Читать книгу Fourty-Four Years, or, the Life of a Hunter - Meshach Browning - Страница 2

Having left Mary in such a hurry in order to suppress my feelings, I feared that she would doubt my sincerity in what I had been saying to her at our last two meetings; and I stopped in the road to consider whether I should not go back to make all right. But, after some little re- flection, I said to myself, "Would I not look like a fool to be seen going back, no one but Mary knowing what had brought me there? But let her think what she pleases ; hang me if I will go back! "So saying, I tra- veled the road as fast as I could walk; but my toes were so sore from being frozen only the week before, that I made rather a slow walk of it; trying all the time to dis- pel the thoughts of Mary, and the manner in which I had left her. Almost before I knew where I was, I found my- self in full sight of Uncle James Spurgin's farm; having traveled seven miles on my way westward.

Entering the house, I was received kindly; and, a very cold night coming on, I was asked which way I was going. This was a tough question for me, as I was leaving his brother; but I resolved to tell the truth, anyhow.

" I am going to Wheeling, uncle," was my reply.

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" So you have left John, have you? "

"Yes, sir. Uncle John is a good, kind man, but he is doing nothing for himself; and I can never do anything while I stay with him."

"That is true, Meshach; but what do you intend to go at, as you have no learning?"

"I cannot tell you, uncle, till 1 get there; and then whoever gives me the best wages I will work for."

"And how long will it take you to get to Wheeling? "

"I do not know, sir; for my feet were frozen so badly last week that I can't walk fast. But I have allowed my- self four days at the outside. That is twenty miles a day; and if my feet do not get worse I can do it in three."

" How much money have you ?"

" One dollar, sir."

"And do you think to get to Wheeling with one dollar, boy ? "

"I don't know, sir; but I have this buckskin,"—show- ing him the skin,—"and intend to sell that in Union Town for what it will bring; and it ought to be worth seventy-five cents, at any rate. I think that will take me there; and if it does not, I will turn out in the country and work a day or two, and then go on again."

"Well, Meshach," said he, " I will give you my advice if you will promise me to take it, and attend to it."

"That I will promise you to do, sir; for I know I stand in need of good counsel."

"Then," said he, "be sure to avoid bad company ; avoid all drunken crowds of rowdies and houses of ill-fame. Never suffer yourself to be drawn into them, for you will be tried often. And when these temptations appear be- fore you, then remember what I now tell you, and avoid them. Furthermore," he continued, "when you find a man who wishes to hire you, ascertain, if you can, whether be is honest; and if so, go to him, and do for him a just

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and fair day's work. And if anything goes wrong, either owing to your neglect or accidentally, never tell a lie to screen yourself; but speak candidly, and acknowledge the truth of the whole matter. This will give your employer confidence in you. But, on the contrary, if you undertake to lie yourself out of it, you will be sure to be detected in so doing, and then you will be disgraced. Take it for granted, Meshach, that all good people despise a liar as much as they do a thief; and let me tell you, boy, a good name is the best thing that a young man can have. If you will take ray advice, and never tell a falsehood, under any circumstances whatever, you will in the end find that, in any and every place, truth is far better than a lie. And now, Meshach, I do not blame you for leaving your uncle John; and I wish you may have good luck in your under- taking, and that you may become a good and an honor- able man." Here he ceased speaking, being called to supper, which ended the discourse.

Supper being over, the old people went into another room, and left me to talk with my cousins. I was taxed strongly by Lina, for that was the name of the daughter whom I had left with so much unwillingness, and had cried in the road about, when I was driving the cows. She said she had heard I was deeply in love with Polly McMullen. I replied, it did not seem much as if I was in love with any one when I was then on my way to the West, perhaps never to comeback again. "But," said I, "let ma tell you, girls, that Mary McMullen is one of the sweetest girls in all this country ; and if I was old enough, and was as well situated as your brother Jesse is, I would like very well to marry her. Marry her! yes, indeed. Lord! wouldn't I like to take such a pretty little bird as Mary is 1 "

This was said in a joke; but my feelings were such that I feared that Lina would see something in me that would

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betray ray real sentiments. But it all passed off as a joke, and our time was spent very agreeably till the old people called out bedtime.

We all parted, and I lay a long time before I could persuade my eyes to close. Uncle's good advice had made a deep impression on my mind; and, seeing the benefit it was intended to be to me, I concluded that from that time forward I would never tell a lie. And I now declare so- lemnly that I have never, to this day, told what I knew to be false, except, perhaps, when I have been sometimes called on to relate some mischievous tales that were going the rounds; when I have said I knew nothing of the mat- ter; and in this way, and this only, have I ever departed from the known truth.

And here I say, thanks be to the name and to the me- mory of James Spurgin; to whom, I am free to acknow- ledge, together with another very kind friend of mine, of whom I shall speak hereafter, I owe all that I now am. However, nature overcame my feelings at last, and I knew nothing of myself till the old folks called for the boys to rise and make fires. Up we all bounded, and soon had them roaring and crackling. Then for feeding the stock. Snow had fallen during the night above knee-deep, and the morning was stormy and very cold. But out we ran, as if we would defy everything like snow and wind ; and soon we had fifty or sixty cattle fed with hay from the stack ; two pitching it off and one scattering it out.

"Now for the horses!" cried Jesse, as he started for the barn.

Off went Jonathan and myself; but Jesse had the start of us, and was throwing the hay on to the floor ; and in a few minutes the feeding was done, and we all gathered around the fine fireside. By this time the girls had break- fast ready, and all were seated; the conversation being mostly between the girls and myself, as to where I ex-

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pected to make my residence, and when they should look for my return. To all questions 1 made the same reply— that it would be very uncertain when I should return, if I ever returned at all; when Lina took the opportunity to tell me when I would come back. That would be, she said, as soon as I began to think about that pretty little bird that I had been telling them of last night, I replied that I would go out to the far West and look me up a pretty little squaw, and live among the Indians and hunt buffaloes and bears.

" Well," said Lina, "when you undertake that, the In- dians will take off your scalp; and really, I think it would be of no consequence if they did." She spoke with seem- ing warmth, which raised a burst of laughter round the table, and ended the discourse.

Breakfast over, I began to talk of starting on ray way; but all hands thought the day was too cold and stormy. Having now commenced my journey, however, I wished to see the end of it, and I would not agree to lose a day. So, bidding all farewell, I set off for Union Town, which was twenty-two miles distant. I traveled at a tolerable gait till I fell into Braddock's old road, which I found well broken. I proceeded on till I reached the summit of the great Laurel Mountain, and looked as far west as J thought I could travel next day; while nearer to me, and in full view, laid the little town where I intended to lodge that night, which I reached as daylight was about leaving me.

Here was a boy, not sixteen years old till the following March, thrown out into a strange country, without friends, without money, and, worse than all, without education; like a wild colt in the wilderness, to stray where he pleased.

The land lord, being a friend of both my uncles, would act charge me anything when I was about to leave the

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following morning; for which I thanked him kindly, bade him good morning, and took the road for Wheeling. I traveled till late in the evening, when I fell in with a young man on his way home from a raising. He invited me to stay with him over night, saying that he lived with his father and mother, who were very old, and that he would be glad of my company. As it was but a short distance from the road, I accepted the invitation, and was treated kindly by the good old people, who would not charge me anything, but sympathized with me in my present con- ition

Bidding them good-bye, I set off again on Sunday morning, and, after traveling some eight or ten miles, 1 came to a rather better-looking house than many I had passed in my journey, when, feeling tired, I concluded to stop and rest myself. The owner of the house, who seemed to be a good man, asked me many questions as to where I was going and where I came from. He then in- quired my name, to which I answered, " Meshach Brown- ing, sir."

" Meshach Browning! any relation to old William, and his son John Browning ? "

Thunderstruck at these words, I made every inquiry I could, until, recollecting himself, he said there was to be preaching at his house that day, and if I would stay, perhaps several of the family would be there; and he felt sure the old man would come, for he never failed to attend. So I remained some time, till I be- came restless. After many persons had arrived, it was said by some one that old Mr. Browning was coming; when Mr. Foot, the gentleman of the house, asked me if he should introduce me to the old man as his grandson. Being fully convinced that it could not be otherwise, I consented; and, as the old man was looking for a seat to rest himself, he being then over eighty years old, Mr. Foot

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said, "Mr. Browning, don't sit down till I make you ac- quainted with one of your grandsons." The old gentle- man looked astonished as Mr. Foot took my left hand and presented me to him, saying, " This is Meshach Browning, your grandson, sir."

