The daily Argus., 1875-07-09
Bayed by Bull Dogs.

hunter type with whom l have come 10
contact / can remember none more de-
serving to be called queer" than Zebulon
Stump, or 'old Zeb Stump" as he was
better known among his hundred Oafreres
When l first became acquainted with
him the old hunter was living in hollow
(standing) tree-a sycamore or cotton
wood, if / remember aright-along with
his wife, who was character almost as
queer" as Zeb himself, The cavity that
thus sheltered them from sun and storm
was large enough to contain cot-bed, and
had a small fireplace ingeniously con-
trived for the emission of smoke. This
primitive dwelling was in the midst OF an
extensive tract of forest in the Mississippi
bottom, not far from the mouth Of the va
zoo river.
One day we were turkey-hunting to-
gether, not far from his domicile; we had
enjoyed forenoon of tolerably fair sport,
and, seated upon log, well shadOwed by
the overtopping cottonwoods were recruit
ing our strength with ''pone" OF corn
bread and hunk" of boiled bacon, that
Zeb, ever provident on such occasions, had
drawn forth from his wallet.
After satisfying the inner man offered
him cigar, which he declined on the ex-
cuse that he callers puffared pipe" He
made no objection, however, to join me IN
a stomachic, which l was wont to take
along with me on these occasions, in the
shape of flask of old cognac brandy.
Although unaccustomed to this peculiar
spirit, Zeb pronounced it good; better n
any corn" he'd ever tasted.
After a second pull at the pewter, l
observed that it produced pleasant eff
feet upon him; and, seeing him in this
cheerful mood, determined on drawing
from him story-some adventure with
wild animals, feline or ursine-of which L
knew the old hunter to have had his
share.
Deity setting my trap, l soon had him
into it:
"Ye may talk bout your bars" began
he, IAN yur painters, an other wild beests
bein' dang 'rous; an so they 'ur, under
sartin sarkimstances, ez this child hez
reezun to know. But war oncest in a
scrape wi a anymal as air konsidered
tame, not more'n quata part the size o
eyther bar or painter. An when | say a
scrape, mean ugly un'; preehaps the
ugliest ever chenced to this hyar chile, an
he hev fit both bar an painter, to say
nuthin' O wounded buck, which air some
times wuss than both"
"A tame animal2"
"a tame anYmal, an not much larger
than tom cat, at thet."
Il can't think of what animal you
mean"
''If yell jest keep yur head shut up
young fellur, you'll hear all about the crit
ter I'm speaking OF.
The old hunter had knack of telling &
Il, 20 hr,V =
points in their proper places. Knowing
this, concluded to be silent
'Twar' bout three yeer ago, on my frs
trip to Texas, l went to see how that neV
country 'ud shoot me; an it did, for / in
tend goin' back there putty soon. Wal,
landed on the island O Galveston, an
from thur went up Buffalo bayou, to tn
town O Hewston.
Thur war fellur at Hewston who,
gone out from Tennersee. | used to knoy
him when we war young 'uns thegither
an in coorse l wanted to find him. The
told me he want in the town, but out at
place bout three miles off, on the puraira
whar thar wur establishment KEEP by
Englishman, for the butcherin' O cattle
My ole chum he'd some sort O post unne
this Britisher to which the slaughtorir
yard belonged,
II started Of in search O the place, goil
afoot. | wa ant rich enuf to purvide me "
beast, tho | ked bought one o'the be-
for ten dollar bill. Never mind bet
thet. l rud upon shank's mar, which
allurs purfurs, anyhow; specially when
huntin. Hoses skeers the game.
1T war bout twelve. o'clock when
reeched the cattle KILN establishment
Thur wan'n't no house, nor the show
aDythin' like one-'ceptin sort O kivert
shed, whar they slowed away the hides
the cattle they killed; for it war them a
not the meat that the bizness wur carrie
on fur. All roun' the shed run a fen
made out O posts set on thar eends, tn
| reck n they must a hauled good way
for thar wa n t a stick o thinner to be SEE
anywhere within miles O. the place.
this fence | spied gate; it war just Il
same as the rest O the inclosyur, only
knew it to be the gate by pair O pos
risin' leetle higher than the fence
self
''Torst this gate l deerected my step
Thar want human in sight, eyth
outside the fence or inside O it. But
knew it war the Englisher's slaught
place. ked tell that afore | got 'ith
half mile O it by the stink O the skin
Il foun', the gate upon the letch,
war double one; so opeuin' one half,
slept inside, an looked about me.
II kudn't see critter o'any kind. Th
want the show O livin' thing neyth
about yard nor unner the shed, which la
war open roun' 1t war clear that the i
closeyar war desarted.
Zeb Stump sez to myself, 'le
he'd your long walk for nothin, an unn
durnen sweaty sun too. 1t air clar thar
nobody bout these diggins, neyther IN;
nor anymal, so you may turn roun an trat
back to Hcwstonp
But Jest as Id made this refexshun
sown reeched my ears that tOlt me vi
unner a mistake; an at the same time
spied four ugly varmints, the like o whiC
I'd niver seed afore, tho from what
hcern o 'em, knowed them to be En-
lish bull dogs.
They 'peared comm right out o Il
shed, an war a maxim straight terSt m
thar teeth stickin' outside thar lips, a
thar eyes glitterin' from four o as ug
faces as ever war set upon the head o
canyne.
They didn't come on in anythin' o
run, but crouchin' wi their bellies fla
tened out along the groun' just like lyI
cat stealth on turkey or hare. FIR
that thar war no miStakin' thar intenshu
1t was plain enuf 10y the CLINT o thar eye
and thar angry growlin.
Il tried coaXin' same as you'd do v
other dogs. 1t want no use, they on
growled ang;icr; an thinkin to skecr the
of, | grabbed up some dbrnicks, au' hegl
hinging' 'en right in thar teeth.
''lt war the fOnliShcSt thing I ked