Saturday Evening Mail, Volume 11, Number 20, Terre Haute, Vigo County, 13 November 1880 — Page 2

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THE MAIL

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A PAPER FOR THE PEOPLE.

TERRE HAUTE. NOV. 13, 1880

A QUAKER SERMON. »,

It wa«thc flnrt-day nie tlnKf 4 And U« group of Kathemi folk Jf Hat toacUort by the mwh of a voieetaw spell

No MKtnd the silence broke, ..

Until, io fcer pUoe on the women's side, 1* With a Mvret't and tender face That bore the pare and peaceful sign

Of the toward spirit* grace,

A white haired woman roae with the word That wan laid on her heart to say— The word that the gathered people

Were waiting that sonny day.

"HiKter Tabitha ail to pieces My bedt china tea pot broke, Hut 1 kept my houI in patience,

Nor a word of anger Hpoke." That wan all and down with the ranstolne The silence again fell nweet. Till the elder people gave the sign

That the service ww complete.

Doyou say that the hour was wasted? That the ncrtnon wa* trivial, vain, TextUs*.devoid of logic,

Unthrnted by one eloquent strain? Not for the

gmpel is mreetetft

That Ihwoii through life's fret and ItMpnln, That Mf(euH the jar of it# friction, And lighten* the straw of Its strain.

And the love that I*over the erring, The peace untouched by surprise. The unlet that keepw itnsweet talk-nee,

Are dear In the Mooter's eye*.

While many rhetorician MiKht learn

from

tlil^liomUy brief

A truth that the wearied people Woukl.hail jus a glad relief—

That the lowon is most enduring Clowe to life's practical lines, And not the length but the fitness

The heart of the hearer inclines.

And we all in our plain home duties Kind the thought In this first-day word, That the least of our trials and triumphs lias a worth In the sight of our Lom. —Christian at Work.

The Novelist.

FLAMING ARROW

—OK,—

THE VKNOEANCE OF THE MINGO CHIEF.

BY C. UKON MEREDITH,

Author of "Rainbow," "Canoe Bird," "Border Pearl," "Bow and Paddle," "The Marked Kltle," etc., etc.

CHAPTER I. PlOJfKKR'S

PAUQIITKR.

It W»H oarly autumn, 1774. •rho day oftho fifth of October closed bright and beautiful. The sun went down with an onohantlng glow, and through the primitive forest, which stretched almost unbroken from the Monongahela to the great prairies of the West, the heavy shadows of descending night had licgun to fall.

It was the hour when a peculiar solitude appoars to rent upon nature—when, in tho twilight, swaying branches of the deep woodland ap|car through half curtain vision, like sjjectcrs in revelry, and Urn rustling of leaves sounds like the dull, plaintive chants of forest nymphs.

From a cluster of willows which grow close upon the bank of the Tuscarawas, bright, buxom face appeared the fucu of a gin, perhaps twenty years of age, and ofTer tne largo, blue eyes had peered up and down the river, as if expecting some objoct that would come afloat, the face disappeared again.

Two or threo minutes of silence and the quick oar of the girl caught the the sound of a paddlo, and her heart beat rapidly as she murmured to herself: "Whitney is coming at last."

A face all radiant with smiles was again studded in the verdant boughs of tne bonding willows, but suddenly there came a change the happy, bright expression won swept away by one full of disappointment and displeasure.

Not more than a hundred yards away came gliding a canoe containing thr^o full llouged Indian warriors. One stood erect in the «bow of the boat, and dangling at his side was tho trophy of a recent victory.

Almost breathless, the maiden watched the Imrk and its dread freightage until it had reached a point directly opposite the clump of bushes which concealed her from view, and then she drew a light rillotoher shoulder and sot the Hinted hammer for action.

Just as she had taken sight upon the foremost and proudest appearing of the feathered braves, and her linger had touched the trigger with gentle pressure, the rifle was suddenly lowered undlsehargod.

The girl heard her name snoken in a whisper by some one close at ner side. /Whitney," she exclaimed, in an undertone, "1 was about to avenge your death. Three ml men haw just passed, and I holievod that thev wore carrying with them your scalp." "It woulo haw boon an unfortunate affair, sister, had you discharged tho rillo, for tho proud chief who stood erect in tho boat is no other than Ixgan, the avenger, and at least two down of his followers are upon the river to-night mid not far awav. There they come now! This way, Myrtle."

