Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1892-11-21
4 Soldiers Secret
By Captain CHARLES KING, o. s. A.

copyright, 1892. by J. B. Lippincott company.
and published by special arrangement with
tbam-1
Go they did, skimming over the pool
above the rapids, leaping the narrow
chasm where the black waters, dancing
and frothing, had defed the ice king;
ducking under the opposite bank; car
bines in hand, revolvers at the hip, car
tridges cleaning in every belt; and after
them, leaping, yet bending low, went
Brewster Another moment and they
reached the mouth of the ravine, burst
through the powdery drift. and then,
Brewster leading, eyes everywhere, al
most ON all tours, they scurried along
half way mp the opposite slope, keeping
well under the crest and just at the edge
of the deep drifts to their right. Fifty
sixty wards they made their rapid way.
and then around little bend and among
great heaps and mounds of glistening,
shimmering white there rose an odd
shaped heap, only trifie higher than
its fellows, and from the midst of it
there projected a dingy, whity-brown
canvas, slanting to the north, and with
a cry of delight half stifled in his lips
Carroll Brewster leaped into the snow,
floundered to his armpits in the powdery
drift, and in a moment more had forced
his way through the fragile white wall
before him, had seized the handle of the
door and Winifred Berrien, starting from
her mothers clasping arms, blinded for
an instant by the glare of radiant sun
shine. barely able as yet to rally from the
stupor like slumber into which she had
fallen. heard her name called IN the JOY
GUS tones she knew so well and saw her
lover, a stalwart, glowing. rejoicing
Young snow god, all sparkling with the
white crystals. all glistening In the glo-
rious beams, gazing upon her with a
love light in his brave blue eyes that
brought instant glow to her own wan
and pallid cheek. And then, before she
could even speak. before her mother
could emerge from the enfolding robes,
a shout was heard, then the sudden ring
of a rifle shot. followed instantly by an
other. the spat as of a whiplash on the
canvas top. Something tore its way
through the roof and front with spiteful
zip
Down! down upon the f1oori both OF
you, quick," shouted Brewster, as he
slammed the door, and the next instant
they heard the order in his ring
ing tones half stifed in the snow.
Fire, menl Keep EN- off! Fire!'
They heard the quick bang! bang! OF
carbines close at hand. the prompt re-
Spouse of rifles distant as were the first,
the whistle of lead through the icv air,
the shrill yells of battling Indians, the
furious gallop of bounding hoofs. Every
where to their front the rapid fire IN
creased More yells, partly of triumph
partly sumlnoning additional warriors
to the spot, then the mufded beat OF
coming hoofs, and in the midst of it al
Brewster's stern voice, calm and steady
..Aim WELL men. but fire lively. DOM
let them again get so close as to have {
shot at the wagon. Watch that above
ALL" Two-three minutes the sound Of
battle ragged about them. increasing at the
front. A soldier voice was heard to say
There's more of them coming, sir. You
can see them down there to the east.
And Mrs. Berrien's heart grew fain
with fear. Winifred had buried he
face upon her breast and closed her ear
to the horril sounds. And then, all OF
a sudden. the yells of the charging In
dams seemed to grow fainter. the1
sounds of dismay arose among them
then the cries were drowned in the clat
ter of ironshod hoofs and the chorus o
soldier cheers. Murphy and his ittl
squad came whirling up the bank, an
Mrs. Berriens heart poured forth Il
praise and thanksgiving at the jOyou
Milesian hail:
Ito hell wild 'em. fellers! Sure all
TROOPS comin-not two miles behind!
OH PTER Kill