Wild Sports In The Far West

Оглавление

Gerstaecker Frederick. Wild Sports In The Far West

PREFACE

CHAPTER I. FROM BREMEN TO NEW YORK

CHAPTER II. NEW YORK TO BUFFALO

CHAPTER III. OHIO – INDIANA – ILLINOIS – MISSOURI

CHAPTER IV. ARKANSAS, AND “DOWN RIVER” TO NEW ORLEANS

CHAPTER V. CINCINNATI – A FARMER’S LIFE IN THE WOODS

CHAPTER VI. A FARMER’S LIFE IN THE WOODS. (CONTINUED.)

CHAPTER VII. WOODLAND SPORTS – CANE-BRAKES – MY EXAMINATION BY THE SCHOOL COMMISSION

CHAPTER VIII. FARMING AT FOURCHE LE FAVE – A BACKWOODS “FROLIC” – RESIDENCE AT KELFER’S FARM – SCHOOLS – HUNTING EXCURSION

CHAPTER IX. HUNTING ANECDOTES AND EXPERIENCES – CHRISTMAS – CONWELL AND HIS REMINISCENCES

CHAPTER X. A PERILOUS BEAR-HUNT – A DEBATING SOCIETY – PANTHER HUNT – DISASTROUS EVENTS – DEATH OF ERSKINE – DEPARTURE

CHAPTER XI. A FATAL BRAWL – RETURN TO LITTLE ROCK – SUMMARY JUSTICE – DOWN SOUTH

CHAPTER XII. LOUISIANA – NEW ORLEANS, AND HOME

Отрывок из книги

“Does the boat start at nine exactly?” “Yes, do not be later.” Such was the notice I received as I spoke with the master of the lighter, which in the spring of 1837 was to take me with bag and baggage on board the “Constitution,” bound to New York, then lying in Bremen Roads, about forty miles from the town, and only waiting for the two lighters, which were to take on board the steerage passengers with their effects.

I was true to my appointment at nine o’clock, but soon found that there was no necessity to have hurried myself, as no preparations had been made for starting; I took advantage of the time to look over all my effects, to see if I had everything I thought necessary, and to procure any thing that was wanting: in a large chest, that could easily be got at, I had packed some bottles of red wine, a keg of sardines, another of herrings, a Westphalian ham (oh, that there had been six!), some lemons, a little rum, pepper, sugar, some tin vessels for the table and to keep food in, knives, forks, and spoons. I found all right, and then lounged along the banks of the Weser, so as not to lose the boat. I was astonished at the number of passengers that arrived; and when I saw the crowd of people to be stowed in the miserably small boat, it appeared to me impossible that she could hold so many. While I was leaning against the corner of a house and looking on, a young man approached, wrapped in a blue cloak, with a foraging cap, spectacles, a long pipe in one hand, and a knapsack in the other; he looked at me steadfastly for a moment, and then accosted me with the intimate “Du” (Thou). His features were familiar to me, but I did not remember him till he mentioned his name; he was H., a former school-fellow, who was about to embark in the same ship. The sight of him first recalled to mind, since I had taken leave of all who were near and dear to me, that I was not quite alone in the world, and that there was still some one who would interest himself for me; of course we were now inseparable.

.....

It was evening when we approached the French coast, which first appeared as a bluish line, that grew larger and larger: before dark, we came near enough to Calais to distinguish the steeple and houses. Looking over towards England, we could see nothing beyond the two lights near Dover. On the following morning, we were nearer to the coast of England, whose majestic chalky cliffs were tinged rose-color by the morning sun. In the evening we passed the Isle of Wight, and the wind changing, we did not clear the Channel till the 27th May.

We were now on the broad ocean; a number of fishing-boats enlivened the prospect with their many-colored sails, sometimes white, sometimes yellow, red, and even black. The sea was green, and the color especially beautiful under the bows and stern; the picture was further animated by a number of porpoises and albicores leaping from wave to wave. I saw several strange substances floating on the sea, which I could not observe more closely, for want of a net to catch them: I decided on making one.

.....