The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1863-10-30

Jail the diligence lie had used. and
Having success and rescue almost
within his grasp, would have the mis-
fortune to sec them glide out of his
Ipowcr. Here within few rods OF
him---buricd, perlIars, in thought OF
lhim--sat the captive, snatchcd al
most literally from his side, ri the nj
tar; and though she might have heard
his voice, he dared not raise it--tho'
Ihcmight reach her side i'm one minute.
he dared not advance Ills riIlcmight
do him service; for even at that dis
taucc, his lmcriing skill would have
idisablcd an enemy at every shot; but
he knew that at the first discharge,
the pursued would become the pur-
sucrs. and all cliancc Of rescue would
bc at an end. He was sure, besides.
that the first motion of the savagcs.
upon an attack, would he the murder
of their prisoner; and, brave as he
was. he shuddcrcd and shrank from
the thought.
While he stood in the shadow of q
tree, ha,Tassed by these reflections, q
sudden movement took place III the
circle Of savagcs. One who seemed
to he the chicl, rose to his feet, and
the council broke up The warrior
turned toward the captive, and taking
II large blanket from the ground, he
spread it at thc foot Of II tree, and
hcckoned her to take it. He did this
with so much more courtesy than was
usually displayed by Indians to their
female prisoners, that Edgar's blood
tinglcd to the very ends OF his fling
crs.
"Thc rcdslin dog designs her for
i $ wife, lie muttered: "but he shall
die first, if ] lose my scnlp!'
Jane rose quietly from her soat,
lay down on the gronnd. The chief
and two other warriors then placed
themselves near her, to prevent cs-
cape; the remainder of the party
Isprcad their blankets around tho fire
and in q few minutes all was rs still
within the family lighted space, rs II
not living being brcathcd between
the rivers. The fire gradually burn
led down to a bed of Goals; as the
flames went ont, the shadows crcpi
closer and closer and closer to tho
dusky group; and so still was the
might that, on stealing little nearer
Edgar could plainly hear the heavy
breathing Of the tired slcepers.
Still nearer and nearer he slowly
crcpt, though with no definite design
or plan of action. The bride who
had been snatched almost from his
arms, was within that circlc--amd this
gave il fascination not to be resist
ed. He was now Upon the bank.
which slopcd gently down to the lev
i Icl oil the liivouac; and here Il narrow
path wound round the iutting points
aud led directly towards the slnoul
dcring fire. Almost without an cn0rt
of the Withdrawn by the charm o
her prcscncc--hc stepped upon the
noisclcss sand. He commenced the
dcsccnt--issucd from the shadow q
a little ridgc-was, for moment, in
in full view of the whole party--pass
cd on again into the shadows, and
stood within twenty feet of the oh
ject Of his search.
The light from the dying fire play
ed GtluIly upon james face, and {
smile, serene as in her happicst mo-
mpnts, gave meaning to the fitting
shadows. Beside her, motionlcss as
fallen statutes, lay the stern, impass
i've forms of her captors; but Edgai
knew too well, that, rigid rs they
seemed, profoundly as they slept, thC
slightest noise would rouse them 10
. dangerous vigilance. Three of thcu
lay between her and linr--and tw'
were near cnoughto grasp her, sho
she rise. But he gazcd upon he
; once more, beautiful in the holy cain
{ Of slcep--as tranquil as Il summe
= sky. Thcimpulsc which had led hin
{ thus almost within arms length o
her, slowly shaped itself into pur
, posc--thc vague attraction settled in
: to conscious resolution,
He began TO move cautiously to th
| left, around the sleeping circle, with
Q in the deeper shadows Of the grove
9 from tree to tree, toward that heneat
l. which Jane was slumbcring. Nearer
, step by step, and silently as the clos
r ing in Of night, he approached like
shadow, He was now within the III
Q fucncc OF the light, and but one tce
stood between him and that which h
: was cndcoyoring to reach a breath
: less pause cnsucd, during which h
. ga2cd upon the form of every sleeper
| They were apparently asunconsciou
# rs If each had been Il corp G; and yc
how fearful was the risk of every stcl
r The slightest rustic Of bush, I'll
a breaking OF twig, even the gratin
h Of his feet upon The gravel, migl
d awake his cncmlcs-and then lmcwe
n all hope Of rescue
! But his was not a nature to shrin
q from danger. Cautiously drawin
o the ramrod from his rifle, he took Il
! irrevocahlc step. Swiftly, but silcn
: lly, he glidcd from one tree to the otl
Il cr. Within four feet of him lay Jan
= in profound and tranquil sleep, heo
,. resting upon her arm, and one han
c extended toward him; while on eaC
side of her, but still nearer than h
" her captors were ready to awake
n. the first movement.
If But again he resolved to take u
,;eI,. n,,I e,ftot,bino. f,,th tlto ro,