Part 9 (2/2)
Old Zeb, adopting the suggestion, unfolded the zigzag of his colossal carcase, and transferred it to the trunk.
”On foot, Mr Stump, as usual?”
”No: I got my old critter out thur, tied to a saplin'. I wa'n't a huntin'.”
”You never hunt on horseback, I believe?”
”I shed be a greenhorn if I dud. Anybody as goes huntin' a hossback must be a durnation fool!”
”But it's the universal fas.h.i.+on in Texas!”
”Univarsal or no, it air a fool's fas.h.i.+on--a durned lazy fool's fas.h.i.+on!
I kill more meat in one day afut, then I ked in a hul week wi' a hoss atween my legs. I don't mis...o...b.. that a hoss air the best thing for you--bein' as yur game's entire different. But when ye go arter baar, or deer, or turkey eyther, ye won't see much o' them, trampin' about through the timmer a hossback, an scarrin' everythin' es hes got ears 'ithin the circuit o' a mile. As for hosses, I shodn't be bothered wi'
ne'er a one no how, ef twa'n't for packin' the meat: thet's why I keep my ole maar.”
”She's outside, you say? Let Phelim take her round to the shed. You'll stay all night?”
”I kim for that purp.i.s.s. But ye needn't trouble about the maar: she air hitched safe enuf. I'll let her out on the laryitt, afore I take to gra.s.s.”
”You'll have something to eat? Phelim was just getting supper ready.
I'm sorry I can't offer you anything very dainty--some hash of venison.”
”Nothin' better 'n good deermeat, 'ceptin it be baar; but I like both done over the coals. Maybe I can help ye to some'at thet'll make a roast. Mister Pheelum, ef ye don't mind steppin' to whar my critter air hitched, ye'll find a gobbler hangin' over the horn o' the seddle. I shot the bird as I war comin' up the crik.”
”Oh, that is rare good fortune! Our larder has got very low--quite out, in truth. I've been so occupied, for the last three days, in chasing a very curious mustang, that I never thought of taking my gun with me.
Phelim and I, and Tara, too, had got to the edge of starvation.”
”Whet sort o' a mustang?” inquired the hunter, in a tone that betrayed interest, and without appearing to notice the final remark.
”A mare; with white spots on a dark chocolate ground--a splendid creature!”
”Durn it, young fellur! thet air's the very bizness thet's brung me over to ye.”
”Indeed!”
”I've seed that mustang--maar, ye say it air, though I kedn't tell, as she'd niver let me 'ithin hef a mile o' her. I've seed her several times out on the purayra, an I jest wanted ye to go arter her. I'll tell ye why. I've been to the Leeona settlements since I seed you last, and since I seed her too. Wal, theer hev k.u.m thur a man as I knowed on the Mississippi. He air a rich planter, as used to keep up the tallest kind o' doin's, 'specially in the feestin' way. Many's the jeint o'
deermeat, and many's the turkey-gobbler this hyur c.o.o.n hes surplied for his table. His name air Peintdexter.”
”Poindexter?”
”Thet air the name--one o' the best known on the Mississippi from Orleens to Saint Looey. He war rich then; an, I reck'n, ain't poor now--seein' as he's brought about a hunderd n.i.g.g.e.rs along wi' him.
Beside, thur's a nephew o' hisn, by name Calhoun. He's got the dollars, an nothin' to do wi' 'em but lend 'em to his uncle--the which, for a sartin reezun, I think he _will_. Now, young fellur, I'll tell ye why I wanted to see _you_. Thet 'ere planter hev got a darter, as air dead bent upon hossflesh. She used to ride the skittishest kind o' cattle in Loozeyanner, whar they lived. She heern me tellin' the old 'un 'bout the spotted mustang; and nothin' would content her thur and then, till he promised he'd offer a big price for catchin' the critter. He sayed he'd give a kupple o' hunderd dollars for the anymal, ef 'twur anythin like what I sayed it wur. In coorse, I knowed thet 'ud send all the mustangers in the settlement straight custrut arter it; so, sayin'
nuthin' to n.o.body, I kim over hyur, fast as my ole maar 'ud fetch me.
You grup thet 'ere spotty, an Zeb Stump 'll go yur bail ye'll grab them two hunderd dollars.”
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