The Charles Mix new era. (Wagner, Charles Mix County, S.D.) 1???-1911, 1907-10-25
CHAPTER yffI

- WR
out fndins any III spcning fse = charge
Ths .expsrienced successor Of Colonel
Wsllmsfs knew too we'll the power OF hjs
eaemy 70 Leave tho uneven surface Of thu
heighta. until compelled 10 descend Ia ths
jsvsl u The water. 4 small schooner,
which had hses their convoy from fhs
city, lay With h%r guns bearing M The
place of enhariation. Against this com
bination II forre and discipline. IAwson
had SUFFICIENT prudence 10 see 1t would be
folly 10 contend. and tho English WERE
suffered 10 etpbark without iaolestation
The drag0ous reluctantly commenced their
y retreat back 10 the main body Of the
sorpa.
Harvey Birch prud~ntly kept his posi.
tion on the rock. where he had been scen
BY The passing giance Of Henry Wharton.
until evening. From this height he had
sern III the events OF the day ~ they
occurred. lie had watched the depn rture
Of The troops under Dnnwosniia. and with
difficulty had curs,cd his imyAtsenc~ until
the cbscurity Of night should render his
moving free from danger. lie had not.
however. completed a fourth Of his why h
his ewn residence wien his qusek ear dir
finguistted the triad Of approaching hors4
Hy c~r0nching and moving quietly. ~
hoped yet 10 escape unseen. Captain
IAwtcn was too much engrs,sssh to suffer
his eyes 70 Indulge In tieir usual wan.
dering and the pedjier, perceiving by the
voices Tint the enemy he most feared had
passed. stood erect. in ORDER TO make
greater progress. The nat,snent his body
arose above the shadow OF the ground 1t
vas seen and a chase commenced. This
pedslcy betoek himself 10 flight.
The confusion Of the chase had br~n
heard by the whole Of The men, though
none distinctly understood the order OF
La t0n but those who followed. The re-
rnatnder were lost In doubt az to the duty
that was required OF them, and were
making eager inquiries when / man cross.
~ the road Al q single bound. At the
0mN Instant the stentorian voice Of Law
Ion rang through the valley, shouting.
Harvey Birch-take him. dead or
alive"
Fifty pistols lighted the scene. and the
bullets whistled In every direction round
The head Ut the devoted pcdiier. A feel.
ing Of dospAir seized his heart. and In the
bitterness Of thar moment hi exclaimed ,
Hunted Ike a beast Of the forest -
lie felt life and its accomplishments to
~ ! burden and wns about 10 yield him
ueit to has enemies. Nature, however.
prevailed. III taken. there was great rea-
Aon 70 appfehend that most probably the
morning win would witness his ignomin-
ious execution. lie again fed. A frag-
fient Of . wall crossed his path. lie
hardly had time to throw his exhausted
limbs over this barrier before twenty Of
bis enemies reached Its opposite side.
Their horses refused to take the leap In
the dark. The heart OF the pedller now
beat high with hope. when the voice Of
Captain sI4Awton again rang in his ears.
shouting to his mcn { make room. The
fearless trooper rode Mt the wall at the
top OF his horses speed, and few over the
obstacle In safety. The triumphant hur-
fahs OF the men,, and the laundering tread
Of the horse, too plainly assured the ped.
dler cf the emergency OF his danger. lie
Nas nearly exhausted, and his fate no
longer seemed doubtful.
stop. or die |" was uttered above his
head. and IN fearful proximity to his
sArs.
HaFvsy stole q glance over his shoulder
an3 NV within ! bound Of him the man
h4 most dreaded. by the light of the
stars b. beheid the uplifted arm and the
threateninx sabre. Fear, exhaustion and
despair seized his heart. and the intended
victim fell 1t the fect Of the Dragon.
The horse Of IAwton struck the PROSTATE
peddlcr. and both steed and rider came
v~iolsntly to earth.
A. quick n thought. Birch was on his
10 aeain, with the sword Of the discom-
atsd Dragon In his hand. Vengeance
1sems but too natural to human passions.
Al - wrong Of the peddler shone on his
bsatn MD : dassling brightness. For I
nameat ~ demon within him prevailed,
snd birch brsndished the powerful wea.
pen 9 IN air In the next. It fell harm
lens - tn reviving but helpless trooper.
The peddlsr vanished up the side Of the
ls5endly rock.
.aslp Capitals LAwton. there /" cried
Cornst Mason. - h fods up. followed
~ ! 6eosn Of his men. and some OF you
1ianount with M and search these rocks:
~ villaim lies here concealed"
Held" reared the discom6ted captain,
mlnlng himaslf with dilkculty to his feet
~ - u you dismouAt. - dies. Tom.
~ ~ fsaiew, you will help ~ - strad-
~ neanske aeaia."
II asecaisAed suhaltern complied In
6lIsnca. whiis ths wendsriax dragons
rsunAins1 - 1xed h tAsir saddles o. Il
10y esnpeeed part q ~ animals they
~.
sCapmln IAwtoa.. said The orderly Of
~ troopa I'VE are now passing the houss
= ~ psddisr apy: y Il your pleasure
that - bnrn I'll"
me- reafed the captain. In 4 volcs
TT eeoStled thc disappointed sergeant !:
sare yoa N i~ncendiaryg Would you burn
Z heaoe u cold hloods Let but . spark
~aDpeoach. and the hand that carries 1t
- nsser light another"
ssxonnds!. mutterd the cornet. sAthere
= NE h ~ captain. notwithstanding
- tanhlA~
~ Aena r. Birch had t~en watched
- 6lnsrsnk tlmss BY the Americana with
: vfeu . ~ arreat. bat never with u
oomL II fAther II Hswvey had been
Qsatly melested n consequence Of the
oneetclous character Of the ron. nut.
ootWfknomndins ~ nese minute scrutiny
80 - eond0ct II The old maa. - fact