Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1869-03-26

Miriam shuddered, and her features ever
paled at the memory of the Indian men
toned.
"He never spared pale face, she said,
striving to speak calmly. "Desolation an(
cruelty marked his path. For more thar
three years he has ragged to and fro upol
the plains like ravening wolf. He wa
the terror of the border"
"You have named him appropriately
Miriam" said the hunter. ''He had
hcndish hatred of the white race, aud LII
victims have teen many"
Mr.. Dane held out his hand for the glass
and Miriam was in the act OF restoring it
when strange, grasping, painting sount
to their saddles.
The hunter wheeled his horse and looked
down upon the river bank, from which
direction the sound had come, his manner
self-possessed, but his countenance indica
tive of alarm. The maiden followed hi
lexample.
Her eyes were the first to discover ;h'
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 il
turn was detected, for the man dropped
suddenly among the protecting bushes, al
if he had been shot.
AN indiana" whispered Miriam, draw
ing from her bosom a revolver.
The hunter shook his head, continuing
to watch the spot at which the man hac
fallen, his hand on his rifle, his manner
that of one ready for action.
Suddenly. as the man showed haggarG
face peering cautiously from his conceal
ment, Mr.. Danes anxious countenanct
broke into a smile, and he cried out:
Halo Is that you, Thompson ? Dc
you take us for Indians, that you skull
there in the bushes 2"
The individual addressed was silent {
full minute. as it seemed, from sheer
amazement; then he sprang out from hi!
hiding place with cry of relief, and ad
vanced swiftly towards the father anc
daughter.
Il He was man of middle age, of the or
binary type of backwoodsmen, strong anC
brown and stalwart, of the rude, rough
type that seems to h long to the border
His face was haggald and white, although
GOV cred 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 ia
tigue.
VhaV LIDS bappeuett, Thompson
asked Dane, with keen anxiety, the mans
singular appearance giving him a sndder
shock Of alarm.
"The Indians - gasped Thompson
scarcely able to command his voice
"They are coming Red Knife and his
d-divided-my wife-my children i
Help me Help me -
"What talk is this 2" cried Dane, aglts
ted in spite of his efforts at self control -
Red Knife was killed yesterday
He was only wounded" interrupted
Thompson. "He is coming to take bis
vengeance on us settlers. He has divided
his band into two. They were up at the
Deer Fork this morning, and are Low com.
ing this way. The points to be struck is
your house and mine"
"My God p calculated Dane, as his in.
formant paused in his excited, breathless
narration.
"A horse horse p cried Thompson,
reclining with fatigue. II can go no fur.
ther on foot. My wife, my children-God
pity and save them -
He looked from the hunter to his daugh
ter in agoIized and mute supplieation.
| 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 at her needle
under the trees-and glanced at the dim
line of the horizon stretching away east
ward 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 be-
| held band of mounted Indians riding
| boldly toward that unprotected home, to.
wards that unconscious and helpless wo-
man.
With a frepzied cry he put spurs to his
horse. and dashed away like mailman,
shouting to his daughter to follow him at
the same instant Thompson staggered for
ward and fell in the maiden's path. hold
ing 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 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 danger " faltered Thomp-
SOD. 1.-THE Indians"
Miriam again pointed to the saddle.
"Go," she commanded. "Think only
of your family, and be gone %
Still Thompson hesitated, sweeping the
horizon 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 looking
through it.
The sight he beheld convalsed him with
terror.
Not mile away, to the west, he saw
coming over ridge in the plain, and ap-
preaching rapidly, q considerable body of
mounted savages.
They're coming band of redskins
directly towards us ]" he gasped. "Im
lost! Fly, Miriam, while you have the
| time !"
The maiden took the glass and gazed
through it an instant at the approaching
foe. Astrange light appeared in her eyes
light possessed only BY those upon whom
GoD has bestowed a consciousness of His
great protection-the light of heroism
which death itself cannot master. 4sa