“They love their land because it is their own,
And scorn to give aught other reason why—
A stubborn race, fearing and flattering none,
Such are they nurtured, such they live and die.”
HALLECK.
Rolfe and Earthquake, whom we left journeying homeward, proceeded on,
according to the resolution they had formed, far into the settled
portions of Indiana Territory, intending to communicate at once to the
Governor the disaster which had occurred on the Ohio, and obtain his
influence in having the murderers brought to justice and recovering,
if possible, the maiden who was still a prisoner. Upon telling their
story to many persons, they found that the Indians were generally
believed to entertain hostile designs against the United States, that
the chiefs had refused to exert any authority, in surrendering up
murderers to justice, and that many aggressions had been committed by
them; the consequence of all which was, that the governor of the
territory was arming the militia, and its citizens were clamorous for
offensive operations. They regarded the Prophet as the author of all
their present difficulties, as well as of the threatened ruin which
seemed to impend over them, and had united in petitions to the
Executive, praying for the dispersion of the Prophet's band. His head
quarters were now established at Tippecanoe, and his camp was
considered a place of rendezvous, from which lawless parties would set
out, commit depredations on the settlements and again return to it for
concealment.
This state of things convinced Rolfe and Earth, that, as they did not
even know where the prisoner was, no good could result from their
application, and both entertaining doubts as to the identity of her
they sought, they resolved to return to Kentucky, change their mode of
life, and carve out their fortunes, by mingling with men. This
resolution was carried into effect, and Rolfe soon after arriving at
home, proclaimed his willingness to attend to all business which
should be committed to him as an attorney, obtained an office, and in
a few months was justly entitled to the appellation of a hard student.
One among the first things, however, which he did after his arrival,
was to write to a friend in Petersburgh, stating his suspicions
relative to her he loved, and begging that, as far as lay in his
power, he would either confirm or remove them. As the answer received
is the best explanation we can give, we shall here insert it.
“Truly glad am I, my dear Richard, to see that you once more recognize
me as your friend. For such I have ever been, as many others are, and
your taking up a different impression was not owing to me, or to their
conduct, but to your own over sensitiveness. However, let us remember
only the brightest spots in the past, and ‘look forward with hopes for
the morrow.’ But I am saying nothing of that which most interests you.
The bare suspicion is horrible; it cannot be true;—there could have
been no motive whatever for his emigrating—but as from the tone of
your letter I should judge that you had heard nothing from this place
since you left, I will state to you such changes as have occurred.
Your departure was unexpected to many, and I mean not to compliment
you, when I say that no one could have left, whose absence would have
been more deeply regretted by his friends. I did not see her for
several weeks after your departure, and then her countenance bore
delicate traces of grief; they would not have been perceptible to a
stranger, but to me, who had known her long, they were plainly
legible. She was calm, and I ventured to inquire if she had heard from
you; her eyes filled with tears, she was silent, and after a moment
changed the conversation. Her father has been very much censured for
his opposition by the few to whom the circumstances are known.
“I think about six months elapsed, when he began to speculate largely,
and soon after that time removed with his family to Baltimore, that he
might have a wider theatre for action; and I suppose you will pardon
the rhapsody, when I say that with his removal, went the brightest
star which ever shed its influence over our goodly town. But, by the
by, as you are a lover that is not pretty enough. As a friend of mine
would say, every thing was quite opaque when she left us,—or, as I
with more gallantry would say, for we have still many bright
constellations of beauty, her departure was like the gloom which
follows the bursting of the rocket.
“Now let me say, I think I can remove your fears, for these pretty
things are called up by my having seen her some three months since in
Baltimore. I was at her house, she was cheerful, and not a member of
her family spoke of moving; so, my dear fellow, all your alarm was
unnecessary farther than sympathy with a fellow creature had its
claims. Come, quit hunting, and attend to your profession, and you may
yet realize your early hopes. We lay in some of our goods in
Baltimore, and I shall reserve to myself the pleasure of telling her
in person, the wild fancy which entered your brain; it will serve to
amuse, and yet she cannot fail deeply to appreciate your conduct.
