The Rutland County herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1852-1855, 1853-06-04
The Family Circle.
An ADVENTURE IN TEXAS.


United States and the Indians of Texas.
great number OF volunteers joined the
expedition. One Of these, Captain Fer
guson of Kentucky, became celebrated
for his hardihood and success in The Ter
rible hunting OF the Indians. The fol-
lowing incident will convey some idea
Of the character Of the man, and also Of
the war still waging in the New World,
between civilization aud barbarism.
A small band Of volunteers, among
whom was captain Ferguson, spent sew
eral days in exploring Texas, and had
wandered far into the interior without
meeting solitary Indian track. Tired
of this pacific journey. they resolved TO
separate and seek adventure singly. be-
fore returning 10 camp.
Accordingly the following morning,
Captain Ferguson directed his course
across vast prairie, towards a cluster of
hills. hemmed in by thick woods which
bounded the horizon. Arrived at the
foot of one Of these hills, the Captain
perceived a troop Of wild horses slowly
advancing towards him. Suddenly they
broke into gallop; manauvre which
appeared suspicious. and induced our
hero to watch them closely.
They soon gained The level ground,
and The dull sound Of their hoofs sirik-
ing the soil, became distinctly audible.
The captain looked and saw clinging 10
the flanks Of each horse, an Indian, sus-
pended horizontally by an arm and a leg.
This is Il common siraiagem among the
Indians, but luckily for Ferguson. he
was siill ~ n considerable distance from
these unpleasant cavaliers
Percei,ing by the rapidity Of his
flight that they were discovered. the In
dians climbed nimbly on their horses
and pursued our hero Al full speed shout
ing their terrible war-cry.
Looking back, Ferguson observed
that his enemies spread themselves
across the prairie, with The evident in
iention of cutting of his retreat 10 The
hills. lie saw that his only chance of
safety consisted in gaining the woods !;
whittier his pursuers dursi moi follow
him, lest they might encounter the
ouIposis of the American troops.
lie did not again look behind. but
with his eyes eagerly fixed on the yet
dis,an, goal, lie spurred on his horse 10
lis utmost speed. The animal stumbled
and the cry Of the Indians became more
distinct but the noble animal rose
again, and with a loud neigh, as though
CONSCIOUS Of the peril that menaced his
master, he made a prodigious forward
bound, and clearc'i The space which di-
yided him from the wood, with the
speed Of an arrow.
A. Ferguson had forseen. the Indians,
fearing 10 enter the woods, came TO
sudden hall. Although comparatively
out Of danger he did no, esteem him
self perfectly safe, and therefore por-
sued his coursc for Ave or six miles
without drawing bride. Evening was
then closing in when he judged il proper
10 pause. lie tried in vain TO discover
where he was bot he was no, man
TO yex himself for irifes. so he quietly
resolved 10 pass the night in the open
air, and defer TO the rnorrow the iask of
fading his way. A clear stream Dor.
dered with shrubs ran near. and Feren-
son having uubridied hrs horse, wrap
ped himself In bis CLOAK and lay down
on The grass.
Al daJ break be resumed his journey,
following the course d the stream
When be had gone about four miles, he
found the corpse Of one Of his oompan-
ions. The poor feilow had been scalp
ed. and Fersuson's ira thought was
that al bis friends had probably been
surprised, and rnAssaered sinsiy. in-
deed the numerous ho,of-prinis Of horses.
some slsod and some snslod, Indicated
piaiuly, the reesus passage of boiL while
mou snd Indi@ns. Siosiy ard eau.
Iiously be fallo@a4 ihcse iraces riiboal
making any discoveries. uaiil towards
ilse middle q ihe day, haFiag climbed
% siisia enrnsnee, he ss~ ou plain
., shoot nile's distance. large To-
disn eBoampmeni.
A. she sane mo@sHi fils Indians per-
osis-i The oAlaSia. snd lsag.sd Di-on
thsir hoDeA Csnins be O~u impru-