The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1880-08-12

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 tho deed was done past recall, and
wherefore regret?
As I watched the mournful actions Of
the doe, and heard its piteous cries, ]
saw that it would. be mercy to kill il
and end its misery. Actuated by what,
perhaps, was q questionable humanity,
| I took 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 Sc
| cured q 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?"
I attempted to move, and found boil,
feet fast. My first thought was that
chill ran over me from head to foot.
But no I could feel the blood coursing
to the remotest part Of my system, and
tugged like q giant. 1 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-
I was sinking in quicksand.
With this knowledge came q fierce
resolve not to succumb. would wrench
off my feet before I would consent to
die in this inglorious and dreadful man.
ner. Summoning all the strength of
which I 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
I could feel myself sinking slowly and
surely, as 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. 1 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
HE in my despair.
And now I tried to think coolly upon
my position. Was there really no posi-
bic way ef extricating myself? Stay
Suppose I should lay my rifle horizontally
across the sand would it not prevent my
sinking? Perhaps so; at least 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 1 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 it
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 q while I became cool again. If
must die, I must; and I aroused N.Y.
self to meet it manfully. I stood erect,
and found that my head had sunk to the
prairie level, and I could just see
the victims of my heartlessness. My
heart reproached me at the sight. Was
not this q just retribution for the misery
I 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 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 had commit.
ted, I 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 I was sinking-sink.
ing slowly but surely, and the moment
conld not be distant when I should be
swallowed up and disappear from view
entirely, and those who should come tc
search for me could only surmise my
| fate.
| I had taken my last fond look upon
the green, fair earth. could only sec
the blue, clayey wall which held the
stream. and the water which ran I'M.
needing by me. Again I looked up al
the blue sweet sky, and then endeavored
to resign myself to my fate. But I could
not the memories Of the fair earth and
my past pleasures and friends came sc
wildly over me that I found myself con.
tmually bursting into struggling spasms
to escape, but all equally frultless as
were the first feeble attempts to walk.
In the midst of this racking suspense
I was startled by the shrill neighine 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 q call
which 1 had often used to bring him to
me then listened with an anxiety which
it IS useless for me to attempt to depict.
Suddenly I heard the sound of his hoofs,
as though he were struggling to free
himself, and the next moment I recog.
nized his well-known tramp, and knew
that he was approaching. Then he
suddenly appeared on the bank, and,
looking down at me, uttered q Joyful
neigh of recognition.
Peculiar attachment exists between
the hunter and his horse, and it was q
habit of his, whenever called to him,
to gallop up to me and press his nose
against my cheek. Reaching out my
hands toward him. in nay usual caress-
ing manner, + repeated the call. Thu
next moment he bounded down into tn.
channel: and I caught him by the bri
die. 1ime was becoming fearfully
preciqt> I was already down to my
waist Z the water. I seized the lariat
and, p1Essing it under the saddle-girths
securedCt in firm knot. I then made
q loop sd passed it around my body.
| Heave,. bless the noble horse The