“Now that we have began a correspondence, let me hope that you will
continue it—and do, if you please, tell me more of your friend
Earthquake, for he is perfectly an original, and although at first,
his name prejudiced me against him, yet I think I could love such a
man.
“Believe me, ever yours.”
The above letter served to remove all Rolfe's suspicions, and made him
happy; since besides destroying the many painful apprehensions in
which he had indulged relative to her he loved, it also served to
convince him that he was still esteemed by his friends, and added a
fresh impulse to the resolution he had formed to devote his time
entirely to his profession. Seeking his friend Earthquake, he lost no
time in communicating to him the happy tidings. He was almost as much
delighted at them as Rolfe himself, and urging him to prosecute the
resolution he had formed, he stated, that he was tired of the woods,
and intended to run for the office of sheriff, which was to be filled
in a neighbouring county at their next court. Rolfe suggested to him
that he did not think he was sufficiently well acquainted with
accounts. Earth admitted that he was not as smart at figures as some
people he had seen, but said he knew as much as Bob Black, who was the
only candidate he had heard spoken of, and added, “Rolfe, if I don't
know how to make out a big account agin a poor fellow, why it don't
matter much; and if one is able to pay, and wont, why 'taint worth
while to be so particular, I will lick him until he settles up, so I
think I can make the eends meet.”
“Very well then,” said Rolfe, “take a chance, and, if elected, try and
qualify yourself for the office.”
“Well, now,” said Earth, “you have hit the nail right on the head, for
that is just what I mean to do, and if I don't hull out Bob Black, I'm
a heap worse than I look for.”
Time wore on:—court day arrived, and Bob Black and Earthquake were the
only candidates. Near a large square log building, called the
court-house, and which had been built for that purpose, until a better
one could supply its place, a crowd had gathered, and appearances
indicated that no very ordinary event was about to occur; for the
multitude swaggered about with an important air, and each one felt
larger than on ordinary occasions. Moreover, they seemed excited, not
by artificial stimulus, but by the importance of some coming event.
That the hour which custom had set apart as the time when they should
begin to drink had not arrived, if you are a shrewd observer, you
would have seen at a glance; for many of the crowd would change a
heavy quid from the left to the right side, and cocking up their eyes
at the sun, gaze for a moment to see the hour, then shake their heads
and cast them down as if disappointed; and then, if you had been
present, you would have heard inquiries of this sort:—“Who toats the
silver time of day in his pocket?” and perhaps an answer to this
effect:—“Lawyer Rolfe; he's a gentleman all over, and a nation fine
man.” Then if you would keep a sharp look out, you might have seen
several pressing forward towards Rolfe, who stood in earnest
conversation just before a small tippling shop, and to the remark,
“you toat the silver time of day, 'Squire, tell us the hour,” have
heard Rolfe reply, “twelve, by every good watch, for you know time
flies faster on election than on other days;” and then turning to the
barkeeper, say, “give us a gallon of your best.” At that call, the
tobacco fell in large wads upon the ground, and a pleasing smile
played over their countenances.
Yes, it was both an election and court day.—Rolfe was to make his
first appearance at the Kentucky bar, and our old friend Earth was to
run for the sheriffalty. The space which was marked out as the
court-yard, was merely a clearing in the forest, from which the trees
had been lately removed, and which still presented an unseemly
appearance, from the many stumps which were yet left standing. In this
place, the multitude had collected, and it was as marked in its aspect
as the spot it occupied. There were present persons of all ages, of
all sizes, and of all shapes; and they were clad in garments as
dissimilar as themselves. They were habited in hunting shirts, or
wrapped in blankets, or wore buckskin breeches, which fitted them
tightly, and on their heads they had hats or caps of every shape, and
in the latter were exhibited the skins of almost every animal
indigenous to our country. Besides these I have particularized, there
were also present many well dressed, foppishly dressed, and genteel
looking men, who were in fact no better than those we have described,
for all were frank, honest, and hospitable; and throughout this
multitude were poking about, wherever an opening in the crowd would
permit it, women and children, as dissimilar in appearance as the men
we have already characterized, and from it, the noise of a thousand
jarring voices broke upon the ear. On the outside of the court-yard,
and in every direction, fastened to every tree or limb which would
swing a bridle, was seen a mule, a jackass, or a horse. They were in
every condition, from Don Quixote's Rosinante to that of an
Englishman's best hunter. On some there were saddles and bridles.
