The Warner sun. (Warner, Brown Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1885-1???, 1886-04-09

of the country down as a barren waste,
here was prima faCie evidence OF u
mistake. Where there was vegetation
| argued there must be water.
However, the antelOpes were q
thousand feet distant, upon n smooth
grassy slope, There was not the
slightest covering to protect an APP
proach, and began to debate with
myself upon the course to pursue.
Should initiate thee call ofone Oftheir
number? There was something so in
human in that, that | revolted at the
thought, and took the consolation
that no true hunter would descend to
such meanness.
Should | tie my redhandkerchief up
on my ramrOd and take advantage OF
their curiosity? They were too shy.
All, an idea struck me. My eye sud
denly rested upon a blush line ram
ming across the prairie beyond where
the animals were feeding. It waSeither
a buffalo road or the channel OF an
arroyo; but whichever it was, it vas
the very cover wanted, and | deter
mined to take advantage Of it.
Retreating as s%tealthily from the
thicket as | had entered it, [
hurried along the side OF the
slope toward a point where I had OBJ
served that the ridge "a de-
pressed TO the level OF the plain.
Reaching this, to my still greater sur
! prise, | found myself on the banks of a
broad arroyo, whose waters slowly
meandtred over q bed OF sand and
gypsum.
The banks were two or three feet
above the surface Of the stream, ex-
Cept where the ridge came down upon
the stream. Here there was quite a
high bluff and hurrying around its
base, / stepped into the channel and
commenced wadin9 upward.
This was quite a difficult feat, as the
bed Of the creek wassOfC and yielding,
and | was obliged to tread very eau
tiOusly and slowly, lest | should
alarm the game. The antelope is one
of the most timid of animals, and has
a wonderfully acute sense of hearing
SO much so, that none but the most
experienced hunters a approach
them.
After creeping along in this weari-
some manner for several hundred
yards, / reached q small clump of
NORWOOD bushes growing out OF the
bank. Thinking this might be high
enough to answer for cover, Iconclud-
ed to take advantage oft.
I slowly raised myself up and peered
through the leaves. had just reach
ed the right place, and sighting at the
heart OF a buck, ! pulled the trigger.
The brute sprang up and dropped dead.
Twas on the point drumming orwardto
claim the prize when | saw the doe run
up to itsiaIlen mate, and snuff at it as
if bewildered at the occurrence. Sud
denly she seemed to comprehend the
sad truth, and throwing back her head,
began uttering the most plaintive and
piteous cries, while she occasionally
ran round the body, as if totally UNI
able t%o control her grief.
At first 1T was not my intention to
kill the doe, and had | dreamed of
witnessing such a painful scene, |
should not have done so. How often
do we hunters, in heexcitement ofthe
chase, commit deeds which in our
calmer moments we can see as heart
less and cruel. But the deed was done
past recall, and wherefore regret?
As watched the mournful actions
OF the doe and heard it's pitiful cries, |
saw that it would be a mercy to KILT !
and end it's misery. Actuated by what
perhaps was q questionable humane
ty, / took careful aim, pulled the trig-
ger, and, as the smoke cleared away, I
discerned the doe lying dead with it's
head resting upon its departed mate.
"Both are out of distress" was my
comforting reflection, "and / have Sc
cured a rare supper, with which | will
tickle the palates of my two friends,
and convince them that they are not
the only ones who have a knowledge
OF h~untmg--but what is the meaning
of this?
/ attempted to move and found my
feet fast. My first thought was that /
had been stricken with paralysis, and
a chill ran over me from head to foot.
But no; Icould feel the blood coursing
to the remotest part of my nystem,
and l tugged like a giant. | tried to
step, twisted to the right and left,
wrenched my body, but all in vain. ]
was fast
Suddenly the truth flashed upon me
Il was sinking in a quick sand.
With this knowledge came q fierce
resolve not to succumb. / would
wrench off my feet before / would CON
sent to diein this ingiorious and dread
ful TANNER Summoning all the
strength of which / was master, i
tugged and pulled and twisted with
the fury of madness, and hen paused
exhausted, and found that the only
result was that l had sunk several
inches deeper in the quicksand!
The soft, c~linging sand was already
at the top of my boots. and had so