Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-01-10

tttid Wy ihS, o"'y ~ ~
along the ridges.
.Tbey have discovered your escape
Edgar said.
He waited to hear no more, but regain
ing the dividing ridge, set off at a swift
pace toward the south. The order was
reversed--thc chased were now the pur-
suers--and speed alone could decide the
race. Edgar rode powerful horse, who
had borne him safely through many a
fight as well as march but the double
weight he was now carrying, the Journey
he had made, and the efforts still expect
ed Of him, forbade the idea of rapid tray
cling, Yet tho bloodhounds were upon
his track and at the dawn of day, now
scarcely an hour distant, Edgar knew that
they would sweep down upon him like
the wind. Escape seemed as difficult as
before the rescue.
Yet the rangerwas not cast down, and
the strong hearted daughter of the pion-
Ger gave little thought to danger. They
had scarcely ridden three miles, when
the thunder of many hoofs came rolling
down the ridge. The enemy were in full
chase, scarcely mile behind.
I'VE must try the virtue of speed,
said Edgar. dashing his spurs into his
horses fanks, he sprang away at rate
which gave promise of soon distancing
the pursuers. Their footsteps soon died
away in the distance and, could he have
kept up the pace at which he started, the
captain hoped he might reach the river
before being overtaken. But at the end
of few minutes he was forced tc draw
his rein. The ridge had grown SO mar
row, that the ravines on either hand in
tersected each other, and broke it into
steep and dangerous gorges At the first
of these his horse came to a dead halt,
and neither voice nor spur could force
him forward. Edgar sprang to the
ground, and looking over the precipiee,
shuddered at the leap he had been endea-
voring to take A hollow, whose bottom
he could not see, cut directly across his
path, and extended both to the right and
left farther than his eye could penetrate.
They are coming, Johnp exclaimed
Jane, springing to the ground; and he
lad scarcely time to lead his horse few
Indians dastd sis farioasiy FA Up, Al ahd dtfl tfea
him, came to a sudden halt. He could
plainly see the dusky outlines of their
forms, riding backward and forward.
searching for acrossing He drew Jane.
whose white dress might betray them,
behind tree, and breathlessly awaited
their motions AT word from the chief
they all turned directly toward him. He
seized Jane by the arm, and dropping his
horses rein, sprang down the precipitous
bank. A fearful yell from the pursuers
told him that he was seen: and rush
and scramble, regardless Of the crumb
ling bank, brought them almost upon
him.
Run, Jane down the rayine-run
he exclaimed, and bringing his rifle up,
the foremost warrior fell to the ground,
pierced through the head. Another yell
more fearful than the first, heralded
wild spring upon him. But the ranger
was more agile than any savage : with
one bound he gained tree, and before
they had recovered from their confusion,
his rifle was reloaded. Slowly he began
to climb the bank-but his first move
ment was observed, and again they rush
ed toward him. He turned and fired his
last shot-another savage rolled groaning
down the bank. But the odds were too
great. He gave himself up for lost-but
drawing his knife, resolved to die fight.
ing TO the last.
The click of rihe-lock directly be-
hind him caught his attention, and the
next moment . yolley of balls whistled
over bis head 4 rush down the bank
Immediately followed. The company OF
rangers, led on by White, had arrived in
time to save their captain. The savagss.
taken by surprise. were unable 10 pl:tke 1.
stand /; but such as were not diSabhd By
wounds sprang actively up the ascent, and
gaining their horses, took to flight. They
left seven of their warriors, among whoa
was the tall chief lying dead in the bot
tom of the ravine.
Edgar called his men back from tho
pursuit, and mustered them within the
gorge. Not one ef them had received
wound.
We are all SAFE, said Geerge Field
ing hnt whore is Jane 2
Here ] am, Jane answered from the
ridge above, Instead Of flying down the