The swains would gallantly rush to the rescue of their sweethearts.

When the party had arrived within about a mile of the house where the marriage ceremony was to take place, two of the most daring riders among the young men who had been previously selected for the purpose, set out on horseback on a race for "the bottle." The master of the house was expected to be standing at his door, with a jug of whiskey in his hand.

This was the prize which the victor in the race was to seize and take back in triumph to his companions.
The start was announced by a general Indian yell.

The more rough the road--the more full of logs, stumps, rocks, precipitous hills, and steep glens, the better.

This afforded a better opportunity for the display of intrepidity and horsemanship.