The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-05-07

Tar, the cnlel Oh tne War-parly oruereu MN
to take dozen warriors about dawn and at
tack them. The Howling- Wind grunted his
reply, and sat down.
Captain Snow was now amply satisfied as
to the nature of the Indian tribe. They
were Camanches, the Arabs of the great
prairie wilderness, outlying in the woods
in the hope of cutting off volunteer parties
going to Mexico. Using all his caution he
crept away from his dangerous post, nor de-
parted from his noscless walk until half a
mile distant. lie then made boldly for the
clump where he had advised his friends to
retire. lie found them campcd in its very
centre, well concealed, their horses grazing
with shackled feet, and a small fire.
"Heap on more wood bog" said Captain
Snow as he came up; "thc varmints have
seen u.s. and the sight of our camp may keep
them in good humor, conclude their scouts
are spying us out this very minute And
he explained all he had heard.
A hasly 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 secnrity of their Irish blood,
slept soundly until two hours before day
light, when Snow reused them up. The
horses were saddcd 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 wator, 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 ioreborc to press the hors-
r es, rcser,ing their strength forsuddcn emer-
gcncics. They soon entered Il beaten trail
in the forest, which they followed until dawn.
f 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
, retraccd their steps, guided by TIE lofty
oiHONS VI thSh O"h NV NV "hh INV ii'tSh7
} ton of getting so far back, hut Of gaining
another trail which led across a vast open
| prairie in the direction Of their ,ome
Presently the skirt of the wood was reach
: ed, and they we've on the huge plain. 1t
was of the rolling character covered with
lofty high grass, and extended far out OF
, sight. A heavy cloud in the distance, hang
ing over the edge of the horizon, showed
that in that direction the prairie was on fire
, Towards this the trio rode slowly, in line
which promised to leave the vast coniiagra-
ton which was being formed 10 their left
hand
Whip handsomely !" suddenly exclaimed
Snow;" the varmnts are on rs -
. AT the sHme moment the war cry of the
, Indians was heard in all its horror from a
hundred screeching throats, and the long
e lances Of the Camanches were seen waving
l in the distance, The fuglives now gave
+ whip and spur, and the horses bounded a.
/ long 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 dis,
a tant from the cracking smoking, blazing
0 high grass, which bore down towards them
, like fiery avalanche. To their left lay q
( stream Of water, to their right level sward
which had been burnt some months back
and was now covered with short turfy grass
r Near its edge grazcd number of wild hors
, es, 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
y 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 hat trick a mile Off"
! The Mexican Indians, by means of thong
! round the saddle, and peculiar stirrup, will
hang for hours. and the horse will thus APP
pear to be galloping of its own accord over
the plains. The trick is usually adopted
, when flying before superior forces, to guar
aniy their bodies from arrows and bullets.
Capt. Snow looked anxiously around him.
f The pursuers were about mile behind them,
the ambushcd Indians about half mile 10
their right, while at about an equal distance
before them was the fire.
I'VE hare but little choice said he calm
ly. My friends, we must 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"
The Rocks had heard of such a thing, but
they stood amazed at the very thought. But
Srow left them no time for reflection. The
concealed Indians, finding themselves dis
covered, Ieaped into their saddles and bore
down upon them. But they remained un-
noticed. The three fugitiyes were busily
engaged. They had placed their powder
TASKS out of the reach Of fire they had
wrapped their rifles in strips of their torn
up cloaks and then, having carefully and
tightly bound their own clothes, they tied
bandages over the eyes and and nostrils of
the horses. Then they mounted again, the
Indians being close upon them, and made for
the rampant of smoke and flame that lay be-
tween them and lie.
The line of fire was about three miles long,
The prairie, composed Of weeds and grass,
damp with recent rains, did not burn with