Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1864-08-20
TALES AND SKETCHES.

\ TEXAN ADVENTURE.

Among the many captains who obtained
notoriety for their bravery and skill in In
dian lighting, few were farther known, or
better liked, than Captain Lewis. Legs
Lewis" rs he was famil!ury called hy his
band was very tall thin man, standing at
least six feet four in his stocking feet; and
his legs from his spareness of make, looking
unusually long. and these obtained for him
the sobriquct by which he was known far
and wide. This length OF limb, too, had
made him marked man 10y his tawny foes,
an there were few tumanchc warrior who
had been tor any time upon the war-pnth
but had svyn Legs urging his horse along
To lead hi, company in their pursuit.
Legs Lewis Hangers were scouting near
tuc A,ad-watrrs of the Rio san Marcos, ono
OF tie largest tributaries of the Rio Guada-
lgpc, when the following hard gallop was
performed by the captain:
For some weeks the hunters, in their dai-
Is excursions after game, had come across
no trail, or "iniuu sign and, sUppo,iug
that the Indians were on the 0uttulo-grounds
farther to the northwest, or else attacking
the MvNicons in the state of Cohahuila. Legs
concluded that he might turn the troop
over for a few days to his lieutenant. whilst
he run down To SyLuin, a town on the Qua
da!upc river about huy miles to the south
west, where he had business.
The sun WAS some hours hugh on this OC-
to, t. morning before Legs Aad finished ty
ing to his saddle his sparc'blanket, his tin
cup. which served sometimes to dip up wa
:yr from Il stream with, or to boil his coffee
in, and little wallet. which contained an
ounce or two of parched coffee pounded in
Il piece of buckskin, pinch of salt, few
red capsicum pods, and some strips Of jerk
ed vcnisuu-Which Spartan fare he intcnd-
ed to some tor his supper and breakfast,
hoping to reach Scguin about the middle of
the following day. Lcg- Lewis was a hardy,
temperate young man, and he paid far more
attention To the loading of his IcvOlYcrS,
and their extra cylinders, than he did in
provisioning himself for hisGourncy. His
last orders given, and IA shake of the hand
all round to his comrades, he mounted, and,
holding a soutn-wcstcr,y course, struck out
across the pruiuc, hoping to make the Qua
daiupc timber before suu-dowu, where he
could build his camp fire and then, s&irtinG
the forest, the next day he knew would
bring him 20 Scguin.
About two hours before sundown he
struck the timber on a small creek which
Joined the main forest ON the Guadalupe;
and in turning point ot this wood, which
stretched ont some little distance into the
prairie, he came suddenly upon war party
OF COmancheS, about one hundred strong
Legs saw that he was discovered; the same
instant that his eyes fell upon the painted
warriors, Il score OF their black eyes were
turned upon him. His peril flashed through
his mind no quicker than did his resolution
how 1t should best be met. To retreat was
almost To ensure his capture and death for
If Ittl lII- tII1 Ina
had ridden him long distance, and he
doubted whether he could escape his pur-
,uers in fair race across the open prairie
Tor the two hours which yet remained of
daylight Ii lac could only elude the red
skins tll the sun went Gown, he had no
doubt that, us there was no twilight he
should hg able 20 elect his escape easily
enough when once 10 became dark,
The timber upon the creek MAS too mar
row ~ utvr him amy hope ot cnncealmcuI
and he SAW ut once that hls one chance dc
pended upon his reaching the great forest
un the Guadalupe; once ma shat, aud tue
sul below tht horizon, lac Was too good a
Woudsmsu tu care tuy the yelling Indians
iu hls I,ar The Indians, however were
between Lim und thv forest of the uuada
lupc, aud o. make du,uur 10 "luuud
them, Was hazardous, iur uc had uo doubt
ihr patty would divide, su that whilst oue
division chased him upon the prairie, the
other would keep bytury. 90 cut hlm on nom
lls shelter; be- bad uul bad lu do With Ia
dians 80 lnug aiIhuat knowing how readily
they Woall dnlue h.s ,ut,uliuus. All these
thoughts, which take time to dreuhg
dashed instantly lhluugh thv brain ui man
Who Was constantly eApusod 10 danger aud
aetuslnlnsd 20 rely upau hiuaslt Coz vA1li,
ssilDn, nnd hs sas 'n an instant ihe right
engnifld him AZ ihe isairl oi 4 garps of
tytan iisngsfs, ahn snuld scaTcsly ~ "a
lseied a. q, l'nHs. uf laf llaua his ulen i.rgs
eialij lafpei his hafts sldesays 81 ihs III
dl,as ssyei eis hsd = lhosgh bsekoulns