The northern galaxy. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1844-1848, 1847-04-27
laid himselfdown 10 resi-; at a short dislanc,

was now in dangerous neighborhood, tina
part of the country infested by the Crows.
tribe of Indians celebrated for their cfueI
ties and want of faith. Mounted upon flee
horses they secured the country, committing
their depredatons upon the weak and de
| ienceless of other tribes, and also upon tn
white hunter and trapper.
| About noon Dunstan imagined he coul
perceive at a distance body Of these will
and lawless lreeboters coming directly 20
wards him. Still, he was not quite certain
that they were not party OF the Auchsra
or Shiammese. who were on the most AMIGA
bic terms with the whites. He changed hi
course little, striking more 10 the north
west 10 AVOID them, but 10 his alarm he per
ceived that they continued TO advance 10
wards him. The ruth could be no Ionge
doubted. They had described him, and will
hideous yells, and most daredevil speed
were now last lessening the distance that lay
between them, He was well persuaded tia
their intentions were anything but pacific
Once in their power, he could hope for nC
mercy. A lingering death would be his fate
Hence there remained no alternative bu
flight, and the skilulness. with which he u
sed his weapons.
Having examined his pistols, and grasp
ing his trusiy rife, he gave Bayard the reign
and sprang away across the prairie will
the speed ofihought. II was a desperate
race for life and a headong pursuit. They
we're now upon the outskirts of n prairie, and
there was nothing 10 present any obstacle Ia
impede their speed. Away they sped with
inconceivable swiftness. Dunstan consider
ably in the advance. and The savagcs scatter
nj fl Ill A.
mad in pursuit. whooping like INTERVALS. As
the chase grew hotter. the distance was fast
increasing between our hero and the main
body of the pursuers, yet there were a few as
well mounted rs himself. who if they gained
but little lost less. For some time The par
ties maintained this relation TO each
other.
To spectator this would have been a
wild and intensely exciting scene, but 10 the
pursued it was Il moment replete with deep
anxiety and dread. They pass over many
miles ofprairc. they leap running streams:
they clear at Il single bound, with their
steeds, any obstacle that may presen,,-on-
ward and on they dash, with undated
speed.
Dunstan has distanced them all save three
chiefs. upon powerful steeds, which are 4
match even for Bayard. The ground grows
less firm and softer al each step. They are
within rifle shot. Without slackening his
pace. Dunstan turns patiently in the saddle.
and brings the deadly weapon TO his lace
his eye chances for minute along the hea-
Wy barrel, and there is a fash followed by a
quick, sharp report.
An Indian falls to the earth, and his fright
ened steed dashed of in another direction.-
A yell indescribably dreadful rises simultane
ously from the enraged savages. who redoub
lie their exeriiOns TO urge their now faltcrIne
horses along. With a hunters dexterity he
reloads his peice and repeats the operations,
which is attended with the same success
Another chief bites the dust. Nothing more
truly fearful can be imagined than the dom
OF fury that break forth at the
instant Even our hero's blood grows chilly
in his veins at this unearily howling, which
tells him plainly he can hope for no mercy il
he falls into their hands.
lie is again charging his unerring rife.
when to his disnay, the fore fee, OF Bayard
sink deep in the morass. and all his efforts to
extricate himself are abortive. The other
sachem who is in advance OF the rest, in an
other moment is upon him with nplifted tom
ahawk. Clubbing his weapon. he beat the
Indian to the ground with well aimed blow.
and prepared to defend himself against the
numbers fast coming upon him. determined
10 sell his life as dearly as possible. With
desperate energy he defends himself for a
while, beating down all those who come with
10 his reach. AS last resort, he seized his
pistols and blew out the brains of a savage
" no was about to dash out his own with a
Iomahawk. In an other moment lie was o.
by overwhelming numbers. To
bind and place him upon horse was the
work of few minutes He would have been
slain at once by the exasperated savases had
[ not been for the iuterpostiou OF a chiei,
" no spared him for more refined cruelfies.-
For many days they continued their way to-
ward the Rocky Mountains, Dunstan being
reated with the greatest rigor by his captors.
At length they rerched an Indian village
where the disasreeables OF his situation were
nothing extenuated but 10 the contrary irebly
increased. They were met by The squaws
md youths on their approach who took the
greatest pleasure in offering every insult to
be prisoner that they could devise. The sa-
;hems met in solemn cenclave TO debate
What should he the fate of the prisoner. The
,oupci fire was lighted, and an old grey
headed chief. the hero of many fights. thus
rarangued them. showing :he while anything
'ut equanimity of temper.
Brothers, the wings OF the war eagle have
,ecn clipped. The white doc has brought !
hame upon the Blackfeet braves lie has
lain the Chiefs. who were swift oil loot and |
troug in battle. The white man IS brave,
'ut lei him die The spirit of the red man
aleth for blood, and his squaw wceps III the
deserted lodge. Give them blood that they
nay go it, peacet to the happy hunting ground
The Great Spirit is angry. lie Will not be
ppeased until the pale face die. Let hun
lie, or wash the 7rdr pant from the lace OF
he Young braves. have spoken. The old
Warrior seated himself amid the appiaudn3
bouts Of the assembled braves; while knives
tarted from their sbeaths, tomahawks were
raudlshed in the air. 'Letthc pale face die:
We shall see if he can meet death like red
yarrior-if milk circulates in his veins or
lood.' For Dunstan this was Trying no
neut. as may be imagined. 10 escape was
ut Of the question, hence all that renamed
ras to meet his fate wih manly tor'ilude.
1t required iron nerves to initiate the sto-
dity of the Indian under such circumstances
evertheless, he made the attempt, and sue
eeded better than he had reason to nope