Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1843-12-29
PRAIRIE AND MOUNTAIN LIFE.

THE BEE HUNTERs.. Our evenings around
the camp-nIes were sc"-.sn, "hfoI """ !.
with pipes and chat, now and then song,
and sometimes yarn, either fancilul OF
true, from some of the rude characters around
US. Encamped upon the Wahka-roosi, or
Big Elk, when ourneying outward, only
some sixty miles beyond Westport, we list
ened one evening with intense interest 10 the
following narration, given, perhaps, with
more effect in the uncouth words Of the story
teller. 1t was one of the first Of those camp
fire relations that we heard, and was so told
as TO leave vivid impression upon us ALL
1t was sometime in 1882, that party of
fifteen or twenty persons collected among
the little village settlements of upper Mis-
souri,, for the purpose of bee-huntng expe-
dtion out upon Grand River. As is usual
on such occasions, there were more novices
than practical woodmen among them, and in
few days, before single bee tree was
found, their provisions began 10 run low,
while no sign as yet appeared of either honey
or game. Thus critically circumstanced, an
old man by the name Of Vanderp0ol UNDER
took with his son, 10 relurnto the settlements,
and bring out further supplies for the rest 8
but the man and boy we're only few hours
out Of sight of their companions when they
became bewildered, and by nigh,fall the two
we're thoroughly lost. Their only course
now was to lay down and wait patiently I'M
Ill daylight came to assist in setting them
right again, but during the night the unfor-
{ tunate old man in some accidental manner
discharged his rifle, the ball passing through
bis left thigh and sha,tering the bone IN a
most dreadful way. Night wore slowly away
yer them, while the old man lay in horrible
n gony, and without a prospect of assistance
until, as day dawned, it was determined tina
he boy should seek the settlements alone
nd hurry back with aid to his father.
Accordingly, the youth set off alone, in
'oking Providence TO guide him, while ar
Id and faithful dog was the only living thing
1T with the wounded father, 10 lick his fe
ersh hand and listen to his means. Nor,
frtunate than he anticipated, the son did il
brief period reach the settlements, from
hence he set out again Immediately witt
very necessary assistance, both for his fathe
I'D the unlucky bee hunters upon Crane
liver. But the poor boy was now wors
st than ever, and he could neither find tn
ace where he had left his father, nor direc
friends who were with him where 10 lool
n the main party. All this time the oil
ian Law in the most acute affection, unabl
, stir an inch, while enduring the madden
ig agony of thirst, and with cool stream
billing but few yards from him, through
dep cleft in the prairie, overhung by
.hoad-spreading growth of timber. He lin
gered IN this way until the third day afte
hs son left him, when the desolatc invalid
began 10 feel his brain wandering beneat
r the severity of his sufferings, and in this sit
uaton his poor friend, the dog-the onl
thing that seemed yet mbued with knowl
ledge and sympathy for him-prescnled tn
unhappy man with his only cruel and despe
Irate method of prolonging life.
/ CoaYing The affectionate creature nea
bugh to him by the feeble motion Of hi
ID. he made desperate plunge at the an
peck with his knife, and was fortunate
TO sever the jugular artery, and tn
expired almost without a strugel
|e! Old Vandcpool then, by grea
burned himself so as to touch tn
pod with his lips, and in this wa.
to imbibe sufliciency ofstrang
10 give HIM partial restoration
with which he dragged himse'