The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1849-05-12
From the New Orleans Picayune.
The Lost Man

1t was years ago, yet the story has NV
been told in oral repetition among the old
traders, and has never before, 10 our knowl
edge, fallen in the way of scribhler.
1hc man wandered away upon a suhry
midsummer afternoon, oppressed to desper
alion with thirst. in search Of water, while
the caravan was dragging slowly along the
dreary and heated prairie Making his
way to cluster OF timber hat appeared no
Ve.y tedious distance, he was fortunate
enough to find small cool spring gushing
and ripping at the bottom of deep rocky
hollow.
The fresh water, the cool shade of the
steep rock, and the trees, above, together
with the knowledge that the wagons We're
still moving along ir sight, induced the
poor fellow 10 yield 10 his WEAKNESS and
suffer his eyes to close. When he awoke
the gray Of the evening was deepening
around the prairie, and rushing up from the
hollow, his eyes wandered about in vain
seasch ofhis companions He was raw
advenurer upon his first travel knowing
nothing Of how 10 direct his steps in the
wilderness, and trusting entirely to the
guidance and experience of those with
whom he travelled. TASTY, inpnlsive and
rash As he was careless, and without pos
sesing single quality of character to as
slst him IN such an emergency, confused
terror at once took possession Of him, and
starting as he thought, in The direction
where he had last seen the wagons, he ran
with headlone speed, shouting wildly at
every step. in hopes of being heard and an
swered by his companions.
The terrified man, berell Of all though,
by the fearful nature of his predicament,
could not even remember 10 fire the rifle
he held, but continued tearing his Lungs
| with wild and desolate cries for assistance.
While 'ashins blindIy forward IN this man
ner the night still deepening around him
lie met with violen, fall, and was s.n,-
ned into inseasibiIity for hours. We are
| giving now the substance Of the poor fell
lows own relation. He came back to con
sciousness some time during the night, in
the midst ola pack Of howling wolves, and
found himself lying by the side OF bufa-
, 10 skeleton, not yet entirely stripped by
TIE rowling dogs Of the desert. A si,ua-
ton more appalling 10 heart and nerve,
may not be imagined. The man doubled
not hat that he was aroused prema,urely
tr M his state OF ,orpor by The hungry crea
lures assauing hisown body for his clothes
were mang'ed and torn, and the strach Of
a Claw was on his leg, though Tooth j,
seems had not touched him. He had trip
ped upon the skeleton, and struck his fore
head Oh some other part, as he discovered
a huge lump upon his head, which also
ached dislressins!y when no came to his
senses
The poor fellow, in the heat of his ter
ror; made ont to scare away the wolves
iom himself, and escape from the spot,
leaving the famished animals to return
again to The buffalo bones, and give them
cleaner polishing. Just escaping from
one irigh'iul danger, perhaps took some
thing from The keen horrors of his desolate
and wretched condition, but the unhappy
mans sensations were narrowing and fear
fnl in the extreme. He still pressed on
ward, his strength failing at every step,
calling in harsh and broken slrieks to his
friends, and changing his course again and
again, in utter and miserable uncertainty
of which way to turn.
Daylight came, the sun rose, noon APP.
preached and passed. and the lost man was
alone in the desert, furnished and faint, and
wllhouta solitary hope of regainiug his
companions or finding the track they were
pursuing.
That night the unhappy wretch sank ex-
hausted upen the grass and slept, 10 AVA
ken in stale of fear and danger, more ap-
paling even han the night before. A
compact and innumerable band OF buffalo
came moving slowly across the region of
the prairie on which he lay, and he started
from sleep in imminent peril of being lrod
den 10 death by the huge monarchs of the
plain. AS these dense masses of buffalo
move, they emit sounds that rise in the
air like sea gurge, and as the vast black
| herd came toward him in deep midnight
the poor trader declared that rolling ocean
seemed about to overwhelm him. Utter
ly paralyzed with his danger, the unfortu-
maize man could but start to his feet, and
stand COMPOUNDED, fearing either 10 fire. or
use other means 10 alarm the buffalo, lest
by exciting their terror, he should but IN
crease his own peril
From this critical position, however, he
likewise escaped unhurt, for the animals
separated, as is their custom when strange
scent is detected, and passed on in two d.
visions, keeping some two hundred yards
clear of the mysterious intruder in the mid
die. Daylight was again appearing: as the
last of this innumerable Eerd OF creatures
passed him, and The man was starving.
tie took aim with his rifle at a relreating