Idaho news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1887-1891, 1890-11-08

very quickly, and l was soon sur
rounded by an inky gloom. Sudden
ly my horse pulled up so sharply
that | threw myself far hack in the
saddle to keep from being pitched
from my seat, and then found my
self falling, with the horse beneath
me.
There was n shock and for q mo-
ment | was stunned. When | recov.
cred consciousness l found that my
horse had tumbled down n natural
well, thirty feet in depth, and had
been instantly killed. | was consld-
erably shocked, but fortunately no
bones broken. 1t did not take me
long to realize the seriously uncom-
Portable nature of my position, for
plainsmen think quickly.
The we'll into which | had fallen
was perfectly round. It's sides were
as smooth as glass, and it was too
TAR from side to side for me to climb
out by the use OF elbows and knees.
| was in a stone prison, a dungeon
from which there was noescape with
out help from the outside, and as |
realized this a drop of rain splashed
in my lace and | heard the distant
rumble of thunder. A storm was
coming on, and in n minutes time,
if there was n heavy fall OF rain, my
trail would be obliterated. | tried
to calculate how long | could hold
out beforea search party would come
alter me, and give it up when | con
sidered how unlikely it was that any
but the merest accident would bring
the searchers to this particulnrplace.
| was in n tight hole in more ways
than one, and the thoughts that
came to me in the next two or three
minutes were decidedly solemn ones.
Suddenly n cold, clammy body touch
ed my hand and | heard Bobo's ia
miliar hiss. lspoke to the reptile,
and it climbed up my body to my
shoulder. Where it had managed to
secret itself all this time | could not
at first imagine, until | remembered
that on the morning previous | had
found his ~snakeship in one of my
saddle pockets, to whichh he had crept
for shelter from the cold night mir.
Poor Bobo," | said aloud. I'VE
are companions in misery, and if
am not mistaken our bones will
eventually lie together here, mixed
up w%iththose OF my horse. Amy way,
I'll take u smoke"
1 filled my pipe and struck n match.
The bright light annoyed Bobo. md,
raising his head, it reached out to,
ward the side of the well. Before the
match went out it had got a hold
upon the smooth stone and was
wriggling it's way toward the top. |
don't know what made me think oi
it, but | suddenly remembered Bobo's
fondness for milk anddislike OF stay
ing away from me over night.
Before the reptile was beyond my
reach | pulled it back, determined to
make it the means OF getting out oil
the well. twined it's body about
my neck, and by the use of indearing
phrases and nm occasional stroke oil
the hand quoted the reptile. Strik-
ing u match, | tore a leaf from my
notebook, and hastily scrubbed II
few lines describing the accident
which had beiallen me, and locating
as well as | could the canon in
which it had happened. enclosed
this note in n piece of buckskin cut
from my tobacco pouch and then
with n bit of wire twisted from the
ring OF my RATA, bound the little
p%sket to Bobo's tail.
drew the wire so tightly that it
must have cut into the flesh, for
Bobo tried to strike my hand, and
Missed angriIy. Satisfied that the
packet would not come of. ] held
the reptile against the wall and re-
leased it. Quickly Bobo crawled to
the top, although somewhat ham
pered by the wired on pocket and
was of.
1t seemed nm eternity that night
of an anxious suspense, but toward
morning ! fell as'eep, doubled up
yer the dead body of my horse.
When ] awoke the sun was shining
directly overhead. had Just taken
d drink from my canteen when
heard the chatter of hoOfs aud knew
that relief had come. / pulled out
my six-shooter and blazei away ut
the we'll. There was n yolley OF an
swering shots, and presently the
boys were grouped around the edge
Of the well chatting me in a gooI-
natured way. A rope was lowered
and, after sending up my saddle,
bride and rife, | was hauled up,
somewhat stiff and sore, but about
as thankful a man as could be found.
Bobo had made straight for camp,
and had reached the ranch some
time dnring the night. 1t was not
until morning, however, that the
packet bound TO his tail was motto
ed. As soon as it was taken off and
my message read a scout at once
started out after me.