The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1863-03-13

ses, or they'll down among 'em fore we know
il. We must snooze kecrful tonight"
"Them cussed ,peaks are alters about
Jist sich a night as this ten thousand Of 'em
came down on me and Dumpy Dick. Poor
Dick he went under that night.
"who war Dumpy Dick"
"He war some, he war. Dick had done
some tall ha'r rasin, in his time. He could
lift greaser's hair as easy as he could chaw
tobacco, and reckon as how he could DO
that. Yer SEQ, me and Dick war on our way
to the States when we got overlook by jist
sich storm. We couldn't gita stick OF
wood to save our skins, so we jist kivered up,
locked into each other and bored into the
snow, when we went to snoozin' beautiful.
Long in the night, happened to open my
peppers, and we'll thar, If I didn't see sights
then skin me, that's all. There war thirteen
thousans four hundred and nincty.seven
woolevs jist comm down onto US. "Quick,
Dick" sez I; "we're in fur itand putty thun.
derin soon, cause we're treed." Dick didn't
need no hurryin'. cause he hurried things.
But we's sich fools. both on us, that we did
not bring our blankets or shootin' irons with
us. made for tree, and got inter it, with
out waitin' to look behind me. Dick came
up along side of me, jist as we herd the BIAS
ted skunks' jaws snappin' like steel traps be-
low us. Wal that war desprit. Whougs
twas awful! We soon found wcs going to
freeze to death. knowed Dick'd have to
20 under, as he's tenderer nor l. tried to
keep him talkin', but hc stopped purity soon'
sayin' as how he's sleepy. Iknow'd he's
goin' then; shook him and hollered, but he
couldn't speak, and the fust thing knowed,
over he rolled, like a log, and tumbled down.
I tried to each him, but like to fell myself,
and couldn't do it. Ten minutes arter there
want nothin' left Of Dumpy Dich but few
bones, which tho wolves were chawin' and
ouarrolin' over. stood it till morning, when
the wolves left; then let 60, and dropped
like an icicle. | commenced beatin' the tree
and turnin' summersets, till l got my blood
circulatin'. The varmints had made clean
sweep of everything. They'd cat up the hos
ses, 'cludin' the beaverskins, and l had to
take home on foot. bout the greatest fool
as ever tramped from the States"
"Hopo them wolves won't be round to.
night" remarked Bidden.
1--WE ken keep 'em of with the fro If
they does"
This was all that was said at this time.
A few minutes afterwards Bidden replenished
the FIRE, wrapped himself up in his blanket,
and lay down for the night. Ellis did the
same, and in half an hour they were both
asleep.
Although. as has been seen. they were both
experienced hunters, they had committed a
sad mistake upon this occasion. About mid
night, when both were sound asleep, and the
ere was nearly extinguished, band OF sava-
ges, with appalling yells, rushed over the
embankments OF snow and fired on them.
Both were wounded--Bidden mortally. Ellis,
with an almost supernatural quickness OF
movement, sprang clean over the snow wall,
and made OF in the darkness, before the say
ages could divine his intention. Pursuit was
useless, as the darkness was impenetrable; ;
so the inhuman wretches turned and scalped
the miserable Bidden as ho was dying. This
done, they remained on the spot until morn
ing. when they departed with the animals Of
the ill-iated trappers.
The particulars Of Ellis adventures after
this night he never knew. There were por-
tions of it that sometimes presented them.
selves like the shadows Of dream. He re-
membered the night surprise, after which
followed long dark period.
When the Indians fred upon him. one Of
their bullets glanced over his forehead in
such manner as to break small portion OF
the skull. causing il to press inward upon
the brain. This sudden dart Of pain was
probably the cause OF his making such re
markable leap, ard escaping in the darkness
Do that as il may, the wound made hnn
crazy
And now comes long. dark and dismal
experience. Like wild beast hc wandered
over the prairie, as strong and fleet as the
buffalo. He took fearful vengeance on his
enemies. Guided by tho unerring instinct
,ha. seems TO lead the dcmented, he appear
ed to walk into danger without ever suffering
tho leas. consequence. Several times he ap-
pcared in the villages Of the Crows slew
numbers Of them. and then made OF to the
mountains. where Il was certain destruction
to follow him. Many Indians, in that vicin'
ity, came to regard him ut last, as q super
natural being, whom Il would DO vain to at
tempt 10 destroy. Sometimes his stalwart
form would be seen gliding as swift as the
wind over the prairie; and then for weeks
nothing would be heard Of him, until BIO