Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1855-03-15

= Iu 1h " IS L IL " - = -
war sound. jest noticed as war goin' off,
that the mustang war out some yards, nibblin'
away at the dry grass of the prairy q
guess must slept about an hour, or thar
abouts-I won't be sartain how long. only
know that didn't wake o. my own accord. -
was awoke; an when did awoke, l stu
thought was dreamin' Itwould been a
been rough dream but unfort 'natey for me,
it want dream, but jeniwine reality. At
fust, | couldn't make out what war the matter
wi me, no how an when thort war in the
hands of the Injuns, who were dragin' me over
the prairy on sure enough, war draggin'
that way, though not by the Injun. Once or
twice lay still for jest second or two, and
then away agin' trailin' and tumpin' over the
ground, as if I had been tied to the tail of a
galloppin' boss. All the while there war yell
lin in my ears as if all the catssn dogs of-any
wherever arter me- Wal, sir, it war some
time afore mpre'nded what all this rough
usage meant. l did at last. The pull on my
ankles gave me the idea. 1t war the lariat that
war round them. My mustang had stampede
ed, and war draggin' me at full gallop acrosst
the prairy
The baykin', an howlin' an yelpin' heerd
was pack af prairy-wolves. Half famshed
they had attacked the mustang, and started him.
All this como into my mind at once. You'll
say it war easy to lay hold on the rope, an stop
the hoss. So it mout appear; but kin tell
you that it amt so easy thing. 1t wasn't so
to me. My ankles were in moose, and were
drawed up close together. Of course, while
war moving along, I couldn't get at my feet !;
and whenever the mustang cum to halt, and
had half gathered myself, afore kud reach the
rope, away went the critter agin', hingin' me to
the ground at full length. Another thing hin
dered me- Afore goin' to sleep, | had put my
blanket on Observation-Disclosures is, with my
head through slit in the ccntre-and as the
drag begun the blanket Topped about my face,
and half smothered me- Prehaps, however, an
thot SO arterwurd, that blanket saved me
many scratch, although it bamfoozied me a
good bit.
got the blanket off at last, arter had made
about mile, reckon, and then, for the fust
time, could see about me. Sich a sight The
moon was up, and could see the ground was
.rb 10 mil r ho1 epo,yad ,,,h,la
was asleep; but that want the sight-the sight
was, that clost up and around me the hui prai-
ry was kivered with wolves-cussed prairy wolves
I kud see their long tongues lollin' out, an the
smoke steamin' from their open mouths.
Bein' no longer hampered by the blanket, I
made the best use could of my arms. Twice
got hold of the lariat, but afore kud set my.
self to pull up the runnin' hoss, it Was jerked
out of my hand agin. Somehow or other had
gotta clutch of my bowie, and ut the nvxt ,oys
portunity made a cut at the rope, and heered
the clean 'snig' of the knife. Arter that lay
quiet on the prairy, and b'lieve kinder sort
O. tainted. 'Twant long faint, no how for
when got over it, I kud see the mustang about
half mile off, still runnin as fast as his legs
would carry him, an most of the wolves howl
in arter him. A few of these critters had
gathered about me, but gettin on my feet,
made dash among them with my bowie, and
sent them every whichway, reckon.
watched the mustang until he was clean
out of sight and then was puzzled what to
do. Fust, went back for my blanket, which
soon rekivered, and then folered the back
track to my gun and other traps whar had
camped. The trail was easy on account Of the
snow, and kud see whar l had slipped through
it all the way. Havin' got my possibles, ther
took arter the mustang, and folered for at least
ten miles on his tracks, but never seed thai
mustang agin. Whuther the wolves hunted
him down or not, can't say, nor don't cart
if they did, the scarey brute seed thar fee
all the way arter him in the snow, and knew
1t warn't no use follerin' further. 1t was plair
that was put down on the prairy, so bundled
my possibles, land turned head for Laramie afoot
had a few days walk of it, and prehaps ljdid
MT cuss few.
was right bad used. Thar .warn't bont
in my body that didn't ache as if had beer
passed through sugar-mill and my clothes
and skin were torn consid'ably. 1t mout beer
wuss, but for the blanket and the sprinkle O.
snow, which made the ground leete slickerer
Howsomever, got safe to the Fort, whar wal
soon rigged out in fresh suit of buckshin ant
!, a hoss. But never arterward see d a prairy
wolf within range of my rifle, that didn't le
it into him, and, as you see, I've throwed (
good wheen in thar tracks since then. Wagh