Year: 1873

One If the officers, who was command


ing troop, concluded one day that it


would be safe to grant permission to part


If his command to leave camp for the pur-


pose of hunting buffalo and obtaining


fresh meat for the men. The hunting party


being strong enough to protect itself against


almost any ordinary war party Of Indians


that might present itself, left camp at an


early hour in the morning and set down


in the direction IN which the buffalo were


reported to be. The forenoon passed


away, noon came and still no signs Of the


return Of the hunters The small hours Of


the afternoon began to come ana ~, ana


still no tidngs from the hunters. who were


expected to return 70 camp after an ab-


sence of two or three hours. The officer


to whose troop they belong, and who was


of All exceedingly nervous temperament,


began to regret having accorded them per


mission Ia leave camp, knowing that lndl-


ans had been seen IN the vicinity. The
hunting party had gone by a rOute across


the open country which carried them up a
long but very gradual ascent If perhaps
: two miles. beyond which. N the level
4 PLAIN. the buffalo weIe supposed u be
/ herding IN large numbers. Anxious To
| learn something concerning the Wherea-
bouts uf his men. and believing ht could
I obtain view Of the country beyond which


might prove satisfactory, the officer. whose


suspense was constantly increasing. deter


mined to mount hi~ horse and ride tu the


summit of the ridge beyond which LIS men


had disappeared in the morning. Taking
no escort with him, he leisurely rode oft,


guided by the trail made by the hunters.
The distance to the crest proved much


further than it seemed to the eye before


starting. A ride of over two miles had to


" made before the highest point was reach


ed. but once there the officer felt well re-


paid for his exertion, for III the dim az


ceptiuns " a beautiful mirage he saw what


to him was the hunting party leisurely re-


turning tuv trd camp. Thinking they we're


still a long d stance from him and would not


reach hum for a considerable time, ht did


What every prudent cayairyman would


have done under similar circumstances


dism Ounted to allow his horse an opportu


nifty to rest At the same time he begaI


studying the extended scenery, which


from his exalted position lay spread IN Al


directions beneath him. The camp, seer


nesting along the banks " the creek a


the base of the ridge, appeared az pleas


ant relief 70 the monOtOny ut the view


which otherwise was undIsturbed. Having


scanned the horizon In all directions. IA,


turned to watch the approach ut hls men


when. behold instead Of his own trust


troopers returning laden with the fruits o


the chase, the mirage had disappeared, am,
he saw a dozen we'll mounted warriors ria


ing directly toward hnn AT full speed
They were still far enough away to enabl
: him to mount his horse and have NOR
than AN even chance to uutstrIp them il
? the race to camp. But no time was to b
! thrown away the beauties Of natura
scenery had, flr the time at least, los
| their attraction Camp never seemed ;
{ inviting before. Healing his horse tOWar
/ camp and gathering the reins in one ham
) holding his revolver in the other, the offi
E Ger set out to make his escape Judgmen
. had to be employed IN riding this race. fo
h the distance being fully two miles before
! place of safety could be reached, his horse
4 not being high bred and accustomed tn =,
ing such distance at full speed, might
: ii forced too rapidly at first, fail befor
A reaching camp. Acting upon this idea
= tight rem was held and a. much spec
7 kept in reserve safety would permit
{ This enabled the Indians 10 gain on tn
{ officer, but at no time did he feel that


could elude his pursuers. His principi
Il anxiety was connned Ia the character
y the ground care being taken 20 avoid III
), rough and broken places. single mi
, step or q stumble on the part Of his hors
n and his pursuers would Be upon him befoI
" he could rise The sensations he exper
It enced during that hying ride could n,
lx have been envlable. Soon tha men