The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1868-02-22
OPEIOUSAS, LA, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY a. 1868


ness. I will get the ordinance map, and
we can trace out the plan Of our cam
paign.'.'
| Our task was not such difficult one
after all the ground to be searched was
limited and tolerably open, consisting
chiefly of bog, mountain and shore, with
every foot of which I was acquainted
I pointed out to Frank each days work
on the map; and, wi hout assistance,
and hunting in couples, three days would
be amply sufficient to beat it all.
| had brace of young settlers in train
ing at the time, and to prevent suspi-
cion, it was agreed we should go out as
if dog s-breaking was our only object !;
accordingly, early on the following morn
ing, we'll provided with all the "etceteras"
for such work, we started on our first
days hunt. It proved blank but the
second day showed us that our game
was on foot and not far off, In little
wooded glen we came upon several art
fully concealed caves, which were evil
ludaatfy lately occupied, and in one of
picked up an old pistol flint that
a thrown away and replaced, as
" some paper lying beside it,
r. "a II e se small piece had been torn.
aso.atons 10 :. ~ a new one. We tracked
from it, and - considerable distance
forced to give - saornh .u',.hS Oh We were
l don't think e se"t'n: of ,,s ,,o,t ,,,o,
that night. Wheh OF US slept much
room in the morniI4 Hent to FRANK
dressed. "One word was already
before we go. This kfry'" he sa'd'
the teeth and swears thu" is armed to
taken alive. These fello" "1'i not oe
game when run to the earth, eldom Ole
not be worse off and may kee le can
Promise me that, if there is AM ora
you will act as a reserve, and leu
"a deal with him alone"
i I did promise, with some mental ~
Svation, and we started. There was
lo(g days work before US; all the like
" Alaces we had come across in our
precious search had to be visited, some
of IL n miles apara Franks senses
seemes kreternatural sharpeneo. NO
trace, Neve~ slight, siaaRis notice
A red Inda could har 1a|a ave I -
e: e: ::;:: :;:: IS &; \
hunt becomes udy j. #
ccs.
Toward evening 4
tain-our last hopey
enc face of it over the +
would be likely to cofteal = : Is
side was composed OF a u
pendicular cliffs, separated
other by green platforms,
breadth from one foot to ten - :
slopins downward at consideral = .
nraart,,so as to make the footing n
creased r. The cliffs gradually
went rigbt doHSsatiI the lowest, whiel
into tla % oceon Ahundr red feet
While takilaBaa Isl -
some broken ground, we met tal
boy herd'ng cattle. He could not speaKsal
English, but wo managed to ascertain
that stranger had given him a penny
the day before to run down the hill tor
a lighted turf, when he returned the man
had gone, and he had not seen him
SINCE
The scent was getting hot, and our
spirits rose as we commenced on the sea |
side of the mountain. There " ere caves |
in several of the platforms aRnaa these
we agreed to search together. Tfae
were very narrow, scarcely y admitting
one person abreast and it was nervous
work feeling our way onward. not know
ing the moment when the darkness
would be Illuminated by the flash of
pistol, which must have proved the death
signal for one or the other. Frank al
ways insisted on going first, and omitted
no precaution, exami ing the outside
carefully for tracks and sending the Gogs
forward. The latter, hewever, were so
tired by three days continuous work as
to be OF little use.
We had reached the last shelf but
one, and as it contained no caves, and
was nearly all visible from the platform
immediately above, which had just been
searched, was about to pass to the {
over one just over the sea, when mark
n the fresh earth scraped from a rabbit t
loie across the path attracted my atten- {
ION, and on a closer view, / could dis i
inctly see traces of a mans foot. Frank 7
vas. by my side in few seconds, and ,
lown on his knees examining the track. II
There was no mistake about it there it Ia
fas, plainly visible, leaalaade =
% sign of returning. Gl(ls n $
here; whether the man w were in search a
f or not, remained to BE- seen. Frank 4
ose from his, knees and drew long a
reath. ~ - '
ANY outlet from this 2" he asked. O
None. whatever. 1t stops suddenly
bout one hundred yards further on. a
he rock above and below is thirty feet t,
Ugh and smooth as marble. Now that !,
remember, there is large stone lust /
there the pathway ends, behind which s.
man might lie. Ii be were anywhere
lse must have seen him from the nm. o.
er one." .
We walked on silent and cautious for al
ome distance until We reached a pro-
'cting rock. | touched Frank. Of
When we turn that corner we will W
within ten rods Of the end"
de made no reply, but put his gun g
nder his arm and sauntered carelesslv
round; As he did 50 / saw him stop al
lddenly ID and draw himself up to his al
III height.