St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1895-03-15

N'NJ ~ bNh Shoi ~ -
right angle from the trail and enter
ed narrow canyon.
Dock kept sharp lookout for
walls, but in places there were great
piles of half rooted grass, and as they
plunged through one of these the
pony that Paulinerode stumbled and
fell.
He wound his arm around her
waist, and, although the shock and
strain nearly unseated him, succeed
ed in lifting her to the back of his
own pony.
The fallen animal had succeeded in
getting upon its feet, but one foreleg
hung limp and useless.
The Indians had been gaining on
them steadily and were now less
than 500 yards distant.
His little animal struggled heroic
ally, but it was carrying double
weight, and the pace could not long
be maintained.
The Indians yelled with exultation
and rode the faster.
The canyon up which they had
been riding was blind one, and to
all outward appearances they were
in trap that meant death by tor
ture the most horrible for both.
Dock knew what he was about
and rode straight for the wall.
AS he reached it the pony plunged,
and by the time he had leaped to the
ground, with the almost fainting
girl in his arms, the gallant little
animal pitched forward, with blood
streaming from its mouth and nos
trils.
Have courage, dear" counseled
Dock. I'm moment we will be
safe"
A narrow psss began opposite
where they stood, and up this rocky
path the scout hastily scrambled,
halt eading, half carrying Pauline.
With hendish yells the Indians
refined in their painting ponies, and a
half dozen of the braves started up
the pass in pursuit of the lovers.
Less than SO feet from the mouth
of the pass the pair reached a consid-
cradle shelf.
Opening from it in the face of the
canyon wall was a blackened hole,
into which Dock pushed his compan-
ion.
Don't be afraid" he whispered.
Keep straight. ahead, and as near
the center OF the cave as possible. "
The confused hum that they had
heard outside had now increased to
a roar, which swelled in volume as
they advanced.
Dock kept looking over his Shout
der, and when the mouth of the bee
cave was darkened by the form OF
one of the pursuing Indians he raised
his rifle and pulled the trigger again
and again unit! the magazine was
empty.
An hours slow walk along the
cave brought them TO point where
a dim light could be seen in the dis
| tance.
Onward they toiled, the light
growing brighter and finally they
came to the surface.
Now we are all right, said Dock
and sigh of relief escaped him
Those bees have done better work
than a company OF rangers could
have done.
Presently they reached the edge Of
a steep precipice, and holding her
hand, Dock bade the girl to look
over the brink and tell him what she
saw.
They were standing directly above
the bee cave, and in the canyon be-
low she witnessed the disastrous re-
suit of battle, in which rifles and
hunting knives were of little avail.
The bees, goaded to fury by the
bullets from Dock rife, had swept
in body toward the cave entrance,
in search of the enemy.
They had settled on two or three
Indians who had ventured into the
cave, and it was the yells of these
wretches which Dick and Pauline
heard as they hurried along.
Everything animate had been at
tackled, and in the short time that
had elapsed since the beginning of
the terrible battle, not an Indian, not
a pony remained alive.
Being on foot" said Dick, in con-
clusion, lit was a pretty tough
march across the mountains to the
railroad, although Pauline bore up
like the brave little woman she is.
And now, that you have heard
my story, you know how | became
bee farmer. The little things saw.
ed my life and they saved Pauline's,
and if you ever quit the plains,
George, pay me a visit, and will
show you what pile Of money they
can make when they are intelligent,
ly managed Boston Globe.