The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1880-12-17

4
seemed TO be looking and listening.
When he had satisfied himself he started
al brisk walk in the direction efthe high
est point of land to be seen anywhere. /
had ridden in this way, perhaps, three or
four miles, aud the point, or elevation,
had taken IA more definite shape, PROV
ing to be. for that country, quite hill,
running nearly parallel with my course.
As l rode on l could see. to the right,
another elevation, not so high Sudden
ly my horse threw up his head with a
snort that frightened me by its sudden
ness, and at the same instant caught
sight of what 1 supposed was seven of
/ my fellow hunters As they seemed to
We heading for the same point as myself
did not change my course or make any
horse He seemed to be getting
excited He kept shutting the air and
looking susp;cioGsly IN the direction of
the seven horsemen. My curiosity YVES
aroused and l looked sharply in the same
| direction. lndiansl | could see their
naked bodies glistening in the sunlight
They were nearer the point to which l
| had been aiming than / was. and, sup
posing that my company were beyond
that point somewhere, were between me
and my reinforcemcnts. AS they ncared
the elevation | saw that they were going
! To pass on the side fiirthest from me,
| while my own course would strike the
hill ut lis extreme northern point.
was travelling northeast, the hill stretch
cd away 10 the north-northeast, aud the
Indians We're. travelling north. 1 kept
| steadily on my course. undecided what
to do, bat having sens enough TO know
that my surest plan would be TO begin
the race for life only when it was the
only chance.
| suppose that the redskins were so
certain that l had not discovered who
they were and would ride right up to
them befoie made the discovery, that
they were we'll content 10 ride quietly
along to the northern limit of the hill,
and, cencealing themselves, await my
coming. Between the point where I
had first seen the Indians and that to
which | had been steering, | was glad
TO find Iavine of sufficient depth to
conceal horse, though his rider might
be seen. Down this ravine turned my
| horses head, and the faithful beast, as if
aware Of the part he was TO act, went
down it like the wind, while | threw
myself forward and clasping my arms
around his neck. and hooking my spur
under the saddle girth, let my body hang
on the side farthest from the Indians
had ridden in this way perhaps d
mile, and the ravine began to zigzag
and threaten 10 be an unsafe route over
which TO ride at this headlong pace,
when yell that made my blood chill in
my veins assured me that my attempt to
escape was discovered and my enemies
were in hot pursuit. Quick as flash
my horse sprang up the bank, and with
dilated nostrils and ears laid back, and
nose stretched forward, as if to present
the least possible front to the air, flew
like an arrow across the plains. re
| oNAaASN my SNttt III bA.G SSttiNiC, anu DSA1AI
to examine my revolvers. They were
all right-twelve balls, calibre A, and
three punches more in my cartridge-box,
! would be as many as | would be likely
TO use. BY he time they were gone my
seven pursuers would either get hurt or
be in condition to hurt me-
Fast as my own horse was flying
along, there was one horse in the yelling
crew behind me that was gaining on me.
But as the only gun in the hands of my
pursuers was with the rear guard, l did
not feel very much uncasiness about the
one swift horse, as INDUCED the hope
OF being able to cripple him in two or
three shets, if he came close enough TO
be dangerous. l did not pound the
breath out Of my horse with my heels
no need of that; he was doing his best.
A short neigh now and then told how
much he was interested in the race.
But he Was beginning 10 fail. Icould
tell by the labored breathing and the oc-
casional snort, that the race must soon
terminate l began seriously to count the
cost of sudden halt and making a
breastwork of the body of my faithful
horse, fight for my life. On came tn e
yelling savages and the clatter of their
horses feet became more distinct every
movement.
Suddenly my ears caught the sound
Of answering yells, and | looked ahead
to see what new danger might be run.
ming into. The next instant / turned in
my saddle and sent back yell of def
ance 10 my puJsuers. l had seen my
friends some fifteen or twenty strong fly
ing to my rescue. As they came nearer
l halted and leaping from the saddle fir
ed upon the savage nearest me. Quick
as a flash he disappeared on the oppo
site side of his horse which had sudden
ly turned to one side and then the whole
pack went securing away followed by
the "boys in blue" who had so oppor
timely come to my assistance. Three
out of the seven made their escape. TIT
others were shot down and their bodie.
left where they had fallen, to be devourec
: by wolves or recovered by their friends
We rode into camp where l found my
self a hero of the orthodox order. Blu
L never got lost from my comrades again
e and never allowed myself to run into
| do a-rE-