San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1888-04-28


were getting beyond the settlers shanties,
and beyond the travel to and from the
town. Houses grew more and more in
frequent, the wind began to rise, and the
snow to sift along the plain, softly, spas
medically, yet insidiously, and almost be-
fore we knew it the road was full of
drifts. Wherever a tuft of weeds or
clump of unburned grass stood, drift
had formed, stretching out its solid bulk
across our track like huge lazy polar
bear, over which the ponies were forced
to draw the sleigh.
The sun was entirely hid soon after, and
occasional flakes of snow struck the face
like threats, while the wind, growing
colder, bit most savagely. The prairie
was burned bare here, and the sliding
snow ran like tongues of flame here and
there or spread like silver white ocean
foam upon the side of some smooth, black
ened knoll. We passed many shanties,
but they were empty, for the most part,
the owners having moved back east for
the winter. The farther we went to the
west the wilder and more bare the prairie
became; soon we would be outside the
line of actual settlement. Bailey was In
tending to get off at a point about five
miles before we reached Moore's claim.
His claim lay four miles due south from
certain corner stake which we were to
pass very soon, but as we were approach
ing the stake Moore and determined to
keep him with us, and not allow of his
making his venture at night. Accord
ingly, Moore pulled up short, and we both
looked immovably at our friend. Bailey
was a brave man when there was any
thing depending on the venture, but as he
rose to his feet and looked around him he
hesitated.
1t was fearful scene. As far as the
eye could penetrate the stability of the
prairie seemed changed to the furious
lashings of foam white waste of waters.
Great waves of snow met, shifted, spread,
raced like wolves, Joined again, rose, buff
feted each other till puffs of fine snow
sprang into the air, like spray, only to fall
and melt in the sliding streams. All was
unreal, CHASTITY. No sky, but formless,
impenetrable mass Of flying snow; no
earth except when a sweeping gust laid
bare long streak of blackened sod that
had the effect, the terrifying effect, of a
hollow, fathomless trough between the
kissing waves, and over all the night and
tempest were speeding like the flight of
twin eagles.
Our companion set his teeth and made
as if to spring out and set forth. "Sit
down." we shouted "Do you intend to
commit suicide?' And, with a laugh at
his relieved expression, we pushed the
ponies ON toward the west.
1--WE must be merciless now. We are
too far on to turn back, and if we are not
Il Cd he CT, ~ nf
deep night" l shouted in the ear of the
driver There were now but two shanties
where we knew of people living, and both
of these were some miles from our desti-
nation. One of these we soon reached
after passing the corner stake alluded to.
1t was a small frame shanty, banked to
the roof with snow and sods; indeed, the
roof was also of sods, laid on for addi-
tiOnal warmth. 1t was low and mean
looking at ordinary times, but now, as the
door opened and the red light streamed
out over the drifts glinting through the
falling snow, it had a singularly attractive
look. The house was full to OVERLOOKING,
we were told, and there were no places
for our horses at all; they would have to
stand out if we staid. but we amt
goin' to stay" said Moore, grimly as he
pulled out into the road, now a mere trail,
TO be followed with the greatest difficulty.
Just after turning into this faint track
there came a team of horses rushing to
meet US. AS they passed us at a swift
gallOp we saw that, attached to the har-
ness of one, was boys hand sled, upon
which long plank was bound, and lastly
a young fellow lying atop, on his side, in
the way boys coast down hill. He had a
round, red face, on which was a fearless
laugh, and he shook the reins above his
noble team and plunged into the dark
ness of the east on his way to the settle
ment.
The storm had steadily increased in
violence, though each stage seemed the
limit of its fury. The cold grew ever
bitterer, the night was almost upon us,
and the snow filled the air, and we could
see but few rods in any direction; but
our only resource was to press on out on
the prairie, wrapped in madly swirling
clouds of snow. But we were all western
born, and not only knew our danger, but
how to meet it as well. Our trail was en-
tirely lost, and there was nothing left but
to steer by the wind and the section lines
For mile or more we had been following
a furrow which had been plowed along
the section line, and we must now leave
that and bear to the southwest.
Therefore, taking the wind (which we
knew to be in the northwest) on our right
shoulder, we struck out in straight line
for the place where we knew the shanty
belonging to Moore must be. We ought
to come near enough to it to see it as we
passed; if not-well, we didn't like to
think of that. AS our course must be
made with the greatest care, Moore drove,
while Bailey and l took turns in rigidly
keeping the wind upon the right ear, and
in nlkinCr In tho fro hnhind The trn olr