Year: 1871




home on Mosquito Bottom, in compa-
ny with his father and two neighbors,
for the purpose of hunting buffalo on
the upper Arkansas. The weather was
all that could be wished, game was
found in abundance, and the hunters
secured as much as their teams were
able TO haul back so long distance,
and on the morning of the 10th pre-
parations we're made for return
home.


Not so, however, with young Wilson
who had become enchanted with the
wild scenes and wilder spots. To Him
it was new life of which he had often
read, but had now become living ac-
tor in its destinations. To the left of
the river, and beyond the skirt of tim
Der in which the hunters were encamp-
stretched the unbroken plain, on which,
within range of vision, quietly grazed
a small herd of buffalo, and here and
there scattered groups of antelopes.
At this sight our young hunter became
excited, and only zone more shot" be-
fore departing was agreed upon. Shoul-
dering his gun, he started out, and was
soon lost to view as he picked his way
quietly along the river baEk and tim
Der.


Nothing further was thought of the
young mans whim by the father and
his companions who were cooking ra-
tions for the return trip and peaceful
ly smoking their pipes.


Young Wilson found the distance to
the game much further than he antici-
pated, but on getting within long range
shot, his presence was discovered, and
a general scamper was the result. Moth
ing daunted, he continued the chase,
fully determined on the last shot and
dead buffalo. Onward he went over
the plain. through wood and thiGket,
regardless of all impediments; but four
legs could wander farther than two,
and he was left far in the rear. Time
elapsed, unheeded by him; night was
upon him; for the first time he realiz-
ed that he was alone upon the vast
plain, his game beyond his reach, and
companions he knew not whether. His
reckoning was lost, and he stood be-
wildered. To add to his misery, one
of those fierce winds, so common in
that section, came up, and with it a
driving, binding sleet, Transforming
him into a walking icicle.


Cold and benumbed he started, as
he supposed, for the wood along the
ravine, but instead, travelled from it
now Fastening now slackening his pace
as the cold affected him. At length
he came upon small clump of bushes,
under which he took shelter, sat down,
and was soon alseep and lost to his
lonely position.


The boy not returning in reasona-
ble time to the camp, his father and
companions became uneasy, and set in
search of him. Guns were fired, In
dian whoops and yells INDUCED in to
the full extent of their lungs, bur nc
answer came in response. The same
was continued throughout the night
and large fires were kindled on the
highest eminences in hope of attract
ing his attention, but all in vain
Morning came, yet with it no boy
The day elapsed in fruitless search,
followed by another night of demon
strations similar to those of the first
The anguish of the parent in this ex'
tremity was almost unbearable. Tc
90 back without his son he could not
for there, too, was an anxious mother
foundly awaiting their return from the
hunt.


On the third day, after fully deliber
ating on it, the party concluded to re
turn home, form companies of theil
neighbors, and make a grand search
for the boy on the pains.


lx


Awakening from his sleep, through
a feeling OF coldness, young Wilsor
looked out upon the dreary waste be
froe him. The wind still howled, bu
the sleet had subsidized. His frozeI
clothes clanked about his body as h
arose and picked up his gun. He no'
fully eomprehended his sitnatiOn, ant
! his first thoughts were of his friend
and something to eat. To choose hi
course puzzled him, yet no time was y
lost. He plucked from one of tn
bushes a twig, sat it on end, and in hl
boyisb way resolved on going the direC
tion it might fall. AS the result vii
.hoU IL fall in thu opDositr direction