, 1889-09-19

music. A happy thought struck me,
borrowed his little bell and tied 1t
round the neck of u large old terrapin
and he started him towards the coast.
In n few hours we had several hundred
falling into line, but II was the slowest
business ever undcrtook--witha all the
urging and forcing that we could make
we made only half II mile day, but the
number increased as we moved along
and in thirty-siX days we had corraled
about ZOO terrapins on the shore. We
chartered the sloop and unloaded the
cocoanuts and in about u month had
our cargo in Baltimore and sold out for
$4,000 We ought to have had twice
ns many tcrrapins as We did, but there
was an old riCkety bridge across q
lagoon on the way, and ii broke down
with the weight of the terrapins that had
piled upon IL knee deep, and we lost all
tho rear end of the drove. But there was
no peril, no adventure, in the like of
that; our wild western life was the best.
was riding out one morning with u
friend while we were camped on the
headwaters of the Colorado, and sudden
ly prairie wolf bobbed up before us
and lrouod along just ahead on three
legs. We determined to make him put
down his fourth leg, and so gave chase
in good earnest. We ran him for an
hour, but my friends horse got lame
and he took the back track for the
camp. ! had got my buck up and was
gaining on the brute, He was only
about quarter OF n mile ahead, and
had put down his fourth leg and / felt
pretty sure of getting within pistol
range when suddenly he disappeared.
My practiccd eye swept the prairie in
every direction, but lie was gone. My
horse was still on his mottle and as APP
preached the spot where the wolf was
last seen, an opening or crack in the
ground gaped wide before me. 1t was
100 wide too leap, and | could not stop
my horse, and in u twinkling we went
down, down. down. about forty feet 1t
was rock bottomcd and rock sided.
The fall killed my horse, broke his neck,
and stunned me into insensibility for II
that was not seriously hurt,
but how to get out oi
there was the question:. The walls were
perpendicular and as smooth and hard
as the neither milestone. For night
and day sat upon my horse and pom
dcred and waited for some help from
the camp, for felt sure they would hunt
for me- My horse was beginning to
swell and | was almost driven to despair
and had laid down beside him and was
thinking over my youthful prayers and
over my past lie when suddenly the
light from above was darkened and an
immense male condor dropped down
and stood upon the dead horse. This
was my last chance and | knew it. BE-
tore he was aware of my presence | had
seized him by tine legs and with II wild
scream he tlapped his great wings and
carried me upward and out of the chasn
and dropped me upon the ground and
flew away. Weak and thankful,
dragged myself back to camp and found
it almost deserted, for the boys were
still hunting for Inc in every direction.
"But wish that these children could
have been with us when the San Juan
dried up and we had TO move hundred
miles to find water II was during the
drouth that lasted several months and
dried up and burnt up everything in the
Santa Ee country. our stock liked to
have perished before we got out OF il and
got to water, What u delicious feast we
had when VIC did find it. 1t was moth
ing but II small lagoon, but II was clear
and good. That night we heard awful
sounds, and we got up and got ready Tor
trouble. We had u bulls s-eye lantern
and threw the light strong upon the la
COON where the sounds came from, and
there were deer aud wolves and noun
tain lions and prairie dogs and cata-
mounts and bears and big snakes and
buffalo and elks and wild horses, other
beasts and reptiles. all gathered at the
pool to drink. They had come miles
and miles for water for you
know wild animals. can scent water
from afar oil. But they didn't fight
The common peril seemed to have
humbled them and they all drank close
together and Kept the peace until they
had got enough and then the lions and
bears and such beasts went around
growing and moaning and were getting
ready tor their prey. a panther had
just crouched TO spring upon Il young
deer when drew Il bead upon him ana
dropped him in his tracks and the report
alarmed the menngeric and they He'd
But night after night they continued IL
come and we killed scores of the bess Is
whose skins were valuable. But by and
by the winter rains set in and we saw nc
more of them.
Now, Nabor Freeman, let,mp fill my
pipe again, please, and I'll tell those
children more of my Western adventures
tomorrow night"
The next morning the nabor cam,
down early and stood around, and after
some hesitation, said; "Whcre is Cap
tain Dick?' "lie is just getting up
said |. The nabor pulled away at hi.
pipe for moment and then said, In q
a low whisper, Major do you rcgard
him us truthful manY BILL ARR.