The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-06-24
CAUGHT IN A QUICKsANlD.
A Thrilling Sketch.

CAUGHT IN A QUICKSAND.
A Thrilling Sketch.
It is now quite number ofyears since
two old hunters, Buck Strading and Tom
Shuttle were hunting with me in the
Western part of Texas, just south OF
the famous Ell Cano Estacado. We had
gone into the interior more for sport
thau anything else, caring very lit.
tie whether we secured more game than
answered for our immediate wants or
not.
Penetrating still further and fur
ther toward the Mexican dominion, we
finally struck barren. ..parched country,
upon which we entered with some~hesl-
tation.
t'Thisslooks as though we shan't find
any water, I remarked, as we 'reined up
our horses and took survey of the arid
plain. s ). ;. +,
"Does look rather skeery,". replied
Stradling, taking.his short. black pipe
from his mouth, "but guess we'll try tt.
Iell make sort of variety to this eternal
tramping." ... -,
'sBat What viii We Do " without yatera'
Iasked. ~, g;.r ny
aWhy, you see, there is water four or
five miles back of us; so We can go ahead
for day, and, five can't find anything,
why, we can turn round and make back
tracks. Itllgo rather tough but it wont
hurt us. My idea," continued the trap
per, growing philosophical, lis, that we
never know what water is till we've gone
two or three days without it, just as the
only way to get good, sound, refreshing
sleep is to sit up for a couple of nights" !"
Soft was concluded that we should ven
ture upo.. ibis unknown Sahara and CIV
ing rein to our horses, we struck Oft upon
an easy gallop.
We saw nothing of buffalo or deer, and
more than once questioned the prudence
ofthe step, but as we were ,actuated some.
what BY curiosity, I said nothing, and we
pressed forward. ~.
we had an abundance of dried meat,
which, no doubt, would last US all the
time necessary. Now andt then we caught
sight Of an antelope, but they were very
shy, and kept at q distance which placed
them beyond all danger of our guns.
AS we were riding along, and had come
to the conclusion that it would be. i'm
possible tosecure any game, ] was sure !
discerned pair of antlers beyond swell
in the prairie, and declared as much to
my companions, but they only laughed
at me, and told me to give, up the foolish
thought. I was certain, however, that l
had really seen the animal, and, as there
was chance to secure something palata-
Bile for supper, Iassured them that Iwouh
do so. They told me to go ahead, while
they reigned their animals down to walk
and pursued their way more leisurely.
may here remark thai hunters often
separate for an entire, day first agreeing
upon the guides by which they shall
meet again, and I had no hesitation
in doing the same. My horse was fresh
and snuffed the air as thoug b anxious to
stretch is limbs; 80, without useless hes
itation, I waved them a playful goodby,
and started away.
Il aimed directly toward the the spot
where had discovered the object, Judged
it to be half-mile distant, but when l
reached the place, it proved to be double
that distance, and illusion which often
misleads hunters and travellers.
A singularly.formed ridge crossed the
plain from East to West. A thicket of
cactus grew upon its summit, and toward
the thicket directed my course. Ids
mounted before ascending the hill, and,
cautiously leading my horse amoung the
cactus bushes, I tied him to one of the
limbs. I tied him with slight security,
for the noble beast did not need anything
more. This done, stealthily made my
way through the bushes toward the point
where was sure had seen the game.
What was my surprise and pleasure to
see not one antelope, but half'a.dozen,
grazing beyond This was surprise and
pleasure in more than one sense; for,
while we set this action of the country
down as barren waste, here was prim-
attscie evidence of our mistake. Where
there was vegetation, argued, there
must be water.
However, the antelopes were 1000. feet
distant, upon smooth, grassy slope.
There was not the slightest covering to
protect an approach, and began to de-
bate with my self upon, the best course to
pursue. Should I initiate the call of one
of their number in distress? There was
something go inhuman in that that / revol-
ted at the thought, and took the consola.
ton that no true hunter would descend
to such meanness. Should I tie my red
handkerchief upon my ramrod, and take
advantage of their curiosity? They were
too shy.
All an idea struck me. My eye sud-
denly rested upon a blush line running
across the prairie, beyond where the ami
mails were feeding. 1t was either buf,
falo road or the channt, of an arroyo /;
but, whichever it was, it was the very COW
er I wanted, and I determined to take
Immediate advantage Of it.
Retreating as stealithy from the thicket
as I had euterered it, I hurried along the
side of the slope toward a point where I
had observed that the ridge was depress-
ed to the level Of the plain. Reaching
this, to my still greater surprise ] found
myself on the banks of a broad arroyo,
whose water slowly meandered over bed
of sand and gypsum. The banks were
two or three feet above the surface of the
stream, except where the ridge came
down upon the stream. Here there was
quite a high bluff, and, hurrying around
its base, stepped into the channel and
commenced wading upward.
This was difficult feat, as the bed of
the creek was soft and yielding, and was
obliged to tread very slowly, lest ! should
alarm the game. The antelope is one of
the most timid of animals, and has won
derfully acute sense of hearing so much
so, that none but the most experienced
hunters can approach him.
After creeping along in this wearisome
manner for several hundred yards, l
reached small clump Of wormwood
bushes growing out of the bank. Think.
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. had just