The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-12-23

| and fled.
Arouslng Falartleau from his painful
sleep, and assisting him to regain h,s swol-
len feet, we determined to make one last
effort 70 reachthe fort. Leaving the corpse
OF our dead cmpanion to the wolves, for
we were too wax to attempt to bury it, we
dragged oursel@s from the spot.
On we Went At last, my companion,
worn out, laid d.wn to die.
AS I WAS abon,to throw myself by his
side, to sleep my sst earthly slumber, an
object glided swiftly past an opening in the
snow near my ace, and crawling to
the top, my eyes we're gladdened by the
sight of a rabbit bonding away to wards a
clunp of willows, upon tho margin of
spring not far off.
This sight restored dur hopes and tagging
pulses; and with recovered energies We set
ourselves to work making traps for the al.
imals whose tracks we're found in great
numbers about the spring.
BY tho time this Labor was completed.
We dug out shelter in tie snow, to await
When the morning came, before the light
had fairly penetrated our ,helter, without
awakening me, my friend toie noisclcssly
out TO examine the traps.
called his name; but received no reply.
at last, as penetrated a llttle,hicket, where
had planted one of my trapI 1 perceived
dark object stretched on the snow.
approached it nearer; 1t was the cold
and llfeless form of my poor comradc. He
must have been dead some houn. He had
reached tue trap which had contained rab-
bit; for by the spot were scattered fragments
OF the hairy coat of the animal.
He had found the animal, and in the ca
gcrness of starvation he had deyoured it
alive; and the unusual stimulus of food act
ing upon his inflamed stomach, must have
thrown him into convulslons- the snow
about him, where he lay, Indicated as much.
Alas poor Falardeau.
Now, indeed, despairing of help, and
throwing myself upon the ground, I awaited
with resignation the period which would
terminate my sufferings.
Exhausted and splrltlcss, soon sank into
astate of partial inscnsibility. I had become
unconscious of pain. My hunger was for.
gotten; but still retained knowle dge of
my hopeless condition, and the desolatc
surroundings about me. AS near as could
judge, in my dying state, had LAIN thus,
till the evening Of the seventh day, when
my dahl aa" na,,shi ihn an.,,,d os -,>..,...i;.-
grating noise upon the snow.
The sound was not unfamiliar to me; and
as 1t became more and more distinct. in it's
nearer approach to me, it awoke train of
memories; and arousing my sunken energies,
called me back again to hope.
Could it be that relief was approaching
that some kindly human aid was in search
Of met
Still nearer came the creaking sound, like
that of sledge drawn over the frozen crust
of the snow. Yes, yes, human aid was at
hand.
Ina few moments more, the sound ceased,
and heard a friendly voice salute me with
the salutation of "Good morning. and the
form of tall Cheyenne hunter stood before
me.
Itwas but for moment, however, that he
remained, for leaving me, he fastened TO
make fire from the dry twigs of the will
lows. aud In little time returned with q
small cup of the weakest broth of veuson,
aquantity of which he had brought with him
on his slcdge.
AS swallowed tho minute portion, all my
pains returned. 1t seemed as if my stomach
was on fire.
But the Indian continued to feed me with
light nutriment from time to time, till, af-
ter few hours, my hunger became so
fierce that could have dcvoured his entire
store.
But at length, as my stomach became
gradually accustomed to tho stimulus, he
increased tho quantity of broth, till, afte r
twcnty-four hours he venturcd to allow me
portions Of the solid meat.
1t WAS thus the faithful fellow watched
over and nursed me till the fourth day after
his arrival when, finding that had recov-
cred strength sufficient to be removed, he
placed me on his sledge, and after binding
mo like pack of pcltries to the cross
pieces, and covering me with robes, ho
threw the leathern strap over his breast,
and started eastward in the direction of tho
fort.
On the way, the Indian informed me
that the dogs had returned and that he had
been sent by the agent to hunt up the party,
If they still survived. Hc had b en- out
several days, securing the plain in every
direction where we would be likely to have
passed. On reaching the willow thickct,
he found the body of poor Falardcau.
He also gave me the pleasant informa-
ton that we were about twenty miles from
tho post, which place we reached the same
night, the generous follow dragging mo all
the way, and halting frequently to reliev @
my raging hunger
In fow days, after reaching comfortable