The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1883-04-20

Thought Vi the woman ana cnllu tney WOulu
save, conspired to stimulate them.
AS they sprang from the bushes before the
crowd, a murmur of surprise and admiration
came from the braves. For a moment the
acrobats stood like marble statues, saving
alone the embroidered skirt about their waist
and the little bracelets which ornamented 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 flame wreaths added to the
glamour. The half audible expression of
wondering appreciation reached their ears and
nerved them to the task. Billy cast fond
look in the direction of his wife and child
shiver ran through his heart as he asked {:
"Shall ever see them again ?"
He looked again, resolving to make it the
last. He feared to repeat it, for the sight and
his thoughts might unman him at some criti-
cal moment. He turnedaway, choking down
his agony.
Hand in hand the brothers advanced until
directly beneath the trapeze. With bow as
graceful and profound as they would have
bestowed on n Fifth avenue audience they took
their places on the bar.
Lucy and the child were seated in the shad-
ow, not far distant and in full view of the
trapcze. The savages reclined on the ground
between her and the fire She was tortured
between the salvation of her child and the
desertion of her dearly -loved husband. She
could not decide the question; strive as she
would she could not summon resolution suffi-
cient to leave Billy to his fate. When she
thought of that, which was more cruel than
death, she dared not stay If she could but
yield her own life and save her husband and
her child how willingly, she thought, she
would 60 to her death.
The performance began AS the brothers
passed from the simpler feats to those more
astonishing, the applause grew more and
more vehement among the savages. A. sensa-
ton the like of this they had never known
Feats of activity and strength appeal with
irresistible force 10 the wild men, and create
a respect and veneration where the higher
qualities of mind would fail entirely.
Most eagerly they devoured the swift con-
tortions of the agile acrobats, as their shapely
white limbs flashed in and out the ropes, now
hanging from the bar or swinging through
the air.
1t was wonderful amazing The vocabu-
larry OF Indian gutturals was exhausted in the
vain effort to do justice to the performance.
Conscious of the sensation they created the
brothers, during brief intervals of rest, were
busily employed in devising some plan to
take advantage of it.
Billy hoped that Lucy and the boy, ere this,
had found a propitious moment to steal unob.
served from the camp, but it was impossible
to be sure of it.
He expected every minute to hear the shout
which would follow the announcement of her
escape. He knew they could not continue
their eXertiOns much longer. Already they
felt the strain and fatigue which must soon
be followed ny utter exhaustion.
"Shall we cut and run for it, Billy? | can
not keep the mill going much longer" whis
pered Dave,
There was no answer to the question, for
the next instant the Indians were upon their
feet, scrambling like mad towards their
ponies, and giving vent to ordinations of
fear
Heaven, it seemed nterposed TO rescue
the prisoners. Lurid balls of green and of
rcd fire fell flying among the retreating host
Was it some curious electrical phcnOmc-
non, with special vengeance for their cruel
foes for the flaming balls followed them
alone.
Several times they flashed quite near the
dsmaycd braves, and succeeded in filling
their souls with infinite terror, and the air
with agonizing yells
1t seemed but an instant before the hOOf beais
began to sound more like echoes than reali-
ties, telling how rapidly the discounted red
men were putting grass between them and a
haunted camp.
The acrobats themselves were startled, and
knew not what to make Oft until woman's
laugh was heard
Mrs. Lucy sprang into her husbands arms,
and with woman's inconsistency exchanged
the laugh for sobbing explanations.
81 couldn't leave you, Bily-Ijust couldn't.
And when happened to think of that pack
age 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 light among the crowd.
never saw house cleared out so quick, did
your"
But it was not the time to discuss the sub
ject. In the flight and frenzy of the red foes
retreat they stopped not to think of plumber
or prisoners, hence the coach horses remain
ed to carry the whilom captives TO small
settlement where they arrived the next after
noon.
From thence they made their way East, re-
solved to avoid the regions frequented by
practical Indians.