Mariposa Democrat., 1857-04-08

seemed to seize the wife, and with merry
voice babe her good night, and consoling my
self with the idea that chance might offer
during the hunt to teach this husband lesson
that might be benefit to future travellers,
off We started, Watts ahead on an old white
horse, with some gunny bags TO protect his
rump from the sparks that fell from the fire.
pan at every step of the horse. Next followed
Sands on another white horse, with rifle on
his shoulder, leading hound. And finally
next in order came your humble servant on a
roam horse, with axe and iirc-wood. Striking
directly into a dense thcket we soon reached
a stream very dry and densely covered with
knotty cypress timber, with strong bushes IL
ming its banks Shortly after this fell asleep
and lost the axe Watts cursed angrily at
this, and sworc that city folks were not fit to
live in the country.
"Not intimidatcd by this loss, which had de-
layed us, our tramp was renewed, when my
horse stumbled into hole, and being asleep
at the moment, went one way, the horse
another--and the saddle and firc-wood ano-
ther. After inquiries as to my limbs, the sad
die was replaced and the rider again mounted.
Shortly after this, Watts said he saw deer.
The gun was passed to him, when taking aim,
he banged away and then declared he had
mortally wounded it The dog was now put
on the trail, held by string in the hands of
Sands. Away we went as fast as the dark
ness and the bushes would permit, when,
thanks to kind fortune, the string broke, and
they never saw the dog afterwards. After due
consultation had, it was decided to leave the
dog to his fate, supposing the wolves would
devour him before daylight We now direct
cd our course to the residence Of old Dad, who
lived all alone, as Watts said, without nothing
to subsist on but whisky and watcr-melons.-
Taking winding path through the woods, we
soon arrived at the old mans house, and quick
ly aroused him from his slumber The deni-
zen of the forest soon made his appearance
with light, and demanded our business be.
fore opening the door. Knowing the voices
of his friends, he soon presented himself to our
view, accompanied by very large deer dog.
The mans nose was rosy red, his eyes were
small but piercing, with sly twinkle in each
corner; his cheeks were bloated, and his body
was about the size of an ordinary hogshead
After we had explained to him our adventures
for the night, he laughed heartily at our mis-
fortunes, and told Watts and Sands to take .
sack and go down to the field and get some
melons. But before going he said, Probably
this here stranger would like nip at the crit
ter, and he shall have it. He soon returned
with coifee-pot full to the brim, and ther
proposing our good health, he drank long
draught out of the mouth Of the spout. Aftel
Watts and Sands had disappeared in pursui
Of the melons, | told the old man all my grie
vanccs and my determination to be rcyenged
"Stop,' said he, leave it to me. have two
water-melons soaked in whisky, and as Watts
horse is dry III make the brute cat then
both and suiting the action to the word h'
was absent twenty minutes When he return
ed he exclaimed in joyful accents The thing
DONE and the goose am plucked.' ....-.e,
awaits and Sands now returned, and altel
eating our melons and drinking our whisky
and then paying largely for our entertainment
we took our departure. As shook the ole
fellow by the hand he whispered in my ear
Watch Watts horse, and you'll be square
with him. / pressed the old inebriate'
hand in token of appreciation, and then pre-
pared myself in my saddle to watch the sport
Scarcely had we passed the bars when Watts
horse began to prance and snort at a prodi
gious rate, and to dance around with all til,
lveness of youth. ...-.5
al believe he sees a ghost exclaimed
Sands never saw him act in such queer
pert manner before
"tWoa, woa, halloa, cried Watts Woi
you beast What the devil is the matter witt
the varmint-what on earth ails him ? 1
was all in vain--old Whitley never felt NOR,
sprightly in his youthful days, when elasticity
was in his limbs, and vigor in his heart Catch
ing the bitt between his jaws, he darted of
through the woods for home, with his anxious
rider believing woa at the top of his voice
and with his pan whirling through the air, un
til its last Pickering brand was smoking amid
the trees
"Next morning early we visited Watts. lIC
came to meet us at the gate, limping, and witt
a large handkerchief tied over his forehead.
Are you much hurt asked Sands
&C" Hurt, said Watts with an oath why
the internal brute never stopped running unit
he got home, and thon jumped the bars, tum
bling ms head over heels, and woundng me
severely in the head. Look at him now in the
field with the saddle and bride still attached
to him. Never mind said he, with a shake
of his head, if | don't make you see another
ghost, may the devil catch me-
bidding Watts farewell, and calling Sands
to me and explaining the whole of the affair,
Abraham and proceeded home at a desperate
rate Of speed.
Sand now" said Ben, TO make long sto-