Wild Western Scenes: A Narrative of Adventures in the Western Wilderness, Wherein the Exploits of Daniel Boone, the Great American Pioneer are Particularly DescribedJones, J. B. (John Beauchamp)
General
Wild Western Scenes: A Narrative of Adventures in the Western Wilderness, Wherein the Exploits of Daniel Boone, the Great American Pioneer are Particularly Described
Jones, J. B. (John Beauchamp)
Boone, Daniel, 1734-1820 -- Fiction; Western stories; Wilderness areas -- Fiction
“Yonder is St. Louis!” cried Glenn, running his eye along the valley of
the Missouri, down to its confluence with the Mississippi; and a short
distance beyond, descried the town in question, though it did not seem
to be larger than one ordinary mansion, with its garden and customary
appendages.
“We are far above the reach of vision from the earth,” said the wizard,
bounding forward to endeavour to regulate a part of the machinery that
had for some time attracted his attention, and which Glenn believed to
be not altogether right, from the abrupt movement of his companion.
“How far above the earth are we?’ asked Glenn.
“About twenty-five miles—but should this screw give way, it may be less
very speedily!” exclaimed the old man, almost incoherently, and
applying all his strength to the loosened screw to keep it in its
place.
“Let me assist!” exclaimed Glenn, springing forward.
“It’s gone!” cried the old man; “you have knocked it out! we are
falling—crushed!”
“That’s just what I expected,” said Joe, addressing the fawn, which had
been playing with the dogs, and at length ran against Glenn’s chair so
violently as to push it over.
“Oh! oh! oh!” exclaimed Glenn.
“Goodness! Are you hurt?” asked Joe.
“Is it possible? Am I alive, and _here_?” exclaimed Glenn, staring
wildly round, and doubting his own identity.
“Well, I never heard a dead man talk, as I know of, before; and as to
our being _here_, if your own eyes don’t convince you, I’ll swear to
it,” said Joe.
“Did I not go up to the island this morning?” inquired Glenn.
“No,” said Joe.
“Did you not accompany me, and fire at the buck?” interrogated Glenn,
resuming his seat.
“No—I’ll be hanged if I did!” said Joe somewhat warmly.
“What have I been doing all day?”
“You’ve been sitting there fast asleep, and I presume you were
dreaming.”
“Thank Heaven, it was but a dream!” exclaimed Glenn, laughing.
“A dream?” responded Joe, sitting down on his stool, and soliciting
Glenn to relate it to him. Glenn complied, and the narration was
nothing more than what the incredulous reader has been staring at all
this time. But we will make amends.
CHAPTER VI.
A hunt— A deer taken—The hounds—Joe makes a horrid discovery—Sneak—The
exhumation.
“It beats all the dreams I ever heard,” said Joe, feeling his right
shoulder with his left hand..
“Why do you feel your shoulder, Joe?” asked Glenn, smiling, as he
recollected the many times his man had suffered by the rebound of his
musket, and diverted at the grave and thoughtful expression of his
features.
“It _was_ a dream, wasn’t it?” asked Joe, with simplicity, still
examining his shoulder.
“But you know there was no lead in the gun, and it could not rebound
with much violence,” said Glenn.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account