Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1883-02-08
Come on, Billy. shouted! Dave,

God keep you safe!" left his wife. His
bosom throbbed with wild emotion as
he thought of the terrible strait in
which they were placed, and wondered
if he would ever see the dearly-loved
partner of his joys and sorrows, or
ever again fondle the second edition of
himself.
1t was q curious sight, certainly, the
like of which the mammoth trees about
them never before witnessed.
The dozen of hideously-painted Indi-
ans were gathered about the fire, whose
red flames lined the dalk shadows of.
the night with crimson glow, and
transmitted the overhanging foliage
seemingly into the cunning work of
the silver or goldsmith.
Towering over the trees and glisten-
ing in the moonlight, one might have
seen
"a few babypeaks that were peeping
From under their bcdclothcs Of snow
The Balsamo Brothers had per-
formed before mary audiences in the
East, but never were they so anxious
to excel as on this occasion. Pride in
their skill, the wish to astonish the
blood-thirsty audience, and the thought
of the woman and child they would
save, conspired to stimulate them.
As they sprang from the bushes he,
fore the crowd, u murmur of surprise
and admiration came from the braves.
For Il moment, the acrCbatS stood like
marble statues, saving alone the cm-
broidered skirt about their waist and
the little bracelet which Ornamcutcd
the wrist.
In the red mans eyes they looked
like gods-like beings from another
world. Both men were models of
physical beauty, and the light from the
blazing ilamc-wreaths added to the
glamour. The half audible expression
of wondering appreciation reached
their ears and ncryed them for the
task. Billy cast a fond look in the
direction of his wife and child. A
shiver ran through his heart rs he
asked:
"Shall | ever see them again?n
He looked again, resolving to make
it the last He feared to repeat it, for
the sight and his thoughts might I'M
man him at some critical moment. He
turned away, choking down his agony.
Hand in hand the brothers advanced
until directly beneath the trapczc. With
a bow as graceful and profound as
they would have bestowed on 4 Fifth
avenue audience, they took their
places on the bar.
Lucy and the child we.e seated in
the shadow, not far distant, and in
full view OF the trapczr. The sayagcS
rcclncd on the ground between her and
the fire. She was tortured between the
salvation of her child and the dcscrtion
of her dearly-lovcd husband. She
could not decide the question; strive
as she would, she could not summon
resolution sufficient to leave Billy to
Lis fate. When she thought Of that.
which was more cruel than death, she
dare not stay. If she could but Weld
her own life, and save her husband
and her child, how willingly, she
thought, she would 90 to the death.
The performances began. As the
brothers passed from the simpler fcats
TO those more astonishing, the applause
grew more and more vehement among
the savagcs. A scnation the like of
this they had never known. Fcats of
activity and strength appeal with ir-
rcsistible force TO the wild men, and
create q respect and vcneration, where
the higher qualities of mind would fail
entirely.
Most eagerly they devoured the
9wHt contortions of the agile acrobats,
as their shapcly white limbs flashed in
and out the ropes, now hanging from
bar or swinging through the air.
1t was wonderful! amazing! The
vocabulary of Indian guttcrals was
exhausted in the vain effort to do
justice to the performance.
Conscious OF the sensation they
created, the brothers, during brief in
tervals of rest, were busily employed
in dcyisting some plan TO take advan-
tage of it.
Billy hoped that Lucy and the boy,
ere this, had found propitious mo-
ment to steal unobserved from the
camp; but it was impossible to be sure
of it.
He expected every minute to hear
the shout which would follow the an
nOuncement of her escape. lie knew
they could not continue their cxcrtions
much longer. Already they felt the
strain and fatigue which must soon be
followed by utter exhaustion.
"Shall we cut and run for it, Billy?
| can not keep the mill a-going much
longer" whispered Dave.
There was no answer to the question,
for the next instant the Indians were
upon their feet, scrambling like mad
toward their ponies, and giving vent to
eXclamations of fear.
Heaven, it seemed, intcrposed to
rescue the prisoners. Lurid balls of
green and of red fire fell flying among
the retreating host,
Was it some curious electrical phe-
nomenOn, with special vengeance for
their cruel foesP for the flaming balls |
followed them alone.
Several times they flashed quite near
the dismayed braves, and succeeded in
filling their souls with infinite terror,
and the air with agonized yclls.
1t seemed but an instant before the
hoof-beats began to sound more like
echoes than realities, telling how rap
idly the discomited red men were
putting grass between them and
haunted camp.
The acrobats themselves were start
led, and knew not what to make of it, |
until n woman's laugh was heard.
Mrs. Lucy sprang into her husbands
arms, and with woman's inconsist-
ency exchanged the laugh for sobbing
explanations,
~ coldn't leave you, Bill Just
couldn't! And when l happened to
think of that package of stage bombs
which we brought with us for one of
our acts, knew what to do. | found
them, fortunately, without trouble, and
fired them right among the crowd. |
never saw house cleared out so quick
before-did youp"
But It was not the time to discuss the
subject. In the flight and frenzy of the
red foes retreat they stopped not to
think of plunder or prisoners, hence
the coach horses remained to carry the
Whilom captiyes to a small settlement.