The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1869-03-26


broke into a smile, and |
he cried out:
Hallol Is that you, Thompson? |
Do you take US for Indians, that you
skulk there in the bushes?'
The individual addressed was 81
lent full minute, as it seemed, from
sheer amazement; then he sprang
out from his hiding place with cry
of relief, and advanced swiftly to-
wards the father and daughter.
He was a man of middle age, OF the
ordinary 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
Precipitation. His breath came through
his parted lips in quick uneven gasps.
He had run far and swiftly, and
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.
1.-The Indians!" gasped Thompson,
scarcely able to command his voice.
They are comingl Red Knife and
his band = divided - my wife = my
childrenl Help mel Help me
" What talk is this?" cried Dane,
agitated in spite of his efforts at self
control. Red Knife was killed yes
terday-"
"He was only wounded" inter-
rupted Thompson. He IS coming
to take his vengeance on US 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 Godr" calculated Dane, as his
informant paused in his excited,
breathless narration.
A horse horse!" cried Thomp-
son, Keeling with fatigue. can go
no further on foot. Ny wife, my
ehildren-GOd pity and save them !
He looked from the hunter to his
daughter in agonized and mute sup
plication.
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 busy al
her needle under the trees-and
glanced at the dim line of the horizon
stretching away eastward and west
ward from his home.
Suddenly the glass dropped from
his hands-his face blanched to the
hue of snow. From the west, seem
ing to emerge from the clouds of scar
let and gold, he had beheld a band o.
mounted Indians riding boldly to
wards that unprotected home, towards
that unconscious and helpless woman
With a frenzied cry, he put spurs
to his horse, and dashed away like ;
madman, shouting to his daughter t.
follow him; at the same instan
Thompson staggered forward and fel
in the maiden's path, holding up hi
hands in anguish.
My wife my children |" ht
groaned.
There was no hesitation in the sou
Of the brave Miriam.
: mime is but single life; he ha
seven depending on him." she said
aloud.
As she spoke, she leaped from he
saddle, and, with a gesture, command
ed him to take her place.
but - your danger" faltere'
Thompson. 1.-The Indians"
Miriam again pointed to the saddle
Go" she commanded. Thinl
only of your family, and be gonel"
Still Thompson hesitated, sweeping
the horizon with eager glances, t
l assure himself that no immediat
danger threatened A change came
over his face as he looked, and b
: uttered a wild cry, catching up tn
glass Mr. Dane had let fall, and look
ing through it.
The sight he beheld convulsed hin
with terror.
Not a mile away, to the west, h
I saw coming over ridge In the plain
! and approaching rapidly, a consider
! able body of mounted savages.
! They're coming-a band of red
! skins-directly towards usl" he gasp
ed. I'm lostl Fly, Miriam, Will
you have the timel'
The maiden took the glass anC
, gazed through it an instant at TIN
: approaching foe. A strange ligh
appeared in her eyes-a light pos
sessed only by those upon whom COL
: | has bestowed a consciousness of Hi
, great protection-the light of he
roism which death itself canno
! master.
Sure enough" she murmured
; they are comingl The leader is Re,
: Knife. Go, neighbor Thompson-ol
the instant!'
! We can ride togetherp erie,
Thompson.
mo! The horse is tired. w
have been to Willow Island. w
: should be overtaken before we ha,
gone two milesp
Then We'll die togetherI'
+ mol mol You must mount"
: With a Grasp so sudden and firm
. that it startled MIN, the maiden push
cd him towards the horse, and in an
other instant he found himself, NOR,
. by instinct than by thought, seated il
. the saddle.
Away, Seliml" cried Miriam t.
| her steed, with an imperative gesture
. Away"
/ The horse broke furiously over the
j plain, giving Thompson only time
T enough to flash a look of gratitude 70
+ wards the maiden, as he dashed ava!
to the northeast, towards his menaceC
home.
A moment later, Mr.. Dane looked
, over his shoulder-took in at a glanc,
the situation of affairs, recognizing
the peril as we'll as the heroism of hi
child-bowed his head solemnly, a;
one submits to the inevitable, in ap
probation of her conduct, and theI
i, he swept on to the rescue Of his wife
! his soul torn by such emotions as ar,
! seldom brought to battle together.
And Miriam, throwing herself fla
upon the ground, remained alone upOI
, the plain, in the very path of a score
, of mounted Indians, who were gallop
|, ing towards her with the swiftness 0
the windl