Year: 1865

DufiuG an entire afternoon, solitary individual, ii


faEcul hunters gaTb, and bearing rife Handsomely


mounted but trophy of his skin with the weapon


had wandered along the level prairie or up and dOwl


the sides OF chain of wooded bluffs which skirt


upon one slde describing many detours and altogethe


accomplishing only an unnportant distance although


putting to good test ability, fully perceptible in


frame naturally athletic and thoroughly and iscreetl


exercised from his youth It was easy to discover ha


the stranger had lost his way yet notwithstanding al


his efforts to regain IT. resulting nsignifcantiy HI


still held undaunted mein, and was even nearer t.


making merry over his situation than to indulgng tht


fear and dread for which he might be readily excused
and which, with another temperament, with les


of experience he might at the last, have found it i'm
! possible to escape.


Next to the eastern deserts with which they are


often compared range in point of undveFsfed extent


the praries of and south borders


Less dFeary if not less monoonous to the eye, since


during three efourths Of the year. these uxurianty


clothed with yerdapt grasses, they yet are destitute


eGuay with those OF the snstenance necessary to human


life which, wherever cvilisation has not extended its


influence, is, there in constant jeopardy, likewise


from savage hoFdes and beasts of prey However the


region into which story would lead is not the most
utterly devoid Es already seen of natural variety and
geographical interest; neither, at the precise date


would recall was it entirely unproductye Of what
might preserve from famine. Several times in the
of the last half days route our traveller had
pressed his way through thickets of plum and crane


well laden with ripe fruit; but only paused to taste
sufficient of each to know that they were delicious
and hastened on being anxious to overtake and join
again the party from which, by mischance, he had be-
come separated.


He had counted perhaps, eight and twenty years;


the locks, though still dark and soft lay thin about his


full temples; his hazel eyes deep and ashing his
nose combining the Grecian with the Roman; mouth
firm and somewhat wide; complexion once fair now
hnged with brown from exposure to sun and wind
these embodied a strongly marked physiuie. while
oft nf fDlay


for the moment merging the grave student in the
frolicsome boy Warmth and generousness of impulse
might have been described among his chief charac
teristcs.


Randolph Campo the individual thus hastily sketched


to the reader leaving his five companions doing upon
the grass or enjoying their segars resting indoently
with crossed legs, against mezquite trees in grove
or, it might be said forest Of which the party had
partaken their repast shielded imperfecty from
the vertical sun, whose heat fortunately as they re.
Marked was tempered by haze,-stroed away with


curious interest TO discover what he might of the
country beyond for, in order that they might reach
by nighttat the remote settlement they had left at
dayhreak it became necessary that the little party
should, after briefly refreshing themselves from the
fatigue and excitement OF the morning, begin to
trace their route.


At his habitually rapid gait and distracted mood,
our friend unaware of the distance trayersed till
he emerged from the immense peach-like orchard of
and struck out into the plane open and to
the eye, intermnabe Llano estacado. He had pro-
ceeded not much further when upon rising to his feet
after having with considerable difficulty and bv the
aid OF his knife forced up tuft of sward and atten


lively observed the earthly formation beneath he with
some surprise beheld what appeared to be his party
moving forward at no great distance in advance and
FASTENED towards them without further delay Having
Travelled on for quarter of an hour or more not
lessenlng the intervening space he became
suddenly able to for the party taking the drec


8n t. had beng opp95ltes p s,i5 The one @ pended beau
verge, gaddened his sight, this he now understood to
have been the attraction of the others, and, with
view to oyertake and unite his admiration with theirs
quickened his pace still Once he imagined his
object almost gained when, presently, the figures
strangely receded leaving him far in the at
the first; and finally, while he gazed wondering,
breeze swept past dssolyng the Illusion the men were
changed TO that rose upon the wing and came
sailing with hoarse caws toward the woody boundary
behind; while Of the lovely sheet Of water which only
moment past gstened in the midday light with the
leafy trees it so perfectly reflected trace any
longer visible Our traveller discovered that he had
been following a mirage With sensations of bewil-
dermeut and chagrin, he sought to return upon his
steps, but, with nothing which could serve him as
mark failed in all efforts to find the spot where the
meal had been and the main party forsaken, until
hours after the latter had departed the return udg
ing doubtless that the missing comrade had preceded
and would shortly join their number.


There remained little room for expectation Of being
able to overtake them should they move directly for
ward; still our triend-hero will call him, provided
the reader will become my generous creditor for time
struck boldly out, and pursued hoping that his pro-
longed absence might induce their return in search or
that perchance, he could gain upon the course suff
cently to catch the report of their guns, render
avaing the signals he from time to time discharged
Ascending elevated table, covered with species Of
short wTV grass he all at once heard sounds, of
scores Of busy artisans mingng with the rafting of
wheels paved ways, and all the din of great city
His astonishment could hardly be said to abae, when
on gaining the elevation fully he before him
a town, indeed but whose inhabitants were animals
and not men. Innumerable keechees, or prairie dogs
each little black quadruped sitting upright at the door
Of his subterrene domici and all barking ncessantly
had produced the sounds which transported in fancy
the stranger iii the wilderness back to his home in the
midst Of civilization.


Not until the sun-whioh, during several hours, had
been entirely obscuredin setting traced lurid glow
along the oH verge of the horizon, giving it the ap
pearance of line Of the distant prairie on fire, had
our traveller suspicion of having varied materially
from his original course.


"Well done, professor Camper he said, addressing
himself with easy sarcasm, and taking wide survey
around with the butt of bis piece resting upon the sod


This, for at all used to being abroad, would be
soundy ruiouo"ej in you. hel in Won, Ok. - becomes
altogether uhpardonabe."


"Wen say we'll, l could never get phrenologist
to mark me down grain Of locality" he continued
brushing that organ with the first finger of his left
hand ''and this is what has of 1.-THE rascals"


''What is before US 'Eclar?' questioned he Of his
rife taking up with mock caress-"thyself and thy
brave young master What buta night in Ke-che-aqui
prairie dog town. with the serpent and owl for Our
guardians. fianked, mayhap, by wildcats, bears and
panthers! Guardians forsooth Will you not well try
to defend us both, m'Eclair? Tmere nothing marvel
lous should we have to encounter bows and arrows be-
Sides Know, withai that I've charge left for
ye the speaker shook slightly the little powder re-
in flask I1hOwnvnr there's heID tor all
tlis-Eere we have plain philosophy"


snow for myself; being ready to perish with thirst,
shall improve the remnant of daylight in search for
sseet water among those encampments to the right
and shall hardly wish long life to the turkey, or even
hen that first comes within range this way; as the
might involve the disagfaeable dilemma
of my going supperess Hal my girdte would bear