The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-01-28

I
ful fer ana understood the kindness, for
he rubbed his velvet mnzzle caressingly
against my hand as stroked his neck,
no longer sleek and smooth a. satin, for
fatigue and privaiion had roughened
his coat, and dimmed the fire Of hi. eve.
Suddenly, a. stood beside him, look
ed back. and saw what made, for the
moment. my very heart cease 10 beat.
~ il an icy touch had frozen the blood
in my veins.
Spears. and plumed heads. and Wild
forms, whose shields and scarlet blank
cts and buiialo-robes Were distinctly To
be seen. were crowded together At the
top 81 "A rising ground, coming on over
the prairie at an easy, swinging gallop
which mustang can keep up for half
a day. A set my foot in the stirrup,
and leaped into my saddle. the Indians,
silent till then. set up their fearful war
whoop. and with wells and frantic ges-
lures lashed on their steeds, snd took
up the pursuit with a fury that
sufficiently indicated what would
be my fate should be
oyertaken. Then began = desperate
contest race for life or death. sun
beam answered gallanily 10 my call. and
for the first four or five miles l saw lit
tie of the enemy; but on they came
pitilessly, and soon seemed 10 gain
ground. Had il been on the first day
Of the journey could have laughed AZ
my pursuers, bat now the superiority If
my noble horse, in stride and strength.
was nentralized by the comparative
freshness Of the shaggy steeds on which
the Apaches We're mounted. | grOaned
a felt Sunbeam flag beneath me,
though | urged him on with voice and
hand
Miles upon miles Of rolling prairie
We're traversed. NV horse keeping the
lead and speeding on with courage nm
abated, but staggering a. he went. and
bearing heavily on the Bit a we de-
scended the frequent slopes The In
iians saw their advantage and pressed
Dn, making every effort Ia come UP
with me. One arrow slightly wounded
nv horse in the neck; second brushed
my cheek, making me feel a. though a
not iron had been drawn across H. But
naddened with excitement | spurred
Sunbeam on, shook off the pursuers for
! while and presently saw cleaning be-
lore me the waters Of swiftly flowing
-iver, which could be no other than the
lila; while beyond il rose the stock
lded walls Of lonely building -Fort
Webster, doubtless.
"On, Sunbeam. on, One more ef-
ort, brave horse-one more and We
ire safei''
patted my sieed's reeking neck a.
-ociferaied the words; the gallant horse
TO my appeal and still reeled
inward The river. bordered By tail
rees and cane-brakes, was yerv near:
ould hear it, rush and ripple, when
dead beat. stumbled, fell on
is knees, and sank slowly down There
ras an arrow, unknown TO me, sticking
q his flank, and the noble brute had
cfnally been bleeding 10 death a. he
arried his master with unfalterinC
pirit over leagues Of the weary prairie
or the moment | almost forgot my i'm
linent peril in grief for the loss Of nv
rave companion; but little time was
fl for regrets, for already the ground
hook beneath the thunder Of hurrying
orse-hoofs as with yells and oufcries OF
arbarous triumph the Indians came
acing up behind. N
Thirty yards before me Law the river.
Mt il was too deep and rapid for man
eadily TO swim or wade. and though /
as weary and worn, vet | could not !
ear 20 abandon life while chance re-
lained. My pistol was in my belt but I
Vi 81
the dead horse, and 50 We're the bags !
'hich held the money Of Curtis Broth
r. and these snatched mp. though
al scanty prospect Of saving either
rOperty or life. 20 near were the ruth A.,
IS foes. They were but six laRces
myth away from me n plunged into !.
re brushwood, intending 20 take shell
4 among the tall reeds Of the bank In
&c faint hope that the ciamOrs Of the :
paches might bring out the troops
ON the fort. To my great joy. how
rer. on reaching the river bank be-
ED moored 10 the stem Of a mimoSa
ee canoe containing fishing -tackei
nj probably belonging to the garrison. :
nj leaping into it | seized the paddles '
al pushed of into the middle ~ the !
ream just a. four OF five Of the Indi- :
As. who had dismounted. came burst !
= through the bushes, knife and tom
lawk in hand. ?
The river ran swiftly and was mex !
ri IN the management Of acanoe, but J.
e Indians, fortunately, hesitated Ia :
Ike the river, no doubt on account Of J.
g vicinity Of the fort. and although !,
ey pursued me with fierce shouts and I
'lleys If arrows, only one Of the latter !
me, infiiciing a slight wound on NV !.
4 wrist; while the welcome sound II !,
cheer and the discharge Of a rifle from !
c further bank told that the war !.
loop had attracted the notice IF the |,
ldicrs. Of whose weapons the Apaches y
.rI - vx,hrf.a,.,.... -. II