The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1883-11-30

proceeded until they wsre within M
yards Of the encamped Indians. gllmp0
OF whom they could catch through e.
avenue Of trees, % the 6re flashed N
when fresh brand was thrown on 6,
Stealthily creeping forward few paco0
further, they discerned the captive iii. |.
with her two little brothers and three
little sisters. bound, . short distance
apart from the group; and, at the giGht,
the fear of the father lest some OF Ill o.
his little ones, unable to keep up in tku
hasty fight, had been tomshawked,
gave way to q thrill Of tndescribable Joy.
lie and jenkins were now by common
consent looked on as leaders OF the par
". lie paused to count the group.
Twenty-Five in all" he said, In . low
I'VE can take of third ct least With
one fire, and then rush in on them, and
he looked up to Jenkins who nodded
approvingly.
In hurried whispers the plan Of q.
fack vas regulated, each having 90 Id.
dian assigned to his rife. During this
briei pause every heart trembled, lest
the accidental cracking of q twig, or Q
tone spoken un advisedly above . whis.
per, should attract the attention Of tho
savages. Suddenly, before all was e..
ranged, one OF them sprang to his teet,
and looked suspiciousiy in the direction
Of the little party. At the same instant,
another sprang towards the prisOnet1y
aud with eyes fixed on the thicket whero
the pursuers lay, held the tomahaWk
above the startled girl, % II to strike the
instant any demonstration Of hostility
should appear.
The children clung to their sfstsr's
IL oks
wa' cricical. The proximity Of the pue.i
covery would Immediately result. To
wait until each man had his victim aep
signed to him might prove ruinous, to
fire premature might provo equally %.
But Leper forgot every consideration In
the peril of Mary, and, almost at the in
slant when the occurrences We have re-.
lated were taking place, took aim at tho
savage standing over his betrothed. and
fired. The Indian fell dead. Immedi..
ately yell rang through the forest, tho,
savages leaping to their arms, . few
dashing toward the thicket. others
rushed on the prisoners, and others,
and these were the most sagacious, re-,
treating behind trees. But with that
wlloop dozen rifles rang on the ar.
and halfa score Of the assailed fell 70
the earth, while he borderers. break
nag through the thicket with uplilted
knives and tomahawk. came to the re1sS
cue. A wild hand to hand conflict CO.
sued, in which nothing could be seen -.
cept the figures of the combatants roll.
ing together among the whiriing leavo6s
nothing heard but angry shou,s, md
the groans of the wounded and dying.
In u few minutes the borderers were
victorious.
I.eper had been the first to enter tha
field. The instant he fired, din6
down his rifle, be leanGf2 - - No.
ing-place, and rushed. to Mary's o36os.
thinking only of her safety. 1t was well
lie was SO prompt. Two stalwart Saw
ages dashed at her with swinging toms
haws. but the knife of Leper found thos
heart of one. and the other fell stunned
by blow from the butt end Of tho
fathers rifle. who folio we'd his intended
son step or two behind. A secondabs,
delay would have been too late.
Fortunately none ofthe assailants were
killed, though several were seriously
wounded. The suddeless of the attack.
may account for the comparative immnsi
nifty which they enjoyed. -
How shall we describe the gratituAgs
and ~ with which the father kissed
his rescued children? How shall Ne
tell the rapture with which Leper;
clasped his affisnced bride to his bosomfl
We feel our incap city for the task, and
dIop the veil over emotions too holy
for exposure.