The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1882-06-03

and guns. and can scarcely remember
the time when did not own some of
the very best. My pointers could not
| be beaten, my pony would take fence
/ almost as well as any of my fathers
4 thoroughbreds, and my little fowling
Piece was sure death 10 any bird that
! got up within any reasonable distance.
| When left home to 20 to West Point.
! it almost broke my heart to part from
my pets; but my uncle, who was an ar
dent sportsman, assured me that if |
would pass a creditable examination at
the end of my school term, he would pre-
sent me with pack of dogs that would
more than take the place of the one |
! left behind my father, veteran of the
Mexican war, and great admfrer of
the cavalry, told me that if / would fit
myself to enter that branch of the serv-
ice, he would give me the finest horse
in his stable, and my mother said she
would give me another. Encouraged
by these promises, and ambitious to
distinguish myself in my chosen profess
sion, I worked hard, and stood among
the first FIVE at the end of the course.
Here are the dogs my uncle gave me, ;"
said the Captain, his stern face soften
ing as he gazed almost lovingly at the
splendid animals before him, "and the
horses-wen, one was killed during a
fight ON the Sweetwater, and the other
poor Gipsyi She was my mothers
! gift q IN ylft ollie
GAS soon as l received my commits
sion was ordered to report to the COM
handing officer of Fort Scott for duty.
The officers were all lovers of the chase,
and at the sight of my horses and hounds
they received me with open arms. In
company with the neighboring ranch
men, we hunted almost constantly;
there was little scouting to be done, for
the Indians were quietly settled on their
reservation, and when winter came and
the first snow covered the ground, the
sport we had in coursing antelope was
simply magnificent. I l.sf ift.t.
early one morning, while l was re-
turning to the post with freshly-killed
antelope slung across my saddle, L
J noticed that my eyes burned, and that
the surface of the snow, from which the
bright rays of the sun were reflected
) with almost dazzling brilliancy, seemed
to be covered with floating specks.
Now and then something that looked
like chain danced across the range of
my vision, and this would be followed
by multitudes of miniature pin-wheels
and sky-rockets. / knew that the glare
of the sun on the snow had affected my
; eyes, but thought nothing of it, for l
was foolish enough to believe that it
would wear off in time. 'thiH'a-
when 1 reached the fort / found
, there was a runner from the Red Eagle
[ Agency, who had brought information
which rendered it necessary that cou-
rier should be sent with dispatches to
Fort Morris, The dispatches were
ready and the Colonel was waiting for
me. | changed horses, received my in
structions and set out at once with my
Henry rifle slung at my back, and my
, hounds trotting along before me. For
| two or three days had noticed a sus-
, picious bank of clouds hanging in the
northern horizon, and the Colonel had
, warned me to make haste for storm
l was brewing. Acting upon his advice,
, l pushed ahead as rapidly as possible,
/ shading my burning eyes with my
| hand, and now and then calling to my
, dogs, who seemed inclined to turn
| about and give battle to pack of gaunt
| and hungry wolves that was following
| behind me. saw, with no little un-
D easiness, that although the south wind
n was Blowing strongly, that a threatening
/ bank of clouds in the north was rising
s rapidly against it. The Arctic King
V was coming in his might, and l knew
Q that the storm would oyertake me long
: beforeI could reachlmy destination. |
. began to feel timid. I did not like the
7 persistency with which those famine
/ breeders hung on my trail. There was
A something ,o1ninous in it., .o a. NM
. "Just before dark / reached my
4 camping ground. Ut : was a sheltered
g nook among the hills, bare of snow, and
n There was spring of good water close
n by. After putting the, blankets on
s the mare and feeding her, and max
o ing her as comfortable as / could
|, for the night, ! built q fire under
i the lee Of a rock, and with my dogs
s around me, sat down to eat my supper.
!. Just then the war of the elements be-
g GAM With d roar and d rtislf that was
n Terrific the d, advance guard of the
r Arctic forces struck the south wind and
h drove it back. Then there was a lhll,
}. such as sometimes occurs in battle,
h when the opposing forces are gathering
n themselves for a decisive effort, and
Q with another mighty roar the final, on.
|. slaught was made. The blizzard was in
g full blsSt The1 air, was literally, filled
Q with ice. 1t grew colder and colder
s. every minute, and my fire seemed tc
Q give out no heat. L could not look al
it the blaze for the pain in my eyes had
o increased until it was almost unbear.
Y able Finally ! wrapped my blankets
n around me and lay down to sleep
t, allow long slumbered j do MOI
q know. ! was aWakened by one OF my