Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-01-03
CHAPTER III.
TIE CHASE COMMENCED.

The cause of the alarm scarcely needed
to be explained-the word "Indians"
was enough.
All was Immediately in confusion
men were rushing in every direction for
their arms and horses, women were has
tily preparing to set out homeward, and
save the rangers, who had picketed their
horses together as usual, no one seemed
to retain the least GOODNESS. Nor was the
CONSERVATION unnatural; for many fathers
and mothers were there who had left their
homes in charge of their children-some
of the younger guests had left aged pa
rents-and even A tAAqss Z who 1 had peehlais.e! peehlaiss.sea
their houses, .b.nded no nereove-
ment of relatives, expected no less than
to find the labor of years heap of smo-
king ruins. People less accustomed to
alarms would have made more clamor
but the pale faces and rigid features of
these stern backwoodsmen, were as elo-
quent of feeling as the widest gestures
or most extravagant cries.
1t was in scenes like this, that the su-
periority of such man as John Edgar
became evident. He was terribly excited
as the blazing eye and ashy lips might
testify; yet his orders were given with
the same clearness as if there had been
no cause of agitation; and without beray-
ing any signs of impatience, he sat upon
his horse at the gate, quietly awaiting
their execution But few moments suffi-
ced for his ready soldiery to assemble.
They numbered only twenty in all 5; but
they were soon joined by half-a-score of
young men, who had no pressing call
homeward From these he selected ten,
among whom were the two younger
Fieldmgs, and placing the company un-
der the command of his lieutenant, he
directed them to establish patrols over
the district and protect the settlements.
"You'll bring Jane back to us, John?"
said Mrs. Fielding, coming to the gate,
with dry eyes but trembling lips.
Yes" he replied sternly, "if have
to follow her to the Rocky Mountainsl"
And the mother turned away sorrow
ing, but hopeful. The character of Ed
gar was too well known to admit doubt
of his untiring perseverance.
Ten minutes sufiiced TO make all the
provisions necessary to a long chase at
the end of that time Edgar turned his
horses head toward the prairie, and fol-
lowed by the ten men of his choice, set
out at IA long gaslop to the west and north.
The band had been selected with thor
ough knowledge of every mans quail
ties; they were all young, hardy, reso-
lutte and untiring. Each was equipped
with rifle and knife, and each rode pow
erful and well-hied horse. Beside the
hatred which every ranger bore TO the
"redskin" = 4 motive in itself strong
enough to bear them forward for many
days-they were all warmly attached to
Edgar. The latter expected long chase;
for, from certain signs, minute and un-
meaning to the inexperienced but trum-
pet-tongued to him, he was impressed
with the belief that Jane's captors were
not merely a marauding party, making an
incursion into this settlement, but re-
treating band falling back from some
other enterprise, eithe: on account Of de-
feat or division. Thei. numbers were too
great; the character Of the dress from
which he had found /, fragment, and the
direction Of their movement, all combined