The weekly North-Carolina standard., 1869-03-31
MARCH 81, 1869.

with cry of relief, and advanced swiftly
towards the father and daughter
He was man of middle age, of the ordi-
nary type of backwoodsmen, strong aud
brown and stalwart, of the rude, rough type
that seems to belong to the border. His
face was haggard and white, although
covered with pcrspiration. 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 fatigue.
"What has happened, Thompson ?' asked
Dane with keen anxiety, the mans singular
appearance giving him sudden shock of
alarm.
ly able to command his voice. ''They are
coming! Red Knife and his band divided
my wife-my children Help me! Help
e mel" ~ :,
''What talk is this p cried Dane, agitated
in spite of his efforts at selfcontrol. "Red
Knife was killed ycsterday-ns
He was only wounded" interrupted
Thompson. 'He is coming to take his ven
geance 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 nine"
My God r' calculated Dane, as his in
formant paused in his excited, breathless
narration.
"a horse! a horse !" cried Thompson,
reeling with fatigue. II can go no further
on foot. My wife, my children-God pity
and save them"
He looked from the hunter to his daugh-
ter in agonized and mute supplication.
Dane snatched the glass from Miriams
hands and placed it to his eyes.
He looked to the northward-saw 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-his face blanched to the hue ofsnow.
From the west, seeming to emerge from the
clouds of scarlet and gold, he had beheld a
band of mounted Indians riding boldly to-
wards that unprotected home, towards that
unconscious and helpless woman.
With frenzied cry, he put spurs to his
horse, and dashed away like madman,
shouting to his daughter to follow him; at
the same instant Thompson staggered for
ward and fell in the miden's path, holding
up his hands in anguish.
"My wife! my children!" he groaned.
There was no hesitation in the soul of the
brave Miriam
"Mine is but sins gle life; he has seven
depending on him )" she said, aloud
As she spoke she leaped from her saddle,
and, with a gesture, commanded him to
take her place. -
"But-your dangerr' faltered Thompson.
"The Indians" +.
Miriam again pointed to the saddle.
$50" she commanded Think only of
your family, and he gone"
Still Thompson hesltated, sweeping the
horizon with eager glances to assure himself
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 looking through
it.
The sight he beheld convulsed him with
terror #
Not mile away, to the west, he saw COM
ing over ridge in the plain, and approach
ing rapidly, considerable body of mounted
savages
"They're coming-a band of red skins
directly towards us !" he gasped Pm
lost! Fly, Miriam, while you have the
time I"
The maiden took the glass and gazed
through it in instant at the approaching
foe. A strange light appeared in her eyes
light possessed only by those upon whom
COP has bestowed consciousness of His
great protection-the light of heroism
which death itself cannot master.
"Sure enough" she murmured. "They
are coming The leader is Red Knife. Go,
neighbor Thompson-on the instant !"
1--WE can ride together!" cried Thomp
son.
moi The horse is tired We have been
to Willow Island. We should be overtaken
before we had gone two miles !"
"Then we'll die together"
"No! no! You must dismount!"
With grasp SO sudden and firm that it
startled him, the maiden pushed him to-
wards the horse, and in another instant he
found himself, more by instinct than by
thought, seated in the saddle.
Away, Selim p cried Miriam to her
steed. with an imperative gesture. "Away !"
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 northeast, towards
his menaced home.
A moment later, Mr.. Dane looked over
his shoulder-took in at glance the situ-
alton of affairs. recognizing the peril as well
as the heroism of his child-bowed his head
solemnly, as one submits to the inevitable,
IN appreciation of her conduct, and then he
swept on to the rescue of his wife, his
soul torn by such emotions as are seldom
brought to battle together. r. ts
And Miriam, throwing herself fiat upon
the ground, remained alone upon the plain,
in the very path of score of mounted In
dlans, who were galloping towards her with
the swiftness of the wind dolls.
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