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

the village than Mr.. Stuart, and who,
proceeding towards the flames, found
the houses and mills in ruins. and rec
OgniZed the feet of females and children
on the trail of the Indians. He
hurried instantly to the fort, and
it was this individual who now stood
breat,.lessly narrating the events
which We, in fewer words, have de.
tailed.
The alarm spread through the village
us fire spreads in a swamp after q
drought, and before the speaker had
finished his story, the little block-ho use
was filled with eager, sympathizing
faces. Several of the inhabitants had
brought their rifles, and others now
hurried home to arm themselves. The
Young men of the settlement gathered,
to man, around Henry Leper, the be-
tnrothed husband OF Mary Staurt, and
though few words were spoken, the ear
nest grasp of the hand and the accom-
panying look, assured hin that his
rends keenly felt for him, anh were
ready to follow him to the world end.
Tho party was about to set f rth when
man was seen running up the road from
the direction of the deserted home.
1T is Mr.. Staurt." said one OF the old:
Cot VI ItiC group. SlhUU UACk Alls huU
let him come in."
The men parted right and left from the
doorway, and Immediately the father
uttered; the neighbors bowed respsct-
FULLY to him as he passed. He scarcely
returned their solutions, but advancing
directly to his intended son-in.law, the
two mutually fell into each others arms.
Tn. spectators, not wishing to intrude
on the privacy of their grief, turned
theiI faces away with that instructive
delicacy which is nowhere found more
often than among those who are thought
to be merely rude borderers; but they
heard sobs, and they knew that the
heart of the usually collected Mr.. Staurt
must be fearfully agitated.
my friends" he said, at length, "this
is kind. l see you know my loss, and
are ready to march with me. God bless
you." He could say NJ more, for he
was choking with emotion.
"Stay back, father,"' said young Lep.
or, using for the first time name which,
in that moment of desolation, carried q
sweet comfort to the parents heart,
"you cannot bear the fatigue as we'll as
we-death only will prevent US bringing
back Mary"
II know it-I;know. my son-but ]
cannot stay here in suspense. No, I
will 20 with you. 1 have to-day the
strength of half dozen men,"
The fathers who were there nodded
in assent, and nothing further was said,
but Immediately, the party, as If by one
impulse, set forth.
There was no difficulty in finding the
trail of the Indians. along which the
pursuels advanced with speed incred-
ible to those unused to forest life, and
the result of long and severe discipline.
But rapid as their march, hour after
hour elapsed without any signs of the
vicinity of the savages, though evidence
that they had passed the route q while
before was continually met. The sun
rose high in the heavens until he stood
above the tree.tops, then he began
slowly to decline, and at length his
slant beams could scarcely penetrate
the forest; vet there were no appearance
ga of the Indians, and the hearts Of the
pursuers began to despond. Al
ready the opinion had grown
general that further advance
was useless, for the boundaries of the
settlers districts had long been passed; {;
they we're IN the very heart of the say.
ages country; and by this time the In
dams had pl obably reached their vii.
lage. Yet when the older men, who
alone would venture to suggest a return,
looked at the father or his intended SON.
in.law, they could not utter the words
which would carry despair to two al
most breaking hearts, and 80 the march
was continued. But night drew on, and
one Of the elders spoke:
"There seems to be no hope," he
said, stopping, and resting his rife on
the ground, "and we are far from our
families. What would become of the
village if attacked in our absence?"
This was question that went to every
heart, and by one consent the party
stopped, and many, especially of the
older ones, took a step or two involun-
tarily homewards. The father and
young Leper looked ut each other in
mute despair.
"Y ou are right, Jenkins" the young
man said, ut length. 'It is selfish in us
to lead you 30 far away from home on"
and here for an instant he choked-''on
perhaps, a fruitless crrand. I;ut as for
me, my way lies ahead, even if it lead
you into the very heart of an Indian viii
lage."
sand will follow you!" "And Iy
"And lw exclaimed dozen voices, for
daring in moments like THESE. carries
the day against cooler counsels. aud the
young, to a man. sprang to Lener' g side.
Even the older men were affected by
contagion. They were torn by conflict
ing emotions, now thinking of their
wives and itt'c ones behind, and now
reminded of the suffering captives be.
fore. They still fuctuated, when one oi
the young men exclaimed in q low voice
"See-there they are!" and, as he
spoke, he pointed to thin column ol
light ascending in the twilight above the
tree.stops from the bottom of the valley
lying Immediately before them.
"On, then-on." said jenkins, nov
The first to move ahead; "but silently
or the slightest noise will ruin oul
hopes"
Oh! how the fathers heart thrilled a
these words. The evident belief OF hi
neighbors in the uselessness of further
pursuit had wrung his heart, and will
Leper, he had resolved to 20 son unaid
ed, though meantime he watched viii
intense anxiety the proceedings Of th,
council, for he knew that two men, o
even q dozen would probably be Insult
ficient to rescue the captives. But whel
his eyes caught the distant light. hop
rushed wildly back over his heart. Wit
the next minute he was foremost in tn
line of pursuefS, apparently the coelea
and most cautious OF all.
With noisslsss tread ~ boFdsssl