The Newtown bee., 1900-03-23

They are not much more than five miles
away. They have swept through Whis-
peIing Pines, and cleaned out the village.
Not q soul left, I'm told. But they
brought away some women prisoners.
Agnes Brotherton is one Of them. II
you see Duerden, tell him. I'm to let the
general know. l think they'll attack
about daybreak."
He dropped to the ground, and glided
away, while for an instant Amos drew
himself up against his tree, stiff with
horror. There could be no mistake ;
Mark RiviDgton was too careful scout
for that, and he was an old friend of
Druerden's, too. Hence his anxiety to
impart his fateful news to the first man
he met. And the enemy was but five
miles away, and coming on in force. The
camp would be attacked. What of that
What was that to himP Agnes Agnes
was in the hands of the brutal redskins.
Rivington had heard that, and yet had
done nothing to save her. In the bitter.
ness of his grief and dismay, Amos ours
in the dark, had impaired the grewsome
news.
AS these wild thoughts coursed
through his brain, yet another sound,
close to him, startled him. No rustling
branch nor swapping twig this time, but
dull, smsGhing sound, low moan and
silence. Then q sudden rush, swish, a
sharp thud as the keen blade of q toma-
hawk was buried in the trunk of tree
an inch from his face, and Amos found
himself Rugged against the brawny
chest Of g greasy savage, whose hot
breath painted against his cheek, and who
strove nightly to bring him to the
ground. His musket dropped to the
ground at the shock; but with twist
Amos freed his left arm and drove his
knife deep into the throat of his assail-
ant, who sank with a gurgling sob to
the ground.
"One!" muttered Amos grimly, and
waited for the next. But none came,
and presently he became aware that,
whatever his purpose, the Indian had
been alone. Then 1t flashed upon him
"Rivingtcnl" The redskin was after
him. The spy had been spied upon.
Mark, where is he?
Cautiously he moved in the direction
of that first ominous sound. Not far !;
for ere he had gone dozen PAGES his
foot struck against something soft and
yielding. He stopped down, cropping
and his hand touched the body OF man.
He felt for the face, and drew back his
hand wet with something warm. And
ton, bold and trusty scout, lay dead be-
side him, slain by one more crafty than
himself.
One moment Amos spared to lament
his lost comrade, and then he sprRng to
his feet, remembering the dead mans
last message. Women prisoners had
been carried off. Agnes was in the Creek
camp. Even now she might be. He
thrust the thought from him and sped
with swift silent steps in the direction In
Dictated by poor Rivington as the posi-
ton of the foe.
Suddenly he stopped. What was this
and behind him lay his post, the one spot
OF all others which the Creeks would
choose for their point of attack, should
they make 1t at dawn. That the attack
was contemplated he knew. He alone OF
all men, now that Rivington was gone,
possessed the fateful knowledge. Floyd,
though he had not neglected precautions,
was secure In the belief that the Indians
were far away. Only through Riyington
could the mistake have been corrected,
and now Rivington was dead the secret
was In the possession Of Amos and none
other. The lives of some 1000 men were |
n his keeping, Floyd trusted him: his |
comrades slept at ease, relying upon his |
Kill and caution; and now he was about 1
10 betray his trust, to sacrifice them for |
N end of his own.
Behind him lay his duty--hig duty,
wherein till now he had never failed. Be-
ore him lay his hopes, shadowy, unde-
lned, f0rlorn TOR that he could reach the
treek camp ere death or worse, had over
AIKEN his Agnes was almost beyond the
'ounds of possibility.
But, slightly probable though IL was,
here was yet the bare possibility and,
ID, Godl to picture her there alone,
Weeping, deapairing, praying, waiting for
he help that he alone could bring; for
e alone knew Of her desperate position.
lie thanked God that she knew not that
10 knew. He cursed himself that he
nould hesitate tor one moment between 4
Ia duty and his love. He execrated the
General, who held him bound to his post
" every tie of honor. He questioned
imself with bitter emphasis what dom
ern OF his were the lives OF the 1000
len behind him, men OF whom nine out
ten were unknown TO him, when the
ne life, dearer to him than those OF
thousands OF millions of others, dearer to
Inn than all tine world, was ait STAKE.
Why should he hesitate? He was bound
y no stringent military rule. He was
ut volunteer, who had joined more for
ne Sport OF the thing than for aught elae.
Ie, at least, had no personal wrongs To
venge. He had no quarrel, save that Of
ace with the prosecuted Indians. Not
ntil now. And now Nemesis, following ,
'ith swift foot had overtaken him, and !,
allure was tcI avenge her slaughtered j
hildren. Why should he stays Were I
here not other points at which the / /
reeks might make their attacks? Were !
lere not other scouts besides poor Xiv /
gton, who might even now be alert and | /
Were there not other sem {