Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1880-03-03

ankles that it was impossible to
pull them of. All the time could
fell myself sinking slowly and sure
~, as though some monster, deep
in the bowels Of the earth, had
grasped me by the feet and was
gradually drawing me under.
Almost beside myself with ter
ror, | shouted for help, and then l
laughed wildly at the idea OF my
voice reaching anyone. l 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 dispair.
And now l tried to think coolly
upon my position. Was there real
ly no possible way Of extricating
myself Stayl Suppose ! should
lay my rifle horizontally across the
sand, would it not prevent my
sinkingl Perhaps so; at least, l
could try it.
looking round for my gun. but
nothing of it was to be seen. That,
too, alas had sunk beneath the
surface. Could not dig my way
outl No; the sand streamed into
the hollow as fast as l tore it out
with my frenzied fingers.
Could l not lie fat on my back,
and thus stay my downward pro-
gressl The thought was dismiss
ed the moment it came to me.
The water was eighteen inches
deep, and l should drown at once.
Oh, heavens dying by this slow,
torturing process. The thought
drove me mad for the time.
After a while became more cool
again. If / must die, / must; and
l reused myself to meet it manful-
Iy. | stood erect, and found that
my head had sunk to the prairie
level, and / could just see the
victims of my heartlessness. My
heart reproached me at the sight.
Was not this just retrihution for
the misery l had inflicted? What
right had / to shoot these two 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 l had inflicted upon
theml
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 / had taken. But no; the
sun was shining as bright, and the
sky was as cerulean and mild as
ever. No; whatever transgres-
sions l had comVted, ] knew there
was nothing but forgiveness and
love bending over me, and pray
ed as only sinful man can pray
when encompassed by certain
death.
But all this time I was sinking
sinking slowly, but surely, and the
moment could not be distant when
should be swallowed up and dis
appear 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. l could
, only see the blue, clayey wal
which held the stream, and the
, water which ran unheeding by me
, Again l looked up at the blue
sweet sky, and then endeavoret
calmly to resign myself to my fate
But / could not; the memories
of the fair earth and my past pleas
ures and friends came so vividl,
n over me that found myself con
tinually bursting into struggling
spasms to escape, but all equal.
a fruitless as were the first feebl
/ attempts to walk.
: In the midst of this rackinI
$ suspense / was startled by the shri
d neighing of my horse. At frs
this gave me indescribable distress
s as / could not avoid contrasting hi
/ free situation with my own. Blu
h suddenly a bright thought Hashe
IF over me. Could not my hors
m rescue met
g He was tied to frail cactus liml
u which he could easily break IL b
7" chose. Without loosing time-fc
ID time was never so precious-I u
,t tered a call which l had often use