Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1849-02-24


a sea- p or two himself, as he had expected,
it would now require the best he knew TO
save his own. ........,. ..r.f .,....
!, He instantly perceived that his only
chance was desperate run Tor an elbow OF
the chain, which, if he could reach and
turn first, he thought would secure his
scalp for the present, as around it the stream
became heavily timbered, and he knew
they would not follow him into it for fear
they might come upon his friends. BY the
skin of his teeth he got by before they sur
rounded him. He bad passed the camp far
enough, he knew, so he selected a small
piece of meadow ground which was cover.
ed with musquit grass and well protected
from view by the great clusters of cactus
which surrounded it on three sides. Here
he stripped his faithful horse and turned
him loose to Craze, and then taking for sup
per hearty draught OF water, threw him.
self upon his blanket to sleep. el t.f
He had lost his provision wallet in the
chase, and it was more than he dare ven
ture upon to shoot game. for fear of betray-
ing his hiding-place, and though hungry
enough, he was fain this time ssto goto bed
snpperless." He thought of home before
sleep came, of course, and wished himself
there most heartily, that he might attack
the well-stocked poultry, the contents of
which danced in most tantalizing visions
before him during the whole night. This
was too much common predicamcnt, how
ever, to make anv very strong impression
upon him otherwise.
lie was mounted and off very early the
next morning, and was by no means deight-
ed TO perceive that his horse was considcra-
bly, gaunted by the Yesterdays hard work
and the somewhat narrow commons of the
night. However, he moved on now with
something less of hurry, as there was no
indication of pursuit apparent. Following
the rivulet, he soon reached the West
Branch, and turned up this with a brisker
movement, spurred by the cheerful hope ol
soon reioining his comrades and guiding
them safe. In an hour he was in sight OF
the ground, and pnt his horse in swift gal
lop in his eagerness to pass over the inter-
val quickly. On coming up, he saw, IN
stead OF his comrades, the dead body of al
Indian warrior, lying across the very ashe.
Of their camp fire, all gashed and hewed
with bowit-kn(r cuts. All around The
earth was deeply broken up, With the evi-
dence OF a desperate and hand aud hanc
struggle. The breech of rifle, which he
recognized, and number of arrows, wit
broken lance and shield, We're scattrrec
around. He felt choking sensation, anC
. his blood ran cold at this sight. His com
rades had been surprised, no doubt, by tn,
same party which had pursued him! bu
with what result it was impossible for hin
to tell certainly, though he had little choic,
but to believe and fear the worst. Amii
: the multitude of the tracks of unshod hor
ses he could distinguish the few tracks o
: their shod horses. There was no trace o
# their bodies the hasty survey he had tim'
= to make, and it seemed very strange tha
this dead warrior should be left behind, 81
:. contrary TO their well-known custom.
He followed the trail for some time, will
y great caution, but could make no discovery
!. except a great deal OF blood on the ground
: until toward noon, when rising the comb 0
r. steep ridge, he looked down into tn
o plain below upon large body Of Indians
encamped about mile distant. This wa
a startling sight, and they perceived him a
Y the same moment. Now he felt he wouI
J have indeed to run for his life. One glance
). as he wheeled, was sufficient to show hir
It warriors mounting the horses of his friends
y lie did not dread a race with the horses q
y y the Indians SO much, because his horse wa
u more than a match for the best Of their.
u , but the horses of his comrades Were as swi
i and in every sense as good as his; no,
they We're to be turned against him! ii
- - cursed the rashness that had induced him t
- follow up their trail, but this was no tim
7, to pause for regretS-he was off, down tn
~ hill, at the best speed his horse, alread
'e r somewhat tagged, could raise. All dt
:. pended upon getting back toihe timber an
= losing them! He could hear their pursJ
~ ing yells, distinctly, for moment, and tn
=, =, was no syren's music to draw him back
~ ~ He had good mile the start, but this W;
y no great matter, if as he, supposed the
d horses were fresher than his own! II
=, had not time now to feel any alarm, bl
~ only that there was hot work before hil
a. q, and he had it to attend to HIS object W;
~ to get out ofsight as soon as possible, for
70 70 gained great deal by compelling them
run OH HIS ,tIdll. ne StTdlutu MS HOT.
- tremendously and succeeded, for when Ii
% sudden burst of their voices came to tim
=. proving that they had reached the comb
u, the ridge, he looked back and could not 81
~ j. or them. He felt little less tisht abo,
TO Inc mar; mar; NOV nov, and had fine 10 think SOM
thing of his best course. 1t seemed 10
he lorn chance for an escape he was ov,
IN six miles from timber. He suddenly r
mt membered that he had Observed, for sever
mt days past, heavy smoke off toward II
ne south, and looking now in that drectlo
nd saw it filling the whole horizon wi
IL gloomy masses, which seemed to be risir
ke but few miles of, observing that it w
not very high. II instantly occurred
of him in his extremity, for he felt sure fro
al the action of his horse, that he would n
a last much longer in the hard run befo
ng them, that the safest course for him won
be the most desperate, and this was to NAL
his directly for the approaching line Of th
an fire, and take his chances Of beinr able
OF, force his way through il alive. With SUI