Others had no saddles, but meal bags or blankets were made to serve
the same purpose, and with them grape vines or twisted hickory withes,
were used as bridles. They amused themselves in various ways,—the
mules and jackasses by braying,—most of the horses by whickering,
whenever any stranger came up,—and the whole by kicking occasionally,
with the exception of a few, to whom years had given great gravity of
character, and they seemed to derive much enjoyment by scraping, with
their teeth, the bark from the trees.
Of the men who were present, at least three-fourths brought rifles,
and soon began to amuse themselves by shooting for what they
significantly denominated a quart. The remainder, gathered in groups,
were either talking politics or discussing the claims of the
respective candidates, with the exception of those who were in the
Court-House, the Court being in session.
So much for the general appearance. Now let us enter some of these
groups, and see if we cannot make ourselves familiarly acquainted with
at least one of the actors. A tree is blazed,—a small black spot, made
with moistened powder, is seen in its centre, and at a distance of
about fifty yards, a crowd, composed chiefly of hunters, with now and
then a woman or a child, have already collected. The candidates for
the sheriffalty are also among the number.
“What shall we shoot for?” asked a hunter, as stepping out he toed the
mark.
“Why, a quart to be sure,” was the reply.
Then throwing up his piece, crack went his rifle, and the crowd
running to the target, cried, “not so coarse,—he grazed the black.”
“Coarse as rough bricks,” said a hunter, “he'll pay for the quart.”
“Clear away for the candidates!” was now the cry. “Bob, step forward,
and show your metal.” Bob did as desired, and blazed away. The crowd
again ran forward, and cried, “hurrah! for Bob Black,—he is into the
black, but upon the outer edge.”
“That's not so bad,” said Bob.
“Bad as green gourds,” said our old friend Earth, “if it was a
varmunt, and you could only see his eye.—Clear the track, I'm coming,
with my head and tail both up.” Then stepping forward, he took his
position:—a moment more, and crack went his rifle. The crowd again ran
forward, and cried,—“into the centre. Hurrah for Earth,—he's a
caution, I tell you.”
“I knowed it,” said Earth, “she never lies if I point her straight;”
then turning to his opponent, Bob Black, “don't you think you would
make a beautiful sheriff,—can't shoot nearer than the outside of a
black. Bob, I'd change my name if I couldn't always stick by it.”
At this moment, some one cried out, “'Squire Rolfe is going to speak
in the Court-House,” and away they hastened, to hear his maiden
speech. The Court-House, as before stated, was merely an unfloored log
building. Upon a plank, a little elevated, and placed against the side
fronting the door, the magistrates were sitting; and just before them,
seated on a bench, were ranged the lawyers. Rolfe was to make his
maiden speech. He had been employed by a man who was very badly
beaten, to bring an action of assault and battery, with a hope of
recovering damages enough to compensate him in some measure, for the
injury inflicted.—This was the case now to be tried. The jury having
been sworn, the witnesses examined, and all the other formalities gone
through, Rolfe rose. “Now tear away,” said Earth, who was at his
elbow, “as if you didn't care for nobody.”
Rolfe smiled at Earth's remark, and proceeded in a dignified and lucid
manner to open his case, and bring forward to the notice of the jury,
those points in the evidence which he thought would justly entitle his
client to heavy damages, and upon which he intended to rest his claim.
Having done so, in as brief a manner as practicable, and not seeing
what possible ground his adversary could occupy, for the law and
evidence were both against him, he was seated, and the opposing
counsel, who was a genuine son of the west, and whom Rolfe had not
before observed, rose in reply:
“Gentlemen of the Jury—The tremendous occasion which has called us
together is one of the very darkest peril to my client.
“The poet has beautifully said, ‘loud roars the dreadful thunder.’
