Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1859-10-12

a whole tribe of full blood Mohawks, ,and ma
King all the other noises that we could think
of, We turned our horses adrift to get their
dinners. while We lay down in the shade for
an afternoons nap, some hungry and rery dry.
After about two hours we woke up, and had
another hunt for the ssdarkies,'' but they
wasn't there. Then we concluded that they
must have got lost, or run away; and we knew
well enough they hand't got lost.
That night We camped there on the bank of
the river, in hopes that the confounded ssnig-
gers'' might possibly repent and come back.
Not bit of it. Daylight came, bu. no "nig-
gers;" and so we played Indian, drawing our
belts little tighter, and got under way for
home.
At ford, few miles lower down,we cross
ed the river, and here we filed several TASKS
with water, well knowing that there was none
| tit TO drink for more than forty miles ahead.
Our way now lay across barren, sandy
waste, and we knew that we should be obliged
to fast until we reached the eastern limits of
| this ocean of sand, when we might expect to
meet plenty of wild cattle, and stand tolerable
good chance of getting supper OF fresh beef.
1t was within half hour of sunset when
we reached the edge of belt Of natural mead
ow, which lay between the desert and dense
forest beyond.
On this beautiful meadow were hundreds of
fine, fat cattle grazing, and We selected nice
heifer, which rifle bullet soon brought down,
Nueu lOuT OF US Iell alOuI OF neT, anu CuItlHS
the body in four quarters without removing
the hide, each took quarter before him on
his horse, and we all set forwards for the
woods, where we guessed we should make up
for our two days fast.
By sunset we reached the forest, and in less
than fifteen minutes had roaring fire
kindled, for we were all hungry, and few of
us were awful dry.
1t was funny, though-that beef supper,
there in the woods. There we sat round the
huge blaze, colonies and women, captains and
niggers, dogs and doctors, each with piece
of beef about as big as North River shad,
stuck on sharp stick, or the points of our
long knives. toasting and frying. broiling and
eating, with the blood and gravy running
down each corner of our mouths like the red
juice from leaky wine press. Hold on bit.
thought forgot one thing. The dogs didn't
have any knives nor sharp sticks. They took
theirs without cooking.
s.This is what | call regular picnic, y
sputtered Doctor Tom, with his mouth full of
beef steaks, all but raw.
CESS, by gar zentemans and ladee it
shall be one grand suppare. BY gar, we shall
eat plentee for four tree day.
s'A-r-r-r-o-a-a-o-o-a-r-r roared mon
strous tiger, not five rods from US, if his
opinion Tailed with that of the last speaker !,
a little French captain, exactly; and he'd
like to come in.
Heavens and earth That hideous roar Of
the hungry tiger set 'em all agoing and all
the Internal noises that ever lCas heard in a
Brazilian forest, was at once let loose. Wolves
and wild cats, pumas and panthers, together
with every other brute that growled, grunted,
whined, or whistled, all gave tongue, each
strived to emulate the other in his melodous
notes. 1t was glorious picnic serenade, but
we wouldn't stop eating. No-not if we had
been Gagged with all the tigers and leopards in
Brazil. Once in while we would cast our
eyes behind US, and there, just beyond the
range of our fire light, sparkled hundreds of
bright, flashing eyes, as the savage brutes
crowded about us, and snuffed our savory feast.
For ten minutes did the horrid screams and
diScordant howlS continue, when all at once
an immense puma bounced in among us,
and poupced upon quarter of the heifer
which vet remained untouched.
ssHold on, old fellow! till l get another
slice," said Doctor Tom, at the same time
| driving his long Spanish knife in between the
ribs Of the huge brute.
.6A-haai'' you dem tief, you sail steal my
bif al" screamed the excited Frenchman !;
aud down come his fourteen inches of steel,
driven home to the very hilt in the monsters
throat.
In less than ten seconds the puma had re-
ceived a hundred stabs from our reeking
knives, and to complete the tragedy, a little
spanish beauty set her revolver going, utterly
regardless Of the danger We ran of becoming
a target for her bullets.
The report of that pistol acted like magic
on our four-legged friends outside the family
circle, for in an instant every brute tongue
was hushed as death.
We didn't sleep any that night; but we
made great supper, for all that remained of
our heifer in the morning was few bones.
That day we found onr runaway ''niggers''
and all of us went home very we'll satisfied
with our picnic.
RAvAGEs OF THE BEARS IN WIsooNsIN.-Our
Wisconsin exchanges continue tc be filled
with startling accounts of the ravages of the
bears. The whole State appears to be swarm