The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1888-02-25

Miss Nora, honeyi" he,whispered.
Yes, Skete, she replied rs softly.
You gather up de blanket an fol-
low me. Keep mum. Skete will ex
plain it ALL De way is dark; but trust
to me, Miss Nora. Well Leah desc
yere Old mountains, sure.
Nora quickly complied. She I'M
derstood that Skete contemplated
flight, and she was only too glad to
comply. Anything rather than the
horror of her present condition, cap
tive in rendezvous of road agents,
She threw the blanket over her
shoulders and silently followed Skete's
lead with cautious tread, well aware
that sentinels were stationed all around
them.
Once out in the mountains they moved
more rapidly and breathed much freer,
but not until they had gone consid-
cradle distance did either dare to
speak.
On narrow ledge of rock that
seemed to lead to fathomless abysses
Skete paused.
Done you be scared, Miss Nora,
cause Skete been all ober dis var trail !;
de prairies.
ooh, I'm not at all afraid no, Skete,
I'd rather trust myself to the dangers
of the mountains than to what l left.
Go on; | will follow"
"Sorry | can't carry your blanket,
too, Miss Nora; but, golly, | got lc ID;
dis var rifle some heavy, an [ fetched
bag ob broiled meat. l knowed we
darsn't cher build a fire. l. OTIS oh In
dams around we'll as robbers.
Il ought there was no danger from
the Indians; that eyeryt ing was
peaceful"
"Golly, Miss Nora, nebber nothing
safe where redskins ar; dey kin prom
Use ober an ODER; day always most
kills ebery white on black man dey kin,
an tend to the Government like dey
didn't do it. We got to be mighty
careful, Miss Nora; mighty careful, for
fact.
Evidently Skete knew thoroughly
how the land lay, for they passed the
entire night in going down the mount
ain side, with an occasional pause to
rest.
AS dawn broke, SRete looked about
him for convenient nook where they
could securely conceal themselves and
take much-needed rest and sleep.
After some trouble, he found what
he thought would answer admirably,
and laying his own load aside, he drew
back the hanging vines, parted the
dense bushes, and made a bed of leaves
and brush, on which he carefully
spread his own blanket,
Now, Miss Nora, you sit down dar
and eat bite, and den you lay down
and sleep"
Nora smiled her thanks and COM
piled, and went to sleep as peacefully
as if in the downiest, safest bed in the
land; while Skete, after reconnoiter-
ing a while, crept to her side, and,
like the faithful dog he was, slept at
her feet
The afternoon sun was nearing the
| brow of the mountain summit when
Nora awoke and gazed about her. Her
first glance fell upon the form of Skete,
| and his good-natured, black face rest
ing upon his arm, quite lost in dream
land.
She smiled and peered out from the
curtain of vines that separated them
from the trail, and was wondering
| whether she had better waken Skete,
when she became conscious of the APP
proach of some one.
Drawing far back AZ possible, with
bated breath she awaited their APP
proach, for she felt certain she had
heard voices.
Whether she ought to awaken Skete,
hot bIc Il no cd
and his loaded rifle, was a thing she
had to decide quickly, and she resolved
to let him sleep on, and trust to their
not being discovered.
What was her dismay and terror to
/ discover party of Indians approach
ing, and to see quite plainly a bound
| captive IN their midst.
! As they drew nearer, her lips could
I scarcely repress a cry of horror when
she recognized their captive to be Les
| ter Gray. In that one supreme mo-
ment Nora knew her heart even as
Lester Gray had known his from the
moment of their first meeting.
ooh, what must ] do! how can |
help him-they are taking him off to
torture him to death. Oh, my heart
how wildly it beats"
The party of Indians fastened for
ward, dragging Lester along with them.
They passed so near her she could
almost have touched them, and Nora
saw that the thongs that bound Les
ter's wrists had brought forth blood,
his wristbands were bright with the
crimson flow. His tread was firm,
however, and his dark eyes glanced
! about him keenly.
ooh, if | only dared let him know
how near | am to him, but 1 cannot,
dare not, but the moving of a vine
might end in all our deaths. There.
they have passed: oh, how thankful !
am, and Skete is still asleep. | must
wake him soon and tell him what |
have discovered"
4 few minutes she sat watching the
peaceful face of Skete and wondering
what could have brought Lester Gray
so far mp in the mountains, when a
sudden thought struck her, revela-
ton that caused her cheeks to take on
a warmer color.
He came to rescue me. All my
heart tells me as much, and OH, what il
his life should be sacrificed. Ny dear,
dear friend. | will rescue Won if DOS
SIDE. God surely will tell me how
Then as she was about TO bend over
Skete and give him the shaking neces-
sary to break his profound slumber,
she faIeied she saw something move
down the trail short distance from
where the Indians and their captive
had appeared. What could it be?
fro BE CONTINUED I
/ -loUFE the belle of the town, ne softly said >.
As he bent toward her tiny ear.
! " nat htnl nj hall