The old man at first seemed to be completely confused; but after recovering himself he said, "Is this Joshua's son?" I told him it was truly so. He then sat down; and, after wiping the tears from his eyes, and when his feelings had become a little more composed, he said, "Well, Mr. Foot, you will excuse me for this day; for this youth may have some trouble in finding the road to his mother's, and I cannot miss being present at their meeting."

"Certainly, sir; I should like to witness it myself. But young man, tell your mother that I wish her much joy on account of her young son, and hope to see her as soon as she is able to be out again."

The old gentleman took his hat and started off. I fol- lowed, answering many questions, and hearing of many things that had taken place after I left Flintstone, till we approached a farm; when the old man, laying his hand on the fence, said, "Meshach, this is the farm where your mother lives; we shall soon see her. Yonder she is now."

The old lady had gone out to get a bucket of water, and was then near her own door, but did not notice us till we stepped into the house. She took the old man's hand, and, after asking how he was, said, " Who is this young man with you, father ? "

"Look at him, Nancy, and tell me if you think you have ever seen him, or if you know any one he favors." She seemed confused, and after some time replied that she did not recollect ever having seen him before, nor did she know any person whom he looked like. "Well," said the old man, "does he not look like yourself?"

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"For Heaven's sake, father, what do you mean? is it one of our relations ? "

The old man replied, in a calm tone, "Be composed, Nancy; it's your son, Meshach."

"Lord be praised I "said the poor old lady; and she Bunk back in her c hair, breathless.

Her husband, who had been looking on, immediately threw cold water on her hands and in her face, and in a short time she began to recover; when the old man told me to go out of the room until he called me. I walked out, and in a short time she entirely recovered. I did not return until she became fairly composed. She seemed almost afraid to speak to me, lest her nerves would give way again. By little and little, however, she became com- posed, and began to converse freely. The day being now spent, the old man bade us good night; first making my mother and my step-father promise to bring me to see him as soon as I was rested.

The evening was passed in relating what had occurred after we had been separated by that selfish couple, John Spurgin and his wife. I told my mother that her sister was a great deal worse than uncle Spurgin was ; and as ?< proof I recited the following story:

"Before they took me from Flintstone, they promised me that I should be their adopted son, and that all they and I could earn should be mine. But after they had an heir of their own (when I was about twelve years old), she became as cross as a wounded bear. She was an even- tempered woman, for she was always mad. One morning uncle sent me out very early to feed the cows; and a light snow having just fallen, sufficient for tracking rabbits, 1 called my dog Gunner. After the cows were fed, off I went to the woods in search of rabbits, and succeeded in taking two very fine ones; which detained me one hour, or perhaps rather more. I went home proud enough of

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my two rabbits, for I knew that my uncle was very fond of their meat; but unluckily for me, uncle was away from home. I entered the house, thinking that my game would amply pay for the time spent in catching it.

"As soon as I was seated at the fire, I saw aunt shut the door and bolt it, when I looked around to see what was coming; and observing a bunch of switches at each side of the room, I knew there was an approaching storm.

"'Where have you been all this time, sir?' said my aunt.

" 'Catching these rabbits,' I replied, pointing to them, in hopes that when she had seen them she would let me off.

" 'Well, you have caught two rabbits, and you must have grease to fry them in ; and I'll give you that now.'

"So saying, she took me by the arm, led me into the middle of the room, and began to pour the grease on without mercy. Round and round we went, as fast as she could turn me. I soon found out what she was at by waltzing me round the room so fast: it was to have a new switch at hand as fast as she broke one over my back and shoulders.

"Round, and round, and round we went, till I found the switches were still plenty, and that I must either fight or die. I thought I might as well die fighting as to tamely submit to be beaten to death; and at it I went, with all my strength; pulling her hair, scratching her face, and biting her arms and hands, till she at length got my head between her knees, and holding me by one arm, began to beat me most unmercifully. I could not help myself in any other way than by twisting my head round until I brought my mouth directly in contact with one of the stocks that held my neck fast. Nothing being between my keen teeth and her leg, I took hold of her flesh and skin a little higher up than she ever tied her garter, and

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there I hung, like a bull-dog, trying my best to bite out the whole of what was in my mouth. She stopped whip- ping me, and said that if I did not let go my hold she would beat me to death.

" ' Will you let me go ? ' she said.

"Ah, old fellow, thought I, if I let go to tell you I won't do it (which I am determined not to do), then, when my hold is broken, I may not again get so good a chance; and when she repeated, 'Won't you let go, you devil?' I shook my head in token that I would not, clenched my teeth, and threw my head from side to side to get the mouthful out. But her skin was so tough that I could not tear it. Finding me deaf to all she said, she had no re- medy but to fight; and at it she went again. She tried to kick me off with the other foot; but I was in such close quarters that she could do me but little harm. Fi- nally, I began to suffer for want of air, on account of my mouth being pressed down so close to her flesh, and my head being covered up under her clothes; and from long fight- ing, the old woman had become so hot that what little air I did breathe was as stifling as if it had been heated in a stove. Completely exhausted, I was compelled to open my mouth to catch my breath, and trust to chances for the balance of the fight. I rose to my feet; and, though by this time she was quite out of breath, she picked up an- other switch and laid over me with all her strength, say- ing, ' Won't you cry for me, you—— you ? '

"I told her that if she beat me to death I would not cry for her; 'For,' said I, 'that would please you too well; and I tell you that you are not able, nor you never shall make me cry again.'

"Yes, you——scoundrel, I have been suckling till I am so weak that I can't master you any more.'

"Thank God for it!" said I "You have not made

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much by this job; and the next time you try it you will make less.'

"So saying, I walked off, and sac went to the bed and laid down ; and from that time she never undertook to beat me in that way again."

My mother heard this story with excited feelings. But when I told her that the fight had cost my aunt a consi- derable spell of sickness, her anger was somewhat ap- peased. We retired to rest at midnight, and slept soundly till sunrise the next morning. We breakfasted on a fine dish of fried chickens, with fresh butter, light rolls, and different kinds of preserves.

Well, thought I to myself, this is a fine place, surely, to make a living; and if Mary only lived out here I never would wish to see Alleghany again. But Mary will have to take care of herself, and I must do the same. I will try to forget her as fast as I can, and seek some business at which I can make something for myself.

My mother and friends prevailed on me to spend a week with them; and in the mean time I helped one of the young men with a job he had to finish for a certain Gene- ral Biggs, who held an appointment from the Government to survey the State of Ohio, and lay it off into sections. While I was working for him with my friend, the General asked me how I would like to go with him on that expe- dition; and as it was certainly just such a place as I would like to be in, I told him it would suit me first-rate if I would be allowed to take a good rifle with me, and hunt every evening and morning. He asked me if I un- derstood handling a rifle. I told him I did; and that if I had one I could prove to him that I was no slouch with it, either.

"Well, my boy," said he, "there is my rifle in the pas- sage; let me see you try yourself"

All being ready—a paper about the size of a half-dollar

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being put up the mark, and thirty steps measured off, bang went the rifle.

"Excellent!" cried the General; "half-ball in the pa- per. Try it again; maybe that was an accident."

I loaded as quick as I could, to let him see I knew how to handle the rifle as well, if not better, than he did, and fired again.

"Well done! "said he; "whole ball in the paper. One more shot, and I am satisfied. "

I loaded and shot again, when the General exclaimed, "By gracious! almost in the centre. The three balls may be covered with a dollar. That's hard to beat. I thought myself a good shot, but that is more than I ever did in my life. Three times in succession! why you could shoot a buck's eye out every shot, couldn't you ? "

" I think I could at that distance, sir."

"Well," said he, "if you will go out with me I will give you ten dollars a month, and find you in clothes and boarding."

I told him I thought I would go.

"You may hunt," said he, "as much as you please; for I want a hunter with us, if not two of them."

