The daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1848-1851, 1850-11-20
Mary Rock.
BY PERCY D. ST. JOHN.

the hopes and passions of the swarthY Indian tribes
that people the frontiers of the contenjing powers
Certain predatory and other habits already alluded
to Un previous stories) as characteristic of this
family, had driven Captain Rock from the easy
neIghUorhood OF Dicknsons Bayou, and from ali
Others one after another, until at last he found
himself far nearer than generally considered
sats TO Spanish peak and its troublesome tribes o
redskins.
This time the old man, his wife, son and daugh-
ter-the other having remained with her husband
had to build house. instead of taking possession
OF one abandoned by former proprletors. They
chose the mouth Of deep gully, and the verge
OF dense forest. Their hut was as usual blocks
Of wood rudey put together and their energ les
had this time gone far as 20 induce the cuityd-
ton OF q small field of maize. This excepted their
whole existence depended on hunting and fishing.
Mary, who, It seems, had become more slim than
when knew her, was all the more interchangeable
IN her pursuit OF the game afforded by the fertile
and happy plains Of Upper Tevas She and her
brother were ceaseIess in their endeavors to track
the deer Wild turkey and partridges and supported
their family entirely. The old couple did abso-
lutely nothing but eat, drink sleep and smoke ut
terry iorgettal OF their former position in society
n httle before the outbreak of the late war, the
Rocks became aware Of the presence OF a neigh
bor. A tall young kentuckian. passonatey fond
OF a wild life, suddenly located himself within a
mile OF their abode, with sturdy assistant from his
own Iand, TOUR negro slaves, dozen horses, herd
u
house, and called his place Snowville-his name
being given out as Captain Snow. With peace
and tranquility, his farm would probably soon have
been the centre of a neighborhood, and ultimately
the site OF a town. But great pestilence, more
destructive than cholera or plague was coming
Texas was the cause Of terrible war.
As soon as Captain Snow had settled himself,
buit hIs house, and set his fields going he thought
it but right 10 pay visit to the Rocks desDite the
Pratlcai character he had heard of them round
about Galveston. The CHIEF things, however, which
struck him the occasion of his visit were the
Hretchedness Of their abode, the wilful dotage of
the parents, the industry Of the children, and the
matnred beauty OF Mary. Of frank and sociabIe
disposition, he made friends with young Rock and
very soon became the Inyariable COMPANION of the
brother and sister IN their huntngs and wander
Ihgs, lhe consequence was natural Had she
Hot been the only female within L hundred miles
Mary would have won the heart OF any youth not
already euchalned by her simplicity, truth and sin
ccrlty. Captain Snow, in a month, was over head
and ears IN love, and also the accepted lover of
Miss Rock, j. was agreed on all sides tha. imme-
uateIy after the maize harvest they should freight
boat with their various goods, and going down to
the settlements, be married
The interval was chiefly spent in hunting, fish
ing, boating and riding, when the various parties
concerned were not engaged in necessary yOca-
uOus, Capt, Snow head with a bounding heart
of the war, but bis murierous pr0pensi.ies were
wholly quciisd by the sight of Mary whom he
loved with all the ardOr of II -ngie-miuded. honest
and frank backwUOdsman. Sill he could not d.
vest himself Of regret at not partlkng Of the dan.
gers OF the expedition, and 70 divert his mind pro-
posed to the brother ard sister a weeks hunting in
ihe buffalo regions, higher up the country. Both
frankly acquescad, and one morning at dawn Of
day they started.
This time all the hunters rode horses the vsiy
best which Snow could pick from his lot, Each
had rife, powder horn, a bundle Of corn cakes
a flask OF native whisky, and a hunting knife.
