Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-12-30
IN THE TOLLS OF A QUICKSAND.
BY ToM sLAuGHTER

When the first drowsIness OF Indian
summer was manilssting Itself In the
fall VI "a had occasion TO make q trip
to the Klckapoo reservation, Ia the
Indian Territory. From Red Fork, In
the Creek country, At that time the
terminus Of the ST. Louis and San Fran
cisco Railroad, proceeded overland Ia
a south-westerly direction Ia spring
wagon, driven by one OF the latest,
sIeeplest, devil-may-care fellows ~ has
yet been my lot TO meet. He was an
Arkansas product, and possessed all the
characteristics peculiar 10 the male
denIzens OF the isolated mountain fast
nesses Of that State.
Occasionally, when Boggs sat Dodding
in the arms Of Morpheus, would take
the cad and prod the mules, 10 the hope
of sccelerating their gait; but, after
numerous efforts OF this nature, In
which / had worn out divers gads
and much patience TO no purpose, i
succumbed TO the situation, leaving the
animals'to follow out their own pleasure.
so far as Iocomotion was concerned.
The trail leading from Red Fork 20
Wellstou, the trading point 10 tho
Kickapoo. country, 20 which / was
bound, covers a distance OF eighty
miles as the crow flies, and, szcsnt at
rare intervals, iuns though a section
ofcountry thickiy stHdisd With jack oak
and except az rare intervals. runs
through a section Of country thieklY
studded with jack oak and pecan trees,
with occasional sycamore and naples
Now and then we came upon large areas
OF swamp lands. and the trail ~ many
of the points, dlverged far from the
general direction In which We were
iourreving. On the second day out we
encau, bed for the night near the edge
Of one OF these tracts at the base Of q
small mountain range. and, on the fol-
loving morning l amused myself by
shooting ducks along It's edge.
At sunrise Boggs cleared away the
few simple culinary articles and the
lunch box we carried, barnessed aud
hlehed the mules 20 The wagon ADD was
ready TO resume the journey. Seeing
that vas inclined 10 liBger, he said
THE trail joys round this hyar
mounting, Cap, fer bout four emile an
sunthin more, an then strikes this
sWale ag'in on foEher aide. Ef you're
duck sick you kin fOleT uD the side Of
the swxle an meet me on t'osher SIDE"
The idea suited me and was acted
upon a. once. Boggs drove OF on the
trail humming. "tnen pzly the ffe low
" an beat the drum slowly" while
I Waded along the marsh 10 search Of
fowl. Occasionally l was Afforded
faVorlse shot, add this fact, 70 say moth
Ing Of the beauty Of tie varied iEnd-
scape about ms. Interested me 70 such
an extent that time Jew By faster than
/ vas aware Of. and it was only after
consulting my watch that ! realized
that / must IiDger no Longer II expect
ed 20 meet Bogzs 10 good season
Accordingly, ! quickened ny pace,
knowing that I han fully . nile 20
traverse ere reached the appointed
place Of meeting. ] had proceeded
but 4 short distance when came upon
: narrow arm Of the swamp which rz4.
westward directly across ny course
hsrina long rubber tgu1k boots %
rsso,rss % wade across 1af save tina
I pushed on ard hadI4'ug1t feee1e9|
she opposite side 81 III ara Ntee nj
fsst rSns down "a 81 .|fe soma e|Eo|
leee inches. ~ I &c release