THE ODD BOY ON JACK THE GIANT KILLER. ERHAPS there is nothing I like better than a jolly story may enforce a moral, not by just sticking it at the end like a fable, nor droning good advice, like a melancholy mad bagpipe, all through the yarn-but in the very yarn itself. May I cite a sample? Jack the Giant Killer: there! I was a pal of Jack's the moment I knew him. He had some go in him; a plucky party, and no mistake about it; sly as a fox, bold as a lion, sharp as a hawk, and as cool as a fish. Is suarum rerum satagit, says I to myself, when I see him start out for a fight with the giant; surely he has enough on his hands, but not more than he can manage. Now I see him doing a fight with a mountain of a man; tripping him up and jumping a-top of him, and making big bully roar for mercy; now I see him coolly planting his shins under Fe-fo-fum's mahogany and showing that old muddle-brains a trick. He has a convenient bag before him,which sticks out and gives him the appearance of an alderman of some years' standing, and into the bag he stows no end of hasty, and the giant thinks his little guest has rather a twist. He means to skin him by-and-bye, and hang him in the larder. But Jack does the trick, takes a big knife, rips up his bag, like a Japanese doing the happy despatch, and challenges Colossus. Colossus not to be outdone, rips up himself in earnest, and does for himself of course. Then I see Jack digging a deep pit, and laying a deep plot, and then shouting and making a great to-do, till an old coon of a giant comes out to shut him up. Jack is very daring, cheeky, chaffy, and the big man's dander is "riz," so he comes on at a sharp pace, with a spiky club, just to give young troublesome one for himself, but squash! into the pit goes he, where he falls an easy prey. I do delight to see Jack overthrowing these giants one after another; delivering their poor victims, who were meant to be cooked; capturing castles immensely large, and coming into possession of no end of tin in consequence; always up to time, a never say die youngster, and yet one who would say with Tacitus, supposing he had read that Roman author, which I guess he had not-Honestá mors turpi vita potior! An humble death is better than a depraved life. Now, "let me put it to you, gents," as our drill sergeant says, and he is a capital fellow, though not quite up in the Q.E.* This giantkilling story is, I maintain, as moral in its real character, as any of the slow coaches which are recommended to model boys. We cannot go out fighting giants, great big, bullying giants in the flesh. They are not to be found nowhere! The biggest giants of modern times are dwarfs beside the giants of fable. But there are giant evils to be overcome, beaten down, trampled under, scrunched, done for. It is a brave thing to fight for what is good and true, and to conquer what is base and dangerous. We shall find lots of work cut out for us when we go into busy life; more and more of it as we grow older,-we shall see Giant Wrong lording it over innocent Right, and Giant Wealth spurning meek Poverty, and Giant Impudence thrusting aside modest Merit. Come on, let's slay the Giants! And I think if we take the trouble of looking we may find some giants that it's worth while to put down within ourselves (blessed if I aint getting as moral as Mrs. Sherwood); if A would only put a stopper on his brag, and B would only shut up his bounce, and C would always stick to the truth, and D would always play fair, and E would only be a little less egotistical (is E myself?) Well, well, it's a hit, a very palpable hit, but before you come down on a cove like a shower of bricks, please to remember I am only THE ODD Boy. * We presume Queen's English is intended. AS RELATED BY HIS FRIEND AND FELLOW- which we have selected for publication are TRAVELLER. TO THE READER. THE HE "perilous adventures" recorded in the following pages possess the striking advantage of being true. The hero is an Irishman, who has travelled over many lands, had many hairbreadth 'scapes, and many a day of want and suffering. Stephen Halston possesses his fair share of the genius and daring which distinguish the Celts. Habits of close study have made him a keen observer, and a sound constitution have enabled him to indulge his relish for "wild sports." The adventures related by his friend and fellow-traveller commence in California, at a period when the gold discoveries had made that district of American territory peculiarly attractive. The influx of strangers, each with a wash-bowl on his knee," had disturbed the Indians, who were in no mood to endure any interference with their country. The red men looked askance at the pale faces. It was both the time and place for perilous adventures. 