Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1869-11-25
A RIDE FOR LIFE.

had one fall, when ] and Seth Hear
were hunting upon the south brancI
, Of the Yell0wstUne-away up, wher
{ the prairies are so broad anc lon,
that they seem to be without end
twas up there, boys, that l cam,
the nearest losing my scalp that
ever did in my life and this wal
the way that it came about.
You see that ! and Seth did {
little bit Of business besides trap
ping, up in them parts that time
Before we started, said Seth says
he: "Abel, we can get skins better
than we can catch EN-, and q tqrne
sight easier, by buying them Of the
redskins; we can get 'em for a
song so let us buy Il lot Of notions
and go out on the prairie and set
up shop
agreed" said I, "only let us
go beyond most people that trade
with The varmints."
We'll, we bought little of every,
thing to tickle the Injuns with,
and off we started, and set mp a
shop on the prairie. This was
long in November, and for time
we did a smashing business among
the heathehs. We could buy a skin
worth five dollars for a string of
beads and jack knife, and others
in proportion.
By-ahd-by the redskins began to
get ugly. We could see it in their
sullen looks and though they ira
ded nearly as much, we began to
think they meant mischief. SO
Seth and talked the matter over,
and concluded, unless we wanted
to lose our furs and horses, to say
nothing of our scalps, we had bet
ter leave some time between two
days. I always had a great affeC-
tion tor my hair, and never could
think of letting a red heathun have
it to hang in his belt, and Seth, al |
so, kinder thought that way. We
packed up our duds and prepared !
to be off Just as soon as we were
sure that all the prowling redskins
were abed, for we want more than
half a mile from one of their towns,
and didn't care about their know
ing just when we went.
We wanted to start rs soon as
we could, for the moon rose about
and then all would be as
light as day, for there want cloud |
to be seen anywhere between prai
rie and prairie, and the stars shone !
like so many deer's eyes in the for
est.
| guess IL must have been about |
'leven when we mounted our horses
and moved slowly away from our
camping ground. Our furs were
packed in huge bundle and fast
ened on behind us, and Seth, as he
moved away, looked like an Arab,
IN a camel, crossing the desert.
1 don't think we had gone a mile
when we heard the awfullest yell
behind us that ever fell on mortal
,ars it seemed almost loud enough
o take the sky right up from the
yround where it seemed to be sit
in like a great bowl.
We knew in a minute what the
ell meant, and it told us that We .
we're not a minute too soon in our
The redskins had de-
ermined upon having our traps and
air, and had picked upon that
light for the deed.
Giving our horses d smart blow
nth cur sticks, we bounded off
ver the prairie hs fast as they
ould carry us. We knew that ev- !
ry foot we gained now in our !
light we should need, for the In
ms would soon be upon our trail |
18th fleet horses, and they would J
ave no difficulty in pursuing lis
S soon as the moon came up, and
ven now the sky was growing
Fighter toward the eastward.
Thinks I-what would l give if ! l.
ad the power of old father Josh b
a, so that / could make the moon 4
.and still for an hour or two. But d
hadn't and afore long it was light, b
lg everything as bright as day. :,
Another yell, further Off but full y
5 sharp as the first. We stopped e,
ur horses and dismounting, threw al
urselves on our faces and placed
ur ears to the ground. A mo-
Ient and we were satisfied that the
ursuit had begun; we could plain
: hear their horses hoofs striking 81
le ground at quick rate. Hastily o,
to the backs ofour horses I'll
e bounded away,
All that night the chase kept up, p
I'd when the morning came and -
lc sun had risen, we could see our
lrsuers not above a mile away, a
)parently two score in number, II
lon our trail! Would they new
turn back =? was the question / H
ked Seth but he shook his head in
I'd urged on his tired beast.
On VIC went, the dry grass crack
9 beneath our feet, our horses br
'cathing hard and their strength !,
ell nigh gone. ="
They are gaining upon us y / ma
looking around an hour ",
ter. a!
Yes, said Seth; awe must di
row away our furs, there is no ov
lip for it, and perhaps that will
tisfy them"
1t was hard case, but the straps sa
ire cut, and away rolled the re- in
lrd Of all ouf time and toll Upon hi