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an extensive one, bid fair to be a lengthy
and laborious undertaking.
There was a scattering growth of tall
trees amongst the cane, and for the pur
pose of enabling me to form some idea of
the width of the “ brake,” I climbed to
the top of one of them, from whence I
had a bird’s-eye view of an ocean of cane,
extending for several miles in the direc
tion I wished to go, and beyond the scope
of vision towards the northwest and
southeast. The length of time, and the
amount of labor, that I knew would ne
cessarily be required to enable me to make
my way through this “ brake,” induced
me to give over the attempt, and I came
down from the tree, and took the path I
had cut out back towards the prairie.
Feeling somewhat fatigued by my la
bors, I sat down at the foot of a large
tree near the path to rest myself for a
few moments. Insensibly I dropped
asleep, from which I was suddenly arous
ed by some noise, and looking up I caught
a glimpse of a huge black animal a few
feet above my head sliding down the tree
with great rapidity. I sprang off to one
side, and at the same moment a bear rush
ed by me, and took his way into the cane
brake, which popped and cracked as if a
wagon and team were being driven
through it.
It would be hard to say which was the
worst frightened, myself or the bear. He
happened to be up the tree when I took
my seat at the root of it, and as it was
densely covered with long Spanish moss,
which is much the color of a bear, I had
not noticed him. From my protracted
stay at the foot of the tree, I suppose
bruin had come to the conclusion that I
was laying siege to him regularly, and
growing desperate he had charged down
upon me in the manner I have related.
Had I known it was a bear when I first
got a glimpse of him, I should not have
felt the least alarm, for I had never heard
of their attacking any one, except when
wounded and brought to bay. Several
days afterwards, however, in this same
cane-brake, two of them exhibited such
evident signs of hostile intentions towards
me, that I was induced to believe that
they are not so non-eombative as I had
been led to suppose.
After this little adventure, I retraced
my way to the prairie, along the edge of
which I continued my route in a south
easterly direction, hoping to fall in with
some trail or road that would lead me
across the brake. I had gone about a
mile when I discovered a house ahead of
me, towards which I cautiously proceed
ed, keeping as much as possible under
cover of the brake. Seeing no appear-
BURKE’S WEEKLY.
ances to indicate that the house was oc
cupied, I entered the enclosure surround
ing it, but before I had gone half way
across it, half a dozen ferocious-looking
dogs rushed out at me, and for an instant
I was really apprehensive they would tear
me to pieces. But the moment they dis
covered I was an American, they com
menced yelping and jumping, and fawn
ing around me in such a way that I was
doubtful for some time how to account for
this change in their original intentions
) towards me. I never saw animals before
exhibit such demonstrations of delight.
When they were somewhat quieted
down, I entered the house and found ev
erything in it just as it had been left by
the people when they fled from the Mexi
cans. In the smoke-house there was a
large quantity of bacon, a portion of
which I gave to the dogs. They looked
very gaunt, and from the ravenous man
ner in which they devoured the bacon I
gave them I have no doubt they had been
many days without anything to eat. I
had made it a rule to thoroughly search
every house I visited, in hopes that I
might find a gun hid away in some cor
ner or other, and here, amidst a mass of
miscellaneous lumber, stowed away under
one of the beds, I discovered the muzzle
of one protruding. I eagerly seized it
and drew it forth, but to my great disap
pointment, I found it had no lock. With
out a lock, of course it was entirely use
less.
I had still an abundance of provisions
in my haversack, and after I had thor
oughly searched the premises for a gun,
with no better success than I have stated,
I started on my journey, but had not gone
more than fifty yards when the whole
pack of dogs came yelping after me.—
From their manoeuvres I saw that they
had evidently made up their minds to fol
low me wherever I went, and as I did
not consider it safe or advisable to travel
with half a dozen or more dogs in my
“ suite,” to say nothing of the difficulty I
would have had in supplying them with
provisions, I attempted again and again
to drive them back, but to no purpose.
Finally, I concluded to return to the
house, and to remain there until night,
when I thought with a little management
I should be able to give them the slip.
When night came, I noticed particular
ly where the dogs slept, so as to give
them a wide berth when I left, and then
laid down upon a bed to get a little snooze
myself. About 12 o’clock I got up cau
tiously and opened a door quietly opposite
to where I knew the dogs were sleeping,
and left. Everything was quiet, the
I suppose, not being as watchful as usual
on account of the soporific effects of the
hearty meal they had made upon the ba
con I had given them. The night was
cool and not very dark, and I walked on
rapidly along the edge of the cane-brake
about a mile, 'when I came to a strip of
scattering post oak timber extending
some distance into the prairie. Just as I
emerged from the opposite side of this, I
thought I heard the pattering of feet
among the fallen leaves behind me. I
stopped to listen, and in a few moments
one of the dogs I had left at the house
came trotting up. I fully expected the
wdiole pack would shortly make their
appearance in his wake, but after waiting
O
some time the others did not come up,
and it is probable they did not find out I
had left the house until it was too late to
follow my trail.
As soon as I was satisfied that the one
now "with me was the only one upon my
trail, I picked up a heavy stick and beat
him severely, to let him know his room
was more desirable than his company,
but he seemed resolved not to take the
hint. Whilst I v r as beating him, he did
not make the slightest resistance, but
crouched at my feet, whining most pit
eously, and endeavoring to lick my hands.
Finding there was no getting rid of him
except by killing him, I concluded to let
him follow me, and I had no cause after
wards to regret having done so, as he was
exceedingly tractable and sagacious. He
was a large, powerful black animal, and,
as I conjectured, a cross between the bull
dog and the Newfoundland. I called
him “Flacco,” after a noted Indian chief,
and he soon became accustomed to his
new name. From that time until I left
Texas, “ Flacco ” and myself were insep
arable companions.
“All Thy Works Praise Thee.”
“ There’s not a leaf within the bower,
There’s not a bird upon the tree—
There’s not a dew-drop in the flower
But bears the impress, Lord, of Thee.
Thy hand the varied leaf designed,
And gave the bird its thrilling tune;
Thy power the dew-drop’s tints combine,
Till like a diamond’s blaze they shine.”
Teacher—“ Tommy, what does
h-a-i-r spell ?”
Apt Pupil—“ Dunno, sir.”
Teacher—“ Why, you numskull, what
have you got on your head?”
Apt Pupil—“ I dunno, sir, but I thinks
it be a flea.”
♦♦♦ —
JS@f“The mercies of God may be IvL
fruit upon a tree ; though fully ripe, the}
may want a shaking to bring them dovn >
pray fervently and in faith, and this v 1
cause them to descend in blessings on
your soul.”