Republican vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1857, 1849-11-12
MISCELLANEOUS.
PRAIRIE LIFE; A TALE OF REVENGE.

Although much has been written on prairie
bite, many wild adventure, and yet many {
wilder scene, has been left undescribed Poo
Ruxton who died at ST. Louis, and whose hghl,
entertaining and valuable work, "Scenes in the
Ear West" is enriched with many a story anc
scene which, no doubt 10 the people of the East
seem like tales from the Arabian Nights There
is so much originality about the manner anc
habits of the trapper and frontiersman that one
IS struck with their peculiar language or mode
OF expressing themselves, as well as their sin
guar costume. They are, in fact, as distinct
and marked class as sailors, and have as mall
odd ndquaint sayings.
| 1t is generally the commission Of crime
some disappointment in life, Or a native love OF
adventure and peril that makes these men de-
sert the comforts Of civilized society for the wild
haunts of the red man. We can imagine the
terrible reaction that takes place when the storm
OF passion or the wreck OF disappointed hopes
sweep over the sensitive soul, and leaves des-
olation---a ruin OF the former man. 1t is mis-
fortunes like these that scorch and dry up the
finest teeln2gs-some moral wrong or injustice
committed by others towards them in revengine
which they are. compelled to leave their homes
and become eyiies in the Far West
| A story is told OF an extraordinary meeting,
and all act of revenge said to have taken place
many long years ago on the fork of the Pawnee
partyef four, who had been rowing for many
years in the West, all'strangers to each other
We're one day accidentally thrown together when
a strange and bloody scene ensued These men
presented a striking contrast in features The
youngest was deicately made with long, LIGHT
hair and blue eyes; his exposure had given him
a ,ich, brown complexion. He was Of the me-
dunn stature, and made for strength and agility
There was dark void over his features, that told
that with him the light of hope had gone out
He was travelling on mule, with his rife in his
gun leather at the bow, of his saddle, when he
overlook a man on foot, with a gun on his Shout
der and pistols in his belt, who was over six feet
and had deep; wide scar On his right cheek =
AS day was drawing to a close, they proposed tc
camp, and brough up at the head of the fork oil
Pawnee. Shortly after they had camped, a man
was seen accommodating them with rifle in his
hand, and having satisfied himself that the SIGN
was friendly, he came modify into camp and
after looking sternly at the two men, was asked
by Scar Cheek to "come to the eround.a He
was stout, muscular man, much older than the
other two, with deep, habitual scowl, long black
matted hair; and very unprepossessing features
Some commonplace remarks We're made, but nc
questions We're asked by either party
1t was near twilight when the young nah, who
had gathered some buffalo chips to make fire te
cook with, suddenly perceived.a man approach
ing them on a mule; he came steadily and fear
lessly on to the camp, and casting look at the
three, said, @Took ye for Indians then glancins
at he deer skin dress of the trio, he observed
sold leathers-some time out, eh % The mar
WAS about fifty years old, and his gray hairs
contrasted strangely with his dark, bronzed fea
lures, upon which care and misfortune were
strongly stamped. He was only half clad by
the miserable skins he wore and, as he dis
mounted, Scar Cheek asked, ''where from ~
'EFrom the Kaw,n KANSAS, he replied, throwing
down bundle OF otter skins After unsaddins
and stalking out his mule, he brought himself te
the. ground, and taking his rifle looked at the
printing and shaking the powder, the pan he
added IA few more grains to it; then placing ;
piece otthin, dry skin over it to keep It from the
damp, he shut the pan. The group watched the
old trapperw who seemed not to notice them, while
Scar Cheek became interested and showed
certain uneasiness. He looked towards his owr
rifle, and once or twice loosened the pistols il
his belt as if they ncommoded him The young
and the stout man with the scowl exchange
chances, but no word passed So far no ques
tions had been asked as to who the other was
what little conversation passed was very laconit
and not smile wreahed the lips OF any of them
The little supper was eaten in silence, eacf
man seeming wrapped in his own thoughts. i
was agreed that the watch should be divides
equally among the four, each man standing or
| guard twohours--the CID trapper taking the frs
watch, the young man next, land Scar Cheek anc
he with the scowl following.
/ 1t was bright moonlight night, and ovel
that barren Wild waste of prairie not a sound
was heard as the three lay sleeping on thei