Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1869-04-03
NEW SERIES, Vol. |, NO. 6.

yanced swiftly towards the father and
daughter,
lie was man of middle age, of the or
oinary type of o backwoodsman, Htrong and
brown and stalwart, of the rude rough type
that seems 20 belong to the border. His
/ face was haggard and white, although COW
cred with Precipitation. His breath came
through his parted lips in quick, uneven
gasps. lie had run far and swiftly, and
looked as if about to drop from fatigue,
/ what has happened, Thompson = asked
Dane, with keen anxiety, the mans singular
/ appearance giving him sudden shock of
alarm.
The Indians gaspcd Thompson, scarce
! ly able to command his voice They are
Gaming Red Knife and his band-divided
my wife my children! Help Inc Help
mer
what talk is this T. cried Dane, agitatcd
! in spite of his efforts at selfcontrol. Red
| Knife was killed Yesterday
| lie was only wounded,' interrupted
I Thompson. lie is coming to take his
{ vengeance on us settlers. lie has divided
his band into two. They were up at the
| Deer Fork this morning, and are now com
ing this way. The points to be struck are
your house saG mine
NV God + calculated Dane, as his inform
ant paused III ELS .eAoileu, pIealhless hat
ration.
"A horse horse : cried Thompson, reel
ing with fatigue. i can 60 no further on
foot. My wife, my chilC,ren--God pity and
save themn
lie locked from the hunter to his daugh'
ter in agonizcd and mute supplication.
Dane snatched the glass from Miriam $
hands and placed it TO his eyes.
He looked to the northNard- his
pretty cottage, his wife busy at her needle
under the trees and glanced at the dim line
of the horizon stretching away eastward and
westward from his home.
Suddenly the glass dropped from his
hands-hls face Dlanched to the hue OF
snow. From the west, seeming to emerge
from the clouds of scarlet and gold, he had
heheld band of mounted Indians riding
boldly towards that unprotected home, to-
wards thatunconscious and helpless woman
With trenzied cry, he put spurs to hi:
horse, and dashed away like a madmau
shouting to his daughter to follow him at
the same instant Thompson staggered Tor
ward and fell in the maidens path, halding
up his hands in anguish.
My wife my children |! lie groaned.
There was no hesitation in the soul Of !ht
brave Miriam.
,
depending on him. she said, aloud.
As she spoke, she leaped from her saddle
!, -.l, "ith gesture, commanded him to TAX
her place.
'But-your danger ! faltered Thompson
'Thc Indians
Miriam again pointed to the saddle.
&C. she commanded. Think only o
your family, and be gone"
Still Thompson hesitatel sweeping tn
horizon with eager glances, to assure hiA!
self that no immediate danger threatened
A change come over his face as he looked
and he uttered a wild cry, catching up III
glass Mr.. Dane had let fall, and lookin:
through it.
The sight he beheld convulsed him wit
terror
= Not q mile away, to the west, lie saw com
ing over ridge in the plain, and approach
ing rapidly, i considerable body o! !nountc
= saVagc5.
a They're coaiiug-a band of red skins
/ directly towards Us" " he gaspcd I'm lost
Fly, Miiiam, While you have the time y
The maiden took the glass apd gaze
q through it an instant at the approachin
c foe. A strange light appeared IN her eye
c -alight possessed only by those upon whot
n Cop has bestowed o consciousness OF Iii
:, great protection the light of heroisI
Z which death itself cannot master.
: Sure enough, she murmured They ar
$ coming The leader is Red Knife. G'
!, nciGhbor Thompson-on the instant ?
we can ride together cried Thompsoi
/ No The horse is tired. We have bee
y to Willow Island. We should he oycrtake
d before we had gone two miles y
Then we'll die together
q No no You must mount y
e With grasp so sudden and firm that
e startled him, tho maiden pushed hin: t.
e wards the horse and in another instant !
found himself, mere 10y instinct than
y thought, seated in the saddle.
Il Away, .jelim 7 cried Miriam to her stee
4 with an imperative gesture. Away
8 The horse broke luriously over the plai
giving Thompson only time enough to iias
&c a look of gratitude towards the maiden,
IS he dashed away to the northeast, .owart
" his menaced home.
e. A moment later, Mr.. Dane looked over Il
shoulder took in at q glance the situate
N of affairs, recognizing the peril as well
u the heroism of his child-Oowed his hes
solemny, as one submits to the ineyitab
q, in appreciation of the conduct, and then
10 swept On to the rescue OF his wife, his SO
III torn by such emotions as are seldom brouS
On to battle together.
he And Miriam, throwing herself flat up
the ground, remained alone upon the plai
y in the very path of a score of mounted
a. diaDz, who were galloping towards her "!
ic- the swiltucss of the wind