-the current, we a little ahead in the race across the river. The buck saw this, and knowing from instinct that he could use his wounded limb to more advantage in the water than on land, turned his head down stream. cleared the animal, but the rocks were slip pery, and a mis-step sent him rolling into the water beneath the stag's feet. The noble animal raised both fore feet, and struck the prostrate hunter a violent blow in the shoulders. "Let me have a crack at that fellow," said and he was in a fair way to demolish him, if I to Dill. Pop away; but I'll bet a pound of tobacco you miss him. Aim for his head; don't spoil the hide." "Go ahead," shouted Brooks, as he saw me taking pretty deliberate aim; "I want a crack at him myself." I banged away, from the bow, and had the satisfaction of hearing my ball strike the water about a yard to the right of the deer, for which I very religiously swore at the wobbling of the canoe. Three other shots were fired with no better success, for we were then in the shade of the mountain and its dense pine trees, and such a thing as getting a sight was out of the question. 'Drop your rifles and use the paddles," said Dill, impatiently. "We must overhaul that fellow on the riffle yonder, or we'll lose him; besides we are frightening away all the game within ten miles." To the paddles we betook ourselves, in good earnest, and when the deer was within a rod of the head of the riffle we were not two rods behind him. "Stand clear and give me a chance at the bow there," shouted Dill, and with two strides he had passed to the front, and with his hunting knife in his teeth, sprung upon the setting pole with increased vigor. As the buck struck the rocks that here filled the bed of the stream in broken masses, he began to plunge and snort as before, and stumbling upon one higher than the rest, fell. He was evidently bleeding profusely. "Now, altogether!" shouted the herculean hunter, and as we all sprang to our propellers the canoe was run upon a rock beside the prey, and tipped upon the side. My first idea was to keep my rifle and powder dry, but Dill sprang into the water and grappled with the buck just as he was rising from his fall. Did you ever see a wounded buck at bay? If you have not, I can tell you that he is not the pleasantest customer in the world to play with. The old wood monarch saw the approach of the hunter, and, as the latter came within fighting distance, turned his fiery eyeballs upon him, and made a desperate plunge. The hunter sprang to one side, and would have Brooks had not rushed to the assistance of his comrade. A smart blow with the butt of his rifle caused the deer to turn his attention to Brooks, which gave Dill a chance to recover. 'Keep him there," shouted Dill, blowing the water out of his mouth, and in an instant he was again on his feet. The deer made a plunge at Brooks, and fell upon his knees. "Now's your time!" cried Brooks; "cut his confounded throat." Dill did not want prompting. Quick as thought, he sprang upon the buck, seized him by one of his antlers, and plunged his hunting knife hilt deep into the neck of his victim. The buck bounded to his feet, reared high in the air, and fell dead at the feet of the badly bruised hunter. Dill looked at the conquered animal an instant, and then quietly remarked "Pretty snug fight, I call that-let's have some liquor, "and he took a pull at the jug with the utmost complacency. The canoe was once more got into deep water, the deer put in tow, and, after a jolly health all round to Dill, we resumed our voyage to the lick. It was after ten o'clock when we were fairly ensconced behind the murderous "blind" at the salt lick. For over an hour we waited without hearing anything but the screaming of wolves and catamounts, who scented us, but were too cowardly to attack. Several times Dill called our attention to the crackling of dry twigs a little distance in our rear. ` At times the sounds seemed to approach, and again they would recede. A bar arter our vension," said Dill. "Where did you hang it, Brooks?" "On that beach thar, in front of the blind. Thar aint no bar anxious to come thar for it, I rather guess." "Hist! there," said Dill, "a little fellow, 1 take it; but it's a deer sure." Sure enough, the next minute we heard the plashing of footsteps in the mud around the lick. "Give me a chance, now, Dill," said I. "You have won your bet, and I must have a chance for mine." 11ges a crack at that bar along with you." I bear had been creeping nearer and nearernd was evidently bent on stealing the dead Ia short time, two other deers came down lick, and I began to grow impatient. Let's shoot, Dill, those fellows won't stay hall night." "Why to kill the first deer, of course." "Well, that is cool-but how are we to decide the bet ?" "Leave it to Dill." Accordingly Dill was selected to decide who had won, and after examining the wound with all the pomp and circumstance of a country doctor, and inspecting the pieces, like a gay Wait 'till I strike a light," said the hunter. old hunter, as he is, decided that the wound N, are you both ready." was made by a ball from a cut rifle. Brooks used a smooth bore, and had to give in—but he never paid the quart of Monongahela. replied in the affirmative, and Dill, having pt out of the blind, lighted some tarred Best, which blazed up, and gave us a good wight of the deers, who gazed upon the sudden Iza with astonishment. Fire!