Lewisburg chronicle. [volume] (Lewisburg, Pa.) 1850-1859, 1851-05-21


We felt q shock, as if something had fallen
down the bank-a mound of muddy water
res with 4 mufled, rumbling sound, and
then burst out to a column Of dark smoke
4 splashing and bubbling succeeded, and
then a great crimson patch flcated on the
water, like variegated carpet pattern
Strengthening fragments of scaly skin
were picked up by the natives from the
waters edge, and brought to us amidst a
very general rejoicing. The exploded
Mugger foatcd down the stream, and the
current soon carried it out Of. sight. We
were not at all sorry, for it looked such a
horrible mess that VIC felt 10 desire to ex-
anime it.
Oursense of triumphant satisfaction was
however, sadly dampened about week af-
terward, when we received the mortifying
announcement that Sidhoo's Mugger was
still alive, and on his old beat, apparently
uninjured. 1t was evident that we had
blasted the wrong Mugger! We con-
soled ourselves with the reflection that if
he were rot Sidhoo's murderer,i it was very
likely he was not wholly innocent of other
atrocities, and therefore deserved his fate
OF course, it was impossible to rest
while Sidhoo's Muggcr remained alive so
We were net long in preparing second
expedition. This time We took the pre-
caution of not charging the battery until
We were certain that the bait was swal-
lowed. The acid, dilutcdto the necessary
was therefore carried il enc of
those brown carthcnwarc jars called gray
boards, which had come out to us full of
Glenlivet whisky. We commenced drag
ging the kid up the stream as before; but
having walked more than a mIe without
getting bite, We were getting rather dis
heartened, and sat down to rest, struck
light, and smoked a cheroot. 11ill laid
down, having manufactured an impromptu
easy chair out of his coil of rope, with the
inflated goat-skin placed above it. My
brother was not long in initiating his ex-
ample, and laid down, under the shade
Of some reeds, near to the waters edge.
The heat was oppressive, and we were dis
cussing the probability Of getting a bite
That day, and lamenting that We had not
brought some pale ale along with us,when,
Ill at once, l got sharp blow on the leg,
while my brother came spinning down the
bank like tcetctum-a companion pic
lure to Hall, who was revolving down the
opposite bank. The ropes and skins went
,ushing down the nulla at tremendous
pace. As soon as we recovered from the
aughter into which we were thrown by
his droll contrctemps, we set off in pursuit,
yuidcd by the track which the inflated
kins made in the water. On they went,
lashing from side to side, as they had
lone in our first attempt. On coming to
place where the nulla made sharp turn,
hey stood still under the high bank on the
nncr curve of the bend. 1t unfortunately
that the bank, near to which !
he skins were fcating,was too prccipitous
or us to get near them without starting
he Mugger from his present position.
With much labor we detached some loose
DDS from the top of the bank, and sent
hem with 4 loud splash into the later
irectly over where We imagined him to
ave taken up his quarters. This had the
esircd effect, for the skins began to move
lowly down the stream, as if the Mugger !
Tere crawling leisurely along the bottom
Leaving my brother with the coolies in
harge Of tie battery, l ran on to where
he bank was more shelving. BY good
uck the stream Was rushing up, after its
udden sweep, and sent strong current
gairst this bank. had not waited MANY
minutes before the skins came floating
ound the corner, to where l was stand
,g. seized the one to which the wire
as attached, desiring my brother to
barge the battery and bring it down. This
c did much sooner than could have ex-
ected; for, as the battery was now empty,
ne coolie was able to carry it on his head,
lille my brother took the jar of acid in
is hand. 1t was evident from the mo-
on of the other skin in the water that
lie Muggcr was still moving, so no time
as to lie lost l made TIE connection
ith the battery with one of the wires in
,othcr instant, the circuit was complete,
I'd the Mrggcr's doom sealed. |,
There was momentary pausc-owing, 1
suppose, to some slight loss of insulation I
the wires-then came the premonisory
rock, then the rumble, the smoke, and !;
&C sparks; and a great bloated mass of !
,sh and blood rose to the surface of the
ater. Hall called out to us to drag it
hc.c, and see whether we could get any t
ace Of poor Sidhoo. We tried by means ?
a bamboo pole to pull it to the bank, !