Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1880-03-04

ed myself, and turned backward through
the opening. Instantly jumping to my
feet, vaulted into the saddle that was
on the back of white horse that stood
there, and, in the midst of yells, of rife
shots, of pack of bowling dogs, we
rushed out of the camp. Itseemed to
me as though thousand horsemen
were in pursuit OF me instantly. We
galloped up the river to bend had
seen. Dashing in, we forded it under
a fire that made the water boil around
US, and were out of the water and on
the level land to the north of the river
before any Of the Sioux were half way
across. Striking the trail to the Boze-
man Pass, took it and rushed boldly
on, and though holly pursued, my
horse outlasted theirs, and escaped.
[ never drew rein until | dismounted
to the west of the Pass. The girl saved
me. With any other horse [ should
haYe been recaptured and burned. /
have not got the girl. The love [ have
for her the mare has instead. return.
ed to:my post and made no trade in Vel
lowstOne that year.
again. Last winter the snow was
on the ground in January, and for three
days had been hunting antelope. The
sun was very bright, and my eyes hurt
me. saw specks floating about. Little
chains with small links were constantly
before me. My eyes burned smartly
when l returned to the agency. Duly
while hunting had seen the low black
clouds in the north that indicate the
formation Of the winds of the frozen
north. Daily the south wind swept them
beyond the northern horizon, but the
next morning found them looming in
the northern sky. On my return to the
agency I found a runner had Just got in
from Belly River, in British America
with important news for me; it was
necessary that l should go up at once.
| started the next morning. My eyes
hurt dreadfully.
81 always 60 to the Belly River when
the snow is on the ground, by the way
of the Sweet Grass Hills, and there |
camp one night. One side Of the hills
is always bare of snow, and there is a
spring of good water on the
northern side ofthe hill. A strong south
wind was blowing when / started, but
by noon [ saw the clouds to the north
suddenly rise up. 1 knew that the
marshaling of the north winds was
com pleted, and they were eager for the
assault on the soft south wind. On
came the black cloud. The south wind
still blew fercely, but it could not stem
the assault from the artic region. Birds
flew south before the storm, antelope
and deer we're running for shelter.
had reached my camping ground, and
stood looking far off to the north, seeing
the landmark disappear one by one as
the head of the blizzard reached them
and shrouded them in its icy breath. a
calm. Then with a mighty rush and g
loud noise the head of the blizzard
swept past me. The air was filled with
particles of ice that cut through almos
horizontally, and seemed as if they
would never fall. Colder, ever colder
grew the wind, and denser the air as
the ice particles thickened. | sough
shelter in the rocks. Ruckllng the
clothing on the mare | turned her loose
knowing that she would not leave me
Then l lay down on my blankets, and
wrapping my beaver cloak aroud me,
tried to sleep. | began thinking, anC
could not sleep. The buffalo had no
come south that winter; and the wolve!
were gaunty and hungry. AS they fol
low q hOaseman over the plains in the
summer, so they do in winter, only
more of them and those great, gaun
famine breeders, the gray and blacl
ones. go in largely increased numbers
had pack of them at my heels al
day, and now they cropped up in my
thoughts.
Finally l slept. When Iawoke i
was dark. Holding up my naked
hand, l felt the icy sweat of the 'bliz
zard' strike sharply against it. The
roar of the wind still continued. coulC
not go to sleep again, and lay waiting
for dawn. waited, it seemed to me
for hours, when [ suddenly felt my
mare paw my breast. spoke kindly
to her, saying she had made a mistake
Soon she paved me again, and I arose
to find that all was dark, that / coulC
not see the white mare. Alarmed,
struck a match under my cloak anC
looked down to see the blaze. l saw
nothing. but the match burned my fin
gers. With q desolating despondency
realized the fact that the glare of the
snow encountered for the past few DAYS
had made me snow blind; that [ was
fifty miles from the nearest house, anC
unable to see; that furious snow storm
was raging"
Stupid, almost wild with horror,
thought [ could hear the snuffing of the
wolves, and the soft patter of their fee
below the wild shrek of the artic winds
was simply benumbed with terror
With my eyesisht in full power l should
have thought the situation dangerous.
AS it was, I considered it hopeless. The
mare recalled me to myself by rubbing
her cold muzzle against my face. she
saw that something was wrong with me
but what, she could not comprehend.
resolved to saddle her, to feed her, and
after she ate, to mount and let her take
her own course. So fed her the re
manning measure of barley aud waited
for her to eat. Then | saddled up, anc
without bridling, mounted, and wrap.
ping my cloak around me, sat steadily
in the saddle, awaiting the risky action
of the high strung animal. She stood
trembling until told her to go. Tbeu
| felt her turn until the ice struck obi
quely on my right side and back, and
she rapidly walked off. Not a motion
Or movement did she make to decom.
pose my seat. Wrapped in my cloak,
with hood drawn over my face, warm
and encouraged with hope, 1 patiently
sat on the horse. [ could now hear the
snarling of the wolves, and my only