The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1891-05-09
CHAPTER VI.

HOWARD had prepared for this.
Fearing his horse might fail in its
desperate effort, he had withdrawn his
feet from the stirrups, and while his
horse was recovering its footing had
leaped from the saddle to the level
ground.
Leaving the horse to take care of
itself, he dashed forward, reaching the
position he wanted just in time to see
the horse ridden by the woman struck
by an arrow and sink to the ground.
Not twenty yards behind her rode
the Indian chief, who, with II loud
shout, announces the result of his shot
to his braves coming up III the rear.
That shout was his last. lIerndon's s
rifle was already at his shoulder, and
with steady aim he sent Il bullet crash
ing through the brain of the triumphant
warrior, who fell headlong from his
pony. His followers seeing their chief
tain fall, and not knowing whence
came the shot, suddenly checked their
ponies, doubtful which way TO turn.
The halt proved fatal to one of them,
for time had been given Howard to re-
load his rifle. There was II loud, ring
ing report, plume of smoke, and
another redskin was sent to the s'happy
hunting grounds The band located
the second shot, and abandoning the
woman, who was lying motionless on
the ground, they skurried away, and
began that circling mode of attack for
which the Indians of the plains are
famous.
But our hero had fought Indians
before. He knew all their modes of
warfare and was too we'll acquainted
with their tactics TO be misled or out
witted by them. He was an adept at
woodcraft, and no sooner had they
circled away beyond the range of his
rifle, than he promptly shifted his posi-
ton unseen by them.
They came whirling down towards
him, but covering themselves so well
behind their ponies that no opportmi-
ty presented itself for Il safe shot.
As they had not uncovered his posi-
ton, they came once more in their cir
cling reconnaissance. This time they
came much closer to him than before,
and he again changed his location and
placed himself almost in the line of
their former attack Again they came,
nearly on to him-near enough for him
to drop the hindermost one rs they
whirled past.
This loss demoralized them some
what, and for the next half hour they
were quite wary.
With good caution Herndon changed
his position and was watching from his
concealment the five remaining savages
as they rode suspiciously forward, when
very fortunate incident occurred.
While the Indians We're approaching
the patch of high grass in which How
ard had kept himself hidden, 4 large,
gray wolf smelling blood in the air,
crept out of its lair in the mesquite
grove and started towards the body of
the dead chief. The quick eyes of the
Indians saw the waving of the high
grass, and thinking it their foeman
seeking to escape, dashed incautiously
after it, uttering their screeching war
cries rs they went. Unfortunately for
them, they rode within twenty feet of
our hero. He had drawn his revolver,
and as they rode past him he opened a
deadly fire upon them, killing one and
wouding another. Taken completely
by surprise at so sudden an attack
where they had not expected it, the
remainder of the party hurried away
us fast as their ponies could carry them.
Knowing that he had nothing more
to fear from the Indians, our hero has
tened to where he had seen the woman
fall. He had heard nothing from her,
and feared she was seriously injured or
dead. He found her still laying there
| in state of mconsciousneSs.
Ascerlaining that she had only faint
ed, he brought cup of water from II
stream flowing near, and after laving
her brow with it,and chatting her cold
white hands Il few moments, had the
satisfaction of seeing the color come
back TO her face and feeling the pulse
resume its measured beating.
He saw that the face was wonder
fully beautiful, the hands fair and
shapely. A closer look sent stranoe
thrill through his being; for in the
woman he had rescued from the Indian
he recognized his former finance Grace
Burlington.
To be Continued.I