Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1905-06-29
IN WHICH A RATCHET SINGS "A
MAN TO SLEEP

MAN TO SLEEP.
In such a coil as this I'd looped about
me there was nothing for 1t, as 1t seemed.
but to draw the steel and die as a soldier
should: So ! broke cover on the forest
side of the holly thicket with yell as
fierce as theirs. and picked tree to set
my back against, and ran for 1t.
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
dian, ran in ahead. as I supposed to cut
me off. Just then the dry roof of the
hunting lodge roared aflame, reddening the
forest far and near The light was at my
back and on the faces of the two who ran
to 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 CALAMITY to
cover my retreat.
1t was ready help in time of need. They
ran in bravely, the chief ahead, twiring
pace To right and rear, his two great pis-
tolls brandished and the grandsire OF
ali the broadswords dangling by thong
ut his wrist.
Follow the chief" he shouted in pass
Ing: and at the word the Catawba stopped
short, sent his Ratchet whistling into the
yapping pack behind me, and swerved to
Left to myself, l hope l should have
had the grace to stand with Jennifer.
But at the turning point of indecisiop the
quick wtted Indian read my thought. and
snatching the sword from my hand. gave
me no choice but to follow him
So 1 ran with him; but as ! fled ! looked
behind and saw 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
dieIy came to make the'odds still greater.
He never finchei for sll the hurting
missiles sent on ahead tn cut him down,
nor gave glance aside to where the
horsenen We're dep.oying to surround
HIM. AS l looked, the two great pistols
belched in the very faces of the nearest
Cherokees; and in the momentary check
the firearms made, the basket hilteti
claymore went to work, rising and falling
like a Meaver'S beam.
saw no more. but some heart-bursting
minutes later when Jennifer came racing
ON behind to share the flight his heroic
stand had made possibility, the swell, ng
sob choked me once again; and when l
thought of what this his rescue of me
meant to him, could have blubbered like
boy.
But there was little time or space to
give remorse an inning. The Cherokees,
checked but for the moment We're storm
us Hoiis WI Anu as we ran 4
heard the shouted command of Falconnet
to his mounted men: "A rescue, Right
ohlique, and head them in the road. Cal
lop, you devils"
We ran IN Indian file, I at the CHIEFS
heels and Jennifer at mine. followed
,he ea'a"pa nilndly; and being as yet
niue peiler IMAM man man In breath
aiu i''"se'e' was Wei-hlsht spent before
we cfashea down through a tangled briar
thicket into the river road
we were M ''he' but with no fraction
oi d Hiiiiuse 10 SPARE we coula near the
Pau-psa-Paa on lhe ilsht-iooted runners
ciose upon us iol.o"lh2 no" by the noise
we maze and on our left the ar was
.ls.''piiils 20 'Ile .iuhuer on 'he mounted
men coming az a preak-neck gallop down
the road.
quick eNeshot 70 right and left In the
iesser gloom ol 'he open. was afeared
.Ne'i VIZ cilei Hilsht MISS lhe place IN
.he aalk. A'o",i the hahk TO the river
auieh man al'u cautious! n they smell
. ua ~. nov, W. re no peteer IMAM puzZafd-
iii '., Fi'a wheh we reachea 1he va
yer edse; on taught me how 10 pad
uie p'rogue' JACK; nope you haven't
io 81. .le koack OF J. Yourself
NO said - ana the three or us Std
we 1. hollo"ea log mo ,he stream.
were ai'oa' ~ shortest order, mold
cinging to the over hanging trees that
fringed the bank; yet with paddles poised
for sec md dash for freedom should the
need arise. i should have dipped forth
with to save the precious minute. but Jen-
iiiiei sea. go me
Hlst ne Whispered. Hold steady
above: rna,bap we've thrown them off
the scent.
i thought it most unlikely. hut b.s pness
was right ana mine was wrong T.bou,h
any of taes. sava.,e. could 1iff a tran In
daylight. following II at TON speed like
a trained bloodhound vet now The dark