Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1849-03-21

By G. WILKINS EIMI.
IeoNctupED FROM LAST wEEk.l

So 49, -. --.- - IS
F77 IcoNcLuDED FROM LAST wEEK.l IS
About four months after this affair IL
company with an adventurous friend, was
traversing western Texas. Our objects
were to see. the country, and amuse our
selves in hunting for a time over any dis
trict we found well adapted for particu
lar sport-as for ,bear-hunting, deer-hunting
buffalo-hunting, 60 Either Of these ami.
mails is be found in greater abundance, and
of course pursued to greater advantage II
peculiar regions: and as we were anxious
to make ourselves familiar with all the
modes of life in the country, we made it
point in passing through to stop wherever the
promise of any thing specially interesting
offered itself. Prairies, timber and water
were better distributed in Shelby than any
country we had passed through-the tim
ber predominating over the prairie, though
interlaid by it in every direction. This di-
%sersity of surface attracted greater variety
and quantity Of game, as well as afforded
more perfect facilities to the SPORTSMAN
Indeed it struck us as a perfect hunters
paradise: and my friend happening to re.
member-a man OF some wealth, who had re-
moved from his native county and settled
as we understood in Shelby, we inquired for
him, and very readily found him..
Whatever else may be said OF thought
of the Texans, they are unquestlonably
most hospitable. We were frankly and
kindly received, and horses, servants, guns,
dogs, and whatever else was necessary to
ensure our enjoyment of the sports Of the
country, as well as the time of our host
himself, were forthwith at our disposal, and
we were soon, to our hearts content, engagg-
ed in every character of exciting chase.
One day we had all turned out for a deer
drive. This hunt, in which dogs are used
for driving the game out of the timber,
scatters the hunters very much; they are
stationed at the different "stands" which
are sometimes miles apart, to watch for the
deer passing out; for this reason the party
seldom gets together again until night. We
divided in the morning, and skirted up op-
posite sides of wide belt of bottom timber,
while the esdrivers and dogs penetrated It,
to rouse the deer, which ran out on either
side by the strands, which were known to
the hunters. We were unusually success
full, and returning to a late dinner at our
hosts the planters house. By dusk all had
come in, except my friend whose name was
Henry. and man named Stoner, one OF
the neighbors, who had joined our hunt.
Dinner was ready, and we sat down to it,
supposing they would be in, in few mo-
ments. The meal was nearly over, when
Henry, who was gay valuable fellow
came brushing into the room and, with
slightly aurried manner, addressing our
host: esquire, this is strange country
Of yours Do you let crazy people range
it with guns in their hands"
>, ssNot when we know it. Why? What
about crazy people? You look excited.''
aWen, think / have had enough to
make me feel little curious "a
sWhat is it? What is it?" exclaimed
every body eagerly.
"Why, T have met with either the Old
Harry himself ghost = or padman; and
which it is, ]. am confoundediy puzzled fo
fellp' xaI
sWhere? Howl"
He threw himself into chair, wiped the
perspiration from his forehead, and contin'
sued :-"aYou know, Stoner and myself, ,wher
we parted from you all this morning, took
up the righthand side of the bottom timber
Wei, ,Stoner accompanied me to my stand,
where we parted be to 60 on to his; and
have seen nothing of him since. Soon at:
ter he left me, deer passed out shot II
-mounded it-and jumped on my horse
to pursue it. The deer had staggered al
my fire, but he was not SO badly wounded
as supposed, and led me of, until it sud
denly occurred to me that I might get lost
and Ireined up; but I soon found that this
sober second thought mad come too late, and
that was already out Of my latitude.
wandered about nearly all day, thougss tax.
ing care not to go very far in any one di-
rectien, before L came across anything
which promised to set me right again. a
last Dame upon wagon trail and felt re
-ieyeA, for / knew it must take me to SOM
point where j could get inform alton. Th
trail was marrow, leading through scrubb,
sthickets ], and I was riding along slowly
1lonking down, in the hope Of detecting tn
tracks of some. of your. horses, when the VIC
lent shying of my horse caused me to rails
my eyes. And, by George! twas enoug
olhase stamped regiment of horses o.
the left of the trail stood very tall skeleton
figure dressed in skins one foot advanced
aasiif he had stopped in the act Of steppin'
aacross it, and al long heavy gun just swing
ing down to the level bearing on me. Q
course my heart leaped into my throat, an
my flesh shrank and crept. Before | coul
think Of raising my gun, my eyes met thos
Of this strange figure; and what eyes!-
Surprised at their cold, unnatural express