The Red Cloud chief., 1878-01-10

that escape in that direction was impos-
sible. l looked out and saw . man with
. rife in his hand dodge around the cor
ner of the stable. He vas on guard.
and then I knew that they had sent for
reinforcements. Stunned for . moment
I turned around and stared helplessly at
Bose; but he, brave fellow that he was.
never faltered nor lost his head for An
instant.
"Boun' to leah heah. Mars Ralph"
he said. quite confidently. AN dar is
no way Oh gwyne 'cePt fro dat winder;"
and he pointed to the one looking over
the clid.
l merely shook my head and turned
to watch the window again. hoping to
get q shot At the rascal on guard At the
stable.
Bose, left ia his own devices, at once
went to work. I heard him fussing
about the bed for some time. but never
looked to see what he was after until he
spoke.
Now. den. fur de rope" heard him
say, and in an instant I caught his
meaning.
He had stripped the bed Of its cover
ing. dragged of the heavy tick and the
stout hempen rope with which it was
corded. In five minutes he had drawn
the rope through its many turnings and
then, gathering the coil in his hands. he
threw up the sash and prepared to take
soundings.
The rope failed to touch bottom; but
in nowise disheartened, he seized the
cotton ~coverlet and spliced it on. This
succeeded. and the cord was drawn up
preparatory to knotting it, in place Of
crOss-pieces.
In the meantime the silence from the
outside had been broken more than once.
A shrill. keen whistle. such a. / had
heard before, was given by the man on
watch. and replied to by some n who
seemed to be a little way OF. Then l
heard footsteps-soft, cat-like ones-on
the verandah outside, showing that the
robbers were still on the alert At all
points.
At length Bose announced the ladder
ready. 1t was again lowered from the
window, and the end we held made fast
to the bed which we had dragged to
that part of the room for that pur-
pose.
Now. den. Mars Ralph. I go down
fust and see if UNI strong huff to bear
u.s." And he was halfway out Of the
window before l could speak.
mo, Bose, you shall not" I answer
ed. firmly. at the same time drawing
him back.
The words were lost in the din of a
totally unexpected attack upon the door.
The dull, heavy strokes of the Ak were
intermingled with the sharp. quick clat-
ter of hatchets rs they cut away the
barrier. and once in awhile l could hear
deep oaths. as though they had been
rendered doubly savage by our resist
ance.
Here, Bose. your pistol. Quick" I
whispered, and the heavy charge went
crashing through. followed by shrieks
and curses of rage and pain.
"Come, Bose, hurry, or all will be
LOST"
The brave fellow now wished to insist
upon my 60 down first, but he saw that
time was wasting. and he glided down
the rope. gradually disappearing in the
heavy shadows.
The fall of one of their number caused
only q momentary lull. and l heard the
assault renewed with ten-fold fury. 1
dared not fire again. for I felt that ev-
cry bullet would be needed when affairs
we're more pressing.
1t seemed an age before l felt the sig
nal from below that the rope was ready
for me; but it came, and l let myself
down, pausing an instant IS my eyes
gained a level with the sill to take . last
look into the room. As l did so the
door gave way and the blood-thirsty de-
mons rushed over the threshold. l knew
that l had no time for deliberate move
ment. They would instantly discover
the mode of escape and either cut the
rope Or fire down upon me. I had t.
ken the precaution to draw ON heavy
riding gloves. and my hands, thus pro-
tected, did not suffer a. much - 1 az
pected.
With my eyes fixed upon the window
I slid rapidly down and struck the earth
with . jar that wrenched every bone in
my body.
Quick Is lightning I was seized BY
Bose and dragged some PAGES to one
side, and close under the face Of the
cliff.
All this was done very quickly. but
not IN instant too soon, for down came
. volley. tearing up the ground At the
foot Of the rope where . moment before
I had stood.
Thunder, they win escape! After
them-down the rope!" yelled . voice
almost in~articulate with rage.