to hide his diminished head. A com- 
 panion who had been dozing joint occupant with me of 
 my bed, assisted me, and we finally, vi et armis " 
 
 JUDGE. " No Choctaw, Sir use plain English." 
 
 PRISONER. " Wtell, then, by main force, we drew him 
 from his position, and having lectured him with tears in 
 our eyes, bade him go and sin no more. I now call upon 
 Tobias Wilkins to prove the truth of my statement." 
 
 I shall not recapitulate the testimony of Wilkins, which 
 corroborated the prisoner's assertion. After another 
 speech or two, the Judge charged the jury, bearing down
 
 212 TEEM-TIME IN THE BACK-WOODS. 
 
 upon the prisoner ferociously, and ordering them to give 
 him the benefit of the most severe sentence in their power. 
 The jury, after a moment's whispered consultation, 
 announced by the Foreman that they had found a verdict. 
 
 JUDGE. " What say you, gentlemen ? Guilty, or not 
 guilty ?" 
 
 FOREMAN. " We wish to inquire of your Honor, whether 
 Polly is in a state of single blessedness, or a legalized 
 sticking plaster to the side of some respectable colored 
 gentleman." 
 
 JUDGE. " Married, I believe ; although I cannot imagine 
 what that has to do with the case." 
 
 FOREMAN. " We then find your Honor, Judge G., to be 
 guilty of piracy upon the high seize, having plundered a 
 smack, and of counterfeiting, for your portable imitation of 
 Thunder. You will, therefore, please put your old fur cap 
 upon your head, and sentence yourself to pay for all the 
 fluids at the bar, to which we are about to adjourn, the 
 District Attorney to find the necessary cigars, and the 
 informer the eatables."
 
 CHAPTER XXI. 
 
 DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND STOCKING THE CARDS. 
 
 IF the recital of the mock trial should amuse my readers 
 one half as much as" the performance did me, I shall be 
 well repaid for recording it. Ormsby and I, however, 
 had but little time to spend in amusing ourselves. We 
 had not a single witness ; the lawyer who undertook the 
 case, in all its bearings, was absent ; some very important 
 documents, which the colonel was to have sent us from 
 Austin, had not yet arrived ; and as Ormsby who was an 
 adept at the game of " Poker," expressed it " we held a 
 ' straight,' and were obliged to see our adversaries 
 'blind.'" 
 
 " Never mind my boy, though," said he, " we've just the 
 hand to ' brag' on, and if I dont ' bluff these chaps off, it 
 shant be for want of brass ; if they floor us we can but 
 lose the ante, call for a new ' deck/ and begin de 
 novo" 
 
 No business of importance was transacted on Monday. 
 The court was opened in due form ; the Grand Jury sworn, 
 charged, and set to work, and that was about all. Ormsby 
 was here and there and everywhere ; and the only thing 
 satisfactory that I could get from him was a promise that 
 he would be disengaged, and in my room, during the even- 
 ing ; and a request to keep as quiet as possible and let him 
 play his own game. 
 
 After supper he made his appearance, accompanied by
 
 214 DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 
 
 the Sheriff and District Attorney. It was some time before 
 anything but the ordinary topics of the day were discussed. 
 At last, Ormsby turned to the Sheriff with the remark, 
 
 " Come, Mr. Sheriff, you must help us in this matter." 
 
 " Why, Judge," replied the Sheriff, " I don't know about 
 interfering in any way ; it's not exactly the thing, and 
 might get me into trouble." 
 
 " Not a bit of it, sir," returned Ormsby ; " you know 
 well enough that the principals, and most of the witnesses 
 on the other side, belong to this clan, that you, and I, and 
 our friend, Mr. District Attorney, have been trying for a 
 long time to unearth ; and, if necessary, I shall make a 
 formal call upon you for your assistance, and any informa- 
 tion you may possess in the premises." > 
 
 " You will be perfectly safe, Sheriff," added the District 
 Attorney, " in opening your budget. And I join with niy 
 friend and superior, the Judge, in demanding, or request- 
 ing to know all that you can tell us of this matter, of 
 Henkins against Ting and others. I wish to know par- 
 ticularly if, among the witnesses, there be not some against 
 whom I have indictments. So please make a clean breast 
 of it at once." 
 
 , " Well, gentlemen," returned the Sheriff, " if you put it 
 upon that score I must comply, although perhaps I had 
 better keep some of my information for the Grand Jury." 
 
 " No, sir, you don't," answered Ormsby. " Time enough 
 for the Grand Jury yet ; we must deliberate and act with 
 extreme caution in this matter. Now cut this matter as 
 short as may be, for time is money, and a heap of it too, 
 with us this night." 
 
 " Well, Mr. Judge, or, perhaps I had better say Mr. 
 Attorney General for I prefer just now to consider you
 
 A VERY NICE CASE. 215 
 
 in that light I do believe, upon my word, that this case 
 of Henkins is one mass of rascality from beginning to the 
 end ; and if it were not so, the colonel's chance would not 
 be worth the price of a summons. They have a clear title, 
 approved by the board, while the colonel only claims to 
 have made the original survey, and deposited the proper 
 documents in the surveyor's office with a deputy who died, 
 disappeared, or took himself off the last is the most 
 likely immediately after ; and to have -occupied and 
 improved the land, but only when all question had appa- 
 rently been settled by the commissioners. Now, as I said, 
 he only claims these grounds for a title ; he can't prove 
 them ; he has not as yet been able to bring in a single 
 witness to establish the survey, or the fact of depositing 
 his papers in the office ; his papers, even if not destroyed, 
 are in the hands of his enemies, and some of them, at least, 
 made over to that scamp Horseley. What then is the 
 reason that Henkins' lawyers don't force the case on, and 
 get a decision ? Because they know the rottenness of their 
 foundation, and the bad metal of the tools with which they 
 work. They can't get Horseley to come up to the rack ; 
 he has a wholesome fear of the colonel's drawing a bead 
 upon him ; and then your people have been rummaging, 
 and poking, and working in the dark so much, that they 
 fear, when they get their witnesses on the stand, you will 
 trip up their heels somehow, and get a hold upon the jury, 
 who we all know, in such cases, care little for points of 
 law or a judge's charge. 
 
 " I have just received information of an accident that 
 helps your case mightily. Mr. P., your counsel, that was 
 to have arranged and managed this case, was riding in a 
 gig with Muggridge Henkins' great gun in Galveston,
 
 216 DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 
 
 the other day, when their heads being too light or bodies 
 too heavy, the horse starts, mashes up, upsets, or breaks 
 down the gig, and nearly breaks up the gentlemen at the 
 same time. They are certainly fixed for slow travelling 
 for a month to come. Muggridge's partner, Small, is a 
 capital lawyer, but wants nerve, and is never to be trusted 
 alone. With his senior at his elbow he can get along 
 swimmingly ; but let him be left alone, and have anything 
 unexpected turn up, and he lets go all and breaks right 
 down ; so you see by the upset, they have lost their best 
 man, and you have gained our friend, the Judge, who, in 
 this case, is worth a heap of such very learned lawyers as 
 your man is. Small don't know a word about his partner's 
 fix, and he shan't, till to-morrow ; and you must take 
 advantage of the flurry he will be in when he finds the 
 case will come on, and his general wont. They have got 
 record testimony enough, in all conscience, and a set of 
 scamps for witnesses ; but they rely principally upon a 
 no-account whelp who, it seems, was, one of the colonel's 
 surveying party, and I imagine, has been bribed and 
 trained to swear just what they want. His name is 
 Whitely, and he is a kind of hanger on of the judge's old 
 friend. Sol Wilgus. If they can keep him sober, they can do 
 anything they please with him, but if he gets a little over 
 the bay, the d 1 himself couldn't handle him. Sol has him 
 in charge, and is to keep him straight ; but Sol can't keep 
 away from " the tiger" (the game of Faro), that is spread- 
 ing out his claws at Budd's grocery, in the back room, and 
 Whitely is staked out at old man Jepp's, out here a couple 
 of miles. If any one can manage Sol, the judge can. 
 There, you have all the items I can give you, and you must 
 make the most of it. Good night, and keep dark."
 
 SOL WILGtJS. 217 
 
 " A pretty good hand," said the judge, as the door closes 
 behind our two friends ; " a pretty good hand if well 
 
 played. P , lend me all the money you have ; my 
 
 purse is better lined than usual, but I may want more. 
 You must stay here ; get things fixed up snug a deck of 
 cards and a bottle of brandy and I will be back with Sol 
 Wilgus before long. Keep cool and don't get nervous." 
 And off he went. 
 
 This Wilgus, upon whom the judge depended so much, 
 was, as my quizzical friend termed him, one of the " d 1's 
 unaccountables." Too lazy to work, too fond of petty 
 jockeying to be honest, full of rude wit and practical jokes, 
 too powerful and courageous a man to be quarrelled with, 
 and too good-humored to quarrel, never committing any 
 act of violence or descending to theft ; but, as he said, 
 "just getting an easy living- as he went along ;" he was 
 looked upon as a necessary evil, and a very amusing one 
 at that. "Whenever he honored the town with his pre- 
 sence, and located himself, pro tern., in an easy attitude 
 upon the piazza of one of the groceries, cracking his jokes 
 and telling his stories, a crowd would always gather 
 around him ; and among them were many who had better 
 have been better employed. 
 
 In about an hour Ormsby arrived with Sol in tow, both 
 in great good humor and as merry as could be. 
 
 " Three cheers for my system of practice," said the 
 judge, as he entered. " I can beat my sub all to sticks at 
 breaking up faro-banks. I've broke Budd's, and shut up 
 his ' tiger' for this night at least." 
 
 " Might' apt," chimed in Sol. " The Judge r s some, I tell 
 ye, and this child was a commin' it, too, right on his 
 trail, ondly I couldn't bark quite so peart. Dog-on- 
 10
 
 218 DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 
 
 my cat ef we wern't ater that tiger with a sharp stick, 
 Mr. P." 
 
 " Glad to hear it, Sol," said I, " but you must need wet- 
 ting down after such warm work ; there's some brandy 
 and water on the table." 
 
 " I'm thar," replied Sol, " but don't mind the water. I'm 
 powerful fond on't, but likes it best outside. Come, Judge, 
 here's to them paws with the claws drawed out." 
 
 " I think you must hare a big enough pile to start a 
 menagerie on your own account," replied the Judge. 
 
 " A young one, prehaps, Judge ; some one must do it, 
 that's shua," said Sol ; " ef they don't, what '11 the grand 
 jury, and your leftenant, the persecutin atterney, do for 
 gamblin' cases ? But ef I'm to open a game, I recken I'd 
 best not take that small hand of poker with you. Thar's 
 
 Mr. P , now, I could take out his eye-teeth and he 
 
 wouldn't know it ; but, dern my skin, ef fancy playin's any 
 whar longside of you." 
 
 " Well, well, Sol, don't be alarmed. No need of a game. 
 Sit down and let's have a chat upon matters and things," 
 answered Ormsby. " How is your friend that you have 
 staked out for the night at old Jepp's?" 
 
 " Thar. I'd a sworn it ; you didn't give me an invite up 
 here to take a horn for nothin. You're one of em. I allers 
 said it, and I'll stick to it. Come, open pan and out with 
 it ; ef I kin do anythin, say it, and Sol's the child for the 
 game. Many's the foul snap you've see me clar of, and 
 many's the time you've let me up when them all-fired grand 
 jury doins got me down, and Sol don't forget. Spit it 
 out, and ef it's anything but work, jest say, it's done," was 
 Sol's reply. 
 
 " How much does Small pay you for mounting guard
 
 DEFINING OUR POSITION. 219 
 
 over Wilgus, and leaving him out on the prairie while 
 you are playing with the tiger ?" inquired Ormsby. 
 
 "Dern his skin, the no 'count ornary pup," replied Sol. 
 " I got broke, and hunted him up to get an X, and don't 
 you think, the jo-fired mean whelp wouldn't stake me, but 
 read me a lecter about the keerds, and tho' I teld him I'd 
 got Wilgus comfetable tight and safe in bed, and wer 
 gwine to fotch him up to the stand in the mornin', bright 
 as one of them half dollars they say old Henkins makes 
 down to Dickinson's Bayou, he ripped and tore so, that 
 I had to make out I were a startin' fer Jepp's. He made 
 his threats too, and ef I don't come our even with him 
 afore it's done, jest say Sol Wilgus is gone under." 
 
 " Sol," said Ormsby, in a quiet and impressive manner, 
 "just cool off and listen. I want to tell you a story. 
 Some time ago no matter when but before poor Jack 
 was appointed Judge, he had a very tough case to man- 
 age. His client was a straightforward, honest man, just 
 like Colonel Ting ; and the other side was nothing but 
 rascality, but Rascality had plenty of witnesses, cocked 
 and primed, to swear to anything, and what was worse, 
 Rascality had stolen all of Honesty's testimony record 
 and parole hid his papers, and drove off his men. 
 
 " Jack wanted to get the case put over, but was afraid 
 that he could not, and so he set his wits to work, to tip 
 over his neighbor's crib, as he couldn't get any corn into 
 his own. Mr. Rascality's main witness was a fellow that 
 could not be trusted except when he was sober, and so he 
 was put under the charge of a very worthy and honest 
 scamp, that got his living by playing faro, and poker, 
 jockeying horses, and betting on quarter races, and mak- 
 ing very respectable men laugh at his queer capers, and
 
 220 DIAMOND CUT DIAMOND. 
 
 help him out of scrapes when they should have helped him 
 into the county jail if there had only been one." Here 
 the Judge looked very knowingly at Sol, who hit me 
 a sly poke in the side, acknowledged the Judge's glance 
 with an expressive wink, helped himself liberally to the 
 contents of the bottle, offered it to the narrator, was not 
 refused, and then settled himself down gravely to hear 
 and comprehend the rest of the tale. 
 
 " Mr. Rascality's lawyers did not know that Jack was 
 engaged on the other side, or they would not have chosen 
 the chap they did. Jack knew that his man could not 
 stay on duty as long as there was a faro bank agoing in 
 the town, and so he went to the grocery where the game 
 was on foot to find him, and then sat down and broke the 
 bank, so as to get him away ; took him home, told him a 
 story that any fool could understand it won't do to 
 speak too plain in these matters played a game of poker, 
 and lost twenty dollars very foolishly " 
 
 " And the witness didn't make a show next mornin', I 
 reckon," interrupted Sol. 
 
 " Yes, but he did though," resumed the Judge, " and a 
 very pretty show too ; somehow his brain had got a twist, 
 and his tongue also. He had forgotten which side he was 
 on, and Mr. Rascality's lawyer had to withdraw his case 
 in a hurry." 
 
 " I don't believe a word about that's happenin'," said 
 Sol, " yet it mought, tho', and mighty apt too. Jack was 
 smart, but it warn't him." 
 
 " Never mind who it was," answered Ormsby, " it did 
 happen, and may happen again, for all I know. Come, 
 Sol, that game of poker." 
 
 " Oh, let the poker slide, Judge," replied Sol ; " some
 
 SOL TAKES THE HINT. 221 
 
 other time, when I want a stake, or get into a scrape, I'll 
 make a call. I must go and look after my man. Good 
 night, gentlemen. Forgot which side he was on, eh? 
 Well, that's some." 
 
 " Mr. Ormsby," I inquired, when Sol had retreated out 
 of ear-shot, " can we trust him ?" 
 
 " Trust him ! yes. Little he cares for Ting or Henkins, 
 but he identifies me with the case, and would as soon join 
 the Mexicans as betray us," said the Judge. " Come, to 
 bed, we shall have to stir betimes in the morning." 

 
 CHAPTER XXII. 
 
 A GAME OP BRAG UNCLE BILLY ? S OPINION ABOUT " GOING 
 OFF HALF COCKED." 
 
 THE day, big with the fate of Roberts and of Ting, 
 dawned at last. My breakfast was a slight one, but 
 Ormsby did not allow the critical position of his client's 
 case to interfere with the filling of his own. He seemed, 
 in fact, in as great a glee as a schoolboy while witnessing 
 the successful prosecution of some piece of cunning mis- 
 chief that he had devised. 
 
 Ten o'clock arrived ; the sheriif had bawled out the 
 necessary " Yes" three times, and the court was opened. 
 The Judge was seated in his throne of state an old 
 kitchen chair, bottomed with oak splints upon a rude 
 kind of dais at the further end of the room, and behind a 
 rickety desk that might once have graced a district 
 school. Beneath the dignitary, in a similar chair and 
 before a small pine table, sat the clerk ; and ranged 
 around the room, or placed across it, were sundry benches, 
 all filled with spectators, clients, witnesses, and lawyers. 
 For the latter's especial benefit, two strips of unplaned 
 boards, supported upon saw-horses, had been improvised. 
 
 Ormsby gave me an elbow hint to look at Small, who 
 was evidently in a fidget, and just as my glance fell upon 
 him, he was opening a letter that had been presented by 
 the sheriff. He frowned, muttered- something, and crum- 
 pling up the paper, thrust it in his pocket.
 
 THE GAME OPENED. 223 
 
 At this moment the case was called up. 
 
 " Who appears for the plaintiff in this ejectment suit ?" 
 inquired the Judge. 
 
 " I do, your honor," replied Small ; " but I am sorry to 
 say that Mr. Muggridge, who is with me in it, has been 
 seriously injured as I have just learned and cannot 
 attend." 
 
 " May't please your honor," interrupted Ormsby, " I 
 appear upon the defence, and have had but twenty-four 
 hours to examine the case, which my learned friend has 
 been studying for the last three years. The eminent coun- 
 sellor who was to have led upon our side was unfortu- 
 nately with Mr. Muggridge when the accident occurred, 
 and is also incapacitated from attending." 
 
 " Good heavens !" cried the Judge, " do you mean to 
 say, gentlemen, that you wish to have this interminable 
 case adjourned again ; if you do, I assure you the request 
 must come from both sides, and coupled with weighty and 
 valid reasons too." 
 
 " I assure your honor that you will find no impediment 
 upon our part," replied Ormsby. " We are probably much 
 better prepared than the adverse party have any idea of." 
 
 ' ; Why, Ormsby," whispered I to him, as he took his 
 seat again, " what do you mean by throwing away this 
 chance of obtaining all that we can ask for ?" 
 
 " Hush !" said he. " We shall get it adjourned, and be 
 paid for it too. Look at Small ; he had the entire getting 
 up of the prosecution, and yet is frightened to death. 
 I've fixed his flint ; and he looks as if he expected a mine 
 to explode beneath his feet ; he is sure we have laid a trap, 
 and when he gets nervous in this way, is as helpless as an 
 infant, without he has Muggridge to lean upon."
 
 224 A GAME OF BEAG. 
 
 " Mr. Small," impatiently exclaimed the Judge, " I am 
 waiting to hear from you." 
 
 " I will go on, your honor," answered Small, in a timid, 
 hesitating manner, " although I think, under the circum- 
 stances, that " 
 
 Here a succession of " whoops," that proceeded from 
 some one under the window, and a loud cheer from a 
 crowd, who had evidently assembled outside the building, 
 cut the attorney's speech short, and he turned pale as 
 death when the same voice that owned the " whoops," 
 yelled out in tones that might have been heard a mile 
 
 " Hoopee, boys ! who's afeard ? Hurray for . 
 
 D n old Henkins, and hurray for Cunnle Ting. Whar's 
 the Judge, and whar's the jury ? Fotch 'em up, and I'll 
 lay down the lor fer 'em. Hurray fer Ormsby, and dern 
 old Small. Who's a gwine to swar to a lie fer an X and 
 no whiskey ? 'Tain't this child." 
 
 " See to that disturbance immediately, Mr. Sheriff," said 
 the Judge, in a rage. 
 
 Out went the sheriff, and the Judge continued : 
 
 " Proceed, Mr. Small ; Mr. Small. Where is Mr. 
 Small?" 
 
 " Gone out to regulate a refractory witness, I should 
 think, your honor," replied Ormsby. 
 
 " Yery extraordinary affair," said the Judge ; " and I 
 must say Mr. Small's conduct appears to be greatly want- 
 ing of respect towards the Court. I don't understand 
 it." 
 
 Small, at this moment returned, and before the Judge 
 could commence the intended rebuke, addressed him hur- 
 riedly with 
 
 " Please your honor, it is a matter of imperative neces-
 
 "BLUFFED OFF." 225 
 
 sity that this case be adjourned until the next term of 
 Court." 
 
 " And why, sir ?" asked the Court, very sharply. 
 
 " An all-important witness, " commenced Small. 
 
 " Do you mean the drunken fellow, who has just 
 created that disturbance ?" interrupted the Judge. " Who 
 is he?" 
 
 " His name is," hesitated Small, pretending to examine 
 some papers " his name is Williams, I think, or Willis, 
 or really this disturbance has annoyed me so that I have 
 forgotten it for the moment." 
 
 " Help him, Mr. Sheriff," said the Judge. 
 
 " It's that Whitly, who was tried for cow-stealing at the 
 last fall term of the court," replied the sheriff. 
 
 " And do you ask to adjourn this case on his account, 
 sir ?" demanded the Judge. " If we wait for him to be 
 sober, we shall have to wait some time for testimony 
 not worth a straw. What says the counsel for the 
 defence ?" 
 
 " That he will not consent," answered Ormsby. 
 
 " Then," said the Judge, " the Court will only adjourn 
 this case upon the prosecution's paying up all the costs that 
 have already accrued, and that, too, without any future 
 claim upon the defence, however this case may termi- 
 nate." 
 
 " Why, your honor," exclaimed Small, " the costs amount 
 to over five hundred dollars." 
 
 " If they have mounted up as high as that, so much 
 the greater reason why it should be argued now," replied 
 the Judge. " Will you proceed, or pay the costs ?" 
 
 " I suppose we must submit, your honor, but" com- 
 menced Small.
 
 226 A GAME OF BRAG. 
 
 " Then enter up the rule, Mr. Clerk," said the Judge, 
 " and call on the next case ; too much time has been 
 wasted in this matter." 
 
 As we left the court-house, Ormsby turned to me and 
 remarked : 
 
 " A pretty well played hand of brag, I call it." 
 
 In the course of the day Mr. Roberts arrived. He had 
 made his escape from the Doctor's hands, and having heard 
 of the accident that had befallen his counsel, feared that 
 all was up with his cause ; but when told of Orrnsby's 
 check-mate, was so delighted that he nearly shook our 
 hands off. 
 
 Seated that night in my room, Ormsby, who delighted 
 in drawing the old man out, and betraying him into one 
 of his queer yarns, started him off by remarking, that 
 Small was a capital hand to get up a case, but should never 
 be trusted to manage one alone ; for, said he, " when he 
 gets his charge well down and all ready, he is sure to let 
 his gun go off half-cocked." 
 
 " It is a mighty bad failen in a gun to go off half-cocked," 
 commenced ' Uncle Billy,' " and the chap that uses one of 
 that sort is certain to shoot suthin' bigger ner a gobbler 
 in the long run ; but the man that goes off half-cocked is 
 as shure as fallin' off a log to shoot himself, and more ner 
 onst, too. It's allers best, I reckon, to look at a thing all 
 over twiste afore you meddle with it. I knowed an old 
 doctor onst, as clever a soul as ever trotted pottecary stuff 
 through a sick man, but his har-trigger war sot too fine, 
 and though it war amost the ondly failin' he had, it war 
 enuff to keep him in hot water all the time. He war pow- 
 erful fond of his farm and garden, but, somehow, nothin' 
 went well thar, he wer allers a gettin' some new kink in 

 
 A GREAT SHOT. 227 
 
 his head, and afore he got half through one speriment he'd 
 be a barkin' loud on some other trail. T Varnt at all sur- 
 prisin' that when he had so many things goin' on in his 
 field he hadn't any time to see to the fences around it. 
 The cattle tormented him powerfully ; they got used to 
 comin in, and come they would. 
 
 "One of his naybors had a par of beeves that war 
 mighty onruly to be shua, and he consaited they war allers 
 the ring-leaders in brcakin' in. Arly one mornin' he got 
 up and went out of his cabin, and putty soon heard the 
 corn stalks a crackin' ; but there were a heavy fog on, and 
 he couldn't see ten foot ahead, so he started off full split for 
 the noise, and afore long sot eyes on suthin' that looked 
 white among the corn. 
 
 " ' By Ned/ says he, ' if it aint that owdacious critter of 
 Miss Mash's, a helpin' hisself in broad daylight, septin' 
 the fog ; that's putty chunked ; coming it rather too strong, 
 I reckon. I said I'd pepper him the first time I treed him 
 in my field, and, by thunder, I'll do it.' Back he went to 
 the house and took down one of the boys' guns ; it war the 
 old man's first experience in firm' one, and if you could 
 have seen him put in a handful of powder and shot, all 
 mixed up, you'd have allowed it war a dose of calomel and 
 epekak he war a mixin for some misfortunit critter. Arter 
 he rammed it all down, and put in nigh to half a pound o' 
 cotton to keep all quiet, out he put, crawled up clus to 
 whar the beef war a makin' his breakfast, and let fly, che- 
 bang. For the fust fire it war a mighty good one, and 
 fetched three things to onst the gun bust, the old man 
 drapped like he'd been shot hisself, and the biggest part 
 of him made a hole in the ground that they had to fill up 
 arterwards like an old well, for he weighed! clean above
 
 228 A GAME OF BEAG. 
 
 two hundred ; and naybors that lived too far off to hear 
 the gun, felt the shock and took it for a juvenile arthquake 
 on a mineatewr plan. The beef swung backards and for- 
 ards a second er two, just as if he war putty well corned, 
 and he war too ; then down he drapped, gin a beller, 
 and keeled up. In a minit here come the boys from the 
 house a humpin' it and a hoopin'. 
 
 " ' By thunder,' says one on 'ein, ' ef dad hasn't gone and 
 done it now I'll be derned. I reckon Miss Mash's beef has 
 got as much of a grist to grind as he'll want for some time. 
 Hollo, father, are you tired, er what are ye squattin' down 
 that way fer ?' 
 
 " The old man sot still, didn't say a word, ner try to 
 get up, and ef he had t'would have been of no sorter use. 
 "Well, thar he sot for ten minits, and all the boys could do 
 they couldn't git a word out ov him ; till at last, by prizin' 
 and liftin' they got him on his legs agin, and then, arter 
 scratchin' his head awhile, says he 
 
 " ' John, which eend ov a gun do you mostways use to 
 pint at anythin' when you want to knock it over ?' 
 
 " ' Why,' says John, ' the leetle one in course.' 
 
 " ' And do you generally put in the powder afore the 
 lead or arter it ?' 
 
 " ' Why afore it, to be sure.'- 
 
 " ' Well,' says the old man, ' then I'm satisfied, for I put 
 both together, and that accounts for both eends goin' off 
 to onst ; but I allow Miss Mash's beef has got the tother 
 half, and you'd best go see.' 
 
 "All hands started off for the beef, and thar he war 
 sure enough, made meat on, ondly twarnt Miss Mash's 
 beef arter all, but the old doctor's white-faced steer. 
 
 " There warn't much said about the way he died, least-
 
 A LITTLE TOO SMART. 229 
 
 ways not amongst the doctor's people ; but as he hadn't 
 turned a furrer for their late crop, and beeves that war 
 broke to the plough war very scus, and corn mighty high 
 that year, thar war a heap of weevils in the old man's 
 crib that either starved or changed their location. 
 
 " It larnt him suthin' arter all, for whenever he'd bust 
 up and fly all to pieces about nothin' at all, the old woman 
 would say, 'that's right, father, don't you be imposed 
 on, just serve 'em out like you did Miss Mash's beef ;' 
 and the old man would cool down, and his tail drap 
 directly. 
 
 " Some folks hev got their trigger sot too fine on one 
 thing and some on another, some goes off right ahead, and 
 some are on the back ackshun principle, some is skert to 
 death about nothin at all. and some gits as riley as thun- 
 der and raises thar tails directly when nobody didn't mean 
 to insult em ; and then agin thar's some goes a rarin' and 
 tarin' arter all the mad wild-cat speckillations they can 
 git item of, and generally comes out as the man did who 
 diskivered the soap mine. 
 
 " Any body that's lived on Galveston Bay could tell you 
 who Dave Harris war. I reckon he wont disremember 
 his first surveyin expedishun in a hurry. He war as green 
 a man as ever you see catched, but he allowed he wor all- 
 fired knowin one of them ' too smart' ones that's too 
 knowin to go alone. Dave wor a little thirsty Yankee, 
 that looked jist 'sif he'd been fetched up on codfish tails, he 
 wor so thin and dry. You'd hev larfed ef you could hev 
 seen his rig fer his fust expedishun ; he had more blankets 
 and riggin than would hev sarved out a dozen ; and his 
 saddle war hung around with coffee-pots and tin cups, till 
 it looked jist like a tin peddler's waggin a horseback ; and
 
 230 A GAME OF BRAG. 
 
 as fer spurs, he'd mounted the biggest par I ever see, good 
 six inches across the rowell. 
 
 " The first night we camped out war on Clar Creek, 
 whar he'd made his location. Our horses war staked out, 
 and we war a settin round the fire, on the ground, a tellen 
 big snake stories for Dave's edification ; when all ov a 
 sudden, up he jumpt, gin a most onarthly yell, and then 
 keeled up. 
 
 " ' Oh, Lord !' says he. ' Oh, Lord ! ! Oh, Lord ! ! !' 
 
 " ' Why, what's the matter, Dave ?' says I. 
 
 " ' Oh, Lord ! I'm a dead man ; tear out my hat linin 
 and give me a chunk of coal, I want to make my will 
 directly. Oh, Lord ! oh, Lord ! that I should hev quit 
 the place whar I lived to hum down East to come here 
 and be killed by a rattlesnake /' 
 
 " ' A rattlesnake,' ses I. ' Hurra, boys ! hunt him up, 
 arter him, er else some ov the rest on us '1 catch it.' 
 
 " Well, we stirred up the fire till it gin a powerfull 
 bright light, and hunted all around, but couldn't see no 
 sign ov anything like a snake ; so we gin up, and all 
 hands went to see what we could do for Dave. 
 
 "He said he was bit whar he set down on, and we 
 inspected putty close, but couldn't find nothin serus, thar 
 wasn't any swellin nor nothin ov that sort to speak on ; 
 and finally he got more docious, and gin in that he war'nt 
 a goin to make a die ov it that time, but he swar it war a 
 snake bit him, only he reckoned he'd jumpt up so mighty 
 spry that the varmint hadn't time to get the poison in. 
 
 " He came up to the fire agin, and dropped on his knees 
 (which wer the way he'd been a settin afore), then he sunk 
 down till the biggest part ov him lit on his heels, and the 
 minit it did, up he jumped agin and yelled out
 
 A DANGEROUS PAIR OF SPURS. 231 
 
 "'Snake! snake!! snake!!!' 
 
 " ' Shut up,' says I, ' you dog-on, no-account critter, ef 
 you can't tell a durn fool par ov spurs, from a rattlesnake, 
 ye'd best stayed to hum and sent your old woman a land- 
 huntinV "* 
 
 On the next day Mr. Roberts and I left Maiden for 
 Houston, and thence he proceeded to his plantation upon 
 the Brazos, and I across the prairie to Galveston, meeting 
 on my journey with nothing of sufficient interest to record. 
 
 Galveston and the Bay County possess, however, so 
 much of historical interest, that although it is not my 
 intention to enter upon a topographical description of 
 Texas, a few pages may be very properly devoted to them. 
 
 *The author is aware, that many of his readers have met with this last 
 story, of " Uncle Billy" before ; but it has been re-printed and re-written, 
 and twisted and turned, and made over, until he can scarcely recognise his 
 own offspring ; and has introduced it here for the purpose of reclaiming it 
 to its home, anc 1 >f showing where that home is.
 
 CHAPTER XXIII. 
 
 GALVESTON. 
 
 THIS city as every one knows, or should know is built 
 upon that narrow strip of sand which separates Galveston 
 Bay from the Gulf of Mexico. 
 
 You will neither perceive island nor city until you are 
 close upon them. The shore, low and destitute of any- 
 thing that may deserve the name of a tree, presents no 
 prominent landmarks to the mariner ; and many a vessel, 
 before the city was built, has sought in vain the inlet to 
 the Bay. 
 
 I have always considered Galveston as one of the most 
 charming places in appearance that I have ever seen. 
 The regular streets are of dazzling and solid white sand 
 the houses new and nearly all painted white the dwellings 
 built in that easy, sans-souci style peculiar to the French 
 and Spanish cottage ; and all of them surrounded and 
 embowered with the shrubbery of the tropics the several 
 varieties of the fig, the orange, the lemon, the pomegra- 
 nate, and great numbers of flowering plants, that with us 
 require the greatest care and attention, but there grow to 
 a large size, almost unattended and uncared for such as 
 the various kinds of jessamine, the tube rose, the oleander, 
 <fec., <fec. 
 
 The wharves present quite a business-like appearance 
 a few foreign ships three or four bay steamers that ply 
 between this port and Houston, the Brazos and the Trinity
 
 A DULL CITY. 233 
 
 one or two sea steamers the packets and cotton ships 
 from New York and Boston and a host of smaller craft, 
 enjoying the beautiful appellation of " Chicken-thieves," 
 that run up and down the Bay, poking their inquisitive 
 prows into all the small bayous, and driving a profitable 
 trade in wood and charcoal, butter, poultry, and eggs. 
 
 To the wharves and to the Strand, however (as the 
 street fronting upon the bay is named), all business is con- 
 fined, and an air of insuperable dulness reigns over the 
 rest of the city. Not a sound is heard except perchance 
 the bell of a steamer, or occasionally voices raised in 
 mirth, or a singer in the streets : it would be the place of 
 all the world for a second edition of the " Seven Sleepers" 
 to luxuriate in, without the slightest danger of a speedy 
 awakening. 
 
 Galveston can never be more than a forwarding post 
 for Houston and the Brazos. Fortuitous circumstances, 
 and the idea that it must soon become a place of import- 
 ance, alone gave it the position it once occupied, and from 
 which it has already sadly declined. 
 
 A few English, French, and German merchants, with 
 some capital, and heavy stocks of goods, emigrated there 
 in the years 1840, '41, and '42, expecting to supply the up- 
 country planters with their necessary goods, and pur- 
 chase in return their cotton for a foreign remittance. 
 The Houston merchants soon, however, obtained greatly 
 the advantage over them ; the navigation of the Brazos 
 and Trinity being so exceedingly uncertain and dan- 
 gerous, that planters preferred transporting their crops 
 across the country in wagons to the latter place, rather 
 than incur the risk of loss, injury, and serious delay upon 
 the rivers ; and when once in Houston, their cotton was
 
 284 GALVESTON. 
 
 purchased immediately at quite as fair a price as they 
 could expect to obtain for it below. Moreover, the men 
 of Houston being generally old settlers and persons well 
 acquainted with the wants of the Southern trade, offered 
 them stocks of goods, if not so large, yet better assorted 
 and adapted to their wants than those of their rivals of 
 Galveston. 
 
 Nor was this all : a planter must at some time require 
 credit ; this, those who were deserving of it, could 
 obtain from men to whom they were personally known, 
 and who were familiar with their affairs and circum- 
 stances ; while on the contrary, all foreigners came to the 
 country with the idea that it was the first object of every 
 man with whom they met, to cheat and defraud them if 
 they could. 
 
 The " Northers," as the fierce north winds of the coast- 
 country are called, offered another and a very serious 
 impediment to the commerce of Galveston. 
 
 The waters of the Bay are little influenced by the tide, 
 but completely controlled by the violent winds. A strong 
 southeast wind forces the waves of the gulf into the bay, 
 while a heavy and continued blow from the north or west 
 nearly empties the latter into the former, leaving the flats 
 bare and the sand bars impassable even to the smallest 
 craft. 
 
 It is almost impossible for any planter to visit Gal- 
 veston in winter, receive and dispose of his crop of 
 cotton, purchase and ship his goods, without being there 
 long enough to encounter a " Norther," and he then 
 has the pleasure of remaining at the " Tremont House," 
 or whatever hotel he may choose to patronize, at a 
 very heavy necessary expense, besides the extras gene-
 
 TEMPORARY PROSPERITY. 285 
 
 rally the more serious of the two or of being caught 
 in a steamer upon some of the " bars" Red-fish or Klop- 
 pers for instance then and there to lie, wind and mud- 
 bound, from a day to a week, as fate may will it, upon 
 short commons, until a southeast wind may be so minded 
 as to again replenish the exhausted bay. 
 
 These and other causes occasioned a rapid increase 
 of prosperity in Houston, and a proportionate decline 
 in Galveston, but not immediately ; for, strange to say, 
 that very want of a regular and legitimate up-country 
 business produced temporarily the reverse effect. The 
 heavy stocks of a foreign merchandise were found unsale- 
 able and unfitted for the market, being refuse goods of all 
 descriptions, purchased under the mistaken idea that any- 
 thing would sell in Texas. 
 
 Anxious to dispose of their dragging stocks, the owners 
 soon commenced dabbling in lands, and exchanging goods 
 at exorbitant prices for lots in or near the city. Nor 
 was it long before soldiers' certificates, headright as 
 the floating claims of settlers were termed patents, and 
 even Spanish titles, all found a market here. 
 
 Land every one had ; a crowd of speculators rushed 
 in, strangers filled the hotels, and their money the 
 landlords' pockets ; the livery stables, bar-rooms, billiard 
 rooms, restaurants all came in for a share ; a much 
 larger amount of goods was sold for money ; building 
 lots rose rapidly in value ; houses and stores were erected ; 
 those already in existence were purchased at an extrava- 
 gant price, and for a time everything bore an unreal and 
 inflated value. 
 
 Affairs went on prosperously for a time, but a reverse 
 soon came.
 
 236 GALVESTON. 
 
 As long as these stocks of goods lasted, and even longer ; 
 while the merchants who had been engaged in this busi- 
 ness had credit to purchase others upon their individual 
 responsibilities, or by the hypothecation of their land 
 papers ; all was well but when no merchant could be 
 found willing to part with his wares, except for such equi- 
 valents as he could again employ for the purpose of 
 replenishing his store, an immediate decline of commerce 
 ensued. 
 
 Houses and lots decreased greatly in value ; most of 
 those who had been transacting a really legitimate busi- 
 ness abandoned the place to seek a better location, and 
 Galveston became what it now is. 
 
 It is, in fact, looked upon something in the light of a 
 watering place, where one can spend a few days and 
 a few dollars pleasantly, luxuriate upon the fine oysters 
 and fish of the Bay, sail, ride and bathe. To look at the 
 town, you would note it for the very residence of Hygeia ; 
 the neat and beautiful houses, the cleanly appearance of 
 the streets of hard white sand, the almost constant breezes 
 from the Gulf or Bay, all indicate it. 
 
 Unfortunately the reverse is the case. Galveston has 
 been severely and repeatedly afflicted with the fatal epide- 
 mics of the South. 
 
 There is another great drawback to its prosperity the 
 danger of submersion. Twice within the recollection of 
 the author has the portion of the island upon which the 
 city is built been under water ; once entirely, and once 
 partially. 
 
 The first visit of Neptune occurred in 1838 or 7 39. No 
 lives were lost ; all the inhabitants took refuge in a large 
 building, then used as the Custom House. The second
 
 A WELL WATERED CITY. 237 
 
 story was filled with soldiers and Mexican prisoners, 
 whose weight, probably, prevented the building being 
 washed away. The boards were torn off from the lower 
 part of the building, and the waves had full liberty of 
 dashing through without meeting with any opposition upon 
 which to wreak their vengeance, except the posts and 
 supporters. All this occurred at night, and the next day 
 the waves retreated ; but dark and fearful must that night 
 have been to those " cabined, cribbed, confined" in a slight 
 building, surrounded with a raging waste of waters, 
 stunned by the deep-mouthed roar of the furious waves, 
 and the shrill piping of the northern blast. 
 
 At this time Galveston was but a military post, of which 
 Col. Turner was the commandant, and he with his wife 
 and family passed the night in a small open boat, anchored 
 near the Custom House, exposed to the violence of the 
 pitiless storm. 
 
 The second invasion of his Marine Highness, occurred 
 in 1842. A church built of brick was blown down or 
 undermined, I know not which ; houses upset and shat- 
 tered ; vessels made experimental trips upon their own 
 accounts, without having obtained a regular clearance 
 from the Custom House ; some of them became so firmly 
 attached, during their first visit to the streets, that they 
 reluctantly refused all overtures made them afterwards to 
 leave ; and one or more lives were lost.
 
 CHAPTER XXIV. 
 
 UP THE BAY. 
 
 THE usual mode of communication between Galveston and 
 Houston is by steamboat, and there are generally two run- 
 ning between the two places, thus making a daily line, 
 the distance being only about eighty-five miles, and 
 achieved in from ten to twelve hours. 
 
 In winter, however, these trips are prolonged according 
 to the good will and pleasure of the northers. 
 
 Having embarked upon one of these asthmatic means of 
 locomotion, you will first encounter, in your progress up 
 the Bay, " Pelican Island," a very narrow and very low 
 strip of sand, lying directly in front of the city, at a dis- 
 tance of some two or three miles from it. 
 
 This island derives its name from the immense numbers 
 of " Pelicans" which congregate there. Nor are they the 
 only aquatic birds that inhabit the place, it being a favor- 
 ite rendezvous for all varieties that frequent the Bay. 
 
 In the month of May its sandy shores are literally 
 covered with their eggs, and beach parties often resort 
 there for the purpose of gathering them. Rounding the 
 southern extremity you have a full view of Galveston Bay 
 a narrow strip of timber skirting the shores of the main- 
 land far on your left, making as it were a line of demark- 
 ation between the prairie and the water ; and on the right 
 the masts of vessels in port, and one or two buildings, 
 more pretending than their neighbors, alone giving token
 
 RED-FISH BAR. 239 
 
 of the existence of the city ; the island itself having 
 already disappeared, hidden by the miniature surges of 
 the Bay. 
 
 Ten miles further on you will arrive at " Red Fish Bar/' 
 a formidable obstacle to navigation. This is a ridge of 
 sand, in many parts elevated above the water, and extend- 
 ing entirely across the Bay, with the exception of two or 
 three narrow passages. 
 
 Having passed in safety you then find nothing to impede 
 your progress until you reach " Klopper Bar," some ten or 
 twelve miles further up, and lying directly across at the 
 outlet of San Jacinto Bay. 
 
 I have no intention of making a coast survey for the 
 reader's benefit, and shall attempt no regular or continuous 
 description of the country ; but this section is so much 
 spoken of, and has so much of historic interest connected 
 with it, that I have here deemed it best to be minute in 
 sketching. 
 
 After passing Klopper's Bar on your left, the so called 
 San Jacinto Bay opens full before you. 
 
