American Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Ohio) 1855-1860, 1856-02-21

: killing plenty of game. enjoying ourselves
line; when all at once one afternoon, about
an hour by sun. on raising the top Of a
ridge near the Big Platte. what should we
see just below US, but whole lodge of
Blackfeet. We lodged back, and thought
we'd hide till night, and then move our
selves from them parts; but twas no 90,
for tawny redskin just then got sight on
u.s. and with such yels as only injuns can
give, the whole on them were after us,
some on foot and some on horseback. 1t
were no use to try to leave them. so we
jest dashed down towards the river, and
covered ourselves with bunch Of wllers
growing there, and let them come on.
Now Musquake is rather ticklish a.
bout coming nigh a thicket when he knows
that trapper is there with a loaded rifle,
and as long as you can keep under cover,
and they know that you have one or two
loads always ready for them. they will not
likely make charge, but try to bring you
to terms with signs Of peace; while dew
iltry is all the time in their hearts, or they
will try to starve you out. Well, these
fellows came charging at first little closer
up than they thought for, and they hoped,
too, to get us let off all our pieces at once;
but after having to carry of; three or four
with slugs of cold lead through them. they
got our range, and kept rather shy. Night
come at last, and it was dark. We know
ed that the imps were out laying around
u.s. but we knowed it would not do to stay
there; so we had to run the gauntlet, hop
ing that we mought p'raps get through
without their knowing 1T, but we had
hardly started before we stumbled on some
of them, and then didn't We have a pretty
running fight? Some on them l know
never saw the light again, while their ar
rows, and the bullets from few old bar
rels which they had managed to pick up
somewhere, whizzed around us like a
sprinkle of fhaIlstones.
1T was after we had been knocking q.
way at each other for some time, and we
had dropped most Of the red rascals astern,
that poor Dick Powers got an arrow right
thro his body, and could go no further
Well, We stopped with him and fought
like white bears, for some time, and his
blood was'tunavenged. But as the Injuns
kept coming up. and would soon over
power US. Dick begged us to leave him,
and take care OF ourselves; snl seeing he
must die anyhow, we done So
That night before we left him, he tool
from around his neck little gold case
with the picture Of a beautiful young wo
man in it. and told me to give il to youne
Roubaoux. and he would give il to the
right one. l done SO. All! poor girl.
reckon she lay awake many night crying
for Dick, while his bones bleached on thu
prairies and his scalp hung in the wigwan
Of some bloody Blackfoot.
The next morning as soon as it began t
get light, we hid; we had that nighttakei
10 the water and thrown the redskins OF
our trail. For three days did we have t.
lay hid and trsvil in the night, and as W
knowed that the tawny lnjuns were still
outlaying near us, we dared not hunt
We had lost all the provisions we had, il
the fight Of the first night, and three day
is long time for men to starve and travi
too The boys got sick, and on the fourtl
day they swore they would 60 no furthc
without food, and hunt they would tha
day, Injuns or no Injuns. l persuade
them at last, that as l were the stronges
} and best up to Injun deviliries, that
J should hunt, and they lie hid, as it wa
useless for all to go into danger, and if
didn't get back by sundown, they Nigh
know tnat the Blackfeet had my scalp, an
shift for themselves. started out 500
and tramped for hours without any chanc
for shot. seed some deer, but coul
not getnigh them.
i couldn't tell you if were to try a
night, what suffered that day. wer
so weak that | were hardly able to crav
along and my stomach were gnawing as
it were trying to dijist itself; and then
would think Of all the good things l eve
7 eat; l thought Of the boys hack there. hi
; away, and waiting and longing for me, an
| couldn'tget nigh anything,ti till set dow
and cried, and then | was ashamed of my
n self and got up and staggered on.
4 In the afternoon had got back som
' two or three miles from wEere the boy
t were, seed fine young buck walk OIL
s from some bushes into clear spot an
: commence feeding. 1t were a long sho
Y at best, and now were weak and my eye
/ were kinder dim; and then if tried to g.
n nearer, he mought get wind Of me, an
| leave. 1t was the last chance; examir
Q ed my priming and flint, and took a lon
and close bead behind tho shoulders, il
0 where the white hairs showed themselvC
: under the belly, and pulled the trigger
: He jumped twice, then stopped and wall
h ed few steps and lay down.
r L tell you l had strength enough then
: shout till every hollow round rung agal
s 1 loaded my gun and walked up to m
Q game, deliberately took out my knife, CT
Y out piece of the ham, and eat it raw; an
t l tell you never had so sweet meal
r fore nor since. had been hungry afo
o then, and have been since. have eat man
Q a raw meal, but never tasted four days
2 q time and traYiled, but that once, and
: never tasted piece afore or since, th
q were as sweet as that. | were careful Ii
!. to eat too much. and were Just skinnir
b him to take all I could to the boys-I i
b tended to come back that night for Il
L rest--when l heard stick crack Just b
hind me. Turning my head round, VIII
L should I see but half dozen Injuns, OF
on them had stepped up on a log when