Spirit of the age. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1849-1865, 1857-09-02

OShAhN HAhAC VI tuC lively abucct
ofwateB which only moment past glistened
in the midday light, with the leafy trees it
so perfectly reflected, no trace was any longer
visible. Our traveller discovered that he had
been following mirage. With sensations |
of bewilderment and ehagrin, he sought to
return upon his steps, bnts with nothing
which could serve him as a mark, failed in
all efforts to find the spot where the meal had
been eaten and the main party forsaken, until |
hours after the latter had departed on the
return; judging, doubtless, that the missing
comrade had preceded, and would shortly
join their number
There remained little room for expectation
of being able to overtake them, should they
move directly forward; still our friend
hero / viii call him, provided the reader will
become my generous creditor for a time
struck boldly out. and pursued, hoping that
his prolonged absence might induce their re-
turn in search, or that, perchance he could
gain upon the course sufficiently to catch the
report oftheir guns, or render ayaiIing the
signals he. from time to time discharged.-
Ascending an elevated table, covered with a
species of short, wiry grass, he all at once
heard sounds, as of scores Of busy artisans;
mingling with the rafting Of wheels over
paved ways, and all the din of great city.
His astonishment ceuld hardly be said to
abate. when, on gaining the elevation more
fully, he saw before him town, indeed, but
whose inhabitants were animals, and not men.
lnnumerable keechees, or prairie dogs, each
little black quadruped sitting upright at the
door of his subterrene domicil, and all bark
ing necessarily, had produced the sounds
which transported IN fancy the stranger in
the Wilderness back to his home in the midst
of civilization.
Not until the sun-which, during several
hours, had been entirely obscured-in setting
traced lurid glow along the low verge Of
the horizon, giving it theappearance Of a line
OF the distant prairie on FIRE, had our traveller
a suspicion of having varied materially from
his original course.
Well done, Professor Campep he said,
addressing himself with easy sarcasm, and
taking a wide survey around, with the butt
OF his piece resting upon the sod. This, for
one at all used to being abroad, would be
soundly ridiculous; in you hem in you, sir,
it becomes altogether objectionable
Well l say soeH, could never get phre.
nologist to mark me down one grain Of locdli-
ty, he continued, brushing that gan with the
first finger of his left hand, and this is what
has come Of it--the rascals r
What is before us, an Eclar p questioned
he of his rife, taking it up with mock caress
hyself thy brave young masteri What
but night in. Ke-che-a-qui, Prairie dog
town. with the serpent and owl for our guar
dians,* = Aanked, mayhap, by wildcates, bears
and panthersi Guardians, forsoothl VIII
you not well try to defend us both, m Eelair?
,Twere nothing marvellous should We have
to encounter bows and arrows besides. Know,
withal, that Pve scarce charge left for ye
tho Hor che 1.obt L. al. l..
remaining in his flask however, there's no
help for all this-here we have plain philos-
ophy.
Nov, for myself, being ready to perish
with thirst, Lshsll improve the remnant of
daylight in search for sweet water, among
those encampments to the right and shall
hardly wish long life to the turkey, or even
hen, that first comes within range this Hay !;
as the consequences might involve the disa-
greeable dilemma of my going supperless
Ha !my girdle would bear buckle shorter
even now.'
He wiped profuse perspiration from his
face, and set forward again with brisk step |;
yet 1t was easily remarked that travelling was
not now pastime, that he was in truth nuch
fatigued and, further, that, despite bis nom
chaianee, he felt chagrined, ard, to an ex-
tent, disheartened. Within few minutes
travel, he came upon what was evidently,
IN the wet season, a brooks channel the soft
earth forming its bed was still moist, and in
1t appeared the impress ola human foot.
Humph, returned upon my own track.
calculated the solitary
| That instant small lump of quartz, lying
partially imbedded few feet up the channel,
and cleaning in the waning light caught,
his attention he secured, and having wiped
it carefully upon some weeds growing at
hand, deposited it, with an air of professions
al triumph, not to be represented BY attend
/ ing circumstances, in small leather sack
depending from his belt, which contained a
number of specimens previously collected
He was about to proceed up the valley in
search of water. when light tread, and rus
/ tling of branches, turned his look below,
where, at the distance of scarce twenty yards,
fine deer had stepped full across the open
arched space, formed by the channel of the
stream, and the lofty and spreading trees on
either hand, and, with her graceful head raj
sed, stood cropping the sweet foliage of a
clump of mulberry, unsuspicious of danger
near. There was welcome thought of a
sayory roast; the rife was quickly drawn to
aim; it was as quickly lowered; for the foot
/ print before carelessly noted had fallen under
his glance, and discovered itself not to be his
own, but the print of naked and much
/ smaller foot.
Indians was the suggestion that flashed
upon his mind. 1t was only when he stoop-
ed to examine attentively the sign, that the
escaped booty became aware of the proximi-
ty of foe; taking instant alarm she was
out of sight in the thicket at bound.
"A delicate foot, and but lately here he
said to himself. BY Jove! | believe Cinde-
rella's slipper would fit it completely
But this passing idea was necessarily fol-
lowed by those less pleasing and romantic.
lie reflected that savage men, like some spe,
cies of savage beasts. usually move in hordes;
and that any trace of them, however slight,
is frequently significant of the neighboring
presence of tribe. The plan of most proba,
BILE security, was to lie quietly down and
await the morning, certainly the firing of a
gun or kindling of fire was not to be risked
Water, at least, must be had, however; and
in hope Of obtaining it, the traveller pressed
resolutely, yet noiselessly as possible, to-
wards the source of the exhausted creek
He was fully as fortunate as he had presumed
to anticipate, for, before daylight was quite
gone, he reached allow spring of pure COO
! water. After taking long and refresh
Travellers in New Mexico, and wherever tn
prairie dog inhabts, state that species of small
owl is always to be found about the mouths of th
holes: soma believe that they burrow with the dogs
l., The rattlesnake likewise, commonly frequent thes
. establishments; some have said as welcome CUES
with the proprietors, others, as an intruder, VII
Il l~.nt ntrnaA Ahnrra ia