The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1883-11-30

living Immediately before tn, If nov
ION, then-on." said Je;'N% siieniIv,
The first to move ahead; "5ul r,in nur
'or the slightest noise WIZ
hilIed at
Oh! how the fathers hear a Of his
these words. The evident l ,sarther
neighbors in the uselessness with
pursuit had wruny his heart. ,nasd-
f,eper. he had resolved to 60 wikh
ed. though meantiMe be- " e TIA
intense anxiety the proceedings ol>
convict. for he knew that ~ men, =.
even a dozen would probably % ,l isas
ficient to rescue the captives;. bus WEN
his ewes caught the distant lipnt, in
rnshed wildly back over his heart: WIN
the next minute he was foremost III Ine
line of pursuers. apparently inc cosios'
and most cautious OF all. ,
With noiseless tread the Dofoereis
proceeded until they we're within q rev
Yards of the encamped Indians,
of whom they could catch through u
avenue of trees, as the ire nashea up
when a fresh brand was thrown on u.
Stealthily creeping forward d few PAGES
further. they discerned the captive slri,
with her two little brothers ana tnree
little sisters, bound, a short distance
apart from the group; and, at the slght,
the fear of the father lest some or all OF
his little ones, unable to keep up ~ lne
hssty flight, had been tomahawkea
gave way to a thrill of indescrloaole Joy.
He and Jenkins were now by common
consent looked on zig leaders OF the par
~. lie paused to count the group.
twenty-five in all" he sald' III
whisper. ,oos+ with
one fire, and then rush III ON them, ana
lie looked up to jenkins who hoodeu
approvinsly.
fack was regulated, each having an m
dian assigned to his rifle. During TINS
brief pause every heart tremo!eu, lest
the accidental cracking OF a tWig, or a
tone spoken unadvisedly above a Wills
per, should attract the attention OF the
savages. Suddenly, before all was ar
ranged, one OF them sprang to his feet,
| and looked suspiciously III the d!rection
| of the little party. AT the same instant,
| another sprang towards the prisoners,
| and with eyes fixed on the thlcket where
the pursuers lay, held the tomahaWk
| above the startled girl, as 1t to strike the
instant any demonstration OF hostility
should appear.
The children chung to their sisters
side with stitied cries. The moment
was c%ricical. The proximity OF the pur-
suers was suspected, and That their dis
| covery would Immediately result. 10
| wait until each man had his victim as.
| signed to him might prove ruinous, to
FIRE premature might prove equally 80.
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 ann at the
savage standing over his betrothed, and
fred. The Indian fell dead. 1mmedi-
ately a yell rang through the forest, the
savages leaping to their arms, a few
dashing toward the thicket. others
rushed on the prisoners, and others,
and these were the most s%agacious, re-
treating behind trees. But with that
whoop a dozen rifles rang on the air,
and half a score Of the assailed fell to
the earth, while The borderers. break.
ing through the thicket with uplifted
knives and tomahawk, came to the req
cue. A wild hand to hand conflict en-
sued, in which nothing could be seen ex.
cept the figures of the combatants roll
ing together among the whirling leaves,
nothing heard but angry Shouts, and
the groans of the wounded and dying.
In a few minutes the borderers were
victorious.
Leper had been the first to enter the
field. The instant he fired, hingins
down his rifle, he leaped from his hid
ing-placa, and rushed to Mary's side,
thinning only Of her safety. 1t was we'll
he vas SO prompt. Two stalwart saw
ages dashed at her with swinging toma-
haws. but the knife of L.eper found the
heart Of one, and the other fell stunned
by a blow from the butt end Of the
fathers rifle, who followed his Intended
son a step or two behind. A seconds
delay would have been too late.
Fortunately none ofthe assailants were
killed. though several were seriously
wounded. The suidelsss of the attack
may account for the comparative immu-
nifty which they enjoyed.
How shall we describe the gratitude
and joy with which the father kissed
his rescued children? How shall We
tell the rapture with which Leper
clasped his aftianced bride to his bosomp
we ieel our 1ncap city for the task, and
dIop the veil over emotions too holy
for exposure.