LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2231, 22 April 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

CAUGHT IN A QUICKSAND. It is now quite a number of years since two old hunters. Buck Striding and Tom Snuffle, were bunting with me in tho western part of Texas, just south of the famous El Cano Eataosdo. Wo had gone into the interior more for sport than anything else, oaring very little whether we secured more game than answered for onr immediate wants or not. Penetrating still further toward the Mexican dominion we finally struck a barren, parched country, upon which we entered with some hesitation. ‘ This looks as though we shan’t find any water,’ I remarked, as wo reined up our horses and took a survey of tho arid plain. ‘Deis look rather skeery,’replied Stradlng, taking his short, black pipe from his mouth, * but I guess we’ll t'y it. It’ll make a sort of variety to thia eternal tramping.’ * But what will we do without water ? I asked.

• Why, you see, there is water four or five miles back of us ; so we oan go ahead for a day, and if we can't find anything, why wo can turn round and make bank tracks. My idea,’continued the trapper, growing philosophical, ‘ is, that we never know what water is till we’ve gone two or three days without it, just as tho only way to got a good, sound, refreshing sleep is to sit up for a couple of nights.’ So it was concluded that we shcnld venture upon this unknown Sahara, and giving rein to our horses, we struck off upon an easy gallop. We saw nothing ’of buffalo or deer, and more than once I questioned the prudence cf the step, but as we were actuated somewhat by curio ity, I said nothing, and we pressed forward.

We bad an abundance of dried meat, which no doubt would last us all the time necessary. Now and then wo caught sight of an antelope, but they were very shy, and kept at a distance which placed them beyond all danger of our guns. As wc rode along, and had come to the conclusion that it would be impossible to secure any game, I was sure I discerned a pair of antlers beyond a swell In the prairie, and declared as much to my companions, but they only laughed at me, and told me to give up tho foolish thought. I was certain, however, that I had really seen the animal, and, as there was a chance to procure something palatable for supper, I assured them that I would do so. They told me to go ahead, while they reined their animals down to a walk and pursued their way more leisurely. However, the antelopes were 1000 feet distant, upon a smooth, glaasy slope. There was not the slightest covering to protect an approach, and I began to debate with myself upon the best course to pursue. Should I imitate the call of one of their number In distress? There was something so inhuman in that that I revolted at tho thought, and took the consolation that no true hunter would descend to such meanness. Should I tie my red handkerchief upon my ramrod and take advantage of their curiosity? They wore too shy. Ah 1 an idea struck me. My eye suddenly rested upon a bluish line running across the prairie beyond where the animals were feeding. It was either a buffalo road or the channel of an arroyo; but, whichever it

was, it was the very cover I wanted, and I determined to take Immediate advantage of it. Retreating as atealthi'y from the thicket as I had entered it. I harried along the side of the slope toward a point where I had observed that the ridge w.-.s depressed to the level of the plain Reaching this, to my still greater surprise, I found myself on the hanks of a small arroyo, wh- se wat«r slowly meandered over a I ed of sai.d and gypsum. he banks were two or three feet above the surface of the stream, except where the ridge came down upon the surface of stream. Hero war quite a high bluff, and, bur ying around its base, 1 stepped into the channel and commenced wading upward. This was quite a difficult feat, as the bed of the creek was soft and yielding, and I was obliged to tread very cautiously and slowly, leal I should alarm the game. The antelope is one of the moat timid of animals, and has a wonderfully acute sense of hearing—so much so that none but the most experienced hunters can approach him. After creeping along in this wearisome manner for several hundred yards, I reached a small clump of wormwood bashes growing out on the bank, Thinking this might be high enough to answer for cover, I concluded to take advantage of it. I slowly rais d mysolf up and peered through the leaves I had just the right place, and. sighting at the heart of the buck, I pulled the trigger. The brute sprang up and dropped dead. I was on the point of running forward to olalm the prize, when I saw the doe run np to Its fallen mate and sniff at it as If bewildered at the occurrence. " uddenly she seemed to comprehend the sad truth, and, throwing back her head, began uttering the most plaintive and piteous cries, while she occasional’}' ran round the body, as if totally unable to control her grief. As I watched the mournful actions of the doe, and heard its piteous crie<, I saw that it would be a mercy to kill it and end its misery. Actuated by what, perhaps, was a questionable humanity, I took a careful aim, pulled the trigger, and as the smoke cleared away, I discovered the doe lying dead with its head resting upon its departed mate. ‘ Both are out of distress,’ was my comforting reflection, ‘ and I have secured a rare supper, with which I will tickle the palates of my two friends, and convince them that they are not the only ones who have a knowledge of hunting —but what is the meaning of this ?’ I attempted to move, and found both feet fast. My first thought was that I had been stricken with paralysis, and a chill ran over me from head to foot. But no ; I coaid feel the blood coursing to the remotest part of my sytem, and I tugged like a giant, I tried to step, twisted to the right and left, wrenched the body, but all in vain—l was fast.

