The Dakota chief. (Gann Valley, Buffalo County, S.D.) 18??-1913, 1894-02-08
enough to hold a ton. Now, then,
l want the reins off your horse.n

II presently, having secured the
n of the vine around a stump upon
the brow of the cliff, and with the
relnS wound about his waist, Heber
began his dangerous decent toward
n cedar where the child lay. He
Was not blind to the fact that he wa
literally taking his life in his hands.
A single slip, the smallest relaxation
OF his muscles, and he must surely be
dashed to pieces. once he glanced
below, as he swung from the vine.
Ills neal seemed to stop, and a great
SICK lear to sweep Owe his whole
body; he felt that he must let 60. 4
vast weight aDi cared to be dragging
at his feet. But sOmchow-hc never
undcrSt0O it himSelf-he managed
to summon back his oOIncs and
courage. After that he was careful
not to look downward again. Even
wpcn he was aware that he was close
TO Nettic he merely called to her
that he was coming, without vcntur.
ing to glance at her.
Lie still" he cried: Cpl be there
IN Il minute. Ncttie. Keep up your
CoulhSc al l lJIc longer.
"l on arc going to save me. Ii her
Trent came the faint, childish
voice from ielow. Il saw you COM
ing. Hurry as much as you can. |
am 30 tired, and / ache So"
''All right" replied IIeber, cheer
fully, "Ill have YOU out of there in
no time Here we are" he said, as
with a final swing and slide he
planted his feet UPON the stuntcd
cedar.
The girl lay where she had fallen,
looking up at him with a pale face,
across which there we're two or three
streaks Of blood. She tried to smile
bravcly, though she was evidently
much hurt. Getting astridc Of the
tree, Heller raised the child up and
bound her firmly to his back with
the rcinS.
son, Heller. we shall never get
up that awful place" m0aned Nettic.
Put you arms around my neck
and keep quiet" commanded Heller,
as he slowly arose to hi, feet, holding
fast to the vine.
10 this day. if you were to ask
Hcbcr Trent how he climbed that
precipicc, carrying the child upon his
back, he could not tell you. He has
a dreamlike memory Of u terrific
scramble a sensation as if his arms
were being torn from their sockets; a
fearful instant when. missing his
%foOthOld, he swung loose upon the
vine, over the Yawning gulf, holding
himself and his precious burden ly
his hands alone: then the heavenly
relief Of the pest upon a narrow shelf,
where he crOuched with humping
heart and choking breath; and last of
all, the desperate struggle which
landed himself and the child upQp
the turf, heaGlong in the arms of the
joyful father.
"Well," said HIeber. as he unbound
the rcins and freed the child, Net
tic is safe"
"Ies, you brave lIcber.." cried
Ncttie, Il am all one big pain; but |
should have been dead only for you,
you noble boy"
That's all right" replied IIeber.
brusQuely; 'any fellow would have
done as much"
"Hardly," said Nett.e's father.
ITO say nothing of your daring de-
scent OF the elm, your idea Of using
the grapevine for a rope was a stroke
of real genius"
"Thank YOU" replied IIeber. feel
ing very much embarrassed and at
the same time very happy. Il got
her up, and that's the main point.
Now the next thing IS to take her to
a doctor as soon as you can"
''True," exclaimed the father, anN-
lousy. observing how pale ana Ian
guild the child was ''but YOU will
hear from us again, Trent, very
shortly"
II will write you a long letter, my.
self, HIcber," said the little girl,
feebly waving a farewell from the
wagon. "~GOod-bye, you dear, brave
boy"
A week later the gentleman paid a
visit to IIcber at his home. The re-
suit Of a long talk was that, a few
days a%fterward, the boy mounted
Seth Stones buck board on his way to
the station.
"lIear We arc go.n' to leave us, lad, ="
said the old man.
"Yes," replied Hcbcr: I've got
my chance at last
Make the most Of it, then" said
Mr.. Stone; ''for when We live to be as
old as l am. yen larn that, mar or
boy, your chance only comes once"
When we tell you that under the
name Of IIebcr Trent we have relate d
an incident in the early life Of a fam
Gus musician, you will see that he
did indeed make the most of his
chance. The independent.
Ky Proxy.
Chcmois skin is one OF the many