 I say " so called," for it is really but the mouth of the 
 river proper, the main channel of the Bay being only from 
 a third of a mile to a mile in width, running between and 
 winding among a chain of islands, behind which are snugly 
 ensconced sundry other small bays and coves, of so little 
 depth of water, however, that a " norther" renders them 
 impassable even for canoes. 
 
 Ev.ery. point, creek, cove, bay, and island in sight has 
 some story of its own attached to it. 
 
 Immediately upon your left, after entering San Jacinto 
 Bay, stands " New Washington," the plantation of Colonel
 
 240 UP THE BAY. 
 
 Morgan : the building surrounded and embowered by a 
 grove of the orange and fig. 
 
 This spot was the furthest point the ultima Thule 
 which any of Santa Anna's army attained in the invasion 
 of 1836. 
 
 There in that very house looking so quiet and 
 demure, as if it were the very spot of all the world for 
 indolent repose, was the President of the new Independent 
 States of Coahuila and Texas, very quietly waiting the 
 progress of events, doubting whether or not it might be 
 wise to embark in a vessel which lay off" the Point, with 
 the fugitives on board, bound for Galveston. There he sat 
 hesitating what course to pursue in order to preserve his 
 neck from too intimate an acquaintance with Mexican 
 hemp, when suddenly and unexpectedly a party of the 
 enemy's horse dashed up the lane. 
 
 Burnett and his friends escaped by one gate, as the 
 adverse party entered the opposite ; they rushed down to 
 the water's edge, found a boat, and embarked ; but ere 
 they had advanced a musket shot from the shore, their foes 
 were upon their track. 
 
 At this critical moment, the boat grounded ; and had 
 the horsemen pushed their steeds into the water, the entire 
 party had been captured ; but the enemy halted, and raised 
 their " escopetas." 
 
 Among the fugitives was a lady, whose person, fortu- 
 nately for his Excellency, was in proportion to the size of 
 her heart. 
 
 She arose, interposed her amplitude so as to completely 
 shelter and conceal the President, and, to the honor of the 
 Mexicans be it said, they withheld their fire.
 
 A BONE OF CONTENTION. 241 
 
 Brutal, murderous, faithless as have been all of their 
 dealings with the Texans, they have respected woman; 
 but this was an extreme case, and it might be doubted 
 whether, under similar circumstances, many who claim to 
 be more civilized and less sanguinary than the Mexicans, 
 would have withheld their bullets from the escaping chief 
 of the enemy, denounced as a rebel and outlaw, with a 
 price put upon his head, restrained by the fear of injuring 
 a woman. 
 
 Let us give the d 1 his due, and the Mexicans what- 
 ever meed they may deserve, for it is but seldom that we 
 have an opportunity to praise them. 
 
 On the opposite side of the bay, from New Washington, 
 is Cedar Point, and upon it stands a cabin of no very 
 remarkable appearance or lofty pretension, yet it and the 
 land surrounding have long been a bone of contention 
 between a Gothamite Texan, and no less a personage than 
 Sam Houston. 
 
 The circumstances of the dispute were somewhat singu- 
 lar and complicated. 
 
 The league of land, or rather, as the Mexican law and 
 deed term it, the " sitio" upon which the said house stands, 
 was granted to a person of the name of E . 
 
 This E , it seems, had been married in the old Texan 
 
 fashion, which, being a very odd mode indeed, had better, 
 perhaps, be explained to the reader. 
 
 Under the Mexican regime, the church of Rome or 
 rather, a very corrupted version of it reigned paramount ; 
 the priests, in fact, controlling not only church, but state ; 
 and all marriages were declared illegal unless performed 
 by one of their order. 
 
 Unfortunately, however, the Mexican ministers of the 
 11
 
 242 UP THE BAY. 
 
 Catholic church were not of that self-denying class, who 
 willingly spend their lives among wild woods and wilder 
 men ; advancing the cause of God, and assisting and 
 instructing their fellow men. ' 
 
 On the contrary, they much preferred their snug " haci- 
 endas," fat dinners, and rosy nieces, to say nothing of a 
 Sunday game of " Monte'" with their flock, to tramping 
 about the country with every probability of picking up 
 more kicks from the Indians, than coppers from " los 
 Yankees." 
 
 This was, therefore, a very awkward state of affairs, 
 which might lead to troublesome results ; and something 
 had to be done, for like poor Paddy in the song, 
 
 " It might be for years, and it might be for ever," 
 
 ere the light of a " Padre's" vinous countenance would 
 illumine the out-of-the-way settlements ; so Mexico passed 
 a law. 
 
 When Mexico and China fall into a difficulty, they pass 
 a law, issue a " pronunciamento " or proclamation, and 
 voiid ! the thing is done. 
 
 Texas has been completely subjugated several times by 
 the one party, and those belligerent " Fankweis," the 
 "John Bulls," repeatedly humbled to the dust by the 
 other, in this very simple and efficient manner. 
 
 The law, however, passed in this instance, taking all 
 things into consideration, was perhaps the best thing that 
 could have been done. 
 
 The substance of it was, that whenever a couple desired 
 to commit matrimony, and themselves, at one and the 
 same time, if no Padre was at hand to unite the chain of 
 roses (which, by the way, is a pretty metaphor for some-
 
 HOME-MADE MARRIAGES. 243 
 
 thing more enduring than steel, and sometimes more gall- 
 ing than nettles), then the contracting parties were 
 allowed to assemble their friends, and in their pre- 
 sence sign a bond, pledging themselves mutually to submit 
 to a more regular performance of the marriage rite, when- 
 ever called upon so to do by either party, if a priest might 
 be found, or to forfeit five hundred dollars. 
 
 Under this strange law were the marriages of the early 
 Texans performed, and very few of the parties ever after 
 gave any thought to the necessity of " troubling a priest," 
 until civilization coming hand in hand with liberty, the 
 Solons of the new Republic declared all such marriages 
 null and void, unless completed according to their amended 
 laws, at a certain time. 
 
 Wives were then valuable commodities valuable on 
 account of their scarcity ; and very few of these bonds 
 were forfeited. 
 
 "While upon this subject, permit me to recommend to the 
 respective collections of legislative wisdom of Connecticut 
 and Kentucky, to give this system a close examination, 
 and to judge if it be not preferable to their mode of doing 
 business. 
 
 Thus was E married, and some years after, dying 
 
 without a will, he left a son by a former legitimate mar- 
 riage, and a wife by the laws of Mexico, to dispute for the 
 possession of his " sitio" and " labore." 
 
 Ere any division or settlement had been made, the lady 
 sold one half of the land to the " old chief " as Houston 
 was called and soon after either sought some other coun- 
 try, or followed her husband into another world. 
 
 The son, not to be behindhand with the old lady, also 
 sold a half to Mr. Y , a lawyer in Galveston.
 
 244 DP THE BAY. 
 
 Both parties claimed the best portion, insisted loudly 
 upon the legal right of their respective vendors, and 
 both took active measures in the matter. 
 
 Houston, I believe, first took possession of the land, 
 built a log cabin, and resided there for a time, leaving a 
 German to protect it when he retired from the field ; from 
 
 which the tenant was soon ousted by Mr. Y , who 
 
 now in his turn moved his family there. 
 
 Both being lawyers, the disputants took up the weapons 
 of their kind, to fight out the battle, and at it they went, 
 pell-mell. 
 
 It soon appeared that the title if title it was of the 
 old chief, only covered the other half of the league in ques- 
 tion ; and he very gravely requested the court to make a 
 regular exchange, and by some hitherto unknown rule, grant 
 him the part which he coveted, insisting that the papers 
 were drawn up erroneously, and should have conferred it 
 upon him. 
 
 How this decidedly comical case has terminated, I know 
 not but probably not at all, as law.suits have no limits in 
 Texas, and the one in question will probably rival in 
 immortality the celebrated case of Peebles vs. Plain- 
 etanes.
 
 CHAPTER XXV. 
 
 SAN JACINTO BAY. 
 
 SAN JACINTO BAY is a beautiful sheet of water, some 
 twelve miles in length, and from one to three in width. 
 Commencing at the junction of Buffalo Bayou with the 
 San Jaciuto River, and running southeast to Galveston 
 Bay ; it is studded with pleasant little islands, its waters 
 abound with fish equal to any in the world, and are 
 covered in the winter months with an innumerable host 
 of aquatic birds, from the poor, despised " poule d'eau" 
 to the epicurean " Canvas-back" and the stately swan. 
 
 Its shores present great advantages to emigrants, espe- 
 cially those of smaller means, and without what is termed 
 a large " force " or number of negroes. Being within a 
 short distance of two of the largest cities, the farmers find 
 a ready market for vegetables, fruit, and wood all of 
 which, in most other sections of the country, are of no 
 other use than for home consumption. Besides these, the 
 prairies afford an excellent winter and summer range for 
 cattle and a well managed dairy might be rendered very 
 profitable. 
 
 There are, however, some drawbacks, and rather serious 
 ones. The prairies are perfectly level, not rolling as they 
 are further north ; and when more water falls than the 
 earth can imbibe, it stands upon the surface until slowly 
 evaporated by the sun. This not only causes much sick-
 
 246 SAN JACINTO BAY. 
 
 ness, but unfits the ground for travelling sometimes for 
 months. 
 
 Then the soil is comparatively poor and not easily 
 worked, besides which the corn and cotton crops are more 
 uncertain than they are further up the country. 
 
 On your right hand as you enter San Jacinto from 
 Galveston Bay, immediately above Cedar Point is Cedar 
 Bayou, a stream, or rather creek, navigable some twelve 
 miles for vessels drawing from five to seven feet of 
 water. Here Lafitte repaired, wooded, and watered his 
 vessels. 
 
 This bay and the bayou were, as a Texan would say, his 
 " stamping ground." And here he lay, like a spider in his 
 den, awaiting his prey. His fort and collection of huts 
 were upon Galveston Island, but his vessels, when not 
 engaged in active service, were probably kept in the inlets 
 of the bay ; and one can find many traces and marks of 
 the pirate camps upon their shores. 
 
 When any considerable booty had been taken, he 
 crowded sail for the Louisiana shore, and running up one 
 of those outlets or bayous west of the Balize, found a 
 hearty welcome, and a ready market among the planters 
 of the interior. 
 
 To return to the Bay. Two long but narrow islands lie 
 upon either side, near the mouth Cattle Island upon the 
 right, Spilman's upon the left ; behind these are two of 
 those small bays of which I have made previous mention 
 Morgan's and Goose's Creek Bays the latter but a small 
 affair. 
 
 Passing these islands you will find upon your right a 
 small collection of houses, under the title of Louisville. 
 Here are the shipyards, and the only ones in this part of
 
 PEGGY ATTACKS THE TEXANS. 247 
 
 the country the worms being so destructive in the waters 
 of the lower bay, that the " ways" are entirely destroyed in 
 a few months after being laid in the water. 
 
 Behind the neck of land upon which the shipyards are 
 located is Scott's Bay next above this, Bloodgood Bay 
 and on the opposite side of the Channel are Perkins's and 
 Brown's islands. 
 
 Hidden from sight by the two latter is a sheet of water 
 known as Peggy's Bay being so named from a somewhat 
 notorious personage Peggy McCormick who owns or 
 did own, the league of land upon which the battle of San. 
 Jacinto was fought. 
 
 Peggy achieved immortality by her dauntless courage, 
 not at, but after the aforesaid battle. 
 
 Not a whit cared she for Rusk or Houston, Cos or 
 Santa Anna foe Texan or Mexican, but the idea that 
 they should have had the audacity to fight a battle upon 
 her land, and that too without even saying " by your 
 leave," was something too aggravating for her Milesian 
 blood to bear. 
 
 It would seem that her excessive indignation and agita- 
 tion at such unparalleled impudence upon their part must 
 have temporarily overpowered her, and prevented her 
 taking any decisive measures in or on the premises until 
 too late, or doubtless, broomstick in hand, Peggy had sal- 
 lied forth and pegged away with remorseless violence at 
 both the trespassers upon her soil. 
 
 On the day after the battle, however, she determined 
 that the victorious General should feel the full weight 
 and power of woman's first, best weapon of offensive or 
 defensive war her tongue ; and so, in not the most amia- 
 ble mood in the world, presented herself before Houston.
 
 248 SAN JACINTO BAT. 
 
 "Without obtaining permission, inquiring if he were in, or 
 with any in fact of the customary preliminaries, in she 
 marched boldly, up to the bed where the General lay 
 fretful and irritated from the effects of a wounded 
 leg. 
 
 " General," said she, " take yer men aff me legge" 
 (league of land). 
 
 " Madam," began the General, always urbane when the 
 fair sex are concerned, but his speech was cut short by 
 Peggy's reiterating 
 
 " Take yer men aff me legge, I say." 
 
 " Indeed, madam, the army will move as soon as possi- 
 ble." 
 
 " But I say take yer men aff me legge immediately." 
 
 At this last volley, accompanied by a corresponding 
 approach upon the part of the assailant, as though, like 
 the old man in the spelling-book, who found words and 
 grass ineffectual, she was about to commence the vi et 
 armis mode of argument, the usual patience and urbanity 
 of the sorely tried commander resigned its functions, and 
 poor Peg was hurried home under the protection of a mili- 
 tary escort. 
 
 No stranger is ever ciceroned over the field of battle 
 without hearing of her speech it will be quoted in after 
 ages ; and all must admit that, although her style of 
 oratory might not have been classically beautiful, it was 
 certainly to the point. 
 
 On leaving Brown's Island, the bay assumes the appear- 
 ance of a river, the width not exceeding a mile ; and after 
 a detour of some two or three miles to the left, you arrive 
 at the junction of the two streams. 
 
 Upon the right bank stands Lynchburgh, and upon the
 
 " PLUNDER." 249 
 
 left San Jacinto two petty hamlets, with a few huts, dig- 
 nified as houses and stores the latter driving an insigni- 
 ficant trade, with whiskey, tobacco, and coffee for its 
 staples. 
 
 Each place also boasts now of a saw-mill, and had this 
 been the case in 1836, or had the new steam mill been in 
 operation upon the bayou, it is rather doubtful whether 
 the Mexican army would have camped so quietly in its 
 vicinity. 
 
 The ignorance of the Mexicans who composed the army 
 of invasion was almost incredible ; everything that they 
 saw was new to their eyes, and very simple and every day 
 affairs to us, became to them matters of great wonder and 
 profound astonishment. Such ideas as steamboats and 
 saw-mills had never crossed their benighted minds, and 
 thereby hangs a tale. 
 
 As soon as the invading army entered the settlements, 
 the privates commenced loading themselves with miscella- 
 neous and heterogeneous plunder of every sort and descrip- 
 tion. That they knew not the uses of an article was no rea- 
 son for letting it alone. As long as it had evidently been 
 of some value to some one, off it went ; and if too large to 
 be transported by one, was divided. Unfortunate spin- 
 ning-wheels found themselves divorced for life from all 
 their former ties and connexions ; shovel and tongs that 
 had kept company for many years, parted to meet no more : 
 in short, the entire army each man with his back-loaJ of 
 assorted plunder resembled for all the world some huge 
 association of foot pedlars, got up on " social " principles, 
 for the express purpose of victimizing at one fell swoop 
 (or swop) all the old women in the country. That their * 
 backs groaned under their unwonted burdens made no 
 11*
 
 250 SAN JACINTO BAY. 
 
 difference to them, nor did it prevent their making fresi 
 addition to their treasures every day. 
 
 Old booty was rejected for new, and the road over 
 which they passed presented something such an appear- 
 ance as the streets of our city might be supposed to exhi- 
 bit, if at that precise moment, on some first day of May, 
 when one half the furniture and luggage of the inhabit- 
 ants is in a state of migration, an earthquake should sud- 
 denly occur, and all the contents of the various vehicles 
 of transportation be thrown helter skelter, promiscuously, 
 and sown broadcast over the pavements. 
 
 Fate so willed it, that while Urrea's division was upon 
 the Colorado, one of his scouting, plundering parties, fell 
 in with a saw-mill. Had they discovered the longitude 
 without ever having heard of such a thing before or had 
 that very uncertain individual, the " Man in the Moon," 
 with dog, and bush, and lantern all his paraphernalia 
 complete made his appearance, and invited them to par- 
 take of the green cheese of which his kingdom is supposed 
 to be formed, they certainly could not have been more 
 astonished. 
 
 What use in the world this curious affair could be put 
 to, they could not imagine ; but ever treacherous them- 
 selves, they are ever suspicious of others ; and after a long 
 and warm consultation upon the subject, all pronounced it 
 some cunning and devilish device of the enemy, one not to 
 be approached save with an" overwhelming force. Had 
 they lived a few years later, and been sufficiently fortunate 
 to have read Macaulay, something like a new " Eye-House" 
 plot, or a " Guy Fawkes " affair of that kind, would have 
 probably suggested itself to their vivid and fear-excited 
 imaginations.
 
 THE MILL GOES OFF. 251 
 
 Be this as it may, off they started to procure assistance. 
 This being obtained, the dubious and dangerous affair was 
 regularly invested ; and when, after a slow and gradual 
 approach on all sides, they found that it did not go off, 
 their valor, cupidity, and curiosity combined, so got the 
 better of their discretion, that a general rush was made 
 at the building. 
 
 Here was something new, surprising, and unheard of. 
 What could be the use of all that complicated and curious 
 collection of wheels and levers ? What did that enormous 
 saw and log-carriage mean, unless indeed this was some 
 newly invented satanic device and horrible machine of los 
 diablos los Yankese, to shoot off that pile of huge logs, as so 
 many gigantic arrows, at the invincible and glorious army 
 of invasion ? 
 
 One sentiment, however, prevailed that of regret, of 
 deep, unfeigned regret, that the whole affair could not be 
 carried off bodily as it was ; and to remedy this as well as 
 they might, they laid their heads together to concoct plans, 
 and devise ways and means, to detach the more portable 
 parts of the vast machine, and to pack them off. 
 
 Some went to work upon the wheels, .some upon the 
 saw, and all were making themselves busy and useful, 
 doing, or trying to do something, when an unfortunate 
 wretch, whose day of birth must surely have been marked 
 with a black stone, seized upon the lever of the saw-gate 
 as his share of the plunder, pulled it down, and off she 
 went, with more than an extra head on. 
 
 Language fails to describe the result ; and the reader 
 must imagine if he can the precipitate retreat of the valor- 
 ous foe. Some mounted their horses, many had no time to 
 spare even for that, and not a hero turned head, or drew
 
 252 SAN JACINTO BAY. 
 
 rein, until within sight of camp, and when the ceaseless 
 and horrid din of the overtasked mill had faded away in 
 the distance. 
 
 Had Mrs. Lot been one half as wise, she never would 
 have been changed into a moral pillory, or remained above 
 ground long enough to have been chipped in bits by the 
 " Dead Sea" gentry, and brought home by them to give an 
 antique flavor to their Expedition.
 
 CHAPTER XXVI. 
 
 THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO. 
 
 No gorgeous banners we unfold, 
 
 Of crimson silk, and yellow gold ; 
 
 No waving plumes, nor helmets bright, 
 
 Nor chargers prancing for the fight ; 
 
 Bat men as true, and hearts as bold, 
 
 As e'er a life for freedom sold, 
 
 At Leuctra, or Thermopyls, 
 
 We bring into the field to-day, 
 
 To chase the weir wolf from his lair, 
 
 Or failing, sleep for ever there. 
 
 BUFFALO BAYOU makes nearly a right angle with the San 
 Jacinto. The prairie upon which the battle was fought is 
 almost level, elevated some thirty feet above the bayou and 
 bay, and bounded upon two sides by a " marais" or marsh. 
 The few huts which compose the petty village of San 
 Jacinto, stand exactly at the angle of junction. Leaving 
 these, and turning to your left, after a march of perhaps a 
 mile upon the low ground on the margin of the bayou, you 
 turn again to the left, and ascending a gentle hill, are upon 
 the battle ground. At the summit of the hill is a beautiful 
 grove, or, in Texan parlance, " island of timber," upon the 
 outer edge of which, in unpretending graves encircled by 
 common paling, the heroes that fell upon the field sleep 
 their last sleep. 
 
 This first "island" was the spot where the Texans 
 pitched their camp. In and around another island upon 
 your left, distant not more than half a mile, did the first
 
 254 THE BATTLE OF SAN JACIXTO. 
 
 severe fighting and skirmishing occur. Here fell nearly 
 all the Americans whose lives were lost in the engage- 
 ment. Directly in front of you, and in a line with the first 
 island, stands yet another, at the distance of a mile, while 
 you will see a fourth, larger than the others, in a line with, 
 and opposite to the second, its right resting upon the 
 extreme verge of the high ground, and overlooking the 
 marsh and bay. Here lay Santa Anna's army ; in front 
 of this, and between it and the smaller grove upon its left, 
 was the battle fought. The prairie here is slightly rolling, 
 descending within half way between the two camps, and 
 then again rising. Thus the camps were upon a level, 
 with a piece of lower ground between them, which circum- 
 stance, one might suppose, would have given a decided 
 advantage to the party attacked ; but thanks to Mexican 
 management and Mexican gunnery, the reverse was the 
 case. You will perceive the field is a parallelogram, 
 bounding it on two sides by lines drawn from island to 
 island, and the shores of the Bayou and Bay completing 
 the figure. It is a rich piece of land, covered during nine 
 months of the year with a fine crop of grass, and spangled 
 with innumerable flowers of all hues and forms. The 
 ground is hard, smooth, and would be an admirable place 
 for a review. 
 
 The whole country, at the time of which I speak, was 
 frantic with excitement and alarm. 
 
 Some seized the first horse that they could find, and 
 unprepared, save with their rifles and a day's provisions, 
 rushed to the army, with no thought save of revenge for 
 the cold-blooded murder of a father, brother, son, or friend, 
 by their dastardly and treacherous foe. Others again 
 made post-haste for the Sabine, taking their families with
 
 BUSK, IN THE FIELD. 255 
 
 them, but without caring for anything else, leaving stock 
 of cattle, plantation, houses, and such furniture as they 
 possessed to the tender mercies of the enemy, or the first 
 gang of robbers that might chance that way. To use a 
 very meaning western expression, it was a perfect " stam- 
 pede." 
 
 When the disastrous news of the fall of the Alamo, and 
 massacre of Fanning's command near Goliad, reached the 
 army, they were lying upon the Brazos, and it is said that 
 many of them also shared the general alarm. Houston 
 was in command, and what his intentions were it would 
 now be very difficult indeed to ascertain ; but from the 
 statements of the officers with him at that time, it would 
 appear to have been his design to have retreated into the 
 Red Lands, then and now the most densely populated part 
 of Texas, and thus to force the settlers to recruit his army, 
 by bringing the war to their very doors. 
 
 Whether even this plan would have succeeded is very 
 doubtful, as the three divisions of the invading army 
 would have joined forces ere they had attempted to over- 
 run this section. 
 
 At this critical period, when the heads of the govern- 
 ment beat a very undignified retreat from Harrisburgh, 
 upon the " sauve qui peut" principle, General Rusk, the 
 Secretary of War, to whose determination and courage 
 Texas owes everything alone hastened to the army. 
 An immediate change took place for the better ; his pre- 
 sence did much,' his actions more ; not appearing himself to 
 command, his orders were promulgated through the regu- 
 lar channels, and prompt and decisive they were. Scout- 
 ing parties scattered along the banks of the Brazos were 
 called in, the small army concentrated and prepared for
 
 256. THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO. 
 
 the conflict, and the route ordered, the moment his hurried 
 preparations were completed. 
 
 Santa Anna's division crossed the Brazos on the llth of 
 April, marched through Harrisburgh, which they burned, 
 and then took the road on the right of Buffalo Bayou to 
 New Washington. 
 
 On the 16th, the Texan army took up the line of march ; 
 and on the 19th crossed the bayou, taking the road on the 
 left of the stream. They were thus nearly upon the track 
 of their foe, but chose the other side, perhaps because it 
 afforded shelter and concealment, perhaps because it might 
 offer an opportunity to retreat. 
 
 A short distance from the crossing, the road forks ; one 
 trail leading to the Atascasete ford of the San Jacinto, 
 and thence to Nacogdoches ; the other to Lynchburgh. At 
 the junction, the guides paused, having as yet received no 
 orders as to their future course. 
 
 At length the order was given, and the army marched 
 down the bayou road. 
 
 It would appear to have been, even at that late hour, a 
 matter of great doubt whether the battle was to be fought, 
 or a hurried retreat made. The fate of Texas at that 
 moment hung trembling in the scale. 
 
 Houston's reply to those whom he met, and who eagerly 
 inquired the destination of the troops, was, as I have been 
 informed by officers who were with him on that day, that 
 he was " going down to fight the Mexicans, but against his 
 will and advice, and that he was not responsible for the 
 consequences." Be this as it may, the army pressed for- 
 ward and encamped that night near the bank of the bayou, 
 and not far from Lynchburgh. 
 
 The transit of the little army was effected with safety
 
 SHERMAN'S SKIRMISH. 257 
 
 and rapidity early the next morning, and they had just 
 " camped" in the previously-mentioned grove, when the 
 Mexican bugles sounding upon the prairie, announcing the 
 advance of Santa Anna, summoned them to arms. A few 
 shots were exchanged without serious effect; the enemy 
 fell back and encamped also. In the afternoon Col. Sher- 
 man, with his small corps of cavalry, was despatched to 
 reconnoitre, and in so doing, drew out the entire mounted 
 force of the Mexicans upon his handful of men, who 
 retreated to the small " island" nearer the Texan camp. 
 Why he was not supported by Houston is an enigma that 
 none but Houston can solve ; but from whatever motives 
 he acted, he left them to their fate. 
 
 With desperate courage Sherman finally rallied his men, 
 and cut his way through to the camp, with the loss of five 
 or six killed, and several wounded. 
 
 The Texan army now consisted of some seven hundred 
 and twenty men, and a very heterogeneous collection it 
 was. A few artillery-men under the gallant veteran, 
 Colonel Neil, a part of a regiment of infantry commanded 
 by Colonel Millard, a squad of men from Tonnehoe, skilled 
 in backwoods warfare, the use of rifle and bowie knife, a 
 few Mexicans also battling for independence, under Col. 
 Seguin, a company under Capt. Baker, that had nobly 
 acquitted themselves in baffling the entire Mexican force 
 upon the banks of the Brazos (with but thirty men), and 
 that duty done, hastened to rejoin the army ; a company of 
 volunteers from Alabama, under Col, Turner, &c., &c. 
 Santa Anna had brought into the field an army variously 
 estimated at from thirteen to sixteen hundred, and these 
 were further augmented by the command of General Cos,
 
 258 THE BATTLE OP SAN JACINTO. 
 
 who arrived on the morning of the 21st with nearly six 
 hundred fresh troops. 
 
 Captain Wharton with a squad of men had been sent 
 early on the morning of the 21st to see that the bridges 
 were in order and boats in readiness in case a retreat was 
 necessary, but determined upon a desperate conflict, in 
 direct opposition to his orders, he destroyed both bridges 
 and boats. There was no alternative, it was really liberty 
 or death, and preparations were made for the approaching 
 conflict. The army was drawn up so as to present as 
 much face as possible, to prevent their being outflanked by 
 the enemy. The conflict was commenced by Neil's artil- 
 lery, and the Texans at " double quick" marched on the 
 foe. The Mexicans had drawn up in front as a breast- 
 work, a number of trees with their branches lopped ; these 
 were covered with pack-saddles, blankets, <fec., so as to 
 render them an almost insurmountable obstacle, and one 
 fatal to an attacking party. Mexicans have one great 
 peculiarity, they are in idea at least, altogether too brave, 
 and it is a great pity that their physical cannot keep pace 
 with their moral courage. Santa Anna affected to despise 
 his opponents, and not content with quietly awaiting an 
 attack, which the situation of the ground, slightly ascending 
 towards his line, and the admirable defence I have just 
 mentioned, would, with any ordinary degree of prudence 
 and courage on the part of the defendants, have resulted 
 in their favor ; must needs make a display of his extra cou- 
 rage and gallantry, by drawing up his best and most reli- 
 able corps, the Guerrera battalion, in front of the works, 
 to receive the enemy with the honors of war. 
 
 The Texans came on two deep deployed, as I have
 
 SAUVE QUI PEUT. 259 
 
 before said, to prevent their being outflanked, and also to 
 give an opportunity for every man in their scanty ranks 
 to add to the effect of the first fire. Three volleys from 
 the Mexicans passed harmless over their heads, and now 
 came their turn. 
 
 At a distance of sixty yards every musket and rifle was 
 presented, each covering his adversary. A line of fire ran 
 along the ranks, and down fell at least a hundred of the 
 enemy. 
 
 As for the valiant troops in advance of their proper 
 position, they very early in the engagement evinced a 
 strong and marked desire to shift their quarters ; and the 
 first volley from the Texans throwing them into utter con- 
 fusion, their officers undertook to march them round the 
 breastwork, when, just as they wheeled, a second volley 
 as a Texan remarked to me in speaking of the affair did 
 the business for them ; and not having time to go round 
 the breastwork, they made a desperate effort to dash 
 over it. 
 
 In an instant their foes were upon them, and all 
 attempts at defence ceased, with the solitary exception of 
 Col. Almonte, who alone of all the officers endeavored to 
 rally his men, and partially succeeding, although but for a 
 moment, his men running again at the first fire, he 
 remained upon the spot where they had deserted him, 
 refusing to fly. 
 
 The cavalry, who had not participated in the action, but 
 were at that particular time making themselves generally 
 useful about the camp fires, did not wait for the bugle, but 
 each man seizing the first horse that came to hand, not 
 stopping for the usual formalities of saddle and bridle, 
 went off pell-mell over the prairie.
 
 260 THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO. 
 
 As far as the " Napoleon of the West" is concerned, it 
 is highly probable that had a cup been offered to the victor 
 in the race, he would have won the prize. The Texan 
 battle-cry had been " Remember the Alamo," and the poor 
 wretches now suing for quarter, were shouting in frantic 
 tones all over the field " Me no Alamo." 
 
 As soon as it was possible the massacre was checked, 
 but not until over seven hundred of the Mexicans had 
 fallen. 
 
 That afternoon and the next day the victorious party 
 scoured the prairie and woods in the hope of finding the 
 swift-footed general and his officers. Cos first made his 
 appearance ; and expecting nothing but immediate death, 
 as soon as he was brought into camp he threw himself 
 upon the ground covered with a blanket. Santa Anna 
 was found the next day in the dress of a common soldier, 
 crouching in the grass, but on being brought in was imme- 
 diately recognised by the men, who raised the cry of 
 "Santa Anna," "El Presidente." When found he was 
 making his way into the " timber" of Yince's bayou. The 
 prisoners, 800 in number, were at first sent to Galveston, 
 and afterwards divided out among the planters for a 
 time. 
 
 In 1842 permission was given them to return to Mexico, 
 and Santa Anna issued a proclamation inviting them to 
 return to the arms of their countrymen ; but having had a 
 taste both of liberty, and the spurious article of Mexican 
 manufacture, they very coolly replied to his flourish of 
 trumpets with a card informing the gentleman that " they 
 would see him hanged first" and in about as many words 
 too. Poor Santa Anna, who but a short time before had 
 threatened to carry his victorious standard over the
 
 THE BLOW FOB FEEEDOM. 261 
 
 Sabine, and plant it in Washington, now assumed a tone 
 in keeping with his fallen fortune, and all have heard how 
 with soft words he influenced his captor's heart, although 
 many think a harder currency passed between them. 
 
 The battle itself was nothing ; it was in fact a massacre, 
 not to be compared with the battle of the Horse Shoe, 
 near the mission " Conception," of which not one in a hun- 
 dred at the North has even heard ; not to be mentioned 
 with the assault of San Antonio, the defence of the Alamo, 
 or even in latter times, Jourdan's desperate fight and 
 retreat, the battle of Mier, or the engagement at Lipantit- 
 lan, if you regard disparity of force, duration of combat, 
 or the desperate circumstances of the Texans. 
 
 The. peculiar time, the events which heralded it, and the 
 wonderful results, have given it notoriety. In describing 
 it there is but little to say ; it was the affair of a moment. 
 Like the lightning of the heaven, instantaneous in its 
 action but fearful and lasting in its effects, as the stroke 
 ef the omnipotent wand of the Hebrew Seer ; it was but a 
 blow, yet the rock of Tyranny was rent in twain, and the 
 pure, fresh, and invigorating waters of Liberty welled 
 forth in an exhaustless stream to fertilize the thirsting 
 land. 
 
 The Mexicans were not prepared to expect further 
 resistance, and probably did not know three hours before 
 they reached the field, that Houston was already there. 
 They had imagined the war concluded the people flying, 
 frantic with fright before them, without the least idea of 
 again offering an armed opposition to the soi-disant Napo- 
 leon of the West. 
 
 Tanning's small army had been slaughtered Travis 
 with his handful of men crushed and butchered by a force
 
 262 THE BATTLE OF SAN JACINTO. 
 
 twenty-five times their own numbers ; and it is no wondei 
 that alarm and panic should seize the murderers to find' 
 themselves suddenly confronted with something near an 
 equal number of men, with whom they had dealt before 
 and almost learned to consider incarnate devils, not 
 common everyday flesh and blood men who knew their 
 only hope lay in a victory, and who would fight on until 
 the last soldier should pour his life-blood upon the fated 
 plain men forced by indignities and cold-blooded treach- 
 ery, maddened with a demoniac spirit of revenge for 
 friends butchered and homes desecrated nerved to battle 
 to the last, by the knowledge that with them fell' the last 
 hope of liberty their fathers and mothers, their wives 
 and daughters left a prey to the cowardly and inexo- 
 rable tyrant. 
 
 It is doubtful whether the arrival of Cos improved mat- 
 ters in the least their numbers were increased it is true, 
 but the increase brought with it at the same time a train 
 of officers, many of whom had met the Texans" before, and 
 one of them at least, the general had no stomach since 
 the stormy affair of " San Antonio" to fight them with 
 any odds. 
 
 Cos was the brother-in-law of Santa Anna, but a feeling 
 of bitter enmity sprang up between them after his dis- 
 graceful surrender of Bexar yielding a strongly forti- 
 fied town to a force of less than one-sixth his own 
 number. 
 
 When reproached by the President for his gross cow- 
 ardice, he replied : " Sir, you little know the men with 
 whom you are now contending ; by treachery or an 
 immense superiority in numbers, you may succeed in 
 crushing a few, but mark my word, if ever you meet them
 
 COS, AND SANTA ANNA. 263 
 
 in the open field, without your force more than quadruples 
 them, you will be defeated, and that, too, at a blow." 
 
 So great was his hatred of the commander-in-chief, that 
 not for two hours after his arrival did he report himself 
 at head-quarters, and it was only after he heard the open- 
 ing cannonade that he did so. 
 
 Upon his announcing his presence and that of his corps, 
 Santa Anna, with a cold sneer, inquired, " Well, sir, and 
 where is my command ?" 
 
 " Dios 1" exclaimed Cos, in absolute exultation, " you 
 have no command you are annihilated in five minutes." 
 
 Having safely fought the Battle of San Jacinto, let us 
 return peaceably to the Bay Country and Col. Ting's 
 Plantation, where I will introduce to my readers a queer 
 customer, who made his appearance on the prairie during 
 the early part of the summer.
 
 CHAPTER XXVII. 
 
 ANOTHER "STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS." 
 
 PIPE in mouth and book in hand, one afternoon I lay 
 stretched in luxurious ease upon the floor of the cozy 
 piazza of a Texan cottage. 
 
 The dreamy god, far from coy, and requiring but little 
 wooing, was fast stealing upon my senses, drawing the 
 mantle of oblivion over them ; and no wonder. Upon iny 
 moist brow the soothing sea-breeze gently breathed from 
 off a beautiful prairie, an oasis a perfect bijou of a thing 
 enamelled and bedight with flowers of all forms and 
 colors, and their hues mingling to my half-closed eyes, 
 made the tout ensemble before them look for all the world 
 like a vast assemblage of Joseph's coats bleaching upon 
 the rich grass, or a second and enlarged edition of the 
 gaudy Spanish blanket upon which I lay my lazy length 
 along. 
 
 The hands of the clock, had there been such an article 
 about the premises which, as the prairie was yet unin- 
 vaded by Yankee pedlars, there was not would have been 
 upon the hour of one, and the " sonans as " doubtless had 
 told the same tale, but the shadow of a pillar arriving at 
 a certain mark upon a graduated scale inscribed on, and 
 cut in the porch floor, answered every whit as well. 
 
 The day was one of the kalends of July, and a person 
 acquainted with the semi-tropical summers of Texas, must
 
 DOLCE FAR NffiNTE. 265 
 
 know that this combination of annual and horological 
 time necessarily superinduces an universal drowsiness. 
 All nature, in fact, seemed asleep. The monster grass- 
 hopper of the country had ceased his shrill Italian note, 
 the corn-cracke was mute, the tree-toad emulated their 
 silence, the goats, that, browsing about the inclosure, usu- 
 ally filled the air with anything but melody, were quietly 
 snoozing under the shade of the gin-house no relation to 
 gin-palace, but simply a building like a cider-mill, with an 
 upper story, and used to gin, i. e. extract the seed from 
 cotton or beneath the projecting and protecting limbs of 
 some large oak : 
 
 " Recubans sub tegmine fagi." 
 
 Happy am 1 to have the opportunity to so aptly quote the 
 above line, as it is the only one of the entire Eclogues im- 
 pressed upon my memory, though not exactly in the usual 
 method ; for the impression was not imparted through the 
 head, but quite the reverse, the fact of the matter being 
 that a peculiar dislike to the use of an able but uninterestr 
 ing work of Mr. Ainsworth's, and a too great reliance upon 
 my own philological attainments, frequently induced me to 
 render certain passages and words " con amore" perhaps, 
 but not* " secundum artem." So it fell out, upon a dies 
 injeHa, that I translated fagi as fig tree, and received as 
 testimonial, from an unappreciative pedagogue, the appli- 
 cation of sundry twigs of another tree known to the 
 learned as the " betula " upon a portion of my corporeal 
 system, whose name bears a striking similitude to the cor- 
 rect rendering of the obnoxious word. 
 
 After all, I was quite as near the mark as the poet, who 
 thus gives the passage : 
 
 12
 
 266 ANOTHER " STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS." 
 
 " O Tityrus, reclining 'neath the shade, 
 By an umbrageous windmill swift revolving made." 
 
 As I was saying prior to my striking the trail which 
 led to the foregoing episode my senses were just totter- 
 ing upon the narrow confines that divide reverie from the 
 Land of Nod, when a heavy step near me recalled my fast- 
 departing wits, and a voice in the once-familiar but long- 
 forgotten tones of my father-land, smote my ear. 
 
 " Hello, Mister ! how de du ? Bin well ? Plaguy hot 
 day ; Curnil tu hum ? You ain't him ? No ? Jest what 
 I was thinking on ! Folks all smart ? Guess I'll set down ; 
 cheap settin's standing." 
 
 At the opening of this extraordinary volley I had 
 jumped up, and saw before me a truly surprising figure for 
 a new country. 
 
 The owner of the voice was a ponderous individual, tho 
 roseate hue of whose face was rendered ruddier yet from 
 the reflected tint of a huge and flaming red bandanna, 
 with which the owner was endeavoring to check the per- 
 spiration which was not dropping, but fairly streaming 
 down his hemispherical cheeks. A black silk hat, with 
 narrow brim, adorned his head, and despite the great heat 
 of the day, he wore a heavy, new, and shining black over- 
 coat, black frock coat, black satin vest, and black woollen 
 pants, the latter rolled up, displaying the white cotton lin- 
 ing, instead of being, " more Texano" tucked in his pon- 
 derous " pot metal " boots. The arm that wielded the 
 bandanna was poked through the handle of a plethoric 
 carpet-bag, and the other sustained by the means of a huge 
 and nearly rounded paw at its extremity, an extra pair of 
 boots and an umbrella.
 
 AN EXPLORING EXPEDITION. 267 
 
 Here was a rig for a July day in Texas, with the ther- 
 mometer at 105 in the shade ! and it is not in the least sur- 
 prising that, when at length I found my voice, I broke out 
 with 
 
 " Who in the name of all the gods at once, are you, and 
 where did you come from ?" 
 
 Whereat my comfortably-clad friend again opened his 
 mouth and spoke. 
 
 According to his story, which was delivered in the 
 richest vernacular of Down-East, a brother of his wife had 
 years previous settled far in the interior of the country, 
 and after having written to him at intervals, describing in 
 glowing language the beauties and fatness of the land, the 
 excellence of the timber, and the manifold blessings atten- 
 dant upon a residence there, at length himself experienced 
 one of them, in the form of a congestive fever, and went 
 off in a jiffy to explore another country. 
 
 Our friend who bore the very significant name of 
 Green much affected at his fate, started immediately to 
 see after the effects : with a brain inflamed by floating 
 visions of shingle mills, white oak staves, free pasturage, 
 and last, not least, an abundance of buffalo, bear, and 
 deer, which had been represented to him of almost as 
 accommodating dispositions as the roast pigs in the story, 
 who ran about ready roasted, seeking customers to eat 
 them. 
 
 There is a tale told, in the Arabian Nights, of a certain 
 prince " what's his name," who, having placed himself 
 astraddle of a wooden horse, was suddenly and inconti- 
 nently landed, without any previous preparation, in a 
 strange country, among strangers. Not that this was 
 either the first or the last time that a man's riding his
 
 268 ANOTHER "STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS." 
 
 hobby a peg too high, has rendered a sudden change of 
 climate equally agreeable and necessary. 
 
 Green was in precisely a similar fix. He had lived for 
 forty years in some secluded part of Vermont, knowing 
 nothing of the world, except the limited amount of expe- 
 rience picked up at home ; and suddenly, with but a day 
 or two's notice, had started for an eastern port, found a 
 vessel loaded with lime and notions up for Texas, em- 
 barked, and, after a short passage, lauded in Galveston, 
 probably as verdant a specimen of humanity as ever, at the 
 mature age of forty, escaped from the maternal apron- 
 string, or a wife's petticoat government. 
 
 A gentleman in Galveston, to whom he had obtained a 
 letter of introduction, persuaded him to abandon the idea of 
 settling far " up country," and advised him to establish him- 
 self in or near the town, and work for a while at some one 
 of the manifold trades which he professed to understand. 
 The merchant, however, soon discovered his protege to be 
 an intolerable bore, and to get rid of him, inoculated his 
 brain with a flaming idea of the immense profits which 
 would indubitably attend a shingle speculation, and pro- 
 viding him with a letter to Col. Ting, begging him for 
 heaven's sake to set him to work at something or any- 
 thing, packed him off " up the Bay." 
 
