, 1861-03-14

Madge and shall be the only ones at yourbOunty
wedding. The tidings shall wither the heart
strings Of Henry Upson-if he escapes my
boys Ratchet Hove to look at you and think
about II"
The calm, bright eyes Of the queenly captive
did not finch from the malicious hate that seemed
to gloat upon her youth and beauty. The ex.
ulting hag sat with her back to the door, and
grasping long, keen-bladed knife in her skinny,
yellow claws, digging tho floor and exclaiming;
~ wish that was Henry Upsons heart, l do I
] dol" and darting the steel savagely into the
wood at every word.
An hour passed thus, when tall and power
ful man, behind whom appeared another, older
and with white hair, filled the doorway. So
stopped were Hester's ears with the clamors Of
her bIasphemies and rawlings, that she heard no
signs Of their presence, nor dreamed Of it until
Harold Holmes cast bis sincwy arms around her,
and gagged her foul mouth with his hand.
Father and lover were armed with pistols only.
"Cut the cords-haste," he cried, and with q
waste Of breath, for Henry UpsOn had done It
ere the words were spoken. The pair had
marked the flight Of the renegade, and hurried
in pursuit. while the friends kept on after the
Hur0na
There was but brief time for embracing, and
after securely binding the venomous bag, and
gagging her with rope that filed her mouth,
and was tied behind her head, Harold lifted the
now fainting girl in his stout arms, and with her
hther, hurried to the lake shore. There they
found canoe, in which they embarked, and
pushed from the pebbly beach.
Hardly had this been done, when Abner, with
three painted savnges, al that were LEFT Of his
too eager band, rushed into the hut
At "a glance he discovered all. Calling to his
A. aSA koo - kka
and blazing faggot that had rolled from the
hearth to the floor, he rushed to the shore. The
moon shed radiance clear and fair, and he saw
the fugitives yet within FiHe shot.
"Aim at the men" he said, as he leveled his
rife at Upson. Four rifles cracked Of once, and
the renegade shouted with joy, as he saw both
father and lover sink to the bottom Of the canoe.
"The girl for me, the scalps for you I" he
cried, as he plunged into the placid lake, followed
by his savages. .s t.s.
Gagged and bound, Hester Madge watched
the brand on the floor, as It began to eat into
the wood, and spread its fire around in hungry
flames.
Clara sat in the motionlcss canoe, and her dark
eyes were stern and dry as the four heads with
fierce visages drew nearer and nearer. The Sill
vered waters parted from the brawny thrOatS,
moon-beams glittered upon the scalping knives,
ONTeu DeIWCeU Ulc NIllto Iectu VI tuc HuNNHtSs
Five more Of those lusty sweeps Of dusky arms
would have carried them 10 the canoe, when
Clara cried:
SNOW, father up Harold |" and as her lips
spoke the words, both sprang from ambush and
feigned death, and the fash Of their pistols was
the last Of earth seen BY the Hurons, ere they
sank forever.
Abner Madge turned to regain the shore ere
the pistols should try his life again, but he heard
Harold cry, You shall not escape" and the
heavy splash In the lake told him that . deadly
and formidable foo was behind him, whose skill
as q swimmer was the talk Of the northern from
tiers. The renegade was no coward, and had no
lack Of faith in his own prowess. He wheeled
to meet his enemy, and drew his hunting knife
from his belt. As he drew ii, the long hair Of
the scalps at his girdle seemed to clasp bis arm
with Shiny folds, and to bind Il to his side Ere
he could raise II, his foe had darted upon him,
and buried his dagger in his throat He yelled
with rage and pain, broke the Americans fierce
hold from his collar, and sank. The next instant
Harold whirlcd q complete somersault in the
water, and thus escaped the upward thrust Of
the renegade's hunting knife He sank, and the
furious Abner rose from below.
A strange light red and unstable, began to
fare over the scene. He glanced 10 the shore.
The hut was in flames. A terrible vision Of .
bound and gagged wretch flashed upon his mind,
when, with howl Of dreadful agony, he &C
knowledged fresh wound from bis implacable
foe. Harold had slashed him across the body
below his belt He plunged beneath the wave,
and missed the blow that Harold struck at his
neck as le rose for breath. Tho wary Ameri-
can again sank, and when the fast falling renegade
came up, his enemy was beneath him.
He then whiried q somersault, but did not es-
cape the blade; for Harold had driven his dag
ger to the hilt in Abner's thigh. The renegade,
blind with the loss Of blood, swan feebly around
in irregular circles, and as Harold again rose,
the merciful bullet Of Henry Upson ended the
strife. The glare Of the burning hut shone in
the glaring eyes Of the renegade, as hc gasped
and sank to rise no more. Harold hastencd into
the canoe, and the evening Of the next day saw
father, lover and maiden, within the lines Of the
American army.
The hut blazed on, and when the sun shone
again, the blackened bones Of Hester Madge
were all that remained Of the Rencgade's Moth