But, gentlemen, to be squeezed inside of a gaol, is not the thing that
it is cracked up to be. The lightning's flash may blaze entirely
athwart the heavens; but, gentlemen, to lie upon a dirt floor, and
drink cold water, is an awful catastrophe. The poet has said,
gentlemen, ‘all that glitters is not gold,’ and I ask you, if when
this man came at my client like a roaring lion, and would have used
him up in two minutes, if he was wrong just to take his eyes into his
hands, and squeeze 'em for a short time. Gentlemen, I know there is
not one of you so lost to feeling,—so lost to every thing that an
honourable man owes himself,—but instead of letting them go, after
squeezing them a short time, but would have put them into his breeches
pocket, and have walked off, and let the fellow go about his business.
Yes, gentlemen of the jury, I see it in you, there is not one of you
but would have jumped upon him, and have galloped him around this
Court-House a half a dozen times.—A good for nothing scoundrel, to
pretend to come at my client in such a vig'rous manner. But, gentlemen
of the jury, the poet has mighty prettily said, ‘the day of
retribution is at hand,’—and, gentlemen, the counsel who is opposed to
me, will try very hard to convince you that this is a sublime
wound,—that my client ought to pay a tall, a very tall price for it;
but the grapes are sour—they hang mighty high, I see it in your eyes.
Gentlemen, you know all about the way in which a knife can be made to
dig into one, when a man is in earnest.—Now, I ask you, if this is a
sublime wound? Do you think my client was in earnest when he struck
him? You all have seen it. It is not more than three inches long, and
about two inches deep, and he has pretended to bring such a case as
that into this Court-House. The time of the Court, gentlemen, ought
not to be taken up with such trifling matters, and I beg your pardon
for having detained you as long as I have. Gentlemen, I know your
verdict,—I know what it will be,—I am satisfied;—I will close these
few remarks, with a quotation—a very, very apt quotation to this
case:—‘A wit's a feather, and a chief's a rod.’—Yes, mark me,
gentlemen:—
‘A wit's a feather, and a chief's a rod’
But—
‘An honest man's the noblest work of God.’”
It is needless to say any thing more about the case;—Rolfe could not
contend with such an opponent, and was consequently beaten. His
defeat, however, was more strongly characterized by Earth. The case
having been decided, Earth left the Court-House, to electioneer with
the crowd for the office he desired. Upon going out, some one who had
not as yet heard the decision, cried out, “Well, Earth, how did the
'squire come out?”
“The fellow hulled him as clean as wheat,” said Earth, “he fairly tore
the wool off; but Rolfe is a larning;—he did better the last time than
he did the first. He don't rare and pitch enough;—I must talk to him,
and I think I can make him come to it, artur a while.”
Earth having again entered the crowd, began to electioneer for the
office he so much desired.—“Come, boys,” said he, addressing himself
to all around him, including many whose locks were frosted over with
age, “let's go and take a little, for I am as dry as a horse.” Away
they went, and having drank, some one of the group was reminded of a
good anecdote, which he told, and at which being in good humour, they
all heartily laughed. When the merriment had somewhat subsided, “Come,
Earth,” said an old hunter, “a sheriff ought always to be able to tell
a good story, that he may amuse a fellow when he is making him shell
out,—let us see what you can do in that way.”
“Time enough,” said Earth, “when I am elected; but at present, I must
knock about, to see if I cannot pick up a vote or two.”
“The best way to pick up votes, Earth,” replied an acquaintance, “is
to tell a good story.”
“Very well then, Jack,” said Earth, addressing the last speaker, “make
a ring and give me fair play, and I will tell one, and whether it be
good or bad, I leave you all to judge. It shall be the truth, that is,
it shall be something which has happened to me at some time of my
life, and if after telling it, you don't vote for me, if I don't lick
you, I will agree never to take another 'coon hunt.”
“Then whack away,” said Jack.
“Well, well, well, well, once upon a time,” began Earth.
“And what happened then,” asked one of the group.
“Why, so many things have happened to me,” said Earth, “since I've
been rooting about in these woods, that I hardly know what to tell, or
which will interest most.”
“Then tell us of the time that you floated down the Ohio.”
“Well, well,” said Earth, bursting out in a loud laugh, “I will tell
that, for I had almost clean forgot it; but I was in a predicament,
wan't I?”
“Tell us the story and we shall then be able to judge,” said an old
hunter, who, standing near, was leaning on his rifle; “do begin,
Earth, and make no more preparation; you take as long to git under way
as a man does who breaks a yoke of young steers, or greases a pair of
cart wheels, before he sets out upon his journey.”
