New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1872-07-28
THROUGH FIRE.
rProm cbsr.bers, Journal. }

some months every GUNNER at one OF other
Of the vaTiOns watering places in the ylcin-
ity Of that city.
In IS48 ! spent few weeks at BABYLON
n village on the south side Of Long Island,
IN order 70 enjoy the blue fishing, Tor when
that part of the coast 10 famous.
In the small country places IN the Onlted
States there will be found some lazy, ne err
dO-yeeI, some "shiftless lOafer," to use an
American idiOm, who neither obtains nor
seeks for regular employment, but Is con
tent TO pick up a pTecaTiOus subsistence by
fishing and shooting after the manner Of
our old friend Rip Van Wrinkle, leaving his
wife and family-if he have any-tO get
living as they best may.
The individual in Babylon who enjoyed
monopoly of the advantages to be derived
from being the only lOafeT N the village
was a half breed, known as Indian John'
He was bachelor, and 80 expert with both
rod and gun that having no one 20 provide
for but himself, he might have done very
we'll but for his incOTTigible laziness and
his love of fire water So long as be had
a dime in his pocket, or, failing that, could
get credit at the village store for pint OF
rum OF whisky (the time of which speak
was before the Maine law had been intro
dnced into the State of New York;, no
money could tempt him 10 exertion OF any
kind. Yet, when absolutely driven to it 10y
necessity, he would work, and work hard,
TOO, for brief period, enduring, without a
murmur. far more toll and fatigue than a
white man would have borne under the cir
cumstanes. But, like all his race, he was,
as have said, incapable of habitual labor.
John" he would say, as soon as he had a
piece Of silver in his possession, earned or
given to him-"JOhn no work to-day; John
got dollar; John gentleman"
On two or three occasions, when had
been unable to secure the services of one
I anuaUpd InEn IN
accompany me on my fishing expeditions.
But it was rather reluctantly that | did so,
for felt a species Of antipathy to the man,
which found some justification in the singu-
larly repulsive expression Of his cOunte-
nance. When one looked at him, indeed
one was reminded of what Quin said Of
Macklin, THAT if Nature wrote legible
hand, he must be q scOundrel"
He was a suFly, sullen fellow, too, rarely
speaking except in monOsyll ables, or evinc-
ing the slightest interest III what was going
on around him was, therefore, the more
surprised at a little incident which occurred
on one occasion when found myself alone
IN the boat with him.
We had been fishing for some time with
Indifferent success, when. thinking that we
might do better by putting further out to
sea, | took ont my watch for the purpose Of
asceTtaining how long it would be before
the tide turned. As | did so, ! observed the
eyes Of the halibree fixed admiringly
upon il. 1t was indeed a very pretty trinket,
the face being engraved with much taste,
while on the back there was butterfly IN
blue enamel ncrusted with small diamonds.
1t was, in fact, lady watch, and belonged
TO my sister, who had lent 1t to me the day
| left New York, to replace my own, OF
which 1 had broken the spring that same
mOrniDg-a misadventure there had not
been time to repair before my departure.
fha bial afpipiEn ot bIl a
apparently, had not power to steel the half
breed against the destinations of the object
Of bis admiration After a brief struggle to
maintain his dignity he gave way, and
asked to be allowed to look at the watch.
/, of course, complied with his request, and
placed il in his hand that he might examine
81 at his leisure. He kept it for some min
utes, and it was finally with manifest re-
luctance that he returned 1t. l observed
aim closely, and could see by the expression
OF his ewes that he had become possessed by
one Of those almost uncomfortable desires
TO which savages, like children, are Occa-
Eionally suhject-it being, obviously, posi-
tive pain t. him to part with the watch.
However, he had no alternative but to do
go; and there the matter ended for the time.
On the morning l had arranged to return
to New York the heat was almost intulera-
BILE, and had not important business re-
quiTed my presence in the city the following
day, / should most certainly have deferred
nv Journey until the weather was some
what more endurable. However, l decided
to compromise the matter, and jnstead of
taking the II A. NJ. train for Brooklyn, as ]
had originally intended, resolved to return
to town by the one which left CentTeyille
jths nearest statiUn) at p. NJ, by which
hour the sea-breeze would have somewhat
cooled the atmosphere.
The railway runs as near as possible
L Al.
Brooklyn to MOntauk Point. Thus travel
ers from any of the villages on the Atlantic
are, or rather were-tor the facilities of
communication have been greatly improved
since the time of which l speak-cOnveyed
10 the depOts, as stations are termed in the
United States, by means Of Omnbuses
owned by the proprietors Of the various
hotels.
/ happened to be the only passenger from
the hotel that evening for the train 1t
was not thought worth while therefore, to
make use of the omnibus; but SnedicOr, the
landlord, promised that a light wagon,
Anglicc chase, should be in readiness to
convey me to the depot.
At the last moment, however, an uneN-
peCted difficulty presented itself. Who was
TO drive me Most of the inhabitants OF
the village had gone over to Fire Island, it
being gala day in those parts, and among
them the men belonging TO the hotel.
iYOu couldn't drive yourself, Mr. VIII
son, nOhOw, suppose 2" said SnedicOr to
me interrogatively. "You could leave the
wagon" he added, "at Van Riper's; his
store is just alongside the depot, and one of
the boys would bring it back in the morn
ing"
"Wen," replied, Il am afraid not. l
have only Travelled the road once, and there
are SO many tuTnings that l think it not
unlikely might lose myself in these inter
minable pine forests of yours
"Waal, now" reiOined the old man, Il
don't know but what Ill hev tn 60 myself;
but its mighty Orkard, too tell you, for I've
big supper tn Tx tu-night for the crowd
that's coming"
We were standing on the piazza of the
hotel, and while SnodicOr was speaking the
halt breed, rifle in hand, but with an empty
game bag, came down the road with the
slow, slouching gait peculiar to him.
As soon as the landlord saw the man his
face frightened up.
"Oh, here's John" he said; Il thought
he had gone over tn the island. He doesn't
seem to have hid much luck; he'll he glad
% drive you over III Centrevllle, guess.
Mr. Wilson. john he called out, II want
you to take this gentleman to the depot,
right away. Can you go go
Me goW said the half-breed. How
much give r.
"A silver quarter :" twenty-five cents,
was the reply
And glass rum ?" added John.
Yes, and glass Of rum" rejoined the
Rum now e. said the other interroga
"NO When You return" replied Snedi.
cor, adding to me, soto uoce: If / give il
10 him now, very probably he would not