66 The passages of Stephen Halston's career preceded in the manuscript narrative by introductory matter which would have but little interest for the general reader. We have therefore omitted all particulars of "birth, parentage, and education," preferring to present our hero at once in the character of a perilous adventurer. CHAPTER I. THE AFRICAN HERCULES. THE gold region of California is from four to five hundred miles in length, and from forty to fifty miles in breadth. It follows the line of the Sierra Nevada, and comprehends in its extent the long range of hills which form the eastern border of the plain of the Sacramento and San Joaquin, which range, branching away to the eastward some fifty or sixty miles, rising to the height of about 130 yards, terminates at the foot of the main ridge of the Sierra Nevada. In the Sierra are numerous springs, which form streams, and these, augmented by rain and snow, run to the west, increasing into rivers, which debouch into the Rio Sacramento and San Joaquin, ten, fifteen, or twenty miles from each other. Now these rivers, in cutting out their beds, have stirred up the quartz, with which the gold is combined, and, slicing the ore into dust and flakes, deposit it in the sand and gravel of their channels. As in the dry season some of these beds are entirely dried up, owing to the want of rain and snow water, the gold is exposed, like pebbles in form. These "dry diggins" spread over llanuras de tierra; and it is well known lumps of gold several pounds in weight have been picked up in them. It was a burning noon, about ten days' journey from Sacramento, that we found ourselves riding along the margin of a little silvery arroyo upon which we had struck half an hour before. We had wandered from ranche to ranche, and had "struck" the "upper" gold mines; we had forged ahead through "prairie butes and forests of oaks, and had seen cayotes and one or two bears at a distance. Nothing, however, of much interest had occurred hitherto. This day, however, we were travelling through a well-timbered country, cautiously looking around us as we advanced, for we were in the territory of the "five tribes." These mountain Indians, or five tribes, are a very brave race, quite different from the debauched savage of the towns, and are subject to the grand chief Nai-yak-qua, a wise and brave soldier. They consist of the How-echeis, the Chuch-chau-ces, the Pohonaches, Nookchooks, and Chowchillies, and are a very formidable race. The little brook danced brightly in the sunbeams as we rode along slowly by its green banks, a wide prairie rolling away on our other side, belted by clumps of oaks. We had made some two or three miles along the arroyo when a sudden exclamation from one of our company, Dugald by name, arrested my attention from where it was fixed, far away from California, on the sandy plain of the North Bull, and a certain Lizzie Wilmerding, in her sweeping habit and drooping plume. "Hilloa! mon, did na ye hear firing the now ?" quoth Dugald. I listened attentively, but could not hear any sound like the report of firearms for a short time; but we had now reached a bend in the arroyo, and this bout I certainly heard the faint sound of a rifle. The faint wind blew directly in our faces, and we quickened our pace, calculating that the sound came from the same quarter; nor were we deceived, for in half an hour we reached another bend in the stream, and here we discovered the origin of the noise. Standing on a grass-covered knoll, clubbing a long rifle, was a gigantic figure. His face showed his country-he was a negro. The only garments he wore were trousers and a red flannel shirt. His hat had fallen off; and as he stood, his left leg advanced, both hands grasping the rifle barrel, and his head bent backwards, I thought I never had seen a finer model of the African Hercules. Clustering around the knoll, but keeping still at a prudent distance from the sweep of the formidable rifle, were about a dozen painted Indians, all in their war dress. It seemed as if there was a parley at this moment, from the gestures and guttural ejaculations of the savages, of whose number three bodies were lying prostrate at the foot of the knoll, while behind the negro lay another figure, but whether black, or white, or Indian, I could not say. We by this time had reached a belt of trees within shot of the combatants, and, dismounting from our horses, unslung our firearms, inspected the priming in the nipples, and presenting our pieces, levelling them, and using the light branches of a young tree as a rest, waited in profound silence till we might learn something more of this unexpected event. "Mi Hermano es guerrero," "* quoth the speaker of the savages in a loud tone. He was a tall, fine-looking man, holding a tomahawk carelessly in one hand, his eye marking every movement of the negro's all the time. Quiza," rejoined the black man. 66 Usted ha matado mucho," pointing to the three Indians at his feet, then said the chief. Es esta nada ?"