Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1884-06-26


lyon need not go if you'd rather
not, his companions said; but Jim rode
out of the circle with scornful ges-
ture.
Lower sinks the moon. The night
will be very dark. There is not
breath of air, but away TO the east the
long grass shudders and Twists as though
a hundred little cyclones were laying it
out to die. Fifteen minutes. Lo! the
signal Fifty fires shed shower of
sparks into the black air and then burn
steadily with renewed vigor. Silently
women and children creep over the
| prairie and as silently dark spots, for
they could see nothing more, formed a
ring about them.
Professor Cam, the man of peace,
sat rather awkwardly upon a horse,
and, in spite of his efforts to force them
away, these quotations kept repeating
themselves in his mind: 1.-The day and
the hour is at hand" .'No man shall
see thee ''Grass hides and rain eff
| faces"
Going. going. The moon. It's rim
touches the horizon-be quiet. It's CEN
ter gilds the horizon--breathe low. Its
upper rim falls below the horizon-what
now?
Indians. Up from the turf, on to the
wagon barricade they swarm. A yell,
| to nerve their iron souls, and into emp
| ty tent and blazing fire they pour
flood of arrows, rifle balls and stones.
Another whoop wakes the echoes, and
down from the wagons they dash into
the fire-lit circle with appraised weapons.
But now they break into confusion; they
| run aimlessly from tent, from fire To
fire. No pale-faces dead or alive are
inside of that camp.
Ready The circle of dark spots
around the women and children breaks
and strengthens into line.
Forward Up to the wagons they
swept, and stood For an instant the
fire-light flecked on their polished rifle
barrels, like an infant caressing n tiger,
then crash came that carried death
and rout to the confused Crows Those
who were lucky enough to escape the
pioneers steady aim, scrambled over
the wagons and fled into the darkness.
1t was q complete victory, and
shout went up from the horsemen that
brought the women and children hurry
ing to the camp.
As Storm ran through the darkness
she suddenly stumbled upon something
bulky lying in the grass She was
thrown flat on her face, and before she
had time to rise. deep groan issued
from the object she had fallen over 1t
must be shot Indian, Storm said to
herself, and with thrill of horror
she sprang to her feet and was about
TO fly from the spot when single word
spoken family arrested her progress.
Fanny"
Professor Cam is that you?" Storm
asked in a trembe.
YES" was the whispered answer.
She dropped upon her knees beside the
fallen man in an instant.
Are you hurt?"
Yes
'How did it happen?' asked Storm.
No answer; but Cam had her hand in
his and she felt a faint pressure of his
fingers and then relax.
''Are you much hurtP' she asked
No answer.
Good heavens speak to me-" Storm
said, half frantic with grief and fear,
as she sat down and lifted his head into
her lap; speak and tell me what |
shall do, my friend and teacher"
No answer.
Professor Cam could not speak. He
was dead.
After the first excitement and greet
ing at the camp was over, somebody no.
ticed that Professor Cam was not
among the men, and moment later
they noticed his horse standing outside
with an empty saddle on his back.
The Indians have killed him.
everybody said IN breath; then each
person hastily gathered brand and
ran out upon the dark prairie. After
few moments search, they found Storm
seated on the ground holding Cann's
head in her lap, while hot tears were
running from the orphans eyes, bath
ing the white up-turned face of the only
true friend she had ever known.
Rough hands lifted her up tenderly,
and other arms bore the Professors re-
mains to camp. As they walked along
they spoke sadly and kindly of the man
who had "Trod the wine-press alone;'
of his wisdom and kindness; of the I'M
complaining fortitude with which he
had borne his many ills and followed
their ever-changing and dangerous for
tunes. They spake low and with feel
ing. THAT Fanny Dane must have
liked tnat book fellow" one small boy
said. ''S-h-e-e! boy; keep still; don't
talk about that" somebody said in
stantly.
Yes, our Professor had passed out
on the eternal sea. All day long the
white canoe, with angels resting at.the
oars, had been harbored, waiting, on
the thither side of that silent sea from
whence no echoes come, no sails are
sighted Hope had said, "Alrs WELL"
from the pinnacle of midnight. And
so it was with Professor Cam.
They made him grave where the
antelope roam and the south breeze
stirs the long prairie grass. A cash,
made by a knife or arrow, was found in
his back. Next morning he was buried
at sunrise, and when the company re-
turned from their sad office they stopped
at the spot where he had fallen the night
before.
Something cleaned in the grass and
man stopped and picked it up. 1t
was knife-a hunting knife, and every
eye that looked upon it opened wide
with surprise.
1t was Jim Danes knife.
They fastened back to camp with
suspicion lurking in their minds; they
looked about for Jim, but he was not
to be found, then their suspicious grew
into conviction. They armed them
selves Immediately, for bordermen are
quick to act, and went in search of
Dane.
AT his tent they found Martha sitting
on an upright barrel mending dress.
Where is your husband?" they
asked.
Il don't know Martha said. what
do you want of him?''
''Well, we think he had something to
do with Cams death last night. AT
least we found his knife where Cam
died. they answered.
Il alters know'd Jim Dane was q
fool" Martha said energetically. Il
alters know Jim Dane was too mean
to live. If you fellows catch him, shoot
him once for me, will you? What are
you doin? Hold on TIL
One of the men suddenly kicked over
the barrel she was sitting on, when out
jumped Jim Dane. A hard fight they
had of it before Jim was thrown down
and bound; but they had him tied tight
at last.
Jim did not deny the murder, and de-
fed the camp to do its worst. So to-
morrow morninU he was to be huDO