Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1880-09-09
into the channel and commenced wading


ly and slowly, lest should alarm th,
game. The antelope is one of the mos
timid of animals, and has u wonderfully
acute sense of hearing-so much so thai
none but the most experienced hunt
crs can approach him.
| After creeping along in this wearisomt
manner for severUl hundred yards,
reached a small clump of wormwooj
bushes growing out on the bank. Think
ing this might be high enough to answer
for cover, | concluded to take advantage
Of it. | slowly raised myself up and pecred
through the leaves. | had just the right
place, and sighting at the heart of the
buck, pulled the trigger. The brute
sprang up and dropped dead. was or
the point of running forward to claim my
prize, when | saw the doe run up to its
fallen mate and snuff at il as if bewildercd
at the occurrence. Suddenly she seemed
to comprehend the sad truth, and, throw,
ing back her head, began uttering the
most plantive and piteous cries, while she
occasionally ran round the body, as if to,
tally unable to control her grief.
AS | watched the mournful action; Of
the doe, and heard its pitcous cries, | saw
thlt it would be mercy to kill it and end
its misery. Actuated by what, perhaps,
was questionable humanity, I took a
careful aim pulled the trigger, and, as the
smoke cleared away, discovered the doe
lying dead, with its head resting on its
departed mate.
Both are out of distress" was my COM
torting reflection, "and | have secured a
rare supper, with which | will tickle the
paIates 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 this2"
attempted to move but found both
feet fast. Ny first thought was that |
had been stricken with paralysis, and Il
chill ran over me from head to foot. But
no; could feel the blood coursing to the
remotest part of my system, and tugged
like giant. tried to step, twisted 10
the right and left, wrenched my body,
but all in vaiu--I was fast.
Suddenly the truth flashed upon me
| was sinking in a quicksand
With this knowledge came fierce re-
solve not TO succumb. would wrench OIL
my feet before | would consent to die IN
this inglorious and dreadful manner.
Summoning all the strength of which |
was master tugged and pulled and
twisted with all the fury of madness, and
then paused exhausted, and found that
the only result was that had sunk several
inches deeper in the quioksand. The soft,
clinging sand was already at the top of
my boots, and had so wedged them about
my ankles that it was impossible to pull
them off. All the time | could feel my.
self sinking slowly and surely, as though
some monster, deep in the bowels of the
earth, had graspcd me by the feet, and
was gradually drawing me under.
Almost beside myself with terror, |
shouted for help, and then laughed wildly
at the idea of my voice reaching anyone
| was miles away from any person. The
only living creature within hearing was
my horse, and he answered me with a
neigh, as if symplthizing with me in my
despair,
And now tried to think coolIyupon my
position, Was there really no possible
way of extricating myself2 Stay! Sup
pose | should lay my rife horizontally
across the sand would it not prevent my
sinkingP Perhaps so. At least could
try it.
] looked around for my gun, but nothing
Of it was to be seen. That, too, alas had
sunk beneath the surface. Could | dig
my way outp No; the sand streamed in
to the hollow as often as hove it out with
my frenzied fingers.
Could not lie fiat on my back, and thus
stay my downward progressp The thought
was dismissed the moment it came to me.
The water was eighteen inches deep, and
| would drown at once. Oh, heavens!
dying by thus slow, torturing process. The
thought drove me mad for the time.
After while became cool again. fl
must die must; and aroused myself to
meet it manfuly. | sto1d erect, and
found that my head had sunk to the prai-
rie level, and could just see the victims
Of my hcartlessness. Ny heart reproached
me at the sight. Was not this y just ret
rlbution for the misery had inflicted?
What right had | to shoot those poor, in.
nocent creatures WHO had never harmed
me2 Was it not the final adjustment of
justice that should be made to feel and
suffer the same pangs that had inflicted
upon themP
Such, and similar, were the thoughts
that coursed through my seethng brain.
| 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; what
ever transgression | had committed, |
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 the time | was sinking-slnking
slowly but surely, and the moment could
not be far distant when should be swal-
lowed up and disappear from view entire
ly, and those who should come in search
OF me could only surmise my fate.
| had taken my last fond look upon the
green, fair earth. | could only see the
blue, clayey wall which held the stream,
and the water which ran uuheeding by me.
Again looked 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 bursting INTO
struggling spasms to escape, but all equal
ly fruitless as were the first feeble at
tempts 10 walk.
In the midst of this racking suspense |
was startled by the shrill neighing Of my
horse. At first this gave me indescriba-
BILE distress, as could not avoid contrast
ing his free situation with my own. But
suddenly bright thought broke over me.
Could not my horse rescue meP
He was tied to frail cactus limb which
he could easily break If he chose. With
out loosing time-for time was never so
precious-l uttered call which ! had
often used to bring him to me; then lis
tened with an anxiety which it is useless
for me to attempt to depict. Suddenly |
heard the sound of hoofs as thouOh he