Jeffersonian Republican. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1840-1853, 1849-03-08

l"TO be or not 10 be-" was the question now
with poor Dan, while he desperately urged
his good horse with quirt and spur. So soon
as they saw him start The rascals had wheeled
up inro their saddles again, and yelled their
warwhoop like exulng devils. This was
sound which. though it came 10 his ear some
" hat soened by the distance, was by no means
calculated TO diminish The energy or urgency
of Inc calls upon the speed of his horse which
were made by Dan. He glanced furtively over
his shoulder and saw that they were spreading
out into the prairie with the intention OF hem
ming him in against The mountains. He In
slanlly perceived ,ba, his only chance was
desperate run for an elbow of the chain, which,
if he could reach and turn first, he thought
would secure his scalp for the present, as around
II lhe stream became heavily nmbered, and he
knew they would no, follow him into ii for fear
they nigh. come upon his friends. 1t was
tremendous race, for the Indians knew the ad-
vantage as well as he and Dan vows tha, his
long curly heir began 10 stragh,en and lift his
cap OH It's ends before he reached the point,
they pushed him SO close and hard. By the
skin of his teeth he got by before they surroun-
ded him, and now he says his hair fell as
smooth and sleek as If a pint of bears grease
had been poured over it but not until ne had
reached up and taken down his cap to waive
as he shouted back al them in derisive triumph,
and then darted beneath the shade Of the friend
ly wood. They left him here as ne expected; /;
but as this was most evidently dangerous
neighborhood, he concluded ii would be safest
not to ,arry here but get out OF 1t as fas' as
possible, for there was no telling what new
whim might take these fellows when they
spread around on his trail and found him 10 be
alone So away he went through the wouds
| for FIVE or six miles without halting. The hur-
ry and necessities of his flight had taken him
off his course back TO the rendezvous of his
companions. He now first discovered this as
! he emerged from the timber upon the prairie
again, and found himself far enough away from
the course of the stream. He paused but for a
moment, 10 collect himsslf and ny and gel back
the true idea of his direction. Thinking he
had il, he urged his horse into swift run again.
This was kept up for several hours until night
began TO close around him, and his horse 10 give
unmis,akeable Indications that he must have
res, before be went much farther. He came
at last 10 a small rivulet lrickling along deep,
rough cut, and as he supposed, in The direction
of the Wes, Branch of the Nueces. He had
/
would set him right if he followed il up when
day.break came. So he selected small piece
of meadow ground which was covered with
musquit grass, and well protected from view by
/ the great clusters of cactus which surrounded
it on three sides. Here he stripped his faith
ful horse and turned him loose TO Craze, and
then taking for supper hearty draft OF water
threw himself on his blanket 10 sleep.
He had lost his provision wale. in the chase
and i. was more than he dare venture upon Il
shoot game. for fear Of beiraying his hiding
place and though hungry enough, he was ialI
this time 'ro 60 TO bed supperless. He though
of home before sleep came, OF course, ano
wished himself there most heartily, that ne
nigh, attack the well stocked poultry, the con
: tents OF which danced III most tantallzlng Wis
ions before him during The whole night. This
was too much common predicament, howev
err TO make any very strong impression on hin
otherwise.
He was mounted and of very early The mex
morning, and was by no means delighted u
perceye that his horse was considerably gaun
ted by the Yesterdays hard work and the some
what narrow commons OF the night. However
he moved on l1ow with something less OF hur
: ry, as there were no indications OF pursuit aP
parent. Following the risulel he soon reached
The West Branch, and turned up this with
, brisker movement, spurred by the cheerful hop
of soon rejoinng his companions. and guldln
. them safe In an hour he was in sight OF In
ground, and put his horse in'o swift gaiio
in bis eagerness to pass over The interval quick
ly. On coming up. he saw, instead OF his com
rades, The dead body OF an Indian warrior, lyln
across the ashes Of their campfire, all gashe
and hewed with bowe.knife cuts. All aroun
the earth was deeply broken op. with the es1
dences of desperate and hand TO hand s'rne
ole. The breech of rifle. which he recoe
nized. and number of arrows, with broke
lance and shield, were scattered around.
: fell choking sensation, and his blood ran col
: a. this sight. His comrades had been SUI
: prised, no doubt, by The same party "n'cn nd
pursued him but with wha, result II was In
possible for him 10 tell certainly, though ne ha
? lille choice bul TO believe and fear the wors
Amid the multitude Of the tracks OF unshod no
ses he could distinguish the few tracks oil the
shod horses. There was no trace OF their bt
die. in ,hs hasly survey he had time 10 max
/ and II seemed very strange that this dead wal