The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-12-25


Jecka piunging availed nim morning..
A moment more. with n dismal groan he
was on his side in the soft. cold bed. the
lariat was being lashed and knotted so
that even furious struggles could not
free him, and then, TO add TO the indig-
nity, his erstwhile friends and comrades
We're heaping new insult and a storm of
snow upon him. Jack couldn't under
stand it.
Ready, men, They're just peeping
over in the hollow now. The moment
they're fairly in it. give the word"
Twenty-thirty seconds of breathless
silence. Then quick gesture: quick,
low toned, but imperative "Gor'
Go they did. skilnming over the pool
above the rapids, leaping the narrow
chasm where the black waters, dancing
and frothing, had defied the ice king;
ducking under the opposite bank; car
bines in hand, revolvers at the hip. car
tridges cleaning in every belt; and after
them, leaping. yet bending low, went
Brewster. Another moment and they
reached the mouth of the ravine, burst
through the powdery drift. and then,
Brewster leading. eyes everywhere, al
most ON all fours, they scurried along
half way up the opposite slope, keeping
well under the crest and just at the edge
of the deepdrifts to their right. Fifty
sixty yards they made their rapid way.
and then around a little bend and among
great heaps and mounds of glistening,
shimmering white there rose an odd
shaped heap, only trifle higher than
its fellows, and from the midst of it
there projected a dingy, whity-brown
canvas, slanting to the north, and with
a cry of delight half stified in his lips
Carroll Brewster leaped into the snow,
fonndered to his armpits in. the powdery
drift, and in moment more had forced
ais way through the fragile white wall
before him, had seized the handle of the
door and Winifred Berrien, starting from
her mothers clasping arms, blinded for
an instant by the glare Of radiant SUM-
shine. barely able as yet TO rally from the
stupor like slumber into which she had
fallen, heard her name called in the JOY
Gus tones she knew so well and saw her
lover. a stalwart, glowing. rejoicing
young snow god. al sparkling with the
white crystals, all glistening in the glo-
rious beams, gazing upon her with 4
love light in his brave blue eyes that
brought instan: glow TO her own wan
and pallid cheek. And then. before she
could even speak. before her mother
could emerge from the eufolding robes.
a shout was heard. then the sudden ring
of a rife shot, followed instantly by an
other, the spat as of a whiplash on the
canvas top. Something tore its way
through the roof and front with spiteful
'zip"
"Downi down upon the floor. both OF
you, quickT shouted Brewster, as he
slammed the door, and the next instant
they heard the order in his ring
ing tones, half stifed in the snow.
"Fire, men! Keep 'em of! Firer
Thoy heard the quick bangl bang! of
carbines close at hand, the prompt re-
sponse Of rifles distant as were the first,
the whistle of lead through the icy air,
the shrill yells of battling Indians. the
furious gallopof bounding hoofs. Every
where 10 their front the rapid fire in
creased. More yells, partly of triumph.
partly summoning additional warriors
to the spot, then the muified beat Of
coming hoofs, and in the midst of it all
Brewster's stern voice, calm and steady:
"Aim well, men, but fire lively. Don't
let them again get so close rs to have a
shot at the wagon. Watch that above
ALL" Two-three minutes the sound of
battle ragged about them, increasing at the
front 4 soldier voice was heard to say:
There's more of them coming, sir. You
can see them down there 10 the east.
And Mrs. Berrien's heart grew faint
with fear Winifred had buried her
face upon her breast and closed her ears
to the horrid sounds. And then. all on
a sudden, the yells of the charging IN
dians seemed to grow fainter. ii!rn
sounds of dismay arose among them.
then the cries were drowned in the cIat-
ter of ironshod hoofs and the chorus Of
soldier cheers Murphy and his little
squad came whirIing mp the bank, and
Mrs. Berrien's heart poured forth III
praise and thanksgiving at the joyous
Milesian hail:
ITO hell wild EN-, feilers. Sure all .
TROOPS comin-not two miles behindr
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