The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1892-02-11
Th-rs It W.;s That Travellers Found
T-azedy

Th-rs II W.;s That Travellers Found
Mark. os q Tragedy.
We sit in our saddles and look
eown upon u b,ood-spot On the dry,
short srass-a few bones the rags
Ed tatters Of boys clothing. Moth
ing else to De seen. The wolves are
sleeping In some of the dry ravlnes-
the vultures have picked the last shred
of flesh from the bones and sailed
hearily away 10 Scan the plains from
some better coign of vantage.
To the right is tho same monotonous
plain-ridSe after ridge valley after
va!iey-out-crop Of rock, stunted sage
brushes and sterile sail. A madden
ing. almost endless monotony.
TO the LETT five miles away, is the
gceat overland trail which winds
across halt Il continent. Yesterday
afternoon q train of six or eight emil
grant wagons was moving slowly
along the trail. There were rough
and rugged men there brave women.
children fu Of excitement aud curl
osity. Now and then they climb
down from the wagons 10 run after.
to inspect the grim and lonely graves
to be met with at every mile of the
journey. There are buffalo skulls
whitened to ghastliness by sun and
rain; flowers hers and thore strug-
Cling for life amidst the sun drowned
grass.
This boy. But who can tell? He
may have Jagged behind-lost himself
in one Of the ravines aye! even fallen
asleep as he sat down to rest for a
moment If they missed him before
darkness came their search was fruit
less. If their shouts reached his ears
they simply terrified him. He knsw.
when the red sun went down and the
long shadows began to stalk across
the earth. that he was lost. Had they
happened upon him then they would
have found him speeches. with fear.
Had they called him by name he would
have fed from them, mad through
terror.
AS nigh. comes down he runs hither
and yon. He does not shout; II he
could speak aloud the sound of his own
voice would add to his own horror.
BY end by his tired limbs fail him and
he falls to the earth aud seeks to hide
from the darkness-from the awful
stillness-fron the great fear which
freezes his blood and makes him shiver
us with winters blast. OF sudden q
sound breaks the stillness-a long.
drawn quavering howl-and the boy
springs up with a stiAed scream and
peers about him.
All! A wolf! The gaunt beast his
fur ragged and earth-stained, is only
ten feet away. He has scented and
sighted the boy from aiar of ard soft.
ly crspt down upon him. He sees that
the boy is defenseless; he could bear
him down and tear his throat in. g
minute. But single wolf has nc
bravery. He has summoned others to
share the feast.
go away-rm afraid OF your
whispers the child az he looks about
him.
Flee into the darkness to meet 9TH
ers? Stand and nope that men may
come to rescue him? Raise his child
ish voice and Cry out in tho darknessF
Patter! Patter! Patter!" From on,
the black darlness other wolves ap-
pcar-two-three - five-six. They
sniff and growl They rush against
each other and gnash their yellow
tangs. They sneak and skulk about
and the foam drops here and there anS
spots tic grass
go away, l say" whispers the
boy as they circle about him. Their
eyes shino like Goals OF fire in the
darkness. They move as swiftly os
shadows. Their fierce growls fll the
boy with new terror. OF sudden
they rush upon him and all is over
We have found the blood spots an6
the bones-the tatters of clothing.
Thos, who are seeking for the lost
will find him not-not even enough tc
lay away beneath the baked earth
q rai3o another gruesome mound
along the overland trail. Detroit
Free Press.