The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1874-01-22

as we went on the trouble became NOR,
= and more irksome. and we began to leav'
q greater distance between them, until y
last we found we had lost sight Of tn,
chain of communication in many places
Still we felt little or no uneasiness on thi
account, for it appeared unlikely that ",
: could lose the line altogether. We wer,
rather disappointed to find that we coulG
not finish our journey that day; but, fully
persuaded that we could do so early mex
morning, we prepared to camp and make
ourselves comfortable for the night. W.
were prudent enough not to use much o.
the small supply ofwater We had brought
with us, and contented ourselves with
washing down our damper and mutton
with about half pint each of tea.
Next day brought us no more success
than before, and we began to think We
had lost our way. I wanted to return
feeling our way, as it were, by the trees
we had cut down; but Joe would not lis
ten to such thing, insisting that we had
only to persevere for little while and
all would be right, aud urging that if we
went back we should have lost all our
trouble and fatigue for nothing. reluc-
family agreed to go on for another day on
condition that we should then return. By
that time we should be quite without wa
ter and nearly without food; and, travel.
ing at the same pace we had come at, it
would take us at least three days to re-
trace our steps.
No better results followed on the third
day, and on the morning Of the fourth we
began to make the best of our way back,
greatly disappointed and sadly disheart-
ened at our failure and anxiously nerv-
Gus for the future. We found it by no
means so easy to find our marks as we
had anticipated. and were often in danger
of losing the return track altogether. This
at last took place; and on the fifth day
we found ourselves completely astray in
the heart of the scrub, tired with our
long tramp, weak from want Of sufficient
| food, tortured with a raging, burning
thirst, and confused and bewildered by
the perilous position in which we were
placed.
| More for the purpose of collecting our
scattered senses than for any other rea-
son, we sat down, and, lighting our pipes,
began to discuss our plans as calmly as
| We could. What should we do? To
stay here was certain death. And yet, to
go on wandering hopelessly forward
probably, as is usual in such cases, walk
ing round and round the same spot in a
circle-until, exhausted by fatigue and
faint for want of food and water, we sank
down to die, seemed the only way in
which our suffering could end. Still, to
lie down quietly in despair, waiting
through terrible, bitter agony for the end
which must surely but so slowly come,
with its long protracted torture, was i'm
possible. The very thought was mad.
dening and intolerable. No; better far
to roam frantically, even hopelessly,
through the dark, gloomy scrub, until
strength failed and reason fled. Better
to struggle CALAMITY to the end, fighting
the battle of life and death inch by inch,
contending bravely with mans greatest
enemy to the last, still clinging to the
feeble hope which lasts as long as life,
than to sink down, helpless and hopeless,
overcome by horror, madness and de-
spair.
For three more days we struggled on,
battling bravcly against our cruel fate, |
and trying to cheer one another and keep
our own spirits up by hopes of getting
out into the open. Hour by hour we grew
weaker, and each moment our torture
caused by thirst increased, and we be"an
to take strange ideas into our heads |
Often we thought We had at last reached
help and safety, and shook hands, laugh
ing and singing with joy. Then the sad
reality, with all its horrors, would burst
on us, and, weak in mind and body, we
found relief in tears. At this period l
noticed a strange, wolflsh expression in
my companions eyes, and often caught
myself gazing at him earnestly, while
strange, wild, diabolical thoughts occu.
pied my rteling brain. Well l under.
stood his looks and my own cruel
thoughts.
We were both longing for the other to
die, so that the survivor could feast on |
his dead companion and satisfy the terri |
BILE, gnawing hunger which was raging |
within us and seemed to be tearing US to |
pieces.
Joe" said, as we were lying down,
trying to obtain a little rest before stag
gering on again-my voice was shaky |
now. and I spoke with pain and difficulty |
soon be dead. For my own part, l hope |
we may both die at the same time. Ny
lad, know we'll what your thoughts are,
just as you guess mine. What we both
desire and long for cannot do us much
good, and will but prolong our pain and
add to our sufferings. Will you swear
with me, by the God before whom we
must both soon stand, not to give way to
this new horrOr?'
For answer, he put his poor, thin, worn
hand in mine, and, squeezing it as hard |
as his feeble strength permitted, simply |
said, agreed"
No more words were spoken by either
of us on the subject, yet We both felt that |
the dreadful horror had passed away, and |
the knowledge sOothed and Gained us |
more than have words to express. Half |
the dread and bitterness of death had |
fled with these few family uttered words. |
Each moment growing weaker, we still |
moved on, clinging to hope as only dying
men can; and even when darkness came,
spreading nights black mantle over us,
we went on, hand in hand, feeling our |
way in and out through the thick forest |
of sapling.
Often we sat down, intending to rest
till the morning, but, fevered with thirst |
and anxiety, We could not keep quiet; and |
for hours We crept EDWARDS until at length, |
completely exhausted, we lay down and
fell fast asleep.
When l awoke it was broad daylight,
and through the branches and leaves l |
thought could see the sun shining. Then |
thought heard the notes of magpie |
Little at first l needed what heard, |
thinking it was but another of the fancies |
which had SO often before deceived me,
and which for many hours past had taken |
possession Of and filled my half.crazed |
brain. But as they grew more distinct I |
began to listen, and soon became certain |
that it was not imagination, but reality. |
Could it be that in the dark we had wan |
dered close to the edge of The scrub? How |
else could We hear the sweet, plaintive
song of the maybe? Hank! what is THAR
Is it, can it be, the crack of . bullock |
whip or stock-whip!
Collecting all my strength, I rose and
tried to rouse Joe. Alas! he was too |
faint to move, and only muttered some.
thing about "Mother-coming home"
Could leave him now to die alone? And |
yet to stay, even for q few moments, was
death to both. On, God! were we to per. |
ish on the very threshold of salvation? To |
Eio nnuv yuhun within q Eaxp y0 ri q s,f holm |