With the last words the youth, who Sndeid was a mere boy, bent low and crept a little to the left, where tho river fringe was more dense, and the girl followed closely in his tracks.

The two sat and watched tho licet of at l«asta down canoes, each occupied by a brace of bravea, until all were gone, and then the bov awe to his feet again ami showed more agitation than he had at fln*t revealed. "Mvrtle," he said, "we must hasten

home

my mission up the river has not

availed anything further than the discovery that Logan is upon the war path against the white®, and that pioneer iTomcrt are being swept awav "fey the fiends all along the valley, and not b« kit- There 4s an attack to made to-night."

Viow do you know all this, Whit-, let burning. It

'"^Fox Kyo, the friendly Delaware, told

And how came Fox Kyc so well infarmed to nw m*^ ff c« Mom. ". *vhv stiiuod »•«. v.iiL Logan and 1. if. became shk. ned at ihlmidv £«..«• wf -.» ii,. t«i-:a f.i. oal'Ml i*. S-^yM of

the bloody pcoj4e and that the flayer

H..1V :i...41 »tjr v- .-.h~

F»V his «wn Uih. Mvr** cis whIvi-1 it

not w»k lwhr«4h»* ,1 m* «ttobk1 a

frh lly Mingo chief but. h-sry. 7

N

WCH had «'n 1-lv :*-i'!.."«l :hr«xi-vof *!., t* and temi od the brave irart«d

'"l hmi^ !wd to ts, MiemWr, he telt t-onvinecu uy of Michael Crwapand his fi aitt) the Wood which had imrswl thtotiirh the Iwrave Indian so co^iy and

humanely before now boiled with a fury hotter than fire, and he swung the tomarbawk over the heads of those who poaseeeed white blood with no respect to sex or age. The cry for mercy was useleas: Logan's -ears were deaf to piteous wails or childish pleadings. "And how did vou evade the enemy upon the river, Whitney?" the girl asked, as they hastened through the forest homeward. "I came near being discovered, Myrtle, so near that for a time I believed the savages had seen me. A mile above here I landed to get a shot at a deer which had appeared upon the bank, and fortunately to keep the canoe from floating away, Idrew it out of the water in a little cove, and then sought the game, hoping to keep my promise to return with venison. "I wax standing near the bank, watching for the buck to show his head, when I was startled by an arrow whisking by cloee to where I stood, and the next moment the deer I sought darted down the bank, and I discovered the same party we have just seen, making for the river. "Instantly I took to my heels, believing the arrow had been intended for me, and that the Indians were after me themselves. "After a little run I made up mind that the red men had not seen me at all, as they made no outcry and did not pursue. The fact was, they had espied the buck, and that animal had taken their whole attention. "It would not have been an easy matter for them to see me anyhow, as it was growing duskish at the time, and I was veiled by a spare growth of bushes. "Knowing, Myrtle, that you would be faithful to your promise to meet me at the spring/just at sunset, I hastened on, leaving the canoe, and I was not an instant too soon to save you from exjxjging yourself to the merciless horde that is on the war-path with the cry of vengeance."

A defiant smile rested upon the girl's face as she heard the explanation from her brother, and with a snap of her fin-, gers, she replied: 'I would not give that for the difference. If I had known then what I know now, Logan would have received the lead of my rifle." "Just like you, Myrtle your intrepidity leads you to any degree of recklessness." "What is the difference, brother? Was not Logan leading the Mitifjos and Iowas, and Cornstalk the hostile Delaware*. against the whites, the warfare would soon close, and the quicker tho leaders lose their lives the better." •But had you shot Logan, the score of followers would have pursued us until our lives paid the penaly." "Providing we did not outwit them and escape but whether we could do such a thing or not, what's the difference they are to come upon us to-night all the Bame, and what chance do you look for then?" "Flight before they get there. Myrtle that is my only hope.,v 'I'd as soon stand by the little home and try the power of the intrepidity you/ spoke of as to plunge into tne forest, with two dozen savages on my trail, ana attempt to outwit or outwind them in a chase. "Remember father and mother, Myrtle." •I do, and believe they can fight bettor than thev can run."

