Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-15

exhausted with the long, ,fatiguing pull,
and only too gladly acceded to my COM
pan;on's suggestion to tie the boat up
to a tall, overhanging trunk of tree,
and try land tacks for u while
The ground was sticky and treacher-
ous like the natives. Wild serge grass
grew in detached masses, with here and
there a clump of Spanish bayonet, and
punches of coarse rushes, all growing
luxuriously in the wet. soggy ground.
we had q fine run of sport, bagging
more game than we could carry, and the
sun was well up before we thought OF
returning to the boat, where we had left
a lunch, put up by the ward-room stew
ard. We had, as well, wandered con-
siderable distance inland, which fact was
forced most disagreeably and forcibly
upon me when asccndod slight emf
ncnce to obtain u better view of thesur-
rounding rountry'
"A party of most vicious-looking
scoundrcls, swartby and bearded like
pirates, mounted upon wiry mustangs,
galIoping directly toward us, their arms
and accoutrcments glancing brightly in
the rays of The morniag sun, met my
vision.
There was no mistaking their er-
rand, and, if the slightest doubt had OK
istcd, it was soon dissipated when the
party urged their stccds into round
gallop, at tho same timo unslinsing the
carbincs which were strapped to their
backs. With fcrocious yell they came
swoopiug down upon us, and hastily
summoning Harry to follow in my wake,
struck for the old trunk of the tree
which marked the spot where we had
discmbarked.
'Clinging to our guns, while game
bags and contents were tossed aside, we
sought the hardest and drycst ground,
until point was reached, as nearly as
VIC could judge, that was abreast OF the
tree, which was hidden from us by the
+ tall sorgo grass. Tho dry earth was left
behind, and with plunge wo went
$ ankle deep into tho mud and oozc, three
0 miles of which interviewed between us
r and the river. In tho rear dozen well
d armed men were urging their horses
:, along at furious gait; and, gentlemen
: if ever | felt scared in my life it wa'
when | cast furtive glance over my
!, shoulder, taking in the whole situation
'rhcre was one point in our favor
VIC had tho advantage Of a good start
> and, as tho Grcasers reined up thei
snorting mustangs for moment OIL tn
edge of the marsh, We wcro steatlil
blowing our way through the mu'
o and water, while showers of vile CON
0 pound flew high above our heads wit
y every plunge. We were beyond tn
v range of their rifles, they having trie
i. their caliber, the balls expending then
selves far astcrn, harmlessly in the mut
r Then, with q simultaneous yell, the
II ca,no on, the animals plunging furiousl
l. as they sank deeply into the adheslV
l. mud of the morass.
$, 'Their object was murder and plul
t. der. The opportunity was too good
l. be thrown away. There was no one
20 interfere, no ono to witness their deco
v of violence, and in that mass of tangle
in weeds grass, mud and miro no OF
S. would discover our hacked and disfi
urcd bodies.
d. 'Tho rapid crack of the carbines
at sounded continually in our cars, and,
IS the horses gained upon us, the balls b.
Mt can to whistle uncomfortably close 81
no it is a hard matter for mounted man
O. hit fleeing fugitive, SO had but slig
Il misgi, iugs on that score. 1t only serv'
er to acccl srate our pace, while the catt
as bandits wasted thoir ammunition
as hopes, | y. resume, that luck would fav
ve them by W .inging one of MS with str
he shot.
or 'Wo had & ot fully over two-thirds
the distance, with chances in our fav
of when with a 6 roam, burst of agony, t
IL plucky little Nj iddy foil at my feet.
l thought at first he had been struck by
p stray bullet, but such was not tho ca
RS lie was cxhauste, 1,beat entirely out, al
pressing his hands on his side to repre-
the pain, his white' face met mino W
p- an expression | sha Il never forget.
tn go on he gasp,sd, with an eft
II leave me behind tn ere is chance
", you and one victim is sufficient. l
atr go on further
IN Got your breath, my lad; keep "
gun dry, and never say die W bile the'
re a shot in the locker Two Yankees