Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-06-29


a few minutes the postman dropped back
with the private.
"Do you think there Is any danger from
the IndiansP' he asked.
''There's always danger from the red
devils when they get started" answered
the soldier. ''You know we last heard of
the Indians 40 miles north, That was day
before yesterday. By this time they may
be making for the settlement, and If SO we
will probably get distant sight of 'em. "
"Ishouldn't think they d come near usif
they did, " remarked the postman, for we
are riding straight for the fort, and don't
think they want to come near there"
They'd be safe enough, laughed the
private, Hfor in this cursed country they |
could see long way and could see the |
cavalry was not near They might be even |
so bold a. to come up almost to the forb
gates"
After awhile the girl Joined the soldier,
and they talked of the life on the plains.
She told him she had never before been
west of Omaha, and that she thought she
would enjoy the trip, and she told him, too,
how she had not seen her sister for eight
years; that she had been in school when
her sister married and went west with her
husband; that their parents had died, and
that she intended making her home with
her only relative for awhile at least.
The soldier enjoyed her conversation, for
the privates in the ranks see SO little OF
women that one is like an angel fresh from
heaven. In return he told her OF army
life and the plains, and the guard and the
postman also related anecdotes Of their life
on the plains. For two hours they rode
IL ,,,,1 In hi hfIte
and raised his fieldglass toward what APP
peared to be cloud that was skimmlng
along on the ground couple OF miles
away.
"Great God, it's the Indiansl' he gasped.
Without moments hesitancy they
spurred their horses forward AS if the
wind had blown to them danger the four
horses sprang forward. The magnificent
animal the soldier rode could scarcely be
| held in. There was no question but the
keen eyes Of that band Of murderers and
national paupers had seen the four, for
they were bearing straight across country,
and dozen had separated from the main
band and were riding furiously north to
head off the little party. The trained eye
of the private saw the proposed play on the
part of the Indians. The girl was white,
She realized the danger, though since the
exclamation Of the private not word had
passed the lips of the four. All but she
realized why the Indians gainedI that their
horses We're young and swift. The horse
the private rode tugged hard on the reins,
took the bit tight in his teeth, and every
nerve seemed to start and strain, showing
the great speed yet remaining in him. The
horse the girl rode was becoming tagged
1t was only poor beast such as you find
in frontier livery stable. 1t was old and
weak. The postman and guard crazed
with fear, were urging their horses for
ward, and already were fully half mile
ahead. Suddenly the horse the girl rode
began to stagger, and then the private,
riding close by her, lifted her from the
saddle and in front of him. His horse felt
the increased weight, but struggled for
ward.
The Indians gained steadily and were
now only about three-quarters Of mile
away. A glance over his shoulder showed
puffs of smoke from the foremost. AL
ready they had begun shooting, sizing the
distance which lay between them and the
pursued. The private saw this, and he
understood. His eyes were starting, but
his lips were pressed close together, and
then he brought his horse to a standstil
and Jumped Off An agonized CRY burst
from the girl but he did not notice 1t. A
lariat, by fortunate chance, hung from
the pommel of his saddle, and before she
fully realized what he was doing he had
taken the coil of rope off and was tying
her to the saddle and twisting the rope
about the body Of the horse.
The animal seemed to know that some
thing unusual was transpiring, for hi
: master had to speak to him several times
in a low, calm voice to quiet him. WheI
| he had fastened the girl securely, she seem
ed to realize what he was doing.
''My God, you will give up your life TO
mipe' she cried.
'EI have no one who cares for me. You
t have your sister," he said simply
. She attempted to free herself, but h
1 took his hat and gave the animal sharl
rap on his launches, and from the stroke
: lighter burden and fear he sprang foT
ward as if from catapult.
/, The private saw the noble animal speed
+ ing with the wind toward the fort, TO
y there the horse knew was home and 70
t there he ran; then the private saw the In
, dams coming on, and with smile, hal
o grim, he turned to the Indians and the
g taking his revolver he placed 1t to hi
a a head and fired.
The private's horse soon overlook tn
IS postman and the guard, but he flew
J. them like an arrow, and a detachment
/ cavalry out on brief scouting about tt
d fort saw the animal, and then the guart
le and the postman. And a cavalryman heat
ed off the horse. They recognized 1T as I'll
le private's, and then they lifted the sens
Is less girl from the animal.
10 Indians back of us and coming, " IL
postman gasped, and then the cavalryme
10 saw the Indians The trumpet sounde
charge, and away at a mad gallop Il
10 horses went, and the cavalrymen realize
re that one of their number had died, al
p. that those red marauders now fleeing avn
rs were to blame Like a tidal wave the ca
airy swept across the prairie, and soc
to they came across the private lying dead.
IS He had not been scalped. He was lyiI
70 upon the ground, with the smile of dea
ct upon his lips. Tenderly they raised hi
o. and tears were in many eyes as they DO
in him through the brilliant sunlight to t
fort For days the girl lay almost at death
le, door, with Mrs. Colonel by her side CT
ct ing with joy for the safe arrival of b
. sister, and the girl raved and told ov
aoain and apain in her delirium all