Richland beacon., 1873-05-10
A Ride for Life.
THERE was beautiful clear stream of

THERE was a beautiful clear stream of |
water. named Bluff creek. running
through camp, which supplied bathing .
facilities TO the officers and men. priv I
ilege which but few allowed To pass unm /
proved. Whether to avoid the publicity .
attending localities near camp, or 10 seek |
a point in the bed of the stream where the /
water was fresh and undstl rbed, or from .
a motive differen from either of theSe.
two of our young officers mounted their
Eorses one day without saddles and rode
down the valley Of the stream, perhaps a
mile or more in search Of bathing place.
Discovering one to their taste. they dis
mOunte secured their horses, and. after
dlSpoSlng OF their apparel on the green
sward covering the banks, were soon
floating and flo Indcring in the water Ike
ipdlr of young pOrpOlseS. How lonp thrV
had been enjoying this healthful rccrri-
ton, or how much longer they might hav..
remained, Is not nccc sdry to the story.
One + them happening 10 glance toward
th'lr h0r~"- observed the latter in "a state
If great tr,pidatiou. fastening from the
water 10 the bank. hc discovered thccal,r
ri I'd" range conduct on the part Of the
horses, which WAS nothing NOR, nor les
than "a party of aoout thirty Indian var
riur,. mounted. and >tcairhily making their
way toward the bathing party, evidently
having th,ir eyes on the latter. ana
intent upon their capture. Here
was Il condition of affairs that was
at least a unexpected a it
wa- uuwcl 'pmc. Quickly calling out to
hi, cemgtni0H, who was still in the water
unconscious of approaching danger. the
one al shore made haste 10 unfasten the
horscs and prcpar- Tor flight. Fortunate
J.; IN" Indians, WHO were now within a
IA md p,.I l. .,t L..
coming from the direction opposite camp.
leaving the line of retreat of the officers
open. No sooner did the warriors find
that their approach was discovered than
they put th,ir ponies 10 their best speed,
hoping To capture the officer, before the
Ilttcr could have time to mount and get
their horses under Roadway. The two Of
. ll'rrS in tie meanwhile were far from
IDLE; no flesh brushes or bathn" towel,
We're required To restore a healthy circli-
lat'on, nor was time wasted in an idle al
tempt TO make toilet. If they had
sought their bathing ground from motives
81 retirement or dcliCacy, no such Stnti-
mehts were exhibited now. for. catching
mp their wardrobe from the ground with
one hand and Selling the bride rein with
the other, on" leap and they were on their
horses backs and riding toward camp for
dcdf lite. They were not exactly in the
condition of Flora McFlimsy, with moth
ing To wear, but to All intents and pur-
poses might as well have been so. Then
followed race which. but for the risk
incur ed by two of the riders. might we'll
be compared TO that OF John Gilpin. Both
Oh the olhtcrS we're experienced horse
men but what experienced hor,cmap
would willingly be thrust upon he bar.
back of flying Steed, minus all Apparel.
neither boots, hrcechcS. nor saddle. not
even the spurs and Shirt-collar. which arr,
SAID TO constitute the full uniform of a
Georgian colonel, and when so disposed
OF. 10 have three or four score of hideou>Iy
painted and teathered savagrS. well
mounted and near at hand, srrainiur
every, nerve and urging their fleet
rooted war ponies 10 their highest
speed in order that the scalps of III. ex-
perlchced horSemCn might ,e added To the
other human tr phes which grace their
lodges: Truly this was one of the Occs-
sionN when p. r,onal appearance is moth
ing, and IA mans a man for IA that" 50
at least thought our amateur MaZeppa, aS
they came daShing toward CAMP, ever
ana anon casting anxious chances over
Their shoulders at their pursuers. who de-
spite every exertion of the former, were
sur ~ overhauing their palc-faced broth
erS. TO the pursued. camp seempda long
way III the distance, while the shouts of !
TIE warriors, each time seeming nearer |
than before. warned them to urge their /
steedS to their fastest pace. I'm "A few mo- ,
mentS the occupants eft camp discovered /,
the approach of this strangely appea Inc |
party Ii was an easy matter 10 rcco%- .
nlZe the warriors, but who could name
the two who rode at the front? The pur-
SUNG warriors, seeing that they were not
likely TO overtake and capture the two
khights OF the bath, slackened their pace
and sent vOlley of arrows after hem. 4
few moments later and the two Off .erS
were safe inside the lines, where they Lost
no time in making their way 40 their tents
10 attend to certain matters relating to
their toilet which the sudden appearance
OF their dusky visitors had prevented. Ii
was long time before they ceased TO hear
illusions made by their comrades TO he
cut and style of their riding suit.-Gen. !
u. A. Ctstar, IN GALAXY for May.
HOna for. Nnoiu