The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1877-01-16
Perilous Prairie Adventure.

an my return from the Upper Missis-
" sippi, found myself obliged to cross
one of the wide pralries, which, In that
portion of the United States, vary the
appearance of the country. The wealth.
er was fine, all around me was as fresh
and blooming as If 1t had just issued
from the bosom of nature; my KNAPP
sack, my gun and dog, were all had
for baggage and company. Butalthough
well moccnsined, I moved slowly along,
attracted by the brilliancy of the flowers,
and the gambols of the fawn around
their dams, to all appearance as thought
less of danger as myself. My march
was of long duration; saw the sun
sinking behind the horison long before
could perceive any appearance of wood
land, and nothing in the shape of man
had l met that day. The track that
had followed, was only an Indian
trail, and as barrenness overshadowed
the prairie, felt some desire to reach at
least copse, in which might lie down
to rest. The night hawks were swim
ming over and around me attracted by
the buzzing wings of the beetles which
form their food, and the distant howl
ings of wolves gave me some hope, that
/ should soon arrive at the skirt of some
woodland.
did so, and almost at the same in
slant freight attracted my eyes. i
moved towards it full of confidence that
it proceeded from the camp of some
wandering Indians. l was mistaken ]
discovered by its glare that it proceeded
from the hearth of small Log Cabin,
and that tall figure passed between it
and me, as if busily engaged in house
hold arrangements.
reached the spot, and presenting my
self at the door, asked the tall figure,
which proved to be woman, IL / might
take shelter under her roof for the night.
Her voice was gruff, and her attire neg
ligently thrown around her. She an
swered in the affirmative. i walked in,
took wooden stool and seated myself
by the fire. The next object that at
tracted my attention was fine formed
young Indian, resting his elbows on his
knees. A long bow rested against the
wall near him, while quantity of ar
rows and two or three raccoon skins lay
at his feet He moved not; he appar-
emily breathed not. Accustomed to the
habits of the Indians, and knowing that
they pay but little attention to the ap-
proach of civilized strangers, Ia circum-
stance which in some countries is con-
sidered as evincing their apathy of char
acter) i addressed him in French, lam
guage not unfrequently partially known
to the people in that neighborhood. He
raised his head, pointing to one of his
eyes with his finger, and gave me sig
nificant glance with the other. His
face was covered with blood. The fact
was, that an hour before this, as he was
in the act of discharging an arrow at a
raccoon in the top of q tree, the arrow
had split upon the chord, and sprung
back with such violence into his right
| eye as to destroy it forever.
Feeling hungry enquired what kind
of fare i might expect. Such thing as
| bed 7yas not to be seen, but many large
and untanned buffalo hides lay in cor
ner. drew fine time piece from my
late, and that was fatigued. She had
espied my watch, the richness of which
seemed to operate on her feelings with
electricity. She told me that there was
plenty of venison and buffalo meat, and
that on removing the ashes would find
cake. But my watch had struck her
fancy, and her curiosity had to be graf
flied by an immediate sight of it. took
off the gold chain that secured it from
around my neck, and presented it to her.
She was all ecstasy; spoke of its beauty,
asked me its value, and put the chain
around her brawny neck, saying how
happy the possession of such a watch
would make her. Thoughtless, as /
fancied myself, lin so retired spot, Sc
cure, / paid but little attention to her
talk or her movements. 1 helped my
dog TO a supper of venison and was not
long in satisfying the demands of my
own appetite.
The Indian rose from his seat as if in
extreme suffering He passed and re-
passed me several times, and pinched me
on the side so violently, that the pain
nearly brought an exclamation of anger.
looked at him; his eye met mine, but
\ r..