Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1881-02-07

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sign Of the cavalry could | discover in
any direction.
A bit of paper attached to the saddle
attracted my attention, and feeling of
apprehension crept through my heart as
detached it. p ssSoWa9a as#p4
It had been hastily scribbled: the
purpost, summed up in a nut shell, was
that my escort had deserted me for the
mines. The temptation had been too
great for them to resist, and. begging
my pardon for the act, they signed their
names to the document
There l was, with a large amount of
money in my possession. in a country
entirely unknown to me, entirely at a
loss which way to turn. You can well |
imagine the frame of mind / was in as
swung myself into the saddle.
For one thing felt grateful. They
could have easily murdered me as lay
asleep, and with the money in their
possession, obllterated all traces of the
deed, and who, in those turbulent and
excited times, would have troubled their
own heads over the disappearance of an
Insignificant army paymaster.
I could have returned to the rancho
of the Spaniard, but | disliked the idea
of confessing the fact that had been
deserted by my soldiers. | decided to
push on, follow the first trail or noun
tain path l might happen to strike, and
trust to a stroke of good fortune in
meeting some mountaineer who would
either guide or direct me to my destina-
| tiou. 4 &
Clapping spurs to my noble black. |
started on gallop. riding straight
ahead, never drawing rein for an hour.
The aspect of the countrysevery moment
grew wilder and more desolate, with not
a trace of civilization on hillside or val
ley.
An occasional herd of wild cattle
scampered from my pathway. and once
was nearly thrown headlong from the
saddle by the sudden swerving of Prince.
A sharp snort, a tramping of bushes,
and huge grizzly trotted out from the
underbrush where the brute had been
lurking. With ears pointed and nos
trils distended, my steed required no
urging to fly from the presence of the
voraeious brute. Deeper and deeper I
plunged into the unknown country while
the sun rapidly sliding down the west
i ern slope, admonished me that but a
limited space of daylight remained.
The prospect of camping out, with
grizzlies lurking in the neighborhood
for companions was anything but con-
ISOLATION for man already half worn out
by worry and excitement; and to add,
if possible to my discontinue, unmis.
takably evidence of coming storm was
apparent. Clouds, dark and threaten
ing. were rapidly mounting towards the
4 zenith, with an occasional vivid flash o.
> lightning followed by the deep murmul
of thunder.
Cursing my unlucky fate, drew reir
e wiping the dust and perspiration from
d my forehead. AS [ did so my eye
: were gladdened by sight of a sligh
s rift of smoke, curling and twisting as i
y rose above the tree tops. Spurring for
ward, the wholesome savory odor of ven
| ison greeted my nostrils. The next in
e slant l stood in the presence of noun
= taineer. trapper of blue type. busil.
y engaged in cooking his evening meal a
g blazing fire. | received cordial wei
come, and after picketing Prince, join
y ed my companion with an appetite il
J no ways affected by the predlcament
: was in.
it offered the old trapper round sur
J. to pilot me to camp; but the old fello,
l was bound for the ''diggins." and to
d much time would be lost, he said, b
leaving the trail.
s However, we compromised the matte
e by his starting me in the direction, add
L ing the pleasing information that 6v
it miles further on l would run across
t. herdsman's ranch, where | would fin
It shelter from the storm and bed for th
d night.
Il keep in the reg'lar trail, stranger
Is and don't 60 in any side canons, fo
Of there slots O Greasers about'n they
st gobble yer up If ye doesn't look sharl
e cause ye got a mighty fine horse an
saddle there.
D. Thanking him for his advice, 1 agai
le struck out on my lonely journey, follow
ae ing closely the numerous distinguishin
ne marks the mountaineer had mentioned.
ID The darkness increased rapidly, an
r. urging my steed to gallop | hurrie
ry on, in hope to gain the herdsman's hl
before the full force of the storm shoul
u swoop down upon me.
be Already a few preliminary drops a
IS, monished me that had but little tin
n to spare, while an occasional gust
wind would roll up the dust in stiHir
N. clouds, compelling me to bow my he;
,ss almost to my horses neck.
CT In vain [ neered through the olnn,