The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1850-09-19
Fighting a Pack Of D7oodhounds

Ul evils-.hat never occurred
Fighting a Pack Of B7OOdhOunds.
In Caltiin Mayne Red's narrative Of his ad-
ventures in Mexico, during the war, we find the
following thrilling description Of his encounter
with pack Of bloodhounds, which had been
sent out in pursuit OF his party who had Just elu
dcd the Mexican soldiery, and were on their
| march OF escape to the American camp:
sslhe hounds were In full cry after us, when
we resorcd 10 the common rusc OF wadiny a
| stream to break their keen scent. II was one
oil those mountain torrents--common in MeXi-
co-spets of still water, alternating with cas-
cadcs, that dash and foam over shapeess mas
ses OF am,gdaloda basal,. We waded through
tic first pool and then. elambering among the
| rocks, entered second. This was good
stretch. hundred yards or more, of crystal wa
ter, in which we were waist deep. We took
the bank at the lower end, on the same side /;
| and, striking back into the timber, kept on par
allei 10 the course OF the stream. We did not
90 far away from the water, lest we might be
pushed agnn to repeat the ruse.
All this time the yelping Of the bloodhounds
had been ringing in our Suddenly il ceas-
| ed.
| sThcy have reached the water said Clawiey.
/ sNe,' tejoned Lincoln, stopping moment to
lister, 'they're chawin' them bones'
sThere, again. cried one, as their deep voices
rang down the glen, in chorus of the whole
pack. The next minute the dogs were mute a
second time, speaking, at Intervals, in a fierce
growl. that told us they were at fault. Bev nd
an occasional bark, we heard nothing Of the
| bioodhonnds. until we had gained, at least. tw .
miles down the stream. We began TO think we
/ had batiied them in earnest, when Lincoln, who
] had kept in the rear, was seen to throw himself
| nat upon the grass. We all stopped, look ing at
| him with breaihless anxiety. II was but min
ute. Rising up, with reckless air, he struck
his rifle fcrcely upon the ground, eXcaiming:
| swamp them hounds, they're arfcr us agin !,
By one impulse, we all rushed back to the
creek. and scramhling on the rocks, plunged in.
10 The water, and commenced wading down. A
sudden exclamation burst from Rioul in tn
advance. We soon learnt the cause, and 10 our
dismav--we had struck he water at a point
where the stream caaoaed. On each side rose
tro;sning precipice, straighta as wall. Between
these. the black rorren. rushed through a chan
mel only few feet in width, SO swiftly that, had
we attempted to descend BY swimming, we
should have been dashed to death against the
rocks below To reach the stream farther
down, i, would be necessary 10 make a circuit
OF miles: and the hounds would be on our heels
| before we could gain thee hundred yards We
| looked at each other, and al Llncoln-at pant
| ing and pale.
| .S,umped al lastr cried the hunter, gritting
| his teeth with fury.
| sN,.' | shouted, thought at that moment
| flashed npon me. Follow me, comrades
Wen fgh, the bloodhounds on the cff.'
| | pointed upward A yell from Lincoln an
nounced his approval.
.Hoorey, he cried, leapng on the bank shat
IDEAS ins like ye, Cap. Hoorey! Now boys for
the buff
| Mex, momen, we were straining up the G rye
that led to the rrecpice. And the next, we had
- Il -1u-. thA al. tx-
| bold projection, butted over the stream. There
was level platform, covered with tufted grass
and upon this we took our stand. We stood, tol
some moments, gathering breath, and nersne
ourselves for the desperate struggle.
could not help looking over the precipicc.
II was fearful sight, Beow-in a vertical line
two hundred feet below--the stream, rushing
through the canon, broke upon bed oi sharp
i rgcd rocks, and then gdcd on, in seething
snow white foam. There was no object he;weer
the eve and water; no jutting iedge--not ever
tree 10 break the fal--nothing but the spik,
bouldess below, and the foamipg torrent tina
| washed them. 1t was some minutes before on
unnatural enemies made their appearance, hu
every howl sounded nearer ard nearer. Od
trail was warm, and We knew they were scent
ing il on run. At tength the bushes crackled
and we could see their white breasts cleaning
tbrounb the leaves. a few more springs an,
bank, and, throwing up his broad jaws, uttered
a hideous sgrowl.' He was at fault where w
had entered the water. His comrades now dash
ed out Of the thicket, and, joining IN the chorus
or disappointment. scattered among the stones
An old dor--sca,red and cunnlng--kept afonI
the bank. until he reached the top OF the canon
This was where we had made our crossing =
Her. the hound entered the channel, and, spring
ing from rock to rock, reached the point where
.,ixypo mt n a
short yelp announced TO his comrades that ~
had lifted the scent; and they al, threw up thci
noses, and came galoppng down. There wa
a swift current, between two bouders OF basait
We had !eaped this. The old dog reached II
and stood straining upon the spring, when LIN
coin fired, and the hound, with one short 'wough,
dropped upon the water dead, and was carried Of
like flash
Counts one less to pitch over said the nun
ter, reloading his rifle.
Without appearing to notice the strange con
due, OF their leader, the others crossed IN
string, and striking the warm trail, came yelling
ND the pass. 1t was a grassy slope-such as y
often seen between two tables OF clif-and, a
4 the dogs strained upward, we could see thei
white ianos, and tho red blood that had ba'te'
! them cLotted along their Jaws. Another eracl
from the rife Of Lincoln, and the foremost houn'
,umb,ed back down the gorge.
i sTwo rubbed OUT cried tho hunter, ana al IN
same moment | saw him throw his sl!le to tn
ground.