Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1894-09-21
My Du8ky Friend.
BY A. S. BURROUGHS.

We-that is, the little party of emf
grants of which was member-de-
clded to camp in u lovely little ravine
near BiJou Creek. q beautiful tributary
of the Platte river, which we had en-
countered in our journey toward the
far-famed land of gold California.
1t was yet early in the afternoon, but
the temptation TO tarry awhile amid SO
much of natures rugged grandeur was
so strong, our horses were SO jaded
from their continuous, exhausting trav-
ell, that our wontcd set custom of from
dawn till dark was for the nonce set
aside. and within few minutes the
line ofdingy prairie schooners had been
drawn up in a circle. fire started in
the enclosure. and the horses picketed
near by upon a luxuriant grass plot
\ We had for several days been travel
ing through a country infested with
rowing bands Of marauding Indians,
where it would have been indiscreet, if
laot dangerous, to discharge our rifles,
apd, as our supply of game was in con-
sequence running low. | resolved to
venture forth to see if could not get
ahot at some of the fine mountain
grense, Of which we had seen large
numbers in the near vicinity.
] therefore sailed forth with my
CUR, following the course Of the stream
toward denser timber belt some dis
tance away, where | believed / should
lind an abundance Of the much coveted
grouse.
1t was bright, balmy day. the air
laden with perfume of countless W, Id
flowers and blossoms. and with sweet
songs of thousands of happy birds. as
they plaS ed hide aud seek among the
leafy )tree tops.
In fact. it was one Of those betwich-
ing days when Nature seems 10 con-
quer the will by her enrapturing power
of supfemacv and cause frail humanity
to bow in subsection before her entran-
cling shrine.
Under this mesmerical force l was
impelled to the verdant, grassy bank
of the stream. where, in bllssful ennui,
l Ionnd myself reclining upon the soft,
shaded bank dreamily listening to the
music Of the birds above me and
watching the pla full minnows rs they
sported about in the sun-iit waters rip
ping at py feet.
All Thought of the errand which had
lured me from camp passed into obi
won; my senses seemed charmed by
the magic spell under which was en-
chained, and in this mood | fell-not
into the water below me but fast
asleep.
! And while slept dreamed.
F. Perhaps the original intention
which caused me to start out had some
thing to do with suggesting the
thought. for in the vision that came to
me in my slumber, I was once more in
the role of hunter. and before me
stretched a wide plain upon which
roamed endless herds of beautiful ante
lope.
, My pulses thrilled with excitement.
and select ng one of the finest and
sleekest of the timid herd, l raised my
rifle and fired
: The sound of the report awoke me,
and. springing up. | half expected to
see the fat animal at which had shot
lying dead upon the plain. and the
frightened herh scattering frantically
a AWAY y over thlI broad tract but it was
Z My gun lay several feet from~'m
where l had left it. and instead of the
wide prairie, / beheld before me the
same sun-lit waters of Biiou Creek
which | had leftNere my ii ght to dream
land.
Something else caught nv eve, too.
as | gave a hasty glance about me up
on awakng.
! 1t was little curl of blush smoke
issning from clump of bushes few
rods to my right
The truth flashed upon me in an in
slant | had been fired at by some
treacherous redskin lying in ambush.
: The experience had gained while
passing through the Indian country
told ME how to act. and in less time
than it takes to record the movement.
l had got possession of my gun and
was behind a convenient tree, Just as
bullet went whizzin9 close to my head
and imbedded itself into the tree be-
hind which I had taken refuge.
soon realized that my position was
q most critical one, with the chances
decidedly against coming out of the
affair alive.
| was completely surrounded ;and as
many as score of murderous looking
could be seen skuIlling from
tree to tree on every side of me-
My4t,,rcr in, ,,u1ca ,yns- tx n,,,, E,,o -,
hem and sell nv life :ls dearly Us pos
ble, but when / recollected that had |
irought my shot-gunl instead of my
file as being better adapted for grouse
nooting. and that there were twenty
sainst one in such a contest, | re-
\ lived to accept the truth of the axiom
+ discretion is the better part of val
4 and withhold hostilties
i L was we'll did, for In moment af- |
\ ward one OF the painted warriors
.pped out from ambush and intimat-
that II would put aside my gun,
life would be spared.
cannot say l was particularly |
I fered by the prospect of captivity |
4 'ong That viilainous banfl of sava@es |
perhaps, some barbar6us death ut |