The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1883-11-29
IN The WESTERN WILDs.
Hello! What's this ?"
By HlLDA.

Hello! What's this?"
A light fcathery, but ice cold, particle
had struck my cheek and reused me
from the reverie into which the dreary
monotony Of the scene had thrown me.
wiped it away, only to find another
settle upon my brow. Looking hastily
around, l perceived the mir filled with
whirling snow flakes, falling from the
f1eece-like clouds, shutting out the dim
light of evening, and whitening the
level plain. l was travelling through
one Of the far Western Territories then
in n semi-ciyilizcd condition. The
widely-separated homes Of few yen-
turesome whites were often raided and
left desolate by merciless bands Of
Indians, who made their homes in the
Businesses of distant mountain range.
But little fear had of the Indians. A
more perplexing dilemma was before
me. The road was easy to lose even
in broad daylight; how fearful the
chance Of galloping away from it in a
binding snow-storm, with night coming
on rapidly. What / should do was a
puzzling question. To go back was
madness, for l had not seen cabin
since morning. Forward was equally
as bad, for l had no means of Judging
as to the distance between myself and
the next encampment or dwelling of
whites To stop where was, meant
certain death for / was already chilled
with tho piercing wind. my limbs grow
ing heavy and numb with the increasing
cold. Finally l decided and put spurs
to my horse.
1T is the only chance, said ], half to
myself, and half to my noble steed /;
"the only one that gives any promise
Of seeing tomorrow. That, or death
on the prairie, with winding-sheet of
snow, and the bowling Of wolves for a
dirge." The thought was terrible and I
resolutely put it from my mind. 1t
could not be more than five miles to
the river. and timber was plenty there
and I pleased myself with visions of
the camp would make could We but
reach the dense old forest. "Chetr r up,
Hero" l halloed merrilv to my tagging
horse. Faster and thicker fell the
snow-fiakes; daylight faded, and the
dark night settled over everything
the cold was intense; the blasts swept
over the wide prairie with terrific
fsrceness, and the snow drifted up like
billows tossed. All sorts Of weird
sounds seemed mingled with the blasts,
yet still onward dashed my horse with
frantic speed.
1t seemed rs though / had ridden
ten miles since nightfall, yet no shell
tering wood broke the wild wind. "May
Heaven have mercy!" exclaimed, as /
realized we were still far from the
woods, "my hours are numbered. I've
lost my way; firmly believe l have
been riding for hours in a circle. One
more trial, Hero. before we yield.
When started on my journey in the
morning, / remembered the wind blew
directly from the north, still it might
have veered dozen times during the
day; a tickle guide, but all / could trust
to. l wheeled about until the wind
blew fiercely in my face, then turned
until l thought we faced due west,
"Now Hero, take your own way: 60 on,
where fate leads, we will CO."
| The faithful creature seemed con-
scious of the trust, and galloped Of
with renewed swiftness. A torpor crept
over my limbs, av, to my very heart,
and the deadly sleep was fast stealing
over me, when prolonged neigh from
my horse aroused anew within me the
love of life.
Even as I gathered up my failing
strength Hero came to dead halt.
The hoarse barking of dog made my
heart leap with JOY. BLESSED Hea,enr
/ exclaimed, Il am near human habi
tation, for n dog in such place as this
is surely the companion Of mankind
Hello!" cried, with new energy cours
ing through every vein, while my horse
impatiently paved the snow. A trap
per's cabin was dimly defined through
the vague darkness. The dogs deel
growl was hushed by some one within
A loop-hole in the door was unclosed
and voice wildly eager cried: "Wht
is it? A friend?"
Never did human voice sound 81
sweet; and, though my lips were almost
palsied with the cold, the hope tha
dawned in my heart, warmed them a
with the wine of life.
Il am traveller, lost on the prairie
| uHa Will peIAsh IL soo ASAasS 'A's
shelter"
Instantly the heavy bars were re
moved, and the door swung wide open
But the change from the blackness ant
cold without, to the light and warmth
within, was too sudden for my he
numbed limbs and half-dazed senses
! grew faint and sick. ] reelea, an,
would have fallen, but for the sustain
ing arm Of the young man who admitted
me- He led me across the room to
pile of dressed buffalo skins, bade m,
lie down. I obeyed, passiyely, onl,
half realizing that he removed th'
heavy blanket ! had wrapped about me
the fur cap and collar that had done M
such good service. He Withdrew tn,
icy mittens from my hands, the heav,
boots from my frozen feet. All thi
time, with earnest words, he was striy
ing to rouse me from the lethargy tha
held me neryeless.
"This will never do" said he, reso
lutely; You are so cold that If yol
yield to sleep now YOU will neye