The Shasta courier., 1866-01-06
COURIER.
Chased by Wild stations.


"By heavens, they are upon US ~ ex-
claimed Buxton as he suddenly brought up
his blooded bay, almost by the impetuosity
of movement, throwing the noble course On
| his launches
| Who-what-India ?' hastily ques.
toned his companions, Baldwin, King and
| Cooper, of the train, and who happened to
| be riding over the grass covered prairie at a
canter, by the side of the Texan guide, Rux.
| ton.
- Hist do you not hear them?"
Loud neighings and shrill cries of pain
came to the ears of the listners, accompan-
led by tie regular and heavy thud of
cayallada, wild with passion in this their
rutting season. The very earth on which
the guide and companions stood, although
perhaps half dozen miles from where the
hot blooded, angered and fighting beasts
were destroying each other as they flew over
the plain shook under them, as if an earth
quake was spreading and vibrating in the
rock ribbed globe, and was about to open
great assures and swallow them on the in
instant.
'Thev are moving this way-for the
water !" cried Ruxton, while shade of
anxiety overspread his manly, sun bronzed
| face.
"Is there danger?" asked Cooper, in
| low nervous voice.
Danger !" echoed Buxton, "aye, is
there; and we must meet it. If these mus
tangs sheud continue in their present
course, hot only our own but the lives of
the women and children in the trains will
be sacrificed. These animals in this season
are more terrible than the same number of
tigers hungering for human blood ~
IL I
from the women and. children" said King.
who, except the guide, seemed to be the most
self possessed Of the four horsemen. What
shall we do? How proceed
These questions were addressed to the
guide, a noble specimen of mankind-tall
and erect as an Indian, with the dark
look squarely at the sun in its meridian
glory without being dazzled.
While King was yet speaking, Euxton.
the guide. slid from his horse, and scanned
the ground closely For upward of minute
AN hour it seemed to his companions-he
looked at the ground and then suddenly
returned to his blooded hay and sprang on
his back.
"What shall we do? How proceed ?''
echoed the guide. "Our position is danger
Gus !; but we must lose no time in idle con &c.
lures There is an arroyo within two miles
of the train-the only one that can now be
reached. If we can cross in season, before
the incensed devils can reach it, and by
placing the wagons around the women and
their young ones as a barricade, we may
avert the danger. Hark hear the thunder
of their hoofs. There must be thousand
of them yes they are making for the
NOTES You, Cooper and Baldwin, ride
back to the train-remember the lives of all
that are dear to you may depend on your
driving home your rowels into your horses
fianks-and turn their heads towards the
arroyo. Cross it without delay. Leave a
wagon transversely in the crooked path on
this side. 1t will interrupt the progress Of
the beasts. Away"
The men indicated turned their animals
heads to the eastward, and the next moment
were flying over the prairie as if on the
wings Of the wind.
King" cried Buxton, " herd of mares
passed this way this morning. They have
deserted the stations, as is their wont at this
season. and must have crossed the arroyo at
sunrise. The stations are following them.
mad-so mad that they are even now fight
ing each other indiscriminately- biting and
| tearing each other to pieces Look at YOUR
rifle. You have cool head. steady hand
and a clear eye. We must, if possible
although the task is but hopeless. endeayor
to check their progress. These beasts are
led by captains so to speak, whom they
instinctively obey. You may remark them
readily. They are the largest, strongest and
noblest looking of the herd. They take the
lead. When the herd appear in sight shoot
that one down that shall indicate, while
do like service for the other. Do not stop to
see him fall, but turn your animals head
towards the train, and make him fy. In
this l will follow your example. Do not for.
get to load your weapon as you 90. If we
succeed in shooting down the leaders we
shall gain minutes time; and when they
resume their course, if they gain upon us be-
fore we reach the arroyo. your horse must
take the gulch on the fly. 1t is not more
| than fifteen or sixteen feet in width Once
on the other side, we may calculate on safety,
| if not. God alone can help us, as the wind
| is now against our firing the grass"
81 will obey implicitly" replied King, in
quiet tones.
Hardly had these words been uttered.
when there appeared on rise in the prairie
great black moving mass, heyanguard of
the infuriated beasts-snorting and shrek
ing, their teeth meantime swapping with
| rage. They were galloping at tremendous
| pace, and as Ruxton had predicted. in a
| direct line for them.
..Had we none but ourselves to take care
Off said the guide with forced camness, as
he nut a fresh cap on the nipple of his rife,
we could very easily avoid this avalanche
of madness by riding to the northward or
southwark and so by an obique course get
to the rear. Ha they see us'' he sudden.
| " exclaimed .'What magnificent sight !
See. King, see They are in line, and
ready like trained cavalry horses to charge
upon us. No more fighting among them
selves now! They have an enemy in front
Are you ready They are about to plunge
upon us Take. that great sorrel on the
left. | will kill this white one. What a
splendid ANIMAL There is not such another
one in Texas, l would not take thousand
dollars for him. Fire y
simultaneously the explosion of the caps
l foJlowod hv Tho ranort of the rifles, broke