The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1846-02-07
81. JOhnsbury, VT February 7, 1916,

see 1t? It's the Patriarch, and finer and
, mightier one you won't find in the prairies,
reckon. Dye see il.
q do see it, '
'Ah! you see it, cried he ficrcely. 'And
what is il to YOU? What have you to do with
the Patriarch, or with what lies under it?
reckon you had best not be too curious that
way. fyou dare take step under that tree
He swore an oath too horrible TO be re-
peated. '
'There's spectre there cried he; IN spec
tire that would fright you TO death. Better
keep away .. ..
q viii keep away replied ]. l never
thought ofgoing nearit. All want is to get
TO the nearest plantation or inn.'
'Ah! true, mantle next inn. Pll show you
the way TO it. wilE'
you will save my life by so doing said l.,
'and shall be ever grateful TO you as my de-
liver
Delivererp repeated he, with a wild laugh,
Pooh! If you knew what sort ola deliyerer
Pooh! What's the use ofsayin' u life, when
yet will will save yours; perhaps the
cursed spectre will leave me then. Will you
not? viii you not" cried he, suddenly
changing his scornful hooking tones to those
of entreaty and supplication, and turning his
face in the direction ofthe live oak. Again
his widness ofmanner returned, and his eyes
became fixed, as he gazed for some moments
at the gigantic tree. Then darling away, he
disappeared among the trees, whence he had
fetched his rifle, and presently emerged u
gain, leading ready saddled horse with him.
He called to me TO mount mine, but seeing
that | was unable even 10 rise from the
ground, he stepped up TO me, and with the
greatest ease lifted Inc into the saddle with
one halfd so light had ! become during my
long fast. Then taking the end ofmy lasso,
he got upon his own horse and set off,leading
my mustang after him.
We rode OH for some time without OK
changing word. My guide kept up sort
of muttered soliloquy; but as l was full ten
PAGES IN his renr, could distinguish nothing
ofwhat he said. At times he would raise his
rrihe to his shoulder, then lower it again, and
speak 10 it, sometimes caressingly, some
times in anger. More than once he turned
his head, and cast keen searching glances AT
me, as though 10 see whether were watch
ing him or not.
We had ridden more than an hour, and the
strength which the whisky had given me was
fast failing, so that expected each moment
to fall from my hose, when suddenly caught
sight ola kind of rude hedge, and almost i'm
mediately afterwards the wall ola small block
house became visible. 4 faint cry of Joy cs-
capped me- and endeavored, but in vain to
give my horse the spur. My guide turned
round, fixed his wild eyes upon me, and
spoke in threatening tone.
You are impatient, man! impatient, see.
You think now perhaps
Il am dying,' was all could utter. In
fact my senses were leaving me from eXhaus-
lion, and really thought my last hour was
come.
Pooh! dyng One don't die so eusy, And
yet il might be true
+, DI1 cf iI,I
time to cactch me in his arms us l fell from
the saddle. A few drops of whisky, however
restored me to consciousness. My guide re-
placed me upon my mustang, and after pass
ing through n potato ground, n field of Indian
corn, and a small grove of pcach-trccs, we
found ourselves at the door of the block |
house.
Twas so utterly helpless that my strange
was obliged TO lift me OIL my horse
and carry me into the dwelling, lie sat me
down upon bench passive and powerless as
an infant. Strange to say, However, l was
never better able to observe all that passed |
around me than during the few hours of bod |
ily debility that succeeded my Immersion III
the Jacinto. A blow with n reed would have
knocked me off my seat, but my mental ia
cultes instead participating i'll tins weak
ness, seemed sharpencd to an unusual degree
The blockhouse in which we now were,
was of the poorest possible description;
mere log hut, consisting of one room, that
served as kitchen, sitting-room, and bed
chamber. The door ofrough planks swung
heavily upon two hooks that fitted into iron
rings and formed clumsy substitute for him
ges; wooden latch and heavy bar served to
secure it; windows, properly speaking, there
were none, but in their stead Il few holes COW
cred with dirty oiled paper; the floor was of
clay, stamped hard and dry in the middle of
the hut, but out ofwhich, at the sides of the
room, a crop ofrank grass was growing, a
foot or more high. In one corner stood
clumsy bedstead, in another sort OF table or
on which were halfa dozen drink
ing glasses ofvarious sizes and patterns
The table consisted offour thick posts, firmly
in the ground, and on which were
nailed three boards that had apparently be-
longed to some chest or case, for they were
painted, and there was date, and the three
first letters of word upon one OF them. "A
shelffiXed against the side OF the nut support
ed an earthen pot or two, and three or tour
bottles, uncorl<ed and apparently empty; and
from some wooden pegs wedged III between
the logs, hung suspended few articles OF
wearing apparel of no very Clearly aspect
Pacing up and down the hut with kind OF
stealtby cat-like pace, was an individual
whose unprepossessing exterior was III good
keeping with the rest of this Texan shebeen
house. He was large understood, STOPPING
figure. red haired large mouthed,and possess
ed of small reddish pigs eyes,which he seem
ed totally unable to raise from the ground,
and the lowering hang-dog expression OF
which. correspondent fully with the treacher1
Gus. panther-like stealthiness of his step ana
movements. Without greeting us elther ny