The weekly pioneer and Democrat., 1855-12-13

roll of prairie, and, as | gained the summit
agaiu the moving cloud Of dust met my gaze
and this time considerably nearer, andasl Gloss
ly regarded it, perceived that IL was rapidly
approaching, and leran To discern the flashing
Of bright Objects cleaning out from its obscur.
iiy This looked less like buffalo and as the
object. whatever il might he, continued 10 al.
proach, haltcl for better view, and was not
long in making ou, large band Of mounted In
dams, their snow-whitc shields and FURNISHED
lance heads glancing brightly in the morning 5
sun.
Still, however ! scarcely thought al Pawncs
hut supposed il might be- some hunting party ii
friendly Po'iawatomics or Sioux ami, at all
events knowing the mct,le and powers of my
horse, aud having retreat at pleasure,l thought
incurred no great risk by waiting Tor a more
satisfactory inspection. Gradually. across the
broad cNpanse oi the prairie they drew nearer
and nearer, now disappearing from view in
crossing some concealed hollow, and again dis
played in bold relief against the sky US they SUR
mounted some prominent ridge.
At length their distance was diminished 10
less than quarter Of a mile. and, thinking
closer acquaintance undesirable, | turned my
horses head with a view OF riding moderately
towards the camp, Till they should manifest
some design TO pursue me when imagine the
chill Of horror which curdled my blood as
saw two smaller parties in my rear. galloping
together from either side, TO cut of my retreat,
and heard the terrific yell which all three raj.
scd, as they saw their manTuvrc discovered,
and that farther silence would be useless.
Whilst the main body had continued 10 at
tract my attention 10y advancing conspicu.
ously towards me, these two parties had taken
advantage of the numerous holows, which at
times had concealed them temporarily from
view, TO diverge, ind by u wide circuit, attain
my rear |, grcenhorn that | was. never
dreaming Of this common Indian strategcm,
while stupidity regarding the first and only OBJ.
ject which had attracted my gaze Hut was
there not yet time! The two interccptiDg
parties were rapidly convcrging towards the
line of my retreat, and were already within
quarter Of a mile Of each other, while was
not more than half that distance from the cen
tire. The main body with terrible whoop,
dashed an TO close me in. Ny horse WAS fleet
and true but he was also travcl.worn and fa
tgucd. How long could he distance those
wild coursers Of the desert, even If escaped
the immediate danger, Isut there was no
time To deliberate. Now or never was the
Al
h'h''nr 'honeh' wou'u DC 700 'au;
"'a'pihs my I,i'c "i'i, d htn,cf c'atcn, anu
" 'e e-aSsur,ns wnn 'aiys'''ls "o'us tnc 'r'gn"iFn
,I 49, WY a'o' 'p'", ', Sn', nv run ho'r'
,I ', =, -, "''o " "J'. u'," Wv ~" "u.'n,
H.; Wv u''a'n.u pau '''' ""'
'fS' ,' '"p'u' .'sS
..,,, >'"f W. En...,,' ,, tn,inn nslois..u W w.
onr ,r,r,,crs tr,,nblnr in every limb with The
.itv og his rxcrtiops l,c NV over the
,ronud ,ud with the l.ctn.rs of the wind, Is
Ia h~I hctwrn thu approaching hor,lcs. within
, hundred wards Of rs ON either hand With |
Ibr cnrrcy of DESPAIR prasrsSl the saddle with
ny knos. and bent forward 10 assst his iiyiuy
r1ur.. On. on. towards the only hope Of safe |.
iy. Gny yelling demons hard upon our tracks,
their blankets AMI fncry ayinc in the wind, on
vnrd We srs,I. purSucrs alpl pursued. over thr I
broad cNIapa, nl that prare ocean.
Bsoon the He,tne,s and blood Of my American
- -1nrsr began 10 tell on the enduring but slower.
Iootnl miistaucs of the Indians Some Of the .
won, mounted vcr, gradunly drnppiue 10 the
r,ar. and after running two or three miles they
were strung ont in a long line b,I,nd me. Grad.
uaIy | ,ark,nel my speed, for well knew thai
the bottom and endurance Of Indian horss, nc
to travers" immens DISTANCES ~
single stretch. is amos, without limit. and MT .
nv n lnne, mile was still l,ofprc us. Again they