The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1880-09-09
TWICE BURIED.
A TALE OF ROCKY MOUNTAINS.
By MAJOR HAMILTON.

plains-haif way, and by new
trail running way into the southwest
and down along the canyon of the
Plata; half way only and my horse
Worn, my food gone, and night close
at hand. Night in February
death, cold
| wrapped my blanket yet closer
about my shoulders, and urged my
steed forward through the cleaning.
Course my luck." I muttered.-
Except for Black Dams threat [
would have gone by the stage in
comfort. And yet, to have braved
his gang would have been certain
destructionl I'll warrant 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 to wear hand
cuffs, if | reach Pueblo alive.
| shook Charles reins to hasten
his speed, and whistled cherrily to
Don, my St. Bernard.
"We must reach Johnson's ranch
on the Platte, old friends, or sleep
out, and it's too cold for that" [
muttered.
I was returning from a search of
certain desperadoes wanted in the
courts of Pueblo. The cut throats
had hidden in mining camps about
Leadyille, and my search had been
a long one. Finding them at last,
however, and the proof of their
crimes with them, [ was about to
return and make arrangement for
their arrest, when by some unknown
means they learned who l was, and
] fed. Fled pursued by the wrath
of the worst man between the Cuni-
son and Denyer-Black Dan. Had
he found me my life would not have
been worth the toss of a card. |
must reach the settlements quickly
and return with a force in order to
capture my game, and that without
delay.
In the cleaning of the morning l
had begun my perilous horseback
journey; in the cleaning of the even
ing | was still continuing i: No
soul had met along the wagon trail,
and | believed [ had tricked my
enemies.
The blackness of the canyon crept
up, the narrow trail ran down, and
among great masses of boulders,
across patches of snow, and again
along the bare earth, | followed with
watchful eye the distinct path until,
just at the verge of the last steep
decent that should carry me into
the river gulch itself, | halted for
moment to rest my weary horse.
"Only little further, Charlie"
said l dismounting and pattlng his
dropping head; "a couple of miles
yet and we'll strike supper and a
bed. You've done well old boy, and
saved me"
A sudden, fierce growl from my
dog, as he sprang toward the shadow
of the pines behind me, single lance
Of light, ringing report, and without
a moan | threw my hands quivering
into the air, whirled heavily away
from my horse and fell! Black Dan
had found me-
Slowly, with pain, consciousness,
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., for my
brain was still alive, but not person.
ality, for of my body | knew moth
ing.
What has happened?
Laborously my mind travelled
through mists of death that still sur
rounded it. Slowly one idea follow
ed another until at last came the
knowledge that | sought. | had
been waylaid and shot.
Yes. Iremember now! Remem-
Der the cry of the dog, the ring of
the rife, and the sheet of the flame,
the blow of the ball, and then
nothingness
| had been shot and was deadi
And yet not dead, for pain sur
vived, and dead men feel no pain.
| was shot but not dead. And so
came at last the consciousness of
matter. | still lived.
l sought to rise, but | could not,
for was bound; bound hands, and
feet, arms, and legs, body, neck and
head, fingers, lips and eyelids even;
bound, yet not with cords,
Where was l. What was the
trouble,
Nearer and nearer came the truth,
rs | groaned in spirit and struggled
to gain knowledge of myself; nearer
and still nearer, until with a mighty
| efort, throwing of, all lethargy, [
made one desperate attempt 10 rise;
then the damp odor of newly broken
earth filed my nostrils; the weight
of the newly turned earth pressed
upon my heart, the clinging bonds
of new dug earth bound me, and with
Wild cry of horror and despair I
recognized my situation-l was bur
led alive.
l did not faint at frst-life was
to dear-but lay simply deadened,
crushed by the blow, the loose mould
remitting air for my respiration, my
poor stunned brain rolling these
words up and down: buried alive!
Buried alive" until from sheer mad
ness and loss Of desire KNOWLEDGE