Suddenly the truth flashed upon me—l was sinking in a quicksand. With this knowledge came a fierce resolve not to succumb. I would wrench off my feet before I would consent to die io this inglori us and dreadful manner. Summoning all the strength of which I was master, I tugged and palled and twisted with the fury of madness, and then paused exhausted, and found that the only result was that I had sunk several inches deeper in the quicksand. The soft, clinging sand was already at the top of my boots, and had so wedged them around my ankles that it was impossible to pull them cff. All the time I could feel myself sinking slowly and surely, as though some monster, deep in the bowels of the earth, had grasped me by the feet and was gradually drawing me under. Almost beside myself with terror, I shouted for help, and then laughed wildly at the id-'a of my voice reaching any one. I was miles away from any person. The only living creature within hearing was my horse, and he answered me with a neigh, as if sympathising with me in my despair. And now I tried to think coolly upon my position. Was there really no possible way of extricating myself ? Stay ! Suppose I should lay my rifle horizontally across the sand, would not that prevent my sinking ? Perhaps so ; at least I could try it. I looked aronnd for my gnn, bub nothing of it was to be seen. That, too, alas ! bad sunk btneath the surface. Could I dig my way out? No; the sand streamed into the hollow as often as I tore it out with my frenzied fingers. Could I not Ue on my back, and thus stay my downward progres ? The thought was dismissed the moment it came to me. The water was eighteen inches deep, and I should drown at once. Oh, heavens ! dying by this slow, torturing process. The thought drove me mad for the time. After a while I became cool again. If I must die, I must ; and I roused myself to meet it manfully. I stood ere t and found that my head had sunk to the prairie level, and I conld jnst see the victims of my beartlessness. My heart reproached me at the sight. Was not this a just retribution for the misery I had inflicted ? What right bad 1 to shoot those poor, innocent creatures who had never harmed me ? Was it not the final adjustment of justice that I should be made to feel and suffer the same pangs that I had inflicted upon them ? Snub, and familiar, were the thoughts that coursed through my seething brain. I raised my eyes to heaven, and almost expected to see a frown of divine anger for the part I had taken. But no; the sun was shining as bright and the sky was as cerulean and mild as ever. No ; whatever transgressions I had committed, I knew there was nothing but forgiveness and love bending over me, and I prayed as only e nful man can pray when encompassed by certain death.

But all the time I was sinking—sinking slowly but surely, and the moment coaid not be distant when 1 should be swallowed up and disappear from view entirely, and those who should come to search for me could only surmise my fate. I had taken my lest fond look upon the gre-n, fair earth. I could only see the blue, clayey wall which held the stream, and the water which ran unheeding by mo. Again I looked up at the blue, sweet sky, and then endeavored to resign myself to my fate. But 1 could not; the memories of the fair earth and my past pleasures and friends came so vividly over me that I found myself continually bursting into struggling spasms to escape, but all equally fruitless as were the first feeble attempts to walk. In the midst of this racking suspense I was startled < y the shrill neighing of my horse. At first this gave me indescribable distress, as I could not avoid contrasting bis free situation with my own But suddenly a bright thought Hashed over me. Could not my horse rescue me ? Be was tied to a frail caotns limb which he could easily break if he chose. Without losing time—for time was never so precious —1 uttered a call which I had often used to bring him to me ; then listened with an anxiety whioti it is useless for me to attempt to depict. Suddenly I heard the sound of his hoofs, as though he were struggling to free himself, and the next moment I recognised his well known tramp, and knew that ho was approaching. Then he suddenly appeared on the bank, a- d, looking down at me, uttered a joyful neigh of recognition. Peculiar attachment exists between the banter and bis horse, and it was a habit of his, whenever I called to him, to gallop up to me and press his nose against my cheek. Beaching out my hands toward him, in my usual caressing manner, I repeated the call. The next moment ho bounded into the channel, and I taught him by the bridle. Time was becoming fearfully precious. I was already down to my waist in the water, I seized the lariat, and, pressing it under the saddle-girths, secured it in a firm knot. I then made a loop and passed it around my body. Heaven bles-i the noble horse ! The tears well to my eyes when I reflect upon the grand creature to whom a few years ago I gave an honorable grave in the broad prairie. All the time I believe he comprehended my sore strait, and understood perfectly what was required of him. Ho knew, too, the treacherous nature of the ground upon which he stood, and and slightly changing his position to prevent his sinking. Finally, I had my arrangements completed, and I gave the word to the horse to move The intelligent animal stopped off slowly, pulling gradually, but with all bis tremendous strength. To my inexpressible joy, I fell, my body raising, and in less than a minute I was pulled out of the sand, upon the hard, clayey bank. Thank heaven ! and my tiue, tired, noble horse !

I threw my arms around his neck, and kissed him, and shouted for joy. And had I not a right to do so ? And did Ido more than my duty when I refused all offers to part with him, and kepi him with all the care and kindness with which I would have nursed a feeble parent ?