Bennett, Emerson - Prairie Flower 01

by The Prairie Flower (lit)

  By this time Huntly had begun to re vive, and in a few minutes he was perfect ly restored the smoke and his exertions, only, having overcome him. He stared around him for a monient in wonder, and then seemed to comprehend all. Grasp ing my hand, with a nervous pressure, he exclaimed :

  " Thank God ! we are all saved; though I thought all was over with me. I see, j dear Frank, I owe all to you. But the lady, Frank 1 "

  " I left her safe in the arms of her mo ther. "

  " Tlfonk God, again, for that ! But who is she ? and where does she live ? " and I felt the grasp of Charles tighten upon my arm.

  " I know neither ; but I have her mo ther's card here. "

  " Quick ! quick ! give it me ! " cried Huntly, with an impatience that surprised me.

  But I was mistaken ; I had not the card, it was lost ; and with it, all clue to the per sons in question. With an expression of deep and painful disappointment, my friend turned away.

  " But AVC may yet find thorn, " I said ; " they were here a few minute since "

  " Where, Frank where ? "

  " Yonder; " and I hastened to the spot where I had left them ; but to the dis appointment of myself, as well as Huntly they were gone.

  I made inquiries of all around, but no body had seen, or knew any thing of them.

  " Always my luck, Frank," said Huntly, with a siyh ; and jumping into a hack, we were shortly set down at the steps of the Astor.

  That night I dreamed of fire of res cuing Lilian Huntly from the flames.

  Early the next morning we were onc more upon our long journey swifl.ly speeding toward the far, Far West

  CHAPTER IV.

  THE OHIO THE HIBERNIAN ARRIVAL 19

  CINCINNATI A FIRE A FIGHT NARROW

  ESCAPE THE JOURNEY RESUMED.

  IT was a calm, beautiful day, that found myself and friend on the hurricane deck of a magnificent steamer, and gliding swiftly down the calm, silvery waters of that winding, lovely, and romantic stream, the Ohio, or La Belle Riviere. We had passed through Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Pittsburgh, without stopping, and vver now speeding over the waters of this rivei on our journey to the Far West Nevei had I seen a stream before so fascinating in all its attractions. On my right was the State of Ohio on my left, those of Virginia and Kentucky ; and en either hand, beautiful villages, farms, and plea sure grounds, with tree, blade, and flowei in the delightful bloom of a pleasant spring. Here was a hill clotlied with trees, Teach ing even to, overhanging, and mirroring their green forms in the glassy tide ; ther a smiling plain, stretching gracefully away

  ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST.

  19

  from the river's bank, teeming with the growing products of the husbandman ; while yonder a beautiful lawn, anon a vil lage, or a pleasant farmhouse, rendered the whole scene picturesque and lovely beyond description.

  The longer I gazed, the more I felt my spirits revive, until I began to resume something of the joyousness of by-gone days. A similar effect I could perceive was beginning to tell upon my friend. The first keen pang of leaving home was becoming deadened. We were now in a part of the world abounding with every thing delightful, and felt that our adven tures had really begun. We thought of home and friends occasionally, it is true ; but then it was only occasionally ; and mingling with our feelings, were thoughts of the present and glorious anticipations for the future. We were strong, in the very prime of life, and bound on a journey of adventure, where everything being en tirely new, was calculated to withdraw our minds from the scenes we had bid adieu. The future is always bright to the imagi nation of the young and inexperienced ; and we looked forward with delight to scenes on and beyond the broad and mighty prairies of the west.

  " Well, Frank," said Huntly, at length, with something of his former light-hearted nir, " what think you of this ? "

  " It is superlatively beautiful," I ex claimed, with enthusiam.

  " I agree with you there, Frank," he replied ; " but then this will all sink into insignificance, when we come to behold what lies beyond the bounds of civiliza tion. 0, I am in raptures with my jour ney. What a beautiful land is this West ! I do not wonder that emigration sets hith- erward, for it seems the Paradise of earth."

  " Ay, it does indeed."

  " But I say, Frank, there is one thing we have overlooked."

