The Sedalia weekly bazoo. [volume] (Sedalia, Mo.) 187?-1904, 1882-03-21
CHASED BY INDIANS.

Fort Scott is brig hit town, and it
possesses only a great natural curiosi-
ty. Possibly YOU would like to hear
the story connected with its discovery.
David Mac donald was alone on the
prairie and vet not alone. Friends
and companions were far enough
away but close behind him, as his
stout BAY cleared the ground at 4
rafting run, came a perfect steeple-
chase of Indians. He had stirred up
a hornets nest unawares.
Ii was something like a score of
wears ago, and all the border tract OF
Missouri and Kansas could scarcely he
considered as settled at all. The
Indians hunted at will all over the
tract, and frequently committed
depredations upon the settlements.
Macdonald was rough, strong
fellow, of Scottish descent, as his
name implies, and pos essing a good
share of natural wit, sharpened by
the hazardous life he led. Hunting
and trapping constituted the major
part of bis ex istence. This was
generally solitary, owing to an un-
social streak in his nature. So it
came to pass that he was alone in his
difficulty.
Why or wherefore they chased him
is no concern of ours. Perhaps they
wanted his horse perhaps his long
hair suited their taste perhaps they
were merely suffering from lack of
amusement. But chase him the;-
did.
Luckily he had good start, so
that it was some time before his
danger became really imminent. The
ground, treeless, bushless, slightly
rolling prairie, was excellent for
running /; he kept to a bee line and
it was impossible for anything but
speed and bottom to tell. His horse
had great endurance, and in speed
more than equalled those of most of
the pursuing party.
But two or three of the Indians
pressed steadily ahead of the rest,
and before long came dangerously
near. Presently ball went by Mac
donalds head. Then came an arrow.
He turned and fired at the foremost,
but missed. The Indians returned
the discharge, yelling as they did SO,
and closed up the gap as rapidly As
hey could.
Several shots were thus exchanged
without result, for good rife practice
on the galiop is no common achieve
ment. He saw by frequent back
ward chances that one of his bullets
had penetrated the BRAIN Of the near
est horse. A little more running and
firing ensued, and the second pursuer
pitched heavily from his saddle, to all
appearance dead. The third, either
design or otherwise, lost
ground continually. and soon fell
back and joined the other Indians.
These, as a body, after little lag
ging. kept their ground pretty evenly.
the endurance of Macdon-
aids horse must decide the question.
Minute after minute went by, and the
animal began to show signs of fatigue.
His gait became unsteady, and the
C ontinued application of the whip
alone kept him from relaxing bis speed
to q dangerous degree.
Once or twice, as an experiment,
Macdonald designedly settled to a
more moderate gait. But his ene-
mics would by no means do the same.
Thew gained upon him continually.
TRY his best and torture his poor ami
m al to the utmost, he could not main
tain his ground.
1t was only question OF time now,
and of no long time either. bis
situation seemed almost hopeless; yet
far away to the southwark he saw a
single chance of escape. There a
fringe of trees broke the monotony OF
the horizon and seemed to promise
shelter. Possibly he might find q
hiding in them, or fastness where
he could make a stand for a time. He
little knew the protection it might af-
ford. So often it happens in this
life that in striking for one thing We
stumble upon another!
Nearer and nearer drew the trees,
and nearer and nearer drew the
Indians. They evidently OWNED his
hopes, and strained every energy to
thwart them. Presently their missiles
came humming past bis ears, and ne