Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1871-03-08
LOST ON THR PLAINS.
Perseverance and Es
re-o - j cape of a Boy. 80

4 clAes7O~A 9Ooio w h6c, tCAs hAH uoAuO VI
Musquitod bottom, in company with his
father and two neighbors, for the pur,
pose of launting buffalo on tine upper
Arkansas. The weather was al thai
/ could be wished, game was found in
abundance, and the hunters secured as
much as their teams were able to haul
back SO long q distance, and on the morn
| ing of the 10th preparations were made
i for return home. 80 49,. -. -.
Not so, however, with young Wilson,
who had become enchanted with the wild
scenes and wilder sports. To him it was
a, new life, of which he had often read,
but had not now become living actor in
its destinations. To the left of the river,
and beyond the skirt of timber in which
the hunters were enesmped, stretched the
unbroken plain, on which, within range
of vision, quietly gazed small herd of
buffalo, and here and there scattered
groups of antelope At this sight our
young hunter became excited, and only
zone more shot" before departing was in
sisted on. Shouldering his gun hastily he
started out and was soon lost to view as
he picked his way quietly along the river
band aud timber.
Nothing further was thought of the
young mans within by the. father and his
companions, who were cooking 'rstions
for the return tip, and peacefully smok-
ing their pipes. .f115ola
Young Wilson found the distance to
the game much further than he antici-
pated, but on getting within long range
shot, his presence was discovered, and q
general sestnper was the result. Nothing
daunted, he continued the chase, fully
determined on the last shot aud a dead
buffalo. Onwsrd he went over the plain,
through wood and thicket, regardless of
all impediments, but four legs could wan
der further than two, aud he was left far
in the resr. Time had elapsed, uuheeded
by him, night was upon him; for the
first time he realized that he was alone
upon the vast plain, his gene beyond his
reach, and companions he knew not
whether. His reckoning was lost, and
be stood bewildered. To add to his mis-
cry, one of those fierce winds, so COM
mon in that section, came up, aud with
it driving binding sleet, transformed
BIN into walking icicle.
Cold and benumbed he started, as he
supposed, for the wood along the rsVine,
but instead, Travelled from it-noW hast
ening now sackening his pace as the cold
affected hiu. At length he came upon a
small clump of bushes, under which he
took shelter, sat. down, and was soon
asleep and lost to his lonely position.
The boy not returning in reasonable
time to the camp, his father and compau-
ions became uneasy, and set out in search
of him. Guns were fired, Indian whoops
and yells INDUCED in to the full extent of
their lungs, but no answer came in re-
spouse. The same was continue
throughout the night, and large fires were
kindled on the highest eminences in hopes
of attracting bis attention, but all in vain.
Morning came, yet with no boy. The
day elapsed IN fruitless search, followed
by another night of demonstrations SINH
lar to those of the first. The suguish Of
the parent in this extremity was almost
uubearable. To go back without his sou,
he could not, for there too was an anxious
mother fondly awaiting their return from
the boat.
On the third day, after fully delibera-
ting on it, the party concluded to return
home, from companies of their neghbors,
and make grand search for the boy on
the plains.
Awakening from bis sleep, through a
king of GOODNESS, young Wilson looked
out upon the dresry waste before him. The
wind still howled, but the sleet had subsi-
ded. His frozen clothes clsnked about
his body as he arose and picked up his
gun. He now fully comprehended bis
situation, snd bis first thoughts were of
his friends, and something to eat. To
choose his course puzzled BIN, yet no
time was to be lost. He plucked from
one OF the bushes spTig, sat it on end,
and his boyish way resolved on going in
the direction it might fall As the re-
suit will show it fell in the opposite d.
rect on thst N which bis friends were,
and he wandered farther and farther
away.
For procuring food, his gun was now
his only reliance, and as he trudged along,
a sharp lookout was kept up for game.
The first day out nothing in the game
line presented itself, but on the second
small herd of buffalo, on which he fred,
passed him. His shot was short of the
mark, and were soon away. So passed
the third and fourth days. Weakened by
hunger sud fatigue, he, nevertheless, kept
up good courage, and hoped that if he
did not find friends, he at least might fall
in with other hunters or Indians, friendly
Or otherwise, he did not care much which,
so long as his scalp was safe and pros
pect of a replenishment of his vacant
stomach offered.
On the morning of the fifth day he
came to small stream, ski-ted by few
scattering trees. Here he gathered up
some broken limbs, and pulled out from
beneath the roots dry grass enough TO
start fire. This he did by firing off his
gun and blowing the Wad into blaze,
which SOD grew into a warming fire, by
which his frozen clothes were thawed out
and himself warned. By this time he
was too hungry and worn out to proceed
much further, and he resolved in keeping
up his fire through the day and nigh.
While so engaged late in the evening, be
was suddenly startled by grUff ''howl -
AMI big dirty Indian stood before him,
with gun on his back and the hind
quarters of an antelope.
'Bullyl" replied Wilson, as he sWang
to his feet and rife. elbow yourself u
and he gazed in establishment at the in
truder. The Indian comprehended the
situation, proffered him a portion of his
meat and they sat down together, roasted
and eta rsvenously of it. The hG5A and
food livened him up, and he soon ascer-
tanned that a band of friendly Indians
were encsmped a few miles below. To
this camp the two repaired, and Wilson
was welcomed kindly and fed for three
days, when enough provision was given
him to reach the settlements. His
course was pointed out and he started on
his homeward journey. He travelled
three days, when he fell in with his
father and his friends, who were return
ing to renew the search for him. The
meeting was a joyous one, and young
Wilson is content with ''only one more
shot"
CORRECT PHRASEOLOGY.
Gail Hamilton has funny way of put
ting the old, old maxim of
Every gray goose, or soon or late,
Finds some poor gander for q mate
In ornata ROctor Thro caolOnv he