Whitney knew that he was wasting words upon his slstor, for she was one of the bravest and most artful creatures u|on the whole border. Ho would trust to her judgement much quicker than to his own, and ohose her for an expedition through tho forest in preference to half of the scouts in the service of Lord Dun more.

Tho girl was of medium height, of fine proportions, and as lith as a doe. Her large, bluo eyes were bright as diamonds, rapid in their glances, and keen in sight, and added much to the lieauty of a winning face.

Myrtle was dressed in a short print gown upon her feet she wore moccasins, and a narrow brimmed hat, braided by her own hands from fine swamp grasses and dyed brown, covered her head. All that she wore her skillful hands had cut and made, and all, like the hat, were in color of a grayish brown, so as to bo tho least showy or attractive among tho trees of the great woods.

There was an advantage in dressing tints, and nearly all or the pioneers adopted tho eolor, as a nearer approach to gillie unobserved could lo obtained, and they could more easily evade the eves of "Indian hunters when crossing their jrnth.

Myrtle loved the chase, and spent now ami then half a day of her time in quest- of game, accompanied by Whitney.

The youth was three years his sister's junior, and her almost constant companion when about homo, and the affection liotween the two was of the most endearing nature.

Tho bov resembled Myrtle in features to a remarkable degree, and his dress, of the regular frontier style, was stonebrown in Hlor, and showed in out and fit that tho girl's deft lingers had patterned and completed tho same.

Both of those glad, free children of the forests wore adopts in the use of the bow or rifle, and from constant practice fleet of foot as tho gazelle, and as enduring in the chase as the wolf.

Tho parents, who wore now past the meridian of life, wore well educated peopio, and had given their children careful instruction, so that withal their wild, free life, they had an advantage of intellectual enjoyments.

Across the woodland stretch, between the spring where Myrtle had met her brother, and the home cabin, the two mode hasty taeps. The distance was fully a mile, but liot more than eight or ten minutes were consumed in passing over it.

They stopped a momwnt as the doorstone was readied, to listen for sounds without and sounds within, then pulled tfie latchstring and disappeared from view.

CHAPTER II. I.RAP1NU PANTHER.

When Myrtle and Whitney entered the cabin, tViey were both startled to find It empty.

Everything about the room was in i!"a- ihev could from small

urdinmy

would

have appeared as if the nis were I'-nrjv.r ft *e 1 bended that

}«:*rc1i»S

In

ct".

^or.

.her jK»me evil »i thev

t«- 1 UJ ,lid -N i' !t:r

m. hs- fnuuir Unw^rm*!. .«hr.^« Ulud w.univ^ -. It li b.^fslnci-1 lef: !.«:v to mlotteanring, »!id he knen :-iWr I had gone.^ ••ftat

the -ig of the foe might have

vn«o«nd(lenato leave

00

time tor

itrMforred art ion," the youth argued. \I vitle laughed at the Idea. **ltad the saxnges«tme in foree sufB4e*it to intinddale father, they wo«ld

TERKE HAUTE SATURDAY EVENING MAIL.

not have left the cabin thus. While a part of tin party had pursued for deadly work, others lfpuld have pillaged ana toadied the fire brand." "You are right, sister but to the flrst question: what is to be done?" "Watchand wait." "In here?" "No, outside watch for the coming of Logan." "And then what? "Kill or capture.' "Are you crazy, Myrtle? You would not attempt to overcome two dozen warriors, would you?" "I would, but

Mvrtle stopped abruptly and sprang for her rifle, which she she had leaned against the wall.

The door of the cabin had been opened and a dark form stood upon tho thresh hold.

Had not the door been opened by the new-comer, the inmates of theforest habitation would have believed it was some animal, dog, wolf or bear, that had appeared.

Quick as,a flash Myrtle's rifle touched her shoulder, but as suddenly the object vanished from sight and left the doorway clear.

The girl lowergd the gun with a look of surprise the action was unlike that of an Inman. "Leaping Panther has come alone."

The words were quiej.lv, earnestly spoken. They came Irom the shadows without. 'TIb the dwarf," the girl said to Whitney then, turning to the opening, she answered: "Come in, friend no white person will hurt you."

The strange looking object, crossed the threshold and leaped, hither than walked to the center of the room.

