Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-12-10
UETON BUCHANAN COUNTY, IOWA. THURSDAY DECEMBER TO- 1857


not there yet time ? The two intercept
ing parties were rapidly converging tc
ward the line of my retreat, and were al
ready within quarter of mile of eac
other, while was not more than half tha
distance from the centre. The main par
ty, with fearful whoop, dashed forwar,
to close me in. Ny horse was fleet ant
true, but he was also travel worn and ia
tigued How long could he distanc
those wild coursers of the desert even i
| escaped the impending danger. Blu
there was no time to deliberate. Now o
never was the only chance. Another
moment would be too late. Graspina
my rifle with frmer clutch, and re-as
suring with caressing words the fright
ened steed, who alone could save me
from horrible fate, l made bold dash
for the interval which still separated the
detached parties, and upon which they
were rapidly closing.
Nobly the gallant animal responded to
the call. Snorting with terror at the
wild shouts of our pursuers, trembling
in every limb with the intensity of hi.
exertions, he flew over the ground, and
with the feetness of the wind, he dashed
between the approaching hordes within
a hundred yards of us on either hand
With the energy of despair l grasped
the saddle with my knees, and bent for.
ward to assist his flying course. On, on,
toward the only hope of safety, fifty
yelling demons hard upon our tracks,
their blankets and fnery flying in the
wind, onward we speed, pursuers and
pursued, over the broad expanse of the
prairie ocean.
Soon the aeetness and blood of my
American courser began to tell on the en-
during 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 long line behind
me. Gradually l slackened speed, for
we'll knew that the bottom and endurance
of the Indian horses, accustomed to ira
verse immense distances at a sin rle
stretch, is almost without limit, and many
a long mile was still before us. Again
they would diminish the distance, and
again l was obliged to urge my jaded
ginning to breathe freer, the first start
ling alarm was over, half the distance
was accomplished. If my gallant gray
could but maintain his tremendous exer-
tons for four miles more | was safe
Once in sight of our camp, and the pru
dence of my wild pursuers would glance
but once at the eighty American rifles
which would gleam from behind our
wagon wheels.
l was now descending long but gen
tie inclination toward a broad level de-
preston in the prairie, which spread out
about couple of hundred yards wide at
its base. My savage pursuers We're for a
out of sight behind the ridge l
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 a
treacherous swamp! All can the gath
ering years of all futurity ever blot from
my memory the despair of that awful
How far this seemingly i'm
passable barrier extended up and down
the riyulet which divided it, could not
guess. A terrific yell burst from the ex-
ultant warriors as they appeared over the
crest of the ridge and recognized the di-
lemma they had too truly anticipated
Terrible fears chilled my blood. In that
brief moment, as the wild savages came
charging down the hill, tumultuous
thoughts of home and friends, mingled
with the bright anticipations SO long
cherished, of golden future in the land
of promise, came thronging in wild con-
fusion through my teeming BRAIN
There was one hope left, desperate as ii
seemed but there was no time for delib-
Grafton, no opportunity for choice. Re-
sistance was madness. | was hemmed
in on every side but one. Straight ahead
was my only chance. might founder
through, and at all events, suffocation OF
capture in the bog was no worse than
instantaneous destruction where | was.
Dashing the rowels into the trembling
animal, l 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 OF
some harder spot, then sinking to hi
saddle girths, urged by my frantic exer
tions, terrified TO frenzy by the appalling