The Travels and Adventures of Monsieur Violet in California, Sonora, and Western Texas

by Frederick Marryat

  CHAPTER XL.

  While I was at Mr. Courtenay's plantation I had a panther adventure, acircumstance which, in itself, would be scarcely worth mentioning, wereit not that this fierce animal was thought to have entirely left thecountry for more than twenty years. For several days there had been arapid diminution among the turkeys, lambs, and young pigs in theneighbourhood, and we had unsuccessfully beaten the briars andcane-brakes, expecting at every moment to fall in with some largetiger-cat, which had strayed from the southern brakes. After muchfruitless labour, Mr. Courtenay came to the conclusion that a gang ofnegro marroons were hanging about, and he ordered that a watch shouldfor the future be kept every night.

  It happened that the whole family was one day invited to a wedding onthe other side of the river. Not having any clothes fit for a party, Iremained at home, and at mid-day started on horseback alone, with allthe dogs, for a battue. The day was sultry, although windy; as the roarof the wind in the canes prevented me from hearing the barking of thedogs, having arrived at one of our former hunting camping-places,fifteen miles from the house, I threw myself upon the ground, andallowed my horse to graze. I had scarcely been half-an-hour occupied insmoking my pipe, when all the dogs, in full cry, broke from the briars,and rushed into the cane-brakes, passing me at a distance of thirtyyards. I knew it was neither bear nor deer that they were running after,and as I had observed a path through the canes, I leaped upon my saddle,and followed the chase, wondering what it could be, as, had the animalbeen any of the smaller feline species, it would have kept to thebriars, where dogs have never the least chance against them.

  I rode briskly till I arrived at a large cypress swamp, on the otherside of which I could perceive through the openings another cane-brake,higher and considerably thicker. I fastened my horse, giving him thewhole length of the lasso, to allow him to browse upon the young leavesof the canes, and with my bowie knife and rifle entered the swamp,following the trail of the dogs. When I came to the other cane-brake, Iheard the pack before me barking most furiously, and evidently at bay, Icould only be directed by the noise, as it was impossible for me to seeanything; so high and thick were the canes, that I was obliged to open away with my knife, and it was with much trouble and fatigue that Iarrived within twenty yards of the dogs. I knew that I was once moreapproaching a swamp, for the canes were becoming thinner; raising myeyes, I perceived that I was in the vicinity of a large cotton-tree, atthe foot of which probably the dogs were standing. Yet I could not seethem, and I began to examine with care the upper limbs of the tree, toascertain if any tiger-cat had lodged itself upon some of the forks. Butthere was nothing that I could discover; cutting the canes on the leftand the right, I advanced ten yards more, when, to my surprise, Iperceived, thirty feet above me, a large panther embracing the trunk ofa tree with its huge paws, and looking angrily below at the dogs.

  I would have retired, but I dared not, as I feared that the least noisewould attract the attention of the animal, who would spring upon me fromits elevated position. The dogs barked louder and louder; twice Iraised my rifle, but did not fire, my nerves were too much agitated, andmy arms shook. At last I regained my self-command, and reflecting thatamong the pack there were some dogs almost a match for the terribleanimal, I rested my rifle upon the limb of one of the heavy canes, andfired: my aim was true, the brute fell mortally wounded, though notdead; half of the dogs were upon it in a moment, but, shaking them off,the animal attempted to re-ascend the tree. The effort, however, wasabove its strength, and, after two useless springs, it attempted to slipaway. At that moment the larger dogs sprang upon the animal, which couldstruggle no longer, as life was ebbing fast with the stream of blood.Ere I had time to reload my rifle, it was dead.

  When I approached, all the dogs were upon the animal, except a fiercelittle black bitch, generally the leader of the pack; I saw her dartthrough the canes with her nose on the ground, and her tail hanging low.The panther was a female, very lean, and of the largest size; by herdugs I knew she had a cub which could not be far off, and I tried toinduce the pack to follow the bitch, but they were all too busy intearing and drinking the blood of the victim, and it was not safe to useforce with them. For at least ten minutes I stood contemplating them,waiting till they would be tired. All at once I heard a bark, a growl,and a plaintive moan. I thought at first that the cub had beendiscovered, but as the dogs started at full speed, following the chasefor more than twenty minutes, I soon became convinced that it must besome new game, either a boar or a bear. I followed, but had not gonefifty steps, when a powerful rushing through the canes made me awarethat the animal pursued had turned back on its trail, and, twenty yardsbefore me, I perceived the black bitch dead and horribly mangled. I wasgoing up to her, when the rushing came nearer and nearer; I had justtime to throw myself behind a small patch of briars, before anotherpanther burst out from the cane-brakes.

