Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-07-31

pint my finger at him, and I'm going
over to his wagon to pull his nosem
That's the game, Jack Go in, old
fellow! 'Rqh for the man from Texas !"
yelled the gold hunters, as they sprang
To their feet.
"Comc right along and see the fan"
eonlinued the Texan. ~ he led the way
toward Joseph's wagon.
rhe yohicle formed one in the circle,
and at small fire few feet from the
hind wheels sat Joseph and bis brother.
eating their frugal supper. "A the crowd
came near, the boy sprang up and
climbed into the covered wagon. while
Joseph slowly rose up and looked al
them anxiously and inq1lringly.
"Soe here. Mister, Joseph what's-your-
o,tcr-asme y began the Texan, as he
halted before the lone man, "we have
come 20 the conclusion that you and that
BOBBY brother Of yours don't ike our
style. Are we kcroct ?'
Il have nothing against any OF You, "
quietly replied Joseph. The journey
thus far has been very pleasant and
agreeable to US"
But you hang cG-you don't speak 10
us" persisted Jack.
II am sorry Il have incurred any
mans ill viii. | feel friendly towards
You ALL
"Oh, }on do, ch ?" saeerod the T,xan.
feeling ,ha, he was losing ground. "Wci.
is nay opinion that you are q sneak y
Joseph's face turned white. and the
men saw dangerous gleam in his eyes.
He seemed about 10 speak or make some
movement when a soft voice from the
wagon called out:
Joseph. Joseph! !"
a soft light came into the mans face.
The Texan noticed it, and, slapping Jo-
seph's face, he blurted out:
III ye ain'I coward yen resent that,
sure :"
a boyish figure sprang from the wagon
and stood beside the lone man. y small
hand was laid on his shoulder, and
voice whispered in his ear:
Bear the insnlt for my sake"
There was full minute in which no
one moved Joseph's lace looked ghostly
white in the gloom, and they could see
him tremble.
He's a coward. jast as | thought
said the Texan. as be turned away. The
others followed him, some feeling
ashamed and others surprised or graft
fed; and by aud by the word had reached
every wagon that Joseph and Joseph's
brother were towards.
Next morning when the wagon train
was ready to move, The captain passed
near Joseph's wagon on purpose to say
"It there are any towards in this train,
they needn't travel with Us any further"
/, was cruel thrust. Joseph was har-
Messing his horses. and the brother was
slowing away the cooking utensils. The
strange mans face grew white again,
aud his hand went down for his revolver,
bu; Just then q voice called out:
"Dou's mind il, Joseph; we'll 20 on
alone"
Tha train moved oil without them,
some Of the gold hunters ,aunting and
/ iokiug. AMI others fearful that the two
would be barcherad by the Indians be-
fore the day was over. WEen the white
topped wagons were so far away that they
seemed no larger than his hand, Joseph
moved along on The trail, his face stern
anu dark, and SO busy with his thoughts
that he did not hear the conso.ing words:
Never mind. Josephi we are trying
to do right"
That night. when the wagon train OF
the gold hunters went into camp, they
could not sec the lone wagon, though
many Of the men, ashamed OF their con-
duct. looked long and earnestly for it
They had seen Indians aiar Of. and they
knew that the red devils would pounce
down upon single team as soon as they
sighted it.
Darkness came; midnight came, and
the sen;ine!s heard nothing bat the
stlmpiog OF the horses aad the howls Of
the coyotes. At two o'clock the reports
of rifles and the fierce yells OF Indians
ioated up through the valley, and the
camp was aroused in a moment.
1.-The devils have jumped in on Joseph
and his brother' whispered one OF the
men. as he stood on knoll and bent his
head TO listen.
Good 'nuffi CowardS have no busi'
ness out here" growled the Texan.
The first speaker wheeled, struck the
ruflian a sledge-hammer blow in the face,
and then, running for the horses, cried
out:
Come on come on A dozen OF us
can be spared for the rescue.
Sixteen swept down the valley like the
wind. The firing and the yelling con-
tinued, proving that the man who had
been called a coward was making he
roic fight. In ten minutes they came
upon the lone camp, made light as day