Year: 1867

1es, as sure as preaching; and I'll
! bet a pint of whisky thas it is a camp
of red skins, who have been on one of
their cussed tramps again. Likes not
! they have got some prisoners with 'em;
but | am bound to see any way, sure
as my name is Bill Parker


In moment Haywood missed him
from his side.


'Shall | so with YOU? he said
No answered the scout. You
! would break your neck before you had
gone dozen steps. Stay where you
are; I'll be back in half an hour > and
his soft cat like footsteps died away on
the ears of Walter
1t seemed an age to the young man,
lett alone in the darkness, before the
scout came back


The first he was aware of his return
he clapped his hand upon his shoulder.
Haywood involuntariIy uttered an ac-
| cent Of surprise; but the word was
| smOthered before it was half uttered
by the hand of the scout upon his
mouth


Hush " said old Bill, in a whisper.
there Is work for us to do


Walter silently assented


There are eight red skins round that
fire, Walt, and they have with them
three young white girls, that they have
stolen from some settlement Now if
old Bill don't rescue them may he be
chawed up by ground hog, Will ye
help him ?


'Of course l will How can You
doubt me, Bill"


L don't; | only did it to try your
grit. But now for business


In a long whisper Bill told him Of
his plans tor the rescue, and the part
he was to take in the scene.


Then following close on the footsteps
of the scout, Haywood picked his way
through the darkness.


Twenty minutes later they were
close to and viewing the camp of the
Indians


The captives lay side by side, Sc
curely bound with thongs, While near
them, with his back against a huge
hemlock, leaned one of the Indians.
keeping guard, while the other seven
were apparently buried in sumber
close by.


After contemplating the scene for a
few moments the scout whispered,
Now is our time. to his companion,
and with the greatest caution he NOV.
ed forward, closely followed by Hay
wood.


In the giant shadows that stalzed
around the camp fire they came close
to the sentinel unpcrceived, who, wEol-
ly unconscious Of danger, was keeping
watch and ward over the poor captivcs
stretched at his feet.


At a sign from the scout, HAYWOOD
stood motionless, while Bill, in the
friendly shadow of the tree, came close
to the trunk, on the opposite side. and
within three feet of the unsuspecting
Indian.


For moment he stood motionless
as the tree itself; then he swung his
rifle above his head and its butt de-
scended with Il low, crashing sound
into the head Of the red skin.


AT the Same moment Haywood ap-
preached the maidens and cut the
thongs that confined their limbs. One
of them, who was partially asleep, ut
tering low cry Of terror, imagining
that it was an Indian that stood over
her.


The nearest Of the sleeping Indians
moved ut the sound, the light, dull and
tilckery as 1t was, revealed to him tho
situation of affairs, and he attempted
10 give the alarm. Before he could do
it, the tomahaWk of his dead compan-
ion, in the hand of the scout. was bu.
ried in his brain, and he sank back
without a groan.


In low whisper, Walter bado the
maidcns follow him, and he led them
short distance from the camp. and
bidding them not to move for their
lives, left them.


lie camo not moment too soon
The scout was finishing up his bloody
work with the tOmahaW<. One blow
had sent each of them TO the happy
hunting grounds, save the last, whom
he missed. The Indian was of hercu-
lean build, and springing upon Bill he
threw him to the ground and wrench
cd the weapon from his hand. Another
moment would have been the last on
earth for old Bill, had not Il bullet from
the rifle of Walter gone crashing thro'
the head of the savage.


a word more and our sketch is done.
The next day at sunset our friends and
the maidens reached the block house
at Lakeville and the latter were
sent to their friends, who resided in Il
settlement above, from whence they
had been captured the day before


New Years Resolutions.