St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1894-02-03

fance from the city OF San Antonio
de Bexar, at that day the most i'm
portant commercial point in all west
Texas. My operations for time were
confined along q small river called the
Colette, as a civil engineer in the in
terest of Capt John Field. veteran OF
the Mexican war, who had settled on
that stream some years previous, who
had become dissatisfied with the unre-
liability Of the only means of grinding
the Indian corn, the old-t;me windmill
then in vogue, and had determined to
build q first-clAss water mill on the
Colette.
At that day game of the edible kind.
such rs deer, turkey, squirrels, prairie
chickens, etc, was very plentiful. at >
the settlement There was also gen
erous sprinkling of panthers. wild cats
aud other night providers, and now and
then a lost Comanchc Indian spy would
appear on the scene.
It was quite a relief to the whole
working force in that enervating cli-
mate when the captain would call .
halt in all departments of business and
9nnounce a big hunt up the river for =
few days to recruit our lost energies
and wonted strength, depleted by in
cessant and profuse perspiration.
There were generally Ave or six in
the party, and we went usually on horse
back with our allowancc.of bread, coffee
and quart lineup securely tied to the
saddlestraps behind and carrying .
good deer gun, Colts navy six and .
huge cutlass, or belt knife. The plan
was to stay long enough for each one
Of the party to secure a saddle of ven-
ison 1.-THE two hind quarters Of q deer)
with the skin still on. the fore quar-
ters having been skinned and thrown
sway.
Along about the first days Of Novem-
ber, when the days had slightly cooled
on and the nights were most delight
fully cool and crisp under a clear blue
Italian sky-such weather as makes .
vigorous man feel glad that he is living
the captain announced to his forces
his intention of 'laying off, the whole
force for two weeks
We were soon in splendid trim for
Aeld of sport with high spirit Of ella
tion and anticipation, as our field of op-
eration had been selected in a new and
untried section, where the panther and
ieeuar. or spotted tiger, did most
abound
We arrived at our destination in good
condition, after a moderate ride Of some
thirty miles, pitching our tent near the
headwaters of the Colobo, q stream to
The north of the settlement. We had
no fear. or at least no thought, af
trouble from ferocious beasts or hostile
.snemy of any sort, 50 after . rather
xhry, and must say uninviting. supper,
we made our bed for the night At the
.sWidow Sprawl's inn" with anything
hut . satisfied stomach. We were in
the best condition possible to enjoy .
sweet and unconscious sleep after hav-
iur travelled 90 far and going through
The arduous labor of selecting . camp
inr ground. and were doing ample JUS
tice to that strong desire for rest, when
about midnight terrible racket broke
nat among our horses staked out . lit
4ae way from the camp They spun
around their stakes in the widest
alarm. snorting, kicking and rearing,
md making desperate efforts to release
thcmselves from their fastenings
Row the captains favorite saddle
mare seemed to be the center of attrac-
{ eson. being o beautiful specimen of the
heoncho or Texas mustang, and al
though an albiuo was nevertheless Of