The Port Gibson reveille., 1907-04-11

invaluable.
A third night approached and we
had not the faintest idea where we
were. Just before dark we ran into
tremendous bed OF lettuce, Half
way through it the boats bow struck
something solid. II was a cypress
log. lying just below the weed The
boat had to be lifted over 1t, and the
work fell to Marshall and myself. I
shall never forget how supremely un-
comfortable / felt rs ! stepped over
the side and clung with my bare toes
to the rounded. Shiny log We had
seen scores OF moccasins poisonous
water-vipers) in the weed beds.
There was more than a chance of
treading on one of these sluggish but
deadly reptiles.
Or suppose I slippedl There was
twelve feet OF oily water below the
log, and. once under the wood, the
strongest swimmer in the world
would be helpless.
1t took all our strength to lift the
boat and slide her over the obstruc-
tion. but 1t was done at last, and just
as 1t grew pitch-dark we cleared the
lettuce and fioated into wide lagoon
IN which bull-frogs croaked dismally
and every now and then heavy fish
rose with a sounding "plopl"
Here we made another fruitless at
tempt to light a fire. BY this time
all the biscuits were gone, and we
made a miserable meal of slices OF
bacon toasted on the embers In the
frying-pan. We we're very thirsty.
but only dared to drink a few drops
Of the brown, filthy water.
The fourth morning found us
much the worse for wear. Our faces
were swollen out of all recognition
by insect bites, and personally had
an ugly feeling OF sinking weakness.
But there was no use complaining
forward was the word, and we pulled
on, taking flfteen-minute spells at
the oars. Happily the weeds we're
not so thick, and our hopes rose.
Suddenly the boat emerged from
the endless arches Of cypress, and
their place was taken by a forest OF
tall cabbage palmettoes. The under
growth changed, too; it was as thick
as ever, but not so lofty. Wild
grape-vines matted 1t, and a flock OF
birds of the starting tribe rose and
winged chattering across the water.
Hurrahl Here was land at lasti
Mud, certainly, and of the blackest
character, but still firm enough to
bear our weight. Joyfully we pulled
ashore, but the brush was like a
quickest hedge. We had to chop
foothold before we could land.
Franks was the first to leave the
boat. An odd, whirring noise came
from the thicket, and he sprang back
hastily. Marshall snatched up a gun,
and as the heavy report rolled down
the silent river a five-foot diamond
rattler writhed in its death agony on
the mud.
Il reckon that was close enoughi"
was all Myers said We we're too
hungry and thirsty to mind even a
rattlesnake, and IN five minutes a
fire was cracking. Our kettle was
gone, but we boiled water In the fry
ing-pan, and I never tasted anything
so good as that first cup Of scalding,
milkless coffee, strongly favored as 1t
was with smoke and bacon-grease.
Then we set to work to cook some
limpkin which we had shot the pre-
vious day. They were birds very like
our moorhens and excellent eating.
We devoured them half raw, and the
next thing was to make bread, which
we baked in our -ever-usefuI frying
pan.
We ate every bit Of the first batch
hot, and then cooked some more.
After that we made up the fire and,
sheltered from mosquitoes by its
kindly smoke. lay and slept TIL past
midday.
We were different men when we
woke, and ready for anything. We
felt sure we could not now be far
from the mouth of the river. so de-
cided to push on at once. We had
bread and cooked bacon for another
twenty-four hours, and before that
time we should certainly reach st.
Johns.
But our troubles we're not yet
over. A mile or two farther on the
river split again into half a score. of
channels. Twice we took a wrong
one and wasted hours Night caught
us In a worse place than ever, and
quite unable to find ground for fire.
The longing for hot coffee drove us
to build a raft of logs and try to
light a fire on this. 1t was most
tedious work, for we were now again
among expresses, and their branches
we're high out of reach, SO that we
had to depend on floating stun. But
we persevered bravely, and at last
got tiny fire to burn. IT was hardly
started when, with q sudden rush
and hiss, down splashed a heavy
shower, wetting US to the skin and
putting out the feeble blaze. There
upon we crawled under the sail and
ate dry bread and cold fried bacon.
Next morning Myers had bad at
tack of ague-"c "chills and fever" as
we cali II in the South. We knew.
that we had to get him out of the
pestflential air of the swamp or the
consequences might be serious. es-
pecially as we had no quinine. We
worked like Trojans, and more by
4.nt~ *hnw orr4d mana unuaouf kanf