Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1869-03-26

Who could eat dinner Of salt pork,
with those fat buffaloes 80 near us ?"
The lieutenant smiled glanced up
and down the line, reading eager long
ing in the faces OF his men, and resolved
TO carry out his own and the general de-
sire.
At q word of command from him, the
party set out at quick gallop for the
scene of action.
The bufFsloesIalIowed the enemy to ap-
pToaeh quite near, the wind fAvOTiDg the
hunters but at length began to snuff
the air unessily, to shake their heads,
and TO look for the cause Of their appre-
tensions.
A moment later they had beheld the
enemy, and with frightful bellowings
and mighty grsmp, had begun their wild,
mad flight to the southwark.
The chase WAS a long one and it was
not till the hunters had run the butfalOes
upon spur Of the Black Hills that they
got good chance at them. They then
brought down several plump young buf-
falOes, and dinner speedily became the
Watchword.
at is noon, and Wen have dinner"
said the lieutenant, observing that the
baggage animals with their drivers
we're approaching. kindle fire, boys,
and We'll have steaks and roasts in album
dsncR..'
While this order was being carried
into effect, Hubert and several others
were engaged in surveying the scene.
A lonely and desolste spot" said
Hubert, thoughtfully. 1t looks as if
man had never before visited it,"
"And'nO wonder" returned Bridges,
" since its five miles of the route. What
could any man want here, unless be
might be in pursuit Of bufaloes 2"
There being no answer 10 this ques-
ton, Hubert proceeded to find an excel
lent grazi0g spot for his horse, tethered
him, an flung himself on the ground in
the shadow OF the hill. The Heuten-
ant and portion of the men followed
his example.
Plenty OF low bushes were found dry
enough 10 burn, and several fires were
soon kiudIed. The choicest portions OF
the bufialOes were soon prepared for cook
ing, and it was not long before the oder
of the burning Il ssh was diffused on the
air; four or five hungry soldiers serving
as cooks.
1t was q wild picnic scene on those
lonely wilds, anu every man there en-
joyed it with true gypsy zsst.
Suddenly Shout from one Of the men
who were strOiliDg around, arrested the
attention Of the others.
Halo, boys I" he cried, I'm blest
il here isn't cave in the hill! Come
see the hole under these bushes. You
never saw anything hidden neater in
your lives"
Jones thinks nobody ever saw q cave
before, - said one of the lnuugers. "FOr
mort I thfnly mora of HIM IN
eat than hole in the ground"
This sentiment was echoed by the 9TH
ere, but the iuquIstive cave discoverer,
nothing daunted, approached the fire,
took from it torch, returned to the
butte, parted the bushes, revealing
dark aperture 10 the face OF the rock,
and disappeared within it, his light Civ
ing back q yellow glare for a second after
he had ceased to be seen.
The camp revelry went on, the cook
ing progressed, the minutes passed and
Jones did not resppear.
"If that fellow had found q gold mine
in there he wouldn't call one of u.s."
grOwled the lOuDger who had before
spoken. 81 wonder what Jones has
found. I'll jest take look, as dinner
isn't ready"
He arose lszily, distracted stick of
burning wood for torch, proceeded to
the cavern entrance, and disappeared
from view.
Probably" said Hubert, " there's a
large cavern under that hill. II we had
time, it might pay to explore iC. Under
the present circumstances, I am like
Brown, and prefer my dinner to scientific
explorations.
Tne meal seemed to be nearly ready,
for the rsttling of tin cups and dishes
began to be heard the lieutenantis
small camp-chest was unpscked, and the
cooks shouted to the strOlIers to come to
dinner.
Have Jones and Brown came bsck?"
asked the lieutenant, as he rose TO a
sitting position, and glanced towards the
cavern.
The men replied in the negative.
" Go after them then, King, and hurry
them up" said the officer. We must
resume the march after dinner, and can
not afford to waste time here"
King, a fine young soldier, took q
torch, and entered the cave.
The dinner was dealt out-hOt savory
steaks and rOasts-the coffee measured,
and the meal commenced, but none of
the men who had entered the cave made
their appearance
How singular calculated Brydges.
testify and impstienLly. WHAT can
keep those men ? King has been gone
ten minutes. Here, Sergeant Halsey,
hurry those men up !"
The sergeant, brown, strong man of
middle age, hesitated, and ventured to
stammer:
" beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but
think there's something wrong inside
inc cave. There's three men in there
sll hungry ssd knowing that dinners
-esdy. Surely they'd come back il they
could. Perhaps there's wild beasts. or
some strange kind of gas that smothers
EN-, Or"
" Nonsense, SergeantI" interrupted
he lieutenant, frowniDg. L give you
I've minutes to bring those men back.
30 !"
The sergesnGs faoe paled, but, without
inOther word, he took up q torch and |
'ntered the cave, disappearing from the |
yaze OF his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant |
md the men ate their dinner mechanic |
lily, awaiting snxiously the expected |
eturn; yet none of the four came back. |
The words Of the sergeant had made a |
ieep impression on the minds Of his |
hearers. A general gloom fell upsn the /
amp, and the men cast frequent and |
earful glsnces in the direction OF the
avern. Even. the Lieutenant and Hu-
'ert felt a strange depression creeping
'ver them, which neither could resist.
What can be the mstter?n at length
lem handed the officer. "The sergeant's
q trouble, I should judge from this long
.bsence. There can't be gas in the cave.
Il if so, he would probably have had
ime to cry out. There can't be wild
,essts, for those four men were all well /
irmed, and would at least have fired.
Which Of all you men will 60 into the
ave and learn what the matter ?"
There wss a general shrinking back.
every soldier was brave In az Indian
light, but not one dared to face 3 myste-
iOus and unknown danger. Not one
Wished to risk the complete and total |
from earth and human
that had befslIen his COM
AIDES,
Whoever will venture ia search of
he missing men shall receive from me
hundred dollars in gold " exclaimed
Hubert, in his clear, ringing tones.
Who speaks first for the money!"
The offer was tempting but IL was not
,ePentpd Not q word Of ranlv WA