The Leaping Panther, as he had willed himself, wan not more than three and a half feet in height, very small in body, with large head, long arms and crooked legs.

He carried in hip hand a short barreled rifle, in his belt a tomahawk and knife, and at his back a bow and ouiver of arrows, while around his neck was a coil of small rope, not larger than a drum cord.

Leaping Panther looked as is loaded down with weapons and trappiugs, but in fact, aside from the light rifle, the burden amounted to but a few pounds. All tliat he had on did not impede his action, as his bound into the room, covering six or eight feet of space, showed.

No one knew more of the dwarf than that he belonged to the Delawares, was cailed Leaping Panther from his habit and power of leaping or jumping in his movements, and his sagacity, boldness and ferocity when contesting his rights. He could speak English well enough to be understood ordinarily, and was a fast friend to tho whites. Indeed, of late his life had been devoted to the protection of the pioneers.

I suppose you have come to warn us of danger, good friend?" Myrtle said, as soon as the dwarf had put in an appearance. "More than that," said Leaping Panther, with a hasty look about the room. "I come to tell you of your father and mother." "Are thov gone—captives or what? Do not delav,'* the girl cried, stepping to the side of the Delaware youth, who had ceased speaking. "They are gone, but not as. captives mounted upon a horse, they are flying for Wheeling." "Then you warned them of danger?" "No, the danger came without turning. I will tell you all." "Your father was in the woods, toward the point of sunrise an hour ago, when two Ottawa hunters came upon him. Your father was wounded in the leg bv an arrow, and he shot tho Ottawa dead "who sent tho shaft, and Leaping Panther coming there at the time, cut the face of the other with a bullet, and lie ran away like a deer. Leaping Panther was on his way hero to warn the paleface friends against Logan, and so helped the wounded man to his cabin, and after Leaping Panther had given his promise to stav and tell tli® old man's children to fly quick from the forest home, the father and mother left upon the horse—" "Do vou know that my father was not dangerously injured?" interrupted Mvrtle. "Only made too lame to walk," the Indian "boy answered. "We were already informed of the coming of I/Ogan,'r Whitney replied. "Fox Eve told me to-day up the river, and a lialf hour ago Logan and his followers pissed down the stream in their canoes." "Then they will lie here not long after dark, and vou had better carry away what vou wish to save, for l^ogiui leaves nothing when he visits the white mans' home.

Without further delay the brother and sister gathered up articles which were most valuable, and tying them in three bundles, each of the trio took one, and Whitnev led tho way to a large hollow tree, ami the packages wore suspended out of sight in tho cavity of the monster trunk.

After Whitney had emerged foom the tree, a short consulation was held as to the best course to pursue.

Whitney suggested that thoy make all haste in followingthe parents to Wheeling, and added, asan argument, that old people might get into trouble and need their assistance, but Myrtle could not find it in her nature to be driven away from the spot she loved as home, without, what she termed, proper resistance. "But," she added thoughtfully, "I will do whatever our friend Leaping Panther savs Is beat. His judgement in the matter is better than mine."

As the girl finished speaking, Whitney touched her arm and pointed to LeapingP«ntltef»^rbQhad thrown himself flat upon the loaves with his ear turned to the earth.

In a few seconds he was upon his feet again. "Red-men are coming," ho whispered, "there are sounds of moccasined feet up«n the forest carpet, and they come not like tho fox, but like the boar." flic dwarf motioned his white friends to enter the hollow tree, with the injunction not to leave until his return, unless they heard the notes of the whip-poor-will.' reu, Mvrtlcnnd Whitney promptly obeypro- .Hi aiwl lumping Panther quickly disap--f*i- near- from sight.

He inept out with the tread of a cat -1 until he was very i»early in the line of march tl^approaching mrty was mak-

s. 1*. .v,nc, ina, and secreting himself, waX-bed the the v.^t-h.r/ .sr •!*.••» h.vi n,l tall fontts«* th£y {tossed ini-«dngje lite. f.*is**•1 time tor themM^inm^of As Ixmptaff Panther bad at firstolv iUa i*erml. they did not come like a fox, "I am j* led, Whitw^v*wm»« twrt H*c the hear wet* prawing on with «r v.. l.K' tiiVr

evidently determined spiriifor despearateworlt. There w«*e fifteen or twratv of the bmid, all armed with gun# or bows, |«tfttselv plumed and edwed with war tMint*. not only upon thcface but figured on the bare breast* and arms.