After finishing our job, I went home, fully satisfied that I had struck the right nail on the head. But when I told mother what I intended to do, she grew sad, and said that but three years since the Indians were killing and scalping every man they caught on the other side of the Ohio; and that they would be sure to murder the whole party, for she supposed there would not be more than twenty or thirty men with us; and what would that be against their numbers!

"They will murder you," said she, "and leave you to be eaten by the wolves; for I am told that these animals are so plenty that they are very dangerous of themselves. I will never consent to your undertaking such a perilous

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journey. And so, my son, if you don't want to send your old mother's gray hairs to the grave, let that trip alone, and let General Biggs get hands where he can. Every poor fellow that goes with him will wish himself at home long before he gets there again. It would have been much better if you had not come to see me at all, than to stay with me only two weeks, and then go out into the wil- derness, where your flesh will feed the wolves, and your bones soon lie bleaching on the ground."

At that time a young man named Francis Dudd and his wife were boarding with my father and mother. Francis was working for an old gentleman in Wheeling, by the name of John Caldwell, who paid him ten dollars a month. He joined with my mother and her friends, and succeeded in getting me to abandon ray surveying trip.

The next Saturday there was a parade in West Liberty, a small village within two miles of our residence, and Cald- well was going there to seek hands. Francis and I went there together to see Mr. Caldwell, when we met him in the town, and I made a bargain with him for ten dollars a month and my board. On returning home, my mother was much rejoiced to hear that I had given up my trip with the surveyors; and it was decided that I should go down to Wheeling with Francis Dodd.

The afternoon of the next day, which was Sunday, we set out for that town, distant fifteen miles, and reached it after dark, having traveled through mud up to our ankles. I had but little opportunity to see where I was going; but at length we found Mr. Caldwell's house, in which were several travelers, together with the family, consisting of Mr. Caldwell, his wife, and seven children.

We had no share in the night's chatting, which was car- ried on between the lady, Mr. Caldwell, and the travellers. Being tired, Mr. Dodd and myself retired early, and were soon fast asleep.

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When morning came, the rain was pouring in torrents. The old man called me to him, and told me first to make good fires in the kitchen, and then in the house. Dodd assisted me, and we soon had blazing fires in both places ; and then we fed the cows, six mules, and four or five horses; which the children and old Dinah, the black wo- man, usually attended to. This task was soon done, and all the family, together with the travelers, seated them- selves by the blazing fire. By this time, the rain having ceased, and the clouds scattered, 1 began to view the strong walls that surrounded the house and kitchen. They were made of trees, split into two pieces, and planted in a ditch five or six feet deep; one-half of a tree being placed over each joint, to keep the balls of the enemy from com- ing through. The clay was beat so hard round the ends sunk in the ditch, that they could not be moved; and these walls were so arranged that the enemy could not approach them on any side without being exposed to a fire from within. Inside the walls a strong log house, called a block-house, was built, in the form of a double square O; leaving room upon all sides to shoot, and also making it impossible to set fire to any part of the fort or houses.

This was all new to me, and I thought I would like to have been with the braves who had defended themselves so nobly in similar places. Mr. Caldwell told me that 1 should be his house-hand, to attend to the hauling of fire- wood, go to mill, make fires, etc. "Now," said he, "don't you see those mules at the stacks yonder ? "

"I do, sir."

"Well, go yoke up the oxen, and haul rails, and make a fence that will keep them out; after which, if you have time this evening, haul a load or two of firewood."

I gathered up my team and hauled the rails, with which built a good fence b- one o'clock, and then set off for a

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load of wood. As soon as I came back Mr. Caldwell called for me, and I went in.

"You have made a poor thing of that fence, and these —— mules are at the stacks again. Go now and make the fence so that they cannot get in."

"I will, sir, if I can ; but they are very hard to turn, sir."

I went at it, and made it eight rails high, and locked it at each corner. I then went to the house and said, "Mr. Caldwell, will you come with me, and see if you think I have it now sufficiently strong to keep them out."

He went with me, it being but a little distance; and, after walking all round the lot, he said, "Yes; if they break that they ought to be killed before they get out," So saying, he went off to the house, and I started for an- other load of wood.

On my return to the house, all six of the mules were in at the stacks again. I let them stay there, and went to the old man and told him the mules were at the stacks again.

"Well," said he, "go and kill every —— of them, or drive them off the place ; and if they come back, set both the dogs on them, and drive them over the river, if you can."

Off I went; and selecting two or three round creek- stones, I approached close to them, and threw one at the leader, which was the worst beast on a fence I had ever seen. I threw the stone with such force that it missed the leader, but struck another on the shoulder, and crushed the bone. Out they went, and ran off; and they continued running as long as I could see them. I was much dis- turbed in my mind as to what I should do; but, thought I, if it comes to the worst, I will try uncle Spurgin's plan, and tell the truth, if I have to work a whole year to pay for it

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Having come to this conclusion, I waited the return of the mules ; but they did not come till the third day, when it was evident they had been in mischief; for one had been struck on his ham with an axe, and another was very lame in one leg. However, the thing passed off .without any inquiry as to who had done the mischief, and I kept my own secret.

Everything went on very well, and I saw that I was rather a favorite in the family ; for singing songs was then a common amusement, and I knew a great many of the most current at the time. I was often called on to sing "Sinclair's Defeat," or some other song for which the family had a fancy; and I could change my voice to sing with the girls or with men, as it best suited the company I was in.

The oldest child of Mr. Caldwell was a daughter. She was very handsome, with eyes as black as jet, long, fine black hair, hanging in beautiful curls round her temples, well-formed face, and clear white skin—in a word, I thought her a full match for Mary McMullen. Her father doated on her, and he was a rich man. Well, thought I, I have often heard it said a faint heart never gains a fair lady; and if I can keep the old people in a good humor I think I can manage the girl ; for I had heard nothing of any sweetheart of hers, nor do I believe she had one.

All seemed well, till one day the old lady sent me to the woods, to hunt for a young cow, that had a calf. I went after dinner, and searched three or four hours, but could not find her. This displeased the old lady, who told me I was good for nothing. "Nancy," said she, "you must go and hunt that heifer, or she will be ruined. Go, you booby," said she to me," and put the saddle on one of the horses, and I'll be bound she gets her."

O Lord I thought I; what would I give if I had found That ———— cow! But off I went, and very soon I led

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the best riding-horse up to the block, and helped Nancy into the saddle; and as she turned she said, "Browning, mother has frightened you out of one year's growth ; you are as pale as a cloth yet;" and off she dashed at a gal- lop, and was soon out of sight.

Well, thought I to myself, if she should find the cow won't I be in a fix! But I hope she may fail, and save me this evening. I'll be up to-morrow by daylight, and hunt till I do find her, if it takes me till night.

But by and by Nancy returned with the cow and calf, though she had been gone less time than I had.

"Browning," said the old lady, "take off the saddle, put the mare away, and then turn the cow into the meadow."

" Very well, madam," said I; and I soon had all done.

Neither the old lady nor Nancy said a word to me about my not finding the cow, till I went into the kitchen to make up the fire ; when Nancy said to me, with a playful smile, "You are surely a great soldier, to be scared at an old woman!" and then she enjoyed a good laugh at my expense till her mother came in and relieved me.

Next morning, being Sunday, I rose betimes and made the fires; which I had scarcely done when in came Nancy. Now, thought I, we shall hear of the cow again. But ] was pleased to find that she sympathized with me, by her saying she had told her mother it was not to be expected that a stranger should find them, who knew nothing of the woods, nor of the range of the cows. "And," said she, "you were going the right way till you took the left branch; the cow having strayed along the other."

We passed some little time in agreeable conversation, till the old lady made her appearance, when I left the kitchen.

After breakfast, which was later than usual, the old lady told Nancy to take Dinah, the black woman, and go to the

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meadow and milk the heifer. In a little while the negro fame back and said that Nancy could not do anything with the cow, she was so cross.

"Go down, Browning, and help them," said the old woman.

I was far more willing to go than I wished her to un- derstand. However, off I went, and we tried to get the cow into a fence-corner; but she would always break by us. At length, as she was passing, I seized her by one horn and by the nose, i)y which I held her until she was milked. Nancy then laughed at me again, and said, " You are no coward, Browning, though mother did scare you so last night. That heifer was dangerous: did you sec- how she ran at me with those sharp horns ?"

