The Miller sun. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 190?-19??, 1906-03-07
CHAPTER Nv

The hour of midnight had passed on,
! and other hours had followed in it's
! noiseless track. 1t was near the break
| of day; but the hush of night lay more
| deeply, and far more darkly, upon the
| face of the earth than since the sun
| went down. The moon had finished her
| course, and passing away to other re-
| gions left darkness and doom on the
| places where her beams had fiickered so
| pleasantly.
Daniel Boone and Mr.. Fleming stood
near the gate that opened from the
stockades for ingress and egress. Each
of the sturdy pioneers held in his hand
his trusty rife-weapons which had been
proved upon many bloody day.
This" said Captain Boone, sis the
hour which has ever been so fatal to our
countrymen. The savages always select
it for surprise; and how many hun
dreds have been slain between sleeping
| and waking"
Yes, my brave lads, this is the time
when we may naturally expAct the onciv-
| ilized critters" said Joel Logston, who
appeared at that moment, followed by
Vesuvius.
you ought not to go abroad in the
open air until you have recovered from
your recent wounds" observed Captain
Boone. r.,
THE air'll do 'em good; never was
afraid of the air; / amt one o. them
kind. l can't sleep where there's any
danger, or any reasonable prospect of a
| fight. Isn't it so, Vesuvius?"
At this instant the singular quadruped
pnF
and energetic growls, snufiing the air,
erecting the hair upon his back. and
walking defiantly about the enclosure
| near the stockades.
What does that mean?" asked Flem-
| ing
1T means that he scents somethin' as
he don't like" replied Logston.
Il suspect that there are Indians
near" remarked Daniel Boone.
IF you're alters as near the truth as
that, you won't have to answer for
| much sin of that natur'," said Joel.
Perhaps we had better call out the
men," added Captain Boone.
Il think you had, by all means; for
thereil be an uncommon uproar here
| soon, 'cordin' to my notion of things"
| replied Joel.
The settlers now began to leave their
| cabins and gather about their leader in
silence. Mr.. Aston appeared among
them with a melancholy and detected
| air, for he was doubtless thinking of
| his daughter.
II cannot bear this torturing suspense
| and inaction much longer" he remarked,
| approaching Captain Boone. Although
not very skillfui in Indian tactics, and
unused to the trail, 1 shall, nevertheless,
| make some effort to recover my beloved
| Rosalthe''
II can appreciate your feelings, Mr..
Aston. You feel as all fathers would
under the circumstances, said Boone.
But rest assured that there are those
now in pursuit of your daughter who
| are far more experienced than your
self, and who will never return without
some tidngs of the lost one.
Eyes, l must try to bear up like a
man." replied Aston. signing. rs there
any immediate danger of an attack?'
Il am strongly inclined to think so,''
| was the reply.
Il am differently persuaded. I think
the danger has been greatly magnfed
| AS you ere aware. / have but little
| faith in this story of fearful con-
spiracy,' rejoined Aston.
Look yonder, in the name Of heaven.
| and tell me what new mystery is that
which now beholdv' exclaimed the for
ester, with startling emphasis.
Instantly all eyes were turned toward
the block house, where lie Bland was
supposed to be yet in DURANGO Dusky
| figures were seen on top of the structure.
disappearing one after another through
the roof, The hardy pioneers gazed at
this astonishing sight in mute wonder
For a moment they seemed like men ut
terly deprived of the powers Of volition.