The workingman's advocate. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1864-1877, 1873-04-26
A Narrow Escape.

One If the officers, who was command
ing troop, concluded one day that it
would be safe to grant permission to part
If his command to leave camp for the pur-
pose of hunting buffalo and obtaining
fresh meat for the men. The hunting party
being strong enough to protect itself against
almost any ordinary war party Of Indians
that might present itself, left camp at an
early hour in the morning and set down
in the direction IN which the buffalo were
reported to be. The forenoon passed
away, noon came and still no signs Of the
return Of the hunters The small hours Of
the afternoon began to come ana ~, ana
still no tidngs from the hunters. who were
expected to return 70 camp after an ab-
sence of two or three hours. The officer
to whose troop they belong, and who was
of All exceedingly nervous temperament,
began to regret having accorded them per
mission Ia leave camp, knowing that lndl-
ans had been seen IN the vicinity. The
hunting party had gone by a rOute across
the open country which carried them up a
long but very gradual ascent If perhaps
: two miles. beyond which. N the level
4 PLAIN. the buffalo weIe supposed u be
/ herding IN large numbers. Anxious To
| learn something concerning the Wherea-
bouts uf his men. and believing ht could
I obtain view Of the country beyond which
might prove satisfactory, the officer. whose
suspense was constantly increasing. deter
mined to mount hi~ horse and ride tu the
summit of the ridge beyond which LIS men
had disappeared in the morning. Taking
no escort with him, he leisurely rode oft,
guided by the trail made by the hunters.
The distance to the crest proved much
further than it seemed to the eye before
starting. A ride of over two miles had to
" made before the highest point was reach
ed. but once there the officer felt well re-
paid for his exertion, for III the dim az
ceptiuns " a beautiful mirage he saw what
to him was the hunting party leisurely re-
turning tuv trd camp. Thinking they we're
still a long d stance from him and would not
reach hum for a considerable time, ht did
What every prudent cayairyman would
have done under similar circumstances
dism Ounted to allow his horse an opportu
nifty to rest At the same time he begaI
studying the extended scenery, which
from his exalted position lay spread IN Al
directions beneath him. The camp, seer
nesting along the banks " the creek a
the base of the ridge, appeared az pleas
ant relief 70 the monOtOny ut the view
which otherwise was undIsturbed. Having
scanned the horizon In all directions. IA,
turned to watch the approach ut hls men
when. behold instead Of his own trust
troopers returning laden with the fruits o
the chase, the mirage had disappeared, am,
he saw a dozen we'll mounted warriors ria
ing directly toward hnn AT full speed
They were still far enough away to enabl
: him to mount his horse and have NOR
than AN even chance to uutstrIp them il
? the race to camp. But no time was to b
! thrown away the beauties Of natura
scenery had, flr the time at least, los
| their attraction Camp never seemed ;
{ inviting before. Healing his horse tOWar
/ camp and gathering the reins in one ham
) holding his revolver in the other, the offi
E Ger set out to make his escape Judgmen
. had to be employed IN riding this race. fo
h the distance being fully two miles before
! place of safety could be reached, his horse
4 not being high bred and accustomed tn =,
ing such distance at full speed, might
: ii forced too rapidly at first, fail befor
A reaching camp. Acting upon this idea
= tight rem was held and a. much spec
7 kept in reserve safety would permit
{ This enabled the Indians 10 gain on tn
{ officer, but at no time did he feel that
could elude his pursuers. His principi
Il anxiety was connned Ia the character
y the ground care being taken 20 avoid III
), rough and broken places. single mi
, step or q stumble on the part Of his hors
n and his pursuers would Be upon him befoI
" he could rise The sensations he exper
It enced during that hying ride could n,
lx have been envlable. Soon tha men