The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1880-07-01

Duhu6S RIOWIlR OUT OF bQ6 DAilk. 1QInk-
ing this might be high enough to answer
for cover. I concluded to take advantage
Of it. I slowly raised myself up and
peered through the leaves. I had just
the right place, and, sighting at the
heart of the buck, 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 its fallen mate and snuff at it
as If bewildered at the occurrence.
Suddenly she seemed to comprehend the
sad truth. and. throwing back her head.
began uttering the most plaintive and
piteous cries, while she occasionally ran
round the body, as if totally unable to
control her grief.
At first it was not my intention to kill
the doe, and, had dreamed of Witness
ing such painful scene. I should not
have done so. How often do we hunt.
ers, In the excitement of the chase, COM
nit deeds which, In our calmer mo-
Inents, we can see as heartless and cruel
But the deed was done past recall, and
wherefore regret?
AS watched the mournful actions of
the doe, and heard its piteous cries, I
saw that it would be o mercy to kill it
and end its misery. Actuated by what,
perhaps, was questionable humanity,
I took q careful aim, pulled the trigger,
and, as the smoke cleared away, I dis
covered the doe lying dead with its head
resting upon its departed mate.
"Both are out of distress, !" was my
comforting reflection, "and I have se-
,.,,.,d a ,o,.e, r,,xx,,a,. Nth ,vl,;ol, T Ill
tickle the palates OF my two friends, and
convince them that they are not the
only ones who have knowledge of
hunting-but what is the meaning of
this ?"
i attempted to move, and found both
feet fast. Ny first Thought was that /
had been stricken with paralysis, and q
chill ran over me from head to foot.
But no I could feel the blood coursing
to the remotest part of my system, and I
tugged like giant. / tried to step,
twisted to the right and left, wrenched
my body, but all in yain-I was fast.
Suddenly the truth flashed upon me
/ was sinking in q quicksand.
With thus knowledge came fierce
resolve not to succumb. / would wrench
off my feet before would consent to
die in this inglorious and dreadful man
ner. Summoning all the strength of
which was master, I tugged and pulled
and twisted with the fury of madness,
and then paused exhausted. and found
that the only result was that I had sunk
several inches deeper In the quicksand.
The soft, clinging sand was already at
the top of my boots, and had so wedged
4 IL L. :
possible to pull them off. All the time
I could feel myself sinking slowly and
surely, rs though some monster, deep
In the bowels of the earth, had grasped
me by the feet and was gradually draw
ing me under.
Almost beside myself with terror, ]
shouted for help, and then I laughed
wildly at the idea of my voice reaching
any one. was miles away from any
person. The only living creature within
hearing was my horse, and he answered
me with a neigh, as if sympathizing with
me IN my despair.
And now I tried to think coolly upon
my position. Was there really no posi-
bic way eff extricating myself? Stay
Suppose / should lay myrtle horizontally
across the sand, would it not prevent my
sinking? Perhaps SO; at least I could
try it.
Looked around for my gun, but moth.
ing of it was to be seen. That, too,
alas had sunk beneath. the surface.
Could I dig my way out? No; the
sand streamed into the hollow as often
as tore it with my frenzied fingers.
Could I not lie fiat on my back, and
thus stay my downward progress? The
thought was dismissed the moment il
came to me. The water was eighteen
inches deep, and should drown at once
Oh, heavens dying by this slow, tor.
turing process. The thought drove me
mad for the time.
After while I became cool again. Z
must die, must; and I aroused my
self to meet it manfully. I stood erect
and found that my head had sunk to the
prairie level, and I could Just Sc.
the victims of my heartlessness. NJ
heart reproached me at the sight. Wa
not this Just retribution for the miser,
I had inflicted? What right had K
shoot those poor, innocent creatures whit
had never harmed me? Was it not tn,
final adjustment of justice that I SHOULD
be made to feel and suffer the sam,
pangs that I had inflicted upon them?
Such, and similar, were the thought
that coursed through my seething brain
raised my eyes to heaven, and almos
expected to see frown of divine ange
for the part / had taken. But no; tn
sun was shining as bright and the SIX,
| was as cerulean and mild as ever. No
whatever transgressions ] had commit
ted, knew there was nothing but for
giveness and love bending over me, an,
I prayed as only sinful man can pra,
when encompassed by certain death.
But all this time was sinkng-sink
ing slowly but surely, and the momen
could not be distant when should b
swallowed up and disappear from vie'
entirely, and those who should come
search for me could only surmise m
fate.
I had taken my last fond look upo
the green, fair earth. I could only Sc
the blue, clayey wall which held th
| stream, and the water which ran ur
needing by me. Again I looked up 6
the blue sweet sky, and then endeavore
to resign myself to my fate. But I coul
not; the memories of the fair earth an
my past pleasures and friends came s
wildly over me that found myself COZ
tinually bursting into struggling spasn
to escape, but all equally fruitless {
were the first feeble attempts to walk.
In the midst of this racking suspens
I was startled by the shrill neighing {
my horse. At first this gave me il
describable distress, as I could not avoi
contrasting his free situation with m
own. But suddenly bright though
flashed over me. Could not my hor.
rescue me?
He was tied to frail cactus linn
which he could easily break, if
chose. Withous losing time-for tin
was never SO precious-I uttered q ca
which had often used to bring him
me then listened with an anxiety whic
it is useless for me to attempt to depic
Suddenly heard the sound of his hoof