The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1873-05-01

of the plunging of the horses besides il
was now becoming intensely cold, and it
was necessary to walk in order to keep
ourselves from freezing. After travel
ing 10 this manner for about three miles,
We came out of the timber into an open
undulating country, where, though the
drifts were worse, We were better en-
abled to avoid them, and made more
rapid progress than while In the timber
By noon the snow had ceased to fall,
and when night came we were within
FIVE or SIX miles of the river, and could
plainly see the line of timber marking its
course.
Tired and hungry as We were, we had
no alternative but to push forward we
had nothing out of which to build fire,
and to stop short of the timber was GER
tain to be followed by freezing and ber-
haps death. 1t was now almost impos-
sible to urge our horses forward and,
after going q short distance, our pack
animal stopped and could be driven no
further, and we were compelled to leave
him standing upon the bleak prairie,
where he was, undoubtedly, in few
minutes destroyed by wolves, for they
had been annoying US with their dismal
howlines since sunset, sometimes APP
preaching to within dozen yards of US.
Tt must have been near midnight when
We reached the timber, and the inclina-
ton to lie down and sleep toward the
last was so great that it was with the ut
most difficulty we could Keep on our
feet. Several times Brady called out, TT
is no use am so tired can go no far
Their, and | am dying for sleep.
But | knew only too well what the re-
suit would be. and urged MIN on. At
last We reached the timber, aud he sank
down at once, unable to do more.
The next thing was to kindle FIRE.
! The now was at least fifteen inches deep,
and from under that snow had to hunt
my wood. After considerable effort, |
procured a few cottonwood limbs, and,
taking my sheath-knife. attempted TO
make some shavings. My hands were
so cold that could scarcely tell whether
| had my knife in my hand or not At
length | struck match, and attempted
to light my Writings. The match flick
cred and went out. I tried a second and
q third with the same result. As [
| watched the last of the three go out, /
was sitting in the snow, aud | felt as if
did not care whether | had fire or not.
I \ strange, though not unpleasant, feel
ing was coming over me. | had not the
! power to arouse myself; was free from
pain, and felt perfectly contcnted. even
/ happy-not very different from what one
! feels wien being placed under the influ-
ence of chloroiorm. L could not realize
the horrors of my situation. Something
seemed to shut out " cat little light there
was, but could still hear sounds as of
music IN the distance, becoming fainter
and fainter until knew no more.
When | awoke | was surrounded by a
score of Indian ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
fire was burning near me, and the sun
was shining brightly,
was lying upon blanket, and, upon
attempting TO move. discovered that my
limbs were stiff and sore.
was bewildered. but in few min
utes the events of the previous night
came to my mind, aud my first thoughts
were of my comrade. With an effort |
raised my head and glanced around,
when, to my great relief, | saw Brady
sitting near me. His frst expressions
was:
By the holy Saint Patrick, the red
skins have got us this time"
g 1t would have been far better for
u.s., [ replied, IF We had been CON-
pletely frozen before they discovered
US"
Away with such stuff" he cried.
That is not the kind of talk for one
who has so long been accustomed to the
life of frontiersman.
While the lamp holds out to burn,
The vest sinner may return
says your sacred poet, and we will escape
these dogs yet
DO be cautious. There may be some
of them who understand enough of our
language to know Of what we are talk:
ing I replied.
: Not bit Of it. he responded: shut
they mean mischief, and we must be on
the alert
The chief of the band then indicated
to us that our conversation must stop, land
at the same time one of the warriors came
and bound Brady's hands. [ suppose
they considered me too powerless to es-
cape. so they left me unbound.
How 1t was that had not escaped as
well as my comrade, and how he had
been discovered by the Indians, was more
than we could tell and more than we were
ever able to find out. Baady's first
knowledge was of being dragged along in
the snow, before daylight, and placed be-
fore the fire. He was not frozen except
his feet and hands, slightly while my
lower limbs to my drees, and my hands,
nose, arms and ears were severely frost
bitten. But my limbs had been placed
10 snow, and | was recovering very well,
though exceedingly sore and iu much
pain.
Brady had considerable knowledge of
the Navajo language and / felt satisfied
he had learned something regarding their
intentions toward us, so / made several
efforts during the day TO get something
from him, but he would not answer
question.
They gave Us roast meat, and although
they we're very cruel, their treatment was
much better than | expected.
When night came, Brady was tied
hand and foot, and my arms aud leg
IL r q