Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-07-20

reached it could not touch bottom
with my feet.
'sThe current swept me along down the
bank, exposing me to the aim Of the SOL
diers who were on the opposite shore.
The murderous wretches began to fire at
me, and no doubt enjoyed the sport. The
balls struck all about ME, pit, pat, in the
water, as tloated and swan along the
high bank for hundred yards or more.
and it is a wonder was not killed or
wounded.
cat length ] came to grapevine
which hung trailing in the water from \
tree that leaned over the bank. This l
caught, and drawing myself up, began to
climb it. l had nearly reached the top
CT the bank when a soldier who had fol-
lowed down on the opposite side fired his
escopeta Ga kind of muskeD at me, and
cut the vine off about six inches over my
head!
'sBack I went into the river with a
splash.
At that they raised shout. They
thought they had hit me, but was I'M
hurt. had sense, however, to float and
let them think me dead, or MORALLY
wounded. The current took me down
eighty or a hundred yards further, when
coming to shelving bank, scrambled
out Of the water somwhat to the surpries
of my pursuers- and took to the woods"
Young Duval's object was now to reach
the American settlements on the other
side Of the Brazos. The intervening
country was wilderness. Where settle.
ments had been made they were now de-
serted, on account Of the war. He wan
dered for weeks through this wilderness,
living on what he could find, and in dan
ger every hour from the Indians and ma
rauding bands of the Mexican cavalry.
One afternoon, after crossing grassy
prairie, he came to heavily timbered
bottom where there was river. This he
knew must be the Navidad. While
looking along the bank for shallow
place where the stream could be forded,
he heard the barking of a dog.
cat first" he says, II supposed that it
might be some settlers dog, left behind
in the general flight; but I soon per-
ceived that it was coming nearer although
I was walking quite fast.
III then surmised that the dog was on
my track, and that probably there might
be some one following him. Coming
now to shoal water, waded into the river
at place where it was not much above
my knees, and then hurried on as fast as
l could.
After an hour or more, during which
I must have gone four or five miles, I
emerged from the timber upon the edge
Of another prairie.
Call this time the yelplng of the dog
had continued. The animal seemed to
have fully kept pace with me, and was
not now, Judge, more than half mile
behind. I felt sure that this persistence
in following me meant danger.
81 went out on the open prairie for
three or four hundred yards, then turned
short round and retraced my steps to the
edge of the timber Here I made leap,
just as far as could at one jump, off to
the right of my trail, then runninn down
the edge of the timber for ten or fifteen
rods, I hid myself in the top of a tree
which had lately been blown. down. I
posted myself so that I could have good
view of the prairie above me, and of my
recent trail.
''The barking of the dog quickly came
nearer, and soon yellow and white cur
appeared, followed by three Comanche
Indians, one Of whom held the dog back
by lash. They came out on my trail at
the precise point where had left it.
zone Of the savages had gun; the
other two had lances and bows. They
were walking fast, and went straight out
upon the prairie, following the trail I
had made, the dog now yeiping eagerly.
"When they came to the place where I
had turned back, the dog stopped and be-
gan smelling about, as if at fault, The
brute seemed to wish to turn back. My
heart beat fast then, tor was wholly un-
armed.
But the savages, thinking that I had
gone on, pulled the dog forward, and
continued on across the prairie. AS soon
as they were out Of sight, rapidly made
tracks in another direction But for this
trick am very sure they would have
had my scalp.
For the next three or four days I wan
dered through tract of country where
there was but little that I could use fol
food. Atlength, late one afternoon,
came to a clearing, on the further side OF
which saw a log house. After watching
a while, became satisfied that there
was no person in the house, and then
ventured across the clearing to it.
The door stood open. stole in and
searched eagerly for food, for was near.
ly famished, and had grown so weak thai
1 could hardly walk. But 1 could find
nothing save few dried crumbs on the
cupboard shelves, and some unsavory ole
beef bones. These crumbs I greedily de-
voured, and then knawed the beef bones
There was bed in one corner, which
looked so inviting that I determined tc
rest on it for that night at least.
"About midnight 1 was startled by q
noise of some, sort. Listening, I found
that it was made by hogs granting be-
meath the cabin floor. The shanty was
set up on blocks, two or three feet from
the ground, to keep out snakes. The
hogs had taken shelter under it.
At another deserted cabin where ou1
hero stopped to pass night he found {
large wolf-dog, which, like himself, ap
peared to be refugee and wanderer
The dog seemed overjoyed at meeting a
human being. The two at once joined
their fortunes, and thenceforward Travelled
in company.
-Four or five days later they reached
the San Bernard river, which they crossed
by swimming, and then went to an aban.
doned house to pass the night.
For supper that evening they had only
some dry corn, SO, building fire, Duva
set at work to parch the corn in the hot
ashes.
"While thus busily occupied . he said
Ben-which was the name had given
nv dOg-uttered a low prOwl. and look.