The Nevada Democrat., 1860-06-27
WHOLE NO. 35l.
A PRAIRIE STORY.

Auc AAOus OfauttCJ AeaaaSyf - 1se "Ss~~
on Western travel, published in a London
sporting paper, gives the following as one Of
the stories told him 10 St. Lonis:
After q great many consultations 10 Mr..
Campbells counting-bouse with several per-
sons supposed TO be conversaut with prairie lite,
| seon began to see that veracty was very far
from being object Of veneration, aud that II
any man had been as far across the desert as
the Rocky Mountains, il was impossible to be-
lieve word be said Either the climate Of
those wild hills, or the fact that when man
Quilted the frontier settlements be left all OBJ
servers behind, 80 inhamed or enlarged bis im-
agination that the action Of the hour was for
gotten in the mists Of mental rejection, aud the
traveller became a visionary instead of verify
to be relied ON From Que OF these gentlemen
had been in the habit OF taking advice, when
all that be had told me was considerably shaken
by the following story he was very fend Of tell
ing.
lie was out on the plains in winter time, and
by some accident severed from bis party night
came on, aud with IL the most intense frost, and
be found his vital energies failing, and saw
nothing. until bison came TO his assistance,
but, destruction staring him in the face.
The friendly bison approached without any idea
10 his shaggy head half so extensive or CON-
Portable AS pertained to the uses 10 which he
was presently TO be put aud my adviser, with
Just strength enough left in him to level his ride
numbed fingers and all, was lucky enough to
hit the bison just through the heart, and drop
him dead. conveniently for future opera-
ton. Having refreshed himself with y bit
Of warm raw flesh, my adviser then cut
the bison open, and took out the en-
trails aud as II was just getting dark. TO save
bis life from the Intense frost, he replaced the
entras with his own body. aud crept into the
carcass Of the auimal with his head towards the
TAIL aud his feet pushed up his windpipe, the
skin, where II had been divided, permitted 10
| fall as a curtain to the ground. Here be rev.
elled In aHimal heat. not Ia the least ncommo-
ded by that enormous quantity Of blood and
moisture which have since seen contained 10
the carcass Of an animal Of this size and at last
fell asleep How long be continued 10 comfort
able oblivion he is not quite sure, always de-
srous of being exact, but he awoke with SEN
saton Of cold aud found that every limb save
his hands, which he bad fortunately kept folded
under bis chin were net only benumbed, but
the blood and moisture had become q frame Of
ice, and the severed skin of the animal teelf
had frozen firmly aud immovably to the ground
Thus then, he was iced for the rest of bis life
a sort of forced meat, In fact, In the bovine
''roesole" which surrounded him. with no white
capped and aproned cook to deliver the buffalo
of bic despairing bnrthen. Simultaneously with
his awakening from bis sleep, however, he
had been aware Of q strange noise outside the
frozen case which compassed him 10, with cara
sharpcned by necessity, he endeavored TO dis.
cover the cause. The external rafting and
scratching continued till slight openings adj
mitted CLEAN Of the Intensely cold morning
moon. when through the orevicea he could
plainly distinguish the gnawing. crunching Of
bones, snarling and sighting Of large drove Of
wolves Here, then, was Scylla to the Chary-
bdis, which already contained him. aud q more
active or pending dissolution was thus feaTfully
around for, sportsman as he was. be well knew
that there was always an immense and hasty
scramble among animals Of prey for the choice
inlesthes Of body Bold. not with brandy,
but whiskey (for he at once, and on the moment
emptied bis flask aud desperate with distress,
he resolved on action, aud abded time and
here, again. In this his dreadful hour Of need
his knowledge OF sport aud the haUts Of wolves
did not desert him. He recoilected that the
easiest portion Of bison's frame. by which for
n wolf to gain hold of the intestines. was
from beneath the tail; so he awaited the result,
and kept his hands In readiness All at onoe,
with eagsrness only parallel TO his hunger, aR
immense old wolf rent the Hanks asunder suiti-
ciently TO thrust bis head and shoulders into the
bison, IN search OF. to bin, a delicious reward.
The VOLTS horror, however al once may be
conceived, wbsn my friend az suddenly seized
him on either cheek, ard clung to the head Of
his deiverer for dear life. So surprised at this
unwonted reception was the beast. that he yell
ed With terror, while with ell the strength Of
his back and launches, aided by his fore feet,
be contrived to withdraw, pulling the append
age along with him, The result OF lhe yel.s Of
the master wolf. as well as his great strength,
were alike favorable to my friend; the former
so frightened the rest Of the wolves that they
aed away, and the latter brought my friend
forth Of his lodging on the cold ground, and
rendered him up to the gray dawn OF The COM
Ing morn. Aud what became Of the delivering
wolff II let him 90. sir. Yes. sir, as soon as
he pulled me out Of The carcass of the buffalo.
/ let him go and he fed after his scared COM
panions Yes. sir. that's fact i'i
| recount this tale a. Il was told to me, and.
ia justice TO my friend. must say that fully
believe that he has told the story himself 30
often that be is CONVINCED Of the truth OF II;
that, however, 10 nothing to me, further than
at the time it raised fear that the rest OF the
intelligence, propoundrd for my future guild
aDoe, might have been Of the same substance a.
the story bave just narrated"