Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1877-08-01

3
vision and tried to allay the fears of
the rest with this assurance. 1t was
deemed best, however, that no time
should be lost, but that two men should
be sent out at once to hunt them up, if
they were anywhere in our vicinity. and
bring them in.
In accordance with this plan, myself
and another of our party, by the name
of Fred, were directed to make the
search In few moments our horses
were saddled, and, with our rifles and
ammunition boxes, We started in quest
of our missing animals. After satisfy
ing ourselves that they We're not in the
immediate neighborhood of the camp,
we could think of no better course than
to ride back few miles over the road
we had travelled on the previous day
We resolved to do this, rather than re-
turn empty-handed because we knew
that most, if not all animals, in at
tempting to return to their old homes,
are in the habit of travelling the same
road that they passed over when leav-
ing them, and, for all We could prove TO
the contrary. ours might be undertaking
this same thing. ees..t.srs +.
fought to mention here that our party
told us that they would not wait if we
were long absent, but would 60 forward
slowly, and thus give us an opportunity
to overtake them.
My companion and had proceeded
on our backward course about one mile,
when we discovered unmistakable evil
IF hnr oolyc he,
direction we We're going. This led us
to increase our speed, as we supposed
that the objects of our search could not
be far ahead of us. As soon as We
reached the top Of any small elevation
in our road we never failed to halt
long enough to look carefully in all di-.
rections ; but all to no purpose not a
living thing was to be seen.
We were now several miles from our
friends, yet all the while believing that
we were following the right trail
/" DO you suppose" said Fred, at
last, that some Of these plain Indians
followed us yesterday, an' then APP
preached near enough last night to steal
our horses"
:" am sure l cannot tell" answer
ed but, at any rate, we had better
keep sharp lookout, or our scalps
may get handled too roughly for our
comfort
I" | am afraid continued Fred, "that
those copper-colored thieves have got
off with our horses, and that these
tracks which We are following were
made by them"
:" trust not" 1 replied let us at
least hope for the best One thing is
certain, however if your suspicious
are correct, the farther We go the nearer
we shall be to those we wish most to
avoid"
81, for one" still continued Fred, cam
not in favor of making the distance be-
tween ourselves and those we have left
much greater"
Upon that point we were agreed" l
said but let us go to the top Of that
low hill yonder and then, if we can see
nothing of the objects Of our search, we
will turn back and overtake our party as
soon as possible"
"All right" said Fred and silently
rode on until We reached the spot re
ferred to.
twas after ten o'clock in the morning,
and our ride had made us both tired and
hungry we had no provisions with us,
not expecting to be gone long when we
first started out. In this state we were
'doubly anxious to return and overtake
our party at the earliest moment but
we were doomed to disappointment
While We were both busily engaged in
surveying the surrounding country as far
as the eye could reach, suddenly Fred
exclaimed
"What is that about one mile in front
of us, skulking around the hills, yet
coming almost directly toward us?"
Hooked in the direction indicated, and
very soon assured Fred that they were
Indians, from whom we had no reason
to expect any good.
Let us turn, then" said Fred, and
trust to the speed of our horses"
"That would be almost hopeless" l
answered, sin their present jaded con
dition and beside" | continued, as |
looked behind us for moment, " our re-
treat is cut of"
Unknown to us, We must have been
watched almost from the time We left
the camp and while one party rode
around to intercept us in front, the other
followed out of sight i'll our rear. We
understood our situation at once, and
knew that the most perfect GOODNESS on
our part offered the only chance of cs-
cape.
They were approaching us rapidly
both in front and behind. In few mo-
ments they would be upon us Dis
mounting, we held our horses by slip
ping the bride rein over our left arms,
and then, examining our rifles, to be
sure they We're all right, quietly awaited
i. J. &C