§ replied the rifle-holder, with a gesture to the figure behind him. 66 66 Misericordia y rendicion," || said the chief. The negro shook his head." Muerte entonces!" and he drew back to obtain free scope for his cast. The tomahawk was raised behind the savage's head, but before he fired, an arrow from one of his band whizzed close to the negro. The next instant Dugald said— My friend Stephen, I'll tak' the chief, ye tak' the near chiel." The tomahawk was gradually raised by the savage, then lowered, then raised again; the whole party stood, some with arrows ready for a flight, others with their tomahawks uplifted. A second more and they fire, when-crack! crack! the sharp report of the rifle and the duller sound of my gun burst on the black man's ear, and next instant the chief leaped convulsively into the air and the savage next me measured his length on the prairie. "Now, mon, gie the staumrels the other barrel!"" We fired instanter upon the confused savages, and then leaped into the saddle, and, pistol in hand, burst forth from the arvoleda. "Upo' them, upo' them, the murdering heathen! down wi' them! hurrah! down wi them!" shouted Dugald. Our black amigo meantime was not idle. Clubbing his rifle, in he burst upon them; right and left he plunged. Here went a savage, knocked down by the Hercules-down tumbled another! He fairly went half mad, his arms sawing about like a windmill's sails; and in three minutes the scoundrels were scouring over the plain in most admirable confusion. "Viva! viva!" shouted the Hercules, as he chased an Indian, and, finding he was outstripped by the redskin, suddenly flung his rifle after him, and capsized the unfortunate full length upon the plain; then picked up his rifle, and dragged his opponent back to the knoll. "Yon's an awfu' chiel!" quoth Dugald. "Well, we ha' had a pretty bruilzie, Steenie! but look how grousome yon chiel is gazing; why he'll be daft entirely! Hilloa, mon!" shouted Dugald, fair play's a jewel; we canna' thole foul play, tho'; they down noo, so just dinna mind these, but chase those that are squatterin' yonder like sae mony wild geese !" "Si, senor," replied the Hercules, though he could not have understood a word of this address; but he seemed to comprehend Dugald's gestures notwithstanding. I now mounted the knoll, and found a man lying senseless (at first I thought he was dead) upon it. He was a white, and elderly; his hair was grey, and he was in a pool of blood from a side wound. CHAPTER II. LAS HERMANAS. THE African no sooner saw us standing round his fallen comrade than he hastened up and looked into our faces with the most intense curiosity, as if to ascertain from thence what our opinion might be concerning the latter's fate. I inquired from him in as good Spanish as I could muster, what the origin of the fray was; and learned that they had been attacked some miles further inland, in the Savannah, but had fought their way to this knoll, where at last his companion had fallen a short time before our arrival. Dugald and I then set to work. The wound was deep enough; yet, if the arrows were not poisoned, we soon saw we could make a good hand of it. The African opened his eyes very widely when he saw the array of plasters, scalpel, spatula, and scissors which the opened case disclosed to his vision. I now directed our sable friend to make a sort of litter upon which we might transport our patient to his tent; for he had by this time opened his eyes, and a faint smile played over his lips when I pronounced the words"Medico cirujano yo soy senor, y mi amigo tambien." died while we were looking on. It went to my heart to see the poor savage expiring thus; but we were inevitably compelled to adopt the course we did. The other Indians had watched their opportunity when we were busied round the wounded man, and had escaped; and, although I saw them running off, I of course said nothing, as we had done them damage enough, and the African appeared just as well pleased that they were gone. We now pushed slowly back to the stream, and defiled on the arroyo's banks, walking carefully, so as to avoid shaking our patient as much as possible. The arroyo along which we were travelling was of a breadth varying from ten to fifteen yards, and of considerable depth. The trees in some places grew hanging over the banks, which were high at one side, but rather lower at the opposite margin. Advancing onwards for a few miles, we came to a spot where the waters formed a delta, inclosing a little island by two channels parting from the main arroyo. This island, which was very small, was densely wooded with_robletrees and matorral, interspersed with tall cedars and piños, the whole forming a pyramid of foliage rising gradually from the water-line. Pushing on, we came opposite to the island, and then the African gave a long, shrill, prolonged whistle, and in a few seconds we saw a white object emerging from under the lee of a little point which projected into the arroyo, and gradually a long light duck-boat shot into the stream and touched the bank at our feet, impelled by the paddle of a singular-looking figure, which stood amidships, using the light oar alternately left and right with great activity. The Charon of this Styx was a slenderly-formed figure, wrapped head and shoulders in a trena, or scarf, which half covered the face; but I could perceive that the eye, which peeped forth, was of the darkest description, and that the delicate little hand which guided the oar was but little accustomed A little cigarito, though, to hard labour. which the señorita, for such she was, kept in her mouth, surprised me exceedingly, though it was only the fashion of the country. This young lady no sooner reached the bank than, regardless of the presence of the forasAnd he then spoke a few words to the Her-teros,* she flew to the side of the litter with a cules, who answered him, apparently detailing the incidents