The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1836-06-01

Death to my hopes at the very first blow
i struck il ten yards from the lock and lost
it forever in the snow.
Well, said to myself, have cooked n
pretty kettle Of fish, and brought my calls
head to a fine market. Shall furnish
those dissectors, the wolves, with subject,
or shall cold work the same effect on me
that grief did on Niobe? Would that had
skin like a buffalo Necessity is the spur
as well as the mother Of invention and, at
these last words, new idea flashed through
my brain like lightning. | verify believe
that took off the skin in fewer than ten
strokes of my knife.-Such hide is no tri-
ne it takes a strong man to lift it but
rolled the one in question about me with
the hair inward, and lay down to sleep, toll
erably sure that neither Jack Frost nor the
wolves could get at me through an armour
thicker and tougher than the seven fold
shield of jax.
Darkness closed in, and raven began to
sound his note of evil omen from neigh
boring brnnch.-Croak on, black angel,
said /; have heard croakngs before now,
and am not TO be frightened by any of your
color. Suddenly herd of wolves struck
up at distance, probably excited by the
scent of the slain buffalo. Howl on, said
/; and being among wolves, | will howl
too-for | like to be in the fashion but
that shall be the extent of the intimacy
Accordingly, l uplifted my voice, like a
pelican in the wilderness, and gave them
back their noise with interest-then j layed
dowa again and moraIzed. This, thought
], is life. What would my poor mother
say, if she were alive nowl have books
of adventures, but | never read anything
like this.-I fell asleep without further ado.
Then | dreamed-oh, such a dream !!
Methought my slain enemy rose slowly TO
his feet, skinless as he was, and gave such
look as have heard called a lanyard
grin, in which the double distilled essence
and essential oil of spite seemed to be con-
ccntrated. Anon he approached me, and
tried to gore me, and turned me over and
over with his nose and feet. At last he sat
down on my breast, and looking me deli
berateIy in the eye, beloved, Give me my
skin-give me my skim awoke in cold
sweat and to enhance my vexation, |
heard an Indian drum, accompaniedby sew
eral voices, on the other side of the wood.
| Now, thought |, | have lain down supper
less, when there was n wigwam within a
quarter of mile where might have claim
cd hospitality. l strove to rise; but my
cover!et was now frozen, and kept me as
close as if had been cased in mortar
crinned with fretfuness to think that
should be obliged to lie till noon next day
before the sun would effect my rlease, anc
! for moment / would cry to my swathy
neghbors for assistance. Unwilling, how
ever, to be the laughing stock of savagcs
| summoned all my philosophy, and slep
again. 1t should not be forgotten that tn
raven kept up his ominous noise all the Will
!, : as ino~sh he were my evil spirit. SLEPT
, , | said but upon reflection, recall the as
scrtion, such n state Uf tho faculties cannC
> be called sleep. The buffalo rose again an
> stood beside me. could feel his hot breat
!. upon my face: methought it savored {
sui ulphur-and | could see every vein an
muscle even the hole where my bullet ha
entered, just as my knife had laid thei
bare. l strove to cry out (; but my utter
ance was checked by mouthiul of WOO
and was compelled to be silent. My to
mentcr did not give me much time to rctlec,
for he suddenly pricked up his ears, an
perkcd up his tail, and beloved loud an
long-and at his summons vast herd
, fellows came bounding into the wood, an
, ranged themselves around me, and joint
! in the note of the leader. Somehow or otl
cr, thought they were not buifalos, at on
and the same time. They had horns, an
shaggy hair, and tails and four legs apiec
a yet, as | looked at them, thought cou
a discover exaggerated resemblances of Il
J human face divine. One of them iook'
l like Powars, who was hanged for murdc
v | was frightened at their aspects, and invo
n unfairly looked up at my friend the rave
: Strange to tell, his beak gradually clong
l. ted as gazcd till it was as long as al
e very like hautbois. How he kept his sc
| know not : but he graspcd it with all i
&c claws, which looked like those of Beng
'r tiger.
n This was enough; wished to see
't more of him, but now the quadrupods we
Ii Iuadrupeds no longer. A score or two h
l. reared apon their hinder legs, and each e
r lantly given his hoof to his partner All
he once the piper on the tree struck and
rs animals began to dance. Fast and furio
sc was their mirh negroes in the cornhuski
l. nre fools in comparison. The creatur,
~ had shot was prc-eminent for his super
ir size and supernatural aeiity, and remark
rs bic for his bare and beggarly looks, as W
nj as for the virtriied appearance of his ey
hi which put me in mind of two burnt holes
rs n blanket. shut my eyes, and prcpar
y. for death, for it seemed inevitable that mi
J. be trampled to pumice in the twinkling of
l eye. They bounded about me, and graz