 For a time, Green's excessive ignorance and curiosity, 
 combined with a professed knowledge of everything, 
 afforded much amusement, and as there were two bright 
 lads of the respective ages of seventeen and eighteen in 
 the family, ripe for mischief, he had rather a hard time of 
 it. 
 
 The difficulty with him seemed to be, that so many flat- 
 tering opportunities of realizing a fortune presented them-
 
 BRANDY. 269 
 
 selves, that, not knowing which to choose, he appeared in 
 some danger of enacting again the fable of the Ass and 
 the bundles of hay. 
 
 He was advised by the Colonel to look about him well 
 ere he plunged into business of any kind, and informed 
 that he would be very welcome to remain with him as 
 long as he pleased, and that horses, guns, etc., were at his 
 disposal. 
 
 Strange as it may appear, the new comer had never seen 
 a mule until his advent to Texas ; and one a fine and 
 spirited saddle-beast, with enormous ears attracted his 
 particular attention. He even went so far as to endeavor 
 to " trade" for him, and although warned by all, of the cau- 
 tion necessary to be observed by every one unaccustomed 
 to the horses, and particularly the mules of the country, 
 yet he persisted in his assertion, that he could ride any of 
 them " bare-back." He tried it. One Sunday morning, 
 he thought that a ride up the bayou would be beneficial to 
 his health ; and having had " Brandy" (the aforesaid mule) 
 driven up, came into the porch in quest of a saddle. Un- 
 fortunately, every one was in use ; but the Colonel pro- 
 vided him with a light snaffle-bitted bridle, wherewithal 
 to lead the mule to a near neighbor's, for the purpose of 
 procuring the needful trappings at the same time warn- 
 ing him to be very careful, or he might expect a severe 
 fall. 
 
 About the middle of the afternoon, as the lads and I 
 were standing in the gin-house, in full sight of the road, 
 Brandy made his appearance, trotting along very gently 
 then stopping a moment to crop a mouthful of anything at 
 hand then raising his ears, shaking his head, and trotting 
 on again. A few rods behind him followed Green, evi-
 
 270 ANOTHER "STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS." 
 
 dently in a passion, now shaking his fist at his quondam 
 pet, now throwing a club at him, and again attempting to 
 draw nearer and seize the bridle, which was dangling 
 from the mule's head. In the latter attempt he was emi- 
 nently unsuccessful, for " Brandy" was determined to keep 
 his former rider at a respectful distance. 
 
 What had happened was self-evident ; and I could not 
 help joining in the roar of laughter with which the boys 
 greeted this first result of Green's attempt to astonish the 
 natives with his wondrous horsemanship. He was much 
 irritated at his reception, and inquired, '" If that was 
 decent behavior to a feller-critter that had just escaped 
 the jors of destruction, and might die yet from his hurts ?" 
 I finally appeased him, and persuaded him to tell his 
 tale. 
 
 He had not succeeded in obtaining a saddle, and fool- 
 ishly started off without one. " He couldn't get the crit- 
 ter," he said, " out of a walk to save him, and when he 
 tried to git a limb to whip a trot out of him, he'd jerk 
 away, and when he wanted to get off he'd jump, so he 
 jest had to let the consarned beast have his own way." 
 
 At length, however, he reached his journey's end, and 
 leaving the mule hitched at the bars, went into the house 
 and remained some hours, which did not in the least 
 improve " Brandy's" temper. 
 
 " I got a big gad," continued he, " expecting to work 
 my passage hum, but, by lightnin', he went off like a 
 greased streak, and I couldn't do nothin' but holler, say 
 my prayers, and stick like death to the mane, what there 
 was of it. 
 
 " We went through the woods like a steam ingin, and 
 when we got into the parara I looked around for a place
 
 BRANDY MAKES A DEPOSIT. 271 
 
 to light, but binieby I lit fore I was ready, and about a rod 
 off, too ; and don't you think arter he'd chucked me slap 
 onter the ground and broke, I guess, much's five or six 
 ribs, he jest went on a piece and stopped, and went to 
 feedin'. Then when I cum up near, he moved on, and so 
 he sarved me all the way hum, and I've had to walk much's 
 five mile, all smashed up as I be and the darned mean 
 critter kept jest ahead, tantalizin'." 
 
 We tried to soothe his alarm, telling him that such things 
 were of ordinary occurrence ; but this only irritated him 
 the more, and he persisted in considering himself to be 
 morally and physically a deeply injured individual. 
 
 To bed he went, and would have a doctor sent for, even 
 his habitual economy in this instance failing of its duty ; 
 and a remark that the visit would cost him a cow and 
 calf the currency of the country or ten dollars, merely 
 elicited the remark that " he guessed he could beat the doc- 
 tor down, and make him take it out in trade." The doc- 
 tor, however, laughed at his fears ; but Green would be 
 and was bled, blistered, and dosed, although a second visit 
 from the medicus he could not obtain. 
 
 The soreness occasioned by the fall remained but a day 
 or so, yet his bleeding and dosing produced a temporary 
 weakness ; and insisting upon bein : dangerously ill, he 
 kept his bed for a fortnight. At len. -th, one fine morning, 
 permitting himself to be persuaded that none of his bones 
 were broken, and that he tad received no internal injury 
 likely to prove immediately fatal, he ventured out, took a 
 short walk, and returned in time to breakfast with the 
 family. 
 
 He seemed big with thought ; something evidently was 
 weighing upon his mind, and several times during the meal
 
 272 ANOTHER "STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS." 
 
 he suspended operations in toto, seeming lost in calcula- 
 tion. I imagined that he had discovered some prominent 
 point on the bayou suitable for one of his manifold pro- 
 jects ; but this idea was shooting very wide of the mark. 
 He was only meditating revenge. At last he broke forth. 
 
 " I've been thinkin, Curnil," said he, " if that consarned 
 long-eared critter was mine, and warn't worth too much 
 money, I'd shoot him." 
 
 " Indeed," replied the Colonel, " perhaps I would part 
 with him if you cannot ease your mind in any other way. 
 I have always considered his value to be twelve cows and 
 calves, but under the circumstances, you may have him for 
 a hundred dollars." 
 
 " Jerusalem, Curnil, I couldn't stand that, but I wouldn't 
 mind givin' fifty cents for a chance to give him a right 
 down good lickin', and make him feel cheap the nasty 
 beast." 
 
 " Well, sir, if it will really relieve your feelings, I have 
 no objection to your administering a practical lesson to 
 Mr. Brandy, upon the glaring impropriety of his conduct 
 although I must decline your fee." 
 
 Our Yankee jumped at the offer, and seizing a long- 
 lashed cow- whip that hung in the hall, made directly for 
 the stable-yard, which was near the house, the back doors 
 of the negro quarter opening upon it. 
 
 " Now," said the Colonel, " step into my room a moment, 
 and let us listen ; after he is fairly warmed up with his 
 work he will not mind our seeing him ; there will be some 
 fun, depend upon it." 
 
 Brandy having finished his morning repast, had been 
 turned loose, and was standing very complacently in the 
 centre of the yard, when Green, whip in hand, clambered
 
 HOT AND HOT. 273 
 
 over the fence, and the following dialogue ensued, for 
 monologue it was not, since Brandy sustained his part with 
 much spirit. 
 
 GREEN loquitur. Well now, you nasty, tobaker-leaf- 
 eared, hipercritical critter, don't ye feel cheap, eh ? 
 
 BRANDY preserves a dignified silence, intimating, by the 
 flapping of his ears, that he perfectly understands what 
 has been said. 
 
 GREEN. There, take that (attempting an application 
 of the whip, and only succeeding in getting a smart rap 
 with the snapper upon his cheek). Rot these darn fool 
 whips ! as long as the moral law'n the ten command- 
 ments with the hull book a Revelation for a snapper. 
 
 After various attempts, Green began, as he said, " to 
 get the hang of the thing," and then commenced a race 
 around the lot, the Yankee cracking away at the mule and 
 getting rather the larger share of the lash himself, until 
 he finally cornered his antagonist in a kind of cul-de-sac, 
 formed by the junction of the fence and stable at a very 
 acute angle. 
 
 GREEN. There, now, I guess I got you, and we'll begin 
 to settle up. (Crack, crack, crack.) 
 
 BRANDY lays his ears back perfectly flat, and drawing 
 his -hind feet half-way underneath him, quivers all over 
 with rage. 
 
 GREEN. Ah, you don't like it, do ye ? T'aint quite as 
 good fun as chucking me a rod onto the parara, is it now ? 
 (Crack, crack, crack.) 
 
 The mule drew his fore feet back, until they joined the 
 hinder ones a peculiar twitching motion of his latter end 
 betokening to an experienced eye that something might 
 shortly be expected from that quarter. 
 12*
 
 274 ANOTHER "STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS." 
 
 At this moment our friend's lash caught ronnd the 
 mule's legs, and the stock was jerked from his hand. He 
 stepped forward and stooped to pick it up, when quick as 
 lightning, the mule let fly a pair of heels, which sent 
 Green's hat a perfect wreck, spinning across the yard, 
 then turning short in his tracks, dashed out of the corner, 
 knocking Green head-foremost into a pile of fresh manure. 
 
 Green jumped up in a moment, perfectly maddened with 
 rage, and jerking a rail from the fence, made at the 
 enemy. 
 
 " Look out, man, that mule will kill you !" cried the 
 Colonel but too late. Green had already struck at the 
 mule, who parried the blow with her heels, knocking the 
 weapon over the fence, and the man under it, and then 
 open-mouthed rushed at him. 
 
 How the Yankee evaded him I know not the whole 
 thing was done so quickly but evade him he did, and 
 dashed across the yard, where an open doorway (through 
 which protruded any given number of young negroes' 
 heads, exhibiting an extensive assortment of ivory) offered 
 shelter. 
 
 Through these he rushed, making a general average of 
 broken heads and bloody noses, and his foot tripping, he 
 plunged headlong, catching with both hands the rim of a 
 huge wash-tub, which was at that moment in the use of a 
 big, greasy wench, and pulling it, its contents, and the 
 wench, above all, right upon him. Dripping like a Xaiad, 
 he emerged from the other door of the cabin, his courage 
 completely cooled by the wholesale administration of 
 warm, oleaginous suds, although perhaps not perfectly 
 satisfied with the hydropathic treatment of his complaint. 
 
 A day or two after this escapade, I happened to be in the
 
 PLATING POSSUM. 275 
 
 field near the fence, with but a small strip of cane inter- 
 vening, so that I could distinctly hear any person who 
 might be speaking on the outer side, while remaining 
 myself unseen. Presently I heard Green's heavy step 
 tramp, tramp, tramp, upon the hard trodden path. Then 
 it ceased, a halt evidently, then a prolonged whistle, 
 which always with him betokened astonishment at last 
 came the voice. 
 
 " Oh, git eaut ! Now aint ye a beauty ? What do you 
 call yourself when you'r tu hum, and what was your name 
 afore you come to Texas ? Show yer teeth, and grin like 
 a chessy cat, will you ? Why don't ye travel ? Are ye 
 sick er tired ? I swanny if you don't travel, I'll make you 
 there, take that !" A sugging sound here intimated that 
 somebody had kicked something ; and then the voice again 
 " Well, I vow to man, if he ain't dead aready ; who 
 ever see the beat of that ? Je-rusalem ! if it ain't a rat, 
 ater all ; what a powerful tail ! ain't that a mouth ! guess 
 I'd like to see the egg big enough for you to suck ; if you 
 didn't smell so strong, I'd carry you hum, by ginger ! 
 Well, I never, if this don't beat all." Here a'nother whis- 
 tle was heard, whose lengthened sweetness long drawn 
 out, assured me that the oration was finished ; and off he 
 wenjt. 
 
 I stepped up to the fence, and there upon a little knoll 
 lay a poor 'possum rolled up like a ball, to all appearance 
 as dead as a mackerel. Presently, however, one little 
 bright eye half unclosed, then opened entirely ; then the 
 other ; the head was turned in the direction of the retreat- 
 ing enemy, and no danger appearing from that quarter, 
 first one paw, and then another, was put forth, as if to 
 ascertain the extent of damages received, and apparently
 
 276 ANOTHER "STRAY YAXKEE IN TEXAS." 
 
 liot finding them severe, the poor thing, in its humble way, 
 commenced sneaking off. A sharp rustle in the cane 
 checked its career, and, like Kirby, it died again. 
 
 There I left it, determining to be in time to enjoy 
 Green's account of the new mare's nest which he had dis- 
 covered. 
 
 The man had been so laughed at and quizzed by the lads 
 (indeed ho one could have listened unmoved to the tales of 
 wonder, and witnessed his mode of " actin' em eaut' 7 ) that 
 tired of their ridicule, when he had anything to tell, aban- 
 doning the parlor, he sought refuge in the kitchen ; for tell 
 them he must, or die of suppressed marvels, and he pre- 
 ferred a negro audience to none at all. 
 
 The kitchen in the evening was the rendezvous of a 
 queer patriarchal old negro, named Tom, and his family. 
 There were Old Tom, and Young Tom, and Little Tom, 
 and the dog Tommy, one more than Marryatt's Dominee 
 discovered but, in compensation, they claimed a less 
 number of tails always to be found after supper, when 
 not engaged in hunting. 
 
 The old man had been the " hunter" upon a large plan- 
 tation in Alabama, and had not forgotten the art, although 
 two of his sons, Tom and Buck, now killed the most 
 game. 
 
 There was one singular thing about them. Tom never 
 failed when geese, turkeys, or anything that wore feathers 
 was in question, but had never shot a deer. Buck, on the 
 contrary, was the most skilful deer-hunter in the country, 
 yet always missed the birds. 
 
 This was the society which Green sought, to unburden 
 his overtasked bosom of the miraculous events of the day ; 
 and it was a perfect study to see the old grey-headed negro
 
 IMPROVED MODE OF HUNTING. 277 
 
 leaning his head upon the " manteltree," gazing in the fire, 
 to prevent the commission of so gross a piece of disrespect 
 as laughing in the man's face, yet quivering all over with 
 the attempt to prevent it. 
 
 Tom and Buck, after listening awhile, usually adjourned 
 to a neighboring grove, and there woke the night with 
 their long-suppressed shouts. 
 
 On the outside of the cabin the Colonel's sons stood, so 
 as to listen, and peep through the crevice, enjoying the 
 scene, but unobserved themselves. 
 
 Green soon announced his intention to go out and kill a 
 deer, and accordingly borrowed a rifle ; the dogs he could 
 not borrow, for we had all seen too much of him to intrust 
 them to his care. 
 
 Resisting all efforts upon the boys' part to accompany 
 him, he started off early in the morning, crossed the Bayou, 
 and went over to the large prairie where deer are more 
 plenty than I have ever seen them elsewhere. However, 
 despite their abundance, he returned at night without 
 game, and in a great rage, denouncing a certain Captain 
 White who lived some distance down the bayou, as the 
 " stupidest fool he ever see." 
 
 It appeared that our friend had found several fine droves 
 of deer, and tried the very original mode of walking up 
 sufficiently near to shoot them, but finding that this would 
 not do, he conceived a new and brilliant idea. As to all 
 appearances they were very tame, and when startled by 
 his proximity ran but a short distance, and then stopped, 
 he imagined there would be no difficulty in uniting the 
 droves in* sight, and then driving all into White's cowpen, 
 there to make a regular battue. 
 
 After manoeuvring, and walking, and running all day,
 
 278 ANOTHER "STRAY YANKEE IN TEXAS." 
 
 he at length succeeded in getting a large number very near 
 the desired spot, and keeping not more than an eighth of 
 a mile behind them himself. 
 
 ' But White who was sitting on the fence, wondering 
 what " that fool stranger" could be doing now, disregarded 
 all his signs about letting down the bars, and when the 
 deer, giving the pen a wide berth, trotted off again into 
 the wide prairie, and Green came up in a rage, he was 
 well laughed at. 
 
 All that we could say would not convince him but that 
 the deer would have gone quietly into the pen, and 
 remained peaceably there. 
 
 The last of Green's performances that I witnessed was 
 his sudden exit from the back of a spirited " Creole" pony 
 which he would ride, in the hunt of a wild mule. His 
 horse, perfectly trained to the business, was close upon the 
 mule's heels, and seeing the latter turn, wheeled in his 
 tracks, while Green went on. This was upon the edge of 
 a water-hole, and our friend received a good ducking, and 
 some bruises. 
 
 As long as he remained upon the prairie, his excessive 
 vanity and extensive knowledge led him into fresh diffi- 
 culties ; he started a brick-kiln, burnt a coal-pit, cut cord- 
 wood, bought a market-boat, and tried trading upon the 
 bayou, but finally was forced to return to Galveston, and 
 go to hard work as a blacksmith, in order to earn money 
 enough to pay his passage home. 
 
 An event that occurred during this summer, in our usu- 
 ally quiet settlement, must not go unnoticed, and to it 
 shall a long chapter be devoted.
 
 CHAPTER XXVIII. 
 
 GENERAL HEIGHT'S TOM A DARK STORY. 
 
 THE character of the Southern negro is but little under- 
 stood at the North. Their infirmity of purpose, their 
 impotence to understand or contend against argument, the 
 facility with which they can be persuaded to anything by 
 a white man whom they deem a friend, and their savage 
 vindictiveness of temper when provoked, are such that 
 one shudders with horror at the inevitable consequences 
 of their being turned loose en masse to shift for themselves, 
 a prey to all the dark master spirits among them. 
 
 The plantation of General Bright was delightfully 
 situated upon the bay, along whose banks it extended for 
 more than a mile. The soil was excellent, as the prodi- 
 gious growth of weeds in his field proved, and unfortu- 
 nately they also gave in very clear evidence of great 
 neglect, upon the part of the owner, and equally great 
 incompetence on that of the overseer. 
 
 Public business, heavy law suits, in which he was pro- 
 fessionally engaged, and extensive speculations in land, 
 occupied much of the General's time abroad, and required 
 his study when at home. His overseer, a lazy German, 
 utterly unfitted for his situation, and far more of a compa- 
 nion than a master for the negroes, was in consequence 
 cordially despised by them, as coming within the list of 
 " poor white folks," a class they think almost beneath con- 
 tempt.
 
 280 GENERAL HEIGHT'S TOM. 
 
 As an illustration of the manner in which the work was 
 done, or rather left undone, upon the plantation, I will 
 mention an incident. 
 
 One fine summer morning I mounted my horse some time 
 before sunrise, with the intention of visiting the General 
 upon some business. I made so early a start because I 
 knew he was to leave for Houston after breakfast, and 
 during that meal I could arrange matters with him. 
 
 As I approached the field fence, by a road cut through 
 the heavy timber that everywhere skirts the shore, I fell 
 into pleasant reverie, induced by fresh air from the bay, 
 the songs of a thousand birds, and the perfume of count- 
 less flowers, whose beauty captivated my eye, and whose 
 odor charmed the senses. I let the reins fall upon the 
 neck of my horse, who seemed to be as much pleased as 
 hfo master, and walked along very leisurely, making no 
 more noise than a cat, upon the heavy carpet of leaves 
 beneath his feet. 
 
 I was at length aroused by an abrupt pause upon the 
 part of the animal, who evinced great uneasiness, snuffed 
 the air with suspicion, pawed the ground impatiently, and 
 becoming satisfied that a screw was loose somewhere, 
 made an effort to turn back. I, however, forced him to 
 go on, and soon came in sight of something that puzzled 
 me not a little. In a cow-pen a short distance before me 
 I saw a number of arms and legs in most violent motion ; 
 so rapid indeed that I could not estimate their number. 
 My horse progressed from snuffing to snorting, and from 
 exhibiting a disinclination to proceed, to showing a very 
 strong determination to get out of the scrape, even if he 
 had to run away to do it. A severe application of the long 
 and sharp rowels of my Mexican spurs, brought him to his
 
 PAS DE COW-PEN. 281 
 
 senses, and a spring or two carried us abreast the object 
 of his dread, and my wonder. In the middle of the cow- 
 pen, where his body had been partially concealed from me 
 by the trunk of a large tree, was a negro dancing most 
 rigorously at the post or "poteau," as it is termed 
 that stood there. So occupied was he, that he neither 
 heard nor saw me, but continued his extravagant saltatory 
 exercise. He would bow to the post, jump up and kick 
 his heels together, shuffle upon the heel and toe, mean- 
 while keeping his arms in motion like the sails of a wind- 
 mill. 
 
 An empty pail in one corner, and half a dozen calves 
 standing very placidly by as many cows, and all gazing 
 with meek wonder, and perfect quiet save when one of 
 the small fry would seem to attempt an awkward imitation 
 of so unapproachable an original proved that the chan e 
 of milk for breakfast was rather dubious. 
 
 With us, the calves are permitted to take the latter and 
 better half of the milk, but in Texas the invariable custom 
 is to turn them in first, and after allowing them a fair 
 share, to drag them out again. A Texas cow, denied the 
 privilege of attending to the wants of her offspring before 
 all others, would refuse peremptorily to stand and deliver 
 her milky treasures. 
 
 The whole thing was self-evident. Berry had turned in 
 his calves, and intended to amuse himself with practising 
 a few of his peculiar steps perhaps a new pas, for he was 
 the beau par excellence of the plantation while they were 
 breakfasting ; but becoming excited by the dance, en- 
 chanted by the amiability of the young lady represented 
 by the post, or perhaps intent upon the execution of some 
 marvellous entrechat, he had forgotten the world and all
 
 282 GENERAL HEIGHT'S TOM. 
 
 its cares, and might for all I know, have worked away 
 until noon, had not a peal of laughter, no longer to be 
 repressed by me, awaked him very suddenly. His surprise 
 and alarm were about as ludicrous as any part of the per- 
 formance. Catching hold of his top-knot where his hat 
 should have been, if he had not danced it off he jerked a 
 bow to me, then dismissing the calves in a fury, he fell to 
 work upon the nearest cow. The animal looked around 
 with an expression of great disdain, and slowly raising 
 her most convenient foot, sent Berry and his pail rolling 
 upon the ground ; then walking to the bars, turned round 
 facing the enemy, and evidently enjoying the fun. 
 
 The negro jumped up in confusion worse confounded, 
 clapped the pail on his head in lieu of his hat, discovered 
 his mistake, pitched it off again, and then seeing that I 
 was sitting very quietly, and exceedingly amused, he 
 thought it best to say something. 
 
 " Mornin', Massa Phil, berry fine mornin' dis ere to be 
 ridin' out in ; 'pears Massa gwine to breakfas long wid de 
 Gen'l." 
 
 " Yes, very fine morning, Berry, and a fine tumble 
 you've had, and a fine lot of milk you'll not have, I should 
 think, by appearances." 
 
 " Hi, Massa, dog on de cow anyway " throwing a club 
 at her, which mark of attention was received with rather 
 an ominous bow upon the animal's part " yes, Massa, dorn 
 no 'count calves done fool me agin." 
 
 " Fooled you again, Berry ? Why, boy, you've fooled 
 yourself, and your master." 
 
 " Now look heah, Massa Phil, I told you de truff ; dem 
 calves de smartest critters you eber see ; dey gits out 
 o' de pen, and gits all de milk, and den jumps back agin,
 
 TOM AND MILLY. 283 
 
 so I shan't catch 'em at it. I wer jest practizin' long wid 
 Miss Post dar, and waitin' for 'era, but dey didn't get de 
 fust drop, Massa dey done got it all afore." 
 
 " Well, that's a very fine story, Berry, but what will Mr. 
 Donks say to you ?" 
 
 " Oh, I don't keer for Massa Donks ; ain't much 'count 
 no way." 
 
 " I believe you, Berry ; but the General will miss his 
 milk and give you an overhauling." 
 
 " Ain't gwine to, Massa Phil. I tell him bout what 
 smart calves he's got, den he laugh and forget all 'bout 
 it." 
 
 So it turned out, and so everything turned out upon the 
 General's plantation. The negroes, free from any proper 
 control, did as they pleased, and far from being of any use 
 to themselves or others, were universally esteemed a pub- 
 lic nuisance, and ordered to keep at a respectable distance 
 from the few plantations in the vicinity. 
 
 With two exceptions, the negroes were naturally good 
 enough, and under a careful master would have been 
 valuable hands, but among them were two that were the 
 dread of the settlement an old family nurse named Milly, 
 who had perfect liberty from her master to go and come 
 as she pleased, enjoyed the reputation of a witch among 
 the blacks, who obeyed her implicity, and among the 
 whites was believed to be at the bottom of all the deviltry 
 among the negroes for fifty miles around ; the other was a 
 very powerful man named Tom, whose former owner had 
 sold him to the General for a song, being impelled thereto 
 by personal fear, and the fact that one of his slaves, who 
 had offended the rascal one day, was found in a gully 
 dead, and evidently murdered, on the next. Some inqui-
 
 284 GENERAL BRIGHT^ TOM. 
 
 ries were instituted without satisfactory result, and it was 
 supposed that the planter, having lost one negro, did not 
 wish to lose another, so that the investigation was not 
 very rigidly conducted by him at least. 
 
 General Bright had several carpenters employed in 
 finishing a new house, to replace one that had bee myste- 
 riously burned. With one exception, these men were all 
 strangers, men that wandered about, not having been 
 regularly brought up to their business, but knowing just 
 enough to handle a plane and broad-axe, and without any 
 fixed home, they worked at anything that happened to 
 present itself. 
 
 In the Texan vocabulary, all men who have a mere 
 inkling of any trade or profession, are called " jack-legs." 
 You will hear of "jack-leg" lawyers, " jack-leg" preachers, 
 and "jack-leg" doctors. 
 
 These men were "jack-leg" carpenters. 
 
 Not far from the General's plantation lived an old 
 sailor known to everybody as Jack Rowse, or more usually 
 Jack and a thorough jack he was at almost all trades ; car- 
 pentering, boat-building, seine-making, clearing, farming, 
 all came natural to Jack, who cultivated a small field, and 
 managed a small stock of cattle, the property of two 
 orphan boys. Jack had been for years an inmate of the 
 house, and a familiar of the family, and when the father, and 
 soon after the mother, fell victims to the fatal fall fever, 
 Jack established himself as the guardian of two lads of 
 the respective ages of twelve and eight, and performed his 
 duties so well that no one thought of disputing his title to 
 the post. 
 
 Among the carpenters was one named Deane, entirely 
 unknown to any of the Bay settlers. He had fraternized
 
 MYSTERIOUS DISAPPEARANCE. 285 
 
 with Jack, probably in order that he might have the use 
 of an excellent grindstone belonging to the latter. 
 
 One Monday morning, Deane walked over to Jack's to 
 grind a number of plane bits, but did not return. A mes- 
 senger was despatched by his comrades in search of him, 
 and learned that he had been at Jack's, ground all his 
 bits, and set forth upon his return at about 11 A.M. The 
 distance from the spot where he had been at work to 
 Jack's house, was not over half a mile ; the plantation 
 fence itself was not more than one fourth of that distance, 
 and would have been very plainly visible but for a 
 small strip of wood that extended on both sides of it. 
 Although there was not another house within three 
 miles, this disappearance did not excite any particular 
 apprehension at the time ; for, from what little was known 
 of Deane, he was supposed to be a roving character, here 
 to-day, and gone to-morrow. It was also known that he 
 had some acquaintance among the boatmen of the Bay, 
 and it did not seem impossible that he might have met 
 some of them while returning to the General's, and been 
 persuaded by them to go down to Galveston on a frolic. 
 It was known that he had obtained some money on the 
 previous Saturday from his employer, who, on the eve of 
 departing for Houston, had paid off his workmen. 
 
 A discovery was made, however, in the course of the 
 week that excited great apprehensions for his safety. 
 There lived upon the bayou, some six miles distant, two or 
 three families who supported themselves by cutting cord- 
 wood, and selling it to the Galveston boatmen. With 
 these Deane had some acquaintance, having occasionally 
 made a few trips upon some of the boats. 
 
 On the Sunday previous to his disappearance, he had
 
 286 GENERAL BRIGHT's TOM. 
 
 walked over to the bayou and spent the day there. He 
 was in a very gay and talkative mood, boasted of being 
 about to leave for New Orleans, whence he intended to go 
 up the river, and visit his parents, and exhibited a valua- 
 ble gold watch and chain, and a handful of gold, of which 
 he said he had five hundred dollars about his person a 
 prodigious sum in the eyes of his audience. 
 
 The matter now assumed so serious an aspect that Col. 
 Pratt, an intimate friend of the General, and a man of 
 wealth and standing, determined upon a thorough search 
 for the body, supposing that the rumor of the money that 
 Deane carried about him, might have reached the ears of 
 some of the boatmen among whom were those of more 
 than dubious character and that, returning from Jack's, 
 he had been set upon and murdered, while in the piece of 
 woods between the two houses a little prairie of perhaps 
 two acres, and a small newly-cleared field being all the 
 open ground from Jack's door-yard fence, to Gen. Bright's 
 new house. The whole wood was searched over, but in 
 vain, and the first week passed away without any clue to 
 the missing man's fate. 
 
 Jack Rowse, with whom owing to some skill in boat- 
 ing and fishing that I possessed I was a great favorite, 
 came up to see me, and induced me to go carefully over the 
 ground with him. Jack felt very badly from two reasons. 
 He was evidently grieved at the man's probable fate, and 
 feared that in some manner he might be implicated, 
 although the two boys were present during the time of 
 Deane's visit, and in fact hardly out of sight of Jack's dur- 
 ing the remainder of the day. 
 
 On the afternoon of Wednesday of the ensuing week, 
 Charles, the elder of the two boys now a bright lad of
 
 THE BODY DISCOVERED. 287 
 
 fourteen years, and as knowing in signs and trails as an 
 Indian rode np to old Doctor Wheaton's, where I had 
 been for the day, and called me out of the house. He had 
 evidently ridden hard, and was very much excited. 
 
 " Heavens, Charles," said I, " what is the matter ? Have 
 you found Deane or his body ?" 
 
 " Yes, sir," he answered. " I found his body, and Rowse 
 is in a terrible way about it. He wants you to ride down 
 immediately, and bring five or six men with you, and to be 
 particular who they are. I heard that you were at Col. 
 Pratt's, and when I found that you were here, I didn't 
 want to let on anything about it, but he saw how queer I 
 looked, and I had to tell him. Rowse says if he had found 
 the body and told of it, it wouldn't be so bad, and he wants 
 to know if you don't think we had better say we found 
 it together ?" 
 
 " By no means, Charles," I answered ; " no honest man 
 will accuse Rowse of having anything to do with the mat- 
 ter, and as for the others, who have probably had a hand 
 in it, and may wish to throw the guilt upon some one else, 
 we are too strong for them, and know them too well besides. 
 You must not think of deviating a hair's breadth from 
 the truth, for if you are questioned, you would be sure to 
 betray the prevarication, and then there would be trouble 
 in earnest. But where did you find the body ?" 
 
 " Right between the house and the field," said Charles, 
 " and not ten steps from the path to the General's." 
 
 It appears that Rowse and Charles had been working 
 for several days in the small field within a stone's throw 
 of the spot where the body lay concealed, and had noticed 
 at times a peculiar and unpleasant odor, but without hav- 
 ing the most remote idea as to its cause. Charles had
 
 288 GENERAL BRIGHT's TOM. 
 
 been sent to hunt up a pair of oxen, and not being able to 
 find but one of them, remembering the effluvia that had 
 filled the air for the week past, and thinking that the miss- 
 ing ox might have been killed by some accident, and be 
 the occasion of the smell, endeavored to find the spot from 
 which it proceeded. He examined the thickets around 
 the little prairie carefully, passed and repassed a small 
 clump of sassafras, without peeping in it, but at last had 
 his attention attracted to it by the flocks of carrion crows, 
 and buzzards wheeling and circling above it. 
 
 The cluster of bushes was not more than ten feet in 
 length, and about half as many in breadth, but the young 
 sassafras shoots were thick and straight as young cane, 
 and perfectly defied visual penetration. It would almost 
 seem that the spot had been especially contrived to cun- 
 ningly conceal some such deed as it now did. The bushes 
 grew in a perfect oval form around a spot of bare ground, 
 just large enough for the body of a man to lie upon at full 
 length. Charles parted the bushes, and there stiff and 
 stark lay the horrid corpse of a man, stretched out upon 
 his back, with his arms extended behind his head, as if he 
 had fallen backwards and expired in a fit. The eyes, fixed 
 and staring, seemed to gaze in an awful manner upon tho 
 sky, and had doubtless protected the body from the 
 ravages of the obscene birds that flitted ever near. The 
 filthy charnel beetle and the loathsome worm, however, 
 were not to be so' deceived, and had claimed their dues. 
 
 Charles, frightened at the horror before him, and almost 
 fainting at the fetid odor, scarcely glanced at the dread 
 object, and rushed to the house to call Rowse. The old 
 sailor, not so easily daunted, examined the body more par- 
 ticularly, taking especial pains to stand in the footprints
 
 BIGNS OF FOUL PLAY. 289 
 
 of Charles, and to disturb nothing either on the ground or 
 among the bushes. One of the hands of the dead man 
 grasped a long butcher knife, in the other were the plane 
 bits ; while on the ground, and immediately under his arm- 
 pits, lay two large watermelons. 
 
 Charles who would not venture upon another Bight 
 upon hearing his companion's description of the body and 
 its accessories, immediately declared that the man had 
 been killed, and then placed so as the idea might bo 
 received that he had died a sudden, but .not violent, death, 
 but Rowse inclined to the opposite belief. 
 
 13
 
 CHAPTER XXIX. 
 
 GENERAL BRIGHT^ TOM, CONCLUDED. 
 
 HAVING obtained the assistance of some half-dozen men, 
 and among them the old doctor of the settlement, and 
 a young but very skilful surgeon, a German, who had 
 served professionally in the army, and was then living on 
 the Bay, I set forth for the scene of the murder, or what- 
 ever else it might be. Upon approaching the place I 
 begged my companions to keep away from the spot until 
 Dr. Graam the surgeon and I, had carefully examined 
 the ground about it ; but as we rode up to the field fence 
 Col. Pratt, with two others, came in upon the other side 
 at full gallop, and throwing loose the reins of their horses, 
 hastened to obtain a view ; and my men, unable to resist 
 the temptation, immediately followed their example. 
 
 I will not dwell upon the shocking and revolting sight 
 that met our gaze. One look was enough for all except 
 Graam, who, more accustomed to such spectacles, proceeded 
 to examine the body as well as he could. 
 
 Rowse, who then came up, went to his assistance ; and 
 the two reported to us that the right shoe was only partly 
 upon the foot, the left had, apparently, been put on hastily, 
 and that both strings were broken. The clothes appeared 
 to be somewhat drawn up, but so far had decomposition 
 progressed, that they could not ascertain correctly. 
 
 A nephew of Gen. Bright's, with the carpenters, arrived 
 at this moment, and the former, taking Pratt aside, held a
 
 SUSPICION. 291 
 
 close and animated conversation with him. One of the 
 Carpenters asked Rowse if he had observed the butcher's 
 knife when he was at his house for the last time. 
 
 " Yes," replied Rowse, " and he said he took it away 
 from Tom, who had been in the bush for some time ; and 
 just as Deane came to the fence, there sat the nigger on 
 the ground asleep. Deane tried to make him go home, 
 but couldn't, and after a tussle got the knife away, and 
 Tom run off." 
 
 " Good heaven," exclaimed Graam, " why didn't you say 
 so before ? That black scoundrel is the murderer ; for 
 that man's been murdered, or I know nothing about 
 death." 
 
 " No such thing, doctor," said Pratt. " I've been talking 
 with Mr. Bright about it, and he is very sure the negro 
 came home on Sunday night, and was at work all day Mon- 
 day in the cornfield." 
 
 " Yes !" added Bright, " and / want to know two things. 
 "Who besides Rowse saw the knife in Deane's possession ? 
 I don't wonder Rowse feels uneasy ; although I am sure 
 Deane helped himself to a pair of watermelons out of the 
 patch in the field, and had just sat down to eat them when 
 he was taken with a fit. I also want to know of you, Dr. 
 Graam, what authority you have for asserting that the man 
 was murdered." 
 
 " Because, sir," replied Graam, " no man's body could 
 present such an appearance after death caused by a fit of 
 any kind ; there would be a contraction of the muscles 
 and distortion of the limbs. And I am, moreover, certain 
 that the death-blow administered by whomsoever it may 
 have been was as instantaneous in its effects as the 
 lightning from heaven." (Here one of the carpenters
 
 292 GENEKAL BEIGHl's TOM CONCLUDED. 
 
 approached the speaker, and a word or two in a low tone 
 of voice passed between them, when the doctor went on.) 
 " As to your assertion that Tom was at home on Monday. 
 I know the reverse to have been the case. I was at the 
 plantation on Monday evening, and he had not come in 
 then ; and, moreover, your overseer told me so himself. 
 If he came in on Monday at all it must have been late at 
 night." 
 
 " I -can tell you, Graam," retorted young Bright, " my 
 uncle is absent from home, but I shall protect his property. 
 Here is a man found dead, and so you would like to take 
 one of our negroes and string him up without knowing 
 anything about the cause of the man's death ; without 
 having anything like proof that he met with foul play ; or 
 even if you knew he had been murdered, without the 
 slightest shade of evidence against Tom." 
 
 " Permit me to say one word," said I. " We have no 
 idea of hanging the negro ; not one word has been said 
 about it in any way ; but we intend to investigate this 
 matter thoroughly, and the more so, because there is con- 
 vincing proof that the man has met with a bloody end. 
 Had he fallen in a fit those large melons would have 
 broken, and, moreover, they would not have remained in 
 their present position ; then, again, it would be an utter 
 impossibility for any one to carry them under his arms, 
 were they not more than of half the size. See, one hand 
 is occupied with a knife and the other full of plane-bits. 
 How came one shoe to be off, the strings of both to be 
 broken ? How came the man's clothes drawn up ? I will 
 tell you : he was killed, and then dragged by the feet 
 into the bush." 
 
 Not wishing to enter into a controversy, I now went
 
 THE DEATH SHOT. 293 
 
 round upon the south side of the little thicket, where, as 
 yet, the grass was undisturbed by foot-prints. I spoke 
 quietly to Charles, and unobserved, we commenced a close 
 examination of the ground. At the end of the bushes we 
 found two that had been partly broken and then appa- 
 rently set up again, although the breaking might have 
 been done by cattle, or even by the man, if it were possi- 
 ble that he had entered alive. We could find nothing on 
 the ground or in the grass to satisfy us ; still it did appear 
 as if something had been dragged over it ; but knowing 
 the suspicion that dwelt in my mind, I determined to say 
 nothing at present, but to survey the scene in detail on the 
 next day. 
 
 Returning to the disputants, we found that from words 
 there was some prospect of their proceeding to blows, and 
 nothing but a determined interposition on the part of the 
 rest prevented it. No new fact had been elicited, except 
 that a planter, who lived a mile farther from the spot than 
 General Bright, declared that he heard a loud shot on the 
 Bay shore at precisely half-past twelve on the said Mon- 
 day ; and Rowse and Charles also remembered having 
 heard it, although until it was mentioned, the fact had 
 passed from their minds, the occurrence being of so common 
 a nature, and at the time there was no cause to particu- 
 larly direct their attention to it. 
 
 The shot was, by the planter's account, in the direction 
 of the spot where the body lay ; and Row-se, who was upon 
 the other side, was very sure the report was in the direc- 
 tion of the General's plantation. 
 
 At this moment two of the carpenters, who had slipped 
 quietly away, returned with Tom in custody, and accom- 
 panied also by old Milly, who made a great outcry, and
 
 294 GENERAL BRIGHl's TOM CONCLUDED. 
 
 said that she had been by the spot where the man lay 
 every day since he had disappeared, and pretended to be 
 very much frightened at the great danger she had incurred 
 in so doing. 
 
 Pratt bade her be still, for, said he, " if there's been any 
 mischief on foot, old woman, you have been at the bottom 
 of it." 
 
 He then caused the negro to be taken where he could 
 see the remains, but Tom exhibited not the slightest emo- 
 tion of any kind. 
 
 " Tom," inquired Pratt, " when did you last see Deane ? 
 
 " Not for more'n tree week, massa," the negro replied. 
 
 " How came your knife by him then ?" demanded 
 Pratt. 
 
 " I done leff him home when I took to the bush, sa," 
 answered Tom. 
 
 " I tell you what, gentlemen," interrupted the head car- 
 penter, " I have a word or two to say. This man has been 
 killed, and if he has no friends to revenge him, we will. 
 That nigger's got to speak, so, boys, let's put a rope round 
 his neck and choke the truth out of him." 
 
 " No, no," said Pratt, " hear me first. General Bright 
 is away, but will return to-morrow ; and his nephew has 
 requested me, during his absence, to stand in his place. I 
 make this proposition to you. The negro shall be placed 
 in your hands for safe keeping, and you must give me your 
 words that you will not injure him in any way, nor attempt 
 to extort any confession from him until his master's return. 
 You know that the general will sec justice done ; and you 
 also know how shrewd he is, and how far he can see into 
 a dark question. He will probably return to-morrow. 
 Will you take Tom on these terms ?"
 
 A RUDE BURIAL. 295 
 
 After a few minutes' consultation they agreed to the 
 proposition ; and then the question arose as to what dis- 
 position should be made of the body. 
 
 " We must even bury him as he lies," said Pratt ; " when 
 it is possible, his bones shall have a coffin and a funeral." 
 
 And so we buried him ; drew the earth and heaped it 
 above him. A horrible burying, but all that we could do. 
 
 A feeling of deep sadness took possession of us all, and 
 the three parties mounted their horses in silence and rode 
 off. Before I had ridden ten rods, Charles came galloping 
 up, and said he wished to s*peak to me. 
 
 " What is it, Charles ?" said I. 
 
 " I want to know what we shall do 1" he replied. 
 
 " It is now growing dark," said I, " and you can do 
 nothing. Early to-morrow morning you had better take a 
 wide circle around the cluster of bushes, and walk round 
 and round, drawing slowly in towards them, and examin- 
 ing closely every bit of the ground that you pass over. If 
 that man was killed, he was not killed where he now lies ; 
 and such a deed cannot have been committed without 
 leaving some trace. Whether you make any discovery or 
 not, ride up and see me. I shall stay at the doctor's for a 
 day or two." And so we parted. 
 
 But on the next day the windows of heaven were opened, 
 and the rain as if sent to wash the blood from the earth's 
 bosom descended in a continued torent. So violent was 
 the storm that stern necessity alone could induce any one 
 to leave the friendly shelter of his roof-tree, and all per- 
 quisition and search regarding the fatal affair, would have 
 been in vain. 
 
