The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1896-07-25
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CHASED BY FIRE.

| tiic tdllSliHS misses Oh the long grass with
which II was carpeted to wave to and fro
like the coming in or the going out o! the
tide. Everything was brown and withered.
and the sod houses scattered at wide inter
walls fitted well in the somber picture.
There were patches of bare ground here
and there, with piles of dead 'tumblng
weeds, broken from their main stem and
clinging together, rolling over miles of
space, the playthngs of the wind, and in
creasing in size rs they rolled.
A young girl stood in the doorway of n
small dug out, and looked at these with
troubled countenance.
st would be terrible day for fire,
she said to the lad who was twisting the
hay for their night fuel Il few yards away.
Everything is so dry and those weeds are
collecting IN such quantities that they
would be moving wall of flame if
lighted"
''Well,' said the boy hopefully, : its
getting late in the season for fires, and Jack
Williams plowed half dozen extra burrows
around our house for a safety line. If the
wind keeps on tearing like this We'll get
rain or snow soon, and that will put an end
to all anxiety. Ugh! what's that?'
There was an echo of horses hoofs from
the rear of the house, and an Indian came
round the corner, mounted on white faced
pony, with Il blanket dragging loosely from
his shoulders. The girl stepped back, and
the boy dropped his hay and came near her,
as if to offer her some protection.
"White Bear comes" said the red man.
with pompous air, laying his hand upon
his chest as he spoke. big Sioux-much
big-wants flour, meal and salt pork"
For momont Alice Maxon was fright
ened, but glance at her brother Elmer
seemed to give heI strength, and she
answered, firmly: I'VE have no food for
you, White Bear The year has been a
hard one for US See our little farm, our
one COW and horse and our poor clothes
u We are only children am eighteen and
my brother is twelve. Our father and
:, mother are dead; long, cold winter lies
before us, aid we have not a mouthful to
spare"
The Indian frowned.
I white Bear must have flour and meat
from all the settlers of Ridge prairie Does
, the one COW give milk? White Bear must
have butter. las the maiden chicken?
White Bear must have eggs. have
said it,
''lou will get nothing here, y said Elmer
Mavon, angrly. IF you want these
. things do as we have done, work for them,
like IA good citizen of the Untel States"
"Does the maiden say this, too?''
81 do not like to turn YOU away empty
handed, Alice returned in gentle voice,
'hut can not give you from our store of
provisions. \ great warrior will not he
cruel, and if offer to break bread with
-, you, will not White Bear eat one slice and
:, 90 in peace?'
ID NO" growled the savage. 'Whitc
n Bear will have what he asks for or nothing,
And ii get nothing, the bad children will
f be sorry; they will know what it is to he
i hungry and cold before spring."
v Alice turned away, unable to meet the
stare OF his revengeful eyes: but Elmer
:, answered, dauntlessly: eve are not afraid
| of you, and don't believe you are even
Big Souix Brave chiefs do not scare boys
and girls, either
4 ''We shall see!' said White Bear, in
Il gutteral voice.
J He struck his pony with piece of shingle
that he held in his left hand, and away
without looking back but Alice and Elmer
watched him out of sight with some I'M
easiness. 81 am sorry" said the girl, ''but
indeed can not help it. To give to one
Indian is to open the door through which
twenty more will file into your castle.
And we can not spare anything from our
winters allowance without putting our
selves in danger of starvation"
care you afraid of White Bear?' the
boy asked.
81 am a little troubled by his threats, "
said his sister
"Well, believe | had better 90 up to
Jack Williams cabin and tell him about it,
and see what he thinks we should do to
protect ourselves
Alice blushed prettily.
''We are always appealing to Jack Will
liams for help" she said deprecatingly
81 am afraid he thinks we are very trouble
some
"No, he doesn't, Alice. Only yesterday
he told me if anything happened to you to
let him know, and he is always Offering to
help us as if it was the pleasantest and
most natural thing in the world"
''He is very kind" and Alice Maxons
face grew still more rosy. Perhaps it
would be well to consult him; and YOU
should lose no time in going, Elmer, for
you must be back before dark"
Elmer did not wait for second bidding,
but mounted the only horse they possessed
and rode away towards the Williams home
stead
The two buildings were. in pioneer