The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-07-13


ing held. Suddenly spark appear
ed about two hundred yards from the
housc-for they had fred our hay
stack-and grew rapidly into fame.
Brighter and brighter it became, and
lit up the sccnc-whioh was ono of
those men do not easily forget-as
with tho glare of the monday sun.
Grouped round the flame, and out
Of range, were our foes their swarthy
skins aud snaky hair glistened in the
Gre-light and they branished lances,
and screamed with delight at the de-
struction they had caused.
Dogs were barking, and horses in
the corral neighing shrilly and roar
ing with terror-some fighting dcspe-
rately to escape.
[ looked at my companion's face /;
it was very pale, and the cxple sson
decidedly ugly.
''Look I" he said, hoarsely "Hcre
comes an ambassador. Good heaven
look ~
| turned with astonishment but the
sickening sight | saw fully accounted
for Dicks excitement and race.
a nearly naked Indian was boldly
advancing toward us, aud bearing be-
for him II burden, which uffactually
secured, as lie meant it to do, his i'm
munity from our shots.
A beautiful white girl of about
seventeen was lying helpless in his
arms. Her hands were bound behind
her back, aud musses of coal-black
hair cncircled a face showing deadly
terror aud horror in every feature,
aud dropped nearly to the ground
over the savage's arm. Her dress
torn from one white shoulder, showed
how hard had been the first Intellectual
struggle against her captors.
As the Indian crossed the ditch
(tlcy had cut the rope which held up
the draw-bridgc in the first attack)
with his burden, Dick, with a deep
groan, recognized her. cit is Rosita,
Don lannon's daughterp' he broke
out. "I love her. Alfred, and will
save her or die with her. Listen !"
he continued, hurriedly. "'rhis ras-
cal has come to make some proposal
to US. Keep your eye on him aud
and the moment you get fair chance,
fire at him. II you kill Der, it's tho
better fate. When hear the shot 7
will throw open the window (Which I
can do moro easily than tho doorl,
and try for rescue. But, for heav.
ems sake, don't leave the roof. Our
only hope is III you being able to keep
off the others, who will rush from the
ditch. Good-bye."
And he was down the ladder before
| could speak, leaving his hat cum
ningly adjusted above the parapct.
Poor Dick all GOODNESS and sang G'oid
had vanished now. myself was not
in pleasant predicament. To carry
out his half mad scheme involved
my friends sweetheart, which at auy
other time would have appeared i'm
possible ; but when I read the agony
and loathing iu the poor girls eyes T
braced my nerves, set my teethy laid
my rifle ready, and inwardly swore
that no trembling of my hand should
mar ucf QcllVCrCnCe.
And now the savage, a trueulont.
looking brute, raised his voice, and
demanded, in broken Spanish, a sur
render. He threatened US with all
the tortucs his ingenious fraternity
are so justly proud of having in
vented, in case of obstinacy, aud bid
us look upon his captive, for that
she, too, should suffer for us. AS he
said this he grasped tho girls hair
brutally, and raised her head. With
a sudden spring Of pain and fright she
threw herself out Of his arms, and
fell to the ground. Ills time and
mine had come. as he stopped my
bullet laid him dead by the side Of
his intended victim. Dick made his
rush from the window, and the In
dians theirs from the ditch, as he had
predicted; but as Rosta was rather
nearer to the house than tho ditch, he
managed to reach her first, and was
rotreating with her in his arms. And
now oil depended upon me. My first
shot, aimed at the foremost Of the
assailants, missed him clean, aud be-
fore | could seize the other rife he
had made vicious thrust at Dick,
who, enculnb bered as lie was, was quite
helpless. The lance passed through
Rosita's dress, luckily without injury
to the wearer and as the savage drew
back for cooler and surcr thrust, l
had the incxpressible pleasure of
lodging bullet in his body, which
effectually prevented any further
lance exercise from him.
Then l heard heavy fall in the
room, below. Dick had thrown his
burden clean through. tho open win
dow,, at the risk of breaking limb,
and turning, found himself engaged
hand to hand With q dozen Indians.
lie set his back against the wall, and
drew; his revolver with his right hand,
ressivipg, asi he did SO y. spear-thrpst
through his. left arm but, his and my