Weekly miners' express. (DuBuque, Iowa) 184?-1849, 1849-03-13

, turned up this with a brisker movemen,
spurrcd by the cheerful hope of soon re;oin
ing his comrades and guiding them afe.-
, In an hour be was in sight Of the ground
and pu: his horse into swift gallop in hi
, eagerness to pass over the interval quickly
! On coming up lie saw. instead Of his com
; trades, the dead body of an Indian warrio
, lying across the very ashes of their camE
= fire, all gashed and hcwed with bowie-knif
cuts. Ali around the earth was deeply bro
ken up. with the evidence of desperate
and hand to hand struggle. The breech o
q rifle, which he recognized, and a number
of arrows, with q broken lance and shield
were scattered around. He felt chokn
sensation, and his blood ran cold ut this
sight. His comrades had been surprised
no doubt, by the same party which had pur
sued him! but with what result it was i'm
possible for him to tell certainly. though he
had little choice but to beleveand fear the
: worst.
Amid the multitude Of the tracks of un
shod horses he could distinguish the few
tracks of their shod horses. There was M
trace Of their bodies in the hasty survey he
had time to make, and it seemed very
strange that this dead warrior should be
left behind, so contrary to their well.knowr
custom! He followed the trail for some
time, with great caution, but could make
no discovery, except great deal of blood
on the ground, until towards noon, wher
rising the comb of steep ridge, he looked
down into the plain below upon Il large body
of Indians, encamped about mile distant
This was startling sight, and they per
ceived HIM at the same moment. Now he
felt he would indeed have to run for his life
One glance, as he wheeled, was sufficient
to show him warriors mounting the horses
of his friends! He did not dread a race
with the horses OF the Indians SO much be
cause his horse was more than a match for
the best of theirs, but the horses Of his com.
rades were as swift and in every sense as
good as his now they were to be turned a.
gainst him. He cursed the rashness that
had induced him to follow up this trail. but
this was no time to pause for regrets he
r was off, down the hill, at tho best speed
, his horse, Already some what tagged, would
, the timber and losing them! He could hea:
their pursuing yeI]s, distinctly for mo.
-, mcnt, and this was no syrcn's music to
draw him back! He had a good mile the
start, but this was no great matter. if, as
he supposed. their horses were freshcr than
, his own. He had no time now to feel any
alarm, but only that there was hot work be-
fore and he had it to attend to! His object
was to get out Of sight as soon as possible
for he gained q great deal in compelling
; them to run on his TRAIL He strained his
horse tremendously and succeeded, fol
when the sudden burst o.! their voices came
to him, proving that they had reached the
comb Of the ridge, he looked back and could
, not see it or them. lie felt n little less
tight about the heart now, and had time tc
think something of his best course. 1t
, seemed fororn chance for an cscape;-hc
was over six miles from the timber. Tie
suddenly remembered that he had observed
for several days past, heavy smoke off to.
wards the south, and looking now in that
, direction. saw it filling the whole horizon
with gloomy masses, which seemed to be
rising but few miles off, observing that it
was not very hign. 1t instantly occurred
to him in his extremity, for he felt sure
from the action of his horse. that he could
not last much longer in the hard run before
them, that the safest course for him would
be the most desperate. and this was to
make directly for the approaching line O.
this fire, and to take his chance Of being q
BILE to force his way through it alive
With such barrier between himself and
the Indians. he was safe! Acting upon this
stern and strange alternative, he urged his
:, horse steadily towards the fire 1t was mol
:, long before he met the dark advance guarC
of the smoke, rs it rolled along the grass
, and rode beneath its sitting shelter, the fire
being yet mile Oft.
He was now securely enough out of the
sight of the Indians, and springing from his
horse, proceeded to prepare himself for d
trial Of the fiery sea. He cut his banke,
into pieces, with one of which he blindfold.
ed his horse, another he tied in loose bag
about the lower part of it's head, envclop
ing the mouth and nostriIs. lie then en-
veloped his own face in loose vizier Of the
same material. The blanket was course
and let in air enough to barely sustain life
for short time while it kept out the smoke.
He could hear the yells oc his pursuers
seemingly close al hand.
He was now in utter darkness, and noun
ting quickly again: headed his horse direct
ly for the fire. On he went, not knowing
where; the re ms were frightened, and the
lash and spur applied with the energy of
desperation. Hotter and hotter the air be-
came, but on he careered, blind and head
long. The fire has struck hi IN with roar
ing surge! His hair flames crisply. and
the flesh of his body seems to be burn!ng!-
The frantic and painting horse attempts to
shy, but no, the fierceness of the agony has
turned that riders arm and will to iron!-
1t cannot shy-the poor horse! On: on!
scorching through the sitting blaze! A
few bounds more and the terrific surges are
past! The fresh air has met him! He tore
the envelope from his face and Ieaped from
the staggering horse upon the charred hot
groudd. The blanket is torn away from its
mouth and the animal begins to revive
quickly, though it shivers and can scarcely
stand for the mortal terror! He is safe! -
He has accomplished an unparalleled feat!
He hears fairtly above the. cracking and
roar Of the retiring flames howl Of triumph
from his pursuers, who imagine they have
driven him into the FIRE, and that he is
burnt, horse and all. He makes feeble at
temp to answer them defiantly, but can
scarcely hear his own voice. Stunned and
gasping to recover the use of their almost
stifled lungs, he and his horsc stand, side
Al -