Alpena argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1893-1909, 1894-08-08
A THRILLING ADVENTURE.

perilous journey of crossing the
plains. Our company was compos-
ed of nine persons; among the num-
Der was Bill Johnson, formerly a
hunter and trapper of the West.
At the close of beautiful day in
May, we found ourselves seated
around blazing camp fire, upon
the banks of the Little Blue River,
Missouri. Some of the company
had spread blanket upon the grass,
and were busily engaged in a game
of cards, while Bill Johnson and
myself were eagerly discussing the
propriety of having an antelope
hunt on the succeeding day. We
soon came to the conclusion that
we would spend the daylight hunt
ing, as our train was going to stop
here several days to recruit our an
imals. cannot say that | enjoyed
sound sleep that night, because |
was anxious that morning should
arrive, for ! expected rare sport on
the coming day. The much-wish-
ed-for-morning came at last; and
after dispatching hasty breakfast,
and informing our comrades that
we should return by sunset, we de-
parted with our rifles on our Shout
ders. For three hours we Travelled
in southerly direction from the
camp without seeing any game at
all, and being somewhat tired and
disappointed with our luck, we con-
cluded to seek shelter from the burn
ing sun, and take short rest. Fol-
lowing up a ravine short distance,
we came to sink, or hole, some
twenty feet deep, the sides of which
were of solid rock, and almost per-
pendicular. Carefully examining
this curious spot, we at length dis
covered an excavation in the wall,
just large enough to admit a man
with ease. This was soon accom-
plished, and We found ourselves in
an apartment about nine feet square,
with walls of solid rock. This we
thought would afford us the desired
shelter, and we were just comfort
ably seated, when my companion
sprang hastily to his feet, saying:
"Be silent; hear a rustling in
the grass, which is probably caused
by an elk or antelope. You stay
here"
And Selling his rifle, he stole eau
tiously down the ravlne.
He was soon lost to view among
the sbrubbery which skirted the ra-
vine, leaving me alone to mediate
on the probable cause of the noise
we had just heard. But ! was soon
startled and surprised to see my
companion running towards the
cave, with anxiety and alarm plain
ly depicted on his countenance.
Indians. by thunder he ex-
claimed, as he rushed into the cave.
Then he commenced blockading
up the entrance with loose stones
and fragments of rocks which lay
scattered around. This awakened
me to sense Of the dangers we
were in, as at that time the Pawnee
Indians were known to be hostile to
the. whites, butcheting all who fell
into their hands. To my inquiries
of how many there were Of our ell
emies, my companion replied:
"There are two, mounted on fleet
horses, armed with rifles and bows
and arrows, and hideously painted. -"
Our enemies were probably aware
Of our place of refuge, for instead
of coming up in front of the cave,
they crept cautiously round to the
edge of the sink and stationed
themselves out of the reach of our
rifles but so as to command the en-
trance of our subterranean retreat.
Their persons were out of our view,
but by their shadows on the oppo-
site wall, we could note their ma
neuvers.
They evidently thought there was
but one of us; but they did not
deem it prudent to make bold at
tack in front, for by so doing they
would expose their persons to dan
ger; therefore, they chose the most
dangerous plan Of starving us to
death, compelling us to surrender,
or shooting us if we attempted to
escape. Thus, in manner, we
were completely in the power of
these savages, unless by some STRATA
gem we could manage to escape.
But soon night set in, spreading
her mantle of darkness over the
land, and making our situation more
dismal than before.
My companion took his station
at the entrance, ready to give the