The Irish standard., 1900-12-29


was very wrong for him to stop at
this farmhouse instead of keeping on
duty; but then, he had spent such a
pleasant evening
AS he lay awake he looked out of
his window at the bright moon, which
lit up the fields and distant hills in Il
dull but rich yellow. Suddenly Il low
sound fell upon his ears; it sounded
to him like the hoot of an owl He sat
up in bed and listened breathlcSsly
for the same sound. He heard it again
"A low, muttled warhoot.
Instantly he was on his feet and into
his clothes. Looking cautiously out
of his window he bchcld dark figure
running at a swift gait across the
meadow; then another dark object,
and still another.
What could be done? The Indians
were out! He must ride to camp
against all pcrils and inform them of
the danger
| !.
and they decided it was best for them
to remain quietly i'll the house. and
that he would ride as fast as possible
into camp and come back With Il squad
1" rescue them. After Il few words of
encouragement to the family Sylvester
bravely gave up his gun to the farmer
To vfr1 a.
after his horse, an old favoritc, who
knew as well as he did that some
trouble was up. Mounting his horse,
he gallopcd away over the fields,
ready for anything that might happen
on the way.
AS his horse turned into the main
road which leads to Il dark forest. !,
bullet whizzcd swiftly past the horse $
head. Then another bullet edged in
the dust under the horses feet. hut
not Il human sound was heard.
lie passed through the forest in safe
ty, but new pcrils lay beyond it, In
the distance he could see bright fire
|
he could distinguish figures around ii.
These We're a band of Indians, and in
order to avoid them he must ride two
miles out of his way; then he could
come to Il place in the river where,
there was no bridge.
He reached the river and started to
| Int
several vain attempts he decided that
the only way was to tic his horse So
curcly to Il tree, swim the river lin
self and walk the rest of the way to
camp, which was Il mile and Il half Off
Sylvester swan safely across the river.
but when he reached the opposite bank
clothes. Duty bore him on and ii was
not until he was within half Il mile
from the camp that he felt tired and
weary.
Sylvester now drew near the cross
roads; one led to camp and another
turned off to the west. Suddenly he
heard a galloping close behind him
and, glancing around. lie perceived
somebody on horseback coming ut n
flying pace.
He stepped aside from the road into
some bushes just as an Indian, mount
ed on pony. came hurrying by, with
no other than Sylvcstcr's horse tied
behind.
AS they reached the cross roads, the
Indian turned into the road leading
west. but Sylvestcr's horse gave a
jerk and dashed down the road lead
ing to camp. The Indian matted,
looked after the gnlloping stccd, and
muttercd something which Sylvester
understood to mean that he could not
go SO near the camp after the horse,
and then hurried down the opposite
road.
When Sylvester reached camp he
found it already astr, as the ridcrlcss
horse had informed them of some dan
ger. A company was Immediately dis
patched and Sylvester declared that he
would go with them, as he had prom
Used the family he would return with
aid.
1t was about 6 O'clock when the com
pany started, headed by Sylvester, and
not long after they arrived Mt the
farmhouse, but Just in time
The Indians had completely de-
stroyel the farm and were about to
set fire to the house, when Sylvester
approached, followed by the company.
The Indians fled to the woods and,
leaving Sylvester with Il few others to
care for the family, the company start
ed in pursuit of them.
Sylvester entered the house and in
the farthcst part of the cellar the
frightened family was hidden. Their
joy knew no bounds when they saw
Sylvester, for they were just about to
give up. Mr.. Graham had been So
vcrrly wounded in his arm.
The little farm was deserted ana the
family moved down to Minneapolis,
where soon after Mr. Graham died
But Sylvester received his reward,
for one year later lie married lovely
Margaret Graham.