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


might awake his enemies-and then fare
well all hope of rescue
Z But his was not q nature to shrink from
danger. Cautiously drawing the ramrod
from his rifle, he took the irrcyocable
step. Swiftly, but silently, he glided
from one tree to the other. Within four
feet of him lay Jane, in profound and
tranquil sleep, her head resting upon her
arm, and one hand extended toward him
while on each side of her, but still near
er than he, her captors were ready to
awake at the first movement.
But again he.resolved to take the risk,
and stretching forth the ramrod, gently
touched her open hand. She did not
movc--he touched it again-and she
slightly drew it away. Once more-she
opened her eyes, and gazed upon the
sleeping Indian before her-fortunatcly,
without disturbing HIM He passed the
rod slowly before her face; she turned
her head, and was about to speak, when
he showed himself for an instant, and
pressed his finger TO his lips. She was
silent, though breathless with excitement.
But the nerves Of atrue frontier girl were
not easily shaken and Jane saw at once
that her lovers safety, as well as her own
liberty, depended upon her self-command.
Obeying sign from him, she commenc-
ed slowly and cautiously, though with
trembling hands, to unfold the blanket
which protected, but also impeded her.
AS fold after fold fell gradually off, her
heart beat with wider and stronger pull
sation and when, finally, she found her.
self free, she could scarcely forbear
springing to her feet, and rushing into
Edgar's arms. BY great effort she re-
strained herself, and cautiously rose to
her feet.
Full fifteen minutes-an age at such q
time-had passed since Edgar approached
the tree But the suspense was amply
compensated, when, without the least
noise, he. saw her by his direction, gain
the shadow of the first tree. He fingered
still to see that she was unobserved, and
then one moment brought him to her
side, and Joined their lips in a kiss as in
tense as was the danrer by which they
were surrounded.
Yet he dared not speak, and there was
no time to be lost. The savages might
discover the escape at any moment, and
their last chance would be gone. He
took her by the hand, and walking swift
ly, though cautiously, began to retrace
his steps through the wood. Five min
utes brought them to the head of the
rayine, and here he should turn o the left
if he wished to regain the path by which
he had approached, But by this course
he must take wide circuit to avoid the
Indian encampment-and every moment
was precious. Turning, therefore to the
right instead, he led her, as rapidly as
she could walk, in the direction, as he
supposed, of the dividing ridge, along
which he had travelled in the evening"
His observation of localities was usually
so accurate, that there seemed no danger
of missing the way. But he had been so
much absorbed in the approach to the
Jiuouac, that he had not noted the wind
ings of the ravine, or even the points of
the compass; and his surprise was very
great on finding, after an hour spent in
pushing forward, that he was apparently
as far as ever from the ridge.
1t was long past midnight, and but a
short time could elapse before the prison
er's escape must be discovered. 1t was
yitally necessary that he should recross
the river before sunrise; and yet, with
out his horse, this was impossible. Jane
expressed confidence in her ability to
walk even much farther but the speed
of even so active a walker as she was far
from sufficient for escape. Edgar grew
silent and anxious, l,ough the cheerful
less of his companion at another time
would have drawn many a smile from
the gloom of his face.
We can only push forward, John,
said she an enterprise 50 successfully
begun should not be'given up in despair
i can never despair SO longas you are
with me, Jane, he replied ; but | ought
to tell you that, unless ! can find my
horse, our capture is certain
See, then, if am not better night
ranger than Captain John Edgar she
said: Il hear your horse. now =
As she spoke, a low nicker from the
bushes directly in front indicated the spot
where his horse was still standing. The
faithful animal was aware of his masters
T. ar.