Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1906-10-02

one way, some In another; but Crock
ct plunged directly through 1t at half
speed-how. Heaven only knows! bu
l had hardly missed him before heard
him encouraging the dogs in his pres
ence I took q moment for reflection
which, of course, I was permitted tt
Ienjoy alone. Ny conclusion was, tha
IL Crockett could gallop through the
wood with safety, certainly could
pace through it without injury; ant
as this was much the nearest way,
determined to attempt 1t. My resolves
were no sooner formed than they were
communicated to Smooth tooth, who
lentered the wood with his accustomed
prudence and circumspection.
The first streaks Of day had now
appeared; but they were entirely USE
less to me after had entered the for.
est. had proceeded about sixty PAGES
when a limb Of some kind q know moi
what fetched me wipe across the
face that set the principles of philoso-
ply at defiance; for 1t was certainly
four times as severe as Smooth tooth's
momentum would have justified upol,
any known law of projectiles; at least
it seemed so to me; for it came like
a flash of lightning over the icing OF
my face, giving me, for the first time
in my life, sensible idea Of the Geor-
gia expression feeling streaked"; fol
my face actually felt as though 1t were
covered with streaks Of fire and
streaks of ice.
| Twenty PAGES more had liked to have
wound up my hunt with the felon's
death; for as I was moving on witt
all due caution and sobriety, little
supple, infrangible grapevine, attach
ed to two slim, elastic saplings, be-
tween which passed, threw one Of Its
festoons gracefully around my neck
and politely informed me that I must
stop or be hanged. I communicated
this intelligence to Smooth tooth with
out loss Of time; and as stopping was
his delight. he, Of course. obeyed the
mandate as quickly as he could
Prompt as was his obedience, 1t was
too slow for the petulant little grape
vine; for. though 1t consented to spare
my life, it dismissed me with most un.
gentlemanly rudeness. 1t just took
my profile from my neck upward, pass
ing over all the turns and angles Of my
face with a rigor that Socrates HIM
self could not have borne with patience
1t turned from its delineation like q
bowstring, sending my hat aloft,
know not how high; but, judging from
the time which intervened between its
departure from my head and its re-
port on the ground, should say near
| ly to the height Of the welded sap.
lings. Never but once before had
such lively sense Of the value Of q
hat in cold weather as now had. The
chills ran from my head to my toes
like ague-fits; and these had to bear
for the space of minute or two be-
fore I could feel out my hat. At last
recovered 1t and remounted. How
was 1t possible" exclaimed I, "for
Crockett to get through this wood at
half speed! 1t must be true that for
tuna favet fortibus,' and I'll cen risk
little upon the strength Of the max
im." Switches were convenient, as my
misfortunes have proved; and, having
supplied myself with one, I drew my
hat over my eyes. brought my head
down close to Smooth tooth's withers,
hugged him tight with my legs, and
put whip to him manfully. Smooth
tooth now felt his dignity assailed, and
he put off at a respectable fox-hunting
gait. This soon brought me to the
edge of the old field, with no other ac-
cident than a smart blow from sap
ling upon my right knee, which, though
1t nearly unhorsed me, did me no Sc
rious injury.
Here found all my companions re-
assembled. While the drag lay within
the forest covered field, the dogs car
ried 1t briskly; but, as soon as 1t en-
tered the wood, they were at fault. In
this situation they were when I joined
the huntsmen. 1t was long before we
had any encouragement to hope thai
they would ever take 1t beyond the
margin Of the field; occasionally, how
ever and at painful intervals, the two
favorites would bid us not to despair
| Crockett and three or four Of the party
remained with and encouraged the
hounds; while Andrews, Marden, and
myself adjourned to narrow lane to
enjoy the comforts of the risen sun
The sluggish trail allowed us an hours
basking which so far relaxed my rigid
members as to prepare me for enjoy
ing Marden's amusing stories ano
Stewards dry humor. While we were
thus engaged, and after we had re"
linquished all hope Of chase, for thaI
morning at least, the notes Of the two
favorites became more and more fire.
quent Soon a third and fourth voice
joined them, and the chorus swelleo
and varied with every second, until
eight in the morning, when the whole
pack broke in full cry. Reynard was
up, and twenty foes in hot pursuit.
How or why l am unable to tell, bu,
truth constrains me to say that fol
some moments 1 was enraptured with
the sport. The fox obliqued toward;
us, and entered a field Of which oul
position commanded full view. He
must have left his covert with a reluc.
tance, for he was not more than hun.
dred PAGES ahead of the hounds wher
he entered the field. First of the pack
and side by side, the heroes Of the
clamorous band rose the fence. Their
followed, in thick array. the whole
troop; and close on their rear, Crocke
burst through the copsewood ane
charged the fence without a pause
Around me, in every direction 1 coult
see the huntsmen sweeping to thu
choir; and as, emerging from the for
ests or gaining the heights around
they caught the first glimpse Of th'
gallant pack they raised shout which
none but the over charged heart car
give and none but the lifeless heart re-
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