The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-04

We returned TO camp on Home Creek
where another party was sent out t
Pecan Bayou on scout, myself anon
the number. Crossing over on to jim
Ned, we had plenty of sport killing deer
indeed, our horses were literally lCadet
down with venisOn, bear meat, and othe
game, and we were thinking of anything
else rather than war, when all at once
we struck a broad trail, over which large
number of horses had passed. Believin!
that a drove of animals had Strayed of
here from some of the settlements, w,
followed in the track, with a view of head
ing them off and returning them to The
settlements. AS the tracks were very
fresh, we did not anticipate any trouble il
overtaking the drove the first time il
stopped TO Craze.
After following the trail for some time
we came in sight of lone Indian, but
nothing else was TO be seen. The in
slant he observed us he dashed off as
rapidly as his horse could carry him
following the course the horses had taken
1t was evident that he was a sentinel
and that more saVageS were ahead; SC
we started at once in pursuit.
1t was now apparent that the animals
had been stolen, and were being driven
off by large body of Indians. The trail
u.
could be travelled with certainty in the
night, and we accordingly kept on through
the darkness.
Failing To gain on the Indian, we cut
our game loose from the saddles, and let
il go; and our horses, thus relieved from a
heavy burden. ran well; and though we
did not gain on the savage, we held our
own, and thus prevented him from giving
the alarm TO his company before We came
upon them.
HOT CHASE
1t was tight RAE as long as we were
on the level prairie, but as soon as we
entered the mountains on the Colorado
he frequently evaded cur view, as he was
a splendid horseman, and ran his animal
with excellent judgment.
His horse was failing, but so were our
own; so that we could not take advantage
of that circumstance. On our arrival at
the top OF a mountain we discovered the
object of our pursuit-the drove of horses
lin the care of about 20 Indians. They
had not yet discovered us when the red
imp before us began To yell loud enough 10
awaken the dead, To say nothing abou t
startling the living.
The Indians heard him, and we could
distinctly perceive the excitement oc-
casioned; and they at once gave him an
answering whoop, and headed the drove
for the river; but the horses not being
managerial by so small a number of
drivers, stampeded, and ran to the right,
and nearly parallel To the stream, for
some distance; while the Indians, seeing
us gain on them rapidly, left their booty
and dashed into another gap in the
mountains They had lost time in trying
to turn the horses the way they wanted
them To go, and we we're now close upon
them, firing and yelling like SO many
madmen.
On we went till we passed the mount
zinc -hRr7 fp1rta ha Ind hpd
mistaken their route and run through the
wrong gap, and had Unexpectedly found
themselves upon the river, with a high
bluff before them and an almost perpen-
dicular mountain on each side while we
were charging close upon their rear; but
they heSltatcd not a moment.
OVER THE BLUFF
Realizing their rosi n, they spurred
ahead and dashed ever the bluff into the
river. So sudden was their Gisappearar &c
that some OF BuTlcSon 5 men could not
check UP in time Ia save themselves. hut
went headlong after Tie saNaces. wIo
made for the opposite shore as fast as
they rose 10 the surface. After swimming
q few strokes, they struck had lot:or1
and were soon in shallow wafer. whcn,
giving US a parting g!tccr. ihCy cd To
the woods and were quick Y ut Of sigh.
The riyer here is Vc~y arrow and deep
on the north side Tie Huff was about
water. There were three 81 cur ra~ty who
went over the bluff ate lie indians ore
of whom we always called ToTEcy hut !
have forgotten the names OF the others.
They all swan ashore on The opposite
side: still, as tnCIr guns and ammUnit ion
were wet. they could accomplish nothing
against The long lanccs Of The fuciiivcs. so
they wisely followed the river bank down
10 ford and recroSsed.
The Lieutenant then concluded to re-
he
no longer any hope Of overtaking the
Indians in the dark. We soon found the
animals quietly & aZing, and encamped to
wait for the return Of the men who had
gone in search Of a ford, which they found
about five miles down the river
We were then IS miles from the regular
camp; and on the following day dis
covered a party OF citizens who had gone
out in search Of the horses: but had it
not been for us they would never have
seen them again. We then returned, and
were soon feasting on all sorts OF wild
fowl and game, as well as fish, Of which
we caught thousands.
After resting my horse two or three
days, ! set out on my return to Fort
Belknap alone, as Burleson was not yet
ready Ia move, and would not be for som e
time Out of unadulterated sympathy for
my horse, / took no rations for myself
depending solely for my subsistence on
my trusty gun.
There are two requisites for successful
hunting, besides proper equipments and
being dead shot: one is To find the game
and the other is to get within shooting
distance. ] could not dismount To hunt
on foot, nor could l leave my route lest
should fall in with some rowing band OF
Comanches; and game was scarce on the
high table-iand over which was TO travel
and, as "A natural consequence, / wen
hungry all the way.
FRONTIER BEAUTY.
On the second day became very sici
of fever, which ! broke by lying dow,
In running stream Of pure water until
got chilled; and, between hunger an,
sickness, l was unable la travel fast. an
IL was z O'Clock of the fourth day. before
reached Dobb's ranch. the first settle
ment on my way, and only Is miles fror
Belknap.
| called for dinner, and turned out m
horse to Craze, and, in the meanti me
threw myself down To enjoy a nap, whic
my exhausted system greatly needed an
which ! could now do, conscious of perfes
security.
] had slept but few minutes, howeye
before / was awakened by one OF tn
prettiest girls in Texas. She furnishe
me with a towel and a basin of waite
preparatory 10 taking my dinner, and ate
indulglng in my ADDITIONS my appetit
attained q keenness which have seldoI
felt; and il was with no ordinary degree
satisfaction that 1 seated myself to
table beautifully spread with warm breas
fresh butter wild honey, sweet milk, an
score of other dainties, calculated