The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1856-08-30
4 iUrstrrn A0urllturr.
A RACE FOR LIFE.

that on this seventh anniversary of that
cvcutful day, after traversing all the
vicissitudes Of experience, after boxing
the compass of lifc's stormy sea,
and shaking hands with every cx-
trcnity of fortune, | should be seated at
last in this quiet little snnctum: the
hum of that mighty city, which was then
the goal Of all cur hopes around me: the
wild freedom of the illmitablc prairies
exchanged for the confines of dingy
office; my snorting charger discarded for
.his old arm chair; the badge of the
pioneer laid aside for II more peaceful
weapon, this "gray goose quill"
1t WAS on this day seven years ago.
Eighty-Gve of us, weary wanderers over
the tracklcss prairics, where day after
day, and month after month toiling on
to the land Of gold, whose lofty sicrras
and summer plains have since gathered
to their eternal embrace 50 many MEM
bcrs of that gallant youthful band. 1t
was Sunday in the wilderness, the wagons
all "corraled'' on the banks Of the 'Lit-
tie Blue" the toil-worn mules scattered
around, ioyfully cropping the grass under
the watchful vigilance of the guard
Somc of the party were bathing in the
clear stream, some cooking, mcndng
clothes, washing, lounging, or smoking,
and all enjoying to the full a glorious
sunshine day of rest and mdolencc, when
some evil genius possessed ne with Il
sudden desire to be the first Of the party
to Stay the long expected 'sbufialo," an
animal We had not yet encountered, but
which now began to be the constant
theme of conversation and coniecture.-
Several Of the boys were hunting turkeys
in the margin of the timber, which skirt
ed on the river, so that when L saddlcd
up my steed, and, with rife at my sad
die bow, started cut to the northward,
the few who observed my departure ex-
charged sly winks at my probable dsap-
poiutmcIt, but never dreamed of the
thrilling adventure that | was 50 rashly
rushing into.
Although VIC knew that we were about
the confines Of the Pawnce Territories,
and had indeed been warned by convoy
OF trappcrs, whom we had met but few
days previous, returning from their
distant wintcrme ground i'll the moun-
taiiS, that war parties were out, yet,
confident i'll our numbers, and the entire
inability Of our Impractical eyes to
detect any traces of them, We had at
tributcd the we'll meant warming of the
old mountaincers rather to spirit of
news mongering than anything else, and
rather despiscd those wild Dcdouins of
the prairics of whom We heard so much,
but had as yet failed to see.
Far away over the beautiful undulat-
ing and vcrnal bosom of the tracklcss
prairics, I rode gently, on the q~i circ
for amy indications of the object of my
desires, but though l eagerly scanned
the horizon as | proceeded, not a living
thing met my eyes except IA few Mtelopcs
whose wary caution and quick perception
rendered them impossible Of approach
upon the open prairics.
nought but monotonously undulatmg
surface of gently swelling and naked
hills, covered only by the buffalo grass
and flowers Of every hue, extended in
every direction towards the fair horizon,
when the blue sky of summer kissed the
distant hills glowing in the fresh yerdurc
Of the advancing season.
Struck with the voicclcss solitude of
this untroddcn desert, l rode slowly
along, lazily musing ON the strange
vcissitudcs which SO suddenly trans
lated me from college halls to this wild
scene, and had almost imperceptibly
placed some seven or eight miles be-
tween me and camp, when, far in the
distance, directly in front of me, | dis
cerned a column of dust, which, as l
supposed, bctokencd the long desired
buffalo. Away went romance and re-
Election. The ardor of the hunter took
possession Of me, and hastily looscning
my pistols and glancing at my rifles
lock, [ struck spurs to my stced and
gallopcd forward, never doubling that
the opportunity 50 ardently coveted was
now at hand.
Charging down the hill and across the
intervening valley, rose another gently
swelling roll of the prairie, and as l
gained the summit, again the moving
Ni'"" Va "oS' iheo my ssdhS, hhu WHO eiiAS
considerably nearer, and, as ! closely re-
garded it, perceived that it was rapidly
approaching, and | began to discern the
flashing of bright objects cleaning from
out its obscurity. This looked less like
buffalo. AS the object, whatever it
might be, continued to approach, l halt
ed for better view, and was not long
in making out band ofmountcd Indians,
their snow-white shields and FURNISHED
lance heads glancing brightly in the
morning sun.
Still, however, I scarcely thought of
Pawnces, but supposed it might be some
hunting party of friendly Pottawatomics
or Sioux; and, at all events, knowing the
mcttlc and power of my horse, and Law
ing retreat at pleasure, thought
Incurred no great risk by waiting for a
more satisfactory inspection. Gradually
across the broad expanse of the prairie,
they drew nearer and nearer, now dis
appearing from view in crossing some
concealed hollow, and again displaying in
bold relief against the sky as they sur