The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1857-11-03

VI our FursueFs, WDmOH08 IN 0V0Iy Umk
with the intensity Of his exsrtious, he feu
the wind, he dashed between the approach
, ing hordes within hundred yards Of us or
either hand. With the energy Of despair
grasped the saddle with my knees and ben
forward to assist his flying course. On, on
! toward the only hope Of safety, fifty yelling
demons hard upon our tracks, their blankets
i and fnery flying in the wind, onward VIZ
speed, pursuers and pursued, over the broad
expanse Of the prairie ocean.
Soon the heetness and blood of my Amer
lean courser began TO tell on the enduring
but slower footed mustangs Of the Indians
Some Of the worst mounted were gradually
dropping to the rear, and after running two
or three miles they were strung out in u long
line behind me. Gradually slackeued speed
for we'll knew that the bottom and endu-
rance of the Indian horses, accustomed to
traverse immense distances at single stretch,
is almost without limit, and many long
mile was still before us. Again they would
diminish the distance, and again was obliged
to urge my jaded steed to his best Efforts
But Was beginning to breathe freer, the
first startling alarm was over, half the dis
lance was accomplished. lfmy gallant gray
could but maintain his tremendous exertions
for four miles more | was sufe. Once in
sight of our camp and the prudence of my
wild pursucrs would glance but once at
the eighty American rifles which would CLEAN
from behind our wagon wheels.
/ | was now descending long but gentle
/ inclination toward broad level depression
! ia the prairie which spread out about a
couple Of hundred yards wide ut its base.--
/ Nv savage pursuers were for moment out
of sight behind the ridge had just crossed.
! | reached the foot Of the hill At full speed,
my steed plunged forward on what seemed
! hard ground; and, o, despair sank to his
| belly in u treacherous swamp! All can the
gathering years Of all futurity ever blot from
my memory the despair of that awful mo-
ment! How far this seemingly impossible
| barrier extended up and down the rivulet
which divided it | could not guess. A ter
! rife veil burst from the exultant warriors as
they appeared over the crest Of the ridge
; and recognized the dilemma they had too
truly anticipated. Terrible fears chilled my
blood In that brief moment, ~ the wild
savages came charging down the hill, tu-
multuous thoughts OF home andfriends, min
gled with the bright nuticipatlons 80 long
cherished, Of golden future in the land of
promise, came thronging in wild confusion
through my teeming BRAN. There was one
hope left, desperate as IT seemed but there
was no time for delberation, no opportunity
for choice. Resistance was madness. was
helnmed in on every side but one. Straight
ahead was my only chance. ! might noun
der through, and at ali events, sufocation
or capture ia the bog was no worse than in
Simultaneous destruction wherel was. Dash
ing the rowels into the trembling animal, |
mady urged him forward. The soil. though
covered with grass and apparently firm, gave
way at every step. Flowing his way by gi-
gantic efforts, now for an instant raising
himself on some harder spot, then sinking TO
his saddle girths, urged By my frantic excr-
tons, terrified to phrenzy by the appalling
yells Of the approaching enemy and the
shots which had began to whistle around US,
the noble animal toiled CALAMITY on and
gained the firm bank just us the dusky forms
1 Of my pursuers, Infatuated ut the possible
! loss Of their prey, were clustering on the OPP
posite side, seeking favorable spot to fol.
low.
Their deliberations saved me. 1t required
a strong control Of reason to walk my fail
4 ing horse slowly up the hill, while the IT,
dams were foundering after me through the
swamp. But | rightly judged that little
I breathing time would not be wasted on him.
7 4 LuFutu we euuHuit VI thC hiAi JuSt as VAC
discounted Indians were beginning to crawl
] out Of the bog, and agan putting spurs to
my faded horse, once more We sprang for.
ward in that mad race Of life and death
Onward we rushed over hills and valleys,
across streams and through ravines, in head
long flight, pursu ers and pursued.
! The timber which marked the camp grew
more and more distinct--now for u moment
/ concealed by an intervening hill--and, again,
as We flew over it's summit rising nearer and
clearer to view. NV horse was rapidly fail
ing; great flakes. loam few from his mouth
| Covered with mud aud drenched with sweat
he still, however, toiled gallantly onward
spurning the wild sod Of the prairie with his
flying hoofs But the goal was nearly won
On if he could hold his pace q little longer
The tireless mustangs Of the Indians, no
match for his feet limbs in q short stretch
now exhibited their wonderful powers Of ell.
i DURANGO. Onward they swept after US with
uudminished speed, their unshorn names
and sweeping tails mingling with the flowing
drapery pf the wild riders, and flying out up.
on tbs wind.
che tInbered banks OF the ssLittle Blue,
which had so earnestly longed for, hae
been for some moments concealed by long
but gentle ascent, the summit OF which
was approaching. II from here the white
wagons Of our camp should be visible ovel
the uninterrupted plain, | should yet reach
them. But oh if mother OF these inter.
minable ridges should intervene. My horse
was on his last legs. But to perish in Sigh
of safety-to be taken within view Of The
camp by these implacabe sayagcs NJ
brain teemed with these maddening doubts
as neared the spot which was to decide my
fate, and trembled with eagerness fol
the view which might consign me TO utter
despair.
We ncnred the summit; another bound
and we were over, and flying with falterin.
steps down Il gentle inclination which sweep
away in gentle undulations to the longed
for timber, still about mile ahead.
strained my eyes for indications of IN,
comrades and oh rapture unspeakable
far away, but directly before me, nesting
at the base of the dark line Of cottonwood
, IN full view OF the painting fugitive, loome1
up the white circle Of tents and wagon top
dearar to my longing gaze than to tn
desert-worn pilgrim the lofty minnrets ant
marble palaces Of eastern story.
A shout Of triumph and exultation burs
from my lips rs | discovered the welcome
scene and recognized the gate Of my dely
, GRANGE.
looked back. One after an other Of TIL
savages came bounding over the ridge, pres
ing on with the wild fury Of dsappointeS
rage. But their practised eyes were no
; slow TO discover my refuge, and one afte
, another pulled up his painting steed an,
gazed with baiflcd malignity after their ex
pected victim.
But was saved Covered with swea
: and foam, my gallant preserver burst int,
camp, and, as sprang from the saddle int,
r the midst of my startled companions, with