Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1868-03-19

To whom2 There was no one within miles OF mt
no living thing. Yesl the neigh of my horse al
swered me from the bill, mocking my despair:
bent forward as well as my constrained positio
would permit, and, with frenzied fingers, commen
ced tearing up the sand I could barely reach tn
surface, and the little hollow was able to max
filed up almost as soon as it had been formed.
]. A thought occurred to me. My rifle might sup
port me, placed horizontally. looked around 70
it, it was not to be seen It had sunk beneath tn
sand.
Could throw my body fiat and prevent mysel
from sinking deeper? No. The water was tw
feet in depth I should drown at once!
This last hope left me as soon as formed. :
could think of no plan to save myself L copl'
make no further effort. A strange stupor seizet
upon me. My very thoughts became paralyzed
I knew that was going mad. For moment
,cas madl
i After an interval my senses returned. mad
an effort to rouse my mind from its paralysis, II
order that I might meet death-which l now be
lieved to be certain-as man should
stood erect My eyes had sunk to the prairi
level and rested upon the still bleeding victims
my cruelty. My heart smote me at the sight
Was suffering retribution of God?
With humbled and penitent thoughts, turned
my face to Heaven, almost dreading that some slgl
of omnipotent anger would scowl upon me from
above. But no. The sun was shining as bright a
ever, and the blue canopy of the world was withou
cloud.
gazed upward and prayed with an earnestnes
known only to the hearts of men in positions o
peril like mine.
As continued to look up, an object attracted
my attention. Against the sky distinguished tn
outlines of large, dark bird. knew it to be th'
obscene bird of the plains, the buzzard-vulture
Whence had it come? Who knows? Far beyone
the reach of human eye it had seen or scented, th
slaughtered antelopes, and, on broad, silent wing
was now descending to the feast Of death.
Presently another, and another, and many 9th
ers, motted the blue field of the heavens, curvint
and wheeling silently earthward. Then the fore
most swooped down upon the bank, and, atte
gazing around for moment, tapped off toward
its prey.
| In few seconds the prairie was black with filth!
BIRDS who clambered over the dead antelopes, ant
beat their wings against each other, while they tori
out the eyes of the quarry with their fetid beaks
And now came gaunt wolves, sneaking and hun
cry, stealing out Of the cactusthicket, and loping
coward-like, over the green swels Of the prairie
These, after battle, drove away the vutures, anc
tore up the prey, all the while growing and snap
ping vengefuly at each other.
'Thank Heaven! shall at least be saved iron
this!'
| Twas soon relieved from the sight. My eye
had sunk below the level of the bank. Ihad looked
my last on the fair green earth. could now SCI
only the elayey walls that contained the river ano
the water that ran unheeding past me.
Once more I fixed my gaze upon the sky, and
with prayerful heart, endeavored to resign myself
to my fate. %
In spite of my endeavors to be calm, the memo
ries of earthly pleasures, and friends, and home
came over me-causing me at intervals to breal
into wild proxysms, and make fresh, though fruit
less, struggles
Again was attracted by the neighing of m!
horse.
A thought entered my mind, filling me witt
fresh hopes. "Perhaps my horse"
I lost not moment. raised my voice to it
highest pitch and called the animal BY name.
knew that he would come at my call. l had tlet
him but slightly. The cactus-limb would snap of
I called him again, repeating the words that wer
well known to him. I listened with bounding
heart. For moment there was silence, then
heard the quick sounds of his hoof, as though tn
animal was struggling to free himself Then
could distinguish the stroke Of his heels in meas
ured and regular gallop.
Nearer came the sounds-nearer and clearer, un
til the gallant brute bounded out on the bank abov
me. There he halted, and Ainging back his tosset
name, uttered shrill neigh. He was bewidered
and looked upon every side, snorting loudly,
I knew that, having once seen me, he would no
stop until he had pressed his nose against m.
cheek-for this was his usual custom. Holding
out my hands I again uttered the magic words.
Now looking downward he perceived me; and
stretching himself, sprang out into the channel
The next moment held him by the bridle
There was no time to be lost. was still goin
down, and my armpits were fast nearing the SUI
face of the quicksand.
I caught the lariat and passing it under tn
saddle-girths, fastened it in tight, firm knot.
then looped the trailing end, making it secure
round my body. had left enough Of the rope be
tween the bit-ring and the girths to enable Inc
check and guide the ANIMAL in case the drag upo
my body should be too painful
i AIthi while the dumb brute seemed to compre
hend what was about, He knew, too, the natur
of the ground on which he stood, for during tn
operation, he kept lifting his feet alternately
prevent himself from sinking.
i NV arrangements were at length completed, an
: with feeling of terrible anxiety, | gave my hors
the signal to move forward. Instead of going o
with a start, the intelligent animal stepped ava
[ slowly as thoughhe understood my situation. Th
lariat tightened-I felt my body moving, and, tn
next moment, experienced wild delight-a fee
t ing cannot describe-as found myself dragge
|, out Of the sand
!, sprang to my feet with shout ofjoy. rusf
ed up to my steed, and throwing my arms aroun
his neck, kissed him with as much delight as
: would have kissed beautiful girl. He answere
nv embrace with low whimper, that told me
was understood.
q I looked for my rifle Fortunately it had nj
t sunk deeply, and soon found it. My boots WEI
f behind me, but staid not to look for them-belr
smitten with wholesome dread of the placewhel
r ! had left them.
B was not long in retreating from the arroyo
and mounting, galloped backto the trail.
II wassun-down before reached camp, where