The Canton times., 1895-03-08

ridge mile away. An instant and
1t was gone. but the sound of horses
hoofs came nearer and nearer until
out of the gloom dashed the great gray
leader.
His rider was elfin Nance. Her face
was trife pale perhaps, but as emo
tionless as when she left the camp in
the morning. The call to boots and
saddles sounded before the painting
horse stopped, and the troopers ran
hither and thither in confusion and
haste.
well, sis, where are they?' asked
the commander.
'.Less'n ten mile. Broke a wagon
wheel an went inter camp middlin'
airly," was the brief reply.
"Have the Indians made an attack"
"Ye-up, or l wouldn't be here, would
!, nister?"
~Many redskins?''
~More'n a hundred"
'How did you get here?"
Jumped onto ole Gray's back an
cum--rode through EN-"
There's blood on your sleeve-you
are wounded?"
Scratched leetle with one of them
arrers-nary bullet hit me, reckin.
But you'll hev to hurry, mister.
There's heaps of 'em agin six, an pop
was hit rfore left"
The girl slipped from old Gray's back
and ran to the commanders side.
styVlot ha o,,oSfionaI
''P'raps you'll let me take fresh
hoss, mister, an shooter. had ter
leave mine," she said earnestly.
''You mustn't go with u.s."
"You bet yer boots l do"
''Give her horse; she won't be in
more danger than to stay here alone. :"
When the troopers were mounted
Nance spurred her new steed alongside
of the colonels horse, riding there in
silence for some time.
Then she spoke abruptly: "'Taint
very bad fer six of 'em ter hold back
more'n a hundred" she said, as they
heard the sound of distant firing.
II hope we're not too late!' muttered
the colonel, anxiously.
''Oh, no, yer amt" she answered,
cheerfully, with the same shrill laugh
"Ye hear them guns-an' as long as
pops alive them Injuns'll stay out er
that camp. Hear 'em now! l kin tell
pops gun 'mongst a million; it sounds
like cannon most, don't 1t? Coin ter
charge, mister?'
s'Yes, and you must fall back to the
rear"
"No-up. Not much, don't, mister.
I'll keep right side of you"
"No, fall back!'
"You bet I'll be right alongside OF
you, mister, when ye git there. Jest
look! Runnin' Already, amt they,
mister?"
1t was true; the Indians suddenly re-
membered that
He who fights and runs away
Will live to fight another day
but seven of them were captured, with
but two soldiers wounded Two men,
two women and three children among
the emigrants were wounded and every
horse lay dead.
Fifteen minutes more would have
wiped them all out" said Private
Knowles, grimly, as they encircled the
wagons under which the defenders lay.
Nance slid from her horse and crawled
under the nearest one.
'Are we hurt, pop?' she asked, anx-
iously.
''Nothin' more'n a scratch, l reckin.
De t,a hurt siso"
''Jest a musketter bite. Did ye see
me go, pop%'
"Wal, fetched EN-"
ST knowed we would" Just then the
curtains of the wagon parted.
'Nance!" called the woman.
"Pm here, marm."
"Whare We bin?"
81 took ole Gray an fetched the SOL
jers."
''Oh, We did. That's lucky ye thought
ter do it, guess. Come in here now.
Jim an Fanny are both bin bulleted." "
bad, marm2"
"oh, reckin they'll pull IL rough.
but they're fussin'."
The soldiers hitched horses to the
wagons and slowly the cavalcade moved
back to the stage station.
Not a word of praise was given to
brave Nance, who had saved them all
from terrible death.
"They all take it as matter of fact, f"
muttered Lieut. Sommers, when the
station was reached at last. "And she
dou't seem to understand that she is as
brave as any soldier that wears the
blue. God bless her bomely facet"
Give her three cheers" shouted
Private Knowles. Now, boys-three
cheers for NanceT