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Article SCENES IN AMERICA. ← Page 4 of 8 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America.
the grass , with the long legged Jack in chase after him , mounted , bare back , with a rope halter in place of a bridle , upon a little raw boned , long tailed , spradling gaited colt ; whose galloping approach had the moment before startled my fugitive beast . " Stop thai ' , Jack , " bawled out the old hunter with the voice of a trumpet , "let him be , yon fool !" " Let us surround him , " said I .
" No , no ; you stand off that- ' . You Jack ! hitch the colt to that saplin ' on the edge of the sink ; and then keep off roun' that side . AVe'll go , " addressing me , "jist keerless like off a bit this a way . He'll make up to the colt , if ive let him be a leetle , and then we kin easy ketch him . " Matters were arranged accordingly , and the result was as the hunter had anticipated . My horse , after kicking up his heels , curving his neck about , and snorting a few times , gradually became composed , and making a circle , went up to the colt . After putting their noses together and
squealing two or three times , the two animals made each other ' s acquaintance , and my horse was secured . But my saddle bags had fallen off in the grass , which required some search before they were found ; but the headstall of my bridle was not to be found ; 1 was therefore compelled to use the reins ( whicli had remained attached to the sapling ) as a halter to lead my horse while I walked home with the hunter and his son . For , upon grave deliberation , this was determined to be the wisest course ; as Ball had a neighbour who owned a real stylish plated-bit bridle , that "he'd be sure to sell when he seed the silver : " whereas , in the thinly settled open Barrens , it was a considerable distance on my road to any cabin , and there was little probability of arriving before night-fall at a " house of entertainment "—travelling on the hot road on foot as I should be
compelled to do . The buck was fastened over the colt ' s back , who being accustomed to such portering , was led quieflyon after Jack in the ran , the old hunter took thecentre , and I brought up the rear , leading my jerking troublesome steed , who would not suffer me to hoist my umbrella . Ball had quite as much occupation in pushing up the buck , first on one side and then on theother , to preserve tbe necessary equipoise . So that there was little or no conversation between us , as we went wading along through the grass , one after the other like so many
Indians , exposed to the direct rays of a burning sun . Now and then however , by moving in a zigzag course , we found some refuge from the heat under the clumps of Black Jacks ; without whose occasional shades I could not have borne the fatigue of the walk . After making several miles , the ground gradually ascended for five or six hundred yards : and we found ourselves on the top of a ridge , from which we beheld the Grove scarce half a mile distant . I shall never forget how beautiful it appeared to me . AVeaned , scorched in the sun , parched with thirst , and worn out with
my walk through the hot and dreary open plains , I looked to the farspreading woods as to a promised land ; and , with a good deal of impatience , repeatedly urged the leisurely moving Jack to quicken his gait . At last wc entered the Grove , and bade farewell to the plains of grass and intense heat ; for the scene had at once changed to the very reverse . Here in the deep woods the sun was so completely secluded that the moist ground was only covered with short green sward , while the crowded trees limited our prospect to a few yards . Taking off my hat , I expressed the extreme delight I felt at finding myself in the change . " AVell , its not jist so hot as comin' up that ridge : " said the old hunter , with almost a smile .
" But when shall we come to water ?" " AVhy , if you don't min' the brush , ive kin bear a leetle off to the ri ght , in git to the creek considerable quicker . " I shall not regard pushing through the undergrowth ; let us lake the
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Scenes In America.
the grass , with the long legged Jack in chase after him , mounted , bare back , with a rope halter in place of a bridle , upon a little raw boned , long tailed , spradling gaited colt ; whose galloping approach had the moment before startled my fugitive beast . " Stop thai ' , Jack , " bawled out the old hunter with the voice of a trumpet , "let him be , yon fool !" " Let us surround him , " said I .
" No , no ; you stand off that- ' . You Jack ! hitch the colt to that saplin ' on the edge of the sink ; and then keep off roun' that side . AVe'll go , " addressing me , "jist keerless like off a bit this a way . He'll make up to the colt , if ive let him be a leetle , and then we kin easy ketch him . " Matters were arranged accordingly , and the result was as the hunter had anticipated . My horse , after kicking up his heels , curving his neck about , and snorting a few times , gradually became composed , and making a circle , went up to the colt . After putting their noses together and
squealing two or three times , the two animals made each other ' s acquaintance , and my horse was secured . But my saddle bags had fallen off in the grass , which required some search before they were found ; but the headstall of my bridle was not to be found ; 1 was therefore compelled to use the reins ( whicli had remained attached to the sapling ) as a halter to lead my horse while I walked home with the hunter and his son . For , upon grave deliberation , this was determined to be the wisest course ; as Ball had a neighbour who owned a real stylish plated-bit bridle , that "he'd be sure to sell when he seed the silver : " whereas , in the thinly settled open Barrens , it was a considerable distance on my road to any cabin , and there was little probability of arriving before night-fall at a " house of entertainment "—travelling on the hot road on foot as I should be
compelled to do . The buck was fastened over the colt ' s back , who being accustomed to such portering , was led quieflyon after Jack in the ran , the old hunter took thecentre , and I brought up the rear , leading my jerking troublesome steed , who would not suffer me to hoist my umbrella . Ball had quite as much occupation in pushing up the buck , first on one side and then on theother , to preserve tbe necessary equipoise . So that there was little or no conversation between us , as we went wading along through the grass , one after the other like so many
Indians , exposed to the direct rays of a burning sun . Now and then however , by moving in a zigzag course , we found some refuge from the heat under the clumps of Black Jacks ; without whose occasional shades I could not have borne the fatigue of the walk . After making several miles , the ground gradually ascended for five or six hundred yards : and we found ourselves on the top of a ridge , from which we beheld the Grove scarce half a mile distant . I shall never forget how beautiful it appeared to me . AVeaned , scorched in the sun , parched with thirst , and worn out with
my walk through the hot and dreary open plains , I looked to the farspreading woods as to a promised land ; and , with a good deal of impatience , repeatedly urged the leisurely moving Jack to quicken his gait . At last wc entered the Grove , and bade farewell to the plains of grass and intense heat ; for the scene had at once changed to the very reverse . Here in the deep woods the sun was so completely secluded that the moist ground was only covered with short green sward , while the crowded trees limited our prospect to a few yards . Taking off my hat , I expressed the extreme delight I felt at finding myself in the change . " AVell , its not jist so hot as comin' up that ridge : " said the old hunter , with almost a smile .
" But when shall we come to water ?" " AVhy , if you don't min' the brush , ive kin bear a leetle off to the ri ght , in git to the creek considerable quicker . " I shall not regard pushing through the undergrowth ; let us lake the