The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-10-19

into the stream. A lean spotted grey
hound was the first in the water anC
he was followed by all the dogs.
The greyhound was in the water on
~ a moment and then walked IeisureIy
out shook himself and deposited some
thing on the bank while the other dogs
continued to founder in the water. Otis
Hungate walked up to the greyhound
and found a large 'possum. 1t was
dead but the killing had been done sc
quietly that the hounds had not no
ticed what their companion was doing
A shout went up as Hungate held III
the spossum in the bright moon light
and a half dozen men Waded the creek
at once The spOSsun1 was handed around
and carefully Inspected It was de-
cIared the latest one ever seen J as
per Earnest threatened to eat it on the
spot.
Il never had 50 good a time in my
life said Otis Hungate as he Wrung
the water from his trousers.
Judge Hazen. Lee Jones, Captain Ar
mold and the master of the hounds had
found a shallow place in the creek and
the dogs were again started out.
In less than five minutes the hounds
struck another track and in a short
time they announced that they had
Meade stopped to deliver another
stump speech with his dogs as a sub
ject. Cunningham and two other men
followed the dogs. Another bunch was
were found. There was no one to stop
the man with the gun, and with the re-
port a 'possuIn dropped at his feet.
When Meade heard the report he was
furious. Some one had dared to dis
patch the game without his sanction.
He threatened to take his dogs and go
home. but he was placated by Lee
Jones and A. J. Arnold, who promised
that it should not happen again"
While the members of the party were
not looking DR.. Miner, who had fallen
over every log and stone in his way.
concluded that the party did not need
a surgeon and he started for camp. A
half hour later Tony Brown ALSO de-
serted and turned his face toward the
blazing campfire
The hunting party rOamed through
the woods and forced their way through
thickets and cornfelds until two more
'possurns were bagged. The dogs had
not started coon and Judge Hazen
was anxious to see. one, but the dogs
struck the train of a wildcat and their
usefulness for cOOns was ended, for a
wildcat viii run for hours and is so
fleet he can keep out of the way of
the dogs. Captain Arnold and Meade
followed the hounds and the rest Of the
party returned to camp. 1t was II
o'clock and DR.. Miner had reached the
camp g few minutes before after much
difficulty in finding his way, but Tony
Brown had not arrived
In half hour Arnold and Meade re
turned, but they had seen nothing of
Brown 1t was decided he had be-
come tired and stopped at farm
house and no one was uneasy. Logs
We're heaped on the fire and Lee Jones.
Judge Hazen and A. J. Arnold then did
the only unprofessional thing done on
the trip. They went to a farm house
near the camp and went to bed. This
act caused the adoption of a new by
law which makes it unlawful to sleep
anywhere except in the open air by the
campfire.
It was half past 1 O'Clock when one
of the party was avail ened by the most
agonizing shrieks. They sounded as if
they came from a man in distress about
a half mile west of the camp. Otis
Hungate was aroused ana an answer
ing cry was sent up and shotgun
fired. Tony Brown had not arrived and
it was concluded that he was lost in
the woods
The cries grew fainter. and it seemed
as if the man emitting them was NOV
ing farther and farther away. One of
the party with gun went to a hill near
by and fired several shots The cries
became more terrifying and no longer
moved. Hungate was called to the hill
where a consultation was held. He
suggested that Brown had probably
been attacked by wildcat, but when
it was considered that he weighed $50
pounds it was voted that no wild ami
NAL in Kansas would dare attack him.
1t was more senSibly concluded. that he
had fallen and broken leg, and three
men headed by Otis Hungate started
to find him, shouting and firing the
gun as they went
The answering shouts grew more and
more distinct and in q half hour they
came from a thicket just ahead The
rescuers stopped and listened. The
voice from the thicket said:
wait for heavens sake. Don't move
q step. I want to get a look at you. 1
haven't seen man for so long.
In a few minutes the pOrtly form of
Tony Brown appeared at the edge of
the brush. You have come for me-
he said. This is the happiest moment
of my life. I have never spent such
terrible time
His voice was husky with shouting,
his face was bathed in perspiration
and his shoes We're full of feet; his
clothes We're wet. for he had Waded
the creek a half dozen times He had
been confused by the answering shouts
and shooting and had walked in an op-
posite direction from the camp In
spite of Browns condition ne walked
back to camp as Sprightly as a boy.
1t was 10 O'Clock when Brown started
for the camp and he was found by the
rescuing party at a. m He had spent
all but the last half hour in tramp
ing through the timber and over the
hills in a vain effort to find his Ges-
tination He had been chased by an
irate COW. whose slumbers he had dis
turbed. He had Weakened UP farmers
and inquired the way only to lose it
again No one but man who has
been lost can appreciate his predica-
ment and it is useless to dwell up
AS Brown sat by the fire drying his
clothes. Otis Hungate inquired. Are
you really glad to get back to campo"
You talk like an idiot" said Brown,
and the questioning was not resumed.
Those who were proof against the raw
north wind slept some that night. If
you want to know something Of the
difficulties in the way Of comfortable