Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1880-11-04

shAo RAONtNQG0 tlI06 ~
fierce resolve not to suocumb. L
would wrench off my feet before [
would consent to die in this in
glorious and dreadful manner. Sum-
moning all the strength of which |
was master, | tugged snd pulled
and twisted with the fury of mad
ness, and then paused exhausted,
and found that tho only result was
: that l bad sunk several inches deep.
er in the quicksand.
The soft, clinging sand was al
ready at the top of my boots, aud
had so wedged them around nv
ankles that it was impossible to pull
them off; ell the tims | could feel
: myself sinking slowly and surely, as
though some monster deep in the
bowels of the earth, had grasped
me by The feet and was gradually
drawing me cnder.
Almost beside myself with terror,
| shouted for help, and then l
laughed at the idea of my voice
reaching anyone. The only living
creature within hearing was my
horse, and be answered me with a
neigh, as if sympathiziug with me
in my despair.
And now | tried TO think coolly
upon my position. Was thore real
| ~ no possible way of extricating
myself 2 Stay Suppose l should
lay my rifle horizontally across the
sand. would it not prevent my
sinkirg2 Perhaps so, at least l
could try it.
| looked around for my gua. bat
nothing of it was to be seen. That.
too. alas had sunk beneath the
surface. Could not dig my way
out2 No; the sand streamed
ioto the hollow SIS fast as | lore il
ont with my frenzied fingers.
Could | not lie fiat on nv back.
anu thus stay my downward pro-
gress The thought was dismissed
as toon as it came TO me. The wa
ter was eighteen inches deep, and
| should drown at once.
Oh, heavens dying by this slow
torturing process. The thought
drove me mad fors tho time.
After w bile | became more cool
again. If 1 must die l must: and
| reused myself to meet it msnfully.
| stood erect and found that my
bead had eunk to the prairie ltvel.
and could just see the victims of
my heartlessness Ny heart re-
preached me at the sight Was
not his s just retributi0n for The
misery | had inflicted What right
bad 10 shoot these two poor in
nocent creatures, who bad never
harmed me ? Was it not the final
judgment of justice that | should be
made TO feel and suffer tn same
psngs that | bad inflicted upon
them
Such and similar were the tho'ts
that coursed through my seethipg
brain raised my eyes to heaven
and almoat expected to SEQ frown
of divine anger ct the part | b .
taken. But no; the sun wac shin
/ Z as bright and the sky was as
eerniean and mild ae ever. No;
whatever transgressions / bad COM
mi.'ed, ! knew there was nothing
bu forgiveness and love bending
over M. end prayed as only ein
full man can pray when eucom-
passed by certain death.
Bat all this time | was sinking
sinking SLOWLY but surely, and the
moment could not be far distant
when | should be swallowed up ard
disappear from view entirely, and
those who should come 20 search
tor me could only surmise my late.
had taken my last fond look at
iho green, fair earth. / could only
zee the blue, olayey wall which
held the stream, and the water
which ran unheeiingly by me.
Again / looked up at the blue sweet
sky, aud then eudeavored calmly
TO resign myeef to my fate.
Bat | could not the memories
of the fair earth and my past pleas
aros and friends came so wildly
over mo Tint | found myself con.
tinuslly bursting into struggling
spasms TO escape, bnt All equally
fruilless as were my first feeble at
tempts to walk
In the midst of this rackiDg sus-
pense l was startled by The shrill
ncighing q my horse. At fret this
gave me indescribebIe distress, as |
could not avoid contrasting bis free
ii uaiiop with my own. But sud
denly fright bought flashed over
me. c Md not my horse rescue
me2
IIo was tied TO frail cactus limb,
W which be could easily break If no
chose. Without losing any time
FIR lime was never 60 precious-I
uttered cal which / had uftcn
used To bring him to me, thon lis
tened with an anxiety il ia useless
fer ma 70 attempt to depict Sud.
denly | heard the sound of bic ho0fs
as lho0gh lie was struggling to free
amstlf and the next moment |
reeogu zad well-known tramp end
know thai he was approaching
Then be Suddenly appeared On the
bank, and looked down at me, at
teriug O yfui neigh of recognition.
Peculiar attachment exists be-
tween the hunter and his horse. 1t
was q habit of his whenever called
to him to gallop up to me and press
his 80 against my cheek Reach
ing out ny hand toward him, in
my usual caregslng manner, re-
peated the call.
The next moment be bounded
into the channel, and | caught him
by the bride Time was becoming
precious, for / was already down
to my waist in the water / seized
the lsriat, ana passing it under the
saddlegirths, secured il in knot.
then made loop and passed it
around my body.
Heaven bless the noble horse
The tears well up to my eyes when
| reflect upon the grand creature TO
whom few years ago | gave as
honorable grave in the broad prsir-
lie. All the time | believe be com.
nrabaudad m " eora strait ond M