The Shasta courier., 1864-01-09
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PRAIRIE LIFE OUR WEST.

Although much has been written on prai
rie life, many wild adventure, and many
wild scene has been left undescribed Poor
Buxton. who died at St. Louis. and whose
highly entertaining and valuable work. en-
titled Scenes in the Far West" is enrich
ed with many story and scene, which to the
people of the East seem like tales from the
Arabian Nights. There is much originality
about the manner and habits of the trapper
and frontiersmen. that one is struck with
their peculiar language or mode of expressing
themselves, as we'll as their singular costume.
They are, in fact, as distinct and marked a
class Us sailors, and have as many odd and
quaint sayings.
1t is generally the commission of crime.
some disappointment in life. or native 1--we
of adventure and peril, that makes these men
desert the comforts Of civilized society for the
wild old haunts of the red man. We can
imagine the terrible reaction when the storm
of passion wreck of disappointed hopes
sweeps over the sensitive soul, and leaves
desolation-a ruiz of the former man. 1t is
misfortunes like these which scorch and dry
up the finest feeiings-some mortal wrong or
injustice committed by others towards them.
IN revenging which they had been compelled
to leave their homes and become exles in the
far West
story is told of an extraordinary meeting
and an act of revenge, said to have taken
place, many years ago. on the forks of the
Pawnee. party of four, who had been
rowing for many years in the West, all stran
gers to each other, were one day accidentally
thrown together, when a strange and bloody
scene enSued. These men presented strik-
ing contrast in feature. The Youngest was
deiicately made, with long light hair and
blue eyes; his exposure had given him rich
brown complexion. He vas of medium
stature, and made for strength and agility
There was dark void oEer his features that
told that with him the light Of hope had gone
out He was travelling On a mule with his
rife in his gun leather at the bow of his sad
die, when he overlook a man on foot, with
gun on his shoulder and pistols in his belt,
who was over six foot, and had a deep. wide
scar on the right cheek. As day was draw
ing to a close they proposed to camp. and
brought up at the end of the fork Of the Paw
nee. Shortly after they had camped, man
was seen reconnoitering them with rife in
his hand, and having satisfied himself that
tis sign was friendly. be came modify into
the camp, and after looking sternlv at the
two men, was asked by Scar Cheek to ''come
to the ground" He was stout. muscular
man, much older than the other Two. with
deep. habitual scowl, long. black. matted
hair, and very nnrrepossessing ieatnres.-
Some commonplace remarks were mede. but
no questions we're asked by either party.
1t was near twilight when the young man.
who had gathered some buffalo chips to make
a fire with. suddenly perceived a man ap-
proachiug them on mule he came steadily
and fearlessly on the camp. and casting
look on the three. said Took We for Indi-
ans - then glancing at the deer-skin dress of
the trio. be observed: 8 Old leathers-some
time out, eh?n The man was about fifty
years old, and his gray hairs conirasted most
strangely With his dark, bronzed features.
upon which care and misfortune we're strong
ly marked lie was only half clad by the
miserable skins he were. and as be dismonnt-
ed Scar Cheek asked, Where from ~
:. Fr~m the Kaw, Kansas he replied, cast
ing down 0 bundle Of otter skins. After un-
saddling and stalking out his mule he brought
his rife to the ground, he looked at the
printing. and shaking the powder in the pan,
added few more grains to it; then la:ing
. dry skin over it to keep it dry, he shut the
pan.
The group watched the old .trapper, who