The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1895-05-17

ton was discovered and soldiers were
coming to help them-if only they
could keep the red devils at bay .
while longer. Vain hope! Black Wing,
chief Of the raiders had also thought
Of the soldiers; he concluded II was
time to make short work Of these
sharp-sighted marks men who were
picking Of his companions. There
came sudden fearful yelling swift
rush and retreat Of moccasined feet.
the omlnous cracking of fire licking
intolernble-to remain was sure death
from the destroying element.
The shot-riddled portal was hung
wide, aud the two little Lads In the
middle, the forlorn hope sought q new
refuge, their guns speaking death In
the passage. Ike Dempsey fell In his
own doorway, shot through the brain.
Pat Grogan fell In the roadway, and,
ut the same moment, the brave who
had shot him reeled and toppled down
from his saddle. With a horrible sense
Of sickness. Pete saw savage horse
man bury his tomahawk In the won.
ans head, and then snatch up one OF
the children and dash his skull ON the
doorstone. The other little fellow slip
ped from the hand TINT grasped at
him, and stumbled over the cabin
threshold, barely escaping q bullet;
q sharp whistle cut the air, Pete felt
stinging pain In his shoulder, and
fell to the groud unconscious.
With an exultant shout at the de-
struction Of this last enemy, the saw
age swarmed from their places of ut
tack and hastily entered the build
ings, slowing away whatever was por
table and making sad havoc Of Gro
gan's stock Of liquors; but they were
not yet far enough from the reserva-
ton to allow themselves a long stop.
The store was burning 6ercely; to
force his unruly following to hurry,
Black Wing, fired the saloon with his
own hand, the wooden frame blazing
like finder. One by one the sheds and
shacks were ignited; three or four
wretches, with fresh, CORY scalps
dangling at their belts, rushed over
to apply the torch to the only remain
ing building, Pete Oberlin's shanty.
A young brave stumbled over the In
animate form in the pathway, aud
with whoop Of delight waved his
blade over tile thick black locks. Just
as he stopped to his victim, I'M add,
long drawn cry arrested, his arm In
its motion A wild and dust-covercd
figure sprang into the blood -craxed
circle, pouring out torrent Of gutter
nj abuse and lamentation that some
how commanded attention.
The old wOman-fOr 1t was Wawa-
I,nv, nj <hA 90
waving on the armed braves, and felt
felt for the faintest Of heart-beats;
then raising herself to her full height.
shaking back her snaky hair, and
with rude, powerful majesty. she
commanded In her own tongue:
Go, while yet you have time! Be
fore the morning has ended, the sol
diers will be on you. This man stil
lives. He Is mine; do not touch him;
you have. the scalps of the others.~
Wnwaga was one Of the mothers OF
the tribe, and her words had weight
with the warriors. Black Wing mount
ed his pony and all of his raiders did
likewise. In the light Of the gray.
cloudy morning. .. wild procession
scurrtcd over the plains and away
once more to the mountains, where
they could find secret hiding and for
months elude their pursuers,. while
they kept the whole country In terror
with their thieving burning and kill
Ing. ss.. 4
When Pete Ol,erlin, lying in his own
bunk, opened his eyes on the dim
scene lighted by the fiickering fire, he
thought he Ind gone through q horrl-
BILE dream. Kicking on the covers, he
sat up with vigorous jerk; but the
sharp pain in his shoulder made him
grind bis teeth in agony. At the same
moment lie became aware OF dark
figure crouched In one corner holding
q bundle of white. His sudden motion
and muttered exclamation stirred the
quiet watcher; stumbling to her feet,
she bore her burden to the pallet and
deposited It beside him. "Him live,
III boy" she announced grnvely. Pete
sank back beside the sleeping child,
| with a choking sensation, half thank.
fulness for their escape and half-hor-
ror ut the suddenly c0njured picture
| Of the boys murdered mother and
brother. He remembered how he was
wounded. How had they two escap.
ed scalping? How came Wawaga
therei Were the redskins still at tile
station? II 20, he must Use greatest
caution. Perhaps they had kept him
for torture. The woman anticipated
his queries. '.Injuns gone! You &c
now, fore come backv' Pete started
tlon In spite Of the shooting pain and
dreadful dizziness.
(which way shall 60. and howY'
he asked, eagerly. II must take little
Jim! lid them raskils git all thel
hosses?" ia. t.,-s,{
white man keep still! Wawagn gel
ponyg and the old woman drew the
tattered blanket around her and slip
ped nolselessly from tic room. lcav.
ing Pete to his own busy thoughts
She was gone but . few seconds, be.
| fore she glided In again, nluttering
"Hiln ready! You 60 fort, no flnd In
1 junsv'
Pete felt sick and faint; he wonder.
| ed how he could keep himself and
the drowsygchild. ON the animals back
| over the many miles Of rough road
that lay between them and safety;
i 1t was impossible to remain In theiI
| defenseless position, 30 he must make
the effort. He could not imagine how
! the squaw had dismissed his assail.
ants. and he expected, their return
with darkness to finish their pro
gtnmme Of vengeance.
Wawaga herself carried out the boy,
mo touch, arm hurt" she said, mo
tioning away the wounded man. Very
gently she lifted the tiny figure, still.
Ing the fretful wall and Coaxing him
to wake up and ride on the pony.
She led the way and Pete followed;
as he stepped out into tho dusk, his
heart swellcd at the utter desolatlon,
only the scorched row Of gum treea
marked the site Of Hush StatiynF be
side his forlorn little cabin -.
4 b With good deal Of Wrenching and
pain. Pete .clambered into the saddle,
! the squaw lifted the boy. before linn.
4 the man gathered tho bride into his
useful hand, encircling the child with
the same arm BEFORE b put spurs
ITO his horse and ret out ON hts peril
| Gus journey. he leaned down toward
| Inward the stunted and squalid hat a
the horses head. saying hoarSely
Is'You're good M Wawasal LII d. q
mnch fer yous r. ever 4 ST ther
1 chance" ~ z, -, - 'ii,S s
"UEhr sranted the old woman.
"Squaw no good! Heap good white
| man,po let or Injun die! All. eyepsn now.
Here-Op sauaw take um-nos kcosi.
Hlong white man. Ehe thrust 2 black