The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-09-22

kin git bite at them fat shoats we saw sail
in down stream awhile ago"
The belief in dtlliaatos-gars is q vulgar
and absurd supeTstitiop," said the Lieuten-
ant, breaking silenca for the first time.
= There isn't anywhere in fresh water fish
capable of ca ing anything bigger than a
bull-.rog" III
''Hulio; did West Point learn you that 2"
said shorty You know just about as
much about it a5fyou do abouG 5ittin' over
crchs an paddlin' a canoe, Have you ever
bin introduced 10 4 Mississippi CATFISH :?
Have you ever seen an, aliigator-gar at home
in the Lower Mississippi? Nav! You don't
know no more about them than baby does
about catamount. l have beard tell Of an
alligator gar that was longer'n fence rail,
and sort of king of u little bayou down in
the Teche country. He got mud because
they run little stern-wheel steamboat up
into his alley to git their cotton off. an he
made up his mind to stop it. He'd circle
round the boat to git a good Roadway and
pick out lis man. Then he'd take a run and
jump, leap clean across the boat, knock off
the man he'd picked out. an tow him off
under a log an eat him. He intended to
take the Captain fust, but his appetite got
the better of him. He saw a big fat, juicy
bGcll Niger OF a deck hand, an couldn't
stand the temptation. He fetched him easy.
Next he took nice, tender little cabin-boy.
Then he fetched the big old Mate, but found
him SO full O terbacker whisky and bad Ian
guagc that he couldn't eat him nOhow, an
turned him over 10 the -iudtHrtles, what'll
eat anything. The Captain then got scared
an Quit. he didn't care hate for the Mate,
for he WAS glad to git rid of him; but he
liked the cabin hoy, an he had 70 pay the
owner o the niger 81 200 for him, an that
made rnnnin' up the Teche onprofitable."
ooh, Shorty ST gaspcd. He thought he
was acquainted with his partners brilliant
talents for romance, but this was a metcoric
flight that he had not expected.
1'But that wasn't nothin'," Shorty con-
tinued "tO he-catfish that man told ME
about down near Helena, Ark. He used to
swim around in little chute near house
cabin, in which lived u man with a mighty
goo.l-loollin' young wife. The man was awful
jealous of his woman. an used to beat her
The old he-catlish had fine eye for purity
women, and used to cavOrt around near the
cabin whenever his business would permit.
The woman noticed him, and it tickled him
greatly Shed throw him hunks o. bread,
chunks o. cold meat, and SO on. The man'd
come out and slap her, and fling clubs and
knots at him. One day the man put his
wife III Il Eastwood canoe and started to take
her across the river. He hadn't got rod
from the shore when the old he-catfsh ups
and bites the canoe in two, then nips the
mans hand SOS he didn't git over it for
months, and then puts his nose under the
woman's arm, and helps her ashore as polite
rs YOU please
Shorty" gasped 81, ''if you tell any
more such stories as that this log'll certainly
sink. See it how it wobbIcs nown
g | consider such stuff very discourteous to
your officer, said the Lieutenant stiffly. 81
shall make note; of it for consideration at
some future time.n
Halt Who goes thar?" rang out
sharply from the bank.
Hush; don't, breathe,'' said Shorty.
They were in an eddy, which was sweeping
them close to the rebel bank.
"Who air yo'o liaitin'? ' said second
voice.
Il see some men in canoe out thar. |
heared their voices lust, !" said the first voice.
Whar' yo' see any men in canoe 2"
asked the second jncredulously.
Right over thar4 You kin see 'em
They're COMM right this-a-way. Pm
a-gwine t. halt 'em agin an then shoot"
'Stuff," said the other. YOU'RE alters
SEEM shadders an ghostses. That 'er's
only an ole tree with three limbs stickin up.
Don't yo' shoot an skeer the whole camp.
They'll have the grand laugh on yo', an
mebbe buck-an' gag yo'."
Tan't stuff" persisted the other
Thar never wuz tree that ever growed
that had three as big limbs as that, all on one
side. You're moon-blind"
. A man mout well be rain-blind in sich a
storm as this, but tell yo' that's nothin' but
an ole sycamore drift log. If you shoot the
boys'll never git tired o. dalnnin' yo', an
jest as likely as not the ossifers'lI make yo'
tote rail through the mud ter-morrer"
The boys were SO near that every word
could be distinctly heard, and they were
floating nearer every moment