 On Friday morning the sun came forth bright and glo-
 
 296 GENERAL HEIGHT'S TOM CONCLUDED. 
 
 rious. After waiting some time to hear from Charles and 
 Rowse ; the elder doctor the younger was down with the 
 ague a neighbour, and I, had caught up our horses to 
 ride down to the shore, when Charles made his appearance, 
 seeming very much excited. 
 
 He was very sure that he had discovered the place 
 where the deed had been done. Pursuing the course that 
 I had advised, he came upon a bare spot, and he stooped 
 down to examine it closely. The grass had been trampled 
 down and was quite dead, and looking from the place to 
 the cluster of bushes, it was very plain to sec that some- 
 thing had been dragged from the former to the latter. 
 The rain of the previous day, that had invigorated the 
 grass around, seemed to have borne to the ground all that 
 over which the body had been drawn. The reason for this 
 was obvious. All the herbage in the vicinity had pre- 
 viously become quite dry and drooping, and as the dis- 
 tance between the two places was not more than five or 
 six rods, it required but little ingenuity for the murderer 
 to brush up and arrange the portion over which he had 
 drawn his guilty burden. The rain that invigorated the 
 surrounding grass, crushed that to the earth. 
 
 On arriving at the place we found that Charles was per- 
 fectly correct in his assertions. Nor was this all. Upon 
 examining the earth, it appeared to have been completely 
 soaked with. blood, and in it, the vile beetle was at work. 
 The peculiar and fetid odor, alone, was sufficient tes- 
 timony. 
 
 Taking a small portion of the earth, I wrapped it in a 
 piece of paper, and immediately rode across the prairie to 
 Col. Pratt's. I found him at home, seated upon his piazza,
 
 RUNNING JACK. 297 
 
 and without any preliminary conversation produced my 
 parcel, and requested him to examine it, and to tell me 
 what the strange smell that pervaded it was like. 
 
 He answered immediately : " Why, sir, this came from 
 the earth upon which Deane's body lies, there is no mis- 
 taking it." 
 
 " No, Colonel," said I, " it did not ; but it came from 
 the spot upon which he was murdered, and where his life- 
 blood was poured out." 
 
 I then explained to him all the circumstances, and he 
 admitted that we were doubtless correct in our conjec- 
 tures with regard to the murder. 
 
 " But," said he, " the General has returned, and we must 
 go over at once and inform him." 
 
 "We did so, and found the general quite prepared for 
 such a communication. As soon as he had reached home, 
 and heard the facts, he had made up his mind that murder 
 had been committed ; and immediately taking Tom, had 
 whipped him very severely. At first the negro was 
 obstinate and pleaded innocence, but finally confessed, that 
 while in the bush he came across Running Jack a negro 
 quite as notorious in Texas as ' ; Three Fingered Jack" of 
 the story book ever was that Jack witnessed the tussle 
 between Deane and himself, and endeavored to persuade 
 him to a bloody revenge, and when he refused, that Jack, 
 threatening to shoot him if he interfered, took his musket, 
 crouched down in a gully near the path, and when Deane 
 came along, shot him down, and then cut his throat. Being 
 terribly frightened, he made his escape from Jack when 
 the latter was asleep, and then went home to the plan- 
 tation. 
 
 " This," said the General, " is Tom's story, and I haye 
 13*
 
 298 GENERAL HEIGHT'S TOM CONCLUDED. 
 
 no reason either to believe or to disbelieve it ; but one 
 thing is certain, we must procure all the assistance that we 
 can, and drive every thicket about here. If Tom's story 
 be true, there is little doubt but that Jack is yet about, 
 and must be hunted down, or he will do more mischief. 
 This must be done immediately. To-morrow will be 
 Saturday, and if you, Mr. P., will go up prairie and 
 raise what men you can, and also send some one to the 
 upper settlement, and a third person across the Bayou, I 
 think that by Sunday morning we can muster sixty or 
 seventy men. If possible, let them rendezvous as early as 
 ten on Sunday morning at the doctor's ; then spread your 
 line well across the prairie, and drive down to the shore. 
 If Jack is about, we will have him. I shall not leave the 
 plantation while my scoundrel is here, and as the whole 
 settlement is very much excited, I would wish to keep Pratt 
 here also ; for though I am determined to see justice done, 
 I am also determined to have it done legally, or at least 
 after due consideration in the premises." 
 
 I informed him of my willingness to aid him in the affair 
 in any manner ; and after some more conversation, and 
 settling definitely the course to be pursued, took my 
 leave. 
 
 Early the next morning I left for up-prairie to beat up 
 recruits ; two others having gone in different directions 
 for the same purpose ; and by Sunday, at the appointed 
 hour, so well had we succeeded, that some eighty men, well 
 armed and mounted, met at the rendezvous. 
 
 Spreading ourselves out, we commenced driving down 
 towards the shore, drawing every thicket carefully, but all 
 in vain no Running Jack was to be found. At 1 P.M. 
 we had gone over all the ground, and met at Rowse's
 
 A VOICE FEOM THE GRAVE. 299 
 
 field. Dismounting, we hitched our horses to the fence, 
 and went in a body to the scene of the murder. 
 
 As carefully as we had covered the body, the heavy rain 
 had washed away a portion of the earth, and left exposed 
 an arm and hand. 
 
 The arm was extended, and the hand opened, as if 
 pleading not for " the voice and utterance" of our tongues, 
 but for vengeance, speedy and sure. . 
 
 The effect of this horrible spectacle was terrific, and if 
 the negro had been upon the ground, his life had not been 
 worth five minutes' purchase. 
 
 Americans, however, even when terribly excited, do 
 everything in a formal manner, and although flying in the 
 very face of the law, proceed in a systematic and ceremo- 
 nious way about it. 
 
 While we were organizing pro forma, a new comer 
 arrived from Houston, and brought the intelligence that 
 Running Jack had been taken beyond Austin, and three 
 hundred miles away from us, a day or so before the murder 
 was committed. This seemed to settle all question with 
 regard to the guilt of the accused, and there is little 
 doubt but that he would have met with a speedy retribu- 
 tion, had not the arrival of young Bright, with a request 
 from his uncle that we would all ride over to his house, 
 interrupted the proceedings at first, and then incidentally 
 broke up the meeting. 
 
 Dr. Graam arose, and asked us to refuse the General's 
 request, until we had arranged in what manner we should 
 appear before him ; whether as his guests, or with a 
 formal demand for the person of Tom. Bright replied to 
 him in an insulting manner, and in an instant issue was 
 joined. Such a fight I had never witnessed before, nor do
 
 300 GENERAL BRIGHl's TOM CONCLUDED. 
 
 I wish to witness again. They were both unarmed ; the 
 one weak and reduced by fever, the other a puny youth ; 
 grappling each other with the ferocity of bull-dogs, but 
 without the power to do any serious bodily harm, they 
 rolled over and over upon the ground, and for a long 
 time all attempts to separate them were useless. 
 
 Finally, a small squad of men, disgusted or wearied, 
 mounted their horses and rode off ; others followed, and 
 when the two combatants entirely hors du combat were 
 at last pulled asunder, but few remained on the ground, 
 and those few immediately followed on to the General's. 
 
 When we arrived at the plantation, we found him 
 addressing the crowd. He stated that he had now no 
 doubt of Tom's guilt, and that he pledged his word to 
 place the prisoner in Houston jail immediately, and to 
 assist in the prosecution ; but he also said that he ques- 
 tioned whether there was sufficient testimony to convict 
 the negro. He spoke long and well, and when he con- 
 cluded, some accepted his invitation to dinner, and others 
 rode off without it. 
 
 The General kept his word, although with difficulty, for 
 before he could lodge the negro in jail, the latter made his 
 escape three times, and was as often retaken once after 
 he had been off for two weeks. 
 
 When Tom was incarcerated, the jail had no other 
 tenants, but soon after, two white desperadoes were 
 placed there to keep him company, and the next night the 
 three disappeared. 
 
 One was retaken months after ; and from him it was 
 learned that Tom had been taken far off and sold. This 
 proved to be true, and it was also true that he deserted 
 his new master the next day, probably to be sold again.
 
 THE MUEDEEEE'S FATE. 301 
 
 A negro answering his description, was just at this time 
 sold to a planter in Louisiana, near the Texas line, and 
 within a week, was found in the woods near by, with his 
 throat cut from ear to ear a fate not surprising at all 
 under the circumstances the death wound having beyond 
 doubt been inflicted by the man who ran him off, as a pre- 
 caution to prevent discovery and tale-telling. 
 
 In conclusion, I will state that after Tom's incarcera- 
 tion, he confessed the murder, but expressed no sorrow 
 for the deed only regret that he could not also kill his 
 master.
 
 CHAPTER XXX. 
 
 THE CRISIS. 
 
 DURING the occurrence of the events recorded in the pre- 
 vious chapter, Col. Ting had been from home, nor did he 
 return until Tom had been lodged in jail. I was sitting 
 upon the piazza, one fine evening in the end of August, 
 when I perceived the Colonel riding briskly along between 
 the two islands that separated us from the main prairie : 
 and calling one of the boys to take his horse, I walked out 
 to meet him. 
 
 He was particularly silent and reserved, and had an 
 expression of countenance that puzzled me. To my 
 inquiry of " how he had succeeded, and if anything was 
 the matter ?" he replied that he had been very fortunate, 
 but that something had occurred which annoyed him very 
 much, and that after supper he would tell me, but was 
 very desirous to keep it from his family. 
 
 After supper we walked down to the bayou, and the 
 Colonel informed me of what he had done during his 
 absence. He had been fortunate beyond his expectations 
 in procuring testimony, but turning aside from the 
 Houston road after he had crossed the bayou to call 
 upon Mr. Roberts, had met with a rather serious adven- 
 ture. 
 
 Mr. Roberts lived some distance down the river, upon 
 an odd kind of bayou, known as Oyster Creek, and as
 
 AN AMBUSH. 303 
 
 Ting left the main road to take the trail that led 
 down river, a man rode out of a point of timber near 
 by, and galloped up, with the intention of addressing 
 him. 
 
 " Is your name Ting ?" demanded the stranger. 
 
 " It is," replied the Colonel. " What then ?" 
 
 " Much," answered the other. " It is known to some 
 that don't love you particularly, that you will be here to- 
 day. I have been left to look after you, should you 
 take the Houston road ; there are others in the timber, 
 and your life will be in danger if you keep on your pre- 
 sent track." 
 
 " How do I know that ?" demanded Ting. " How do I 
 know but that you wish to lead me into an ambush ? 
 Why should I have faith in you?" 
 
 " I shall not answer," was the reply, " but I speak the 
 truth nevertheless, and risk my own life by so doing ; if 
 any one has seen us together, I am sold. Take care of 
 yourself;" and clapping spurs to his horse, he galloped 
 off. 
 
 Ting dashed after him, but his travel-wearied horse was 
 no match for the fresh animal of the stranger, and giving 
 up the attempt after a short brush, he rode back to the 
 trail. Deliberating a moment, he came to the conclusion 
 that if any danger was to be apprehended, it would most 
 likely be from following the man's advice, for, by his own 
 confession, he was the accomplice of villains. He there- 
 fore took the trail, riding, however, very slowly, and look- 
 ing about him very carefully. Well was it that he did so, 
 for he had not proceeded far before discovering a horse 
 apparently hitched by his bridle at some distance in the 
 open woods.
 
 304 THE CEISIS. 
 
 Ting paused for a moment, then heard a slight. 
 rustle in a bunch of bushes near him. Putting spurs to 
 his horse, he dashed at the spot. A rifle barrel protruded 
 the sharp click-click of the lock was heard a cap 
 exploded, followed by no other report, and a man jumping 
 from his place of concealment, rushed into the forest. 
 Ting pursued, but a thicket on the banks of an adjacent 
 bayou favored the fugitive, and he escaped. 
 
 The horse that had been hitched, alarmed at the noise, 
 broke his bridle and ran off, and Ting had nothing 
 else to do but to resume his journey, with quite enough 
 upon his mind, to exercise it fully during the rest of the 
 day. 
 
 He went to Roberts's plantation, arranged some busi- 
 ness with him, and reached Houston first, and home after- 
 wards, without further adventure, but the one was quite 
 enough. 
 
 It was very plain that some of the gang had determined 
 to take his life, and it was very probable that they were 
 aware of the active steps which his emissaries were taking 
 to obtain proof against them, and bring them to justice. 
 He determined upon open war, and war to the knife, as 
 far as Horsely was concerned. 
 
 On the succeeding day I left for Houston, where I 
 met Roberts, who arrived there the same evening that I 
 did. 
 
 The events of that night we shall both remember as long 
 as memory sits upon her throne. 
 
 After a supper at the Old Capitol, Mr. Roberts and I 
 walked down to the principal bar-room of the place, and 
 having obtained cigars, lit them, and sat down to con- 
 verse.
 
 A "COUP DE GRACE." 305 
 
 The room was large, and well tenanted. Around every 
 table were groups of men, smoking, drinking, and playing 
 dominoes. 
 
 Suddenly the loud report of a gun near at hand was 
 heard. In an instant a man shrieking " Murder " rushed 
 into the room, ran up to the bar, and caught hold of the 
 brass railing in front. Before he had half crossed the 
 floor, another person sprang in at the same door, and 
 hardly had the first seized the bar railing, when the other 
 struck him down by a blow upon the head, from a clubbed 
 musket which he brandished in both hands. The mur- 
 derer was instantly seized, and the murdered raised and 
 placed upon a settee. Medical assistance was at hand, 
 but useless. 
 
 Upon examining the body, it was found to have been 
 shot right through the heart. 
 
 The coroner and the sheriff were immediately sent for, 
 but before their arrival, the perpetrator of the horrid 
 deed was called upon by those present to give the reason 
 for its commission. 
 
 The wretch who was no other than Horsely seemed 
 very calm, and in no way alarmed. He told a very 
 straightforward story, and said that the man he had killed, 
 was a notorious desperado, who had been hired to take his 
 Horsely's life, and then produced a letter purporting 
 to have been written by a person living upon Spring 
 Creek, that gave him warning of the design. He also 
 said that the man had followed him and dogged him at 
 night for the last week ; that he had repeatedly seen him 
 sneaking about in an open lot behind his house, and that 
 while sitting at the window in the second story, a few 
 minutes before, he noticed something moving about in the
 
 306 THE CRISIS. 
 
 high weeds beneath him. He left the window, and pro- 
 curing his gun, returned, and sat down again. Presently 
 a rifle barrel was pointed at him, and he, seizing his gun, 
 fired immediately at the half-visible object. We knew the 
 rest. 
 
 The sheriff and coroner arrived ; Horsely was taken 
 into custody by the former, and the latter commenced his 
 legal examination, which resulted in a verdict of " Wilful 
 Murder." 
 
 Horsely, however, made light of the affair, and when 
 brought before the Justice next morning, told his story 
 in a bold, nonchalant manner, and named several per- 
 sons who, he said, were knowing to the main facts of the 
 case. 
 
 Most persons present believed his statement, and even 
 thought he had " done the 'state some service." As the 
 case proceeded, the aspect of affairs changed. The gun 
 which he said was in the hands of his victim, was found 
 in the weeds. It was unbreeched by a gunsmith, and 
 found to contain a load that had evidently been in it for 
 years. It was identified ; and the owner, on being pro- 
 duced in court, swore that Horsely had some days before 
 asked him if he had any old gun stowed away that no one 
 knew ; and that he had loaned him the one then in court. 
 It was also proved that the prisoner had been to others 
 for the same purpose. Several persons testified to having 
 seen Horsely and the murdered man repeatedly late at 
 night in close conversation. 
 
 Upon examining the spot where the deed was com- 
 mitted, it was plain that the man had been seated on a 
 piece of timber at the time he was shot. The footprints 
 of Horsely proved pretty conclusively that he had been
 
 IMPORTANT DEVELOPMENTS. 307 
 
 sitting by his side, and the direction in which the slugs 
 entered the boards of a house against which the piece 
 of timber rested, established the fact that the shot was 
 fired from the corner of Horsely's house, and by a person 
 kneeling or stooping. 
 
 In spite of all the efforts of eminent counsel, Horsely was 
 refused bail, and delivered into the sheriff's custody, to 
 await his trial in the District Court. As the session was 
 to commence on the ensuing week, there was every pros- 
 pect of short work being made in the matter ; but a change 
 of venue was obtained, and the prisoner sent to Maiden for 
 trial. 
 
 Maiden was also my destination, and although it had 
 not been my intention to have gone there so soon, yet, 
 Roberts and Ormsby, who were attending court in Hous- 
 ton, deemed it best to keep Horsely in sight, thinking that 
 some benefit might accrue to our cause from his present 
 situation. 
 
 In fact his capture had already led to important disco- 
 veries ; a gang of counterfeiters had been exposed, and 
 some persons suddenly left Houston and its vicinity without 
 any intention of returning. 
 
 On arriving at Maiden we found the prisoner under 
 very careful watch and ward, confined in a strong hewed- 
 log building, and bound with chains. 
 
 From some developments that had been made since the 
 murder, it was now certain that by it, the prisoner had 
 incurred the enmity of his clan, and that the murdered 
 man was one of their principal agents. He it was who 
 had warned Ting of his danger in the Brazos ; and for 
 this, as well as from a fear of further developments, 
 Horsely had determined to close his mouth for ever.
 
 808 THE CRISIS. 
 
 Ormsby now brought an old friend, Sol Wilgus, into 
 play again ; but Sol could get but little from Horsely 
 about our papers or the suit, except an offer to give up all, 
 if Orinsby would defend him and bring him off clear. 
 
 On the Saturday afternoon succeeding our arrival in 
 Maiden, Ormsby and I had mounted our horses with the 
 intention of riding a few miles to a friend's plantation, 
 where we intended to pass Sunday, when Sol came up and 
 inquired where we were going. We told him ; and lie 
 endeavored to persuade us to remain, warning us of an 
 impending shower, which he said would be sure to give us 
 wet jackets. 
 
 We refused at first to listen to his advice, but at last 
 Ormsby, who thought there might be more in it than at 
 first met the eye, said, 
 
 " Sol, what do you mean ? you know it can't rain before 
 we get to Smith's ; if there is any reason why we should 
 stay here to-night, say so at once." 
 
 " Well, Judge," he replied, " I reckon you'd better stay, 
 that's a fact ; prehaps if you do you'll hear it thunder afore 
 morning." 
 
 " I think it very likely, Sol," said I ; " but what then ?" 
 
 " Well," he answered, " when it docs thunder you'd best 
 stay to hum till I come, and not go out in the rain and 
 get wet for nothin'." 
 
 " I shall take your advice, Sol," returned Ormsby ; and 
 we dismounted, and concluded to stay, without at all know- 
 ing why ; but still reposing confidence in our scapegrace 
 of an aide-de-camp. 
 
 The sun had but just set when Sol's prediction was lite- 
 rally fulfilled ; it did thunder. The rain poured down in 
 sheets, and the vivid lightning shot to and fro, making the
 
 TEE PURSUIT. 309 
 
 blackness of the night blacker yet in the short intervals 
 between the flashes. 
 
 At about nine o'clock we heard it thunder allegorically. 
 Horsely had escaped ; and in spite of the dreadful storm 
 that was raging, the town was astir. Remembering Sol's 
 counsel we remained at home, and there we soon had 
 a visit from our emissary. His information about the 
 intended escape had not been direct, but he had ferreted 
 out enough to be certain, not only of it, but also of the 
 direction which the fugitive would take ; and he advised 
 us to keep still for some time. 
 
 " I've spoke," said he, " to Jo Stebbins (the Sheriff) and 
 he'll be up here afore long. You must let all these fools 
 put out that's a goin' to hunt him ; and about eleven, when 
 all's quiet and shady, we'll jest mount our nags and trot 
 out to Whitely's. Thar's spies' about, but we wont have 
 em known to our doins. Jake Horsely 's in "the bush and 
 there he'll stay till the road's clar, and then he'll break for 
 "Whitely's. If he onst gits thar he's a gone coon. The boys 
 didn't let him loose for no good. He threatened to blow 
 on em if they didn't get him clar, and so they got him 
 clar, and now they'll blow him. You keen't (can't) catch 
 him ondly when he comes out of the timber and makes for 
 "Whitely's pen, and ef you don't get him afore he's in the 
 house you never '11 get him alive." 
 
 We obeyed Sol's directions implicitly, and at eleven 
 mounted our horses and set forth for Whitely's. Our party 
 consisted of Roberts, Ormsby, Stebbins, Sol, and myself 
 all well armed. The storm had ceased, and the moon now 
 shone brightly. The five miles that we had to travel were 
 soon gone over, and we were within a quarter of a mile 
 of Whitely's, when Sol directed to dismount and hitch our
 
 310 THE CRISIS. 
 
 horses. Proceeding stealthily on foot, we came to the 
 field fence, and followed it around, until we arrived at the 
 rear, where a beaten path led from the woods to the house. 
 We dared not approach the latter any more closely for 
 fear of alarming the dog. 
 
 For nearly an hour we watched in silence ; then a step 
 was heard. 
 
 " Let him get half over the fence before you make a 
 show," whispered Sol. 
 
 Onward came the step. It was our man. Concealed 
 among the trees, we waited until he had passed, and even 
 until he was quite upon the fence, and then we sprang 
 at him. Off he fell upon the ground, jumped up and ran 
 for the -house, which he had almost reached, when Sol 
 caught him, and in a moment we had him securely 
 pinioned. 
 
 We were almost at, and exactly in front of the house. 
 The noise of the chase and capture alarmed the inmates, 
 and as they burst the door open, there we stood con- 
 fessed with the bright light of a pineknot fire shining 
 full upon us. 
 
 " They've got him, by ," shouted one of the ruf- 
 fians. 
 
 " Then d n him, here's his grist," said another, and 
 Horsely fell, shot through and through by his companions 
 in crime. 
 
 All was confusion, and before we could seize them the 
 villains made their escape. We carried the wounded man 
 into the house, and dispatched Sol for a doctor and a Just- 
 ice of the peace. 
 
 Horsely, who knew that he must die. raved, prayed, and 
 cursed alternately. The doctor who, with the Justice,
 
 A SUDDEN PULL UP. 311 
 
 arrived within an hour, pronounced the wound mortal ; but 
 said the patient might linger days, yet we thought it better 
 to take his deposition immediately. 
 
 Animated with feelings of revenge against his late asso- 
 ciates, Horsely made a full confession, and informed me 
 where I should find the much desired papers. Having done 
 all in our power for the doomed man, we left him with the 
 sheriff, the doctor, and Sol. 
 
 In three days we were in Houston, where concealed 
 beneath the floor of Horsely's house, in a small box, we 
 found the important documents. 
 
 The breaking up of the clan, which resulted from Horse- 
 ly 's confessions, the flight of the claimants, and the refusal 
 of the counsel to proceed with their suits, made the game 
 an easy one upon our side. 
 
 And now, having run out one thread of adventure, I am 
 fearful of drawing another from the tangled skein until I 
 may discover whether the texture that I have woven, suits 
 the market or not.
 
 LYNCH LAW.

 
 LYNCH LAW, 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE PIONEER ; REGULATORS AND MODERATORS. 
 
 " WHOSO sheddeth the blood of man, by man shall his blood be 
 shed,'' is a doctrine derived from that authority, which is 
 the acknowledged foundation and corner-stone of all law 
 among Christian and God-acknowledging nations. 
 
 But is there no modification ? There is. The spirit of 
 a law must be regarded in preference to its letter, and the 
 spirit of this law, emanating directly from God, and 
 endorsed almost universally by man, is against murder 
 cold-blooded, deliberate murder. 
 
 In the anticipated fate of the criminal, sickly sentimen- 
 talists lose sight of the crime, and the day has not yet 
 passed when women, who would appear to much better 
 advantage in their legitimate sphere, darning their hus- 
 bands' stockings, or preparing the family dinner, throng 
 the courtrooms, shed tears of false pity, call meetings, cir- 
 culate petitions, and, more" ridiculous and disgraceful still, 
 send notes of sympathy, encouragement, and condolence, 
 perhaps even a bouquet, to felons, provided always their 
 crime be of sufficient magnitude to merit such distinction. 
 
 They have set up, as an axiom and a text, that the worst
 
 316 THE PIOXEER : REGULATORS AND MODERATORS. 
 
 use you can put a man to is to hang him. I do not know 
 about this. To turn a man in form, but tiger in heart and 
 habit, loose upon the world, is rather worse than to mete 
 out to him the punishment which he has deservedly merited, 
 according to my mode of thinking. 
 
 Shut him up in a penitentiary ? and for what purpose ? 
 To remain there one, two, or three years ; then to be used 
 as a political engine by some time-serving Governor, who, 
 to secure a score of votes, would turn the tiger free, to 
 glut him with fresh spoil, not improved in feeling or cha- 
 racter, by his association with those like himself, but 
 emerging again among men, no longer his fellows, with 
 embittered feelings of hatred and revenge towards the 
 whole human race. 
 
 When you can build prison walls so high that no crimi- 
 nal may scale them, enact laws so stringent that no minion 
 of office can trample them under foot, for his own, or his 
 party's advantage, find jailors so honest that gold cannot 
 corrupt, or sympathy and pity tempt, and formed, too, of 
 such stern stuff as to exempt them from danger in the 
 attack of an infuriate demon ; then, and not till then, 
 abolish, in toto, capital punishment. 
 
 We hear much of circumstantial evidence, of the suffer- 
 ing of the innocent, and the escape of the guilty ; but not 
 one iota of truth exists in one case of one hundred. 
 Every4dle tale of a penny-a-liner, every silly coinage of 
 the novelist's brain, is picked up, announced as startling 
 evidence, made capital of, and treated as if it were as true 
 as the Holy Writ. The fault exists for fault there doubt- 
 less is, and not so much in the punishment of the innocent, 
 as the acquittal of the guilty in our laws, in too hasty 
 1 ecisions, in bringing men to trial before proper evidence
 
 THE FOUR CLASSES. 317 
 
 is procured, or the case correctly understood ; and in dis- 
 charging them judge and jury knowing them to be guilty 
 because sufficient testimony cannot be obtained to satisfy 
 the technical scruples of the law. 
 
 To proceed with my subject ; the first step is to endea- 
 vor to impress upon the reader's mind, as well as I may, 
 the condition of the inhabitants of a newly-settled Terri- 
 tory or State. 
 
 These, I think, may be properly divided into four classes. 
 First, the hunter and trapper, far, very far, in advance of 
 civilization ; mixing with the Indian, and, frequently, 
 without anything like a regular home or shelter. To 
 these, we might perhaps add the Indian traders, and then 
 the class would be numerically so small, as scarcely to be 
 worthy our present consideration. 
 
 The second class comprises the backwoodsman, the true 
 pioneer, always to be found upon the very verge of civi- 
 lization, forming, as it were, a living wall of defence and 
 protection between the settlers and the tribes of Indians. 
 
 Class the third embraces those residing in, and thinly 
 scattered over the outer ring of the settlements, usually 
 cultivating their own land, generally small planters, or 
 stock-raisers, and composed of very heterogeneous mate- 
 rials ; honest men, tempted there by the love of a new 
 country, or a desire to purchase land cheaply, and, among 
 them, outlaws, desperadoes, and rogues of all degrees. It 
 is among the third class, that the so-called Lynch Law is 
 of more frequent occurrence. 
 
 The fourth class embraces the inhabitants of the more 
 densely populated portions ; of the towns, &c. 
 
 Of the first class I have little to say ; living entirely 
 beyond the reach of the arm of the law, they soon become
 
 318 THE PIONEER : REGULATORS AND MODERATORS. 
 
 almost Indian in their habits and feelings, but are upon the 
 whole, a most useful class of men in a new country ; serv- 
 ing as they do, for spies, guides, and soldiers, of incalcula- 
 ble value, in case of troubles upon the frontier, which alone 
 drive these men, in a body, back upon the settlements. 
 
 The backwoodsman is a character little known among 
 us. Kude is he in manner, language, and dress ; avoiding 
 the settlements and busy haunts of men ; when he finds the 
 tide of emigration setting in around him, he evades its 
 first rippling waves, by plunging deeper and deeper into 
 the forest. Now, what may be the cause of this? It 
 cannot be crime that drives him from his fellows, for crime 
 and a bad conscience compel the miserable wretch to seek 
 relief from reflection, in the society of men like himself. It 
 is a far different cause, or, rather, combination of causes, 
 that produces this result. Many a frontier-man, rough 
 and rude as he may seem, yet bears within his bosom the 
 germ of true romance and poetry. He seeks a retirement 
 where he can enjoy Nature and a simple life, uninterrupted 
 by the noise, disputes, and, worse than all, the, to him, 
 hateful conventionalities of his fellows. In his mode of 
 life is a wild but lofty spirit of independence, which, once 
 tasted, can never be forgotten, and, indeed, it would seem 
 that all men are prone to retrograde from what we call 
 " civilization." 
 
 The conventionalities of the world are so many chains 
 and fetters to the free spirit, which necessity has thrown 
 over, and bound round, those who compose what is termed 
 society. As a proof of this, you will seldom find a per- 
 son, who, either of his own free will, or from stern neces- 
 sity, has passed sufficient time among the woods and 
 wilds, to properly accustom himself to, and appreciate
 
 THE PIONEER. 319 
 
 them, that is ever willing to return to the crowded city, 
 and busy haunts of men, whatever may have been his pre- 
 vious station, or rank, in the walks of life. 
 
 Those hosts of adventurers who rush to our new states, 
 seeking fortune or fame, belong not to this class. Their 
 wishes can only be obtained among crowds ; they but has- 
 ten to anticipate their arrival, and obtain an early and 
 sure foothold. Their approach heralds invariably the 
 departure of the pioneer. 
 
 The desire to be alone, amounts with him in fact almost 
 to monomania ; although the traveller, whom chance, curi- 
 osity, or misfortune may have thrown in his way, is wel- 
 comed to his hut with unostentatious, but genuine hospi- 
 tality and kindness. He is glad to see a stranger, to 
 glean from him news of the busy world without, and here 
 he feels that he cannot have a superior. 
 
 Perhaps, after all, the " aut Casar, aut nullus" may be at 
 the bottom of his idiosyncrasy. 
 
 The most eminent divine, the shrewdest merchant, the 
 most subtle advocate, would soon learn that the talent, 
 scholarship, or capacity for business, which gave him 
 name, consequence, and wealth among the multitude, was 
 but a useless bauble there, and if he were wise, would 
 hide it, like honest Crusoe's lump of gold, until circum- 
 stances again might place him in such a situation as to 
 render it valuable. Soon would he learn to look upon 
 the man, as being at least his equal, who, without chart 
 or compass, can steer his undeviating course through the 
 trackless forest and over the boundless prairie ; who, 
 with his never failing rifle, supplies his family with food ; 
 who, without aid of tailor, hatter, or shoemaker, prepares 
 his own rude and simple but appropriate dress ; who,
 
 320 THE PIONEER : REGULATORS AND MODERATORS. 
 
 hourly accustomed to danger, looks upon it not as a 
 cause for fear, but for immediate and skilful action. 
 
 They would soon learn to respect him, whose sole depen- 
 dence is upon himself and his Maker, looking not to man 
 for assistance and advice, but trusting in a cool and cor- 
 rect judgment, and arm nerved by healthful exposure and 
 toil, and an eye and ear almost as true as those highly^ 
 gifted individuals in the fairy tale. 
 
 This class of men forms a western barrier more firm, 
 more efficient, and more to be depended upon, than the 
 boasted wooden walls of England. They are increasing 
 every day, and will continue to increase, until the tide of 
 civilization shall have overwhelmed all the vast West 
 in its ever advancing wave, and then, as others have 
 already done, they will spread to the North and to the 
 South, to prepare new ground for the multitude, to con- 
 quer new territory, and again to leave, until driven to the 
 extreme verge, they are finally engulphed by their remorse- 
 less and insatiate adversary. 
 
 As the Indian retreats, step by step, in his very foot- 
 prints follows the pioneer, who, in his turn, is forced ever 
 onward by those with whom he has less community of 
 feeling than with the Indian himself. It is the chase of 
 human waves upon the sands of life. 
 
 Among the pioneers, the outlaw is seldom found, and if 
 he should venture, he must mend his manner?, or meet 
 with short grace and a sure rifle ball ; for much as the 
 wild woodsman despises the law and its emissaries, the 
 hatred of its constraints bears no comparison to the intense 
 disgust with which he regards crime. Theft is with him a 
 sin of magnitude, and murder is punished according to the 
 Indians' code. 

 
 LAW A DEAD LETTER. 321 
 
 As I have before said, the necessity of inflicting speedy 
 punishment upon the guilty, exists more particularly 
 among the thinly scattered settlers and planters inhabit- 
 ing the frontier counties of a new state. 
 
 The reader will, perhaps, think that I am taking an 
 unwarrantable liberty with my subject, in creating a dis- 
 tinction between the operations of regulators, and the 
 results of proceedings in criminal cases, in which the 
 entire population of a section or- district take part ; but I 
 crave his patience until he shall have heard my reason for 
 establishing this distinction. 
 
 In border counties, where there are no jails within 
 whose limits criminals can be confined, what shall be done 
 with them ? 
 
 Desperadoes, and villains of every degree, in the South 
 West are far from solitary in their habits, but will be 
 generally found connected with a host of others, ready to 
 assist them in any infamous project, or to shield them from 
 the consequences, and to interpose between them and the 
 arm of the law. 
 
 Where there are sufficient numbers of such outlaws in a 
 county, they will seldom shrink from a trial. Never, in 
 fact, unless the crime be one of so heinous a nature, and 
 so certain to be established against them, that they fear 
 the personal interference of the people, in case the law 
 should fail as it almost invariably does to fasten the 
 guilt and inflict the punishment upon them. 
 
 They may completely set the law of the land at defiance. 
 Witnesses will be found to prove anything required in 
 favor of the prisoner, and against the testimony for the 
 prosecution ; juries will be packed, officers bribed, the lit- 
 tle county town filled with noted desperadoes from far 
 14*
 
 322 THE PIONEER: EEGULATORS AND MODERATORS. 
 
 and near, usually, perhaps without any apparent organi- 
 zation ; but their presence is felt, and their purpose well 
 understood. 
 
 Juries, witnesses, and lawyers, are too often overawed ; 
 and in the law there is no remedy ; on the contrary, too 
 often it is a very protection to the criminal. 
 
 There is no possibility of improvement, for the moment 
 the clan have obtained and exhibited a supremacy in any 
 county, from that instant they will increase in num- 
 bers and in boldness, until it is certain death to any who 
 may attempt to prosecute them, or even mention their mis- 
 deeds. 
 
 Then, every honest man must either submit patiently, 
 and without complaint, to their aggressions, receive with 
 the appearance of warm hospitality, greet with the sem- 
 blance of friendship, welcome to his cabin, his table, and 
 to the society of his wife, his daughters, and his sons, men 
 whose hand he knows to be stained with blood ; or he 
 must sell out his homestead, at whatever sacrifice, and 
 move far away. 
 
 To obviate this, the only practicable mode is, upon the 
 first appearance of crime of sufficient magnitude, that the 
 whole body of settlers near should rise, arrest the crimi- 
 nal, try him impartially and justly, then mete out to him 
 such punishment as their own common sense and correct 
 ideas of right and wrong may dictate. 
 
 For murder, the punishment is invariably death ; for 
 other offences, usually an order to quit the county for 
 ever. In such cases, assistance is frequently extended to 
 the family of the culprits, in the disposition of their 
 farms, and in the moving of their household goods and 
 oattle,
 
 REGULATING A COUNTY. 323 
 
 Which of the two is the wiser course ? By a single act 
 of justice when law cannot be depended on to free the 
 country for ever from the danger of becoming a den of 
 thieves and murderers, or by tamely submitting, to allow 
 the villains to obtain such a foothold that, in the end, the 
 honest portion of the community are forced^to call upon 
 the adjoining counties for assistance, and the power of the 
 law is only restored and asserted after a bloody and pro- 
 tracted battle. 
 
 The system of " regulators," and their ever concomitant 
 opponents, the " moderators," WILL NOT DO, and as soon as 
 two regularly organized parties are found to exist, it is the 
 part of every wise man who has due regard for his life 
 and peace to move, at any sacrifice. 
 
 So often has the plan of " regulating" a county been 
 tried, and so fatal have invariably been the results, that 
 the very name of " regulation " has come to be considered 
 as one synonymous with that of murder and robbery. 
 
 Perhaps, in most instances, the first intention was a cor- 
 rect one ; but when a few men are banded together with 
 the intention of controlling many of administering jus- 
 tice to, and inflicting punishments upon, their fellows, 
 according to a code they themselves have laid down, and 
 this without the slightest semblance of legal authority, 
 abuses do not creep, but walk boldly and bodily into their 
 system. 
 
 It is not the action of an entire section of the settlers, 
 who, incited by the commission of some heinous crime, 
 or aggravated by the perpetration of numerous petty 
 offences, rise with one feeling, and as one man, punish the 
 offender. 
 
 The true history of the " rise and progress " of all
 
 324 THE PIONEER : REGULATORS AND MODERATORS. 
 
 "regulating" and "moderating" may be given in a few 
 words. 
 
 A few influential and determined men club together to 
 reform a county, or to prevent crime, ab initio. Too often 
 their proceedings are in secret, and the punishment which 
 has been decreed to the offender, is administered by a 
 party in disguise. 
 
 Such proceedings must necessarily awaken distrust and 
 fear, among the more quiet of the settlers ; while the 
 rogues, whose characters are not yet known, hasten to 
 obtain admittance to the corps of regulators, both as a 
 shield against enemies, and a cloak to cover their own 
 misdeeds. 
 
 Ere long, the vindictive actions of the party, or ' the 
 rascalities of its members, call down upon them the indig- 
 nation of the rest of the county, and a counter party is 
 got up, nominally to keep the regulators in check. 
 
 The last formed parties are called moderators, and 
 invariably contain all the spare rascals in the county, 
 whom the regulators have not already received into their 
 ranks. 
 
 From this moment a deadly feud commences between 
 the two, and ere long the war is conducted with such 
 ferocity, that two persons of opposite factions seldom meet 
 where there are no witnesses by to tell the tale without 
 a combat, often fatal to one at least. 
 
 Some years since, in one of the border counties of 
 Texas, the two factions met in force. A regular battle 
 ensued, in which forty or more lives were lost ; and the 
 disgraceful affair was only terminated, and peace restored, 
 by marching a strong force from San Augustin. 
 
 To give the reader some idea of the consequences of the
 
 THE WIDOWS OF WIDOW'S CREEK. 325 
 
 system, I will state that to my knowledge, in the 
 county of Harrison, in Texas, is a small stream, or 
 bayou, known as " Widow's Creek," and upon its side, 
 within a distance of five miles, are living or at least 
 were a year or two since twenty-five widows whose 
 husbands were all slain in this unnatural warfare ; and 
 that upon the plantation of a gentleman of my acquaint- 
 ance in the same county are the graves of five former 
 occupants of the land, who all have perished with ball or 
 knife. 
 
 Marshall is the shire town of the county, and it would 
 strike a member of the Peace Congress with amazement, 
 could he but see the appearance of the men who visit it 
 upon a public day, armed as they are verily to the teeth. 
 I remember a peaceable-looking, old, grey-headed person- 
 age, riding in, one fine morning, with no implements of 
 war visible, except a double-barrel and a bowie-knife, and 
 the loungers remarked that he was rather poorly provided 
 for, and " wouldn't stand more than half a chance." 
 
 The prevalence of so many weapons of war, however, 
 produces one good effect. When voices are raised in anger, 
 and knife and pistol flash in the sun, the hangers on about 
 town do not run to sec, but, according to their vernacular, 
 " tree" in the first store or " grocery" convenient. 
 
 Our immortal first Grandmother of the inquiring mind 
 might here have learned a lesson that would have kept . 
 her from the discovery that apples did not agree with 
 pairs. 
 
 At Montgomery's Point in 1841, the " Kegulators " and 
 " Moderators " wound up their affairs by the driving of 
 sixty odd persons of all ages and both sexes into the Mis- 
 sissippi. Which was the conquering and which the con-
 
 326 THE PIONEER: REGULATORS AND MODERATORS. 
 
 quered party, I forget ; but it is a matter of small moment 
 Arcades ambo two more villanous collections of black- 
 legs and assassins, probably could not be found, and had 
 they performed over again the exploit of the Kilkenny 
 cats leaving nothing but their tales for me to relate it 
 would have been a blessing to their country. 
 
 Having drawn the distinction between the so-called 
 " Regulating " a county and the application of Lynch-law 
 proper, let us examine the causes and effects of the latter, 
 as exemplified in a few prominent cases. 
 
 One of the earliest instances in Texas, was in the case 
 of the murder of an old man named Birkham ; but the tale 
 has been elsewhere told in this volume, and I only allude 
 to it, as a very speedy and just administration of back- 
 woods law. I have told the tale as it was told to me 
 almost verbatim and can vouch for its authenticity.
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 I SHALL now relate an event which occurred in 
 
 county, Texas, whether an use or an abuse of Lynch Law, I 
 leave for the reader to determine ; but, in order that he 
 may have some data to govern his judgment, it will be 
 necessary for him to understand the situation of the 
 county. 
 
 Although populous and wealthy, for a new county, it 
 boasted of no jail, which, indeed if it had possessed one, 
 would have been of but little service, as there was no town 
 of sufficient population to be a safe location for it. 
 
 That they had no jail, was nothing strange, as, if my 
 memory serve me rightly, but three or four of the interior 
 and southern counties were so blessed ; and but two of 
 these, those at Beaumont and Brazoria, of any real use. 
 In the city of Houston, was to be found one, in which, if 
 you would keep a prisoner, it was necessary to weigh him 
 down with irons, and then guard the house externally day 
 and night. In Galveston, an old brig which had made an 
 experimental trip in shore, upon -her* own account, during 
 a very high tide, and resolutely refused to return, was 
 pressed into the service, and would have answered remark- 
 ably well, had she not been so completely rotten that a 
 man might kick a hole through her, and walk quietly off. 
 A prisoner tried the experiment one night, and it suc- 
 ceeded to admiration.
 
 328 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 Until a year or two previous to the annexation of the 
 quondam Republic, petty offences had 'been almost un- 
 known, except in the counties bordering upon the United 
 States. There, especially near the line, were to be found 
 necessarily, many whose crimes had driven them to a resi- 
 dence upon the confines of two Governments. This was 
 particularly the case with the upper counties bordering 
 upon, and near the Red River. 
 
 The first mentioned county had, however, been very free 
 from absolute crime, until a short period preceding the 
 time of which I write. 
 
 The gamblers, and those, in especial, of the most petty 
 description, hung around the county town, despite the 
 determination of Judges and District Attorneys, assisted 
 by very stringent laws, to suppress them. 
 
