The Northern Pacific farmer., 1880-06-24
TWICE BURIED
A Tale Of the Rocky Mountains.
By MAJ. HAMILTON,

By MAJ. HAMILTON.
Half way from Leadville to the plains
half way, and bya new trail running
away into the southwest and down along
the canyon of the Platte; half way only,
and my horse worn, my food gone, and
night close at hand. Night in February
death, cold.
I wrapped my blanket yet closer
about my shoulders and urged my steed
forward through the gloaming
Curse my luck?' muttered. eek
cept for Black Dams threat 7 would
have gone by the stage in comfort. And
yet, to have braved his gang would
have been certain destruction! I'll war
rant they've ambushed the night coach,
intending to catch me. But I've slipped
them this time, and Uncle Sam has the
proof that he wants at last, Three days
more, my rascals, and you'll Jump these
mountains or wear handouts, if reach
Pueblo alive!
shook Charles reins to hasten his
speed, and whistled cheerily to Don, my
great St. Bernard.
"We must reach -Johnson's ranch on
the Platte, old friends, or sleep out, and
it's too cold that" I muttered.
was returning from search for GER
tain desperadoes wanted in the courts
ut Pueblo. The cuthroats had hidden
in the mining camps about Leadville,
and my search had been long one.
finding them at last, however, and the
proof of their crimes with them, was
about to return and make arrangements
for their arrest, when by some unknown
means they learned who 1 was, and
fled. Fled, pursued by the wrath of the
worst man between the Gunnison and
Denver-Black Dan. Had he found
me my life would not have been worth
the toss of a card. I must reach the
settlement quickly and return with a
force in order to capture my game and
that without delay.
In the gloaming of the morning I had
begun my perilous horseback journey;
in the cleaning of the evening I was
continuing it. No soul had met me
along the wagon trail, and believed
that I had tricked my enemies.
The blackness of the canyon crept
up, the narrow trail ran down among
great masses Of powders, across patches
of snow, and again along the bare earth.
/ followed with watchful eye the indis-
tinct path until, just at the verge of the
lest steep decent that should carry me
into the river gulch itself, I halted for a
moment to rest my weary horse.
''Only a little further, "Charlie," said
|, dismounting and patting his droop-
ing head; "a couple of miles more, and
we'll strike supper and a bed. You've
done we'll, old boy, and saved me-"
A sudden fierce growl from my dog,
as he sprung toward the shadow of the
pines behind me, a single lance of light,
a ringing report, and, withouta a moan, I
threw my hands quivering into the air,
whirled heavily away from my horse,
and fell. Black Dan had found me! ne!
Slowly, and with great pain, con-
sciousness OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, for
my brain was still alive, but not per-
sonality, for of my body I knew moth
ing.
What had happened?
Laboriously my mind travelled
through the mists of death that still SUR
rounded it.. Slowly one idea followed
another until at last came the know
ledge that I sought I had been way
laid and shot.
Yes, [ remembered now Remem-
bered the cry of my dog, the ring of a
rifle, the sheet of fame, the blow of the
ball, and Acknowledgements >.
had been shot and was dead!
And yet not dead, for pain revived,
and dead men feel no pain. Twas shot,
but not dead. And SO. came at last the
consciousness of matter. I still lived.
I sought to rise, but I could not, for
was bound; bound hand and feet, arms
and legs, body. neck and head. fingers,
lips and eyelids, even; bound, yet not
Where was II What was the troub-
le? .|,@t'c;h:
Nearer sand still nearer came the
truth, as I groaned in spirit and strug-
gled to gain knowledge Of myself; near
er and still nearer, until, with mighty
effort, throwing off, al lethargy, I,made
one desperate attempt to rise; then the
my nostrils, the weight of ewly-turned
earth pressed upon my heart, the cling
ing bonds of newly-dug ear tn bound
me, and with a wild cry Of horror and
despair I recognized my .situation-I
was buried alive. 'S S~" ,
I did not faint at frst-life was too
dear-but lay simply deadened, crush
ed by the blow, the loose mold admit
ting air for my respiration, my poor
stunned brain rolling these words up
and down: "Buried alive! Buried
alive!' until from sheer madness and