The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1866-01-11
CHASED BY WILD STATIONS.

! by heaven tney are upon US eA
claimed Ruxton, as he suddenly brough
up his blooded bay, almost by the im
petuosity of the movement, throwing th
noble courser on his launches.
"Who-what-Indians ?" hastily ques
toned his companions, Baldwin, Kins
and Cooper, of the train, and who hap
pened to be riding over the grass covered
prairie at canter, by the side of the
Texan guide, Ruxton.
"Hist do you not hear them ?"
cloud neighing and shrill cries of pair
came to the ears of the listeners, accom-
panied by the regular and heavy thud o.
a cavalcade, wild with passion in this
their rutting season. The very earth on
which the guide aad his companions
stood, although perhaps half dozen miles
from where the hot blooded, angered, and
fighting beasts were destroying each 9th
er as they few over the PLAIN, shook un'
der them as if an earthquake was spread
ing vibrating in the rock-ribbed globe,
and was about to open assures and swal
low them on the instant
"They are moving this way-for the
water !" cried Ruxton, while shade Of
anxiety overspread his manly, sun bronzed
face.
"Is there danger p asked Cooper, in a
low, nervous voice.
"Danger p echoed Ruxton, "aye, there
is and we must meet it. If these mus.
tangs should continue in their present
course, not 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"
"We must, if possible, avert all danger
from the women and children" said King,
who except the guide, seemed to be the
most self possessed Of the four horsemen
"What snail we do? How proceed ?"
These questions were addressed to the
guide, noble specimen Of mankind-tall
and erect as an Indian, with dark, perc.
ing eyes of the eagle-eyes that could
look squarely at the sun iu its meridian
glory without being dazzled.
While King was yet speaking, Ruzton
the guide, slid from his horse and scan
ned the ground closely. For upward OF
minute-an hour it seemed to his COM
pauions-he looked at the ground and
then suddenly returned to his blooded
bay and sprang on his back.
"What shall we do? How proceed p
echoed the guide. "Our position is dan
gerous we must lose no time in idle con-
lecturer. There is an arroyo within two
miles of the train-the only one that can
be reached. IF we can cross it in season,
before the incensed devils can reach it,
and place the wagons around the women
and their young ones as barricade, we
may avert the danger. Hark hear that
thunder of their hoofs There must be a
thousand of them! Yes, they are max
ing for the NOTES You, Cooper and
Baldwin, ride back to the train-remem-
ber the lives of all that are dear to you
may depend on your driving home your
rowels into your horses fanks-and turn
their heads towards the arroyo. Cross ii
without delay. Leave wagon trans,
versely in the crooked path on this side
1t will interrupt the progress of the
beasts. Away
The men indicated turned their ami
mails heads toward the eastward, and the
next moment were flying over the Prairie
as if on the wings of the wind.
"King," cried Ruxton, "a herd oi
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 stal
lions are following them, mad-so mac
that they are even now fighting each othe1
indiscriminatcly-bitirg ard tearing eacs
other to pieces. Look to your rife. Yol
have cool head, steady hand and clear
eye We must, if possible, although the
task is but hopeless, endeavor to ehecl
their progress. These beasts are led b.
captains, so to speak, whom they instinc
lively obey. You may mark then
readily. They are the largest, and no
bIest looking of the herd They take th,
lead When the herd appear in sigh
shoot that one down that shall indicate
while [ do like service to the other
Do not stop to see him fall, but turn you
animals head toward the train, and max
him fly In this | will follow your ex
ample. Do not forget your weapon a
you GO If We shall succeed in shooting
down the leaders we shall gain minute
time and when they resume thei
course, if they gain upon us before W
reach the arroyo, our horses must tax
the gulch on the fly. 1t is not more tha
fifteen or sixteen feet in width. Once o
the other side, we may calculate on safety
if not, God alone can help us, as the win,
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 th
prairie, great black moving mass, tn
van guard of the infuriated boasts-snor
ing and shrieking, their teeth meantim
swapping with rage. They were gallloI
ing at tremendous pace, and as Rul
ton had predicted, in a direct line fo