The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-08-31

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| q moment to beat and his blood ran
cold ia his veins. #ss5 s..
| "A. band Of mounted INDIANS came
sweeping down the, bluff but half
mile behind them.
#nMys God, we are pursued, !" he cried,
striking the spurs deeply into the sides
of the horse. selling closely, my loved
one, for it viii now be a desperate ride
for life"
May God in Heaven protect u.s. she
1nurmnred,. as tho fierce yells Of the
pursuing Indians reached their cars
The noble horse heard the savage
cries Of the pursuers, and seemed to
realize the great danger that threat
ened his riders. Across the grassy val
| lev he flew with almost incredible
speed, and thrill Of hope flashed
through the young soldiers breast as
he noted that each bound Of the animal
| increased the distance between them
selves and the savages.
'We gained on them, Courage, my
beloved, courage, and we will yet es~
cape them. If we can but reach the
other side and gain the high ground,
they may abandon the chase before
| getting too near the fort.
'sGod grant that they may! Oh,
those frightful, unearthly yells! They
seem to chill my blood" she said,
clinging yet more closely to her lover.
Without slachening his pace the
| horse dashed into the stream, but the
water inpeded his progress and the
Indians gained rapidly upon them.
Nobly the strong beast plunged against
the swift waters which rose to his
breast in the center of the stream, but
the current was strong and his progress
was slow. At last he reached the other
| side and dashed up the bank as the In
dians were urging their ponies into the
! water ON the opposite side.
Across the wooded bottom which in
tervened between the river and the
western bluff they flew, and began the
ascent of the gulch which led to the
mesa. The steepness Of the hill again
impeded the horses speed, and when
they reached the summit the Indians
could be seen Aging across the bottom,
still in mad pursuit.
Courage, my darlingw he again
cried in an assuring tone. ''Do not
| despair, for we may yet escape them.
The fort can now almost be seen"
'.God will aid us, Ned, my beloved"
she responded. "Nfy lips are moving
in constant prayer for our deliver
ance." @
i Up from the gulch came the Indians,
but half a, mile behind, and again their
blood-curdling yells rang out upon the
air. On they few, pursued and pursu~
ers, and Browns heart sank within him
when he noted that the Indians were
rapidly closing the gap between them.
Squirting his horse to it's greatest ex-
ertions groan escaped from the sol
dier's now bloodless lips for the ami
NAL began to perceptibly slacken it's
speed His powers of endurance were
almost exhausted, and it was evident
that he could go but little further.
The fort was yet two miles distant, and
escape now seemed impossible.
'sZip! Zip zip!" The bullets from
the rifles of the Indians began to fly
by them.
. Pulling the jaded horse behind bar
ricade Of rocks which rose by the trail
Brown sprung to the ground and cried:
sect into the saddle, Alice, and push
on toward the fort. For the love Of
God hasten, and may be able to hold
them at bay until you escape. Ely, my
darling, fly, for not an instant must be
lost
To his utter amazement the brave
girl slid from the horses back and,
with pale but determined face, replied:
ssNo, Ned, will not leave you. You
risked your precious life for me! and it
would be cowardly for me to desert you
now. IF you must die here, l will die
with you
There was no time for further urg-
ing, Tor the yells Of the Indians now
came to them with startling distinct
ness as they rapidly came on. Gaining
position. from which he could see
over the rocks, the soldier leveled his
repeating rifle and began to discharge
it with deadly effect. -4..
So unexpected was the fire that the
Indians recoiled, and, springing from
their ponies in confusion, sought for
shelter behind the crooks which dotted
the mesa. From their cover they kept
up scattering fire, but their bullets
flew harmlessly overhead, Or were fat
tened against the rocky breastworlh
which natured had provided.
Peering cautiously over the barricade
the brave soldier watched his foes with
eagle eyes, firing whenever feathered
head came into view.
There came a cessation in the firing
Of the Indians, and he heard them call
ing out to each other from their sepa-
rated positions behind The rocks, and
snruised that they were planning 3,
sudden dash upon their hiding place
His heart became as lead in his breast,
for he we'll knew that, although his
rifle mightGdo ,dssgdly work as they adj
vanced, they would certainly over
power him and death would speedily
follow.
Y In his eagerness to getEa good shot
and thus still further intimidate the
s;svages, he raised himself yet higher
abov13the rocks, and the next instant
fell backward into5tlle arms Of his be-
trothed, the warm blood squirting from
a bullet wound in his breast.
'sOh, Ned, Ned. you are Hit! You are
killed. she cried, in agony "Oh! my
God. my God. what shall / do?. Father
ia Heaven, save him. save him"
i With a great effort he said:
ee'Be brave, Alice, my love, be brave.
IT'S not much. I am onl only stunned
q little i will re recover in ain a
n1n,rla1f' 8 Is. ll.t