Sketcher.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2053, 8 April 1887, Page 2 (Supplement)

Sketcher.

Ip a Tree iu Arkansas.

.lames' Landing, if some change of the .Mississippi lias not carried the place away, ;s un tl\e Arkansas shore, three or four hours' mu above Memphis. 1 started back into the country one summer day to sec an old friend living about live miles from the Landing. The merchant at the liver bank loaned me a mule, strapped on an old potatoo sack for a saddle, and the start was made in good shape. There isn t the least necessity for any other stranger to go over that road. In order to save all trouble it may bo stated that that strip of Arkansas is composed of swamps, ague, mosquitos, rattlesnakes, watermelons, and crows. It was in the dryest season of the year, and the people were praying for rain, and vet that mule could’nt be got ott a walk on account of the mud. Twice he got stuck fast on the very crest of what they called hills, and he didn’t tear himself loose until the crows settled so thickly around us that terror came to inspire him. Half the distance had been accomplished when a log cabin was discovered to the right of the road and several rods oil. I was terribly thirsty and reined towards the house, but had not yet covered half the distance when a pack of dogs broke loose from somewhere and came around the corner of the hut. There were dogs of all shades and breeds and colors, except poodles ami pugs. I had time to notice a bloodhound as high as a yearling calf, and a bull-dog built something like a ciderbarrel, when the mule made a break

..vera field of sickly corn and into the timber. Heforc lie was across the field three or four of the dogs had bitten him on the leas, and the bloodhound had jumped clear over him as he made a grab at me. Right under the low branches of a great old tree rushed the mule, and it was either to be swept oil’or to climb oil. ! sei/.ed a branch and let him pass under me, and next moment was looking down upon Seven yelping, bowling, disappointed curs. They Seemed to feel soinethinglike a man does when the sub-otliee closes the circuit on him as he is blowing up the grocer for not delivering those goods. In about five minutes a woman in a poke bonnet and carrying a shot-gun on her shoulder came across the field, and as she came near enough to make out the object in the tree she Invited and exclaimed ;

"Shoo 1 but I thought it was a coon 1 ” “ Sorry to disappoint you, ma’am. Please call olfyour Jogs.” “ What fur t ” " So I can come down.” ‘‘ I shan't do nothin’ of the kind ! You is new to those parts, and you do'nt come down till 1 cull dim.” " Where is he ? ” “ At tire saw-mill over on the branch.” “ Well, please hurry up. Pm terribly thirsty, and these mosquitoes are enough to drive one crazy. ” "Yes, 1 reckon ; but I never knowed an honest man to take to a tree. The dugs will sec that you don't come down afore I bring Jim 1 ” It was just an hour and a half before she returned with her old man, and he was carrying a club in his hand. During the interval the air around me was literally alive with mosquitoes. I killed ’em by the thousand, but where one laid down his life for his country three bit me to the bone and escaped to brag of it. The dogs remained on guard, and by way of keeping up my spirits the bloodhound tried his jumping powers. I was twelve feet up. Ho could jump eleven feet and six inches. He tried it over and over again, but this was the best he could do. The bull-dog had some thoughts of gnawing the tree down, but gave up the idea after working fifteen minutes. The others sat and glared at me and smacked their chops and tasted quail on toast. When Jim and his wife were close to the tree they halted and she said ;

“ That’s him, up thar'.” “Now, Bets, describe him, fur I'm too nigh-sighted to git his pints. How's his bar ?’’ “ Short,”

‘* is he sailor complected ? ” “ No.”

“ Fat or lean ! " “ Kind o’ betiveen.” “ Chaw plug or liuc-cut ? ” “ Can't say.” “ Shooters takiu’ to him? " “ Right smart.” “ And he was ridia’ Davis’ old mule, eh i "■ “ He was.’’

“ tst ranger, who be you, whar’ you goiu’ an’ who do you know in these yere parts ' ” asked Jim as he came a little tinier.

I made him a stump-speech two minutes long, and ho turned to his wife and said ; ‘‘ Wall, Bets, he talkssquat - ’.” “ Rut ho may bo lying,” she protested. “ es, that’s so. Reckon I’d better go’n git the kurnel.”

“ Look here, but I want to get down ! ” I shouted. “If this mosquitoes don’t eat me up in another half hour I shall certainly dm nf thirst. What’s the matter with V"U, anyway ! Uo you take me for a wild annual ! ”

"Stranger, there’s bin carryings on in this huddle of late, I’ vo lost a hog ; Joe Sniiih has lost a mule ; Pete Collins’ wife has run away ; the old man Williams took a uriuk of buttermilk and fell dead, and Bets has bin dreamin’ of snaix and sich. Don’t blame us fur wantin’ to know who’s who. Have you got ary gun I ” “ No.” “Ary knife .' ” “ N.V’

Wall, 1 think we’ll take the chances. We ll stand on that knoll and call oil’ the dogs, and you kin come down and go ycr way. Bets will keep the gun kinder pinted your way, but it won’t go oil’ unlv-s you stop too long.”

They retreated to the spot de3 : g!i;ded and I' dropped down. The bull dog made a jump, but the woman rolled him over with a kick, and as 1 reached the highway and waved the pair a farewell she cried out :

“ Mebbe we was too skeary, stranger, but these is awful times fur lone wimmin.'