The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-05-29

to be point afar OF. The density of
the chaparral growth was in itself an
obst lclc to the transmission Of sound.
Trooper Thomas turned as he sup.
posed IL the direction from which the
shot signals came and once more
fought his way through the thicket.
He struggled on for few minutes
aud then slipped another cartridge
into his Springfield and fired. He
listened iptently for five minutes, but
no answering discharge gladdened his
ear. lie fired three more shots in
rapid succession. Still no answer.
The cayalryman was lost i'll al almost
| imperetrable Jungle, through which
every step Ut progress was toiling
I PAIN and where there was no means
what ocver TO give him key 10 direc-
/ ton. He stood still for few minutes
TO TANK what WAS best to do. He
had ho compass, and while he knew
that he northern edge OF the chaparral
was within comparatively short dis
tance he had not the remotust idea
who her that edge lay before him, be-
hint him OF at his right or left For
! tive days thick, heavy clouds had OBJ
sculed the sky They were full of the
| prchise Of rain, which would not
coJc. Time after time tho few people
D13g III the region had looked upon
: Jus such lowering clouds with some
gld'm Of hope that they might let fall
/ a qurden OF blessed showers There
/ WIS promise. but no fuliiImcut. The
hcbvy, murky bauk, however. served,
WI h the aid Of the matted canopy uf
/ thE chaparral. to prevent The lost
cqFalryman from getting any idea,
/ hjweYcr faint, 0i the position of the
/ SIN. North, south, cast aud west
ere alike to him.
Trooper Thomas finally determined
II trust TO luck, and taking the course
Jhich he thought was right he worked
r. way through the thorny growth.
Tor two hours lie toiled on, and then
a. dc -.ir he realized TO Il certainty
Ihat he was hopeIessly astray When
ihc line had beer deployed Thomas
ind lett his cNnteen behind, and he
Tow began to suffer severely from
thirst
/ Hours passed. and still neither open
Ing ~ The chaparrRI nor the CLINT oil
ltDOllcf
Flipped cartridge from his belt, and
l.akiug his knife cut the head bullet
Irom the brass cup. He put the mis-
I siie III his mouth and it momentarily
relieved his raging thirst
u was beginning to grow dusk. and
the soldier realized that be must spend
the night in the chaparral. He cut
some OF the thick leaves Of the prickly
pear. aud scrapinG off the thorns from
tue green surface chewGd the pulp for
the slight relief that the Juice afford
! cd. Then he cleared II place, and "
ing down tried to sleep. Physically
worn out though he was, his thirst
and the horror OF his situation kept
him awake, Iowmd morning nc lad
little fcYorish sleep that brought no
rest A. the first ntreak of daylight
stole into the chapurral the trooper vas
, on his feet and oil his way once more,
/ The pucbcring juice Of the prickly
| pear leaves seemed simply to have az
+ grayatcd his thirst aud his SUFFERING
/ vas beginning 10 bo more Intense than
/ can be expressed IN words. Painfully
making his way along, Thomas came
TO an open place in the chaparrai. At
rle farther side Of il he heard Il crack
Ing, and in a moment Il peccary--one
of the little wild hogs OF th "a
IUuBie-brokc into the clcu, ing.
Thomas stcndied himself with an e.
lOrt He raised his carbinc. aimed
and fired The shot was n clean one.
and the little wild pig fell dead in it's
tracks To ease the pangs Of his
thirst Thomas drank of the animals
blood, and il gave him strength and
+ courage TO kccpOu. The effect Of the
( drink, however. was not lasting. and
/ IN an hours time he found himself
suffering as kecnly as before. TIc
/ strobe along, however. with occa sional
rests. all through The morning and
tac long afternoon At night Inc was
half deliriou5 with suffering, but the
utter exhaustion Of his body forced
Linn into slumbcr. lie slept in "a
UOublcd way for some hours. aud
t'icn waking, found his suffering go
.tcnsC that remaining still was i'm 10
possible, aud through the darkness OF
that Southern chaparral bo stumbled
go. Finally hc fell from sheer cx-
NnUstiOu and lay Tor some time i'm 10
uolEdgled condition.
Then irc morning ctme. Little by
little some expression OF returning
sense came into thc troopers face
Tie looked straight ahead. aud there.
nyi ton yards iu front Of him he saw
that thCrc was break iu tie tMcEcf
Ncw life came 90 HIM 90 I'm instant,
end be inrly dashed through the un-
l.