The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1856-12-17
A Race for Life

q .....r. . A Race for Life. ,I.. ......
The first of June, 1849 Seven years ago
How stranger than fiction it seems that on thi
seventh anniversary of that eventful day, afte
traversing all the vicissitudes of experience, af
ter boxing the compass. Of life S stormy sea, ant
shaking hands with every extremity of fortune
I should be seated at last in. this quiet littl,
sanctum; the hum of that mighty city, which
was then the gaol of all our hopes, around me
the wild freedom of the illimitable prairies ex
changed for the confines of "a dingy office; my
snortiDg charger discarded for this old arm
chair; the badge of the pioneer laid asidedor E
more peaceful weapon, this '.grey goose quill >
It was on this day seven years ago Eighty
five Of US, weary wanderers over the track
less prairies, were day after day and month af.
ter month, toiling on to the land of gold, whose
lofty sierras and summer plains have since gath
cred to their eternal embrace SO many members
of that gallant youthful band 1t was Sunday
in the wilderness; the wagons all 'corraled' on
the banks of the Little Blue, ;" the toi-worn
mules scattered around, joyfully cropping the
grass under the watchful vigilance of the guard
Some of the party wsse bathing in the clear
stream, some cooking, mending clothes, wash
ing, lounging or, smoking, and all enjoying to
the full glorious sunshine day of rest and in
dolence, when some evil genius possessed me
with sudden desire to be the first of the party
to slay the long expected "buffalo,'' an animal
we had not yet encountered, but which now be-
gan to be the constant theme of conversation
and conjecture. Several of the BOYS were hunt
ing turkeys in the margin Of the timber, which
skrted on the river, SO that when | sadded up
my steed, and, with rifle al my saddle bow,
started out to the northward the few who OBJ
served my departure exchanged sly winks at
my probable disappointment, but never dream
ed of the thrilling adventure hat was SO rash
]y rushing into. ...-..y
Although we knew that we were about the
confines of the Pawnee territories, and had in
deed been warned by a convoy of trappers-
whom we had met but a few days previous, re-
turning from their distant vintering ground in
the mountans-that war prties were out, vet,
confident in our numbers, md the entire una
blity ofour Impractical eye to detect any traces
of them, we had attributed he well meant warn
ing of the old mountaneer rather to spirit Of
news mongering than anything else, and rather
despised those wild Bedouns of the prairies, of
whom we heard so much, out bad as vet failed
to see.
Far away over the beautiful unduating and
vernal bosom of the tracless praires | rode
gently, on The quI vlve forany indications of the
object of my desires, buthoug h | scanned the
horizon eagerly as I proceeded, not a living thing
met my eyes, except fewanelopes, whose wary
caution and quick perception rendered them i'm
possible of approach upol the open prairies.
AS far as the vision culd reach, nought but
a monotonous]y undulatng surface of gently
swelling and naked hills, covered only by the
buffalo grass and fowersof every hue, extend
ed in every direction towards the far horizon,
| when the blue sky Of sumner kissed the distant
hills glowing in the freh verdure of the ad
vanclng season.
Struck with the vocebss solitude of this un-
trodden desert, rode slmly along, lazily mus
ing on the strange vicissiudes which so sudden
ly translated me from cllege halls to this wild
scene, and had almos mperceptbly placed
some seven or eight niles between me and
camp, when, far II the distance, directly in
front of me, discened acolumn Of dust which,
as supposed, betAened the long desired buff
falo. Away went Dmance and reflection. The
ardor of the huntei took possession of me, and
hastily loosening ny pistols and glancing at my
rifles lock, struA spurs into my steed and
galloped forward, lever doubling that the op-
portunily so ardenty coveted was now at hand
Charging down tie hill and across the inter-
vening valley, ree another gently swelling
roll Of the prairie, and as gained the summit
again the moving cloud of dust met my gaze,
and this time considerably nearer, and, as l
closely regarded /, perceived that it was rap
idly approaching; and began to discern the
flashing of bri glt objects cleaning from outfits
obscurily. This looked less like buffalo As
the object whatever it mil eht be, continued to
long in making at a band Of mounted Indians,
their SNOW white shields and FURNISHED lance
heads glancing brightly inthe morning sun.
Still, however, scarcely thought of Paw
nees, but supposed it night be some hunting
party of friendly Pottawaomies or Sioux and,
at all events, knowing themettle and power Of
my horse, and having rtreat at pleasure, l
thought incurred no greet risk by a more sa-
tisfactory inspection. GaduaIly across the
broad expansc of the praile they drew nearer,
now disappearing from vie in crossing some
concealed hollow, and agan displaying in bold
relief against the sky as thy surmounted some
prominent ridge.
At length their distance was diminished to
less than a quarter Of nile, and thinking a
nearer acquaintance undesirable, turned my
horses head, with the vier of riding moder
ately towards the camp, ti!hey should mani
fest some design to pursue ne; when imagine
the chill of horror which cur1ed my blood as
saw two smaller parties in ny rear, galloping
together from either side to ,ut off my retreat,
and heard the terrible yell which all three rails
ed as they saw their wild mneuvre discover
ed, and that further silence would be useless.
+ While the main body had continued to at
tract my attention by advancing conspicuously
towards, these two parties had taken advan-
tage of the numerous hollows, which at times
had concealed them temporarily from view, to
diverge, and by vide circuit, attain my rear
|, green-horn that was, never dreaming OF
! this common Indian stratagem, while stupidity
regarding the first and only object which at
tracted my gaze. The two intercepting par
ties were rapidly co'verging towards the line
of my retreat, and were already within quar-
ter of mile of each dher, while I was NO more
than half the distance from the centre. The
main body, with a fearful whoop, dashed on to