Year: 1863

which sloped gently down to the level of
the bir0Ndc. and here narrow path
wound round tho iutting points, and led
directly towards the smoudering fire.
Almost without an effort of the will
drawn by tho charm of her presence he
stepped upon the noiselcss sand. He COM
menced the descent-issued from the shad-
ow of little ridge-was, for moment. in
full view OF the whole party--passed on
again into the shadows, and stood within
twenty feet of the object of his search.


The light from the dying fire played fit
fully upon James face. and smile, serene
as in her happiest moments, gave meaning
to the fitting shadows. Beside her, mo.
tionless as fallen statues, lay the stern, inn
passive forms Of her captors but Edgar
knew too we'll that, rigid as they seemed.
| profoundly as they slept, the slightest noise
would rouse them to dangerous vigilance.
Three of them lay between her aud him
and two wero near enough to grasp her,
should she rise But he gazed upon her
face once more, beautiful in the holy calm
OF slecp--as tranquil as summer sky.
The impulse which had led him thus almost
within arms length of her, slowly shaped
itself into n purpose--the vague attraction
settled into conscious resolution.


lie began to move cautiously to the left.
around the sleeping circle. within tho deeper
shadows of the grove, from tree to tree,
toward that beneath which Jane was slum.
bering Nearer, step by step, and silently
as the closing in of night, he approached
like a shadow lie was now within the in
tluonce of the light, and but ono tree stood
between him and that which he was en-
deavoring to reach. breathless pause
ensuod, during which he gazed upon the
form of every sleeper. They were appa-
rently as unconscious as if each had been
a corpse and yet, how fearful was the risk
of every step! The slightest rustic of
bush, the breaking of a twig, even the
grating of his feet upon the gravel, might
awake his enemies-and then farewell all
hope of rescue!


But his was not u nature TO shrink from
danger. Cautiously drawing the ramrod
from his rifle, he took the irrevocable step.
Swiftly, but silently. he glided from one
tree to the other. Within four feet of him
lay Jane, in profound and tranquil sleep,
head resting upon her arm, and one hand
extended toward him; while on each side
of her, but still nearer than he, her eaptors
were ready to awake at the first movement.


But again he resolved to take the risk !;
and, stretching forth the ramrod, gently
touched her open hand. She did not move:
he touched IT again-and she slightly drew
it away; once more-she opened her eyes
and gazed upon the sleeping Indian before
her--fortunately, without disturbing him
He passed the rod slowly before her face !;
sho turned her head and was about TO
speak, when ho showed himself for an III
stant, and pressed his finger to his lips
She was silent-though breathless from
excitement. But the nerves of true from
tier girl were not easily shaken and Jane
saw at once that her lovers safety, as well
as her own liberty, depended upon her self
command. Obeying IL sign from him, she
commenced slowly and cautiously, though
with trembling hands, to unfold the blanket
which protected, but alao impeded her. AS
fold after fold fell gradually off, hor heart
beat with wildor and stronger pulsation F.;
and when; finally, she found herself free,
she could scarcely forbear springing to her
feet, and rushing into Edgar's arms. BY u
great effort she restrained herself and eau
tiously rose to her feet


Full fifteen minutes-an age at such q
time, had passed since Edgar approached
the tree. But the suspense was amply
compensated, when, without the least noise
he saw her gain the shadow of the first
tree. He fingered still to see that she was
unobscrved, and then one moment brought
him to her side, and joined their lips in u
kiss, as intense as was the danger by which
they were surrounded.


Yet he dared not speak and there was
no time to be lost. The savages might
discover the escape at any moment, and
their last chance would DO gone. He took
her by the hand, and walking swiftly, though
cautiously, began to retrace his stops
through the wood. Five minutes brought
them to the head of the ravine, and here he
should turn to the left if he wished to gain
the path by which he approached. But
by this course, he must take wide cir
cult to avoid the Indian encampment- and
every moment was precious. Turning
therefore, to the right, instead, he led her,
as rapidly as she could walk, in tho drec-
ton as he supposed, of the dividing ridge
along which he had travelled in the evening.
His observations of localities was usually
so accurate, that there semed no danger of
missing the way. But he had been so
much absorbed in the approach to the BIZ
cOudc, that he had not noted the winding
of the ravine, or even the points of the com
pass-and his surprise was very great on





ward, that he was apparently as far as ever
from the ridge.


1t was long past midnight, and but a
short time could elapse before the prisoners
escape must be discovered 1t was vitally
necessary that he should re-cross the river
before sunrise and yet without his horse
this was impossible. Jane expressed COZ.
fidcnce in her ability to walk oven much
farther; but the speed of even 80 active a
walker az she, was far from sufficient for
escape. Edgar grew silent and anxious,
! though the cheerfulness of his companion
at another time would have drawn many a
smile from the gloom of his face.


We can only push forward, John, said
she enterprise SO successfully begun
should not be given up in despair"


II can never dispair 30 long as you are
with me, Jane" he replied "but ought
to tell you that unless can find my horse,
our capture is certain"


"See, then, if am not better night-ranger
than Captain John Edgar" she said "
hear your horse now! !"


The Ranger drew her to him and kissed
her warmly.


Il shall resign in your favor" said he,
4" | should have passed without hearing
him :"


This was more compliment than earnest
for as he spoke a low nicker from the
bushes directly in front, indicated the spot
whore his horse was still standing. The
faithful animal was aware of his masters s
approach. A few moments sufficed to pre-
pare him for a retreat. Edgar doubled his
blanket, and placed it behind the saddle.
Lifting Jane to this impromptu pillion, he
mounted, and turned his horses head home