The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-02

N--N
musketos, were always within sight and
hearing. Sometimes during the day, in
order to keep out of the water, we would
take shelter in a pile of drlftwood.
When we would wake up after short
nap every old log and hommock about
us would be covered with gators.
They would lay listlessly and lazly,
with eyes almost shut, looking hungrlly
and quizzically out of one corner OF
; their wicked peppers, as if waiting for
us to leave, or for chance to nab one
) of us by the leg or arm and run:
Mark grew superstitious OF these
creatures. He said he had read of
, wolves following a famished buffalo in
J the same manner, and that sharks
would hover around ship from which
corpse was to be cast overheard, and
that, too, even days before death had
occurred or was even suspected by the
sailors.
But the "gators were cowardly
fellows, and, on the least demonstration
on our part, would scramble into the
water. Still, we feared they might
steal upon and lay hold Of us with their
powerful jaws while we were asleep.
We had learned that they were not apt
to attack, except when the object OF
their voracious appetites lay quiet. but,
when once they did lay hold, that they
were hard to beat off, They will drag
their victim, be it man or beast, IN
stantly under the water, where the
struggle soon ends.
We were now journeying in place
where our means of getting food were
poor indeed, for there was no food.
After enduring hunger as long as we
possibly could, we were finally forced a
second time, since leaving Columbus, to
60 in search of something to eat. This,
| think, was about five or 10 miles
above Chattahoochee Landing. 1t is not
necessary to relate the particulars OF
our search for a human habitatlon and
the story Of deception we told.
1t was little before dark when we
struck out on foot, so weak, hungry and
faint that we could not walk many steps
without resting, in search of something
or anything we could devour. We
were successful, or partially so, at least,
. and came back safely, much strength
ened, as we'll as elated over our good
luck, when, to our great dismay and
, chagrin, we found that our boat had
been stolen during our absence.
1t was evident someone had seen us
land and watched until we left, and
then taken the boat l cannot describe
our feelings We scarcely knew what
to do. The night was very dark, and it
rained necessarily. We waded about
in the water, tall grass, and cane, and,
after while, found a little mound or
hommock, which projected above the
water, and on which we perched our
selves for the night.
Such dismal, long, rainy night as it
was, too! 1t did seem as if the mus
ketoes would carry us away piecemeal
, towards morning, when the rain had
E ceased. Had it not been for the food
we had eaten, | believe we would have
given up in despair. When morning
came, we waded up and down in the
cane and grass all forenoon, and about
the only discovery we made was that
another river came in just below US and
We could not 90 further without boat.
, During the afternoon deserted some
thing On the far side of the river that
) looked like boat, partly sunk in the
J water, one end only of which was out.
The next trouble was to get to it, as
, the river was about three-quarters of a
mile wide, as near as we could Judge.
We found an old piece Of plank, which
t we lashed on three fiat rails with a grape
!. vine, and with a piece of narrow stave
r for paddle and to fight off "'gators, y
e | twined my legs firmly around the cen
e ter of the frail craft, while Mark pushed
e it off into the stream and stood at the
!, edge of the grass watching me.
a The raft sank down until the water
came about my waist, but stuck to it, and
: after about an hours hard work effected
a landing on the far side, and, not long
, after, found myself rewarded in the DOS
!, session of much better boat than the
: one we had lost the night before. | was
: not long in bailing out the water and
, rowing her back to where Mark was
l whose gratitude found expression in
], tears and hearty hand shaking, as he
! crept into the boat with me.
e We NOW piled our paddles enegetic
: ally for while, until we felt sure We
s had passed out Of reach of the owner:
of the boat. when we put into the cane
/ and secreted ourselves until night. After
S this mishap in losing our boat, we re
solved that we would not both leave
r again while our journey lasted, starve Oh
G no starve. During the following day
J, while we were laid up waiting for nigh
and fighting musketoes, | went out
t skulking about to see what [ could see
e and in passing through an old fele
found some fish-hooks and lines in al
d old vacant cabin. l appropriated them
J. and we found them godsend to us, fo