Year: 1874

B. L. .. y
had struck a fresh bear trail. and, rs
he arrived in sight, they fairly lifted
Iit, going off in straight line down
THE river.


+ The chase led him several miles,
and, when he at last got n shot that
finished bruins career, he found
that it was four O'Clock in the after
noon Swinging h;s meat to sap
ling, ont of reach of cat or wolf, he
started for home to get his horse
and return and fetch it that night.


Taking a near cut, he approached
the cabin from the western side,
Within few yards of the building,
and consequently nc could not see
the clearing. or what might be
transpiring there, until he had
passed through the wood.
Thus it was that, when within a
short distance of his home, he heard
a wild, piercing shrek; but he could
only guess that something terrible
must be taking place beyond the
screen of bushes and leaves. Utter
ing loud shout, that his presence
sooner be known, Bronson sprang
forward like q wounded buck, with
great fear in his heart. for he had
clearly recognized In that scream
the agonized scream of his wife.
1t took bnt a moment for him to
clear the intervening timber and un
dergrowth, and as he dashed ont
into the clearing, holding his rifle
ready for instant use, he cOmpre-
hended with one swift glance all
that had taken place, and what was
turi her TO fear.


Near the end of his cabin. facing
the cliff Of which l have spoken,
stood the mother, her face as palid
as death, her arms out stretched.
her startling eyes fixed upon the
PERCEPTIONS heights, up which the
figure of the Indian was struggling.


any child! my child" was all
the woman said, and Bronson saw
that the bundle in the Indians arms
was the form of their only child,
Maggie.


Firm of heart, and with nerves
as steady as the. rocks around, the
father quailed and covered under
what his quick sense told him was
the deadly peril of his little one.
But he was quick to recover.


The Indian was drawing away;
step by step he was increasing the
distance, and as he occasionally
glanced backward and downward,
the parents saw in his hideously
painted countenance the fonl pur
pose that actuated the abductor.


Good aid mel" Bronson muttered,
as he raised his rife, gIancing
through the sights and touched the
trigger.


The Indian started violently at
the shot He was hit, but not bad
ly, and with a yell of devilish tri
umph, he advanced upward"


"Too low, by q couple of inches,"
said a low, calm voice at the settlers
shoulder


Bronson started as though he
himself had been shot. Where was
this from? Who was he? Neither
had seen him approach Bat there
was no time for explanations The
stranger,-a man rather below than
above the ordinary height, whose
fine. athletic form was fully dis
played by his closely fitting buck
skin garments. stepped quickly for
ward a few PAGES, and firmly planted
his left foot in advance, threw mp
an unusually long rife, as though
preparing to fire.


.'For Gods sake. stranger, be
careful of my child" cried Bronson.
while the agonized mother uttered
an audible prayer.


"Its our only chance ! know
that Indian, was the quick reply;
and the sharp click! click! of the
hammer, as it was drawn back, told
that the critical moment had come.


BY this time the Indian had nearly
reached the summit of the steep
That he was wounded now became
evident. as upon a broad ledge of
rock he paused for a moment. This
opportunity was seized by the un-
known. Although the savage had
taken the precaution to hold the
child up in front of him as a shield,
covering the whole of his brawny
chest, but leaving his head uncover
ed, the stranger did not hesitate to
make the shot.


For one moment, as it gained its
INSTANTLY tbbe becsShate sSae gsYTsEfaA RBa ethssa SO
though held in vice With clasped
hands and staring eyes the parents
watched the statue like form upon
which so much depended.


Suddenly sharp report rang out;
the white smoke drifted away, and as
the vision became clearer, they saw
the savage lose his hold upon the
child, reel wildly an instant, and
then pitched forward upon the rocks.
1t may be imagined that the father
was not long in reaching the place
where his child lay, and in a few
moments more the little one was in
its mothers arms.


"Tell Us who you are, that we may
know what name to mingle with our
prayers" exclaimed the mother, as
the stranger prepared to depart.


"My name is Daniel Boone" be
said-snd he was gone.


s@ Banking houses are usually
| nonr rlanna for inIaa ht,f Tho fnllon