Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1869-03-24
Gil A 2 TER IL
A CURIOUS AND STARTLING MYsTI

A CURIOUS AND STARTLING MYSTERY.
Skirting the Black Hills, forty miles
west Of Fort Laramie, party Of hOrsemen
were riding eastward.
They had left Fort Bridger eight days
before. taking the route of the North Platte,
! and were now following the Oregon emf
grant road, among those long ridges, dry
beds Of rivers, sud sterile plains, by which
the regions Of the Black Hills is distin-
guished.
The bulk of the party consisted of ten
csvairymen, under Il lieutenant, who were
returning to Fort Laramie, their post Of
duty. They we're well mounted, aud had
several led horses in their train, loaded
with their provisions and appurtenauces Of
| travel.
The balance OF the party comprised three
civilians, who had seized the opportunity
of crossing the mountains under military
| escort. Two of these were emigTants who
had settled near Fort Bridger, but who
had tired of the great solitude, or been
frightened by the Indians; and were now
returning eastward in search of homes
nearer the hsunts Of civilization.
The third civilian was Hubert Earle, the
lover of Miriam Dane, the settlers daugh-
ter, whom we have Just left in such deadly
peril.
He was a splendid specimen of Ameri-
can manhood, magnifcently formed, broad
shouldered, deeP-chested, as vigorous as an
athlete, and rode his horse, a fiery Next
can steed, with the grace and ease of
| Centaur.
At the moment of his introduction TO
the reader, he was riding in the rear Of the
little train, busy with his own reflections,
which were evidently as bright as the
morning itself-the forenoon preceding the
| events We have recorded.
His thoughts were wrapt in the sweet
memory of Miriam, who had wept 80 bit
terly at his departure, and who, he ex-
pected, would smile so ioyously at his re-
turn.
The dear little soul p he murmured
aloud where is she now -
His ewes darkened with tender sweet
meas, his lips quivered with the inetfAble
love that flooded his being with hsppi-
ness akin 10 pain. He pictured their
meeting, the pretty home they would share
together, the years they would spend in
each others society, the tender mutual
love aud care that wonld bless all their
coming day7
He had left her a poor adVenturer, TO
seek his fortune among the mines Of Idaho.
| lie was returning TO her a more than mod
erately rich man, with bills of exchange in
his chamoia money-belt of sufficient value
TO support them both in luxury as long as
they might live
1t WAS not TO be wondered at that his
thoughts were pleasant.
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.
Looking around him quickly, he beheId
the cause Of the uGusnll excitement To
the southwark, at no great distance, q small
herd Of builAloes was grazing lazily, seem
ingly not at all alarmed by the near pres
ence Of a formidable enemy.
The wind WAS blowing from them, the
horse were fresh, aud, as he looked at the
tempting game, Hubert felt the spirit OF
the hunter grow strong within him.
Giving rein to his horse, he gsllop, d
along the line TO speak 10 the lieutenant
but WAS met half way by that officer, whose
sparkling eyes and eager demeanOr att6s ed
TO kindling of Nimrod-like zeal.
/ "What do you say 10 an hours sport
Mr.. Earle ?" shouted the lieutenant, ~ he
bore down upon his friend, for Hubert wa!
decided favorile with every member 0
the party.
al think it would be downright sham,
, TO turn our backs on such splendid game,
: was the quick response. "Who would ca
1 a dinner of salt pork, with those fat bul
. faloes so near us?'
/ The lieutenant smiled, glanced up an(
1 down the line, reading eager longing in tn
faces Of his men, and resolved 10 carry Oh
, his own and the general desire.
= Al a word Of command from him, Ia
party sci out at quick galIop for tn
~ scene of action.
4 The butlalOes allowed the enemy TO az
}! preach quite near, the wind faVoring th
hunters but al length began TO snuff Tia
y air uneasily, 10 shake their heads, and I
e look for the csuae OF their apprehension,
l. A moment later they had beheld IA
, enemy, and, with frighlful bellowings an
mighty tramp, had begun their wild, ma
l. l'tlight to the southwark
!. The chase was a long one and il W,
not till the hunters had run the buffaloc
n upon a spur of the Black Hills that the
70 got a good chance at them. They bTougl
is down several plump young buffaloes, az
is dinner soon became the watchword.
IT 1T is noon, and we'll have dinner" 50
the lieutenant, observing that the bagSaI
ia animals with their drivers we're approac
b. ing. "Kindle fire, boys, and we'll ha'
steaks and roasts in abundance
p While this order was being carried in
10 | effect, Hubert and several others were e
- gagged in surveying the soene'
" A lonely and desolate spot" said II
Ia bert, thoughtfully. at looks as if M
bad never before visited it,"
- And no wonder" replied Brydg,
SINCE ils five miles Off the route. VIII
lis could any man want here, unless he mig
lie be in pursuit of buff4lOts"
i'm There being no ansSer to this questio
at Hubert proceeded to find an e1celle
grazing spot for his horse, tethered hi
his and Sung himself on the ground in {