of our arrival, for I could not very well understand the African, who spoke very quickly and rather indistinctly to a foreigner's ear. "Permita usted que le terme el pulso," said I; and that being performed, by the aid of the axes which hung to our sellas, we soon had cut down branches enough to make a litter; and then we put a mackinan over the litera, and gently laid our friend upon it. One of our number led the horses, and the other two carried the litter. Before we went, however, we examined into the state of our Indian opponents. Three were shot dead, and the other wretched being *I am a surgeon, and also my friend. face pale with terror. At first, evidently, she had not looked closely, as she was crossing the arroyo, at our cavalcade; but, when she reached the bank, she uttered a faint scream at the unexpected appearance of the wounded man and the litera. The African, however, spoke rapidly to her in Spanish; and she then kissed the brow of the sufferer, who feebly muttered Hija mi," and then closed his eyes again. We now made the litter be gently placed in the shallow boat, and the senorita knelt down by her father's side, uttering at intervals the words "Mi padre! mi padre! ay de mi! ay de mi!" in a tore of the most heartfelt anguish. I took the paddle, and the African mounted one of the horses, and, leading the other, plunged into the arroyo. We were not long crossing the arroyo, and then carefully landed the litera on the island, where by this time another female figure was standing waiting our approach. This lady was nearly a fac simile of the senorita in the boat, and dressed exactly in the same way. She flew down to the landing-place, and screamed as she saw the wounded traveller. I said a few words to her, and then we all advanced towards the house by a little path through the trees. This path terminated in a palisade of trees, whose tops had been cut down, and a little wicket appeared, constructed in the wooden wall. Through this, with some difficulty, we got our patient, and then found ourselves in a walk formed by the outer palisade, and an inner one constructed of timber also. Walking round this path, which was about six feet in breadth, we came to a little door, through which we entered, and found ourselves in a corral, in the centre of which a wooden house was built. Passing into the door of this casa, which was defended by projecting tower bastions, if I may so call them, on each side, so as to command the approach to the entrance, we entered and found ourselves in a large room, and thence, the senoritas leading the way, we came into another smaller apartment, in which was a wooden stretcher and a mattress laid upon it. Upon this bed we laid our friend, and then set to work to restore him to consciousness, which we effected by the time that the Hercules' huge head was thrust in at the door, with a gaze of great misery and anxiety of mind. Que desgracia!" (what a misfortune!) quoth he; and then, after another glance at his wounded companion, retired to the large room which we first entered. 'Pray, puir lassie! pray for your father's life, that he may yet be spared unto ye! There noo, Steenie, tell him to mak' himself happy, an' gang to sleep. Well for him he forgathered wi' such good company as the twa medicos. Tenga usted la bondad-what's the rest o' it, Steenie? Oh! that will do. I mair a hand at the Gaelic than the Espanola; an' noo, my certie, there's a fizzin' noise in the cocina (kitchen), 'an a mighty savoury smell. Troth, I'm as hungry as a trooper in the Scots Greys this moment!" One of the young ladies now said, to my great surprise, in very good English 'Dinner will be ready soon, senor," which observation put Dugald into a very embarrassed state. "My certie, Steenie, to think o' my talkin' abune eating anent the bonnie lassie; I'm maist 'shamed like." The Hercules now advanced to the door, and then the senorita, the eldest, said— "It is ready." And we followed her out, leaving her sister with the father. The board displayed a very tempting sight to hungry men. At the top was placed a large dish of vaca estofada. Flanking this was a goodly collection of tortillas, or little cakes. At the foot of the table was a dish of fried salmon, and a plate of frissoles completed the array; and we at once set to work most manfully. 66 Well, this reminds one of the Clachan inn," quoth Dugald, as he looked around him, at last having satisfied his masticatory organs. "But here's a fine braid room; onyhow, I'll trouble you for a cup o' water, Steenie. An' noo do ye say the Be thankit, whilk means grace, an' then I'll just step in an' see how our patient ayont there is." Ah! all well now; we'll let the dark mon fa' to now an' see our amigo." The senorita arose, and we entered the next room, having had all the eating business to ourselves, for the lady did not touch a morsel. MAY. FROM THE GERMAN. MAY, Sweet May, again is come; Hill and dale are May's own treasures. Youths rejoice! In sportive measures Our manly youths, where are they now? Bid them up and with us go To the sporters on the plain; Bid adieu to care and pain. Now, thou pale and wounded lover! Richly steep'd in May-dews glowing. Hail this merry, merry May! EDGAR TAYLOR. |