The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1856-07-05

| NV ADV CIV UNE ON THE FkAINS
In the year 1S-, undertook the perilou
journey Of crossing the Plains, on my va,
from the Atlantic States to California. Ou,
company was composed Of nine PERSONS
Among the number vas Bill johnson, for
merly hunter and trapper of the West.
At the close Of beautiful day in May, ",
found ourselves seated around blazing cam,
FIRE upon the banks Of the Little Blue River
some two hundred miles from st. Joseph
Missouri. Some Of the company had sprcat
a blanket upon the grass. and we're busiy en-
gagged in q game Of cards. while myself ant
Bill; johnson we're engaged in discussing tn,
propriety Of having an antelope hunt on tn,
succeeding day. We soon came to the con
clusion that We would spend the day in hunt
ing. as our train was going to stop here sev
erai days to recruit our animals. | canno
say that / enjoycd a sosnd sIsmber .ha
night, because I was anxious the morning
should arrive, for expected rare sport or
the coming day. The much wished for morn
ing came at last. and after despatrhinga has
ty breakfast, and informing our comrades tha
we would return BY sunset, We departed Will
our rifles on our shoulders.
For three hours We travelled in southerl,
direction FROM the camp, without seeing an,
game at all !; and being omewhat tired ant
disappointed We concluded to seek shelter
from the rays Of the burning sun, and take
short rest. Following up a ravine shor
distance, We zane to a sink, or hole som,
twenty feet deep; the sides. which were of
SOLID rock. we're almost perpendicular. Care
fully examining this curious spot. We a
length discovered an excavation in the wall
Just large enough to admit man with ease
This was soon accomplished, and We fount
ourselves in an apartment about nine fee
square, with walls Of solid rock. This W
thought would afford US the desired shelter
We we're just comfortably seated, when ny
comranion sprung to his feet, saying.
'Be silent! hear rustling in the grass
which is probably caused by an elk or an an
telope. You stay here" and seizing his ri
Ae. he sole cautiously down the ravine.
lie was soon lost to view among tie shrub
berry. which skirted the ravine, leaving m,
alone to mediate upon the probable cause OF
the noise We had just heare. But wa
soon startled and surprised by seeing M
companion come running towards the cave
with anxiety and alarm plainly depicted upoI
his countenance
'lnjins!' he exclaimed, as he rushed int,
the cave.
/ Then he commenced blocking M the en-
trance with loose stones and fragments of rocb
which lay scattered around. This awakene,
me to sense Of the danger We we're in. a. a
that time the Pawnee Indians were knowr
to be hostile to the whites, butcherinc al
who tell into their hands. To my inquiries of
how many there we're of our enemies, m,
companion replied;
"There are two, mounted on fleet horses
armed with rifles and bows and arrows, and
ti'eously painted"
Our enemies we're probably aware Of our
place OF refuge, for instead of coming up in
round to the edge Of the sink, and stationed
themselves out OF the reach Of our rifles, bu,
50 ~ to command the entrance to our subter.
ranean retreat. Their persons we're bid
from our view. but by their shadows upon the
opposite we'll We could note their maneuvers
They evidently thought there was but one
Of US; but az they did not deem it prudent
to make bold attack in front. for by so do
ing they would expose their persons to dan.
ger-therefOrc they chose the less dangerous
plan Of starving us to death, compelling us to
surrender or shooting US it We attempted tc
escape. Thus in a manner We were com
pIeteIy in the power of :hese savages, unles.
by some s'rataSem We could manage 10 es
cape. But soon night set in, and spread he,
mantle OF darkness over the land, max ing our
situation more dismal than before Nv com
panion took his station at the entrance. ready
to give the savsges warm reception if they
made an attack.
was not capable Of enduring such hard
ships as my companion, therefore he advised
me to seek that repOse ! so much need
ed, while he watched the manpuvers of tht
enemy. ] laid down upon the hard floor Of
the cavern, and soon tell asiepp. Iin,endet
to relieve my companion in guarding abou
midnight, but so soundiy did Sleep that tn.
dawn Of the day was just breaking in tb,
east when awoke.
Still at his post stood the old hunter, with
out visible trace CT fatigue Of sufferin,
upon hi. manly countenarce. With the ex
c'ptiOn Of the lone shrek Of the coyote in tn,
distant hills. all was silent without, and
thinking the coast clear, was about to pass out
when my companion pulled me back, an,
! in a low whisper said:
"Do not move now is our most danger
Gus time but will foil EN- yet, curse EN- r'
And Immediately placing his hat upon tn
muzzle OF h,s gun, he slowly moved it through
the entrance. The Indians, who we're o,
the look out, preceived it, mistook it for hi
head, and fired, two balls piercing the crow
|. Of the hat. Dropping il, we supposed tn
Indians would show themselves. But no
so. My companion, seeing his scheme wa
) about to fail, commenced making horribl
eroans, as one in mortal agony. This tn
savases took to be sure indication tn,
their balls had taken effect, and giving vel
of triumph, which demons might have en-
Wed, they rushed out in full view.
"Firev' cried my companion, and tn
next moment the sharp report of our rifle
rang through the cavern, while our enemies
J giving . simultaneous bound, fell With
crashing sound upon the bottom Of the sink
each one corpse
Placing the dead bodies in the cave, "
mounted our enemies horses, and we're soo
galIoping into camp, to the qualification ol
our friends, who supposed We had fallen in
to the hands of the merciless Pawnees.
And now, though years have passed, an
the manly form Of Bill johnson is laid in th
silent grave, respect the memory OF him a
. true friend and brave man in the hour oi
peril.
A LOGICAL REAsoN.-'Dont you want
ra'al prime lot OF butter?' ssk ed q yedler
who had picked it up in fifty different pla