The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1894-08-07
4 TERRIBLE ORDEAL.

binding ram Tell from the SuIIeN skies,
and the Missouri River, swollen fal
above its sandy bars. fretted agalnsI
the restraining banks and roarec
hungrily.
A light cleaned from an upper Win
dow at Blackbird Mission, and the
sweet face Of Elsa Morris looked anS-
iously forth.
ssIt is dreadful Storm" she said
shiyering. "Surely Mordaunt and
Harry will not attempt to push on with
out the stage"
Superintendent Morris gave utterance
to groan as he felt an excruciatlng
twinge in his gouty feet.
He had been laid uD for three days.
It seemed as if he could not stay in the
house tonight, when his brave son
Harry and Mordaunt Steele, the in
dustrial trader, might be in deadly
peril.
''God grant they may not attempt
the road around Horseshoe Ciiffs,' he
exclaimed. THE braves under Fire
Chief have drank all the lemon extract
at the post and are gloriously drunk. 1t
was culpably careless i'll Hobbs to leave
the door unlocked" >"
"But his barn was on fire." protes-
ted Elsa, ''and he did not stop to think
of anything but his horses. How much
extract did they get, papa?'
HA case and hail. answered the
superintendent, vexedly. "Nine pints
of raw alcohol to be divided among six
Indians-Winnebagoes at that. Had
they been Omahas I should not have
been uneasy, for they would 60 and
sleep it off. But these Winnebagoes
set offfor Decatur an hour ago, whoop-
ing like furies. Did Harry take his
pistols?'
II think not" answered the girl.
"Oh, papa, you don't think the In
dams would modest the boys?'
Heaven knows. They are feuds
incarnate when they get taste of fire
water, and Long Pine has a grudge
against Mordaunt. If only some one
could be found braveenough to ride on
and give warning! But it's useless.
No one will 60 in the face OF the
storm"
II will gon' said Elsa turning her
pale, resolute face from the window.
"You, chiIdW repeated her father,
dumfounded. "What earthly good
could you do even if you found the
way-you, slight grip
mot an Indian on the reservation,
sober Or drunk, will harm me. and |
can ride Rowdy. If I start at once |
shall reach Decatur before the stage is
in. Let me 60, papa!' pleaded Elsa.
well, daughter, have your way;
ride over to the agency and get Rcsalie
to accompany you. Her brother, Gray
Eagle, is the leader. She may have
influence with him.
A blush crept under Elsa's pearly
skin. Gray Eagle, French half breed,
was in love with herself, and therefore
his hatred of Mordaunt was intense.
AS soon as Rowdy was saddled and
bridled, she mounted and rode forth
into the tempestuous night.
When she reached the agency, how
ever, she found Rosalie suffering with
neuralgia, and she was forced to press
on alone.
In a half-hour's time Horseshoe
Cliffs loomed up before her, and she
turned Rowdy's head around the curve,
circling slowly down into the ravine.
When she had reached the little
bridge which spanded the dancing
waters of Big Blackbird Creek. She
drew rein and looked around her.
Then a stiied scream rose to her
lips az she saw form rise out Of the
shadows and brown hand grasp the
bride.
Gray Eagle! She recognized him at a
Ance, and forcing her voice to be
Ady, spoke calmly:
Kashwa, is it you? I am glad, for
will see me safe to Decatur. /
7e message to Fontanelle."
|S6ray Eagle or Kashwa, as he was
lied in the Indian language, laughed
Sturally. He was a handsome, ath-
young fellow, fairly educated and
unusual intelligence.
The Snowdrop is out late" he said,
esely. "Kashwa knows her mission.
She carries firearms to Eheyoung Amer
lean. But she comes late!''
Elsa GREW frightened.
"Loose the pony, kashwa; 7 am in
haste. See! the rain is soaking through
my waterproof cloak. Let me make
haste, for it grows late, and the night
is very dark
She chirruped to Rowdy to 60 on;
but Gray Eagle laughed once more and
reined the pony back.
"Snowdrop cannot go yet, Let her
promise first to be the bride OF kaShwa.
He loves her. He will never give her
up to the American. Will she prom
lse?"
"No," said Elsa, desperately.
"Then the American dies He is
not at Decatur. He is Kashwa's pris.
oner; he and the Snowdrop's brother, -
said the Indian.
"Where?'' queried Elsa, the color
recedlng from her face at this con-
hrmation of her worst fears. ''Where
has Kashwa hidden his captiveS? and
where are the other braves?';
"Long Pine and at the rest are at
Decatur. Kashwa waited in the pass for
Snowdrop's brother and her friend.
They are there bound to the big tree, I"
with gesture toward large elm that
grew ten yards down the stream.