Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1870-03-04
HUNTING ADVENTURE.

n pByrn%n0nGPni CT the New 1 Glk JtEj)HJ-
H.. w,irin5 from fine North Woods" tell,
te i,l,oNig story:
At he foot Of the Lower Cedar, about IF
ty yards from the shore, is a small and low
rocky island, not more ihan thirty feet IN
diameter. having few shrubs growing upon
il. with single scrubby spruce and your {
mountain ash in the centre, neither Of which
is twelve feet in height.
1t was January.
John left bis home, sjsf1e sixteen miles
away, taking a bag Of provisions ard a few
spring traps, to be absent week or more,
in pursuit OF mink and martin 1t was an
open season. Lutte Snow was upon the
ground and all the lakes We're uuiroZen.
John rp,lde bis way alone to t6e Lower c.
dar lake, deposited his pr vision bag IN tn
log .hatty, a@d king his boat ana traps
| rowed over to the iiitlr Isiaha "nlch has J"'i
been described EnnHI1@ the boat up on
the rocks he stepped out with trap, a. 'd
went TO the opposite side OF tue island, IA us
tance not exceeding t"eh' y-iVe let'' care
fully set hls trap aud returned TO the land
ing.
What was his dlsmay % ma ms boat
caught lightly upon & low rock about two
rods from the landing.
Here was a serious prcdicament FOR the
incautious trapner. There was not a tree
nor branch bv which lie could reach the
boat. There were no wihes nor bark
Which, being tied together and attached to
stone, could be drown into the boat lie
had never learned 10 swim a stroke. Be
tween him and the rock ON which his boat
was stranded were the waters, dark. cold
and ten feet deep. What was to be done
John was an lron-hearted man, but, while
deliberating in much agitation, had the ad-
ded horror OF seeing the boat swayed first 10y
lie wind, then, grating harshly upon the
rcch, at last disensa9ed, and driited slowly
out into the middle oi the lake. The case
now seemed absolutely hopeless.
As the hunters and trappers frequently
go forth alone in the winter. and are absent
| several weeks. his stay would not attract at
,cution a, the settlement. No human dwell.
inc was nearer than sixteen miles. Con
| fronting. philosophically, therefore. his
alarming situation, he secured the island in
search Of fuel, winch resu ted il his finding
a small quantity Of Il substance resembling
| neat. lie now began lHt CONSTRUCTION tl "A
kind Of eaithwork, in semi-circuar form, as
a protection against the wind. Gathering
enough OF the peat to keep his hands and
feet from suffering. Us the early darkness
drew on be wrapped himself II his coat as
closely as possible, and lay down for the
night. Long. dreary. dreadIul were those
hours, relieved by occasional sratcheS o
sleep. Morning came, but il was barely
welcome. II only revealed his desperate
| condition and brought no iulimalou Of re-
lief.
The sun arose. climbed the sky. sank ic
his setting: no food, no fire. let he should
exhaust his stock Of luel no sight or sound
of hope. Night settled all It's shadows mp
on his heart. hungry, FAINT and wreiched
he lighred bis meagre fire and laid him
down. That night he slept from sheer eA
haustion. Again the morning; the lFc-long
day, the sinking sun, the black shadows, tht
famishiug body, tie bowling wolves. The
thoughts Of horror, tie vision Of inevitable
death. Thus dragged the hours till tn, sun
arose. And thus. with fast failing powers
half hewilderod mind, he ! we'd. or ralhei
WAS diving, through four daes and five nights
| During iItt MIN ulAtN NV h!ilt 'HnHe ~ -
tie north, with bil.er, freezing cold.
Now thongbt ,ha trauper llc. end ha,
come St,ll pitiI.,s rrasl, ,elI from the cry,
tI heavens. Iie had no hone Of socirg q Ii,
morning heAf. But what he lorhodrd WA,
10 be hls destruction was Gods wondorou.
provision for his salvation. The lake froz,
over, aud on lii,ina his ewes in the morning
a new hope struggled with the 5unbeams It
his despairing soul. Stiilrncd, cmaciatcr
and unable to stand, he thought Life i'
dear, and home IS sweet can but de if
venture forth. To linger here ano;hcr day
is certain DEATH | will try the ice 2
CRAWLING forth from his damp lurking
mo nlaca 10 the edae of the lake, he can.
tinnslv rIt his way out upon the thin trans
naran, loo As wrll from inahilitv 10 stand
\. from a consideration Of prudence. he
crent on his hands and knees over the
,reaclcrons surface. Ii bore his ou.stretch,
o1 veiaht. Slowly he moved. with trem.
bI;nr advance. for long seams Shot from be.
nnotb him and clicked like the report Of a
n;stol 10 the opposite shore. Once the faith,
Ioss Goor cave wav at his knees and the
AN, y,tcr came half way over him, iut