The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1890-04-17

returning, prlnSlng neautiiui iustru-
ment with powerful lens.
Elsie took the glass, and adjusted it,
Then, pointing it at the mountain, she
cried:
"Why, Inez, it looks as if it wasn't a
half mile away There, l see the cross
1t doesn't look bigger than my finger,
though. You must tell me all about it,
Inez."
"Father has book that gives the full
history" replied Inez.
"Oh, l should like to read it ever so
much" declared Elsie, ''and-perhaps
uncle will take us to visit the mountain
some time"
"I'll ask him" answered Inez "But
Fll go bring the book and we'll read the
story" And again she entered the house
while Elsie continued to gaze with alb.
sorbing interest toward the distant peak.
Presently she let the glass sweep the
broad table land lying west of the mount
ain range. As she did so little cloud
of dust attracted her attention. Then,
as she looked more closely, she discov-
cred two horsemen galloping furiously
towaad the hacienda. The second glance
convinced her that the two horsemen
were Don Miguel and Paul.
Suddenly little agonized cry escaped
her lips, and the glass almost fell from
her hand, as she discovered gang of In
dams, with steel pointed lances cleaning
in the sun, flying swiftly in pursuit.
Turning about, she called loudly for
Inez, but no answer came in response.
Again she glanced across the inlet far to
the north, but only faint speck was
visible to the naked eye. The advancing
horsemen were fully four miles away.
With trembling hand she again lifted
the glass. This time the pursuing
savages were plain to the view and with
feeling of anguish she recognized the
awful peril in which Paul and her uncle
were placed. What was TO be done2
There was no time to summon the men
who were at work in the orange grove /;
but she must raise the alarm. There
mlgnt yet DE nope.
Perhaps the fugitives would distance
the Indians and arrive at the hacienda in
time to bring the fruit gatherers to their
assistance. But sudden sickening fear
took possession of her. There was the
inlet, and with no boat on the far side
the fugitives could not cross it! They
might be butchered under her very eyes.
There was no time to be lost. Atthe rate
they were riding it would only be few
minutes till they would reach the opposite
shore of the inlet, and then if the boat
was not there
The glass dropped from her hand, and
with cry of agony upon her lips, she
turned and fled through the house, down
the stairs and out into the yard. She
glanced quickly about her There was no
one in sight.
"Inez! Inez! Inez!"
She half shrieked the name, but Inez,
deep in the exploration of huge chest
in the basement, remained oblivious to
her call
For moment Elsie stood looking
wildly about her, tumult of fear and
agony at her heart, then she again
shrieked for help at the top of her voice,
and catching sight of high pole on the
top of which large bell was hung, used
to summon the laborers to dinner, she
hastily grasped the rope that hung sus-
pended within her reach and rang the
bell furiously.
Then without waiting moment, she
fled toward the inlet. Swift as deer,
she fairly flew across the level space, aud
plunged down the rocky slope to the
place where the large ferry boat lay
moored on the tranquil waters. Close
beside it small skiff rested upon the
margin of the inlet, and into this Elsie
leaped lightly as bird.
Hastily loosing the painter, she
grasped the oar and shot the small craft
into the shining bay.
She had only one thought now, and
that was to save Paul and her uncle from
the danger that menaced them, never for
one moment stopping to think that she
might be placing herself in the greatest
peril. Elsie was perfectly familiar with
the management of boat, and this
knowledge now stood her in good stead.
Swiftly the little skiff shot across the
water, and no sooner had it touched the
north shore of the inlet, than Elsie sprang
ashore, and throwing the painter across
rock, she bounded swiftly up the cliff.
Reaching the summit, she glanced
quickly to the north, and sweeping
swiftly down toward her, she beheld
Paul and her uncle, not a quarter of a
mile away, a score of savages, with wild
gesticulations, laundering close behind
them.
Leaping upon huge bowlder Elsie
waved her handkerchief high in the air.
Then motioning toward the inlet that
the fugitives might know that the boat
was there awaiting them, she turned and
ran back down the slope to the waters
edge. In moment she had turned the
boat about, and leaping aboard, stood
there straining her eyes up the cliff, hel
face as pale as death.
Then there came the sound of flying
hoofs. She saw two horses plunge into
view and rear wildly on the very verge
of the cliff. The next instant Don Miguel
and Paul threw themselves from the
backs of the foaming steeds, and leaped
swiftly down the rocky incline toward
the boat.
"Great heavens! Elsie and alone!"
This from the don, as the two sprane
into the boat. There was no time tc
cross the inlet before the foe would BE-
within easy range, for already the sound
of hoofs could be heard beyond the cliff.
Don Miguel grasped the oar and sen,
the boat out into the bay; but before hi
had taken three strokes there was &
furious sound of charging horses above
then the hideous faces of half dozer
Apache warriors peered over the cliff
followed by the CLEAN of lances among
the rocks. The next moment the loud re
port of their rifles sounded along tn,
ledge.
But at that very instant, moved as il
by inspiration, Don Miguel had, with one
powerful sweep of the oar, shot the boa
under an overhanging cliff, and the bull
lets struck harmlessly into the water, 9
safe distance behind the little craft.