The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1880-07-01

ing this might be high enough to answer
for cover. / concluded to take advantage
of il. I slowly raised myself up and
peered through the leaves. had just
the right place, and, sighting at the
heart Of the buck, I pulled the trigger.
The brute sprang up and dropped dead.
was ON the point of running forward
to claim the prize. when I 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 a painful scene. 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-
ments, 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 q mercy to kill it
and end its misery. Actuated by what,
perhaps, was a questionable humanity,
took a careful aim, pulled the trigger,
and, as the smoke cleared away, / dis
covered the doe lying dead with its head
resting upon its departed mate.
"Both are out of distress" was my
comforting reflection, "and 1 have Sc
cured rare supper, with which will
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. My first thought was that 1
had been stricken with paralysis, and
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 a giant. I tried to step,
twisted to the right and left, wrenched
my body, but all in vain-I was fast.
Suddenly the truth flashed upon me
was sinking in quicksand.
With thus knowledge came a fierce
resolve not to succumb. I would wrench
off my feet before I 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
them around my ankles that it was i'm
possible to pull them off. All the time
1 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 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 neigh, as if sympathizing with
me In my despair.
And now tried to think coolly upon
my position. Was there really no possi-
BILE 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.
1 looked around for my gun. but moth
ing of it was to be seen. That. too.
aims had sunk beneath the surface.
Could 1 dig my way out? No; the
sand streamed into the hollow as often
as 1 tore it with my frenzied fingers.
Could I not lie fiat on nv back. and
thus stay my downward progress? The
thought was dismissed the moment it
| tn ta -
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 became cool again. If
must die, I must and aroused nv
self to meet it manfully. I stood erect.
and found that my head had sunk to the
| prairie level, and could Just see
the victims of my heartlessness. Ny
heart reproached me at the sight Was
not this just retribution for the misery
had inflicted? What right had I to
shoot those poor, innocent creatures who
had never harmed me? Was it not the
final adjustment of Justice that should
be made to feel and suffer the same
pangs that I had inflicted upon them?
such, and similar, were the thoughts
that coursed through my seething brain.
L raised my eyes to heaven, and almost
expected to see frown of divine anger
for the part I had taken. But no; the
sun was shining as bright and the sky
was as cerulean and mild as ever. No ;
whatever transgressions I had commit
ted, knew there was nothing but for
giveness and love bending over me, and
1 prayed as only sinful man can pray
when encompassed by certain death.
But all this time was sinking-sink-
ing slowly but surely, and the moment
could not be distant when should be
swallowed up and disappear from view
entirely, and those who should come to
search for me could only surmise my
fate.
/ had taken my last fond look upon
the green, fair earth. I could only see
the blue, clayey wall which held the
stream, and the water which ran un-
needing by me. Again I looked up at
the blue sweet sky, and then endeavored
to resign myself to my fate. But could
not the memories OF the fair earth and
my past pleasures and friends came so
wildly over me that found myself con-
tinuaily bursting into struggling spasms
to escape, but all equally fruitless as
were the first feeble attempts to walk.
In the midst of this racking suspense
I was startled by the shrill neighfng Of
my horse. At first this gave me in.
describable distress, as could not avoid
contrasting his free situation with nv
own. But suddenly bright thought
flashed over me. Gould not my horse
rescue me?
He was tied to frail cactus limb,
which he could easily break, if he
chose. without losing time-for time
was never so precious-I uttered a cal
which I had often used to bring him tc
me; then listened with an anxiety which
it is useless for me to attempt to depict
Suddenly heard the sound Of his hoofs
as though he were struggling to free
himself, and the next moment I recog