Western sentinel. [volume] (Winston [i.e. Winston-Salem], N.C.) 1856-1886, 1884-11-06

and freSh-Water ylctOrS OF That region.
Skimming in sylph-like dance to the
music of our paddles over the white
breakers, always on the eve OF capslz-
ing AMI yet never overturned, she was
the prettiest object that ever rode
those waves, not excepting the white
swan on which the tabled "1ndian
Rose, travelled to her sweetheart
rendezvous in the cavernous cliffs. 30
much for the artistic cloak of paint,
metal and sailing silk; in which print
er bov ingenuity had invested her!
But our triumph, like many anoth-
er era of human fruition, was, all un-
beknown to us, nearing sudden and
inclorious finale. One lovely but ILL
fated morning in May, when we had
enioyed her for only a trifie over seven
weeks, while we stood in plain view
about a hundred yards from her moor
ing-place on the beach, we observed
an Indian standing over her, eyelng
her closely, and already having one
of his feet planted on the shore and
the other on her gunwale. Directly
he gave vent to an enormous grunt,
seated himself deliberately in onr
charming water-witch, and padded
away! Our first impulse was to follow
him. and some of US did actually jump
| into another boar, seize the oars and
begin to strike out; but we had not
more than lifted for the second stroke
when We were knocked all in heap
| by an overwhelming sense OF the utter
hopelessness and unparalleled ludl-
crousness of the undertaking, and We
| sank back on our seats convulssd and
| helpless with laughter. But in the
bottom of this boat lay several old
muskets used as duck or scatter-guns
by the proprietors and, no sooner
than we saw these, the idea possessed
us, mad and devilish as we were, to
give the child of the forest, who was
not yet quite out of sight, parting
volley. Away went the Indian, pad
ding with characteristic coolness and
ease, and gazing back at us with most
provoking stolidity and unconcern-
the stripes and stars at his masthead
straight and plain as sign-board fol
our target-practice. Bang! bang bang
went the rip-roaring old towling pieces
and the shot struck-the water 2O(
yards in his rear! 1t was the frs
and the last time | ever saw an In
dian warrior flying the United State
flag, or that flag fired upon by par
ty of loyal American youths
Deeply chagrined though we wer
at first by the Indians indeseribabl,
cool and courageous resumption OF hi
rights, without SO much as word 0
praise or recognition for our extri
paint, zinc, canvass, silken-pennan
and magniloquent inscriptions; with
out even polite "by your leave" o
an apologetic farewell bow; yet W
still had sense enough to laugh it O
good -humoredly and try to cheerful
resign our adopted foundling, our Dor
ny prize boat and we were wiser i
the mysteries of Indian character, b
several degrees, than we had previous
! ly been. In fact | think we felt a Iii
tie better than usual. after the smoA
: of the fray had settled, now that hoI
est restitution had been made, noler
, volens and in a way in which fu
! somswhat compensated for loss. w
l all marched back to the printing o
: : fee in Indian file, and singing in tru
I boyish style:
i "a hungry fox one day did spy
It Some nice ripe grapes that hung on higl
}, And as they hung they seemed to say,
p. In their inviting, quiet way,
, IF you can eat as, sir, you may"
''The fox he tried, and tried in vain,
2 The tempting mouthful to obtain;
/ lie licked his lips for near an hour;
d But finding them beyond his power,
y lie went and vowed the grapes trcre souri,
: If any one afterward asked US WI
l. the printer boys cloak wouldn't fit Il
J. Indians canoe, we took him to t
, capital case and pointed out to hir
o one at a time, the big letters ::
" S,P, E, E, d.
a Mt. Vernon, N. c., Oct. 80.