New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1860-04-23
4sh Orlfars 1ailp Crescent.
nng HUNTERS IAsr Ride.

WV Wk4ttltJ WV <D%kS&tltss
1cocSoccsocsssc5cSses
THE HUNTERS IAs9 Ride.
By $. G. MERCER. 5isSsgtss
One Autumn eve, when clouds unfurIed,
Swept down the west in hammered splendor,
And dying sunset bathed the world
In dolphin rainbows mild and tender,
As II the sun in Heaven afar a5s3l45
fingered TO greet the Evening Star,
Mnglipg his glance Of clearer light FL
With the first radiance Of the night, ~ -Hg7
And in the twilight tarrying late, s5,...,5 d.
Unwilling past the Western gate,
A hunter wearied with the chase, s
With his spent steed was slowly turning
Unto his far-of resting place, ~
Where his lone campfire light was burning,
For many a mile his steed had gone M
Der the wide prairie since the dawn. e
The choice bits from the saddle hung, Ia h,
The deerfs fat haunch, the buffalo's tongue,
a simple but a sweet repast e - II
To cheer his long and painful fast, - l.,
Slow paced the strong but weary steed
OF spacious chest and Lightning speed
A coal black of the Norman breed 2
Who ne'er had failed in time of need !; l.e al +.
4 creature full Of strength and grace,
The nobiest of his noble race afgS
In toll, In battle, or the chase,
TO hunt the bear on mountain side, s... Y, +.
To chase the deer der prairie wide,
Or dash upon the ambuscade
OF willy Indian foe arrayed, Fl - ~ " n
Or plunge through the winters deepest snow,
/ Or breast the torrents swiftest flow.
To huntsman who has borne the toll,
Welcome the rest, and sweet the spoil;
So unused McGregor in his mind,
Leading his steed, when far behind q
Upon his startled ear there came
"A rushing sound Of distant flame.
A long, hoarse murmuring, sullen sound,
As when an earthquake shakes the ground,
Or the volcanoes voice Of wrath
Warns all to leave the Iava's path. @
A moment scarce he turned his head,
Too well he knew that sound of dread.e
One ,moment-and McGregor saw $50
A sight to chill his soul with awe:
Behind him, fastening, onward came ~ =
A long red serpent line Of flame,
Which, Kissing, shot its tongues Of light
Upward into the gathering night,
While midway 'twixt the earth and sky
Like a Deatl.Angel towering by,
The smoke.pall rolled in volumes dread
( The awful banner Of the dead. Z
Quickly the burden was united ie %,&
"Eow, Saladin," the hunts1nan cried,
"Now, Saladin, my gallant steed N
Attest myself Of noble breed, nv
For never yet thy nlatchless speed y
Has served in SO sore n need,
And never in the fiercest chase
Hast thou e'er made so dread race,
AS this wild flight for life Or death
From yon fre-demon's scorching breath" q /.
With nostriIs spread and pointed ear Il
And eye Of ferceness, not of fear,
A moment brief Saiadin halted
While to bis seat his rider vaulted. ' +
A moment snuffed the hot flames breath, =
The sitting atmosphere of death,
A moment shook bis streaming name, =
Then sped like lightning Ger the plain. I.
Flyt Not for one brief second stay ,ss.,
Fly-for thy life-away, away s,5aTss ;si. 4,
Stretch every muscle sinew-fiy!
To pause one moment Is to die s5{.' y /, IS
Weary and worn and spent with pain, sfes
The struggling steed bounds DER the plain,
Each iron sinew yainly straining, aiaasag Z
The fire upon his path is gaining RYQlos 2
Behind, before him, and around him,
The fiery Berpent's coil has bound him, s9s!S
The mad fame bright and brighter CLOVIS, i9-
The fatal circle smaller grows, ip@ 7s
And hotter, fiercer, wilder, higher, i'm 81
Leap the red demons of the fire. ltEl5i 81
The wild-eyed herd of bufialees came
Impetuous plunging from the, flame, llt =
The antelopes in terror flying, fszi.I,,,, III
On iieetest1 limbs in vain relying, VIZ
The grouse fly round on whirring wings, ~
Then bhndly seek their funeral fires. ! J
The rattle snake in anguish springs, I'll pi i
Z Pierced with its own fang writhes expires
z Long howls the wolf in dismal yell
Such as might shake the caves OF He'll; 9s4
And many wild despaifing cry 4,f q o..
& OF brutes in mortal agony, u *
q Falls thickly on McGregor's ear
Z In waiinQs Ominous and dreaf. s9-st5 '
4 TITS on him Now at last, @ u fss5S
4 Encircled by the fiery blast,
~ McGregor stands f f&5 " 5tH s3f -&
@ i With folded hands, as e = p25 g C
Firm as the martyr when he braves - s
The rack, the fagot, or the waves. ~
Exhausted, painting, foaming, gasping,
: As though an iron band were elasping 70
q His laboring chest, Saladin sank l7.
4 With quivering side and streaming flank,
q While his pale rider rent the air Y t 4
O With one sad groan of deep despair. t'+
Red rose the fire-caves cracking arch, paa
a Red rose the lurid walls around him, re
The hungry flames his pulses parch, '1 =
4 And like a boa's coils have bound him.
The buffalo 5si9 .NAl4ts -lt.s= 81 iig
q In dying throe 4 ltN XII - ~ Il z g 4. g.
With furious hoof the hunter paws,
{ The wolf with howl I" w - 80 ~ H .t5
And shrek and growl
In his red life-blood battles his jaws 70 -
Il And rends his limbs apart,
And the expiring panther gnaws Y
His alpitating heart, b II sl8#H It
As if the long revenge they cherish, ~
$ We're eased if their old foe might perish. No.
J By the red moons ghostly light, Ia. IS ,..a &.
Struggling through the smoky veil, t5s
Dripping and dank with tears Of night, .A#
And chill mists casting shadows pale, N
voice of sorrow seems to wal, +f#ir.t d. II :
A fitful, sobbing, plaintiye tone,
Thrilling the panied air with its moan, ,t D. yz
As il some Ariel unsleeping 4. \
A deathlwatcf in the sky was keeping
Her harp of tears in pity sweeping !: e - =
"Rest, Huntsman from thy final chase, {.
Horseman and horse-they both have gone,
Dying with all their armor on,
And snmbering in their last repose HA3
Together, eircled by their foes.n e 5aigaaHzI