The weekly Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1854-1861, 1855-08-18
RAYENNA. SATURDAY, 4UGUST4s; 1855

ture from among them, aud, knowing this
Harmer counselled Ka-aHs to go upon tn,
: expedition to the Kansas trading post him
} self to this he assented and preparations
were forthwith made for. his departure
: Harry, besides furnishing him with list o.
:. the goods he should bring with him; gave
} the young half-breed many and useful eau
tions in regard to his movements over the
{ plains. He advised him to follow the
stIeatn, after reaching the Fork, bat at q
distance sufficient to avoid surprise, and, by
all means, to shun encounter when he could
escape by fight; moreover, to let no Indi.
ans approach him on his route.
When Ya-na heard of his intended de.
parture, she clung around Ka-am's neck
bewailing their separation. From his in
fancy, even until manhood had dawned up
on him, they had been severed, and now
when happiness appeared to beam upon
them both--when daylight" had again dis.
spated the gloom which surrounded Her.
to lose him almost rent her heart in twain.
:, "do not Upon this dangerous journey, my
Ka-am," she said; "if you perish, Ya-na
will sing her death song and die, for she
will he robbed of the light which cheereth
her heart. Go not into the hostile hunting
grounds of the treacherous Pawnee, for,
like black wolf, he will follow your foot
steps, and slay you while you sleep; or,
hunger and hardship will make you their
prey. Stay with your mother, Ya.na, here,
in the Arapahoes country, where the light
of your eyes will always be near to glad
den her heart. q es+ '.@-
He listened to her pleading, and almost
yielded up his design; but the bauble dis
tnction is a fascinating vile to lead the
youthful heart he resolved to go. oa:
81 will go but once, mother, to the far
off trading post of the white man." said
Ka-am, "and having obtaineda a supply of
goods, and learned him the way to our viii
lage, I will return to depart no ihore from
where you dwell"
She yielded a reluctant consent, and pro.
viding himself with the necessary arms, he
took with him, besides his pack mule, no.
BILE and fleet horse, and turning his steps
eastward, struck into the trail leading to
the Kansas. . ..
1t was early spring when lie started, and
the winds swept coldly over the vast plains,
but he needed not their fury; the mind OF
the young adventurer was wandering away
to the lodge where his mother weptih ST.
lence over his absence, and he would often,
prompted by the love within him, turn his
eye backward in the direction from whence
he came. He, at times, consoled himself
with the assurance that Harmer would be
kind to her, and again with the fact that
the successful prosecution of his visit would
not only enrich him, but elevate his position
among the braves. ss's1-.. +n s, -
Teh days Of his long march had been ac-
compllshed, and the sun oftte eleventh. had
arisen upon his lonely path, when he des
cried single horseman uponsthe ridge he
had just passed. From where he was he
could easily distinguish that the horseman
was an Indian. The other halted for
moment, and then waving his spear, which
glanced brightly in the mornings sunbeams,
he dashed with full speed upon Ka ans
path. The young half-breed was in the
country Of the hostile Pawnee, and, Judging
rightly that the rider was of that tribe, he
removed some necessary things from the
back of his pack mule, and, casting it
loose, sped onward upon his horse. By the
time he had got fairly started, a dozen In.
dians were in sight in hot pursuit. His.
good steed had been treasured for such an
emergency, and now the wisdom Of having
saved him was fully proven. Bounding az
way, he soori placed distance Between the
pursuers and the pursued. They halted on
reaching the mule, searched the pack, gave
the animal in charge Of one Of the party,
and the rest continued the chase 9 The
distance SO perceptiby Increased between
them that one by one they fell og, until, as
it approached evening, but one remained
upon, his track. For several hours they had
continued the pursuit, hoping to tire down
his horse, but the nobl animal as yet ex-!
hibited no signs of distress. The Indians,
to save their animals, would dismount, and,
holding their brides, run BY tlieir sides
Ka-am practiced the same maheuvre.--
They would then halt, sit down, and make
signs of peace and friendship; but, as soon
as the young Arapahees's horse had enjoyed
breathing spell, he would mount and pur.
sue his way, and they would again rush fli-
riously upon his path. Thus Rda the chase
continued, until, as we, have stated, but one
fingered upon his track, and Ka-am beganto
covet his scalp. He guessed that this per-
tinacious savage, after Witnessing his horses
power Of endurance, now, more than ever,
wished to. possess him: and was intent. Glso,l
on procuring the owners scalp to grace the
capture. The Indian, hoping that night
would force him to stop, struggled to keep
in sight, and trusting to his cunning, aided
BY the the darkness, to vet obtain the prize.
About two hours before, sunset, Ka-aaa made
for point Of timber bordering the Arkan- n.
sas, and while. pursuing bis way. turned to
see how near the Indian had approached,
when, 10! he had disappeared; The young