Southern Argus., 1839-07-30

monsirate against such very exceptionabIt
treatment of Virginia gentleman, whose
character had never been questioned. He
concluded by broad intimation, that or
their arrival at Cincinnati, he should hold
the Captain personally responsible under
the laws of honor. In reply, the Captain
bowed again most profoundly, and turning
toward The door Of the cabin, said, calm.
! ly,
Steward, call the fireman TO assist Ma.
| jor Montgomery into the yawl; he wishes
to 90 on shore
The redoubtable Major in the vain hope
that the passengers would sustain the
contest, now threw himself on his reserved
rights, ran up the flag of notification, and
ferociously brandished his Bowie knife at
this moment the fireman made his appear
ance. He was full grown Kentuckian,
born on the cedar knobs of the Blue Licks,
and raised on sulphur water, pope and
'possum fat. Like many of his country
men he was an aspiring fellow, for he
stood six feet four, in his moccasins, and
exhibited corresponding developments of
bore and muscle. Hatless and coatless,
with naked arms, and face blackened
with smoke and ashes, he might have pas
sed for one of old Vulcan's iourneymen,
who had been forging thunderbolts for Ju-
piter, in some regio- -internahs. Hestalked
carelessy up to the bellicose Major, and
before the latter was aware Of it, selzed
the hand that held the upraised knife, and
| 49, - he
the Major found himself fairly in the braw-
nv arms Of his antagonist. He struggled
stoutly TO extricate his elegant person from
such an embrace, but in vain. The fire.
man. disrleased with the restless disposi-
tion of his captive, gave him one Of those
warm frater2al hugs, which an old bear is
wont to bestow upon an unmannerly dog,
that may venture to annoy his retreat from
farmers hog pen. This loving squeeze
so completely Modified the rebellious feel
ing Of the Major, that he suffered himself
to be passively led into the yawl. The
Captains shrill voice was again heard,
Pull away, my boys, Major Montgome-
ry wishes to go on shore
The oars dipped into the water, and the
yawl glided quickly 10 the beach. The
afternoon was cloudy and dark a driz.
zling rain was falling; the cotton wood
trees wore funeral aspect; no vestige
of human habitation could be seen upon
either shore, and the turbid waters of the
Mississippi were Fastening onwards, as if
to escape from such gloomy place.
Many of the passengers supposed that
after the Major had been disgraced by be.
ing set on shore, he would be suffered to
return but those who entertained this
opinion, knew very little of the character
of Captain Snake. That Major Mont
gomery should be a backlog. was in his
estimation no very heinous affair; for he
held that in this republican country, and
this democratic age, every man has ma
tural and unalienabe right TO choose his
own occm,ation. But after having been
permitted to piav loo with the CAPTAIN of
the fast running Sea Serpent, that the Ma
ior should slip a card, and then, lubberly
rascal, be caught at it-this was too bad -
absolutely unpardonable! There was some-
thing so vulgar, so very unprofessional in
such conduct, that was not TO be tolera-
ted.
The yawl touched the shore and was
hastily disburdened of its trunk. The
Major, however, after rising on his feet,
looked wistfully back upon the Sea Ser
pent, and manifested no disposition to take
refuge IN the canebrcak whereupon, the
captain becoming impatient, cried out,
Fireman, lend hand to assist Major
Montgomery on shore
The huge Kentuckian now began to ap-
proach the Maiors who, having no partic-
ular relish for another fraternal hug. sprung
to the bench, and sunk to his knees in
mud. Thinking forbearance no longer a
virtue, he poured out on the Captain tor
rent Of abuse; and, with wrathful oaths.
threatened to publish him and his ugly
snail creeping steamer, from Orleans
Point to the alligator swamps of the Ba-
ize. The Captain made no reply, but the
fireman, reused by hearing the approbious
terms applied to his beloved Sea Serpent,
called out in voice, that was echoed from
shore 10 shore,
i say, Mr.. Jack -of-knaves, it looks ra-
ther wofy in these parts
Shut your black mouth, you scoundrel,'
retorted the Major, boiling over with rage.
Il say, stranger continued the fireman
with provoking good humor, would you
swap them bugalo robes on your cheeks
for pair of coon skins 2
The Major stopped down for stone to
hurI at his annoying foe, but alas, he stood
! in led of mortar, and had no resource
but that of firing another voiley Of cur
ses.
Halo my hearty reioined the fire.
man, when you want TO be rowed up salt
river again, Just Zip me the wink; and
remember, Mr.. King-of, Clubs, don't holler
till you get out of the woods, or you'll
frighten all the varmints.
During the colloquy. the young cheese
merchant stood on the guards of the boat
a silent spectator, but at length, as if sud-
denly shocked by the dreadful profanity ol
the Major, he raised his voice and bawled
out,
! i say, Mister, if you was away down
east, guess squire Daggett would fine
you ever so much for swearing so wicked;
that's the how
The pilots bell tinkled, the wheels re-
sumed their gyrations, and again the ma.
jestic Sea Serpent
"Walked the waters ike thing of Efe."
Jonathan, with look in which the so.