The Cecil Whig., 1874-11-28


one of them yociferating at the top of his
voice coor-r-ruck lax lax. Soon they were
turning a heavy living cloud in circles,
Immediately above the dead one. have
been present in big battles-once in a de-
vastating tornado; in a mast-snapping
storm at sea; but never heard that much
noise before, and it was increasing rapidly,
for | could see them collecting in tiocks
from every direction; besides there could
be seen single cranes hurrying hither and
/ thither on a higher plain. These | took
to be couriers, and were no doubt, if
could have heard them, yelling out the
dread news. They were thickening up so
fast and putting on such threatening
aspect, that it made my hair rise, and
confess that l couldn't avoid feeling de-
gree of alarm.
had reloaded my rifle: but was at
loss to know whether if | shot another it
would frighten or increase their resent
ment They were, however, increasing to
thousands, and it was very evident that
must do something. Appearances were
momentarly growing, and if there was
danger in the situation, procrastination
would not result favoraby. If l could
have thought of it, and mounted old Ned,
it would have been right, and left them to
examine the dead at their leisure.
| concluded to shoot another, it would
frghten and make them 60 further off. So
| shot another but in the confusion pro-
duced by deafening uproar, did not take
sufficient pains, and broke his wing. He
fell squalling to the ground. He struck
about thirty yards from where | stood, and
instantly fifty of them pitched down round
the wounded one. | saw one of them walk
a few steps toward me, and with his wide
open mouth yell out something. The
clamor was now becoming terrific. Old
Ned came up to me looking like he was
badly frightened, and fearing he might run
off, l mounted him, and before ! could
cover the bride he dashed off and was run
ming at full speed with me. He had taken
the proper direction, and let him have his
own way. He continued to run at least a
mile. TIE cranes were the ground
around the dead and wounded in thous-
ands, and they were gathering to that point
from all quarters; numbers were passing
overhead in that direction. | continued to
journey onwards until 4 o'clock. when |
took up camp at little creek of running
water-cranes still flying over and hurry
ing down to the great gathering. | never
expect to see another day as that was.
l went out of the strip of timber that
shaded the little creek; saw some deer, but
they had discovered me first, and couldn't
get shot. About sun down l heard an
old gobbler strut. | sat down at the root
of tree, and called two or three times,
when discovered he was nearer. | knew
that at that season of the year, gobblers
were exhausted and not fit to eat, and
didn't intend to shoot him. l knew also,
that when they were only struting of an
evening, they are in company with three or
four hens, which are in their prime at that
season, and if could succeed in calling up
the old gobbler, the hens would come too.
In these cases the hunter must yelp low,
careless call. and keep a sharp lookout.
Some of the hens will come slyly up in
advance, very often from an unexpected
direction, and if you let them discover you
the hunt is up for that sitting.
| knew their every movement, and when
the sound of the strutting was getting
pretty near, | ceased to call, knowing that
if any hen had left the gang to come to
me, and she did not hear the call any more
she would make a low yelp herself, by
which means | should find her before she
got too near-I've had them to get so close
to me, before l saw them, that had to lie
like | was dead ten or fifteen minutes be-
fore they would get far enough off for me
to move. In the present case, did not
yelp after found that they were certainly
approaching me. One old hen becoming
impatient, came yelping out and hunting
me. She came to the place l had spotted
for her, and there she stopped. That creek
bottom had some of the incest kind of wild
onions 1gathered a bundle, cleaned them.
and splitting many gashes in the breast Of
the half of my turkey, prepare to roast
it in the embers; crammed the gashes full
of the wild onions; wrapped all up care
fully with long grass, buried it deep in the
embers, where it baked all night. When
took it out in the morning, it was thor
oughly cooked, and proved to be delicious.
! set forward again after break fast near
ing the Colorado; found myself before
night in the canebrake between Old Cany
and the river. There was good fresh
worn path there, or | should not have
attempted to have made my way through
the cane. found it a good road, and travel
ing rapidly was not many hours in reach
ing farm in the midst of the thick cane,
fifty-fiv sixty miles from the coast.
They told me that the road would continue
to grow better, and that l should find
several settlements before | got out of the
cane. They invited me to tarry with them |
a few days: but | excused myself on the
grounds of short tune. The truth is, |
did not like the appearance of those cane
brake folks. / hurried onwards, my path |
was a wagon road now, and old Ned made |
the miles pretty fast. Night brought me
to the house of man by the name of |
Heard; and although l told him that l |
would prefer camping out, he said he could !
not permit me to do so; that there were
Indians in the vicinity, and besides he had |
use for me. $50 say no more about it,
but alight, let the boy take your horse,
walk in and let me introduce you to my
family" "Your name, sir?" "Lince-
cum" What State % Mississippi; but
originally from Georgia."
We encountered his good lady at the
door and he introduced me as a man from
"our" State, but had forgot my name. ! |
repeated it, and she rejoined, "walk in,
SIR" with very pleasant smile-and when
we were seated she remarked, 81 hope this |
is DR.. Lincecum, of Upper Mississippi. If
so, | am almost acquainted with him. | |
heard my dear father speak SO often of
him. Am | not correct in my surmise?'
" You are correct ma'am. but who was
your father ?" "Dr. Alexander" Well |
mann, you are, sure enough, very near
acquainted with me. Your father and |
were close friends a long time" had to
stay with these people several days, and
answer a thousand questions. They too
were Georgians by birth.
After washing up my shirts and mending
the rents in my pants. they let me pass.
Mr.. Heard went out into the prairie mile |
or SO, and pointed out the tops of the tim
ber growing around Eagle Lake, twelve
miles distant. got a late start, and the !
beauty of the scenery on that far extending
plain of animals, almost paralyzed me.
Ned. who had not been recently accus
toned to it, had eaten little too much
corn. and being little sluggish, let him
go his own gait whilst | was enjoying the
delightful view. The big drove of mus
tangs bounding away on the far off plains,
who never cease to run until they are not
only out of danger, but out of sight
Horses in wild state are found in larger
herds, and are moro gregarious than the
deer; and great deal wilder And like
the deer when you capture one of ,hem
and you treat him greatly and kindly, as
soon he finds you are not going to kill
him, he becomes tame and docile-your
friend-and will do every thing for yon.
that you can make him understand. His
mental developments, as far as they go, are