-you fool!" growled Dill, and two started upon a dog-trot into the thicket. In rifies answered the order. The field was reconnoitered, and one young do was found to be shot directly between the What the deuce did you shoot for ?" asked I of Brooks, after we had returned to the blind. We had no more sport that night, and at day dawn Dill went to look for his buck It was gone; and jumping upon the trail he less than twenty minutes, we heard the crack of his rifle, and following the course of the report, found him quietly skinning old Brain. It was a monstrous bear, and as pork was scarce in that region, we were well satis ed with the change. WOLVUS VAN DEEK. THE DUTCHMAN OF KIPP's DAY. A HISTORY SHOWING THE DANGERS ENCOUNTERED AND THE TRIALS ENDURED BY THE ENTERPRISING ANCESTORS OF MODERN GOTHAM. BY J. C. M. Two hundred years ago this great city, which we call New-York, Gotham, and like nines, was but a wee bit of a place, extending it bounds not farther than what is now termed Brad-street, on the east, and Rector-street on the north. This island, above these streets, w then either a dense forest, or, where a few Dorch pioneers had encroached upon it, cultivat-1 fields. If trees could speak of deeds of i wonderful would be the tales told by the test of Nieu Amsterdam, of the achievements of Dutch forefathers;-how, when their ta-dogs gave notice of the approach of the the Vanderskatens, the Van Sauns, and what- kins, they would sally forth to the field, or rather wood, of anticipated battle, and, seei.g the enemy-return to their homes with the tuts of their blunderbusses pointed behind thm The woods would tell of the DutchIran's courage in more ways than this: they would speak of the unheard exploring exploits upon our rivers by such noble men as the Van Wink the Van Tromps, the Dundersmashers, a shore which was once most beautifu picturesque. The high hill on the north side, now by the vandal hand of man in rapid progress of leveling, was covered with magnificent trees, which reared their heads in grandeur high into the air, and appeared like giant man in a green old age, smiling upon the lovely landscape on either side of the river. The shore, southward, was comparatively level, and bordered with thick underbrush which acted, apparently, as the spirit of affection, connecting, as it did, the different tribes of Arbori in a net-work of lovely relationship. The waters of the bay were remarkable for their serenity even in stormy weather, for the powerful outside currents sweeping past it prevented a divergence into its circle, and this may account for the proverbial calm which reigned there. In the year 1640, a Dutchman, named Wolvus Van Deek, had built himself a log-hut hard by the shore of this bay, into which he had ensconced himself in all the glory of bachelorship, for be it known he had attained the noble age of forty, and still assisted himself singlehanded, though not as many might be led to believe by the above expression, a one-armed man. Wolvus was a very "considerable" looking individual; his circumference did not exceed seven feet, nor was his height less than four feet and ten inches. His head was one of a species intended to sustain many ups and downs (in polite language, ascendities and declensions) without any injurious results to either its interior or exterior qualities. Wolvus had limbs like other humans, but it is needless to describe them-suffice it, they were in strict proportion to his body. Contrary to what might be opined from his dimensions, Wolvus was of a very sweet disposition, yet capable of being made the exponent of another kind, resembling what some people now-a-days use in the manufacture of pickles, viz., vitriol. We shall see the effects of the latter in this history. It seems, from chronicles of the time in which Van Deek lived, that the venturesome explorers from the city could never attain any distance beyond where the shot-tower now stands, for so soon as they reached that spot a violent storm or quicksilver-calm would interfere with them and compel them to return. In their excursions they would frequently knock against Wolvus's door, and he, in his jovial manner, always welcomed them with a laugh such as he alone, of all Nieu Amsterdamers could usher into existence. In consequence of his friendly nature he was known to all the explorers who had had the temerity to run up the river as far as his place. One afternoon, in the fall of 1640, a party of these aquaeous Dutchmen entered the Hut of Van Deek and with woful countenances spake to him of the impassable spot, above alluded to. Now Van Deek, although a great discoverer round about this island, had never ventured so far as the mystic barrier, and for this reason he was fearful lest he might be drawn into "the gate" above, which was a world of horror to a Dutchman. He had devoted his attention mostly to ascertaining the sources of Newtown and Bushwick creeks, while searching for crabs on the opposite side of East river, and it was but a few moments after his return from one of these hazardous excursions, that the party just referred to, reached his domicil. Wolvus, as usual, laughed vociferously, but not a smile, of the thinnest species, illumined the visages of