Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-05-05
CHAPTER l.

The SIOOI AND safA1E- |
The afternoon was fine-the Great Plain
in full verdure.
And Kit Carson, in the midst of this beau
teous solitude, was as happy as the birds
around him.
He was riding eastward, on the Santa Fe
route, Just east of Fort Larned, in Kansas.
At length ke drew rein.
He had reached an atiluent of the Arkan
sas river, and found himself in the edge of
considerable growth OF timber by which
the banks of this affluent were lined. Look
ing through the openings in the verdure be-
fore him, he saw, half a mile away, to the
eastward, single horseman approaching at
an easy pace.
.sWhat!" he calculated "That fellow
must be red-skin-more or less red-skin, |
any how. And yet he has a white woman |
on the horse before him. What is still more |
singular, that white woman seems to be
sleeping. What can this mean ?"
Continuing to advance, the strange horse
man was soon near enough to be seen with
considerable distinctness by the watcher.
"Theres minkery here muttered Kit,
under his breath, his eyes lighting up stern,y.
"That woman isn't taking this ride into the
red-skin country Of her own free will.
In minute more the stranger reached the
creek, In which ne proceeded to water his
horse, an Indian pony.
81 know him now," said Kit to himself.
at is that internal Fleet Foot, the half
breed"
The savage thus designated was one of the
most villainous looking fellows the scout
had ever encountered.
His long, tangled hair, his hideous features,
his wretched garb his dirty complexion his
black, bloodshot eyes, all gave him most
repulsive aspect His arms-for he carried
hunting-knite, revolver, aud rifle, in
plain sight-gave to his ugly exterior !. iero-
city that was actually staitling.
The recognition of the savage having been
thus completed Kit turned lis glances upon
the object the savage was holding upon the
pony in front Of him.
This object, as kit had said, was white
woman, or rather white girl. Her long,
fair hair was disheveed, flying wildly about
her shoulders and half hiding her face, but
it could be seen thu her features were
deathly pale, and scratched and bleeding in
places, as if she had been struggling terribly
with her captor That she was captive,
Kit instantly knew by the fact that her hands
were tied behind her, and he next saw that
she was not sleeping, as he had at first sup
posed-nor dead, as he had for an instant
feared-but that she was in death-like
swoon
Ignorant of the gaze bent upon him, the
half-breed, whose arm still encircled the
slight figure, pushed away the disheyelled
hair from the palled features, that he might
look upon them.
For moment he seemed fascinated with
the view of the pale, fair countenance, SO
rarely beautiful, even in its death-ike rigidi-
ty, and then he bent his head and kissed the
half-parted lips, not once merely, but again
and again
s'This tires me out, said Kit to himself
81 must change my position littie-just
enough TO get the girls head out Of line
and then"
AT this instant, and Just as the scout be
gan moving into the desired range the half
breed happened to look beyond the face d
his captive TO the ground when his eyes en-
countered the tracks left by Kits horse.
In another instant he had detected Car
sons presence.
"It's you, eh, Mr.. Fleet Foot: z called thu
scout.
The savage was silent.
81 see it is you, added the scout. " VIII
is that with you ~
"My new squaw," was the answer.
"Hold on minute, Mr.. Fleet Foot, salt
the scout.
"What more y was the response.
81 know that this young lady is cot goinl
willingly to the country of Fleet Foot, con
tnued the scout, with calm energy
know that she has been stolen, and it is vail
for Fleet Foot to say that she is his squaw.
swell, what then z was all the sayag
deigned to answer,
1.-THE case is just this, continued Carson
You will have to deliver the girl up to me
that may take her back to her people.
.sThat will never do, rejoined the halt
breed bluntly. "This girl is nothing 10 you
nor have you any claim upon me. VIII
should we quarrel! am as much whit
man as a red-skin, and the young lady Nigh
have worse fate than TO become my wife
even if she becomes my wife unwillingy
There is no possible call for you to interior
with me. The course for you to take, Nj
Carson, is to go your own way and min
your own business, and leave me to mine
AS he ceased speaking, lie uttered a vii
cry OF command to his pony, which instant
bounded away to the southwark at full ga
lop.
The scout raised his rifle.
The figure Of the miserant was now ful
uncovered, presenting fair mark, but X
was compelled to realize, in view Of q
bounding motions Of the.pony, that he cou
not fire upon the desperate william witho
the greetest risk of killing the captive
The accused trash he calculated, |
ltHH-itpIteseN ALL Dltdh lJl W. w Y
it not for sacrificing the girl But can
least pursue him !"
He struck his horse sharply with his let
ard the animal bounded away at the top
his speed.
1t was o long time before the chase IL
begun showed which horse could make
best time. The pony was carrying the nj
wei Jht, but he was much iresaGr than I
scouts horse, so That the one crcnmstaf
for a time counterbalanccd the other.
length, however, the increased weight I
upon the pony The scout commenced g
ing,
speaking under his breath. How ca
save the girl from his desperation
At this moment wild cry Of disinay bl
from the fugitive.
Just before him, not ten rods distant
had marked deep and abrupt acpressiu
the plain, the bed Of one Of those creek
numerous in that region.
As quick as lightning, the hunted !
creant had comprehended that he coull
cross this creek at that fnrious pace, the
preston being too wide Tor u flying j
He had also comprehended that he q
not stop the .pony's wild pace in seasp
avoid it.
The scout saw all this loo, and SIN
grimly as lie realized that tumble wa
eyitable.
1t was in vain that the half breed, red
to one hand, pulled upon the reins, say
and jerking the ponys month. The an
would neither turn nor stop, ard in anC
instant had hurled himself into the al
abyss, actually turning a somcrsaull il
air, and sending Fleet Foot and The
flying through space 70 The opposite sln
the creek
At that same moment, as i seemed
scout threw his horse back upon
launches at the very edge Of The creek
slipped from his saddle, revolver in hai
II have you now, Fleet Foot E he
ted leaping toward the PROSTATE savaq
But as terrible as had been the shoe
quick as had been the scouts mOyem
the half-breed had gathered himself up
the dust in which he had been rolled
sought and found his unconscious cap
had drawn his huge hunting knife Al
volver; had placed himself in doubt
ture of assault and defense beside til,
tionless figure and thus, at the insli
Kits advance, he found that the desI
ruilian was still active. and deadly, sti
daunted.
''Not step nearer = was the half-b
La 4. A. 4