The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1883-09-27
DIED GAME"
1t was morning on the prairie.

1t was morning on the prairie.
To the east is the rosy sunrise and the
dim, far-away outline of mountain
range; to the north shadowy line
which may mean hills or timber; to the
west and south broad, level ocean of
green grass which has no limit 1t
seems as level as a floor to the eye, but
it is cut up with dry ravines and bitches,
and there are sharp ridges and dips and
sunken spots.
The sun is warm, the air still, and
every blade of grass is loaded with dia-
mond dew-drops. There is no bird to
chirp, and no crickets to call out, but
there is no feeling of loneliness One
who faces that morning sun and feels
the vastness of the prairie is lost in
quiet amazement. There is an awe up
on him akin to that which man feels
when he sees the ocean lashed to mighty
fury. The one is an exhibition of Divine
anger-the other of Divine peace.
See! A rough-clad, full bearded man,
of iron muscle and fearless courage,
suddenly rises from hollow, tosses
aside his blanket, and slowly turns his
head in every direction to scan the
green grass sea. At the same moment
his horse emerges from dip which has
heretofore sheltered him, and. with a
whinny of recognition and pleasure, ad-
vances straight upon his master.
Alone! Man and horse are the only
living creatures in sight. They are as
much lost to the world as two grains OF
sand washing to and fro in the Atlantic.
The masters hand steals up until it
rests upon the horses neck, and the
faithful animal crowds bit nearer
Both are awed by the broad expanse.
The mighty grandeur of Nature steals
in upon the mans soul, and it seems
to pass like an electric current to the
horse. He raises his head. His nos
trils expand. His eyes grow clearer
and larger. Surely he must see the
picture spread out before him there, and
something of its beauty must be felt.
See that! The mans hand goes up
to shade his eyes. He is looking straight
to the west. He stands like Il rock,
and his eyes are rs keen as an eagles.
The horse is looking in the same direc-
ton, ears pricked forward, lips quiver-
ing and every muscle in his legs tight
ened up as if for a race. What is it?
A ilutter on the surface of the prairie
caught mans eye for an instant and
then Disappeared. 1t was two miles
away. 1t was only a trifie; but on that
tritie depends his life. A shipwrecked
sailor catches his breath at sight OF
every white cloud creeping above the
water-line. The hunter on the prairie
feels his heart pound at the tiutter of n
birds wing-the bark of r coyote-the
hoot of an owl at sight OF hoof-print
or broken bush. These may mean
nothing or they may mean an ambush
a race for life-capture and torture.
''Yi! vi! yir'
The level-seemine prairie is broken
two miles away by dry ravine deeper
than a mans hight. This curves and
bends and leads on for miles. Scramb-
ling out of its depths. and each one
sounding his war-whoOp as he mounts
his pony, are score of Indians.
For two days the hunter had swept
the horizon in vain. He was alone on
the great ocean. Night had been tran
quill and full of sound sleep. Here,
now, rising like specters from the earth
before him, is band of blood-thirsty
demons raving for his life. The sight
stuns him for few seconds. Then.
with a growl of chagrin and defiance,
filings the saddle upon his horse, picks
are a mile and a half away, he mounts
and heads for the east.
A race for life has begun.
The hunters horse strikes into long.
steady gallop, which would keep him
alongside of train of cars. There is
chorus of yells from the redskins as
they make the first rush. Then the 81
lence of the prairie is broken only by
the thudi thud! of horses feet. The
very silence is ominous, and speaks Of
a grim determination to run the victim
down.
Steady, now! The hunters horse de-
YOURS mile after mile of the green
prairie, now at the crest of swell
now almost hidden in a dip-now for
an instant out of sight of those who fol-
low. They gain little. The hunter
plans that they shall. Every yard they
| gain requires an extra speed that will
take ten minutes off the race after high
| noon. At 10 clock they have gained
| half a mile. Then the pace is even, and
neither loses nor gains.
There is something terribly grim in
following q man to his death. Not 8
shout-not call-not a rife-shot.
Thud! thud! thud! over level and ridge
and always to the east. The sun mounts
higher and higher, and now and then
| the hunter glances back with faint
hope that the pursuit has been abandon
ed. No! He might as well expect a
| wolf to quit the pursuit of a wounded
deer leaving its life-blood to stain the
grass at every rod.
1t is high noon.
The pursuit began over sixty miles
away, but the breeze brings to the hunt
er's ears that same monotony of hoof-
beats, and he glaces back to see that
| same dark line strung out at his heels.
| 1t has become question of endurance.
| If he can tire them oat he will escape.
| He shuts his teeth anew, reaches for
| ward to caress his horse
He is down! A burrow caught foot
as the horse sped onwards and man and
animal roll to the ground. The race Is
finished. The poor beast whinnies al
apology for his fall as he founders about
with broken leg, and the exultan
shouts of the redskins hardly reached
the hunters ears before he is dowr
alongside the crippled horse and his
rifle aimed at the approaching foe.
1t is another bright, peaceful day
Here are the same pure air, the same
blue sky. the same panorama of grass
and flowers and dimly outlined noun
tains.
A band of hunters are crossing thu
prairie at steady gallop, instead of I
single man riding for his life. A vul
ture rises up with a hoarse scream;
second-a third, and the odor of deca,
reaches the nostrils of riders and horses
The band halts, rides to the left, ant
presently all look down upon sigh
which tells its own story. The swollel
carcass of horse, the scalped and dis
figured body of a hunter-trample'
grass-spots of Llood-broken arrows
the earth uptorn by hoofs.
One with stouter heart than the res