Louisiana capitolian., 1880-08-17

small arroyo. whose water slowly mean
dered over bed of sand and gyp
sum. The banks were two or three fee
above the surface of the stream, excep
where tho ridges came down upon tin
stream. Here was quite u bigh bluff
and, hurrying around it's base, stopped
into the channel and commenced wadin!
upward.
This was quite difficult feat, as tn.
bed Of the creek was soft aud yielding
and was obliged to tread very cauti
onsly and slowly, lest l should ALARM
the game. The antelope is one of the
most timid of animals, and has a won
derfnlly acute sense of hearing--so much
so that none but the most experienced
hunters can approach him.
After creeping along in this weari,
some manner for several hundred yards
| reached small clump of wormwood
bushes growing out on the bank. Think
ing this might be high enough to an
swer for cover, l concluded to take ad.
vantage of it. l slowly raised myself
up and peered through the leaves. l
had just the right place, and sighting
at the heart of tho buck, l pulled the
trigger. The brute sprang up and
dropped dead. / was on the point of
running forward to claim the prize,
when | saw the doe run up to it's fallen
mate AID snuff at it as if bewiIdered at
the occurrence Suddenly she seemed
to comprehend the sad truth, and.
throwing back her head, began utter
lug the most plaintive and piteous
cries, while sho occasionally ran round
the body, as if totally unable to control
her grief.
As I watched the mournful actions of
the doe, and heard its piteous cries, |
saw that it would be mercy to kill it
and end its misery. Actuated by what,
perhaps, was questionable humanity,
| took a careful aim, pulled the trigger,
and, as the smoke cleared away, |
discovered the doc lying dead with its
head resting upon it's departed mate.
ssBotb are out of Distress was my
comforting reflection, land l have Sc
cured rare supper, with which I will
tickle tbeialates of my two friends,
aud convince them that they are not
5he onl u ones who have knowledge of
lunting-but what is the meaning of
his p
l attempted to move, and found both
eet fast. My first thought was that
lad been stricken with paralysis, and a
'hlll ran over me from head to foot. But
10; could feel the blood coursing to
he remotest part of my system, and l
ugged Gkea giant. I tried to step,
visited to tho right and left, wrenched
ny hody, but all in vain-l was fast.
Suddenly the truth flashed upon ME
was sinking in quicksank
With this knowledge came fierce
esolve not to succumb. | would wrench
If my feet before l would consent to
[ie in this inglorious aud dreadful
manner. Summonius all the strength
4 which l was master, tugged and |
'ulled and twisted with the fury of
Madness, and then paused exhausted,
nd found that the only result was that
had sunk several inches deeper in the
nicksand. The soft, clinginS sand was
]ready at the top of my boots, and had
0 wedSed them around my ankles that
was impossible to pull them oft. All
ho time l could feel myself sinking
low]y and surely, as though some
lonster, deep in the bowels of the
artb, had graspel me by the feet and
as gradually drawing me under.
Almost beside myself with terror, l
bontea for help, and then laughed
idly at the idea of my voice reach
g any one. was miles away from
ny person. The only living creature
ithin hearing was my horse, and he
nswered me with a neigh, as if sympa-
lizing with me i'll my despair.
And now ! tried to think coolly upon
y position. Was there really no pos
ble way of extricating myself Stay!
oppose should lay my rifle horizon
lily across the sand, would it not pre-
eut my sinking7 Perhaps so ; at least
SHOULD Try 1t.
l looked around for my gun, bat moth
g of it was to be seen. That, too,
as! had sunk beneath the surface.
ould | dig my way out! No; the
md streamed into the hollow as often
| tore it out with my frenzied fingers.
Could. not lie fiat on my back,
I'd thus stay my downward progress