1
0
EY CAPT. CRA
(CONTINUED FROM LAST WKKK.)
How would he ever be able to locate
the object of his search? His lips moved
in prayer to Heaven for aid, as he
moved along like a dark specter amid
the lodges. Anon he would pause and
listen intently, hoping- to hear a cough
or a sigh or a spoken word to tell him
of the presence of his loved one.
As he cautiously moved onward a
vivid flash of lightning revealed to his
" eyes an object like a crouching form
near a lodge in the center of the vil
lage. Dropping prostrate upon the
wet ground he peered through the
darkness toward the object, and eager
ly awaited the next flash. It came, and
seated upon the ground near the door
of a lodge he saw the form of an Indian,
his blanket thrown over his head to
protect him from the storm. The heart
of the young soldier beat with renewed
hope as the truth burst upon him that
the Indian was a guard, and that the
object of his search must be in that
lodge.
The guard must be disposed of.
Much as he dreaded the shedding of
human blood except in, the line of duty
on the field of battle, he felt that he
must allow nothing to stand between
himself and the success of his mission.
Slaking a detour in order to approach
BROWS ENTERED THE LODGE.
the crouching sentinel from the rear,
he grasped his hunting knife firmly in
his hand and stole toward the unsus
pecting savage. In the darkness he
could see the silent form but a few
feet distant, and gliding noiselessly as
a serpent he in a moment stool over
his intended victim. Not a sound, not a
groan escaped the red man as he passed
from sleep into death, and raising the
riap over the entrance Urown entered
the lodge. He could set-nothing in the
inky darkness, and crouching low
upon the ground he waited for a light
ning flash. When it came it revealed
to him several forms lying wrapped in
blankets about the lodge. Moving
softly toward where three forms were
lying under the same blanket, he
again crouched down and waited for
the fitful torches of heaven to' further
guide him. The rain beat with a low.
sullen roar on the lodge of skins, and
the ground trembled as the thunders
bellowed their way through the
heavens overhead.
It seemed an age ere the lightning
again lit up the rain-soaked earth and
created a sickly glare within the lodge,
but by the dim light he saw the pale
face of his love. She had raided her
head from its pillow of skins, and the
soft blue eyes were gazing directly
upon him.
In an instant he was beside her. and
as he bent his head to assure her that
it was himself and to caution her
against making any noise, her arms
glided about his neck and she softly
whispered:
"Xed, darling. I knew you would
come. While praying to Heaven that
you might come to my rescue a ;r"eat
peace filled my soul, and I felt that my
prayer had been heard and would be
answeted, and when the lightning
came I saw your dear face in the gloom
of the lodge."1
He pressed a kiss on her lips and
whispered:
"We must not lose a moment, darl
ing. Arise softly that you may not
wake those who sleep near you, and
let ns away."
"I am secured here, Xed. A rope is
passed about my body and the squaw
who lies next to me is lying upon it."
With his hunting knife lie severed
the rope and they passed from the
lodge. Moving silent as specters they
traversed the village and soon reached
the horse in its place of concealment.
As they approached the animal gave
utterance to a low whinny of recogni
tion, and it seemed to come as a token
of cheer to their anxious hearts.
"We must use all haste, darling, for
discovery of your absence will lead to
immediate pursuit. It is terrible that
you must bear exposure to this storm
and the long fatiguing ride, but you
must be brave."
"Do not worry about my comfort,
dear," she replied. "I am strong, and
the exposure will not harm me in the
least."
Unloosing the horse he assisted the
girl to a seat behind the saddle, and
mounting in front of her turned the
animal's head toward the fort. Throw
ing her arms about him to secure her
self in her position, she said:
"Now, Ned, this is a splendid seat
and you know I am an expert rider, so
push ahead as fast as the noble horse
can travel with its double burden."
"Then awav to home and libcrtv."
he said, as he, touelied the animal with
the spurs.
CHA. Vi'.iv .Will.
The horse did not seem to feel the
weight of his double load, and sped
over the ground at a rapid pace.
"How noble of you. Ned, to risk your
own precious life for mo." she said, as
they Hew along. "An eternity of love
and devotion could not repay you for
your work of to-night."
"One smile from my darling one, one
vord of love from her lips would amply
"epay me for any undertaking, no
uatter what dangers it might' pre
sent," he fondly replied. "lid the In
dlans treat you harshly, Alice?"'
