East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1860-06-28
FINN the Saturday Evening Post
THR MOUNTAINEER.
* EDWARD 8. ELLIS.

train set on from Independence, Nilsson
ri, for Oregn. This was a great under
taking at tit recent day. There were
hundreds ofmiles to be traversed, fierce
storms to be encountered, and numerous
savages to bI passed ere the destination
could be rea&ed
The company numbered about hun
dred, of whom nearly one-half were men
Among!the later were comprised several
hunters who accompanied the expedition
in the capacityof guides. One of these
was that renowned mountaineer, Kit
Carson, then a young man, but whose
daring exploits had already won him
fame throughout the Far West. His
companions, although much his seniors,
all looked uponhim as their leading spir-
it, and instincttvsly gave way to him in
every emergency.
The company followed the overland
trail, leading alo,g the bank of the Platte,
clear to its soure in the Black Hills, and
with such guides and stout hearts had
little fear Fol the first day or two,
their journey I'D them through the
country of the fricnily Delawares and
Wyandotts, where they were subjected
only to the loss Il few of their posses
sions, through tho pilfering propensities
of the savages.
Finally they ertered upon the broad
ocean of prairie, where the only human
beings they saw besides themselves were
few struggling Indians in the distance.
Now and then vast herds of buffalo
crossed their path, and innumerable
droves of horses thundered over the
plains at sight of such unwelcome visit
ors.
These sights, as might be expected,
occasioned much wonder to the emigrants
but were unheeded by the guides. Car
son generally rode short distance in
advance of the train, his watchful eye
constantly sweeping over tha horizon for
"sgns," and his soul alive to the respon-
sibility which rested upon him. When
fairly within dangerous territory, he
never failed to exercise the most extreme
ca alton. Every night the sentinels were
set aud as much preparation made, as
though an attack was certain before
morning.
One night, when far upon their jour
ney, they struck their camp upon small
stream, which had its rise near the source
Of the Columbia. a cold, dismal storm
set in during the afternoon, rendering
the travelling exceedingly tedious and
difficult. The rain poured down inces.
sanity, the ground became soft and
spongy, and darkness coming on early,
they halted sooner than was their custom.
Thus far they had been remarkably for
tunate, for not hostile demonstration
had been made by the indians. AS might
be expected, an undue sense of security
came over them. They believed the
savages were intimidated by their supe-
rior strength and numbers, and would be
sure not to molest them, as long as they
remained together. Upon the night in
question, they kindlcd their camp fires,
gathered merrily around them, and deter
mined, in spite Of the cold, dismal rain,
to make pleasant time OF it.
Shortly after these preparations had
been completed, Kit Carson called a
young man aside.
"Strikes me-" said he, in an undertone,
"you're going it rather high, amt your"
"Oh--I don't know as we are, Kit;
you see what horrid night it is, and
there is no harm, is there, in making our
selves as comfortable as possible.
"No; don't know as there is, but what
about the reds? I've concluded to put
an extra force on tonight to keep watch"
"Of course, am perfectly willing to
bear my part, but it does not strike me,
friend Carson, that there is any appre-
hension of danger"
"Shouldn't wonder now If you did
think so, but 'sposio' tell you there's
going to be some tall times in these parts,
before morning"
.What do YOU mean?" asked the man
in tones of alarm.
"Oh, nothin', only if you want to save
your ha'r, you've got to fight for it,"
Carson soon explained that he, in con-
junction with his brother hunters, had
detected unmstakable "signs" of Indians.
They had appeared in sight during the
day, and, especially in the afternoon,
their actions had been such as to leave
no doubt of their intentions. Favored
by the inky darkness and storm, they
would assuredly make an attack as soon
as the unsuspicious emigrants were locked
in slumber.
So perfect was Carson's knowledge of
Indian warfare, and so consummate his
skill, that he not only made known the
precise time when the onslaught would
be attempted, but satisfied himself of the
manner III which the approach would be
made.
Some dozen men were left in charge
of the animals TO prevent stampede
during the confusion, and to guard the
females and children, in case the savsges
should change their mode of attack. "A
hunter then, with one or two compan-
ions, passed few hundred yards up
stream to prevent surprise in that dircc-
ton, while Carson, with thirty well
armed men, descended the bed Of the
creek, and waited for the attack that he
was satisfied would soon be made. Here,
hour after hour, they remained, invisible
to each other, aud hearing no sound but
the monotonous pattcr OF the rain, Car
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