The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1880-06-16
Caught in a Quicksand.

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It is now quite a number of years
since two old hunters, Buck Stradlins
and Tom Shuttle were hunting with mt
in the western part OF Texas, just south
OF. the famous Ell Cano Estacado. W.
had gone into the interior more for spor
{ than anything else, caring very little
whether we secured more game thar
s answered for u immediate wants o.
not.
Penetrating still further and further
toward the Mexican dominion, w
finally struck q barren, parched country
upon which we entered with some hest
tation.
"This looks as though we shan't fine
any WATER remarked, rs we refined ur
our horses and took a survey of the ariC
plain
"Does look rather skeery." replied
. S~tradling, taking his short, black pipe
from his mouth, "but ! guess we'll try
it. It'll make a soft of variety to this
eternal tramping."
tBut what will we do without waterH
asked.
"Why, you see, there is water four OF
five miles back of us; so we can &C
ahead for a day, and, il we can't find
anything, why, we can turn round and
make back tracks. It'll 60 rather tough.
but it won't hurt US. My idea" con.
tinued the trapper, growing philosoph.
ical. sis, that we never know what
water is till we've gone two or three
days without it. lust rs the only way to
gets good. sound, refreshing sleep is to
sit up for a couple of nights"
= So it was concluded that we should
venture upon this unknown Sahara
and. giving rein to our horses, VIC
struck off upon an easy gallop.
> We saw nothing Of buffalo or deer,
and more than once I questioned the
: prudence Of the step, but. as we were
actuated somewhat by curiosity. I said
nothing, and we pressed forward,
We had an abundance of dried meat,
which, no doubt, would last US all the
time necessary. Now and then we
caught sight of an antelope, but they
X were very shy. and kept at a distance
which placed them beyond all danger Of
our guns.
AS we were riding along, and had
come to the conclusion that it would be
3. impossible to secure any game. I was
sure | discerned a pair Of antlers beyond
a swell in the prairie. and declared as
much to my companions. but they only
laughed al me. and told me to give up
+" the foolish thought. I was certain,
however. that had really seen the ami
NAL, and, as there was a chance to
procure something palatable for supper,
I assured them that I would do 80.
I. They told me to 60 ahead, while they
refined their animals down to a walk
and pursued their way more leisurely.
However, the antelopes were l.O0N
teet distant. upon a smooth, grassy
slop". There was not the slightest
covering to protect IN approach, and ]
began to debate with myself upon thu
best course to pursue. Should I initiate
the call of n OF their number in dis
tress? There was something SO in.
human in that that I revolted at the
thought, and took the consolation that
no true hunter would descend to such
meanntss. Should I tie my red hand.
kerchlef upon my ramrod. and take ad-
, vantage OF their curosityp They were
too shy.
All! an idea struck mo. My eve sud
denly rested upon q blush line running
across the prairie, beyond where the
animals were feeding. It was either q
buffalo road or the channel of an ar
royo; but, whichever it was, it was the
very, cover wanted, and I determined
to take Immediate advantage oft.
Retreating. as stealthily from the
thicket as l had entered it, I hurried
along the side of the slope toward a
PORT where | had observed that the
ridge was depressed to the level of the
pain. Reaching this, to my still 2 reate
surprise found myself on the banks OF
q broad arroyo, whose water SLOWLY
meandered over q bed of sand and
gypsom. The banks were two or three
feet above the surface Of the stream,
except. where the ridge came down upon
the stream. Here was quite q high bluff,
and. hurrSing around its base, | stepped
into. the channel and commenced wading
upward,
fhis was quite a difficult feat, as the
bee of the creek was soft and Welding,
and I was obliged to tread VERY a1.
tiously and slowly, lest | should alarm
the game. The antelope is one of the
most tlmld OF animals, and has q won
derfully acute sense Of hearine-so much
SO, that none but the most Experienced
hunters can approach him.
Alter creeping along in this wearisome
manner for several hundred Yards.
reached a small clump of NORWOOD
bushes growing out on the bank.
Thinking this might be high enough to
answer for cover, I concluded to take
advantage Of it. l slowly raised rnvsejf
up and pecred through the leaves.
had ;ass tho right place, and, sighting at
the heart Of tho buck, I pulled the trie.
ger. The brute spranp np and dropped
dead. [ Vas on the point of RUNNING
forward to claim the prize, when I saw
the doe run up to its fallen mate and
snuff at it as if bewildered at the occnr.
ence. Suddenly she seemed TO comnre.
bend the sad truth, and, throwing back
her head, began uttering the most plain.
tive and piteous cries, while she occa-
sionally al round the bo9y, as if totally
unable to control her grief.
As | watched the mournful actions Of
the doe, and heard its piteous cries.
saw that it would be a mercy to kill it
and end its misery. Actuated by what.
perhaps, was a questionable humanity.
l took a careful aim, pulled the trigger.
and, as the smoke cleared away, / dis.
covered the. doe lying dead with its
head resting upon its departed mate.
Both are out of Distress" was nv
comforting reflection, "and I have se-
cured a rare supper. with which I will
tickle the palates of my two friends, and
convincethem that they are NJ, the only
ones who have a knowledge of hunting
but what is the meaning of this2"
i attempted 10 move, and found both
feet fast. My first thought was that /
had been stricken with paralysis, and a
chill ran over ME from head to foot.
/. But no; l could feel the blood coursing
70 remotest part of my system, and
l tQgged like q giant. | tried to step.
twisted to the right and left, wrcnched
my body, but all in vain-I was fast.
suddenly the truth flashed upon me-
was sinking in a quicksand.
with this knowledge came a fierce
resolve not to succumb. would wrench
on my ieet before | would consent to
die in this inglorious and dreadful man.
ner: Summoning all the strength of
which | was master, Itugged and pulled
and twisted with the fury o! madness.
and tLen paused exhausted, and found
tfatthe only result was that I hadsunk