Myrtle «nd Whitney, after they had been enscomed perhaps a minute or two, heard indistinctly the traad of aerend feet, hat saw nothing, «nd the «™nd died away and silence prevailed but before the U|»«e of ttve minutes the

the form of the dwarf appeared before theopening of the oak. "The warriors who have passed are not of the Delaware or Iowa tribes, and Logan is not leading them," he said "they are the Ottawas who nave come to destroyed the pale-face who killed, an hour ago, one of their people. "Then we have a double enemy to contend with," Myrtle said, "and what are we to do, Leaping Panther?"

The dwarf marked upon the earth with his ramrod for a little time and then said. "One enemy come another to come, we must not go, but watch, and if the trail of the horse is taken, foilow on and save theTgood father and the mother. If finding the lodge empty, they go another way, we can go toward the sunrise secure, and not fear that the dogs are on our track."

Brother and sister saw the wisdom of the Delaware's plan, and readily submitted to it.

Again the elf left them to reconnoiter and after the elapse ol Ave minutes he came back and said that the Ottawas had entered the cabin so the trio advanced, little suspecting what was to take plaoe within the next hour.

CHAPTER* III I'1 A N iS N O E

It was with no little anxiety that the old couple, Jonathan t'laver and wife, rode out into the forest that night, leaving behind them their cherish, woodland home and their beloved children:

Had it not been for the arrow wound tho old pioneer had received, he would never have consented to such a departure.

There was

0110

consolation for both of

the parents, however. Leaping Panther would find Myrtle und Whitney, and would stand by them through any and all danger that might come,

kfor

he had

promised to do so. They were mounted upon a young, spirited horse, one that would endure the double burden and make good time to Wheeling, where, it was agreed by the couple, Mrs. Olaver should be left, and the husband and father. return in quest of the children.

The arrow which had pierced the flesh of the old frontiersman had not done very serious work a small flesh wound onlV had been made, but the flint had touched the bane without fracture, yet \ylth sufficient force to produce at flrst a numbness, then severe pain.

Only a few miles had been made upon the bridle-path when the full darkness of the night settled down upon the great solemn woodland! The forest was not solemn from silence, for nocturnal birds and insects kept crying and chirping on every hand, and the hoarse hoot of the great- owl gave a not very cheery variation to the concert of the primeval hurst.

There was no moon, but the sky was clear, and the stars shone down through the dense foliage of the great trees sufliciently to show the fugitives the outlines of tho myriads of tall trunks, as they moved along, and to guide them aright on their unhappy journey.

Jupiter traveled up the eastern sky, and this planet was a guide to the couple as hour after hour passed.

Their progress was not rapid, for fallen timber, tangled undergrowth and broken surface of land, added to the darkness, retarded their journey to a considerable degree, and caused many halts and necessary delays.

Tho position of the colestial bodies finally indlcato that half the night had been passed, and as the couple were congratulating themselves that so much of the gloomy period had worn away, a change came, and one most unexpected and alarming.

The brow of little elevation had boon reached, when the horse that had borne them so faithfully up to this time, suddenly stopped, pricked up his ears and snorted, as if he had sighted or scented danger.

WTiat is it, Jonathan?" the matron whispered clinging closely to the sturdy man who sat in front of her. "A wolf, perhaps, but there's no telling, panthers ana bears are as likely to cross our path as anything," was the

A a panther or lynx we will have serious trouble, for tne animal can land upon us with deadly fury, and in the darkness there will ne no chance for defending ourselves Mrs. Claver whispered tremulously, in answer to her husband's words. "We must do the best we can whatever it is will soon lie known or rid of. It will attack, or Jack will carry us awav."

The words wore hastily spoken, but a few seconds were occupied in the cxchange of thoughts and fears, and during this time tho horse had stood with his neck arched, his ears sot front, and tho flosh crept upon the animal in a tremulous nervous manner.

Jonathan Claver drew a close rein and unsheathed his knife should they have to contend with a panther, no other weapon could be used to advantage in the darkness, and tho pioneer had but little faith in this.