“Then I'm off, old man,” said Earth, “but I must take a running start,
and begin agin.”
“Well, well, well, well—once upon a time I had taken my old bitch
Jupiter, that you have often heard me tell of;—old Jupe was a nice
thing,—I had taken her 'long, and gone off upon a bear hunt, had been
absent two or three weeks, and had wandered very far from home. I was
a venturesome lad in those days, and never better satisfied than when
alone in the wild woods. I had worked my way down into the fork formed
by the emptying of the Cumberland into the Ohio river, and I had
worried the bears right badly. I had had rare sport. Old Jupe was in a
good humour, and she and I was mighty loving, for she had fou't some
fights which I never can forgit, and which made me love her like a new
flint, and she loved me as if I was a bacon bone, for I had helped her
out of some of her difficulties, when it would have been a gone case
if I had'nt been present;—I say difficulties, for I never did see a
dog so tired as she was. I do believe during some of these fights that
I am now talking about, I saw the bears hug her, until they stretched
her out into a long string. Yes, I have seen 'em squeeze her, until
she wan't larger than my arm, and at least nine or ten feet long;—you
might have wound her up into a ball, just as you would have done a
hank of yarn,—”
“Then they must have killed her, Earth,” said one of the group.
“You know nothing about it,” said Earth, “don't interrupt me; but I am
good for your vote;” then turning to the crowd, “ain't it so,
gentlemen, don't he forfeit it for stopping me?”
“Certainly,” was the reply.—
“Then I have already made two votes,” said Earth.
All now cried, “go on Earth, go on with your story.”
“Well,” said Earth, “he stopped me something about the bears killing
Jupe;—now old Jupe wan't of that breed of dogs at all, for when she
was stretched out in a string, or even tangled up in a knot, I would
shoot the bear, draw her off one side, throw a little cold water over
her, leave her, and go to butchering. In an hour, and sometimes it
would take longer, she would begin to come together like a jointed
snake, and presently, she would fetch a yelp, and come streaking it to
me, shaped as she ought to be, showing her teeth, and looking as fresh
as if she was a new made dog. And then wan't she vig'rous? Yes, who
says she wan't? You might have hung a cross-cut saw to a swinging
limb, and she would have chawed upon it the balance of the day,—or
have thrown her a bear's head, and she would'nt touch the meat, but
draw all the teeth out merely for spite. But there was one thing I
noticed about old Jupe,—whenever the bears stretched her out into a
string, she always lost her appetite for the remainder of that day.
Well, old Jupe and I were down there, and we had been doing pretty
much what I have been telling you, when one day the bears spun her out
rather longer than usual, and she got cut so badly, that we had to
rest during the whole of the evening. I was sorry for old Jupe, but
didn't care much about having to stop myself, for I was right tired
and wanted rest, having seen hard times that week.
“The sun, I suppose, was about an hour high, and I was setting down
under a big tree, nursing old Jupe, and trying to see if I could'nt
set her upon her legs agin, when she raised up her nose, and snuffed
the air,—then looked in my face and whined. As she did this, I saw the
hair upon her back begin to rise. I knew that there was danger in the
wind, and from what old Jupe had told me, I thought the red skins were
about. The Ingens were not so rife then as they had been;—it was the
fall before 'Squire Rolfe came out from the old state; but people had
to keep a sharp look out, for they would come down upon the
settlements once in a while, and they were mighty apt to carry off
some body's hair with them.
