Year: 1879

Lifting Jane TO this inpromptu pillion, ho
threw himself into his seat, and turned his
horses head toward home.


"What is that p Jane exclaimed.


Floating up the ravinc came prolonged
warwhoop, ringing among the trees, and
dying away in echoes along the ridges.


They have discovered your escape" Ed.
gar said.


He waited to hear no more, but regaining
the dividing ridge, set off at swift pace
toward the south. The order was reversed
the chased were now the pursuers-aud
speed alone could decide the race. Edgar
rodo powerful horse, who had borne him
safely through many "a fight a, we'll rs
march; but the double weight he was now
carrying, the journey he had made, and
the efforts still expected of him, forbade
the idea of rapid travelling. Yet the blood.
hounds were upon his trick; and at the
dawn OF day, now scarcely an hour distant.
Edgar knew that they would sweep down
upon him like the wind. Escape seemed
as difficult as before the rescue.


Yet the Ranger was not cast down. md
the strong hearted pioneers daughter gave
little thought to danger. AS in all women
OF her class, excitement only evolved her
energies and she talked with sort of
cheerful elation, as if the perils were already
passed, and homo once moro regaincd.-
Edgar was far from being SO much at his
case !; but he had never known fear, and.
| save on account of the loved one, whose
arms encrcled his waist, he would rather
have made his dispositions for battle than
! for -Aiya,s. -----.-


His only hopc was that the Indians might.
be delayed in searching the woods around
their cncampment until he could gain a
sufficient start; and this hope vanished al.
most as soon as formed. They had scarcely
ridden three miles, when tho thunder Of
many hoofs came rolling down the ridge
The enemy were in full chase, scarcely mile,
behind.


"We must try the virtue of speed" said
Edgar dashing his spurs into his horses
TANKS, he sprang away at rate which gave
promise of soon distancing the pursucrs..
Their footsteps soon died away in the dis
tance and. could he have kept up tho pace
at which he started, the captain hoped hc
might reach the river before being over.
taken. But at the end Of few minutes.
he was forced to draw his rein. The ridge
had grown so narrow, that the ravines on
either hand interseceed each other, and
broke it into steep and dangerous gorges.-
At the first Of these his horse came to dead
halt, and neither voice nor spur could force
him forward. Edgar sprapg to the ground,
and looking over the precidce, shuddcred
at the leap he had been endeavcrng to take.
A hollow, whose bottom he could not see.
cut directly across his path, and extended
both to the right and left farther than his
eye could penetrate.


They are coming, John p' exclaimed
Jane, springing to the ground; and he had
scarcely time to lead his horse few yards
to the left, when twelve or fifteen Indians
dashed furiously up, and, like him, came
to a sudden halt. He could plainly sec tho
dusky outlines of their forms. riding baok
anu ior"afd' searching tor crossing. He
drew Jane, whose white dress might betray
them, behind tree, and breath awaited
their motions. At word from the chief
they all turned directly toward him. He
seizcd Jane by the arm, and dropping his
horses rein, srrang down the precipitous
bank. A fearful yell from the pursucrs
told him that he was seen and rush and
scramble, regardless of the crumblins
bank, brought them almost upon him.


"Run, Jane Down the ravine-run %
he exclaimed, and bringing his rife up, tho
foremost warrior fell to the ground, pierced
through the head. Another yell, moro
fearful than the first, heralded a wild spring
upon him. But the ranger was more agile
than any savage ; with one bound he gained
a tree, and before they had recovered from
their confusion, his rife was reloaded
Slowly he began to climb the bank-but his
first movement was observed, and again they
rushed toward him. He turned and fired
his last shot-anothcr savage rolled groan-
ing down the bank But the odds were
too great. His enemies were to near
to allow his again charging his gun, and
an attempt to retreat up the steep ascent
would be instant death. He gave him
self up for lost-but, drawing his knife.
resolved to die fighting to the last.


The click of a rifle lock directly behind
him caught his attention, and the next
moment volloy Of balls whistled over his
head. A rush down the bank immediately
followed. The company of rangers, led on
by White, had arrived in time to save their
captain. The savages, taken by surprise,
were unable to make II stand for with them ;,
as among all undisciplined men, panic wac
erremediable. Edgar joined his men, and
assumed the command, pushing the charge
directly home upon the confused and scat
tered party. But such as were not disabled