Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-03-31

son. 1.-The Indians"
Miriam again pointed to the saddle.
"Go," she commanded ''Think only
of your family, and be gone"
Still Thompson hesitated, sweeping the
horizon with eager glances, to assuae him.
self that no immediate danger threatened.
A change came over his face as he looked
and he uttered wild cry, catching up
| the glass Mr.. Dane had let fall, and look
ing through it.
The sight he beheld convulsed him
with terror.
| Not mile away, to the west, he ssw
coming over ridge in the plain, and ap-
preaching rapidly, considerable body of
mounted sayages: . ...
':They're coming--a band of red skins
directly towards US !" he gasped. ''Pm
lost Fly, Miriam, while you have the
time !" -A 49, .,r.r.. = .,..- s.s
The maiden took. the glass and gazed
through it an instant at the approaching
foe. A strange light appeared in her
eyes--a light possessed only by those up.
on whom GoD has bestowed conscious.
ness of His great proteetion---the light of
heroism which death itself cannot mas
! ter. '#.@
"Sure enough" she murmured
"They are coming! The leader. is Red
Knife Go, neighbor Thompson--on
| the instantW h. r .a tsa
awe can ride together !" cried Thomp-
SON. E...T. zr -sF F.. n
b No! The horse is tired. We have
been to Willow Island. We should be
oyertaken before we had gone two miles!'
1 ''Then we'll die together u
"No ! no You must mount y ~
With grasp so sudden aud firm that
it startled him, the maiden pushed him
towards the horse, and in another instant
he found himslf, more by instinct than by
thought, seated in the saddle 7a# as
H. "Away, Selim ~ cried Miriam to her
stesd, with an imperative gesture.
''Away!' .t a- II - r1.2 la
The horse broke furiously over the
plain, giving Thompson only time enough
to flash look of gratitude towards the
maiden, as he dashed away to the north
east, towards his menaced home.
A moment later, Mr.. Dane looked over
| his shoulder-took in at glance the sit
uation of affairs, recognizing the peril
as we'll as the heroism of his child-bow-
ed his head solemnly, as one submits to
the inevitable, in appreciation Of her con.
duct, and then he swept on to the rescue
! of his wife, his sonl torn by such emotions
as are seldom brought to battle together.
| And Miriam, throwing herself fat up
on the ground, remained alone u pom the
plain: in the very path of score of
mounted Indians, who we're galloping to-
wards her with the swiftness of the wind!
| cHAPTEE II.
CURIOUS AND STARTLING aYsTERYi
Skirting the Black Hills, forty miles
west of Fort Laramie, party of horse
men were riding eastward. #
They had left Fort Bridger eight days
before, taking the route of the North
Platte, aud were now following the Ore
gon emigrant road among those long
ridges, dry beds Of rivers and sterile
plains, by which the region of the Black
Fl lis is distinguished. .|
The bulk Of the party cons sted of ten
| cavalrymen, under a lieutenant, who were
returning to Fort Laramie, their post OF
| duty. They were we'll mounted, and
had several led horses in their train,
loaded with their provisions and appur-
tenances of travel.
The balance of the party comprised
three civilians, who had seized the oppor-
tunity of crossing the mountains under
military escort. Two of these were emf.
grants who had settled near Fort Bridger,
but who had tired of the great solitude,
or been frightened by the Indians, and
were now returning eastward in search OF
homes nearer the haunts of civilization.
The third civilian was Hubert Earle
the lover of Miriam Dane, the settlers
daughter, whom we have just leftin such
deadly peril. g.
He was a splendid specimen Of Ameri
can manhood, magnifcently formed
broad-shouldered, dee p che4ted, as vigor,
Gus as an athlete, and rode his horse, {
fiery Mexican steed, with the grace and
ease of a Centaur.
At the moment of his introduction 10
the reader, he was riding in the rear Of
the little train, busy with his own refec.
tions, which were evidently as bright as
the morning itself-the forenoon preced
ing the events We have recorded.
His thoughts were wrapt in the sweet
memory of Miriam, who had wept SO bitter
ly at his departure, and who, he expected
would smile so joyously at his return.
1.-The dear little soul ~ he murmured
aloud. "Where is she now !'
His eyes darkened with terder sweet
ness, his lips quivercd with the ineffable
love that flooded his being with happi
ness akin to pain. He pictured their
meeting, the pretty home they woult
share together, the years they woulc
spend in each others society, the tendc,
mutual love and care that would bless al
their coming days.
He had left her a poor adventurer, ts
seek his fortune among the mines o
Idaho. He was returning to her more
than moderately rich man, with bills o
exchange in his chamois money belt o.
sufficient value to support them both il
luxury as long as they might live.
1t was not to be wondered at that hi
thoughts we're pleasant.
Suddenly he was aroused from hi
trance-like silence, by cries of deiigh
from his companions, and by the fact tina