The Washington times., 1901-12-01

| paused.
"oh. Gcd. I do sect Oh, Domain! Oh
Elizabeth" ~ a.
Carring.on struggled to his feet and
looked appeaHngly1 toward the colonel
| He was already giving orders. Troopers
were running hither md thither The
excitement was intense; the neighing of
horses, the clanking of spurs. the high
| pitched voices of the men. The colonel
looked around anxiously.
where is Lieutenant Worthington?'
Here, sir!''
Good: you are Just the man l need
level head, cool Judgment What's your
idea of this? What have they taken the
woman for?"
"I believe to put us off the scent, sir.
They're still in a frenzy over the supply
question.
You think the commander paused.
81 think they want to force our hand
! To take our greater number for the rescue
party, then to attack the fort and kill
every last man Of us--as only they can
| kill" The deep scar on Worthington's
left cheek stood out grimly as if 1t would
prove the truth of what he said.
Il believe you've struck it, lieutenant.
shall act on your suggestion and be pre-
pared"
| Worthington saluted
An orderly rushed up, scarcely waiting
for the formal salutation.
Communication with town impossible
sir Telegraph wires have been cut, sir, :"
| he painted.
The coloners white face grew whittier as
on the fastest horse in the garrison could
| not reach the outlying town and procure
additional help in time, even supposing he
| could make the ride undetained by hos
| tile Indian band. 1t was a hopeless mis-
sion, and but meant certain death to the
man who attempted it. Besides, every life
was doubly precious now, and every
strong arm needed as 1t had never been
needed before. There was no help to be
J hoped for from outside. The Eleventh
must fight it out alone and prove the stuff
| 1t was made Of
Darlington. who had been leaning over
Demain. rose and faced his commander.
You will let me 60 in the search
party, Colonel Fairfax" he asked. "Inac-
| tion would drive me mad"
"of course, captain" The voice was
| eyes of father.
But the direction?" suggested Johnson.
True" said worthington.
The colonel bent over Demain.
Tell me. dear child" he said, do you
| know what road they took?"
| Demain rose slowly to her feet.
Il live here four-near five years" the
friend vid ze daughter of Black Hawk.
know re way. You might miss it. I go to
show it to you.' he said.
| "Impossiblei 1t would kill her!" cried
an officer
| The French girl turned her eyes to him
! defantly. Then they wandered quickly
! from one to the other of the group of off,
GERS around her until they had sought out,
and having found rested on Colonel Fair
fax She spoke clearly convineingly. de-
! terminedly. She spoke 10 him.
''She tells me all re secret ways of all
/ her fathers people. Once l vas good to
her and nurse her when she very sick.
| Zare is one way eight miles from my
house. BY re road it is fourteen. I once
promise never TO tell, but'-here her
! eyes for a moment wandered to CARING
ton-"but now, re bon Dieu mean me to.
ze way you know. it will be guarded, is it
not so?" she paused.
Yes" said the colonel. 1t was as
though the admission of the truth she
| spoke was wrung from him.
you men miss It. Captaine Carrir gton
miss it. Zey be killed" Her voice broke
for an instant. 81 show zem. I will go"
"It's CERTAIN death to the child said
Johnson, below his breath.
If she heard him she did not let him
know by even the faintest culver of an
eyelid that she had done SO.
81 go." she repeated firmly.
And go she did Darlington placed
her in front of him, on his own swift
horse, and while one hand guided the
reins the other held her close.
Bebe closed her eyes and-lived.
On, on they went. that little band
with white faces and set lips; on. leav-
ing the pest far behind, and the Spartan
grey haired father in command; on.
with his broken blessing: Go. and may
God go with ycu ALL" ringing in their
ears; on, over endless miles of barren
waste, while the hours few by as fast
as they; on, on, Darlington ahead; on.
on led by Demainl
Neck to neck their horses ran. n.sweating,
soaked with foam. urged On, sworn at. ca
joled. and spurred by men to whom this
ride meant the saving of a woman's honor
"a womans life, even at the risk of
theirs
The nigst grew blaclSer They could
scarcely see their horses heads, but the
hoof- beats rang out loud and clear and
rapid. Still. on they went. waiting for the
little figure in the van to give the sign.
"Here!"
Demain's voice rose clear above the
noise. was heard by the officers behind.
and was re-echoed down the line. and the
men of the Eleventh paused.
Throwing their brides to the waiting
orderlies, they stealthily but unquestion-
! ingly followed her as she led them over
brooks. across fallen trees, by patches of
dark waste. where strange fantastic shad-
ows fingered. to the Indian camp.
A brief halt for preparation; the figure
of Indian brave lying stark and STILL;
a girl lifting triumphant eyes to the night
heavens; a fierce shout; a charge;
screams, groans, curses, and pistol shots
making foul the air; mems voices sharp
I 1,