The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1832-07-03

Of night q heavy dew confneHceu idihnS'
The whole Of my clothes consistedtof
etnchaln shirt, nankeen trowscrs, and
pair Of light leather hoeassins'' tnuc
worn. About an hour before breakfast
had taken off my coat, and placed it upon
one of the loaded horses, Intending 10
put il on towards the cool ofthe evening
and one of the men had charge ofmy
fowling piece. / was even without my
hat for, in the agitated state OF my nhnd
on waking, had left it behind, ard ! had
advanced too far to think ofreturning for
il.
AT some distance on my left observed
field of high strong grass to which l
proceeded, and after pulling enough to
place under and over me, recommended
myself to the Almighty, and fell asleep.
During the night confused dreams of
warm houses, feather beds, poisoned ar
rows, prickley pears and rattle snakes,
haunted my disturbed imagination. On
the 18th, arose with the sun, quite wet
and chilly, the heavy dew having COM
pletely saturated my fiimsy covering.
/ had turned into a notherly
course, where late in the evening, OBJ
served about mile distant some horse
men galloping in an easterIy direction.
From their dress knew they belonged
to our party. Instantly ran to n hillocls,
and called out ia voice to which hunger
had impaired supernatural shrillness;---
but they galloped on. then took offmy
shirt, which waved in a conspicuous
manner over my head accompanied by
the most frantic cries still they continu-
ed on. ran towards. the direction they
were galloping, despair added wings to
my flight. Rocks, stubble, and brush
wood, were passed with the speed of n
hunted antelope, but TO no purpose for
on arriving at the place where imagin-
ed pathway would have brought mo in
TO their track, was completely at fault.
1t was now nearly dark. ] had eaten
nothing since the noon Of the preceding
day, and faint with hunger and fatigue,
threw myself on the grass, when heard
n small rustling noise behind me. turn
ed round, and with horror beheld large
rattlesnake coiling himself in the even
ing shade. instantly retreated I; on OBJ
serving which, he coiled himself. Hhv-
ing obtained large stone, i advanced
slowly on him, aud taking proper aim,
dashed it with all my force on the reptiles
head which buried in the ground be-
| meath the stone. The late race had
completely worn out the thin soles ofny
mocassins, and my feet in consequence
had become much swollen. As night ad,
vanced, WINS obliged to look out fIr a
place to sleep, aud, after some time, Sc
lccted nearly as good bed as had the
first night. My exertions in pulling the
long coarse grass nearly renderedmy
hands useless, by severely cutting all the
points of my fingers"
For several days our author contintcd
towander, hungry, hopeless, and exhaist-
ed, seeing plenty Of game. but having no
means of obtaining it, and subsisting, for
the most part, upon haws and cherries.
When these were rot attainable, he Ap-
ported life by chewing grass. One night
after his usual fatiguing and unsuccessful
endeavors to discover some track, he vas
about to lie down to rest, when woie-
merged from cavern near him. Thiik-
ing it safe to act on the offensive,l ,lhe
threw some stones at the animal, ind
sent him bowling to his den. The htw-
ling Of wolves and bears was his nighly
music, bur the wolf of the cavern did pot
again disturb him. His naked feet were
torn by the thorns, and he had nothing
TO defend them with but some thin bin
dnges which he tore from the legs ofhis
trowsers the daily renewal Of which
gradually barred his limbs. When a
wolf approached him, he levelled his
stick at it as though aiming gun /; dnd
whether they had experience of fire arps,
or that they were awed by his steady
gaze and apparent boldness, they gtn-
orally retrcated; upon one occasion,
however this stratagem failed him; 'he
animal was either too unexperienced,Io ,Ior
too cunning to be SO deceived.
"About dusk an immense wolf ruslIcd
out of a thick copse, short distaAce
from the pathway, planted himself direct
ly before me in threatning position,
and appeared determined to dispute ny
passage, he was not more than twenty
feet from me. My situation was despbr-
ate and as knew that the least syipp-
tom of fear wonld be the signal for at
tack, presented my stick, and shouted
MS loud as my weak voice would permit.
He appeared somewhat startled, and re-
treated few steps, still keeping lbs
piercing eyes firmly fixed on me. att
vanced a little, when he commenced
bowling in most appalling manner, anil
supposing his intention was to collect d
few of his comrades to assist him in maxi
ing an afternoons repast on my half-farh-
ished carcase, redoubled my cries, I'M
til ] had almost lost the power of utter
ance nj the same time callinn onf ra r.