The south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1879-1883, 1883-09-11
DIED GAME.

TO the West and South broad, level
ocean of green grass which has no
limit. 1t seems us level as a floor to
the eye, but il is cut up with dry
ravines and bitches. and there are
sharp ridges and dips and sunken
spots,
The sun is warm, the air Is still,
and every blade of grass is loaded
with diamond dew drops. There is
no bird TO chirp, and no cricsets to
call out, but there is no feeling Of
loneliness. One who faces that
morning sun aud feels the vastncss Of
the prairie is lost In quiet amazcment.
There is an awe upon him akin 10
that which man feels when he sees
the ocean lashcd to mighty fury.
The one is an exhibition OF Divine
angcr-the other of Divine peace.
See! A rough-clad, full-beardcd
man, of iron muscle and fearless
courage, suddenly rises fiom hol-
low, tosses aside his blanket, and
slowly turns his head in every di-
rccton TO scan the green grass sea.
At the same moment his horse cmer-
yes from dip which has heretofore
sheltered him. aud, with whinny OF
recognition and pleasure, advances
straight upon his master.
Alone! Man aud horse are the
only living creatures in sight. They
are as much lost to the world as two
grains of sand washing to aud fro in
the Atlantic. The masters hand
steals up until il rests upon the
horses neck. and the faithful animal
crowds bit nearer. Both are awed
by the great cxpansc. The mighty
grandeur Of Nature steals in upon
the mans soul, aud il seems 10 pass
like an electric current to the horse.
He raises his head his nostrils ex-
paud; his eyes grow clearer and
larger. Surely he must see the pic
turc spread ont before him there, and
something Of its beauty must be
felt.
See that! The mans hand goes up
t. shade his eyes. lie is looking
s raight to the West. He stands like
a rock, and his eyes are as keen as an
eagles. The horse is looking in the
same direction, ears prieked for
ward, lips quivering and every
muscle in his legs iightened up as If
fora race, What is it? A fllitter on
the surface of the prairie caught the
mans eye for an instant and then
disappeared, 1t was two miles away.
1t was only trifle but OH that
irifllc depends his life. A ship
wrecked sailor catches his breath at
sight of every white cloud creeping
above the watcr-linc. The hunter on
the prairie feels his heart pound at
the fiutter of birds wing-the bark
# coyote-the hoot of an owl-at
the sight of a hoof print or a broken
bush. These may mean nothing, or
they may mean an ambush--a race
j for !ife-capture and torture.
"Yi!yi!yi"
The level-seeming prairie is broken
; two miles away by a dry ravin6
leepcr than mans height. This
urves and bends and leads on fol
!. niles. Scrambling out of its depths,
md each one sounding his war
vhoop as he mounts his pony, are Q
core of Indians.
For two days the hunter had swept
he horizon In vain. He was aloD,
III the great ocean. Night had been
t,anquil and full of sound sleep
Icrc, now, rising like spectcrs from
! hc earth before him, is a band o
,lood.thirsty demons raving for hi
ife. The sight stuns him for a few
pconds. Then, with growl o
III lgrin and defiance, he flings th
saddle upon his horse, picks up hi
lille, and while yet Indians are
4 nile aud a half away he mount. ant
lcads for the East. ttli 'ltC
Arace for life has begun.
rhe,hu,iter's horse strikes into
rag, steady gallop, which woul'
! eep him alongside Of a train of cars
Mere is chorus of yells among til
edskins as they make the first rusl
hen the silence of the prairie
rokcn ouly by the thud thud! q
lorse's feet. The very silence
.ninous, and speaks ofa grim detel
aination to run the victim down.
Steady, now! The hunters hors
,,vours mile after mile of the gree
rairic, now at the crest of q swell
NV almost hidden in dip-n)w 70
"A instant out of sight of those VIII
,llow. They gain a little. The hui
II plans that they shall. Ever
ard they gain requires an cxti
iced that will take ten minutes 0
ie race after high noon. AT tc
clock they have gained half anil
hen the pace is even aud noith'
,scs nor gains. 8
!, There is something terribly grim
blowing man to his death. N
shout--not call--not q rifle she
j mud! thud! thud! over level al
n idgc and always to the East. ~
y !, un mounts higher and higher, Al
low and then the hunter glances ba
- 4. a. q 4,