Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-01-03

with his almost superhuman
power, and in twinkle he wrested
the gun from my hands. He then
rushed to one of the horses and shot it
dead. Hardly had the animal fallen
before Hale, with childish glee.
pOunced upon the PROSTATE body,
slashed its throat with his hunting.
knife, and applied his mouth to the
hot, gushing blood, drinking it down
with gluttonous appetite. Hale had
accomplished q deed which We also
contemplated doing, but it was left as
a last resort, for we knew that If de-
prived of one of our horses we would
be left in a more sorry plight than
ever. The sight of flowing blood
nerved US to almost desperation, and
we crowded to the yet dying horse.
roughly pushed Hale aside. and
eagerly sucked the ebbing LIES
blood. believe to this day that moth
ing has ever tasted better in my
life. Our existence was prolonged
now for at least a short period. and
our lips moved in grateful prayer.
A wild, maniacal shout from Hale at
tracted my attention. Great heavens!
The mailman was mounted on one of
the horses and tearing away. He was
glancing back and pointing ahead and
screaming at the top of his lungs:
water! Water" One of US must
be left behind. One horse was dead
and three persons could not ride upon
the two animals, who were now very
weak. l looked in the direction of
Hale, and, sure enough. what appeared
to be water was seen in the distance. /
fastened to acquaint my companions
of the joyful discovery. Hale kept
galloping madly on, looking neither
way, but furiously flashing his horse.
A steep precipice doomed before the
rider, but he needed it not and
spurred his exhausted animal
to still greater speed. The poor
horse attempted to swerve from
its course and avoid the yawning
chasm, but Hale noticed nothing but
the fascinating dance of water on the
horizon. They were now but few
rods from the precipice. Still the
horse was spurred on. He neighed
piteously. plunged forward, and just
at its brink stopped stock-still and the
rider few over his head into the bot
tomless pit. To say that We were
Mortified would be 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 I carefully approached the brill;
.a.zsd peered insS the black pit. Moth
ing could be discerned; all was pitchy
darkness. l seized a large rock and
hurled it to the bottom. Presently I
heard a 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 being could make that descent
without death ensuing halfway down.
With heavy hearts we once more
saddled our tired horses and followed
the alluring lake. An hour passed.
but it seemed as 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 dis
lance ahead. We continued the tedious
trip, and happening to look up we dis
covered to our dismay that the sup
posed lake had entirely vanished. But
a more welcome sight greeted us. Not
many miles to the east the city from
which we started doomed up All,
something strange about this. We
could see the streets, familiar build
ings, and even recognize men walking
up and down-literally photographed
before our startled vision. We travelled
and travelled. but it was impossible to
approach the town. Then. as if by
magic, the whole scene disappeared
from view. We were mystified beyond
comprehension 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. Igot
up and to my horror the animals had
strayed away, probably in search OF
fodder. My companions groaned
feebly. but we were all too weak to
follow them. Deaths awful presence
was now almost felt, and with a prayer
upon our lips we reeled to the ground
and hoped that the grim destroyer
would soon come and relieve US.
Well, he did not come, or l would
never have written this sketch. While
in a comatose condition was shaken
gently and friendly hands applied a
cooling flask to my heated lips. This
same Office was also administered to
my suffering companions. Our good
samaritan. who proved to be farmer,
took us in his wagon and bundled us
off tn his house where we were closely