"Oh, to be sure I saw her run at you, and was afraid she would catch you; but I was determined to stop her." By this time we were on our way to the house ; and hear- ing a great noise there, I said to Nancy, "What docs nil that mean? "

"Why," said she, "they called out 'a bear, a bear!' Run, Browning, and see what is the matter among them."

I went off at the top of my speed; and on arriving at the house, I found that four or five gentlemen, who, with their ladies, had come to visit Mrs. Caldwell, and had brought with them their bird-guns and little dogs, had seen a very large bear passing through the field in front of the house, and had started in pursuit with those little animals, two of which would make but a mouthful for the bear. Mr. Caldwell was a successful bear-hunter, and had two fine dogs, which were well trained to fight bears. I called the dogs, took the old man's gun, and ran in the direction of the noise till I overtook the party; they hav- ing halted as soon as the bear had reached the woods. The little dogs would not leave their masters; as if they

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were afraid the bear would tear them to pieces. As soon, however, as Mr. Caldwell's animals scented the bear, off they went, heads down and tails up. I scarcely stopped to say anything to the back-track gentry, but followed after the dogs, so that if they overtook the bear I would be near to help them in the fight, if need be. As I passed the party, they gave me many curses for being such a fool as to follow the bear after he had got out of sight.

But on went the noble dogs, and I after them. At length, hearing them in full fight, I made all the haste I could, till I saw them all turning somersets down a very steep hill. Over and over, and down, down, towards me they came, until what I made up the hill and they made down brought me within shooting distance. By this time the fight became so desperate that the bear, finding his hind-quarters were suffering severely, thought it better to try and save his breeches from being torn any worse than they were. He concluded to climb a large tree ; but see- ing me coming up the hill, puffing like a locomotive, he was frightened, and attempted to come down. As he de- scended I fired at him, and sent a small rifle-ball through the middle of his body Down he came, making two or three somersets; but finding no quarter, he immediately ascended another very large oak.

This tree being forked, and very high, he went up to the first fork, and, being sick, laid himself down in it and refused to move. By this time the back-track gentlemen had ascended the hill, pulling themselves up by the bushes. Many of them had never seen a bear before, and they began to consult as to what was to be done.

I had no more balls for my little rifle, and they had no- thing but small shot, while there lay the bear. It was agreed, against my advice, to try what a load of shot would do with him ; though I argued that it was an im- possibility to kill him with that. I told them to let him

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 53

alone until they could go for more balls, or get some one to come and shoot him. But my advice was not listened to ; and I was directed to stand back and keep my mouth shut, or I should have it shut for me. I am free to ac- knowledge that I felt like resenting the insult, but was de- terred from it by being among strangers; and I submitted to it without making a reply. They then took aim and fired at the bear's head; which only made him give a snort or two, scratch his face, and climb up the tree as far as he could go, where he seated himself in another fork, and all the shooting they could do, he would not budge.

After a long parley, they concluded to send for John Martin, who could shoot a squirrel off the highest tree in the woods. When the sun was about two hours high, the messenger returned with Mr. Martin, who brought his gun, which carried nearly an ounce ball. He had also plenty of ammunition. Great anxiety was manifested for the mo- ment to come when Mr. Bear was to get the fatal shot; and after Martin had had full time to recover his breath, which climbing the high hill had rendered rather short, he placed himself in a good position, and let drive. The bear, however, kept his place. Several more shots were fired with the same success, when it was agreed to let Cap- tain Morris, an old Revolutionary officer, who had killed many an Englishman, have a shot. The brave captain gave notice that he would not shoot him in the body; but blow his brains out, or not kill him at all.

The gun being cleaned and loaded, the captain took aim, and off went the rifle. But, though the bear snorted, and groaned, and made a great fuss, yet he remained in his place. Another load was made ready, and the captain tried his luck again; when the bear, provoked with such treatment, rose from his resting-place, and made a bold offer to come to the ground. But on arriving at the lowest fork, and seeing a many enemies together, and the dogs

5*

54 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

standing at the root of the tree, ready for the fight, his courage failed him, and he quietly lay down again. Then Mr. Martin again took the gun, and tried two or three more shots. It may be remembered that I often asked them to let me have one more shot at him ; but in return I only got curses, was asked what I knew about a gun, and told to stand out of their way, or they would knock me out.

It was by this time getting dark, and I had been at that tree from ten or eleven o'clock, and many of the others had been there quite as long. It now became so dark that Martin could not see the powder in the pan. The gun missing fire, the powder was thrown out ; and in his great confusion, he did not think of the situation of his lock, but snapped and cursed, cursed and snapped, till I saw he was discouraged.

I then went up to him in the dark, and told him I could set the gun off. He gave me some curses, and told me to take it and be; at the same time handing it to me. I felt for the powder in the pan, and found it empty; but having some in a horn, I placed it carefully in the gun, and was ready to try my luck. By this time there were fourteen men round that tree. I could only see the bear by getting him between myself and the sky. I took the best aim I could, and fired; when down he came, and at him went the dogs. Then a shout of horror arose from the back-track party for every man to climb a tree, or the bear would tear them to pieces; and at it they went, climbing as best they could. Among the number was an Irishman, called Burk, who, in the hurry of the moment, dashed himself against a young honey-locust, which was full of long sharp thorns, and many of the points were sticking deep in his flesh, he roaring, "0 Jasus! I'm ruint, I'm ruint! O Jasus! it is ruint that I am!"

Over and over, down the steep hill, tumbled the bear

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 55

and the dogs, till they foil into sink ; where they stopped, and I came up with them.

The lust shot had disabled the bear so much that he lay on his back defending himself by striking the dogs off as they attacked him. As I had nothing to shoot with, I went in search of a club, to help the dogs; and, pulling a dry pole out by the root, I broke it as short as I wished and went up to the fight.

Creeping behind the bear as he was reaching after the dogs in front, and leaning from me, I struck him on the head, between the ears, and down he went, while the dogs attacked his hind-quarters, and held on until I had finished him. I stood and watched the dogs worrying him till I felt safe in approaching; when, on examining him, I found his head was crushed, and that he was certainly dead.

All being now quiet, the back-track gentry began to

call:

" Halloo, Captain Morris! where are you ? "

" I am here."

All hands called answered. Then one asked, "Where is Browning ? "

" Oh, the —— knows," was the reply; " for I expect the —— fool has run on the bear, and is killed."

" Halloo, Browning! " was called.

I wouldn't answer.

"It's no use to call," said one: "he's as dead as ———"

"Halloo, Browning!" was repeated.

Still I did not answer, for I wanted to hear what they would say.

"Halloo, Browning!" resounded a third time

"What is wanting? said I.

"Where is the bear ? '

"Here he is."

"What is he about?"

56 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

"He is dead."

"That's a lie, I expect."

"How could you kill him without a gun or a toma- hawk ? "

" I beat him to death with a club."

"You be ——— ; though you are fool enough to do anything. "

So saying, they began to come nearer and nearer, till they were at the edge of the sink; but they would not come any closer till I took the bear by the foot and shook him; when they were certain he was indeed dead. Then I showed them the club I had killed him with; when each one took it and struck the dead beast on the head, to have it to say they had helped to kill the bear.

The question then arose, how was he to be carried home? Some were for getting the oxen and cart; but I told them they could carry him on a pole, by tying his feet together, putting the pole through between his legs, and one person taking each end. This matter decided, they inquired what they were to tie him with. I told them that freshly-peeled bark would be as good as ropes; and at it they went, to hunt a pole, while I was to get the bark. We all soon returned, with bark and pole. I tied the bear's legs, and put the pole through, when two per- sons took hold, one at each end. But the head of the beast hung so low that the pole wabbled from side to side, and they staggered like drunken men. Such cursing, stag- gering, and tumbling as then occurred, is not often seen. I stopped them, and tied the head close up to the pole, when they got on pretty well, and soon arrived home with their prize—for they claimed the whole credit of what had been done, without naming me in any way other than as a fool.

