Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1855-11-17

| N'u HlIS- CoNeFVu onIy ny lht DUHaiO grass
ana flowers of every hue, extended in every
direction towards the Ear horizon, when the
blue sky Of summer kissed the distant hills
glowing in the fresh vcrdurc Of the advancing
season.
Strurk with the noisrlcss solitude Of this
untroddcu desert rode slowly Il ong la2ily
missing on the strange vciSsitnlps which had
80 suddenly translated me from college halls
tn this wild scene. aud had almast imrprcrp-
ibly placed some seven or eight miles be-
tween me and camp, when far in the distance.
directly in front Of me. diSccrncd II column
oi dust which as ! supposed. hrtokcncd the
long desired buffalo Away went romance
and reflection ri q urdor Of the hunter took
! possession of me. and hastily looscnng my
pistols and elancing at my rifles lock, struck
, spurs tn my stecd and galloppd forward. new
or doubling that the opportunity so ardentlv
coveted was now ~ hand
Charging down the hill and across the in.
trrvrning valley. rose another gently swell
. ling roll Of the prairie. and. ms gained the
summit again the NOV NJ cloud of dust met
my gaze. and this time considerably nearer.
and, as ] closely regarded it. perceived that
il was rapidly approaching and began TO
discern the flashing Of bright objects elcam-
. ing out from its ohscurity 'Fhis looked less
ilk" buffalo, ahd as the object. whatever it
might hr. continued to approach halted for
II better view. and was not long in making ont
a large band Of mounted Indians. their snow
/ white shields and FURNISHED lance heads clan
cling brightly in the morning sun.
Still. however. scarcely thought Of Paw
nceS, but supposed it might be some hunting
party OF friendly PottawItomics or Sioux
and at all events. knowing the mottle and
powers Of my horse. aud having retreat at
pleasure. ] thought | incurred no great risk
by waiting for more satisfactory inspection.
Gradually. across the broad cNpansc of the
prairie. they drew nearer and nearer. now dis
appearing from view in crossing some con-
rea!rd hollow, aud again displayed in bold re-
lief against the sky as they surmountcd some
prominent ridge.
At length their distance was diminished 10
less than quarter Of u mile. and. thinking Il
closer acquaintance undesirable ! turned my
horses hcau with view Of riding moderately
towards camp till they should manifest some
design to puISur me-; when imagine the chill
Of horror which curdlcd my blood as saw two
smaller II aty rear. galIoping together from
either sadie 10 rut oil my retreat and heard
the terrific Yell which all three raised us they
saw their willy manovra discovered, ana that
further silence would hr useless.
Whilst the main body had continued to at
tract my a;trntionhy advancing conSpiruouSlv
toward me-. these twu partire had taken al
vantage of the numerous holluwS. which at
times had concealed them temporarily from
ri,w. to divrrgr. and by wide circuit. attain
my rear. ]. grrrnhurn that was. never
dreaming Of this common Indian sirltaurm
while stur,rly regarding the first and on'v
object which had attracted my ca2,. Bot
l.. mi ,,i I,.i int
parties were rapidly couvrr2inr towards the
line of my retreat. and were already within Il
quarter oT y mile of each other, while ! was
not more than half that distance from the
contrr. The main body. with u fearful
Hhuup dashed on To CiuSc me in. Nv horse
was Il ct and true. hut he was also trtvrl-woYn
and latjgncd How long coull he distance
those wild coursrrS of the desert even Il !
escaped the mmcGi0tc danger? But there
was 40 time to deliberate. Now or nevcrwas
the chance. Another moment would hr too
late. Graspiu" my rifle with II irmrr clutch,
unl rcaS>Urjug with carrrssing words the
heightened siccd who alone could save me
from horrible fate. ! made bold dash for
the interval which still separated the Gctach,
cd parties, and upon which they were rapidly
closing
Nohly the gallant animal responded to the
'"Ii. EHoTlu- Win terror nj lHr Wld ShoNtS
OF onr pnrSu"rS trembling in every limb with
the intensity of his rXertions, he dashed be-
tween the approaching hurGpS, within Il hgI-
drod yards ct rs on either ha"h, With the
energy "i despair ! graspcd the saddle with
my knees and hrnt forward toassirt his f. sin"
co"rSr. On. uu. towards the only hope G
safety hiy yelling drm"uS hard upon uur
tracks. their blankets and Iiarry Hyiu" iE the
wind. onward We sped, pursarr5 aHd pursued.
over the blald rNnln>" Of that prairie ocean.
Sorpthr nr,ir,.s oul !lora nr my ,,rrri.
can cour,.r hrouI, +, iylI an the ,r,lIriun Inn,
slnwcr.tontrd mustanos II, ,hr Iu6j,t.s Sn,un
of the worst mounted were r.d,,llv Iron,ino
to the rear. and after ,lipi,;ur t,,n ,r tLrnn
miles they were siriu, ON, in = l,r,r limo La.
hind me. Gradually | slu.k,.rod sucpd f,r
well knew tha. the bottom and endurance cr
Indian horses, accustomed to traverse i'm.
monse distances at sinnlr stretch i almost
without limit. and many a lnnn riln wr. sin
before us. Aeain they would diminish ,hp
distance. and npnjp was oI!i,,nl tn ,,,,,n nv,
llrd sterd 10 his best ,inrts But | was
hrrinuipn 10 Lr,aIhr rrrpr ,Ir Grst st,rtIi'c
al lrm was over. half tho dis,,,,rr v,s .,,.,,n,
plishcd. Iruy Gallant or,v r,nll Lu,u.,i,
tain his trrmrn,lons py,,tinps r,r C,rr rii,s
NOR, | was s,r. Oprn In ,;.I, nr ,.,r,,,.,,,l
the prul,r,n or my Viii ,,,,~.,,.,r. Ir,,','iI
Glance hut once NJ tLr rinhtv Am.,i,.,, r;gas
which would rleam FROM LrbirI onr v,,rn,,