ing' said T----, turning round a very little with a
highly-charged expression of face; 'a little rough; yes, a little--little
rough; but you observe my seat, Sir--West Point?' 'O yes,' said I; 'very
fine--and cool, I suspect.' But there was not much chance of intelligible
conversation. T---- kept on talking, but his remarks, meant for the
quarter-master, were so barbarously broken, that I could only guess
occasionally at some exclamations, which for point and emphasis were
highly military. Our rate of travel was not, you observe, from five to
ten, or from eight to twelve miles an hour, but exactly ten. That was the
forker's motion, from which there was no deviation. If he was struck, his
heels went up suddenly and very high, but it was no impediment. He
evidently took the blow as a military order for a rear motion; nothing
more, and no occasion for malice. Now, if any body wishes to know about
the face of the country; how bounded, what products, etc., between
Augustine and Picolata, I am unable to give the slightest information from
any notes taken that morning. My perceptions were all _in medias res_; and
I only remember seeing a wild turkey that we scared up, and an alligator
that made for the water while we were a quarter of a mile distant, and
splashed in in a great fright some time after we had passed him.

In little more than an hour we entered the opening at Fort Searle so
suddenly, that I heard the orderly report, as he marched up to the
commanding officer: 'Two gentlemen from Augustine, Sir.' 'Very well,' said
the officer; and he turned to receive the lieutenant, but T---- was past
all dignities. Stretching himself on a bench he ordered brandy-and-water,
and as that was not quite the thing, added a little cherry bounce, and
finished with old Jamaica, and presently went round a corner with a
tumbler of the latter; but whether for external or internal application, I
am unable to say. Without stopping long enough to get stiff, we mounted
again, and after a few closing flourishes from the little grey entered the
city of Picolata, consisting of one house, and were greeted with the
chattering of ten thousand black-birds all in full chorus. A boat coming
up very opportunely, we took passage in her that night, and next morning
were at Pilatka.

A few miles south of that place, there is a small plantation on the river
that had been deserted and the house burned down by the Indians during the
first winter of the war. Som