The bear was laid in the kitchen, and old Mr. Caldwell came to see it, and to taunt those fellows for their cow-

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 57

ardice. When the bear was closely examined by Mr. Cald well, all present saw that Captain Morris's two shots had struck him—one passing; through his ear, the other breaking two of his tusks—without doing any serious injury; and that not a ball from Martin's numerous shots had touched him at all. This was a bad decision for Martin, and, as the result proved, for me too; for the old man decided that my two shots had killed the bear; and he spoke of their climbing trees during such a fight as being cowardly in the extreme, and said that if the bear's back-bone had not been greatly weakened by my last shot, his dogs would in all probability have been killed; "For," said he, "it is clear that his was the shot that brought him out of the tree; and as soon as he was on the ground, you not only ran off, but hid yourselves, and let the dogs shift for them- selves. And the same thing would have occurred had you been engaged in a fight with the Indians."

This was very galling to them; but they had no redress, except to wreak their vengeance on me; which they cer- tainly did; for I believe they told tales about me to the old lady, and caused her to suspect that I was fond of her daughter. But be that as it may, they envied and abused me subsequently whenever they had a chance.

It being necessary to skin the bear, at it they went ; but they made a poor hand of it, though they got through at last. When the meat was to be divided among the hunt- ers. Captain Morris required his share, and all were in- cluded but myself.

"Well," said Mr. Caldwell, what share does Browning get ? "

They said that they did not know that I wanted any.

"Browning" said he, "do you want any of this meat ? "

"I have no use for the meat, sir," said I, "unless you

58 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

desire to have a piece. If you do, I will give you what should be mine. But I would like to have the skin."

Mr. Caldwell immediately took up the skin and handed it to me, saying, "It is justly yours; for my dogs treed him, and you killed him; and you have a right to the skin; for it has always been a rule among hunters that the first blood drawn takes the skin, be it bear or deer."

This last decision completely fixed their malice against me. The meat was then shared out, when Mr. Caldwell secured his piece.

This was the first bear-fight I was ever engaged in. The adventure raised my reputation as a fearless boy, and the old man often told it to persons who happened to spend a night with him, much to my gratification. And frequently, when Nancy and the other children happened to be in the kitchen during the evenings, they would in- duce me to relate the whole tale, when they would ridicule the back-track party for their cowardly conduct. I saw, or thought I saw, that it had raised me in the opinion of the old man and the children; for on one occasion Nancy said, in a pleasant way, "Browning, when mother fright- ened you so I thought you were a great coward; but I don't think so now. And I heard Pappy tell a strange man the other day that if he had you in an Indian fight he knew you would attack them as fearlessly as you did that bear. Browning," she added, "I have often wished that I had been born a boy; then I would be a man some day, and help either to kill or drive off the yellow rascals so far, that they would never come back again to murder the whites. If you had seen as much of their murdering as I have I know you would fight." She then related the fol- lowing story:

"Some years ago, before General St. Clair lost so many men in a great fight with the Indians, father and mother were compelled to leave this place, and we all went up to

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 59

the town fort. The neighbors were obliged to leave their farms, and go into the fort also. My father and three or four of his friends used to go out, and some stood guard while the others worked, and either dressed their corn or chopped their wood, all time expecting to be shot by those yellow savages.

"At length news came that the Indians were in the neighborhood. The fort was put in the best condition for defence, and we awaited their approach. But no attack was made. Several days passed by. when it was supposed they had given up the assault. At length two Indians made their appearance on the high hill above the town. This hill runs from north to south, while Wheeling Creek runs from east to west, passes this elevation about a mile north of the town, and then turns south, coursing along the foot of the hill, until it arrives at a point a little south of the fort, where it empties into the river; thus leaving the hill a mile north of the mouth of the creek, with that stream on one side of the hill and the river on the other — with a space of not more than three-quarters of a mile

60 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

between them. Whenever the river is a little high, the water is backed up the creek to the depth of ten or twelve feet. On this hill, opposite the fort, those two Indians showed themselves, fired a shot or two at the fort, and then went off slowly, slapping their hands behind them in token of derision and contempt of those within the fortification.

"Fired with such an insult, our men commenced run- ning out, and would have all gone, had not the command- ing officer stood in the gate and stopped them; though not till twenty-four men were running up the steep hill after the Indians, who were to be seen still retreating, as if they did not intend to make battle. When the whites had reached the top of the hill, to their great dismay, they found themselves between two galling fires. They could not cross the creek, if they ran that way. Seeing them- selves pent up by the creek on the east and south, and by tlie river on the west, with three hundred Indians to con- tend against, the only hope left them was to break through the north line of the enemy, and escape down the river to the fort.

"As they approached the enemy, they made a desperate push through the line, and many fell; but some escaped unhurt, though they were pursued, and shot as they ran. My father was one of the last three of this brave party. As he was running for his life, with a friend of his a little before him, he saw his friend fall. As he passed him the wounded man called to him, 'John, don't leave me.' But on he ran, and after that he saw him no more. My father, however, perceived a white man, who had left the settle- ment some years before, and whom he recognised at first sight. This fellow carried a spear, mounted on a handle like that of a pitchfork, and ran before all the Indians. He was close at my father's heels when he arrived at the break of the hill next the fort. There was a large tree lying on the ground, and another small one standing very

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 61

near it. Something tripped up my father's feet, and in he fell between the two trees; and as he went down the white Indian made a furious lunge at him. The spear, however, glanced off the log, turned its point upward, and stuck so fast in the standing tree that the white savage could not withdraw it before my father slipped out of his position, escaped unhurt, and reached the fort safely.

"The man who culled to him for help had had his thigh broken; but he crawled on his hands until he found a hol- low log, in which he hid himself till dark, when he crawled to the fort. A short time after, in came another, with one arm broken; but the balance of the party fell a sacrifice to the savages.

"Thus fell twenty-one of the best and bravest men of Western Virginia, without even having had a chance to defend themselves. Their death was a great loss to the frontier settlements, as also to the strength of the fort; which in a few days was besieged by the same band. Their previous success emboldening them, the fort was in danger of being captured. Having intercepted a boat loaded with cannon-balls, destined for the use of the garrison, the savages procured a hollow tree, bound it round with ae many chains as they could, drove wedges under the chains, to tighten them as much as possible, loaded it like a can- non, and at a favorable time let go a most tremendous charge of ordnance—such as was never heard of before. The gun bursted, killing several, wounding others, and frightening the rest.

"But in a little time they renewed their attack on the fort. The ammunition had been divided between tie garrison and Colonel Zane's house. The attack was directed mainly against the latter place; but the assailants were driven back. The powder becoming scarce in the house, it was proposed that some men should run to the fort for a supply; and among the volunteers for that dan-

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62 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

gerous journey was a sister of Colonel Zane's, who said she would go. This, however, was objected to, and the young men insisted on going themselves. But she was firm in her purpose, and replied that the loss of a woman would be less felt than that of a man. And pinning up her dress, to let her feet have fair play in the race, off she went. But the Indians, astonished at the sight, did not fire a single shot at her, and she reached the fort in safety. Soon she had secured plenty of powder in a slim belt round her waist, and off she bounded again for the house. but the enemy, seeing her returning, suspected some mis- chief, and fired a volley of balls after her; all of which missed her, and she reached her destination in safety, with plenty of powder to carry through the siege.

"The Indians, somewhat discouraged, hung round a while and hunted up a fat cow; and while some were en- gaged at the fort, others killed the animal and roasted it by quarters. They then took turns to go and fill them- selves, while those who were not eating kept up a hot fire on the fort. But when the feast was over, they all marched off in profound silence. In the last onset, a chance ball passed through one of the port-holes just as a man was in the act of firing at the enemy, and, striking him in the forehead, killed him instantly."

Thus ended Nancy's story of Indian murders upon the whites. She continued, "I think, Browning, that if the Indians were to commence hostilities again, while you were living with us, you would fight for our family, wouldn't you ? "

"Indeed, Nancy," said I, "no infernal Indian should ever take off that pretty black scalp of yours while life and strength were left in my body sufficient to save you from their cursed hands."

"I do really believe you would," she replied ; "and father thinks so too: I heard him say so "

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 63

After this, our leisure time was spent in much plea- santry; and almost every evening I would sing a song, or two, or three, for some of the family, to which the old lady would listen with seeming pleasure. The old gentleman never failed to listen when he was home, and everything was going on as well as I could wish it, till the last month of my time was approaching; when I thought that I could see a change in the old lady—nay, I was sure that her be- havior was entirely different. If we youngsters got by ourselves, singing and telling riddles, she would come and take the girls into the house, and spoil our pastime as often as we would undertake it; and the longer I re- mained the more crabbed she became.

