Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1872-01-20
Hunting in the West.
WRITTEN FOR THE sPY.l

Long time before the Union Pacific railroad
had reached so far as Rawlings Springs,-iust at
the foothills of the Rocky mountains, every
body was camping out, and living in tents.
had been camping near this place, together
with several companions fer number of weeks,
gaining health and strength from the pure air
and perfect quiet, Expecting soon to break
camp and return to civilized life again, laid
plans for one more antelope hunt before our de-
parture. Accordingly, one fine morning,-it
was during the early part of May,-I started out
alone. The hills lying off to the right as you 70
west, are very sharp and angular, covered with
a heavy growth Of sage-brush and grease.wood
about three feet high, with an occasional spot of
bunch-grass. These latter the anteopes are
very fond of, and hither went in search of
them
After riding some six or eightmiles, sudden
lycame upon band of dozen ormore of those
pretty creatures, quietly feeding down in lit
tie valley TO my left. Dismountng, spanceled
my pony, keeping from their sight so as TO get
a shot unnotced. Cautiously walking,-pcr-
haps half mile-aong the brow of the hill
toward a high rock, between me and the ante
lopes suddenly came in full view Of them.
some were feeding, others were bying down,
while some of the kids were playing about,
dancing all sorts of antics.
Seeing could get no nearer without attract
ing their attention, decided to hoist a signal.
Crawling TO the top of high shelving rock, |
hosted my gun-rod with a rcd handkerchief at
tached TO the end of it. 1t was perhaps fifteen
Il.
was something strange in their pasture.
Presently an old doe-more watchful at this
season Of the year than the gallant bucks-gave
signal whistle of alarm. All sprang 10 their
feet in wonderment. Toward me an old doe
bounded, followed by her two kids, and part of
the band On they came, bounding over the
sage-brush with the swiftness of bird till
they came TO a halt within two hundred yards
of me, looking with innocent astoniShment at
the CAV Auttering signal, atop the rock
Their curiosity excited, they came gradually
nearer and nearer, till they discovered me, while
their eyes seemed to ask "who are you? and
why are YOU hereP
Directly, an old buck started from the band to
survey for himself; he dashed up the hillside,
halted at the top and gave whistle. At this,
those in the valley came up to take a side view,
coming nearer and nearer, prancing about quite
near me AT this moment, they discovered my
pony; their attention was divided, but the red
flag troubled them the most Every moment
brought them nearer and nearer to me, NJ
pony turning, saw me and neghed; at this they
Ill about-faced, and then l got a position
FOR a good shot. TO hit two at one shot
would be feather in my cap all over Red
stone; The pony startled them nearer TO me in a
huddle; my needle gun knew would kill three,
if hit in the right spot: so fired, as they stood
about $50 yards fIom me; all turned and ran,
quarlering by the pony; presently one dropped;
one bounded off at tangent to the left. Not
having Jared very W I'll for a few days before,
my appetite was sharpened; so, instead of ad-
miring their beauty, or feeling pity for them,
only thought of my "meat," while l hastily
pulled out the empty cartridges, and hauled
down my colors ready for chase on foot.
Soon they returned, quarterinc by me.
gave them another salute; they took no notice
Of me, as they bounded past at the top of their
speed. Following in their tracks came five
mounted Indians; they had probably been
watching me all the while. They were now be
tween me and my pony. What situation
eight miles from camp no knife, no revolver,
nothing but my needle-eun, and eleven cart.
ridges; no friend TO help-yes, one, God would
help memo time TO be lost in making my es-
cape, my pony out of nv REACH and those rel
imps after my scalp. NV craven locks" 10 be
dangling from an Indians beltl what would NJ
say TO that2
At first terrible fear crept over me, but the
feeling soon turned to that of anger. Must |
rive up to be tortured by those savages! No
ri sell myself as dearly as possible. How
many thoughts flashed through my brain, as
hey stopped by the last antelope, and between
ne and nv pony. Great Godl what shall | do?
thought of everything in moment. Shffen-
ing up nv suews summoned up my blood to
the emergency; just then, one with a longer
feather than the rest, attached to the back of
his head, made toward nv pony. He dismount.
I'd and loosened him, while the others rode in
circle around me, trying TO draw my fire Two
had guns; three had bows and arrows. As
they neared me, would bring my gun to M
face, but they would fall and lie on the othel
side of their horses, holding fast to the sad.
die
Around and around they crcled, each time
coming nearer and nearer, and that old slouchy
indian on my pony riding around me, too
Whiz came the arrows. made good my retrea:
10 the signal-rock. One fired his gun, but
missed his mark. | feared TO fire at them while
on the run, dreading to lose my lead.
In circling they passed out of sight at ono
point; so, taking advantage of that, man.
aged to conceal myself below the shelving rock
of course they could hunt me out and find me.
was getting desperate; my pony l must have
if it costs me my all. Looking down in the val
ey saw three of them dsmounted, with nv
lntelopes on their horses; they undoubtedly
feeling satisfied with their game and with me.
100 just then l heard the voice of an Indian
7 hat borrid gutteral sound. They were on tile
hunt for me at the old place. One of the two who
remained on the hill rode below me- AS rushed
up the hill at the Indian mounted on nv
pony, firing at the same time, he started for me.
He loosened his hold from the pony, dropped
The lariat he he'd in his hand, and fell to the
ground, stil graspiug his bow. l ran forward
to catch the pony just as an arrow took off my
hat, just grazing my scalp.
had no time to see If Mr.. Lo was playing
possum, but struck behind the saddle, and in
an instant the pony was under dead Iun to-
ward the camp, followed by riderless horse
On they c9me after me, crying "Ephl Ephl
II each leap of their horses. Ohl that horrid
war-whoop still rings in my ears. That race
for life-eight miles or more to ride and scrcam-
ing Indians behind me. ! know that nv hnt
would not have stayed on my head, for each
individual hair stood straight Shot and ar.
rows came whizzng after me; one arrow stril,. |
ing The pony in the H1shy part of the hind Leo.
seeming to heighten his speed. On we bound.
ed, over the hills, through the valleys over
the sage-brush, and across dry raynes. Ifelt
safe on my ever true pony, as he seemed 10 fiy
before the wind. There was no time to return
the shots they gave me; they tried to head me
Of as ! reached the top Of the hill that over.
looks the little valley Of Rawlings Springs. /
shouted "lndansl lndiansll" at every Juno as
| dashed safely into cimr.
"lndans" shouted All "Where?" "No IN.
dams in Tins part Of the country" said another
"Whyl bows said l. "tley have beeu chnsin.,