Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1852-04-02


himself at length upon the trunk. and fix
ing his eyes upon me, seemed TO say, be
in no hurry, good fellow have had
snack now, and can wait awhile longer for
you As he lay thus expectant, how |
cursed my stars that | had not even
pistol with which TO salute him.
There they were in plain sight, nv
trusty rifle leaning in the fork of dog-
wood bush upon the bank, my rifle pistols,
good at twenty PAGES, hanging by their
slde-one shot to bore out this rasca's red
eye, If had to die the next minute after
wards.
But all this was sheer nonsense, as |
was very politely informed by wide
yaWn, which the alligator made in my
very face. The fact was farther corrobo-
rated by large owl, which took up It's
station close by, and commenced the most
dismal hoo!img that ever had thought an
owl capable Of making.
All this was discouraging enough it will
seem TO you, good neighbor, but YOU are
mistaken if YOU think so &; it was not
enough, by d great deal, for before the
owl had finished the first chapter Of his
melancholy tale, splash in the water
called my attention TO the fact that another
reptile, - Of same sort" with my seaGnci1a
mcriu, had approached, allured by some
instructive notion OF prey, and was SWIM
ming about the tree top, as if to find out
the most convenient mode of entrance.
Now, / beg that The reader will not
misunderstood my state of mind at that
particular time. 1t IS no uncommon thing
to hear i man laugh at the fury of tenn
pest after it is over, who trembled like u
whipped hound, as the trees crashed around
him. have seen rascals making sport of
revival meetings, who during their influence
were PROSTATE in The straw, screaming
with all the terrors of an awakened con-
science, and moving heaven and earth Tor
pardon. And although, as | sit here near
by my peaceful fircsidc, with little p1tSSY
pulling and hauling and singing at pa 5
knee, ! can Write i'll This iOcular strain
concerning that nights horrors, vet had
you stood just then by that beech tree
root, and looked out about eighty feet over
the lake. YOU would have seen as fright
ened i specimen Of humanity as ever tied
himself by suspenderS and handkerchief
to keep from falling into an alligator's :
mouth. vow, that did not sleep for d
month afterwards, bat | was solving the
physiological problem as 10 the tauderest
place whereat to reach an alligator vitaIs.
Ask old Chambers, at whose house |
boarded during that time while my wounds
were hcaling-but | anticipate.
! c,,,roeIy- bo ruDrp-aJ t.> raD,o,,, No.
all the events Of that prolracled night.
Let alligator No. tell us how many
times he swan around the tree top, and
took telescopic views at me, as if . strictly
to define my position"
Enquire of alligator No. /, how often
be raised himself upon his feet, as made
. the slightest motion, and seemed to offer
the red lining of bis mouth, as if to catch
me in my contemplated fall Ask that
most dolelul Of owls, how many times he
commenced the same subject. as if he
could not open il to his satisfaction, and
after ten minutes practice dropped it with
hoot Of despair
I Apply 10 those moccasin snakes, whose
cold shiny skins would ever and anon
chill mine, as they squirmed through the
tree top. Ugh how | shuddcr when
think Of them.
That night was polar night in length
Il Tartarean in horrors. 1t viyidIy re-
called Christians journey in Pilgrims
Progress where he is depictured as pass
ing through the valley OF the shadow Of
DEATH
Not moon would rise, not a star shine.
Heavy banks Of clouds moved up from the
South, and shadowcd the lakes surface.
1t raiucd 4 smart shower. Then it ceased,
and the wind changed into the north, and ii
became cold, very cold for spring night
in Louisiana, and as hung in that beech
bough, shlyercd to the back bone under It's
influence. But still knew by the splash
inc that No. , was not weary III It's efforts,
and by an occasional yawu, lhat No.
slumbered not at his post, while the abom-
Unable owl, 10 my imagination the most
terrible OF the three, had found a dry hol-
! low, and added a more dismal tune 10 his
most dismal song.
Morning got awake at last, and natures
protracled sleep ended. The day-birds
flew off their perches, and. to my great
delight, gang of Jay birds attacked the
owl, and drove him clear across the lake.
Some deer came down near by, to drink,
and although they soon scented me and
He'd, yet it was d satiiaclon even TO see
/ them there. The sun came up glorlously,
/ and warmed and dried me, leaving room
for comlor! TO enter my chilled carcase.
Alligator No. ,, got tired Of his circumam-
bulations, and left for parts unknown.
The moccasins avoided me greatly to my
satisfaction, who always had horror OF