All the hands were obliged to sleep in the same room, and in addition, those who were at the bear-fight — four- teen in all. Having become jealous of me, on account of the old man's decision in regard to the light, they took every opportunity they could to annoy me, and make my situation as unpleasant as possible. The days and nights being disagreeably warm, we were obliged to sleep on the floor; and, in order to harass me, my enemies would begin a scuffle with each other, in which they would soon include me, and thus I could not get to sleep till late at night. To get rid of that annoyance, I asked Nancy to give me a blanket, with which I would go out to a shed which the joiners used to work in when it rained, take my bear-skin, and pass the night on the shavings.

In that way I slept finely for a week or two, when one day I was told to saddle a horse for Nancy; and as she was about to start I said, "Nancy, where are you going to ride to ? "

"I am going to my aunt's, in the country."

"How long will you be gone ? "

"Lord knows," said she; " mother says I must stay till she sends for me. But," she added, " I would much rather

64 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

stay at. home. She will not better herself much by it; for she will have all to attend to, and no one to help her ex- cept that old sleepy negro; as Pappy swears he won't hire a girl. But farewell, Browning; you will not be long here." And off she went, at a rapid pace.

I watched her receding form as long as I could see her, for 1 was very sorry that she had left. From what she had said to me during a minute or two, I concluded that the old lady was suspicious that our friendship was be- coming too warm; and I thought then, and have always since thought, that something of that kind was the reason why her daughter left home. That was the last I ever saw of Nancy; who, in my opinion, was as fine a girl as Western Virginia contained.

After Nancy had gone, I went to the stone-quarry, in which I, with others, was engaged in preparing stone for building a very large house. Hands of all trades were also gathered there to finish the building.

Several days passed by before I understood why Nancy said to me, "You will not be long here." The very morn- ing on which my four months were up, I was lying on my bear-skin in the shavings, with my blanket thrown over my head to keep off the mosquitoes, when I felt it drawn off ray face, and presently down came a large bucket of cold water all over me. I bounded to my feet, and in- quired of the old lady what that was done for. She re- plied, because I should not be lying there till that time in the morning, and receiving high wages; and she said that she would do the same thing every time she caught me so late in bed; though at that time there was no one up but herself.

I said to her, "I have been at all times ready to do all in my power to keep you in a good humor; but you will never again have an opportunity of treating me thus; for I will never strike another stroke on your farm while

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 65

I live and keep my senses. For," I continued, "you must not think, because you have wealth, that I am your ser- vant. I am as free and as white as you are, madam; and I have done with you, and you with me, for life."

"That's just what I want," said she.

"And that you shall have," I replied;" though really I hate to please you so well. But it shall be done; and as soon as Mr. Caldwell returns I'll be off."

About twelve o'clock the old man came home, and I immediately called on him for a settlement; telling him that I could not stand Mrs. Caldwell's rough treatment. She complained to him that I had told her that I was as white and as free as she was.

"Well," said the old man, "that's all true, as he is free, and white too; and if you had let him alone he would not have meddled with you. He is the only one that I can send to do any business and depend on. You have sent Nancy away, and there are two of the best hands gone by your fault."

She left the room, and dinner was soon on the table. I had not eaten any breakfast, and being told to sit down I did so.

As soon as dinner was over, the old man got his money, and paid me all my wages in silver dollars. This was very pleasing to me, for it was ten times more than I had ever previously been the owner of.

After the money was transferred to my pocket, the old man said, "Browning, I wish you would remain with me, and I will pay you ten dollars a month as long as you please to stay. The land on the other side of the river will soon be in market, when I will show you all the choicest pieces; and if you should get a wife, you can have the best of the land, and live on venison and bear- meat, like I have done many times when I first settled in this bottom."

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66 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

To all this I replied, "Mr. Caldwell, your offer is very good; but, sir, I know your wife has been angry with me for the last month, and I do not wish to be in her way; for neither she nor I can have any enjoyment of our lives under such circumstances.''

We then shook hands in the most friendly manner, and I left Wheeling. That was my last interview with any of the family, of every member of which I was very fond, with the exception of the old lady. And, indeed, when I now think of the whole matter, if she thought what I be- lieve she did, I don't blame her at all; for I am sure there was nothing in the world to recommend such a shabby- looking boy as a match for her fine-looking daughter; I backed, too, as she was, by a wealthy father. But I have beeen informed that the old gentleman, by some mean? or other, subsequently became involved, and failed in busi- ness, and that Nancy married a man who managed badly, and became poor. Whether my information was correct or not, I cannot say; but on account of the respect I al- ways entertained for the family, I hope that it was not true. Her father was very wealthy when I knew him; and I am sure that I saw more silver in his possession than I have ever, either before or since, seen at one time.

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 67

CHAPTER III

Returns to his .Mother's—Is employed by Mr. Foot, at a dollar a clay, to shoot Squir-

rel in his corn-field — Shot nine days, killing hundreds—Goes to see his be- trothed, at "Blooming Rose" —Interesting meeting—Engagement, but to wait until older—Has a Hunt and Trout-fishing with Uncle Spurgin—Good success—Meets Mary at uncle's—Accompanies her nearly home, with a dozen fine Trout, and Venison—Fear of her father–Removed near the McMullen's—Goes hunting, and kills a Panther measuring eleven feet three inches—Marries Mary at eighteen, in the year 1799—Roughly treated by her father—Actually turned out of doors—Mary's noble conduct and Christian spirit—Affecting incidents— Poverty in setting out in life—Succeeds in shooting a wild Turkey and trapping a Bear; their first meat.

HAVING bid good-bye to Wheeling, I traveled to my mother's the same night; and meeting with my uncle, he told me that Mr. Foot, the gentleman who had introduced me to my grandfather, had offered a dollar a day to any good gunner who would shoot the squirrels that were de- stroying his corn. So we agreed that we should both go together, and have fine sport, besides being paid for our services.

The next day we started off to the corn-field before day- light, and as soon as we could see, found ourselves sur- rounded by the greatest number of squirrels I ever saw. which were running by hundreds in all directions. At them we went, shooting sometimes half a dozen on one tree. My partner would place himself on one side while I would take the other; and between us, we killed and took home so many squirrels that Mr. Foot would have no more brought to the house. We went home every night, the distance not being more than a mile. We car- ried away as many as we wished; but after two or three

68 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

days we left them lay where we shot them; and I think it was on the fifth day that uncle left me to manage the balance. I continued shooting for nine and a half days, till I could see but one more squirrel, and that was a black one.

When I had completely exterminated the squirrels, Mr. Foot paid me nine silver dollars, which I added to my stock, and thought I was quite well off. Still further to help me, my step-father and my mother had bought me a complete new suit of clothes; but I had to work for the tailor who made them.

I went to work at my new job heart and hand; and when I was through I began to think of the "Blooming Rose" again, and Mary McMullen. I labored on, how- ever, till at length I proposed to mother that I should go and see my old friends; to which she agreed, on condition that I would promise to return to her again; which I did in the most positive terms.

In a week or two I was ready, and set off for Allegany County again. Two days subsequently I was at my uncle James Spurgin's, in Monongahela County, in a very dif- ferent situation from what I was in when I left there the previous January, though I had only been gone about seven months. I showed them my clothes, besides from twenty to thirty dollars in silver, which I had in my pocket, and described all that I had seen. I told uncle how near I had been to getting in a scrape by breaking the mule's shoulder, and also how I remembered his advice, and had made up my mind, if the question had been asked, to tell the whole truth, and see what it would do for me.

"Well, Meshach," said he, "if Mr. Caldwell is the man you represent him to be, he would not have made you pay one penny for it; and on the other hand, if he had dis- covered that you did break the mule's leg, and that you had tried to clear yourself from blame by telling a lie, he

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 69

would probably have made yon pay for all the damage done to the mule."

After supper, the girls, Jesse, and myself, went into an- other room, where we spent almost the whole evening in relating past occurrences; as well those which had hap- pened to myself in the far West, as it was then called, as what had happened during my absence in the two neigh- borhoods in which I had formerly resided. I carefully avoided all inquiry about the McMullens, and expected an allusion to Mary every minute.