  "With a long and light spring it broke out of thecanes."]

  I had never seen before so tremendous, and, at the same time, somajestic and so beautiful an animal, as with a long and light spring itbroke out of the canes. It was a male; his jaws were covered with foamand blood; his tail was lashing through the air, and at times he lookedsteadily behind, as if uncertain if he would run or fight hispursuers. At last his eyes were directed to the spot where the bitch laydead, and with a single bound he was again upon the body, and rolled itunder his paws till it had lost all shape. As the furious animal stoodthus twenty yards before me, I could have fired, but dared not do so,while the dogs were so far off. However, they soon emerged from thebrake, and rushed forward. A spirited young pup, a little ahead of theothers, was immediately crushed by his paw, and making a few boundstowards a large tree, he climbed to the height of twenty feet, where heremained, answering to the cries of the dogs with a growl as loudas thunder.

  I fired, and this time there was no struggle. My ball had penetratedthrough the eye to the brain, yet the brute in its death strugglestill clung on.

  At last the claws relaxed from their hold, and it fell down a ponderousmass, terrible still in death.

  The sun had already set, and not wishing to lose any time in skinningthe animal, I merely cut off its long tail, which I secured as a trophyround my waist. My adventures, however, were not yet terminated, forwhile I was crossing the short width of cane-brake which was between meand where the she-panther laid dead, the dogs again gave tongue, and, inless than three minutes, had tracked another animal. Night was coming onpretty fast, and I was beginning to be alarmed. Till now I had beensuccessful, each time having destroyed, with a single ball, a terribleenemy, whom even the boldest hunters fear to attack alone; but should Ihave the same good luck in a third encounter? It was more than I couldexpect, especially as the darkness would render it more difficult totake a certain aim. I therefore allowed the dogs to bark as much as theypleased, and forced my way to my first victim, the tail of which I alsosevered, as a proof of my prowess. It, however, occurred to me that ifthere were many more panthers in the cover, it would be very unsafe toreturn alone to where I had left my horse. I therefore made sure that myrifle was in good order, and proceeded towards the place where the dogswere still baying. There I beheld another panther, but this time it wasa sport unattended by any danger, for the animal was a very young cub,who had taken refuge fifteen feet from the ground upon a tree which hadbeen struck by lightning, and broken off about three yards from itsroots. The animal was on the broken part which had its summit entangledin the lower branches of another tree.

  It was truly a pretty sight, as the little animal's tail, hanging down,served as a _point de mire_ to all the dogs, who were jumping up tocatch it. The cub was delighted, mewing with high glee, sometimesrunning up, sometimes down, just to Invite his playfellows to come tohim. I felt great reluctance to kill so graceful and playful an animal,but it became a necessity, as no endeavours of mine could have forcedthe dogs to leave it. I shot him, and, tying him round my neck, I nowbegan to seek, with some anxiety, for the place where I had l
eftmy horse.

  There is but little twilight in America, in the spring of the yearespecially; great was my hurry, and consequently less was my speed. Ilost my trail, bogged myself in a swamp, tore my hands and face with thebriars, and, after an hour of severe fatigue, at last heard my horse,who was impatient at being left alone, neighing loudly. Though mydistance to the house was only eighteen miles and the road quite safe, Icontrived to lose myself three or four times, till, _en desespoir_, Ithrew the bridle on my horse's neck, trusting to his instinct toextricate me from my difficulties.

  It was nearly midnight when I approached the back fences of Mr.Courtenay's plantation, and I wondered very much at seeing torchesglaring in every direction. I galloped rapidly through the lane, andlearned from a negro that the family had long returned home, and thatsupper had been, as usual, served at eight o'clock; that they had beenanxiously waiting for me, and that Mr. Courtenay, fearing some accidenthad happened, had resolved to go himself in search of me with the majorportion of his negroes. Leaving my horse to the care of the slave, I rantowards the house, where the dogs had already announced my arrival. Thefamily came under the portico to welcome me, and simultaneously asked mewhat could have detained me so long. "I have caught the robbers,"replied I, approaching the group, "I have killed them and lost two dogs;here are my _spolia opima_."

  My host was thunderstruck; he was too much of a hunter not to be able toestimate the size of the animals by the tokens I had brought with me,and he had believed that for the last twenty or thirty years, not one ofthese terrible animals was actually living in the country. The fact wasso very remarkable, that he insisted on going himself that very nightwith his negroes to skin the animals; and, after a hasty meal, he leftus to fulfil his intentions. Relating my adventures to my kind hostessand her niece, I had the satisfaction of feeling that my narrativeexcited emotions which could only arise from a strong interest inmy welfare.

