JEANIE MORRISON-ROMANTIC TALE.

444

A TRAVELLER'S STORY-KENTUCKY SPORTS-HORRORS OF war.

A Traveller's Story.

THE ALLIGATOR AND THE LEOPARD.

Capt. James Edward Alexander, of the 42d Royal Highlanders, F. R. G. S., M. R. A. S., &c., has lately given to the world the record of a new series of personal adventures, of which the scenes were laid in various parts of this continent. We annex one of his narrations. In the South American forests he fell in with a countryman samed Frazer, from whom, among other facts, [?] he learned the following:

have a shot. Those who drive the nail have a further trial amongst themselves, and the two best shots out of these generally settle the affair. This is technically termed, Driving the Nail."

"Barking off Squirrels" is delightful sport, and in my opinion requires a greater degree of accuracy than any other. I first witnessed the manner of procuring squirrels, whilst near Fankfort. The performer was the celebrated Daniel Boon. We walked out together, and followed the rocky margins of the Kentucky river until we reached a piece of flat land thickly covered with black walnuts, oaks and hickories; squirrels were nion, a stout, hale, and athletic man, dressed in a homespun hunting shirt, bare-legged and moccasined. carried a long and heavy rifle, which, as he was loading it, he said had proved efficient in all his former undertakings. We moved not a step from the place, for the squirrels were so numerous that it was unneces sary to go after them. Boon pointed to one of these animals which had observed us, and was crouched on a branch about fifty paces distant, and bade me mark well where the ball should hit. He raised his piece gradually until the head (that being the sight) of the barrel was brought to a line with the spot which he intended to hit. The whip-like report resounded through the woods and along the hills, in repeated echoes. Judge of my surprise when I perceived that the ball had hit the piece of the bark immediately beneath the squirrel, and shivered it into splinters, the concussion produced by which had killed the animal and sent it whirling through the air. Boon kept up his firing, and before many hours had elapsed, we had procured as many squirrels as we wished; for, to load a rifle requires only a moment, and that if it is wiped once after each shot, it will do duty for hours.

"You see Antonio there, a Spanish Indian, in the bow of the canoe; well, he and myself, and a few others, once went up to the Apoori, a branch on the Oro-seen gamboling on every tree around us. My compa nooco, to look for turtle's eggs, and on that expedition we saw a very strange sight, which might not be believed at home and I don't like to tell it to every one.' Don't hesitate to tell it me, Frazer. I have seen sights myself that I don't like telling, as I would rather have a character for veracity than be considered one who has seen wonders, and is fond of doing them full justice in the narration; but communicate freely, and I'll reciprocate.' Weil, then; we went up the Apoori and came to the sandbanks where the nests were, and whenever there was a smooth part of the sand we dug down eight or nine inches, and commonly found five and twenty eggs, with a soft shell, like parchment. After procuring as many as we wanted, we dropped down the Apoori and got into the Oronooco, broad and deep, and bordered by heavy forests. We were passing a spit of sand, on a clear afternoon, when we saw a large cayman, ten feet long, asleep on the sand, at a few feet from the water's edge. We approached in the coorial to shoot the monster in the eye; but as we neared him, a spotted jaguar was seen to issue from the edge of the forest, and stole towards the alligator, creeping with his belly on the ground like a cat preparing to surprise a bird. We drew off The "snuffing of a candle" with a ball, I first had to see what would happen. The leopard made a sud- an opportunity of seeing near the banks of Green den spring on the cayman, and they both disappeared River. I heard many reports of guns during the early in the river in a cloud of spray and foam. The cay- part of a dark night, and knowing them to be those of man did not re-appear, but the nimble jaguar, soon rifles, I went towards the spot to ascertain the cause. rose to the surface, blowing with his exertion; sitting On reaching the spot, I was welcomed by a dozen of on his haunches, like a dog, on the sand, he licked tall stout men, who told me they were exercising for himself for a few moments, and recovering his breath, the purpose of enabling them to shoot under night at he again plunged into the river like a Newfoundland the reflected light from the eyes of a deer or wolf, by dog. Up he came again; still no cayman was seen, torch-light. A fire was blazing near, the smoke of though the water was much agitated, and airbells rose which rose curling among the trees. At a distance to the surface. At last, after a third dive, he dragged which rendered it scarcely distinguishable, stood a the alligator on the sand in a dying state. We want burning candle, as if intended as an offering to the ed to secure them both, and fired away all our pow-goddess of night, but which in reality was only fifty der and ball at the jaguar, but he just sat looking at yards from the spot on which we all stood. One man us, grinning and growling as we fired, and we were was within a few yards of it, to watch the effects of obliged to move off; but next day we got the dead the shots as well as to light the candle should it cayman, but don't know what became of his conque-chance to go out, or to replace it should the shot cut ror. No part of the cayman had been eaten; perhaps a ball may have spoilt the jaguar's appetite. Yes, or perhaps he had attacked the cayman merely through natural animosity, like the ichneumon the snake.'"

