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

alasi had sunk beneath the surface.
Could | not dig my way out? No; the
sand streamed into the hollow as fast
as | tore it out with my frenzied lin
gers. ,
Could | not lie flat on my back, and
thus stay my downward progress:
The thought was dismissed the mo-
ment it came TO me The watC. was
eighteen inches deep; and | should
drown at nCc
Oh, heavens, dying by this slow tor
turing process. The thought drove
me mad for the time.
After awhile | became more cool
again. Ii | must die | must; and !
reused myself to meet it manfully.
stood erect, and found that my
head had sunk to the prairie
level, and | could just see
the victims of my heartlessness.
My heart reproached me at the sight.
Was this not a just r]etributiOn for
the misery | had inflicted? What
right had | to shoot those two poor
innocent creatures, who had never
harmed me- Was it not the final
Judgment OF Justice that | should be
made to teel and suffer the pangs
that l had inflicted upon them.
Such, and similar, were the thoughts
that coursed through my seething
brain. Iraised my eyes to heaven,
and almost expected to see a frown OF
divine anger at the part had taken.
But no; the sun was shining as bright
and the sky was rs Cerulean and mild
as ever. No; whatever transgressions
| had committed, | knew there was
nothing but forgiveness and love
bending over me, and | prayed as only
sinful man can pray when encompass
ed by certain death.
But all this time | was sinking
sinking slowly, but surely, and the
moment could not be fardistant when
l should be swallowed up and disap-
pear from view entirely, and those
who should come to search for me
could only surmise my fate.
| had taken my last fond look at
the green, fair earth. IcOuld only see
the blue, clayey wall which held the
steam, and the water which ran I'M
h~eedingly by me. Again l looked up
at the blue sweet sky, and then en-
deavored camly to resign myself to
my fate.
But | could not; the memories ofthe
earth and my past pleasures and
friends came so wildly over me that /
found myself continually burstinginto
struggling spasms to escape, but all
equally fruitless as were my first feeble
attempts to walk.
In the midst OF this rackingsuspense
| was startled by the shrill neighing of
my horse. At first this gave me indie
sCribable distress, as Icould not avoid
contrasting his free situation with my
own. But suddenly a bright thought
flashed over me. Could not my horse
rescue me?
He was tied to a frail cactus limb,
he could easily break ifhe chose.
losing any time-fortim was
never so precious-I uttered a call
/ had often used to bringhim to
me, then listened with an anxiety it is
useless for me to attempt to depict.
Suddenly | heard the sound of his
as though he was strug-
Cling to free himself, and the
next moment | recognized a we'll
known tramp, and knew that he was
approaching. Then he suddenly APP
peared on the bank, and looked down
at me, uttering a joyful neigh of recog-
Peculiar attachment exists between
the hunter and his horses, it was a
habit of his whenever | called to him
to gallop up to me and press his nose
against my cheek. Reaching out my
hand toward him in my usual carress-
ing manner, i repeated the call.
The next moment he bounded into
the channel and / caught him by the
Time was becoming precious,
/ was already down to my waist in
the water. I seized the lariat, and
passing it under the saddlegirths, Sc
cured it in a firm knot. | then made
a i loop and passed it around my body.
Heaven bless the noble horsel The
tears we'll up TO my eyes when | reflect
upon tine grand creature to whom
q few years ago | gave an hon
orable grave in the broad prairie.
All the time ! believe he comprehended
my sore strait, and understood
perfectly. well what was requir-
ed Of him. He knew, too. the treach-
erous nature oil the ground he stood
upon. for while waiting he continued
lifting his feet and slightly changing his
position to prevent sinking.
Finally, / had my arrangements
completed, and gave the word to the
horse to move. The intelligent ami
NAL stepped of very slowly, pulling
gradually, but with allhis tremendous
strength.
To my inexpressible Joy, | felt my
body raising. anojn less than a rim
ute ! was pulled clean out of the sand
upon the hard clayey bank.
Thank heavenl and my true, tried,
and noble horsel