  This panther story got wind, and nothing could convince the neighbouringfarmers but the very sight of the skins. All the western newspapersrelated the matter, and for two months at least I was quite a "lion."

  A few days after that adventure, the _Caroline_, the largest and fineststeamboat upon the Mississippi, struck a snag in coming down the stream,and sank immediately. The river, however, being very low, the upperdecks remained above water, and help coming down from the neighbouringplantations, all the passengers were soon brought on shore without anyloss of life. Three hundred sheep, one hundred hogs, eighty cows, andtwelve horses were left to their fate, and it was a painful sight towitness the efforts of the poor brutes struggling against the powerfulcurrent and looking towards the people on shore, as if to implorefor help.

  Only one pig, two cows, and five horses ever reached the bank of theriver, many disappearing under the repeated attacks of the gar-fish, andother monsters, and the remainder carried by the stream to feed thealligators and the cawanas of the south. But very few objects on boardwere insured, and hundreds of hogsheads of Missouri tobacco and barrelsof Kentucky flour were several days afterwards picked up by the Arkansasand Tennessee wreckers. Articles thus lost by shipwreck upon theMississippi are seldom reclaimed, as the principal owners of the goods,on hearing the news, generally collect all the property which they can,run away, change their names, and enter upon new speculations inanother state.

  Among the passengers on board, Mr. Courtenay recognized several of hisfriends, whom he directly invited into the mansion, while temporarysheds were erected for the others, till steamboat should pass and takethem off. So sudden had been the catastrophe, that no luggage of anykind had been saved, and several Englishmen, travelling to purchasecotton and minerals, suffered very serious loss. As to the Americansthemselves, though they complained very loudly, vowing they would bringan action against the river, the steamboats, against every boat, andevery thing, for I don't know how many millions of dollars, their losseswere very trifling, as it is the custom for a man in the Western Statesto carry all his money in his pocket-book, and his pocket-book in hispocket; as to luggage, he never has any except a small valise, two feetlong, in which are contained a shirt, two bosoms, three frills, a razor,and a brush, which may serve for his head, clothing, boots, andperhaps teeth.

  It was amusing to hear all the complaints that were made and toenumerate the sums which were stated to have been lost; there was notone among the travellers, even among those who had taken a deck-passage,who had not lost from ten to fifty thousand dollars, with which he wasgoing to purchase a cotton plantation, a steamboat, or a whole cargo ofHavannah cigars. What made it more ridculous was the facility with whicheverybody found a witness to certify his loss, "I had five thousanddollars," one would say; "ask the general, he will tell you if it istrue." "True, as I am an honest man," would answer the general, "to wit,that I swapped with the judge my eastern notes for his southern ones."

  It would be impossible to explain to a sober Englishman the life that isled on, and the numerous tricks that are played in, a Mississippisteamboat. One I will mention, which will serve as a sample. Anitinerant preacher, well known as a knave upon both banks, and the wholelength of the river, used (before he was sent to the Penitentiary forpicking pockets) to live comfortably in the steamboats without everpaying a farthing. From St. Louis he would book for New Orleans, and thepassage-money never being asked in the West but at the termination ofthe trip, the preacher would go on shore at Vicksburg, Natches, Bayou,Sarah, or any other such station in the way. Then he would get on boardany boat bound to the Ohio, book himself for Louisville, and step onshore at Memphis. He had no luggage of any kind except a green cottonumbrella; but, in order to lull all suspicion, he contrived always tosee the captain or the clerk in his office, and to ask themconfidentially if they knew the man sleeping in the upper bed, if he wasrespectable, as he, the preacher, had in his trunks considerable sumsintrusted to him by some societies. The consequence was, that, believinghim rich, the captain and officers would pay him a great deal ofattention, inviting him to wine and liquor. When he disappeared, theywould express how sorry they were to have been obliged to leave thegentleman behind, but they hoped they would see him at St. Louis, NewOrleans, or Louisville, or hear from him, so as to know where to directhis trunks. But they would soon ascertain that there were no trunks leftbehind, that there had never been any brought on board, and that theyhad been duped by a clever sharper.

  In less than twenty-four hours almost all the passengers had got onboard some other boats, but those who had been invited by Mr. Courtenaytarried a few days with us, for we were on the eve of a great fishingparty on the lake, which in the Far-West is certainly a very curiousscene. Among the new guests were several cotton planters from the South,and English cotton-brokers. One of them had passed a short time amongthe Mormons, at Nauvoo, and had many amusing stories to tell of them.One I select among many, which is the failure of an intended miracle byJoe Smith.

  Towards the close of a fine summer's day, a farmer of Ioway found arespectable-looking man at his gate, who requested permission to passthe night under his roof. The hospitable farmer readily complied; thestranger was invited into the house, and a warm and substantial supperset before him.

