The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-08-03

about o'clock with the information that
he had seen no deer.
In the afternoon we again started out.
I soon lost Watson. and within half
hour I started a good sized buck. He
stopped. after giving few bounds, and
half turned his body. / waited
for no second opportunity, but
took quick aim and fred. Down
went the deer on his knees,
and my heart was in my throat IS
rushed forward, certain that l had &C.
complished my dearest wish. My buck
did not move for an instant. He acted
very much as if he had been shot in the
head, and had no thought but that he
would never again gain his feet. My
hopes were of short duration for had
only gone short distance when the deer
sprang to his feet Too astonished to
shoot, | watched his unsteady movements
till apparently he regained his equilib-
rum, and away he went crashing
through the brush. followed the deer
as well as I could for at least a mile
when I gave him up and started to find
Watson, who has dog.
l started, as l supposed, for the camp,
and after walking for at least an hour,
l came to a park Thinking I had
reached the place I went down to its
edge, but l found it was a strange local
ity, I walked out into the opening and
commenced to search the horizon for
land marks. Many miles away l could
see the ragged snow covered peaks of
the San Juan mountains, but the cliffs
about me were strange. l started north
and walked a mile. only to find more
strange surroundings.
1t did not take me long to realize that
I was lost. Heavy black clouds in the
west meant rain, and the thought of
spending the night alone in the rain I'M
der spruce tree, without blanket, was
by no means cheering. l shouted and
fred my Winchester, but there was no
answering sound to the echoes which re-
sounded from cliff to cliff. had but one
hope of avoiding a night alone in the
woods and that was that l could reach
our camp and Soap creek before night
fall l reasoned that as all streams TOW
into Soap creek, that following any gulch
I would eventually find my way to that
stream at some point near our camping
ground. l resolved to follow the gulch,
and lose no previous time looking for
Watson. I started down its side with
a quick step. l soon found that it is con-
siderably less difficult to go down q
mountain than up, even though one takes
an occasional roll; besides, there was al
ways some friendly tree to stop my I'M
/ L
| much fall per mile that stream
| has, but had at least twenty five.
l was soon bathed in perspiration, but
| l did not slacken my pace There was
no water in the gulch and l soon be-
came very thirsty. A short distance
| ahead of me there appeared to be an
opening in the tim Der, but found it to
be very far away. Long before l reach
| ed the opening | found spring of cold
-
nectar. After bathing my hands and
face I again started down the gulch.
When 1 reached the opening l found it
to be the mouth of the gulch where it
united with larger one, through which
a mountain stream dashed.
l started down along its course. In
many places the banks rose almost per
pendicuIarly aud I then was compelled
to leave the course of the stream and
climb to the high bank. Once
Host nay footing and fell into the water,
but it was not: deep and I was on my
way in a moment afterward. Sometimes
I would be q hundred feet above the
| stream and rocks loosened by my steps
would tumble into it; at others [ was
walking very close to the creek or fore
ing my way through bushes near its
! banks.
In about an hour saw some new made
/
some dwelling and my hope of reaching
camp grew stronger, though the sun was
no longer visible. Soon | came to clus-
ter of deserted log cabins and l resolved
to return and spend the night in
one of them if failed to
find where / was travelling However,
shortly afterward I saw the smoke of a
hut curling through the trees, and soon
stood before the rough log structure OF
the Mexican which we had passed the
evening before. I had reached Cow
creek and was only a mile and hall
from camp. 1 reached our cabin on Soap
creek at dark, very tired, but glad enough
to see familiar faces. l slept as l never
slept before, though my bed was made OF
hay, covered with deer skin.
At o'clock today Watson returned
He had spent part of the night look
ing for me, and this morning killed a
two-year- old buck, which he brought with
him. He had not left the park until he
had made a final unsuccessful hunt fol
me.
We had venison for supper. for, as 6
tis chopper said, "When Jim Watson
goes after a deer he always gets one"
l. L. KIENR.
For thirty years the Royal has beer
the standard for purity and strength in