New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1876-05-28

L
very best huntin' dog on the whole Pot
mac. That dog that dogs worth q hu,
bred dollars of any mans money. Why, b
saved q life once, that dog did, and b
hasn't his equal in the land. just se@
poor fellow, how he's lickin' his dea
hearts blood from his poor stained coat.
| thought he would die wouldn't take an
money for him; I'd just sue for damages be
fore the Court of Claims. Only think; tina
dogs purps are worth twenty dollar
apie &c. Don't ask me to take less thai
twenty dollars
The negotiation was long and tedious
but persisted in Offering less than $50, an,
half that amount was at length accepted
After this amicable adjustment was effected
the two hunters pulled homeward will
their wounded dog, whose name, curiously
enough, was .Swap, and Pat and I pro
ceeded in quest of birds and adventures
among the rushes.
Faith, an it was schwan you shot
ony how. an a dear echwan at that, to be
sure. These felleys i'll think the goose was
at our end of the gun"
Though little annoyed at Pats imperti
ne nee, could not but smile at the manner
in vi ich he idt nttied himself with me and
left the goose Of his joke an undetermined
factor.
Before any more game came in sight
loaded the discharged barrel of my fowl.
ing-piece, and told Pat to let the boat
drift along at it's OWE wild will, so that il
any ducks should happen to fly over they
would not be alarmed by our movements.
After we had d,ifted short distance,
observed a beautiful brown crane standing
provokiDg!y on one leg among the reeds
not far from the little channel we 80 care
lessly navigated. Taking aim, l fred at
once, and the bird, after huttering for mo-
nent, fell in The little pool in which it had
been bunting its piscatoriai game in its own
skillful way.
II be logged says Pat. eff we haven't
got schwsn this time. Therell be no ten
dollars to pay for that shot, onyhow."
But Pat reckoned without his host, as we
shall see hereafter.
The boat was rowed to a point opposite
t he dead bird and grounded on the sedge-
bank, hich wae composed of black mud,
too thin to walk upon and too thick to
swim in.
o, for dog, prayed; but 20 dog came.
Going to the bow Of the boat, reached for
ward as far as possible. and my finger tips
"a NE within six Inches of the cranes long
bill.
" Push her little further, Pat" cried.
an d by vigorous effort our lines were ad-
vanced to the extent OF about three inches.
''Sora bit further can get her." said
Pat, "if the birred's yellow legs were
gould"
"Steady, then" said I; II think the game
8 now within my reach"
Stretching over the bow again, succeed
ID in getting my fingers within about two
n ches of the birds head.
'Be careful, your 'onor," exclaimed Pat,
'or the crane will send you longer bill
han the sehwan did"
With another hitch forward l elongated
myself 80 far that the bill of the bird was
lrmly grasped, but as coon as l undertook |
0 pull the body toward NE | lost nv bal |
nee and, falling forward, descended sew.
raj feet headforemost into the black |
,arsby mud. burying my game at the same
inc to an unknown depth.
Didn't told ye So" inquired Pat; but !
/ my plight tue inquiry was lost.
With my head three feet in the mud l
as of course utterly helpless and in dan.
or of almost immediate sutfocation. But
,e faithful Pat cAne to my relief. felt
i'm tugging at my extremities and in q
tort time he got me back into the boat.
y crane was, however, irretrievably gone;
nd with it my beautiful hunting cap,
which had invested q small amount of
Y funds and sporting vanity.
"By the holy mother of Mosee, that was
narrow esbcape. The saints be praised for
Or pre- servation."
While Pat gave voice to this pious utter
ice he attempted to free my mouth, nose.
'es, ears and clothes from mud, but the
,st that be could do in that direction fell
dly short of what either he or desired.
ad fallen into pool of printers ink
uld as easily have been made presentable. |
ne filth chung to me as color to the Eth
hich it has been stored.
While yet speechless l motioned to Pat to
It the whisky. He comprehended the situa.
IN in moment, knocked the top of the
title off with the skill of headsman.
d turning his back toward me, deeply
sted the virtue of the medicine before he
injured to administer it. He then held it
my lips, with considerate regard lest
ould choke myself. and took another deep
tation before he returned it to the game
g. |,
We then held consultation as to what
rs best to be done under the circum.
ances. l could not remain az was, and
ere was picnic on the island which pre-
nted me from going there to wash myself
d clothes. Pat suggested that we should
turn to bis cabin and have Biddy wash
. clothes while 1 luxuriated in his Sun
y suit. As the proposition was the best
1t offered accepted it heartily, but be-
o we reached the cabin the last drop of
, whisky had been drained, and Pat and
we're as merry as Tam O'Shanter was
len he set out on his famous ride.
was glad to get quietly into Pats re. {
at, and after had taken off my soiled I
thing, thoroughly washed myself and 9
de Pats garments for the time my own, Z
vas so far recovered as to laugh at my