The Republican journal., 1874-10-15

alone"
"You be hanged. Doctor; you're lazy.
Tired | should like to know what you
have done to make you tired? You
haven't chopped off anybody's limb, that
| know of, and since you and DR.. --
Gone of the physicians of the town) near
ly killed that poor fellow the other day,
| know you can't get any one to come
within mile of your scalpel So don't
be nonsensical, but get into your old boots
and come along"
"Why don't you go tor Capt T., or some
one else, and let me alone? Don't you
know that | won't be out OF the garrison
five minutes before somebody's darling
will have the Group, or the collie, or some
thing, and the poor mother will be
frightened into Mysteries, and when they
find | am away there will be the old
Harry to pay p
can find you We will not 90 far Don't
be so obstinate You know You only want
to be coaxed The ladies spoil you doc
tors, and you are getting to be almost as
bad as q Miss in her teens. SO get your
traps in shape while | order the horses
Well, if | must, | must. | suppose, so
sit down and let me hear what YOU pro-
poSe''
SO we discussed the matter over an
amicable pipe, and the upshot OF it was
that we determined to % out on the flats
| beyond Humboldt Point. about mile dis
tant, and try to get some shots as the
| geese flew over on their way to the places
of drinking. These places We're springs
along the shores of the bay, uncovered by
the falling tide, or little brooks which
emptied into the bay. and which, when the
| tide was down. ran far out over the flats
! tiny streams OF pure fresh water. Thjther
/ the geese Were accustomed to repair by
/ light. and we determined TO waNlay them
! IN route.
| While the QuartermaSter was having
| the horses brought round and getting his
''impements. | induced my shooting
| toggery and cold boots" Leaving Jack
| behind, much to his disgust. in a few
moments we We're riding rapidly along
the beach on our way to the Point keep
ing bright lookout for the quicksands
the location OF which we well knew.
| There We're but few Of these along the
bay shore, but in other places they are
both numerous and dangerous. and not a
| stances, | believe, men also. have per
ishel miserably in them.
| Shortly after my arrival at Humboldt
| Bay. was one day riding at a hard gal
| hep along the smooth beach or shore of
| this bay, never dreaming of there being
any dagger | rode a very powerful
chestnut sorrcl horse somewhat famous
in that part of the country for strength
and endurance suddenly my horse in
his stride. leaped clear Of the solid beach.
and sank half way up his side in Il quick
sand AS he was very courageous and
strong animal his efforts We're tremendous.
and in almost less time than it takes me
to tell it he had struggled through. and
stood with wildly glazing eyes and heaying
TANKS upon the solid ground. Fortunate
II, this quicksand was not deep. but
shudder to think what might have been
my fate had | struck a larger, deeper, and
more dangerous one. | should have lost
my horse, if not my own life also When
my horse got through, which took scarce
II minute, he was white with foam, and
he had not ''turned a hair'' before This
will give some idea OF his struggles
Our ride was a short but lovely one, for
the moon was nearly tnll and the air pure
and bracing. The moonlight nights in
California are, ! think. peculiarly beauti-
tut. Inc air IS so pure and clear the
moon shines with a brightness uncQuallcd
elsewhere. Talk of the moonlight Of the
Orient, it cannot compare with it. In
California the grandeur OF the forests. lit
mp by the moonbeams, struggling through
the tops ct the gigantic redWoods, can
only be appreciated by being seen. The
dim aisles Of the forest'' are there reality.
and the colossal trunks. with their lofty
heads. strikingly remind one of the huge
columns and carved capitals OF a great
cathedral. The ''subdued ecclesiastical
light" there is perfection. Many night
have ridden through these forests when
the entire party had been hushed with
the holy awe that pervades the temple of
the woods When we came out upon
the hills bounded by the ocean, with The
food of soft moonlight pouring down, and
every blade Of grass glittering with dia-
mond dew drops, with the ceaseleSs boom
Of the mighty Pacific at our feet, the
white-capped waves dancing and CHANGING
DER the dark waters and the perfection OF
the spot mamed only by our presence
everyone halted as if spellbound | tell
you, comrade, neither Egypts shines nor
Holy Land ever saw a taircr sight or
brighter moonlight. or that which filled
the soul and impressed the mind with
greater sense OF mans littlcness. anG the
power and mmiticence CT our Maker
Soon we arrived at our destination. al
though we had paused on our way to in
duce L.. a brother of the rod and gun.
who lived on a small rancho about half a
mile from the Post, to accompany us.
Fastening our horses securely. each man
hunted out from a ruined shanty near zone
Of the relies of the suburbs OF '.IIumboldt
City'D a piece Of board some ten feet
long to lay on the flat, so that we could
sit down and thus be less exposed to the
keen vision of the game, and lead them to
consider Us some stump or lop left by
the tide and also to keep us from sinking
in the soft mud in which we tloundered.
ankle deep, at every step. Walking out
as far as the consstence Of the flats would
allow, we placed our boards about thirty
yards apart and sat down patiently to
wait for the geese. Soon they began to
lily over us in little flocks of half-a-dozen
or more. As they came up they appeared
double their real size, white as snow, and
beautiful beyond mparison-tlying quite
low often within thirty feet. and giving
good easy shots.
Mark called out the Captain. who
was on the extreme right
AS he spoke, up came flock of three
or four. Aiming at the middle one ! let
drive my left barrel, and down came a
fine gander, stone dead, almost at my feet.
At the shot the tapping Of the survivors
was tremendous. Quickly | fired my
right barrel, and down came another. in
but easy spirals," wing tipped, |
and off he ran over the flat toward the !
water
Catch him DOCTOR" sung out L., and
at the word l laid my gun on the board |
and made for him. Talk about the slow |
and awkward gait of goose That one
was a born racer, and it was all could |
do to reach him before he got to where
the mud was too soft to bear me up. He |
struck at me tiercely with his uniniured !