The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1869-03-25

fendish hatfed of the white race, ano
his victims have been many"
Mr.. Dane held out his hand for the
glass, and Miriam was in the act of re-
storing it, when a strange, gasplng!
pantiHe sound startled them both' shd
sent them quickly to their saddles.
The hunter wheeled his horse and
: Hooked down upon the river bank, from
. which direction the sound bad come,
his manner self-posssssed, but his coun-
Iteuance Indicative of alarm. Ihe maid
D en- followed his example.
Her ewes were the first to discover the
cause of the sound that had startled
them, detectinga mans figure creep
ing along through the under growth of
bushes lining the shore.
Az the same moment their presence in
turn was detected, for the man dropped
suddenly among the protecting bushes,
as if he had been SHOT.
IAN Indianp whispered Miriam,
drawing from her bosom a revolver.
The hunter sheOk his head, continu-
lug to watch the spot at which the man
had fallen, his hand on his rifle, his man
ner that ozone ready for action.
Suddenly, as the man showed hag-
gard faGe peering cautiously from his
concealment, Mr.. Danes anxious couA-
tenance broke into smile, and he cried
out:
Halo! Is that you, Thompson? Do
you take us for Indians, that you skulk
there in the bushesP
| The individual addressed was silent a
| full minute, as it seemed, from sheer
amazement; then he sprang out from
his hiding place with a cry of relief, and
advanced swiftly towards the father and
daughter.
He was a 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 perspira-
tion. 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
mans singular appearance giving him a
sudden shock of alarm.
"The Indiansw gasped Thompson,
scarcely able to command his voice.
"They are coming! Red Knife and his
band-divided-my wife-my children
Help me! Help mew
! "What talk is this ?" cried Dane, agi-
tated in spite of his efforts at self-con.
troll "Red Knife was killed yester-
day"
"He was only wounded" interrupted
Thompson. "He has come to take his
vengeance on us settlers. He has di-
vided 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 Godw calculated Dane, as his
informant paused in his excited, breath
less narration.
"a horse a Aorsew cried Thompson,
rceling with fatigue. 81 can go no fur
ther on foot. My wife, my children
God pity and save themp
He looked from the hunter to HE
daughter in agonized and mute suppll-
cation.
Dane snatched the glass from Miriam's
hands and placed IL to his eyes.
He locked to the noIthward-saw his
pretty cottage, his wife busy at her
ueedle 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 nue. OF
snow. From the west, seeming TO
emerge from the clouds of scarlet ana
gold, he had beheld band of mounted
Indians riding boldly towards that I'M
protected home, towards that uncon-
scioas and helpless woman.
With frenzied cry, he put spurs to
! his horse, and dashed away like mad
man, shouting to his daughter to follow
| him. at the same instant Thompson
staggered forward and fell in the maid
ems path, holding up his hands in an
guish.
"My wife ~ my children!' he groaued.
There was no hesitation in the soul OF
the brave Miriam.
"Miue is but single life; he has sew
en- depending on him." she said, aloud,
As she spoke, she leaped from the sad
die, and, with a gesture, commanded
him to take her place.
"But-your danger" faltered Thomp-
son. "The Indians"
Miriam again pointed to the saddle.
go" she commanded. Think only
of your family, and be gone"
Still Thompson hesitated, sweeping
the horizon with eager glances, to as
sure himself that no immediate danger
threatened. A change came over his
face as he looked, and he uttered a wild
cry, catching up the glass Mr.. Dane had
let fall, and looking through it.
sSThe sight he behcld COnvulsed him
with terror.
Not mile away, to the west, he saw
coming over a ridge in the plain, and
approaching rapidly, a considerable
body of mounted savageS.
"They're coming-a band of red skins
directly towards us" he gasped. Pm
lost Fly, Miriam, while you have timer
The maiden took the glass and gazed
through it an instant at the approach.
ing foe. A strange light appeared in
her eyes-a light possessed only by
those upon whom God has bestowed a
consciousness of His great protection
the light of heroism which death itself
caunet master.
"Sure enough" she murnured. "They
are cunning! 1ue lcduSl 10 hcu hullt'
Go, neighbor Thompsou-on the in
stantw
"We can ride together" cried ThOnp-
son.
NO! The horse is tired. We have
; been to Willow Island. We should be
> overtaken before we had gone two
9 miles,
"Then We'll die together
, "NO, no! You must mount
, With a grasp so sudden and firm that
d it startled him, the maiden pushed him
3 towards the horse, and in another in.
slant he found himself, more by instinct
, than by thought, seated in the saddle
f away, Selim" cried Miriam to heI
!. steed, with an imperative gesture
. Away
The horse broke furiously over the
, plain, giving Thompson only time
, enough to flash look of gratitude TO
wards the maiden, as he dashed away
. to the northeast, towards his menaced
home.
5 A moment later, Mr.. Dane looket
, over his shoulder-took in at a glance
: .bo e;t,ot;o, Of afTairs racOpniZinp tl1