The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-08-13
TWICE BURIED.

W
Half way from Leadville to the plains
half way and by new trail running away
Into the southwest and down along the can
yOn of the Platte; half way only, and my
horse worn, my food gone, and night close at
hand. Night in February-death, cold.
wrapped my blanket yet closer about my
shoulders and urged my steed forward thro'
the cleaning.
Course my luck - 1 muttered. Except
for Black Dams threat would have gone by
the stage in comfort. And yet to have braved
his gang would have been certain destruc-
ton! I'll warrant they've ambushed the
night coach intending to catch me. But I've
slipped them this time, and Uncle Sam has
the proof that he wants at last. Three days
more, my rascals, and you'll jump these
mountains or wear handouts, if l reach Pu-
eblo alive -
l shook Charlie's rein to hasten his speed
and whistled cheerily to Don, my great St
Bernard.
eve must reach Johnson's ranch ON the
Platte, old friends, or sleep out, and it's too
cold for that" ! muttered.
l was returning from search for certain
The cut-throats had hidden in the mining
camps about Leadville, and my search had
been a long one. Finding them at last, how
ever, and the proof of their crimes with them,
l was about to return and make arrange
ments for their arrest, when by some un-
known means they learned who l was, and
fled. Fled, pursued by the wrath of the worst
man between the Gunnison and Denver
Black Dan. Had he found me my life would
not be worth the toss of a card. Unjust reach
the settlements quickly and return with a
force in order to capture my game, and that
without delay.
In the cleaning of the morning ] had be
gun my perilous horseback journey; in the
cleaning of the evening / was continuing it.
No soul had met me along the wagon trail,
and 1 believed that had tricked my enemies.
The blackness of the canyon crept up, the
narrow trail ran down, and among great
masses of powders, across patches of snow
and again along the bare earth. followed
with watchful eye the indistinct path, jusl
at the verge of the last steep descent that
should carry me into the river gulch itself, ]
halted for few moments to rest my weary
horse.
"Only a little further, Charlie" said
dismounting and patting his dropping head
'a couple of miles more, and We'll strike sup
per and a bed. You've done well, old boy
and saved me-
a sudden fierce growI from my dog, as hC
sprung toward the shadow of the pines behind
me, a single lance of light a ringing report
and, without moan, 1 threw my hands quiv
ering into the air, whirled heavily away from
my horse, and fell Black Dan had founC
me
Slowly, and with great pain, consciousness,
returned-consc!OuSne for my brain wa:
still alive, but not personality, for of my pod,
l knew nothing.
What had happened?
LaboriOusly my mind Travelled through the
mists of death that still surrounded it, Slow
ly one idea followed another until at last
came the knowledge that 1 sought. hat
been waylaid and shot.
Yes, 1 remembered now Remembered
the cry of the dog, the ring of a rifle, TIN
sheet Of flame, the blow of the ball, and thel
-nothingness
had been shot and was dead!
And yet not dead, for pain revived, an,
dead men feel no pain. l was shot, but no
dead. And so came at last the consciousness
of the matter. I still lived.
sought to rise, but could not, for 1 wa
bound bound hand and feet, arms and legs
body, neck and head, fingers, lips and eye
lids, even; bound, yet not with cords
Where was / ? What was the trouble?
Nearer and still nearer came the truth, a
/ l Groaned in spirit and studied to gain knowl
| edge or myself; nearer and still near, until
with mighty effort, throwing off all lethar
gy, [ made one desperate attempt to rise
then the damp odor of new broken earth fill
! cd my nostrils, the weight of newIy-turne,
! earth .pressed upon my heart, the clingin
1 bonds Of newly-dug earth bound me, ant
with wild cry of horror and despair recog
/ nized my situation-I was buried alive.
! 1 did not faint at frSt-life was too dear
| but lay simply deadened, crushed by tn
| blow, the loose mold admitting air for m
/ respiration, my poor stunned brain rollins
/ these words up and down: "Buried alive
/ Buried alive - until from sheer madness an
| loss of desire knowledge fed a second time
! And then it was the tongue of my dog tina
! awakened me. Don dug me out and lappe,
me back to life again.
/ As the dull grey of the winters mornin
dawned, with means l dragged my stiffene
/ limbs from their narrow bed, and crept trenl
blingly down the little trail toward the river
the blood Oozing from the rifle wounds ir m
/ head, my eyes wild and fierce, my hear
pantiEg my life half gone.
/ As l thought Black Dan must have fo
lowed and ambushed me, then, supposing m
J slain, he had the grace to seek to bury me
/ 1t was owing to his haste or his carelessnes
I that my dog had been able to paw the loos
earth from my grave and save me. If l coul
reach Johnson's ranch might live if not
| had been saved but to die second time, fo
a fierce storm was brewing along the mouI
| tain tops above my head. My horse wa
| gone, my rifle, pistols and knife gone; onl
! the dog remained, and, faithful to the LAS
followed as / slowly and painfully trod til
descending path to the river.
/ Suddenly, amid wild roar of wind an
| creaking of trees and whirl of freezing snow