Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1851-01-09

from sinking deeper!' No; the surface of the wa
ter was two feet above that of the sand. In this
position should have been drowned at once
proved that by bending forward and wrestling my
hands upon the bottom. The running stream
swept my face and shoulders, and l rose again
half choked with the water. The last hope had
left me ; could think of no oiher-I made no ef-
fort TO think. strange stuper seized upon me
my very thoughts were paralysed. knew that
was going mad-for moment | ,cas mad.
After an interval my senses return ed. / made
an effort to rouse my mind from this paralysis in
order that might meet my death, which / now
felt was certain, like man. stood erect; my
eyes had sunk to the prairie level, and resting up
on the still bleeding victims of my cruelty: my
heart smote me at the sight, and could not help
feeling that my fate was re.ribution from God.
With humbled and penitent thoughts turned
nv face to Heaven, almos. dreading that some
sign of Omnipotent anger would scowl upon me
| from above. But no the sun was shining as
brightly as ever, and the blue canopy ofth world
was without cloud. gazed upon it, and pray
ed with an earnestnes 50 known to the heart only in
similar situations.
AS continued looking up, an object attracted
my attention. 1t was but speck when my eye
first rested upon it, but every moment it grew
larger, until against the sky. distinguished the
dark outlines of huge dark bird-I kenw it to
be the obscene bird of the pains-the buzzard
vulture. Whence had it come t-who knows =
Far beyond thes reach Of human eye it had seen
or scented the slaughtered antelope, and with a
broad silent wing, was now descending in spiral
gyrations to the feast of DEATH Presently anoth
er, and another, and another, and many Others
mottled the deep azure, curving and wheeling 81
lentiy earthward and then the foremost swooped
down upon the bank, and after gazing around
tapped off towards the prey. In few seconds
the surface of the prairie was black with filthy
birds, who cambered over the dead animals, and
beat their broad wings against each other. and
tore out the tongues and eyes with their feiid
beaks. And now came gaunt and hungry wolves
the white and coyote-stealing from cactus
thickeis, and Looping, cowardlike, over the green
swes Of the prairie; these drove away the vultures
and dragged forth the entrails with the quickness
of thought, and growled, and snarled, and snapped
vengefully at each other, and licked the blood
clo,ied jaws with looks Of guilty enjoyment.
Thank heaven! shall az least be saved from
this was soon relieved from the sight of it
my eyes had sunk below the level of the bank,
and | had looked my last upon the fair, green
earth; could see only the white gypsum walls !
that contained the river, and the water that ran
heedlessly between them. Again fixed my gaze
upon the sky, and with prayerful heart endeavored
to resign myself to my fate. In spite Of my en-
deavors, the memory of earthly pleasures, and |
friends and home, would come stealing upon me,
causing me a, intervals to break out into wild
paroxysms Of grief and shouting for help. make
fresh and fruitess struggles
During one Of these moments my horse again
neighed, answering my shouts. thought struck
me | shall see him before die. Journeyinps
shared hardships, had made US known TO each
other; he would come at my call; the lariat was
loosely tied, or the soft cactus would break al
single jerk. | lost not moment to attempt its
execution. raised my voice TO its highest pitch,
and cried Moro Moro y A loud neigh was
my answer neigh of recognition, that came
back as quick as echo. | again shouted
Prob! Moro! Proh!' listened with bound
ing heart. For moment there was a silence,
uuuicHt, duu tucH came lIe nOllO" SOuNu6
Of the prancng hoof; at first rapid and irregular,
as OF steed struggling and rearing to get free,
then another neigh, and after that the stroke OF
the iron heel in measured and regular gallop.-
Nearer appeared the sounds, nearer and nearer,
until the gallant brute bounded out upon the bank,
here ne halted, and fnging back his tossed name,
uttered another shrill neigh. He was bewildered,
and looked on every side, snorting loudly Il
knew, that having once seen me, he would not ]
stop until he had pressed his nose against my q
cheek-his usual cnstom; and holding up my hand G
once more called out the magic words Prob T
Moro Proh!' III
Now. for the first time, looking downwards, he !
perceived my head and shoulders above the wa !
ers; and stretching himself he sprung out into
he channel and came towards me.
The next moment held HIM by the bridle
There was no time to be lost. was still going Z
lown; and my armpits were fast nearing the sur Il
ace OF the qucksand. Reaching up caught O
he lariat. and passing under the saddle girths,
astened it in tight firm knot then looped the
railing end, making it secure around my body, :
md across my ribs. had left enough of the !.
oPe between the bitring and the girlhs, TO ena- o
'le me to check and guide the animal, in case the
rag upon my body should become too painful. Il
All this while, the dumb brute seemed to CON- C.
'rehend what was about, as we'll as the nature r.
f the ground upon which he stood; for, during =
he operation, he kept lifting his feet and replacing
hem alternately, without either punging rear
pg! aaa :
My arrangements were at length completed (; p
NTH fool r. I III