Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1896-08-19
CHAPTER XIV.
Copyright, 1895, by American Press Association

Durine the morning Bouton told
Henry Kyle that he was going to find
Captain Brandon, at the same time de-
string Henry to remain with the ladies.
Then Bouton lay down to sleep in an
ticipation of long night ride. He had
not slept long when he was awakened
by Patch, who informed him that one
of Black Eagles Indians had come in.
Bouton got up and questioned the In
dian, who told him that he had seen
CAPTAIN Brandon and the Prophet to-
gether.
The Indian was right The Prophet
and Captain Brandon had counted their
forces. On hearing Of Louis Kyle's cap
ture, the Prophet set out on foot alone
to rescue him and came within a couple
of miles of Black Eagles warriors be-
fore night He kept on, nor haulted for
breath or in doubt about the way, until
he stood ON the rim Of Kyle's valley and
saw far beneath him the stars reflected
in the placid lake.
"They are coming. hear them far
behind I have outstripped them as
would the wind on such mission"
Down the steep hills the Prophet sped
to the meadowlike expanse that in the
sunlight looked like great emerald in
the granite setting Of the mountains. AS
he neared the house, the location marked
by the darker outlines Of the surround
ing trees, the resting cattle started up In
alarm and the deep baying Of a hound
was heard in front.
Down, ,dogl downl'' said the Prophet
as the dog came fiercely toward him.
The dog obeyed and skunk in ahead as II
ashamed Of his mistake. The Prophet
ran up to the house and beat with his
clinched fist on the door.
"Who is there?' demanded Valentine
Kyle from within.
I-I- A friend" was the reply.
"Your name?"
"Men call me Daniel the Prophet.
.Arisel Awakel The Philistines are in
the hills, and they come this way with
the speed Of mountain torrent and the
destruction Of prairie fire Up, Valen-
tine Kylel Up, for the sake Of your
home, your wife, and your daughterp
Still, as he spoke the Prophet contin-
ued his pounding on the door, and the
echoes round about took up the hollow
sound. In few minutes the door was
opened, and Valentine Kyle appeared
shading light and bending forward to
get sight of his visitor. When his eyes
became accustomed to the gloom, he
discovered the weird, gigantic form OF
the Prophet, and he drew back. With
his hand on the pistel he had hastily
fastened to his waist.
Fear not" cried the Prophet. I'm
Gods name, believe I am friend"
II do Enter and tell Us your mis-
sion"
II have no time to sit down, nor
have you time to hear me. Bouton and
his gang even as I speak are entering
your valley
Entering my valley?"
Even as tell thee"
'But why?"
"Why does the wolf enter your folds?
He comes for plunder or worse. Hark
to the barking Of your hound! The wind
sweeps this way and he has scented
them. Call your daughter, secure your
arms and follow me with your wife.
Delay not; minute may bc worth
life!'
These mere words can give no idea OF
the effect Of the Prophets manner. 1t
was simply irresistible, aud, with q
woman's quick apprehension, Mrs
Kyle saw that he spoke with reason and
felt that it would be wise to obey him.
"Let us follow the Prophet hus-
band," she said eagerly. "No harm can
come Of it. for we have ever heard OF
him as a good man"
Valentine Kyle had come to the con-
clusion that it was not false alarm
and was hastily putting on his equip
ments when his daughter Nora, the In
dian girl Kushat, and an old herder
came rushing in. The herder called out:
"There are horsemen in our valley,
and they are galloping this way"
"That is Bouton's gang" said the
Prophet Hurry! For your lives. hurry"
In less time than it takes to describe
1t Mrs. Kyle and her daughter threw on
such covers as they found handy, Mr..
Kyle extinguished the light and all
went out If Valentine Kyle had enter
tanned any doubts about the vicinity Of a
considerable body Of horsemen, they
vanished after he had been a minute in
the open air. His ears told him that
they were not 200 yards away.
Follow me, he whispered. "Iknow
every place Of concealment about the
valley"
With his rife in his left hand and his
wife clinging to his right, Valentine
Kyle led the way, followed by Nora and
Kushat, while the Prophet and the In
dian herder brought up the rear.
A few hundred yards back of the house
the foothill Of the highest mountain in
sight was broken into ravines and made
up Of rock heaps that looked at little
distance like the ruins Of mighty tenn
pie. Here in the long ago Valentine Kyle
had often played with his boys and his
baby daughter. At the present time a
few Of the more open spaces were used
as corrals for the sheep, but there was
not nook in it that Mr.. Kyle and any
Of his family could not have found
blindfolded.
1--WE are safe here for the present, /
think Let us wait I hear them call
ing," said Mr.. Kyle.
They stopped in a little glen that
seemed to be rooted by projecting
rock, for there was only narrow strip
overhead through which the stars could
no papO