KENTUCKY SPORTS.

Having resided some years in Kentucky, and been witness of rifle sports, I shall present you with the results of my observation, leaving you to judge how far rifle-shooting is understood in that state.

it across. Each marksman shot in his turn. Some actually snuffed the candle without putting it out, and were recompensed for their dexterity with numerous hurrahs. One of them, who was particularly expert, I was very fortunate, and snuffed the candle three times out of seven.-Audubon's Biography.

HORRORS OF WAR.-Nothing is more dreadful than to follow a few marches behind a victorious army. We lodged indiscriminately among the dead and dying, Several individuals expert in the management of the who had dragged their wounded limbs through the gun, meet for the purpose of displaying their skill; and mud of the field of battle, to die, without help, in the betting a trifling sum, put up a target, in the centre of nearest hovels. Thousands of enormous vultures had which a common-sized nail is hammered for about assembled from every part of Spain; perched on two-thirds of its length. The distance may be forty heights, and seen from a distance against the horizon, paces. A shot which comes very close to the nail is they appeared as large as men. Our videts often considered as that of an indifferent marksman; the marched towards them, to reconnoitre, mistaking them bending of the nail is, of course, somewhat better; but for enemies. They never left their prey on our apnothing less than hitting right on the head is satisfac-proach, till we were within a few paces of them, and tory. Well, one out of the three shots generally hits then the flapping of their enormous wings echoed far the nail; and should the shooters amount to half a and wide, over our heads, like a funeral knell.-French dozen, two nails are frequently needed before each can | Officer.

THE WHIGS OF SCOTLAND.

Host.

445

the South and West, that the committee were, in a brief space of time, fully ready to receive the The Bailey, no mean looking man, was well mounted on his fine grey horse, and sat bolt-up

The Whigs of Scotland. We extract the following sketch from the Whigs of Scotland, a historical romance, recently published by the Harpers, of New York. It furnishes a fair specimen of the descriptive pow-right in the huge saddle of the construction of ers of the author.

“Guns, trumpets, blunderbusses, drums, and thunder." The Bailey and his committee had been busy men all that day, and all the succeeding night. And by the aid of the mechanics, carpenters, blacksmiths, and carters, who cheerfully volunteered their aid in great crowds, they had contrived to make the Auld Brigg and the vicinity, assume an imposing air of a strongly occupied military position.

those days. His dress was not like that of a modern Glasgow Bailey. There were none of the courtly velvets, and black broad cloths about him. There was no gold chain, falling down in copious and rich links over his breast. These appendages of the venerable officers of justice, whose grave and majestic carriage creates respect and awe in the minds of every beholder, were of a later date by nearly a century. He had put on a cocked hat, of no small dimensions, and his snuff browns. He had girded a sword on his loins by a huge buff belt. And, by an especial arrangement of the committee, he had thrown over his shoulders a wide yellow sash, for the purpose of making him conspicuous among the other members. And a star had been got up for the occasion, and was fixed on the left breast, which, for its size and splendour, might have

They had caused something, which looked like a breast work of heavy timber, to be thrown up in the middle of the Stockwell-street, fronting the passage over the Auld Brigg. And, contrary to all expectation, they had mounted on it a very threatening line of heavy looking guns. To the eye of the beholder, at a distance, this work seemed to be flanked by mounted cannons, pos-been sported by a Duke. sessing something of a new construction. They had stationed by those guns tall men, fantastically dressed. And in front of them, as if designed to mask them, there were a few corps of guards of very ferocious looking men, with every variety of armour which human ingenuity, or sheer necessity could put into requisition. And beyond this formidable looking fort, in the distant back-ground, at the crossing of the streets, which could be seen by the expected Highland companies, as they ascended to the centre arch of the Auld Brigg, there appeared a strong corps of men mounted in an imposing manner.

They had placed the finest looking men, and the best armed, immediately on the Bridge, and on each side of the street to flank the approaching Host as they passed over the Bridge into the city. The students were dressed in their scarlet gowns, with belts, and swords. Each had a brace of pistolets in his belt, and a musquetoon slung on his shoulder. The broad brims worn in those days, being smartly turned up, lent a fierce look to their cocked hats. An immense crowd of young men, of fine appearance, and tolerably well armed, poured down the Stockwell and Salt market: defiled before the committee, and gravely waited their orders.