"No. Ned. but O, I shudder to think
of the fate they held in store for me
and which 1 would have met to-night
had not thisstorm come on. There is in
the band a young half-breed Indian
who speaks fairly good Knglish. and he
explained to me that many of the In
dians' horses have died lately from
some epidemic, and the medicine man
of the tribe told them that the llreat
Spirit was angry with the people and
demanded a sacrifice to appease his
wrath. He told them that they must
make captive a paleface girl, and out in
an open camp must build a great circle
of fires, and that in the circle amid danc
ing and rejoicing the maiden must be
bound and trampled to death by
horses ridden by those whose animals
had died. The band which captured
me were on the way to the ranch of a
settler near the base of the San Mateo
mountains west of the fort to carry off
his daughter for the sacrifice when
they heard my pony's footsteps coming
down the gulch, and. concealing
themselves near the trail, they awaited
my coming. They believed the tireat
Spirit had thrown me into their hands,
and their rejoicing was great. The
wood for the fore-circle i had all been
collected when the storm approached,
.and as the thunders rolled in the dis
tance the medicine man told them the
Great Spirit was speaking to them
commanding them to take me to the
reservation where the entire tribe
could take part in the ceremonies. O.
Ned, in their blind, ignorant supersti
tion they will be frantic over my es
cape, and will use desperate efforts to
recapture me. Do you not fear pur
suit?"' "Your absence may not be discov
ered until daybreak, my darling, and
even should you be missed to-night,
they could not discover our trail in the
darkness. Even now I am depending
entirely on the instinct of the horse to
keep our direction, for not a landmark
can be seen in this pitchy darkness."
"But they will know that my rescuer
came from the fort, or that if I escaped
unaided I would start back toward the
fori, and should I be niissed in the
night would they not at once come in
this direction in search of me?"'
"You are right. Alice. I had not
thought of that. Then, in a reassur
ing tone, he added: "Hut do not feel
the least fear, dear one. for we are
mounted on a magniuecnt horse, and
he is making splendid progress. We
will surely reach the river by. day
break, and I think the Indians would
not go far without some sign to show
them that they were on our trail. Ilest
assured that we will reach the fort in
safety in time for a good breakfast."
"I pray that you may lie ri:-ht. Ned.
yet I have a presentiment that peril
awaits us before we reach our home. 1
will try to banish the fear, which is no
doubt a foolLsh one."
"You will laugh at your fears, little
one. when you are again safe in your
home. But sec. darling, the rain has
almost ceased, and it grows lighter."
The clouds were indeed passing
away, and soon the stars glimmered
dimly through the hazy atmosphere.
On and on they sped across the
desert, every beat of the hor.e"s ho.fs
making an increased distance between
themselves and their Indian foes.
On through the gloom of night into
the gray dawn of morning they rode,
and just as the first streak of sunlight
kissed the damp earth over the eastern
hills they came upon the bluffs over
looking the Kio (irande at the point
where they had crossed it, four miles
below the fort.
"Here is the dear old river again."
he joyfully cried. "Now to ford it.
and in an hour you will be safely back
in your father's arms."
"Did father know you started after
me, Ned?" she asked, as the' horse
moved down the slope toward the
river. "You have not yet told me how
you happened to come alone to my
rescue."
"Yes, darling. I came with his knowl
edge and consent." lie then related to
her all that had transpired at the fort
after the discovery fhat the Indians
had carried her away. The affectionate
girl gave him a'hug that almost lifted
him from the saddle and lovingly said:
"Oh! you dear, brave, noble fellow.
Perhaps your action in coming upon snch
a perilous mission to rescue his daugh
ter maj have great weight in breaking
down papa's prejudice, and when he
realizes that it was yon who restored
me to his arms he may look upon you
with favor and no longer oppose our
hearts' fondest, desires."
"That has been the uppermost sub
ject of my thoughts during the entire
trip, and I pray Ood that it may be as
we hope."
Happening to cast his eyes back over
his shoulder his heart ceased for a
a moment to beat and his blood ran
cold in his veins.
A band of mounted Indians came
sweeping down the bluff but half a
mile behind them.
"My l!od, we are pursued." ho cried,
striking the spurs deeply into the sides
of the horse. "Cling closely, my loved
one. for it will now be a desperate ride
for life."
"May God in Heaven protect us." she
murmured, as the fierce yells of. the
pursuing Indians reached their ears.
The noble horse heard the savage
cries of the pursuers, ami seemed to
realize the great danger that threat
ened his riders. Across the grassy val
ley he Hew with almost incredible
speed, and a thrill of hope Hashed
through the young soldier's breast as
he noted that each bound of the animal
increased the distauee between them
selves and the savages.
"We gained on them. Courage, my
beloved, courage, and we will yet es
cape them. If we can but reach the
other side and gain the high ground,
they may abandon the chase before
getting too near the fort."
