Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-04-11
E,r In au,eksana.--A Thrill.ng story.

We entered the country OF the Aftehesla. anu
with the exception of snakes, and occasional sage
cock-as rancid as the berry upon Which ne iceus-
not an animal was to be seen
We had encountered the last buffalo, an old bull,
three DAYS before. Him We had killed. but the meat
was tough and stringy, and, taking out the tongue
and hump ribs we had left the remainder OF bis car
cass to the wolves We began to repent OF our gen.
crosby as we rode further into the desert We were
already on half rations of the '.erked, and, as the
hunters remarked, dried ehawins' it was We
might ere long be glad OF steak from the same
old bull. We shall see.
As we rode along. treading our way through the
NORWOOD bushes, antelope sprung in our path.
Half dozen rifles were raised but before a bead
could be drawn, the sly animal was far beyond
range, dashing the white leaves from bis shining
flank The rifles came back to their rest across the
pommel of the saddle while their owners, with
looks of disappointment might be heard apostrophis
| ing the goat in not very respectable terms.
About mile further on, and at some distance to
the right, thought observed prongcd head dis
appearing behind swell of the prairie.-My COM
! panions were sceptical, and wheeling out of the
train, started alone My horse was fresh and will
ling and whether successful or not, | knew that
could easily overtake them by camping time.
struck directly towards the spot where had
seen the object. 1t appeared to be only half
mile from where I had left the trail. found it
nearer mile-an illusion which is very common in
the chrystal amid the coudless atmosphere of those
elevated regions.
CurlOuSIY
east to west thcket of cacti covered part of its
summit this thicket was the original point of my
destination. Dismounting led my horse slowly
up the slope, and reaching the cact, fastened the
lariat to branch then crawled cautiously through
the spiky ovals towards the point where expected
to find the game To my joy, not one antelope but
brace of these beautiful animals quietly graz
ing beynnd-but alas too far beyond for the carry
of my rifle. They were full three hundred yards
distant, upon a smooth, grassy slope without even
sage bush to serve What was to be
done
| lay for several minutes thinking over the differ
ent tricks known in hunter craft for taking the an
telope. Should initiate their call Should hoist
the handkerchief? No, they were too shy. knew
this from the fact that at short intervals they threw
up their graceful necks, and struck the sward with
their hoofs, looking wildly around. have alter
native | shall steal back to my horse take the red
. makinaw' from my saddle and display it the
! nopals.'
had come to this conclusion, when all at once
my eye rested upon clay covered line in the prairie
about hundred yards beyond the point where the
animals were feeding. 1t evidently break in
the surface of the plain-a buffalo road perhaps the
bed of an arroyo In either case, the very shelter
wanted, and the game was approaching it step by
step as they fed. The question now was, could
reach this hollow in time: and giving up the plan
of spreading my blanket, resolved to make the at
tempt. Creeping back out of this thicket, and leav
ing my horse where had tied him. | alongside
depressed to the prairie level. On reaching this
point to my surprise ] found myself on the bank of
Il broad arroyo whose waters ran over bed of sand
and gypsum. The banks were low. not three feet
above the surface, except where the ridge impnged
upon the stream. Here there was high bluff. and
hurryng down to its base, entered the channel and
commenced wading upward. AS I anticipated, |
soon reached bend, where the stream after running
parallel to the ridge, struck upon huge rock and
sweeping round to the right, had canoned the hill
ND al
The antelopes had approached within so yards of
the arroyo, but still quietly cropping the grass and
once more bending my back proceeded up the
stream. The bed of the arroyo soft and yield
ing and | was compelled to lift my feet with eau
tion lest their srashng might disturb the game
After weary drag of several hundred yards, came
to artemesia bush, which grew solitary upon the
| top of the bank.
= | must be high" thought I. clutched my rife
firm, brought it to level then raised myself and
looked through the leaves of the artemesia | was
in the right spot and sighting the heart of the buck
fired. He leaped three feet from the ground and
fell back again ifeless lump.
| was about to rush forward and secure my prize,
when I saw the doe, instead of bounding away, run
up to her fallen partner and press her taperng
to his body. She 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 running IN clrcleSarOund the
dead body of her mate.
| stood wayering between two minds NY first
intention to load and kill the doe but her
strange and plaintiye cries entered my heart, and
completely disarmed me of all hostile feeng-nay,
more; | began to feel remorse for what | had al
ready done. Had dreamt of witnessing specta-
Gle painful as the one before me, should never
left the train. ';Jerked BULL for month, and half
rations at that, would have been happiness to what
endured as listened and looked upon this strange
scene. But the mischief was now done. e. have
worse than killed her, thought l. g it will be best
to despatch her at once, and in this way relieve her
of all pain" Actuated by principle of common.
but to her fatal humanity rested the butt of my
rifle and reloaded. With guilty look and falterng
hand, raised the piece and fired My hand was
steady enough to do its work. When the smoke
foated aside, could the little creature bleeding
upon the grass, her head resting upon the body Of
her murdered mate.
shouldered my rifle and was about to move for
ward when to my astonishment found myself held
by the feet, and firmly if my boots had been
screwed in vice | made an effort to raise my
legs, but could neither raise the other--an-
other violent equally unsuccessful-a third
more desperate and loosng my balance, fell back
with splash into the water. Half suffocated, en-
deavored to recover my upright position. This
\ easily accomplished and my knees already be-
low the surface of sand and, in fact bent with
difficulty. | could neither move forward, nor back
ward, to the right left and became sensible that
I was gradually going down deeper and deeper
Then the truth flashed upon me; was sinking in a
quicksand
| A feeling of horror ran through me. l renewed
my efforts with the energy of desperation, bent tc
one side then to the other almost pulling my legs
from their sockets but nv feet [ could not move