Eaton Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1843-1856, 1856-12-04
.MlisfeIlaneolts.
.PRAIRIE LIFE,
\ tale or REyEsGE.

Although much has been written on prairie
q tie. many a wild adventure, and many yet
wilder scene, has been left undescribtd. poor
Rukion, who died at 81. Louis, aud wh0A
Entertaining and valuable work, "Scenes in
The Far Wes;," is encitclel with many story
md scene which, no doubt 10 the people Of
the last, seems like tales from the Arabian
Nights. There is SO much originality about
|, the lnsnners and habits Of the :rapper and
= = sffdntcrsn.n. that one Is struck with their pc
suliat language or mode Of expressing them.
selves, as wei. as their singular costume
,fhsyIare. in fact. as distinct and marked o
4, clifss as sailors, and have as many cdd and
Quaint sayings. 4 Nt4,
ii u generally the commission Of crime, some
dssppohfmsnt in life. or q native loye OF sd.
ryehtsfe and peril, that makes these men de.
,.teft the comforts Of civilized society Tor the
wild haunts Of the Ted man, We can imng.
tie the terrible resction which takes place
~ I~hen tie hofii Of passion OF wreck Of disap.
.poihied hope sweeps over The sensitive soul,
ibid leaves desolstion--a ruin of The former
'hiAh:s X II misfortune" like lhsse. which
Seorch and dty up the finest feelings some
moral wrong or injustice committed by others
towards them, in revenghig which they have
been compelled 10 leave their homes aud be-
{, Come sxiles 10 the'far West.
~. a A siofy is told Of on extraordinary meeting
and ad &C. OF revenge said to have taken place
many long years ago, the fork pf the Paw.
nee. A party OF fUhr who had been rowing for
!, many yesis in The West, all strangers 10 each
other, were ene day accidentally thrown to
= ge,lisf, when strange and bloody scene en-.
sued. These men presented a st.iking con
'trass In featuie. The youngest was delIcaiely
4, made, with long light hair and blue eyes
His exposure hsu given him rich brown COM
: plexion.:o lie &as Of MEDIUM stature, and
made for strength and activity. There was
- cnfk void over his features which told that
With him the light Of hope had gone out. He
wes travelling on mule, with his rife in his
gun. leather at the bow Of his saddle, when lie
overlook o man on foot, with gun on his
shoulder and pistols in his belt, who was over
ss feet Ia tieighi, aid had deep, wide scar
c aon his right cheek. As day was drawingIo
close, they proposed 10 camp. and brought up
nj The head fork Of the Pswuee. Shortly af-
4, Ter they had cdmped, man was seen recon
= taoitering them with q rile IN / is hand, ard,
: shssing satisfied himself that the sign was
friendly, he came moodily into the camp, and
after looking steSny at the two men, was ASA
, ed by Soar Cheek 10 come 10 the ground"
lie was q slout, muscular man, much oller
,tAap the other two, with a deep, habitual
uGVWlp tuubl OiaShb hiuttCu HnH1 uuu NClJ uu-
prepossessihgi features. Some common place
remarks were made, but no questions were
Hasked BY either party. ~ ila 3+ h'4 II
-lcs II wns twilighiIwhep the young man, who
had gathered some bpffaio chips 10 make fie
70 cook with, Suddenly perceived man ap.
preaching them on mule. lie came steadily
d q nd ,feaflsssiy on 10 the camp, and, casting
look a, the three said, '"rook 80 for Indians"
'then, glaicing at the deerskin dfessof the
'yrsipg he observed, "0ld lenthers--some time
aoonte eh III The man was about fifty years
on, and bis gray hairs conirasted strangely
with the dark, bronEed features, upon " hich
caEe end misforiue were strongly stamped
He was only half clad BY The miserable skins
ehe woie snd as he dismoun.ed, Scar heck
Mldsked 1Where fFomiv "Ffom the Kaw;'
sytKelsss) be replied, throwing down a bundle
.,ef otter skihs. After unsaddling and stalking
Sni MS mule, he brought himself 10 the ground
sndtsking his rife, locked al the primng, and
shakingthe powderin the pan, he added few
tlirioie grains 70 HI ahisthen plpcng piece OF
! Il thin dtyskin over il 10 keep it from The damp,
. ryhe shat ,ihe pan, The group watched he old
tnppsf, who seemed not 10 notice them, while
= ScaP Check become interested and showed q
certain uneasiness. He looked towards his
,nWp rife, and once or twice loosered lhe pis.
tolls 10 his belt, as II they incommoded him. -
, The young man snd the stout nan with the
/. Il sco@l exchanged glances, but, 40 word pissed.
So far no questions had been asked ss 10 who
,Ahe other was; what Little conversation pass
4 ID WIS very iacohic, and not smile wreathed
sdlhe lips ofany ofatjems sra s,li gsg ,ga II
90 The little supper was eaten in silence, each
man seemed 10 be wTapt in his own thoughts.
il was agreed shat The wa ch should be equal
oe " divided among the four, each man standing
4, on gpptl, Two hoprs--the, old lrapper taking
.olhe fIfi watch, ihe young man nexs. and scpr
: -eIsylt yassA bright moonlight njghtt and, over
y that barren, wild waste Of prairie not q sound
= was was Heard as he tkfee 10y sleeping on their
blankets. The old trappef paced up and
.stslowns5an bis syey around NE wild waste be-
fofe him, and then would SOP and mptter 10
issIl. csnno, Be- he saia, half alOa j,