Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-02-20

'''''' 80 tb'' hf th' vi
the lightning, fainter and more fixed,
but which, growing as the din grew.
swiftly decpcned in color, spread wide
and rose, throwing into relief the in
tervening grove of cottonwoods and
the form of a man who was racing riv-
erward from the swalc. lie disappear
cd, swelling the distant clamor with a
cry--a dread cry she had never heard
before-of Fire
Presently she went in and bent over
Marylyn, touching her gently and
speaking low to save her a fright.
Honey, dear. honey. Hop up and see
what's happ'ning at the fort"
The younger girl scrambled to her
feet, putting out nervous hands to her
sister. Dallas quoted her, and they
stood together in the door.
And now across the Missouri. the
guns and trumpets suddenly stilled
and the shouting lessened. while the
glow rapidly thickened into a roaring
press Of flame, before which darted
the troopers like flies in the light Of Il
lamp.
NY my NhlNDtItu NldIi lIl, "
voice %quavering with sorrow and awe.
She found her clothes and, keeping in
line with the door, began to dress.
"Ill put on my shoes, and we can
go down a ways, SOS to see close.
Shall /, Dali
Ssh" Dallas was leaning out again,
her head lowered as if to listen. All
at once she turned and, kneellng, felt
on the loot for her cartridge belt.
yes, yes" she answered. Put 'em
on-quick"
Are we going down to watch?'
mo"
The barracks and the stables were
high, cherry hued pyres. terrible
enough to the eye, with their tops
crooking northward in the wind. To
Dallas ear they were far more terri
bic, telling of awful suffering, limiting
Of diref2l inteEt. For the nearer pyre
sem proof of a sacrifice. She could
hear the screams Of q horse.
The belt found, she stepped back to
the door. "Hurry, hurry" she said.
The old iron resolve never to desert
the shack was fusing in the heat Of a
panic. Her unfailing instinct was
hardening a new one that ruled for
immediate fight.
Marylyn was working with her shoe
thongs, not stopping to thread them.
only to wind and tie them around her
ankles. She heard her sister exclain.
Then she was seized and brought for
ward by a trembling hand. "Marylyn,
Marylyn, The boat. She's going!.'
They looked and saw a black fun
neled bulk floating across the watery
strip mantled by the blaze.
Maybe they thought it'd burn" sug-
gested Marylyn. See, there's sparks
flying that way
Dallas leaned back against the door.
81 ~guess-that's it." she said slowly.
Then after a moment: But why didn't
they bring her straight across? There's
no place to tie up down stream"
"Why, there's fire breaking out all
over now cried the younger girl, for
getting to be afraid In her wonder and
excitement. See. One of the little
houses is caught"
1t was the first cabin Of Clothespin
row. Two or three men were near it.
At that distance they seemed gayly
posturing to each other in 4 dance.
"If anything is wrong" Dallas said.
"Mr. Lounsbury'll come back
'Mr. Lounsbury." repeated Marylyn.
"Was he here?'
ION this side. by the grove. ! saw
him start for the fort"
And so their going was delayed.
Nevertheless Dallas sense of coming
long she heard the trumpet again and
saw the troopers fall away from tho
pyres. lee ving the flames to their work,
she lit the lantern and held it to where
We're stored her trcasures-a lock OF
her mothers hair, her fathers pipe,
the letter she had received from LounS-
bury.
you take the cartridge belt" she
called to Marylyn.
The other obeyed.
Ready" said Dallas and lifted the
lantern to shake it.
She got nc reply. Instead, gasping
in alarm. Marylyn came headlong to
her, %pinioning her arms with wildly
clinging ones. Dallas, oh. help
Outside there was a sound Of rapid
running. Dallas flung herself against
the door. driving it shut. A second
and a weight was buried against the
outer battens. Then came four raps.
Don't open. DON'T cried Mary
Ign. Maybe it amt Charley
But Dallas, ~undoubting. swung the
door back. and into the room leaped a
STOPPING figure.
IT was Squnw Charley.
He crouched ard moved his head
from side to side, as If expecting a
blow or a bullet from behind. His
right hand held a bow, his left a bun
die of arrows. With these he bcckou.d
violently, shaking the water from his
tattered clothes and pointing over his
shoulder to the west.
Were coming. Charley. Dearie,
stand up. Now. now" Marylyn was
dragged TO her feet. The light was
quenched. The outcast faced about,
and the three headed for the river,
with Charley leading at a trot.
They paused for the last time near
the river end of the orr and close to
the coulee crossing. From there Dal-
las saw that the pyres Were lower
and thNf Other k1il5incc Of tho rou.