The Carolina Spartan. [volume] (Spartanburg, S.C.) 1852-1896, 1857-10-29
CAROLINA SPARTAN,
From ''Porter's Spirit"
A Deer Hunt in the Palmetto State.


From ''Porter's Spirit"
A Deer Hunt in the Palmetto State.
.'Tho autlerci monarch Of the waste,
Sprang from his heathvry couch in haste.
A mouent listened to the cry,
That thickened us the chase drew nigh;
Then, ,as the hfadmost foes appeared,
With one brave bound the copsc he cleared -
Lady Of the Lake.
1t was on bright and cioudless Octo.
ber morning, in 1885,, that found myself
pacing easily along tho State road in tho
upper portion of Charleston District-my
Westley Richards thrown carelessly across
the saddle bow Ia wallet of ''vivers" tied to
the .crupper, and ticker Of old Bourbon
distending my breast.pociet. Pet, my
toughlittle taekey, slazily switchingaway
the gnats, against which my face was pro-
tected by an atmosphere of real Of Hava
na;. and Bounder, Killbuck, and old Nell,
whose tongues had swelled the chorus Of
hundred chases. aud howled the requiem
of many gallant buck, were trotting
along beside mo. The sun was warm,
though tempered by pleasant breeze, for
the frost had not yet given to the planters
its bond Of security against The malaria, nor
sweetened the yellow clusters of persim.
nous which decked the roadside, and the
autumn Winds had scarcely commenced 10
despoil Of their leaves the mo,s-coverei pa
triarcls Of the forest As came in sight
OF the "Whiie Bridge" our well known
rendezvous, heard no sound but INV
horses footsteps; the waters OF the raging
canawl' were all unrutilel, save by the oc
casional dip Of a solitary kngti-hcr aud ail
hature seemed at rest, except the eyes of
the little gray squirrel. who peered at me
from the nloss of an Old oak, as lIo drew
his body cautiously behind the limb to
which he c!uns. Finding myself first ut
the meet, [ dismounted, hi;chel Pet TO Il
rail, and throwing myself at imll length on
the bank, proceeded to suck the stamp Of
my segar, aud watch the graceful motions
of an osprey, who was circling in The blue
sky, far above my head. Suddenly SAW
Bounder prick up his ears, and Pet turned
her head up the canal; and rising to my
feet, caught the sound of distant yelp.
while
fs,,~., .frs.,-v tosts,r-,';s,ancc borne
Was heard The c'ansing lool AID l,srs,.',
Ere the echoes had died away, L-rtsed
sny own horn, and sogn,is1 a~6iast wl,iei,
made the old wosls riu5sagain, al,d il .,
moment more Tom Stiitou's pack aasl,eI
up the road, and ~ lcy own dogs, with Il
how! Of welcome, bounde, forward 10 meet
them five horsenen can:ercl up to the
bridge. Reader, allow me TO p e,eit you
to my camarades de la chaSSe That small
enan, with The black nus;aclIe and hand
some face, is Tom Clifton. Twenty three
seasons have passed over his head, and for
thirteen ofthem lie has been a hunter. That
dare devil chap, with the crooked nose and
wicked looking eye, is Kit Gillian. Do Won
notice how awkwarlly he sits his fiery ches-
nut! lie car ride a thunderbolt bare back
ed, or break the Wild lIuntsman's demon.
steed to harness. That broad. .shouldered
giant, with form like Hercules, and u
lace like the king of good fellows, is DR..
Morton, who now and then steals day
from his extensive practice to enjoy the sport
OF which he is SO fond, and in The skiIful
pursuit OF which he has no superior, and
not many equals. The two ether figure,
are our negro drivers: Tom CIi.ton's John,
the 'yellow nigger" with the mustache, aud
Col. Dicksons driver, Daddy Jeems" Our
salutations over was soon on my mare,
and all ready for a start.
"1allo, Jeems, said |, missing Col. Dick.
sons honest face, "wherc's your ma,ter."
"Maussa say him viii wait for you up to
Peacock ole field; an he tink you better
.dribe dat fustn
"What do think of it Jeems?"
Il spec you better tex dat for the fust
edribe, sir; one debbil oh Juei, been in
dare last night; see all he track gwine in,
an nebber see none come out; SO | spec
he lay in dc saplin' field now"
"Very well, Jeems," ehimed in Tom,
"you and John 60 head the drive; we'll
give you plenty Of time before we take UP
the stands"
Popping their whips, and calling the
dogs, the boys set off at a round pace for
the head of the drive, while we turned our
horses, and proceeded slowly towards the
stands.
"Kit," said Tom, as we were about TO start,
we've got plenty Of time; let's ride piece
up the bank and kill that old 'gator."*
~Gator!" responded Kit, incredulousIy.
What do you meanl Who ever heard Of
seeing gator in October!"
"Why, have! there is an old fellow up
the bank nine feet long, it he's an inch!"
Stool whow was the skeptical response
Got mocking- birds nest some where,
amt youl'
"You may laugh as yoa please; bu: old
scales never goes into wiater quarters be.
fore hard frost; and I've seen him out some
hot days in December"
swell, maybe SO: but we'd better not go
now, for il we shoot, it will scare the buck,
.Allicniur