“Well, as soon as old Jupe spoke to me, I looked about, and seed five
coming right along in the direction in which I was. They were well
loaded, and I knowed at once that they had been down upon the
settlements, and were now making their way to the river, that they
might cross over and get clear. Although I saw them, I knew they
hadn't seen me; so I gathered up my things to start off, without
thinking that old Jupe was so badly cut she could'nt follow. When I
was ready, I looked at old Jupe,—she tried to get up, but could'nt,—my
eyes felt watery, for I hated to leave her, and I had'nt a minute to
spare. But old Jupe was a sensible dog; yes, as I said before, she was
a nice thing, for without speaking a word, she poked her nose under
the leaves, as much as to say, cover me over, and leave me. I did so,
and gitting a tree between me and the Ingens, I streaked it. You ought
to have seen me run, to know how fast a man ought to move when Ingens
are after him. Well, arter streaking it awhile, I thought it would
never do to go off that way, and know nothing about 'em, so I began to
haul in my horns, and back a little. I got behind a tree, and kept a
sharp look out:—presently I seed them all coming straight towards me;
so I buckled off agin, and went for some distance, like a bear through
a cane brake, and then stopped, and took a stand. I had'nt been there
long, before I seed them coming agin. The reason why I saw them so
often was, that I kept before them, knowing that they were making
straight for the river. I watched them narrowly, looked at 'em with
both eyes wide open, and saw they did'nt seem to have any notion of
me, but were putting it down fast and heavy that they might git
across. It was now getting dark, and I knew that under cover of the
night, as they did not suspect any body was near 'em, I could keep
close enough to watch them without their knowing it, and this I
determined to do, thinking that by possibility something might happen,
to pay me for my trouble. You all know I never spared an Ingen; no,
there don't breathe one who can say I ever showed him any favour.
Well, I kept on before 'em until I got down upon the river bank. It
was then quite dark, and growing more so every minute; for a fog was
rising from the surface of the water. I looked about to see if they
had a boat there, thinking if they had one, I would take it, and let
them git across as they could. I was searching longer than I thought
for, and did'nt know how the time passed, for suddenly I heard them
coming down to the river, at the very point where I was. I was now
skeered, and looked about to see if I could get out of the way; but
there was no place to hide, and it was too late to escape, either up
or down the bank. I'm a gone case, thought I,—used up at last; but
just at that moment, I saw a large log or tree, which had been lodged
by some high freshet; for one end of it still rested on the bank,
while the other extended out into the stream. Said I to myself, ‘I'll
git upon this, for it is so dark that they can't see me, and I can
then keep a bright look out upon their movements;’ so I stepped on it,
and crawled along to the far end. I found that the log was floating,
and getting as near the small end as I could, I straddled it, putting
my legs in the water to steady me, and laid my rifle across my lap.
‘Oh! that it would but float off,’ said I, but it would'nt.
“Well, down to the water they all came, and stood in about fifteen or
twenty feet of me. ‘It is all over now,’ thought I; ‘if discovered, I
am used up as fine as salt;—if I ain't, there is no bad taste in a
rough 'simmon.’ Well, there they stood in a good humour, laughing and
talking, about I hardly know what, for I could'nt catch many of their
words. At last, I heard one of 'em say, in Shawanee, ‘where is the
canoe? It must be close by. Step upon the log and find it.’
“‘Hold my gun,’ answered one of 'em, and passing it to one of his
friends, he stepped upon the log and began to walk right to where I
was. Now did'nt I squat low, and feel mean? But hush; he had'nt got
far before another must jump on, to help him find the boat. This last
one had only walked a few steps, when the log slipped, and splash it
came right in the river with the two Ingens. They both held on, though
they got a little wet, and the first thing I knowed the log was going
out into the stream with all three of us on it. It was slanting at
first, and slipping, got pushed off. Those on shore set up a loud
laugh, and they would'nt hear any thing until it was too late to give
any help. But for those on the log, it was no joke; for they were
already out in the stream, and going down it, with a smart current.
They now hallooed manfully for help, and those on shore, seeing how it
was, told them to hold on, and that they would find the boat and take
them off. Well, I have often told you I had seen hard times, now wa'nt
here a _predicament_? On a log with two Ingens, and floating along at
night down the Ohio. Well, sure enough, there I was, and what did I
think of? why, of every thing in this world; it raily made me feel
right knotty, and what to do, I did'nt know. We had now floated two or
three hundred yards, and I was sitting as I told you before straddled
on the small end, and jest as silent as a deer listening for the dogs,
thinking how the affair would terminate, when one of the Ingens who
was still standing upon the log, stepped off upon one of the limbs to
make room for his companion. His stepping caused the log to creen me
in the water, and forgetting where I was, and what I was about, I
cried, ‘stop! stop! you'll turn me over.’ ‘Oh hell!’ said I to myself,
‘it is all over now—clean gone this time.’ How the Ingens looked, I
don't know, for it was so dark I could'nt see their faces, but they
must have been worse skeered than I was, for I knew who they were, and
they did'nt know who or what I was. They kept muttering something very
fast, and I thought they were going to quit the log and streak it, but
arter a few minutes they became silent, and began peeping towards
where I was, like a couple of turkies looking for worms. And then one
said, ‘dont you see something?’ ‘Yes,’ answered the other, ‘dark lump;
bear perhaps;’ and then the one who first spoke, cried out ‘who's
there?’ I did'nt answer, but I growed small so fast, trying to squeeze
myself out of sight, that my skin hung as loose as if it was a big
jacket. They kept peeping at me, and I heard one say, ‘It is no bear.