At length Lina remarked, "Well, cousin, you have asked after all your associates, and have not mentioned your little bird. You need not think to slip off that way, for we all know what you mean."

"Well, Lina," said I, "I was waiting for Jesse to say something about her; for, don't you know, I left him in charge of that pretty little girl, telling him to take care of her, and if I ever could, I would do the same kindness for him."

Jesse replied that he had not seen her, but that lie had heard that she was improving in her looks every day.

"Well," said Lina, "if you say much more about her he will leave us, and start off to-night, in order to be there soon in the morning; for you can see how uneasy he is getting."

"Indeed, girls," said I, "it would be a cold-hearted boy who, at my age, would not love to see such a girl as she is."

Having run me as far on that score as they wished, the conversation was turned to other subjects, and time passed very pleasantly till a late hour, when it was proposed that we should go to bed. Jesse and I occupied the same room; and, after we lay down, we continued talking till nearly daylight. The first thing we heard in the morning was the old gentleman calling the boys to get up; "For," said

70 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF

he, "boys, we have a great deal of hay down, and we must have it secured while it is in good order."

After breakfast was over, I staid to help with the hay till it was all safe in the mows. This was a fine frolic; girls, boys, and old people all being at it, each one trying to surpass the other in skill and activity, till all was done. The evening was our own, and we enjoyed it with the greatest glee, singing songs, of which I had learned per- haps half a dozen new ones while I was away.

The next day I left for the "Blooming Hose;" and as my cousins had informed me of the death of uncle John's little daughter, I thought I ought to visit his family before calling on any of my acquaintances, for I knew their al- fliction was very great. Accordingly, I spent a week or two with them. They were very anxious that I should live with them again; but this offer I declined, by telling them that I had promised to live with my mother, at least till I should marry a wife—if ever I did take one; for that was an uncertain business, as the one that I wanted I could not get; and I never would have any girl upon whom my affections were not fixed.

In the mean time, I visited many of my friends; but I did not go to Mr. McMullen's, as I had not been apprised of his being from home, and as I well knew my presence would be unwelcome to him. I wished to see Mary be- fore I attempted to pay another visit to the family.

Some days passed thus, till at length there was a fune- ral, to which I went with uncle and aunt, and there I met Mrs. McMullen and Mary. After the funeral service was over, uncle, aunt, Mrs. McMullen, and Mary, together with several others, walked about a mile in company over the same road. I took Mary's hand, and walked by her side until the others had all turned off at different roads; when she her mother, and myself were the only persons left. The old lady stopped a little while with my aunt, but

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Mary and I kept on till we drew near her home; when we seated ourselves on a fallen tree by the roadside, and spent what we both thought and acknowledged was far too short a time in which to say all we wished.

When the old lady came up to us, I told her that I would have been better pleased if she had made her stay with my aunt a little longer—Mary having informed me (hat her mother was truly ray friend, but that her father was much displeased at ray return. Mrs. McMullen smiled, and asked why so. I told her that Mary and I had suf- ficient to say to each other to occupy another hour.

"Well," said the old woman," you can both go back to the house instead of sitting in the road, and there spend an hour or two ; but be sure not to stay till sundown."

I pledged myself that I would see her daughter home before sunset.

We were both pleased—at any rate, I knew that I was, and I had good reason to believe that Mary was; for, as her mother walked away, I said to her, "What a blessed old lady she is, to let me have such a splendid chance to court her daughter, at the very moment when I expected her to take you off home with her ! "

"That seems to be the case with all the men, I believe; every one is for his own interest. But I can tell you that my mother has all confidence in you; and I don't believe she would have given any other young man living but yourself the same privilege with me; but if father knew I was here in your company, I don't know what he would do, or what I should say; for he is determined to keep up as far from each other as he can. Mother and he disagree about you; and she tells him that if he drives you away he will not better himself in this neighborhood. Is it not strange, Meshach. that he is afraid of what we never spoke to each other about, and, indeed, what we are both too young to think of doing?"

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"Well, Mary," said I, "if I went back to live with my mother, and was then to hear that some other young man had come to court you, and your cruel father (for he is cruel to me) compelled you to marry him, I should be mad enough to commit murder."

"You will never have occasion to do anything wrong on my account," said she; "for neither father, mother, nor any one else, shall ever persuade or force me to marry a man I do not love."

"Well, Mary, have you ever yet seen a young man whom you loved well enough to marry? "

"That is a hard question; but I will tell you that I love your company better than that of any other whom I have yet seen; but marrying I have never taken into consideration; and it will be time enough to think of that five or six years hence."

"But, Mary, if I should make my home with my mother, and stay there five or six years, you will be married before half that time passes."

"Well, that will not be my fault; for, if you go and leave me, you cannot expect me to come after you, or send for you to come to me. No, sir, if I did, you would de- spise me; and well you might, if I was to do anything so much out of place. If you are so fearful of my marrying, you had better stay and keep the advantage you have gained, and make as much more of it as you can. I have informed you that I love your company better than that of any other young man, and that is all I intend to tell you; and, if I had not foolishly divulged my secret to you, I would not do so now, for you seem to have lost your confidence in me. I have given you no reason for such a change of opinion. I promised you, when you left last winter, that if you came back in five or six years, you would find me as you left me; and have you not found me as good as my word? You know, also, that

A HUNTER'S LIFE. 73

everything you ever told me, I believed as firmly as if I had seen it myself; and yet you seem doubtful of me. I have always had confidence in you, and all my family, except ray father, have a good word for you at all times; and you know that if my mother was not particularly friendly to you, we would not be here together. Really, the sun is getting low, and I must be going. Don't you know what you promised?"

She put on her bonnet, and I took her hand, and on we went. As we walked, I said: "Mary, you never told me you loved me, nor have I ever told you that I loved you, but we are both left to our own conjectures; yet, if you were to tell me you thought I loved you, I should say you had made a very shrewd and good guess; and that is all I will tell you."

This raised a laugh; and she said we were nearly even, and she supposed there would be no more said about loving each other, but that all would be left to conjecture. That being agreed on, we turned our discourse to other subjects, and too soon arrived at her home. We waited for the sun to go down, being bent on having the last minute of our time together; and in the meantime I apologized for hav- ing given her reason to think that I doubted her sincerity. She readily accepted my acknowledgment, and it seemed as if it had redoubled our affections to each other; indeed. I thought she was the sweetest creature in all creation.

Notwithstanding all our precaution not to betray our love to each other, out came the acknowledgment from both, accompanied by a promise not to make any different engagement without each other's consent, until we should be old enough to marry. We then parted; I going to my uncle's, and she to her home, fearful of being suspected by her father. But she afterwards told me that he never mentioned it to her.

My uncle then proposed a hunt and a fishing excursion

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to the Buffalo Marsh Glades. This place took its name from the fact that the carcass of a large buffalo had been found in the deep mud of the marsh by the first white men who, perhaps, ever set a foot in that beautiful glade. I agreed to accompany him; and we set out for the same house from which we fled when St. Clair met with his defeat, mentioned in my first chapter. When we arrived at the place, we found that the house had been destroyed by some mischievous hands; so we built a fire under a large oak, and there slept comfortably at night.

In the morning we set off for our sport, taking a small path that led to Deep Creek; and as we walked along 1 saw a very large buck standing within gun-shot of us. Having but one gun (for my sport was designed to be in fishing), the old man (who, bye-the-bye, was a poor shot) fired at and wounded the buck in the foot. A fine swift dog we had with us, soon ran the buck down, and he became our venison. The old man told me he would attend to the meat, and I should try my luck with the trout. I waded into the water, hip and thigh, with a piece of the venison for bait, believing that anything I liked so well would surely please a trout; and I was not mistaken; for just as fast as I could bait my hook, and let it into the water, I pulled out the largest kind of trout, till at length they refused suddenly, as is their habit, to give me another bite.

