The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1882-03-02
TWICE BURIED.
TALE OF THE ROCKY MOUNTAINS.

| Oahy oii oi tne iatoc, uaIi way oHiy, aIu
my horse worn, my food gone, and night
close at hand. Night in February
death, cold!
| wrapped my blankets yet closer
about my shoulders, and urged my steed
forward through the cleaning.
"Curse my luckl' muttered. Except
for Dlack Dams threat I would have
gone by the stage in comfort. And yet,
to brave his gang would have been GER
tain destruction. I'll warrant they've
ambushed the night coach, intending to
catch me.
But I've slipped them this time, and
Uncle Sam has the proof that he wants
at last. Three days more, my rascals,
and you'll jump there mountains or wear
! handouts, if I reach Pueblo alive"
shook Charley's reins to hasten his
speed, and whistled cheerily to Don, my
| st. Bernard.
''We must reach Johnston's ranch on
Platte, old friends, or sleep out, and it's
too cold for that muttered.
| was returning from a search for GER
tain desperadoes wanted in the courts at
| Pueblo.
| The cut throats had hidden in the min
ing camps about Leadville, and my
search had been a long one. Finding
them at last, however, and the proof of
their crime with them, 1 was about to
return and make arrangements for their
| arrest, when by some unknown means
they learned who was, and fed. Fled,
pursued by the wrath of the worst man
between the Gunnison and Denver
Black Dan. Had he found me my life
would not have been worth a toss OF
card. 1 must reach the settlements
quickly and return with force in order
to capture my game, and that without
delay.
In the cleaning of the morning had
began my perilious horseback journey:
in the cleaning of the evening 1 was
continuing it. No soul had met me along
the wagon trail, and I believed I had
tricked my enemies.
The blackness of the canyon crept up,
the narrow trail ran down, and among
great masses of bouiders, across patches
of snow, and again along the bare earth,
[ followed with watchful eye the indis-
tinct path until, just at the verge of the
last steep descent that should carry me
into the river gulch [ halted moment
to rest my weary horse.
'Only little further, Charley" said
/, dismounting and patting his dropping
head; "a couple of miles more and we'll
strike supper and bed. You've done
well, old boy, saved me- o.
A sudden fierce growl from my dog, as
he sprang toward the shadow of the
pines behind me, single lance of light,
a ringing report, and without moan I
threw my hands quivering into the air,
whirled heavily away from my horse and
fell. Black Dan had found me.
Slowly, and with great pain, consci-
BUSINESS, for my brain was still alive, but
not personally, for of my body I knew
nothing.
What had happened?
Laboriously my mind travelled through
the midst of death that still surrounded
it. Slowly one idea followed another
| until at last came the knowledge that
sought. l had been waylaid snd shot.
Yes, [ remember now. Remember the
cry of my dog, the ring of q rife, the
| sheet of flame. the blow OF the ball, and
then-nothingness
| had been shot and was dead.
And yet not dead, for pain revived,
| and dead men feel no pain. I was shot
but not dead. And so came at last the
consciousness of matter. I still lived
/ sought TO rise, but could not, for 1
was bound, bound hands and feet, arms,
legs, body, neck and head, fingers, lips
and eyellds even, bound, yet not with
cords.
Where was II What was the troubled
Nearer and still nearer came the truth
as [ groaned in spirit and struggled to
gain knowledge of myself; nearer and
still nearer, until with a mighty effort,
throwing off all lethargy, 1 made one
desperate attempt to rise; but the damp
weight of newly-turned earth pressed
upon my heart, the clingiRg bands of
newly dug earth bound me, and with a
wild cry of horror and despair I recog-
nized my situation-I was buried alive.
did not faint at first-life was too
dear-but lay simply deadened, crushed
by the blow, the loose mould admitting
air for my respiration, my poor stunned
brain rolling these words up and down:
"Burled alive! Buried alive." until
from sheer madness and loss of desire
knowledge fed second time.
And then it was the tongue of my dog
that awakened me. Don dug me out
and Tapped me back to life again.
AS the duIl gray of the winters NOR
ming dawned, with groans I dragged nv
stiffened limbs from my narrow bed, and
crept tremblingly down the trail toward
the river, the blood oozing from hole
in my head, my eyes wild and fierce, my
heart painting, my life half gone.
As / thought, Black Dan must have
followed and ambushed me, then, sup
posing me slain, he had the grace to
bury me. 1t was owing to his haste or
careiessness that my dog had been able
TO paw the loose dirt from my grave, and
/ save me.
| Ii l could reach Johnston's ranch l
might i've, II not, had been saved but
to die second time, for a f,arca storm,