Sunbury American and Shamokin journal. [volume] (Sunbury, Northumberland Co., Pa.) 1840-1848, 1842-03-19


cdly the ciucl .artifice played off upon him by
the person whose rame we as yet supprcss.
Mr.. Cat!ln, in his new work on the North A.
uerican Ind ans, relates the following interesting
nnerdotc of his horse Charley noldc animal OF
the Camanchee wllJ breed
On this Journey, while he and were twen-
ty-hve days alone, we had much time, and the
best of circumstances, under which to learn
what we had as yet overlooked in each others
characters, as well as TO draw great pleasure
and real benefit from what we already had
learned OF each other in our former travels.
4 generally halted on the bank of some lit
tie stream, at hait-an1hour of sunset, where
feed was good for Charley, and where 1 could
get wood to kindle my fire, and water for my
coffee. The iirstthiug was to vndress Charley
and drive DOWN his picket, to which lie was
fastened, to Craze over circle that he could
nsorbe at the end Of his lago. In this wise
he busily fed himself until nightfall and after
my coffee was made and drank, uniformly
that could lay my baud upon his laso in an
instant, in case of,auV alarm that was liable TO
drive him from me. On one of these evenings
when he was grtzlng as usual, he slipped the
aso over his head, aud deliberately took his
supper athis pleasure, wherever he choose to
prefer it., as he was strolling around. When
night approached, took the laso in hand and
endcavonrcd TO catch him, but soon saw that
he was determined to enjoy little freedom;
and he continually evadcd me until dark, when
! abandoned the pursuit, making up my mind
that should inevitably lose him, aud be obli-
ged To perform the rest of my journey 90 foot
He had led me, a chase of half mile or more,
mhen;l left him busily grazing, and returned to
my little solitary bivouac, and laid myself on
my bear-skin and went TO sleep
In the middle of the night | walked, whilst
was laying on my back, and on half opening
my eyes, was instantly shocked 10 the SOUL
by the huge figure (as ! though) of an Indian
taking my scalp! The chill of horror that
paralyzed me for the first moment, held me
still till saw there was 20 need of my mo
ving-that my faithful horse Charley had
played shy till he had filled his belly, npd had
then mQved up, from feelings of pure affection
or more instructive fear, or possibly from due
share of both, aud taken his position with his
tore-fcet at the edge of my bed with his head
hanging directly over Inc, while he was stand
ing fast asleep!
MY nerves. which had been most Violently
shocked, were soon quieted, and L fell asleep,
and 50 continued until sunrise in the morning,
when walked, and bcLeld my faithful servant
at some considerable distance, busily at work
psckiug up his b.easas amongst Lccane-brake,
along the hank of the creek. went us busily
To work, preparing my own, which was eaten
and after it had another hali-hour of frujtless
endeavours TO catch Charley, whilst he seemed
mindful of success on the evening before aud
continually taBtaized me by turning around
aud around. and keeping out of my reach. !
rccoslecied, lie conclusive evidence OF his al
tachment and dependence, which be had, vol
unfairly given in the night, and | thought |
would try them III ~anothsr,wsy SO packed
Up my things, and slung the saddle ON my back,
trailing my gun in my hand, ard started on NY
rout. After | hadadvapced a quarter ofanile,
| looked back, and saw him standing with his
head, d,aad, tail very high, loosmg alternately at
me and at the spot were L. had been eucampad,
4 "a nd lnti n litla fro hnrnipU In this conditi
! he stood and surveyed Che praires around for
"a whlc, .asI continued on lie eat length walk
ed with hurried step to the spot, and seeing
everything. gone, began to neigh, very ,vialeni-
I ly, aud at last started of at fullest speed, and
overlook me, passing wlthin few PAGES Of ple,
and wheeling. about at few rods distance in
front OF me, trembling like an aspen,leaf
Il called him by his familiar name, and, walk,
ed up to him with the brld!ein my hand, wkch
] put over his head, as he held It down for me-
and the saddle on bis back, as he actually
stopped 10 receive it, was soon arranged
and on his hack, when he started of upon Ii,
course as il he .waswell contented and pleased
hike his rider, with the manuuvro which ,haC
brought us together again, and afforded US mu
Piual relief from our awkward positions
Though this alarming freak of'C Charley's' pasae,
oil and Terminated so satisfactorily, yet ! though
such rather dangerous ones tnplay, and tool
good care aiteT that night to keep him unde
my strict authority resolving to avoid fur,hc
tricks and experiments ull we got to the lam
Of cultivated fields and steady habits