I slept well last night in spite of the numerous
prairie-wolves which surrounded us, making a most dismal noise.
The Jew was ill again, but both Mr Sargent and the Judge
were very kind to him; so also was M'Carthy, who declared that a person
incapable of protecting himself, and sickly, such as this little Jew, is always
sure of kind treatment and compassion, even from the wildest Texans.
We started at 5 A.M., and had to get through some dreadful
mud — Mr Sargent in an awful bad humour, and using terrific language.
We were much delayed by this unfortunate rain, which had
converted a good road into a quagmire. We detected a rattlesnake crawling along
this morning, but there are not nearly so many of them in this country as there
used to be.
We halted at 9 A.M., and, to make a fire for cooking, we set
a rat-ranch alight, which answered very well; but one big rat, annoyed by our
proceedings, emerged hastily from his den, and very nearly jumped into the
frying-pan.
Two Texan rangers, belonging to Taylor's regiment, rode up
to us whilst we were at breakfast. These rangers all wear the most enormous
spurs I ever saw.
We resumed our journey at 12.30, and reached a creek* called
“Agua Dulce” at 2 P.M. M'Carthy and I got out before crossing to forage at some
huts close by. We got two dozen eggs and some lard; but, on returning to the
road, we found that Mr Sargent had pursued his usual plan of leaving us in the
lurch.
I luckily was able to get hold of a Mexican boy, and rode
across the creek en croupe. M'Carthy dismounted a negro, and so got
over.
We halted at 5 P.M.
After dark M'Carthy crossed the prairie to visit some
friends who were encamped half a mile distant. He lost his way in returning,
and wandered about for several hours. The Judge, with great presence of mind,
kept the fire up, and he found us at last.
The heat from nine to two is pretty severe; but in Texas
there is generally a cool sea-breeze, which makes it bearable.
_______________
* All streams or rivers are called creeks, and pronounced
"criks."
SOURCE: Sir Arthur James Lyon Fremantle, Three
months in the southern states: April-June, 1863, p. 41-3
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