The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1880-12-28

lovely October would he around.
1t was while making one ofthese peii-
odical visits Il at he was discovered and
chased by this band of Comanches, who
tn ught they recognized in him = noted
hunter whom they owed a terrible debt
i. His horse had heen making good speed
ever since dawn, and by the time that
half of the afternoon had passed was
anything but fresh. Jack had calculated
upon reaching the home of his hetrothed
little before sunset, hnt now the chan
ces OF his ever seeing his Heitie again
,eemed exc, edingly doubtful, as the
sturdy little mustangs Of his lursners
we're gradua'l, decreasing the distance
that separated him from them, and there
could hardly he doubt that in less han
half an hour thev would have come 80
close to him that further Il ght would be
madness.
o. Ike the iusl & wind they swept
the gallant bay responding nobly TO III,
words OF her master, aud yet it did no.
need practical eye to see that she vas
lahoring heavily.
Jack gritted his teeth and grasped his
rife more firmly in his hand as he look
ed hack and saw how fearfullv near his
deadly foes ha6 drawa. They were
strung out in line. and the foremos'
was not over one hundred yards behind
The hay mare.
Ten minutes more, yes, even hall o.
that space of time, and he would be
compelled to turn at hay, even il his
horse-slready ruI ning unsteadiy--
should hold out that long. Was il faied
that he should never see hi, darling
again The thought was agony, but
beyond slight shudder passing through
his slender frame, Jack Leonard gave
no evidence of the despair that seized
upon him.
His eyes ranged the plain in front O
| him and lighted upon a small elevation.
hardly worthy OF the name, and yet Of
inestimab'e value to man in his des.
lperate situation.
minute or 90 it did not seem improbable
that his gallant orse would give ut be-
| fore reaching the desired spot. 1t wa.
gained at last. lack threw himself t."
The grouud, ane fl, in hand turned tc
face the enemy.
Like a fash, every Indian vanished
from view behind bis mustang, all thar
VAS visible being the sole Of moccasin
over the staed's back, and mayhsp a
dusky face seen dimly through the flow
ing none.
AS if by some preconcerttd arrange
ment. as soon as the Comanches reached
a certain point their mustangs wheeled
to the right. thus rapidly forming liv-
ing ring around the hunter that was
gradually decreasing in circumference.
Jack Leonard hnd heard an arrow hiss
ing bv his ears, and warned by this that
his position was too exposed, he threw
himself behind the little hammock, and
grasping his rife tightly, crouehed there,
/ awaiting the assault that was sure to
come
He was too shire wd to waste his shot
by trying t, strike one of the Conan.
ches so long as they remained almost
wholly concealed by their mustangs.
The precious bullet in his gun must be
saved until the final rush came, as he
knew it would, and then if ne was des-
tined to he murdered by these red des-
peradoes, there would be sort Of saw.
age satisfaction in he thought that the
debt of life for life would be paid
The deadly missiles were now fving
thickly through the air. His gallant bay.
stricken to the heart by feathered shaft,
sank lifeless to the ground, and in dying
body.
He would not want it long, for thst
living circle was contracting as do the
folds OF the anaconda around its help
| less victim; but when the end came, these
] merciless tends would discover that he
could strike one blow before falling ur-
lder their overpowering numbers
The sec ,nds seemed like hours to the
young hunter, waiting for his doom to
come upon him. Nearer came the hu-
ffsthban wolves, dashing along Ike revol-
Wing wheel, which grew smaller With
each revalut on; and in the centre the
I Hunter was crouching at bay.
r. He was already wounded in several
places. for the arrows and bullets came
Fin thicker and faster with each passing
lsecond Of time. but he moved not un-
tdet tho terrible fire
The Indians w.re now close upon each
others heels, and the heart of the young
man misgave him, for he began to think
he would not have a chance 10 avenge
himself alter all
! Like an inspiration en- i'd a came into
his head whereby he might deceive his
savage foes Suddenly arising, be gave
loud veil, and then fell forward upon
his face.
The plot worked we'll
Believing that they had slain their
enemy. especially as they ha seen an ar
row sticking from his breas the Coman-
ches turned their horses lads in and
made direct for where Jack Leonard lay
This was Just what he was waiting
! for. To the amszement OF the Indians,
the supposed dead man sud lenly arose
to his knees, and threw his rife to his
shoulder.
Before they could turn their seeds
and cover their bodies the hunters rife
had sounded.