San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1889-02-21

distended jaws, and quickly vibrating
tongue, that played Ike little ilam,
about its mouth. Dolph's heart turned
faint within him, and he had well nigf
let 10 his hold, and tumblod down tht
precipice. Tho serpent stood on the dc
fensive but for an instant; 1t was an In
stinctive movement Of defense; and find
ing there was no attack, II glided away
into cleft of the rock. Dolph's eye fol-
lowed with fearful intensity; and he saw
mt a glance that no was in the vicinity
of nest of adders, that lay knotted, ant
writhing, and kissing In the chasm. liz
hastened with all speed to escape from
so frightful neighborhood. His imag
ination was full of this new horrors ht
saw an adder In every curling vine, and
heard the tail of n rattlesnake In every
dry leaf that rustled.
At length he succeeded In scramblinG
to the summit Of q precipice; but 10 was
covered by q dense forest. Wherevei
he could gain q lookout between the
trees, he saw that tho coast rose In
heights and cliffs, one rising beyond an
other, until hugo mountains overtopped
tho whole. There were no signs of cul
uvation, nor any smoke curling amongst
the trees, to indicate n human residence
Everything was wild and solitary. Al
he was standing on tho edge of a preci
pice that overlooked q deep rnvint
fringed with trees, his feet detached {
great fragment Of rock; 1t fell, crashing
Its way through tho tree tops, down int
the chasm. A loud whoop, or rather
yell, issued from the bottom of tho glcn
the moment nfter, there was tho report
of gun; and ball came whistling ovei
his head, cutting the twigs and leaves
and burying itself deep In the bark of
chestnut tree.
Dolph did not wait for second shot
but made q precipitato retreat; fearing
every moment to hear the enemy in pur'
suit. He succeeded, however, in return
ing unmolested to tho shore, and deter
mined to penetrate no farther into O
country 30 beset with savage perils.
He sat himself down, dripping, discon'
solately, on q wet stone. What was tc
be done? Where was he to shelter him,
self Tho hour Of repose was approach
ing; the birds were seeking their nests
the bat began to fit about In the twi
light, and tho nighthawk soaring high
in heaven, seemed to be calling out the
stars. Night gradually closed in and
wrapped everything in gloom; and
though 1t was the latter part Of summer,
yot tho breeze, stealing along tho river,
and among these dripping forests, was
chilly and penetrating, especially to q
half drowned man.
AS he sat dropping and despondent ip
this comfortless condition, he perceived
light cleaning through tho trees near
the shore, where the winding Of tho river
made deep bay. 1t cheered him with
the hopes that here might be some human
habitation, where he might get something
to appease the clamorous cravings OF his
stomach, and, what was equally neces-
sary In his shipwrecked condition, q
comfortable shelter for the night. 1t waa
with extreme difficulty that he made his
way towards the light, along Lodges OF
rocks down which he was In danger Of
Gliding into the river, and over great
trunks OF fallen trees, some of which had
been blown down In the lntc storm, and
lay so thickly together that he had to
struggle through their branches. AT
length he came to the brow Of rock that
overhung q small dell, from whence the
light proceeded. 1t was from fire ut
the foot Of great tree that stood In the
midst Of q grassy interval or plat among
tho rocks. The fro cast up red glare
among the gray crags and impending
trees, leaving chasms Of deep gloom that
resembled entrances to caverns. A small
brook rippled close by, betrayed by the
quivering reflection of the flame. There
were two figures moving about tho fire
and others squatted before 1t. AS they
were between him and the light they
were In complete shadow, but ono Of
them happening to move round to the
opposite 6ido, Dolph was startled ut per-
cefving, by tho full glare falling on
painted features and glittering on silver
ornaments, that he was an Indian. Lie
now looked more narrowly, and saw
guns leaning against tree and o dead
body lying ON tho ground.
Dolph began TO doubt whether he was
not in worse condition than before;
here was the very foe that had fired at
him from the glen. He endeavored to
retreat quietly, not caring TO intrust
himself to these half human beings In 30
savage and lonely q place. 1t was too
late. The Indian, with that eagle quick
hess Of eye 80 remarkable In his race,
perceived something stirring among the
bushes on the rock. He seized one Of
the guns that leaned against tho tree; one
moment more, and Dolph might have
had his passion for adventure cured by a
bullet. lie hallooed loudly with the In
dian salutation Of friendship; the whole
party sprang upon their feet; the saluta-
ton was returned, and the straggler was
invited to join them at the fire.
On approaching he found, TO his con-
ISOLATION, that the party was compoTed OF
white men as well as Indians One, who
was evidently the principal parsonage or
commander, was seated on the trunk OF
a tree before the fire. He was large,
stout man, somewhat advanced In life,
but hale and hearty. His face was
bronzed almost 10 tho color Of an In.
dams; ho had strong hut rather jovial
features, an aquiline nose and mouth
shaped like n mastiifs. His face was
half thrown In shade by broad hat
with buck's-tail In it. His gray hair
hung short I'm his neck. Ho wore a
hunting frock, with Indian leggings,
aud moccasins, and a tomahawk Ia the
broad wampum belt round his waist.
As Dolph caught distinct view OF his
person and features, he was struck with
something that reminded him Of the old
man Of the haunted house. The man
bcfOrc him, however, was uluereht ih
his dress and age; he was more chcery,
too, in his aspect, and IL was hard 10 dc
fine where the vague resemblance lay
but a resemblance thcre certainly was
Dolph felt some degree Of awe in ap-
preaching him; but was assured BY the
frank, hearty welcome with which he
was reoeived- As he cast his eyes ebout.
too. he was still further encouraged by
peroeiving that the dead body, which
had caused him sofne alarm, was that Of
a deer: and his safisf8ction was complete
in discerning, by the savory gteaIDs
which issued from kettle suspended by
q booked stick over the fire, that there
vas q part cooking for The evenings re-
Tast.
he now found that be had fallen In
with a rambling hunting party, such -
often took T.lace IN thoss DAYS among TIE