"God grant that they may! Oh,
those frightful, unearthly yells! They
seem to chill my blood," she said,
clinging yet more closely to her lover.
Without slackening his pace the
horse dashed into the stream, but the
water impeded his progress and the
Indians gained rapidly upon them.
Nobly the strong beast plunged against
the swift waters which rose to his
breast in the center of the stream, but
the current was strong and his progress
was slow. At last he reached the other
side and dashed up the bank as the In
dians were urging their ponies into the
water oh the opposite side.
Across the woodod bottom which in
tervened between the river and the
western bluff they Hew. and began the
ascent of the gulch which led to the
mesa. The steepness of the hill again
impeded the horse's speed, and when
they reached the summit the Indians
could be seen Hying across the bottom,
still in mad pursuit.
"Couraire. my darling!" he again
cried in an assuring tone. "Do not
despair, for we may yet escape them.
The fort can now almost be seen."
"God will aid us. Ned. my beloved."
she responded. "My lips are moving
in constant prayer for our deliver
ance." I'p from the gulch came the Indian,
but half a mile behind, and again their
blood-curdling yells rang out upon the
air. dn they new. pursued ami pursu
ers, and Umwn's heart sank within him
when he noted that the Indians were
rapidly closing the gap between them.
Spurring hi horse to its greatest ex
ertions a groan escaped from the sol
dier's now bloodless lips, for the ani
mal began to perceptibly slacken its
speed. His powers of endurance were
almost exhausted, and it was evident
that he could go but little further.
The fort was yet two miles distant, and
escape now seemed impossible.
"Zip! Zip! Zip!" The bullets from
the riiles of the Indians began to fly
by them.
Pulling the jaded horse behind a bar
ricade of rooks which rose by the trail
linnva sprung to the ground and cried:
'Get into the saddle. Alice, ami push
on toward the fnrt. Kor the hive of
I uid hasten, and 1 may be able to hold
them at bay until you escape, r'ly. my
darling, fly. for not un instant must be
Ins'."
To his utter amazement the brave
girl slid from the horse's back and.
with pale but determined face, replied:
"No. Ned. I will not leave you. . You
risked your precious life for me! and it
woul-! !c cowardly forme to desert you
now. If you must die here. I will die
with you." '
There was no time for further urg
ing, for the yells of the Indians now
came to them with startling distinct
ness as they rapidly came on. Gaining
a position from which he could see
over the rocks, the soldier leveled his
repeating ritle nnd began to discharge
it with deadly effect.
So unexpected was the fire that the
Indians recoiled, and. springing from
their ponies in confusion, sought for
shelter behind the rocks which dotted
the mesa. From their cover they kept
up a scattering fire, but their bullets
flew harmlessly overhead, or were flat
tened against the rocky breastwork
which naturcd had provided.
Peering cautiously over the barricade
the brave soldier watched his foes with
eagle eyes, firing whenever a feathered
head came into view.
There came a cessation in the firing
of the Indians, and he heard them call
ing out to each other from their sepa
rated positions behind the rocks, and
surmised that they were planning a
sudden dash upon their hiding-place.
His heart beeame as lead in his breast,
for he well knew that, although his
rifle might do deadly work as they ad
vanced, they would certainly over
power hira and death would speedily
follow.
In his eagerness to get a good shot
and thus still further intimidate the
savages, he raised himself yet higher
above the rocks, and the next instant
fell backward into the arms of his be
trothed, the warm blood spurting from
a bullet wound in his breast.
"Oh. Ned. Ned. you are hit! You are
killed!" she eried. in agony. "Oh! my
G1. my God. what shall I do? Father
in Heaven, save him. save him!"
With a great effort he said:
"Uc brave, Alice, my love, be brave.
'Tis not much. I a in only onlystunned
a little. I will re recover in a in a
moment."
His face grew" deathly pale, and
blood oozed forth from his pallid
lips. Alice almost screamed with
fright, and her voice trembled with
agony as she said:
"Oil. Ned, my poor darling you are
dying. They have cruelly murdered
you! Father in Heaven take mo with
him!"
With an almost superhuman effort ho
seemed to rally his fast departing
strength and said:
"I am not so badly hurt as you think,
Alice, and can yet protect you. The
shock of the shot made me feel faint,
but it has passe.i. Kaise me up in your
arms, dearest, so I can sire over the
rocks. I will yet beat them back.
They shall never harm you, my be
loved. Kaise me up. There now
rouse your hopes. Ah! heur their
fiendish yells! They think they have
tis now, but will soon learn their error."
