Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-07-06

KNOW not mySef, She replied
"He is my life, for without him could
not live
The Prophet FASTENED i'll the direction
where he knew his friends to be, taking
care the meanwhile to run into no am
bush, for, though others might believe
in his invulnerability- perhaps he
encouraged the idea to strengthen him
with the ignorant men with whom he
came in contact-he never deceived him
self in the matter.
1t was the middle of the afternoon
when, after many glimpses Of Bouton's
oncoming horsemen, he found himself
within mailing distance of Louis Kyle's
little party. Howard Blanchard and
John Clyde refused to recognize the
Prophet in his strange attire, and they
would have fired on him had not Louis
peremptorily ordered them to lower
their rifles
Il do not wonder" said the Prophet
as he rode up, "that ye do not know me
i'll this garb. Heretofore We have seen
me as a mountain priest. Now 1 am
mountain warrior, fighting ON the side
Of the Great jehovah, and, as my soul
hveth, shall not prove recreant to the
new trust.
The men gathered around him and
shook his hands, each anxious to learn
something of his own dear ones back in
the valley. The Prophet told the men
about their people, and he showed a
wonderful memory for names, for he
mentioned all the children when he had
given an account of the adults. He also
told of his meeting with Henry Kyle,
and he delighted the hearts of the i'm
migrants by telling them that Captain
Brandon was not dead, but prisoner.
Howard Blanchard proposed that they
Should turn back and rescue the captain
ct once, and John Clyde seconded the
Suggostion with great spirit.
mot now," said the Prophet. 1--WE
must not do anything to delight the
heart of the oppressor. -
And" asked honest John Clyde,
"do you think they'll be delighted to
sec us coming ut them?''
Il know they would, for, though we
might start, we could never reach the
destination we had in view. Let us
watch and pray" Then, turning to
Louis Kyle, who was standing on rock
near by, looking back, he said:
"Do You see the Philistines?'
YES, F" replied Louis. Then, coming
oyer, he laid his hand on the Prophets
arm and continued: Neither nor any
| of the men here dreamed of anything
else but that you should take command
after we were sure that it was you ap-
| preaching. We place ourselves in your
| charge, and whatever you command that
shall we do
Louis speaks for me-" said Howard
Blanchard
And for me-" added John Clyde,
and the others joined in unanimously.
And whatever Louis Kyle says or
does that we do" said one of the herd
ers, who on n former occasion showed
his devotion to his young master.
IF Captain Brandon were here, said
the Prophet, now as in the past l
would submit rs q child to his control,
once we were outside the temples where
preside, but now with your consent
will try to act as he would We're he here.
so, my friends, mount your horses and
fall back. The Philistines are in sight
See the sunlight flashing on their armsr'
The men threw themselves on their
horses, and the Prophet and Louis Kyle,
keeping to the rear, turned in their sad
| dies now and then to look back. They
could see that Bouton had brought the
| prisoners to the front so as to deter re-
| siStance.
The sun was setting when the Prophet
| and his friends entered the depression
| terminating in the canyon that led into
| the wonderful valley, which seemed to
| be the objective point of the marauders
| There could be no better place III which
| to make IL stand. The Prophets force
| could easily have held it against ten
| times Bouton's numbers, ard some of
the men urged him to make a fight
| there. He said in reply: "You are right
as to our power to keep them back The
, defense is in our favor, but we are in
their hands. and they know it,
"How so:" asked John Clyde.
Because in this canyon we cannot
| shoot at them or destroy them without
at the same time destroying cur friends
Their prisoners are their shields, and
they know they are safe behind them. -
1t was quite dark when they emerged
| from the canyon, wherein the roar OF
| the waters had drowned out their own
| voices and the trampirg Of the horses.
i In the face Of the cliff beyond the lake
they saw dull glow, ipd they Enew it
| came from the caves where the few men
/ and the women were watching.
Let them come into the valley
said the Prophet to his men, who, in
their impatience, were anxious to make
a stand at the entrance TO the canyon.
But our wives and children are over
yonder," said one Of the men.
| AYE, and God is everywhere Let
them come in, 1 say said the Prophet
in tones that for the first time had in
them ring Of command
why, you talk as if you wanted
them to come in," said the astonished
immigrant.
Then l am not deceiving you. Let
them come into the valley. They have
my consent. They will not have my
| r0pScut whom fhny- want 70 1aox-o