Democratic Northwest. [volume] (Napoleon, Ohio) 1869-1894, 1890-02-20

ulsns, apparently awaiting their ap
proach.
Los IndIosl' he cried to his men
and wheeled out of the trail.
Then he glanced spprehensively al
Ethel.
She looked back at HIM smllingly,
although her lips quivered and heI
color suddenly fed.
i understand you. she said, waving
her riiing whip toward the band Of
painted redskins, Those are Indians,
and they-they'-
We'll have running fight with
them to Clark's camp answered
the corporal, solemnly; and heaven
preserve you from all danger
Il am not afraid-with you' answer.
ed Ethel, quickly.
Their eyes met, she held out heI
hand and he clasped it and carried the
white fingers to his lips.
1'll die defending you, he whisper
ed, 'and so will my men,.
4 believe you. I trust you,' came
the murmureG response.
And then an involuntary cry oil
alarm rose to her lips, for the Indians,
discovering that their expected pray
had left the trail. SET up chorus ot
shrill yells, and dashed down toward
them.
TO Clark's boysP cried the corporal,
unslinging his Winchester rife. They
outnumber US twenty to one. Ride
for your life-never mind the pack
mule-and shout 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
pursu ers. Their telling aim did moi
check the advance
Down gently 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 min
utes'-he was thinking
But just then Ethel's horse stumbled
ard fell. Had he not reached out
quickly and seized her in his strong
arms, she also would have been 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! 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 ad-
vance of the Indians, for the band
halted to rob the pack.
The delay enabled the Rangers to
reach the top of the divide.
Corporol Brown looked back.
The entire Indian band was g, ouped
about the fallen mule and the maga.
zine.
He reined up his painting horse, set
Ethel upon the ground, and leaping
from the saddle himself, cried:
Halt, men-lie down-the maga-
zine!'
The Indians were already mounting,
when he raised his rifle to his shoul-
der, took quick aim at the magazine
below, and with 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 Larty was thrown down
by the explosion, and even the horses
staggered and fell.
For an instant they lay there and
then Corporal Brown, with q confus-
ed buzzing in his ears, rose slowly to
his feet.
In the dry water course below q
cloud of dust for a moment obscured
his vision; but when it settled he saw
only 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 Godv was his fervent
prayer, as he helped Ethel to her
feet.
He did not mount again, but, hold.
ing her hand, walked across the di-
vide toward Clark's camp.
They were met presently by q big
gang of the natives, who had been
alarmed by the explosion, which, so it
was stated, was heard twenty miles
away.
Corporal Brown explained matters;
L : a. L ! = Il