Baton-Rouge gazette. [volume] (Baton-Rouge, La.) 1819-1856, 1846-02-14
THE BLIND ~sQUATTER.
ny pnncY .. 81. Join.

Az = SANS
Nearly fur hundred miles up the Trim.
i,v river, Texas, at The extreme point to
which the fiat. bottom steamboats, run up
in search Of cotton and other productions
is Robins Ferry. Below, the river is
narrow, with high steep banks, within tho
deep shadow Of which the waters roll nois.
elessly and swiftly towards the ocean,
while groves Of somewhat atunted trees
run down TO Tho very edge Of the cliffs /:
here, however, the stream expands into n
broad and shallow lake, tho shores OF
which are low, and even unsightly, as is
generally tho case in Texas.
We arrived at u Inning. place three
miles below the junction Of The lake and
river late one night, and curly the fol-
lowing morning | was padding up against
the stream in a light bark canoe, which,
having but a slight hold in the water,
served better to stem the current than one
of larger dimensions. For sometime |
continued within The shadows Of the cliffs
in comparative gloom +; but after d some
what fatigOlng hour, my eye first caught
a glimpse of tho shallow lake, where |
hoped 10 find sufficient abundance Of Wild
fowl to gIut my most murderons appe-
tite as d sportsman. The dawn had
long since passed, bat nature appeared
vet asleep. 80 calm, so still was that al
most unlrodden spot. Gliding swiftly
out of the influence Of the current. | a..
lowed my canoe TO stand ~motionle3s,
while | eazad around. Far as the sy3
could reach, spread a perfect wilderness
of waters, forward, tn the right and to the
left. perfectly unruffled, Cor not so much
as a blade of grass or a leaf was stirring
on the shore. Here and there rose huge
trunks of trees, borne from above by the
almost periodical inuUdations, and which
reaching some shallow port, BECOME sta.
t~ionary, until tImo and decay removed
them by degrees from their resting. place.
| Snags were visible all around, while a low
bushy island lay about a quarter OF d
mile to the southwark. The waters spark.
led in the sun, reveaabg at some distance
the presence of hundreds of duck, geese,
and swans floating upon the surface. Fol
some time they remained UNDECIDED, 80
charmed was | by the quiet beauty of tbs
landscape !; but at length the prospect oI
a late breakfast awoke my killing pro
pensities, and, raising my paddle, | gave
a true Indian sweep, and glided uoiseless
" towards the little island above aliude'
TO.
NV progress was rapid, but not a sonnt
could have been detectedsb by any save al
aboriginal. The beyy of ducks whlci
had drawn me in that direction were sail
ing towards the island, and | was within
gan.shot long before | was perceived, as
the better to deceive them, | lay almos
on nv face at last, and padded with mJ
hands. At length | aIlowee the canoei
drift with whatever impulse it had Prevl
eusly received, and cautiously clutchin
nv doubIe-barreIed apology for a 10
Manton, rose in the boat. Ere, however
could gain my feet, crack crack wer
the two barrels of a fowling.Piece,
whistling was heard close 10 my ears
and the ducks, save and except a fe'
victims, flew away with a loud ~rustlinI
of wings. | was %astounded. My frs
impulse was TO return the fire at random
as the idea of Indians crossed my braii
could however, plainly detect the pres
ence of a towing piece by the peculia
report. while it was clear the ducks Ia
been the object aimed at. Still the proN
unity of the lead to my ears was far fror
pleasant, and / fastened to prevent a re
errrence of so dangerous an experiment
"Holloo friend,'' cried |, in a lot
and somewhat angry voice, "are you dur
shooting or man shooting, because | shos
like to know 7"
"MercifuI Heaven" cried he, shave
! wounded you, sir ? Come in, and W
explain this accident"
readily complied, and a few miuut
placed me beside the sportsman. ] at on