The Arkansas advocate., 1836-12-16


 country apparently in the highest state Of cutiya. ton. Extended fields, beautiful and productive groves of trees cleared from the underwood, and whose mar. gins were regular f the art and taste of man had Ibeen employed upon them. But there was no otheI evidence that the sound of inc axe or the voice of man had ever here disturbed the solitude of fnatme. Ny eyes would have cheated my senses into te beefthat vas in an earthly paradise but my fears told me that ] was in wilderness
 had just emerged from beautiful grove of frees, and was entering upon an extended prairie which ook- ed like the uxuilant meadows of thrifty afmer and as Ii noihing should be wanting to complete the delu- slon, but shef distance before me- there was drove oi about one hundred beautiful horses quietly pastuI- ng.i required some fort 10 convince my nalnd that man had no agency in this. But when looked around and fully realized all, thought of him who preached to ne Ill the wllds oi Arkansas, and involunarily ex elaimed, "God, what hast thou not done for man, and yet how little he dees for thee Noteyen repays thee with gratitude! p
 Ientered upon the prairie. The mustangs no soon CT espled me than they resed their heads, whinnied and began coursng around in aii extended circle, which gradually became smaller and smaier until they closely surrounded me- Nj little raseaIlY mustang en- joyed he sport and fell disposed to renew his acqIant aDee with his Nild companions first turning his head to one, then 10 another playuly biting e neck of this one, rubbing noses with that one, ard kicking I'D lis
 
 andped the spur pretty bfisAy get out of the moss but he was as obstinate he "od Roman' himself who will be neither be led nor driven. kicked md be kicked, but fortunately lie became tired first and he made ore staf intending to escape from the annoy anee if possible As had aa annoyance to escape from likewise, beat the devils tattoo on his ribs that be might have some music 10 dance to- and he went ahead right mefrly, ihe whole drove following in cur wake head up, and tail and nane streaming. N lit- tie erer who was bothsbood and bottom, seemed de- lighted at being at ihe head of tie heap; and having got fairly started, wish may be shot if did not find it impossible to stop him. He kept along tossing his head proudly, and occasionally neighng, as much as to say, "Gome or my heartIes; yon see han't forgot our old amusement yeL" And they did come with vengeance, catter, clateF catter, as If so many iends had broke loose. The prairie lay exend- ed before me far tue eye could reach and be- gan to think there would be no end to the race.
 Ny little animal was fnil of fire and mete, and as It was the first of genuine sport that he had had for some time, he appeared 10 make the most of if. He kept the lead for tnll half hour frequently neighng as if Tn triumph and derision. thought of John Gil- pins celebrated ride, bat that wasschds play to this The proverb says "The race is not always to the swift, nor the battle 10 the strong" and t proved in the present instance My mustang was obliged 10 carry weight, while his competitors were as free as nature had made them. beautiful bay, who had trod close upon my heels the whole way, came side by side
 
 ten minutes, ln such style would have delighted the heart of true lover of the turf fell an interest in the myself and for the credit of my blood de- termned to win if at all in the nature of things piled the lash and spur and the little crer took it quite kindly and tossed his head, and aeghed, as much as 10 say, "Golone, know what you're afer-Go aheadm P and ho cut dirt in beautiful style, l tell you
 The following is description of fight with the American tiger:
 "Alter tolng for more than an hour to get my mus tang upon his feet again gave up bad job, as little Van did when he attempted o raise himself to the moon by the waistband of his breeebes Night was fast closing in, and began 10 think that had had just about sport enough for one day. l might as well look around for place of shelter for the night and take fresh start in the morning, by which time was in hopes my horse would be recruited Near the mar gin of the river large tree had been blown down. and thought of making my lair in it's top and approached it for that purpose While beating among the branch es heard low grow, as much IS 10 say, "Stranger, the apartments already talen.7 Looking about to see what of a bed-felow was likely o have dis covered, not more than five or six paces from me an enormous Mexican eongar, eyeing me as an epicnre surveys the table before he selects his dsh for have doubt the cougar looked upon as the subject of a future supper. Rays of light dared from his large eyes, he showed his teeth like negro in mysteries ard be crouchng on his launches, ready for q 1 spring; all of which convinced that unless was pretty quick upon the trigger poserity would know - tie of the termination of my eyenfuI career, and it would be far less glorious and useful than intend 10 makeit.
 One glance satisfied me that there was no lime to be lost, as Pat thought when failing foma church see- pie, and exclaimed, This would be mighty pleasant, now if it would only last,-but there retreat, either for or the cougar so leyeled my Betsey, and bazed away. The report was followed by flri- ous erow (which is sometimes the case in Congress- and.fhe next moment, when expected to find tho tar nal crier struggling with death beheld him shaking his head as if nothing more than bee had stung him. The ball had struck him the forehead, and glanced