The Black Hills union and western stock review. [volume] (Rapid City, S.D.) 1904-19??, 1905-06-30
IN WHICH A RATCHET SINGS A
MAN TO CT + FL

side Of the holly thicket with a yell as
fierce as theirs, and picked a tree to set
my back against. and ran for 1t.
l never reached the tree. In mid career,
when all the Cherokee wolf pack was
bursting through the holly tangle at my
heels, two men. a white man and an In
aian, ran in ahead, as l supposed to cut
me off. Just then the dry roof of the
uniting lodge roared aflame, reddening the
forest far and near. The light was at my
back and on the faces of the two who ran
20 meet me. A great sob swelled in my
throat and choked me, but ! ran the fas-
ter. For these were my dear lad and the
friendly Catawba, charging gallantly to
cover my retreat.
1t was a ready help in time of need. They
ran In bravely, the chief ahead, twirlins
his tomahawk for the throw, with Dick a
pace to right and rear, his two great pis-
tolls brandished and the grandsire OF
all the broadswords dangling by a thong
at his wrist.
Follow the ch;ef!,' he shouted in pass
Ing; and at the word the Catawha stopped
short, sent his Ratchet whistling into the
vapping pack behind me, and swerved to
run aside and point the way for me.
Left to myself, l hope I should have
had the grace to stand with Jennifer.
But at the turning point of indecision the
quick witted Indian read my thought, and
snatching the sword from my hand, gave
me no choice but TO follow him.
So l ran with him; but as fed I looked
behind and saw a sight to put the ancient
hero tales to the blush. One man against
two-score my brave Dick stood, while
through the underwood the mounted SOL
iiery came to make the odds still greater.
/ He never hinched for all the hurting
missiles sent on ahead to cut him down,
nor gave a glance aside to where the
aorsemen were d~ep.oying to surround
Am. AS I looked, the two great pistols
belched in the very faces of the nearest
Cherokees; and in the momentary check
he firearms made, the basket-hilted
,laymore went to work, rising and falling
like a weaver's beam.
l saw no more; but some heart-bursting
minutes later. When Lennifer came racing
on behind to share the fight his heroic
stand had made a possibility, the swell ng
sob choked me once agar q md when l
thought of what this his u cue of me
meant to him, l could have ~lubbered like
4 boy.
But there was little time or space to
give remorse an inning. The Cherok@es,
checked but for the moment We're storm
Ing holly at our heels. And as we ran l
heard the shouted omman of Falconnet
10 his mounted men: "A rescue, Right
oblique, and head them In the road, Gal
.op, you devils!''
We ran N Indian file, I at the chiefs
heels and Jennifer at mine. l followed
the Catawba blindly: and being as yet
little better than half a man In breath
and muscle, was well-night spent before
we crashed down through a tangled briar
thicket into the river road.
We We're in time, but with no fraction
Of a minute to spare. We could hear the
pad-pad-pad of the light-footed runners
close upon us, following now by the noise
we made; and on our left the ar was
trembling to the thunder of the mounted
men coming at a break-neck gallop down
the road.
THANK God.' says Richard. with a
quick eyeshot to right and left in the
lesser gloom Of the open. Il was afeared
even the chief might miss the place in
the dark. Down the bank to the river
quick, man, and cautious, If they smell
US out now, we're no better than buzzard-
meat" And when we reached the wa
ter's edge: You taught me how to pad
die a pirogue. Jack; ! hope you haven't
lost the knack Of it yourself"
No said 1; and the three of us slid
the followed log into the stream.
We were afoat IN shortest order, hold
ing the canoe against the current by
clinging to the over hanging trees that
inged the bank; yet with paddles poised
for a second dash for freedom should the
need arise. I should have dipped forth
with to save the precious minute, but Jen-
infer stayed me.
Hist" he whispered. Hold steady
and listen. They cannot see US from
above; mayhap We've thrown them off
the scent"
I thought 1t most unlikely; but his guess
was right and mine was wrong. Though
any of these savages could lift a trail in
daylight, following it at top speed like
a trained oicodhound, yet now the dark
ness baffed them.
SO there was some running 10 ana fro
IN the road above our heads, and then the
troopers saii'ped down. Followed hastily
a laboreo confab through the ilnguister,
oaths from faiconhet; ana then the chase
swept on toward me plantations, ana we
were lett to make their losing Of US sure
by whatsoever means we chose.
we paoolco Slowly up stream IN silence
the tree fringe, When we came opposite
the glowing rnins OF the hunting lodge
Jennlfer backed upon mis- paddle.
you'll go ashore laid ne.
l SAID "oulo' addlng: "1hey have
slaughtered poor old Darius, and l an
loath 10 leave MS bones Tor the ouzzardf
to PICK.
He MADE no other than te
swear IN sympathy. "hen the pirogue
grounded, the Indian was OUT like q cat
TO vanish phantom-wlse among the trees
l Followed In some clumsler iashion, leav'
ing Jennl1er 10 Keep the canoe; bnt mar
way up the nil ne joined me, and woulc
not turn back ior all my Urging. NO
hang me II ~ lei you Out OF eye-RriI
again. was all ne would say, and SO WI