Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Anacortes, Wash. Ter.) 1882-1887, 1883-03-17


he thought Of the terrible strait in
which they were placed, and Won
dered 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 a curious sight, certainly,
the like Of which the mammoth trees
about them never before witnessed.
The dozen of hideously- painted
Indians were gathered about the fire,
whose red flames lined the dark shad-
ows 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 glis-
tening in the moonlight, one might
| have seen
a few baby-peaks that were peeping
| From under their bedclothes of snow
The Balsamo Brothers had per
formed before many audiences in the
East. but never We're 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
| before the crowd, a murmur Of sur
prise and admiration came from the
braves. For moment, the acrobats
stood like marble statues, saving
alone the embroidered skirt about
their waist and the little bracelet
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 expires
sion Of wondering appreciation
reached their ears and nerved them
for the task. Billy cast fond look
in the direction of his wife and child.
A SILVER 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 critical moment.
He turned away, choking down his
| agony.
Hand in hand the brothers ad
vanced until directly beneath the
trapeze. With bow as graceful and
profound as they would have be-
slowed on a Fifth avenue audience,
they took their places ON the bar.
Lucy and the child were seated in
the shadow not far distant, and in full
view of the trapeze. The savages
reclined on the ground between her
and the fire. She was tortured be-
tween 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 sufii-
cient to leave Billy to his fate When
she thought of that, which was more
cruel than death. she dare not stay.
If she could but yield her own life,
and save her husband and her child,
how willingly, she thought, she would
go to her death.
The performances began. AS the
brothers passed from simpler feats
to those more astonishing, the APP
plause grew more and more vehement
among the savages. A sensation the
like of this they had never known.
Feats of activity and strength appeal
with irresistible force to the wild
men, and create respect and veneIa-
ton, where the higher qualities Of
mind would fail entirely.
Most eagerly they devoured the
swift contortions of the agile aero
bats, 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
vocabulary of Indian gutterals 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 en-
ployed in devising some plan to take
advantage of it.
Billy hoped that Lucy and the boy,
ere this, had found propitious
moment 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
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 by utter ex-
haustion.
"Shall we cut and run for it, Billy?
1 can not keep the mill a-going much
longer" whispered Dave.
There was no answer to the ques-
ton, for the next instant the Indians
were upon their feet, scrambling like
mad toward their ponies. and giving
vent to EXPLANATIONS of fear.
Heaven, it seemed. interposed to
rescue the prisoners. Lurid balls of
green and of red fire fell flying
among the retreating host.
Was it some curious electrical
phenomenon with a special vengeance
for their cruel foes? for the flaming
balls followed them alone.
Several times they flashed quite
near the dismayed braves and sue
ceeded in filling their souls with
agonized yells.
1t seemed but an instant before
| L. l.. ~f l. L. l.