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

very pest WniCn snow couIu PICK from MI
lot. Each had rife, powder horn, Q
bundle of corn-cakes, flask of native whis-
key, and hunting-knife. Mary, on thi.
occasion, was dressed almost in as mascu-
line costume as her companions, and
never was happier, more sprightly, or filled
with more of the enthusiasm of pfairie-life.
Their journey was up deep gullIes, along
meath the shadow of thick woods. They
rode along in the morning until they found
a place fit for sport, and then haltng, lit a
fire, shackled their horses, and started on
foot in search of game, sometimes together,
sometimes separate. When success crown
ed their efforts or when night approached,
they returned TO their camp and supped.-
After this operation, which in the prairies
is very serious one, they made sober
attack on their whiskey gourds and tobacco
pouches, and after little gossip, were glad
to find rest. Mary had little hut always
formed of boughs and their three cloaks,
the brother and affianced husband keeping
guard on each side. '
Thus they wandered for more than a
week, and none thought ofturning back
When the wild passions of rapine, and
slaughter, and murder, almost inseparable
from savage li!e--which has generally all
the fault Of civilized life, with scarcely any
of its virtues--are kept in the background,
a wandering existence In The virgin woods
and fields of America has an inexpressible
charm. They all felt it. To camp at
night beneath trees hundreds of miles from
houses and men, is thing which excites
romantic feelings in the rudest, and none of
the trio belonged quite to the rough cast
Capt. Snow lad received some education,
and Mary Rock bad learned TO read before
l left the country. They had thus some
common topic of conversation, and their
excursion gained redoubled charms.
One evening, a little after dusk, having
failed during the day to find suitable en-
campment in an arid plain, they had turn
ed back towards that which they left in
the morning. They had ridden pretty
hard, and when they came to the dry bed
Of torrent which they had to cross, their
horses were very tired.
81 reckon" said Capt. Snow, "we'll not
cifcumvent Dicks Ferry this night. My
horse is getting cranky like, and trails his
legs like an old mustang" ....
"Hush !" said young Rock, in low
tone.
"What's up?" whispered the other in
an equally cautious manner.
Young Rock pointed down the bed Of
the torrent, which was thick with bushes,
and overhung by trees, and at some con-
siderable distance the blaze of fire SEEM
ed reflected family on the silvery branches
of larch. The fire itself was completely
hidden, and would have been admirably
concealed but for an accidental opening in
the trees.
"Ingines-Red-skin :" observed Cap
tain Snow. "Do you and Polly slope away
to yonder clump of trees, and hide away
spoy, while ! creep down 10 the reptiles,
and look at their paint.
With these words, the Kentuckian de-
scended from his horse, took off his cloak
or poncho; and divesting himself Of rife,
pouch, everything, in fact, but his tough
pantaloons, flannel shirt, mocasSins, and
hunting knife, began TO descend the stony
bed of the river. Mary and her brother
rode away with every precaution, leading
the third horse between them.
Snow moved with all the stealth and
caution of an Indian warrior. He had
lived three years with the Cherokees, and
seen their arts and contrivances in the pro-
fession of thanksgiving. He now reused
all his recollections. The neighborhood
Of Indians might be harmless, but it like
wise might be dangerous; and the safety Of
his afianced wife quickened the young
mans blood, but took nothing from the ad-
mirable GOODNESS OF his head which was as
fertile in expedients as that of backwood
lawyer is in abuse. 1t took him fully an
hour to reach little hillock, behind which
lay the camp. Snow now scarcely breath
ed. The spot he occupied was rough, and
filled by thorny bushes. 1t was about
twenty yards from the dangerous vicinity
of the fire. Slowly and gravely he raised
his head, and then his eyes fell upon party
of nearly hundred Indians in their hideous
war-paint. Some were sleeping, some
smoking, while two or three were on the
watch. One of these stood within three
yards of him, leaning against tree. His
I siuc Was iO"diuh the htltuShiuii, ohu bis
eyes were fixed on vacancy. Once he
turned qnickly in the direction of Snow
but the darkness, and the scouts motionless
position, made him see nothing, and the
white man could continue his survey in
peace. The long lances Of the Indians
leaning against the trees showed him thai
the Warriors were cavalry, and this circum.
stance made his heart beat. He had hoped
that the horses of his party would have
! given him certain superiority over the
Indians, which he now saw did not exist
With this conviction he was about to re-
tire, when young Indian moved aside th'
trees near the fire, and advanced into th'
centre of the opening, until he stood before
the chief, who was smoking his red-clay
pipe with becoming gravity.
"Pale facesn said the young man, afte
the usual pause.
"Ugh!" replied the chief
"Three," continued the young man
some squaw-two warriors. Squaw dress
ed like warrior; her voice soft and swee