The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1888-04-06
DOWN IN ARkAnsAw.
A Part OF the Country Where the Native
Protec Themselves against Strangers.


the Mississippi has not carried tho
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 trieno
living about five miles from the Land.
ing. The merchant at the river bank
loaned me a mule. strapped on an ole
potato sack for a saddle, and the start
was made in good shape. There isn'i
eleast necessity tor any other stranger
to go over that road. In order TO save
all trouble 1t may be stated that that
strip OF Arkansas is composed OF
swamps. ague, mosquitoes, rattlosnakes,
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 discov-
cred To the right of the road and sew
eral rods off. l was terribly thirsty
and re:ned toward the house, but had
not yet covered half the distance when
y pack of dogs broke loose from some
where and came around the corner of
the hut There were dogs of all shades
and breeds and colors. except poodles
and pugs. l had time to notice a
blood-houn as high as yearling calf.
and bulldog built something like a
cider barrel. when the mule made
break over a field of sickly 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 bloc
hound had jumped clear over him rs
he made u grab at me. Right under
the low branches of a great old tree
rushed the mule. and il was either TO
be swept off or to climb off, / seized "A
branch and let him pisJ from under
me. and next moment was looking
down upon seven yelping. bowling.
disappo mt ID ours. They seemed to
feel something like a man does when
the sub-oifice closes the circuit on him
IS he is blowing up the grocer for not
delivering those goods. In about live
minutes woman in poke bonnet aud
carrying a shotgun on her shoulder
came across the field. and rs she came
near enough to make out the object in
the tree she halted and exclaimed:
''Shoo, but thought il was a coon"
Sorry to disappOint you, ma'am.
PIE use call off your dogs"
'.What fure"
$50 lean come down"
Il shan do nothin' of the kind? You
is new to these parts, and you don't
com down till | call Jim"
Where is hep
'.At the saw-irill, over on the
branch"
'.Well. please hurry up. Tn terri
bly, thirsty. and these mosquitoes are
enough to drive one crazy"
YES, i reckon; but never knowed
an honest man to take to = tree, The
logs will see that you don come dowa
afore bring Jim,"
1t was just an hour aud half before
she returned with her old man, and he
was carrying club in his hand. Dur
ing this interval the air around me was
literally alive with mosquitoes. killed
EN- by the thousand. but where one
laid down his life for his country three
sit me to the bone and escaped to brag
L. VI
and byiway of keeping up my spirits
he blood hound tried his jumping
bowers. was twelve feet up He
could Jump eleven feet and six inches
lie tried ii. over and over again. but
this was thu best he could do. The
bull dog had come thought of gnawing
the tree down, but gave up the idea
,fter working fifteen minutes. The
,thers sat and glared at me and
smacked their chops and tasted quail
IN toast. Whea Jim aud his wife were
lose to the tree they halted and she said:
That's him, up thar.
Now, Bets. describe him. for I'm
100 nighsighted to gethis pints. How's
MS harp
Short" 4.
.Is he saller complected'"
NO" -,
..Fat or lean?" 1
.'Kind o. between.
"Chaw plug or fine cutP"
Gan saw"
.Skeeters takin' to him7"
"Right smart
And he was ridia' Davis old mule.
,h?"
"He was"
stranger, who be you, whar' you
oin' an who do you know in these
lere partsp" asked Jim. as he came q
title closer.
Imade him a stump-speech two min
ties long. and he turned to his wife
md said:
"Well, Bets, he talks sluar'."
''But he may be lying" she pro-
sest d.
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
,at me up in another half hour | shall
certainly die of thirst. What's the
matter with you, any way9 Do you
take me for a wild animalp"
stranger, there's bin carvings on
in this huddle of late. I've lost hog;
oe Smith has lost mule; Pete Col
ins' wife has run away; the old man
Williams took drink of buttermilk
and fell dead. and Bets has bin dreamin'
If snaix and sich. Don't blame me fur
wantin' to know who's who. Have you
got airy gunP
no"
"Ary knifeP"
Mo-
wall, Think we'll take the chances
| Wen stand on that knoll and call of
| the dogs, and you kin come down and
70 yer way. Bets will keep the gur
kinder pinted your way, but it won
| 70 off unless you stop too long"
| They rctreated to the spot designated
md 1 dropped down. The bulldog
made jump. but the woman rolled
| i'm over with kick. and as reached
he highway and waved the pair fare
| we'll she cried out:
"Mebbe we was too skeary. stranger
Dut these is awful mes for lone win
| .hi,n " DUAL ia uekr0ik Eree Pl,eSa