Fourty-Four Years, or, the Life of a Hunter. Meshach Browning
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
A HUNTER'S LIFE. 43
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
A HUNTER'S LIFE. 45
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