Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1874-05-09
TIE HUNTERS DREAM.
A Story OF Western Border Life.

One man, sitting in the corner of
the fire place alone, remained silent.
His name was Ben Hardee Foryears
he had followed the calling of hunt
er, and few there were in that region
who had been more successful in 1t
than he
Come, Ben, what are your ideas of
the matter?'
1t was Grey, an old borderman, who
asked the question.
Boys. / believe there is truth in
Dreams he answered.
Some stared at him, while Others the
more skeptical, broke into a loud
laugh. When this outbreak was over
Ben said in serious tone, and with a
solemn look upon his face:
"You may think | am joking" he
added; 'but what | have said, boys, is
the Gospel truth.
How was it? Tell US about it,
Ben" said all of them in chorus.
The hunter needed no urging. He
was silent for few moments, and then
he began:
Il. Was six years ago that the affair
happened that | am going to tell you
about"
Il was hunting upon one of the
forks of the Yellowstone. There was
a dozen of us in the party, all jolly
fellows; and as we were lucky, we had
ne ""Nd time as ever party need to
ask for.
Il. ,nanced one day, when we had
been encamped for over a week in the
same spot, that | got separated from
the rest of the party | had shot a
deer and only wounded it, and it led
me a long chase before / was able to
drew sight on it again and bring it
down.
Having done so at length, | set to
work to strip off its hide, and then
cut out the best pieces to carry to the
camp.
My mind had been so taken up
with the wounded deer that | had paid
but little heed to the way l was going
and now, when | was about to set out
for the camp, | for the first time
looked about me to take my bearings.
The more | looked the more confused
l got For the life of me | couldn' I
tell which was the way to the camp.
Thick clouds vailed the sky and
hid the face Of the sun so completely
that | could not even tell where il
was. Neither before or since was |
ever caught in such fix.
After standing awhile | started off,
though feeling far from sure that | was
right | believed | was going the way
| ought still | might miss the camp
which | could not exactly locate, try
as | would.
The day was nearer gone than j
had thought, and almost before | knew
it the shadows of night began to gather
around | was then no surer of my way
to the camp than was when / left the
spot where L had slain the deer.
The darkness gathered fast, and in
little time | was completely bewilder
ed. For the life of me | knew moi
which way to turn.
Il thought the matter over calmly
and made up my mind that there was
one thing for me to do. / must CAM
where was that night and wait fol
sunrise before trying to go further
on.
My mind being made up on this ]
set to work to make myself as comfort
able as possible
II knew that it was risky building {
FIRE, for the signs of redskins had beer
thick that day, but | was hungry, and
vension steak was great temptation
So made up my mind to take the
chances.
Fuel was rather scarce where ]
was but | hunted around and gathered
enough together for a small fire. ]
soon had it burning cheerily. and
placed on it a large slice of the deel
and cooked it to turn. Then | fell tC
and made hearty meal and when ]
was done / stretched myself out BY
the fire, determined to have a good
nightssleep.
Il remember watching the flames as
they sank lower and lower, and then
my eyes closed and all was a blank. ]
couldn't have been asleep great while
beio.e mad fearful dream |
thought | was alone, and lost, on the
side of a high mountain. Below me
were redskins watching to take my
life L was trying hard, but all in vain
TO climb to the top. If | managed to
chamber up few feet, | would slide
back again, and still farther down
toward the savages. Every effort j
made only carried me nearer 10 those
who were thirsting for my blood.
AT last it seemed that large rock
on which | had clamhered gave away
and, in spite of every effort, carried
me with it down into the midst of the
savages. With a howl which even
now | can seem TO hear ringing IN my
ears. they sprang upon me in haste tC
take my life.
AT this point of my dream | awoke
with start, and for a moment could
hardly believe that the scenes through
which | had passed in my dream were
not a reality. | gazed about me in the
darkness in search of the savages, with
whom il seemed had been so recently
battling for my life.
The fire | had kindled had nearly
died out. Only faint glow shone out
from it, half Illuminating the earth
for few feet around.
Suddenly | gave another start
Into this faint circle, a savage knife
in hand-was creeping.
For moment | could hardly
believe that was not still dreaming
But | was soon convinced that this
was a reality.
CLOSER and closer crept the savage
bent on his murderous work. In less
than minute more he would be Sc
near that he could plunge his knife
into my heart There was not a min,
ute for me TO lose. My rifle lay by my
side, and grasping it, | sprang to my
feet.
with a bound the savage came upon
me. The muzzle of my rifle was almost
againt his breast as | pulled the trig
with a yell he sprang high in the
air. and then fell at my feet, where in
a minute he lay as dead as stone.
so YOU see, boys, that it was my
dream that saved my life.
Il lost no time in getting from the
snot for / knew not but that there
were other savages near. The rest Ol
the night | wandered about In the
darkness, and at daybreak, as good
suck would have it, / struck the
camp.
Iris in vain to put your finger in the
water. and. pulling it out look for a
hole; and equally vain to suppose that,
l.,