Alice exerted all her strength in do
ing as he requested, and again his rifle
rang out us the Indians, supposing he
had been killed, were securing their
ponies and preparing for a descent
upon the maiden. Again they sought
shelter behind the rocks and resumed
their desultory fire.
The effort proved too great for the
wounded man. and he sank back heav
ily into Alice's arms. She now became
almost paralyzed with fright as she
gently let him down unon the ground.
He looked up into her blanched face,
and with a smile so ghastly that it
seemed to lie token the approach of
death said, faintly:
"Why do you weep. Alice, darling. I
am not badly hurt. I feel very very
weak but it is only only from
loss of blood. I will rally in a moment.
Kiss me, Alice. The pressure of your
dear lips will nerve me me me for
one ino more effort."
She pressed her trembling lips to his,
and moaned:
"Ned, you are dying! You are dying!
I can see it in your poor, dear eyes.
Oh! must you die so cruelly, and for
me? Don't close your eyes, darling
SHE LOOKED OVER THE ROCKS.
you frighten me so! I cannot jear it!
Speak to me once again, Ned! Oh! be
is dying he is dying!"
She gave way to her great grief in
the most pitiful solis. The wounded
man made a great effort to rally his
strength, and feebly said:
"Alice, do not despair. I I I I am
very very faint, but I "
A fiendish yell from the Indians cut
short his speech, and Alice, a cold glit
ter of desperation coming iuto her
eyes laid his head gently on the
ground, seized his rifle. at:d. with a
strange rir.g in her voice, said:
"You defended me to your death, my
lost darling. Now I will defend you
till death calls me to go with you into
the dark shadow?"
Kaising herself she looked over the
rncks. and to her amr.renient saw that
the Indians were hastily mounting and
rapidly retreating. At the same in
stant a rumbling sound from the direc
tion of the fort fell upon her cars, and
casting her eyes in that direction she
olserved a great cloud of dust raising
in the air. Springing to the side of her
lover she cried:
"Oh! Ned, darling, if you are yet
alive rouse yourself. The troops are
coming from the fort."
I!ut the pale lips refused to move,
and the eyes were closed as if in death.
With a wild shriek of agony she raised
her hands aloft nnd fell across his
body, as a troop f cavalry thundered
up to the spot. Col. Sanford at its head.
COSTIXfED NEXT WEEK.
A HARD-WORKING WOMAN
sooner or later suffers
irom Dsccacnc, nervous.
worn-out feelings, or
a senre of weight in
the abdomen. -Irait-ginff
down sensations
and diaincss. It will
all come to an end
with Dr. Tierce's Fa
vorite Preeiip
tion for it's wo
man's special
tonic and ner- i
Vs ft vine ; :t restores
'I 'il her strenmh. rce-
V ' ulr.lcs and pro.
dotes ail the natural functions and makes
a new woman of her. I tcrine debility, ir- :
rcRUlarity and inflammation aro most of
ten the cause of the extreme nervousness s
nnd irritability of some women the racui
cinc to cure it is the " Prescription of
ir. Fierce. All the aches, jwins nnd weak
nesses of womanhood vanish where it is
faithfully employed, fir. Pierce's l'ayorite
Prescription is therefore just the medicine
for youni; Kins just cnU tir.rr womanhood
and" for women at the critical "change of
,ifc."
DR. PIERCE'i
FAVORITE
to-PRE5CRI PTI ON
CURBS TUB WORST CST:S.
Mr. Homitr C1.ASK, of Art. . , ftt Vrrrf.
Sinn ( :y.
J'CSVlL" 'iv " w'e xva troubled
V S5viiit-!. nm ulcrrsff the utem.
a., wri'.cs:
troubled
with every doctor -f :my
pool refutation, nnd had
spent lots r money in
i-cS?w- -iw'lIhoMiitftis. mit to no mtr-
Vr DOf-c. She ctsntirued to
net vote. She
greatly prejudiced;
nirnitiM p;;.ei;i uumi
cincs. hut a a lit frit
Tve tried a liitlt of !r.
Pierre's I:.ivorite Pre
scription. We had seen
some of your advert ire
men ts. nVd Mr. Cui ti
mings, a west-side drug-
Mrs. Clark.
inM. mtvi ctt us to trv a
bottle. We tried it with the toUotvtiiic results:
The first bottle did her so tnurh himhI thr.t we
txHitrht another, and have coutimicd until she
has been cured."
