Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1858-07-14

Of Balbina fluttering in the wind, as she was
| held before tall warrior, who was mounted
on powerful black horse.
81 Know the horse and man; 'tis that cursed
Camanche chief, Altowa; him that knocked
overi'' groaned Nick. 81 wonder why ON
| earth the ga. don't shoot him; she never stirs
without revolver in her bosom, and know
| she has it now.'
''Perhaps she is waiting for better time to
use 1t; but you're not going to give her up
without struggle, are your l am ready to
mount and follow to her rescue, or die in her
track ~ said I.
'.Thank ye, young man, thank ye; if we
should get her back-and we ,ciU, or a thousand
red niggers shall eat dirt-I won't forget this
oi ye ~ said Nick, graspng my hand with a
vice-like grip.
Mrs. Castle, who had tainted at the first
shock, now recovered; and by her husbands
directions put up few bounds of dried beef
and corn pones; 'for,'' said Nick, swell have
no time TO stop for cooking, and this will be a
long chase. or Pm mistaken. The chief be-
longs over toward the mountains.''
In the-course of two hours, Nick, by send
ing off expresses, had collected fifteen hardy
froDtiersmen, who were worth two companies
of such trash as Uncle Sam sends TO guard our
borders. Furnished each with a led horse
besides those we rode-and carrying provis-
ions enough for three or four days, also plenty
OF ammunition, we started at galop, seven
teen well armed men, all told, and not one of
lis who hadn't smelt powder and seen the color
of hot blood before.
As the red devils had two hours the start of
us, and had gone at full speed we did not cal
culate on catching them before night; but the
moon was full, and their trail was plain; so
with the aid of our fresh horses we hoped to
reach them sometime in the night, or shortly
after they got to climber Nick said, for
there was range OF woodland stretching away
south OF the Ozarks, which they seemed to be
heading for.
ssDo you think they'll camp to night p, i
asked of the old ranger, with his eyes fixed
on the trail, he galloped with me at the head
of the little column. go
"Never campi They know I'll be after
'em, and some of 'em has seen me before 20
he muttered.
We never drew rein until near nghtfalf,
when we came to shallow and sluggish stream
at the edge of the timber. The water was
still muddy where the Indians had crossed, and
by this We knew we had gained upon them.
Here we let our animals breathe and quehch
their thirst and we also shifted saddles
to the led horses preparatory to pushing on
with renewed speed. An understanding as to
the manner of attack, was also come to. AS
we we'll knew that the chief would be apt TO
kill his captive rather than permit her rescue,
the order was to charge directly for him, and
TO kill him, and all directly around him, at the
very first opening for shot, long or short.
We did not tarry long by the river side. In
less than fifteen minutes we were again in the,
saddle. But we were soon bothered. The
cursed red skins had divided off into three di-
visions, and we knew not with which the fair
captive had been taken. Our force was too
small to separate; the devils had, evidently,
seen us, and knew this. Nick was evidently
in quandary. He rode little way along the
central train, then returned and took that
which led to the left, and which showed marks
of being made by smaller party than either
of the others.
4 shout from his lips caused us to gallop up
10 his side where he had refined in some four
or five hundred yards from the river.
s.God bless the gall She's chip of the old
block he cried, as he pointed to small
strip torn from her dress, which she had evil
dently dropped in the path, unseen by her
captors.
We now drove the spurs into our horses,
and dashed on at the top of their speed, for
night was near, and we hoped to overtake the
hounds before it got too dark to draw a clear
bead upon them. But it was in vain; night
gathered with it's shadows and forced us to
ride more slowly, lest we should lose the trail,
and vet we neither saw or heard them. About
midnight. the trail which we were on was
ioined By a larger one on our right, evidently
those who had separated at the river, and who
had only made deteur to lead us astray :
1t was q lonesome ride now. Our orders
were to keep perfect silence, ana nothinS.
could be heard except the trampof our horses,
or the sudden rush of some frightened beast
or bird, as we rode along.
On we kept through the long still night-on
until the day broke, when we increased our
speed once more. The sun had just risen, when
our leader suddenly checked his horse, and
raised his hand as a warning of caution, and
sign that the eneny were IN sight. We In
staptly drew up, and he rode back.
s.There's prairie ahead, and they're cros-
sing it - said he. .s1 just got glimpse of
them, Change your saddles again, tighten
your girths, and fasten the spare horses here.
w don t want to be buthered with them nowtt''
We obeyed these orders, while he rode eau
tiously forward again to recoDnoitre.
He soon returned, and reported that in the
centre of the prairie ahead, there was cot
ton wood isand-or clump of trees of twoEer
three acres-and that the Indians were just
skirting past the edge of it.
ssWhen they're clean by,' said he, s'we can
split after 'em full lick, for it will hide us from
'em, until we're up to it, and then, boys, do
your best for old Nick, just as he'd do for you,
if any of you were in the like trouble"
None of us needed that appeaii all we wan
te d was to get in range of the fends ahead OF
MS. 1t was not more than five minutes before
he motioned for us to come on ttyet to me It
seemed nearer an hour.
As we moved out from the timber, we saw
that there was about mile between us and the
cotton. wood island, and not red skin in sight,
tbouph we knew that they were- but little
ways beyond it.
With a loose rein, and spurs to The flank
but without word we now rode on right Tor
tba island. Not three minutes had elapsed,
ms hasora we were in the patch of timber, from
the ueeDf further edge of which we could see the
indians about a quarter of mile,or hts
tie more-in advance, Struggling along, as It
their beasts were tired, or they believed