I/O HORSE, FOOT, AND DRAGOONS. 



matted and interlaced that the light of day scarcely can pene- 

 trate through the dense covering of their leaves, is the place 

 where the scouts have first discovered signs of the fugitives. 

 Beyond flows the river, so that their skiff, having been found 

 and captured, under cover of the night, by the chief scout, who, 

 swimming and wading the stream from the opposite shore, had 

 towed the boat away from its hiding-place, the escape of the 

 desperadoes is cut off by way of the water. We find the bluff 

 picketed along its whole extent by the troops, some of whom 

 stand, rifle in hand, looking out over the swamp, from which 

 the mists of the morning are slowly rising, while others are 

 gathered about an occasional small fire, warming their chilled 

 frames and hastily cooking a frugal breakfast. 



Down in the thickets the scouts and some of the soldiers, 

 aided by their savage allies, are beating the bush and scatter- 

 ing rifle-shots, and a yell now and then from the Indians indi- 

 cate that the trail is hot. Hot it may be, but the pursuit is 

 soon given up, for, with the exception of a bloody coat and a 

 revolver, nothing more is found after the capture of some mis- 

 erable, desperate wretches, who, making but slight resistance, 

 surrender on recognizing the Government uniform. Miserable- 

 looking wretches they are, as, guarded by the vigilant soldiers, 

 they are marched into the post. Wild -eyed and haggard, cov- 

 ered with mud and dirt, their brier- torn clothing hanging in 

 shreds from their frames, emaciated with hunger, one of them 

 with bullet- torn arm bound in blood-stained bandages, their 

 abject appearance well proves that " the way of the transgressor 

 is hard," as they are securely confined in the lock - up of the 

 guard -house, there to await what fate has in store for them. 



The ripple of excitement on the usually calm surface of life 

 in the remote frontier fort caused by the raid has subsided, and 

 the garrison settles down into the monotonous routine of its 



