Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1850-10-11

/
might as well station himself on shore
with his rifle, as he intended there shouI,
be very little equivocation in his gamin!
transaction.
The Yankee, finding that the Genera
was determined not TO give him fai
chance, proposed that the General shoul,
bet two to his one. The General laugh
ed at the proposition and readily assen
ted, provided the Yankee would agree tt
let him fix the amount, which was alsc
conceded.
To a Nothern traveller this sc enc
would have been highly interesting
About thirty yards from the boat. perch.
ed upon stump, with long rife in hi:
hand, was their host, ready to obey the
slightest command of the General A
the stern of the boat stood Monsieur
with pale cheek and feelings that can be
better imagined than described, as he
thought of the determination of a game
which would, in all probability, end in
leaving him and his friend several thous
and dollars minus. A little in advance
in front of him, stood the General and
the Yankee-the former cool and coliec-
ted, the latter exhibiting much uneasincss
which was particularly perceptible in his
bloodess, quivering lips-and he seemed
half inclined to "back out" A few
oaths, however. from the General, nervec
him to the sticking point, which was
made manifes, by his saying
81 guess I'm just about as ready as !
ever will be Gineral--so how much dc
you think | ought 10 bet? Don't be
gettin' il tew high, now, cause. you see
Gineral, you have to bet me tew TO one. >
"Oh, that matters not, my dear fellow
said the General, "we Arr ansas Gener-
ais only play for amusement; so, merely
to make the game interesting, my larky
I'll try you with two thousand dollars. .
wall, Glneral. SEEM it's you, and
only for amusement, dew just lay down
them ar four thousand of yourn, and Ill
try and raise the half ont"
The General accordingly laid down
his four thousand dollars on the boat,
while the Yankee placed his two thous.
and dollars in companionship.
"Now, Mr.. Gin eral," said Jonathan,
"jnst hide them ar hands O. yourn, and
speak it plain, 50 | shan't make no mis-
take"
The General cast his eye towards
the landlord, wipked, placed his hands
behind him, then in low, distinct voice,
said
sOpen or shu,!'
The Yankee looked at him steadily
for some moments, without moving a
muscle Of his face, as thouth, by some
intuition he was about to divine the GER
tain position of his hands--when with a
motion quick as lightning, he drove his
brawny fist slap between the eyes os the
General, which laid him PROSTATE upon
the deck
"Open! by gosh!" cried the Yankee,
as he saw the others hands flying
through the air, at the same time snatch
ing the money. cramming il into IN.
pocket, and hurting the straightened body
of the General on the shore, .hen giving
the boat sudden shove by means of a
pole, he and his French companion, 10
the great discontinue of their enemies,
were soon gliding down the stream.
"Fire!' roared out the General al the
top of his lungs, as soon as he could re-
gain his feet and turn 10 his host--'.iire!
tell you-you stupid fool!-blaze away!
blow out that internal Yankees bruins
--he's NOT lit for dogs meat!'
The frightened host endeavored to o.
bev, but il was no go--the more he tried
to shoot, the more he couldn't-while,
10 complete their chagrin and add to their
vexalion, the voice of the Yankee, in the
real nasal twang, was heard calling out
81 say, Gineral, this 'ere's putty con-
siderably kind of slick game of amuse-
ment. aint it! Tell that ar chap on the
stump TO blaze away--keep tellin' him
so-horn gun-fnts are raal slick things
to shoot with, amt they, Gineral!'
Il give il up.'' said the General, with
an oath; '.that cussed Yankee has beal
my game dead open and shut by load
ing my gun with wooden nutmegs, and
putting in horn flint"
IL say, Gineral,' called out the Yam
kee, with hearty laugh-placing his
thumb TO his nose, and giving his fingers
few extra flourishes--''I say, Gineral
i just give my respects to that nigger o
yourn; and dom, get to playing none o
your dead open and shut with Yam
kee again. and he added to the flourish
of his fingers by giving his other arm
the motion of turning a crank, and keep
ing time by moving his right foot up and
down as long as he was in sight.
Until the day Of the Generals death
no severer chas,isement could have been
inflicted upon him than to have simply
said--"horn gun-fints," "wooden nut
megs," .'big Yankees" '.French gentle
man. or ..dead open and shut. ~. \
Spirit Of the Times.
TABLES TuRNED.-A tavern keepe
1 Il