Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1895-01-17

selves and the savages.
eve gained on them. Courage, ny
beloved, courage, and we will yet e.
.ape them If we can but reach tn,
other side and gain the high ground
they may abandon the chase before
getting too near the fort"
God grant that they may! Oh
those frightful, unearthly yellsl They
seem to chill my blood" she said
.linging yet more closely to her lover
Without slackening his pace the
horse dashed into the stream, but the
water impeded 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 ne 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 wher
they reached the summit the indians
could be seen flying across the bottom.
still in mad pursuit.
Courage, my darling!" he agaif
cried in an assuring tone. do not
despair, for we may yet escape them
The fort can now aruost be seen"
God will aid u Ned, my beloved
she responded. My lips are moving
IN constant prayer for our deliver
nee"
Up from the gulch came the Indians
put half mile behind, and again thei'
olood-curdling yells rang out upon tn,
air. On they flew, pursued and pursu
ers, and Browns heart sank within hin
when he noted that the Indians wer,
rapidly closing the gap between them.
Spurring his horse to its greatest ex
ertions a groan escaped from the sol
dier's now bloodless lips, for the AMI
nal began to perceptibly slacken its
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, anc
escape now seemed impossible.
''Zipl 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
"Get into the saddle, Alice, and push
on toward the fort. For the love Of
God hasten, and i may be able to hold
them at bay until you escape. Fly, my
darling, fly, for not an instant must he
lost"
To his utter amazement the braVe
girl slid from the horses back ano
with pale but determined face, replied
mo, 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, I will die
with you"
There was no time for further urg
ing, for the yells of the Indians now
came to them with startling distinct
ness as they rapidly came on. Gaining
a position from which he could see
over the rocks, the soldier levelcd his
repeating rifle and began to discharge
it with deadly effect.
So unexpected was the fire that the
Indians recoiled, and, springing from
their ponies in confusion, sought fol
shelter behind the rocks which dotted
The mesa. From their cover they kept
Up scattering fire, but their bullet,
lew harmlessly overhead, or were fat
5ened against the rocky breastworl
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 cessation in the firing
# the Indians, and he heard them call
ng out to each other from their sepa
ated positions behind the rocks, ano
,urmised that they were planning
sudden dash upon their hiding-place
His heart became as lead in his breast
for he well knew that, although his
rife might do deadly work as they ad
yanced, they would certainly over
power him and death would speedily
follow
In his eagerness to get a good shot
and thus still further intimidate the
y
above the rocks, and the next instant
fell backward into the arms of his be
-rothed, the warm blood squirting from
4 bullet wound in his breast.
''Oh, Ned, Ned, you are hit You ar,
dlled!' she cried, in agony. oh! m!
God, my God, what shall do? Fathei
n Heaven, save him. save HIM"
With a great effort he said:
BE brave, Alice, my love, be brave
lis not much. am only-only stunned
L little. / will re-recover in ain
moment"
His face grew dcathly pale, anC
blood oozed forth from his pallic
lips Alice almost screamed witt
fright, and her voice trembled witt
agony as she said;
.'Oh, Ned, my poor darling you al,
lying. They have cruelty murdered
you! Father in Heaven take me will
him.
With an almost superhuman effort he
seemed to rally his fast departing
strength and said:
Il am not SO badly hurt as you think.
Alice. and can yet protect you The
shock If the shot made me feel faint
.,., II has passed. Raise me up in YOU
rms, dearest. so | can see over thu
-ocks. will yet beat them back
fhey shall never harm you, my be
owed. Raise me up. There - nov
ouse your hopes. All! hear theil
iendish yell, They think they hav,
- now. but vill soon learn their error.
Alice exertcd all her strength in do
lg as he requested and again his rill'
ang out as the Indiars supposing h,
lad been killed, were securing thcii
ponies and preparing for desceni
Ipon the maiden. Again they sought
hclter behind the rocks and resumeo
heir desultory fire.
The effort proved too great for tn
younded man, and he sank back heav
ly into Alice's arms. She now becam.
llmost paralyzcd with fright as shc
GENTLY let him down upon the ground
lie looked up into her bianched face
md with a smile so ghastly that il
,eemed to betollen the approach OF
death said, family:
why do you weep. Alice, darling.
an not badly hurt. feel very-very
-weak-but-it Is only-only from
Ioss Of blood. will rally in moment
Kiss me, Alice. The pressure of your
lear lips will nerve me-me-me for
one mo-more effort"
She pressed her trembling lips 10 his.
and moaned:
Ned, you are dying! You are dying.
can see it in your poor, dear eyes.