Year: 1864


Among the many captains who obtain
ed noteriety aQd bravery and skill in In
dian fighting, few were farther known, or
better liked, than Captain Lewis. Legs
Lewis" as he was famiIiarlv called by
his band, was very tall, thin man,
standing at least six feet four iu his stock
ing feet; and his legs, from his spareness
OF make, looking unusually long, and
these obtained for him the soJriguet by
which be was known far and wide. This
length Of limb, too, had made him a
marked man by his tawny.foes, and there
were few Chamanche warriors, who had
been for any time upon the war-path, but
had seen Legs urging his horse 10 lead
his company in their pursuit. seso


Legs Lewis Rangers were scouting
near tho head-wslers of tho Rio San
Marcos, one Of the largest tributaries
Of the Rio Maudalupe, when the follow
ing bard gallop was performed by the
captain: an t4ssG


For some weeks the hunters, in their
daily excursions after game, had come
across no trail or "Injun sign" and, sup
posing that the Indians were on lhe buff
falo grounds, further to the north west, or
else attacking the Mexicaus in the State
Of Cohahulia, Legs concluded that he
might turn the troop over for few days
to bis Lieutenant, whilst he ran down to
Seguin, town on the Guadalupe river,
about fifty miles to the southwest, where
he had business, N 2 '-E2N0D


The sun was somc hours high on this
October morning before Legs had finish
ed tying to his saddle his spare blanket
his tin cup, which served sometimes TO
dip up water from a stream with, or to
boil his coffee in, aud a little wallet,
which contained an ounce or two Of
parchcd coffee pounded in piece of buck
skin, pinch of salt, few red capsicum
pods, and some strips of jerked vension
which Spartan fare he intended to
serve for his supper and breakfast, hop
ing TO reach Seguin about the middle Of
the following day. Legs Lewis was a
hardy, temperate, young man, and he
paid far more attention 10 the loading Of
his revolvers aud their extra cylinders,
than he did in provisioning himself for
his journey. His last orders given, and
a shake of the hand all round to his
comrades, he moonted, and, holding a
south-westerly course, struck out across
the prairie, hoping to make the Guada-
lupe timber before sundown, where he
could build his campfire; and then, skirt
ing the forest, the next day he new would
bring him 10 Seguin.


4 About two hours before sundown he
struck the timber on a small creek which
joined the main forest on the Guadaloupe; |;
and, in turning point of this wood,
which stretched out some little distance
into the prairie, he came suddenly upon
a war party of Comanches, about one
hundred strong. Legs saw that he was
discovered; the same instant that his
eyes fell upon the painted warriors, a
score Of black eyes fell upon him. His
peril flashed through his mind no quicker
than did his resolution bow it should best
be met. To retreat was almost certain to
ensure bis capture and death; for altho'
bis charger was good one, he had rode
him long distance, and he doubted
whether he could escape his pursucrs in
fair race across the open prairie for the
two hours that vet remained of daylight
If he conld only elude the redskins until
the sun went down he had no doubt that,
as there was no twilight, he should be
able TO effect his escape easily enough
when once dark


The timber upon the creek was too mar
row to offer him any hope of conceal
inent, and he saw al once that his only
chance depended upon his reaching the
great forest Of Guadalupe; once in that,
and The sun below tho horizon, he was
too good woodsman, to care for the yell
ing Indians in his rear. The Indians,
however, were between him and the for
est of the Guadalupe. and TO make de-
tour, to "rouud them," was hazardous,
for he had 20 doubt the party would di-
vide, so that whilst one division chased
him upon the prairie, the other would
keep before, to cut off from his shelter;
ho had not had to do with Indians so
long without knowing how readily they
would divine bis intentions. All these
thoughts. which take time 10 describe,
flashed Instantly through tho brain Of a
man who was constantly exposed TO dan
ger, and accustomed to rely upon himself
for exirication, and he saw in an instant
the right thing 10 do--and he did it,
Not doubling that moro than one Of his