Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1886-12-16

ed. and Allen threw himself into hi:
saddle with the determination to say
his say on the way home.
The two started back leisurely
enough, the reins lying on their horses
necks. That part of the road was
considered safe, no Indians had been
seen near it all Summer, and it was
more habit than thought OF danger
that had made Allen drop a pistol
into his saddle holster.
"The flap Of the case started loose
just then, and he was bending down
to fasten it, and was beginning May
1 tell you something? when a dull
thud. thud, telling Of the quick gallop
of scms heavy sody. came family
borne on the wind. and grew louder
and louder, together with yells and
cries that could only come from the
lungs of Sioux.
Indians both exclaimed at once,
and the already startled horses were
instantly urged to their utmost speed,
in hopes that among the bluffs as
they were. the Indians might not see
them.
Allen glanced at his companion as
he settled down in his stirrups and
loosened the revolver in its case.
"All her pretty color was gone, and
the broad hat Tapping back from her
face in the wind, showed it, white and
set after the first look of horror and
fright was gone; but she was riding
bravely, and even found wan smile
to meet his eye with.
They were not to get off without
being seen, they found, even if the
hunting party was as Allen tried to
assure Elsie, made up of Indians that
hung about the posi-, for they were
driving the buifaloes straight for the
the water; they came in sight charg-
ing directly down the bluff side, with
the Indians after them.
"Fresl, yells told the two that they
had been discovered. They was some
shouting and the Indians divided,
part keeping on after the buffalo, aud
tie rest leaving the main body, raced
after the Lew prey, who had, owing to
the distance down the bluff side, about
a good five minutes start, As the
sound Of the ponies hoofs on the road
reached their ears, Allen said. quiet
ly as he could: They shall not catch
us. Don't faint! Hold your horse
up well, and we'll soon be in sight Of
the fort
Then he drew out his revolver,
and urged on the horses with voice
and whip; but they needed no urging,
and flew over the ground, Fatima
keeping neck and neck with Black
Felix, and trample, trample, louder
aud louder came the hurrying hoofs
behind
The air cut their faces as they
rushed through it; and the roaring
Of the wind in their ears as they
swept along seemed like the thunder
of the surf, and Elsie felt herself
growing numb.
Don't turn your head. You
must have eyes in front for both, was
the hurried order.
But the roaring grew louder in
her ears, stlliing almost the shouts Of
the Indians. She mad to shut her
eyes again and again to keep down
the white mist that would rise before
them her hands were ice, and if she
thought at all, perhaps, it was to
wonder what her father would say
now that her mothers fears were COM
ing to pass.
Bat nothing seemed to matter much
if oul y the numbnes. would pass away,
and it seemed TO the pair as if they
had been riding on in this way for
ever, with something unreal and hor-
ribls close behind. 1t seemed to
Elsie as il she must be dead already;
but with "a sharp cry she came back
out of death into life when Allen
caught her by the shoulder and forced
her down !evs! with the horses neck
as an arrow whistled over her head
and fell harmlessly in the dust beyond
them.
Then Allen turned and fired at the
nearest Indian, and he fell from his
horse, shot through the brain. The
shock cleared away the mist and the
ieadness, and as Elsie rose in her sad
die, she saw straight before them the
flag at the fort waving in the sun
shine
They had turned the last bluff and
were on the open plain. and here
things looked particularly black for
them, for when they were in the mar
row road. there was no danger oftheir