Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1850-08-15

self of his fair advantages, but bestows the spoils
on his wiser rivals.
Fighting Pack of BlOOdhOunds.
In Captain Mayne Ried's narrative of his
adventures in Mexico, during the war, we find
the following thrilling description Of his en-
counter with pack of bloodhounds, whcih had
been sen, out in pursuit of his party who had
Just eluded the Mexican soldiery, and were on
their march of escape TO the American camp.
1.-The hounds were in full cry after US, when
we resored 10 the common ruse of wadlng a
stream 10 break their keen scent. Ii was one
of those mountain iorrents-commOn in Mexi-
co--spois of still waller, alternating with cas-
cades, that dash and foam over shapeless mas
ses of amygdaodal basaIt. We waded through
the first pool and then, cldmbering among the
rocks, entered second. This was good
strech, hundred yards or more, of crystal
wafer, in which We were waist deep. We took
the band at the lower end, on the same side ;
and, striking back into The timber, kept on par
allel TO the course of the stream. We did not
90 far away from The water, lest we might be
pushed again to repeat the ruse.
All this time the yelping of the bloodhounds
had been ringing in our ears. Suddenly II
ceased.
They have reached the water" said Claw
ley.
NO." reioined Lincoln, stopping moment
TO listen, "ihey're chawin' them bones"
"There, again" cried one, as their deep
/ voices rang down The len, in chorus oi lhe
" hole pack The next minute The dogs were
mute a second time, speaking, al intervals, IN
fierce growl, that Told US they were at fault
Bevond an occasional bark we heard nothing
Of the bloodhcunds, until we had gained at least,
TWO miles down the stream. We began TO think
we had baf1ed them in earnest, when Lincoln,
who had kept in the rear, was seen 10 throw
himself llat upon the grass. We all stopped,
! looked a. him with breathess anxiety. 1t was
bu, a minute Rising up, with reckless air,
he struck his rife fercey upon The ground, ex-
claiming
Swamp them hounds, they're arter US a.
gin"
By one impulse, we all rushed back 10 the
creek and, scrambing on the rocks, plunged
into the water, and commenced wadng down
A sudden exclamation burst from Raou, IN the
advance We soon learnt the cause, and 10
our dismay-we had struck the wafer at point
where the stream canOneb On each side rose
ffowning precipice, straight as wall BE-
tween these, the black torrent rushed tnrough
channel only few fee, in width, so swiftly
that, had we attempted 10 descend by swim
miny. we should have been dashed TO death a.
oaiost The rocks below. To reach the stream
! farther down, il would be necessary 10 make
i circuit of miles aud the hounds would be on
our heels before we could gain three hundred
Yards. We looked at each other, and at LIN
con-al painting and pale.
4 S,umped al las. !" cried the hunter, gritlng
his teeth with fury.
\ Mo- shouted, thought at that moment
] flashed upon me. . Follow me, comrades
! Well fight he bioodhounds on the clIif.
4 / poIn,ed inward. yell from Lincoln an
nounced his approval.
4 Hoorey !" he cried, leaplng on The oanK
4 "that IDEAS justslike ye, Cap. Hoorey! NOW
! boys, for The bluff"
Next moment we were sirainine up The gorge
thai led 10 The precpice. And the next, we
had reached The highest point, where me c'lH
bv bold projection buued over the stteam.--
! There was level platform, covered with lui
ted grass. and upon this we took our STAND. :
i We stood, for some moments, gaiheilng Dream
and nerving ourselves for the desperate sHpg
gle.
| could no, help looking over the preclplce
|, was fearful sight. Below-in Vertlca
line two hundred feet beow-the stream, rush
! ing through the canon, broke upon bed
sharp, Jagged rocks aud then ghded on, 10 see
thing, snow white foam. There was no ohJec
between the eye and water no juItlng ledge
not even tree TO break the fall nothing on
the spiky boulders below, and the foamlng 'o'
I rent that washed them Il was some minute
| before our unnatural enemies made their ap
! pearence, but every howl sounded nearer ,sn'
nearer. ourlrail was warm, and we knew the.
were seeming j, on run. Al length the bush
!, E. cracked. and we could see their white breast
4 cleaning through The leaves. few NOR
springs and The foremost bloodhound oounae
} upon The bank, and throwing up MS Ofoau Jaw,
oF ol.ered hidsous. "gfowl." He was a. 9. iaul
whare we had entered The water, His com
rades now dashed on, Of The ihicke', and, JOIN
!, ino the chorus Of disappointment, scattered