Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1846-02-12

sHaest sign etner oil man or beast, got seriously
uneasy. In my impotence, l abused poor Neal
, Tor not sending some one TO find me. His hunts
man, had heard, was gone TO Anahuac, and would
not be back for two or three days, but he might
) have sent couple Of his lazy negroes. Or, if he
had only fired shot or two a signal stopped
and listened in the hopes Of hearing the crack OF
rifle. But the deepest stiffness reigned around;
} scarcely the chrp of bird was heard-a nature
seemed TO be taking the siesta As far as the eye
could reach was a waving of grass, here and
there island of trees, but not trace Of human
being. At last thought had made discovery.
The nearest cump OF trees was undoubtedly the
same which had so much admired and pointed out
to my companions soon after VIC had LEFT the house.
1t bore fantastica resemblance TO snake, coiled
up, and about to dart upon its prey. About six or
seven miles from the plantation, had passed it
on our right hand, and il now kept it upon my
leit, could not fail to be going in the right direc
ton. So said, so DONE | trotted on most perse-
yeringly towards the point Of the horizon where /
felt certain the house must lie. One hour passed,
then second, then third every now and then
stopped and listened but nothing was audible not
shot or a shout But although heard nothing |
saw something which gave me great pleasure. In
the direction in which we had ridden out the grass
was very abundant, and the flowers scarce; where
as the part Of the prairie in which now found
myself, presented the appearance of perfect how-
er garden with scarcely square foot of green to
be seen The most varlegated carpet Of flowers |
ever behed lay unrolled before me red. yellow.
violet blue. every color every tint was there mill
ions of the most magnificent marie roses noses
asters, dahlias, and fifty other kinds Of flowers
The finest artificial garden in the world would sink
into insignincance when compared with this parerre
of natures own planting. My horse could hardly
make his way through the wilderness of flowers
and |, for a time remained lost in admiration of
this scene Of extraordinary beauty. The praire in
the distance looked as if clothed with ranbows that
waved to and fro over its surface
But the difficulties and anxieties of my situation
soon banished all other Thoughts and / rode on
with perfect Indifference through a scene that nm
der other circumstances, would have captyated nv
entire attention. All the stories that had heard
Of mishaps in these endless prairies REQUIRED in
vivid coloring to my memory not mere backwards
mems legends, but facts were authenticated by per-
sons of undoubted veracity who had warned me.
before | came TO Texas, against yenturing without
guide or compass, into these dangerous wes Even
men who had been long in the country, were often
known to lose themselves, and to wander for days
and weeks over these oceans of grass where no hill
or variety of surface offers a landmark 10 the tray
eer. In summer and autumn, such a position
would have danger the less that is, there would
be no danger OF dying with hunger for at those
seasons, the most delicious fruits grapes plums,
peaches, and Others are to be found in abundance
But now in early spring. and although |
saw number Of plum and peach trees they were on
ly in blossom. or game, Also there was plenty, /
both fur and feather but had no gun. and nothing
appeared more probable than that should die from
hunger, although surrounded by food, and in one
OF the most fruitful countries in the world. This
thought flashed suddenly across. me- and for mo-
ment my heart sunk within me as | first perceived |
the real danger of nv position
After time, however. other ideas came TO con-
sole me. had been already in the country four
weeks, and had ridden over a large slice of il. in
every direction, always through pTairies. and new
er had found any difficulty in finding nv way
True, but then | had ALWAYS had commas and
been in company. 1t was this thought of over con.
lidence and feeling of security thai had made ma
adventure so rashiy. and spite Of ali warning in
pursuit of the mustang. | had no, waited N 70.
fleet that little more than four weeks exneyienca
was necessary to make one ACQUAINTED win the
bearings of district three times as bio as New
York State Still thought il mposs,ble that
should have got so far out of the right track as M,
10 be able to find the house before nigh,fa which
was now. however. ranidlv annroacb;ng Indeed
the first shades of evening strange as !, NAV seem
gave this persuasion increased strength Home
bred and gently nurtured as | was. INV life before
coming 10 Texas had been by no means one of adj
venture, and was so used 10 sleep with rooroyer
my head, that when saw it getting dusk, felt GER
tain ! could not be far from the house. The idea
liked itself so strongly upon my mind that nvol-
unfairly spurred my mustang, and trotted on, peer
ing out through the fast gathering gloom, in expec.
tation OF seeing light Several times fancied
heard the barking of the dogs, the cattle lowing or
the merry laugh oil the children
. "Hurrah there is the house at last-I see the
lights in the parlor windows"
urged my horse on, but when came near the
hOugP n he iela Of I