Democratic enquirer. [volume] (M'arthur, Vinton County, Ohio) 1867-1873, 1869-04-07

g. What talk is this A. cried Dane, agltated
In spite of his EFFORTS at Beffcontrol. "Red
Knifeswas killed yesterday m @g4 kA
'sHe was only wounded," interrupted
Thompson. "He Is coming TO take his YEN
geance on us settlers. He has divided his
band into two. They we're mp AZ the Deer
Fork this morning, and are now coming this
way. The points to bostruck are your house
"My God y calculated Dane, 40 his inRorm-
ant paused in his excited, breathless narra-
tiOn.
f'AKorsel horsei' cried Thompson, reel
ing with fatigue. II can 60 no further on
foot. My wife, my children-God pity and
He looked from the hunter to his daugh.
ter in agonized and mute supplication.
Dane natched the glass from Miriam's
hands and placed 1t to his eyes,
He looked to the northward saw his pref
ty cottage, his wife busy at her needle under
tha trecs- 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 the snow
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 O mailman,
shouting to his daughter to follow him; at
the same instant Thompson staggered for
ward and fell in the maiden's path, holding
up his hands in anguish.
"My wifel my childrenl" he groaned
There was no hesitation in the soul Of the
brave Miriam.
"Mine is but single life; he has seven de-
pending on him." she said aloud,
"As she spoke, she leaped from her saddle,
and, with q gesture, commanded him to take
herplace.
''The Indians"
Miriam again pointed to the saddle
"G0,' she commanded. "Hhink only of
your family, and begoneP
Still Thompson hesitated, sweeping the
horizon with eager glances, to assure bimself
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
thToughit.
The sight ho beheld convulsed him with
terror.
Not mile away, to the west, he saw coming
over a ridge in the plain, and approaching
rapidly, considerable body of mounted saw
''Theyre coming--a band OF red-skins-di-
directly towards usl" he gasped. I'm
lostl Fly, Miriam, while you have tho timel''
+ The maiden took the glass and gazed
through it an instant at the approaching foe.
strange light appeared in her. eyes-a light
possessed only by those upon whom God has
bestowed a consciousness of His great pro-
tection-the light of q heroism which death
itself cannot master.
"Sure enough" she murmured "They
are coming The leader is Rcd Knife. Go,
neighbor Thompson on the instantP
"We can ride togetherl" cried Thompson.
"No! The horse is tired. We have been
to Willow Island. We should be overtaken
before we had gone two milesI" .
"Then we'll die together" ?"
''No mol You must mount"
With grasp 80 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" cried Miriam to her steed,
with an imperative gesture. "Away'
The horse broke furiously over the plain,
giving Thompson only time enough TO flash a
look of gratitude towards the maiden, as he
dashed away to the northeast, towards his
menaced home. -.a
A moment later, Mr. Dane locked over his
shoulder-took in at glance the situation Of
affairs, recognizing the peril as well as the
heroism OF his child-bowed his head solemn
ly, as one submits to the inevitable, in appro-
baton 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 bat
tie together.
And Miriam, throwing herself fiat upon the
ground, remained alone upon the plain, in
the very path of scorce ofmounted Indians,
who were galloping towards her with the
swirtncss of the wind