The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-03-24

What talk ls this?" cried Dane, ayitated i
spite OF his efforts at sslfcontrol. "Red Knit
was killed yesterday"
HE was only wounded, " interrupted Thorup
son. "He is coming to take his vengeance o
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 t
be struck are your house and mine."
"My Godl" calculated Dane, as his inform
ant paused in his excited, breathless nara
"A horse horsel'' cried Thompson, reel
ing with fatigue. II can go no further on foot
Ny wife. my children-God pity and say
them |"
He looked from the hunter to his daughte
In agonized and mute supplication.
Dane snatohed the glass from Miriam !
hands and placed it to his eyes.
He looked to the northward-saw his prett,
cottage, his wife busy at her needle under the
trees-and glanced at the dim line of the hori
zon stretching away eastward and westward
from his home.
Suddenly the glass dropped from his hands
his face blanched to the hue of snow. From
shs west, seeming 70 emerge from the clouds
OF scarlet and gold, he had beheld band O
mounted Indians riding boldly towards that
unprotected home, wards that unconscious
| and helpless woman. r4
With a frenzied ory, he put spurs to his
horse. and dashed away like o madman, shout
! ing to his daughter to follow him; at the same
| instant Thompson staggered forward and fell
in the madiens path, holding up his hands in
0Ak ul5Hs
"My wife my children l' he groaned.
There was no hesitation in the soul Of The
brave Miriam. :
"Mne is but single life; he has seven de.
pending on him." she said aloud. n
AS she spoke, -she leaped from her saddle
aud. with gesture, commanded him to take
her place.
,,r, mBut-your dangerp faltered Thompson
"Ihe IndiaDs-" nh H4.
Miriam again pointed to the saddle.
"GO," she commanded. 'sThink Onlv Of v0nr
family. and be goner'
Still Thompson hesitated, sweeping the bori-
no immediate danger threatened. A change
came over his face as he looked, and he utter
ed o wild cry, catching up the glass Mr.. Dane
had let foil, and looked through it.
Inc sight he beheld oonvulsed him with ter
Not mile away, to the west, he saw coming
over a ridge in the plain, and approaching
rapidly, considerable body Of mounted
savages.
THEY'RE coming,,-a band Of redskins -di,
Fly. Miriam, while you have the time II
The maiden took the glass and gazed
through it an instant at the approaching foe,
A strange light appeared in her eyes-a light
bestowed a consciousness of His great proteo-
tion-the light Of heroism which death itself
cannot master.
oo' ..sure enough, % 81 she en- murmqrred. n :They sro
oOkuAAS 10o AohUGT l5 1t9Q AOlI6. dO.
neighbor Thompson-on the instantl"
s'We oan ride together II cried Thompson.
mo The horse is tired. We have been to
Willow Island. We should be overtaken be.
fore we had gone two miles -
''Then we'll die together!"
mol mol You must mount |"
With grasp 80 sudden and firm that it
startled him, the maiden pushed him towards
the horse. and in another instant he found
himself. more by instinct than thought, seat
Ell IN the SADDLE. ea9
..Away, Seliml" cried Miriam to her steed,
with an imperative gesture. "Away !"
The horse broke furiously over the plain
giving Thompson only time enough to flash q
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 a glance the situation OF
affairs. recognizing the peril as well as the
heroism Of his child--bowed his head soIemply,
as one submits to the inevitable, in approba.
ton 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 to-
gether.
And Miriam. throwing herself fat upon the
ground, remained alone upon the plain, In the
very path Of q score Of mounted Indians, who
were galloping towards her with the swittness
Of the wind. t-t