Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1851-04-11

bleeding victims of my cruelty my heart smote me
at the sight, and could not help feeling that my
fate was q retribution from God.
With humble and penitent thoughts turned my
face to Heaven. almost 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 of the world was without
cloud gazed upon it, and prayed with an earn
estness known to the heart only in similar situations
AS continued looking up, an object attracted
nv 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 out
lines of huge dark brd-I knew it to be the OBJ
scene bird of the plains,the bnzzard Vuiture,|
Whence had it come (? who knows? Far beyond the
reach of human eye it had seen or scented the
slaughtered antelope. and with broad silent wing,
was descending in spiral gyratlons to the feast
of death Presently another and another, and anoth-
err and many others notified the deep azure, curving
and wheeling silently earthward and then the fore
most swooped down upon the bank, and after gazing
around tapped off towards the prey: In few sec
onds the surface of the prairie black with filthy
birds. who clambered over the dead animals. and
beat their broad wings against each other and tore
out the tongues and eyes with their fetid beaks.-
And now came gaunt and hungry wolves-the white
and coyote-stealing from cactus thckets, and lop-
ing cowardly over the green swels of the prairie
these drove away the vultures, and dragged forth
the entras with the quickness of thought, and
grOWleQ. ana SnareQ, ana Sndppeu feHSelulIJ
each other, and licked their blood clothed jaws with
looks of guilty enjoyment.
| "Thank Heaven I shall at 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 contain
ed the river, and the water that heedlessly be-
tween them. Again fixed my gaze upon the sky,
and with prayerful heart endeavored to resign my
self to my fate In spite of my endeavors, the me-
mory of earthly pleasures, and friends and home
would coming stealing upon me- causing me at in
tervals to break out into wild paroxysms of grief,
and shouting for help, make fresh and truitless
struggles
During one of these moments, my horse again
neighed, answering my shouts. thought struck
mel shall see him again before die Journey
ings, shared hardships, had made US known to each
other he would come at my call the larlat was
loosely tied the soft cactus would break at SIN
gle jerk lost not a moment to attempt its execu-
| ton. | raised my voice to its highest pitch and
cried, g Moro! Moro!" A loud neigh my an
swer-a neigh of recognition, that came back as
quick an echo. shouted again Prob, Moro J!
Prob u I listened with bounding heart. For a
moment there was silence, only moment, and
then came the hollow sounds of the prancing hoof ::
at first rapid and irregular, of steed struggling
and rearing to get Free then another neigh and af
ter that the stroke of the iron heel i'll measured
and regular gallop. Nearer appeared the sounds,
nearer and nearer and nearer, until the gallant
brute bounded out upon the bank; here he halted
and fnging back his tossed name, uttered another
shrill neigh He was bewildered, and looked on
every side snoring loudly. | knew that having
once me- he would not stop until he had press
ed his against my cheek-his usual custom !;
and holding up my hand: once more called out the
magic words g Prob, Moro Prohi
Now, for the first time looking dOwnwards, he
perceived my head and shoulders above the waters
and stretching himself he sprung out into the chan
| nel and came towards me.
| The next moment held him by the bride.
| There no time to be lost. | was still going
down and my armpits were fast nearing the sur
face of tie misunderstanding up. caught the
lariat and passed it under the saddlegrts fastened
it in a firm tight knot. then Topped the trailing
end. making it secure around my body, and across
my ribs. had left enough of the rope between the
bit ring and the girths, to enable me to check and
guide the animal, in case the drag upon my body
should become too painful
All this while. the dumb brute seemed to compre-
bend what was about, we'll as the nature of the
ground on which he stood; for during the operation,
he kept lifting his feet and replacing them alternate
| ly, without either plunging rearing.
! My arrangements were at length completed, and
with strange feeling of awe, gave my horse the
signal. Here again the faithful creature bore evil
dence of the duty he had to perform. Instead of
moving off with start. felt the rope tighten upon
me slowly and gradually if it had been drawn by
human hands! | experienced the wild delight to
feel that slowly and gradually, too, was moving.
The lariat cut painfully. and checked the horse
for moment to readjust the thong, This was done
and giving the signal second time | was drawn
from the tenacious element and felt myself-a feel
ing cannot describe sailing along the water. I
sprang to my feet with shout of joy. rushed up
to my brave steed, and throwing my arm around his
neck, kissed him with much delight as would
have kissed beautiful girl. He answered my en-
brace with low and singular neighing that told
me was understood.
looked for my rife Fortunately it had not sunk
deeply, and | soon found it. My boots, with my
spurs, remained in the quicksand and doubtless by
this time have reached the granite formation, to be
fossiled and thrown up by some future CONFUSION.
| made no attempt to recover them-being smitten
with wholesome dread of the place where had
left them-but mounting my gallant Moro, I was
soon securing the prairie in the trail of my
compagnons du voyage.
i reached the camp at shutdown, where was met
with wondering looks, and such questions as g. Did
yer KUN across the goats O. "Whers yer boots 81
Whether hev ye been huntn' or fshin'?''
/ answered there questions by relating my adven-
ture and that night, at least, my horse and myself
were looked upon the tallest buffers in that gang
Should the reader ever wander to the Rocky Noun.
tains, he may hear the story-much better tod-o
that are Teller who wur fetched right out of his
boots ~
Il Ella Lee.
; A p,ruES