The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-05-20

patry fraction oftime how fierceIy vivid had
been the transition from the very poetry Of
rural quiet 10 the stormy and terrible reality
ofsayage warl But this was not the last of
II by good deal,
] climbed TO the top ofthe stiles again, af-
ter loading my gun, just in tiuie TO see the
seal torn from the head of one Of our men
who was returning from hunt, ON foot, aad
was so hard pressed as to be compelled to
fire his rifle. He had been instantly horne to
the earth by dozen laEces, in full view of
| his own house. Their failure and loss in my
case had greatly infuriated them, although
poor Thompson had been steady and cool,
like veteran frontiersman, as he was, yet
they had rushed upon him in body, deter
mined TO have scalp lift cost a warrior. 1t
did, TOO, and one oftheir chiefs, at that's for
the eye g. nerve ofthe gallant fellow did not
| fail him in that fearful moment, when, they
closed so madIy, dashing around him, that
their lances met, grating in his body. A
chief whose lance first touched him, tumbled
sfiy forward amid the trampling hoofs, and
the hunter was avenged. One of the women
made very narrow escape, and was only
saved by the courage of her dog who sprang
at the nose ofthe Camanche's horse, 81 made
the animal shy just as the rider was about to
transfix her, as she was climbing the picker
stiles. She got over safe, and the baffled ras-
cal pursued the gallant dog into the river,
where it also fortunately escaped, much TO
my qualification. During these scenes, FOR
ton of their number had been busily engaged
in collecting all our mules and horses that
were loose ON the prairie, and now they star
ted after the frightened animals, who were
tearing off like mad in the direction they
wished them TO go. In few minutes they
were out ofsight, and all was still for little
while rs before; hut fortunately, we had not
been quite so silly as to have turned out our
fayorite riding horses, and in a short time
there was gathering, in hot haste, of all the
men who were at home. They galloped up
to my house in every direction, rifles in hand,
with hot brows, flaming eyesand curses deep
breathed between their teeth, eager to be led
in pursuit of vengeance. Still more fortu-
nately, Just as we were starting on the trial,
the very party which had been absent on the
I mustang drive, came. breathless and foaming
up. 1t seems they had met with the Canaan
che trail, and suspectlng what had OCCURRED,
had run their horses in at full speed. With
few hasty wo rds, explaining the extent OF
the mischief and wild shout of vengeance
for poor Thompson,we were off on the chase
numbering thirty determined men.
Ofcourse, there was no difficulty in trac-
ing the trail, which was broad as wagon
road through the grass; aud we followed at
the best pace of our horses; for our success
in coming up with them all depended upon
the speed of our animals. As we swept by
the farm of old Hicks, one of the earliest set
tiers. who had posted himselfon the very out
skirts ofthe grant, the grey haired veteran
was seen urging lis horse across the field to
! meet us. As lie approached we could see,
from The eagerness ofhis gestures,tl that some
thing was wrong. We halted for an instant
aud the glare ofhis eyes, and ashy palor of
his rigid lace,as he joined us,were even more
eloquent of his terrible news than the few
words he with difficulty gusped ont from be-
tween his clenched teeth.
"My children!"
"Great God which,"
"John ang Mary! they've carried them off"
Nothing was spoken, but bending forward
q perfect howl Of fury, the rangers dashed
their horses like madmen. Such an incident
was sufficiently calculated to arouse n deliri
um of wrath in their fiery natures. In addi-
ten to the other outrages, these two children
had been torn from their old parent TO be
dragged off TO horrible captivity in the dis
TAM hills, unless we could catch tile brutal
spoilers before they had gained covert. No
marvel that horses were goaded even when
faithfully at their utmost speed; that swollen
veins were knotted along flushed tempes.an
curses and Wells burst nj intervals from tight
w drawn lips, as the image Of those fair
Young children writing in the black, naked
arms of filthy warrior, would rise up before
us. For every body loved little Molly Hicks,
swi' the lint white locks" and Johnny was
second "Beniaulin, tho child ofhis old age"
to the hardy pioneer.
As he rode in front, which position he
maintained with all tile leading eagerness Of
the younger members ofthe party, with his
features stiffened and set, his eyes fixed on the
distance before him, and his long, white hair
streaming from his uncovered head,l thought
| had never looked upon more striking pic
ture of stern mute agony. Ii was enough to
have strung the nerves ofa bastard to reckless
daring, one look at that silent old man.
The trail was lending in the direction of
the densest portion of the Cross Timber,
where, too, among wooded aud broken rid
ges, the head waters of the Trinity took their
origin, breaking numerous springs from dark
gorges;and in this rugged and extensive tract
we supposed they would endeavor TO conceal
themselves by throwing us off the trail.
Soon we were scudding beneath the shade
ofthe tall forest. There was no underground,
but the shaft like trunks rose dark and bare
to considerable height, leaving long open
yistas between them. A chill awe came o.
YER us at this swift transition from the sunny
expanse of the prairie TO the solemn gloom
of this great natural temple.
Contrary to our expectations, the trail, in
stead of diverging north, toward the bills,
kept on west, directly through the belt of the
Cross Timber. These Indians have an I'M
conouerable aversion to the brush, and our
homes were greatly eated to find that true to
This instinct, they were keeping in the open