It is a man, look at his head.’ When I heard him say so, I was so mad
I wished my head was under the log, but then I thought if it was, I
would'nt be any better off than I was then, so I straightened up; I
knowed they had seen me, and I thought twa'nt worth while to play
'possum any longer. Well, when I straightened up, he cried out agin,
‘who's there,’ ‘I am here,’ said I, speaking in his own language. The
moment I spoke, he laughed, and said to the other, ‘he is a pale
face.’”
“How could he tell that, Earth,” inquired another of the group, “you
say that it was dark, and a fog was rising.”
“I've got you, Jim,” said Earth, then pausing he began to count on his
fingers, saying, “that is four, no, three; now don't forget it, Jim.”
“Go on, go on, Earth,” cried half a dozen voices.
“Well, the reason he knowed me so quick, was that he seed I did'nt
speak the real Ingen. Arter he had told the other that I was a pale
face, he turned to me, and said, ‘what you doing there?’ ‘sitting down
straddle on the small eend,’ said I. When I said this, they burst out
into a laugh; I myself was in no laughing humour, and it did'nt sound
to me like a laugh, but like a sort of a chuckle, and one said to the
other ‘he is a pale face, a lean dog, sleeping on a log, we did catch
him good,’ and saying this, they put their hands to their mouth, and
gave the war whoop. I tell you what, it was an awful sound, and then
they told their companions on shore that a pale face was on the log
with them, to get the boat and come quick. Those on shore answered
them, and ran laughing down the river looking for the boat, and
keeping along with the log. I now found that I must go at the old
work, and my bristles began to rise.
“‘Come here,’ said one of 'em, beckoning to me. ‘Come quick, before
the others come; I want your hair.’”
“What did he mean by that?” said one, who with the most fixed
attention had been standing by eagerly devouring all that Earth had
been telling.
“Why, he wanted to scalp me, but recollect, if you please, I have your
vote too,” said Earth, again pausing an instant, “That is five, no,
four. Well, when he called me to him to let him have my hair, I
could'nt stand it any longer, but throwing up my rifle, blazed away;
he jumped up like a buck, and fell splash in the water. My rifle made
a mighty pretty noise, and I heard the report rolling away for miles
up and down the river. As soon as I fired the Ingens on the bank also
screamed the war whoop, and the fellow on the log cried out to 'em to
bring his gun. I jumped up and crawled at him, he gathered up an old
limb and stood his ground. The first thing I knowed, he come down upon
me all in a heap, breaking the old limb into a dozen pieces over my
head and shoulders; it was a good thing for me, that the limb wa'nt
sound. His blow staggered me, but I soon rose up, and seizing my rifle
with both hands brought him a side wipe with the barrel. As I did, he
slipped off the log in the water, I then hit him another lick, and
stooping quickly down, seized him by the head, as he tried to crawl up
upon the log. I was now upon the log, and he in the water, so I had
him at a disadvantage.
“Well, I kept bobbing his head under;—when I first did it, the bubbles
came up just like you were filling a bottle with water; you know,
after a bottle is full, it won't bubble; well, I kept bobbing his head
under until he would'nt bubble, so I concluded he was full of water,
and then let him go; he went down to the bottom, and I never seed him
any more.
