The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1895-05-22


fury. The inky darkness which ac-
companied it would hide his move
ments, and the rain beating down upon
the lodges of the Indians would drown
the sound of his stealthy footsteps
AS he lay there, his brain was busy
formulating plan of action. He must
enter the village, a perilous venture,
and when once there how could he de-
.termine in which one of the twenty or
more lodges his loved one was con-
fined? He could but go ahead and
trust to Providence for guidance. Not
one man in thousand would under
take such hazardous task; but the
light of his life-all he cared to live for
was in that village of deadly, treach-
erous foes, and if he could not effect
her rescue it was his desire that he
might die with her.
When the storm struck the village
the Indians hastily sought shelter in
their lodges, and the drenching rain
soon extinguished the camp fires. Be-
ing driven to shelter, the waiting SOL
dier knew the savages would soon seek
comfort in their blanket beds, and
after waiting about an hour, that to his
impatient spirit seemed an age, he re-
mounted his horse and rode toward the
village.
Securing his horse to bush behind
an embankment which marked the bed
of an old creek near the village, the
soldier took the pistols from the hol-
sters and thrust them through the belt
above his waist, and taking n hunting
knife from one OF the saddle pockets
moved stealthily into the camp. All
was quiet, save the beating of the rain
and the occasional volleys from heav-
ems artillery overhead. Even the
snarling, half-st2rved ours with which
every Indian village is infested had
crawled into the lodges for shelter
from the storm, and did not discover
his presence.
How would he ever be able to locate
the object of his search? His lips moved
in prayer to Heaven for aid, as he
moved along like dark specter amid
the lodges. Anon he would pause and
listen intently, hoping to hear cough
or sigh or spoken word to tell him
of the presence of his loved one.
AS he cautiously moved onward a
vivid flash of lightning revealed to his
eyes an object like crouching form
near lodge in the center of the vii
lage. Dropping prostrate upon the
wet ground he peered through the
darkness toward the object, and eager
ly awaited the next flash. 1t came, and
seated upon the ground near the door
of a lodge he saw the form of an Indian,
his blanket thrown over his head to
protect him from the storm. The heart
of the young soldier beat with renewed
hope as the truth burst upon him that
the Indian was guard, and that the
object of his search must be in that
lodge
The guard must be disposed of.
Much as he dreaded the shedding OF
human blood except in the line of duty
on the field of battle, he felt that he
must allow nothing to stand between
himself and the success of his mission.
Making detour in order to approach
the crouching sentinel from the rear,
he grasped his hunting knife firmly in
his hand and stole toward the unsus.
pecting savage. In the darkness he
could see the silent form but few
feet distant, and gliding noiselessly as
serpent he in moment stood ovel
his intended victim. Not sound, not a
groan escaped the red man as he passed
from sleep into death, and raising the
flap over the entrance Brown entered
the lodge. He could see nothing in the
inky darkness, and crouching low
upon the ground he waited for light
ming flash. When 1t came it revealed
to him several forms lying wrapped il
blankets about the LODGE Moving
softly toward where three lorms were
lying under the same blanket, hC
again crouchcd down and waited fol
the fitful torches of heaven to further
guide him. The rain beat with low
sullen roar on the lodge of skins, ant
the ground trembled as the thunder
beloved their way through tn,
heavens overhead.
1t seemed an age ere the Lightning
again lit up the rain-soaked earth ant
created a sickly glare within the lodge
but by the dim light he saw the pail
face of his love. She had raised he
head from it's pillow of skins, and th'
soft blue eyes were gazing directl,
upon him.
In an instant he was beside her, ant
as he bent his head to assure her tina
1t was himself and to caution he
against making any noise, her arm
glided about his neck and she softl,
whispered:
Ned, darling, l knew you woulc
come. While praying to Heaven tina
you might come to my rescue grea
peace filed my soul, and 1 felt that II.
prayer had been heard and would b.
answered, and when the Lightning
came saw your dear face in the gloon
Of the lodge"
He pressed kiss on her lips AM
whispered
"We must not lose a moment, darl
ing. Arise softly that you may no
wake those who sleep near you, an
let us away"
~ am secured here, Ned. A rope |
passed about my body and the squaN
who lies next to me is lying upon It,"
With his hunting knife he severe
the rope and they passed from tn
lodge. Moving silent as specters the
trayersed the village and soon reache