Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1863-09-25
The Horrors of a Quicksand.


by travellers of the sagacity, attachment
and instinct displayed by their favorit'
steeds but none perhaps, has surpassed
one related by an eminent traveller. Thi
gentleman was out shooting on the banl
of a RIVER, when to his amazement, hf
found himself caught by the feet; helC
firmly, as if his legs had been in a vice
He made an effort to extricate himself
another, more violent and equally IN
successful, and with third, lost his bal
ance and fell back upon the water. Hall
suhocaled, he regained his upright pos
ition but only to find that he was held a.
fast as ever. Again he struggled to free
his limbs. He could neither move them
backwar nor forward, to the right nor
the left, and he became sensible that he
was gradually going down. The fearful
truth flashed upon him he was sinking
in quicksand A sensation Of horror
came over the hapless prisoner, as with
feeling Of desperation, he renewed hi.
! Efforts, leaning TO one side, then to the
other, almost wrenching his knees from
their sockets. His feet despite all,remain,
ed as fast rs ever. He could not move an
inch
He thus thrillingly narrates the issue ;
"The soft dingv sand already overtop-
ped my Lorse-,kin boots, wedging them
around my ankles, so that ! was unable
to draw them off and could feel that
was still sinking slowly but surely, as
dough some subterraneous monster wa.
Ieisurely dragging me down This very
thought caused me lhriiI Of horror. and
| called aloud 70. help. To whom ? There
was no one within miles OF me-uo Iii Q.
Ge, . the neighing Of my horse answered
me from hill, hooking me in my despair
bent forward as well as my con-
strained position would admit, and with
frenzied Eugers commenced tearing up
the sand. ! could barely reach the sur
face, aud the little hollow, | was able to
make, filed up almost as soon as it had
been formed. 4 thought occurred tome:
my rife might support me, placed hor-
izontalIy. ! looked For il. 1t was not
to be seen; it had sunk beneath the sand
Could throw M body fiat, and prevent
myself from sinking deeper. No; lhe
water was two feet in depth, and Should
drown at once This last hope left me a
soon as formed. / could think Of no plan
to save myselj; ! could make no further
effort. A strange stupor seized me. My
very thoughts became paralyzed For
moment, | was mad.
After an interval my senses returned.
| made an effort 10 rouse my mind from
its paralysis, in order that might meet
death, which | now believed to be inev-
table, as man should. My heart smote
me. Raising my eyes to heaven | gazed
upwards with earnestness, known only to
the hearts Of men in positions Of peril like
mine. A ] continued to look up, an OBJ
ject atraced my attention. Against the
sky | distinguished the outline Of a large
bird, | knew it to be a buzzard-vulture.
Whence Lad it come ? Who knows Far
beyond the reach Of mans eye it had seen
or scented the slaughtered suteloIes :;
and on broad, silent wings was now de-
scending to the feast of death. Presen-
thy another, and another, and many
others, notified the blue fields of the
heavens, curving aud wheeling silently
earthward. Then the foremost swo9ped
down upon the bank, aud after gazing
round for moment, tapped off toward
is In, C. p,n,rI.r tho -
was black with filthy birds, who clam
bered over the dead snteloPes, aud beat
their wings against each other while they
tore out the eyes OF their prey with their
beaks.
was soon relieved from the sight.
My eyes had sunk below the level Of the
bank. / had looked my last ON the fair
green earth d! could now see only the
clayey wall that contained the river and
the water, that ran, uuheeding, past me.
Once more l fixed my gaze upon the sky,
and, with prayerful heart, endcavored toI
resign myself to my fate. Again I was
attracted by the neighins Of my horse.
At the sound, thought entered my mind
filing me with fresh hope Perhaps my
horse ! | raised my voice TO its highest
pitch, and called the animal by name. ]
knew that he would come at my call. !
bad tied him but slightly; again | called,
repeating words well known to him. For
a moment there was silence, then heard
the quick sound OF his boof as though the
animal was rearing and struggling to free
himself; then l could distinguish the
stroke Of his heels, in A measured and
regular eallop. Nearer aud clearer came
the sounds, till the gallant creature bound
ed out on tho bank above ne. There he.
halted, and 0inging back his tossed name.
uttered shrill neigh. lie was bewild
dered, and looked on every side, snodingI
loudly. ] knew that, having once seen
me- he would not stop until he had press
ed his nose against my cheek for this
was his usual custom. Holding out my
hands, again uttered the magic words.
Now looking down, he perceived me, and
stretching himself, spIang out into the
channel The next moment | held him
by the bride. ! was still going down,
and my arm pits was fast nearing the
surface of the quicksand, l caught the
rein and leather thong attached, and |
passing it under the saddle girths fast
ened it in a knot, tight and firm. then
Iooped the trailing end, making it secure
around my body. / had left enough OF
the rope between the bitring and the
girths to enable me to cheek and guide
the animal, in case the drag upon my
LodY should be too nainfnl.