Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1875-07-17
OUR BOAT, AND A NIGHT ATTACK.

"The rivers higher'n | ever seen it
afore," said Nat, as he stood on the top
of the bluff, and thoughtMlly gazed over
the bottom lands, that were covered with
water for miles in width. AN the
mischief of it is thai when this river
once gets ur, there's no tellin' when it'll
go down
is there no ford but this that we can
use, Nat" inquired |.
FOrds 'aint no use with The Water ez
high ez THAI
it was on the banks of the Rio Grande
that we stood, and its usually placid
current had become mounteir torrent,
rolling on towards the sea like an
avalanche. The rich bottom lands were
overtiOwed, so that the entire space,
from bluff to bluff, resembled a great
lake.
As soon as we fully comprehended the
situation of affairs, we looked at one
another in dismay We were nearly two
hundred miles on our way to attend the
great annual fair ut San Juan, Mexico.
The fair was to be held in ten days, and
the delay of a few days, even, would pre-
vent our reaching it in season to be
present at the festivities.
There's no other way but to give it
up" said the doctor, make the best of
the situation, and return to the settle
mentS wiser men,
Il don't like to give it up without 4
trial, at least, said |. NAT, can't we
build a boat, or construct a raft, so as to
float our goods and the wagons? The
animals can easily swim"
oval. Judge, | aint much of 4 genus"
replied Nat. "Ef we had dozen empty
casks | reckon we might do it; but you
see we haven't got 'em."
"That's just the trouble" said the
doctor; "we haven't got anything to
make boat of, so we maya well return
as to wait here for the water to sub
side"
"Well, boys said l, 81 once saw Il
company OF trappers, belonging to the
old Missouri Fur Company, build what
they call bull boat They crossed the
Missouri River in it, and I'll undertake
to construct such craft for our Use, if
you'll help do the work and obey orders,
which will be better than waiting here
two weeks for the river to 60 down, or
returning home without accomplishing
the object ofOur journey"
"Ha ha" roared the doctor, taking a
seat on the ground; that's Il good
joke"
"Well, doctor, what is there to laugh
at ?" asked |.
"Why, the idea of our setting up a
boat-yard out here on the Rio Grande,
without so muck as a plank, board, or
even pound of nails, Its absurd"
Old Nat looked thoughtfully on,
chewed his tobacco furiodsly, and
squrted a stream of saliva through his
front teeth, without uttering word
either in favor of or against the sugges-
ton
Il certainly can't do it alone," said
"but if you will all help me, and obey
orders, III attempt the job"
"Signed, sealed and delivered" ex-
claimed the doctor, jumping up from the
ground and making a low salaam. Coon
slider me the slave of the boat. | listen
with anxiety for your Majesty's first
order"
(Which is this, doctor, that you take
one or two of the men, and return to the
camping place we left this morning.
Then from that copse of willows that
called your attention to, bring me
twenty or thirty straight sticks, five or
six feet in length, and rs thick rs your
thumb; besides all the twigs suitable for
weaving, you can carry"
As soon as the doctor and his men had
departed, Nat and | walked down the
bluff, until we came to Il grove of small
timber. Here we cut three hickory poles,
about twelve feet in length, which we
carried back to camp. Taking the larger
one, | held the ends in the fire until
thev were heated, and we were able to
bend them to the right shape. | then
bent them in position with a lariat, and
laid the stick on the ground for the
keel.
Upon the doctors return | selected
fifteen of the willow sticks, laid them IN
the fire for a few moments, and then bent
them into the proper shape for knees.
Then laid the center of each upon the
keel, to which | firmly tied them with
cord, holding the ends in position with
lariats.
Next, taking the two remaining poles,
| bent them around the ends for gun
vale, firmly lashed them to each knee,
and then interwove the structure with
the twigs, to give it form and strength.
Early on the following morning, Nat
and myse If mounted our horses and rode
out on the prairie until we fell in with a
herd of Texas cattle. Selecting two of
the largest we shot them, and carefully
removed the hides, which we carried
back to camp. There we spread the
skins on the ground, and cut them into
the right shapes to fit our frame, then
sewed the pieces together as we'll as we
could with buckski" strings.
Placing the frame IN gne center, we
drew the hide up snug around it. secur-
ing the skin to the gunwale with thongs
of raw hide.
We now had very fair-looking boat,
which we turned bottom-upwards in the
hot sun to dry. The next morning L
covered the seams with mixture OF tai
low and pitch, and in couple OF hours
we launched our craft.
1t sat upwrightin in the water, as light as
a cork, and when it was found that 1t
did not leak a drop, all hands INDUCED
in a regular jolification. -,
The men now went to work with Will
and we soon had the wagons unlOaded
and taken apart, ready to be ferried over.
Before night we had successfully crossed
to the other side, the teamsters having
swan ON animals over in safety, and we
were encamped in the heavy timber that
skirted the bottom lands on the Mexican
side of the river.
As we had had very fatiguing days
wOrk we all retired early and were soon