Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-03-31

the man had fallen, his mana on MS
rifle. his manner that of one ready fol-
action.
/ Suddenly, as the man showed a
haggard face peering cautious y from
his concealment, Mr.. Danes anxious
countenance broke into a smile, and
he cried out:
Halo! Is that you, Thompson
Do you take US for Indians, that you
skulk there in the bushes 2"
The individual addressed was 81
lent for full minute, as it seemed
from sheer amazement then he
sprang out from his hiding place with
with cry of relief, and advanced
swiftly towards the father and daugh-
ter
He was a man Of middle age, OF
the ordinary type of backwoodsmen,
strong, brown and stalwart, of the
rude, rough type that seems to belong
to the border. His face was haggard
and white, although covered with
PRECIPITATION. His breath came thro'
his parted lips in quick, uneven gasps.
He had run far and swiftly and look
ed as if about to drop from fatigue.
NV hat has happened, Thompson p
asked Dane, with keen anxiety, the
mans singular appearance giving him
a sudden shock of alarm.
1.-The Indians p gasped Thompson,
scarcely able to command his voice.
"They are coming Red Knife
and his band-divided-my wlfe-n,y
children Help me Help me p
"What talk is this 2" cried Dane
agitated in spite of his efforts at self
control. ''Red Knife was killed yes
terday-"
'He was only wounded" interrupt
ed 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 mine"
"My God !" calculated Dane as his
informant paused in his excited,
breathless narration.
"a horse a horse !" cried Thomp-
sou Keeling with fatigue Il can't 60
further on foot. My wife, my child
ren-God pity and save them !"
! He looked from the hunter to his
daughter in agonizing ard mute sup
plication.
Dane snatched the glass from Mi
| RAMS 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
glanced at the dim horizon stretch
ing away eastward and westward from
his home.
Suddenly the glass dropped from
his hands-his face blanched to the
hue of snow. From The west, seem
lug to emerge from the clouds of
scarlet and gold, he had beheld a
band of mounted Indians riding bold
ly towards that unprotected home,
towards that UNCONSCIOUS and help
| less woman.
With a frenzied cry, he put spurs
to his horse, and dashed away like a
mailman, shouting to his daughter to
| follow him at the same instant
Thompson staggered, forward and
fell in the maiden-s path, holding up
| his arms in anguish.
My wife I My Children p he
groaned.
There was no hesitation in the
soul of the brave Miriam.
mime IS but single he has sew
en- depending on him." she said
aloud.
AS she spoke, she leaped from her
saddle. anu with a gesture, command
ed him to take her place.
"But-your danger !" said Thomp-
son. "The Indians
Miriam again pointed to the sad
die.
"Go," she commanded. "Think
only of your family, and b gone !"
Still Thompson hesitated, sweep
ing the harizon with eager chances,
to assure himself that no immediate
danger threatened. A change came
| oAer his face as he looked, and he
uttered wild cry, catching up the
glass Mr.. Dane had let fall, and look
nag through 1t.
The sight he beheld convulscd him
with terror.
Not mile away to the west, he
saw coming over a ridge in the plain
and approaching rapidly, consider
able body of mounted savages.
"They're coming-a band of red
satisfactorily towards us p he gasp
ed. I'm lost! Fly, Miriam, while
you have time y
The maiden took the glass and
| gazed through it an instant at the
approaching foe. A strange light
| appeared in her eyes-a light pos
sessed only by those upon whom God
| has bestowed consciousness Of His
protectlon-the light of a heroism
which death itself cannot master.
"Sure enough she murmered,
"They are coming The leader is
Red Knife. Go, neighbor Thomp-
son-on the instant /"
We can ride together, +" cried
Thompson.
"No The horse is tired. We
have been to Willow Island. We
should be overtaken before We had
gone two miles p
No /! no you must mount u
With grasp so sudden and firm
that it startled him, the maiden push