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.
A HUNTER'S LIFE. 47
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
48 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF
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
50 FORTY-FOUR YEARS OF
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 by and by Nancy returned with the cow and calf, though she had been gone less time than I had.
"Browning," said the old lady, "take off the saddle, put the mare away, and then turn the cow into the meadow."
" Very well, madam," said I; and I soon had all done.
Neither the old lady nor Nancy said a word to me about my not finding the cow, till I went into the kitchen to make up the fire ; when Nancy said to me, with a playful smile, "You are surely a great soldier, to be scared at an old woman!" and then she enjoyed a good laugh at my expense till her mother came in and relieved me.
Next morning, being Sunday, I rose betimes and made the fires; which I had scarcely done when in came Nancy. Now, thought I, we shall hear of the cow again. But ] was pleased to find that she sympathized with me, by her saying she had told her mother it was not to be expected that a stranger should find them, who knew nothing of the woods, nor of the range of the cows. "And," said she, "you were going the right way till you took the left branch; the cow having strayed along the other."
We
