Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1849-05-03
MISCELLANY.
A Texan Ranger.
AN EXCITING SCENE.

The life of the Texan Ranger, Dan Hen
RE, presents several pictures of startling
interest. From an al Gle in recent
number Of the Demot stic Review we
take the following. a3
Henrie, in company with scouting
party, in searching for some Indians, had
separated from his companions, and was
on his return to the camp ground, when
the narrative commences. Il ,&
I, Following the rivulet, he soon reached
the West Branch, and turning up this
with brisker movement, spurred by the
cheerful hope Of soon rejoining his CON-
rades, and guiding them safe. In an
hour he was in sight Of the ground, and
put his horse into swift gallop, in his
eagerness to pass over the interval quick
ly.-On coming up he saw, instead of
his comrades, the dead body of an In
dian warrior lying across the very ashes
Of their camp FIRE, all gashed aud hewed
with bowie knife cuts. All around the
earth was deeply broken up, with the ev-
licences of a desperate, and hand to hand
struggle. The breech of a rife which he
recognized, and a number of arrows with
a broken lance and shield, were scattered
around. His comrades had been sur
prised. no doubt, by the same party
which had pursued him, but with what
result, it was impossible for him to tell
certainly, though he had little choice but
to believe and fear the worst.
Amid the multitude of tracks of un-
shod horses, he could distinguish the
tracks Of their shod horses. There was
no trace of their bodies in the hasty sur
vey he had time TO make, and it seemed
strange that this dead warrior should be
left behind, so contrary to their we'll
known custom. He followed the train
for some time with great caution. but,
could make no discovery, except great
deal Of blood ON the ground, until to-
wards noon, when rising the comb of
steep ridge, he looked down into the
plain below upon large body Of Indians,
encampod about mile below. This was
a startling sight. and they perceived INN
at the same moment. Now he felt that
he would have indeed to run for life.-
One glance, as he wheeled, was sufficient
to show him warriors mounting the hors-
es Of his friends He did not dread a
race with the horses Of the Indians SO
much, because his horse was more than
u match tor the best of theirs but the
'orses Of his comrades wer. as wv f., and
'n every sense n good as bis, now they
We. c to be turned against him! He ours
ed the rashness that had induced him to
follow up their trail, bat this was no time
to pause for reg, ets-he was Of, down
the nill at the best speed his horse, al
ready somewhat tagged, would raise
All depended upon getting back to the
timber and losing them! lie could hear
their pursuing yells distinctly Tor mo-
ent, and this was no syten's muse 60
draw HIM back! He had a good NILE
the start, bat this was no great mater,
If as he supposed, their horses were fresh
or than his own He had not .iDa tn feel
any alarm. but only that there . as hot
work before him and he had it to tend
to! His object was to get out Of sight
rs soOnas possible, for be gained great
cal by compelling them " foll>S on
trai' lie strained this horse tremendous
ly and succeeded. for when the sudden
b1rst Of their voices came to him, prov
in that they had reached tue comb OF
the ridge, he looked back but could not
see it Or them. He felt little less tight
about the heart now, and had time to
think something of his best course. 1t
seemed forl0rn chance for an escape.
He was over six miles from the timber.
He suddenly remembered that he had
observed for several days past a heavy
smoke of towards the south, and look
ing now in that direction, saw it filing
the whole horizon with gloomy masses. |
which seemed 70 be rising but few
miles oil, observing that IL was not very
high. 1t Instantly occurred to him IN
this extremity-for he felt sure from the
action OF his horse that he would not last |
much longer in the hard run before them;
that the safest course for him would be |
the most desperate, and this was 10 make |
directly for tine approaching line Of this |
lire, and take hls chances OF being able |
70 force his way through it alive. With
such q barrier between himself and tl.e
Indians he was safe. Acting upon THU
stern and strange alternative, be urged
his horse steadliy towards the fire. 1t
was not long before he met the dark a.
vance guard Of the smoke. as it rolled
along the grass, and rode beneath its tri-
flDg shelter, the fire being yet q mile off,
He was now securely enough out OIL
sight Of the Indians, and spnngi, & from
his horse proceeded to prepare himself
for the trial Of the fiery 20. He cut his
blanket into pieces. with one Of which he
blindfOlded his horse; another he tied in
loose bag about the lower part Of It's
head, enyeloplng the mouth and nostrlls.
he then developed his own face in lIose
vlzor OF the same material. The blanket
was coarse and let in air enough to bare
lxv S,,ataava, lie For N xhOwo f....m rv:l., a