 In fact, perchance, one great stumbling block in the path 
 of justice was this very over-severity. 
 
 By the laws then in existence, it was a crime, punishable 
 with imprisonment, or very heavy fine, to play at cards 
 for amusement, in any public house, or in any house 
 or place within one hundred rods' distance from the pub- 
 lic road, and I believe the act is in existence at this 
 moment. 
 
 Now, the bench and bar generally were much addicted 
 to this manner of passing away an evening, and however 
 careful they might be in the indulgence of this propensity, 
 they frequently laid themselves liable. 
 
 Judge S , whose proverbial pomposity had earned 
 
 him the sobriquet of " Old Dignity," one morning called 
 upon the clerk to read the indictments against a number 
 of gamblers, and heard, to his perfect amazement, his own 
 name included.
 
 THE "COURT" INDICTED. 329 
 
 "What!" exclaimed the astonished official " what ! 
 Read that again, sir." 
 
 Again the clerk read a long paper, setting forth, in the 
 plurality of words that lawyers so delight in, how he, the 
 said Judge, had offended against the majesty of the Repub- 
 lic, by playing at cards, <fcc., <fec. 
 
 The Judge thought a moment, and then exclaimed : 
 " How, sir ! cannot the ' Court' amuse himself in the 
 ' Court's' own room, with the ' Court's' own wife ?" In a 
 rage he adjourned the court. 
 
 The fact was, that the Judge had simply been playing a 
 
 quiet game of "euker" with Mrs. S , suspecting no 
 
 harm ; and some mischievous individual, by peeping 
 through the crevices of his log castle, had witnessed the 
 transgression, and presented him before the grand jury. 
 
 This last affair amused everybody in the county almost 
 as much as it did the faro-players. The Judge had 
 honestly earned the sobriquet of " Old Dignity" by his 
 extreme pomposity. He spoke of himself upon all possible 
 occasions as " the Court." One day, passing along the 
 main street in Houston, a mule that had been hitched to 
 an awning-post, wheeled and nearly kicked him. The 
 Judge, apparently furious, gesticulated and shook his cane 
 violently at the offending animal ; and a wag who was 
 
 passing at the time, declared positively that Judge S 
 
 had said, as he turned away, " if that mule had kicked this 
 Court, this Court would have put that mule in jail." This 
 story, which obtained an extensive circulation, annoyed the 
 old gentleman amazingly. 
 
 It fared no better with his successor, Judge J , who 
 
 also made an attempt to punish those who set at naught 
 the laws, and his authority, by gambling publicly.
 
 330 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 The consequence of the attempt was, that the Judge had 
 a quiet hint, that he, and nearly every member of the bar 
 including, I believe, the States Attorney had been 
 presented ; and he was forced to follow the example of his 
 predecessor adjourn the court, and tacitly admit him- 
 self conquered. 
 
 At length came one, who had never yielded to the fasci- 
 nations of cards, or acknowledged the blandishments of 
 the dice-box, who spent his evenings in his own room, 
 attending to his own business, a stern, just, clear-headed, 
 uncompromising man, one that yielded nothing to custom 
 or prejudice, and would not swerve a hair from his line of 
 duty, or detain the court for half an hour, because or or 
 the great guns of the session had not yet slept off the 
 fumes of their over-night draughts : one that looked upon 
 a gambler as he would upon a snake, punishing him to the 
 full extent of the law ; and yet the gamblers laughed. 
 
 His directions to the District Attorney, and to the 
 grand jury, were particularly clear, and very pointed upon 
 this subject ; yet the gamblers laughed on. 
 
 They were indicted, yet they laughed tried and con- 
 victed their cachinnations ceased not sentenced to a fine 
 of one thousand dollars each, and imprisonment, until paid, 
 with a separate imprisonment beside and all without 
 sobering them ; but when the Judge very coolly ordered 
 the sheriff to make it his particular business to see that 
 they were well guarded, until the close of the term, when 
 he should send them with him to Houston, with an order 
 to admit the party to the freedom of the jail there ; then, 
 with the exception of an old fox by the name of Williams, 
 they presented a decidedly blue and discomfited appear- 
 ance.
 
 A POLITE INVITATION. 331 
 
 This Williams was an original, a perfect oddity, and 
 although he was notoriously lazy, and a petty gambler, yet 
 he possessed such a fund of wit, drollery, and good humor, 
 that many who scorned him and his profession, would 
 gather around him, as he sat in the porch of the " Gro- 
 cery," spinning his quizzical yarns, or amusing himself at 
 the expense of some verdant specimen of humanity. 
 
 He was not so to be frightened, but, as he left the court, 
 addressing the sheriff familiarly as "Joe," requested him 
 to inform the audience, not forgetting the Judge and 
 jury, that he should open a Faro bank in whatever place 
 he might be temporarily " hung up," and that they were 
 respectfully invited to attend. 
 
 As soon as the session was terminated, the sheriff pre- 
 pared to muster a sufficient guard to convey so desperate a 
 set as his prisoners to Houston, but Williams offered to 
 take charge of them himself, pledging his word for their 
 and his own safe delivery, and although his proposition 
 was not fully accepted, so much confidence was really 
 placed in the scamp's word, that the sheriff accompanied 
 them alone. 
 
 They were in due form consigned over to the care of the 
 Harris county jailor, their horses being deposited in a 
 stable, subject to their order, and as the sheriff was leaving, 
 Williams very quietly inquired if he had any commands 
 for home, as he should be there the next day. 
 
 It was upon a Saturday that they were imprisoned ; and 
 on Sunday morning, as the boarders at the Hotel in 
 
 M were at the breakfast table, to their amazement 
 
 Williams and his troupe walked in, and took their seats, 
 as if nothing had happened. 
 
 On being questioned, they answered that they did not
 
 332 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 think the people in Houston were glad to see them, and 
 not wishing to be deemed intruders, they concluded to 
 leave. 
 
 They had ridden sixty miles, and appeared in no hurry 
 to ride any further, and when the sheriff arrived that night, 
 the first person who approached, and shook hands with 
 him, was Williams. He knew that in delivering him over 
 to the authorities of Harris county, the sheriff's duty had 
 been performed ; that they would never trouble themselves 
 to reclaim their prisoners, whom they had been extremely 
 loath to receive, and that in all probability he should hear 
 no more of it, except as a good joke, which was indeed 
 the case. 
 
 This jail-delivery was, however, a mere bagatelle in 
 comparison with some others, at least, as far as it con- 
 cerned the well-being of the public. It is a strange and 
 unaccountable peculiarity of south-western men that, in 
 case of any outrage, they will risk life and limb, expend 
 time and money ; in fact, stop at nothing to seize the 
 person of the criminal ; but when once taken, not one in 
 twenty would give himself the least trouble about guard- 
 ing the prisoner, and the chances are much in favor of his 
 escaping. 
 
 Perhaps, the excitement of a human chase may account 
 for the former, but what may be the reason of the culpable 
 negligence evinced in the latter, we know not. 
 
 A man, by the name of D , had committed a cold- 
 blooded murder upon his son-in-law, under circumstances 
 of unparalleled atrocity. 
 
 The unfortunate man was shot down, while he held in 
 his arms an infant, his own child, and the grandchild 
 of the murderer.
 
 A SLIPPERY CUSTOMER. 333 
 
 This affair occurred in Brazoria county, which, however, 
 
 was not the one in which D resided, and no effort 
 
 was made to punish the criminal with the exception of a 
 trumped-up examination before a Justice of the peace, got 
 up, in all probability, to prevent further proceedings. 
 
 D returned to M county, and with him came 
 
 the wife and child of the murdered man. 
 
 The people of the county, exasperated at the crime, 
 were rendered almost furious at the audacity of the fellow 
 in returning to settle himself quietly down among them, 
 bringing with him the spolia opima, for which the murder 
 
 had been committed ; for L (the victim) was possessed 
 
 of a handsome property, consisting of money, cattle, and, 
 perhaps, a negro or so all of which D had appro- 
 priated. 
 
 The citizens, irritated as they were, determined to pro- 
 ceed legally, if possible, and accordingly obtained affi- 
 davits, upon which to found the warrant for his appre- 
 hension. 
 
 The issuing of the warrant was an easy matter the 
 serving of it, another affair. For two years they attempted, 
 sometimes with large parties, and sometimes with small, to 
 arrest him, but all in vain. 
 
 Although travellers seldom passed, or stopped at his 
 house, which was a species of backwoods hotel, without 
 seeing him, yet however secretly an expedition might be 
 planned, it always failed, and it became a matter of cer- 
 tainty that there were spies in the camp. 
 
 For a time the proceedings were dropped, and embold- 
 ened from having so often foiled them, D at length 
 
 began to neglect his quarantine, and to ride about the 
 country laughing at the repeated failures of the officers,
 
 334 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 boasting of his exploits, and threatening the lives of all 
 those whom he considered as his enemies. Finally, as if 
 incited by the devil, who is said to be ever prompting his 
 clients to their own destruction, he had the audacity not 
 
 only to ride through the town of 31 on a Saturday 
 
 afternoon, when he must have known that three-fourths of 
 the settlers within ten miles' distance would be there, but 
 actually dared to stop at the " Grocery," call for a glass, 
 and invite all present to join him. 
 
 His daring impudence so astonished the people, that he 
 was allowed to ride out of town at the same deliberate 
 pace that he had entered it. He was mounted upon an 
 extremely fine mare, and accompanied by a villanous look- 
 ing personage on foot, whose cerebral developments would 
 have hung him without any further testimony, had he been 
 tried by a jury of phrenologists. 
 
 Although the pair had passed through the village with- 
 out interruption, they were not to escape so easily. The 
 papers necessary for their legal capture were already made 
 out, and in a few minutes the deputy sheriff with one 
 assistant mounted in pursuit. 
 
 They came upon their quarry at the edge of a wood, a 
 mile from town, and an accident prevented escape or resist- 
 ance. As they dashed up near to them, the volunteer 
 became so much excited or alarmed, that in endeavoring 
 to cock his gun a double barrel he pulled both triggers, 
 a tremendous explosion was the result, and he very nearly 
 bagged the sheriff-depute. 
 
 As the two travellers were plodding their way over 
 deep sand, they had not heard the hoofs of their pursuers' 
 horses, and the shot was the first intimation they had of 
 their propinquity. D had dismounted, and his friend
 
 UNSATISFACTORY PHYSIOGNOMY. 335 
 
 was riding and carrying a gun, which the horse now 
 become restive prevented him from using, and the sheriff's 
 rifle, pointed at the culprit's head, caused an immediate 
 halt and surrender. 
 
 Every step had been strictly legal, the prisoner was 
 taken before a magistrate, who ordered him to be confined, 
 heavily ironed, and a guard set over him, until the High 
 Sheriff should return from Austin, when he was to be 'sub- 
 mitted to his charge and conveyed to Brazoria. 
 
 As for the travelling companion, who announced his 
 intention of " sticking by the Captain," one of the assem- 
 bled crowd took him aside and advised his immediate 
 departure, on the ground, that his physiognomy did not 
 give general satisfaction, and that the account he gave of 
 himself was not believed to be gospel. 
 
 The gentleman was probably innocent of any acquaint- 
 ance with Shakspeare, but his actions proved that he 
 acquiesced with Falstaff in his opinion of the relative 
 merits of discretion and valor. 
 
 Now, any reasonable person would have supposed the 
 prisoner to have been sure of safe keeping ; and, for a few 
 days, he was. A physician gave up his office a small 
 building constructed of neatly hewn logs and strong as a 
 fort, 'to be used as a jail a part of the chain cable of some 
 snagged steamer, was made fast to him, independent of his 
 handcuffs, and guards were plenty enough for a few nights. 
 But, alas ! the sheriff was absent too long, and one night the 
 deputy found himself without a relief at sapper time ; so, 
 stepping out to seek one, at a few paces from the temporary 
 jail he met his superior, who had that instant returned. 
 While chatting a moment he heard a noise that alarmed 
 him, and caused him to retrace his steps immediately. It
 
 336 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 was too late, the bird had flown chains and all through a 
 window which was forced open. 
 
 At this very moment, a tremendous thunder-storm came 
 up, but despite the terrific violence of the storm, which 
 seemed as though it were an earnest of the wrath of heaven 
 upon them for their culpable negligence in allowing so 
 great a crime to go unpunished, the whole village was 
 alarmed, and a large party sallied forth in pursuit. 
 
 Between midnight and morning, they all returned, drop- 
 ping in, one after the other, dispirited, drenched, and 
 covered with mud, but determined upon renewing the 
 chase as soon as the sun should lend his aid. 
 
 D was followed the next day by men on horseback 
 
 and on foot, and although trailed step by step for miles, yet 
 the first accurate intelligence received from him was the 
 arrival of his son, who brought back the chain cable with 
 his father's compliments, and thanks for their hospitality. 
 
 A year after, the same villain ran a very narrow chance 
 in Houston, where he had the impudence to appear in 
 the public streets enpleinjour. 
 
 No sooner did the sheriff know of his presence, than he 
 
 obtained a warrant for his arrest, but D being warned, 
 
 mounted his horse, and started for home, riding for his life. 
 The roads were very heavy, and again a violent storm arose. 
 All this, however, did not deter the officer who saw him 
 leave ; a race and running fight ensued between the two, 
 in which some shots were fired, yet although the parties 
 
 were for a time neck and neck, D finally escaped by 
 
 dashing into a thicket. 
 
 This man, a short time afterwards, sold out his farm to 
 two Germans, received a handsome sum of money, and in 
 a few months both of them died so mysteriously and sud-
 
 MURDERS OF TAYLOR AND FLOYD. 337 
 
 denly, that there was but little question of foul play upon 
 his part, as he was at the time a joint occupant of the 
 house. 
 
 He is, for aught I know, yet " unwhipt of justice," unless 
 he has met with that violent death which is the almost cer- 
 tain fate of such desperadoes. 
 
 Soon after these events occurred, a very heavy robbery 
 was committed, the robber arrested, and confined for some 
 months in a vacant house in the village. 
 
 In this instance, the person who had been robbed fur- 
 nished the necessary funds to hire a guard, and it was 
 thought the culprit would taste the thong of justice ; but 
 no : as soon as it was found that the proof was positive ; 
 that he had really obtained some ten or twelve thousand 
 dollars, and could pay well for assistance, he was spirited 
 away, and heard of no more. 
 
 Two great crimes had also been committed in the 
 county. A gun probably a double-barrel was dis- 
 charged through the window of a gentleman of the name 
 of Floyd, while the family were eating supper. The 
 father was instantly killed, and the others more or less 
 wounded. All attempts to discover the perpetrator were 
 useless. 
 
 The murder of a Captain Taylor was a more recent 
 event. While sitting in an unfinished house, at night, 
 playing a game of chess with his wife, in the act of mov- 
 ing a piece, he fell dead, pierced through the heart with a 
 rifle ball ; and as there was a violent storm raging, his 
 wife did not distinguish the crack of the gun from a simul- 
 taneous electric explosion. 
 
 The chimney of the house had not yet been finished, and 
 the villain fired through the vacancy. For a long time, 
 15
 
 338 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 this, like the former, was a deed of mystery, but at length 
 a quarrel between two ruffians in Houston which resulted 
 in the death of the one, and capture of the other revealed 
 among deeds of equal atrocity, that Taylor had been killed 
 bya bravo, for a sum of money. 
 
 The veil that was thus partly raised, disclosed partially 
 other equally fearful secrets, and it became a matter of 
 certainty that a clan of villains was in existence, probably 
 a part of the Murrel gang, who were engaged in every 
 species of crime from horse-stealing and counterfeiting to 
 kidnapping and murder. 
 
 That the number of these desperadoes in M county 
 
 was increasing, admitted of no doubt, and that such was 
 the fact, need be a matter of surprise to none, since they 
 found they were in very little danger of apprehension, or 
 if apprehended, that they incurred but small risk of 
 punishment. 
 
 Is it a wonder then, when murder, violence, and crime 
 were stalking boldly among them in open day, unchecked 
 by law ; when the county was constantly receiving fresh 
 accessions of lawless persons from other counties and 
 states ; when everything tended towards anarchy, and 
 that right speedily, that the honest and well-meaning citi- 
 zens, should at the next provocation take into their hands 
 the sword of justice, which the paralysed arm of law was 
 impotent to wield ? 
 
 A man named G was tried for cattle-stealing in 
 
 Harris county. 
 
 Whipping is the ignominious punishment that attends 
 
 conviction of this crime, and in hope to evade it, G 
 
 engaged a lawyer to defend him ; giving him his saddle- 
 horse, as fee.
 
 TAKING ADVICE. 339 
 
 The case was evidently going against the accused, and 
 the lawyer whispered to him to get out of the room, upon 
 any excuse, and when once fairly in the street, to run for 
 life. 
 
 The advice was taken, and G accompanied by an 
 
 officer, left the room, but seeing the horse which he had 
 given the lawyer, saddled and bridled, standing before the 
 door, he leaped upon his back, and was soon beyond dan- 
 ger of pursuit. 
 
 For a year or two after this exploit, he was not heard 
 
 from, but at length became bold enough to visit M and 
 
 remain for some time. 
 
 Unfortunately for him, he inspired many of the residents 
 with dislike, and when they discovered who he truly was, 
 some of them out of pure mischief, rather than a desire 
 to further the ends of justice had him arrested and taken 
 to Houston, where the ignominious lash was applied to his 
 back. 
 
 He then again returned to M burning with resent- 
 ment, and swearing vengeance against all who had been 
 concerned in his arrest, but soon found the town too hot 
 to hold him, and was accordingly upon the eve of retreat- 
 ing further north, when his horse was attached by the 
 sheriff, for debt. 
 
 At the time the warrant was served, G was 
 
 mounted upon the animal a fine and valuable beast and 
 refused to surrender him. An altercation ensued ; whe- 
 ther he then drew a weapon or not I do not know, but it 
 was proved that the sheriff seized a rail and forced him 
 off the horse. 
 
 The moment G touched the ground, he drew a pis- 
 tol and shot the officer down. He was seized immediately,
 
 340 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 and taken to the court-house to await an examination of 
 the sheriff's wound. 
 
 The physicians pronounced it to be certainly mortal ; 
 although they said the unfortunate man might linger in 
 agony for days or weeks. 
 
 As soon as this was announced to the crowd, measures 
 were taken for assembling all the settlers living near ; a 
 judge and jury were. chosen, and the man, after a trial 
 which must be accounted fair, if any trial under such 
 circumstances can be fair was found guilty of what we 
 know not, for murder it was not yet and condemned to 
 die upon the gallows, as soon as his victim died. 
 
 For over a month did the sheriff linger, writhing in tor- 
 ture, but we much question if the mental agony of the con- 
 demned culprit was not infinitely the more difficult of the 
 two to bear. 
 
 He knew that the sentence was predicated upon the sup- 
 posed impending death of his victim, and as he lived on 
 from day to day, the hope of an ultimate recovery must at 
 times have forced itself upon him, only to make his calmer 
 thoughts the more bitter. 
 
 The hour arrived at last : the officer died during the 
 night, and as it was necessary to bury him as soon 
 as possible, that duty was performed upon the next after- 
 noon. 
 
 As it may well be supposed, there was a very large 
 gathering at the funeral, and the whole number present 
 proceeded directly from the grave to the house where the 
 prisoner was confined, and taking him a short distance, 
 executed him. 
 
 This, perhaps, under other circumstances than those 
 that preceded it, might have excited as much indignation
 
 LEM M'GUIRE. 341 
 
 as did the execution of the " Vicksburg gamblers " of 
 which I shall hereafter speak. It may be said that the 
 crime was but manslaughter ; yet let no one judge the 
 actors harshly, who does not know from experience, the 
 danger of living in a county situated as this was, and can- 
 not realize the imperative necessity that existed of check- 
 ing the tide of crime and vice, setting in so strong among 
 them, by the prompt and immediate punishment of any 
 and every wilful transgressor. 
 
 The case which I am about to record, has probably 
 never been equalled in the singularity of its attendant cir- 
 cumstances. The merited punishment the atrocity of the 
 crime, and noted Tillanous character of the criminal the 
 attempt to force a trial to serve him as a cloak, which but 
 renewed the fable of Hercules and his fated lion-skin, the 
 fact that he received his reward from the hands of an offi- 
 cer of justice and, as it might almost be said, in open court 
 all combined to invest it with a singular and romantic 
 interest. 
 
 " Lem M'Guire " was known throughout Texas as a 
 thorough-paced villain and blackleg. Accustomed from 
 infancy to the most infamous companions, as he increased 
 in years so did he grow old in crime, and at the age of 
 twenty was deemed by his companions, worthy of the front 
 rank in their columns. 
 
 One of the first acts that made his name well-known, 
 was his participation while yet a mere child in an 
 affray in which a friend and protector of his was shot 
 and most deservedly by a tavern-keeper, upon whom he 
 had made a murderous attack. 
 
 M'Guire fought like a young tiger as he was clinging 
 to the landlord with his hands and teeth, and though cry-
 
 342 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 ing with rage and grief at the death of his patron, seemed 
 perfectly regardless of the danger to himself. 
 
 I have no intention of writing the history of his career, 
 but shall merely note an incident or two to give our 
 readers an idea of the man. 
 
 He had been brought up by a man of his own kind, 
 named Johnson, who furnished him with a home such as 
 it was until by his practices the latter had become pos- 
 sessed of sufficient property to awaken M'Guire's cupidity, 
 and a determination to become possessed of it by foul 
 means, as he could not by fair ones. 
 
 He accordingly laid his plans, and caused Johnson to 
 become involved in a quarrel, in which his life was taken, 
 at the instigation of the serpent he had nourished, who 
 immediately after married the widow a woman twice his 
 age and thus accomplished his designs. 
 
 A few months before his death, he paid a very charac- 
 teristic visit to Houston, where he succeeded as usual in 
 bringing himself into speedy notice. Entering one of the 
 bar-rooms of the place in a state of semi-intoxication, and 
 taking offence at a simple German who presided over the 
 bottles, and whose imperfect knowledge of the language 
 prevented him from understanding correctly what was 
 required, M'Guire struck him in the face with a heavy cut- 
 glass decanter, breaking it in the act, an-d severely injur- 
 ing the man. 
 
 Among the crowd which collected, M'Guire espied a 
 Judge of one of the courts, and turning upon him, imme- 
 diately knocked him down ; then crossing the street whore 
 stood the Mayor, " spectator of the fight" as he supposed 
 at a safe distance the gentleman prostrated him also at a 
 blow.
 
 THE BRAVO. 343 
 
 He then retreated, walking up the main street of the 
 town in triumph, and no more was seen of himalthough 
 warrants were issued for his apprehension until the 
 second day ; when he rode down the street, stopped his 
 horse at the scene of his late disturbance, and calling out 
 the proprietor, told him he had travelled some distance 
 out of his way to bid him good bye ; and then rode out of 
 town. 
 
 At this time he resided not far from the town of 
 Crocket, and soon after his return from his Houston 
 exploit, he determined, for reasons of his own, whether 
 from enmity, to remove a troublesome witness, or a part- 
 ner in crime, I know not, to have one of his neighbors 
 " put out of the way." 
 
 Not being willing to take the trouble himself, he hired 
 another, a journeyman at the trade of blood, to do the 
 business for him. For some time, the bravo deferred the 
 murder, until at length M'Guire imagined that he had 
 turned traitor, and betrayed his designs to his enemy ; 
 which belief was strengthened by the ultimate refusal of 
 the man to have anything to do with it. 
 
 So far, M'Guire had only gained the necessity of remov- 
 ing two persons in place of one ; and, perhaps agree- 
 ing with Dr. Franklin's adage, " if you wish a thing done, 
 go ; if you do not, send;" determined this time to do his 
 own work. 
 
 To murder his accomplice, he had a double motive, fear 
 and revenge. Having secured the aid of one or more per- 
 sons upon whom he could depend, he rode over to the 
 house of the supposed traitor, and calling him out into the 
 yard, in front of the house, in full sight of his wife and 
 family, shot him down like a dog j then the party turned
 
 344 GAMBLERS AND DESPEEADOES. 
 
 their horses towards the house of the one whom he had 
 marked before for his victim, and killed him in precisely 
 the same manner. 
 
 All this happened in broad daylight, nor did his auda- 
 city cease here, but knowing that a magistrate lived 
 near by, the party again mounted and rode to his planta- 
 tion. 
 
 M'Guire was probably deceived in the man, whom he 
 must either have supposed to have been a reckless being 
 like himself, or one who might be influenced by fear or 
 money, to subserve his ends. 
 
 The magistrate was very coolly informed that they 
 came to be tried, that he must go through some form, no 
 matter what, and give them a certificate of acquittal, 
 which, although the magistrate's court was only a preli- 
 minary one, they imagined, combined with the known and 
 certain danger of meddling with them, would be sufficient 
 to prevent any further inquiry. 
 
 As the reader may well imagine, the magistrate, who 
 was almost alone in the house, was extremely alarmed, 
 but had presence of mind to conceal his feelings, and 
 put the villains off, upon the plea that it was necessary 
 to have some other persons present, and also to pre- 
 pare certain papers, which could not be done at a 
 moment's notice. It was Saturday, and he promised 
 them, that if they returned on Monday morning, he 
 would have everything fixed for them which he cer- 
 tainly did. 
 
 On Monday, M'Guire appeared, with a reinforcement, 
 making in all five or six, and found the magistrate sit- 
 ting at the further end of the hall. For the informa- 
 tion of those who are not skilled in the houses of a new
 
 A " COUP DE THEATRE." 345 
 
 county, I would say, that a double log-cabin such an 
 one as the magistrate's consists usually of two large 
 rooms, separated by a wide hall, which, in pleasant wea- 
 ther, serves the family for a dining and sitting-room, but 
 being generally open at both ends, is not used in incle- 
 ment days. 
 
 From all appearances, they found that the trial was to 
 be an affair of more detail than they admired, and 
 M'Guire, considering himself now to be in a condition to 
 dictate his own terms, insolently demanded if the Justice 
 intended to do as he was ordered adding, that if he did 
 not, and that immediately, he would cut him to pieces with 
 his knife. The Justice replied that he intended to pro- 
 ceed according to law, and in no other way ; but hardly 
 had he spoken when M'Guire, knife in hand, followed by 
 his friends, rushed upon him. 
 
 At this critical moment, the side-doors were dashed 
 open, and on either side a volley from six rifles was 
 poured upon them. M'Guire and two others fell dead, 
 the rest, more or less injured, were seized and bound with 
 cords. 
 
 It was like a " coup de theatre" except that it exceeded 
 one, as reality ever does fiction. I am sure that no melo- 
 dramatist ever invented or got up a more perfect or suc- 
 cessful affair ; and who may say that it was not pure, 
 even-handed justice ? 
 
 "We should like to have seen a non-resistant* in the 
 
 * NON-RESISTANTS. " In New England they haye a Non-Resistant 
 Society, which held its anniversary in Boston a few days ago. One 
 member, during the past year, has backslidden so far as to knock down 
 a man, and he was expelled. 
 
 " Mr. Garrison denned the principle of non-resiatance by instancing a 
 case like the following : 
 
 15*
 
 346 GAMBLERS AND DESPERADOES. 
 
 magistrate's situation, and to know whether he would 
 have turned the gang loose upon the world, and have 
 sacrificed his own life, rather than by an exhibition of 
 similar coolness and conduct have done a deed that 
 would entitle him to the thanks of his country. 
 
 But I am in error ; a non-resistant can fill no magis- 
 trate's chair, for he acknowledges and believes in no law, 
 except, perhaps, for his own benefit. Speaking of non- 
 resistants, reminds us of a sad expose" of one of the earlier 
 apostles of that exceedingly astute sect, which believing 
 that my readers may, perhaps, be equally willing with us 
 to escape pro tern, the perusal of a history of guilt and 
 crime, and to exchange it for a more amusing subject I 
 will relate. 
 
 " If a man is assaulted by a highwayman or a murderer, he must not 
 resist^ even for the purpose of saving his life, or the lives of his wife 
 and children? unless such resistance can be effected without endangering 
 the life and limbs of his opponent : he must not strike a single blow, in 
 self-defence, that may, by any possibility, break an arm, or a finger even, 
 of his assailant. 
 
 "Another speaker coincided with Mr. Garrison, and remarked that, 
 should his house be entered by robbers that night, he should offer no 
 resistance, unless they could be expelled without receiving the slightest 
 bodily injury ! But he should endeavor, on the morrow, to ferret out the 
 burglars (not, however, through the aid of the laws), and have a friendly 
 talk with them, and try, with words of kindness, to win them back to the 
 forsaken paths of honesty and virtue. If !>.ny articles of which he had 
 been robbed should be found in their possession, he should refuse to take 
 them back, and beg of the misguided men to retain them, unless indeed 
 they pertinaciously urged and entreated him to receive'them." Express,
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 THE NON-RESISTANT, AND THE RIVER DESPERADO. 
 
 IT was years since, ere the delicate hue of the peony upon 
 my cheek had been changed by a southern sun, to the more 
 sombre tint of a half dried lemon, that I was induced and 
 seduced, by a series of false pretences, to attend a lecture 
 somewhere in that land of wooden hams, wooden nutmegs, 
 and wooden-headed pedagogues, known, emphatically, as 
 Down East. A non-resistant lecturer, one that was 
 deemed a burning and a shining light among that genera- 
 tion of saints, was to hold forth 'in exposition of his tJien 
 new-fangled doctrines. 
 
 A numerous audience had assembled, and after reading 
 to them a chapter from the Bible, the anti-pugnacious gen- 
 tleman proceeded with as superlative a mass of nonsense 
 as it ever fell to the lot of mortal ears to endure. First, 
 he attacked the profession of arms, and consigned to his 
 Satanic majesty, at one fell swoop, all who meddled or 
 made with sword or gun, from the victorious general, 
 dealing death and devastation upon the enemy, to the veri- 
 est fourth corporal of the ragged militia. 
 
 Having demolished the men of war, secundum artem, he 
 went to work upon the men of peace, and at one stroke of 
 his veracious tongue, packed off to Tophet the entire gene- 
 ration of law-givers and law-expounders, legislators and 
 common council-men, judges and juries, lawyers and cli-
 
 348 NON-RESISTANT AND RIVER DESPERADO. 
 
 ents, office-sweepers and jailers all to there keep com- 
 pany with the Armigcrs. 
 
 " Our Maker alone," said this authoritative personage, 
 " has a right to control men ; the Justice, who usurps His 
 right, commits practical blasphemy ; the higher the grade, 
 the more audacious the criminal ; therefore, a King or a 
 President is the most wicked wretch on earth." 
 
 He then denounced all that submitted to the laws, 
 or acknowledged any earthly power or authority, and 
 asserted that it was a crime for a man to resist another, 
 even when his life was at stake, although by so doing he 
 might preserve it, and prevent the commission of murder. 
 
 " Should a man steal from you," continued he, " go to 
 him, and remonstrate with him ; should a man purloin my 
 watch, I would endeavor to obtain restitution by an appeal 
 to his conscience. If I failed, I would go unto him again 
 and again ; and should he yet prove entirely hardened 
 and depraved, no efforts of mine should ever seek redress 
 by law." 
 
 " Yes," added he, warming with his subject. " Yes, cold 
 as the night is, should a man lay his hand upon my coat, 
 no resistance would he meet from me ; he might have that, 
 and my cloak also, before I would sin by raising my hand 
 against my fellow, or appearing in that tabernacle of the 
 evil one a Court." 
 
 Now, at this time sat in the centre of the building a cer- 
 tain noisy, turbulent, empty-headed, pettifogging lawyer, 
 who, since that time, has made some noise in the world as 
 a political demagogue empty vessels being the very ones 
 of all the world to make a noise, when tossing to and fro 
 in the turbulent sea of politics. Squire Dan, as he was 
 called, not admiring the animadversions cast, with no
 
 THE LECTURER " SKUNKED." 349 
 
 sparing hand, upon a profession, of which he was if not 
 a limb at least a twig, although a very small one, arose 
 and addressed the orator of the evening, to the latter's 
 astonishment, and that of the audience. 
 
 *" Sir," said Dan, " did I understand you to say that you 
 would neither offer resistance to, nor prosecute, a person 
 taking your coat ?" 
 
 " I said so, sir," replied the amazed non-resistant. 
 
 " But," continued Dan, " I wish to know if you really 
 avow that determination upon your own part, or merely 
 mean it as a part of your lecture, and an exemplification 
 of the principles which you profess ?" 
 
 " I say distinctly, sir, that my conduct would be as I have 
 stated," was the reply. 
 
 " Well then," said his tormentor, rising, and blowing out 
 his fat cheeks, ' very like a Vhale/ " 1 am a lawyer, and 
 like to put everything to the proof, and now, I call the 
 audience to witness your words. I know a poor man, sir, 
 and an honest one, that needs a coat more than you do, 
 and if you do not retract, I shall take it from you, and 
 give it to him." 
 
 Dan started for the rostrum, and even was about ascend- 
 ing, when the alarmed and astounded exponor of non- 
 resistantism cried " peccavi !" 
 
 " Stop, sir," said he, " I was preaching what we should, 
 not what we do perform." 
 
 Our lecturer's course was cut short by an untoward 
 event. A severe defeat at the game of draughts was for- 
 merly, and, probably, is now, termed "a skunk." The 
 man was " skunked." 
 
 Great events hinge upon small causes. A refractory 
 pig is said to have occasioned the late war between the
 
 350 NON-RESISTANT AND RIVER DESPERADO. 
 
 United States and England, and the capture of one of the 
 hereabove hinted-at, odoriferous purloiners of poultry, 
 known " down East" as " Wethersfield dogs." by a party 
 of urchins, resulted in the non-resistant's defeat. 
 
 In the midst of an impassioned harangue, the animal was 
 thrown into the centre of the building. It was cold 
 weather, the doors were closed and a brisk fire burned in 
 the stoves. An immediate retreat was the necessary con- 
 sequence. 
 
 These " non-resistant" gentry may do very well in some 
 quiet humdrum eastern village, where the appearance of 
 the parson's wife in a new silk dress, is enough to produce 
 an extraordinary excitement ; where a rise in hoe-handles, 
 axe-helves, or rake-stales, is a signal for an emeute, such as it 
 is ; where the principal amusement of the ladies is found in 
 those female " Schools for Scandal," yclept sewing circles, 
 and famous for the instruction of juvenile feminine " Ideas" 
 in the art of " shooting" at the reputation of every female 
 in the village, " present company excepted," and of giving 
 an especial stab at the character of those whose position 
 in society is superior to their own : where the anti-slavery 
 almanac, the most " ideal" work of the age, and fully equal 
 in imaginative description to Gulliver's Travels, Baron 
 Munchausen, and Peter Wilkins combined, is purchased, 
 and every one of its impudent and barefaced lies swal- 
 lowed as pure gospel. They may do there, but in the 
 GREAT WEST, men and women of very different calibre are 
 required. Accustomed from infancy to the excitement 
 of the real dangers ever attending the settlement of 
 new territory, they can neither understand nor forgive 
 the pertinacity with which some of their eastern breth- 
 ren insist upon letting their own business alone, and
 
 TRAVELLING GAMBLERS. 351 
 
 minding that of their neighbors and the community in 
 general. 
 
 Cross the mountains, descend the " Belle Riviere," and 
 the " Father of Waters," and you will find everything upon 
 a gigantic scale. Earth, air, and water all combine to 
 produce this effect. Land more rich than Canaan's soil, 
 yields overweening crops of cotton and of corn. The 
 storms are hurricanes, the rivers vast inland seas ; and, is 
 it not surprising, where everything is expanded, that man 
 should partake of the general feature ? 
 ' It is so, indeed, and while in size they rival the sons of 
 Anak, their virtues, their courage, their hospitality, and 
 their crimes are all in the same proportion. 
 
 The entire world cannot produce such a collection of 
 unmitigated scoundrels as are to be found there, some 
 spending their time upon the rivers, some passing for 
 planters and tavern-keepers, scattered through the South 
 and West at convenient distances, making a chain of posts 
 for the accommodation of their brethren, and others prowl- 
 ing about 'under various guises, as horse-dealers, negro 
 drovers, and peddlers, but carrying on the more profitable 
 trades of negro stealing, robbery, and murder. Commen- 
 cing in most cases with gambling, the western scamp 
 seldom pauses in his career, until he has reached the top- 
 most round in the ladder of crime. 
 
 No boat ever travels over the Mississippi, Ohio, or their 
 tributaries, without the accustomed freightage of " Cheva- 
 liers d' Industrie," as much superior in audacity and vil- 
 lany to their congeners of the old world, as is an incarnate 
 demon of hell to a common every-day rascal. 
 
 Boats are owned by associations of these scoundrels,
 
 352 NON-KESISTANT AND EIVEE DESPERADO. 
 
 run to facilitate gambling and robbing operations, and I 
 would here warn all tyros in Western travel' to inquire 
 well into the character of both boat and captain before 
 embarking, and when on board, to be seduced into no game 
 of chance even for amusement with a stranger. 
 
 Some few years since, I think in 1842. a man was hung 
 in Cincinnati, who, although but twenty-four years of age, 
 confessed to twenty-two murders. 
 
 According to his own story, he had been for three years 
 of his career a nominal barkeeper upon a Western boat, in 
 order that he might have a better chance to commit and 
 conceal crime. 
 
 Travelling as a solitary gambler, while a mere boy, he 
 had marked one of the passengers for his prey, under the 
 idea that he carried with him a large amount of money. 
 He engaged a part of the same state-room, and not suc- 
 ceeding in his efforts to inveigle the man into a game of 
 cards, determined to murder him in the night and leave 
 the boat with his booty. 
 
 He succeeded in the commission of the crime, but as he 
 was searching for the supposed money, the door opening 
 upon the guards was unlocked, and the captain of the 
 boat entered. 
 
 Both were astonished, and the murderer paralysed, until 
 the captain, the older adept in guilt, informed him that he 
 had only forestalled his intentions, and proposed a division 
 of the spoil. 
 
 For three years he remained upon the boat, engaged in 
 gambling, and, when a fair opportunity presented itself, 
 murder. 
 
 When all or a great portion of this tribe of villains
 
 PHALANX OF CRIME. 353 
 
 were united by that arch-fiend Murrel, they presented a 
 phalanx of crime that seemed almost impregnable to the 
 law, and could only have been checked, for entirely 
 uprooted they were not, by the ultra means adopted in 
 Mississippi.
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 THE LAND PIRATE. 
 
 THAT circumstances may arise when nothing less potent 
 and immediate than the application of Lynch law can 
 prevent wholesale robbery and murder, was most conclu- 
 sively proved by the events which occurred in Mississippi 
 after the capture and imprisonment of Murrel, the " Land 
 Pirate." 
 
 In order that my readers may properly understand the 
 very extraordinary state of affairs that existed in the 
 Valley of the Mississippi at the time, it is necessary for 
 me to give some account of the pirate, his plot, and his 
 capture ; for singular as it may seem, few Northern men 
 have ever heard the name of Murrel, or known anything 
 of his conspiracy a conspiracy which enrolled in its ranks 
 almost every villain in the Southwest, and aimed at no 
 less a crisis than the total destruction and ruin of the South- 
 western states. 
 
 John A. Murrel was one of the worst class of Western 
 villains. After a career of crime almost unparalleled, he 
 conceived and apparently carried near to execution a plan 
 which, if perfected, would have plunged the entire South 
 and West into an abyss of misery and desolation. 
 
 Whether he would really have pushed his designs to the 
 extent he induced his adherents to believe, is a matter of 
 doubt ; for although when a prisoner he was anxious that 
 they should make the attempt, it is probable he might have
 
 ENLISTING. ' 355 
 
 confined the sphere of action, or have deferred for a long 
 time the execution of his incredibly daring plot. 
 
 His idea was to revolutionize the entire South ; to cause 
 the negroes to rise simultaneously, and, under the com- 
 mand of his associates and himself, to lay waste city and 
 country, to burn, rob, murder, devastate, and destroy. 
 
 His plans were deeply laid. To a few he confided the 
 extent of his design, and to each of these gave the author- 
 ity to enlist all the minor villains of their acquaintance. 
 The latter were termed Strikers, and used but as tools in 
 fact, as the hands to do the work of the conspiracy while 
 the Grand Council, as head, controlled their motions. 
 
 They were sworn by the most horrible oaths to secrecy, 
 and to the unhesitating performance of all the commands 
 of their superiors. To violate their oaths was certain 
 death. 
 
 In a short time, Murrel had bound together in his chain 
 the great mass of robbers and minor villains in the West, 
 but this did not content him. For all the purposes of 
 mutual assistance in counterfeiting, robbery, negro and 
 horse stealing, the present confederacy might suffice, but 
 it was necessary for safety and the completion of his 
 grand design, that his band should include among their 
 members men of an entirely different class men of stand- 
 ing in society, and of name in the world. 
 
 To accomplish this, he established throughout the entire 
 South, or perhaps more particularly the portion that 
 borders upon the Mississippi river, a cordon of robber 
 police, so well drilled, so effective in their operations, that 
 Vidocq himself might have envied the perfection of the 
 arrangements. Every crime not committed by one of the 
 gang was traced immediately to its author, and the crimi-
 
 356 THE LAND PIRATE. 
 
 nal was astounded on discovering that deeds which he 
 supposed none but his God and himself to be cognizant 
 of, were known by numbers, whose mandate he must obey 
 implicitly, and among whom he must enroll his name, or 
 be immediately exposed to the world and to justice. 
 
 It is not, at this late hour, for us to learn that petty 
 crimes, or those of the first magnitude, are not confined to 
 the lower walks of life. All, however, were fish that came 
 to Muriel's net ; the low gambler and the rich villain were 
 equally received with open arms. 
 
 Not content with detecting crime, his victims were 
 seduced to commit it, and the trap then sprung upon 
 them. 
 
 In this manner, ere long, he numbered men of all classes 
 and grades, including many persons of wealth, judges, law- 
 yers, clergymen, militia officers of high rank, planters, mer- 
 ch,ants, &c.* 
 
 * Lest the reader may think that I have either been myself imposed 
 upon, or am seeking to impose upon others, I here insert an extract from a 
 Galveston paper, published within the last four years. In my account of 
 the Murrel conspiracy I have been particularly careful to insert nothing of 
 the truth of which I am not positively certain ; many of the facts are from 
 personal knowledge, or from the knowledge of those upon whose word I 
 place implicit confidence. 
 
 THE MURREL GANG IN WASHINGTON COUNTY. 
 
