Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-07-20

IIeaSc get up, please wake up, MI
Ransom!" and the faint voice was sha
ken with bitter sobbing; like the sob O.
the wind on gusty autumn night
Please do wake up, and take MI
away!"
Miner was on his feet, though sleep
lily, as | caught the poor little, shiverins
figure, and felt it to be indeed flesh an(
blood. Over the wide, dark prairie slope
she had followed our campfire alone
the pitiful little child-with only Goo
and the angels to care for her
What is it, my little girl? Tel
me-"
''Do take me away-please do take mt
away. | shall die if you don't take mt
to my mamma"
How did you come here with him?
asked Herries.
He stole me in the night and made
me stay asleep; and he will kill me.
don't dare to 60 back"
Up with yer duds, Herries; saddle
up, boys" whispered Miner, hoarsely.-
We'll take the child and clear out.
can't stand this, you know. Lively
boys!"
In about ten minutes the horses were
saddled, and we rode swiftly through
the timber Marty before me, wrapped
in my blanket. l shall never forget that
ride. Miner led-he knew the country
and Herries brought up the rear. The
stars glinted, the damp night breeze
blew in our faces; the horses never
broke their gallop for miles and miles
oror tho Jorl- ,,nond;nr rol1ipu rro iri n
BY and by the east turned gray, and the
west darker; long, pale streak Of vel
low trimmed the far-lying swells. Il
turned rosy; crimson streaks shot up
the stars paled and vanished. 1t was
day:
'Tired, my dear?, for she leaned hel
head YEARLY against me.
"A little, little bit. Only don't stoI
don't stop yet. We are not yet fan
enough away"
Miner turned and shot an incompre
hensible glance over his shoulder with
out speaking. | understood George
Marriott had stole the child to torment
his wife, and it was quite probable that
he would move heaven and earth for hel
recovery. He knew me for friend OF
Emma's.
"Therc's some pretty rough places be-
tween here and civilization" said Miner
an hour later, when we had halted fol
rest, and the child was asleep. :" Eff he
ken get an inklin of our route, there's
ways enough to hinder us. We're only
three Just now it's nearest to Xavier
station, and then to Austin But we
won't 60 there, as he'll naturally think
we will. If the law has judged the
children to his wife, he'll keep out OF
reach of the law-don't you see? Con,
sequently, we'll get round back ards to
Montress don't know it; it's lit
tie, dirty Mexican place-then twenty
miles further to-hollO! y
A peculiar echo resounded from the
the rocky mouth of the pass where we
had encamped. We were on the verge
of a mountainous region; had struck
westward from our original trail.
rather guess-hold on!" said Miner
Saddle up, boys, before you wake her.
| didn't camp in this ere place for moth
in. This echo's good warnin as I've
found out afOre; and these rocks don't
tell no tales I'm goin ter reconnoitre.
And he darted away and was back be-
fore we had time to complete our hasty
preparations for departure.
"Jes so. They're in sight. A bit
puzzled halted to consider"
He was out of breath, and shot forth
these irregular sentences in the inter
yals of saddling up.
Now then, don't let la about them
to her, We know. Wake her up, Rafe.-
Times out.
Marty looked frightened and clung to
me as | lifted her. | smiled into her
face
- Did | startie you?" ! asked, 1t is
time to move on, you see, so | thought
that we had better not delay. Hold
fast"
| sprang to Cheveignac's back, and we
rode down the dark, rocky defle; slow
ly at first, lest the sound of hoofs should
by any means reach the sharp ears of
our pursuers..
After some fifteen minutes we seemed
plunging into narrow gorge or chasm,
without outlet, between perpendicular
precipices. We followed Miner who led
the way. But it seemed a narrow, tor
tuous way.
II say" said Herries, at length, do
you mean to be like mice in trap? for
we're in one.
:" No we amt, young man. | know
this here region" retorted Miner, with
out looking around
Sure enough, at the end of the gorge
narrow aperture, barely admitting a
horse and rider, yawned beside huge
boulder, 1t looked like the entrance to
a cavern; and Cheveignac pricked up
dubious ears as he followed Miner
roam into the darkness.
For few minutes all objects were in
distinguishable. Looking up | saw a
narrow white line drawn an incalculable
height across the blackness above US
1t was the sky. Our horses feet Oh the
hard rock alone broke the silence. Pres
emily faint white glow appeared to
broaden and brighten before and around
us. The white line became a broad
strip, and the cliff SUBMITS were lower
and further apart
"Now then, pick up your feet, Jock,
observed Miner to his horse, and added
over his shoulder, Come ahead at your
best. We've no time to lose"
And strange, hollow echoes of hurry,
ing hoofs went flying down the rocky
pass.
Well, we baffled them that time, and
in due course came to Montress, where
we put up for night at dirty little
inn. Marty was worn out and the horses
needed rest. We felt secure from pur-
suit Next morning we were to resume
our journey.
The horses were saddled in the dirty
little courtyard. We stood by them
settling with the inn-keeper. There
seemed to be number of men lounging
about. There were coarse red curtains
drawn at one front window of the low
rambling building, and Herries happen
ed to remark on the fact.
"An American lady, senores, who is
travelling. She looks almost i'll. She
starts also this morning"
"By the great" shouted Miner
breaking off in the middle Of his exple-
tive.
Surrender! Down with your pis-
toll"
"Tll be shot first!" shrieks Miner in
his fury, firing right and left. Cracks
shouts, yells: tornado of bullets, and
smoke, and hoofs, and mounted men
Cheveignac reared-I caught his bride
Marty caught my other arm Thus fol
an instant hampered | saw George Mar
riott, revolver in hand, rein his foamine
horse ten feet away-saw the flash and