The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-06-24

the excitement OF the chase, commit
deeds which, in our calmer moments, We
can see as heartless and cruel! But the
deed was done past recall, and where
fore regret 7
As I watched the mournful actions Of
the doe, and heard its piteuos cries, I saw
that it would be mercy to kill it and
end its misery. RActuated by-what, per-
haps, was questionable humanity, I took
careful aim, pulled the trigger, and, as
the smoke cleared away, | discovered
the doe lying dead with its head resting
upon its departed mate.
"Both are out of distress" was my com.
forting reflection, "and I have secured
rare supper, with which I 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 ?"
attempted to move, and found both
feet fast. My first thought was that /
had been stricken with paralysis, and
chill ran oyer me from head to foot. But
no; could feel the blood coursing to
the remotest part of my system, and I
tugged like giant. I tried to step, twist
ed to the right and left, wrenched my
body, but all in vain-I was fast.
Suddenly the truth flashed upon me
I was sinking in quicksand.
With this knowledge came q fierce re-
solve not to succumb. I would wrench
off my feet beforeI would consent to die
in this inglorious and dreadful manner.
Summoning all the strength Of which |
was master, 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 sew.
eral inches deeper in the quicksand. The
soft, clinging sand was already at the top
of my. boots, and had SO wedged them
around my ankle that it was impossible
to pull them off. All the time I could
feel myself sinking slowly and surely, as
though some monster, deep in the bow
els Of the earth, had graspedime by the
feet andswas gradually drawing: me un-
der.
g. Almost beside myself with terror, ]
shouted for help, and then L laughed
wildly at the idea of:my voice reaching
any one. I was miles away from any per.
son. The only diving creature within
hearing was. my horse, and he answered
me with q neigh, asif fsympathizing with
me in despair,
And now / tried to think coolly upon
my position: Was there really no posi-
BILE way of extricating myself? Stay +!
Suppose should lay my rifle horizon.
tally across the sand, would it not pre-
vent my sinking? Perhaps 80; at least
I could try it.
I looked around for my gun, but moth.
ing of it was to be seen. That, too, alas !
had sunk beneath the surface. Gould l
dig my way out? No; the sand stream
ed into the hollow as often as tore it
with my frenzied fingers.
Gould not lie. fat on my back, and
thus stay. my downward progress? The
thought was dismissed the momentit came
to me. The water was eighteen inches
deer, land should drown at once. Oh,
heaven! dying by this SLOW, torturing
process. The thought drove me mad for
the time.
After a whileI became cool-again. If
] must die, I must and I aroused my
self to meet it manfully. I stood erect,
and found that my head had suHk to the
prairie level, and could just see the vic
,rims of my heartlessness. Ny heart re-
sproached me at the sight. Was noS this
a lust 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 I should be
made to feel. and suffer the same pangs
that + had inflicted upon them2
Such, and similar, were the thoughts
that coursed through my seething brain.
I raised my eyes to heaven, and almost
expected to see frown of divine anger
for the part l had taken. But no the
sun was, shining as bright, and the SKY
was as ceruean and mild as ever. No;
whatever transgressions had committed,
I knew there was nothing but forgiveness
and love bending over me, and prayed
as only sinful man can pray when encom-
passed by certain death.
But all this time I was. sinking
sinking slowly but surely, and the mo.
ment 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 sarmise my
fate.
I 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 unheed-
ing by me. Again Hooked 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 vividly over
me that found myself continually burst
ing into struggling spasms to escape, but
all equally fruitless as were the first fee
BILE attempts to walk.
In the midst of this racking suspense l
was startled by the shrill neighing of my
horse. As first this gave me indescribable
distress, as could not avoid contrasting
his free situation with my own. But sud-
denly a bright thought flashed over me.
Could not my horse rescue me?
He was tied to a frail cactus limb,
which he could easily break, if he chose.
Without losing tinle-for time was never
80 precious-I uttered call which had
often used to bring him to me; then lis
tend with an anxiety which it is use less for
me to attempt to depict. Suddenly L
heard the sound Of his hoofs, as though
he were struggling to free himself, and
the next moment recognized his we'll
known tramp, and knew that he was ap..
preaching. Then he suddenly appeared
on the bank. and looking down at me
uttered joyful neigh of recognition.
Peculiar attachment exists between the
hunter and his horse, and it was habit
of his, whenever I called to him, to
gallop up to me and press his nose
against my cheek. Reaching out my
hands toward him, in my usual caressing
manner, I repeated the call. The next
moment he bounded down into the chan
mel, and I caught him by the bride.
Time was becoming fearfully precious.
I was already down to my waist in the
water. seized the lariat, and, pressing