Beverly banner. [volume] (Beverly, N.J.) 1877-1964, 1890-06-21

In his saddle.
But just then his keen eyes fell upon
a sight that caused his cheeks to sud-
denly grow white with apprehension.
On a rise not more than half a mile
distant was a large body of Indians,
apparently awaiting their approach.
"Los Indios !" he cried to his men,
and wheeled out of the trail.
Then he gave an apprehensive
glance at Ethel.
She looked back at him smilingly,
although her lips ~quivered and her
color suddenly fled.
81 understand you" she said, waving
her riding whip toward the band of
painted redskins. "Those are Indians,
and they-they-"
"We'll have a running fight with
them to Clark's camp" answered the
corporal, solemnly, "and heaven pre-
serve you from all danger"
81 am not afraid-with your an
swered Ethel, quickly.
Their eyes met she held out her
hand and he clasped it and carried the
white fingers to his lips.
"IIl die defending you," he whis-
pered, "and so will my men,"
81 believe you. l trust you," came
the murmured response.
And then an involuntary cry of
alarm rose to her lips, for the Indians,
discovering that their expected prey
had left the trail, set up a chorus of
shrill yells, and dashed down toward
them.
ITO Clark's boys !" cried the cor
poral, unslinging his Winchester rifle.
"They outnumber us twenty to one.
Ride for your life-never mind the
pack mule-and shoot as you gallop."
On they dashed, with the Indians
gaining upon them at every step, for
their horses were fresh, and the ami
mails ridden by the rangers had been
hard pushed all day.
In vain the Rangers discharged vol
ley after volley into the ranks of their
pursuers. Their telling aim did not
check the advance.
Down a gentle sloping dry water
course they dashed, and just ahead
Corporal Brown saw a low rooted
building of stout plank, which he knew
was the powder and dynamite maya
zine for Clark's camp.
"If we can hold out for twenty
minutes he was thinking.
But jtst then Ethel's horse stumbled
and fell. Had he not reached out
quickly and seized her in his strong
arms, she also would have been surely
dashed to the ground.
Still galloping, he lifted her to a
place on the saddle before him, and his
horse dashed past the magazine, and
commenced to pant and slacken its
pace as they began to climb the divide.
"We can never hold out. 1t must
be a fight to the death y he gasped.
For his men were already in the
lead, with only the heavy laden pack
mule behind him.
In passing the magazine the mule
fell to the ground and lay there help
less.
This momentarily checked the adj
vance of the Indians, for the band
halted to rob the pack.
The delay enabled the Rangers to
reach the top of the divide.
Corporal Brown looked back.
The entire Indian band was grouped
about the fallen mule and the maya
zine.
He reined up his painting horse, set
Ethel upon the ground, and leaping
from the saddle himself, cried:
Halt, men-lie low-the maya
zine !"
The Indians were already mounting
when, he raised his rife to his shoulder
took quick aim at the magazine below,
and with a prayer that the shot might
prove effectual, pulled the trigger.
Almost simultaneously with the
crack of the rifle was another report
that seemed to rend the earth.
The entire party was thrown down
by the explosion, and even the horses
staggered and fell.
For an instant they lay there, and
then Corporal Brown, with a confused
buzzing in his ears, rose slowly to his
feet.
In the dry water course below a
cloud of dust for a moment obscured
his vision, but when it settled he saw
only a gaping hole, on the edges Of
which were the confused fragments OF
what might be the bodies of Indians
or horses, he could not tell.
His bullet had exploded the dyna-
mite in the magazine and they were
safe
"Thank God!" was his fervent
prayer, as he helped Ethel to her feet.
He did not mount again, but, hold
ing her hand, walked across the divide
toward Clark's camp.
They were met presently by a big
gang of the ~navies, who had been al
armed by the explosion, which, so il
was stated, was heard twenty miles
away.
Corporal Brown explained matters
but he made a longer explanation tt
| Ethel, and a still longer n to hel
father afterward, who said in reply:
"She's young to marry, corporal
and I'd thought to keep her with mt
several years yet; but you've fairly
won her and she's yours. l only
exact from you II promise-leav'
the Ranger service and go back Eas
with me. My contract will be FINISHED
in about three months"
Who can blame that corporal 70
promising when such a treasure a
Ethel was at stake.
Hostess-"L adde's and gentlemen