White Cloud Kansas chief. [volume] (White Cloud, Kan.) 1857-1872, 1857-07-23

dams being collected at the front door, to ever
come the stubborn resistance Of the whites.
The little phalazx stood firm to Its post, unit
they saw the women had sufficient start to reacl
the woods before they could be overtaken; ant
then, pressed by such superior numbers, theJ
slowly fell back to the same door, and the few
that survived, made : rush. .ad drew the dool
close after them They had now given way
aud nothing but superior speed could possibly
save them. II overtaken before reaching the
woods, they were inevitably lOst--if they could
gain them they might escape. The delay caused
by the closing of the door was short, and the
enemy were now scarcely 6ft:en yards in the
rear. Fear moved the one party almost to the
speed of lightning-thirst for revenge gave ad.
ditional strength TO the other. The Iniian,
fresher than his chase. gained upon them rapid.
ly. As they heard the savages close upon them,
every nerve was excited. every muscle strained
to the utmost. Fer q short distlnee, indeed,
they maintained the same space between them,
but, alas! the strength 81 the whites failed, and
too many Of them, overtaken, fell beneath the
club of the s.vages. Castor, who was equal
in activity to any Of his pursEers, had in
creased the distance between him and the In
dians.
He knew that his 1ife world make for the
river, and in all probability would be able to
reach it, and it was his object to get there also,
if possible, in time to assist her across the rocky
and rapid current, Or at least to see that she was
safe beyond pursuit. The river was not far, and
as he bsunded downthe rough hill sides, he could
distinctly hear the rolling ofits waters, over the
rocky bed. He took the nearest course to the
landing, and the yells of the Indians, scattered
in every direction through the woods, strained
him to the greatest exertions re reached the
iver-his canoe was there-his wife was not
despair overcame his soul.
"She must b. taken, and ! too will die" he
exclaimed in bitter agony.
At that moment, a light and bounding step,
like that of a startled fawn, drew his attention
to the top of the bank, and his wife, whom he
ha' given up for lost-his darling Kate, bound
ed into his embrace. He hurried her into his
canoe, for the Indians were but few yards be-
hind. 1t was but the work of moment, to cut
loose the line that held his bark; but before he
could spring iat0 il! three sj9ut Indians were
close upon him.
Sc Shove off, Kate, and trust 70 fortune to reach
the other shUIc," cried Castor, distractedly, as
he turned to engage the Indians, while his bride
escaped. The devoted girl seemed doubtful
whether to tiy, or stay and die with her husband.
Custom seeing her hesitation, again called fran
ticdlly to her to escape, before the Indians we're
upon them. She now attempted to push of, but
she had remained minute 100 isng-a braWny
and athletic savage seized the boat and sprang
into it, within few feet Of the alarmed maiden
She quickly retreated to the other end, and faced
about, despair painted in every Eneament of her
face. The Indian Involuntary stopped to gaze
upon the beautiful being before him. That pause
was fatal to him. Hates sel-possession instan-
taneOusly returned, and as the savage sprang to
wards her she levelled her husbands pistol and
bred. The bullet entered the savage's br4ih:
he fell over the side of the boat; ard disappeared
beneath the bubbling waters; while instantly
Selling the oar which had dropped from her hand
OH her first alaII., Kate turned the bow of her
boat in the direction of the opposite shore, and
began to stem the rapid current.
During the few seconds that had thus elapsed,
the canoe had shot below the place where her
husband struggled with the remaining Indians;
and she was now out OF hearing of the conba-
tants. Standing erect in the boat, her long hair
was hanging loosely Oh her uncovered neck, her
white dress moving gently to the soft breeze,
and her little bank avoiding the many rocks jut- !
ting their heads above the rushing waters, it
gave to the beholder an idea of some fairy skiff,
kept mp, and guided by the superior power Of its
mistress. Steadily she moved ON, until near the |
middle Of the river, she heard splash, followed |
BY voice, some distance behind her. At first
she thought it another Indian in pursuit, but
soon the chilling thought was dispelled. Her
own name, breathed in accents that had often |
thrilled her to the soul, was heard, sounding /
thousand times more sweetiJ thsReSer on her
ear. She quickly turned the head Of her boat,
and although she could not propel it against the
stream, she kept it stationary, until Castor, who
had overcome his pursuers, reached ii. His great
exertions in the unequal struggle on the bank,
his efforts to reach the boat and the loss Of blood
from deep cut en- his arm, had left him so lit
tie Of the powers of life, that he tainted few
moments after he had regained his wife. Kate
knew the peril Of permitting the boat to float
with the current, and with all that courage and
GOODNESS Ehich woman possess in times Of dan
ger, she did not stop to weep over him, but
again seizing the oar, directed her bark TO the
opposite bank. Guided by the careful hand Of
love, how could the fragile skiif be lost, even
amid the rushing whirIpools it had to pass
They safely reached tie bank, and Castor ha-
wing returned to consciousness, supported by the
arm of his wife, slowly wended his way to his
farm.
Their anxiety, however, was, for some time,
almost intolenble 10 learn the fate Of their
fri nds whom they had left on the other side Of
the river. Whether the Indians had triumphed
completely, whether successful stand had been
made BY any Of those they pursued, or whether
all had been alike murdered BY the relentless
savages, were unknown to Kate and Castor, and
filed their minds with uneasy fear. While,
however, they we're thus in doubt as to the fate
of their friends, hurried footssep was heard
apuroaching. and Mr. Lee, the next moment,