Democrat and sentinel. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1853-1866, 1860-04-25
Mlisrellaneons.
FIR RE-FEEaD OF THE PRAIRIE


The haze of Indian Summer is on the land
| scape, and the face of nature begins to as
sumo tho cheerless aspect of autumn, the
leaves falling before every breeze which rus
tleth through the forest, and the tall waving
grass being already dead upon the prairie.
Out on one of those extensive buffalo ran
ges, which lie between the Missouri and the
Rocky Mountains, far beyond the regular
/ footsteps of civilization, In an unsettled re-
| gion so vast that you would require days to
| reach even a log cabin of pioneer there is
scene about to occur which may be worthy
of your notice.
| The stout and finely proportioned form of
trapper is seen in bold relief against the
western sky, even after the ruddy tints of the
! retreating sun had vanished from the clouds
in that direction, for he stands upon small
mound leaning against his rifle, and patting
the head of his gaunt but intelligent dog,
while he looks earnestly away in the direction
whittier the sun had departed.
Could you yourself ascend the knoll, you
would perceive that there is faint streak Of
light Oh the western horizon, with a silver
edge; and it rapidly increases in size, as the
| old hunter gazes upon it, until even a person
unacouainted with the Wild scenes of the
West would have no hesitation in declaring
the prairie on fire.
Immediately under this advancing wall of
fame and curling smoke are dark and rapid
ly retreating forms, bounding onward and
upward, till a portion of their outlines are
distinctly seen against the ruddy light. Even
as you begin TO realize that these furious ad
vancing shapes are troops of buffalo and 9TH
er wild animals of the prairie. you also de-
tect the first sounds of their heavy tread. and
their noise increases every momer in volume
till it seems as if wild tornado is sweeping
down to destroy all things before it.
For several moments the trapper regards
the coming destroyer, with calm look of
| unconcern on his features, and then he looks
on every side, as if to see how large a num-
Der of animals are fleeing before the peril.
But he has brought his gaze up to the spot
where he is standing, has scanned the whole
space in front of the fire, his quick eye rests
upon the form of an Indian at no great dis
tance on his left hand, who With his rifle
against his shoulder, has sighted huge buff
falo, which is approaching at full speed.
In an instant the furiously advancing ami
NAL is near enough, and then there is a sharp
report. The buffalo does not fall, but he
reels and stumbles with one leg, in manner
which indicates that the leg is broken. An
other report from a second barrel and the
huge animal falls quivering on the plain, the
bullet having struck him in the forehead.
The Indian sets up shout of triumph and
is fastening towards his game, when his eye
rests upon the form of the trapper, who stands
SO unmoved and notwithstanding the
very statue of defiance. A wild exclamation
of alarm escapes him, and he comes to halt
still gazing upon the objee. of his terror. and
appearing to have lost all fears of the de-
stroying element in the greater fear which
the presence of that being ar oused.
Down comes the wall of fla me, and, fleeing
before it, those countless multitudes of ami
mails of various kinds, all sheering off to the
right or left of the knoll and believing loud
ly as they proceed. The Indian, too, by wa
wing the blanket on the end of his rife, has
managed to split the rushing herd, and tits
not long ere all of them have passed-but the
fire is close behind them.
For one moment the Indian gazes upon
the motionless form of the hunter, and then,
violently startled by the proximity of the fire,
he draws huge knife, disembowels the buff
falo, and ensconces himself therein.
Down comes the whirlwind of fire, with
the speed of race horse, and soon sweeps
over the scene, leaving bare and blackened
soil behind. But the Indian comes exul-
tingly forth from the snug retreat, when the
destroyer has passed and again looks toward
the trapper.
That person is still, as calm and unmoved
as ever, though the flames are at the very
root of the knoll, leaping and cracking and
roaring like an ocean storm. An instant they
play ftfully around the edge of the knoll, and
then leap up in the centre, and dash across
the spot where the trapper Is standing, envel-
oping him in their folds. A moment later as
the fire sweeps on, the trapper is seen adyan-
cling over the SCARED prairie, toward the In
dian, and is ere long in his presence.
1.-The Fire -Fiend of the prairie, muttered
the red man, in voice of terror, and he falls
upon his face.
.Hal you know me-perhaps you have
met me before?"
..No, no, sir" but for ten years no other
name has been so much an object of terror
and astonishment to our people. You have
been fearfully avenged, spirit of the murder
red Fordr'
Listen, Decotahi am not the spirit of
Hiram Ford. the trapper, but Hiram Ford
himself have not been avenging my own
murder, but that of my wives and babies. /
was not slain as your people supposed-my
wounds healed, and lived, and am now be-
fore you in my true guise. But my ven-
geance is appeased, and for favour from you
or your people will forever bury the hat
chet"
land that one?" asked the Indian, raising
his face, and gazing upon the man before him,
with look of inexpressable awe.
Il wish to be conducted to my son who
was spared. know that he was not reared
among your people, else would have effec-
ted his rescue long ago. He was sent to a
distant tribe. But where? Where is he at