My certes! the thing succeeds gloriously," exclaimed the Bailey. "Wha wad believe it, that this fine corps of braw Glasgovegians, hae contrived this imposing appearance, by clappin' on a shirt for a tunic; a yellow ribbon for a buff belt, and their grandmithers' red mantles for military cloaks."

A long column of strong, blackaviced, fierce looking men, next followed. They were the carpenters with long shafted lances, and the blacksmiths with spears. Each, in the hurry, had fabricated his own lethal weapon; not made for inspection but for a job of terror. These men were placed in a line, two file deep, on each side of the passage of the Auld Brigg. In short, such was the zeal suddenly inspired by the alarm of these marauders approaching, for the city now rang with the evil doings of the Host in

"These vanities!" cried the Bailey to young Annandale, on whose ancestor's breast this star had blazed, in some more terrible scenes of conflict. "I ferley at the menseless foppery o' man!" added he, as he continued to rub it brighter with the great buff glove which extended up to his elbow.

The Bailey took his station in the middle of the centre arch. "It's canny," cried he, as he pranced up with some feelings of pride, which he could not conceal. "It's canny to meet the faemen here, on Lady Carlow's arch.* And if we warna' unco weel prepared to foregather wi' them, I suld be tempted to offer up a supplication, that the south arch wad fa' aince mair, as it lately did, and that it micht fa' just as the Heelan reivers were a' fairly on it. But I'm forgettin' mysel, Master James, it's no richt to wush for the destruction o' ony body, not e'en for the destruction o' the deevil, as Jemmie Bogue, the weaver, in the Lang Lees, ance prayed, when his wee bit bairnie was deeing. He began wi' an intent to pray that the deevil, the cause o' sin, whilk is the cause o' deeth, micht be clean destroyed. And waes me! the crater committed twa fearfu' blunders in this same thing. For he prayed on his knees that the Lion of the tribe o' Judah micht be destroyed, stump and rump!' Weel! here we are on the centre arch, on the very key stane. And we can stow oor guards on ilka side, in sic a way, that only four of the Athole men, at a time, can gang abreast. And then we can maister them yeffectually!"

The Bailey had for his aid-de-camps, the young men of the committee, twelve in number, all on horseback, well mounted, and presenting an imposing aspect. Lord Annandale was in splendid style; and Lord Mauchlin, and several others, were not much inferior in appearance.

The good Bailey was evidently much agitated in his novel station. He was often heard to

*Lady Campbell, of Carlow, insisted on bearing the entire expense of this arch, when Archbishop Rae built the Auld Brigg of Glasgow.

whisper a vow to the Almighty, for his most holy benediction and countenance. And at times he would talk aloud to every one who came in his way.

are no just at open.-open,-hem,--war, as it were, wi' us here. Nor hae we proclaimed war formally, as it were, against them,"-and he cast his eyes over his men, and his military pre"Ye may weel lairn, frae the scenes afore you, parations. "Na, na, were that sae, ye wadna maist beloved youth," cried he, after a long si- find Bailey Wardlaw, a Glasgow magistrate, lence, and raising himself in his saddle, "what here awa, I tell you. The wicked half savages ony truly patriotic and enterprising man may du are the tools o' a misguided and profligate coonfor his kintry. Only enlichten the people-only cil, whilk will be brocht to its richt senses ere enlichten them;-just show them what's what-lang, or it will be broken like a potsherd, by a be disinterested, honest, and undaunted, and ony rod o' iron! I just tak the Heelan' craters in man,-it disna require a Wallace, God bless his the light o' reivers, returnin' frae a successful memory, ony ordinary man shall deliver his spreagh; whilk their commanders canna conkintry frae ony foemen. To be free, a kintry trol at a'; nor indeed are they willing, were only needs to wull it and it wulls it, when its they able. I tak them just in the licht o' highenlightened. Knowledge is srtength. An en- waymen, chased oot o' the fields intil the toon; lightened people will burst through the strongest and we place, as it waur, a line o' guards, and chains o' slavery-ay, were they even forged by shut up ilka nook and bore; and then throw open Sathan himsel.' And saying this, he reined his the yetts o' the Tolbooth, and thence compel steed, plunged his rowels into his flanks, and gal- them, as it were, to rin intil them; for fien hate loped to the south end of the Bridge. o' a door, or winnoch else, is there for the craters to rin intil."

