Quasqueton guardian. (Quasqueton, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1856-1858, 1857-11-19

which l do not know, and the cracking
of the bushes Beneath our tread. Now
and then a bird, disturbed from It's roost
by our approach, would fly screaming in
to darkness. On, on, we went, like two
grim shadows, mile after mile
Once the moonlight shone down from
momentary break in the clouds. 1t
rested on the face of my companion. |
turned my eyes up to his countenance as
il were by instinct. started at the look
which was there. The moonlight came
directly upon his head, throwing the
shadows OF his strong brow down on his
lace. His eyes cleaned with fierce in
tcnsity from the brow shadows--lit up
more by the fire within than by the moon.
The powerful muscles OF his face looked
fearfully rigid in the downward Wi (
light. The clouds opened for an instant
they closed, and all was darkness. |
knew not why it was, but that glancing
sight of the pioneers face sent an iron
strength TO my own nerves. l was ready
for anything. | felt deep confidence
that we should succeed.
Well, we walked-if walk you would
call it-for full four hours, when / be-
came aware, by some open clearings
which we had passed, that we were near
the abode Of the villains. The pioneer
now began to use more caution. He did
not go Oh i'll straight course as before,
but approached in an indirect kind of a
circle. Our tread was now as noiseless
as the grave. Under the guidance of
the pioneer, | crept along in a manner
which would have done honor to a more
experienced second.
Suddenly my companion stopped in the
midst of a cluster of trees, and made a
motion for me to remain where | was
He then approached TO the edge of the
forest, knelt down, put the tall bushes
aside and looked out. He appeared to
look searchingly around and listened for
some time, and then giving me a sign to
follow, he stepped out into the clearing
obeyed the sign, and in an instant was
by his side,
instinctively gave tighter grasp to
my rifle, and my heart beat faster. We
were in the neighborhood of houses. l
counted all could see in the darkness
there were four. This, thought l, is the
ruifian settlement. | was not mistaken.
The pioneer motioned TO me to be eau
tious, and then crept towards the house
which was larger than the rest. We
were soon under the shadow of the build
ing, were we stood to confer together.-
This was Dick Hiskey's place, as | had
suspected. The pioneer felt certain that
his daughter was there, and he now set
his mind energetically to work to plan
! for releasing her.
At last he motioned me to stay where
| was, and he disappeared around the
side of the house. But he soon returned
and made known discoveries and plans
He had found an open place, large
enough TO admit his body in the upper
part of the opposite side of the house.
He made known his plan and set TO work
young tree of the right size. We soor
cut ii down with our sharp knives, and
cut off the branches. We carried il tl
the house and put the large end firmly III
the ground, at such a distance from the
house As t. allow the other end far enough
in the opening SO that the whole misnt
be firm. The pioneer t.en peered inc
my face for moment, and feeling assured
by its expression that stood prepared tC
do my best, let what would come, he pla
ced his Land on the tree, with his rife
strapped 10 his back, and in a few mo
ments disappeared through the opening
/ now listened intently, but no sound
met my strained powers of hearing. All
was silent. My heart beat hard against
my breast, and my body ached, so great
was the tension of my nerves. The still.
ness was awful Some time had now
elapsed and vet no sound OF any kind
had met my ears. The tension Of my
nerves began to give way, and a fidgety
nervousness took its place. | began tc
feel anxious for the pioneer. What il
there should be more men inside than be
had suspected, and they should be arou-
sed by the noise and ovcrpower him.
| knew well that his strength could cope
with ten times his number in fair hand
to hand fight; but here it might be diff
erent. His powers might be impoded By
the presence of his daughter. if he
should find her; and then again, all the
strength in the world would not be proot
avainsl n rifle hall ayau IL fred from, q