The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1895-08-31
lRNEsS, BUCCIES and SPRING WAGONS \
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CHAPTER XVIII

s.,f a 8 - .9f
The horse did not seem to feel the
weight of his double, load, and sped
over the ground at rapid pace.
Elbow noble of you, Ned. to risk your
own precious life for me-" she said, as
they flew along. IAN eternity of love
and devotion could not repay you for:
your work Of tonight III
zone smile from my darling one, one
word of love from her lips would amply
repay me for any undertaking, no
matter what dangers it might pre-
sent" he fondly replied. did the In !.
dams treat you harshly, Aliceg 45--
"No, Ned, but 0, shudder to think
Of the fate they held in store for me
and which l would have met tonight
had not this storm come on. THERE'S in
the band young half-breed Indian
who speaks fairly good English, and he
explained to me that many of the In
dians' horses have died lately from
some epidemic, and the medicine man
of the tribe told them that the Great
Spirit was angry with the people and,
demanded sacrifice to appease, his
wrath. He told them that they must
make captive paleface girl, and out in
Ell open camp must build a great circle
of fires, and that in the circle amid dane
ing and rejoicing the maiden must be
bound and trampled to death by
horses ridden by those whose animals
had died. The band which captured
me were on the way to the ranch of a
settler near the base Of the San Mateo
mountains west of the fort to carry off
his daughter for the sacrifice when
they heard my pony's footsteps coming.
down the gulch, and, concealing
themselves near the trail, they awaited
my coming. They believed the Great
Spirit had thrown me into their hands,
and their rejoicing was great. The
wood for the fore-circle had all been
collected when the storm approached,
and as the thunders rolled in the dis
lance the medicine man told them she
Great Spirit was speaking to them
commanding them to take me to the
rcserva ton where the entire tribe
could take part in the ceremonies. %,
Ned, in their blind, ignorant supersti-
ton they will be frantic over my es~
cape, and will use desperate efforts to
recapture me. Do you not fear par-
suit?'
"Your absence may not be discov-
cred until aybreak, my darling, and
even should you be missed tonight,
they could not discover our trail in the
darkness. Even now am depending
entirely on the instinct of the horse to
keep our direction, for not a landmark
can be seen in this pitchy darkness"
"But they will know that my rescuer
came from the fort, or that if escaped
unaided I would start back toward the
fort, and should l be missed in the
night would they not at once come in
this direction in search of 1ne?"
"You are right, Alice. I had not
thought of that. Then, in @ reassur-
ing tone, he added; "Rut do not feel
the least fear, dear one, for we are
mounted ON a magnificent horse, and
he is making splendid progress. we.
will surely reach the river by day
break, and think che Indians would
not go far without some sign to show
them that they were on our trail. Rest
assured that we will reach the fort in
safety in time for good breakfast"
II pray that you may be right, Ned,
yet have a presentiment that peril
awaits us before we reach our home. /
will try to Danish the fear, which is no
doubt foolish one"
''You will laugh at your fears, little
one, when you are again safe in your
home. But see, darling, the rain has
almost ceased; and it grows lighter"
The clouds were indeed passing
away, and soon the stars glimmered
dimly through the hazy atmosphere.
On and on they sped across the
desert, every beat Of the horses hoofs
making an increased distance between
themselves and their Indian foes.
On through the gloom of night into
the gray dawn OF morning they rode,
and just as the first streak of sunlight
kissed the damp earth over the eastern
hills they came upon the bluffs over
looking the Rio Grande at the point
where they had crossed it, four miles
below the fort.
ssHere is the dear old river again."
he joyfully cried. '.Now to ford it,
and in an hour you will be safely back
in your fathers arms"
Ibid father know you started after
me, Ned7" she asked, as the horse