Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1908-06-17

grass-maybe they won't find me.
Crippled as 1 am, I'll never be any
account Do leave me and save your
self, Eddie"
But Edward only grasped him more
firmly, saying, heroically:
1.-THE Injuns will never touch you
first, Frank
The Indians shouts now came SO
much nearer that Frank believed they
must have almost gained the ravine.
run ahead and leave me-do,
please, Eddie" pleaded the afflicted
brother.
Don't ask me to do such thing,
Frankie" replied the elder boy, chok-
ing back q sob that would come despite
his heroic struggles to keep it back.
"I'll not leave you. If we can't get
to the dug-out in time, we will let the
Injuns take us BOTH"
The believing Of the cattle and the
whooping Of the Cheyennes were still
coming nearer, but the dug-out was
just ahead now. Would his strength
hold out? He felt very grave doubts
about 1t.
How white and fearful were the
faces Of the boys! How their hearts
beat, then almost ceased, in the excite
ment of their flight!
The dug-out had been abandoned
more than a year ago, and the prairie
grass and wild sunf1owers stalks grew
rank and tall around it, almost entire
ly obliterating all traces Of It's having
ever been q human habitation.
AS Edward came running forward,
with his dear burden, he noticed
that just before the dug-out was
large pond of water, caused by
the heavy rain the night previous. The
water stood foot deep right before
the door Of the underground retreat.
Never pausing, the brave boy plunged
in up to his knees, Frank clinging to
him in increased terror.
After a little wading and founder
ing in the water, Edward fell headlong
and completely exhausted into the
doorway Of the old dug-out.
jack-rabbit that had been enjoying I'M
disputed possession, and he went leap
ing away through the shallowest of
the water and out on the prairie,
where his fright gained a new impetus
from the Indian raiders.
The interior Of the dug-out was dry,
and, as soon as the boys had regained
their breath sufficiently, they drew
away from the entrance, crouching In
terrified suspense. Would the Indians
find them there, after all their difficult
struggles to conceal themselves?
They had barely withdrawn to the
interior of the dug-out, when they
heard the whoops Of the Indians not
far away, and the pursued cattle came
laundering along the favine, some of
them passing directly over the heads
Of the trembling boys, and dashing
madly into the water and out to the
prairie beyond.
The frightened herd passed out of
sight, their dusky foes closely pursu-
ing.
An hour after, when all seemed still
Edward crept to the door to recon.
noitre. Suddenly he started back, his
| face white.
"What is it?" asked Franks voice
almost sunk to whisper.
"The Injuns are burning Bill Skaggs
ranch. 1 can see the flames from here
It's good for us, Frank, that cart
broke and delayed us, or we'd likely
got there about the time the Injuns
did, and too late to catch Bill"
Eyes. 1 do hope Bills folks got
away SAFE"
Il do, too. And 1 hope father and
mother are safe also"
"Oh, wish we were with them"
And Franks tears rolled unheeded
down his cheeks.
They'll be troubled about us wher-
ever they are said Edward. "Thay
will hear Of the Injuns in town, and
won't venture home tonight. But we
are safe now, Frank, and let us hope
for the BEST"
And Edward placed his arms about
the sobbing boy and tried to act as
comforter.
All that day and the next the boys
remained in the dug-out, suffering
from the pangs Of hunger, and not dar-
ing to venture out, for the prairies
around them were full of struggling
bands Of Cheyennes, slaughtering cat
tie, pIundering and burning cabins.
Their own cabin had been burned
soon after Bill Skaggs', and, as the
boys had listened to the savage shouts
so near to their hiding place, they had
grown hopeless, and expected every
moment that they would be discov-
cred.
But the third day came. and they
were safe still, but growing very weak
from want of food. The pond had fur
nished them drink.
Edward ventured to the door Of the