The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-06-21
Prom the y. Y. Mu-cury.
E! Thrilling: ADVENTURE.
BY Z. ABNER DAVIS.

BY L. ABNER DAVIS
The gold fever was at its height Train
after train, wagon after wagon was crossin. .
the muddy, turbulent Missouri. vending
their way TO the auriterous regions of Cal.
iior,lia. caught up the inspiration which
was leading thousands to the land of prom
ise. and, in company with several acquaiut-
ances, joined party which yet lacked OF
sufficient numbers 10 insure safety against t
the preditory band Of sayages who inherited
this then almost Gnexplored region
We progressed finely and, 1T length {,
halt on Buffalo Creek, some miles west Of
Fort kearney, for the purpose of attending
to various Necessary arrangements pertain
ing to our future We had now passed
the timbered region, and before us was q
comparative desert, with mountains OF
sand. and little grass, until we should ar
rived at fortl Laramie, neaI: :the. Blaci, Hills
Among the company was an old traprrr.
who had formerly been in the employ OF
the American Fur Company; but was on
his own hook, as lie expressed IT. and
acted as cur guild, a. hc was well acuuaiut-
ed with the country through which We
we're to travel Big Ben, as he was called.
was genulue specimen Of a mouutairccr
Though rough hy nature, he possessed 4
warm heart and could be made an invalu-
able friend or a deadly enemy. He had
been in many severe conflicts with Indians
and grizzlies, and numerous scars upon his
person bore evidences of the fact
Ben, said !, one morning after we had
made camp on the above named creek
'haGu we better % out on the sand aut!
get some buffalo meat?
Wall, youngstcr, don't care il | do
Buffer meat nifty good, | reckon ard
! Il splla II don; hav sum soon.
Our holses were s9ddled rifles loaded
knives sharpened; reviewers re capped and
examined, ana We started.
The trail we followed, which was an old
buffalo path. led through :. continuous
chain of sand hills After travelling some
eight lE.ics, We halted at g small creek,
and took oJt our glasses for better otser-
vaiion OF the country It presented a
bleak, desolate -pect-Naught was there
10 relieve the eve except few deciduous
trees and shrubs
Rrther a dry prospect, said TO Bea.
But that worthy, not designing reply,
kept on gazing Intently through his glass.
when suddenly nc exclaimed
Il hav en-
What?
Butler
'Wnere.' said excitedly
You see that cloudy lookin thing bout
three miles to the right, up again that ar
big hill? Well them wat 5 BUTLER, said
Pen.
! don't see any, sand !, striving in vain
to distinguish any object in the distance
which resembled the Bison Americanus
Nur /, youngster, replied Ben But
them butler, or this here hoss'll never
eat another beaver tail. That ar cloudy
lookin things bust, which The Butler
makes when he's wallerin, and Tiers a
heap Of the critters thar, | reckon So
lets be off
Away we went. BY taking a circuitous
rout and up a small ravine, we came sud
denly upon the heard. Some were quietly
grazing upon the hillside; others wallow-
ing paving and throwing the dirt up over
their backs, which caused cloud OF dust
10 arise, that had not escaped the eagle
eye Of Ben while we We're yet in the dis
tancc. Hardly a moment had for obser
vation for Ben. dashed into the here, bade
me follow hIE, which, did, end was
cgotistical enough TO think that | had
been very bold IN riding, as did, into the
herd of aSrighted animals.
l drew my rifle TO my shoulder and
fired. \ buffalo cow ran limping off, and
! followed in close pursuit After riding
after and chasing her about q mile, sue
ceeded in bring her down, Becoming ex-
cited and warmed up with the sport,
regarless Of Ben, had the temerity to
ride after the flying herd Oh, it was
sport Away We 20, over hill and valley,
like the wind while the earth seems to
shake and tremble beneath the massive
bodies of those retreating animals, flying
from their mortal enemy, man. 5 gain
the bullet speeds from my trusty rifle,
and another victory is added to already
won laurels.
Dsmounting and picketing my horse,
proceeded to skin and cut some choice
portions of flesh from my victim as
thought would be desirable to the palates
of my companions at camp. So busy was
!, that little thought that | WAS miles
away from camp, and that the sun was
already sinking behind the distant hills
After adjusting my meat, and getting
ready to mount, | became conscious Of my
/ situation. Where was Ben? Where was
| the camp? Where was i? were the
questions which revolved thens elves
/ rapidly through my puzzled brain had
/ been rash in thus venturing TO leave my
| companion, and riding oil alone In thesc
| ever desoate sand hills. But there was
no time for serious CIR lon. reflection. and
mounting my horse, l started in the direc-
| ton which thought had come
! Ye who nave traversed the plains can
bear me testimony, that to lose a man you
must take him into the sand hills.
| 1t had now begun to grow dark, and
| the yelping of the canis latrans (coyote)
| the barking of the velox kit fax mingled
with the fierce bowling of the pnbilso
| (dusky wolf resounded far and near,
making night hideous with their demon
| like noises. Under other circumstanc
| might have borne it with some degree
OF composure; but now it was intolelable
But l was doomed ere long, to trials
| greater than this.
| let my horse pick his own way. and
after riding couple of hours, found my
self in the broad valley Of the Platte; but
in what locality or what direction to take
to.camp, was totally at loss to know.
But see! What dark, dusky forms are