The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1869-03-25

"AANA " SOAWh5Np 6"oPAAA6b
startled them both, and sent them quick
ly to their saddles. =
The hunter wheeled his horse and look
ed down upon the river bank, from which
direction the sound had come, his manner
self possessed, but his count4ance indica-
tive of alarm. The maiden followed his
example.
Her eyes were the first to discover the
cause of the sound that had startled them,
detecting mans figure creeping along
through the underground of bushes lining
the shore
At the same moment their presence in
turn was detected, for the mar dropped
suddenly among the protectiDs bushes, as
if he had been shot.
g An Indian?" whispered Miriam, draw
ing from her bosom revolver. u
The hunter shook his head, continuing
to watch the spot at which the man had
fallen, his hand on his rifle, his manner
that of one ready for action.
Suddenly, as the man showed G. bag
gard face peering cautiously from his con-
cealment, Mr.. Danes anxious countenance
broke into a smile, and he cried out: aa
"Hallo! Is that you Thompson? Do
you take us for Indians, that you skulk
there in the bushes?"
The individual addressed was silent a
full minute, as it seemed, from sheer
amazement; then he sprang out from his
hiding place with cry Of relief, and adj
vanced swiftly towards the father and
daughter.
He was man of middle age, of the or
binary type of backwoodsmen, strong and
brown and stalWart, of the rude, rough
type that seems to belong to the border.
His face was haggard and white, although
covered with perspiration. His breath
came through his parted lips i'll quick, un-
even gasps. He had run far and swiftly,
aud looked as if about to drop from ia
tigue.
What has happened, Thompson ?"
asked Dane, with keen anxiety, the mans
singular appearance giving him sudden
shock of alarm ~
"The Indians!'' gasped Thompson,
scarcely able to command his voice
"They are coming Red Knife and his
band--divided-my wife-my children
Help me! Help me p " if
"What talk is this ?" cried Dane, agita-
ted in spite of his efforts at self-control.
''Ked Knife was killed yesterday"
! "He was only wounded" interrupted
Thompson. s'He is coming to take lis
vengeance on lis settlers. He has divided
his band into two. They were up at the
Deer Fork this morning, and are now
coming this way The points to be struck
are your house and mine"
"My God p calculated Dane, as his in
formant paused in his excited, breathless
narration.
"a horse! horse!" cried Thompson,
reeling with fatigue. II can go no furth-
er on foot. My wife, my chlldren-God
pity and save them p
He looked from the hunter to his daugh-
ter in agonized and mute supplication.
Dane snatched the glass from Miriam S
hands and placed it to his eyes,
He looked to the northward-saw his
pretty cottage, his wife bus at her nee
die under the trees-and glanced st the
dim line of the horison stretching away
eastward and westward from his home.
Suddenly the glass dropped from his
hands-his face blanched to the hue OF
snow. From the west, seeming to emerge
from the clouds of scarlet and gold, he
had behcld band of mounted Indians
riding boldly towards that unprotected
home, towards that unconscious and help
| less woman
With frenzied cry, he put spurs te
his horse, and dashed away like a mad
man, shouting to his daughter to follow
him; at the same instant Thompson stag
gercd forward and fell in the maiden s
path, holding up his hands in anguish.
"My wife my children p he groaned.
There was no hesitation in the soul of
the brave Miriam.
mine is but single life; he has seven
depending on him" she said, aloud.
| AS she spoke she leaped from her sad
die, and, with gesture, commanded him
to take her place.
"But-your dangerr' faltered Thomp-
son. 1.-THE Indians"
Miriam again pointed to the saddle.
60" she commanded. "Think only of
your family, and be gone!"
Still Thompson hesitated, sweeping the
| horison with eager glances, to assure 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 bcheld convulsed him
with terror.
Not mile away, to the west, he saw
coming over a ridge in the plain, and ap-
preaching rapidly, considerable body
of mounted savages
They're coming band of redskins
directly towards US p he gasped. I'm
lost Fly, Miriam, while you have the
timer
The maiden took the glass and gazed
through it al instant at the approaching
foe. A strange light appeared in her
eyes-a light possessed only by those up
on whom GoD has bestowed a conscious
! ness OF His great 1nrAt ectinn-tha lioht of