Litchfield enquirer., 1869-04-01

E I He was splendid specimen of American
 manhood, magnifcently formed, broad shonldered, deep-chested, as vigorous and
 athlete, androdes his horse, q fiery Mexi- can steed, with <, the grace and ease of 3 Centaur. sS'>-4 ssssl
 At the moment of his introduction to the reader, he was riding in the arear of the little train, busy with his own .refec-
 tions, which were evidently as bright as
 the morning itself-the forenoon preced- ling the events we have recorded. at all
 His thoughts were wrapt in the sweet
 memory of Miriam, who had wept so bit
 terly at his departure, and who, he.expect-
 ed, would smile so joyously at his return. i The dear little soulp' he murmured aloud. sWhere is she now?' l g. ...ra
 His eyes darkened with tender sweetness his lips quivered with the ineffable love that flooded his being with:a happiness akin | to pain He pictured their meeting, the I pretty home they would share together, the years they would spend in each others society, the tender mutual love and care that would bless all their coming days. | Il He had left her, a poor adventurer, to seek his fortune among the miness of Ida ho. He was returning to her more than
 moderately rich man, with bills of exchange in hisIchamoissmoneybelt of sufficient value
 to support them both in luxury as long as I they might live.
 It was not to be wondered at that his
 thoughts were pleasant. a-t a@ 1.ess sY<t. Suddenly he was aroused from his trance like silence, by cries of delight from his
 companions, and by the fact that they had
 checked their speed. ia. }f' &tssl .-# -s 1 Looking around him quickly, he beheld the cause of their unusual excitement. To the southward, at no great distance, a
 small herd of buffaloes was grazing.lazily, seemingly not at all alarmed by the near Ipresence of a formidable enemy.
 1 The wind was blowing from them, the
 horses were fresh, and, as he looked at the tempting game, Hubert felt the spirit of
 the hunter grow strong within him. e l Giving rein to his horse, he galloped
 along the line to speak to the lieutenant, sparkling eyes and eager demeanor attested
 to kindling of Nimrod-like zeal. t..~ sWhat do you say to an, hours sport, MT Earle" shouted the lieutenant, as he bore
 down upon his friend, for Hubert was 8
 decided favorite with every member of the
 party.
 I think it would be downright shame
 to turn our backs on such splendid game,
 was the quick response. 'Who could eat 9
 dinner of salt pork, with those fat buftaloes so near us?' # @AtAt'ai" %-eN 5h# #
 The lieutenant smiled, glanced up and down the line, reading eager longing in
 the faces of his men, and resolved to carry 2 out his own and the general desire.
 1 At word of command from him, the
 party set ont at quick gallop for the scene
 of action. ,..., .ss 4....,.... .,. ..s.~l<s .s. l The buffaloes allowed the enemy to ap- proach quite near, the wind favoring the | hunters; but atlength began to snuff the ar uneaslly, to shake their heads, and to
 look for the, cause of their apprehensions.
 enemy, and, with frightfnl bellowings and
 mighty tramp, had begun their wild, mad | flight to the southWard. !, .ss..z...,tt a,l3
 a The chase was a. long one; and it was not I till the hunters had run the briffaloes upon 9 spurr of the Black Hills that they got l 8 good chance at them. They then
 brought down several plump young buffa-
 loes, and dinner speedily became the watchword. 4S..@ s, ,st 5.., :s ,qg s S ..'
 1t is noony and we'll have dinner,' said
 the lieutenant, observing that the baggage 1 animals with their driver were approaching I tKindle fire, boys, and we'll have steaks and roasts in abundance .a ... q '.' ' l While this order was being carried into
 effect, Hubert and several others were en-
 gagged in surveying the scene. -a. se as,.. ] A lonely and desolate spot, said Hubert
 thoughtfully. It looks as if man had new
 CT before visited it." ia1 ars. .s
 'Anl no wonder returned Brydges,
 since it's five miles off the route. What could any man want here, unless hesmight
 be in pursuit of buffaloes?'
 l There being no answer to this question, -1.-- 4 AzsG G-.1 .
 zing spot for his horse, tethered him, and of the hill. The lieutenant and portion of the men followed his example. nam4 I Plenty of low bushes were found dry
 enough to burn,. and several fires were
 built. The choicest portions of the bufa- ! loes were readily prepared for cooking, and it was not long before the odor of burning flesh was diffused on, the air; four or five hungry soldiers serving as cooks.
 l t It was wild picnic scene on these lone ly wilds, and every man there enjoyed ii
 with true gipsy szest. .Y<L e2aE gIr
 l]iq Suddenly shout from one of the, men who were stroliing around, arrested the at tention of the others. eso9 go a9es3gons 5 6 ;, sHalIo, boysY he cried. o,. I'm blest ii
 here isn't a cave in the hill Come. and see !. the hole under these bushes. You never saw anything hidden heater in your lives. |, Jones thinks nobody ever saw a cave be- [ fore, , said, one of the loungers. For my Il part, I think more of something to eat than of hole in the ground 794a5 1s15h.l .laq1eC ! This sentiment was echoed by the others but the inquisitive cave discoyerer, ,noth- ing daunted, approached the fire, took r from it a torch, returned to the butte, par ted the bushes, revealing dark aperture
 in the face of the rock, and disappeared within it, his light giving back yellow
 glare for second after he had ceased to be seen. sis59attasa .sa3 e ai -bnaasa od1 r The camp revelry went on, the cooking
 progressed, the minutes passed, and Jones did not reappear. s,s 9sssse- - s 7 ,.,.s ta J If that fellow had fonnd gold mine in
 there he would't call one of 3 us, growled the lounger who had before. spoken. fl | wonder what Jones has found. I'll jest take look, as dinner isn't ready. - 3e42 + He arose lazily.ii abstracted stick of
 burning wood for g torch. proceeded to the , lcavern entrance, Igand disappeared from
 y;ew ha& ,s4-.jEfalz aozsa Tahsssa s4ls sbTes il Probably, said Hubert, there's a large ; lcayern under that hill. If we had time, fl [ might pay to.explore it. Under the pres | ent circumstances, am like Brown, and iprefer my dinner to scientific explora-