Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1854-05-31

dead certainty, II l did not succeed IN
making the high ground; so spoke TO
the creature to do her best, and kept on.
The poor beast did not need any whip
ping-she knew she was doing her best
and no mistake. Still the water rose and
kept rising, until it came clear up to her
shoulders 1 began to feel frightened in
earnest. We were not more than hal f
way across, and thought if it rose much
more we would have to swim for it.
was not far astray about that. The mi
mute after, it seemed to deepen suddenly,
as if there was hollow in the prairie
l heard the mare give loud 'gouf, and
then 90 down uutil was up to the waist.
She rose again the next minute, but |
could tell from the smooth riding, that
she was off the bottom, that she was
swimming, and no mistake.
cat first thought of heading her
back to the shanty, and drew her round
with that intent; but turn her which way
l would, l found she could no longer
touch bottom. I guess, stranger, was
in quandry about then. began to
think that both my own and the mares
time had come in earnest, for had no
idea that the creature could ever swim to
the other side, especially with me on her
back, and particularly a. that time my
ribs were heavier than they now are.
was not much under two hundred at that
time, and that was no light weight
reckon up. l got to thinking of Mary
and the children, and the old shanty in
Mississippi, and heap of things l had
left unsettled, and now that came into
nv mind to trouble me- The mare was
sill pIunging ahead, but l observed that
she was sinking deeper, and fast looslng
her strength, and knew she could no.
hold out much longer. Thought at this
time, that if l got off her back and took
hold OF her tail, she might manage lit
tie better So 1 slipped backwards over
her hips, and clung to her rlong hair. 1t
did do some good, for she swan higher,
but we got mighty slow through the wa
ter, and had but little hopes we should
reach land.
"L was towed in this way about
quarter Of a mile, when l sPied some
thing on the water little ahead. 1t had
grown considerably darker, but there was
still light enough to show me that the
thing was log. An idea now entered
my head that might save myself by Ia
king the log. The mare would then have
better chance for herself and, maybe,
when eased Of dragging me, who was
keeping her back, she might make foot
ing somewhere. So | waited till she got
little closer, and then letting go of her
tail, cIasped the log and crawled on to
it. The mare swan on, apparently with
out missing me. L saw Ter disappear
through the darkness; but 1 did not as
much as say good bye to her, for was
afraid that my voice might bring her back
again, and she might strike the log with
her hoofs, and "whammed" it about
so lay quiet and let her have her own
way. =
al was not long on the log before |
discovered that IL was drifting, for there
was current in the water that set toIe-
rably across the prairie. had crawled
up at one end, and got astride of the log
but as it dipped considerable, was still
over the hams in the water. L thought
might be more comfortable toward the
middle, and was about to pull the thing
more under me, when all at once l saw
there was something clumped up on the
other end of the log. 1t was not very
clear at the time, for it had been growing
cloudier ever since left the shanty, but
it was clear enough to show me that
the thing was an animal; what sort l could
not tell 1t might be a bear, and it
might not; but l had my suspicious 1t
was either bear or a panther. l was
not left long in doubt about the things
gender. The log kept making circles as
It drifted, and when the animal came
round into different light, l caught
glimpse of its eyes knew those eyes to
be no bears eyes they were panther's
eyes and no mistake. | reckon, stranger
| felt very queer Just about then. did
not try to 20 any nearer the middle otthe
log but instead of that, Iwriggled back
until l was right plump on the end of it.
and could get no further. There l sat
for good long spell, without moving
hand or foot. l was afraid to make a
motion as it night tempt the animal to
attack me. l had no weapon but my
knife; having let go of my rifle when l
slid from the mares back, and it had
gone to the bottom long since. l was
not in any condition to stand tussle with
the panther nohow, SO | was determined
to let him alone as long as he would me.
Well, we dritted on for good hour,
| guess, without either OF us stirring. We
sat face to face; and now and the current
would set the log in sort of up and
down motion, and then the panther and |
kept bowing to each other like a Pair Of
bob -sawyers. could see all the while
that the animals eyes we're fixed upon
mine, and 1 never took mine from his ;
l knew it was the only way to keep him
still
II was just wondering v hat would be
the end of the business, when saw we
were getting closer to the timber; it was
not more than two miles off, but it was