Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1889-07-12

you will believe me, when 1 was within
5o yards Of the cabin, the chief who
was rather better mounted than the rest,
was so close at my heels that leaning
forward with n dcvilish grin on his
painted face, he proddcd mo gently in
the rear with the point of long feath-
cred lance. which he carried in addition
to the carbinc slung over his naked
| shoulders.
He smiled on the other side of his
ugly mouth a second later, though, for
all at once little puff of smoke from
one Of the two cabin windows was fol-
lowed by the crack of rifle, and the
Apache chief pitched forward TO the
earth-a; dead IN Indian as ned be!
Another report followed almost like
an echo, and another Indian bit the dust,
while third discharge an instant later
drew howl of pain from another
whcrcupon tho remainder wheeled sud
denly round and took up position some
little distance away-far enough TO be
practically ont Of range. Between the
increasing pun of my wound, and be-
ing almost windcd, for moment or
two after ! had stumbled in at the door
of the cabin, which, thrown open to adj
init me, was as quickly closed and
barred. was silly enough to fall to the
floor, where lay for moment sort of
dazcd faint, l suppose some would
call it.
"IIcrc, drink this" said woman's
voice.
1t was spirit of some kind, and though
to this day don't know one kind of
liquor from another that happened to be
an occasion when felt justified in TAX
ing it.
Any way, the fiery draught gave me
renewed strength, and brought me to
myself in n measure. | saw that the
woman who held the flask to my lips
was young, and the handsomcst woman
so then thought and think To this
day, that ever SAW in all my life. Oh,
you needn't laugh, boys your Aunt Bcss
knows all about it. She says she has
forgiven me for thinking so n very LONG
time ago.
i got on my feet in hurry.
"Whcrc are our men folks, ma amp
l asked, quick and sharp, as, looking
around the room saw that she and |
were the onl, occupants. Her voice had
q curiously hard sound. Somehow it
seemed to match sort of wild, unnat.
ural look in her eyes, which were just
the color of those Of your Aunt Bcs,.
My husband-Jim Rainsford-was
shot down in front of our own door yes
tcrday morning, by that"
Her speech seemed to fail her, but
she pointed through the substitute for n
window TO the outstrctchcd body Of the
Apache chief lying stilr and stark few
rods away, killed by her own avenging
hand.
There is no ono clsc," she added, re.
covering her speech; and though have
never been called coward. I have 10
confess that my heart sank at the pros
pect.
But all the while Mrs. Rainsford was
speaking she stood by the window,
rifle in hand, WATCHING tho
Apachcs, who, in sort Of huddlc
some eight hundred yards distant,
were evidently holding consulta-
ton. And this of itself made me pull
myself together.
al think can manage that Winches-
ter with my left hand and ARM" l said.
for my right hand had already swollen
all out of proportion. She turned
quickly, and, seeing the condition Of
the wounded member, uttered an excla-
nation.
Good IIcavcnsi" she said, short and
sharp; "you've been hit with poisoned
arrow! | know, for jim was wounded
the snmc way the year after we were
married, when VIC were living in Mon
tana. Keep your eye on those ficnds-
know just what to dor'
And before l had an idea of her pur-
pose, Mrs. Rainsford dropped on her
k"ees and applied her warm, fresh lips
to the ragged puncturc, which, owing
to the presence of the poison, perhaps,
had bled very little. My cxpostula
tions were in vain. Ejccting the poi
sonous fluid, and repeatedly rinsing her
mouth with the raw spirit, of which she
forced me to drink from time to time,
this bravcst Of women continued her nc.
culiar treatment till l felt sensible de-
crease in the pain, and the swelling it
self began slowly to subside.
"You'll do now" she abruptly re.
marked, rising to her feet with glance
ot fnna IN,