Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1869-04-02

his hldlng-place with a cry OF reiiei, anu
edvanced swiftly towards the father and
daughter.
He was man of middle age, of the
ordinary type of backwoodsmen, strong
and brown and stalwart, of the rude,
rough type that seems TO belong to the
border. His face was haggard and white,
although covered with perspiration. His
breath came through his parted lips in
quick, uneven gasps. He had run far
and swiftly, and looked as if about to
drop from fatigue. :.
"What has happened, Thompson =
asked Dane, with keen anxiety, the man
singular appearance giving him sudden
shock of alarm.
The Indians !" gasped Thompson,
scarcely able to command his voice.
" They are comingl Red Knife and his
band-divided-my wife-my children
Help me Help me"
"What talk is this ?" cried Dane, ag-
itated in spite of his efforts at self-eon-
troll. 81 Red knife was killed yester-
day"
g He was only wounded" interrupted
Thompson. "He is coming to take his
vengeance on us settlers. He has divid-
ed 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"
Ny God r CALCULATED Dane, as his
informant paused in his excited, breath
less narration.
GA horse morse p cried Thomp-
son, reeling with fatigue. can go no
further on foot. My wife, my children
God pity and save them p
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-sa his
pretty cottage, his wife busy at her nee
die under the trees-and glanced at the
dim line of the horizon stretching 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, seeming to emerge
from the clouds of scarlet and gold, he
had beheld a band of mounted Indians
riding boldly towards that unprotected
home, towards that unconscious and help
less woman.
With frenzied cry, he put spurs to hi
horse and dashed away like 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 hands in anguish.
My wife! my children! he groaned
There was no hesitation in the soul o
the brave Miriam.
Mine is but single life; he has sew
en- 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 danger!" faltered Thomp
son. "The Indians"
Miriam again pointed to the saddle.
"Go," she commanded. "Think onl,
Of your family, and be gone"
Still Thompson hesitated, sweeping tn
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 the glass Mr.. Dane had let fall, an,
looking through it.
The sight he beheld convulsed hir
with terror.
Not mile away to the west, he sa'
coming over ridge in the plain, an
approaching rapidly, a considerable bod
of mounted savages.
" They're coming-a band of rec
Satisfactorily towards us he gaspet
"Pm lost Fly, Miriam, while you hav
the time !! I"
The maiden took the glass and gaze
through it an instant at the approachin
foe. A strange light appeared in h,
eyes--a light possessed only by thoS
upon GoD has bestowed a consciousne'
of His great protection-the light of
heroism which death itself cannot ma
ter.
"Sure enough" she murmured "The
are coming? The leader is Red Knit
Go, neighbor Tompson on the instant
:" We can ride together ?" erie
Thompson.
"No! The horse is tired. We hay
been to Willow Island We should |
overtaken before we had gone two miles
Then we'll die thgether!'
"No! no! You must mount"
With grasp so sudden and firm tn,
it startled him, the maiden pushed hi
towards the horse, and in another instal
he found himself more by instinct tina
by thought, seated in the saddle.
Away, Selim /" vcried Miriam to h,
steed, with an imperative gesture. AVA,
The horse broke furiously over Il
plain, giving Thompson only time enoug
to flash a look of gratitude towards Il
maiden, as he dashed away to the nortl
east, towards his menaced home.
A moment later Mr. Dane looked owe
his shoulder-took in at glance the ST
uation of affairs, recognized the peril ,
well as the heroism of his child-bowe
his head solemnly, as one submits to ii
inevitable, in appreciation of her col
duct, and then swept on to the rescue
his wife, his soul torn by such emotion
as are seldom brought to battle togethe
|, And Miriam. throwing herself fs
upon the ground, remained alone upo
the plain, i'll the very path of score
mounted Indians, who We're gallopin
towards her with the swiftness of ii
wind!
Chapter IT