The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1892-09-14

in the stern. Five minutes before the
croCodiles and cranes, water turkeys,
bitterns and herons had had the black,
oozy river all to themselves as it slug.
gishly made its way through the swampy
palmettos and cypress.
The boat bumped along slowly, strik-
ing against cypress trees and fallen tree
trunks. The paddlers looked anxious
for the chance of finding a comfortable
camping ground was growing slighter
before young viii Lorlng began to be
sick of his escapade. He had left the
camp eight miles away without orders
and taken two of his company with him
to do Indian scouting on his own ac-
count.
Little more than a year before he had
been schoolboy, playing soldier in the
streets of st. Augustine with other
youngsters. When the Seminole War
of 1885 broke out, swee ping with wave
of fire and massacre across the State, he
ran away from home and joined a CON-
pany of volunteers. His daring and
GOODNESS at the battles of the With
lacoochee and Alaqua, in connection
with the social importance of his family,
had given him his epaulets at an age
when other boys of the same years were
still in terror of the schoolmaster's birch.
"Wall, Lieutenant" drawled one of
the men as he peered wearily into the
depths of the dark cypress arches, ''we're
in 'orrid fix, reckon. If we keep on
we'll run plum into nest of then Injin
devils, dead shore"
Both the soldiers were Crackers, bred
in the woods and swamps, good shots
and skillful hunters, though thin, slouch-
ing figures were not ornaments to a
dress parade.
"Keep ON padding" said young Lor-
ing in low tones, but with an air of stern.
ness, which did not set we'll on his
smooth face and mischievous black eyes,
Sand await my orders" Then feeling
that he had asserted his authority, he
continued with burst of boyish conf
dence, 81 tell you what it is, Scraggs,
Wen have to get back to that hammock,
about a mile up the river, where we can
find pine knots to cook supper; don't
you think so2"
"Bless you, Lieutenant, dye banker
to lose yer skelpl No supper tonight
but a drink of swamp water, and a chew
of raw bacon. I'll bet there's a hun
dred of red varmints in two miles on
US"
"You're not afraid, Scraggs, are your
said the youngster with lordly air; "a
fellow who can bore potato tossed in
the air at hundred yards with rifle |
ball, ought to have plenty of spunk."
"a leetle more skeery than l war forty |
year ago." answered the Cracker, with
twinkle in his eye. "Howsomever, as
men of nay inches do, l reckon I've got |
as much cl'ar grit as most on 'em."
This talk had gone on in half whispers.
The darkness was increasing every min
ute. The boyish officer in spite of his
airs was evidently uneasy, for his eyes
shot continual glances ahead and on both
sides into the swamp, as the dugout
glided at a snail's pace. They were
nearing another bend in the stream,
when through the tangle of leaf and vine
there was a red CLEAN like huge trefy.
Without waiting orders Scraggs whirled
the boat back with a powerful paddle,
and turned to his officer with eyes al
most starting from their sockets, shaking
his head in warning.
"injuns, injuns, Lieutenant win, a
dozen on 'em," he whispered. 81 seed
the hind end of two canoes jiss roun' the
bend. Thar must be hummock whar
they're eamped. They're jiss got