Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1856-08-06

t'Sh, hV opPOituuity iOI hcSiStduCc
was madness. 1 was hemmed in on every
side but one. Straight ahead was my only
chance. l might founder through, and, at all
events suffocation or capture in the bog was
no worse than instantaneous destruction where
| l was. -
Dashing the rowels into the trembling ami
NAL, madly urged him forward The soil
| though covered with grass and apparently firm
gave way at every step. Ploughing his way
by gigantic efforts, now for an instant raising
himself on some harder spot, then sinking
to his saddle girths, urged by my frantic ex-
ertions, terrified to phrensy by the appalling
yells of the rapidly approaching enemy and
| the shots which began to whistle around us,
the noble animal toiled gallantly on and gain
ed the firm bank just as the dusky forms of my
pursuers, infuriated at the possible loss of
their prey, were clustering on the opposite
side, seeking favorable spot to follow.
Their deliberation saved me. 1t required
strong control of reason to walk my failing
horse slowly up the hill while the Indians
were foundering after me through the swamp.
But rightly judged that little breathing
| time would not be wasted on him. turned
the summit of the hill just as the Giscomftted
Indians were beginIng to crawl out from the
bog, and again putting spurs to my jaded horse
once more we sprung forward in that mad race
for life or death. Onward we rushed, over
hills and valley, across streams and ravines,
in head-long flight, pursuers and pursued.
The timber which marked the camp grew
more and more distinct for moment
more concealed by an intervening hill,-and
again as we flew over its summit rising near
er and clearer to view. My horse was rapidly
| falling great fakes of foam flew from his
mouth. Covered with mud and drenched
with sweat, he still, however, toilcd gallantly
onward, spurning the sod of the prairie with
his flying hoofs. But the goal was nearly
| won. Oh if he could hold his pace little
longer The tireless mustangs of the Indians,
no match for his feet limbs in a short stretch,
now exhibited their wonderful powers of en-
durance. Onward they swept after us with
undiminished speed, their unshorn names and
sweeping tails mingling with the flowing dra-
perry of the wild riders and flying out upon
the wind.
The timber banks of the s'Little Blue"
which had so eagerly longed for, had for
some moments been concealed by long but
gentle swelling ascent, the summit of which /
was approaching. Iffrom here the white wsg-
ems of our camp should be visible over the I'M
interrupted plain should yet reach them.
But, oh if another of these interminable
ridges should intervene! Ny poor horse was
on his last legs. But to perish in sight Of
safety, to be taken in view of the camp by
these implacabe savages! My brain teemed
with these maddering doubts as l neared the
spot which was to decide my fate, and 1 trem
bled with eagerness for the view which might
consign me to despair.
neared the summit another bound and
we went over, and flying with faltering steps
down long gentle inclination which swept
away in gentle undulations to the longed for
timber, still about mile ahead. l strained
my eyes for indications of comrades and oh
rapture unspeakable far away, but directly
before me, nesting at the base of the long
dark line of cottonwood, in full view of the
painting fugitive, loomed up the white circle
of tents and wagon tops-dearer to my long
| ing gaze than to the desert-worn pilgrim the
| lofty minarets and marble palaces of Eastern
story.
A shout of triumph and exultation burst
from my lips as 1 discovered the welcome
scene and recognized the gate of my deliver
ance. L looked back. One after another
savage came bounding over the ridge pres
sing on with the wild fury of disappointed
rage. But their practiced eyes were not slow
| to discover my refuge, and one after another
pulled up his painting steed and gazed with
baffled malignity after their expected victim
But was saved Covered with foam and
sweat my gallant preserver burst into camp,
and, as sprang from the saddle into the midst
of my startled comrades, with groan of ex-
haustion he sank quivering to the earth. The
faithful creature had toiled to the last he had
done his best, his powers were exhausted,
and yielding at last to utter prostration, he
stretched his weary limbs upon the sward, and
1 thought that the last race of my gallant grey
was run. How nursed him through the long
night, how 1 covered him with my own share
of blankets and supplied him carefully and
cautiously with grass and water, how trud-
ged along on foot day after day for the next
two weeks, and cherished him like feeble
child, 1 have not time to tell; but although
many mile he carried me in after days over
these dreary deserts, and many time brought
me alongside the flying bgtfalc ale in his mad ca
| reer, yet never again dj's 81 an eight mile
steeple-chase against SHs with fifty un-
tanned coursers of ~ his competi-
tors and fifty pss s. sss s. yelling in his
rear. S&ye% -
s~.s.~d THAR dwellinps