The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1886-12-04
DOWN IN ARKANSAW.
A PlIrt of the Country Where the Natives
Protect Themselves Against Strangers.

James Landing, if some change OF
the Mississippi has not carried the
place away, is on the Arkansas shore,
three or four hours run above Mem
phis. started back into the country
one summer day to see an old friend
living about five miles from the Land
| ing. The merchant at the river bank
loaned me mule, strapped on an old
potato sack for a saddle, and the start
was made in good shape. There isn't
the least necessity tor any other stranger
to go over that road. In order to save
all trouble it may be stated that that
strip of Arkansas is composed of
swamps, ague, mosquitoes, rattlesnakes,
watermelons and crows. 1t was in the
dryest season of the year and the peo-
pie were praying for rain, and yet that
| mule couldn't be got off walk on ac-
count of the mud. Twice he got stuck
fast on the very crest of what they call
hills, and he didn't tear himself loose
until the crows settled so thickly
around US that terror came to inspire
him.
Half the distance had been accom-
| plished when a log cabin was dscov-
cred to the right of the road and sev-
eral rods off. | was terribly thirsty
and refined toward the house, but had
not yet covered half the distance when
a pack of dogs broke loose from some
where and came around the corner of
| the hut. There were dogs of all shades
| n lNroodC md oA1N,.p ,DoaHIoc
and pugs. | had time to notice a
bloodhound as high as yearling calf.
and bulldog built something like a
cider barrel, when the mule made
break over field of sckly corn and
into the timber. Before he was across
the field three or four of the dogs had
bitten him on the legs, and the bloo1-
hound had jumped clear over him as
he made grab at me. Right under
| the low branches of great old tree
rushed the mule, and it was either to
| be swept off or to climb off. | seized a
branch and let him pass from under
me, and next moment was looking
down upon seven yelping, bowling,
disappointed ours. They seemed to
feel something like a man does when
the sub-office closes the circuit on him
as he is blowing up the grocer for not
delivering those goods. In about five
minutes woman in poke bonnet and
carrying shotgun on her shoulder
came across the field, and as she came
near enough to make out the object in
the tree she halted and exclaimed:
"Shoo! but thought it was coonr"
'Sorry to disappoint yea, ma'am.
Please call off your dogs"
"What furp"
$50 can come down"
! II shan't do nothin' of the kindp You
is new to these parts, and you don't
como down till call jim"
"Where is he?'
cat the sawmill, over on the
branch"
"'Well. please hurry up. I'm terri
bly, thirsty, and these mosquitoes are
enough to drive one crazy"
eyes, | reckon; but l never knowed
an honest man to take to treei The
dogs will see that you don tcome down
afore bring Jim!''
1t was just an hour and a half before
she returned with her old man, and he
was carrying a club in his hand. Dur
,
literally alive with mosquitoes. | killed
'em by the thousand, but where one
laid down his life for his country three
bit me to the bone and escaped to brag
of it. The dogs remained on guard,
and by way of keeping up my spirits
the bloodhound tried his jumping
powers. l was twelve feet up. He
could jump eleven feet and six inches.
He tried it over and over again, but
this was the best he could do The
bull dog had some thought of gnawing
the tree down, but gave up the idea
after working fifteen minutes. The
others sat and glared at me and
5macked their chops and tasted quail
on toast. When Jim and his wife were
close to the tree they halted and she said:
"That's him, up thar" 49,.
"Now, Bets. describe him. for I'm
too nighsighted to get this pints. How's
his harp"
''Short"
''Is he saller complectedP"
mo"
s'Fat or lean?"
''Kind O. between"
"Chaw plug or fine cut"
Cant say"
'Skeeters takin' to him?"
bright smart"
"And he was ridin' Davis old mule,
eh?"
"He was"
stranger, who be you, whar' you
goin an who do you know in these
here parts?" asked Jim, as he came a
little closer
made him stump-speech two min
utes long, and he turned to his wife
and said:
swell, Bets, he talks squar'."
"But he may be lying" she pro-
tested.
YES, that's so. Reckon I'd better
go'n git the Kurnel."
Look here, but want to get down."
/ shouted. IF these mosquitoes don't
eat me up in another half hour | shall
certainly die of thirst. What's the
matter with you, any way? Do you
take me for a wild animalP"
"Stranpe there's bin carvings on