I gathered up what I had caught, and counted forty- seven, making as much of a load as I wished to carry in one hand. I then struck for our fire again, as the morni- ng was cold: there was a heavy dew on the grass, which was as high as a man's belt, and I was cold, wet, and hungry. The old man was in with his buck, and had some venison before the hot coals, which was nearly ready for eating. I handed over my long string of trout to the cook, who soon had as many as were necessary for our late

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breakfast, nicely fried in his little pan, and butter gravy swimming round them, until they were beautifully browned all over. Then we sat down to the finest kind of venison steaks, fried in the same way, and good light rolls, well buttered, all placed on pieces of chestnut bark just peeled from the tree. All this, together with a sharp appetite, made the meal, I thought, quite good enough for a Go- vernor, or even the President himself, if he were there, and as hungry as I then was. After helping ourselves to as much as we needed, we were satisfied with what we had done.

Our next business being to get home with our venison and fish, before they could get spoiled, our horses were saddled in haste. We loaded up, and off we went for home. We had about ten miles to travel, which we com- pleted by the middle of the afternoon. When we arrived at the house, who should be there with my aunt, for com- pany, but my little Mary! Well, said I, is not this good luck? I'll bet this has been done for me. I shall go part of the way home with her again, at all hazards; and we will keep it from the old man's knowledge the best way we can.

After taking a long and earnest look at her, and ad- miring her well-shaped form, which was about medium size—she then weighing one hundred and twenty pounds, and having well-proportioned shoulders and breast ; full, clear blue eyes, expressive of the wildness of a fawn in its most playful moments; and cheeks like roses, Lord! said I to myself, won't she be a prize for me some day, if I can only keep things as they now are, till the time comes ? But I think I can manage that, unless some enemy interferes between us, as I think they did at Wheel- ing. Yes, yes, I must let nothing of that Wheeling busi- ness come to Mary's ears, or she will be off at once, I reckon; and that would be the ———— indeed.

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I told my aunt to send Mrs. McMullen one dozen of the best trout, as a present ; and 1 requested Mary to hand them to her mother, and tell her that I caught every one of them myself, and that I sent them to her. My old uncle also sent a present of some of his venison; and the old people said, that if I was not too tired with walking, I ought to help Mary to carry her venison and fish home. I looked at her, and replied, that I had been walking so much lately, that it tired me but little to walk a whole day, and I did not feel the least tired now. Mary made no reply, but she gave me a mischievous look, and smiled, which almost fevered the blood in my veins.

In a few moments we set off for her home, and we related to one another how everything had worked for our advantage. She said: "After yourself and your uncle had gone, mother said, in the hearing of father, that Aunt Polly would be very lonesome there by herself; and that the late loss of her child made it still worse. 'Well,' said the old man, 'some of the children may go over and stay over night with her.' The old lady, however, said that it would be of little use to send the small children; and it was agreed that I should go. Whether mother thought of you or not, I can't say; but I expected every moment that father would think of you, and break up the whole plan."

"Very well, Mary," said I, "you think it fun to go where you will see me, do you ? "

"Well," she replied, "I know very well that if I don't think it fun, you do; and I don't think you will offer to deny it. Now let me see if you will deny it," said she. joking playfully in my face. "If you do, I will have to tell you, for the first time, that I don't believe what you say."

We were then at her father's fence, and had stopped to take leave of each other; but we delayed parting till the

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last hour of her allotted time, which was sunset; but when the time came, we parted with great reluctance, promising to take advantage of every opportunity to see each other.

It is of little use for parents to try to keep young peo- ple apart, after their affections are firmly settled on each other. They will seek each other's society, as it was in this case with Mary and myself. We were determined to see each other; and after all the old man could do, we did meet, somehow or other, every week.

I would advise parents to give good advice to their children; then let them take their own way, and let the responsibility be on their own heads. That has been my course through a long life, and under many trials; and I have never repented of it. So it was: we saw each other frequently, when no one suspected us; and so it continued till I went to the West again, which was in September. We then parted, with a hope of meeting again in a short time; for I had determined to endeavor to persuade my step-father and mother to move to Allegany; and I told Mary that, whether they came or not, I would return and stay at some place within reach of her, until we should attain a sufficient age, when she should be mine.

I again travelled to Short Creek, in the West, and joined my mother; but did not find it a hard task to persuade the old folks to move to Allegany, which they did in Oc- tober; and in a month's time my mother, step-father, and myself, were neighbors to the McMullen family, and were pleased with their new home.

Not long after we had settled in our new home, there fell a light snow, when I took my rifle, and calling a dog which I had brought with me from Wheeling, which was of the stock of old Mr. Caldwell's hunting-dogs, I went into the woods after deer. I had not travelled far before I found the tracks of four deer, which had run off; for they had got wind of me, and dashed into a great thicket

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to hide themselves. I took the trail, and into the thicket I went, where I soon saw the deer running in different directions. I got between them, in hopes that I should see them trying to come together again. I kept my stand perhaps five or six minutes, when I saw something slipping through the bushes, which I took to be one of the deer; bat I soon found that it was coming toward me. I kept a close look out for it; and directly, within ten steps of me, up rose the head and shoulders of the largest panther that I ever saw, either before or since. He kept behind a large log that was near me, and looked over. But though I had never seen a wild one before, I knew the gentleman, and was rather afraid of him. I aimed my rifle at him as well as I could, he looking me full in the face; and when I fired he made a tremendous spring from me, and ran off through the brush and briers, with the dog after him.

As soon as I recovered a little from my fright, I loaded again, and started after them. I followed them as fast as I could, and soon found them at the foot of a large and very high rock; the panther, in his hurry, having sprung down the cleft of rock fifteen or twenty feet; but the dog, being afraid to venture so great a leap, ran round, and the two had met in a thick laurel swamp, where they were fighting the best way they could, each trying to get the advantage of the other. I stood on the top of the rock over them, and fired at the base of the panther's ear, when down he went; and I ran round the rock, with my toma- hawk in hand, believing him to be dead. But when I got near him, I found he was up and fighting again, and con- sequently I had to hurry back for my gun, load it again, creep slyly up, take aim at his ear, as before, and give him another shot, which laid him dead on the ground. My first shot had broken his shoulder; the second pierced his ear, passing downward through his tongue; the last

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entered one ear, and came out at the other, scattering hit brains all around. He measured eleven feet three inches from the end of his nose to the tip of his tail. This was the largest panther I ever killed, and I suppose I have killed at least fifty in my time.

I took from this fellow sixteen and a half pounds of rendered tallow. It is something softer than mutton tal- low, but by mixing it with one-fourth of its weight of beeswax, it makes good candles. I continued hunting the balance of the season, with little success—not killing any bears, although there were great numbers of them in the woods. However, I knew but little of the art of hunting.

I continued with great glee to partake of all the pas- times, attending the dances, shooting matches, etc.; and courting Mary occasionally, till our love was so confirmed, that we were never so well pleased in any other company but that of ourselves. In the year 1799, we being each then in our eighteenth year, by the advice of both our mothers, we agreed to put an end, by marriage, to a courtship of five or six years' continuance; and, accord- ingly, the last day of April was fixed on for our wedding.

As the day began to draw near, the old folks had to be consulted; but when I called on Mary's father, I told him that I had but few words to say to him, having only to tell him that I had been a long time in love with his daughter Mary, and that I knew she loved me also; that we had determined that nothing but death should part us ; and that, if he would please to give me his consent, I should be very glad; but that, as for me to live without her, was out of the question. I also said: "Some man will marry her, one day or other; and I have determined that, at the risk of my life, no man shall ever have her but myself. "

The old man kept quiet till I had done, when he said: "You have had this matter all arranged among your-

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selves, and I shall not meddle with it now. You may take her as soon as you please." But he was very angry.

I thanked him, and was going to apologise to him for not being more open and above-board in courting his daughter; but he refused to hear any excuses, and left the house. Though much mortified at such treatment, I felt that I would be satisfied if he only kept his word, and did not forbid her to comply with her promise; for she had al- ways told me she would not marry against the will of her parents, and I had but little hope of getting the old man's consent.

However, there was no time to be lost, as I wished lo see my brother Joshua, who had once been in company with myself and Mary at a party; where, having seen that I was fond of her, he said to me, "Brother, you may love that girl as much as you please; but don't think of matrimony."

I told him that thoughts flew into people's heads very quickly, and sometimes continued uncontrollable.

"Yes, yes," said he; "and if that is your case now, you are a gone coon. She is a beauty, it is true; but you are both only children yet, and should not think of mar- rying till you are twenty-one at least."