The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1846-03-20

ready assent was granted, after a
proposition for general treat had
been swallowed. His story ran
somewhat thus : did any one ever
hear of my fighting the tiger year
or two ago in Alabama? Il any one
hasn't heard that story, he'd better
plaster his hair to his head, and sow
his coat to his skin; for, cuss me il
it isn't enough to brighten IA man out
of his senses.
Well! Some time 'long in the
month of July, Sal came to me one
day, and says she to me-says she
joel want some bar-meat, and
| guess that you had better cut right
out and get me some. Now, YOU
must recollect, fellers, that Sal was
sorter sick about that time, and used
to take the darndest crankest kind
Of notions in her head that ever
heard Of But, however, / slung
cold Belly over my shoulder, and
sat out in full chase after the only
bear that we had heard of in that
neck Of the woods during the sum.
mer. A long, and q hot, and wea-
risome tramp ! had; but luck was
with me, and | finally brought 'old
Belly to level on him, and Just
laid him out as slick as ever YOU
saw coon chouse a dog. Little
time elapsed before he was regular
ly clcanSed, while | made break
for home, as | was tired, hot and
hungry. The tramp was a long one
the load none of the lightest, and
soon grew faint and sick under the
heat Of the sun. Casting about for
a spot upon which to rest until the
cool of evening, | soon found a qui-
ct nook under the shadow of clus-
tiers Of vines, to which | took an cs-
pecial liking. Hanging my game
to branch of neighboring tree,
and resting my gun by its side, re-
tired to this inviting spot, and was
quickly in land whele uneasiness
is not felt. How long | slept it is
impossible to say; but the nap gen.
orally, was sweet and refreshing
one, and might have lasted mucI
longer, if | had not been disturbed
by Shiny and COMPRISING scnsa'
ton about my throat, together witt
a feeling that something was pass
ing over my face which was not ev.
cry way pleasant to me. l was no.
thoroughly disturbed; yet felt my
situation becoming more and more
unpleasant, and, in dreaming list.
lessness, opened my eyes to see
what was going on, when-mercy
on me! | found an enormous snake
| well known in that region as the
'Racer,') had wound himself abou
my neck, and was bobbing lis nasty
head back and forth upon my face
while his horrible tongue was play.
ing like lightning upon my features
With yell of horror, Isprang to my
feet. Fortunately, my presence c
mind did not leave me, and be.
thought myself at once of my knife
Quietly drawing it from my belt,
managed topass it between my tliroa
and the snake, until was sure tina,
its point had reached beyond hi.
widest fold; then, with "A sudden
movement, turned the back to my
skin, the blade to my enemy, and
with vigorous trust of my wrist
he was lying powarless around my
feet, Before | had time to recover
from my alarm, I looked and, mercy
again. found a grander horror up.
on me. Drawn by the scent Of
blood, tiger had found my game
during my sleep, and was rampant
and raging over his prey. Never
shall ! forget the growl which he
gave when he first saw me. Their,
he was, rearing upon the game be.
fore him, his eyes like balls of fire
waiting only for me to move tc
spring upon and tear me limb from
limh. My brain was on five; | saw
but one hope, and that was to rccov-
er tie knife, which in my hrst sur.
prise | had dropt. made one eff.
fort to secure it, but my enemy kept
too close watch upon me, and dar-
ted upon me before | could reach it.
As he came, with laundering roar
AMI flaming eyes, | gave myself up
for lost; blindly closed my fist and
made pass as he reared upon me.
Fortunately my arm passed directly
into his throat, and as he ripped my
clothes in threads with his iron claws,
kept showing my fist on-on-on,
until 1t was MrOrgh and hr0ugh, by
thunder! Quick as Lightning seiz.
ed his tail, ris up on my feet, gave .
hearty jerk, and turned the tarnal
beast clean insiae ont! Strangers
thought | should a hummixed RICH
on the spot; but got over it, ant
feel none the worse for fighting tn,
tiger Who'll drink?