Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1869-04-01

scarcely able to command his voice.
"They are coming! Red Knife and MS
band-divided-my wife-my children
Help mel Help me!
"What talk is this 2" cried Dane, agi-
tated in spite of bis efforts at self-control.
"Red Knife was killed Yesterday"
"He was only wounded" interrupted
Thompson. "He is coming to take his
vengeance 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 miDe."
"My God!" calculated Dane, as his
informant paused in his excited, GREATNESS
narration.
ga horse horse J" cried Thompson,
reeling with fatigue. ~ can go no fur
Their on foot. My wife, my children
God pity and save them J"
He looked from the hunter to his
daughter in agonized and mute supplica-
ton.
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, be
had beheld band of mounted Indians
riding boldly towards that unprotected
home, towards that unconscious and help
less woman.
With frenzed cry, he put spurs to HI;
horse, and dashed away like mailman
shouting to his daughter to follow him al
the same instant Thompson staggered Tor
ward and fell in the maiden's path, hold
ing up his hands in anguish.
"My wife my children y he groaned
There was no hesitation in the soul o.
the brave Miriam.
4 "Mine is but single life he has sever
depending on him. she said, aloud.
/ As she spoke, she leaped from her sad
die, and, with gesture, commanded hin
to take her place.
/ "But-your dangern' faltered Thomp-
son. "The Indians"
+ Miriam again pointed TO the saddle.
"Go,n she commanded. "Ihink only
of your family, and be gone"
4 Still Thorn pson hesitated, sweeping th'
horizon with eager glances, to assure him
self that no Immediate danger threatened
A change came over his face as he look ed
and he uttered wild cry, catching up tn
glass Mr.. Dane had let fall, and lookln!
through it.
The sight he beheld oonvulsed him will
terror.
Not mile away, to the west, he saw
coming over ridge in the plain, and ap
preaching rapidly, considerable body c
mounted sayages.
They re coming-a band Of red-skln
directly towards US = he gasped. "Tr
lost! Fly, Miriam, while you have th
time -
= The maiden took the glass and gaze
through 1t an instant at tts approachln
foe \ strange light appeared IN be
eyes-a light possessed only by those upo
whom Con has bestowed consciousness
of His great protection the light of
heroism which death itself cannot master
"Sure enough" she murmured. ''The
are coming The leader is Red Knit
Go, neighbor Thompson-on tie instant
I'VE can ride together :" cried ThomI
son.
"No! The horse is tired. We hay
been to Willow Island. We should |
overtaken before We had gone two miles
"Then we'll die together ~
mo no! You,must mount !"
With grasp SO sudden and firm thu
,, it startled him, the maiden pushed tOwarC
the horse. and in another instant ne loun
himself, more by instinct than oy thought
seated in the saddle.
; tsA~-y. SclIu - cried Miriam 10 h'
steed, with Al imperative gestur
7 "Awav ~
The horse broke iuriously over ii
PLAIN, giving ] thompson only time enoug
to flash look Of gratitude towards Il
maiden, as he dashed away to the nortl
east, towards his menaced home.
A moment later. Mr. Dane looked oy,
his shoulder-took in al glaace the SIT
!. alton Of affairs, recognizing the peril ;
!, well as the heroism Of his child-bowc
his head solemnly, as one submits to Il
inevitable, in appreciation Of her conduc
:. and then he swept on 10 the rescue Of b
wife, his soul torn by such emotions
:. are seldom brought 10 battle together.
And Miriam, throwing herself fiat upc
:. the ground, remained alone upon Il
PLAIN, in the very. path Of a score
:, mounted Indians, who were gallopir
!, towards her with the swittnes' # Il
wind