Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1843-10-19
MISCELLANEOUS
SCENES IN ALABAMA.

Our next adventure was decidedly a
dangerous one. Fotding the Talapoosa
river, where lis bed Is extremely uneven,
being formed OF masses Of rock full OF ifs.
suIes and covered with SHINY green moss;
when about twu-lhrds OF the way across,
we were hailed by Sol Todd from the bank
we were approaching. We stopped to
hear him more distinctly. "felluwi lIlle
squire, you a.ch,cken hunting this way,
to-dayP
Beng answered affirmaively, he con.
tnued-"You better mind the holes IN
III IN ere rocks-if your horses foot gifts
ketched 10 'em you'll never get il out.
You see that b,g black rock down to your
righi Well, there's good bottom dawn
below that. Strike Gown thar ouisi e
that little rifle. aud now cut right int
that smooth water and GENE across"
We follow ed SIPS rect Gus TO the I.
t-r, and piunging into ihe smooth ssofer,
we found il To BE- basin sufIouu ed with
steep hedges OF rock aud deep enough To-
swim the horse We rot e. Round mi
roun the poor old black toIled with ut
tindi g any place ., W.T. Oh be- d eff I
a lsndng, so preciptuus wee Ihr s'd's 5.
Sol occas on lily nske US "if ihr bottom
wasn't firsl.raie," but did moth ng t. h Up
us. Al lfngth We sc ambl d out, wet
aud chIlled 10 the hone for il was a sharp
Sci temoer ~, IN NJ - aud continued n
Journey not littie annoyed By he boisio-
fous roaring laughter of The sad 'lomen,
at our pitur sque appearance.
We hadn't more than got ou, OF hear
ing Of Sol's cachinaiory explosions, before
We net one ui his neghbufs vino gave us
to understand that the ducking we h ID
Just received, was but the lufiInenl of
threat o.. Sol's, to make the chicken man"
take a swim in the Book Hole" H.
had heard If our stopping on the opposite
side of the riy'r, the night previous, aud
learning our intention To ford Just wherr
we did, fixed himself on the bank TO en-
sure our finding the "Buck Hoe.
This information brought our nap right
up, aud requesting Bill Splawn TO stay
where he was I'LL we returned, we gall
Hoped back to Soils, aud found that wor-
thy, rod on shoulder, ready 10 leave on
fishing excursion.
"Sul, old fellow" said we "that was
mos, unfortunate hinge | made into that
hoe in the river-l've lost S25 in specie
out of my coat pocket, and Tine CERTAIN
it S in that hole, for ielt my pocket get
light while was scuffl ng about in tn re-.
The money was Tied up tight in a buekskin
pouch, and mnst get you to help me TO
get H."
Tbs, of course, was a regular old.
fashioned lie, ns we had not seen the a.
mount Of cash m~ntioned as lost, 10 ga
coon's age" II took, however, pretty
well, and Sol concluded, as il was pref.
ty cold spell of weather, for The season ard
the water was almost like ice. that halt
the contents of tho buckskln pouch would
be Just about fair for recovering Il. AZ
ter some chaffering we agreed that Sol
should dive for the money ION shares,
and we went down with him, 10 the IIver,
TO point out the precise spot at which our
mock et "grew light" We did SO with
anxious exactness, and Sol denuded hum
self and went under the water IN the
"Buck Hole" ''like a shufiler duck with
his wing broke" Puff puff as he rose
TO the surface. SCOT it Soil" mo dang
it, here goes again"-and Sol disappeared
second time. Puff puff and consd-
cradle rattle Of he teeth as Sol once more
rose into "upper air." "Wha, luck, old
horse?" "By jings, felt II That time,
but some how it slid out of my fingers.
Down went Sol again, and up he came Of.
ter the lapse of minnie, still without the
pouch. "Are you righ sure squire, that
you lost il in this hole. said Sol getting out
upon large rock, while the chattering Of
his teeth divided his words into rather more
than their legitimate number OF syllables.