  " Well, Charley, what is it ? "

  " Why, we must engage a servant to look after our baggage ; and so let us em ploy one with whom we can have a little sport. 1 am dying for a hearty laugh."

  " But that mav not be so easy to do," said I.

  " Pshaw ! don't you believe a word of

  it. Now I have been standing here for the last ten minutes, laying my plans, and if you have no objection, I will try and put them in operation."

  " None at all," I returned ; " but let me hear them first."

  " Do you see that fellow yonder, Frank?" pointing to a rather green-look ing specimen of the Emerald Isle.

  I do. Well ? "

  " Well, I am going to try him ; so come along and see the result ; " and with this Huntley strode to the stern of the boat, where the son of Erin was standing, with his arms crossed on his back, gazing around him with an air of wondering curiosity.

  He was a rare specimen of a Paddy, and bore all the marks of fresh importation. His coat was a wool-mixed gray, with bright metal buttons, and very short skirts. His pants were made of a greenish fus tian, the upper portion of which barely united with a very short vest. Heavy brogans encased his feet, and a hat, with a rim of an inch in width, all the worse for wear, beneath which his sandy hair came low upon his brow, covered his head. A large mouth, pug nose, ruddy cheeks, and bright, cunning gray eyes, denoted him daring, witty, and humorous. In fact, he was Paddy throughout, dress and all ; and being a strong, hearty fellow, was just the one to suit us.

  " Well, Pat, a handsome country, this," said Huntly, in a familiar tone, as he came up to him.

  " Troth, now, ye may well say that same, your honor, barring the name of Pat, which isn't mine at all, at all, but simply Teddy O'Lagherty jist," replied the Hibernian, with great volubility, in the real, rolling Irish brogue, touching his hat respectfully.

  " Beg pardon, Teddy though I suppose it makes little difference to you what name you get?"

  " Difference, is it, ye're spaking of ? To the divil wid ye now, for taking me for a spalpeen ! D'ye be afther thinking, now, I don't want the name that me mother's grandfather, that was a relation to her, barring that he was'nt her grandfather at all, but only her daddy, give me ? "

  " O, well then, never mind I will call you Teddy," said Charles, laughing, and

  THE PRAIRIE FLOWER; OR

  winking at-me. | " But I say, Teddy, whore are you bound ? "

  " Bound, is it, ye 're asking ? Och ! I'm not bound at all, at all but frae as the biped of a chap ye calls a toad, that St. Path rick (Missings on his name !) kicked out o' ould Ireland, for a baastly sarpent, an* it was."

  "Did St. Patrick wear brogans when he kicked the toad so far ? " asked Huntly, gravely.

  " Brogans ! " cried Teddy, with a comi cal look of surprise, that any one should be so ignorant: " Brogans, ye spalpeen.! beg pardon ! your honor I mane why he was a saint, a howly saint, ye divil beg oardon ! your honor and didn't naad the ailp of kivering to kaap the crathurs from biting him."

  " 0, yes," said Huntly, feigning to re collect ; " I remember now, he was a saint ; and of course he could kick anybody, or anything, whether bare-footed or shod."

  " He could do that same could St. Pathrick," replied the Irishman ; " and as asy too, as your honor could be afther ?wollering a paaled praty, barring the shokirig if yees didn't chaw, it hand somely."

  " A fellow if infinite jest ; I like him much," said Huntly to me, aside, with a smile. " I must secure him eh, Frank ? "

  "Certainly, by all means," I replied, in the same manner; "for his like we ne'er may see again."

  " But if you are not bound, Teddy," continued Huntly, addressing the Irish ma
n, " pray tell me whither you are going?"

  " Faith, now, ye've jist axed a question which meself has put to Teddy O'Lagherty more'n fifty times, without gitting a single straight answer."

  " Then I suppose you are, like us, on a journey of adventure."

  " It's like I may be, for a divil of a thing else me knows about it."

  " Would you like to get employment ? "

  " Would a pig like to ate his supplier, or a nager like to stael ? " answered Teddy, promptly.

