Fourty-Four Years, or, the Life of a Hunter. Meshach Browning
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
A HUNTER'S LIFE. 49
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
5 D
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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