Cooper's Clarksburg register. [volume] (Clarksburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1851-1861, 1852-05-26

those unruly CaperS rather with amuSe-
ment than otherwise. Then seeing his
way open as they moved slowly through
the squadrons OF green-coated cavalry, he
suddenly retned up the mare in the midst
OF her capri-coilings, and plunging the
spur into her, she darted off like an arrow
loosencd from the bow, while he stopped,
laying himself closeAalong her side, after
the manner of the Camanche Indians. A
shower OF balls was fred hurriedly, after
him, but without effect, as they all passed
over him.
The plain to the foot of the mountains
was very narrow, Just here and he had
observed, before he made his break, that
they were opposite a road which came
down narrow valley He made for this
gap, running the gauntlet between sever
al squadrons of cavalry, before he reached
it's shelter. Just as he was diving into it,
he wheeled in his saddle, and amidst the
whistling of balls, shook his clenched
hand at them, and shouted back his def
ance. This sudden escape caused great
uproar and confusion among the Mexicans,
and several hundred men started at full
speed in pursuit; but the gallant mare
soon left them all far enough behind, as
she clattered with sparkling hoofs along
the deep ravine. Before the first two miles
had been passed, the pursuit was out Of
sight in the rear.
The valley road, which he had tak&n at
hap-hazard, without the slightest idea of
where it led, now opened upon small
plain of table-land, which was occupied by
l1 ,ln &c -, IL A
swept by in front of the buildings, he saw
Il number of green-coats hastily mounting
and in another moment heard the clatter
of their pursuing coming down the road.
He looked over his shoulder and saw it
was probably foraging party of about
ten lancers.
The first agony was over now, and he felt
sure of the game and speed of his mare :;
and with his usual audacity, he determin-
ed to give the "yaller bellies" something
to remember him by before he took his
final leave, He accordingly reined up
his mare gradually, and let them gain up
on him. They thought she was failing,
and raised yell Of triumph as they urged
their horses to yet greater exertions.
He looked behind again, and the officer
with one of his men, was now considera-
bly, in the advance, and closing rapidly
upon him. He4oosened pistol from the
holster. The officer was foremost, and
was already shouting to him, with many
'Garachoes, to surrender, when he Mhee-
led suddenly in his saddle and shot him
dead. The lancer, who was close behind,
attempted in vain to rein up his horse
II late kn cOrr;oA h,r NI,o
impetus of his speed within ten feet of
Dan, who had by this time drawn his
other pistol, with which he shot him
through the head. and then gallopcd lei
surely along, feeling sure that the remain
der of his purSuers would be stopped ef-
fectually by this bloody barricade he had
left across their path, He was not mis-
taken, for they halted there, and this was
the last he saw of their green coats.
All that day long he kept the noble
beast in swift notion since at every little
rancho or village he came to, it would be
necessary for the fugitive to make dcs-
perate run for it, before pursuit could
be organized. Tho roads were filled, too,
with scouting parties of the enemy, and it
required all his knowledge of their sort of
tactics to enable him to dodge them. He
several times very narrowly avoided rush
irg heau long into the very midst of these
advance parties. The Msxicans are usu-
ally very noisy troops, and he would hear
them talking on the march in time to dodge
to one side and let them pass, for he had
no fancy to try the hacienda trick over
uguin with vili;;.y ii.; pistols, and he had no.
thing to load them with again, tic G"aI-
ly threw them away as SO much make
weight" that was useless to him and EN-
barrassing to his mare.
So he hurried on, not daring to pause
moment to rest or obtain food, until the
next day, when, in deep, wild gorge
among the mountains, his game and gal
liant mare fell beneath him, dead The
ravenous and filthy galaptoes, (buzzards
were gouging at her fawn-like eyes be-
fore her stiffened and staggered rider was
out of sight, Now came the most terrible
part of this wild and remarkable adventure.
He was totally without food, and except
what little fruit of the cactus he could ga
ther during the day while he was skulk-
ing, for he only ventured to travel at night
now, This was scarcely enough to keep
body and soul together; while his clothes
soon became torn to pieces, and hung about
his bleeding limbs like broad and tattered
ribbons. He, however, still continued
making his way steadfastly in the direction
of General Wool's camp. At last, some
of his scouts picked the poor fellow up
when almost Spcechless with thirst and
hunger he was yet feebly reeling along
like a ghostly and haggard drunkard.
A ScENE.-Dry goods stores are some
times the scene of ludicrous conversa-
tions.
The other day young lady stepped