Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-01-03

TO this conclusion. Had he heard of the
gallant defense of Fort Stevenson, a few
weeks before,* \ his opinion might have
been confirmed
The sun was rapidly declining toward
the horizon as they cleared the Enclosures
of Fielding's farm and struck at once
into the open prairie.
Edgar had followed the trail far enough
from the grove, where the capture was
made, to be satisfied that he would strike
it again in half an hours riding in the
direction he had taken, and by following
it while daylight remained, he had no
doubt of being able to determine the point
to which it tended. He would thus be
enabled to continue the chase with some
certainty after nightf,ll, while his enc
mics were probably asleep. This ofcourse
included the hazard of losing the trail
during the hours of darkness: but Ed
gar's knowledge of the country was SO
perfect that he had little fear of this mis-
fortune, and the fact that they could not
be more than three hours behind, was a
strong incentive to take the risk.
Having halted for moment, to explain
his plan of pursuit, which his men at
once approved, he turned again to the
northwest and swept away at a rapid gal
lop. The farms We're soon out of sight,
and the view was bounded only by the
wavy horizon; but the sun was an all
sufficient guide, and without swerving for
moment to the right or the left the party
maintained its direction for nearly an
hour. Edgar began then to slacken his
pace and to observe the ground more
closely, halting from time to time and
waiting for the failing evening breeze to
sweep along the prairie and anon, gal
loping away again for a few moments, still
in the same direction.
He was evidently growing anxious, for
his halts became more frequent, and his
speed, when in motion, greater. He
verged little toward the west, until the
woods in that quarter became partially
visible in the haze about the setting sun.
He halted once more and gazed up and
down the tranquil prairie for a long time
A light breeze swept up from the lower
revealed the object of his search A line
of broken blades, their under sides glis-
tening in the waning sunlight, was def
ned by the bending wave, extending as
far as the eye could reach toward the
north. 1t was the Indian s'trail p
He sprang from his horse and carefully
examined the ground, while his follow
ers, careful not to deface the trail, halted
at some distance, and without dismount-
ing, awaited the result of his scrutiny
1t was rapid but minute. He turned aside
the long grass and inspected the foot
prints of the horses in the soil. There
were of course no shod animals in their
possession, yet the hoofs of these had
deeply indented the ground, and the
tracks were much more distinct at the
point than at the heel.
They are going at full speed NUT
tered Edgar; and he continued, gazing
along the trail toward the north, where it
stretched away, perfectly straight, thro'
sloughs and over mounds as far as the
eye could reach, they are evidently
driving for some definite point. What
can it be p
1t must be Colton's Grove said one
of the rangers, the most experienced
among them, who had approached du-
ring the examination. They would
scarcely halt nearer than that, and in the
line of this trail there is no other land
mark
But that is nearly thirty miles from
this spot, said Edgar F; they'll not be
able to reach there tonight, and besides,
it takes them ten miles out of their way
You think they are making for the
Portage :e'* said White.
Yes-they will cross the river as soon
as possible, no doubt and they cannot
have canoes on both that and the Illinois.
However, he added, springing again to
the saddle, we must follow the trail as
long as we have light, and by nightfall
we shall be better able to determine
He took the lead again as he spoke, and
set off in the same swinging gallop, to
the northward, along the trail.
The sun was by this time nearly set,
and the air was growing chill and damp.
Their horses travelled better, however,
and throughout the long twilight of that
latitude they could follow the trail as well
as at noon. But at the end of an hour,