Year: 1875

TO conduct themselves as they did, for no
sooner had they called out from the right,
than Dick came to a sudden halt, leaped
from the seat, aud ran Off toward those
who were allooing.


For an instant my heart stopped beating
at thought of the hazard which was about
to run. The next moment sprang from
the coffin to the ground. A few lightning
like strokes, and had severed the traces,
and the hold-back OF the harness.


The whole scene is vividly pictured in
my mind. The moon-lighted prairie, the
little ravine toward which the reuegades
were dashing, the wagon standing in the
trail-then the rafting of the falling thills
reached the ears of the party, and, with a
wild shout, they turned toward me. was
on the horses back, but boldly defined by
the moonlight. There was the sharp re-
port of two rifles. 1 felt sting in my foot,
another in my shoulder, but the horse was
unharmed and the race for life began.
There was a dishearening disadvantage
for me, for had no saddle, but l was rid
ing for my life, and held my steed be-
tween my knees, and took the broad trail
with the fury of tornado. But the issue
would rest mostly with the horses. knew
nothing of t he one which rode; knew
nothing of those that were pursuing me,
except my own white-faced mare. She
could run like an antelope and out-wind
hurricane. On and on and on my steed,
desperately spurred with the point of my
knife, bore ahead, actually causing me to
gasp for breath: and not two hundred
yards in the rear rode my would be muir
derers.


On the rolling prairies now, and my ami
NAL took the declivities with plunge, and
the elevations with a sure, fierce stride
across the brawling ford-but crack came
another rife echo, and again stream OF
fire seemed TO strike my shoulder. They
were closing in-closing up. l could now
make out only two horsemen following.
One of these had discharged his rife at me,
the other, knew was held in rest for them
10 come just few yards nearer.


A momentary dizziness Topped me over
upon my horses neck. The ruffians yell
ed triumphantly behind, but distant echo
brought me up, aud giving my poor beast
a singing blow, emitted the wild, long,
fie rec yell Of the border rangers, and sped
on again but my horse had that peculiar
squirm, now and then, in his gait, that told
me he was faltering.


Again that echo reached me, swelling out
on the rising wind-it was the shrill squeal
of the fife and the rum-diddle-um, did-e-
um-dum-dum DUN of infantry returning
from some expedition to Fort L.. Again
sent out that long, wild, border yell, and
knew by the quicker breathing of the fife,
and the rapid pulsing of the drum, the
soldiers had broken into the double
quick" in heed of my cry.


A parting shot fired at random, and the
two desperadoes turn ed but one of them,
at least, was not done with. 1 called my
horse with peculiar whistle; repeated
and repeated it, and then l heard him
crashing again in pursuit, while his rider
shouted ard lashed him, and tried 10 pull
him round the other way. For brief
time, the desperate wrestled with the ami
NAL, lashed, goaded and roared at her, but
my iucessant, jerky whistle-call kept her
mind and head toward me. He only gave
| up tno lEulllSSs slIubSlS, anu lSdpSu mum
her back, when a squad Of Infantry dashed
over a billowy swell of prairie, and rushed
down toward us at that steady, measured
run, which is so effective in contrast will
a disorderly gait.


"Irs Wolf, boys" exclaimed, as they
came up with me-for knew his voice.
had no need 10 tell them that there was
price set upon his head, as ii had been clear
ly proved that he had stirred up the saw
ages to commit more than one massacre o
the settlers and dozen of them, utterint
yell of fury, started in pursuit; Will,
the others, noticing my swaying about oil


the animal which l rode, began to thinl


that l had found something serious in tn


race for life In fact, the plain was rising


and falling and shuffling about 50 that


took a great amount of nerve and equi


poise TO sit as l ought. They got me int


Fort Laramie, however, with uncle's prom


issory notes all safe in my breast pocket


while my boot full Of blood, and the gall


ing flesh wounds in my shoulder, account
ed for the odd maneuverings of The plai
while was on horseback.


After a brief but desperate conflict, Bi
Wolf was brought in, and passed over t
I the proper officers 'to have and to hold,
until there should be meted out to him th


measure which he had given others. - p,
terSon's Journal