The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1883-09-29
. DIED GAME"
It's morning on the prairie

10 10 ucIuluR Oh Jllt prairie.
To the east is the rosy sunrise and the
dim, far-away outline of mountain
range; to the north Il shadOwy line,
which may mean lnll5 or timber; to the
west and south a broad, level ocean of
green grass which has no limit. 1t seems
as level as floor to the eye, but it is cut
up with dry ravines and bitches, and
there are sharp ridges and dips and sunk
en- spots.
The sun is warm, the air still, ana
every blade of grass Is loaded with dia-
mond dewdrops. There is no bird to
chirp, and no crickets to call out, but
there is no feeling of loneliness. One
who faces that morning sun and feels
the yastness OF the prairie is lost in quiet
Amusement. There is an awe upon him
akin to that which man feels when he
sees the ocean dashed to mighty fury.
The one 10 an exhibition Of Divine anger
the other of Divine grace.
See! \ rough clad, full beatded man,
of iron muscle and fearless courage, sud
denly rises from a hollow, losses aside
his blanket, and slowly turns his head
IN every dire ciI9n to scan the green
geass sea. At the same moment his
horse emerge5 from a dip which has
hitherto sheltered him, aud, with n
whirny of recognition and pleasure. ad-
yaDces straight upon his master.
Alone Man and horse are the only
living creatures III sight. They are as
much lost to the world as two grains of
sand Washing to and fro 10 the Atlantic.
The masters hand steals up until it rests
upon the horses neck, and the faithful
animal crowds bit nearer. Both are
awed by the broad expanse. The mighty
grandeur OF nature steals in upon the
. mans soul, aud it seems to pass like an
electric current to the horse. He raises
his head. HIS nostrils expand. His
eyes grow clearer and larger. Surely
lie must see the picture spread out be
fore him there, aud something of its
beauty must be felt
See that The mans hand goes uAp
to shade his eyes. He is looking straight
to the west. He stands ike rock, and
his eyes are as keen as an eagles. The
horse is looking in the same direction,
ears pricked forward, lips quivering,
and every muscle in his legs frightened
up as if tor a race. What is it? f1ut-
ter on the surface of the prairie caught
the mans eye for an instant and then
disappeared. 1t was only two miles
away. 1t was only a trifle, but on that
trife depends his life. shipwrecked
sailor catches his breath at the sight of
every white cloud creeping above the
water liz. The hunter on the prairie
feels his heart pound at the flutter of
birds wing-the bark of coyote-the
boot of an owl-at sight of footprint
or a broken bush. These may mean
nothing, or they may mean an ambush
IA race for life-capture and torture.
"Yi vi! yi.'
The vel-seemng prairie is broken
two miles away by dry ravine deeper
than mans height. This curves aud
bends aud leads on for miles. Scramb-
ling out of It's depths, and each one
sounding his warhoop as he mounts his
pony, are a score of Indians.
For two DAYS the hunter had swe
the horizon IN vain. He was alone on
the great ocean. Night had been tran
gun and tull OF sound sleep. Here, now,
rising like spectres from the earth before
nun, is a band of bloodthirsty demons
raylng for his life. The sight stuns him
Tor few seconds. Then, with a growl
OF chagrln and defiance, he filings the
saddle upon his horse, picks up his rife,
and while yet the Indians are a mile
and half away, he mounts and heads
for the east.
\ race for life has begun.
The hunters horse strikes into long,
steady gailop, which would keep him
alongside a train of ears. There is a
chorus of yells from the redskins as they
make the first rush. Then the silence
OF the prairie is broken only by the thudl
tthudl of horses feet. The very silence
Is omlnous, and speaks of grim deter
mlnatlon to run the victim down.
Steady now The hunters horse de-
YOURS mile after mile of the green pairie,
now at the crest of a swell, now almost
hidden IN a dip, now for an Instant out
of sight of those who follow. They
gain little. The hunter plans that
they shall. Every yard they gain re-
quires an extra speed that will take ten
minutes off the race at high noon. At
10 O'Clock they have gained half q mile.