his guests; on the contrary, dark clouds played upon them, which Wolvus perceiving, caused him to restrain his mirth; he then condescendingly enquired the reason of their gloom, and Hans Dundersmasher, the spokesman, informed him of their inability to accomplish their desire of going beyond the "barrier." "Vell," said Wolvus, "vhat do you vant me to do?" "Vhy," replied Hans, "it ish our vish dat you shall pass de place ve cant-ve ish deschided dat you ish de mans' vhat can do twice as mooch as to our vonce." "Vell," said Wolvus, "I vill twice as mooch." His answer was satisfactory, and after a draught of skiedam had been disposed of by each, the exploring party gave five cheers and retired. Wolvus, so soon as his guests were out of sight, sat himself down and soliloquized thus: 'Vell, mine aspirations vill pe reached! mine frients vant me to make var against te tyvil of te parrier, ant I vill! If I looshe mine preath in te var, Hans, and te whole people vill put te name of Wolvus Van Deek in te town clock vhere all in te future vill think I am going foreffer. If I fight te var fictorious, I vill eat ash mooch ash I likes. Up mit you, Wolvus!" Having concluded his soliloquy he bestirred himself in preparation for the next night, upon which he had concluded to make his efforts to pass the mysterious obstruction. The early morning found Van Deek hard at work caulking and tarring his boat.. Before noon this labor was finished, and he commenced laying in a heap of stores-four hams, a dozen cabbages, fifty or more sassengers, a keg of skiedam and other eatables and drinkables too numerous to think of. Now what he was going to do with all this food it would be difficult at this era to determine, had we not at our command chronicles of the time, two hundred years ago. His vitriol disposition was excited, and one would suppose he intended to tire the devil of the "mystic barrier" out of existence, by eating. We shall see. About ten o'clock in the night, Wolvus clambered into his boat and pushed forth. A violent storm was howling around him but he heeded it not. It must be borne in mind that the bay was never known to be affected by storms more than to cause a gentle ripple on its surface, but upon the outer edge the waters foamed and heaved furiously, and formed a wall over which it was extremely difficult to leap. Wolvus took advantage of an eddy in the north corner and was whirled out into the channel with the speed of a gun-shot By his skilful experience alone did he then preserve his vessel from swamping. He battled with the wind and currents for over two hours, at the expiration of which time he arrived at the place where he was to do most valorous fight. So soon as his boat struck the mysterious line there was a very perceptible cessation of the storm around him, and voices, while the winds were sighing most lamentably, yet sweetly through the forest, sang as follows: As the winds are singing, List! And their tones are ringing, Hist! 'Mid these bowers entrancingly, Hie thee to thy dwelling by the shore; 'Round whose walls are dashing, -Heed! Waves, whose wrath is crashing, All thy towers, despoiling thee, Haste! or homestead thine thou'lt see no more. As any other man would do under the same circumstances, Wolvus assumed a tragic attitude, caused, as some would say, by fright, but it was not so; he was only startled. Throwing off the effects of the shock he had received, but retaining his stage position, he exclaimed, with a voice of thunder, "Ha! Ha! tou tenants of te teep, in te upstairs, I vill not be afraid mit you. I vill girt up mine loins ant—” just at this point of his speech he was interrupted by an awful streak of lightning which completely unmanned him. The breezes, before weeping among the forest branches, died away, and voices, masculine in their tone, chanted these lines: Man of clay dost mark us? All our words, ominous, Speak to thee of dangers near, Round thy hut tempestuous, Speed! Roll their briny floods-dost hear? Stubbornness will surely bring dismay! The chant concluded, loud blew the blast again and high leaped the waters around Wolvus. Having some knowledge of discretion, he, at the finale of the music, thought it would whether or not his shanty was already, or being, be the better part of valor to return and see destroyed by the elements. Turning his boat's head homeward, he dashed furiously forward. Reaching the bay, he perceived that it was as calm as usual. Thinking, however, that the tempest had been making havoc of his house, he approached it and landed. Upon examination, he discovered nothing whatever out of the way. Then was the wrath of Wolvus kindled! Aye, he heaped loads of fuel upon it in the way of skiedam, and he became once more valiant. All of a sudden he sprang up from his long bench upon which he had been momentarily reclining, and opened his pantry. Out came a huge blunderbuss, then several loaves of bread, and lastly a large firkin of a Dutchman's indispensable-sour cabbage.These having been severally stowed in his boat he once more pushed forth. Passing through many dangers he at length pulled up, compelled to do so, at the mysterious line. Most lamentable howls proceeded from the forest, but Van Deek could not now be intimidated. Lifting and holding aloft a large ham, he cried, "Now I vill see if I vont pass from here. You spirits dont eat-vell, I vill make you eat!"