The Tiffin tribune. (Tiffin, Ohio) 1868-1887, 1869-04-01

q sa age.
Miriam shudderod, and her fca-
lures even paled at the memory Of
the Indian mentioned.
"IIc never spared a pale face" she
said, striving. to speak calmly. "Des-
olatiou and cruelty marked his path.
For more than three years he has
ragged to and fro upon tho plains
like a raving wolf. He was the ter.
ror oc the border"
"You have named him appropriate.
ly, Miriam" said the hunter. "He
had hcudish hatred Of the white
race, aud his victims have been
many"
Mr.. Dano held out his hand for
the glass, and Miriam was 10 the act
Of restoring it, when strange, gasp
ing, painting sound startled them
both, and sent them quickly to their
saddles.
The hunter wheeled his horse aud
ooked down upon tho river bank
from which direction the sound had
come, his manner self.possessed, but
his countonance iudl'a.ivo o alarm.
The maiden followed his example.
Her eyes we're the FIRST to discover
the cause Of the sound that had start.
led them, detecting a mans figure
creeping along through tho under.
growth Of bushes lining the shore.
At tho same moment, their pres.
ence in turn was detected, for the
man dropped suddenly among this
protecting bushes, as if he had been
shot.
"An Iudian2' whispered Miriam,
drawing from her bosom a revolver.
The hunter shook his head, con
tinuing to watch tn spot at which tho
man had fallen, his hand on his rife,
his manner that Of one ready for ac.
tion.
Suddenly, as the man showed q
haggard face peering cautiously from
his concealment. Mr.. Danes anx.
ious countenance broke into smile,
aud he cried OUT
"Ilallo Is that you, Thompson 2
Do you take us for Indians, that you
skuk there in the bushes2"
The individual addressed was ST.
lent full minute, as it seemed, from
sheer amozoment then he spranp
out from his hiding place with cry
Of relief, aud advanced swiftly to-
wards the father aud daughter.
ilc was man of middle age, oI
the ordinary type Of backwoodsmen
strong and brown aud 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 in quick, un'
even gasps. He had run far and
swiftly, and looked as if about to
drop from fatigue.
| "What has happened, Thompson p
asked Dane, with keen anxiety, th'
mans singular appearance giving hin
a sudden shock of alarm.
"The Indians |" gasped Thompson
scarcely able to command his voice
They are coming Red Knife anC
his band-diyiGed-my wiie-m,
children Help me Help me !"
"What talk is this p cried Dane
agitated in spite of his efforts at self
control. "Red Knife was killed yes
terday-"
"He was only wounded" interrupt
ed Thompson. ale is coming t,
take his vepgenco on us settlers. Ill
has divided his band into two. The.
were up at the Deer Fork this morn
ing, and arc now coming this way
The points to be struck are you
house and mine"
"My God p' calculated Dane, a
his informant paused in his excited
breathless narration.
"a horse horsel" cried Thomp
son, reeling with fatigue. al can &
no farther on foot. My wife, m
chidren-God pity and save them
lie looked from the hunter to hi
daughter in agonized and mute sup
plication.
Dane snatched the glass fiom Mir
; ian's hands and placed it to his eyes
, He looked to the northward-sa'
his pretty cottage, his wife busy q
her needle under the tree AN
glanced at the dim line Of the hori
zon stretching away eastward nn
, westward from his home.
Suddenly the glass dropped fror
. his hands-his face blanched to tn
hue of snow. From the west, seem
: ing to emerge from the clouds
scarlet and gold, he had beheld
band Of mounted Indians riding bolt
ly towards that unprotected homo, e
wards that unconscious and helple'
4 woman.
With a frenzied cry, he put spur
: to his horse, and dashed away like
madman. shouting to his daughter I
follow him; at the same instar
y Thompson staggered forward aud fe
: in the maiden's path, holding up h
D hands in anguish.
! "My wife my children !" h
G groaned.
. There was no hesitation in the sol
Of the brave Miriam.
s "Mine is but a single life; he hi
!. seven depending on him. she sal
e aloud.
As she spoke, she leaped from h,
IS saddle, and, with a gesture, con
i manded him to take her place.
IS But-your danger ! falterC
i Thompson. "The Indians--"
Miriam again pointed to the sa,
|. die.
Il CO. she commanded. "Thir
u OILY of your family, and be gone -
% Still Thompson hesltated, sweei
e ing the horizon with eager glance
TO assure himself tha, no immedia
! |