Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1880-08-13

"Aacn WAS A1SteES IuSBed ana pulled
and twisted with the fury Of madness,
and then paused exhausted, and found
that the only result was that I had sunk
several inches deeper in the quicksand.
The soft, chnging sand was already at
the top OF my boots, and had so wedged
them around my ankles that it was i'm
possible to pull them off. All the time
could feel myself sinking slowly and
surely, as though some monster. deep
IN the bowels Of the earth, had erasped
me by the feet and was gradually draw
ing me under.
Almost beside myself with terror. I
shouted for help, and then I laughed
wildly at the idea of my voice reaching
any one. Twas miles away from any
person. The only living creature within
hearing was my horse, and he answered
me with q neigh, as if sympathizing with
And now Tried to think coolly upon
my position. Was there really no posi-
pie way ct extricating myself? Stay
Supposed should lay myrtle horizontally
across the sand, would sitnot prevent my
sinking? Perhaps so; at least T could
try it. L. .,- .-~
1 looked around for M y gun, but moth.
ing OF it was to be seen. That, too,
alas had sunk beneath, the surface.
Could L dig my way out? No; the
sand streamed into the hollow as often
as tore it with my frenzied fingers.
Could 1 not lie flat on my back, and
thus stay my downward progress? The
thought was dismissed the moment it
came to me. The water was eighteen
inches deep, and I should drown at once.
Oh, heavens dying by this slow, tor
turing process. The thought drove me
mad for the time. ..,
After while I became cool again. II
must die, I must; and aroused nv
self to meet it manfully. I stood erect,
and'found that my head had sunk to the
prairie level and I could Just see
the victims of my heartlessness. NV
heart reproached me at the sight. Was
not this q just retribution for the misery
1 had inflicted? What right had I to
shoot those poor, innocent creatures who
had never harmed me-? Was it not the
final adjustment of Justice that should
be made to feel and suffer the same
pangs that I had inflicted upon them?
Such, and similar, were the thoughts
that coursed through my seething brain.
L raised my eyes to heaven, and almost
expected to see q frown of divine anger
for the part T had taken. But no: the
sun was shining as bright and the sky
was as cerulean and mild as ever. No:
whatever transgressions I had commit
ted, knew there was nothing but for
giveness and love bending over me, and
prayed as only sinful man can pray
when encompassed by certain death.
But all this time I was sinking-sink-
ing slowly but surely, and the moment
could not be distant when I should be
swallowed up and disappear from. view
entirely, and those who should come to
search for me could only surmise my
fate. 49,,
had taken my last fond look upon
the green, fair earth. I could only see
the, blue, clayey wall which held the
stream, and the water which ran un-
needing by me. Again L looked up at
the blue sweet sky, and then endeavored
to resign myself to my fate. But I could
not; the memories of the fair earth and
my past pleasures and friends came so
wildly over me that I found myself con-
tinually bursting into struggling spasms
to escape, but all equally fru1tless as
were the first feeble attempts to walk,
|. = In the midstso of this raeIxine- SUSPENSE
was startled by the shrill neighing Of
my horse. At first this gave me in
describable distress, as could not avoid
contrasting his free situation with my
own. But suddenly q bright thought
flashed over me. Could not my horse
rescue me?
He; was tied to frail cactus limb,
which he could easily break, if: he
chose. Without losing time-for time
was never so precious-I uttered a call
| which had often used to bring him to
me; then listened with an anxiety which
| it is useless for me to attempt to depict.
Suddenly T heard the sound Of his hoofs,
as though: he we're struggling to free
himself, and the next moment I recog-
nized his well-mown tramp, and knew
that he was approaching. Then he
suddenly appeared on the bank, and,
looking down at me- uttered joyful
neigh Of recognition.
Peculiar attachment exists between
the hunter and his horse, and it was a
habit Of his, whenever I called to him,
to gallop up to me and press his nose
against my cheek. Reaching out my
hands toward him, in my usual caress-
ing manner, I repeated the call. The
next moment he bounded down into the
channel, and I caught him by the bri-
die. 1ime was becoming fearfully
preciotA L was already down to my
waist 4 the water. I seized the lariat,
and, RAISING it under the saddle girths,
secureiyt in firm knot. T then made
a loop = passed it around my body.
Heave4 bless the noble horse The
tears we'll tony eyes when I reflect upon
the grand creature to whom few years
ago I gave an honorable grave in the
broad prairie. All the time I believe be
comprehended my sore strait, and I'M
derstood perfectly what was required Of
him. He knew, too. the treacherous
nature Of the ground upon which he
stood, for while waiting he continued
lifting his feet and slightly changing his
position to prevent his sinking. Finally,
I had my arrangements completed, and
I gave the word to the horse to move.
The intelligent animal stepped off very
| slowly, pulling gradually, but with al
his tremendous strength. To my mex.
pressible joy, I felt my body raising,
and id less than minute + was pulled
clean out Of the sand, upon the hard,
clayey bank. Thank heaven! amt my
L trne, tried, noble horse =. 2 -,
+ threw my arms around his neck and
kissed him, and shouted for Joy. Aud
had I not right to do so? And did
=do more than my duty when I refused
all offers to part With him, and kept HIM
with all the. care and kindness that
would have nnrsed q feeble parent? a
= 49, Artificial Diamonds.
|, A great deal has been said lately of
the discovery of d method Of making
diamonds. At first the. discovery was
denied, and lastly it was declared true,
that something that behaved like, .
1,<,,,n 49, IA