Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1905-06-29
quake; but IT seemed strange that It

The horses all stopped grazing AM
gszed anxiously off in the direction
) from which the sounds came. Their
they began to snort and plunge and
strain at their halters.
Something is wrong, that's sure,
said Aunt Louisa's husband. gravely
All at once. while we scanned the
plains. a brown cloud rolled slowly up
from behind swell Of land mile to the
north of the creek. The next moment
a long line of dark objects surged over
the crest.
ITS buffalo run! Get to the wag-
ons, all of you!" Dakes cried.
NO! MOI For your lives," shouted
father and Tobias together ION to the
horses double, treble, anyhow, and ride.
Quick or we're lost"
The men jumped for the horses, lifted
on the women and children, and swung
themselves up ahead.
The earth was shaking beneath nus
as the black line of shaggy heads-a mile
wide seemingly, and still pouring over
! the ridge In countless numbers-bore
down toward US nearer, nearer. a thirst
maddened throng turning neither TO
right or left
Before we could start the horses half
the distance between us had been Gov
cred. 1t seemed hopeless race, but on
we went, clinging for life Gathering
across the rocky creek-bed, taking a |
southwest and quartering course to get |
af 70 80 fhn inc
Dismay filled every heart. The wom-
en- and children shrieked and covered |
their heads, the men shouted hoarsely |
and spurred the frightened horses 70
their utmost speed
The ground throbbed beneath us. the
afr was filled with horrible rumbling
the dust rolled over us in clouds.
on we galloped, and on thundered the
living mass behind. If our horses could
only hold on to take us outside the line
OF death-dealing hoofs!
Faster we urged the horses and for a
little time we kept the distance good:
then, jaded with the long journey and
heavily loaded they began to fall be-
hind, and every moment we expected TO
be blotted out forever.
Nothing could be heard above the roar
Of the advancing mass. The dust clouds
,hoked and blinded us. We could not
zee Tobias big roam, whose lead wo :
we're to follow, and each. staggered on
Tor himself in the rush for life.
Now the usually sure-footed gray ,
horse on which | was seated behind
ather stumbled into a gopher burrow. ,
We held our breath He almost went I
Town. Then, gathering himself ne ,
plunged forward again. was thrown
IT my feet by the last sudden lurch. but q
hung with desperate grip to fathers +
omespun jacket !
Then all in a moment we found we .
'ere out Of reach. and the living torrent
weDt by us and went roaring and crash
lg on over the plainstoward the Platte
lver, their goal Of thirsty desire leav- dc
lg US half dead with the terror Of flight. &c
After the air cleared we pulled our I'll
elves together and retraced our way 10
be midway camp. A wagon-wheel here. 81
bit Of canvas there, slivered boards AMI te
few scraps Of the iron kettles markell II
he place. All else had been swept away. lei
The cows and Bouncer and poor old
sleg had either been borne off bodily
the laundering herd, or else trodden
OWN and annihilated In a moments ar
ace-a fate we ourselves had narrow so
escaped do
The sea-chest had gone IN the general Nv
reck. of course, together with the lin
and bedding il had taken us so long a en-
ne to get together. But the silver IN
liking hurled behind a large stone Ia ba
e creek-bed, had miraculously escaped
.solute ruin, although its beauty was
ne forever.
Here was an overwhelming calamity! -,
II only were our provisions gone. but
so the guns and ammunition that &c.
ght have procured meat But it would =.
[ do to wait and mourn over our losses.
e had to push on and find help -
This we did, and two days later fell in Ns
tn a government surveying party. :
ON II we bought three wagons-for n
our men had carried their Nc
'ney on their persons-some guns. and
visions enough to starve along with n -
til we reached our destination. Oil
Grandmother Decoster died the next
Ar, She had given me the battered lit
milking with the old coat-of-arms. att,
eep it. my dear" she said. TO remind 1 7 az
] OF that day when Gods kind prov -
nee brought us all unframed out of "
destruction. youths Com Va
lion.
con