 "The Texan Ranger, of the 10th instant, contains the confession of A. G. 
 Grigg, one of the gang of thieves whom the citizens of Austin, Fayette, and 
 Washington counties (where the operations have been principally carried 
 on) have determined on exterminating, or otherwise stopping their infamous 
 career. This confession exhibits an organized and systematic plan of pro- 
 cedure, as well calculated to accomplish the nefarious ends of the band as 
 to escape the penalties of the law and justice in case of detection. 
 
 "The published names of those connected with the gang, are:
 
 A POWERFUL CLAX. 357 
 
 The great secrets of the confederacy were confined to 
 the leaders, known as the Grand Council, and the Striker's 
 only duty was to obey the every command of his superior. 
 
 Members of the clan recognised each other by certain 
 signs, and the correspondence between the leaders was 
 conducted in a cipher. 
 
 Perhaps the most singular circumstance connected with 
 the history of this affair is, that although the designs of 
 Murrel must have been known to some two hundred of the 
 superior villains, and the existence of the plan to more 
 than as many thousands ; yet with so much fear did they 
 
 " Rev. Nathan Shook, of Crocket ; Judge Kelsoe, or Kersaw, living 
 somewhere on the Gaudaloupe river ; Orland Snapp, Lewis Boren, Bill 
 Short, William Howitt George Carmine, James Cox, Nathaniel Greer, 
 James McLaughlin, James Crook, D. D. Ritchey, and a man named Agery 
 The latter controlled a mint, located above Brownsville, on the Rio Grande, 
 but which none of the others were made acquainted with. Agery supplied 
 his accomplices with spurious coin for fifty cents on the dollar, in good 
 money, at the Star Hotel in this city, which establishment, according to 
 Grigg's confession, he had rented, and Bill Short was to be proprietor. 
 Agery paid two hundred dollars, in good money, for each negro delivered 
 to him, or four hundred dollars in spurious coin. 
 
 "Passing counterfeit money, stealing negroes, cattle, and other property, 
 were the principal branches of business followed by this extensive associa- 
 tion. A correspondent of the Ranger says, the number of negroes stolen 
 from the counties named is very considerable. Two of the gang, Short and 
 McLaughlin, were tried for murder in 1848, but by means of their associates 
 on the jury got clear, and afterwards boasted that they had followed one 
 of the state's witnesses to take his life for giving evidence against them, 
 which it is thought they succeeded in doing. The same correspondent says, 
 the gang is composed of ministers of the gospel, merchants, lawyers, 
 farmers, traders, and also that some EDITORS of newspapers are inculpated, 
 as having aided by their advice and support 
 
 " We are curious to know who the editors are, and look anxiously for 
 the full disclosures." Galceston Newt.
 
 358 THE LAND PIRATE. 
 
 regard the confederacy, or with so much faith did they 
 believe in the power, talent, and management of their 
 leader, that it was through him, and through him alone, 
 that they were ultimately betrayed. 
 
 The circumstances of the discovery of the plot were 
 these : 
 
 Murrel had owned a farm, or plantation, for a number 
 of years in Madison county, Tennessee. Here his true 
 character was for a time unknown, but the frequent losses 
 of slaves and valuable horses by the neighboring planters 
 induced them to regard him with suspicion, which indeed 
 his singular and mysterious mode of life warranted them 
 in doing. 
 
 He was absent months at a time from his home and wife 
 without any apparent reason, or ostensible business. Hig 
 home was a rendezvous for strangers of a suspicious cha- 
 racter ; persons were often seen to arrive and depart at 
 the dead hour of the night, and in fact everything con- 
 curred to produce the impression upon his neighbors, that 
 not only was -he a dishonest and dangerous character, but 
 also a leader or chief of some unknown band of robbers, 
 counterfeiters, or murderers perhaps all the three. 
 
 Suspicion led to a closer scrutiny, and scrutiny to detec- 
 tion. A neighbor had lost a number of slaves, and for 
 several days could find no trace of them. At length, the 
 overseer of his plantation discovering one of the runaways 
 creeping into his deserted " quarter" at night, gave chase, 
 and after some trouble succeeded in capturing him. 
 
 From him they obtained a knowledge of the locale of the 
 rendezvous, and the name of the negro thief. As they had 
 anticipated, it was Murrel. 
 
 The testimony of a negro against a white man, however,
 
 TAKEN IN THE ACT. 359 
 
 is invalid in Tennessee, and it was necessary to detect the 
 criminal themselves. 
 
 The negro was accordingly directed to guide his master 
 and a number of well-armed men to the spot in silence, 
 and then rejoin his associates, being threatened with the 
 penalty of death if he should in any manner betray the 
 design of his captors. 
 
 The plot succeeded. Hardly had the company been 
 cautiously posted around the negroes, when Murrel him- 
 self, bearing a basket of provisions in his hand, made his 
 appearance, and immediately began to divide the food 
 among them. 
 
 After the party had seen and heard sufficient for their 
 purpose, they rushed upon the villain, and secured him. 
 
 Taken entirely unawares, MurrePs coolness did not in 
 'the least desert him ; on the contrary, he turned upon the 
 owner whom he had robbed, and congratulated him upon 
 the recovery of his slaves, stating that he had himself dis- 
 covered them but a short time before, and that he had 
 beguiled them with fair promises and kind treatment into 
 the belief that he was their friend, solely for the purpose, 
 however, of securing them for him. 
 
 Despite his self-possession, however, he was bound, and 
 carried in triumph to the county jail, where, in a day or 
 two, he was bailed for a heavy sum. The day of trial 
 arrived, and to the astonishment of every one, Murrel 
 delivered himself up. So dark appeared the case, that the 
 idea was universal that the bail-bond would be forfeited, 
 and the criminal seek safety in flight. They were doubly 
 mistaken. Murrel had employed skilful counsel, and his 
 own knowledge of criminal law was not to be despised. 
 It soon appeared the count in the indictment charging him
 
 360 THE LAND PIRATE. 
 
 with " negro stealing" could not be sustained, and lie could 
 only be convicted of harboring the negroes. 
 
 A verdict was accordingly rendered against him for this 
 offence, mulcting him in a few hundred dollars, and against 
 this he contended, appealing to the " Supreme Court,'' upon 
 the ground of the unconstitutionally of the law against 
 " negro harboring." 
 
 Failing in their attempt to inflict a severe penalty by 
 law, the citizens in Madison, or at least many of them, deter- 
 mined upon taking the affair in their own hands, and accord- 
 ingly organized a company with the intention of " Lynch- 
 ing" him. Here again were they out-generalled ; for, per- 
 fectly apprised, through his spies, of their intentions, he 
 summoned his adherents around him and prepared for a 
 desperate resistance. Nor was this all. The enemies' camp 
 counted among their number several of his spies, who not ' 
 only notified him of their every movement, but spread dis- 
 cord among the company, and finally leaving it in the pre- 
 tended fear of the consequences, induced the others to 
 abandon the design. 
 
 Murrel had conquered ; and now, feeling himself almost 
 invulnerable, determined upon revenge, not dreaming that 
 he had yet to cope with one, his equal in coolness and 
 courage, and his superior in cunning. 
 
 Among the most obnoxious of MurrePs neighbors was a 
 Methodist minister of the name of Henning. He had been 
 active in organizing the corps of regulators, and had used 
 all his influence to persuade the planters of Murrel's guilt 
 and bad character, and upon him the desperado determined 
 to be fully revenged. Henning had two fine and valuable 
 negroes, and Murrel, without much difficulty, persuaded 
 them to run away. He sent with them one of his " Stri-
 
 THE LETTER. 361 
 
 kers," whom he furnished with fast horses, to enable him, 
 if hard pressed, to escape ; but remained himself at home, 
 in order to evade suspicion. 
 
 In this respect his precautions were useless ; for as soon 
 as Henning missed his slaves, he sent a quick-witted spy 
 to watch every step of the supposed thief, and to obtain 
 from his wife, if possible, some information of his intended 
 movements. In the latter attempt the spy was successful, 
 and discovered that Murrel intended to leave for the town 
 of Randolph in a fortnight. Henning consulted with his 
 friends as to what course it would be most advisable for 
 him to pursue ; but unfortunately, in this sad world which 
 we inhabit, no man can be sure of a friend, as the worthy 
 preacher soon after found out to his cost. 
 
 The very man in whom he placed the most confidence, 
 and whom he first consulted upon the subject, was a mem- 
 ber of the clan, and one of the Grand Council, and of 
 course the information was conveyed to Murrel with all 
 possible speed. 
 
 The latter now had the double advantage of knowing 
 his adversary's game, while his adversary supposed himself 
 to be equally wise. With his characteristic boldness, 
 Murrel addressed the following letter to Richard Hen- 
 niiig, a son of the old preacher : 
 
 DENMARK, January 23, 1885. 
 
 Ba,- 
 
 I have been told that you accuse me of being concerned in stealing 
 your own and your father's negroes ; and I have been told also, that you 
 have thought proper to vapor about what you would do with me if you 
 could be sure of having me on equal terms. I say I have been told these 
 things ; and I wish to reply, if they be true, that I can whip you from the 
 point of a dagger to the anchor of a ship. But, sir, if I have been miflin- 
 16
 
 362 THE LAND PIEATE. . 
 
 formed by malicious persons, who wish to do you a discredit, I trust you 
 will receive this letter as a messnge of friendship. I am about leaving for 
 Randolph, and shall be pleased to have your company on any terms you 
 may choose, or to satisfy you, if it is necessary, that my intentions and 
 business are honest 
 
 Tours, according to the truth or falsity of the rumors, 
 
 JOHN A. MUBHEL. 
 
 RICHARD HKJJNING. 
 
 At this critical time, Virgil A. Stewart, a friend of 
 Henning, appeared upon the field, and the whole affair was 
 laid before him. 
 
 No answer had been returned to Murrel 's letter, and he 
 supposed that his object to prevent pursuit had been 
 attained. 
 
 Very different, however, were the intentions of the Hen- 
 nings and their friend. The latter advised them to 
 closely and carefully slow-track Murrel, until they found 
 what his real destination was, and what the business might 
 be that led him there ; and, moreover, volunteered to 
 accompany Richard Henning. His offer was accepted ; 
 and on the eve of the day when Murrel had informed them 
 of his design to leave, Stewart started with the intention 
 of riding a few miles upon the road to the house of a 
 friend, where his companion was to join him at an early 
 hour next morning. 
 
 Morning came, but no Henning ; and Stewart, after 
 waiting impatiently three or four hours, determined to 
 proceed alone, although almost unarmed. Whether he 
 would have done this had he known, as well as he after- 
 wards did, the character of the man whom he was to 
 encounter, is a matter of doubt ; but it is certain that the
 
 STEWART. 363 
 
 pages of history can show no greater instance of the dis- 
 play of presence of mind, energy, determination, and cou- 
 rage, both moral and physical, than he evinced in the suc- 
 cessful pursuance of his design.
 
 CHAPTER Y. 
 
 THE WOLF TEAPPED. 
 
 STEWAET had reached the first toll-gate upon his road, and 
 was in the act of inquiring of the keeper if Murrel had 
 passed during the morning or last night, when the person 
 himself rode up. Stewart continued his conversation 
 with the keeper until Murrel had ridden out of sight, and 
 then being satisfied with regard to his identity, mounted 
 his horse in pursuit. It had been his intention to fol- 
 low his man closely, and yet to keep out of his sight, 
 but accident prevented this. The day was cold, and 
 Stewart's horse, unperceived by his master, quickening 
 his pace, brought him within sight of Murrel. The latter 
 was looking round at him when Stewart first perceived 
 their propinquity ; and now, without checking his pace, he 
 rode up, and entered into conversation. 
 
 Murrel was very inquisitive. Stewart informed him 
 that he was from the Choctaw Purchase, travelling in 
 quest of a valuable horse that he thought must have 
 strayed in that direction. 
 
 To the inquiry, " If he knew a man of the name of 
 Murrel?" Stewart returned so prompt a negative, and 
 endurerl the scrutiny of his inquisitor's eye so unflinch- 
 ingly, that Murrel, who trusted implicitly in his judgment 
 of men by their looks, banished entirely his first idea, that 
 Stewart was a sleuth-hound, that the Hennings had put 
 upon his trail.
 
 THE REVELATION. 365 
 
 In some respects, Muriel's judgment of his antago- 
 nist was correct. He saw courage, energy, and deter- 
 mination in his face at a glance, resolved to sound him, 
 and if possible to enlist so valuable a recruit to serve 
 under his own black flag. 
 
 Stewart intentionally spoke in such a manner as to give 
 his new acquaintance an idea that his morals were of the 
 loosest, and in fact said so much that Murrel, thinking he 
 was wasting his labor after all upon one who was ajready 
 a member, endeavored to draw from him the secret sign of 
 the confederacy. 
 
 Failing in this, he set to work in earnest, and com- 
 menced a recital of the exploits of " this aforesaid Mur- 
 rel " speaking of him always as of a third party. Mur- 
 rel's weak point was vanity, and Stewart's pretended 
 admiration of the villanous performances, related with so 
 much gout, so won upon him, that, completely deceived as 
 to the latter's character, during the first day's ride he 
 expressed and really conceived a kind of friendship for 
 him, and exacted a promise that he would accompany him 
 as far as Randolph, in the hope of obtaining some informa- 
 tion of the missing horse. A desperate game truly did 
 Stewart play ; but from the beginning of their acquaintance 
 he had, and kept the advantage. 
 
 The journey to Randolph occupied five days, during 
 which time Murrel, satisfied that his first estimate of 
 Stewart's character was correct, opened all his plans to 
 him, and proposed to raise him immediately to a post of 
 honor ^ I^c ~-~"ld join the gang. Stewart consented. 
 
 At this time, the least suspicion of his true character 
 and intentions, would have cost our modern Vidocq his 
 life ; and indeed he ran a very narrow risk of discovery.
 
 366 THE WQLF TRAPPED. 
 
 He had assumed the name of Hues, and unfortunately the 
 route which he and his companion were pursuing led them 
 to the village of Wesley, where they were to pass the 
 night, and where Stewart was known to several residents. 
 He fortunately succeeded in escaping momentarily from 
 Murrel's vigilant eye, under pretence that the services of 
 a blacksmith were required for his horse ; and during his 
 temporary absence met a gentleman of his acquaintance, 
 to whom he confided his critical situation, and requested 
 him to mount, as it were, guard over the tavern, and if 
 any person who knew him should approach, to prevent 
 them calling him by any other than his nom de guerre. 
 His friend obeyed, and learning Stewart's determination 
 to dare everything, and to follow Murrel until he was 
 satisfied of his true designs, he provided him with arms 
 of defence, of which Stewart was in great need. 
 
 Three times after this, did Stewart communicate to 
 persons upon the road, something of the character of his 
 companion, and of the desperate enterprise which he was 
 pursuing. 
 
 The travellers at length reached the Mississippi, oppo- 
 site the mouth of Old River, and crossed in a miserable 
 canoe, during a violent tempest having left their horses 
 upon the eastern side. After landing upon the Arkansas 
 shore, they proceeded some distance through a dense cane- 
 brake, crossed three streams of water, and at length stood 
 upon the shores of a lake, in the centre of which a small 
 island was seen. 
 
 This was the rendezvous of the Grand Council a fit- 
 ting place, truly, for a congress of murderers ; a spot 
 shunned by man, unknown save by the wild beasts who 
 chose it for their home. The rattlesnake and moccasin,
 
 THE GRAND COUNCIL. 367 
 
 less venomous tliau the human reptiles who herded there, 
 crawled under the primeval and miasma-fed drapery that 
 shrouded the deadly cypress, the only tree that claimed 
 the soil for its own. 
 
 Upon the island, Stewart found a number of the villains, 
 and also the missing negroes of Mr. Henning. The Grand 
 Council, or rather their representatives, had met to con- 
 coct plans for various nefarious enterprises, and among 
 them the wholesale robbery of the negroes of Mr. Hen- 
 derson, an absent planter, by his overseer. Stewart, now 
 regularly inducted into their plans, secrets, and signs, 
 being entirely satisfied with regard to the plans of Mur- 
 rel, became naturally desirous to escape ; and under the 
 pretence of having left, by mistake, some valuable papers 
 at the house of a Mr. Erwin, obtained leave of the chief 
 to return there, upon the condition that he would await 
 his own arrival before departing for home. 
 
 The Mr. Erwin to whose house Stewart returned, was 
 one to whom he had confided something of his hazardous 
 enterprise and of Murrel's character. Besides Erwin, he 
 had also informed two other persons upon the road, and 
 all of them entered fully into his plan. One, a Mr. 
 Haynes, promised in case of any emergency, or of his not 
 returning at the appointed time, to raise a company of 
 fifty armed men at half an hour's notice, and take the 
 field to capture Murrel, and such of his gang as he might 
 find. 
 
 With Erwin, Murrel had contracted to deliver three 
 negroes at a certain price, and Stewart had, before cross- 
 ing the river, arranged with his host to lead the pirate on 
 to the completion of the contract, and have him arrested 
 after the slaves had been received and paid for.
 
 368 THE WOLF TRAPPED. 
 
 I have thus far related the train of events which led to 
 Murrel's capture, tersely and drily, in fact epitomizing the 
 testimony in the case ; but before arriving at the crisis, 
 let us for a moment consider the peculiarly dangerous and 
 extraordinary position in which Stewart was placed. 
 
 He had embarked upon the enterprise with the sole 
 intention of recovering the negroes of his friend, and 
 bringing the thief to justice ; but in pursuit of his design, 
 had raised the curtain of an arcanum of crime as frightful 
 as it was unexpected. 
 
 At first, he probably supposed Murrel to be vaporing 
 with regard to his power, to the number of his clan, and 
 the horrid extent of his plans ; but when, as the latter 
 proceeded with the details of his plot, giving name after 
 name of persons well known in the community, and many 
 of them in offices of power and trust, and when he exhi- 
 bited to him proof that he had already commenced nego- 
 tiations with some of the prominent abolitionists in the 
 North, to obtain their countenance and assistance, he 
 became convinced of the frightful reality of Murrel's 
 'statements. 
 
 The imminent peril which Stewart incurred by this dis- 
 covery cannot, we think, be properly appreciated by those 
 who have spent their lives in a densely-populated country, 
 one where a man is comparatively free from the danger of 
 assassination, and where, such a clue as Stewart now pos- 
 sessed, would be followed up by an active band of drilled 
 police, hied on by efficient magistrates, and a powerful 
 and independent press. 
 
 Imagine the situation of our hero, compelled, if he 
 would sustain the part of a true-hearted, honest man, to 
 enter the field of battle alone, and single-handed, against
 
 AT HOME. 369 
 
 a host of known, and perhaps thousands of secret enemies, 
 to contend against them at a sacrifice of money, time, pro- 
 bably reputation, and life itself, and all, to preserve 
 the lives and fortunes of those who, he must have 
 known, would never appreciate the sacrifice, and who 
 would, and did, believe that his knowledge was only 
 derived from his guilty connexion with the pirates, and 
 his betrayal of their plot but stimulated by the hope of 
 great reward. 
 
 Many men of passing honesty, situated as he was, 
 would, with the fear of death before their eyes, have 
 enrolled themselves in the devilish service. Most men 
 would have consulted their safety in flight, and kept the 
 frightful secret to themselves. Not one in a million would 
 have acted with the energy, fearlessness of life, and stern 
 determination of purpose, of Virgil Stewart. 
 
 To resume the thread of our narrative. Upon arriving 
 at Erwin's, Stewart informed him, as far as he dared, of 
 his momentous discoveries, and warned him to observe 
 great caution in the conducting of his plot for MurrePs 
 capture. 
 
 On the next day Murrel arrived, and on the succeeding, 
 left with Stewart for home. They pursued the same road 
 over which they had already travelled, and parted near 
 the village of Wesley ; Murrel hastening home, and 
 Stewart turning off upon a by-road, until the former 
 should have had sufficient time to pass through the vil- 
 lage, and then hastened to enter it, and to visit the per- 
 son who had assisted him when he had before passed 
 through on his eventful journey. On the next night he 
 arrived at Henning's house, and there he related some 
 part of his extraordinary adventures.
 
 370 THE WOLF TRAPPED. 
 
 Before Stewart, fatigued and worn both in body and 
 mind as he was, had arisen, Henning had summoned a 
 number of his neighbors toconsult with them. But one 
 opinion prevailed ; that it was necessary to collect a suf- 
 ficient force and arrest Murrel. Stewart was somewhat 
 indignant at Henning's proceedings, and remonstrated 
 against what he deemed a too precipitate course ; but in 
 vain. 
 
 Murrel was arrested by an officer with a numerous 
 posse of armed men, on the same night. Even while upon 
 the route to the jail, some of his followers must have suc- 
 ceeded in mixing with the guard, for the bands which 
 secured him were cut ; a pistol was fired from a piece of 
 woods at Stewart, and the ball cut his bridle-rein in 
 two. 
 
 As soon as Murrel was incarcerated, Stewart and young 
 Henning set out to obtain testimony, and the villain him- 
 self prepared, if possible, to defeat them. News of his 
 capture had been sent through the entire clan, and they 
 were all up and on the move, as spiteful, determined, and 
 ready for mischief, as the disturbed denizens of a hornets' 
 nest. 
 
 It is a miracle that Stewart escaped from assassination. 
 He was surrounded by unknown dangers ; men whom he 
 deemed his friends even two persons in whose hands he 
 had intrusted his property, and with one of whom he 
 lived proved afterwards to have been of the number of 
 the Land Pirates. 
 
 His every step was dogged ; his house was watched 
 at night ; an effort was made to enter his room, and mur- 
 der him in bed, which was frustrated by his watchfulness ; 
 for, discovering that there were persons prowling about
 
 FLIGHT AND RE-CAPTURE. 371 
 
 his house, he remained at the window, and shot a man as 
 he was about entering it. At last, an attempt was made 
 to poison him at the house wkere he boarded, from which 
 he was saved by his having most providentially dis- 
 covered the true character and designs of the host and 
 hostess. 
 
 This discovery was in keeping with his other wonderful 
 adventures. He met one of the gang who did not know 
 him, and suspecting who the man might be, tried him with 
 the robber-sign, and found his suspicions verified. From 
 him, Stewart learned the intended rescue of Murrel ; his 
 plan to have him (Stewart) arrested for counterfeiting, 
 and the different preparations for defence if brought to 
 trial. 
 
 Murrel escaped, fled, was finally traced to Florence, 
 Alabama, recaptured, and taken back to Madison. 
 
 "He did not then by any means despair, and having 
 engaged one of the most skilful lawyers in the state, 
 and himself prepared a vast amount of suborned testi- 
 mony, he' hoped to escape from justice, and to fix upon 
 his enemy the brand of infamy. Here again his cal- 
 culations were overthrown in a manner as startling to 
 him and his friends as it was unexpected. Stewart 
 had 'taken down the names of every one of the clan 
 whom Murrel had named to him upon the journey. This 
 he did while riding by his side, writing them upon 
 scaps of paper, or if impossible then, at the next time 
 that he had an opportunity. When upon the stand, 
 he narrated in a clear and concise manner, the whole 
 of his adventures, and drew from his pocket the very 
 scraps of paper upon which were written the names of the 
 conspirators.
 
 372 THE WOLF TRAPPED. 
 
 There was a great confusion in Murrel's camp. His 
 witnesses walked, one by one, quietly out of the Court- 
 house, until all the important ones were among the miss- 
 ing ; they were the very men whose names had just been 
 read. 
 
 Murrel's last hope fell to the ground ; he was convicted 
 of negro-stealing, and sentenced to ten years' imprison- 
 ment in the State Penitentiary. 
 
 Great was the consternation of the clan at the incarce- 
 ration of their leader, and at the frustration of their 
 bloody plot. 
 
 Many of the Grand Council, however, did not aban- 
 don their design, trusting that a story, apparently so 
 incredible as Stewart had related, would not be gene- 
 rally believed by the people of the South West, and 
 also relying on the number and great dissemination of 
 the clan, whereby a thousand tongues would be engaged 
 in blackening Stewart's character, and ridiculing his tale. 
 The latter, however, determined to persevere in despite of 
 difficulty, danger, and defamation, and in February, 1835, 
 published a small pamphlet which contained an account 
 of his adventures, and an exposure of the plot. 
 
 The time for the general rising of the negroes had 
 been originally the 25th of December, 1835, which was 
 selected as the Christmas holiday, always a saturnalia 
 for the Southern negroes, and they might assemble with- 
 out suspicion. The attention of the people, however, 
 was completely awakened, the belief in Stewart's story 
 general, and it was evident to even the most sanguine 
 of the conspirators that this time must be abandoned. 
 
 Ruel Blake, who was the acknowledged chief of the 
 Mississippi squad, after consulting with his brother vil-
 
 CHANGE OF TIME. 373 
 
 lains, issued his mandate that the time for action must 
 be accelerated, and fixed upon the 4th of July. There is 
 no doubt but that Murrel himself was advised of this 
 change of plan, and that he acquiesced in it.
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 JUDGE LYNCH'S INTEKFEKENCE. 
 
 BLAKE found the Mississippi conspirators firm in their bad 
 purpose, and willing to second him ; but those of the 
 adjoining States were terror-stricken and demurred, so 
 that he was forced to confine his operations to the former. 
 
 Every preparation was made, and the whole affair actu- 
 ally conducted to within eight days of the proposed crisis, 
 when an exposure took place. A lady residing in Livings- 
 ton county, who had been induced to watch her slaves very 
 closely, from a singular alteration in their demeanor, over- 
 heard a conversation between two of them on the night of 
 the 26th June, which filled her with terror and apprehen- 
 sion. She immediately consulted with her son, and one of 
 the parties, a girl, was summoned into the house, informed 
 of what had been already heard, and finally induced to 
 confess. 
 
 The information was laid before the " Committee of 
 Safety" of the county, early the next morning, and they 
 proceeded to investigate the subject in the most active 
 manner. The knowledge of the conspiracy was traced 
 back to four slaves, who were the ringleaders among the 
 negroes, two of them preachers ; and their guilt being fully 
 established, they were hung. 
 
 Up to this moment no agency of a white man had been 
 discovered ; but on the next day further information was 
 furnished the Committee, and then through this second
 
 THE DISCOVERY. 376 
 
 channel they at last reached the fountain-head of the mis- 
 chief. 
 
 "Want of space prevents a description of the scenes 
 that followed, but I will glance at the proceedings in 
 Livingston. 
 
 With every certainty of the correct and forcible admi- 
 nistration of the law, there would have been now no time 
 for its formal delays ; but knowing, as the citizens did, that 
 they stood, as it were, upon a volcano ready to explode, 
 that the law was utterly impotent in the premises, and 
 that no man could be depended upon save him, who went 
 heart and hand with them, in crushing the conspiracy in 
 its bud ; but one course was open. The Committee did 
 all that could have been expected from them. As fair a 
 trial as it was possible for them to give, was allowed the 
 accused. The Governor of the State was consulted, and 
 issued a proclamation approving of their proceedings. 
 
 The most important conspirators that were living in 
 Livingston were Ruel Blake, Cotton, Saunders, Donovan, 
 and Dean. A man named Lee Smith was found guilty of 
 some knowledge of the plot, but allowed to depart upon 
 the condition that he would leave the State. He fell into 
 the hands of the infuriated citizens of Hinds county, and 
 was slain. Two Earls were also arrested, and made con- 
 fessions. One hung himself in his cell, and the other was 
 sent to Vicksburg, and we believe escaped. 
 
 The guilt of these men was proved by the most clear and 
 indubitable evidence ; by their confessions upon the gal- 
 lows, and by their implicating one another. 
 
 Here is the confession of Dr. Cotton : 
 
 " I acknowledge my guilt. I was one of the principal ones, with Boyd 
 and Ruel Blake, in getting up this conspiracy. I am a member of the
 
 376 JUDGE LYNCH'S INTERFERENCE. 
 
 Murrel clan, and belong to what Ve call the Grand Council. I have coun- 
 selled with them on an island in the Mississippi, and once near Columbus, 
 this spring. Our object in undertaking this clan was not to liberate the 
 negroes, but to get plunder. It has been in contemplation several years, 
 but fell through on Murrel's conviction and imprisonment. We sought to 
 revive it on the plan laid down in Stewart's pamphlet From the exposure 
 of our plans iu that publication, we feared the citizens would be on their 
 guard on the night of the 25th December, so we thought we would take by 
 surprise on the night of the 4th July, and it would have been to-night (and 
 may be yet) but for the detection of our plans. There are about one hun- 
 dred and fifty of our clan in this state. Boyd is the leader, and the Earls, 
 who swore for us on the 1st, were his main men. Saunders was in the 
 plot. Blake's boy, Peter, was justly punished, for he was very active in 
 corrupting his fellow negroes. There are arms and ammunition deposited 
 in Hinds county, near Raymond. 
 
 " (Signed) JOSHUA COTTON. 
 
 "July 4th, 1835." 
 
 The gang of villains whose projects were thus frustrated 
 was very far from being annihilated. They had learned 
 too well the benefits to be derived from a mutual system 
 of assistance and co-operation, by a combination of per- 
 sons in the different walks of life, from a proper appor- 
 tionment of labor, in the true spirit of Adam Smith's doc- 
 trine of economy, to again recommence the career of ini- 
 quity, unaided and unabetted. 
 
 They had learned that by proper management, by the 
 application of brute force, of threats, of example in some 
 situations, and the juggling of courts, witnesses, and juries 
 in others, that any confederate was comparatively safe 
 from every danger of being overtaken by retributive just- 
 ice, save by the dreaded and fatal Lynch Law. 
 
 The members of the band generally changed their posts ; 
 those who were planters and merchants, finding themselves 
 objects of suspicion, sold out, often to others of the clan,
 
 EMIGRATION OF THE CLAN. 377 
 
 whose characters were as yet unknown to their new neigh- 
 bors, and moved to some adjoining state. 
 
 The Grand Council was probably done away with, and 
 having now no acknowledged leader, they divided them- 
 selves into numerous small parties, each with their chosen 
 chief and manager,, unconnected with the others in any 
 momentous project, but still known to each other, and fur- 
 nishing shelter and assistance to any villain or villains who 
 might require it. 
 
 Many of them emigrated to Texas, and it is of this sec- 
 tion that I would speak, being intimately acquainted with 
 their movements from personal observation. 
 
 One of the first who met with his deserts was an old 
 man by the name of Yokum, who had been the terror of 
 the part of Louisiana .where he formerly resided, we 
 believe upon Plaquemine Brule, or in that vicinity. It 
 has often been told us by old settlers from that portion 
 of the state, that not one of Yokum's family, or of the 
 gang whom he kept around him, had met with a natural 
 death. 
 
 This patriarch in crime selected " Pine Island Prairie," 
 in the lower part of Eastern Texas, a place where he would 
 be but little troubled with inquisitive neighbors ; and 
 where, from its location upon the road leading from 
 Belew's Ferry upon the Sabine through Liberty, and cross- 
 ing the San Jacinto at the Attascaseta ford to Houston, 
 he would be sure to entertain, that is, '* keep" or " receive," 
 almost every traveller that chose that route. 
 
 Knowing the advantages of a good character at home, 
 he soon, by his liberality, apparent good-humor, and oblig- 
 ing disposition, succeeded in ingratiating himself with the 
 few settlers who were, with backwoods courtesy, called
 
 378 JUDGE LYNCH'S INTERFERENCE. 
 
 neighbors, any one within fifteen miles being entitled to 
 the benefit of the term. 
 
 The first thing that attracted general suspicion and 
 inquiry, was the appearance of his stud. Planters and 
 stock-raisers in Texas keep many horses, but they are usu- 
 ally of the small breed of Louisiana Creole ponies, or those 
 of the Spanish kind. The larger breed of horses from the 
 Northern or Western States are designated as " American 
 horses," and seldom met with, unless perchance a physi- 
 cian, lawyer, or wealthy planter may keep one as his espe- 
 cial saddle-horse. Travellers, however, are generally 
 mounted upon them/ 
 
 No Texan can conceal his stock of cattle, or his stud, as 
 every acre of prairie and timber is thoroughly hunted over 
 once and often twice a year, by large parties of stock- 
 raisers, who join together and ride over the whole country 
 within twenty and thirty miles of their residences, and 
 very frequently much farther, gathering every four-footed 
 beast into the nearest pen, and selecting out their own for 
 the purpose of branding them. Ignorant, except of their 
 own peculiar business ; their knowledge of everything per- 
 taining to cattle ; their recollection of. and skill in mana- 
 ging them, is wonderful. It is not surprising, then, that 
 the large and increasing stock of fine American horses, 
 which were found grazing in the prairie near Yokum's, 
 excited their suspicion. Inquiries for missing travellers, 
 and the non-appearance of some who were known to have 
 stopped upon the road at houses east of Yokum's, but who 
 did not make their appearance again, furnished additional 
 cause. At length, by a very singular train of events, 
 things came to a crisis. 
 
 A man named Carey, an industrious, hard-working per-
 
 A PRETTY QUARREL. 379 
 
 son, settled upon a prairie, near Cedar Bayou, in company 
 with a Mr. Page. They owned a small tract, and culti- 
 vated a small farm* jointly. 
 
 Near them in fact, the fences of their plantations 
 joined lived a Mr. Britton, a blustering, quarrelsome 
 Down-easter, who, in consideration of his Goliah-like pro- 
 portions, determined upon ruling the prairie. 
 
 Britton, Page, and Carey occupied the same " league" 
 of land, and ere long the former was embroiled with the 
 two latter in a violent dispute, commencing with a diffi- 
 culty in the division of the property, and aggravated by 
 that fruitful subject, a quarrel about their dogs. 
 
 Page kept sheep, but no dogs ; and Britton dogs, but no 
 sheep. Britton's favorite dog killed Page's sheep, and 
 Page or Carey killed Britton's dog. Here, now, was a 
 germ for a serious difficulty, and in itself a very pretty 
 quarrel as it stood. Soon after, Britton met Carey upon 
 the prairie, and horse-whipped him. Threats and recrimi- 
 nations followed, but nothing serious resulted from them 
 for nearly a year. 
 
 At last, something again excited Britton's ire, and he 
 sent word to Carey that he was braiding a lash for his 
 especial benefit a lash that would cut him to the bone. 
 
 Carey's business, that afternoon, caused him to visit a 
 neighbor, a new settler, who was living, pro tern., in a 
 small log peri, or house. Here he found his antagonist, 
 sitting in the door, and leaning his head back against the 
 door-post, and also two or three other persons, who had 
 called upon the new comer. 
 
 Garey entered, placed a rifle which he was carrying 
 upon the bed, and. after remaining some half an hour, 
 during which time nothing had passed between him and
 
 380 JUDGE LYNCH'S INTERFERENCE. 
 
 his enemy, rose to retire. His gun lay with its muzzle 
 towards the door, and Carey stepped round the bed, as if 
 to raise the gun by the breech. As soon as he put his 
 hands upon the piece, it was discharged, and a ball passed 
 through Britton's vbrain. He fell dead instantly, without 
 groan or word. I am in error, however, in stating that he 
 fell dead ; for so quickly did death supervene the rifle's 
 report, that he remained sitting bolt upright, and the spec- 
 tators did not know until Carey had left the room, that 
 anything more'serious than an accidental discharge of the 
 rifle had taken place. 
 
 The perpetrator of this homicide (whether accidental or 
 intentional none but his Maker and himself can tell) imme- 
 diately fled from the county, and took refuge with old 
 Yokum, probably judging that his late deed would be a 
 iitting letter of introduction. 
 
 Yokum received him with open arms, promised to pro- 
 tect and defend him, and, if necessary, to secure his 
 retreat from the county'in safety. 
 
 This, however, was very far from his real design, and he 
 kept Carey housed for a long time, a prey to agonizing 
 fears, which were not allayed by the tales he was told of 
 the threats that the county had made of taking him by 
 force, and lynching him. 
 
 Thus working upon his fears, Yokum prevented his pri- 
 soner (for such he really was) from carrying out the inten- 
 tion which he had expressed soon after his arrival, of deli- 
 vering himself up for trial as soon as the momentary 
 excitement of the people had died away ; and ultimately 
 persuaded him of the absolute necessity that existed to dis- 
 pose of his property in Texas as best he might, and then 
 to fly from the country. Yokum offered to purchase the
 
 A UACKWOODS ALSATIA. 381 
 
 " improvements," which were valuable, and to facilitate his 
 exodus and that of Page's family ; and placing full faith 
 in his honesty of purpose, Carey gave him a letter to his 
 friend, directing^him to make a deed of sale of the planta- 
 tion, &c., to Yokum. 
 
 Yokum immediately rode over to the scene of the late 
 disturbance, and finding Page ready to comply with his 
 partner's wishes, left with him several of his fine American 
 horses, with which the family were to escape, and which 
 was to be the first payment, together with a sum of money 
 which he promised them, towards the purchase of the 
 estate. 
 
 During Carey's residence in this backwoods Alsatia, he 
 had formed an acquaintance with one of the clan who 
 seemed to have taken a fancy to him, and to whom he pro- 
 bably was indebted for his life. While Yokum was absent, 
 this, person opened Carey's eyes as to the whole plot, which 
 was now drawing to its close. The whole property was 
 to be transferred to Yokum by Carey's agent, Page, for a 
 nominal consideration, and Yokum promised to hold it 
 until he could sell it to advantage, and then to send the 
 money to Carey, or to pay it over to his agent. In the 
 meanwhile, the horses were given, or lent, and a small sum 
 of money. ; . 
 
 This, however, was all pretence, and Yokum's true design 
 was to obtain a legal title to the plantation, and then to 
 dispose of Carey in such a manner that there would be no 
 danger of his turning up again. There was another neces- 
 sity for this course : Carey had learnt too many and too 
 dangerous secrets, for Yokum to trust him out of his sight. 
 Carey escaped, and fled to the house of one of the most 
 influential men in Liberty county, to whom he confided all
 
 382 JUDGE LYNCH'S INTERFERENCE. 
 
 his knowledge of Yokum and his doings, and also stated 
 his intention of delivering himself up immediately for 
 trial. 
 
 The people were called together, and determined to 
 take the law in their own hands, to punish the guilty, and 
 to drive the entire clan out of the county. 
 
 Upon their arrival at Yokum's house, they found that 
 he had escaped, and setting themselves to work to make 
 such investigation as they could, soon satisfied themselves 
 of his undoubted crime. 
 
 A negro informed them where the bones of a traveller 
 could be found, viz., in an old well ; and those of another 
 were said to have been discovered bleaching upon the 
 prairie. Yokum's family were ordered to leave the house, 
 the furniture was removed, and the premises set on fire. 
 The family, and all of the hangers-on, had a certain num- 
 ber of days allowed them to move their effects and leave 
 the county, being threatened with death if they ever 
 returned. This last measure was one of necessity, as the 
 safety of all those concerned in their removal depended 
 upon it. 
 
 A party set forth upon Yokum's trail, and succeeded in 
 finding him at a house near Spring Creek, in the present 
 county of Montgomery, and then known as' Spring Creek 
 county. The culprit was secured and carried some miles 
 on the homeward route, when his captors dismounted, 
 informed him that his time had come, and giving him one 
 short half hour to repent the villanies of a long lifetime, 
 shot him through the heart. 
 
 The family of Yokum, and all connected with them, left 
 the county and emigrated further west, denouncing the 
 Lynching party and swearing that they would be revenged
 
 A THREAT BORNE OUT. 383 
 
 upon every one who had a hand in the affair. There is 
 no doubt but that some of these threats would have been 
 fulfilled, had not the citizens of Liberty county proved 
 that they were terribly in earnest, in their determination 
 to take instant and fatal measures, with any one of the 
 clan who should dare to again cross the county line. 
 
 The least objectionable of all of Yokum's tribe, one of 
 his sons, Christopher perhaps the only one against 
 whom some heinous crime could not have been esta- 
 blished had married but a short time before the general 
 breaking up of the gang. His wife refused to accom- 
 pany or to follow him, but promised to live with him if he 
 would return ; and, after waiting a year, he determined to 
 do so. Whether this was a mere ruse to obtain a foot- 
 hold again, and to provide a house of refuge for others to 
 carry out their threatened revenge, I know not, but it 
 proved a fatal affair for him. As soon as the sheriff 
 heard of his presence, he immediately put him in the jail 
 at Beaumont, in order to save his life, and if possible 
 assist him to escape. But all precautions were useless. 
 The people rose immediately upon learning of Yokum's 
 arrival, and taking him out of jail, hung him upon the 
 first tree. 
 
 Thus was entirely destroyed the branch of the Murrel 
 gang in Liberty county, and the prompt action of deter- 
 mined men prevented it from becoming an abiding-place 
 for thieves, and a den of murderers. 
 
 Concerning the after fate of Murrel, and his conqueror, 
 Stewart, many contradictory reports are in circulation. I 
 have seen a statement that the former, broken down in 
 health and spirits by his long confinement, died of con- 
 sumption soon after his release, and that the latter was' at
 
 384 JUDGE LYNCH'S INTERFERENCE. 
 
 the present time a wealthy farmer in the interior of Penn- 
 sylvania. With regard to Stewart, I know this to be 
 erroneous, and have good reason to believe that Murrel 
 did not die from the disease or in the manner related. 
 
 After Murrel's imprisonment, and the eclaircissement 
 which followed, furnishing proof indisputable of the cor- 
 rectness of Stewart's statements, his enemies, the yet 
 undiscovered members of the clan, in a thousand ways 
 sought to poison the public ear. They denounced him as 
 a member .of the clan, induced by hope of reward, by 
 cowardice, or a spirit of revenge, to betray the plot. 
 When a man has hundreds of secret enemies thrusting 
 their stealthy but fatal daggers into his character, with 
 but few friends who can but ward off the more open 
 blows, his chance for obtaining even-handed justice from 
 any community is small, and so it proved with our hero. 
 For a time, his popularity was great, and the Legislature 
 'of Mississippi voted him ten thousand dollars to pay his 
 expenses to and in Europe, under the impression that his 
 life was in great danger in any part of this country. 
 Stewart declined the money, refused to leave, and deter- 
 mining to test his popularity and the strength of his ene- 
 mies, ran for Congress, but was defeated. Justly dis- 
 gusted and indignant at the ingratitude of those for 
 whom he had sacrificed so much, he left the state and 
 country, and settled upon Peach Creek, within a few 
 miles of the Colorado river, in Western Texas. 
 
 Even here he deemed his life in constant danger, and 
 from this time did not dare to venture out from his 
 cabin after dark, to have a light in his room, or to sleep 
 in the same chamber as his wife. His hair and beard were 
 neglected, and he sought to disguise his appearance, but 

 
 DEATH OF STEWART AND MURREL. 385 
 
 all these precautions would have been of but little avail 
 had not a secret but potent fetter been applied to restrain 
 the hands of his revengeful enemies. It was said openly, 
 by those of whose knowledge in the premises there could 
 be but little doubt, that Murrel had commanded his 
 friends to let Stewart alone, and to reserve him for his 
 own vengeance. 
 
