Slowly and reluctantly, I turned back from the stream, and once more
entered amid the wreck of the hurricane. Along the sunny path, the
flowers appeared to sparkle with a fresher brilliancy--imbuing the air
with sweet odours, wafted from many a perfumed chalice. The birds sang
with clearer melody; and the hum of the honey-bee rang through the
glades more harmoniously than ever. The "_coo-coo-oo_" of the doves
blending with the love-call of the squirrel, betokened that both were
inspired by the tenderest of passions. "Pensando de amor," as the
Spanish phrase finely expresses it; for at that moment, the beautiful
words of the southern poet were in my thoughts, and upon my lips:
Aunque las fieras
En sus guaridas
Enternecidas
Pensan de amor!
Even the fierce beasts in their forest lairs become gentle under the
influence of this all-pervading passion!
I rode on slowly and in silence--my whole soul absorbed in the
contemplation of that fair being, whose image seemed still before my
eyes--palpable as if present. My heart quivered under the influence of
a gentle joy. The past appeared bright; the present, happiness itself;
the future, full of hope. I had found the very "wilderness-home" of my
longings; the fair spirit that should be my minister! No doubt rose
before my mind to dim the brilliant prospect before me--no shadow hung
over the horizon of my hopes. The prospect before me appeared bright
and sunny as the sky above my head. Within and without the world was
smiling--all nature seemed tinted with the hue of the rose! This
delightful reverie lasted for a time--alas! too short a time--only while
I was traversing the track, that, but the moment before, I had passed
over in such pleasant companionship.
On arriving at the scene of my late adventure, a turn was given to my
thoughts. It had been a scene of triumph, and deserved commemoration.
The body of the panther lay across the path. His shining skin was a
trophy not to be despised; and, dismounting on the spot, with my
hunting-knife I secured it. I could point to it with pride--as the
first spoil obtained in my new hunting-field; but I should prize it
still more, as the memento of a far sweeter sentiment. In a few
minutes, it was folded up, and strapped over the cantle of my saddle;
and, with this odd addition to my equipage, I once more plunged into the
forest-path.
For the next mile, the trace led through heavy bottom-timber, such as we
had traversed, after leaving the settlement of Swampville. The black
earth, of alluvial origin, was covered deeply with decayed vegetation;
and the track of horses and cattle had converted the path into mud. At
intervals, it was intersected by embayments of wet morass--the
projecting arms of a great swamp, that appeared to run parallel with the
creek. Through these, my horse, unused to such footing, passed with
difficulty--often floundering up to his flanks in the mud. Though it
was but the hour of noon, it more resembled night, or the late gloaming
of twilight--so dark were the shadows under this umbrageous wood. As if
to strengthen the illusion, I could hear the cry of the bittern, and the
screech of the owl, echoing through the aisles of the forest--sounds
elsewhere suggestive of night and darkness. Now and then, light shone
upon the path--the light that indicates an opening in the forest; but it
was not that of a friendly clearing. Only the break caused by some
dismal lagoon, amidst whose dank stagnant waters even the cypress cannot
grow--the habitat of black water-snakes and mud-turtles--of cranes,
herons, and _Qua-birds_. Hundreds of these I saw perched upon the
rotting half-submerged trunks--upon the cypress "knees" that rose like
brown obelisks around the edge of the water; or winged their slow flight
through the murky gloom, and filling the air with their deafening
screams. On both sides of the trace towered gigantic trees, flanked at
their bases with huge projections, that appeared like the battlements of
a fortress, these singular protuberances rose far above the height of my
horse--radiating from the trunks on every side, and often causing the
path to take a circuitous direction. In the deep gloom, the track would
have been difficult to follow, but for an occasional blaze appearing
upon the smooth bark of the sycamores.
The scene was by no means suggestive of pleasant reflections--the less
so, since I had ascertained, from my host of yesternight, that the
greater portion of Section Number 9 was of just such a character; and
that there was scarcely a spot upon it fit for a "homestead," except the
one already occupied! "Such an `encumbrance' on my estate," reflected
I, "is worse than the _heaviest mortgage_;" and I should have been
willing at that moment to part with the timber at a very "low
valuation." But I well knew the value of such a commodity. On the
Thames or the Mersey, a mine of wealth--on Mud Creek, it would not have
been taken as a gift! My spirits fell as I rode forward--partly
influenced by the sombre scenes through which I was passing--partly by
the natural reaction which ever follows the hour of sweet enjoyment--and
partly, no doubt, from some unpleasant presentiments that were once more
shaping themselves in my mind.
Up to this time, I had scarcely given thought to my errand, or its
object. First the gay hues of the morning, and then the romantic
incidents of the hour, had occupied my thoughts, and hindered me from
dwelling on future plans or purposes. Now, however, that I was coming
close to the clearing of the squatter, I began to feel, that I was also
_approaching a crisis_.