American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1866-10-24
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VOLUME 3.
SCAR CHEEK.
Msuy are the wild scenes tina. havo'oc

great chain of mountains that stretch from
= tho frozen sea to the ;furthermost point of
Ae'Sonth America. - Some of these, with sin
RuIar peryersion, have. crept into print,
while others more vivid remain to be. re-
corded. a4sissssia.as s
sset II is cur r'purpose, in this sketch, to re-
cord an incident that occurred on the
yprairies nearly thirty years ago, aud
i which poserfully illustrates the habits
and manners of life OF that. singular race
who sIead almost their entire existence
beyond the pale of ciyiliz ,tiop.
'aa-s One day, as might was drawing on,
single person, in the garb Of nater,
was riding over the prairie, ops the back
OF a mule. A glance at the person would
have excited wonder and inquiry that he,
of all others, should have iaken up the
profession Of trappcr. lie was young, of
delicate features, with fair compls xion,
and with a countcnance that bespoke an
eiucation aud refinement such as would
have made him a man of mark anywhere
among civilized people. But there was
an expression that was visible on close
scrutiny, that ,howed that h,Ps bad for
saken that heart. Such a look Of unut-
terabie wo and sadness as marked that
countenance would have haunted man
to his dying day. Certainly, there had
been some powerful cause tuat had driven
this young man iuto the wilds of the Far
West.
The day was quite warm, and the gait
aud slowness of the mule showed that he
was wearied with long tramp. The ri
der was lost in deep revcrie, aud was
almost Unconscious OF what was occurring
around him. Now and then he raised his
head and looked around hiD, as IT to
make sure that he was not steallsily APP
>proached by his ever yigilant enemies,
the Indians.
"l can travel a few miles before
1T becomes durk," he soliiloqu zed,
looking up TO the sky. {" lleigho! yen.
der's some one -
Directly ahead he saw a single man on
foot, walking forward in the direction he
was travelling. Recognizing him at a
glance as white man, he quickcned the
pace of bis mule, aud alsJ shouting to
him TO attract lis attention, he soon
overlook him.
The latter parsonage was carrying gun
on his shoulder, had pistols in hs belt,
aud was over six feet in height. lie had
restless, dark eyes,a lithe,muscular frame;
but what identified him at once among
other men was large, broad scar that
traversed the entire length of his right
check. 1t must have been fearful wound,
for it was of such depth and breadth, that
it could not in the least be concealed by
his beard, which was rather luxurlant th IN
otherwise.
The moment our young friend came up
he regretted the meeting. There was
q, sinister aud forbidding look about the
man that Impressed him most unfavora-
bly,: but powerful as was the cause that
Danished him from the dwelling places ol
civilized mcu, he still craVed co npanIun-
ship III this great solitude, and would
have sought the company OF almost any
man OF his own race.
"a fnc day, my FRIEND observed the
young man, as h. reined up his mule oe-
side the stranger aud began conversiDg
with him.
Yes, rather warm replied the hunter,
as he ran his eye over him; especially
when man has tramped all day, al |
have
You must have come considerable
distanceP
Reckon have; I've scarcely stopped
since sun-up, and its now about surdowp,
you see l'vc had powerful chance of
putting few miles behind me-
Anything of lndianss g
Not sign all day seem to be scarce
in these parts.
They had now resumed their journey
and were travelling side by side, both 60
ing slowly, however.
sStranger,' resumed Scar Cheek; : 1
don't know how it is with you, bat 1t is
just about my camping time
Ii is past mine | should have halted
before had not seen you, and been anx-
ious for your company
Biiged to you, SIR
Shall we stop herep
sNo; little way on is the head of the
Pawnee Fork; that's about the purtiest
place knows on for camp. If IT'S all
the same to you, we'll camp there.
sAin't you tired 7 l. should be glad
TO walk and let you ride my mule
.Oh, 20; Im used to that kind of work.
Thus conversing in friendly manner,
they journeyed on until they reached the
forks of the Pawnec, when they halted and
made their preparations for the nights en-
campment. Wood and fuel we're collect
ed the mule was staked close at hand,
= and they sat down TO their evening meal
on the best of terms.
Far different would have been the feel
ings of these two individuals toward each
other, had either been aware of the others
identity. q. .+
The evening meal was finished, when
Scar Cheek remarked ~:
8 1t seems we are not alone in these
parts; yonder is q chap who don't seem to
Fancy u.s.
Looking in the direction indicated, a
single man was observed, rife in hand,
.reconuoitering the couple, as if not Alto
gethsr satisfied with their appearance.
He circled around over tho prairie, as if
y undecided whether the hsnters we're