Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1889-05-25

! 2stn- About o'clock this evening
party Of soldisrs are going in pursui. Of
them. / accompany them.
He led NE TO the carriage, helped NE
n, and took seat beside me. John
seated himself beside Michael, and We
-ode honeward.
Hasty preparations were being made
It the garrison when we reached there.
Al S that evening the souiers, accom-
panied by their surgeon, left. had list
:ned attentively as to the route they were
% take. When the sound of the retreat
ng horses died away, turned to Nano,
Mexican boy, and said
Saddle nay two ponies, and von@ and
will have ride"
Nano joyfuny did as I babe him. In
half an hour We were riding away At
Ter the heat Of the day how grateful the
cool evening Flowers folded away
rom the sun, children Of thee sand,
opened their eyes for me. Nano and l
rode along In silence.
Through my mind foated many times
Your father and mother love you, and
l. What did he mean! Was it pos
sible that he loved mel Why had dear
old John. come just at that moment2
Should I ever hear that sentence tinishedl
Then thought of the cruel, treacherous
Indians. II my life on tte border lands
| had seen many brought nome, slain by
our dusky neighbors.
The full moon was shining Nano in
terrupted my musings by saying that the
uuge cscti looked like giaSss, 5 Id he
could kill one or two with his knife
The wind, which was bloVing from
is, suddenly veered I heard dissncly
the sound OF the horses hoofs bearing
our soldiers. They were quite near, but
going from US bent NY face upon my
pony's neck and said little prayer for
their safety, then said to Nano, as
looked at ny watch and found ~ u
o'clock
ut Is time to return
As was wheeling Brownie, my pony
around, grew faint with terror at what
saw. From behind the tall cacti sprane
At least dozen Indians Like demons
they looked in their war paint and
Gathers. They had knives and clubs ant.
strange looking objects dangling from
their belts. They dragged Nano from
his pony. and then I felt myself torn
from Brownie had clasped my arms
around her neck
There were q few dry, vretched Trees
growing out Of the sand They tied Nanc
to one with strong leather bands. Then
, hey tied me to another. The moon
) 6oked coldly down right in my aaonized
face The Indians gathered dry twigs
: and leaves and grass, and laid them about
our feet.
After one wild CRY Nano was silent
think he tainted. In the moment Of ter
ror when I expected to pass through the
aa1ful gateaay Of fire. thought Of fathel
and mother, of dear old John, but neare
and dearer still. thought of the blue gra
, eyes dearer than all other eyes.
. The Indians. sure Of their victims, lef
Us to gather fuel for the sacrifice. "Ih
inconstant moon never cried out to say
Us, but the tickle, titful wind cam
screaming through the desert and crled
This shall not be-, II famed the pal
dark cheeks Of Nano;, it caressed n
forehead and gave me last fond Ais
! saw an Indian approach with liehte
torch. Then. a. if in anger, the win
gave one terrible blast 1t tossed n
long black hair. which had fallen a
about ne. away. The moon gave 10
ing. intense glance | saw the torch IA
b from tie Indians hand; saw the Il
, dia1s al fall before NE On thelr face
y Then I knew thar the wind and moo
had shown them the Indian necklace wi'
-e its c-es4nt and blazing sun.
I seized ny revolver, forgotten III
d now I dred and Oh. Joy heard a.
I sve-ing shots ard the tranpine
y horses
se Tha Indians. ~ if By magic, had va
T shed / was surrounded b. friend