  " How would you like to engage with us now ? "

  " Troth, I've done many a worse thing, I'm thinking, your honor."

  "No doubt of it, Teddy."

  " But what d'ye want of me, your hon or ? and where to go ?- for I'm liking travel, if it's all the same to yees."

  " So much the better, for we are bound on a long journey ; " and Charles pro ceeded to explain our intentions, and in what capacity the other would be wanted.

  " Och ! " cried Teddy, jumping up and cracking his heels with delight, to our great amusement ; " it's that same I'd be afther saaking, if ye'd a axed me what I wanted."

  " Think you can shoot Indians, eh J Teddy ? "

  " Shoot, is it? Faith, I can shoot any thing that flies on two legs. Although I sez it myself, what shouldn't, but let me mother for me, I'm the greatest shooter ye iver knew, I is."

  " Indeed ! I am glad to hear it, Teddy , for I presume we shall have plenty of shoot ing to do. But what did you ever kill, Teddy? "

  " Kill, is it ? Troth, now, ye're afthei heading me wid your cunning."

  " Well, then, what did you shoot ? "

  " A two-legged bir-r-d, your honor."

  " Well, you killed it, of course ? "

  " Killed it ! Agh ! now ye're talking. Faith, it wouldn't die. I shot it as pLus as daylight, right fornenst the back- bone of its spine ; and would ye belave it, divi) of a shot touched it at all, at all the ujjly baast that it was."

  "Well, well, Teddy, I think you will do," said Huntly, laughing; and forthwith he proceeded to close the bargain with the Irishman.

  Our trip proved very delightful, and in due time we arrived at Cincinnati, where it was our design to spend at least a day. Il was a beautiful morning, when we rounded the first bend above the city, and beheld the spires of this great western mart glit tering in the sunbeams. The levee w* found lined with boats, and crowded witfa drays, hacks, and merchandise ; and every thing bespoke the life and briskness of im mense trade. Taking rooms at the Broad way Hotel, we sauntered forth to view the city, and evening found us well pleased witK our day's ramble.

  It was about eleven o'clock on the nighl succeeding our arrival, that, having re turned from a concert, we were preparing

  ADVENTURES IN THE FAR WEST.

  21

  to retire to rest, when 'the alarm of fire, accompanied by a bright light; which shone in at our windows, attracted 'our attention. "Ha! here is another adventure, Char ley," I exclaimed, replacing my coat, which I was in the act of taking from my shoul ders. " Come, once more forth, and let us see what we can discover that is new and startling for to-morrow, you knosv, we

  O *

  leave."

  " Not to-night, Frank," answered Hunt- ly, yawning and rubbing his eyes. " !'- faith, man, I've seen enough of fire to last me for a long time ; and O, (yawning again) I am so sleepy."

  " Then I will go alone."

  " Well, go ; for myself, I'll to bed and dream about it. But I say, Frank," pur sued Huntly, as I was on the point of quit ting the room, " have you secured your pistols about you ? "

  "Xo"

  "You had better."

  " Pshaw ! I do not want them : I am not going to fight."

  " Nevertheless you had better go armed, in a strange place like this."

  " Nonsense," I replied, closing the door, Rnd hurrying down a flight of stairs, and into the street.

  A thought struck me, that I would take 'Teddy along ; but upon second considera tion I resolved to go alone.

  There was but little difficulty in finding the fire, for a bright flame, shooting up ward on the dark canopy above, guided me to it. Passing up Broadway to Sixth street, I turned down some 'four or five squares, and discovered the fire to proceed from an old,, two-story wooden building. which had been tenanted by two or three families of the poorer class. At the mo ment when I arrived, four engines were in active play, and some two or three others preparing to join them. The water was not thrown upon the burning building for that was already too far gone but upon one or two others that nearly joined, which wvre smoking from the heat. Many house hold articles had been thrown into the street, and these were surrounded by the tire-watch ; while an Irishman and his wife, with a daughter of sixteen, were run ning to and fro, and lamenting in piteous tones the loss of their home and property.