 Immediately after his release, he left for Texas, but had 
 scarcely crossed the frontier when he was attacked by a 
 fever which speedily terminated his infamous career. 
 Stewart survived him a short time, dying a natural death. 
 
 Murrel was no common man. Possessed of an indomi- 
 table energy, great quickness of perception, an unshaken 
 nerve, a power to influence and control all with whom he 
 came in contact, it is probable that under different cir- 
 cumstances, and unexposed to those temptations which 
 early led him astray, he might have been an honor and a 
 blessing to his country in the council or in the field. 
 
 IT
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 DEFEAT OF THE GAMBLERS. 
 
 THE application of Lynch Law in large cities, in densely 
 populated counties, or in any place where law and order 
 rule, is to be deprecated as the greatest of misfortunes. 
 Where such rude justice is not only excusable, but peremp- 
 torily necessary, it yields, after a short space, to the more 
 slowly-moving and deliberate decision of the law of the 
 land. But when peace and order have been once fairly 
 established, to permit of their overturn, for a moment, is to 
 establish a precedent for riot and murder to open the 
 door for anarchy and incalculable mischief. 
 
 The hanging of the gamblers at Vicksburg an affair 
 which made quite as much noise in the world as the burn- 
 ing at the stake of so many martyrs would have done is 
 by no means a case in point, and has been very unjustly, 
 although almost universally, censured. 
 
 It occurred during the Murrel excitement, when it was 
 known that the gamblers as a body belonged to, or were 
 cognizant of, the conspiracy. At this time, every boat 
 that plied upon the Western rivers was infested by gam- 
 blers, every village and town overrun with them. Reck- 
 less men, without hope or fear, they herded together, set- 
 ting all law, both divine and human, at defiance, and shield- 
 ing their companions from the consequences of any act, 
 however heinous. Their only argument was the Bowie- 
 knife, their only rejoinder the pistol-bullet.
 
 DAKGIN "LEADS THE COLUMN." 387 
 
 The movement against them was not confined to Vicks- 
 burg, but with scarcely an exception, they were driven 
 from all the minor cities of the South West. At this time 
 the people became aware of the imminent danger which 
 they incurred, and the gamblers, in the very spirit of the 
 old adage, " Quern Dcus i)ult perdere" etc., conducted them- 
 selves with increased audacity. They mustered in such 
 force at Montgomery, Alabama, as to set at naught all 
 municipal authorities and regulations. A hotel which 
 they frequented was unlicensed, and the keeper, prompted 
 by his customers, refused to pay fine or tax ; and when an 
 attempt was made to enforce some of the more potent 
 arguments the stocks and stones of the law, the officers 
 were met with closed doors, and the appearance of a very 
 ugly assortment of fire-arms at the windows. 
 
 Forbearance ceased to be a virtue, and the citizens, assem- 
 bling in numbers, declared that they would, at any cost, 
 rid their city of the scum which had infested it. Arming 
 themselves, they proceeded to invest the enemy's head- 
 quarters, which they found prepared to sustain a siege- 
 the doors barricaded, and the windows filled with despe- 
 radoes, who dared them to advance, and swore with hor- 
 rid oaths, that the first man or men who should attempt to 
 force the door, or even approach it, should be perforated 
 with bullets. 
 
 Then occurred an act of cool and determined, almost 
 unexampled, bravery upon the part of Edward Dargin. at 
 this moment a Judge of the Supreme Court. Seeing that 
 his party hesitated, he seized an axe, and deliberately 
 advanced to the door. The gamblers covered him with 
 their rifles, but entirely disregarding the danger, he 
 ordered the citizens to advance, fire the house, and mas-
 
 388 DEFEAT OF THE GAMBLEES. 
 
 sacre every man within it, if the besieged dared to fire 
 upon him. 
 
 The cool bravery of the man cowed the ruffians, and 
 Dargin dashed in the door with his axe, apparently regard- 
 less of the muzzles of eleven rifles directed against him. 
 The gamblers submitted, and left Montgomery, where, 
 had it not been for this act of heroism, a more bloody 
 tragedy than that of Vicksburg would have been enacted. 
 
 In Tuscaloosa, the gamblers were driven out at the 
 point of the bayonet, or, to speak more correctly, at the 
 muzzle of the rifle. The other towns imitated their exam- 
 ple, especially those upon the Mississippi and Red River. 
 For a time the chevaliers tfindustrie scarcely dared to 
 appear at all upon the boats, and when they did, were 
 forced to conduct themselves with great circumspection, 
 for upon the least disturbance, the boat was rounded to at 
 the next wood-yard, and the culprit discharged. In any 
 aggravated case, some of the uninhabited islands of the 
 Mississippi were colonized by a set of modern Robinson 
 Crusoes, whose chance of escape was rather slim. 
 
 At Yicksburg and Natchez, they had reigned supreme. 
 They obtained complete and undisputed possession of a 
 certain portion of the latter place, known as Natchez- 
 under-the-Hill. This was of necessity the landing, and 
 where all the warehouses for cotton and heavy merchan- 
 dise were located, surrounded by dancing, drinking, and 
 gambling houses. No man's life was safe in the streets 
 one moment after dark, and passengers of the steamboats 
 lying there, who returned to their boats after sundown, 
 ran through the lower town as if the avenger of blood 
 were behind them. The gamblers were expelled in a 
 body, and shortly afterwards the lower town was de-
 
 THE NATCHEZ AFFAIR. 389 
 
 stroyed by fire, doubtless an act of revenge on their part. 
 Vicksburg boasted of' no " tfnder-the-hill," and so the 
 gamblers, unable to colonize, as in the case of Natchez, 
 determined to take the town itself, or at least to hold all 
 the peaceable citizens in subjection, and all authority at 
 defiance. So, for a time they did, but their harvest time 
 came at last. In a quarrel, one of the party shot a Dr. 
 Bradley, and when an attempt was made to arrest them, 
 they barricaded the doors as their friends had done in 
 Montgomery. Had they submitted quietly at first, their 
 fate would not have been more severe than that of the lat- 
 ter ; but when the armed citizens approached the house, 
 they were fired upon, and several wounded, if not killed. 
 
 It needed but this : their cup of iniquity was full. Five 
 of them were seized and hung ; and had the entire gang in 
 the South West met with the same fate, in the same man- 
 ner, their destruction would have been an incalculable 
 blessing to the country. 
 
 The man who, really knowing the condition of this sec- 
 tion at this time, could stigmatize this action of the citi- 
 zens of Vicksburg as a " barbarous murder " which hun- 
 dreds of prints, at home and abroad, have done would be 
 a fit candidate for the Non-Resistant Society, or Douglas, 
 Smith" Kelly & Co.'s Liberty party of saints of the lower 
 house. 
 
 Among the many abuses of Lynch Law which have 
 occurred, I shall cite two, which I select for the reason 
 that I am personally cognizant of the one, and inti- 
 mately acquainted with the facts of the other. Moreover, 
 the circumstances of the latter bear a striking resemblance 
 to those attending an exhibition of popular vengeance in 
 the quiet and law-abiding city of Edinburgh, during the
 
 390 DEFEAT OF THE GAMBLERS. 
 
 regency of Queen Caroline. If any other reasons were 
 necessary, I might further state, that these two events 
 have been held up to the world, with their attending cir- 
 cumsfances, atrociously misrepresented by that precious 
 collection of " Glauber" salt of the earth, Garrison's gene- 
 ration of knaves and fools, and I also believe, that the 
 days upon which these unhappy deeds occurred are 
 marked as red-letter days upon the truthful (?) pages of 
 the Anti-Slavery Almanac. 
 
 The small city of Grand Gulf, in Mississippi, was, on a 
 certain Saturday night in May, 1848, a scene of the great- 
 est alarm and excitement. A most brutal, and, as it was 
 supposed at the time, a double murder, had been committed 
 by a notorious negro, named Dick. He was a man of 
 great muscular power, activity, and resolution, and but for 
 his uncontrollable temper and savage disposition, would 
 have been of great value to any master. A gentleman 
 named Taylor originally owned him, and although a person 
 of great strength and courage, found much difficulty in 
 keeping the refractory slave in subjection. At times he 
 would run away, and remain for days in the bush, and no 
 one save his master cared to seek him. Mr. Taylor 
 informed me that upon one occasion, when he came upon 
 Dick unperceived by him, the fellow had a long knife in 
 his hand, with which he was butchering, in imagination, all 
 of those who had incurred his displeasure ; and his recol- 
 lection of causes of offence must have been very accurate, 
 and the list of offenders a long one, to judge of the number 
 of those over whose ideal slaughter he was gloating. 
 
 It is said, that when the idea of committing murder once 
 fairly enters a man's brain, it never again abandons pos- 
 session, but haunts him like a demon, urging him on, like 

 
 A BAD BARGAIN. 391 
 
 the air-drawn dagger of the Thane. And so it proved 
 with Dick. 
 
 A man named Greene, who owned a small " force," was 
 engaged in the brick-making business, and, envying Taylor 
 the possession of so valuable a man as Dick, endeavored to 
 purchase him. For a long time Taylor refused, telling 
 Greene honestly, that Dick was a very troublesome negro, 
 one that could be kept in order only by an owner that he 
 feared, and that he (Greene) had neither the physicahabi- 
 lity nor the resolution to conquer him. 
 
 At length, wearied with Greene's pertinacity, Taylor set 
 a price upon his man, so exorbitant indeed that he had no 
 idea of its being paid ; but Greene quickly closed the bar- 
 gain, purchasing, at the same time, a tyrannical master and 
 his own death-warrant. 
 
 As soon as Dick was released from Taylor's control, he 
 gave free vent to his natural disposition, and in a very 
 short time inspired his master, his overseer, and in fact 
 every one upon the plantation, with such fear, that he 
 became virtually the master of the place. His owner did 
 not dare to punish him, nor did he think it at all safe to 
 hint of selling him ; and things went from bad to worse, 
 untii finally a tragedy was enacted, sufficiently bloody to 
 gratify even the morbid tastes of the readers of Reynolds's 
 school of novels. 
 
 Greene, returning to the house very early upon the 
 above mentioned Saturday, and feeling quite unwell, 
 ordered Dick's wife, a house servant, to make him a cup 
 of tea. He then threw himself upon the bed, and had 
 nearly fallen asleep, when a loud noise in the kitchen, 
 shrieks, and cries of murder, aroused him. A negro-boy
 
 892 DEFEAT OF THE GAMBLERS. 
 
 rushed into the room, and Legged him to come into the 
 kitchen and prevent Dick from murdering his wife. 
 
 Greene sprang from the bed, and without stopping to 
 dress, ran into the kitchen, where he found that Dick had 
 knocked down the woman Maria with a flat-iron, for no 
 other reason than because he had ordered her to iron a vest 
 for him immediately, as he wanted to go to a ball, and she 
 replied that she would do so as soon as she had prepared 
 a cup of tea for her master, but could not before. 
 
 Before Greene could interpose either remonstrance or 
 force, Dick whose blood was up seized him by the throat. 
 Greene endeavored to retreat, and succeeded in making 
 his way to his bed-room ; Dick still clinging to him. In 
 this room two loaded guns leaned against the wall ; but 
 before Greene could possess himself of either, Dick, who 
 yet held him by the throat, fired two pistols at his head, 
 strange to say, without any other effect than breaking the 
 glass of a window behind them. 
 
 Releasing his clasp of Greene's throat, Dick now seized 
 him by the hair ; drew him out of the room, across the 
 piazza, and into the grass plot in front of the cottage, and 
 in less time than the description of the deed occupies, cut 
 him literally to pieces ; inflicting seven wounds that would 
 either of them have been mortal, and hacking and scarring 
 the body all over. 
 
 The plantation negroes were all present, but offered no 
 assistance to their master. As soon as they recovered 
 from their paralysis of fear they ran and hid themselves in 
 the woods. 
 
 When Dick had satisfied himself that his master was done 
 for, with his bloody knife in his bloody hand, he rushed
 
 THE CAPTUKE OP DICK. 393 
 
 out of the inclosure, and down the hill, to finish the pun- 
 ishment of his wife. She, with one other kitchen servant, 
 was concealed in the swamp at the foot of the hill ; but 
 when Dick called her, beside herself with fright, she left 
 her hiding place and went to him. Without a word, the 
 negro cut her through and through, and then leaving her 
 for dead, started down the Bluff-road, that led around the 
 town to the mouth of the Big Black-River, and would 
 doubtless have made his escape but for the shrewdness of 
 the same young negro who had at first given Greene the 
 alarm. 
 
 Without stopping to see the result of the affray, the lad 
 immediately ran down to the town, went first to a tavern 
 upon the main road, and then to another, some distance 
 up the river and near the Bluff-road. The boarders at 
 either place were just awaiting the tea bell, and mustered 
 pretty strongly. Fifty men, at least, immediately started 
 for the scene of the murder ; a part by the direct road, 
 and a part through the lad's advice by the circuitous 
 one. 
 
 The latter party captured the murderer, knife in hand, 
 and brought him directly to the sheriff's office, when 
 they were met by the other and stronger company, headed 
 by a brother of the murdered man. They also had made 
 a capture, and one that caused more alarm for a time, than 
 the tragedy itself. 
 
 Half way between the bluff and the town, a negro head- 
 ing for the latter, at full speed, with a butcher knife in one 
 hand and hatchet in the other, ran right among them, and 
 was seized and pinioned. The affair began to look like an 
 insurrection among the negroes. The first party kept on 
 to Greene's house, and searching it, found concealed in 
 17*
 
 394 DEFEAT OF THE GAMBLERS. 
 
 and under Dick's bed, twenty-one dangerous weapons of 
 several kinds. 
 
 The two parties as I have before said met at the 
 sheriff's office. The first much the stronger of the two 
 declared their intention of taking the prisoner and burn- 
 ing him alive that very night, and were only prevented 
 from so doing by the representations of the sheriff, that if 
 they did, all chance of discovering those who were impli- 
 cated with Dick, would be thrown away ; and besides, that 
 the next day being Sunday, the execution of Dick would 
 be witnessed by many plantation negroes, and might pro- 
 duce a salutary effect upon them. 
 
 Having procured a temporary reprieve, the sheriff endea- 
 vored to obtain assistance enough to seize the negro, but 
 was unsuccessful, and on the next day the murderer was 
 hung, and his body burned. Had it not been for the active 
 interference of a Mr. Smith, the then editor of the Grand 
 Gulf paper, the prisoner would have been burned at the 
 stake ; but the latter called the attention of the citizens to 
 the effect of the late burning at Saint Louis upon the public 
 mind ; and begged that a jury might be selected, and the 
 prisoner receive at least the form of a trial. 
 
 The question was put to vote, and all but five or six of 
 the hundreds assembled, voted in favor of a jury. 
 
 There was no real necessity for anticipating thus the 
 slow, but in this case, sure action of the law, and the 
 only excuse that it will admit of is the fact that sixteen 
 negroes had been arrested the previous night who proved 
 to have been implicated with Dick, at least so far as fur- 
 nishing him with weapons. This created a very general 
 fear of an intended insurrection, which, perhaps, the imme- 
 diate execution of the ringleader might quell.
 
 SUDDEN VENGEANCE. 393 
 
 Some two weeks before this occurrence, a negro of 
 notoriously bad character, the steward of a small " two 
 boiler" boat the " Echo" was arrested at the steamboat 
 landing in Saint Louis, by the sheriff and one assistant, 
 for some crime that he had committed. 
 
 As the two officers and .their prisoner were ascending 
 the steep hill at the landing, the latter drew a knife and 
 stabbed the two former, killing the sheriff instantly, and 
 apparently inflicting a mortal wound upon the deputy. 
 The murderer then took refuge upon his boat, but was soon 
 re-captured and lodged in jail. 
 
 The sheriff had been a man of great personal popularity, 
 and the news of his death spread like wildfire over all the 
 business portion of the city. Presently the tolling of a 
 bell was heard, and in a few minutes an immense crowd 
 of merchants, clerks, and steamboat-men assembled around 
 the jail. 
 
 The person of the negro was demanded from the jailor, 
 who, seeing all attempt at resistance useless, gave him up. 
 The negro was then taken to the court-house, chained to a 
 tree in front of it, and burned. 
 
 So deep a feeling seems to have pervaded the crowd 
 that the whole affair was conducted in absolute silence. 
 Without any organization or pre-arrangement, all was 
 done as if by a tingle man. And when the deed was 
 finished, they separated without a word, and went each his 
 own way. Persons living within one block of the court- 
 house knew nothing of it at the time. 
 
 Very striking, indeed, is the resemblance between this 
 and the execution of Capt. Porteus, by the enraged 
 citizens of the peaceful and law-abiding city of Edin- 
 burgh, during the regency of Queen Caroline, which is the
 
 896 DEFEAT OF THE GAMBLERS. 
 
 first instance of the application of pure Lynch-law on 
 record. 
 
 Xone of those engaged in the former affair were 
 punished ; for although the Queen, thoroughly aroused, 
 declared that she would bring to justice all concerned in 
 it, "and make Scotland a hunting ground," the cool 
 reply of Argyle, " then, madam, I will go home and turn 
 out my hounds," changed her Majesty's purpose, and sho 
 passed by the insult. 
 
 Indictments were found against many who had been 
 engaged in the Saint Louis affair. They were brought to 
 trial, and there was no want of testimony. All turned 
 upon the charge of the Judge whose name, singularly 
 enough, was Lawless. 
 
 The charge was a strange one, and the substance of it as 
 follows : 
 
 " If the deed was the violence of a mob it was wilful 
 murder ; but if the act of the people, then, as the makers 
 of laws, they were superior to all law, and could not com- 
 mit an offence." 
 
 They were acquitted. 
 
 The effect of this affair upon the people of Saint Louis 
 was such as to preclude all danger of any more lynching. 
 Some years after the citizens were excited quite as deeply 
 from the terrible murder of two young men, by three free 
 negroes and a slave. The victims were generally known 
 and universally beloved and respected, and the attendant 
 circumstances horrible in the extreme, but no attempt was 
 made to interfere with the functions of the law. 
 
 As much as anything savoring of Lynch-law is to be 
 deprecated, yet recent events in California, prove that cir- 
 cumstances may arise even in cities, where nothing but the
 
 THE END. 397 
 
 prompt and determined action of the people can shield the 
 lives and protect the property of the citizens, or even save 
 the place itself from total destruction. 
 
 Whatever my readers may think, judging from my own 
 knowledge in the premises, I am convinced, that under 
 certain circumstances Lynch Law, although sometimes ter- 
 ribly misapplied, is nevertheless a dire necessity.
 
 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS.
 
 STEAM 
 
 THE WESTERN WATERS 
 
 To institute a comparison between large and small things, 
 New Orleans may be termed the " South Ferry " of the 
 Mississippi, the frequent steamers arriving and departing 
 reminding one of the omnibuses incessantly rattling up 
 and dashing off ; and the countless handbills on the posts, 
 and boards upon the boats, announcing immediate depar- 
 ture for " Red River," " Bayou Tache," " Little Rock," 
 " St. Louis," " Cincinnati," or " Pittsburgh," in the place 
 of, " Broadway, right up," " Here's the Bowery," and 
 " Bull's Head, just off, sir," of our jarvies. 
 
 The steamboat levee presents a strange, unwonted, and 
 amusing sight to the Northern visitor. A hundred, more 
 or less, huge boats all lie with their bows on to the land 
 and pointing to the vast piles of cotton which they have 
 disgorged, or to the unwieldy sugar puncheons or count- 
 less coffee bags which they are about to ingulf. In this 
 position they look for all the world like so many mastiffs 
 with their heads reclining upon their paws, quietly but
 
 402 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 intently watching each his bone. To keep up the illusion, 
 ever and anon a low rumbling or impatient snort of steam 
 answers to the growl or bark in which watchful canines 
 are wont to indulge. 
 
 The Western boat bears no more resemblance to its 
 Eastern congener, than does the Western man to the East- 
 ern man of business. The Western boat dashes off under 
 a full head, thrusting the water aside from her bows with 
 violence, forcing her way against the opposing current by 
 sheer strength, carrying aloft a murky banner that marks 
 her progress to eyes distant miles and miles, and belching 
 forth at regular intervals a shrill yell or a steam huzza, until 
 the old forest rings again, and echo taking up the chorus, 
 carries it far away, warning thousands of her coming. 
 
 The Eastern boat, on the contrary, like the Eastern 
 man, goes quietly about her business, slips smoothly past 
 all opposing obstacles, accomplishes quite as much as 
 the other, and finally arrives at her journey's end with- 
 out noise or disturbance, and as if she had done nothing 
 unusual or unexpected. 
 
 The passing of a Mississippi boat near a river planta- 
 tion is the signal for a general emeute on shore. In the 
 foreground of the picture will appear a score of horses of 
 all ages, from incipient colthood to exempt senility, all 
 in a row, heads extended, eyes starting from their sockets, 
 ears and mane erect, and feet braced forward in readiness 
 for a sudden bolt. 
 
 The youngest invariably sounds the retreat, and with a 
 snort, away scour the entire drove, carrying horizontal 
 tails, wheeling into column every few rods for another 
 look at the deep-throated and smoke-wreathed monster, 
 and then off again for another scamper.
 
 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 403 
 
 The negroes, hoe in hand, suspend operations, exhibit 
 their ivory, and, hat or handkerchief waving, respond to 
 the jovial shout or cheery refrain of the firemen, invaria- 
 bly tapering off with the African yah, yah ! The overseer 
 dashes down to the nearest point, and hails to know if 
 they want any wood, or, perchance, if they will stop on 
 their return trip and take off his sugar or cotton. The 
 planter shouts aloud for news " Who is President ?" 
 " What's cotton worth ?" and, if he obtain a.n answer to 
 his queries, is off in five minutes for the next town made 
 up of a store " of all sorts," with a post-office attachment, 
 a grocery, and a blacksmith's-shop to spread the news, 
 himself an object of extra consideration for the day, while 
 the chances are ten to one that the poor man has been ter- 
 ribly sold. 
 
 I mentioned the refrain of the firemen. Now, as a parti- 
 cular one is almost invariably sung by negroes when they 
 have anything to do with or about a fire, whether it be while 
 working at a New Orleans fire engine or crowding wood 
 into the furnaces of a steamboat, whether they desire to 
 make an extra racket at leaving or evince their joy at 
 returning to a port, it may be worth recording ; and here 
 it is: 
 
 "Fire on the quarter-deck, 
 Fire on the bow, 
 Fire on the gun-deck, 
 Fire down below."* 
 
 The last line is given by all hands with great voice and 
 volume, and as for the chorus itself, you will never meet 
 or pass a boat, you will never behold the departure or 
 
 * From Sir Walter Scott's "Pirate."
 
 404 STEAM OX THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 arrival of one, and you will never witness a New Orleans 
 fire, without hearing it. 
 
 I have said that steamboats and steamboating in the 
 West are very different from steamboating in the East. 
 The Western boat is built for freight, the Eastern for pas- 
 sengers ; at least, these are respectively the first objects to 
 be gained. Speed both seek to obtain ; the one by the 
 application of immense power, and the other by a sharp, 
 narrow model. Yet" it is strange that the Western boat 
 is immeasurably superior in its conveniences for the 
 accommodation of voyagers, in fact, no other mode of 
 travelling can compare with it for comfort and plea- 
 sure. 
 
 Their first cost is usually much less than that of the 
 boats upon our Eastern rivers, but the expense of run- 
 ning except upon the Ohio is much greater, and the 
 " wear and tear " at least treble. For instance, the dis- 
 tance from New Orleans to Louisville is some 1,250 miles, 
 and a few years since seven days was deemed an extraor- 
 dinary passage in fact, but few boats could boast of as 
 good ; and although I believe that the " up trip " is now 
 occasionally made in about five, yet the traveller who 
 spends but a week upon the voyage, has no just grounds 
 for complaint. A large eight boiler boat will burn sixty 
 cords of wood per day, at a cost of from three to four 
 dollars per cord, thus incurring the expense of, say two 
 hundred dollars per day, or from one thousand to fourteen 
 hundred per trip. The expense for fuel in an Eastern 
 boat is much less. 
 
 The first attempt to navigate the great Western waters, 
 by steam, was made in 1812. A boat named the Experi- 
 ment was built at or near Pittsburgh, and launched upon
 
 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 405 
 
 her perilous voyage. The pioneers in this enterprise were 
 aware of the dangers to be apprehended from snags and 
 sawyers, eddies and sand-bars, but they were to encounter 
 an adversary as dreadful as it was unexpected : an earth- 
 quake, in this memorable year, extended its ravages 
 throughout all the great valley of the Mississippi. It had 
 been the intention of the navigators to have run their 
 boat by daylight alone, hoping thus to avoid the snags 
 with which the river literally bristled, but on turning the 
 mouth of the Ohio, they found it even more dangerous to 
 tie up their craft to trees on the bank, than it was to keep 
 on and encounter dangers, against which, at least, they 
 could use some precautions. Banks were caving in upon 
 every side, acres of trees slid into the river, islands of 
 sand arose as by magic in the very bed of the stream, and 
 one morning the mighty Mississippi flowed over what had 
 been a populous town but the preceding night. And so, 
 through fogs and mists, by day and night, threading their 
 course among sawyers amd planters, skirting boldly 
 through the eddies, and by the sand-bars, they kept 
 on their dangerous path, and at length reached the port 
 of their destination in safety. Things have changed since 
 then ; the government has sent snag boats among these 
 waters, and the fangs that have brought destruction on 
 many a gallant boat and her crew have been extracted. 
 These snag boats have a double bottom, like to our ferry 
 boats. They run up to a snag or sawyer, from down 
 stream, force it up straight, if it be inclined by the force 
 of the current, fasten to it by a chain, and drawing it on 
 the deck, it is cut by machinery into lengths of perhaps 
 eight feet, and then cast overboard again, to do no more 
 mischief. At Choctaw Point, a mile below Mobile, the
 
 406 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 shore is covered with these remains of snags, which by 
 some means find their way around there. 
 
 Had I time and space, I should attempt a descrip- 
 tion of the various classes of modern boats, but let me 
 here devote a page to a class of vessels now extinct, 
 and of men who are nearly so. In the earlier days 
 of steamboating in the West, the captains and pilots 
 were men who had served their time and learned their 
 trade upon broadhorus or keel boats, and a rough set they 
 were. Almost born, and really educated upon the river, 
 passing their days either in floating down stream, exposed 
 to the various dangers of the voyage, or wearily working 
 their boat up again in the face of the rapid current, liable 
 at any time to be attacked by some one of the many gangs 
 of robbers that infested all the region through which they 
 passed, exposed to heat and cold, to snow and rain ; ply- 
 ing the oar by day and the whiskey bottle and fiddle bow 
 by night, they formed a class strictly sui generis, and a 
 devil-may-care, roystering, ready-handed, and open-hearted 
 one at that. 
 
 By these men were the earlier boats officered ; and now 
 for the boats themselves. Differing in every particular 
 from those of the present time, they were built with 
 hulls very clumsy indeed, but serviceable in resisting the 
 attacks of the frequent snags. Their engines were all 
 low pressure, and their cabins upon deck. Accidents 
 were then of frequent occurrence, but almost invariably 
 the result of a contact with a snag. Fires and explosions 
 were then not so common as now, but perhaps the greatest 
 proportional sacrifice of human life occurred after high 
 pressure boilers were introduced, and before lower deck 
 cabins were dispensed with. The captains were a fresh
 
 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 407 
 
 water variety of the old sea kings ; doing pretty much 
 what they pleased with boat and passengers, freight and 
 wood-yards. 
 
 The pilots, then as now, were selected from flat and 
 keel boatmen, and the mates, picked up at New Orleans, 
 had previously filled a similar berth upon sea-going ves- 
 sels. In all cases of disturbance, officers and crew fought 
 for and clung to each other ; all steamboatmen were at 
 feud with flatboatmen, but when gamblers or any long- 
 shoremen interfered with the rights of either of them, all 
 boatmen made a common cause, leaving the discussion of 
 private quarrels until their mutual enemies were quelled. 
 
 Many tales are told of the exploits of these old river 
 dogs, and among them at this moment I recal one of a 
 certain Captain Russel, familiarly known as Dick Russel, 
 who commanded the old Constellation in the palmy days 
 of boating. 
 
 Russel was a man of great strength one of those minor 
 Samsons that are occasionally encountered in this degene- 
 rate age and his courage was in proportion to his muscu- 
 lar power. The boat which he commanded had stopped 
 at Natchez, " under-the-hill," for the night, and many of 
 his passengers had gone on shore to see the fun going on 
 among the various drinking, gambling, and dancing houses 
 that made up the town, such as it was. Now the said fun 
 was never over decorous, seldom over safe, and one of the 
 said passengers made both discoveries at his cost. He 
 was robbed of his pocket-book, which contained the pro- 
 ceeds of the sale of his flat-boat and cargo. 
 
 Early the next morning Russel was informed of the 
 robbery, and sending for the loser requested all the par- 
 ticulars.
 
 408 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 Having satisfied himself that the money was really lost, 
 and that, too, in a notorious house, immediately opposite 
 the boat, on shore he went, and inarching bold as a lion 
 into the den of thieves, demanded the pocket-book and 
 contents of the proprietor. Of course the theft was 
 denied, and the denial accompanied with many a threat of 
 vengeance upon Russel, whose prowess, however, they 
 were too well acquainted with to make any overt demon- 
 stration. 
 
 " I'll give you," said Russel, " until I get my boat ready 
 to go to hand over the money, and then if they don't come 
 the house shall." True to his word, just before the boat 
 started, on shore he went again accompanied by a gang 
 of deck hands, bearing the largest cable the steamer pos- 
 
 This was passed around the house and in and out some 
 of the windows, and when all was ready Russel again 
 demanded the book. 
 
 No answer but curses being returned, he jumped on 
 board the boat, sung out to the pilot to " go ahead" and 
 to the engineer " to work her slow," and off the boat 
 moved very moderately. 
 
 The rope began to tighten, and the house to creak. 
 Two minutes more would have done the business for build- 
 ing and people, when the latter signified their surrender, 
 and pitched pocket-book and money out of the window. 
 
 A man who had been for many years a mate upon the 
 river boats, and whom I fell in with in travelling, told me 
 many amusing incidents of his life afloat, but among all 
 his yarns one touching certain doings of two ancient 
 pilots of the well-known old steamer Uncle Sam, amused 
 me most,
 
 STEAM OX THE WESTERN WATERS. 409 
 
 The Uncle Sam was the largest boat of her day, and had 
 two of the best pilots on the river. Between these two 
 men, whom we will call for the nonce, Smith and Brown, 
 there existed a bitter feeling of rivalry. The first engi- 
 neer sided with Smith the first pilot ; and the second engi- 
 neer with Brown. One day when the boat was leaving 
 Natchez, Brown, who was steering, ran her a short dis- 
 tance down stream in order to pass the town under a full 
 head of steam. Just as he was abreast of it, thafirst engi- 
 neer, who was working the boat, shut the steam nearly off : 
 nor would he put it on again until they finally and very 
 slowly passed the town. 
 
 Brown saw the finger of Smith in this manoeuvre, and 
 determined to be revenged in kind. He was. On the 
 next down trip a heavy fog arose at sunset, and Smith who 
 at that time abandoned the wheel to Brown, ordered him 
 to run the boat until nine o'clock and then to tie her up ; 
 to have steam kept up all night ; and, if the fog should lift, 
 to call him. 
 
 " Tie the boat up !" exclaimed Brown. " I can run her 
 in any such fog as there is to-night. I'll run her till 
 twelve, and then tie up, as you are afraid." 
 
 " I can run her any night, and anywhere that you can," 
 replied Smith ;" " and if you do move her till twelve, call 
 me then, that's all." 
 
 Brown kept on for a time, but the fog came on heavier 
 and heavier, and having made sure that his coadjutor was 
 fast asleep, he rounded the boat to at a wood yard and 
 tied up. His friend, the second engineer, was on duty, and 
 according to Brown's directions, the wheel was unshipped 
 and the steam kept up. At twelve, Brown went to the 
 wheel again, and sent a waiter to call Smith, who soon
 
 410 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 made his appearance, rubbing his eyes and anything but 
 pleased at the prospect before him ; although, strictly 
 speaking, prospect there was none, for he could not fairlv 
 discern the top of his nose for the fog. 
 
 " Hallo 1" said Brown, " are you there ? I've called you 
 according to orders, and now I think you'd better just tie 
 up and turn in again, or you'll make a smash up before 
 morning." 
 
 Smith growled out that he was able to steer any boat in 
 any fog, and took the wheel. Brown went below. 
 
 The boat was fast to the bank, but neither bank nor 
 anything else could poor Smith see. The wheel which 
 was ungeared, turned round and round with the swift cur- 
 rent, and the splashes reached his ear, the hissing of the 
 steam in her low pressure boilers sounded all right to 
 him; so cursing his bad luck, Brown's obstinacy, and 
 his own stupidity in accepting the banter, he turned his 
 wheel now this way and now that, expecting every 
 moment to hear and feel the boat crash against something. 
 A thousand times, during his dreary watch, did he deter- 
 mine to give up his desperate undertaking, and as often 
 did pride step in and prevent him ; and so, finally, having 
 made up his mind to let the worst come, he gave a tubular 
 order to the engineer to work her very slow, and keep on 
 as he supposed. 
 
 About sunrise, Brown, accompanied by the Captain and 
 other officers, ascended the hurricane deck. 
 
 " Hallo ! Smith," said Brown, " is that you ?" 
 
 " Yes, it is," replied Smith, crossly enough. 
 
 " You haven't been running all night, I reckon ?" con- 
 tinued Brown. 
 
 " Can't you see I have ?" answered Smith. " Don't you
 
 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 411 
 
 know where you are ? If you don't, you had better get 
 your eyes scrubbed out." 
 
 "No," returned Brown, "I can't say I do. Where 
 are we ?" 
 
 " Just above Natchez," was the reply. 
 
 " There's matey," said Brown. " You have done it this 
 time, and I wouldn't be in your boots for a hogshead of 
 niggers." * 
 
 " What have I done, and what do you mean ?" demanded 
 Smith, ferociously. 
 
 "Done! Done enough !" roared Brown. " I left the boat 
 tied up to old Jones's plantation, and if you have gone and 
 towed that down to Natchez, they'll have you up for abduc- 
 tion, and sea-duction, and nigger stealing, and putting 
 obstructions in the channel of the river, and the Law a 
 marcy on ye." 
 
 A very moist ray of the sun peeping through the mist, 
 at this moment, partially disclosed the situation of the 
 boat and shore to the astonished and discomfited Smith, 
 and darting below, he remained there until the boat did 
 reach Natchez. And from that time ever after, neither 
 the " Uncle Sam" nor the Mississippi river knew him 
 more. 
 
 -That steamboat accidents are more common in the Uni- 
 ted States than in any other part of the world, is unfor- 
 tunately but too well known. Several reasons may be 
 adduced why this is necessarily the case. Our steamboats 
 very far exceed in number those of any other country, and 
 the navigation of most of our rivers is dangerous in the 
 extreme. The frequency of explosions upon our Western 
 boats is owing in a great measure to their employing high 
 pressure boilers and engines. Steam is generated with
 
 412 STEAM OX THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 great rapidity by this mode, yet as long as the boat is in 
 motion all is safe, but let a boat under a full head stop 
 suddenly and there is always a danger of explosion ; so 
 much so indeed, that old stagers will generally be seen 
 hurrying to the stern as soon as the engineer's bell is heard 
 to command " stop her." These high-pressure boilers are 
 long cylinders, resembling the huge smoke-pipes of an 
 ocean steamer except 'that the former are placed horizon- 
 tally and the latter perpendicularly. Through them runs 
 the flue, and if at any time the boat has enough " list" to 
 cause the water to run from the outside boilers into the 
 others thus leaving the steam in contact with the red-hot 
 flue an instantaneous explosion is almost inevitable. The 
 steam in this case is resolved into a combination of oxygen 
 and hydrogen gases and about as effective an agent of 
 destruction as gunpowder. With regard to the frequent 
 losses of boats by fire, these are too often the result of the 
 manner in which they are built and freighted. The cabin 
 is entirely above the deck, built of the lightest material, 
 and always as dry as tinder, from the constant heat 
 beneath. It only wants a full load of cotton to complete 
 the danger. When a boat is fully freighted with this 
 article she appears like a moving mass of cotton bales, 
 110 part of her hull being visible except the paddle- 
 boxes. 
 
 Around the bows and upon the guards the bales are 
 piled as high as the " hurricane deck." They almost touch 
 the boilers, which are exposed and unprotected upon the 
 forward deck, and generally surrounded by huge piles of 
 wood, not unfrequently in absolute contact with them. A 
 tier of cotton often adorns the hurricane deck itself, and 
 needs but a spark from the smoke-pipe to convert the boat
 
 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 413 
 
 into a fiery furnace, from which the chance of escape is 
 small indeed. 
 
 Travellers descending the Mississippi avoid these boats 
 thus laden with cotton, but no one taking passage at Pitts- 
 burgh, Cincinnati, or St. Louis, can tell what the situation 
 of the boat will be before she arrives at New Orleans. 
 The lower country boats, the Natchez and Vicksburg pack- 
 ets, and those that ply up and down the Arkansas, Eed 
 River, and the bayous, during the latter part of autumn and 
 the whole of the winter, all make their " down trip" loaded 
 and overloaded with cotton, and the voyager must perforce 
 submit to the danger and inconvenience attendant upon 
 such a passage. 
 
 Accidents to Western boats seem to come in an epi- 
 demic form. For a month or two we hear of none, and 
 then again every day's mail or rather telegraph will record 
 some new calamity by fire, snags, or steam. 
 
 The list of boats destroyed and injured in 1850 I do not 
 think is comparatively large, although when arrayed in 
 figures it looks frightful enough. During the year there 
 were fifty-three boats upon the Western waters, and 107 
 serious accidents occurred, as follows : 
 
 - 33 boats sunk. 
 14 do. burned. 
 
 6 do. destroyed by explosion. 
 64 do. seriously injured. 
 
 Over TOO persons lost their lives, and property to the 
 amount of 1,500,000 dollars was sacrificed. During the 
 summer of 1841 on the Mississippi between the mouth of 
 the Ohio and St. Louis, thirty boats were snagged and 
 sunk, in fact a great part of the then St. Louis fleet was 
 lost. That this was the case can excite no wonder in the
 
 414 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 mind of any one who has sailed upon the upper Mississippi 
 in a time of very low water. The river, which at other 
 times presents an appearance of majestic and solemn gran- 
 deur, as it rolls its grey waves through the immense and 
 seemingly boundless forests that clothe its sides, then seems 
 equally horrible and disgusting. The once majestic tide 
 retreats into a thousand narrow and sinuous channels, 
 leaving an enormous field of mud and sand literally bris- 
 tling with the now apparent snags, for the traveller to feast 
 his eyes upon. In every direction he will see wrecks of 
 mired boats, and tremble lest the next hour may add his 
 own to their number. One spot above Cairo is known 
 and justly as the " Grave Yard ;" and the bottom is paved 
 with the bones of lost steamers. 
 
 It may appear singular, but the danger to be appre- 
 hended from explosion is much less than that from snag- 
 ging or fire. A collapsed flue does its work instantane- 
 ously, and all is over, but a fire or the sinking of a boat 
 gives the passengers time to see the danger ; and then in 
 place of adopting some proper mode of saving their lives, 
 nine out of ten will from fear and want of presence of 
 mind, jump overboard without anything to sustain them in 
 the water, or more probably remain on the boat until too 
 late to escape. The effect of fear upon some men is sin- 
 gular ; often ludicrous. Two instances that occurred in 
 my sight are exactly in point. 
 
 I was once descending the Mississippi river in the 
 " Brian Boirhoimc." The boat was new, and being 
 intended for the Red River trade, had no regular pilots, 
 as the price they demanded to make half a trip and then 
 to be left at New Orleans, without a boat, was so unrea- 
 sonable that the captain determined to steer the boat
 
 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 415 
 
 himself with the assistance of a Red River pilot who was 
 on board. 
 
 All went on very well until we turned the mouth of the 
 Ohio, and the captain abandoned the wheel to the care of 
 his assistant, with full directions how to run the boat for 
 a few hours. It was a clear starlight night, and we were 
 ploughing our way down stream famously, under a full 
 head of steam, when suddenly a tremendous jar threw 
 nearly everybody and everything in the cabin on their 
 beam ends, and every one thought or said, " "We have 
 struck a snag !" 
 
 I am an old stager upon the river, and never enter a 
 boat without fixing my eye upon something that can be 
 used as a support in case I have to swim for it. As 1 
 ascended the Brian's cabin stairs, the first thing that I saw 
 was a very snug washstand which was upon the guards 
 and almost against the paddle-box. As soon as I could 
 pick myself up I hastened to my washstand, and there I 
 remained until it was discovered that we had met with no 
 more serious disaster than running full against a " bluff 
 bar." A young man of perhaps twenty had previously 
 attracted the attention of all the passengers, from his 
 peculiarly Daniel Lambertish proportions. At the time 
 that we struck he was in a very sound sleep, but being 
 aroused by the subsequent confusion, jumped up and 
 dashed into the cabin in a paroxysm of fear. He looked 
 around him one moment, and ran on tat top speed upon the 
 boiler deck, then turning around upon the guards rushed 
 past me and ran up the paddle-box to get upon the hurri- 
 cane deck. From the latter a short pipe carried down the 
 water into the wheel-house. This was painted white, and 
 seemed to the terrified sight of my fat friend a sturdy
 
 416 STEAM ON THE WESTERN WATERS. 
 
 pillar, and just the thing to help his descent. As he seized 
 it his foot slipped, the pipe gave way, and down he rolled, 
 pipe in hand, struck on the guards, rolled over once more, 
 which last turn brought him to the cabin stairs, down these 
 he plunged, struck a fender that happened to hang up at 
 their foot, and landed directly underneath the boiler. 
 The deck-hands seized him and drew him from his warm 
 berth, but the moment he was on his feet he made an 
 attempt to jump overboard. When he was brought up 
 into the cabin he presented a very odd appearance, covered 
 with dirt, and yet grasping very tightly his infirm but con- 
 stant friend, the pipe. 
 
 The other case was that of a man upon the small steamer 
 " Mechanic." The boat was making her way slowly np 
 against a very strong current, and when opposite Pla- 
 quemine she struck a large log that gave her a pretty 
 severe jar. 
 
