Turner County herald. (Hurley, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-19??, 1883-11-29

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wild game and Eph going with Bath.
sheba to gather some beautiful ferns,
which grew in belt Of woods quarter
OF a mile from the hut, our home. The
short dsy was drawing to close and
Eph and Bathsheba had not yet Joined
us.
Come ont said to Jerry. Lets
go home. I'm as hungry as a hunter
And you are hunter laughed
Jerry, gleefnlly, as he pointed to the
string OF wild ducks which were sus.
pended from my shoulders.
But, Phil, he added, I think we
better whit for the others. Mother might
be anxious if we should get home with.
cut them.'
"' What wonld make her anxious q 1
asked, scornfulIy.
Indians! Jerry bawled in my ear.
Indiansr answered. sYou know
better. There amt a redskin within
titty miles of us. But even as I spoke
Eph came toward us with Bathsheba in
his arms. His face was white with
fright, and hers white with what? Was
it death? We did not know. Jerry
threw down his gun and prairie chickens,
and l my ducks, as we ran to meet
them.
What's the trouble, Eph p we both
asked at once.
"' Bathsheba's tainted. Can't you
see 2 he answered, in troubled voice.
Run for some water. Quick! And
he laid her down on the dead maple
leaves which covered the green swara,
still holding his arm tenderly under
her head. Jerry ran for water. while l
rubbed my sisters hands and asked,
anxiously: tWhat made her faint,
Eph 2
/" Hush? he said sternly. II can't
tell you now. Wait until we get Bath
sheba safe back with mother. Then I'll
have something that is something to tell
you
"Eph's tragic tone aroused all my
curiosity; but knew him too we'll to
question any further. Jerry came with
the water from the brook, ,Sand he and 1
bathed her face vigorously. She awoke
with'a gasp, aud looked into Eph's face
with startled, questioning look.
Don't worry, Bathsheba,' Eph
said, soothingly. We're most home,
and we're safe, too
"Safe, too. What could he mean
Jerry asked him, but received no an
swer except warning Look. Well,
Jerry and made seat out of our four
hands, with back of two arms, and
Eph lifted her up into it. Then we
carried her home, Eph bringing our
game and other things. Father and
Nick Vose were away from home, but
mother and Aunt Huldah met us at the
door.
"sThere's nothing the matter, mother
was Eph's CHEEKY greeting. 'Oply she's
pretty we'll frightened at9nothing.
''Oh! Eph, at nothing!' Bathsheba
said, in demonstrating voice, as she
sat up and realized where she was.
oh! mother, twas great, Lig,
tierce-looking Indian who frightened me
SO. Eph didn't see him, because he was
bending over great, beautiful fern that
| wanted SO much; but I saw him dis
tinctly. His big, feathered head loomed
up out of clump Of young trees. and
I'm sure his big mouth was grinning in
delight over us-two children alone in
the woods. Eph was little way off,
and didn't dare call to him, for fear
the Indian might scalp us; and so I
threw my basket at Eph's head. That's
all know about it.
Mother looked at Eph, and he said,
with laugh: 'And she hit me, too,
mother, a sounding thump. thought
maybe the "cow with the crumpled
horn" had got hold of me, and, turning
to see, saw Bathsheba motioning to
me. [ understood, by the way she
pointed and worked her fingers, that she
meant there were Indians around. Then
I saw her tumble over, and picked her
up and came home.'
+" Well! well !! mother said, in a
toue which meant not we'll. I shall be
afraid to 60 to bed if there are any In
dians about, and father away and Nick
Vose, too
"'It's my opinion that there amt any
Indians within miles of us. Bathshe-
ba's an imaginative girl. I've no doubt
that twas the ree-branches swaying in
the wind that she took for redskins
head.
"t You can think what you're mind
to, Aunt Huldah; but I know twas an
Indian, Bathsheba said, decidedly.
Bathsheba was right; for the very
next morning the sad news came that q
whole family, less than a mile from us,
had been murdered in the night and
their log hut left bare and desolate. Af-
ter that father and Nick came home
every night whether convenient or not,
and it was often very inconvenient to
come home when they were miles away,
cutting logs; but. as days and weeks
passed by, we heard no more of the In
| Hionc or1 Wa haoon tn
again. 1t lacked only two days Of
Thanksgiving when father received word
from man over in the next settlement
to come over aud attend to some urgent
business. He took Nick Vose with him
and also Eph, he being the Oldest. as it
was necessary to bring back several
loads of lumber, and Eph could manage
oxen as well as Nick could. Well, that
very evening Jerry and 1 hurried
through our chores to help Aunt Hull
dab pick some ducks for Thanksgiving
Mother was sick with cold and she did
not help; but she talked and laughed
with us as we worked. Pretty soon we
heard steps outside, and Aunt Huldah
said:
g Perhaps our men are back. I dc
hope they are.
But Jerry jumped up quickly, and
drew the bars across the door. Bath.
sheba's blue eyes grew round with
amazement, and she said: Why, Jerry,
do you mean to lock father out 2
Lookr he said, pointing to the lit
| tie window. Ah that lookl how il
frightened us, and our sick, timid mother
fairly shrieked. AS for Bathsheba, she
wrung her hands in agony. f.
".'Hush! every one Of you,' Jerry
said in a commanding tone, as if he was
general of an army. Here, Phil, you
get mother and Bathsheba over in that
corner and keep guard, while Aunt HUI
dab and I run up the ladder and look
out the loop-hole, and see if there's many
of them."
Alf's curiosity could wait no longer.
"What did ye see, Massa? Was il
bars, big, black bars, lookin' in at dc
windy ?"
"No, Alf," answered uncle Phil.