The Portland daily press., 1870-11-26

A Boys True Story.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.M

A Boys True Story.
WRITTEN BY HIMSELF.*
was born in Texas. My first recollection
is of Indians, coming in daylight, and driving
off our horses. My father and the herdsman
were out, and had a hard ride to escape the
arrows. One stuck in my fathers hat, and l
have it now. My mother was so alarmed that
she tainted. l remember well how pale and
beautiful she looked, as my father rubbed her
hands ard batheu her face. l stood by. 1t
was the first time had ever felt or thought
much. Presently she opened her eyes, and
locking at me, said:
"My darling, kneel down here by me, and let
us thank God that your father was not killed
to-day"
did so, my father standing near.
After this, my mother taught me, daily,
how to say my name, my fathers name, and
the name of the State and county where l
lived, that if should be taken by the Indians,
and ever escape, or be bought from them,
might be able TO tell who was, where l came
from.
When was large enough 10 ride, my faith
er gave me pony, beautiful iron gray, very
gentle and very swift. | soon learned to ride
him, and to love him. One day, after had
owned the pony long time, and could ride
well, was out with father, hunting cattle.
direction, and one COW came up to us, with
an Indian arrow sticking in her side. My
father said:
''Now, my boy, we must ride for lite. Your
pony can ontrlln my horse, try to get home,
my son."
started, under whip and spur. was ex-
cited, and afraid. The dust nearly blinded
Inc; bat l knew my pony was taking me
home. l heard a great crash among the
rocks behind me, and groan. L stopped and
looked back. My father was just behind me.
His horse had been striken with an arrow,
and had fallen under him. jumped down
and said:
papa, mount; pony can take us both
homer
felt like man, when papa said, "God
bless you, my son." And we both got home,
safe and sound, on the dear, good pony.
My mother was always uneasy about me
and father, when we we've out looking after
stock, SO father concluded to sell his horses
and cattle, and leave the frontier. l was old
enough now to be at school, and father
thought my education must not be neglected.
We packed up provisions for two or three
days, and took long ropes to stake our horses
on the grass, and started out with a number
OF herdels to gather the stock.
Mother bade us good bye with tears in her
eyes, and said, 81 hope this is the last time my
dear ones will ever go out from me, in this
wild country"
We had been out two days and were very
lucky in our hunt. Father and l were lit
tie way from the herders, lying Oh our blank
cts talking Father was telling me what must
do If the Indians should ever kill him, when
we saw about twenty five savages charging
right down upon us. Father took his six
shooter from his belt, and was saying to me,
"Rememher, my son, what have told you.
The Indians may kill me and take you cap
tive. BE brave, good boy, and try to get
back to your mother"
had Derringer pistol, and took it in my
hand; hardly knew what for, but thought
maybe could kill an Indian. Most of the
herdsmen, l think, got away; but my poor IA
ther was surrounded. He fought till he fell,
then one big Indian cut round his head with
knife, tore of his scalp, and struck me in
the face with it. All The time of the fight, l
do not think moved. felt paralyzed. But
my fathers blood struck in my face reused
me-. kWithout thinking of consequences, 1
tired my Derringer at the savage, ard he fell.
Immediately l was thrown down and tied,
hands and feet with raw-hide strings, rolled
and kicked about in the dirt, and much of my
hair pulled out. Then / was bound fiat to
the back OF horse, and started off on a gal
lop.
How long this ride lasted | do not know.
My sulierlngs were SO great that L must have
been delirious, for l thought L had ridden
through seas of blood and fire, and was going
through rivers of water. When became
conscious was in deep water. the horse was
stumbling over rocks, and L was frequently
entirely under. The water had lencthened
the raw-hide bonds, and | could feel. Oh!
how l suffered.
After the Indians had got over the river.
with all the horses they had stolen, they usi-
bound me, took me OIL the horse, and looSsd
my hands and feet, which were badly cot and
swollen. My head ached, Q, so Ladlys and
my eyes seem to be balls of fire. My tongue
was SO swelled and dry that it stack out of
my mouth. But remembered all except the
ride. That seemedco have been Years ago.
The Indians bad got home, [ reckon for
there were some tents, and squaws, and chill
dren; and L saw my fathers fine horse. and
my dear pony.
could not get on my feet, though NV
Donas were loose. One old squaw brought |
her little boy where L lay, and made him spit |
upon me. Then she went away, and the boy |
stopped down and felt my tongue, then
HIIought some water and poured upon it, and
put some in my mouth, aud portion ran
down my throat. After that l Slept long
time, reckon, for the sun was rising when i
awoke, so thirsty aud hungry, so stiff and
sore. had teen lying in the dew al night \
Inc good boy that spit on me the day before, |
l drank and ate, and then ! rememhered |
what my father had told me, a+to be brave, I
good boy, and try to get back to nv motberU |
prayed to God, as my mother had taupbt |
me from infancy, that He would take me
home.
DO not know how long l had been with
the Indians but | got weli and strong, and
had learned good many things from them,
such as swimming, shooting with bow and ar
rows, and to live Il long time Without eating,
They had lett off sticking me with arrows and
throwing me in the river, and were as kind !
as they knew how to be. My boy friend was
very good; but all my thoughts and PRAYERS
were about making my escape. / was always |
watching for chance.
One evening the hunters brought up their |
horses, and hoppled' them near the camp
My pony was with them. | did not sleep |
that light. There was no moon, but little |
starlight. prayed God to help me; and as |
soon as all was still, l crawled soltly out to |
where had seen the horses, soon found nv |
pony, and with tug that was round his |
neck, and his "hopples," l made "bosalr |
round his nose, and mounted him. He was
fat and fresh, and the grass did not grow
under his feet. l had no idea where we were
going, but pony knew. We Travelled all NIGHT
we had better rest. So we VIC went into
snug little ''mot' of timber, where there was
some grass, and pony browsed and grazed;
but | held him all the while. l cannot de-
scribe how joyous and free l felt. believed |
that God was taking me home.
was afraid to ride in the daytime, in that
strange, Indian country, so when | thought
pony was full, hoppled him, and soon he
lay down, and then lay down and went to
sleep. When l awoke the sun was down and
pony was standing by me. / thanked God l
,or ms goodness, and we started on our ios.r-
;ney' Next morning after daylight we came !
,n.o road, and this helped me greatly. [
was neatly starved, for / mad eaten nofhino
traveled ielI III the Indians. Pony, though he had
and ,ben al night, now started off in a canter
I can,n nf ne nelghed, and very soon ran INTO
md sipnt " % wnlte hunters. With them 7 ate
f,nu,a sioRoi Wi snu IN a few days thew took me-
nome. When my father was brnuyyh. uy .ooh t I'm, me
murdered and scalped, and bar 9,ii. W her,
taken of by Indians, her heart ,'na oihf ehlld
and she prayed for death. | ,old T1s 1 broken,
my father had said, and that II wae ner e. What
sake that had dared 10 made my escano. ~. @ mer
she said, pe anu
God forever bless my child; be to him
ather and mother and guide, and direct him
n all things. And, my son, when am dead
% to your grandmother. She is childless and
onely, and though 1 was disobediont, and she
never forgave me, think she will be kind to
you for my sake"
when mother was buried and pony start
"a ior grandmother's. We are with her now
Ig ind