Des Moines courier. ([Ottumwa] Iowa) 1848-1854, 1853-02-03

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daughter, but that cannot steel my neart
to natural feeling" she exclaimed. III
want no consolation, and will submit TO
no insult in my grief"
"Mnsi always be a monster in your
sight" said Norman bitterly. "But let
that pass. | only came to bid you hope
TO tell you that Nugeni's terrible doom
may be averted. There is one 10 whom
forest life and Indian habits are well
known. He is just setting on. on their
track, and what that man can do he will
for Nugents rescue. If he cannot save,
he win at least die with him, and then
there will be no Norman Reed TO vex
you with his hated presence"
| Forgive me! forgive mev' cried Will
la eagerly. 81 was mad-I believe those
horrible thoughts were singing me into
frenzy. But you will try TO save Nu-
gen,-if any thing can, your skill and
courage will, succeed. Heaven bless
you for the attempt. Noble, forgiving
that you are. how can ever thank you
for generosity have deserved SO lit
tle!''
Norman dared not give way to The
feelings that rushed upon him.
"Pray for my success" said he coldly.
81 will not ask you TO pray for me"
| And this was Norman Reeds fare well
to one he loved SO devo,edly, and doubt
eG that he should ever see again.
"She has at length looked on my face
unshrinking-her heart was too full of
Nugent for her to see IT," was his quick
thought, as he passed rom the room.
In few minutes he vas on his way.
II was a long aud toilsome one, but Nor
man Reed was insensibIe to WEAKNESS;
ard though he had gone good many
. miles tha, day, he felt fresh as If Just
starting from rest. With the eagerness
of one whose more than life hung on his
f speed, he traversed the forest with rap
i'd step, never pausing until he had reach
ed the spo. 10 which the Osages had been
chased that day.
|, was already night, but the full moon
|, was rising mp in cloudless sky, and
, give light for him to track the fugitives.
Their trail was indeed so broad that a
{ child might have followed it. Through
all the night he went on under that excite.
ment which prevents men yielding eth
! er to sleep or fatigue; and when, al length,
the morning broke upon him.he saw that
: the Indians had journeyed on in more
compact order, and detected here and
4 there the print of a boot not quite oblit-
: Grated by the after passing of many moe
casins.
: II was long past noon, when the mul,
a tiplicity of footmarks going in every di
4 rection, women and children's feet as
well as mems, and many other indication
{ well understood by him, that he was
nearing an lndian encampment. Very
{ cautiously he stole on until he came il
sigh, of the grey smoke curling up from
J. the woods, clothing beautiful winding
4 river. Then creeping into the heart of a
clump of brushwood. he lay down; for i
/, Nugt nj was now alive, he know he wa:
d safe until the morrow, and until night fal
G he could do no more.
A As twilight was Gardening into night
and while the moon had not yet risen
i Norman Reed shook off the broken ant
: feverish slumbers that clung to him, ant
a crep, with the stealthy step of panthe
e towards the encampment. There were
no sentinels to challenge him, for sucl
2 rarely guard either Indian camp or vii
) lage, but he knew that hundred eyes OF
ears were on the alert TO notice every un.
r wonton sound or shadow. But il was
g busy moment. The women were cook
e ing and chattering round the blazing
fires that deepened by contrast the gloon
of the woods beyond their circle of light
), and men sat conversing eagerly in groups
e while boys fingered near them, to gathe
n portions Of their discourse.
n All this Norman noted from behint
: the thicket of wild grape vines where ht
was posted. His glance roamed anx.
: ioasiy round the area OF light which wa:
: circledby some twenty wigwams. One
of these he marked especially, from the
!. fact that no woman or child went in OF
5 out of il, while two warriors remained
$ seated at the entrance. When the even
r ing meal was ready, they did no, move
: to share il; but after awhile, two of the
young men, who had finished their sup
! per, went and took their place. when the
r relieved senlinels joined one of the rings
! round the smoking bowls and camp-ket-
! ties. Norman knew now that this wig.
. wan was Nugent's prison, while a few
words which reached him. as he wen, on
! told that torture and the stake awaited
the captive in the morning.
} What with eating and talking. i, was
long before all was quiet in the Indian
camp. Norman thought that time would
never come. and all the while stood there
immoveable as the sycamore beside him.
J, At length the voices ceased. the fires
, burned low, figures glided ghostlike about,
! then vanished into the tents, or stretched
themselves beside the dying fires. A,
last the sentineis at the guard tent laid
down before the door. ...s s....
i How silent every thing was! The
moon had risen high in tho heaven, and
shone brightly ON the glancing liver,
brown wigwams, and shadowy trees.-
Norman wished she was less brilliant