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S3?
Mississippi Historical Society.
the instant he swung himself clear from the floor the whole
troop plunged madly in, gnashing their teeth and swelling with
rage. Finding himself secure and recovering his composure
he slided along the beam and with his foot closed the door,
thus imprisoning the whole gang. He then braced himself up,
unslung his fiddle and begun to play partly in hope of being
heard but mainly to keep himself awake. John, like others of
his drowsy race, was apt to sleep, and to avoid that he rattled
off his jigs till daylight. The effect of this music on the wolves
was singular. They leaped up incessantly and frantically,
foaming at the mouth, snapping at each other, yelling hideously
and to all appearance raving mad. John was soon relieved;
the monsters shot and scalped; the company repaired back to
the house, had a roaring carouse, and the story is still told and
the ruins of the cabin are yet to be seen on the waters of Leaf River.17
17The sketch embraced between references "16? and "17? appeared in the Free Trader and Daily Gazette of December 29, 1841.
A
BRIEF HISTORY
of the
Mississippi Territory,
To which is prefixed,
A
Summary view of the Country between the settlements on Cumberland?River,
& the Territory.
By James Hall, A. M.
SALISBURY:
PRINTED BY FRANCIS COUPEE.
1801.
"Copy-Right According To Law.?
( 539)