The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1875-10-15

brilliant as the noon-day sun could have
done. The great mountains glowed like
FURNISHED silver in the reflection, and
clad in their robes of ice, the prospect
was an enchanting one. Even he
gazed upon it, and wondered if in
the spirit-land he could find anything
more truly magnificent.
But another sight now presented itself,
and one that sent a thrill of fire even
through his chilled bosom. Some twenty
savages appeared suddenly and began q
wild dance, while their yells rang out
fearfuliy. And among the number was
woman. The wretch, Milburn, held
! her by the hand, whirling her round and
round, she evidently being an unwilling
participant in the revels.
While Moses was watching these pro
ceedings ne felt hand grasp him and he
was drawn from his water bed. He at
once recognized friend from the settle
ment. The savages had become so ex-
cited that they did not notice this move
ment. Then the friend cut the cord
which bound the captive, and away they
crept, taking up position near one of
the fires, but outside the circle.
In a short time after Milburn came
within few feet of them, and rs the eyes
of Moses fell upon the face of the female
a suppressed cry escaped him but it at
tracted no attention, for the yells of the
savages drowned the sound.
"What is the matter 2" asked the
friend of Moses.
My wife-my wife - he gasped, as
he pointed toward the female.
The friend gazed upon her for n mo-
ment, and then replied "No, Moses,
that is not your wife. 1t is fifteen years
since you lost her, and that young crea-
tUre cannot yet be SO many years of age.
At that instant the dancing ceased, and
yells died out. Milburn had approached
the hole in the ice where he had placed
his captive, and as he did so he cried,
Look here, my brave Chief Whirlwind
this is your daughter. You never saw
her before, for she was born only two
months after | burned your cabin, and
carried off her mother. / bring her now
to see you die. This will sweeten your
death, or render it more bitter L care
not which. And here comes your wife.
Her beauty is gone now, and she is but
the mere shadow of her formerh self. |
am tired of keeping her a chained cap
tive, and she may die with You. The
girl is old enough to become my wife,
SO You may have your own in death.
Poor Moses was agonized. He had
known that he was TO become a father
but that thought had almost passed from
his mind in the grief of losing his wife.
Now that child was before him. And
there came another horror. Over the ice
approached an emaciated woman, her
step tottering, and the chains which she
wore clanking at every movement. Mo
ses saw the expression of the face and
in that wild eye he felt that a maddened
soul was mirrored. He groaned within
himself and then said, "Oh, nay
friend, we are but two, but we must
fight even against such odds. / will
save my wife and child, or die by their
sides.
"Then fire" returned the friend, as
he placed rifle in the hands of Moses,
and at the same time raised his own.
Fire, and then rush forward with
your knife.
Two shots rang out sharp, and two
savage yells followed, as two dusky forms
lNdlJCNl lnbO lllC ullNl lCll III WdlNt llDOl
their faces then came n volley from
some unseen source, and but six of the
fiends remained standing, while the
howlings of those who fell were fearful.
Some twenty of the avengers now
arose from concealment behind the diff
ferent fires and charged toward the CEN
ter, where Milburn and his female cap
tives were still standing. AS Moses
came forward the villain recognized him
and seemed thunderstrlck. He took
step backward, and down he plunged
through the very hole which he had pre-
pared as the grave for his foe. He never
came to the surface again ; and his death
was horrible one, especially as it
occurred just as he supposed himself
triumphant.
The husband, wife and child were hap
PLY united, and as they had no longer a
Milburn to trouble them they occupied
their quiet home upon the Croton un.
molested.