  " Och ! howly mither of Mary ! was the like on't iver saan ? " cried the matron, some forty-five years of age, whose tidy dress bespoke her a rather thrifty house wife.

  " Niver, since the flood," blubbered her husband, dolefully.

  "What an invintion is fire!" again cried the mother.

  " Tirrible crathur it is," rejoined the daughter.

  " Och, honey, don't be despairing now !" said a voice, which I fancied I recognized ; and turning toward the speaker, to my as tonishment I beheld Teddy, in the laudable act of consoling the afflicted damsel.

  " Teddy ! " I shouted.

  " Here, your honor," returned the Hi bernian, looking around in surprise, and advancing to me with an abashed air.

  "What are you doing here, Teddy?" I continued. " I thought you were at the hotel, and asleep."

  " Faith ! and it's like I thought the same of your honor, barring the slaap," rejoined the Irishman, scratching his head. " I seed the tire, your honor, and I thought as maybe there'd be some females that'd naad consoling ; and so, » ye see, I gathered meself hitherward, as fast as me trotters would let me."

  " And so you make it your business to console females, eh ? " I asked, with a smile which I could not repress.

  " Faith, now," answered Teddy, " if it's all the same to yourself, your honor, I'm a female man, barring the dress they wears."

  "Well, well," said I, laughing outright in spite of myself, "go on in your good work but mind you are at your post be times in the morning,, or you will be left behind."

  " It's meself that'll not forgit that same," answered the other, as he turned away to rejoin the party in distress, and add his consolation.

  At this moment I felt myself rudely jostled from behind, and, turning quickly round, found myself hemmed in by a crowd, in which two men were fighting, I endeavored to escape, and, in doing so, accidentally trod on the foot of a stranger, who turned furiously upon me, with :

  "What in (uttering an oath) du

  you mean ? "

  23

  THE PRAIRIE FLOWER; OR,

  "An accident," said I, apologetically.

  "You're a liar!" he rejoined; "you did it a purpose."

  I never was remarkable for prudence at any time, or I should have been more cautious on the present occasion. But the insulting words of the stranger made my young blood boil, until I felt its heat in my face. Without regard to consequences, and ere the words had fairly escaped his lips, I struck him a blow in the face, so violent that he fell back upon the ground.

  " Another fight ! " cried a dozen voices at once : " Another fight ! hurrah ! "

  In a moment I regretted what I had done, but it was too late. I would have escaped, but the crowd had now formed around me so dense, that escape was im possible. Besides, my antagonist, regain ing his feet, his face covered with blood, was now advancing upon me furiously. There was no alternative ; and watching my opportunity as he came up, I dexter ously planted the second blow exactly where I had the first, and down he went

  again.

  "A trump, by

  ! " " Give it to

  him, stranger ! " " He's a few ! " were some of the expressions which greeted me from the
delighted bystanders.

  But I had a short time to enjoy my tri umph if such a display of animal powers may be termed a triumph for the next moment I beheld my adversary again ap proaching, but more warily than before, and evidently better prepared for the com bat. I was not considered a bad pugilist for one of my age, nor did I in general fear one of my race ; but as I gazed upon my advancing foe, I will be frank to own that I trembled for the result. He was a pow erfully built man, six feet in stature, had a tremendous arm, and an eye that would quail lefore nothing mortal.

  " By ! young chap," he exclaimed,

  as he came up, " you've done what nobody else has of latter years. Take that, and see how you'll like it ; " and with the word be threw all his strength into a blow, that fell like a sledge hammer.

  I saw it, and prepared to ward it. I did so, partially, but its force broke my guard, and his double-jointed fist alighting upon my head, staggered me back and brought me to my knees. With all the suppleness

  I was master of, I sprang to my feet, only to receive another blow, which laid me out upon the flinty pavement. For a moment I was stunned and confused ; bul regain ing my senses and feet, I prepared to renew the contest.

  "I say, stranger," said ray antagonist, motioning his hand for a parley, " you're good blood, but you haint got quite enough of the metal to cope with me. You're only a boy yit, and so just consider your self licked, and go home, afore I git can tankerous and hurt you a few."