The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1864-12-09
Track,dby Iioodhnunds,


1t was daylight when l awoke-I
broad daylight. NY companions, all
but Clayley, were already astir, and
had kindled fire with species of
wood known to Raoul, that produced
hardly any smoke. They were pre-
pairing breakfast. On limb, close
by, hung the hideous human like car
cass of an iguana, still writhing. =.
Raoul was whetting knife to skin it,
while Lincoln was at some distance
carefully reloading his rife. The
1rishman lay upon the grass, peeling
bananas, and roasting them over the
fire.
The iguapa was soon skinned and
broiled; and we commenced eating,
all of us with good appettes.
"Be Saint Patrick" said Chare,
"ths bates frog attn all hollow. It's
little meself dhramed, in the ould
sod, hearin of thin naygers in furrin
parts, that Id be turning cannybawl
meself some day.
Don't you like it, Murtagh?'
asked Raoul, jocosely.
"Och, indade, yes; it's better than
an empty bread basket; but if yez
could only taste the flavor of 4 small
trine of Wicklow ham this mornin'
and smilin pratie, instead of this
brown soap, yez -
Hist said Lincoln, starting sud
denly, and holding the bite half way
in his mouth.
What is it ?" | asked.
IN tell Yer in mint, Cap -
The hunter waved his hand to cnjoin
silence, silence, striding to the edge
of the glade. fell Hat to the ground
We knew that he was listening, and
waited for the result. We had not
long to wait, for he had scarce bro't
his ear in contact with the earth,
when he sprang suddenly up again,
eXclaiming;
Hounds trailin' us, by the eternal
God T.
1t was seldom that Lincoln uttered
an oath, and when he did there was
something awful in his manner lie
wore n despairing look, too, unusual
to tie bold characters of his features
This, with the appalling statement
. acted on us like galvanic shock
and, by one impulse, we leaped from
the fire, and threw ourselves fiat upon
: the grass Not word was spoken
as we strained our ears to listen. Al
first, we could distinguish low
moaning sound, like the hum of the
o wild bee; it seemed to come out of Tho
. earth. After little, it grew loundeI
aud sharper; then it ended in a yelp
g and ceased altogether. After II shor
J interval, it began afresh, this tim'
I still clearer; and then the yelp, loud
{ sharp and vengeful. There was NJ
MISLEADING, that sound. 1t was th'
F., bark of the Spanish bloodhound =
j. We sprang up simultaneously, look
ing around for weapons, and theI
staring at each other with an eX
/ preston of despair. The rifle ant
two case. knives were all the weapons
we had.
"What is to be doneP" cried one
and all eyes were turned upon Lin
coin.
, The hunter remained motionless
clutching his rifle, and looking TO th'
ground.
Glow fur's the crick, Rowl Sn III
asked after pause.
"Not two hundred yards; this way
1 it lies"
81 kin see no other chance, Cap II
than ter take the water, we may BAN
= foozle the hounds little, if there
good wadin ,"
"NorI. ! had thought Of the SAM
plan"
"If we had bowies, we mouter Ii
!, the dogs whar we air; but yer see w
d amt, and | kin tell by their growl
thar amt less nor dozen on en-"
ats no use to remain here; lead Il
to the creek, Raoul!' and following
the Frenchman, we dashed recklessl
through the thickct, On reaching
the stream, we plunged in. 1t wa
ono of those mountain torrents com
mon in McXico--spots OF still water
s. alternating with cascades, that das
and foam over shapeless masses c
amygdalodiat basalt. We wade
through the first pool; and tAen, CLAN
10 bering among the rocks, entered
second. This was good stretch,
}, hundred yards or more, of crystf
70 water, in which we were waist deer
r. We took the bank at the lower en-
,e on the same side; and, striking bac
into the timber, kept on parallel t
the course OF the stream. We di
not go far away from the water, les
we might be pushed to repeat th
ruse.
All this time, the yelping of til
bloodhounds had been ringing in OF
& ears. Suddenly it ceased.
p" .They have reached the water,
said Clayley.
"Not" rejoined Lincoln, stoppin
moment to listen, "theyre chawiD
them bones"