San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-01-09

enough, what appeared TO be water was seen
in the distance fastened to acquaint my
companions Of the joyful discovery. Hale
kept galloping 'mady on, looking neither
way but furiously flashing his horse. A steep
precipice doomed before the rider, but no
needed it not, and spurred his exhausted
animal TO still greater speed. The poor horse
attempted TO swerve from its course and
avoid the yawnin2 chasm, but Hale noticed
nothing but the fascinating dance of water
on the horizon. They were now but a few
rods from the precipice.
Still the horse was, spureed on. He
neighed piteously, plunged forward, and
just at its brink stopped stock still and tho
rider few over his head into the bottomleSs
pit. To say that we were Mortified would DO
putting it rather mild. We FASTENED to the
scene of the catastrophe. The horse stood
on the edge, trembling in terror from head
to foot. l carefully approached the brink
and peered into the black pit. Nothing
could be discerned; all was pitchy darkness.
l seized a large rock and hurled it to the bot
tom. Presently l heard faint sound
deep, deep down into the very bowels Of the
earth. Poor Hale's death came very easy,
though terribly unexpected, and no human
ensuing half way down.
THE DANCING WATERS.
With heavy hearts we once more saddled
our tired horses and followed the alluring
lake. An hour passed, but it seemed Us If we
were just as far away as on the start
Another hour, another, and another, and
still the waters kept dancing and glistening
in the sunlight an apparently short distance
ahead. We continued the tedious trip, and
happening to look up we discovered to our dis
may that the supposed lake had entirely van
ished. But a more welcome sight greeted
us. Not many miles to the east the city from
which we started doomed up. All, some
thing strange about this We could see the
streets, familiar buildings, and even recog-
nize men walking up and down-literally
photographed before our startled vision.
We Travelled and travelled, but it was i'm
possible to approach the town. Then, as il
by magic, the whole scene disappeared from
view. We were mystified beyond compre-
hension and unable to solve the problem.
The tired, faithful steeds refused to bulge
an inch and lay down, and we rolled off and
sank by their sides exhausted
The pangs of hunger knew no bounds, so
resolved to STAY another horse. got up and,
to my horror, the animals had strayed away,
probably in search Of fodder. Ny companions
groaned feebly, but we were all too weak to
follow them. Deaths awful presence was
now almost felt, and with prayer upon our
lips we reeled to the ground and hoped that
the grim destroyer would soon come and re-
lieve US Well, he did not come, or would
never have written this sketch. While in a
comatose condition | was shaken gently, and
friendly hands applied cooling flask to my
heated lips. This same Office was also admin
istergd to my suffering companions. Our
good Samaritan, who proved to be a farmer,
took us in his wagon and bundled us off to
his house, where we were closely confined
for two long weeks.
As write cannot help thinking Of poor
Hale's manglcd remains repoSng in the
depths of that awful abyss. afterward
learned thai our course when lost on the
prairie was one continued circle tremble
for the luckless traveller who follows prairie
mirage joe F. Miller in Chico 50 Times
Lam Linn