The Young Briton: Sam Sawbones — page 13: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Sept. 8, 1877. AMONG THE ALLIGATORS. OBERT JORDAN must have been a descend- ant of that mighty hunter, Nimrod, for never did a great representative have a more ardent disciple. He had hunted in every country where wild game abounds, from the elephant- Jands of South Africa and the tiger jungles of India to the great plains and snowy mountains of Westein America. It was well he had a com- petency and could gratify his passion, for a man with ‘his love of sport and adventure, without means, would have been very miserable. It was December, and he was to be married in the following March—too short a time, his mother thought, for him to fly off before the hymeneal chain that wasto hold him down for life was fastened. Indeed, Robert thought s3 himself, and yet, much as he loved Miss St. Clair, he often found himself in his odd museum of 6 room, looking about on the antlered heads, preserved claws and hideous tiger skulls—tropbies of his skill—with an intense longing to revisit the old scenes, and indulge once more in the excitement of the chase. A YOUNG GENTLEMAN'S JOURNAL. 173 * ‘Not exactly, Frank, Are you going out to | a character to sustain. I will call after supper the Park, where they keep that kindof game’” ‘*No, sir; I am going to Florida,’’ answered Frauk, with affected indignation at hia friend’s manner. . ** And there is plenty of game there?”’ * There is a gentleman from Florida here who is tv accompany me, and he assures me, to use his own language, ‘ There’s cords and stocks of it.’”’ ** When do you leave, Frank ?” “ To-morrow afternoon.”’ And you will be gone ?’”’ : ‘* About eight weeks ; but don’t be alarmed, my boy : your first groom:sman will report promptly at the appointed time, to see you more effectually bagged than ever was any game that fell before your rifle.”’ Robert Jordan did not pretend to notice this allusion to his approaching marriage. He was now absorbed in his frichd’s hunting tour. He felt like an inebriate who has signed the pledge, and has the liquor presented to him before he has recovered from the effects of his last spree. ** How would you like to have me go along with you, Frank?’’ he asked, while he pretended to pet the hound, now standing with its feat on his arms, and its beautiful slender head buried in ee om AA~ZYZF Zz. , , Af bly : sf \ . f j j j ; ; \ 5 at HH sf lf f Al Re : or { f Jf ; \ i for . ” e c ie WY r Ny \ \\ : of Ye lif / {/ / Hy) A fpe,||| AL ; 0 f . PAY BN 7 _— / al ij f,. jy? r ’ ’ ‘ P = ; , if, ‘ - Z A 4 ‘ evi i - . f Oli a, 4 y f ~_ > _— ey - « ao « a ae err . “ a 2 fatet i “ a , ae - Se ow ——— yr — — oa - ot Sms — 7 je OO ascent -- ———— « > rs Ld ; j ; ty ~ , ; ee, } a? ,e ps rf , / a Fhe Ta) s / oe ’ WY, = ERAT te ae fae (y/ 3 s Alpen Af sr ¢ —_ ‘so VY a” t- , ‘ ay Y j Sf, ; se | AS - : a Foe 4 ~ - . , oa é _ “ ar —— - - , * , . to-night for your ultimatum,”’ The friends‘shook hands, and, after walking a short way in the directicn he was going when he met Frark Canby, Robert turned hack, went to his recom, and began to. overhaul his rifles. Of course, Ella St. Clair gave her consent, and appeared to be cheerful, bravely concealing the sorrow she felt at the apprcaching separation. Of course, Mrs. Jordan yielded a quiet ac- quiescence ; sho had grown too accustomed to letting Robert have his own way to refuse him now. The result was that he went to Florida with Frank Canby and Mr. Berry. | Going down on the steamer, Mr. Berry laid ou the programme which he thought it would be best to follow, in the following characteristic way— | ‘‘Thar’s no kinder use in goin’ inter beaten tracks for a good hunt. I used ter hunt up whar them towerists now run about; but the game don’t yearn much for civilisation, an’ in that respect I reckcn I resemble the game. Now, my idea is to go over to Apalach, on the Gulf, then down to Fort Delany, up to Carlosahatchie, | through the Big Prairie Country as far’s Lake i Pay j i} / ATT hae | "i »? / -f ® . ’ cit P ' / ‘ i a ee & eo Ht A ; et i] , } | j . | ‘ (orig) ,?- Pa ny? 5 wd . ba A, 4 STMT Lif” : “ys . ROBERT JORDAN TOOK A SURVEY OF OBSERVATION ISLAND, AND FRANK LEANED EAGERLY OVER HIS SHOULDER. He had just left this remarkable room, and was walking down the street, when he met Frank Canby, an old schoolmate, and now a member of the Bar. ‘What are you going to do with this fellow ?” asked Robort, as, with a hunters appreciation, he fondled a splendid greyhound which was following his friend. | “Why, Bob,”’ replied Canby, “Iam going to do, for a month or two, what you have been doing for the last six years.”’ ‘That is nothing, judged from a business stand- point,’’ laughed Robert, a flush coming to his bronzed cheeks, for he felt not a little ashamed, at times, when his friends joked him about what they called * his one failing.” * No, [am going to hunt.”’ ‘*To hunt!’’ repeated Robert, his dark eyes flashing at the thought. ‘** Why, in the name of Nimrod, what are you going to hunt? ’”’ ‘¢ Deer and bear.” ‘*‘ Deer and bear ?”’ ‘¢'Yes: you don’t claim to monopolise these animals, I presume ?”’ his open great coat, as if whispering to him ito come along, and have just one more right royal time. * Oh, I should like it above all things, and if it were not for the delicacy of your situation, and the fact that I would not rest under the suspicion of coaxing you off, I should have spoken to you before,’’ replied Frank Canby, who at heart wa; delighted at the prospect of company held out by his friend’s words, ‘Well, the wedding can’t come off till you return. I would postpone it if you were not present, and I’m sure, Frank, Hlla—she’s the very best girl in the world—would give her consent. After I am once under the cozy yoke I will submit to her every order and whim—that is, if such a sweet, sensible little thing can have any whims.”’ “Then you want to come ?” ‘‘T do, Frank, and more, I am going.”’ This was said with unmistakable emphasis. ‘Very well. You can explain all about it to your mother and Miss Ella. Exonerate me, for, as a member of the noblest of professions, I have * i ed . _ — : Okeechokee. If we do that, gentlemen, I'l! pro- miso you deer, bar, turkeys, an’ alligators till you can’t rest—not to speak of rattlesnakes, cotton- mouths, moccasins, and sich like varmints, Be- sides, this trip will be right in the line with Tampa, whar, for the present I make my head. quarters. It’salovely place, but don’t teli the towerists,”’ : Robert Jordan entertained something of Mr, Berry’s contempt for civilisation, and at once decided that the route suggested was the proper one, and should be followed by all means; and Frank Canby, being a novice in such matters, agreed at once, They stopped for a fow days at Tampa, while Mr. Berry got himself ready for the trip, and here they enjoyed the very finest fishing either of them had ever had. ; Fort Delany is a point mili ary only in name. It was garrisoned during the Florida War. Were it not for this fact the few wretched cabins on its site would not be of enough importance to warrant & name on the map. s procured, and with such eb OOKS-GOmM Here & ‘ bateau ’’ wa (SCOALA