Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1896-04-17
GLOW? cannot reach them in time?

@UOW? | cannot reach them I'D tlInc'
"You can with horse. In few
minutes Will staggcr to the corral and
have a horse ready for you. Then you
must ride as fast as possible to the trail
and give the warning Of the proposed
attack"
IL fear that leave you in danger.
"No. I am safe for the present, and l
believe / shall succeed in rescuing lnez, "
replied Darrel.
TIE young scout arose to his feet and
reeled toward the thickct where the
horses were kept, minute later.
The sayages gathered around the
camp fire were too much occupied in
drinking to notice his absence.
Ranger Ralph waited for some time,
and then allowed the cut ropes to fall to
the ground.
Then he sto'e quietly to the thickct.
Quick Here is the horse and there
is a rifle and small arms strapped to the
saddle.
"Then it's one of Despards horscs?"
"Probably. Lose no time. Cross the
stream and keep to the north OF the
camp"
The old scout sprang into the saddle
and a minute later the horse was cross
ing the river
No one seemed to have noticed his
cscape. and he madc a wide dctour OF
the camp and then directed the steed
toward the distant cmigrant trail
lie chose a lonely road, eyading
what he believed would be the course
pursued by the MOdOcs.
Twice he nearly ran into party OF
borscmen, and the disc oVery made MN
very anxious
ait cannot be possible that the In
dams have started on the war trail al
readv.D he muttercd, cOnCcrnedly.
Suddenly, an hour later, the sound OF
shooting some distance ahead alarmed
him. He FASTENED toward the spot.
As he emerged from the woods a sight
met his vision that thrilled him to the
kecncst excitement.
Ranger Ralph was too late with his
warning.
Tho cmgrant train had already been
attacked by the ALI led MOdOcS and Sioux,
and the wagons were now the scene OF
an animated contest.
The red demons were pilaglng and
burning and killing, while the shrickS
of the unfortunate emiGrants echoed on
every side. .,
"Too late to warn and save them"
calculated Ranger Ralph, grimly; "0u'
not too late TO help them against thcll
murdered foes"
lie directed tho horse into the thick
est of the conflict as he spoke and, riiiC
in hand, determined to sell his life dear
lv in protecting the lives and property
of the imi crilcd cmigrant'.
1t was a brief and sanguinary battle
The Modocs and Sioux and their rene
gadc allies were superior in numbers L
the emgrants, VINO were surrounded
driven back, and butchercd mcrailcSsly
The brave old scout saw the horse hi
rode shot down and himself wounded
he dragged his form t. a covered wagon
and crcpt into it for safety and conceal
meme. Then, as the boOd oozed from
terrible wound in the breast, Range
Ralph sank into b anlI lcthargy o
inscnSibility
When he awollc it was broad daylight
The wagon was moving and he peerc'
cautiously forth from pic OF nay II
the bottom Of the vehicle.
lie was weak and in pam, ahd almos
hclplcss: but he made OF his iol
at a glance
Behind the wagon on horseback wer
half dozen men, doubtless another por
tion of Tes ard band.
Driving the vehicle was jim Danton
and the scout doubted not but that the
were proceeding to the outlaw rendel
vous at Lone Canyon.
SO far evidently, his presence in tn
wagon had not been discovered; he kneN
that he was in a position of great peri
and that Affairs were fast assuming
shape most favorable to the plans
Dyke Dcsp ard.
frb M