The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1889-02-08

VIC crowded 10 tho yet dying horse
roughly pushed Halo aside, auG
eagerly sucked the ebbing lfe's
blood. believe 10 this day that moth
ing has ever tasted better IN my
life. Our existence was prolonged
now for al least q short period, and
our lips moved In grateful prayer.
A wild, maniacsl shout from Hale at
tracted my attention. Great heavenst
The madman was mounted on one ol
the horses and tearing away. He was
glancing back and pointing abead and
screaming At the top Of his lungs,
"Wateri Water" One OF US must
be left behind- One horse was dead
and three persons could not rideHpOn
the two animals. who were now yory
weak. / looked IN the direction oI
Hale, and sure enough, what appeared
TO be water was seen il the distance. /
fastened TO acQuaint my companions
OF the joyful discovery. Hale kopi
galloping madly on, looking neither
way, but furiously lashiug his horse.
A stoep precipice doomed before the
rider, but he needed II not and
spurred his exhausted animal
10 still greater speed Tho poor
horse attempted 10 swerve from
its course and avoid tho yawning
ehasm, but Hale noticed nothing bat
the fascinating dance OF water on ths
horizon They were now but fow-
rods from the precipice. Still the
horse was spurred on. He nei shed
piteously. plunged forward. and juA;
II Its brink stopped stock-still and The
rider few over his head into the bot
tDmlcss pit. To say that We were
aorrified would be putting il rather
mild. We hastoned TO the scene OF the
catastrophe. The horse stood on the
edge. trembling in terror from head ta
foot i carefully approached tho brink
and peered into the black pit. Moth
ing could be discerned; all was pitchs
darkness. / seized a large rock and
hurled il TO the bottom Presently
heard faint sound-doep, deep. down
into the ve-y bowels OF tho earth.
Poor Hale's death came very easy.
though terribly unexpected, and ns
human being could make that descent
without death ensuing halfway down.
With heavy hearts we once morG
sslddie1 our tired horses and followed
the alluring lake. An hour passed,
but ii seemed as If we were just As far
away n on tho start Another hour.
another and another, and still tn
waters kept dancing and glistsning IL
tho sunlight an apparently short dis
tance ahead. We continued the tedious
trip, and happening 70 look up we dis
covered TO our dismay that the SUP
posed lake had entirely vanished. But
a more welcome sight greotod AZ Not
many mi!cj to the east tho city from
which We started loomod up. Al.
something strange about this. Wa
could see ths streets. familiar build
ings, and even recognize men walking
up and down-literally photographed
before our startled vision. We tray ca
and travelled, but it WAS impossible ~
approach tho town. Then. ns If Is
magic, the whole scene disappeared
from view We were mystifed beyond
comprehension and unable to solve the
problem. The tired, faithful stecds
refused 70 bulge an inch and lay down.
and we rolled OF and sank BY their.
sides exhausted.
The paugs of hunger know no bouads,
so | resolved TO slay another horse. gob
up and to my horror the animals had
strayed away, probably in search of
fodder. My companions groane5
feebly, but we were all too weak ~
follow them. Deaths awful presence
was now almost felt. and with praysr
upon our lips we reeled TO the ground
and hoped that the grim destroy7Ss
would soon como and relieve ne
Wall, he did not come, or / would
never have written this sketch. While
in "A cOmatose condition / was shaken
gently and friendly hands applied n
cooling flask TO my heated lips. This
Same oifcs was also administered -
my suffering companions. Our good
samaritan. who proved TO be farmop.
took us in his wagon and bundled -
OF 70 his house, whers we we're closely
confined for two long weeks
As write l can not help thinking
of poor Hale's manglod remains re-
posing in the depths Of that awfu!
abyss. l afterward learned That CUP
course when lost on tho pra.rie was
one continued circlo. l trcinble foa.
the luckless Traveller who follows e
prairie mirage. Joe Z. lhiHcr, tn Ga.
ego ZtDsee.