Both husband and wife peered into the darkness about them, believing that the fiery eyeballs of the wild beast could be seen were their apprehensions correct but nothing of this nature met their STA996*

The homo appeared to see what they could not. He turned his head rapidly to the right and left now, as If some dreaded objects were approaching from all sides. ., "Turn Jack homeward and give him the bil a little, Jonathan he is trembling with fear," tho good woman whispered again, in a voice scarcely above her breath.

Before a reply could lie framed or the suggestion acted upon, there corne a sudden step, then a whirring sound, and 4he frightened borse, afadng »J'he would draw himself into half his ordinary si»e, leaped Into the air and plnnged madly away.

The motion of the animal was so sudden, and the plunge so powerful, that the rider* wen- landed upon the earth

°?tapid steps quickly followed those of the home, but soon died away to the ears of our friends, as they sat bewildered upon the parched loaves that carpeted the

SPNeither

one off them had reedved in­

jury, but both were nonplussed by the evwit. 'S',. .. "Whatin the name o* merey was it, Jonathan?"

Redskins." "Would thev give Jack such a fright as that?" "He bate*an Indian worse than a bear hat fear alone did not vet him Margaret. An arrow pierced his neck, and it was fear which caused him to make the piling® tlmtsosnddenlyplant«d us here. I heard the shaft sttittethe faovne." "And why is it that wear® left nndis-

"If we are left alone, probably they either have not discovered that the horse had riders, or believe that they were carried away with the bemdk

The frontiersman was mistaken in his last Hurmise, as the passage of time proved. Minute after minute wore on until they made an hour, and no further signs of the savages haying apjieared, the couple began discussing the situation witn a view to aetion in some direction.

It was evident that they had suddenly come upon a party of rodmen, probably hunters, who had either stopped for the night or had been tramping through the forest, and they had heard the heavy tread of the horse's feet upon the dry leaves.

Claver was of the opinion that the Indians were uncertain aa to what large object had appeared to tliem, and had cast an arrow to determine whether it was flesh or phantom. Finding it to be real, animate matter, they had followed with purpose of capture.

During the long nour that had passed the couple 'had not once moved themselves from the spot where thoy had been thrown,for theyknew not what todo

Claver, as well as the matron, sat with gun ready 'for instant use should a skulking figure show itself, and by the time they had decided to move toward Wheeling on foot, as fast as the wounded leg would permit, a new danger suddenly arose.

From not far away came tho howl of a wolf, and this, as "if by echo, was answered by another, then another farther off, and another still beyond, until half a dozen returns had been sent to the first call. "We are to remain at this inn to-night, Margaret," tlio husllandman said, casting about him as if seeking a placo of safety "the dogs of the woods will bo upon us soon,.for thoy rally like soldiers when called for action. It's atree sooner or later."

Mrs. Claver remained silent, listening to the increasing number of mournful howls. Sho was familiar with these sounds, for their cabin had boon visited by hungry packs again and again, but never before had she been placed where the dismal reverbemtions were sa terrifying.

Rapidly the calls and answers were repeated, until, as if the hosts were gathering, the forest was awakened on every hand.

Before a sufficient number of wolves had gotten together to raise thoir courage to an attacking point, our friends were safely perched in a tree, where they could look down upon the myriad of gleaming eyes and specter-like objects leaping, tumbling, and snarling beneath them.

Believing tho hungry pack would keep up their vigil until daylight, the couple made themselves as comfortable as possible, and resigned themselves to the situation.

Half tho after part of. the night had passed before anything occurred to break the gloomy monotony that surrounded them.

The watchful eye of the old forester at this hour discovered a twinkling light in the distance, too low down to be a star, and not vived enough for a campflre.

A few minutes later anothar twinkling glow came out of tho darkness, presently half a down, and then a score of others. "Margaret," he said, "wo are not yet through with tho first enemy wo met last night, by a good deal, unless I am mistaken as to the nature o* those lights yonder."

