Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-10-01

Should alarm the game; Dut was cneereu In
my exertion by the prospect of fresh venison for
my supper.
After weary drag of several hundred yards
came opposite to q small cump OF wormwood
bushes, growing out of the bank. " | may be
high enough" thought | " these will serve for
cover"
| raised my body gradually, until | could see
through the leaves | was in the right spot
drought my rifle to level; sighted for the
heart of the buck and fired. The animal leap
ed from the ground, and fell back lifeIess.
was about to rush forward, and secure my
prize, when observed the doe--instead of run
ming off as had expected--go up to her fallen
partner and press her tapering nose to his body.
She was not more than twenty yards from me !;
and could plainly see that her look was one Of
inquiry, and bewilderment! All at once, she
seemed to comprehend the fatal truth; and
throwing back her head, commenced uttering
the most piteous cries--at the same time run
ming in circles around the body!
stood wavering between two minds. My
first impulse had been to reload, and kill the
doe; but her plaintive voice entered my heart,
disarmed me of all hostile intentions. Had
dreamed of witnessing this painful spectacle, |
should not have left the trail. But the mischief
was now done. 81 have worse than killed her."
thought |, lit will be better to dispatch her at
once"
Actuated by the principles of common, but
to her fatal, humanity | rested the butt of my
rifle, and reloaded. With faltering hand a.
gain leveled the piece, and fired
My nerves were steady enough to do the
work. When the smoke floated aside, | could
see the little creature bleeding upon the grass
her head resting against the body of her mur-
dered mate
shoudered my rifle, and was about to move
forward, when, to my astonishment, found that
was caught by the feet | was held firmly, as
if my legs had been screwed in a vice.
made an effort to exricate myself-another,
more violent, and equally unsuccessful-and,
with third, lost my balance, and fell back up
on the water
Half-suffocated, regained my upright posi-
ton; but only to find that was held as fast as
! ever.
Again / struggled to free my limbs. Icould
neither move them backward nor forward-to
the right nor to the left; and became sensible
that was gradually going down. Then the fear
full truth flashed upon me- acas sinking IN a
quicksand!
A feeling of horror came over me. renew
ed my efforts with the energy of desperation
| lcaned to one side, then to the other, almost
wrenching my knees from their sockets; my feet
remained fast as ever. | could not move them
an inch.
The soft clingy sand already overtopped my
horse-skin boots, wedging them around my an
kes, so that was unable to draw them off;
and could feel that | was still sinking, slowly
but surely, as though some subterraneous mon.
sters were leisurely dragging me down. This
very thought caused me a fresh thrill of horror
and | called aloud for help, To whom There
was no one within miles of memo living thing.
Yes! the neigh of my horse answered me from
the hill mocking my despair!
| bent forward, as well as'my constrained po-
sition would permit; and, with frenzied fingers
commenced tearing up the sand. / could bare
ly reach the surface; and the little hollow was
able to make, filled up almost as soon as it had
been formed
A thought occurred to me. My rifle might
support me, placed horizontally. looked a.
round for it. 1t was not to be SEEN 1t had sunk
beneath the sand
Could throw my body flat, and prevent my.
self from sinking deeper? No. The water was
!, two feet in depth. should drown at once!
This last hope left me as soon as formed.
could think OF no plan to save myself. | coulC
, make no further effort. strange stupor seiz
ed upon me- My very thoughts became paraly
zed. knew that was going mad. For a mo-
, ment l ,oaS mad
, After an interval, my senses returned. Imadt
an effort to rouse my mind from its paralysis, il
, order that might meet death-which now be
, ieved to be certain-as a man should.
stood erect. My eyes had sunk to the prai
rie level, and rested upon the still bleeding vic
Tins of my cruelty. My heart smote me at tht
: sight Was | suffering a retribution of God!
With humbled and penitent thoughts, | turn
} ed my face to heaven, almost dreading that som,
} sign of omnipotent anger would scowl upon mt
) from above. But no. The sun was shining az
: bright as ever; and the blue canopy ofthe worlc
, was without a cloud.
, gazed upward, and prayed, with an earnest
ness known only to the hearts of men in posi-
5 tions of peril like mine.
) AS continued to look up, an object attracted
my attention Against the sky,I distinguished
, the outlines Of large dark bird. knew it t.
be the obscene bird of the plains-the buzzard
3 vulture. Whence had it come! Who knows
: Far beyond the reach of human eye, it had seen
: or scented, the slaughtered antelopes; and oil
broad silent wing, was now descending to th'
feast of death.
Presently another, and another, and many 9th
E ers, mottled the blue field of the heavens, curv
? ing and wheeling silently earthward. Then, tn,