The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1854-07-06

potion ! guess, stranger was IN
quandary about then. began to thinI
that both my own and my mare tim,
had come in earnest, for had no idei
that the creature could ever swim to tn,
other side, especially with me on her back
and particularly as at that time my rib
were heavier than they now are. wa
not much under two hundred at the time
and that is no light weight reckon
Well, was about reckoning up. go
to thinking about Mary and the children
and the old shanty in the Mississippi, anc
a heap of things that had left unsettled
and that now came into my mind to trou
bic me. The mare was still plunging
ahead, but | observed that she was sink.
ing deeper and deeper, and fast losing hen
strength, and knew she could not hold
out much longer. thought at this time
iif got off her back and took hold of her
tail, she might manage little better. So
| slipped backwards over her hips, and
clung to the long hair. 1t did some good
forshe swan higher; but we got on nigh.
! ty slow through the water, and had but
little hopes We should reach land.
81 was towcd in this way about a quar-
ter Of mile, when spied something
floating on the water little ahead Il
had got considerable darker, but there
was still light enough to show me that the
thing was long. An idea now entered
my head that might save myself by ta-
king to the log. The mare would then
have better chance for herself, and may
be, when eased of dragging me, who was
keeping her back, she might have footin ,
somewhere. So waited till she got lit
tie closer, and then, letting 60 of her tail,
| clasped the log, and crawled upon it.
The mare swan on, apparently without
missing me. | saw her disappearthrough
the darkness; | did not as much as say
goodbye to her. for was afraid that my
voice might bring her back again, and
she might strike the log with her hoofs,
and 'whammel it about. So lay quiet,
and let her have her own way.
"l was not long on the log before dis.
covered that it was drifting, for there was
a current in the water that set tolerably
sharp across the prairie. | had crawled
up to one end, and got astrde of the log;
but as it dipped considerable, | was still
over the hams in the water. thought |
might be more comfortable towards the
middle, and was about to pull the thing
under me, when at once | saw there was
something clumped upon the other end of
the log. twas 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. Ii
might be bear, and it might not but |
had my suspicious it was either bear or
a panther. l was not left long in doubt
about the things gender, The log kept
making circles as it trifted, and when the
animal came round into a different
light, ] caught glimpse of its eyes, to
be no bears eyes, they were panther
eyes, and no mistake l reckon, -Stran-
ger, felt very queer just about then. l
did not try to go any nearer the middle of
the log but instead of that, | wriggled
back until was right plump on the head
of it, and could get no further. There l
sat for good long spell, without moving
hand or foot. was afraid to make mo-
ton, as it might tempt the animal to at
tack me. had no weapon butmy knife;
| had left go of my rifle when l slid of
the mares back and it had gone to the
bottom long since | was notin any con-
dilion to stand a tussel with the panther,
nohow; so determined to let him alone
as long as he would me.
"WelI, we drifted on for good hour !
guess, without either of us stirring. We
sat face to face and now and then the
current would set the log in motion, and
then the panther and kept bowing to
each other like pair of bob-sawycrs. |
could see all the while that the animals
eyes were fixed upon mine, and | never
took mine from his; | knew it was the on
| ly way to keep him still.
'I was just wondering what would be
the end of this, when | saw we were get
ting closer to the timber; it was not more
than two miles of, butt was all under ex
cept the tops of the trees. was think
| ing that when the log should float in a.
mong the branches, might slip off and
get my hands upon tree, without saying
anything to my travelling companion.--
Just at that minute something appeared
dead ahead of the log. 1t was like an is
land but what could have brought an
island there? Then recollected that |
had seen a piece of high ground about
that part of the prairie sort of mound
that had been made by Indians, suppose.
This, then, that resembled an island, was
the top Of that mound, sure enough
The log was drifting in such way that
saw it must pass within twenty yards OF
the mound. | determined, then, as soon
as we should get along side to put out for
lit, and leave the panther 10 continue his
voyage without me. ....... ......
"When first saw the island observ.
ed something that | took for bushes. But
there was no bushes on the mound that
knew OF. However, when we got little
closer, discovered that the bushes were
beasts. They were deer; for spied 9
pair of Bucks horns between me and the