Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1896-07-04
CHASED BY FIRE.

rie, causing the tangled MASSES to long
grass with which it was carpeted t.
wave to and fro like the coming in OF
the going out OF the tide. Everything
was brown and withered, and the sod
houses scattered at wide intervals fit
ted we'll in the somber picture. There
were patches of bare ground here and
there, with piles of dead "tumbline
weeds" broken from their main stem
and clinging together, rolling over
miles of space, the playthings Of the
wind, and increasing in size as they
rolled.
A young girl stool in the doorway
of small dug out, and looked NJ
these with a troubled countenance.
1T would he terrible day for q
fire." she said to the la,l who wa.
twisting the hay for their night fuel a
few yards away. Everything is SO
dry, and those weeds are collecting
in such quantities that they would be
a moving wall of flame If lighted"
Well said the boy hopefully. its
getting late in the season for fires,
and Jack Williams plowed half a
dozen extra burrows around our house
for 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 p
There was an echo of horses hoofs
from the rear of the house, and an
Indian came round the corner, mount
ed on white-faced pony, with blan-
ket dragging loosely from his shoul-
ders. The girl stepped back, and the
boy dropped his hay and came near
her, as il 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 -four, meal
salt pork !"
For a moment Alice Maxon was
frightened, but a glance at her broth
er Elmer seemed to give her strength.
and she answered, firmly: I'VE have
no food for you, White Bear The
year has neen hard one for us. See
our little farm, our one COW ami horse,
and our poor clothes. We are only
children | am eighteen, and my
brother is twelve. Our father aud
mother are dead long. cold winter
lies before us. and we have not n
mouthful 10 spare"
The Indian irowned.
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. Has
the maiden chickens? White Bear
must have eggs have said it,
You will get nothing here said
Elmer Maxon. angrily. "lt you want
these things, do as we have done
work for them, like good citizen of
the United States =
Does the maiden say this, too ?"
Il do not like to turn you away
emrty-handed." Alice returned in Il
gentle voice, but | cannot give you
from our store of provisions. A great
warrior will not be cruel, and if offer
to break bread with YOU, will not
White Bear eat one slice and 30 in
peace?'
no" growled the savage. white
Bear will have what he asks for or
nothing And ii | get nothing, the
bad children will be sorry they will
know what it is to be hungry and cold
before spring"
Alice turned away. unable to meet
the stare of his revengeful eyes but
Elmer answered, daunllessly: 1--WE
are not afraid Of you, and don't be-
lieve YOU are even big Sioux. Brave
chiefs do not scare boys and girls eth
er y
I'VE shall see,'' said White Bear,
i'm cultural voice.
He struck his pony with piece OF
shingle that he held in his left hand
and rode away without looking back
but Alice and Elmer watched him
out Of sight with some uneasiness. Il
am sorry" said the girl, "but indeed
cannot help it. To give to one In.
dian is to open the door through
which twenty more will file into your
castle. And We cannot spare any
thing from our winters allowa: ce
without putting ourselves in danger OF
starvation y
Are you afraid OF White Bear y
the hoy asked.
81 am little troubled by hi.
threats" said his sister.
"Well, believe had better 20 up
to Jack Williams cabin and tell him
about it, and see what he thinks We
should do to protect ourselves"
Alice blushed prettily.
eve are always appealing to Jact
Williams for help" she said deprecat
ingly. 81 am afraid he thinks we ar,
very Troublesome
"No, he doesn't, Alice, Onl,
yesterday he told me it anything
happened to YOU to let him know, an,
he is always offering to help us, rs i
il was the pleasantest and most natur