The Iola register., 1901-08-16

BROWN ENTERED THE LODGE.
In an instant he was beside her, and
as he bent his head to assure her that
it was himself and to caution her
against making any noise. her arms
glided about his neck and she softly
whispered;
"Ncd, darling, knew You would
come. While praying to Heaven that
you might come to my rescue great
peace filed my soul. and felt that my
prayer had been heard and would be
answered, and when the lightning
came saw your dear face in the gloom
Of the lodge
He pressed kiss on her lips and
whispered:
I'VE must not lose moment, darl-
ing. Arise softly that you may not
wake those who sleep near you, and
let us away"
II am secured here, Ned. A rope is
passed about my body and the squaw
who lies next to me is lying upon it,
With his hunting knife he severed
the rope and they passed from the
lodge. Moving silent as specters they
traversed the village and soon reached
the horse in its place of concealment.
As they approached the animal gave
uttcrance to a low whinny of recogni-
ton, and it seemed to come as a token
of cheer to their anxious hearts.
1--WE must use all haste, darling, for
discovery of your absence will lead to
immediate pursuit. II is terrible that
you must bear exposure TO this storm
and the long fatiguing ride, but you
must be brave"
"Do not worry about my comfort.
dear" she replied. 81 am strong, and
the exposure will not harm me in the
least"
Unloosing the horse he assisted the
girl to seat behind the saddle, and
mounting in front of her turned the
animals head toward the fort. Throw
ing her arms about him to secure her
self in her position, she said
"Now, Ned, this is n splendid seat
and you know am an expert rider, so
push ahead as fast as the noble horse
can travel with its double burden"
"Then away to home and liberty,
he said, as he touched the animal with
the spurs.
CHAPTER XVIII
The horse did not seem to feel the
weight of his double load, and sped
over the ground at a rapid pace.
"IIow noble of you, Ned, to risk your
own precious life for me-" she said, as
they flew along IAN eternity of love
and devotion could not repay you for
your work of tonight"
zone smile from my darling one, one
word of love from her lips would amply
repay me for any undertaking, no
natter what dangers it might pre-
sent" he foudly replied. did the In
dianS treat you harshly, Alice?"
"No, Ned, but o, shudder TO think
of the fate they held in store for me
and which would have met tonight
had not this storm come on. There is in
the band u young half-breed Indian
who speaks fairly good English, and he
explained to me that many OF the In
dians horses have died lately from
some epidemic, and the medicine man
of the tribe told them that the Great
Spirit ves angry with the people and
demanded sacrifice to appease his
wrath. lie told them that they must
make captive paleface girl, and out in
an open camp must build great circle
of fires, and that in the circle amid dane
ing and rejoicing the maiden must be
bound and trampled TO death by
horses ridden by those whose animals
had died The band which captured
me were on the way to the ranch of a
settler near the base of the San MATED
mountains west of the fort to carry of
his daughter for the sacrifice when
they heard my pony's footsteps coming
down the gulch, and, concealinl
themselves near the trail, they awaiteC
my coming They believed the Great
Spirit had thrown me into their hands
and their rejoicing was great. The
wood for the fore-circle had all beer
collected when the storm approached
and as the thunders rolled in the dis.
tance the medicine man told them the
Great Spirit was speaking to them
commanding them TO take me to the
reservation where the entire tribe
could take part in the ceremonies. O.
Ned, in their blind, ignorant supersti.
tion they will be frantic over my es.
cape, and will use desperate efforts to