The National tribune., 1901-12-26


1Fnce of them.
Long past midnight the pursucrs halted
f.. small glade where there was grass
covered spot surrounded by tall trees anc
low. thickly-leaved bushes. This gras:
t,iel was not over half an acre, and in The
center was one of those outmounds which
seemed TO have been thrown up as sort
al speakers stand or pulpit. George
s,;cod on the mound and counted his com
t..gtiuns There were only II left.
iIc knew he had lost none i'll battle
70 the others had certainly deserted him
~ most of Ihcm were very young men
-: i,i. boys. uHaccGstomed to Indian raids
sad night campaigns, there was some ex
sl.st. Ter them. he whistle of bullet
wien first heard is liable TO make youth
Erg. oIis, but he soon comes to know that
-.scry shot does not strike 1t victim.
iYcgl, what shall we Go now George
asked.
Don't seems f We kin do nothin' til
Iucruin'," Abe BeeMau responded. We've
run 'cm till we've tore most our clothes
"ff'n us. an my face an hands are al
scratched up by the briars, so't I'm bloody
~ a stuck pig"
Dye rcckin' the people are all safe
j.. the neighborhood?" asked Dave Coo
;ay. tall man who stood leaning on his
rife
The news has spread everywhere. nc
,i;.sitt, and people are in their houses bar
rtCaded so tkat they can defend them,
selves thought George. We have
pushed the Indians so close they have not
had time to do much mischief
Il bet thar's mon one gang o 'em,
dcr.afed Dick Weaver, a stout young
Kentucky dccr-bunter. Some gang may
i.e some wha' right now cr doin' some
deF;iment."
I've have another gang ourselves out
alter them" said George. Il believe we
had better find the Boones and hold u
consultation with them. Old Dan'l Boone
knows more about what might be done
than we. For my part l am in favor OF
hunting these red devils down for killing
that woman and children, and make them
smart so they will never come back"
Guess we're all with We, Cap, Oh that" )"
declared Dick.
we orr t hev hosses," said Noah Bee
man.
''We'n get them in the morning. Let
as so back to Hamsey's; the Boones are
there.
They had gone a long distance up the
creek, and it took until morning for them
10 reach the Ramsey house. Mrs. Ram
sey was still alive, though it WIS eYideG;
she could not survive many hours. Her
suffering was intense, and she was sink
lag rapidly.
Afr Ramsey was badly wounded and
Ia great pain. Daniel Boone, his sons and
eight others We're at the house. and %
Tacrc came TO the house soon after day
i,sh'. When Daniel Be0nc had heard
Hhet ihey had done he said:
They're gone away from the country.
4 kHow Injuus pretty well. and know
thai when they strike 4 settlement an
xii. q few, and steal little and raise
the hunters after 'em, that they don't lose
80 time gittin' out"
'Why couldn't we pursue thcIn:' said
George.
And We will Abe declared. We
need horses
]; took only Il short time to find horses,
AID 10y noon 10 mounted. wcll-armed
feoHtietsmcn, under Capt. Cole, an ex-
ferirticcd Indian fighter. set out in pur-
suit rf the savages.
Wien the volunteers were about to set
"lit after the IEdians, Old Daniel Boone
who stood in the door or the cabin, his
eyes flashing wiiA The same ire that had
Inspired him in his younger days, said:
Il should Ike TO 20 with you, boys, but
I am no account any More.
The pursuing party strurk off to the
northwest, and before sunset came upon
the broad Indian trail hurryins away to
the northwest. They had a number of
horses, which they had either brought
with them or stolen from the settlers.
Though they did all possible to destroy
the trail by scattering, riding in the creeks
and other devices common to Indians,
auck an experienced old Indian tighter as
Eapt. Cole was not TO be thrown off his
scent, when once lie was after the say
ages.
Don't make no difference which trail
-ys foilcr, boys; they'll al come out to
sether soon"
George McNair, whose uncasiness grew
with every rod they advanced. was riding
bg the side Of Capt. Cole well in the ad-
vance.
Captain. when do you think weII
come up with themG'
Dun know" the Captain answered,
raising his coonskin cap slightly. Il
Eeckiu' we're goin' = hev Tong, hard
chase. Them Injuns amt stoprin to pick
stTawberries.''
The course they are taking will bring
them to settler
-'Whar?'
Fifty miles away, on Deer Creek"
Dye mean old Bsggs:'
Yes"
Gosh. 1 reckin' yer right. BY iinks,
a painter in old Boggs. Why. 1 bet he'll
ill the hides O 'em SO fall o lead they'd
s,uk in warm tar"
But could he successfully defend his
c9bin against such hordei'
"Wcli, he mougbt, an then agin he
fncUghtn't. Like as not old Boggs'll be
20 miles away on deer hunt, an nom at
home but his old woman an the gal"
George urged his horse faster, and
legged the Captain TO hurry up the troop.
NO. don't git snatched; they're comm
fast as they KIM said the Captain. 1--WE
mustn't kill our hosscs tn fust day, or
.weil heV { 90 it on foot ur turn back"
DO you think we can come up with
them before they reach Boggs's;'
The Captain who, despite his rough, un-
tatored ways, had quick perception, and
reading the youths anxiety, said:
Iain't likely-but, say, what makes
you 50 anxious about Boggs?"
There are helpless women there
On. IS MT tn gal. Old Boggs hez a gal,
I i'liere."
II is all Of them," he answered. after
q iew moments silence. We must no,
forget that they are human beings"
"On. we amt a-furgittin' il; but we
can't DO what's impossible. / fit Injuns
''eforc yon wuz born, an / know some
Jh'h' about the business"
George acknowledged the rebuke, and
r9de on IN silence. They pushed on unit
the middle Of the afternoon, when they
halted to allow tLeir horses to drink
sraze and rest. Georges uneasiness in
creased and he kepG his face continuaily
oct TO the west, as il he anticipated some
evil from that direction.
IL seemed an age before the command tC
saddle up" YVES given, and they were
once more on the move. As usual he was