The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1873-05-09
Il RIDE FOR LIFE.

: VI wafer IlstlIlGOl dun NIGth, .IullllllS
: through camp, which supplied bathing
facilities to the officers and men, a
! privilege which few allowed to pass
/ unimproved. Whether to avoid the
publicity attending localities near camp
! or to seek a point in the bed of the
! stream where the water was fresh and
undisturbed, or from motive different
from either Of these, two of our Young
. officers mounted their horses one day
/ without saddles and rode down the
valley of the stream perhaps a mile
or more III search of a bathing place.
Discovering one to their taste they
dismOunted, secured their horses, and
after dispOsing Of their apparel on the
green sward covering the banks, were
soon floating and foundering in the
water like a pair of young porpoises.
How long they had been enjoying this
heaIthful recreation. or how much long
er they might have remained, is not
necessary to the story One Of them
happening to glance toward their horses
/ observed the latter in a great state of
trepidation. Fastening from the wa
ter to the bank. he discovered the cause
of the strange conduct on the part of
/ the horses, which was nothing more
nor less than party of about thirty
/ Indian warriors mounted, and stealth
! ilv making their way toward the bath
| ing party, evidently having their eyes
upon the latter and intent upon their
capture Here was a condition Of af-
fairs that was at least as unexpected
as it was unwelcome. Quickly calling
out to his companion, who was still
in the water unconscious Of approach
ing danger, the one on shore made haste
to unfasten their horses and prepare
for flight Fortunately the Indians,
who were now within a few hundred
yards of the two officers, were coming
from the direction opposite camp, leav-
| ing the line of retreat Of the officers
| open. No sooner did the warriors
| find that their approach was discovered
than they put their ponies to their best
! speed, hoping to capture the officers
before the latter could have time to
mount and get their horses under head
way. The two officers in the mean
while were far from idle; no flesh
brushes or bathing towels were re
| quired to restore a healthy circulation
nor was time wasted in an idle attempt
to make a toilet If they had sought
their bathing ground from motives of
retirement or delicacy, no such senti-
ments were exhibited now, for catching
up their wardrobe from the ground in
one hand and seizing the bride rein
with the other, one leap and they were
on their horses backs and riding to-
ward camp for dear life. They were
not exactly in the condition of Flora
| McFlimsv with nothing to wear, but to
all intents and purposes they might
as well have been so. Then followed
a race which, but for the risk incurred
by two of the riders, might well be
compared to that Of John Gilpin.-
Both Of the officers were experienced
| hOrsemen; but what Inexperienced horse
man would willingly care to be 1hrust
upon the bare back of a flying steed,
minus all apparel, neither boots,
breeches, nor saddle, not even the
spurs and shirt collar which are said
: to constitute the full uniform of 4
Georgian Colonel. and when so dis
posed of, to have three or four score
of hidcously painted savages, well
! mounted, near at hand, straining every
| nerve and urging their fieet-foCted war
ponies to their highest speed in order
that the scalps of the experienced horse
men might be added to the other hui
man trophies which graced their lodges
Truly this was one Of the occasions
when personal appearance is nothing,
/ and "a mans a man for a that; - so
at least thought our amateur Mazcppas
as they came dashing towards camp,
ever and anon casting anxious gIances
| over their shoulders at their pUrsUcrs.
who, despite every cXertiOn Of the
| former, were surely overhauling their
! pale-faced brothers. TO the pursued
camp seemed 4 long way in the dis
tance. while the shouts Of the warriors
each time seeming nearer than before
warned them to urge their steeds to
their fastest pace In q few moments
the occupants of camp discovered the
approach Of this strangely appearing
party 1t was an easy matter to recog-
niZe the warriors, but who could name
the two who rode at the front?
The pursuing warriors, seeing that
they were not likely to overtake and
capture the two knights of the baths,
slackened their pace and sent volley
of arrows after them. A few moments
later and the two officers were safe in
side the lines, where they lost no time
in making their way to their tents TO
attend to certain matters relating TO
their toilet which the sudden appear
ance of their dusky visitors had pre-
vented 1t was long time before
thev ceased to hear illusions made by
their comrades to the cut and style OF
theirriding subtitle on the Plains, +"
bg Gen. e. Il. Custer, IN May GGtaJy.
A Troy dentist became emOtlonaily
insane while repairing a front tooth for