The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1875-10-15


to Texas, and to invest some money in a
scheme for raising cattle, Alice had volun-
teered to accompany him; and she was
glad of the chance, for accustomed scenes
and people had become painful to her.
, Sitting in her saddle here, with the
Texan prairis land around her, al. re-
viewed the past with bitter sorrow. She was
awakened from her revere by the sounds
of approaching horses hoofs
On the opposite side of the river, which
the drought had narrowed to small,
turbulent stream, Alice saw a band of
horsenen: They were approaching She
drew back amid the trees, and watched
them. As they came nearer, she saw they
were Comanche. Indians. They reached
the opposite bank, and stopped to parley.
Their attention seemed fixed on some ob-
ject in the distance. Alice looked in the
direction indicated by their gestures, and
saw the dusky forms composing a herd
of buffaloes outlined against the glow
ing sky.
The Comanches evidently resolved to pur-
sue the flying herd. To Alice's great re-
lief. they dashed away, leaving only three
of their number on the river bank.
Looking closely at these three-which
she could easily do, as the river at this point
was extremely narrow-she noticed that
one of them was white man. He was
very pale, and his hunting shirt was blood
stained. His hands were bound together
with thongs, and he hung upon his horses
neck if too weak to sit upright With
ont doubt he was captive, and the two
Indians had been left to guard him. The
Comanches had their backs turned to-
wards her, and were following with
their eyes the course of their com.
panions. She could, however, piainly see
the features of the captive. Her face grew
white as she looked, and she nearly reeled
from her saddle. The captive was Guy
Philips!
With great almost superhuman effort
she collected her faculties in order to ans
wer the question What is to be done
Her first thought was to blow the whis-
tie in the end of her riding-whip. the sound
of which, if heard, would bring her brother
and his dependents to her rescue. But she
felt sure that it would not be heard, for the
Ranch was too far away, and her signal of
distress would draw the attention of the
Comanches to her without producing any
good effect.
The banks of the river were rugged,
high, and rocky; the stream itself "A
brawling, tumultuous thread of water
L Al.
A bold idea entered Alice's mind. 1t
was womanly idea; to a man it would
have seemed impracticable. She put her
hand into the holster of her saddle to feel
that her toy-like pistols were safe How
thankful she was that she had complied
weapons
Taking a revolver in one hand and her
whip in the other, she prepared to leap the
river The mere thought Of this attempt
wonld have chilled the heart of the most
infatuated English x-hunter, for although
the stream was narrow for a riUer, yet it
was terrible leap.
Saying a prayer in her heart, she made
ready to descend among the uncon-
scious enemy, holding the reins between
her teeth.
"On, Dion, on - The whip fell singing
ly on the noble animals flanks. The horse
reared. Then he seemed almost to stretch
out into a straight black line. His fore
feet struck the edge of the other bank.
Down came the whip. He gathered him.
self up. Horse and rider had leaped the
river.
The astonished Comanches turned and
viewed the apparition in amazement. Alice
levelled her pistol a the nearest Indian
and fired. He wave ed in his seat, and
then fell with crashing thud to the
ground. Alice dropped her whip and
seized the bride of Guy Philips horse.
She heard Guy murmur her name.
"Use your spurs, if you can ~ she said
"Nowp'
The frightened animals were headed to-
wards the river. She used the butt of her
pistol to urge them on. 1t seemed "a if
her brave spirit awed the horses into obe-
dience. With a bound, which seemed as if
it would crack their sinews, they cleared
the gulf.
The Comanche attempted to follow, but
his horse refused the leap. Infuriated, the
Indian goaded the animal to it. the horse
barely touched the bank with his front
hoofs, struggling to gain it for an instant,
and then horse and rider sank down into
the channel beneath.
Stopping but moment to cut the
throngs which bound Guy Philips arms.
Alice rode on towards the Ranch. Ere
they reached it, Guy had tainted from loss
of blood. Toms surprise was unbounded
when Alice delivered her rescued lover in
to his hands. He pronounced Guys
wound, although severe, to be not dam
gerous.
When Guys senses returned, and he
saw Alice, who had refused to leave him,
there was a scene, the dialogue of which,
though somewhat incoherent, was mutu-