* with this he threw quite on to the shore the pork, which no sooner struck it than the howlhe exclaimed, “I vill make you eat more as ing music became more boisterous. "Ah, ha!" dis," and whizzed through the air another ham. Louder blew the winds and more courageous became Wolvus. Off went his coat, then his vest, up rolled he his sleeves, and at that with a "vhat?" By and by Van Deek's ner ous system was reinvigorated, when he related his encounter with the opposers to progress up the river, how he had fought and been worsted. His last words to them, however, before they again parted, was, “I vill try vonce more; if I tont come pack to mine house before twelf, you shall pash te parrier." Next morning welcomed our exploring party to "Kipp's Bay," but Wolvus didn't. They waited till afternoon, when they set out for the terrible line, past which they were whirled with tremendous power, verifying what Wolvus had predicted. With some difficulty, Dundersmasher and confreres gained the city, and sounded round the town what had been done. The Dutch men and women wondered greatly; but as day came and went and no Wolvus, they wondered yet more and more, till a farmer from Spuyt and Duyvel creek informed them, that late one night he heard a great hallowing which caused him, tho' with great fear, to rise, look out, and see whence it proceeded, whether from an owl or human being. He moment might have been witnessed one of the hardest fights upon which ever single man ventured. Ham after ham, loaf after loaf, were made to bound through the air, food for the ærial beings opposed to him. "Now I vill dishcoffer," cried he, "vedder you is mine enemies. Shpirits tont eat, and if tey tont tey musht pe afrait of mine vechetaples. I vill make you hallo so moosh as more! I vill see if you vill shtant akainst me after I beshtow tis cappache." Collecting his almost exhausted strength, he elevated the firkin and gave a most desperate heave, but, alas! he threw himself with it, proving thereby that this last effort was too much for him. Finding himself in the water and his boat not discoverable for the darkness, his only hope of saving himself was to make for the shore, for, although he could not drown in consequence of his fat, he bethought himself that the waves might press his breath out of him, carry his floating body with the tide in the first calm past the city and display to the citizens the valorous Wolvus conquered. He could not bear this last thought, therefore he struck out for the land, determin-stated that he saw running, as if all the uglied to carry the war, if need be, into the very camp of the enemy. So soon as he landed among the bushes he was struck on all sides with what he imagined, harpoons, tridents and all such sort of warlike implements. He soon found these were not to be stood calmly and sought for his gun in his breeches pockets. It was not in either of them, but in the boat, and whither that had gone Wolvus did not take time to think. He came to the conclusion very soon that flight was better than remaining where he was, and he ran as fast as his weight would permit him, southward, along the land near the shore, finally striking his head against something most sound. He pushed and pushed again with his cranium till the obstacle gave way, when lo! his body was stretched full length on his own cabin floor. There was no movement afterward. The rays of the rising sun streamed through the doorway of Van Deek's hut, but no mortal was stirring within it. No noise issued therefrom except a hoarse snoring. The sun marked the hour of twelve when a boat struck upon the beach near the cabin, and soon after Dundersmasher and friends were in the presence of Wolvus's sleeping body. After an half hour's hard labor they succeeded in waking our knight and enquired how he had succeeded. They were answered to all their questions for a long time est animals were after him, a man whom he supposed to be Van Deek. This recital was sufficient. Word was instantly sent to the settlement at Albany, that in case a person answering the description of Wolvus should make his appearance there in a flighty manner, he should be stopped and cared for. But no Wolvus was ever again heard of. It may be recollected that some time since, a Frenchman, whom some call Sue, wrote a novel entitled the "Wandering Jew;" it commences in a strange, uncouth style, somewhat like this: "There were two foot-prints, one on either side of Bherring's straits." This Frenchman through his novel goes on to prove, I believe, that these prints were made by the "Jew;" but such is not the fact, they are the only evidences of the whereabouts of our unfortunate, yet brave friend, Wolvus Van Deek, of Kipp's Bay, all two hundred years ago. [Later writers, of less etherial conceptions than the Knickerbocker historians of 1640, aver that the barriar alluded to in this' chronicle was neither more nor less than the swift tide which always sets there. "The few Dutchmen," say they "who went so far from the city, were afraid to go up with the tide lest they should be carried into the hell-gate, and when the tide ran counter they were unable to stem it." The voices that Wolvus heard, are set down by the same writers, as the result of a singing in his head." EDITOR.] |