The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-24
CHAPTER I.


FINDER" fTHE WATER WOLF" ETC. ETC.
CHAPTER I. G.s
A LIFE aLoR1oUsLY sTAKED.
Towards the close of beautiful day in June,
horses, came galloping over ono Of the great
plains Of the West, and drew rein in the shade
of clump of eotton-woods upon the bank OF q
beautiful river. They had ridden far and ra-
pidly. Their steeds we're painting, and covered
with sweat and foam.
'sWe must give the horses breathing spell" !"
said the former, slipping to the ground; and
his companion nodded graceful assent, as
she followed his example,
The couple were evidently father and daugh-
ter.
The man was in the prime Of life, hale and
hearty, with O large frame which was sinewy
and athletic, without ceasing to be refined and
prepossessing. He bad the keen, shrewd look
peculiar to the advance-guards Of civilization,
and there was an honest frank expression on
his sun-browned face that proclaimed his in
tegrlty and courage.
In her way, his daughter was equally pictur-
esque and attractive. is
sweet and tender face. with eyes darby glow
ing, with eoral-tinted lips, and cheeks softly
flushed with the hue of the rose, with amber
curls floating behind her, she was as graceful
as q gaZelle, as light-hearted as bird, as love-
~ as flower, and as spirited as an untamed
antelope.
The stream by which the couple had halted
was Wood River, branch OF the Platte, in Ne
braska, at point fifty miles northwest OF Fort
Kearny. nj.
care you tired, Miriam ~ asked the hunter,
George Dane, with fatbery solicitude.
bannn ed1 gSthera n, rejolnea the % maiden with
after q day like this1 Every minute has been
filled with pleasure and excitement. feel as
hesh as yonder bird" 1a'' e,ls7
The father smiled understandingly, with
fOu00at
II can guess the s:uae of your ightness OF
heart" said he, smilingly. 1.-THE return, now
daily expected, of certain Hubert G..a; GG.r.a; from
the mines of Idaho. may account, suspect,
tc:: yc;.: ycS. r.cssny ,;.e slaaness."
A heightened color appeared on Mirian1s
face, for the name mentioned was that Of her
lover. She answered the glances fher father,
however, with frankness that attssted his
entire SYMPATHY with her, and said:
True, father, my heart has been unusually
light for several days past. How could it Be
otherwise, since 1 know that Hubert is
coming?" .'S. A'f to.,t tr5
Mr.; Dane did not reply. He was looking.
with kindling eyes, over the fair flower dotted
plain; and his next remark showed how widely
his thoughts had strayed.
81 wonder what mother has been doing with
out us all day. Miriam. She must be lonely.
with no one to speak to or share her meals. I
shouldn't wonder II we could see our hoMe
from this point, and his face lighted up with
Q soulful glow. "Our cottage is not more
tudu seven miles Ol6CanCs loG me see r.
He drew from his coat pocket-glass ad-
justed it to his sight, pointed it in northerly
direction. and gazed through it long and earn
estly, towards his ranche upon Carreys Fork.
deep and joyful inspiration, as if the sight re-
reshed him in every nerve. "There is our
cottage, as plain as day. I can even see the
vines you planted before the windows, Miriam.
big elm sits your mother. busy at her se wing.
Bless herl She does not imagine we are look
ing at her. Look, Miriam M
He yielded the instrument to his daughter,
who obeyed his Injunction, her lovely face
glowing with smiles as she regarded the dis
tant home scene.
Dear motherl" she murmured "it is a
treat to her to be able to sit out under the
no hostile Indians hereabonts now-are there,
father 2"
''No. Red Knife, as you have already heard,
HAS 1sa hy he seasa his pn 1
confess, Miriam. that during ali the time we
have been in the West, I have not felt so light
hearted and care.free as since we received
news. If Red Knife's death. You have just
seen how this Joy bubbles over in mo. Red
Knife was q demon, rather than savage"
Miriam shuddered, and her features even
'.He never spared a pale iaos,"7 she said,
striving to speak calmly. "Desolation and
cruelty marked his path. For more than three
years he has ragged to and fro upon the plains
border"
''You have named him appropriately, Mir
iam," said the hunter. "He had o fendish
hatred Of the white race, and his victims have
bsen many"
Mr.. Dane held out his hand for the glass,
and Miriam was in the act Of restoring it,
when strange, gasping. painting sound star
tied them both, and sent them quickly to their
saddles. p
The hunter wheeled his horse and looked
down upon the river bank, from which direc-
ton the sound had como. his manner self-pos-
sessed, but his countenance indicative Of alarm.
The maiden followed his example.
Her eyes wore the first to discover the cause
of the sound that had startled them. detecting
9 mans figure creeping along through tho un-
dergrOwth OF bnsheS lining the shOre.
At the same moment, their presence in turn
was detected, for the man dropped suddenly
among aamong the protecting bushes. as if he had
''An Indian7" whispered Miriam, drawing
from her bosom q revolver.
Inc hunter shook his head, continuing tC
watch the spot at whioh the man had fallen
nss nand s on ms sfie, his manner that OF one
Suddenly, as the man showed q hageard face
peerinR cautiously from his eonceaiment, Mr.
Danes ANXIOUS eountenance broke into smile
ssHallol Is that you, Thompson? Do yo,
take Us FOR Indians, thatyou skulk there in ths
The individual addressed was silent a f,,,
AsabAusOs ID ~ DSCAhOSAs AViA ouOVA UAiNHthn00C
+ then he sprang out from his hiding-place with
o cry OF relief, and advanced swiftly toward
the father and daughter.
' He was q man Of middle age, Of the ordinary
type Of backwoodsn2en, strong and brown ant
stalwart. OF the rude. rough type that sesms t,
belong TO the border. His face was haggart
and white, although covered with perspiration
Ellis breath came through his parted lips IL
y quick, uneven gaeps.s He had rnn Sar anl
swiftly, and looked as II about to drop from
h HaM&@es ITyZ sa6z,s5. MON - Ng~
Dane, with Keen anxiety, the mans singdls,
appsseance giving hinai aI sudden shock o