Tho wife, after gassing intently in tho direction indicated for a little time, answered: "Torches, Jonathan?" "Yes, and in the hands of the rodskins#" "The sam ewlio followed Jack, think you?" "I do not know as to that, but those fellows, whoever they may prove to be, arc making for this point, evidently believing that the wolves have treed some one whom they may wish to save or secure." "Is there noway to evade them?" "We can not make an attempt without getting out of this tree first, and that would be to meet certain death the hungry dogs of the woods would devour us 111 a minute." "And will they not keep the Indians away as well as keep us up here?" the matron asked anxiously, looking for a ray of hope to grasp in the trying situation. "No, Maraget, the torches, guns and arrows of tho savages will scatter tho wolves and leave us to the mercy of the human frieuds or foes, as they may prove to be."

Thofugutives could only hope. The chances thoy knew wore against them as to the approaching jiarty ix ing friendly to the whites. The rod-mail's blood was fevered iu the warfare then going on. and every warrior who could lie induced to lift tho tomahawk was encouraged by Logan and 'ornlcaf to make tho victory complete, exterminlng tho palefaces and leaving the woods and valleys the open and free hunting grounds of the great braves.

While the two unhappy victims wore discussing the situation, and weighing all tho favorablo points that could bo invented with fair and fanciful encouragement, the flickering lights drew still nearer, until a belt of flaming fagots was presented.

The bloodshot eyes of the hungry wolves were now turned in a different direction. The cracking of the jaws and horrifying howls were now growing less vigorous, and the ravenous beasts incKle bold by numbers a few minutes before, began to shrink back in a timid way, loth to give up the game perched above tbem. but dreading the advancing firebrands.

The attention of the fugutives was no longer attracted by the snarling wolves their whole thoughts were upon the torch-bearers. •The same party who surprised us la returning, Margaret." "How do you know this, Jonathan? "Thoy have Jack with them he is in the rear of the torches.''

Both saw glimpses of the home now, and both saw more than this. Hie dress and paint showed that the savage" who bad come were on the warpath, they were Iowas, and wot to do the same bloody work as Logan—to gather eveiy a

Jonathan Claver took the hand of his Bfe companion In his own, but he spoke not a word it was not necessary that be should, for the kind matron read ,tm same fate as her husband done..

Tte end

«pow

hut these is no

oortainty of all having kK there

may

behalf adoaea within ten feet of u», behind the trunks of trees, this very moment/*

to be death

CHAPTER IV."

rtHKKK MEKTH OREKK.

When Mvrtle, Whitney, and »he dwarf reached a point as near the in as It was deemed prudent to go, a halt was made and the party secreted themselves fn a thieket.

Thoy were so situated that through the darkness an indistinct view of the door could be obtained, yet *0 shielded tlwrt then® was little cfumceof their being do-

As vet. not a sound had been h*rd. Within the domicile ail was silent as the grave, and ids ^n^lar drcumidanoe mystified our white mend not a little, b& Leaning Panther was not stow In makingraMonable, if not com** explanation.

He said that the Ottawas.had, oli'flnding the cabin empty, concluded that ithad only been deserted temporarily, and that tho Indians were lying quiet to surprise and capture tho whites upon thoir return. "How long will thoy be likelv to re-jl main concealed?" Whitney asked, in iifT'' whisper. "The red man does not like to trail bv night, and tho light may come before ho goes." "Then we need not remain her»\" saidl Whitney. "Leaping Panther will go to the lodge' ft soont and watch and listen then-, then 5 he will come back and say go, or stay longer time. If the Ottawas li( down they are to move no more, but wait for-? tho palefaces to return, or tho light to* I come."

After another silent period, perhaps a quarter of an hour 111 duration tlvdwarf'

glided

from the thicket and crept toward tie cabin. He had not passed over twenty feet of space, boforco ne was seen to drop suddenly down and plaoe his ear to the earth as he had dbne at'the hollow tree. Presently ho turned about and crept quickly Imck to the plaoe from who net ho had' started.

Entering the clump of bushes lie whispered: "There are stops upon tho earth." "From which way is tho pasty ajiprooehing?" Whitney asked.

Leaping Panther pointed to th- south. "It is Logan ami his followu: i," the* youth added "think vou not s», Mvrtle?" "1 belieyo you are right, Whitney, and if so tho situation will lie a oouih :u 0110, for the two parties muy not bo friendly, or both may claim tho*right to tho cabin and its contents." "I hope so," 'the brother answered, "and that they will *ontpst tho ground so strongly that not a single .0110 of either partv will bo loft to hold tho prop-' erty"

The dwarf motioned silence, and slipping out of tho hiding-place again disappeared.

