Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1880-08-12
OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE PARISH AND CITY.
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA, THURSDAY, AUGUST H. $780,

an enemy more relentless than Black
Dan even, by hands more stern and pitt
less than his. Fate and the storms Of
the mountains had combined against
ME. l was buried second time, but
now with death for companion.
knew that l could not escape and
the very thought quieted me.
There was no struggle, no meaning,
no agony only dull recklessness and
| want of care for life that betokened
the depth Of my despair. l was dying.
Slowly the moments passed. My
thoughts we're few aud simple-thoughts
of fire and food, thoughts Of home and
friends and comfort, thoughts Of things
warm and bright, but even these were
fading and my mind was YEARLY wrap.
ping itself in the cloak of humiliation
and my body was fast sinking toward
inanition when q bit of snow fell upon
my npturned face.
Had it been fire it could not have
aroused me more quickly.
The next instant more fell, and still
more, and then light began to CLEAN,
and heard the burrying scrape of feet
mingled with low whining.
Don had returned and was digging
me out.
The revulsion of feeling was terrific, a
moment before l had lain passive in a
toni, longing for death now l fought and
tore at the loosening snow like mad
man, wild with the thought Of life.
Nearer and nearer came the rescuing
feet, deeper grew the pile Of snow be-
meath the brighter the night above.
The whining was mingled with growls
now. Don had friends to aid him. The
barrier was but three feet thick-two-
one-it was gone, and even as breath.
ed the free air of heaven and my heart
leaped within me and my lips uttered a
glad cry, a dozen pairs of great hol-
low eyes buried into mine, and q dozen
gaunt forms crouched before me gnash-
ing their cleaning fangs II had been
rescued by a pack of mountain wolves.
For single instant surveyed my
enemies, l, weak, wounded, and I'M
armed they strong, hungry and fero'
cious, q dozen to one, and then with a
yell sprang into their midst.
It was the act of mailman, but
was mad. Death should tear me limb
from limb now, and with bare hands
clutched at the first grey monster, and
grasped his shaggy throat as with hands
Of steel, seeking to throttle him.
The entire pack with demoniacal
bowls hurled them upon me.
The struggle was short. l felt the
hot breath of the brutes in my face,
their red mouths yawned upon me
their strong claws tore my buck-skin
shirt; their teeth snapped when sud-
denly q great white something was
hurled from the bank of snow above
into the midst Of the melee. A half
dozen dark forms followed. Wild shouts,
mingled with shots and heavy blows
broke upon my ears, tho red blood Of
my assailants dyed the spotless snow ;
their hideous eyes faded from before
me, and falling backward, felt myself
caught by strong arms and the we'll
known voice of old johnson, cried,
"Saved, thank God"
Aye, saved and this time for life. My
dog had found the ranch, and arousing
the mon by his strange actions they had
followed him in the early morning to
where l was hidden, and arrived just
in the supreme moment of need. l Twas
saved, and five days later confronted
Black Dan before the bar of the crimi-
nal court in Pueblo, and had the salts
faction of hearing sentence passed upon
him, while he trembled as he stared at
the man whom he had buried among
the peaks of the Rockies.
Neither duty nor pleasure will ever
again call me along the canyon of the
Platte.
From a Relative of VIM. Press
colt, the Historian.