West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1898-03-24
PRIVATE BROWN.

l M ~ l. DNOW IN.
A band OF mounted Indians came
sweeping down the bluff but half =
mile behind them.
MY God. we arc pursued" he cricd.
striking the spurs deeply into the sides
OF the horse. "Cling closely. my loved
ono. for IL viii now be a desperate ride
for life"
"May God in Heaven protect us" she
murtnured, rs the fierce yells of the
pursuing Indians reached their ears.
The noble horse heard the savage
cries of the pursucrs, and seemed TO
realize the great danger that threat
ened his riders. Across the grassy val
ley he few with almost incredible
speed, and thrill of hope flashed
through the young soldiers breast as
he noted that each bound of the animal
Increased the distance between them
selves and the savagcs
1--WE gained on them. Courage, my
beloved, courage, and we will yet es-
cape them. II we can but reach the
other side and gain the high ground
they may abandon the chase before
getting too near the fort"
God grant that they mayi Oh,
those frightful, unearthly yells. They
seem to chill my blood" she said.
clinging yet more closely 10 her lover
Without slackening his pace the
horse dashed into the stream, but the
water impcded his progress and the
Indians gained rapidly upon them
Nobly the strong beast plunged against
the swift waters which rose To his
breast In the center OF the stream, but
the current was strong and his progress
was slow. At last he reached the other
side and dashed up the bank as the In
dians were urging their ponies into the
water on the opposite side.
Across the wooded bottom which In
tervened between the river and the
western bluff they few, and began the
ascent of the gulch which led TO the
mesa. The stecpness of the hill again
impeded the horses speed, and when
they reached the summit the Indians
could be seen flying across the bottom,
still in mad pursuit.
Courage, my darling" he again
cried in an assuring tone. "Do not
despair, for we may yet escape them.
The fort can now almost be seen"
God will aid us, Ned. my beloved"
she responded. MY lips are moving
in constant prayer for our deliver.
ance"
Up from the gulch came the Indians,
but half n mile behind, and again their
blood-curdling yclls rang out upon the
mir. On they few, pursued and pursu-
ers, and Browns heart sank within him
when he noted that the Indians were
rapidly closing the gap between them.
hia %, 20
ertions n groan escaped from the SOL
dicr's now bloodless lips. for the ami
NAL began TO pcrceptibly slacken It's
speed. His powers of endurance were
almost exhausted. and IL was evident
thnt he could go but little further.
The fort was yet two miles distan /, and
escape now seemed impossible.
Zip! Zip! Zip!" The bullets from
the rifles Of the Indiana began to hy
by them.
Pulling the jaded horse behind a bar
ricade of rocks which rose by the trail
brown sprung TO the ground and cried:
Get into the saddle, Alice, and push
ON toward the fort. For tho love of
God hasten, and may be able to hold
them at bay until you escape. Fly, my
darling, ay. for not an instant must be
lost"
To his utter amazemcnt the brave
girl slid from the horses back and,
with pale but determined face, replied:
"No, Ned, will not leave you. You
risked your precious life for mel and II
would be cowardly for me TO desert you
now. II you must die here. will die
with you"
There was no time for further urQ-
Ing, for the yells of the Indians now
came to them with startling distinct
ness as they rapidly came on. Gaining
n position from which he could see
over the rocks, the soldier leveled his
repeating rife and began to discharge
IL with deadly effect.
So unexpected was the flre that the
Indians recoifed. and, springlng from
their ponies In confusion, sought for
shelter behind the rocks which dotted
the mesa. From their cover they kept
up a scattering fire, but their bullets
few harmlessly overhead, or were fat
tened against the rocky breastwork
which natured had provided.
Pcerin2 cautiously over the barricado
the brave soldier watched his foes with
eagle eyes, firing whenever feathercd
head came into view.
There came a cessation IN the firing
Of the Indians, and he heard them call
ing out TO each other from their sepa-
rated positions behind the rocks. and
surmised that they were planning
sudden dash upon their hiding-place.
His heart became as lead In his breast,
for he well knew that. although his
rife might do deadly work as they adj
vanced, they would certainly over
power him and death would speedily
follow
In his eagerness TO get good shot
and thus still further intimidate the
savages. he raised himself yet higher
above the rocks, and the next instant
fell backward into the arms Of his be-
trothed, the warm blood squirting from
q bullet wound In his breast.
"Oh. Ned, Ned, you nrc hitl You arc
killed." she cried. in agony. "Ohl my
God. my God. what shall do7 Father
in Heaven, save him. save himr
With n great effort he saidi
"Be brave. Alice, my love. be brave
'Tis not much. ] am only--only stunned
n little / will rs--reoOver In ain q