The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1869-03-24

was met half way by that olncefr whose
sparkling ewes and eager demeanor, attes'ed
10 a kindRng Of Nimrod ike zeal,
"What do YOU say 20 an hours sport, Mr.
Esrlo ~ sboated the lieutenant, as he bore
down mon nj, friend, for Hubert was de
ciIea gavor,e with every member Of the
| party. 90,
81 think il would be downright shane
10 turn our backs on such splendid game
was the quick response. "Who could eat a
dinner OF salt pork, with those fat buGIaIool
80 near us 2'
The Lieutenant smiled, glanced up and
down the line, reading eager longing IN the
faces of his men, aud resolved to carry out
his own and the general desire.
At word Of command from him, the
party set out at n quick gaI'oP for the scene
Of action.
The buiFaloes allowed the enemy to ap.
proach qui,r near, the wind tnvorug the
hunters: but ct length they began to snuff
the air uurasiy, to shake their heads, and
to look for the cause Of their apprehen.
sioua
4 moment later they had behold the enc
ms, and, with frightful belowin's and nigh
y tramp, had begun their wild, mad tight
70 the southwark.
The chase was long one: and it was
not till the hunters had run the butiaIocs up.
on a spur Of the Black Hills that they got a
good chance at them. They then brought
down several plump young butialoes, and
dinner speedily became the watchwori.
~ il noon, aud we'll have dinner Fad
the lieutenant, observing that the baggage
animals wth,their drivers we're approaching.
"KindIe fire, boys, aud we'll have steaks
and roasts in abundance"
While this order was being carried into
effect, Hubert and several others were en-.
gagged tn surveying the scene
"a lonely and desolate spot, said Hubert,
1T looks as If man had uev.
or before visited it,"
"And no wonder returned Bridges,
"sInce it's five miles off the route. What
could any man want here, unless he might
be in pursuit Of bufTaloes y
There being no answer to this question,
Hubert proceeded to find an eXcelaut graz
ing spot for biz horse, tethered hun, aud
flung himself on the ground IN the shadow
Of the hill. The Lieutenant aud q portion Of
the men followed his example.
Plenty N low bushes we're found dry
enough to burn, and several fires were soon
kindled. The choicest portions Of the buf
faloes were readily prepared for cooking
and It WAS not long before the odor Of burn
ing flesh was ditFused on the air four Of
five hungry solPier9 serving as cooks
1t was wild picnic scene on those lonely
wiIds, aud every man there enjoyed it with
true gypsy zest.
suddenly shout from one of the men
who were s,rOlhng around, arrested the at
tention Of the others.
Halo, boysl' he cried "pm bIest if here
isn't cave IN the hill Come see the hol,
under these bushes. You never saw any
thing dden heater in your Ives
"Joues thinks uobodyever saw a cave be
fore said one Of the lOuugeIs. "Eor m}
part, think more OF something to eat thar
Of hole in the ground.
This sentiment was echoed by the others
but the Iuquisit,ye cave discoyerer, uothin,
daunted, approaching the fire, took from II
a torch, returned TO tue butte, parted tn
bushes, revealing dark Aperture ia tn
face Of tie rock, and disappeared within it
bis light giving back yellow glare for {
second after ne had ceased TO be seen.
The camp rcyeIry went on, the cooking
progressed, the minutes passed, and Joue
did not reappeAr.
III that fellow had found gold mine j
/ there lac wouldn't call one of u.s." growle
the lounger who had before spoken. q
wonder what Jones has found. I'll jct
| take look, as dinner isn't ready
lie arose laziiy, distracted a stick of burr
| ing wood far torch, proceeded to the cay
eru entrance, aud disappeared from view.
"PrObAbly, said Hubert, there 5 a larg
cavern under that hill. II we had time,
| might pay TO explore it. Under the preser
circumstances, nm like Brown, and Preie
my dinner to scientific explorations,
The meal seemed to be nearly ready, +
the rafting Of tin cups aud dishes began
be heard the licuienant5 small camp.che
was unpacked, and the cooks shouted to Il
strollcrs TO come to dinner.
Have Jones and Brown come back
asked the lieutenant, as he rose III slttlI
position, and glanced towards the cavern.
b Tn" men rcpledin the negative.
"Go after them then, King, aud hur
them up, sand the officer, I'VE must
sumo the march after dinner and cannot I
ford to waste time here
I King, n fine young soldier, took q tore
3 and entered the cave.
The dinner was dealt out-hot ssvoI
steaks aud roasts-the coffee measured, ar
the meal commenced, but none Of the me
who had entered the cave made their appea
Rnce.
"uow singular" calculated Brydges tie
| tily and mpatientiy. What can kee
those men2 King has been gone ten mil
utcs. Here, sergeant li"'s"y, hurry mo
vo,n up'
f The sergeant, brown, strong man
middle age, hesitated, and yeutured to star
mcr:
81 beg your pardon, Lieutenant, but
think there's three men in there-all hungl
and knowing that dinners ready. SureI
they d come back if they could. PerhaI
there's wild beasts, or some strange kind
gas that smothers them, or
Nonsense, sergeant. interrupted tn
lieutenant, trownng. II give you five mir
utes to bring those men back Cor
The sergeaut's face paIcd, but, withou
another word, he took up a torch and enter
ed the cave, disappearing from the gaze O
his friends.
The minutes passed, the lieutenant an,
the men ate their dinner mechanically
awaiting anxjousIy the expected return yc
none OF the four came back.
The words of the sergeant had made {
deep impression on the minds of his hearers
\ general gloom fell upon the camp, and
the men cast frequent and fearful glances in
the direction of the cavern. Even the lieut.
euaut and Hubert felt strange depression
creeping over them, which neither could re
sist
What can be the natter" at length de-
manded the officer The sergeant's il
trouble, | should judge, by this long absence
There can't be gas in the cave, or if SO, he