Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1850-05-11

as to the nature Of the Indian tribe. They
were Camanchees, the Arabs of the great.
prairie wilderness, outlaying in the wood:
in the hope of cutting off volunteer partie.
going 10 Mexico. Using all his caution he
crept away from his dangerous post, nor
departed from his noiseless walk until hall
a mile distant. He then made boldly for
the clump where he had advised his friends
to retire. He found them camped in its
very centre, well concealed, their horses
grazing with shackled feet, and small
fire.
"Heap ON more wood bog," said Captain
Snow as he came up 'the varmints have
seen us, and the sight OF our camp may
keep them in good humor. l conclude
their scouts are spying us out this very
minute" And he explained all he had
heard.
A hasty meal, but an ample one, was ta-
ken at once, and then some portion OF rest
was snatched. Indeed the Rocks, with
all the careless security of their Irish blood,
slept soundly until Two hours before day
light, when Snow reused them up. The
horses were saddled in silence, mouthful
of corn cake eaten. Snow then doled out
to each small panekin full of brandy, half
of which they drank, while with the other
half, mixed with water, they washed the
joints of their horses, their mouths, and ears.
Then they piled great quantity of wood
on the fire, and mounting their horses, rode
off. .
Not word was spoken, while Snow,
who headed the party, forbore to press the
horses, reserving their strength for sudden
emergencies. They soon entered beaten
trail in the forest, which they followed
until dawn. The night had been dark,
without moon or stars; and when the gay
morning broke, they found that their imper-
feet knowledge of the country had deceived
them, and that they were getting away
from home. They retraced their steps,
guided by the lofty smoke of their own
fire, not with the intention of getting so
far back, but Of gaining another trail which
led across vast open prairie in the direc-
ton of their home, Presently the skirt of
the wood was reached, and they were on
the huge plain, 1t was of the rolling char
acter, covered with lofty high grass, and
extended far out of sight A heavy cloud
in the distance, hanging over the edge Of
the horizon, showed in that direction the
prairie was on fire. Towards this the trio
rode slowly, in line which promised TO
leave the vast conflagration which Mas be-
ing formed to their left hand.
"Whiphandsomely!" suddenly exclaim-
ed Snow .'the varmint are on US !"
AT the same moment the war-cry Of the
Indians was heard in all its horror from a
hundred screeching throats, and the long
lances of the Camanches were seen waving
in the distance. The fugitives now gave
whip and spur, and the horses bounded along
at rapid pace, and for short time they
succeeded in heading the Camanches; but
their long lanceS were never out of sight.
For four hours they rode hard over The
plain, until they were not more than two
miles distant from :he cracking, smoking,
blazing high grass, which bore down to-
wards them like fiery avalanche. To
their left lay stream Of water, to their
right level sward, which had been burnt
some months back, and was now covered
with short turfy grass. Near its edge gra-
zed number of wild horses, which pre-
sently raised their heads as they approach
ed for this mode Of escape they had pre-
ferred to trying for a ford.
"The reptiles !" suddenly exclaimed
Snow, refining in his horse. ado you see
them hurses9 Well, every one OF them
has an Indian devil hanging by bis side,
ready to catch us I know that trick a
mile OFF,
The Mexican Indians, by means of a
thong round the saddle, and peculiar stir
rup, will hang for hours beside horse,
which will thus appear to be galloping Of
its own accord over the plains. The trick
is usually adopted when flying before supe-
rior forces, to guaranty their bodies from
arrows and bullets.
Captain Snow looked anxiously around
him. The pursuers were about mile be-
hind them, the ambushed Indians about a
hall mile to their right, while at about an
equal distance before them was the fire.
ave have little CHOICE" said he calmly.
"My friends, we mdSt do a dreadful bold
thing The horses will be a little skeary
like, but quick eye and cool head will
do it. We must shoot the prairie fire."
lie hOSkS udu uedIu suSH tihilS, uu'
they stood amazed at the very thought
But Snow left them no time for reflection
The concealed Indians, finding themselves
discovered, leaped into their saddles, and
bore down upon them. But they remained
unnoticed. The three fugitives were busily
engaged. They had placed their powder.
TASKS out of reach Of the fire they had
wrapped their rifles N strips Of the torn-uT
cloaks; and then, having carefully anc
tightly bound their own clothes, they tiec
bandages over the eyes and nostrls of the
botses. Then they mounted again, The
Indians being close upon them, and nad'
for the rampant OF smoke and flame that lay
between them and lie.
The line OF fire was about three mile
long The praitie, COMPOSED Of reeds anC
grass, damp with recent rams, did not burr
with that lightning-like rapidity which
leaves no chance of escape. 1t burnet
quickly, but steadily, and Snow remarke,
that in some places smoke predomnate'
over flame. Just before them lofty cluml
i A L.. .L.l.