Carroll free press. [volume] (Carrollton [Ohio]) 1834-1861, 1847-03-05

"And they accepted iti"
"Had any refused. would have ground my
heel IN bis neck. But hencefouh, am free
10 six years | have expended-let me see;-|
Hamilton, look down my throat; See you moth.
ing lherel"
Nothing particular the tongue, indeed, sp.
pears furred ond"-
"Pshawl Do you not see q cotton PLANTATION
there worth forty thousand dollarsl" and he
opened wide bis mouth for the inspection Of his
friend.
"Not very clearly" replied Hamilton, who be-
gan to doubt the sanity Of Tom.
"NOr halfa-dozen three-siored dwelling
houses, With ten-acre lots attached to each!"
81 can't saythat do said Hamilton, driIy,
and opening his eyes wider and wider.
"Nor fve-and-lwenty negroes; eleven bloodcd
horses and six brood mares,-the latter worth at
the lowest estimation, three thousand dollars
apecel
"They are not there, Tom," responded Ham
ilton, smiling, and beginning 10 comprehend that
Tom spoke fgurauyely and in allusion 10 his
tipping expenses.
"No, Hamilton, they are gone; they have ire
vocabIy gone down that maelsIrom. The pearl
Of Cleopatra is not a fable. But do you know
the effect produced by this extraordinary degIuti-
lionl"
"Not remarkably pleasant. should fancy
alt made me sick. Hamilton; very sick. Is it
not strange that one should be voluntarily at ex-
pense in order 10 become sickF'
"Unaccountably so, indeed!'
"Ah! it sickens the reputation too, Hamilton
and there is one whose good opinion Of me was
near forleiting; whose esteem ought 10 prize
next my own salvation"
'And who might that bel" inquired Hamilton,
who began to suspectthat Tom had come under
the dominion ofthe tender passion, and acknowl-
edged the supremacy Of some dimpling damsel.
"They call him Thomas TaIbot--Tom Tai
bot, for shortness. Without seli-esteem, a
man, when alone must feel himself in very low
society,""
"Ccruinly Tom you have droll way Of dis
serting on morals" said Hamilton, l~Ighing
"and sincerely hope YOU will never forfeit your
self.esteem, which is the'onIy ballast capable Of
steadving our course through Iiie," and be shook
Tom cordially by 1.-THE hand.
"And now" said Tom, "keep right on; we
shall soon getinto deer-track What fine tim
Der Simpson has on this estale He paid up
ward of eighty thousand for this plantation and
have heard father say it is cheap at that
Hush! did you not hear that cracking Of brush
right ahead! See how the branches Of that dog
wood wave about! Stop litlle: you see il
nowl"
II do; the antlers of the deer must have
caught in them as itpassed TO the lick: let US on
ward"
"lf Simpson" returned Tom, Conserved us
enter the woods. he would endeavor 10 mar our
sport by having the first shot himself. 1t is just
like him. can't endure Simpson. By the by, |
heard you had some quarrel with him yester-
day. What are you looking att"
Il thought caught a glimpse of some person |
fitting Through the pines yonder."
"Therc are persons before us then, | fear
Step not on that place, Hamilton; it looks crusty
at the top, but would swallow caravan. That
you know is the ''sugar pot" How dense the |
underwood is here! There is something awful
in the stiffness of forest. Now let us tread
cautiously up that hill and take shelter in the
fssure Of lhe grey rock on the summit; the lick
will be right below us, and within shot. WHAT
was that! As live, saw some human being go
behind that maple! 1t is Simpson, | suppose,
and now let US baulk him five can. Down!
Hamilton, down and make ready" rapidly whis-
pered Tom. ale is bounding along to the right
ofus, you sec the antlers!" and Tom fired; but
almost Simultaneous with the crack Of his rifle
was the report ofanothcr, when Tom stagger-
ed forward and fell!
"Ah Hamilton, you shot the wrong target"
family observed he as Hamilton, after glancing
rapidly round him, ran up, homor-srcken, to
succor the pleading man.
"As live, before God, Tom, didn't shoot at
a!' answered Hamilton, as he cut open the
coat and stopped TO examine the wound which he
found was between the shoulders!
"He shot me then, if he be living man.
fear am done for, Hamilton. Get me some
water, for am weak"
at may have been accidental, said Hamilt on,
half, aloud, and glancng round him after partial
lv staunchng the blood with handkerchief
This done, he hurried to a spring at the foot Of
the rock, and as he stopped to the water, he
hears noise in the underwood to the left. His
impulse is to run to the spot and find out the cause
of it, but then his wounded friend is suffering for
water, it will occupy, however, but moment to
crafty a curiosity he now finds uncomfortable,
and he plunges at once into the Jungle. The
crisped leaves and cracking brushwood give no.
tice that his object is a lule in advance. Here
doubles his speed, and then pauses to listen.-
The noise has also stopped He out ran, most
likely, what he is in quest of: he looks round,
but sees no one. The cause of that rushing
sound cannot be far dstant;-he turns little to
the left, and now he hears ii again. The mo-
tion is measured and steady, and is mani(estly
toward him. He hastens in its direction, and on
rounding an angle of thethcket, Capt. Slimp-
son stands before him.
The latter has no gun with him:-hs clothes
are rent by contact with the bushes, and one of
his legs encased in mud from heel to fork
Hamilton observes, also, an excited expression
about his countenance,-aw wiIdness of the eye
that was nothabitual. He beevcdhim atlhat mo-
ment capable of any evil, yet could definitely lay