The Red Cloud chief., 1882-02-23

Paris. "Yondcr'S the wagon now. |
can beat Won 10 IT,"
Beiscy graspcd her skirts and accepted
the challenge.
The spattinn Of their feet in the soft
road might have startled the farm horses
To a faster gait than n walk. for no hand
held the lines which were wrapped
around one of the standards, and no
father was TO be discovered on the load
or hidden anywhere among lis knots
and sticks. though Betsy crancd her
neck in such a search.
Whoa cried Paris, when this fact
struck him.
The horses stood still, and untyin% 4
hitching strap, Paris turned them out of
the road and tied the near horse 10 a
tree.
BctScy began TO cry. Not in a loud
and helpless manner, but rs if H." sturdy
heart under her straight waist was
startled.
90 Paris, where's pap?'
Il don't know" replied Paris, qua
vcrin@. We've rot To- hunt him.
II know he fell in the creek
He could swim out. He can swim
in the deepest hole that ever wac
a snakes bit him. Mrbby h"
chopped Il tree down and it fell on
him
'.Mcbby he did" ~quavrrcd Paris, As
they ran. Lets hook where he was
chopin"
When they came 10 the cleared place,
painting, the scant light showed a mum
Der of stumpS with glaring white tops
in the general dimncSS, and piles Of
brush, and a log or two yet u~mSubdued
10y the ax. But there was 80 latcly-fclled
tree, and no father anywhere.
Down the slope, crosS-laccd by inter
vrning limbs. they could see Mud Greek
Bayou. which the frc~hct had expanded
to a lake. Away on the other side. half
screened by i>landcd trees, was Mud
Creek proper. the milldam, and Milford.
The bayou had the gurgl" of running
water. In some places ii vas swift aS
a mill-racc. Whenever Mud Creek rose,
it made this BAYOU a broad yellow flood,
and lo0~cncd half the trees in the bot
,tom-land.
Il tell you,' said Paris as they
paused staring at this expansive stain:
'Tll 90 al"n" beside the by-o; you 90
4 look t'othcr side of the road"
81 Understanding" whispered Bet
scy; "liStcn.'
Its Just a Scr~"cch-owl.'
1t sounded m~ournfully indeed; n pro-
longcd 800 -oo-oo,'
"'S-somcbody ycIlin'!' said BetScv.
She clinchcd upon the bottom Of Paris,
short coat. "Thcy'vc got pap down
poundin' him to death"
This was Il dreadful state Of affairs.
In what remote spot they had him or
who they might Ice, Bclsry in her terror
took no time To conjecture. Gigantic
figures. tall rs the trees, Swarmcd
through her mind. and she remembered
that Joseph own brethren put him into
Il pitt
The children ran toward the caller.
Paris WAS unmindful of BctScy.and when
she fell over a lo~ or stuck fast in y
bricr thickct. pulled her up or out and
dragged her ahead. Their rough little
hands stuck fast together.
(which way are y"u?' called Paris.
when the voice stopped. and they stood
bcwildercd in a lonesome dark place
near the bayou.
i'tl'NllN III VII VI Ali' Il Il
croaking exclamation for help.
Help, VIII somebody help me out?"
But Just here the children paused
longest. That voice sounded strange.
The minute was 50 silent they heard
only the breathing of the water and that
other respiration peculiar la woods at
night.
Paris, Are you up there? Didn'tI
hear y"u?"
To atone for his hesitation. Paris
plunged down n slope. and Bct>cv. hang
inc t o him like a faithful Gill. went
plunging after.
Watch out there, Doa't You come
anv nearer shouted their father.
Don't YOU take another >tcp.'
Ii was quite du~ky in that hollow. hut
when they were a few wards away from
him they could see him >taniinmdown in
the ground and looking like a man who
had only waist. shoulders and head. His
hat was gone. his wamuS unfa>tened.
and his hair and buShy beard made his
face look like a pale blur.
80 pap.' walled BctSey.
"It'S well youcomc." Saidthc settler.
I'm sinking fast. Paris, get Il rail; get
If Is quick Is You can
The nearest rail was probably more
than a mile away. Paris thoughts fcw
10 the stable. but while he went and
returned dra@gin~a heavy rail. his faith
err might sink ont of sight in that hole.
which seemed To remain in a gully
that had contributed all its water 10 the
bayou.
"A limb of a tree higher" said Par
is. trembling.
Get somcthin' quick. I'm goin'
down 50 faS; Idon't know whether can
pull myself out at all or not"
The children ran around on the slope.
Paris started for the clearing. but on the
way he trippcd across I small loo. and.
jumping up unconscious that he had
broken a finger nail in the fall. dragged
il. and shouted 10 Bct>ey To come and
help.
BetScy had thrown her father some
chunks or which he was irving To prop
his elbows. She came and turged. II
was well for the Lane family that these
two children were used To cNcrtiou.
l Their stout muscles. strained and tense.
labored successfully. They tug-ed the
log ike two buttcrnut-cOlOred ants
struggling with fosare mani times
larger than themselves. and pushed il
out to father. Then. with lungs pant
inc. and while he pulled himself up by
his props. they hauled an uprooted
stump to him. then broken limbs; they
brought pieces of wood from the Clear
ing, and while half these things SUM
out of sight the settler was able 10 bury
himself up by them. and finally to
creep out on the log and get on solid
ground.
Il left one of my boots in there he
observed. breathing deeply As he felt the
good earth under his naked o Q
The three climbed up the slope and
started home. Like true Western set
tiers. now that the danger was past.
they had little TO say about it. They
came TO where the horses waited. scalca
the load of wood AID rode slowly b~sme.
And all that the settler sai6fto bis
wife-when she cameto tie door with
a candle and Elihu xdd Hiram, and
saw this procession which Safe herald,
ed as friskily as if heksas not too old
and lazy a dog to foil " the horses fal
was this:
l- -