The mountain sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1844-1853, 1850-11-28
EBENSBURG, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER o. 1856

ureSSeu ike warrior; her voice soft and
sweet like pale face girl
'sUgh - said the chief.
Another pause ensued, after which the
young man, having explained that the
white party was tired and weary: and
could not go far, the chief of the war
party ordered him to take dozen warriors
and attack them. The Howling- Wind
grunted his reply, and they sat down.
Captain Snow was now amply satisfied
as to the nature of the Indian tribe. They
we're Camanches, the Arabs of the great
prairie wilderness, outlying in the woods
in the hope of cutting of volunteer parties
going to Mexico. Using all his caution
he crept from his dangerous post, nor de-
parted from his roiseIess walk until half
mile distant. He then made boldly for
the clump where he had advised his friends
TO retire. He found them camped in lis
very centre, well concealed, their horses
grazing with shackled feet, and small
fire.
"Heap on more wood" said Captain
Snow, as he came up; "the varmints have
seen US, and the sight of our camp may
keep them in good humor. | conclude the
scouts are spying US out this very min
ute." And he explained all he had
he ard.
A hasty meal but an ample one, was
taken 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
daylight, when Snow reused them up.
The horses were saddled in silence, a
OnnrhFp1 nf 10 \,
doied 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
then mounting their horses rode off.
Not a word was spoken, while Snow
who headed the party, forbore 10 press
the horses, reserving their strength for
sudden emergencies. They soon entered
a beaten trail in the forrest, which they
followed until dawn. The night had
been dark, without moon or stars; and
when the gray morning broke, they found
that their imperfect knowledge of the
country had deceived them, and that they
were getting. away from home. They
retracted 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 a
vast open prairie in the direction of home.
Presently the skirt of the wood was
reached and they were on the huge plain.
1t was of the rolling character, covered
with lofty high grass, and exten ded far
out of sight. A heavy cloud in the dis
tance, hanging over the edge of. the hori-
zon, showed that in that direction the
prairie was on fire. Towards this tie trio
rode slowly in line which promised TO
leave the vast confagration, which was
being formed, to their left hand.
"Whip handsomely" suddenly exclaim
ed snow; "the varmints are on us!''
At the same moment the war-cry of the
Indians was heard ln all its terror from
hundred screeching throats, and the long
lances of the Camanches were seen wav-
ing in the distance. The fugitives now
gave whip and spar, and the horses boun-
ding at rapid pace, and for short time
they succeeded Unloading the Camanches;
but their long lances were never out of
sight. For hours they rode hard over the
plain, until they were not more than two
miles distant from the cracking, smoking,
blazing high graas, which bore down to-
wards them like frey avalanche. To
their left lay a stream of water, to their
right level sward, which had burnt some
months back and was now covered with
short turfy grass. Near It's edge grazed a
number of wild horses, which presently
raised their heads as they approached; for
this mode OF escape they had preferred to
trying for ford.
'The reptiles!' suddenly exclaimed
Snow, refining in his horse. .Do you
see them horses! Well, every one of them
has an Indian devil hanging by his side
ready to catch US! know their trick a
mile off,
The Mexican Indians, by means of a
thong round the saddle, and a peculiar
stirrup will hang for hours be side horse
which will thus appear to be galloping of
its own accord over the plains. The trick
is usually adopted when flying before SUI
Perlor forces, to guaranty their bodies from
arrows and bullets. Capt Snow looked
anxiously around him. The pursuers were
about mile behind them, the ambushed
Indians about half mile to their right,
while at about an equal distance before
them was the fire.
1--WE have little CHOICE" said he calm
". "My friends, we must do dreadful
bold thing! The horses will be little
skeery like, but quick eye am cool