The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1841-10-14
Beneath the light
Balcony's height"


In the piazza, could perceive three or four
lovely nymphs, with all the flush Of beauty in
their cheeks, waving, with sweet engaging air,
their kerchiefs 10 US loosely IN the wind. IL
was as much as 10 say, success attend you. IL
was indeed bright omen. | felt that we should
be successful and il was so!
Riding about mile along the high, seeing
some very fresh tracks going into an old but
very sure drive in that neIghborhood, known as
"The Club House Drive" il was proposed tina,
we should try IT, We had not been placed at
our respective stands many moments, when the
voice OF one OF the dogs proclaimed recent
tran. Soon general cry from the whole pack
confirmed the welcome news-wth emulation
hired, each seemed striving TO lead the rest. As
with greedy nostrils they snufed up the scent,
becoming more and more hot, the harmonious
concert louder and louder grew.
every region near
Seem'd all one mutual cry. / never heard
So musical a discord, such sweet thunder.
Match'd in mouth, like bells
Each under each. A cry tuneable
Was never hollad to, nor cheer'd with horn,
In Crete, IN Sparta, nor in Thessaly 7"
From the sounds that poured from their tune
ful throats, it was evident they were coming di-
rectly towards me. | was not long kept in sus-
pense. Through the thicket, to my inexpressi-
Bile delight, | caught a glimpse of two noble
bucks, going it" at killing pace. Just as they
were Jumping within gun shot, however, unfor
tunately they got sight Of me, which caused
them Immediately TO edge of to the left. Pre-
sently heard several rel orts-bang- bang
bang-in quick succession. Soon after passing
me, il seems that the bucks parted company
One OF them running directly out of the drive
was fired at and missed while the other took
holder course, directly parallel with the hunters,
literally running the gauntlet from one extrem
ty OF the drive TO the other, every one of the
party, save two, getting crack at him. Poor
devil how it must have astonshed his weak
nerves to have found an enemy in every bush
| Although wounded in several places, he did
not fall, however, until the dogs hanging upon
the scent, came up, and dragged down their
| victim
Alter taking two other small drives, en- route
TO the spot we proposed hunting when we set
| out, seeing three deer, and getting a few hylng
shots, we at last reached the locale appointed
for our days sport-"Me frture," as il would
be called in English Sporting phraseologv. 1t lis
a swamp situated in st. Thomas Parish, far
from the abode of man, deep in the forest, as
celebrated now for its abundance of game as it
was formerly for being one of the retreats Of Gen.
Marion in the Revolutionary war, whence he
carried on his desultory operations with his gal
liant brigade IN the campaign of 49, The out
lines OF his encampment remain, and may easily
be traced at the present day by the curious in
such matters. As the deer are seldom disturb
ed IN its vicinity 1t is impossible TO put the dogs
INTO 1t without some sport being the result. We
found the swamp so large and impenetrable in
some places that we had to divide it into several
drives, according to the facilities afforded by the
different crossing places. How many deer we
actually started in this swamp during the day.
from first 10 last of course, cannot exactly say,
for they did not all run out, but we saic eigh-
teen From the time they were put in, the dogs
LIMO do
rious melody-now doubtful, now frantic-as
more or less puzzled, they unraveed the mazes
OF the thick covert-heir way continually per-
picked by those arttul Iabyrinlhs occasioned BY
the deer, when frightened, leaving like some ex-
1 He'd wretch, their home retreat; and then, with
an instinct which mimics the dictates of rea-
son, persisting TO return slyly TO it again by
wide round.
After all our chances of sport, however, at this
swamp, we only succeeded in killing one deer
Several were wounded but, from the thickness
OF the covert, and The inaccessible condition of
the swamp, composed for miles of boys Welding
to the step, rendering all pursuit impossible, we
were unable TO get at them, and TO run them
down.
A gentleman of the party assured me, in con-
hrmatlon OF what have said above that on one
occasion, hunting in this very swamp, he missed
his driver for some time Going in search Of
HIM, attracted to the spot where he was by the
sound OF his horn, he found that the fellow, in
laudable endeavor TO stop the dogs, had unguard-
eddy got into rather tight place. His horse was
50 deeply boyd, 10 use my iniormants own
words, that he could see nothing of him unco-
vered but his head, which was resting on a pine
log.
i The servant have alluded TO here is so re-
markable and fearless rider that he is entitled
/ 10 passing notice.
He IS the property of VIM Ball, Esq, but
brought up under the tuition of James Poyas, IT,
Esq, an experienced sportsman. "IIs name
is lsalah"-we known in the regions round
about reg lar :. dare devil !" across the cuun
! try or In the woods
1 lmuch question whether the g best of the No
bles," with all their puck-science and skill in
England, displayed IN great perfection, certain
ly, IN their formidable tetes whilst riding steeple
chases, &C., could follow Isaiah in some OF his
bursts through boys, and brakes and stumps
As AN instance OF the danger he runs in his at
Temps sometimes 10 stop the dogs, saw him
not long since, at full speed over a. ugly look
ing place as man could have TO cross-fu Of
dangerous holes, overgrown with rank grass,
quivering boys and the trunks and branches of
large fallen trees, strewed about in all directions
On this occasion he was accompanied by ano- |
Their very excellent rider by the name of :. Sails
bury" the servant of my friend Mr.. Ella O. Ball |
OF kensington. Finding the necessity to 90
ahead" Isaiah, nothing daunted, stuck his gall |
ing spurs"nto his horses sides but, seeing there
was danger, with characteristic GOODNESS, he cr-
ed out TO his companion, "you had better not
keep SO close TO me, Salisbury, or you will get
into trouble" Hardly had the words of caution
passed his lips, when perceived his horse fall
ing. Urged by the goring spur, he exerted eve
~ muscle TO regain his footing, but in vain, he |
reeled and fell, not only on the ground but throw
ing complete somerset, literally heels over
head, turning so completely over as to bury the
cantle Of The saddle in the mud of the hole in |
which he had tript | Immediately hurried 10