“All was now quiet, for both Ingens had sunk, and I was master of the
log, but I had yet another struggle to make, for I heard the Ingens on
shore push off their boat, and seed the waters splash as they darted
towards me. It was too late to load, and then I could kill but one;
that wouldn't do—no, the only hope was to hide; so I took out a
string, and placing my rifle in the water, lashed it to the log, I
then threw away my hat, and crawling as far as I could towards the
small eend, eased myself gently down into the water, leaving nothing
out but my head, and holding on with both hands by a small
limb—another minute, and the canoe grated as it run up upon the log.
The Ingens looked about and spoke to each other, but could see
nothing, they then called their companions by name, but there was no
answer. They were now very much distressed, and all got out upon the
log, and began to walk about and examine it. When they came to the end
where I was, I sunk altogether, and it being the small end of the log,
it began to sink, and the Ingens soon went back. I then threw my head
back, and put my mouth out that I might breathe, just as a crippled
duck sometimes does its bill. I made no noise, it was dark, they could
not see me, and all went well. I heard them say ‘they must have killed
him,’ and then that ‘they are all gone;’ they seemed very much
distressed, wondered much at the whole affair, and none could explain
it. After about fifteen minutes, they again stepped into their boat
and pushed off. I waited until I could hear nothing of them, then
crawled up upon the log, and as I did not wish to run any farther
risk, I sat there till day-break.
“The sun was just about to rise, when the log which I was on washed up
against the bank not far from where the Ohio empties into the
Mississippi. I caught hold of some bushes and pulling the log up along
side of the bank, unloosed my rifle, and got out. I had been in the
water so long that I was mighty weak, and I was shrivelled up, but as
I began to stir about I felt better, and setting off I went back up
the river to where I started upon the log. The first thing I seed upon
getting back, was old Jupe sitting on the bank waiting for me, at the
very spot where the log had slipped off. The thing wanted to lick me
all over, she was so glad to see me. I was then right tired, so I
started off home, and in about a week or two, Jupe and I arrived there
safe and sound, and that is the end of my story.”
“Well, Earth,” said one of the company, “you are all sorts of a
looking crittur.”
“Yes,” said Earth, “I know that, I am ring striped, speckled and
streaked, but I ain't thinking about that, I'm thinking about the
votes. Now gentlemen,” continued Earth, “don't you think they ought to
make me sheriff? I say, if Bob Black has floated farther on a log,
killed more Ingens, or staid longer under the water than I have, elect
him; if not, I say, what has he done to qualify him for the office of
sheriff? I have killed more bears than Bob could eat if they were
'coons, and I have fou't some harder fights than Bob ever saw;—now I
say agin, tell me what has he done that he ought to be made sheriff.
Did any of you ever know him to call for a quart? I never did;—I have
known him to call for several half pints in the course of a day, but I
never did know him to step forward manfully, and say ‘give us a quart
of your best.’ Then I say agin, what the hell has Bob Black done to
qualify him for sheriff? Now, if you beat me, beat me with somebody,
beat me with a man who knows something which ought to qualify him for
sheriff, and not with Bob Black. Bob can't tell you this minute when a
bear begins to suck his paws!” Then apparently disgusted with the
character and acquirements of his competitor, Earth turned away to
seek other company. As he did so, one of the group who had taken more
than his proportion of a quart, staggered forward, and cried out
“hurrah for Earth, I tell you what, he's a squealer.”
While Earth was thus electioneering, his friend Rolfe, who had left
the Court House, after the decision of his case against him, was on
another part of the ground, modestly stating what he conceived to be
his qualifications, but which, by the by, Earth had never regarded in
that light, and was also urging his claims to the office about to be
bestowed. Seeing Earth leave the circle which he had been last
entertaining, Rolfe approached him and said, “Earth, you must make a
speech.”
“Do what, Rolfe?”
“You must make a speech, Earth.”
“What, stand up and speak to 'em all like you did in the Court House.”
“Yes.”
“Oh hell!” said Earth, “I make a speech! I wouldn't do it to be made
Governor. But if I was, I would jerk it into 'em mighty curiously.”
“Then we will say no more about it,” said Rolfe.
“You are right about that,” said Earth, and they parted each to
electioneer after his own manner.
Night came; the election was over, and our old friend Earth proclaimed
Sheriff.
Leaving Rolfe to attend to his profession, and Earthquake to discharge
the duties of the office which had just been conferred on him, let us
proceed with other parts of our story.