The Orangeburg news. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1867-1875, 1873-10-18

grave face, and speculated as to the
possibility of suing somebody or other
for damages; but rallying littlc he
whipped up our retrospective animal
and urged him forward until we got
into deep water and an ugly predica-
ment at the same time. A sudden turn
brought us close on to the river a
strong current caught the vehicle the
horse plunged into a hole and took to
swimming; the water rushed into the
buggy with gurgle and a great splash.
int two pairs of legs appeared stimuli.
taneously in mid-air over the dash
board two valises filled with water, and
one stout individual of the party-not
myself-lay back in his seat aud re-
pcated in an undertonc a string of long
woi ds which never remember to have
met with in any dictionary or spelling
book. More whipping for that miser
able horse, more kicking and plunging,
another iuhux of water, and we came
finally to anchor 1t was cheerful
prospect on all sides; nobody could
deny that. a river on the left, a thick
ct on the right, another river where the
road ought to have been, and no room
to turn round in or do anything but go
straight ahead. To the two voyagers,
sitting in remarkably easy position,
with their lower extremites elevated at
an angle of forty-ive degrees, all this
was highly exhilarating.
For the first time in his life, as |
believe, Harris made an effort, at this
juncture, to quote pootry-a sure sign
that something was prcying on his mind
"wnter, water everywhere,
And not drop to drink
he muttered, g'oomily.
"Whats the matter, Harris ?" in
quircd.
ooh, I'm thinking of that whisky
that Ii -- has upstairs" he replied.
eve might have brought aeme, "for
medical purposes" you know /; and here
we are without drop. A fine oppor.
tuuity just thrown away"
Waiting till his grief grew somewhat
calmer, we resolved ourselves into q
committee of ways aud MEANS" but
found the way decidedly easier than the
means. After holding council, however,
1 was told off for active service, while
Harris constituted himself reserve
party, and remained in the buggy. l
stripped off my clothes and committed
myself to that trcacherous stream, alter
nately welding and swimming for quar-
ter of n mile ahend, TO reconnoitre. AT
that point [ thought it we'll to asc md
tree, by way of going to the masthead,
and 70 "look out for sail" Did any
reader of this ever try to climb tree
without that covering which the shallow
conventioualities of society ssinsist that
man shall wear, and robed only in his
own innocency IF not slet him take
the advice Of one who has done and
suffered much, and let him never
attempt it. | will lot harrow any ones
feelings with the details / don't intend
to speak ofthe scraping on the bark of
that tree every time L slipped (Which
was pretty often), or of that decetful
bough which snapped off and let me
down into the water with G suddenness
| hate to recall or Of the thorns which
enlivened my downward progress. |
will only distantly allnde to the plaster
and ointment which have been
purchasing at intervals ever since that
day. After stating that shall never
again look on gum tree without
shudder, ! Mill draw q veil over the
scene forever
On my return to Harris, his face
wore look of solemn abstraction, and
bio lips were moving inaudibly. 1t was
only after repeated questions from mo
that he looked mo sadly in the face and
said
"I'm praying;" and then seeing my
look of irrevereht unbelief, he added.
eyes, I'm praying for buggy six
feet higher than this one, and horse
twelve feet high"
Saying which, he calmly proceeded to
unrobe aud prepare to JOIN me in my
bath. ] observed the care with which
he wrapped his wet boots in my under
shirt (Which was on the seat beside him)
and the methodical way in which he