New-York tribune., 1869-03-29

A.. -o, ., On. No-tb Platte and were now following
the Oregon emigrant road, among those ions ridges
beds of rivers and sterile plains, by which the
the Black Hills is distinguished
The bulk OF the party consisted OF ten caverymen un
der Lieutenant who returning to Fort larau'e,
their most Of duty. They were well mounted, and had
several led horses in their rain loaded with their pro-
visions and appurtenances OF trave. ..f
Tho balance of the party comprised three civilians
who had seized the opportunity OF crossing the noun
,o,rs rder military escort Two OF these were eml,
grants who had settled Fort Brdger but VINO 1h
tired OF the great solitude or been , I'm oaEcb Of
homes nearer the haunts OF CIVILIZATION. - ~
The third civilian was hm9tS Ehon we have lust
ieI III ~ n sue sDisndld specimen Of American manhood
maeniAcentiy formed broad shouldered. deepchested
as Vigorous athlete. and rode his horse merry oA
AT the moment OF his introduction to the reader ne
was riding the of the little tram pmsy w.n the
morning tself-tho forenoon preceding the events VIC
Miism' WHO had wept so bitterly at his departure and
who he expected, would smile 80 loyonsy az ms Wbere
'"Tbe dear little soup he murmured aloud. hnoio
% she nyss darkened with tender sweetness his lips
ouivered with the inefabe love that flooded his being
With happiness AKIN TO pain, He pictured their meet ,b
wears they would spend In each others society ING
tender mutual love and care that would DesS all 'Ho
Iio lad ief her poor adyenturer to seek his fortune
among the mines Of Idaho he was relnrhI1R 70 ,,
in his chnmos money ybec Of sufficient value to support
them both In luxury as long rs they might i've A.. -
1t was not to DO wondered az 'na' nS 'nouS"''
suddenly he was aroused from his rancel,ao silence
by cries OF delight from his companions anu W ''' w
Taxing around him quickly he beheld the cause OF me
nnSaJ excitement TO tho southwark at no greRt us
anne small herd OF buffaoes grazing laziy seem
ngy not at all alarmed by the near presence oi io
The wind was blowing them, the horses were fresh
and he looked at the tempting game I'll uDcr' '' 'no
| sprt OF the hunter grow strong WITHIN MN ,. l..
Giving his horse he ga0ped along tne n1 20. ~
speak to the lieutenant but was met py
officer. whose sparkling eyes anu eaHer ueinc""0
| 10 kindug Of Nmrodlike zeal ~, ,,, a, .ho,,
"What do you say TO an hours sport MT Earei sn9u %
ed the lieutenant bore down upon his frenu lOI I
bert was decided fayorite with every member VI 'no
yhnt il would lie downright shame TO turn our
hacks on such splendid game the quick response.
"Who could dinner of satpork with those la' ou
The 80 eStepant smiled glanced up and down the line
reading eager longing in the faces OF his men ana re
solved TO carry ont his and the general desire
Ata word OF command from him. the party sol out a'
quick gaOp for the scene OF action; ,r,ts mar
the wind fayoring the hunters put az lengtn H oo
snuff the air uneasy TO shake their heads' anu " o
io ne later they had behed the enemy and, with
fghtful beowings and mighty tramp Ha pes"i '-'''
The chase was long one; and II was not vi the hnhg
had the bua9es upon spur q e ee beS BGh
down several plump Young buhloes' ana unpqs epo0u'
r. ~ noon and Wen have dinner" said the Lieutenant
Observing that the baggage animals I wa Dd 1 r ayS
yerG apPFGO1Snlhis G qS5sis in abnndSnce "DN w
While this order was being carried into effect Hubert
'T lonely and desolate spot" said Hubert thought
fully alt looks as n man had never before Vns'tI e.
miles off the route What could any man want here, un'
! less il might be in pursuit OF buhaloesF r,,.-.
There being no answer TO this question, Hubert pro.
cecded 10 find an excellent grazing spot for his horse,
erd m and ng hms9 On o1a 5e Sa Of Of
| mon folio oWed his example
% Plenty of low bushes wero found dry enough burn
tnn ~ the bualoes we're readily prepared for cooking
and was not long Before the odor Of burning flesh was
dused the air. four or fyo hungry sodieis serving
IL Was wild picnic scene on those lonely wllds, and
Sngdeny shout from one Of the men Who were stroll
| ing around arrested the attention OF the others
cave in 3e h Come sec the hole under these bushes
| You never anything hidden neater ia yonr Ives
Jones thinks nobody ever saw cave BEFORE sad ono
| thing 20 eat, than Of hole In the ground"
This sentiment echoed by the Others but the In
uuistye cave discOyerer nothing daunted approached
the fire. took from 1t torch returned TO the butte part
ed the bushes revealing dark aperture IN the face o
the rock aud disappeared villain " hs sht giving DAck
The camp revelry went On the cooking progressed the
/ minutes passed, aud Jones did not renppear. .
| "If that fellow had found gold mine In there he
Wouldn't call u.s." growled the louueer who had
before spoken. / wonder what Jones hds found III
lie arose iayy distracted stick OF burning wood for
torch. proceeded to the cavern entrance, and dlsap
P"Probabiy said Hubert "thercs largo cavern under
that hil II We had tine. Il might pay 70 explore ~
| prefer my dinner TO scientific explorations"
The seemed TO be nearly ready, for the raiing OF
Tin ems and dslcs began be heard the lCutenans
small campchest unpacked and the cooks shouted
! 10 the strolers 10 come to dinner.
| "Haye Jones aud Brown come back ~ asked the lieu.
tenant he rose 70 sitting position ana glanced to-
| ward the cavern
| The men replied In the negative.
eco after them then, King. and hurry them up" said
the officer. We must resume the march after dinner
| and afford TO waste time here
King fine young soldier took torch and entered the
the coffee measured, and the meal commenced, but
none or who had entered the cave made their
How singular % calculated Brydges testify and impa
tenty. "what can keep those meni KING had been
gone 10 minutes Here, Sergeant Halsey hurry those
The Sergeant, brown, strong Of middle age hes
itated. and ventured TO stammeri
81 beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but think there's
something wrong inside tho cave, There's three men in
Surely they'd back II they could Perhaps there's
Wild beasts, strange kind Of Ras that smohers
"Eonsense, sergcantw interrupted the lieutenant.
froyni1g. giye you five minutes to bfAg these men
The sergeants face paled but without another word.
he took up torch and entered the cave, disappearing
The minutes passed. the lieutenant and the
their dinner mechanically, awaiting anxionsy the cH-
words OF the sergeant had made deep impression
on tho minds Of his hearers. A general gloom fc upon
The camp sn6 the e ~ss zee st the sasnsn
Hubert felt strange depression creeping over them,
What can DO the matter at length demanded the
officer "The sergeants In trouble should Judge. by
this long absence There can't be In the or II
70, he probably have had time to cry out There
can't be wild beasts for those four men all well
armed ana would at least fred Which OF all you
men will go the and learn what the matter sp
There general shrinking back. Every soldier
was brave in an Indian fight but dared to face
mysterious and unknown danger No one wished TO risk
the complete and total from earth and hui
knowledge