Our friends waited not. long after tho departure of the lolawaro licforo thoy saw phantom-like forms flitting about, tbeeabin.

Then, after the force appeared to be concentrated, a voice rang out in English: "Open the door." "liOgan," whispered Myrtle. "Yes, and I10 lias not tried to enter," the brother answered. "He is woll aware that no pioneer sleeps with an nnbari«ed door," Myrtle returned.

An answer to the demand of tho Mingo chief came In' the white man's tonguo from within the house, but was too indistinct to lx heard by the spies.

The couple soon understood by what followed, however, that it was a refusal, for the noise from within indicated that tho Ottawas wore securing the place of entrance. 11

The 'fact was the occupants of the house had detected tho approaching party, and believing that the enemy was raining, determined 011 notoncountoring them until thoy knew tho nature of tluv visit.

The clear English words of Logan lod them to believe that a for«-o of white men hail come, and thoy hastily barricaded all tho points from which admittance might ordinarily lie obtained.

The two parties were laboring under errors, and in a very peculiar manner, both believing that thorn was a white foe to contend against.

Ixigan was us cunning as he was bloodthirsty, and net his posse to work immediately to make capture certain.

Slabs of wood which had boon riven-* for the broad stono re place, wore placed against the two substitutes for windows, and braced with logs and poles, found at the woodpile, so securely that human strength from tho Inside could not remove them. There being but one door, egress could only be made there.

Such precautions were taken because it was not known how many men tho cabin contained. Tho pioneers wore brave men, and not unfrequontly, scouts, learning of tho danger of a family, reached tlui habitation in advance of the Indians, and aided in tho protection of tho home.

Four or five brave, artful men would sometimes beat back three times thoir number, and with deadly effect, when given the advantage of a strong log houso as a fortification.

IiOgan had liecn on the rampage too long to Ix? neglectful in tho performance of any part that would more sjieedily bring vengeance on the heads of tho whites, and at tho same time save the lives of his braves.

While the work of securing the small windows had liecn going on by apart of the posse, the other part had boon guarding the door, and preparing a Iwttering ram to beat down tho puncheon jilanks with, when all should be ready for the onset.

The Indians won- not long In getting 4 proper timber iu pla-e, and then the chief stationed his force so that a jHirtion could rush into the cabin when an opcv-S ing was made, and the balance cut dowjl any who should reach the open air and attempt to escape.

At length all was ready. The war« ry was sounded by I/ogati, ami with tho crash of timber tliat followed yell after yell rent the air.

No sooner had tho cross bar and the great wooden hinges given way than half a dozen stout braves sprang ovef the threshold, as if mocking tho wild, death cry of the first, there came from the Ottawas howls as fierce and terrible,, and tomahawks cut down the invademp with Ugb'nlng stroke, and then a showei: of arrows and bullets carried consternation into the midst of those who stoocl guard.

Logan was wounded in the hand, flndf he atood transfixed as he saw his follow-! era rink to the earth, and those who? had entered the house swept down the twinkling of an eye.

It had all come so suddenly and nn exppetedly, that not a gun had lecn firw| by Logan's party, not an arrow cast, or| blow struck.

It was expected that those wboentere the house would kill or drive out tho in mates, and that a victory would I* hi* the work of a minute.

At first the chief *"«td eonipr hend that hr had atUu k» rity of im jr own nK-e.aixi when the tr eani'y t«§ him i: 1 lieved that Jkloru\ ian hadWirtK'l hiobgh their' mfher Dtla. ware»«. »r'hr- intended m:»--ftf, nndha* come i- the white*. I

The giv.it. chief st*f"i not long as fttotutc, tii' rv of retrc.s? ,and whwere left of hi'* posse iar» I --vV.iy f.v I) the forest In different db lis, m. »trk-keu, and rapmlkw# tnam.

The Ottawas had now i- ome fired in to a terrible frenzy, arxi the war or sounded upon the heels the defeats trraves, and shot after *h(.t mug out the night alra* the vlcton-n jwrty -u sued the red fugitives.

Myrtle and Whitney compn-hened

Si

they could see but little of what king plaoe. They did not think themselves until the panic came, with it a circumstance that started tin upin fear.

UufUinmd 0* Third