Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1879-03-30
floating on his back Paul held his strength

The Indians had disappeared; the
roug sides Of the rocky gorge and q
! strip Of the blue heavens above were all
that he could discern as the current bore
him he knew not WHITTIER He thought
of his distant home, his parents, the
many friends of his youth, his brother
officers, the soldiers under his command,
the old scout, and the murdered miners
| daughter in the power of the savages.
| Long forgotten facts and "reminiscences
of the past crowded through his brain,
and he could not believe that he was to
| perish in the unknown depths of the
Black Hills, his fate enveloped in mys-
terry.
A sudden sharp shock recalled him to
himself. A whirling eddy had thrown
HIM roughly against the sharp projecting
side of the cliff, and catching at a crevice
he succeeded in gaining foothold.
Slowly and cautiously he drew himself
up from point to point, scaling the
smooth sides pr the gorge, until his
head was on level with the edge of the
bank.
Cautiously he accommodated before
drawing himself over the brink, but he
saw nothing that gave evidence of an
enemy, and once more he found himself
in an unknown region of the Black Hills
minus his horse, with only his saber and
one revolver upon which to rely.
The high ground where Paul found
himself gradually sloped toward the
broad and rolling prairie, forming sue
cession of ridges skirting the steep sides
of hill. A confused hum, low hoarse
cry reached his ears, and with faculties
sharpened by the danger through which
he had passed, the army officer recon-
noitered the depths below,
Of which he had an unobstructed view.
An Indian encampment with a num-
Der of warriors departing upon some ex-
gaze, and as they disappeared, brandish-
ing their long lances in the air, Paul de-
termined to have nearer look at the
lodges.
Bringing into reouisition his some
what limited knowledge of woodcraft,
| Paul cautiously wormed his way through
the tall grass until he reached the spring
on the outskirts of the camp. 1t was
surrounded by thick growth of bushes,
from the midst of which he could OBJ
serve everything that TRANSFERRED before
him.
A number of warriors left tc guard the
camp lounged carelessly about, and Paul
| was on the point of withdrawing to the
heights above, when he perceived figure,
evidently that of woman, approaching
in his direction.
She carried calabash in her hand
walking slowly and deliberately, the
heart Of the army officer beating with in
creased rapidity and excitement as he
perceived that her costume was not that
| of Sioux squaw.
Looking over her shoulder, the woman
quickened her movements as she per-
ceived that a number of warriors were
watching her. A shout, yell of rage,
and the braves started in pursuit.
The fugitive, for such she undoubtedly
was, Immediately dropped the calabash,
and sprang away with the switness of an
antelope.
Paul noted the pale golden hair, beau
tiful features and rounded form Of the
fugitive, who he made up his mind
could be no less than Rose, the 1arfamed
daughter Of the slaughtered miner.
There was little time to think, as the
fair fugitive sped rapidly along, her long
hair streaming in the wind, and the war
riors in close pursuit.
Swift though she was, the foremost
warrior had all but overtaken her as she
reached the opposite side of the spring,
and he was in the act of hurting his lance
as Paul leveled his revolver and fired.
The brave passed to the happy hunt
ing grounds of his people without a cry;
but the shot had alarmed the camp, and
for few moments all was confusion.
Rose had uttered a faint cry as she
caught glimpse of Paul, but never re.
Taxed her speed, while the army officer,
as he beheld the Indians mounting and
preparing for fight, rapidly retreated
| in hopes to find a more advantageous
position where stand could be made.
He had but little hopes of saving his
life; the odds were far too great; but if
he could cover the retreat of the girl who
evidently knew the country better than
he did, and enable her to reach place
of safety, he would die satisfied.
His saber flashed in his right hand, Sc
curely fastened to his wrist by leather
strap, upon which he should depend after
exhaustlng the contents of the revolver.
He had reached one Of the ridges along
which ran fringe of bushes, when a low
familiar voice reached his ear:
"Keep on, leftinint; don't turn your
head. We are here, sergeant and
all. The gal is safe. so-here they
come"
On swooped the Sioux in all the glory
OF their war paint and feathers. With
lances in rest, utteripg shrill cries, they
rapidly closed in on Paul, when a sharp
word of command, the flash of rifles, fol-
lowed by the riderless horses galloping
wildly to and fro, and all was over.
Charging upon the lodges, the soldiers
encountered the body of braves who had
turned back alarmed by the noise that
they had heard. A short, but sharp en-
gagement followed; the band was COM
pletely broken up. lodges burned, after
which tue troops prepared to bIvouac
themselves and rest awhile on their
laurels.
Dick assumed full charge of Rose, who
mourned the loss Of her father, and to
whose care Paul delivered the sealed
packet containing the secret of the old
miner.
By the fitful blaze of the camp fire,
amid the solitude OF the frowning Black
hills, Roger Clavering's true history was
at last revealed.
He had once been wealthy and re-
spec+ed merchant of Chicago, but a
younger brother forged large amounts in
his name and fled, leaving him to face
the storm alone. The younger brother
had been his mothers pet, and on her