For just as he uttered them with exultation, a distant roll of the kettle drum was heard. And the discharge of a gun, from the advanced guard, announced that the Athole men were within sight of the Gorballs.

A deep silence pervaded all ranks on the Bridge. Each man stood firm at his post, and sent an inquiring look on the Bailey and his youthful group of attendants, as they returned slowly back to their former stations. The bagpipe sent forth its martial music. The shrill note, and the deep and monotonous boom of the bass, floated on the air. Now it was slow and solemn at another time, rapid and harsh. The youthful aids of the Bailey were busily deciding on the peaceable, or hostile air of the pibrook, and divining from the piper's tune, the spirit which played in the breasts of these half savages. The conclusion was what every stranger to the martial airs of the Highland bagpipe, would naturally adopt on hearing its music. It sends forth proud defiance. It proclaims fierce and unsubdued impetuosity, The sweet note of peace finds no place in its loud screams, its tumultuous redoublings, and the overwhelming booming of its never varying bass. It braces the mind to terrible deeds. It was not composed by Lowland amateurs, nor among love-sick swains, nor amid polished courtiers, nor laughter-loving dames. It was composed by martial spirits, amid the terrible sublimity of their mountain scenery, and the roar of conflicting hosts!

"I think, Bailey," said young Annandale, with some agitation," that you had better order up your cannon in front; we must sweep the Bridge. That Heelan' music gars a Lawlander's flesh a' grue. I'd sooner meet a legion o' deils than thae craters wha mak sic music!"

Burleigh and Mauchlin smiled. The Bailey cast a grave look on the youthful speaker, who evidently would rather have been at close blows, than standing deliberately at a distance, biding the pelting, and threatening of the Heelan' Bagpipes!

"Ye kenna what speerit ye're of, dear Annandale," cried the Bailey, who could with difficulty keep his own teeth from chattering in his head-"Hech man! I must tell ye, as a magistrate,--hem,-hem,-that thae men,-hem,

So saying, he shook Annandale heartily by the hand, and called on young Lord Kardross, one of his aids, to take a file or two, and "ride up to meet the Heelan' men. Find yer way to their commander, and just tell him e'en a' ye see: and tell him, mairover, that some o' the ceevil powers-ye ken what to tell him-beg leave to salute him at the head o' his officers, on the centre arch o' the auld Brigg o' Glasgow."

Lord Kardross rode up at full gallop; and with hat in hand, called out for the officer commanding. He speedily presented himself in the person of a stately Highlander, of a bronze complexion, with heavy red haired eye-brows, and of a fierce aspect. He had on his head a graceful bonnet, set on in an easy jaunting air, with an eagle feather or two, forming his simple plume. He demanded, in a harsh tone, "the wull o' the Duniwassel."

Kardross began with mock solemnity-" His illustrious excellency, the commander in chief, at the ither end o' the auld Brigg, with the noble Lords, his right honourable aid-de-camps, waits your presence, noble Heelan' Sir Chieftain! to escort you through the liberties o' gude auld Glasgow. For my certie, he says ye mauna come intil his city, nor walk a street o' it."

"Wha is he, speak?" cried the chieftain.

"He's ane o' the Toon Cooncil, and nae less than a BAILEY! Yer Heelan' Chiefs are naething to him. Weighed in the scale wi' him, the biggest o' ye a' wad be found wantin'," said Kardross, with the gravest face imaginable. "Has he a military company?"

"Ye maun e'en come yer wa's up and see for yoursel."

"How many?"

"Why-not exceeding sax thousand five hunder, or there aboot."

The Highlander started, and clapt his hand on the hilt of his Andro Ferrara, while he threw his eyes over his own men. He then muttered some Gaelic words to his officers, in a hurried manner, as they gathered round him.

"Sax thousand five hunder," repeated our messenger to him, with great sang-froid. "Besides his militia corps, wha are comin' in to pay their respects; and whilk I see already advanc

THE WHIGS OF SCOTLAND.

ing on this side of the Clyde. And the brave Cathcart men wull be in yer rear soon."

And as he said this, he pointed to the Rutherglen men coming down the banks of the river, at a quick march; and to the Govan men, pouring their strength up into the Gorballs.

447

right and left, and presented to view what seemed to be the muzzles of a threatening battery of cannon, and the gunners in their places, making a wonderful display of their lighted matches, waving them round their heads to have them in prime blazing order to fire off their cannon. And in the distant perspective, squadrons of horsemen "But stay a bit-were seen advancing and defiling, in an impos. ing manner. And the company of Carters backed their tumbrils more into the street, which they sported before the astonished Highlanders as mounted cannon, ready for cross firing.