  After he had eaten, the farmer, who appeared to be a jovial,warm-hearted, humorous, and withal a shrewd old man, passed severalhours in conversation with his guest, who seemed to be very ill at ease,both in body and mind; yet, as if desirous of pleasing his entertainer,he replied courteously and agreeably to whatever was said to him.Finally, he pleaded fatigue and illness as an excuse for retiring torest, and was conducted by the farmer to an upper chamber where hewent to bed.

  About the middle of the night, the farmer and his family were awakenedby dreadful groans, which they soon ascertained proceeded from thechamber of the traveller. On going to ascertain the cause, they foundthat the stranger was dreadfully ill, suffering the most acute painsand uttering the most doleful cries apparently quite unconscious of whatwas passing around him. Everything that kindness and experience couldsu
ggest was done to relieve the sick man; but all efforts were in vain,and, to the consternation of the farmer and his family, their guest, inthe course of a few hours, expired.

  At an early hour in the morning, in the midst of their trouble andanxiety, two travellers came to the gate, and requested entertainment.The farmer told them that he would willingly offer them hospitality, butthat just now his household was in the greatest confusion, on account ofthe death of a stranger, the particulars of which he proceeded to relateto them. They appeared to be much surprised and grieved at the poorman's calamity, and politely requested permission to see the corpse.This, of course, the farmer readily granted, and conducted them to thechamber in which laid the dead body. They looked at it for a few minutesin silence, and then the oldest of the pair gravely told the farmer thatthey were elders of the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, andwere empowered by God to perform miracles, even to the extent of raisingthe dead; and that they felt quite assured they could bring to life theman who laid dead before them!

  The farmer was, of course, "pretty considerably," astonished at thequality and powers of the persons who addressed him, and, ratherincredulously asked if they were quite sure that they could perform allwhich they professed.

  "O certainly! not a doubt of it. The Lord has commissioned us expresslyto work miracles, in order to prove the truth of the prophet JosephSmith, and the inspiration of the books and doctrines revealed to him.Send for all your neighbours, that, in the presence of a multitude, wemay bring the dead man to life, and that the Lord and his church may beglorified to all men."

  The farmer, after a little consideration, agreed to let themiracle-workers proceed, and, as they desired, sent his children to hisneighbours, who, attracted by the expectation of a miracle, flocked tothe house in considerable numbers.

  The Mormon elders commenced their task by kneeling and praying beforethe body with uplifted hands and eyes, and with most stentorian lungs.Before they had proceeded far with their prayer, a sudden idea struckthe farmer, who quietly quitted the house for a few minutes, and thenreturned, and waited patiently by the bedside, until the prayer wasfinished, and the elders ready to perform their miracle. Before theybegan, he respectfully said to them, that, with their permission, hewished to ask them a few questions upon the subject of this miracle.They replied that they had no objection. The farmer then asked,--

  "You are quite certain that you can bring this man to life again?"

  "We are."

  "How do you know that you can?"

  "We have just received a revelation from the Lord, informing us that wecan."

  "Are you quite sure that the revelation was from the Lord?"

  "Yes; we cannot be mistaken about it."

  "Does your power to raise this man to life again depend upon theparticular nature of his disease? or could you now bring any dead manto life?"

  "It makes no difference to us; we could bring any corpse to life."

  "Well, if this man had been killed, and one of his arms cut off, couldyou bring him to life, and also restore to him his arm?"

  "Certainly! there is no limit to the power given us by the Lord. Itwould make no difference, even if both his arms and legs were cut off."

  "Could you restore him, if his head had been cut off?"

  "Certainly we could!"

  "Well," said the farmer, with a quiet smile upon his features "I do notdoubt the truth of what such holy men assert; but I am desirous that myneighbours here should be fully converted, by having the miracleperformed in the completest manner possible. So, by your leave, if itmakes no difference whatever, I will proceed to cut off the head ofthis corpse."

  Accordingly, he produced a huge and well-sharpened broad axe frombeneath his coat, which he swung above his head, and was, apparently,about to bring it down upon the neck of the corpse, when, lo and behold!to the amazement of all present, the dead man started up in greatagitation, and swore that, "by hell and jingo," he would not have hishead cut off, in any consideration whatever!

  The company immediately seized the Mormons, and soon made them confessthat the pretended dead man was also a Mormon elder, and that they hadsent him to the farmer's house, with directions to die there at aparticular hour, when they would drop in, as if by accident, and performa miracle that would astonish everybody. The farmer, after giving theimpostors a severe chastisement, let them depart to practise their_humbug_ in some other quarter.

  These two "_Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints_",were honest Joe and his worthy _compeer_ and coadjutor, Sidney Rigdon.