New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1888-10-17
Rescued.
a Reminescemce of the Pras7se.

Time, OLD BOY. Iher.S no earthly use
gainsaying it, and we had best face the
music with a bold 'front.' saying which
my partner carefully examined his ri
fle, and creeping stealthily toward the
door, peeped out into the lighted space
without.
The horses are gone, partner, was
his first news communicated, and made
me feel alarmed and set me thinking as
to the chances of our escape. Try as
would no avenue for this seemed open,
and [ intimated to Ben that our only
hope of rescue lay in the possibility OF
having scouting party from the near
/ fort discover MS. Yet till such happy
event might occur, days would have
elapsed, and it was apparent from our
poorly fortified position, and the lack
of food, that we could not sustain a
long siege. While these things were oc-
cupYing my mind, had not failed to
keep sharp lookout, while Ben seemed
about to carry out a rash plan. Grasp
ing his weapon tightly in the hand he
suddenly rushed out of the door toward
the fire, and before had time to under
stand his purpose, he was again enter
ing the hut, just as tramp of hurrying
feet and fierce shout echoed over the
nightly scene. He seated himself silent-
ly in corner and engaged in a hearty
but quiet laugh, as though he had per-
petrated joke on somebody. l in
stantly recognized that his venture had
been made for the purpose of discover
ing the position and doings Of our enc
my, whom he had found in consultation
behind the hut, apparently devising
some fendish measure to bring about
our capture.
He was of course recognized on the
instant by the prowling savages. who
were taken by surprise at such an un-
looked for and daring enterprise. I felt
new vigor come through me as | gazed
on my doughty comrade, and deter
mined to sell our lives as dearly as pos
sible if the time came to face our ene-
mics in open conflict. OF this there was
hardly any imminent danger, inasmuch
as they numbered but about half
score, and we'll knew who Ben and Rep,
the two frontiersmen, were. We of
course had very disadvantageous po-
sition, being placed entirely on the de-
fensiVe, yet we had hopes that chance
would allow ms some time or other the
means OF making away unobserved.
Gradually the stars faded away on
the nightly sky, and far DER the eastern
prairie the first faint tinge of twilight
became apparent, while the morning
fog rolled over the dewy grass in vast
columns, and mixed with the smoke is
suing from our dying fire, quite forbade
a clear view from out the miserable hole
where we lay entrenched. ''How now" !,
whispered my partner, IF we made use
of the cover Of the smoke and fog to
steal away and trust to our legs and
guns to head off the bloodthirsty vii
lains, Rep?' '.By Jove,., answered /, as
/ thankfully pressed his arm,.. this is
our only chance, and we might make
the attempt. Die of hunger we would
not anyhow, SO let's try to cheat the
lurking devils out of their prey. y
Noiselessly, with bated breath we arose
from our lair, and with critical look
on our cooked guns, stole forth toward
the open air.
just then breath of wind famed the
flame to new blaze, and we instantly
dropped to the ground, where we lay
for half q minute, it seemed an hour to
me. beforewe again yentured ourselves
forward. Ben with rifle at ready poise,
led the advance, cautiously stepping
over the ground and heading due south
west as near as he could judge. fol
lowed closely at his heels, expecting
every instant to see q huge form rise
from the ground before me and the bat
tle-cry of the watchful Sioux rise on
the air.
Nothing moved, not the least sound
was uttered, and our breathing gradual
~ became less forced, as by degrees we
widened the distance between us and
the miserable camp occupied during the
night. We pushed forward in this haz-
ardous manner for about half mile
before we deemed it safe enough to pro.
ceed to . faster gait, but then with
common consent, clutching our wea
pons tightly in our hands, we started
on q swift run as fast as our legs would
carry us. It was growing lighter as
we went on, and this circumstance was
the main impetus to keep US going, til
we finally, all out Of breath, were forced