Huntington advertiser. [volume] (Huntington, W. Va.) 1874-1921, 1874-05-07

cried: "1fast in Hearen p and spe,
Ion.
! Too late for retreat now; the sava
ges had detected the movement, ane
came swarming to the edge of the for
est by the score. A few wild slot
were fired, but the savages were mis-
cradle marksman, and the speed o
the black horse would have rendered
the aim uncertain. Nina bowed hel
head over the neck of the irery steed
which needed no urging to put him
at his utmost speed, while the fire Of
the Blackfeet constantly grew hotter
and hotter.
But DOW the garrison remembered
their part in the wild drama, and the
thunder tones of the cannon rolled out
on the air. The Indians scattered
like wolves at their roar, and fell
hastily back into the forest shadows.
On-on bounded the black horse,
and soon Nina was beyond the reach
of hostile bullets.
But her peril was not yet over! 5.
Full well the Blackfeet comprehen-
ded that her escape would be the
source of much annoyance to them,
if, indeed, it did not entirely Illustrate
their plans. Back in the shadows of
the forest, each man had a fleet horse,
and, in ten minutes, scores of red ri.
ders were speeding over the prairie,
in Nina's rear.
Brave as the colonePs daughter was,
her cheeks grew pale as she gazed on
that horde OF yelling, whooping,
paint bedaubed fiends. But she on
ly bent the lower over the black steed's
neck, speaking to him words of en-
couragement and supplication.
On, good Selim on, my beauty
Don't let lne be taken. Everything
depends on you, my pet-On brave
Sellm, on !"
And the black horse, possessed of
rare intelligence, and as obedient to
the word Of his mistress as q dog,
seemed to understand, and stretching
out his head, as though his impatience
would fain carry him swifter than
horse ever sped, he burst into mag
nifcent rate Of speed
To Nina's eyes, the ground seemed
to swim, as he spurned it beneath his
iron shod feet; and, accomplished
horsewoman that she was, she was
obliged to use great care not to lose
her seat.
But many of the Blackfeet were
mounted on superb horses, and, ur-
ged on by their shouts and blows,
they seemed fairly to fly in her rear.
Nina noted this, and, with constant
words of praise and encouragement
she urged the black steed on.
"On, my darling, on How like
the wind you gol Good Selim!
brave fellow! How l love you! On,
my beauty, on"
The plain grows wider and wider;
the black horse fades in the distance,
while one by one the Blackfeet fall in
The rear, and less than q score press in
the brave girls rear.
But now fresh peril menaces the
brave messenger. a fresh body of
savages ten in number, appear on one
flank, from behind 4 timber belt
which has hitherto hid them from
view. One glance, and they under.
stand the meaningof the scene and
with wild whoops, they ride to inter
cept the flying stced.
Now, indeed, the peril is great;
but the black horse comprehends it,
and right CALAMITY he speeds onward.
His flying feet seem hardly to touch
the ground, and in this moment his
capture becomes as desirable as that
Of the girl to the red riders.
Nina Evelyn was pale as death,
but not for a moment did her courage
forsake her.
"On, on On, my beauty, we must
escaped On, on Brave Selim, take
me safe, if you can-if not, | can die
as becomes Colonel Evelyn's daugh-
ter" And her fair hand clutched
her fatal pistol.
But the race had not been run in
vain; the magnificent efforts OF the
black steed have not been futile.
Like a bird on the wing, he sweeps
ahead of his pursuers, and now the
whole eastern plains are before him.
At dawn of the next day, Nina
Evelyn reached the post, and in an
hour was on her return with reinforce
ments. They found the little garri-
son at Fort Prince Albert hard press
ed but were in seaon to save the post
sending the Blackteet to their tribe
minus half their number.
And now Nina Rathsmere, once
known as Nina Evelyn, may every
day be seen when the weather Is
pleasant, riding the noble black horse,
which will have a warm stall at the
manor as long as he lives.
C-.... IL lo,org