Mary, on thus occasion, was dressed in almost as
masculine costume as her COMPANIONS and never
was happier, more sprgh,ly, or filed with more Of
the enthusiasm Of prairie life Their journey wa7
up de3p guihes, along heaylng plains, by cool
streams, and beneath the shadow Of thick woods
They roda along IN the morning until they found
place fit for sport, and then halting lit fire. shac.
kled their horses, and started foot in search of
game, sometimes together, sometimes separate
When success crowned their efforts, or when night
approached, they returned to their camp and sup
ped After this operation, which in the prairies is
very dangerous one, they made q sober attack on
their whisky-gUUrds and tobacco pouches and fter
. little gossip, were glad to find rest. Mary had
little hut, formed Of bOughs and their three closks
the brother and 5tanced husband keeping guard
on each side
Thus they wandered for more than week. and
none thought Of turning back. When the wild
passions OF raplae and slaughter and murder, al
most inseparabe from savage life-whiCh has gem
HEIy all the faults of civilized life, with scarcely
ii,
wandering existence in the virgin woods and fields
f America has an lueIpressible charm. They all
ell It. 10 camp at night beneath trees hundreds
of miles from houses or men, is thing which ex-
cites romantic feelings in the rudest, and none of
the trio belonged quite to the rough cast Cant
Snow had received some education, and Mary
ko"k had learned TO read bef're left the country.
They had thus some common tOpic of conversation,
and their excu,Jion gaiR2d redoubed charms.
one evening, little after dusk, having failed
sNNI Fi,a EIF.v &C L.. IL 1t
aTi plain, they had turned back towards that
which they had left in the morning. They had
ridden pretty hard, and when they came 10 q dry
bed ot q torrent which they had to cross, their
horses we've very tired.
81 reckon said Capt. Snow, " we'll not cir
cnmvent Dicks Ferry this night My horse is get
nng cranky like, and trails his legs like an old
muatang.'
&, " Hush ;" said young Rock, in low tone
WHAT'S up! whispered the other, in an equal
iY cautious manner.
Young Rock pointed down the bed of the tor.
rent, which was thick with bushes, and overhung
ny trees, and at some considerable distance the
blaze of fire seemed reflected family on the sill
very branches Of q Iarch. The fire itself was COM
P5tejy hidden, and would have been admirably
concealed but for an accidental Op ming in the
trees.
iugines-redskins - observed Capt Snow. "Do
you and Polly slope away 10 a clump of trees and
tdH away spFy, while creep down 10 the reptiles,
With these words, the Eentuckian descended
from his horse, took OIL his cloak or pOnChO and
dyesting hmselfof his rife pouch, every thing, in
fact, but his tough panaloons, flannel shirt, moe
'seirs, and hunting knife, began to descend the
stuny bed of the river. Mary and her brother rode
away with every precaution, leading the third
horse between them.
Snuw moved with NIL the stealth and caution of
aa Indian warrior. He had lived three years with
the Cherokees and seen their arts and cOntrvances
m the profession Of thanksgiving. He now reused
all his rcCOoctions. The neighborhood of Indians
,HrgIt be harmless, but it likewise might be dan
Rerous; and the safety fhs aflianCed wife quick
ennd the young mans blood, but took nothing
from the admirable coolness of his head, which
was as fertile in eIpedjsns as that of backwOOds
lawyer is in abuse. Il took him nearly an hour to
reach little hilock, behind which lay the camp.
onow now scarcely hreathed. The spot he Occu-
ped was rough, and filled by thOrny bushes. Ii
was about twenty yards from the dangerous vicin-
ny Of the fire. Slowly and gravey lie raised his
heau' and then his eyes fell upon party of nearly
a hundred indians in their hideJla warp int
H'ms We're sleeping, some smoking, while two Ol
'fs' were Oh the watch. One of these stood within
Ui5ee yards Of him, leaning against a tree. Hi
S.,i7 was towards the KautuCkian and his eve!
ss'2re turned on vacancy. Once hs turned uuicE E Y
IN ilis direction OF Snow, but the darncss and thr
scouts mJtIoneS5 position, made him see nothing
aud Nr white Iuan could continue his survay j.
IL