The weekly messenger. [volume] (St. Martinsville [i.e. St. Martinville] La.) 1886-1948, 1890-06-14
Sioux steal out of the forest and ride like

the door barricaded and every gun ready
for Use when the band. which at this
time numbered fOrty-one. rode up and
halted Just beyond rifle range.
Harry Grey had counted them from a
loop-hole. Suddenly his ruddy face
grew pale, and he was observed to trcm-
/ bic as if an aguc had seized him.
THE fiends." came from his ashen
lips.
"What is it," cried Harvey.
"Look,'
And he pointed toward the band OF
Sioux
Harvey sprang to a loop-hole and
surveyed the object of IIarrys emotion.
He started as his eyes fell on a lovely
, white girl, with graceful figure, long,
golden hair streaming wildly away from
her colOrless face, and with her arms tied
cruelty behind her hack. She was cap
! tive in the midst of band of mcrciless
! Indians,
"Heavcnsw calculated Harvey, cit is
Doisy Murdoch
YES; and she is a captive in the
hands of that fiendish band. Heavens
what can do!' he cried, in wild excite
ment.
Daisy Murdock was the only child of
settler who had taken IA claim" about
fifteen miles south of Harvey's store.
The Murdocks and the Greys had been
old ncighbors in Illinois. and had come
to Minnesota together. Daisy and Harry
Grey had been lovers from childhood,
and the coming December had been APP
pointed as Il suitable time for celebrating
their nuptials in good. oldfashioned.
frontier style. Harry had intended by
then to have his own farm out on Cedar
Creek sufficiently improved to install
Daisy Is mistress of home of thciI
own.
After considerable parlcy among them
selves. the Sioux marched the captive
toward the fort The Indians halted and
babe her proceed, at the same time keep.
inc her covered with their rifles. This
was intense torture to Harry, and, had
he not been restrained. he would have
rushed boldly to his death in the attempt
to rescue the girl whom he loved.
The captive was allowed to come up
within twenty-five feet of the barricadc.
then the Sioux called her to halt. In a
voice which she strovc in vain to steady
the captive told them she had been made
to come and demand their surrender. But,
in lower tones. she warned them against
doing so, saying they would only be
butchcred without mercy.
Harry was alert, and, telling Harry
TO unbarricadc the door. he explained
briefly 10 the poor captive that her
rescue would then and there be at
tempted.
Poor Daisy? Her face was as white as
that of the dead, but she replied that she
was ready.
Then stoop low to keep the bullets
above you, and run swiftly towards the
door. Harry will meet YOU there" adj
vi3cd Harvey from loophole.
The Indians We're growing impatient.
and had demanded her return. There
was no further time to waste Harry Grey
sprang to the door to assist the captive.
while the others held their guns to the
loophOlcS.
Daisy Murdoch did not lack courage,
when the proper moment came to eXer-
else it fully. 1t was short run, but
vcritablc run for life and liberty. The
Indians fired a voilcy after her. but her
STOPPING motion had made the shots rat
tie harmlesSly over her head. lShe was
soon clasped safely in Harry's arms. which
quickly placed her, almost fainting within
the fort.
Then began a siege which lasted one
week. Many Indians were killed. but
small bands would each day come aloag.
and thus keep the besiegcrs reinforced.
AS had been expected, the Sioux found
the quarry back of the milk-house, and
began an attack from that quarter. The
torpedo was exploded at the right mo.
mcnt, killing several and severely
wounding dozen. They tried in every
way to burn them out, but with no
success
When the number of Sioux had in.
creased to one hundred. and the whites
had begun to consider their case hope
less one, troops came and drove the red
men away.
For miles and miles the direSt devasta.
ton had been wrought to the homes on
these prairies. Not building re-
lAaincd; only ashes and blackened ruins
marked the spots where happy homes
had once been.
Daisy Murd ck's home had been
burned. her father butchered before her
own eyes, and she had been taken cap
tive
By making their fight there on the
prairie they had, no doubt. held a large
force of the Sioux from committing
countless other bloody depredations on
other settlers.
Ii due time their homes were rebuilt.