Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-01-27

W oi bearing any intelligence 10 Moore 8
Fort; and, in that wild bushfgh,ng, the
white settlers and hunters had learned
from the red men to regard as foolish
ness the idea of any one sacrificing him.
self without, at least, some prospect of
accomplishing the object for which his
life was given. ....
"What can we do?" inquired al last
Fhorncastle's lieutenant, a brave but
prudent man. "Tis true solitary man
might chance to thread his way through
those willy savages; but the odds are a
hundred to one against him."
81 ask no one to do what cannot do
myself" replied Thorncastle; shut ii |
was as young and light of foot as once
was. Moore's Fort should not fall with
out an effort for its safety"
"And Moore's village also," said a
soft clear voice at Old Marks side: for
Villa Thorncas,le had stood there all
the time, with the light from the block
house windows pouring full upon her
and helping the moons rays to show
distinctly her slender and graceful form,
beautiful features and dark blue eyes,
through which looked forth spirit as
noble and fearless as her fathers. And
appealingly those eyes glanced around,
as she continued: think that it is no, men
merely accustomed to face danger. and
combat it, over whom this dreadful doom
is hanging; think that children and old
age, and weak, helpless women. are rest
ing in false security amid those quie.
woods! You have mothers; you have
sisters; think if those dear ones were IN
peril. and some hour they may be; oh,
do now as other men should, in such
hour, do for them! You will not aban-
don them to their fate unwarned! Mo-
| feel, know you will not leave those
helpless ones to the knife, the tomahawk,
and the flames, which, if you stand idly
by, will TO morrow night be wreaking
their merciless fury upon them!"
The last tones of VILLAS earnest ap.
peal had scarcely died away, when a
tall form, which had been leaning agains,
one of the guns, stepped forward eager
ly, as if to speak. But the loud voice
of Capt. Thorncastle was heard at once,
and with an emphasis which forbade all
thought of interruption.
"'Tis a service too dangerous and too
doubtful for me to order any man upon.
1t must be a volunteer service, the more
honorable from its danger; and dom,
fancy | underr ate that. because canno,
eh ~ Rus Ill T. r.,
Thorncastle has saved good round sum,
and many of yod have said had some.
thing YOU liked better than land or gold.
Well, then, whichever of you shall be
brave and skillfnl enough to bear this
news to Moore's Fort in time for The
treachery to be defeated, will give my
daughter and all that | possess. What
say you. girl! For the sake of the wo.
men and children in yonder village, will
you not ratify your fathers promise!"
A murmur of suppressed delight rose
from the assembled young men, while
the blood rushed violently TO Villa s
temples, and for moment she shrank
back in girlisa timidity; but in the mex,
a more powerful and generous emotion
swelled high within her bosom. and she
replied in voice which. low as it was,
was heard distinctly all over the plat.
form amid the deep hush which had
succeeded.
IF he prize my hand it shall be given
him cheerfully--graiefully. What no.
bier destiny could desire, than TO de-
vote all my life to him who hazards his
in such cause!"
A louG cheer followed the words of
the enthusiastic girl, and before il had
concluded, she had glided away, aud
stood gazing from window of the block
house on the moonlit forest, where slep,
alike the Indian wolves and their prey.
In few minutes the stir of prepare.
tion was percep:ible throughout the fort.
Here was one seeking fresh supply of
ammunition, another fixing flint into
his rifle, and another examining with
care if his knife's edge was ready for a
close graphing with his expected foe
And in less than ah hour fifteen Young
men had left the fort. How many would
return alive? Would even one reach the
gaol, girdled as it was with Indian eyes,
and Indian weapons! These questions
Villa asked herself often during that
night, as she sat alone, watching the
moonbeams give place to starlight in the
woods; and sometimes she felt as though
on her all The weight of their blood
would fall. But then she remembered
with what noble and holy purpose she
had sen, them forth, even though il
should be to die. And then her brow
would sink on her hands, and she would
muse long and deeply how. by all wo.
mans tenderness and self.devotion. she
might redeem her plighted word to the
winner-if winner there should be OF
her promised hand.
Brightly the sun rose over the green
forest, which veiled jealously from all
anxious eyes what was passing beneath
the shadow of its branches. But at
noon, two of the pas, nights volunteers S
returned with tie udings that they could
nowhere pierce the line Of Indians; and
a couple of hours afterwards, third was
chased SO near the clearing by several
warriors, that Old Thorncastle put a
match TO ono of The cannon and swept