Go, call up the three sax pounders," cried the Highlander to an officer. thas the Bailey ony cannon ?"

66

Only some thirty lang toms, includin' all the Quaker guns." And he spake truly for they were nearly all of this class, non-resistance guns.* Our student added, after a pause, "We Sassanachs are a kittle race o' people, when aince fairly roused up!"

“Mean ye, in blude earnest, to impede my course?" cried the chieftain, fiercely.

"Conduct the officers and forty of their men in advance," cried the Bailey, as he gave a flourish with his sword, somewhat in the awkward style of a military novice, and made a low bow to the Highland chief and his staff. They moved on at a quick step.

"Why-yes-no-" replied Lord Kardross, hesitating, and speaking with an air of mysteri- "Hully-hully a bit, you the rest," cried the ousness, that is to say, it just depends on your Baily, with a tone and air of anthority, after the putting yourselves on gude behaviour. And let forty men and officers had passed on. Then me just add, by way of information," continued raising his voice still louder, he called out, "Let our youth, as he cast his eyes, with some affecta- the rest of the Heelan' Host halt, instanter, untion of contempt, over the divisions of the High-less ye want to be blawn a' intil the air, like land Host,-"Aiblins, we can clap some four stout Sassenachs on the back o' ilka ane o yer Heelan' men, and may be sax o' them. I hae delivered my message. We wait your approach." And he rode off without waiting for his reply.

peelins o' ingens." He paused a moment and added, partly to the Highlanders and partly to his own men, with a laugh

As the Bailey uttered his order, a line of his guards threw themselves across the passage of the bridge. The Highlanders halted. There was no officers near them to give them orders. They looked on each other, and muttered their astonishment and fears.

"My certes! only forty o' ye, my gallants, shall enter the royal liberties o' Glasgow at ae The commander looked after him for some time-ay! and no ae soul mair at aince"-adtime in silence. He was evidently in some de-ding in a lower tone to his associates-" Divide gree of confusion. He found himself actually and conquer, eh? as my duce auld faither, the hemmed in. He formed his men into close rank Barony Kirk-elder used to say." and file, six abreast, which he had to reduce to four as he approached the centre arch. "Screw your daggers on your musquetoons," he called to his men, and see that your pieces be weel loaded, and in good order. We'll hae hett wark o't. We hae been thus far tulzien' wi' auld wives and weans; wi' priests and herd callans. The Chieftain and his staff were meanwhile We're like to meet wi' men noo, Seid suas gil-marched on, in terrorem, towards the cannons' lie!" added he, raising his voice to a scream.- mouth, then suddenly defiled to the right. And "Blaw up the pibroch, club yer airms, march as they turned the corner out of the Stockwell, warily, in close file; preserve a deep seelence: they found, to their fresh astonishment, the street and be ready to fire."" lined with stout, threatening looking men, in arms. The Highlanders were crowded through a narrow space, where not more than a single man could go at once. Thus, by the simplest contrivance imaginable, they were separated from each other, and thrown personally into the

He placed himself at their head, aud his officers took their position on each side of him. And he pranced along on a gallant steed, which he had taken out of the stables of the Earl of Cassilis, on the same terms as his father and himself took a cow or a horse from the stable of the Sas-power of strangers. senach, who happened to refuse the tribute of Black Maille.

The town's men and students looked on in deep silence, upon the mass of nodding black plumes, and the glittering musquetoons, and the waving sheen tartan. And when they arrived at the centre arch, the whole of them in mock solemnity uncovered for a moment, and lowered the points of their swords and spears before the host-but in such a manner as really to assume, awkwardly enough, a very ambiguous posture and doubtful kind of salutation.

At that moment a salute was fired from the rear of the temporary fort in the middle of the Stockwell. And the close column of men stationed in advance of it, wheeled suddenly to the

*These, as in ships of later times, were literally so, being made of wood.

"My orders," cried the person commanding there (it was Sir Robert Hamilton) are to rid you of your cumbersome baggage; in short, to take away from you ilka thing whilk ye hae come by, without the tedious process of buying and paying for it. That's only fair, ye ken, my gallants!"

1

One of his associates, a Highland student, repeated in Gallic, this order of Sir Robert. They laughed in Sir Robert's face. "That horse," added the commander of the students' party, "wi' a' manner o' humility permit me to say it, belangs, I am just informed, to Lord Kennedydismount-seize him, guards-" added he, in a thundering voice, as the chief was drawing out both his pistols from the holsters, and uttering Gallic oaths, mingled in a grotesque manner with the court oaths of Charles, in a voice half choked with rage and vexation. The guards