The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1871-04-25
IN peril And OUT OF It.
BY MARC G. RoLFE.

IN iIlNH AAD WI VI -
BY MARC G.. RoLFE. 80,
The following adventure on the plain:
was told me by my uncle, who was a
one time employed bya St. Louis com
pany to superintend wagon trains in
their passage across the plains to Denver
City; All sa aa s
"After long journey, we arrived al
our destination without the occurrence
of any event worthy of note, and, after
disposing of our motley stock OF goods
advantageously, made preparations to
set out on our return trip. AS the honr
of departure drew near, I discovered
that business of importance would de
tain me another day at least; but it was
imperative that the train should return
without unnecessary delay. a
8 Accordingly, / sent.the wagoners on
in advance, and remained behind to- at
tend to my business, which was conelu-
ded that evening, and the next morning
well armed, and mounted on fee, sure
footed mule, set out to oyertake the
train, which / hoped to do before the
close of the following day. y.i
81 must confess to q feeling of some
reluctance to Masking that lonely journey
across the uninhabited, savage-infested
prairie; for, although the Arapahoes
had unmolested our train, which was
we'll watched and guarded, more than one
man who had, like myself, ventured
alone, into their territory, had disap-
peared mysteriously enough, never hav.
ing been heard Of after leaving the set
tlement, until their mutilated bodies
were found months afterward, bruised,
mangled and scalplesssrobbed of all that
was valuable, in many cases denuded OF
their very clothing. --
X had on my person, Q small sack of
gold dust, o portion Of the proceeds OF
our stock, which would be an additional
temptation to the covetous red men,
should they suspect that had it in my
possession.
"Before starting,I took the precaution
to wrap this treasure securely in the cen
ter of a large, blue cloak, which ! strap
ped behind me on the saddle. With a
pair of heavy pistols slung from q belt
at my waist, / was, while hoping for the
best, prepared for the worst f9i
81 pursued my journey without inter
ruption until late one afternoon when,
as was riding slowly along, intent on
my own thoughts, was startled at what
sounded like the wild refrain Of q sort
Of savage chant, seeming to proceed
from the direction whence / had come. :.
Turning in the saddle, ] saw that,
which while il sent q thrill of terror %
my heart was the grandest scene ! had
ever gazed upon! - - 8 =
"a band Of Arapahoe warriors, num-
bering one hundred picked braves, every
man specimen Of the human form as
it is seen only on the prairie, and among
the bold, fierce riders Of the desert, were
riding directly toward me- On they
came, looking wildly grand, decked with
those appliances Of savage finery which
the Nomads of the plains know so well
how to employ. = is.i'i .'l'.s' ts.t iss
"They wire riding four abreast,and as
il moved BY one common impulse, rather
than by gutteral command from their
chief, they formed circle around me.
Az every steed halted simultaneously the
war-song ceased, and the savage band
became silent. There was not q motion
or sound to apprise me whether their
intentions were shostile or friendly. /
dared not hope that they were the latter.
II looked around me on that ring of
tawny faces; on that shilnmering circle
of spears, to each of which was attached
a human scalp; on that endless row of
cruel, implacable savages, SCARED and
painted after every imaginable device
and saw no chance of escape was ~
terIy in their power. They could do
with me as they would. &, iJ,.l e4,..,.si
II knew, that with my two pistols /
could clay number of the band should
they, assail me; and in order to show
them that ! was not unarmed and wholly
defenseless, Idrew the Gusty weapons
from my belt and thrust them into the
holsters at my saddle-5ow. / had deter
sa nnt . str,~cla er T wcnId ssl, mv I;ss as
Sasr,a @ ! ~ as i m;aht
% ..TLe - o,,;as - snr. .naLa ror III e,rsst e,st
,;ro 1le s e
, ...r1o,, n,uo,, ,;oa y ha tr,a,od not;.
e;no vS tie reuolver. % .mncb nice much
killi Me bio brave !. Let Owonton see =
and he extended his brawny arms to
take the weanons f,7' ~
IT hesita,ed only for a moment To
ref,,se comnl;ance with the request would
is he certain death TT acceded 70 his
REQUEST re- I oonld fear nothing worse. /
handed him one of the weapons. which
he took carelessly. and held forth his
hand for the other. I,dared not refuse.
Nv only alternative was to give him the
pistol, and trust to his apparent good