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

A few days afterward, another adventure"
befell me; and | began to think that was des-
tined to become a hero among the "mountain
men,"
A small party of the traders-myself among
the number-had pushed forward ahead of the
caravan. Our object was to arrive at Santa Fe,
day or two before the wagons, in order to have
every thing arranged with the governor for their
entrance into that capital. We took the route
by the Cimmaron.
Our road, for hundred miles or so, lay thro'
a barren desert, without game, and almost with
out water. The buffalo had already disappear
ed and the deer were equally scarce. We had
to content ourselves on the dried meat which
we had brought from the settlements. We were
in the deserts of the ArtemiSa. Now and then
we could see stray antelope bounding away
before us, but keeping far out of range They,
too, seemed TO be unusually shy
On the third day after leaving the caravan, as
we were riding near the Cimmaron, thought
observed pronged head disappearing behind a
swell in the prairie. My companions were skep-
tical, and would none of them 60 with me; so,
wheeling out Of the trail, | started alone One
of the men-for Code was behnd-kept charge
of my dog, us did not choose to take him with
me, lest he might alarm the antelopes. MY
horse was fresh and willing; and whether sue
cessful or not, knew that could easily over
take the party by camping time.
| struck directly toward the spot where had
seen the object. 1t appeared to be only half a
mile or so from the trail. 1t proved more dis.
tant-a common illusion in the crystalRtmos.
phere of these upland regions.
A curiously-formed rdge-a couteau des prai
ries, on small scale-traversed the plain from
east to west. A thicket of cactus covered part
of its summit. Toward this thcket directed
myself
Idismounted at the bottom of the slope, and
leading my horse silently up among the cacti
plants, tied him to one of the branches. ther
crept cautiously through the thorny leaves to-
ward the point where l fancied had seen thu
game To my joy, not one antelope, but
brace of those beautiful animals, was quietly
grazing beyond but alas too far off for tn,
carry of my rifle They were fully three hun
dred yards distant, upon smooth grassy slope
There was not even a sage-bush to cover me
should attempt to approach" them. Wha
was to be done!
/ lay for several minutes, thinking over th
different tricks known in hunter.craft for takin.
the antelope Should initiate their call 2
Should hoist my handkerchief, and try to lur
them up! | saw that they were too shy fol
at short intervals, they threw up their graceful
heads, and looked inquiringly around them.
remembered the red blanket on my saddle.
could display this upon the cactus-bushes-per
haps it would attract them.
| had no Alternative; and was turning to q
back for the blanket; when, all at once, my ey
rested upon clay-colored line running acros
the prairie, beyond where the animals wer
feeding. Ii was a break in the surface of tn
plain-a buffalo road-or the channel of al
arroyo in either case the very cover wante,
for the animals were not a hundred yard
from it 4; and were getting still nearer to it a
they fed.
Creeping back out of the thicket, ran alon,
the side of the slope toward point, where
had noticed that the ridge was depressed to tn
prairie level. Here, to my surprise, found my
self on the banks of a broad arroyo whose wa
ter--cear and shallow-ran slowly over a be-
of sand and gypsum.
The banks were low-not over three feet a
bove the surface Of the water--except where tn
ridge impigned upon the stream. Here ther
was high bluff; and hurrying around its base
] entered the channel and commenced wadin
upward.
AS had anticipated, soon came to benc
where the stream, after running parallel to tn
ridge, swept round and canoned through it,
AT this place ! stopped and looked cautiousl
over the bank. The antelopes had approache
within less than rifle range of the arroyo; bu
they were yet far above my position. They wer
still quietly feeding, and unconscious of danger
again bent down, and waded on.
1t was difficult task, proceeding in this way
] The bed Of the creek was soft and Welding, an