Year: 1879

WITHIN arms length OF her, slowly shaped
itself into purpose-tho vague attraction
settled into conscious resolution.


He began to move cautiously to tho left,
around the sleeping circle, within the decp>
or 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 shadow. He was now within the IN
fluence of the light, and but one tree stood
between him and that which he was en-
deavoring to reach. A breathless pause, dur
ing which he gazed upon the form Of every
were apparently as uncon-
scious, as if each had been corpse. And
yet. how fearful was tho risk at every step,
The slightest rustic Of a bush, the breaking
of>a twig, even the grating eE his feet upon
the gravel, might awake his cnemies-and
then farewell all hope of rescue!


But his was not a nature to shrink from
danger. Cautiously drawing the ramrod
from his rifle. he took the irrevocablc step.
Swiftly, but silently, he glidcd from one tree
to the other. Within four feet of him lay
Jane, in profound and tranquil sleep, her
head resting upon her arm, and one hand
extended toward him; while on each side
of her, but still nearer than he, her captors
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
-hc touched it again-and she slightly
drew it away. Once more--she opened her
eyes, and gazed upon the sleeping Indian
before her-fortunatcly, without disturbing
him: He passed the rod slowly haCo~s har
head, and was about to speak, wher he
showed himself for an instant, and pressed
his finger to his lips. She was silent, though
breathless with excitement. But the nerves
of true frontier girl were not easily sha-
ken ; and Jane saw at once that her lovers
safety, as wei as her own liberty, depended
upon her selfcommand. Obeying a sign
from him, she commenced slowly and eau
tiously, though with trembling hands, to
unfold the blanket which protected, but al.
so ,impcded her. AS fold after fold fell
gradually off, her heart beat with a wilder
and stronger pulsation; and when, finally
she found herself free, she could scarcely
forbear springing to her feet, and rushing in
to Edgar's arms. BY great effort she re.
strained herself, and cautiously rose to her
feet


Full fifteen minutes-an age at such a
time-had passed since Edgar approached
the tree. But the suspense was amply COM
pensated, when, without the least noise, he
saw her, by his direction, gain the shadow
of the first tree. He fingered still to see
that she was unobservcd, and then one mo-
ment brought him to her side, and joined
their lips in 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 discov-
the escape at any moment, and their last
chance would be gone. He took her by the
hand, and walkingly swiftly, though eau.
tiously, began to retrace his steps 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 regain the
BY coShljssh oShlishh hSs sf must asf take wide cren,
to avoid the Indian eucampmcnt-an every
moment was precious. Turning therefore
to the right instead, he led her, as rapidly
as she could walk, in the direction. as he
supposed, of the dividing ridge, along which
he had Travelled in the evening. His oh.
servation of localities was usually so aeon.
rate, that there seemed no danger of miss
ing the way. But he had been so much
absorbed in the approach to the biuouac
that he had not noted the windines of the
compass and his surprise was very great on
finding, after an hour spent in pushing for
ward, that ne was apparently as far as ever
from the ridge


IT. was long past midnight, and but
short time could elapse before the prisoners
escape must DO discovered. Tt was yitallv
necessary that he should reoross the river
before sunrise and yet, without his horse
this was impossible. Jane expressed con-
fdence in her ability to walk even much
farther; but the speed Of even 80 active a
walker as she was far from sufficient for es
cape. Edgar grew silent and anxious.
though the oheerfulness of his companion
at another time would have drawn many
smile from the gloom of his face.


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


'I can never despair so long as you are
with me, Jane," he re piled; "but / ought
to tell you that, unless l can find my horse,
our capture is certain"


"See, then, if I am not better night
ranger than Captain John Edgar" she said;
81 hear your horse, now %


The Ranger drew her to him and kissed
her warmly. ~.


."I shall resign in your favor" said he