The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-02-13
Picking up "a Pocket Book.
A story of Adventures on the Plains,
rom Dickens Christmas Stories for 1861.

and could not we'll remember WneFe was. NY
horse was uneasy, and his abrupt motions had
disturbed me. heard rustng in the long
grass, Something's paving of light feet among
the heritage and whining sound, as OF hungry
dogs whimperng for food Dogs' There are NO
dogs there. Wolves? And my horse, on whose
security my life might depend, was trembling
and bathed in PRECIPITATION. had kindled nc
FIRE, apprehensive lest the light should attract
some band of proving savages; and now the
Cayotes were gathering around us like flies
around honey. For myself, I felt no fear; the
wolf of America is very different from the grey
beast of German forests or Pyrenean SHOWS. But
my poor nag was in danger, and his very trem
ors were adding perilously to the exhaustion of
the long and hurried ride. 1 rose, and began to
grope about for brushwooe. Luckily was still
in well watered region, whore shrubs and un-
dergrowth abounded, and where the gigantic
cottonwood trees reared their majestic forms
beside the streamlets. l soon came upon a
clump of brush, and cutting with my sharp and
heavy knife as much as 1 could carry in both
arms, returned and cleared little space ofthe
grass, winch was long enough to be dangerous
in the event of its catching fire. l then took
out my tin box of lucifers, struck light, and
kindled a fire, though not very easily, for the
heavy dew stood in glistening beads on grass
and shrub and the moistened wood emltte d
many cloud ofpungent and dark smoke before
l could coax the sullen embers to burst forth in
the required blaze All this time, had to give
an occasional halo, rafting a tin cup against
the barrel of my revolver, for the purpose ofin-
timldaing the wolves while it was necessary
to pat and sootAe by voice and hand, the poor
horse itself, which was tugging at the lettering
rope IN a way that threatened to break it every
instant. At last, to my great joy, the fire leap
ed up, red and CHEEKY, its beams illumlned lit
tie radiant patch of prairie, and lowering in the
shadows on the edge of this illuminated spot,
saw the Sinking cayotes, the smallest and most
tin.id, but also the most cunning wolf of Amer
pack, and they vanished into the darkness, but
for half an hour could hear their bowls of dis
appointment, growing fainter and fainter as the
distance increased. My horse was quieter after
the disappearance of The wolves, and in about
an hour / veniured to return to my blankets
and my reDose, after piling frest heap of brush
on the steadily glowing fire. Not very long at
terward feeling Of intense cold awoke me by
slow degrees. | opened my eyes. The fire was
low lis enbers gowed crimson, fading grad
ually into biackness. Overhead was the dim
sky, the vast host of stars havingIthe peculiar
pale and sicllly hue which herads the dawn. 1t
was very cold. There was rushing sound in
the air and the grass Of the prairie was tossing
to and fro in wild confusion; a strong wind was
blowing-the norther. This was the first blast
Of the chilly north wind that annually sets in
at the close Of the unhealthy season in the
south 1t had piercing and glacial effect, COM
ing as it did, from the polar ice-ields and across
the Rocky Mountain range; but gladly hail
ed it, for | remembered that it would be dead
against the mail steamer that was breasting the
waters of the Mexican Gulf with Joram Heck
Ter and his plumber on board; l might beat him
yet
But the wind increased in force it WAS blow
ing like hurricane. and / shivered in spite OF
my warm poncho and blankets. My horse had
lain down and was trembling with cold was
obliged to spare him a blanket; he was a
States" horse, swifter, but not so hardy and
useful for prairie travel as the mustangs of the
plains. The wind did not diminish as the sun
rose red and angry, and a new cause OF alarm
began to present itself. ! had heard of travel
ers utterly weatherbounG tor days among the
braries on account of the fury Of the resistless
wind. And time was so valuable to me felt
crept on,and almost despaired of success. | was
benumbed and stiff the dew had been turned
TO icicles by the sudden cold; ami now every
blade of grass seemed crested with diamond
By nine o'clock the wind began to abate it
slackened very gradually, and at half past ten
| considered that might resume my journey
My breakfast not a luxu rious one; mouth
ful Of beet aud parched maize, swallowed i'll the
intervals of saddhng my horse and rolling up
L
which the hall was attached, rolled up the
halter, lassO f,~lion, at my saddle bow, and
mounted. was less awkward in the every day
routine Of prairie life than might be supposed.
SERVANTS employ, had spent some weeks in
a frontier fort as guest and companion of one
If the officers of United States Ranger Regi-
ment. 1 had accompanied my hosts on several
hunts and scouting expeditions against hostile
Indians, aud had found some amusement in
pickering my steed lighting camp fires, aud SO
forth little dreaming that my whole happiness
would ever depend Cd my proficiency in such
arts. A. the sun rose In the pale blue sky, ma
ture assumed more cheerful appearance the
iclcles aud hoartrost melted and the air became
merely bracing aud agreeable as the bitter cello
passed away On we went, following the plain
trail, OF the wagon trains, up and down the
gently rolling slopes Of the undulating prairie
| noticed with some dismay that my horse was
no longer the mettled creature that had pranc'
ed 50 gaily out OF Carson the day before, Al
first he certainly answered my voice and the
pressure of knee. by stepping gu: CALAMITY; but
after while h. began to flag, bore heavily or
the Bit and required frequent touch OF the
spur 1t was clear had taxed his powers toe
severely ON the previous day. He was going
weakly under me in a spiritess way that spoke
volumes. What was l to do l had plenty o
money but money cannot prove talisman il
the wilderness, There was not farm between
the place where stood and the Great Salt LAX
Itself. Ny only chance in procuring remoun
lay in meeting some one who would sell me
sieed aud that was far from a certainty. / wa
chewing the cud of bitter reflections when
heard the light tramp of galloping horse be
hind me. Quickly turned my head, and say
booted der dashing gaiy along the swells {
the prairie his Trim coat, half opened, shove
/ -o5 p,pual shirt and his Meytcan Somh, or