 It was about midnight, and the man a Texan recruit 
 had spread his blanket upon the hurricane deck near the 
 pilot-house, and was fast asleep. The moment the boat 
 struck up he jumped, and without stopping to ask any 
 questions, ran the full length of the deck and sprang over- 
 board. Being a very good swimmer he was saved, 
 although such good fortune would have befallen but few. 
 The old river men have a saying, that " the Mississippi 
 never lets go of a man who has clothes on," and it is gene- 
 rally true. 
 
 THE END.
 
 
 J. S. EEDFIELD, 
 
 110 AND 112 NASSAU STREET, NEW YORK, 
 
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 REDFIELD'S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 PHILOSOPHERS AND ACTRESSES. 
 
 By ARSENE HOUSSAYE. With beautifully-engraved Portraits al 
 
 Voltaire and Mad. Parabere. Two vols., 12mo, price $2.50. 
 
 " We have here the most charming book we have read these many days, so 
 powerful in its fascination that we have been held for hours from our imperious labors, 
 or needful slumbers, by the entrancing: influence of its pages. One of the most desira 
 ble fruits of the prolific field of literature of the present season." Py'.iand Eclectic. 
 
 " Two brilliant and fascinating we had almost said, bewitching volumes, combi- 
 ning information and amusement, the lightest gossip, with solid and serviceable wis- 
 dom." Yankee Blade. 
 
 " It is a most admirable book, full of originality, wit, information and philosophy 
 Indeed, the vividness of the book is extraordinary. The scenes and dt,cription8 are 
 absolutely life-like." Southern Literary Gazette. 
 
 " The works of the present writer are the only ones the spirit of whr.ee rhetoric does 
 justice to those times, and in fascination of description and style equal the fascinations 
 they descant upon." New Orleans Commercial bulletin. 
 
 "The author is a brilliant writer, and serves up his sketches in a sparkling manner." 
 Christian Freeman. 
 
 ANCIENT EGYPT UNDER THE PHARAOHS. 
 By JOHN KENDRICK, M. A. In 2 vols., 12mo, price $2.50. 
 
 "No work has heretofore appeared suited to the wants of the historical student, 
 which combined the labors of artists, travellers, interpreters nnd critics, during the 
 periods from the earliest records of the monarchy to its final absorption in the empire 
 of Alexander. This work supplies this deficiency." Olive Branch.. 
 
 "Not only the geography and political history of Egypt under the Pharaohs are 
 given, but we are furnished with a minute account of the domestic manners and cus- 
 toms of the. inhabitants, their language, laws, science, religion, agriculture, navigation 
 and commerce." Commercial Advertiser. 
 
 ' These volumes present a comprehensive view of the results of the combined labors 
 of travellers, artists, and scientific explorers, which have effected so much during the 
 present century toward the development of Egyptian archaeology and history." Jour- 
 nal of Commerce. 
 
 " The descriptions are very vivid and one wanders, delighted with the author, through 
 the land of Eirypt, gathering at every step, new phases of her wondrous history, and 
 ends with a more intelligent knowledge than he ever before had, of the land of the 
 Pharaohs." American Spectator. 
 
 COMPA RA TIVE PH YSIOGNOMY ; 
 
 Or Resemblances between Men and Animals. By J. W. RKDFIELD, 
 M. D. In one vol., 8vo, with several hundred illustrations. 
 price, $2.00. 
 
 ' Dr. Redfield baa produced a very curious, amusing, and instructive book, curious 
 in its originality and illustration?, amusing in the comparisons and analyses, and in- 
 Btructive because it contains very much useful information on a too much neglected 
 subject It will be eagerly read and quickly appreciated." National Mgis. 
 
 "The whole work exhibits a good deal of scientific research, intelligent observation, 
 and ingenuity." Daily Union. 
 
 ' Highly entertaining even to those who have little time to study the science." 
 Detroit Daily Ailmrtifer. 
 
 This i.< a remarkahle volume and will be read by two classes, those who study for 
 Information, and those who read Jor amusement. For its originality and entertaining 
 character, we commend it to our readers." Albany Express. 
 
 " It is overflowing with wit, humor, and originality, and profusely illustrated. The 
 whole work i distinguished by vast research and knowledge." Knickerbocker. 
 
 " The plan is a novel one ; the proofs striking, and must challenge the attention of tha 
 cnriou*." Daily Advertiser
 
 REDFIELD'S NEW AN T D POPULVR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 DISCOVERY AND EXPLORATION 
 
 Of the Mississippi Valley. With the Original Narratives of Mar- 
 quctte, Allouez, Membre, Hermepin, and Anastase Douay. By 
 JOHN GILMARY SHEA. With a fac-simile of the Original Map 
 of Marquette. 1 vol., 8vo, ; Cloth. Antique. $2.00. 
 
 " A volume of great and curious interest to all concerned to know the early history 
 of this great Western land." Cincinnati Christian Herald. 
 
 " We believe that this is altogether the most thorough work that has appeared on the 
 tubjoct to which it relates. It is the result of long-continued and diligent research, and 
 no legitimate source of information has been left unexplored. The work combines the 
 interest of romance with the authenticity of history.' 1 Puritan Recorder. 
 
 " Mr. Shea has rendered a service to the cause of historical literature worthy of all 
 praise by the excellent manner in which he has prepared this important publication for 
 the press." Boston Traveller. 
 
 NEWMAN'S REGAL ROME. 
 
 An Introduction to Roman History. By FRANCIS W. NEWMAN, 
 Professor of Latin in the University College, London. 12mo, 
 Cloth. 63 cents. 
 
 "The book, though small in compass, is evidently the work of great research and 
 reflection, and is a valuable acquisition to historical literature." Courier and Enquirer. 
 
 " A work of great erudition and power, vividly reproducing the wonderful era of Ro- 
 mnn history under the kings. We greet it as a work ^ profound scholarship, genial 
 art, and eminent interest a work that will attract the scholar and please the general 
 reader." N. Y. Erangelist. 
 
 " Nearly all the histories in the schools should be banished, and such as this should 
 take their places." Boston Journal. 
 
 " Professor Newman's work will be found full of interest, from the light it throws on 
 the formation of the language, the races, and the history, of ancient Rome." Watt- 
 ttreet Journal. 
 
 THE CHEVALIERS OF FRANCE, 
 
 From -the Crusaders to the Mareschals of Louis XIV. By HENRI 
 W. HKRBKRT, author of "The Cavaliers of England," " Crom 
 well," " The Brothers," &c., Sec. 1 vol. 12mo. $1.25. 
 
 ' Mr. Herbert is one of the best writers of historical tales nd legends in this or an. 
 other country." Christian Freeman. 
 
 " This is a work of great power of thought and vividness of picturing. It is a movin| 
 panorama of the inner life of the French empire in the days of chivalry." Albany Spec 
 
 " The scries of works by this author, illustrative of the romance of history, is deserv 
 edly popular. They serve, indeed, to impart and impress on the mind a great deal ol 
 valuable information ; for the facts of history are impartially exhibited, and the fictiot 
 presents a vivid picture of the manners and sentiments of the times." Journal of Com 
 merce. 
 
 "Thr- work contains four historical tales or novelettes, marked by that vigor of styta 
 and beauty of description which have found so many admirers among the readeri of 
 the author's numerous romanaes." Lmcell Journal.
 
 REDIIELD'S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 NAPOLEON IN EXILE ; 
 
 Or, a Voice from St. Helena. Bcinjr the opinions and reflections of 
 Napoleon, on the most important events in his Life and Govern- 
 ment, in his own words. By BARRY E. O'MKARA, his late Sur- 
 geon, with a Portrait of Napoleon, after the celebrated picture of 
 X>elaroche, and a view of St. Helena, both beautifully engraved 
 on steel. 2 vols. 12mo, cloth, $2. 
 " Nothing can exceed the graphic truthfulness with which these volumes record the 
 
 vrords and habits of Napoleon at St. Helena, and its pages are endowed with a charm 
 
 far transcending that of romance." Albany State Register. 
 
 " Every one who desires to obtain a thorough knowledge of the character of Napoleon, 
 
 should possess himself of this book of O'Meara's." Arthur's Home Gazette. 
 
 " It is something indeed to know Napoleon's opinion of the men and events of the 
 
 thirty years preceding his fall, and his comments throw more light upon history than 
 
 anything we have read." Albany Express. 
 " The two volumes before us are worthy supplements to any history of France." 
 
 / tlon Evening Gazette. 
 
 ME AG HERS SPEECHES. 
 
 Speeches on the Legislative Independence of Ireland, with Intro- 
 ductory Notes. By FRANCIS THOMAS MEAGIIER. 1 vol. 12rao, 
 Cloth. Portrait. $1. 
 
 " The volume before us embodies some of the noblest specimens of Irish eloquence ; 
 not florid, bombastic, nor acrimonious, but direct, manly, and convincing." jVew York 
 Tribune. 
 
 " There is a glowing, a burning eloquence, in three speeches, which prove the author 
 a man of extraordinary intellect." Boston Olive Branch. 
 
 " As a brilliant and effective orator, Mongher stands unrivalled." Portland Eclectic. 
 
 " All desiring to obtain a good idea of the political history of Ireland and the move- 
 ments of her people, will be greatly assisted by rending thess speeches." Syracuse 
 Daily Star. 
 
 " It is copiously illustrated by explanatory notes, so that the reader will have no diffi- 
 culty in understanding the exact state of affairs when each speech was delivered." 
 BosJon Traveller. 
 
 THE PRETTY PLATE, 
 
 A new and beautiful juvenile. By JOHN VINCENT. Illustrated by 
 DARLET. 1 vol. 16mo, Cloth, gilt, 63 cts. Extra gilt edges, 88 cts. 
 
 " We venture to say that no reader, great or small, who takes up this booh, will lay it 
 down unfinished." Courier an 
 
 " This is an elegant little volume for a juvenile gift-book. The story is one of peculiar 
 Instruction and interest to the young, and is illustrated with beautiful engravings." 
 Boston Christian Freeman. 
 
 " One of the very best told and sweetest juvenile stories that has been issued from the 
 press this season, ft has a most excellent moral." Detroit Daily Advertiser. 
 
 " A nice little book for a holyday present. Our little girl has read it through, and pro- 
 nounces it first rate." Hartford Christian Secretary. 
 
 "It is a pleasant child's book, well told, handsomely published, and illn-tr:.!. ii iu 
 Darley's beet stylo." Albany Express.
 
 REDFIELD'S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 MACAULATS SPEECHES. 
 
 Speeches by the Rijrht Hon. T. B. MACAULAT, M. P., Author of 
 " The History of England," " Lays of Ancient Rome," &c., &c. 
 Two vols., 12mo, price $2.00. 
 
 " It is hard to soy whether his poetry, his speeches in parliament, or his brilliant 
 essays, are the most charming ; each has raised him to very great eminence, and would 
 be sufficient to constitute the reputation of any ordinary man." Sir Archibald Alison. 
 
 ' It may be siiid that Great Britain has produced no statesman since Burke, who has 
 united in so eminent a degree BS Macaulay the lofty and cultivated genius, the eloquent 
 orat( r, and the sagacious and fur-reach in a politician." Albany Argiu. 
 
 " We do not know of any living English orator, whose eloquence comes so near the 
 ancient ideal close, rapid, powerful, practi&l reasoning, animated by an intense earn- 
 estness of feelincr." Courier ff Enquirer. 
 
 " Mr. Macau)a~y has lately acquired as great a reputation as an orator, as he had for- 
 merly won as an essayist and historian. He takes in his speeches the same wide and 
 comprehensive grnsp of his subject that he does in his essays, and treats it in the same 
 elegant style." Philadelphia Evening Bulletin. 
 
 " The same elaborate finish, sparkling antithesis, full sweep and copious flow of 
 thought, and transparency of style, which made his essays so attractive, are found in 
 his speeches. They are so perspicuous, so brilliantly studded with ornament and illus- 
 tration, and so resistless in their current, Hint they appear at the tone to be the wisest 
 and greatest of human compositions." New York Evangelist. 
 
 TRENCH ON PROVERBS. 
 
 On the Lessons in Proverbs, by RICHARD CHENEVIX TRENCH, B. D., 
 Professor of Divinity in King's College, London, Author of the 
 " Study of Words." 12mo, cloth, 50 cents. 
 
 "Another charming book by the author of the " Study of Words," on a subject which 
 is so ingeniously treated, that we wonder no one has treated it before." Yankee Blade. 
 
 " It is a book at once profoundly instructive, and Rt the eame time, deprived of all 
 approach to dryness, by the charming manner in which the subject is treated." Ar- 
 thur's Home Gazette. 
 
 " It is a wide fi.?ld, and one which the author has well cultivated, adding not only to 
 his own reputation, but a valuable work to our literature." Albany Evening Transrripl. 
 
 " The work shows an acute perception, a genial appreciation of wit, and great re- 
 search. It is a very rare and agreeable production, which may be read with profit and 
 delight." New York Evangelist. 
 
 ' The stylo of the author is terse and vigorous almost a model in its kind." Port- 
 
 THE LION SKIN 
 
 And the Lover Hunt ; by CHARLES DE BERNARD. 12mo, $1.00. 
 
 " It is not often the novel-reader can find on his bookseller's shelf a publication so full 
 of incidents and good humor, and at the same time so provocative of honest thought" 
 National (\Vorce.nor, Mass.) Mgis. 
 
 " It is full of incidents ; and the reader becomes so interested in the principal person- 
 ages in the work, that he is unwilling to lay the book down until he has learned their 
 whole history." Boston Olive Branch. 
 
 " It is refreshing to meet occasionally with a well-published story which is written for 
 a story, and for nothing else which is not tipped with the snapper of a moral, or 
 loaded in the handle with a pound of philanthropy, or an equal quantity of leaden phi- 
 losophy." Springfield Republican.
 
 REDFIELD S NEW AXD POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 THE CHILDREN OF LIGHT. 
 
 By CAROLINE CHESEBRO', Author of " Isa, a Pilgrimage," " Dream- 
 Land by Daylight," &c., &c. 12rno., Cloth. $1.00. 
 
 " It is truly an attractive gallery of portraits, vivid pictures of human beings wrought 
 by human hands. The work is admirably conceived, and in every page bears the clear 
 impress of Miss CHESEBRO'S keen perceptions, her powerful and original intellect, and 
 a depth of sentiment and feeling that are only developed and made useful by the highly 
 gifted and the pure in heart" Albany State Register. 
 
 " To those of our renders who desire a good book one for the most part not filled 
 with the common trash of the times, and which is the production of ' a perfect woman 
 nobly planned' we would recommend th% ' Children of Light' " N. Y. 7Yutk-Teller. 
 
 " The work is characterized by great boldness of thought, elegant diction, and vigor- 
 ous tone." Greene County Whig. 
 
 THE FOREST. 
 
 By W. HUNTIWGTON, author of " Lady Alice," " Alban," &c., &c. 
 1 vol. 12mo, Cloth. $1.25. 
 
 " The author gives us an exceedingly vivid description of forest life, and has worked 
 tip the incidents of his story so hnppily, that the interest of the reader is sustained un- 
 flagging to the close." Portland Eclectic. 
 
 " The author is a passionate lover of Nature, and is distinguished for the philosophif 
 beauty and accuracy of his descriptions. The tone of thought pervading the book i* 
 quite elevated and healthy." Cincinnati Journal and Messenger. 
 
 For dramatic effect the plot and incidents are well managed, the narrative is sus- 
 tained with spirit, and several of the characters are sketched with a vigorous hand." 
 Protestant ChurrJiman. 
 
 " The work abounds in graphic portraitures of our glorious forest scenery, and in 
 harp delineations of character." .2V. Y. Evangelist. 
 
 " The style of the work throughout is one which can not fail to claim the attention 
 of the reader, and win for him an unreserved approval." Syracuse Daily Journal. 
 
 CAP-SHEAF, 
 A Fresh Bundle. By LEWIS MYRTLE. 1 vol. 12mo, cloth. $1.00. 
 
 ' If one wonts a book to read when he goes home and sits down by his fireside at 
 night, wearied and careworn with the toils and buffetings of life, this is just the one for 
 him." Syracuse Daily Journal. 
 
 ' It is a book for a minute, an hour, or a day. Throughout its pages are distributed 
 chagte and tender thoughts, glowing imagery, and high moral influences." P/iiladt' 
 pkia City Item. 
 
 " There is a rich vein of simplicity, and naturalness, and true feelins, running through 
 this volume. The author evidently carries a well-practised pen, and speaks from a 
 gifted nnd well-furnished mind and a full heart." Albany Argits. 
 
 " In (act, it is a delightful book hearty in tone and healthy in morality, and we be 
 spenk (or it the favor which its merits wherever it goes will be sure to command." 
 Temperance Courier. 
 
 " This is a collection of light stories nnd graceful sketches, which must hare pro- 
 ceeded from a warm and atVcctionate heart. The volume is earnestly commended to 
 the perusal of the reader." Lovell Journal and Courier.
 
 REDFIELD'S NEW AND POPUL J.R PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 CLOVERNOOK; 
 
 Or, Recollections of our Neighborhood in the West. By ALICR 
 CARRY. Illustrated by DARLEY. One vol., 12rao., price $1.00. 
 (Fourth edition.) 
 
 " In this volume there is a freshness which perpetually charms the reader. You seem 
 t3 be made free of western homes at once." Old Colony Memorial. 
 
 "They bear the true stamp of genius simple, natural, truthful and evince a keen 
 eonse of" the humor and pathos, of the comedy and tragedy, of life in the country." J 
 Q Whittier. 
 
 DREAM-LAND BY DAY-LIGHT: 
 
 A Panorama of Romance. By CAROLINE CHESEBHO'. Illustrated 
 by DARLET. One vol., 12mo., price $1.25. (Second edition.) 
 
 " These simple and beautiful stories are all highly endued with an exquisite percep- 
 tion of natural beauty, with which is combined an appreciative sense of its relation to 
 the highest moral emotions." Albany State Register. 
 
 " Gladly do we greet this floweret in the field of our literature, for it is fragrant with 
 rweet and bright with hues that mark it to be of Heaven's own planting." Courier and 
 Enquirer. 
 
 " There is a depth of sentiment and feeling not ordinarily met with, and some of the 
 noblest faculties and affections of man's nature are depicted and illustrated by the skil- 
 ful pen of the authoress." Churchman. 
 
 LAYS OF THE SCOTTISH CAVALIERS. 
 
 By WILLIAM E. ATTOUN, Professor of Literature ond Belles-Let- 
 tres in the University of Edinburgh and Editor of Blackwood'B 
 Magazine. One vol., 12mo. cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 " Since Lockhart and Macaulay's ballads, we have had no metrical work to be com- 
 pared in spirit, vicror, and rhythm with this. These ballads Hnbt dy and embalm the 
 chief historical incidents of Scottish history literally in 'thoughts that breathe and 
 words that burn.' They are full of lyric energy, graphic description, and genuine feel 
 ing." Home Journal. 
 
 " The fine ballad of ' Montrose' in this collection is alone worth the price of the book,* 
 Boston Transcript. 
 
 THE BOOK OF BALLADS. 
 By BON GAULTIER. One volume, 12mo., cloth, price 75 cents. 
 
 "Here is a book for everybody who loves classic fun. It is made up of ballads of 
 all sorts, each a capital parody upon the style of some one of the best lyric writers of 
 the time, from the thundering versification of Lockhart and Macaulay to the sweetest 
 nd simplest strains of Wordsworth and Tennyson. The author is one of the firs! 
 scholars, nnd one of the most finished writers of the day, and this production is but the 
 frolic of bis genius in play-time " Courier and Enquirer. 
 
 " We do not know to whom belongs this nom de plume, but he is certainly i 
 of no common powfr." Providence Journal.
 
 REDFIELD S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 POETICAL WORKS OF FITZ-GREENE HALLECK. 
 
 New and only Complete Edition, containing several New Poems, 
 together with many now first collected. One vol., 12mo., price 
 one dollar. 
 
 " Halleck is one of the brightest stars in our American literature, and his name la 
 hkc a household word wherever the English language is spoken." Albany Express. 
 
 "There are few poems to be found, in any Uiisuase, that surpass, 'in beauty of 
 thought and structure, some of these." Boston Commonwealth. 
 
 " To the numerous admirers of Mr. Hslleck, this will be a welcome hook; for it is a 
 characteristic desire in human nature to have the productions of our favorite authors 
 in an elegant and substantial form." Chriftian Freeman. 
 
 " Mr. Halleck never appeared in a better dress, and few poets ever deserved a better 
 one." Christian Intelligencer. 
 
 THE STUDY OF WORDS. 
 By Archdeacon R. C. TRENCH. One vol., 12mo., price 75 eta. 
 
 ' He discourses in a truly learned and lively manner upon the original unity of Ian 
 guage. and the origin, derivation, and history of words, with their morality and eep 
 arale. spheres of meaning. ' Evening I ft 
 
 " This is a noble tribute to the divin> faculty of speech. Popularly written, for use 
 as lectures, exact in its learninz, and r oetic in its vision, it is a book at once for the 
 scholar nnd the general reader." Nero ) ork Er an eel int. 
 
 " It is one of the most striking and original publications of the day, with nothing of 
 hardness, dullness, or dryness about it, but altogether fresh, lively, and entertaining." 
 Boston Evening Traveller. 
 
 BRONCHITIS, AND KINDRED DISEASES. 
 In language adapted to common readers. By W. W. HALL, M. D. 
 One vol., 12 mo, price Si. 00. 
 
 " It is written in a plain, direct, common-sense style, and is free from the quackery 
 which marks many of the popular medical books of the day. It will prove useful to 
 those who need it ." Central Ch. Herald. 
 
 " Those who are clergymen, or who are preparing for the sacred calling, and public 
 peakers generally, should not fail of securing this work." Ch. Ameaswior. 
 
 " It is full of hints on the nature of the vital organs, and does away with much super- 
 Ititinug dread in regard to consumption." Greene County Whig. 
 
 ' This work gives some valuable instruction in regard to food and hygienic influ- 
 ences." Nashua Oasis. 
 
 KNIGHTS OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND SCOTLAND. 
 l3y HKNRT WILLIAM HKRBERT. One vol., 12mo., price $1.25. 
 
 "They are partly the romance of history nnd partly fiction, forming, when blended, 
 portraiture?, valuable from the correct drawing of the times they illustrate, and intcrett- 
 ing from their romance." Albany Knickerbocker. 
 
 " Tliey nre spirit-stirring productions, which will be read and admired by all who 
 re pleased with historical talcs written in a vigorous, bold, and dashing style." fioston 
 Journal 
 
 " These legends of love and chivalry contain gome of the finest tales which the 
 graphic and powerful pen of Herbert hK yet given to the lighter literature of the day."
 
 REDFIELD'S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS 
 
 LYRA, AND, OTHER POEMS. 
 By ALICE CARET. In one volume, 12mo, cloth, price 75 cts. 
 
 " Whether poetry be defined as the rhythmical creation of beauty, aa passion or elo- 
 quence in harmonious numbers, or as thought and feeling mnnifested by processes of 
 the imagination, Alice Carey is incontestably and incomparably the first living American 
 poeti'ss fresh, indigenous. national rich beyond precedent insuitableand sensuous im- 
 ageryof the finest" and highest qualities of feeling, and such powers of creation as the 
 Almishty has seen fit to bestow but rarely or in far-separated countries." Bosl. Trans. 
 
 " The genuine inspiration of poetic feeling, . . . replete with tenderness and beauty, 
 earnestness and truthful simplicity, and all the attributes of a powerful imagination and 
 yivid fancy. We know of no superior to Miss Carey among the female authors of this 
 country." JVew York Journal of Commerce. 
 
 " Alice Carey's book is full of beautiful thoughts ; there is draught after draught of, 
 pure pleasure for the lover of sweet, tender fancies, and imagery which captivates 
 while it enforces truth." NOD York Courier and Inquirer. 
 
 " -Lyra and other Poems,' just published by Redtield, attracts everywhere, a remark- 
 able degree of attention. A dozen of the leading journals, and many eminent critics, 
 have pronounced the authoress the greatest poetess living." New York Mirror, 
 
 LTLLIAN, AND OTHER POEMS. 
 
 By WINTHROP MACKWORTH PRAED. Now first Collected. One 
 Volume I2mo. Price One Dollar. 
 
 " A timely publication is this volume. A more charming companion (in the shape of 
 a book) can scarcely be found for the summer holydnys." Nem York Tribune. 
 
 " They are amusing sketches, say and sprightly in their diameter, exhibiting great 
 facility o'f composition", and considerable powers of satire." Hartford Courant. 
 
 " There is a brilliant piny of fnncy in ' Lillian,' and a moving tenderness in ' Josephine,' 
 for which it would be hard to find equals. We welcome, therefore, this first collected 
 edition of his work?." Albany Express. 
 
 ' As a writer of vers de sociele he is pronounced to be without an equal among Eng- 
 lish authors." Syracuse Daily Journal. 
 
 " The author of this volume was one of the most fluent and versatile Enjlish poets that 
 have shone in the literary world within the last century. His versification is astonish- 
 In sly easy and airy, and his imagery not less wonderfully graceful and aerial." Albany 
 Stale Register. 
 
 THE CAVALIERS OF ENGLAND; 
 
 Or, the Times of the Revolutions of 1642 and 1688. By HENRT 
 WILLIAM HERBERT. One vol., 12mo., price $1.25. 
 
 " They are graphic stories, and in the highest degree attractive to the imagination as 
 well as instructive, and can not fail to be popular." Commercial. 
 
 " These tales are written in the popular author's best style, and give us a vivid and 
 thrilling idea of the customs and influences of the chivalrous nse." -Christian Freeman. 
 
 " His narrative is always full of ereat interest ; his descriptive powers are of an un 
 common order ; the romance of history loses nothing at his hands ; he paints with tho 
 power, visor, and effect of a master." The Times. 
 
 " They bring the past dnys of old England vividly before the reader, and impress upon 
 the mind with indelible force, the living imnses of the puritans as well as the. cavaliers, 
 whose earnest character and noble deeds lend such a lively interest to the legends of 
 the times in which they lived and fought, loved and hated, prayed and revelled." tf
 
 EEDFIELD S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 THE MASTER BUILDER: 
 
 Or, Life in the City. By DAY KELLOGG LEE, author of " Sum- 
 merfield, or Life on the Farm." One vol., 12mo, price $1.00. 
 
 " He is a powerful and graphic writer, and from what we have seen of the pages ol 
 the ' Master Builder,' it is a romance of excellent aim and success." State Rcgifter. 
 
 " Tho ' Master Builder' is the master production. It is romance into which is instilled 
 the reality of life : and incentives are put forth to noble exertion and virtue. The story 
 is pleasing almost fascinating ; the moral is pure and undefiled." Daily Timtf. 
 
 "Its descriptions are, many of them, strikingly beautiful ; commingling in good pro- 
 portions, the witty, the grotesque, the pathetic, and the heroic. It may be read with 
 profit as well as pleasure." Argus. 
 
 "The work before us will commend itself to the mosses, depicting as it does most 
 praphically the struggles and privations which nwait the unknown and uncared-for 
 Mechanic in his journey through life. It is what might be called a romance, but not of 
 love, jealousy and revenge order." Lockport Courier. 
 
 " The whole scheme of the story is well worked up and very instructive.'* Albany 
 Express. 
 
 GRISCOM ON VENTILATION. 
 
 The Uses and Abuses of Air: showing its Influence in Sustaining 
 Life, and Producing Disease, with Remarks on the Ventilation 
 of Houses, and the best Methods of Securing a Pure and Whole- 
 some Atmosphere inside of Dwellings, Churches, Workshops, &c. 
 By JOHN H. GRISCOM, M. D. One vol. 12mo, $1.00. 
 
 'This comprehensive treatise should be read by all who wish to secure health, 
 and especially by those constructing churches, lecture-rooms, school-houses, &c. It 
 is undoubted, that many diseases are created and spread in consequence of the little 
 attention paid to proper ventilation. Dr O. writes knowingly and plainly upon this all- 
 important topic." Newark Advertiser. 
 
 " The whole book is a complete manual of the subject of which it treats ; and we 
 venture to say that the builder or contriver of a dwellins, school-house, church, thea- 
 tre, ship, or steamboat, who neglects to inform himself of the momentous truths it 
 asserts, commits virtually a crime against society." If. Y. Metropolis. 
 
 " When shall we learn to estimate at their proper value, pure water and pure air, 
 which God provided for man before he made man, and a very long time before he 
 permitted the existence of a doctor ? We commend the Uses and Abuses of Air to our 
 readers, assuring them that they will find it to contain directions for the ventilation of 
 dwellings, which every one who values health and comfort should put in practice." 
 If. Y. Dispatch. 
 
 HAGAR, A STORY OF TO-DAY. 
 
 By ALICE CARET, author of " Clovernook," Lyra, and Other 
 Poems," &c. One vol., 12mo, price $1.00. 
 
 "A story of rural and domestic life, abounding in humor, pathos, and that natural- 
 ness in character and conduct which made ' Clovernook' so great a favorite last season. 
 Pascals in ' Hagar' are written with extraordinary power, its moral is striking and 
 fust, and the book will inevitably be one of the most popular productions of the sea- 
 son." 
 
 " She has a fine, rich, and purely original genius. Her country stories are almost 
 onequaled."_A-icJTAodter Mnfaiine 
 
 "The Times speaks of Alice Carey ns standing at the head of the living femnle wri- 
 ters of America We go even farther in our favorable judgment, and express the opin- 
 ion that among those living or dead, she has had no equal in this country ; and we know 
 of few in the annals of English literature who have exhibited superior gilts of real po 
 etic geniui."-?-*' (Portland, Me.) Eclectic.
 
 REDFIELD'S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 ISA, A PILGRIMAGE. 
 By CAROLINE CHESEBRO'. One vol., 12mo., cloth, price $1.00. 
 
 " The Pilgrimage is fraught throushout with scenes of thrilling interest romantic, 
 yet possessing a naturalness that seems to stamp them as real ; the style is flowing and 
 easy, chaste and beautiful." Troy Daily Times. 
 
 ' MiBS Chesebro' is evidently a thinker she skims not the mere surface of life, but 
 plunges boldly into the hidden mysteries of the spirit, by which she is warranted in 
 making her startling revelations ot human passion." Christian Freeman. 
 
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 n exquisite sensibility, and a deep knowledge of human nature." Albany Argus. 
 
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 fenius and depth of feeling, and striking at a high and noble aim." N. Y. Evangtlist. 
 
 '' There is a fine vein of tenderness running through the story, which is peculiarly 
 one of passion and sentiment." Arthur's Home Gazette, 
 
 LECTURES AND MISCELLANIES. 
 BY HENRY JAMES. One vol., 12mo., cloth, price $1.25. 
 
 " A series of essays by one of the most generous thinkers and sincere lovers of truth 
 in the country. He looks at society from nn independent point of view, and with the 
 noblest and most intelligent sympathy." Home Journal. 
 
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 will concede to him the merit of a vigorous and brilliant intellect." Albany Argus. 
 
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 they contain, but more because the ideas are earnestly put lorth, and the subjects dis- 
 cussed are interesting and important to every one." Worcester National jEgis. 
 
 " They have attracted much attention both here and in Europe, where the author ia 
 considered as holding a distinctive and prominent position in the schooVof modern 
 philosophy." Albany Atlas. 
 
 " The writer wields a masterly and accurate pen, and his style is good." Boston 
 Olive Branch. 
 
 " It will have many readers, and almost as many admirers." N. Y. Times. 
 
 NAPIERS PENINSULAR WAR. 
 
 History of the War in the Peninsula, and in the South of France, 
 from the Year 1807 to 1814. BY W. F. P. NAPIER, C. B., Col. 
 43d Reg., &c. Complete in one vol., 8vo., price $3.00. 
 
 "We believe the Literature of War has not received a more valuable augmentation 
 ihls century than Col. Napier's justly celebrated work. Thoueh a gallant combatant in 
 tie field, he is an impartial historian." Tribune. 
 
 " NAPIER'S History, in addition to its superior literary merits and truthful fidelity, 
 presents ttrons claims upon the attention of ail American citizens ; because the author 
 is a large.soul.'d philanthropist, and nn inflexible enemy to ecclesiastical tyranny and 
 secular de-pot*." Pott. 
 
 " The excellency of Napier's Hi-tory re?iilts from the writer's happy talent for im- 
 petuous, straiaht-forward, soul-stirrim; ntirrntivo and picturing forth of character! 
 The military manoeuvre, inarch, and fiery onset, the whole whirlwind vicissitudes o* 
 the desperate fight, he describes with dramatic force." Merchants' Magazine.
 
 REDFIELD'S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS, 
 
 CHARACTERS IN THE GOSPEL, 
 
 Illustrating Phases of Character at the Present Day. By Rev. E. 
 H. CHAPIN. One vol., 12mo., price 50 cents. (Second edition.) 
 
 "As we read his pages, the reformer, the sensualist, the skeptic, the man of the 
 world, the seeker, the sister of charity and of faith, stand out from the Scriptures, and 
 Join themselves with our own living world." Christian Enquirer. 
 
 " Mr. Chapin has an easy, graceful style, neatly touching the outlines of his pictures, 
 and giving great consistency and beauty to the whole. The reader will find admirable 
 descriptions, some most wholesome lessons, and a fine spirit." N. Y. Evangelist. 
 
 " Its brilliant vivacity of style forms an admirable combination with its soundness of 
 thought and depth of feeling." Tribune. 
 
 LADIES OF THE COVENANT: 
 
 Memoirs of Distinguished Scottish Females, embracing the Period 
 of the Covenant and the Persecution. By Rev. JAMES ANDER- 
 SON. One vol., 12mo., price $1.25. 
 
 " It is a record which, while it confers honor on thft sex, will elevate the heart, and 
 irengthen it to the better performance of every duty." Religions Herald, (Va.) 
 
 " It is a book of great attractiveness, having not only the freshness of novelty, but 
 every element of historical interest" Courier and Enquirer. 
 
 " It is written with great spirit and a hearty sympathy, and abounds in incidents of 
 more than a romnntic interest, while the type ol piety it discloses is the noblest and 
 most elevated." N. Y. Evangelist. 
 
 TALES AND TRADITIONS OF HUNGARY. 
 By THERESA PULSZKT, with a Portrait of the Author. One vol., 
 price $1.25. 
 
 THE above contains, in addition to the English publication, a NEW PREFACE, and 
 TALES, now first printed from the manuscript of the Author, who has a direct interest 
 in the publication. 
 
 " This work claims more attention than is ordinarily given to books of its class. Snch 
 is the fluency and correctness nny, even the nicety and felicity qf style with which 
 Madame Pulszky writes the English language, that merely in this respect the tales here 
 collected form a curious study. But they contain also highly suggestive illustrations ol 
 national literature and character." London Examiner. 
 
 "Freshness of subject is invaluable in literature Hungary is still fresh ground. It 
 has been trodden, but it is not yet a common highway. The tales and legends are very 
 various, from the mere traditional anecdote to the regular legend, and they have the 
 ort of interest which all national traditions excite." London Leader. 
 
 SORCERY AND MAGIC. 
 
 Narratives of Sorcery and Magic, from the most Authentic Sources. 
 By THOMAS WRIGHT, A.M., &c. One vol. 12mo., price $1.25. 
 
 " We have no hesitation in pronouncing this one of the most interesting works which 
 has for a lone time is-wil from the press." Albany Express. 
 
 " The narratives are intensely interesting, and the more so, as they are evidently writ- 
 ten by a man whose object is simply to tell the truth, and who is not himself bewitched 
 rr n ftrcrit^ th^nrv " ff Y. Recorder
 
 REDFIELD'S NEW AND POPULAR PUBLICATIONS. 
 
 THE NIGHT-SIDE ON NATURE; 
 
 Or, Ghosts and Ghost-Seers. By CATHARINE CROWE. One vo6, 
 
 12mo., price $1.25. 
 
 "In this remarkable work, Miss Crowe, who writes with the vigor ard grace of* 
 woman of strong sense and high cultivation, collects the most remarkable and best au- 
 thenticated accounts, traditional and recorded, of preternatural visitations and appear- 
 ances." Boston Trantcript. 
 
 " An almost unlimited fund of interesting illustrations and anecdotes touching the 
 piritual world." Next Orleans Bee. 
 
 THE WORKS OF EDGAR ALLAN FOE; 
 
 Complete in Three Volumes, with a Portrait, a Memoir by James 
 Russell Lowell, and an Introductory Essay by N. P. Willis; edit- 
 ed by Rufus W. Griswold. 12mo., price $4.00. 
 
 ' We need not say that these volumes will be found rich in intellectual excitements, 
 and abounding in remarkable specimens' of vigorous, beautiful, and highly suggestive 
 composition ; they are all that remain to us of a man whose uncommon genius it would 
 be folly to deny." ,V. Y. Tribune. 
 
 " Mr. Poe's intellectual character his genius is stamped upon all his productions, 
 and we shall place these his works in the library among those books not to be parted 
 with." N. Y. Commercial Advertiser. 
 
 " These productions will live. They bear the stamp of true genius ; and if their repu- 
 tation begins with a ' fit audience though few,' the circle will be constantly widening, 
 and they will retain a prominent place in our literature." Ree. Dr. Kip. 
 
 CHAPMAN'S AMERICAN DRAWING-BOOK. 
 
 The American Drawing-Book, intended for Schools, Academies, and 
 Self-Instruction. By JOHN G. CHAPMAN, N. A. Three Parts 
 now published, price 50 cents each. 
 
 THIS Work will be issued in Parts ; and will contain Primary Instruction and Rudl- 
 menu of Drawing: Drawing from Nature Materials and Methods: Perspective 
 Composition Landscape Figures, etc. : Drawing, as applicable to the Mechanic Arts : 
 Painting in Oil and Water Colors : The Principles of Light and Shade : External Anato- 
 my of the Human Form, and Comparative Anatomy : The Various Methods of Etching, 
 Engraving, Modelling, &c. 
 
 " It has received the sanction of many of our most eminent artists, and can scarcely 
 be commended too highly." JV. Y. Tribune. 
 
 ' But so clearly are its principles developed in the beautiful letter-press, and so exquis- 
 itely are they illustrated by the engravings, that the pupil's way is opened most invi- 
 tingly to a thorough knowledge of both the elements and application." Home Journal. 
 
 "The engravings are superb, and the typography unsurpassed by any book with 
 which we are acquainted. It is an honor to the author and publisher, and a credit to 
 our common country." Scientific American. 
 
 " This work is so distinct and progressive in its instructions that we can not well em 
 how it could fail to impart a full and complete knowledge of the art. Nothing can Tie 
 with it in artistic and mechanical execution." -Knickerbocker Magazint.
 
 CONTEMPORARY BIOGRAPHY. 
 
 OR SKETCHES OF LIVING NOTABLES, 
 
 AUTHORS ENGINEERS PHILANTHROPISTS 
 
 ARCHITECTS JOURNALISTS PREACHERS 
 
 ARTISTS . MINISTERS SAVANS 
 
 COMPOSERS MONARCHS STATESMEN 
 
 DEMAGOGUES NOVELISTS TRAVELLERS 
 
 DIVINES POLITICIANS VOYAGERS 
 
 DRAMATISTS POETS WARRIORS 
 
 fn One Vol., 12mo, containing nearly Nine Hundred Biograph- 
 ical Sketches PRICE $1.50. 
 
 "I am glad to learn that you are publishing this work. It is precisely that kind of 
 information that every public and intelligent man desires to see, especially in reference 
 to the distinguished men of Europe, but which I have found it extremely difficult t 
 obtain." Extract from a. Letter of the President of the United States to the publisher. 
 
 ' In its practical usefulness this work will supply a most important desideratum." 
 Courier fy Enquirer. 
 
 " It forms a valuable manual for reference, especially in the American department, 
 which we can not well do without ; we commend it to the attention of our ' reading 
 public.^ " Tribune. 
 
 "Just the book wo have desired a hundred times, brief, statistical and biographical 
 sketches of men "now living, in Europe and America." New York Observer. 
 
 " It is a book of reference which every newspaper render should have at his elbow- 
 as indispensable as a map or a dictionary and from which the best-informed will de- 
 rive instruction and pleasure." Evangelist. 
 
 " This book therefore fills a place in literature ; and once published, we do not SCO 
 how any one could do without it." Albany Express. 
 
 " It id evidently compiled with great care and labor, and every possible means seems 
 to have been used to secure the highest degree of correctness. It contains a great deal 
 of valuable information, and is admirable as a book of reference." Albany Argus. 
 
 "It is, to our notion, the most valuable collection of contemporary biographies yet 
 made in this or any other country. The author acknowledges that its compilation was 
 a labor of care and responsibility.' We believe him, and we give him credit for hay 
 ing executed that labor after a fashion that will command general and lasting approv- 
 al." Sunday Times, and Noah's Weekly Messenger. 
 
 " This is one of the most valuable works lately issued valuable not only for general 
 reading and study, but as a book of reference. It is certainly the fullest collection of 
 contemporary Biographies yet made in this country." Troy Daily Times. 
 
 " This is emphatically a book worthy of the name, and will secure an extended pop- 
 ularity." Detroit Daily Advertiser. 
 
 "A book of reference unequalled in either value or interest It is indeed a grand sup- 
 plement and appendix to the modern histories, to the reviews, to the daily newspapers 
 -a book which a man anxious to be regarded as intelligent and well-informed, can no 
 more do without than a churchman can do without his prayer book, n sailor his navi- 
 gator, or a Wall street man his almanac and interest tables." Nevr York Day Book. 
 
 "The volume once known will bo found indispensable, and will prove a constant 
 oourre of information to readers at large." N. Y. Reveille. 
 
 " For a book of reference, this volume will recommend itself as an invaluable com- 
 panion in the library, office, and studio." Northern Budget. 
 
 " It is a living breathin? epitome of the day, a directory to that wide phantasmagoria 
 We call the world." Wall Street Journal. 
 
 " We know of no more valuable book to authors, editors, stall-men, and all who 
 would be ' up with the time,' than this." Spirit of the Times. 
 
 " Men of all nations, creeds and parties, appear to be treated in a kindly spirit. The 
 work will be found a useful supplement to the ordinary biographical dictionaries." 
 Commercial Advertiser. 
 
 " The value of such a work can scarcely be over-estimated. To the statesman and 
 philanthropist, as well as the scholar and business man, it will be found of great con- 
 Teniencc as a reference book, and must soon be considered as indispensable to a library 
 a* Webster's Dictionary." Lockport Courier.
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LIBRARY 
 
 Los Angeles 
 This book is DUE on the last date stamped below. 
 
 FEB -9 1373 
 
 INTERLIBRARY LOANS 
 
 JAN 2 6 1973 
 
 Three weeKs from d ^|2L[| a r ll C l *fs 
 Receipt Non-RenwMirfpigUp' 
 
 &' ra 973 
 
 Form L9-Series 444
 
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