Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1895-06-05

more ana more distant ana 1nu1sUInCu,
and soon realized that the survivors of
the struggle, together with our stock,
had been scooped and carried off as spoils
and prisoners for ransom. The Indians
had eluded US completely.
1t may scarcely be believed, but SO
weak and weary was I from my wound
that, not caring whether I was safe or
not, sank into a deep sleep or swoon,
awaking not again till sunrise. Then,
with start, I sat bolt up and stared
about me. All traces of the camp, the
tents, utensils, equipage, were gone.
Two Of the soldiers, together with Mr..
Breitman, were lying stiff, stark and
scalped amid the grass where they had
fallen. A dead horse was stretched at
length upon its side, with great cash
in it's flank, while litter of damaged
articles belonging to our company cum
bered the trodden sod. My companions
were all gone, and, my God where was
Pouchee?
Struggling family to my feet, I
groaned aloud with agony of heart. Was
Pouchee murdered or far worse? Imme-
diately a loud cry made my blood run
cold and peering in every direction over
the plains to my almost hysterical de-
light saw the graceful girlish form of
Pouchee coming at run toward me.
Fairly throwing herself into my arms,
she managed to say, between a laugh
and cry:
"Mr Vincent, you are left alive. I
thought was all alone in this waste
desert. But you are spared to me, thank
heavenP'
Full of unutterable emotions, I pressed
the dear girl to my heart with rapture.
care they all killed?' finally con-
trived to ask.
''All but we two, fear.
''And how did they chance to leave
your" I said.
81 could not get to sleep last night,
and after awhile got up to look outside
the tent, when saw dark shadows
stealing along the ground. At that mo-
ment the sentinels fired at random, and
flying blindly straight ahead contrived
to dodge the savages and escape, thanks
to my Indian blood. Afterward, from a
distance, saw them spring upon the
horses, and yelling like fiends ride rapid
ly away"
"They are far enough off by this time.
Miss Bloomingdale, said I, $50 let us
look about and see what we can find for
breakfast.
"Are you much hurt?'' she asked,
with trepidation. "You are all covered
with blood.''
"I'l1 soon fix that, 'Asaid I
There was pail half full Of water
which had been left for the horses stand
ing little way off, and, without cere-
mony plunging my head into its spar
king mist presently emerge quite clean
and refreshed, but my clothes were bad
ly stained and injured, and I had to
laugh aloud, for poor Pouchee was al
ready clad in a buckskin hunting shirt
and chaperelles, which I recognized as
having lately belonged to Sangaree.
There were no guns or ammunition to
be found, but long bladed bowie was
lying in the grass, badly nicked and
bloodstained, which I stuck in my belt
for our mutual protection before we fell
to at some hard tack which was scatter
ed around, and which we washed down
with bottle of beer that had fortunate
ly escaped detection. That was our
breakfast
OF course we could not stay there to
starve, although I could have .emained
under such pleasant circumstances for
ever-for was not Pouchee with me? So
we decided to walk on toward the sun
set in hopes of something turning up.
First, however, I arrayed myself in a
full United States cavalry uniform,
which the Indians had overlooked, and
which I stripped from off the body of
one of the dead soldiers. Then away we
started ON foot-quickly and cheerfully
over the plains.
need not describe the ten happy days
of that strange tramp. We lived sparse
ly enough on succulent grasses and drank
at stagnant pools Icontrived to surprise
and capture a few jackrabbits in their
holes, which of course we were obliged
to devour raw. At night we slept with
in hail in the thick grass, and in the
morning we went on again as blithely
as two half starved, thirsty, tired and
wholly contented wretches could ever
expect to do 1t seemed like dream at
the time, and looking back dream of
bliss and peace and perfect love-for
Pouchee and I were irrevocably attached
to one another and engaged to be mar
ried before week was over.
She was a noble girl, no manner of
complaint or exclamation of impatience
passing her lips throughout the term of
our joint trial. She seemed to scorn pri-
walton, defy hardship, dare every danger
and thrive, even revel, on fatigue. She
toughened visibly under the stress Of
that rough life, with all the vitality Of
her vigorous constitution. AS she
marched over the boundless waste Of
barren land, hour after hour and day
after day, she brought to my mind, in
her ripe suppleness and rich splendor Of
physique, the image of q Pocahontas
and Pharaoh's daughter rolled into
one Such was her Indian and Israelit
ish inheritance.
At the eleventh hour of our wander
ings, when we had dlned dry on the
roots Of grapsma grass which we had
picked, and at moment when I be-
lieved that it was all up with us in this
world, Pouchee suddenly jumped to her
feet and pointed off in westerly direc
tion.
"See there" she whispered hoarsely,
"there, there! 1t is the dust thrown up
by horses feet 1 know what it is.
Rouse yourself, Robert. Oh, God, this
strain is killing himP'
I thought her head had been turned
with the sufferings of hunger and thirst
she had undergone and was stricken
dumb with agony of mind; but, glanc-
ing in the direction Pouchee indicated,
I clearly discerned a little cloud of dust
rising upward in the air.
"Let us hurry on" I cried.
Tottering forward, supported by the
tireless arm of my companion, pressed
along until we were enabled to distin-
guish the growing outlines Of caval-
cade I know not how long time it
occupied to reach the cortege. I only
know that was rallied from sort of
stupor by hearing Pouchee shout and re-
ooi1-ipcr q bai1 of iov oud o1adpocc FROM,