St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1873-04-25
A Ride for Life.


water. named Bluff creek running
through camp. which supplied bathing
facilities l." the officers and men. :;
privilege which but few allowed t. pass
unimpovcd. Whether to avoid the
publicity attending localities near camp.
Ol t" seek :; point III the bed of the
stream where the water WAS fresh and
iIndi>tUrhcd. nr from Il motive different
from either of these. Nv" of our Young
officers mnHIntcd their hur~rs one dav
without saddles and rode down the val
ley of the stream perhaps mile or
more. in search of II hatling place.
Discovering one to THEN taste. they
d'>mountci. secuted their horses. aud.
after dIepo~ing of their apparel on the
%rccn~WHid covering the banks. were
soon floating and Numbering III the
water like pair of Nouu" roipui>cS
How long they had been rIiuying this
hc;lltntuI rcCr"LtInm. "r how much longer
they might have remained, i not urcc>-
SHY 10 ia" story. One of them hap
pcnin% to glance toward THEN horses
observed the latter IN u state of Great
trepidatiOn. Hastcning from the water
to the bank. he dis, ONrrcd the cause of
til" ~trang" conduct on the part of the
h"l>c>. which was nnthiu" more nor
i">> thiiI q party ot about thirty Indian
"aIiIui~. muuntcd. and >icalrhily MAX
ing THEN WHN toward the bathing party.
evidently having their eyes on tlI,. lat
tea. aId intent upon th"ir capture.
!l"Ic Mas "a condition of affairs thai Was
at least - unexpected - it WAS unWrl-
come. Quickly calling nut to his com
i'aulou. Vino WIS >lill in the water. uu-
r"n>"I"H> ut approaching danger. thr
ON" on shore made haste 20 uniltrn
ihrir h"l-,> and ln.paic tni flight
Fortunately the Indians. " ho were nov
Within u few hundred yards of the tive
officers. Ncrr coming from IT," direction.
"ppn>lt" camp. leaving the line of Ir-
lrCat at the officers open. No ~noucI
lid the waIIinI> ind THEN approach
MIS- discovered Than they put thrif
ponies /" rl"iI best speed. hoping t."
capture tine officers before the latter
could have time T." muuut amd get their
huI>c~ 'tndc HradwHN. The ~" OF
iicrI> in tie. meanwhile. were. fH num.
Idlc. II" flesh brushes 81 bathing towels
were required Ia rr>t"Ic - healthy clI-
cUfHtI"iI. mon WIS time wasted in an
I'LL, attempt I" MAKE Il toilet. If they
hHd sought thrIr hIrhidg ground from
motives "t retirement 81 drliraCN. no
such sentiments were exhibited now
t"I. catching NJ thciI War,irnhc from
the ground ia one hand and >riLiug th,
bIldlC IClu with the other, one leap and
they were on their horses backs and
riding tnNard camp for dear life The,
were not cNactly in the condition of
Flora NrFlim>N with nothing To veal.
hut I" all intCnt> and pulpo>c> mi ght
~ we'll have been -. Then followed
n !;tr" which. hut ioi the risk incurred
hy tw" of the riders might we'll hr
compared /" that john Gilpim Both
OF the officers were experienced horst
men: hut what experienced hoI>clnau
would willingly care t" hr thrust upon
the bare back "t Il flying ,tcrd. minus
all apparel. neither boots. inerch"-. nor
saddle. not even the spurs and shirt
collar which are said I" constitute the
full uniform of ~ Gc"ry!ar colonel. and
when - sii>pu>cd of ru have three ur
t"ur >""Ir of hidc"u>ly painted and
tcathcIrd >;tNagr>. well mounted aud
mr'' ~ hand. >tIa'uln% every mrrNrand
uI-img thriI tlcrt-to"Icd Wal ponies to
thcir highest speed in order that the
~"dIp~ nt lh" experienced hnr>cnru
might lac aidrd Ia the other human
trophies which grace their Lodges ,
Truly thi- Wa~ one al Tia" ncr;i>i"u>
When personal Appearance l. nothing.
and ~ man :, mau t"I a that. 80 at
least Thought "tII amatcju NaIrppa> ~
they came da>hmg toward camp. ever
and anon ,a>tlug dINiurI> Chances over
THEN ~hnHldr'> 1T THEN VuI>urr>. " whn.
despite every "Nrrtinn "t the former.