Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1843-08-04
VOL. 3s, NO. 4s.-WHOLE NO. 1920.

continued he. "And now, forward quickly; for
the sun is set and we still have some way to 60"
And ngan he led the march with skill and
confidence in himself which each moment increas-
ed Our reliance on him. After proceeding in this
manner about half an hour we saw pale light
| glimmering in the distance.
"Fiye minutes more end your troubles are over;
but now is the time to he cautious, for it is on the
borders OF these cursed swainps that The ogntors
hest love TO lie."
| In my eagerness to find myself once more on
dry land, scarcely heard the Yankees words (;
and rs the stepping places were now near togeth-
er, fastened on, and got little in front Of the
party. Suddenly felt u log, on which had just
placed my foot, give way under me. had scarce
| ly time to call out halt !" when | was up to the
arnps in the swamp, with every prospect of
sinking still deeper.
"You ,0W hurry on" said the old man, with a
laugh: and ut the same time. springng forward,
he caught me by the hair. "Tnke warning for the
future" added he, as he helped me out Of the mud
" and look therew
did look, and saw half dozen agators wri-
thing aud crawling in the noxious slime within a
few feet of us. felt a sickening sensation, and
for moment cOul! not utter a word: The Yam"
kee produced Ills flask OF wbiskey.
"Take a swallow of this" said he; " hut no.
better wait Till we are out Of the swamp. Stop a
little till your heart beats quieer So you are bet
Ter now When you've made two or three such
journeys with old Nathan you'll be quite another
mau Now-forward again.
lew minutes later we were out Of the swamp
and looking over field of palmettos that waved
and rushed in the moonbeams. The air was fresh
aud once more we brealhed freely.
"Now then said our guide ga dram, aud then
in halt an hour we are OH the Sail Lick"
Where ?" asked J.
Atihe Salt Lick to shoot deer or Two for
supper. Halo! what is that"
"a thunderclap."
"Yon have heard but few of them in Louisiu
M, guess, or you would know The difference he
twlxt thunder and the crack Of backwoodsman:
rifle. To he sure yonder oak wood has an alinigh-
iy echo. That is James rihe-he has sho. stag
There is another shot"
This time it was evidently rifle shot, but re
echoed like thunder from the depths OF The i'm
mense forest.
ave must let them know we are still in who'll
skins, and not in The NAV Of an alligator" sait
the old man, who had been loading his rifle, all,
now fired il off.
In half an hour he was at Salt Lick, where w
found our guides Two sons busy disembowen
and cutting up fine buck that they had killed
an occupation in which they were much en-
crossed that they scarce seemed TO notice our arri
val. We set down, not n liue glad 10 rcpose af
ter the lnigues aud dangers we had gone through
When hind aud forGquar,ers, breast and back
were all divided in right hunlsmnn-like style, tn
young men looked at their father. "Will yor
take bite and sup here 2" said the Inter, ad
dressing Carleton and myself, "or will you Wal
ill we get ho,ne?'
allow far is there still! to go?'
allow far? With good trotting horse and
better road, three quarters of all hour will brin
you there. You may reckon it Il couple of no lrs
"rhen we would prefer euling something here
GAS you will"
Wnlou, more words or loss of time, haunc
was cut offone OF the hind quarters; dry leave
and branches collected and in one minute fiji
WIS blazing brightly, the joint turning before it O
II wooden spit. In half AN hour the party WI
collected round roast haunch of vension, whic
although eaten without bread or any of The nsu
condiments certainly appeared to us TO be Il
very best we had ever tasted.