The Potter journal. [volume] (Coudersport, Pa.) 1857-1872, 1862-02-19

>aw that drowning was the l,ast dah.t
| hat nenaced her. Several of :he huge
hideouS alligaiors were moving towards
her with open jaws. for her cluthirc Ire
vented her from sinking Instantly. llat
no tine to lose. In second my rifle was
| At my shoulder. and soon ball from III
nuzzle penetrated the eye Of the neafesf
'nonster But scul ce had II plunged dowl
into the foaniing waters, when anuihei
was almost upon her. Another bulle'
from MY rife aud it with horrible bel.
| low, went down. Another and another
| followed in quick succession until the Wa
ter was red with blood. aud lashed int,
fam by ;he wounded monsters, ahG
worst OF all NY last charge was expended
and there was no time 10 reload.
Clara had ceased to scream, but she was
now sinking. for her clothes had become
,atura,ed One glance at.hcr sweet, pale
face and her imp!oring eyes, decided me
to 60 in. und either save or Perish with
her. So threw down my rife, loosened
the bowie in my belt, and rushing on
upon the tree plunged into the water by
! her side.
Fortunately for US both my heavy
weight bro1gh the tree down to the wa.
ter and when rose aud cla-ped her b,
the waist it was within my reach. For
tunoteiy | rIay say indeed. for the water
was now fairly alive with the h:deouS
creatures, which nadcned with the rmell
of blood, made the forest echo with their
disual belluwings. How got her upon
The fallen tree and how clanbered after
her, and how we reached the bank, and
there, covered with blood and slimy mud
sunk exhausted upon the earth. Is more
than | am able to tell, or esen fully t.
comprehend.
| But there we were, fQlly ten miles
from home, in pretty condition to ''see
company Bvtb of our horses gone, fuI
they had broken ti,eir brides anu fed, ter
rifed alno>t to death by the hldeous
Noises which they had heard.
And the first thing which that witch OF
girl did while we SAT there, was to burst
uut in a fit of laughter
''Dain4 create 4 sensation among the
Alligators - she asked.
II think this is no time for joking. Miss
Clara. said !, half angry a1 her lrrity.
You haze ESCAPED from the very jaws OF
death -
Prom the jaws of the allistors, you
mean - she cried, with another laugh
What figure YOU are, Captain you
look a. if you had been swimming through
battle - r.
If nv appearance displeases you.
Miss Clara, | hope YOU will excuse my
further attendance - said L. now as com
pletely riled as the bayou was, and |
started up to leave.
Forgive ne. Captain she cried, and
sad look u>urped he smile on her FRET
ty face. elm So full of fan, it seems as
if neither water. blood, nor mud, or even
the presence of death could dampen or
chill NY spirits. Forgive ME. dear Cap,
tain | shall never forget that you have
saved my lifc-ncvcr, never !"
Did forgive her? Did donkey ever
refuse lay, or did born topper ever turn
away from a julcp: did forgive her
more than that, knclt down there on
that fowry sod, in all the glory Of muddy
habiiments, aud swore that | loved her
harder than a mustiuG could kick, swore
! that | would live or die for her angel
thai she was Aud she-She-what do
you think she said, while there kneIt,
and held her lltte hand in miEe?
That she reciprocatcd my passion p
No, sir she didn't do any such thing
She only said,-"Captain, couldn't t
you say it better If you had dry brceches
on Z"
| caved !. What should have done, at
having my first prnposal "cut down in
this manner. know not bnt just then a
datkey hove in view, who had caught our
runaway horses, and the sioht Of that
niger saved ne from any act of immedi-
ate desperation.
We remount.d, and escorted the lady
back to town, in humor in accordance
with my condition.
Jh<t a month after tha: | received an
invitation to attend Clara's wedding with
Ketchmedad Muddi breeches, mongrel
Creole, half French aud half Indian, who
wasn't TT TO carry cur, papers tor her hair
when compared to me. But who can ac
count for woman'S taste? Who?
>>~-
Modern Definitions.
OversisI.'--Tu leave your old IN. brella