Fremont journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County [Ohio]) 1853-1866, 1853-03-19

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"Hal-by the heart Of John Jacob Astorl
we are in tight place now, lads" he yelled
out, as he was interrupted by the dull, lazy
whiz of at least dozen rifle bullets, some Of
which came most sociabe near our persons,
as myself judged from sharp lap on my
metal canteen strung under nv left arm and
rather keen cut aperture through the lap
i pell of my hunting frock.
"Now ye see, lads, we must work our hor
sen into this thicket if we can, 80 far that none
of them rolin devils will get afoul Of us, and
when they are all past we must steer for the
river for yon fellers are Crows, and we had
better take our chance among the horns and
hoofs Of these critters, than 10 get within range
of 1hein red nigger's rifles. Come come,
lads In with ye!"
But the old hunters advice had occupied
several moments of our time that should have
been devoted to digging into the brambles,
and ere single horse had made break in
the dense wall of briars, twgs and foliage the
bufaloes, with a plunge, roar and crash,
were upon US.
In moment we were separated, and one
here, another there, in among hedge of horns,
and amid continuous roar Of buffalo bull
thunder, we were borne on. helpless and i'm
potent in the centre of the vast herd, while at
short intervals, could hear the sharp ringing
repor. Of the Crow rifles, followed by the
whistle Of their bullets; but as if by very
miracle for full twenty minutes, during which
time the herd was confined between the belt
of brush-wood and the ridge, we were hurried
along with them, without any one Of our num-
Der receiving the slightest injury either from
the bufaloes or our friends, the Crows
| AT last when the head of the belt of timber
was gDined and the herd began to spread out
singular chance the old hunter and myself
were flung together and at the same time, out
clear of the buffalo stream on the left.
For single instant we reined in our horses,
and as we did so, pointed to the Indians
some fifty in all, should think-who had rid
den along the summit of the ridge, keeping
Just about the same distance from US that they
had been at first
ayes, l see the red thieves" said my com
panon very calmly, as his eye followed the
direction of my finger. II see 'em, Leften-
ant and l aan tel ye that they all carry the
Cincinnati rife. Too light to kill a hard she'll
ed old feller like me this distance. But our
boys are all off west with the buffaloes; and
we are left here to hop and dodge with these
theivein' Or ows.
well we must back towards the river, and
ford it somewhere; for you see them skunks
are dividing-about forty Of 'em are coming
down 10 follow the buffaoes and our fellers
and them other sneaks-ten of 'em-will hang
round till they wing US, unless we play Indian
better than they can. Come Leftenant," and
the next moment we were dashing along to-
wards the river, while the ten Crows were
gradually closing in with us they urged or
their horses towards the river.
We were within perhaps two hundred yard:
; of the bank, when the heads of at least thirty
Indians were thrust up above the feathery
8 scarf Of fern that drew along the edge of th'
bank.
"This won't do, Leftenant," said the olC
. hunter, apparently not in the least moved a
far as l could discover. at won't do, sir,
q and he caught my left hand bride rein whrl
;, ing my horses head away from the river aloni
= with his own; and both dashed off over tn
;, ground Just traversed. Old Judah went on
- "lts no use Leltenant, to Try for the rive
:, now. There's five hundred of the thievn
:. Crows on the other side; and our only cbanc
:, is now to distance the devils on the hills there
. and get far enough ahead of 'em to cross th
n river and pull out for the steamer. And nov
# Leitenant don't worry your animal in th
Il start, and above every thing else, don't vast
single bullet We shall want 'em ever
4 one before we ever get clear"
,s At the moment we turned 10 retrace ou
s, steps, the savages whose heads We had onl
st seen above the fern, now rose fully into ou
IS view, horses and all as they rushed up tn
a bank; and in less than thirty seconds, fifty {
the red fends were laundering along the ma
N row prairie on our trail, while the warriors o
le the hillside came yelling on after, or rathe
" abreast of us, keeping upa dropping dre whc
at we were too busy to reply, until they com
e within surer range of our heavier pieces
ID which at the rate we were going we began
l. hope there was little prospect of their doin!
For nearly ten miles along the northwes
e. ern base of the ridge, our fight had contiI
J. ued; the herd of butfaloes, with our compar
le ions, had long since disappeared in the nortl
ern bend, the crows had dropped of, one a
e. ter another, until not more than dozen b.
" sides those on the ridge, continued the rae
: and those were mostly mile or more behn
d and losing ground every moment.
Of But there was seven of the warriors
A. whom in all that desperate race we had N
ell gained single inch.
ID Four of these were of the party on tire ridg
le while the other three were Of those who ha
Is followed along the plain.
"Look ye here, Leftenant-this won't me-
d er answer" said Old Judah, suddenly reinir
b. in his horse and at the same moment grasl
a ing the bride of mine and almost finging hi
l. back upon his launches; 81 tell ye sir, v
,e must drill hole or two in them chaps skull
,g or they'll cut us off sartain sure, before we ca
a get across the ridge. Now my advice is, LIE
ID tenant, that you take these three rascals c
n. the prairie in hand, while | look after thol
K, other beggars on the hill side"
e. "But listen youugster--you must mind th
s, the cunning devils dou't dodge your bullets
ID They'll expect you to aim at their heads, an
id then at the flash of your piece, they'll fir