The rojruhir subscription price of
TlUC MAIL is !.r0 a year, nnd tho reg
ular subscript ion price of the Weekly'
Orcjroninn is$I.r0. Anyone subscrib
ing for TilK Mail and paying one year
In advance can et both Tub Mail and
the Weekly Orogoniim one year for $2. ;
All old subscribers paying their sub
scriptions for one year in advance wiP
be entitled to the snme offer.
1 -Vk. I
fi
1 s l l
1 1..
What Is
Castoria is Dr. Samuel Pitcher's prescription for Infants
and Children. It contains neither Opium, Morphine nor
other Narcotic substance. It is a harmless substitute
for Paregoric, Drops, Soothing Syrups, and Castor Oil.
It is Pleasant. Its guarantee is thirty years' use by
Millions of Mothers. Castoria destroys 'Worms and allays
feverishness. Castoria prevents vomiting Sour Curd,
cores Diarrhoea and Wind Colic. Castoria relieves
teething troubles, cares constipation and flatulency.
Castoria assimilates the food, regulates the stomach,
and bowels, giving healthy and natural sleep. Cas
toria is the Children's Panacea the Mother's Friend.
Castoria.
"Castoria U an excellent medicine for chil
dren. Mother have repeatedly told me of its
good effect upon their children.
Da. G. C. Osgood,
Lowell, Mux.
Castoria is the best remedy for children of
which I am acquainted. I hope the diy is not
far distant when mothers will consider the real
Interest of their children, and use Castoria in
stead of therariousqaack nostrums which are
destroying their loved ones, by forcing opium,
morphine, soothing syrup and other hurtful
agents down their throats, thereby sending
them to prematura graves."
Da. 3. F. KtscHain,
Conway, Ark.
Tit Centmnr Compamy, TT
Union Liivey Stables,
FRANK MINGUS, Proprietor,
Succs'or to ED. WOUMAN. ...
Having lately purchased this popular stable and stocked it with
new rigs, sate tmd fat teatrs I am noT prepared to meet the wants f
the traveling public in a satisfactory manner.
CORNER SEVENTH AND B. MEDFORD, OREGON.
THE VERY BEST OF
BRICK AND MASON WORK.
S. GHlLiDEHS,
.-.t-.. I manufacture a sp'endid article of Brick s?e samples
Sv'?3 everywhere about the city. Yard one block north of
r. Brewery. Residence north C street. Medford, Oregon.
MEDFORD BRICK YARD,
O. AV. IPRIDDIT, Prop'r.
MEDFORD, . - - OREGON.
First-class quality of Brick always on hand. Large and small order
promptly filled. .
BRICK WORK OF ALL KINDS PROMPTLY EXECUTED
Give me a call when in need of anything in my line.
All Aboard....
Take
the...
LOUDEN STAGE
l:or ali point
L'pper Applegate, Elliott Creek,
Squaw Lake, 5teamboat, Cin
nabar Springs, Watktns : : :
anil war stations. Stage leaves a
Jacksonville Mondays and Kri-
days, rvlurntnf the foJlowinK'tay!'
Hunters will tinil this a vteasand hvhos
n-a,-hiii.- the llm-st rsV.n: un! Vif -
r irroumls in Hie worlit. Krs'ijM ami pas-s:l:
ters at low rates. Apr!; to
JAS. LOUDEN, Prcp'r.,
JACKSON Y1I.I.K. t!!K(.;oN
I UAVK FOL'ND --
H P88ET!
That is. I have received pruvs (rum
Krarer it Chambers, of t'hivaco. u
. j SawIaiaiijrt
Mining :-: Miiieryil
Which -will prove of more value than
the t.udiiiof several mii;irels to in
tending purchasers. Oct "prices from
C. F. LEWIS. Mechanical KugJneer nnd Ma
chinist. Medford, Oregon.
NOTICE FOR FUDUCATOIX. j
l.auiKimce at Kosi'luirs. Oivriiii, Mareh IS,!
IsKv Noiico is hotvby givon ih:it the Mlovvin: i
liainiM sotilor has HUhI notice ol hi uitt-ntiou to ',
make tliiut iroof in support of his claim, ami
thai saiil proof will Hematic before N. A Jacob, i
county clerk of Jackson coiinly. Oregon, at ;
Jacksonville. Orcpon. on April i"tl. vis: j
John Cook. !
On Homestead Entry No. oXM.forthe SSK;, i
K"i S W .. Sec. SI To. St S. K S Kast. He names
tlic following witnesses to prove his cwitinnous
resilience upon ami cultivation of said lintl.vir.:
K. I.. Parker, of Jacksonville. Ore.. Aaron Heck,
of Kagln lint. Ore., Joseph Ueppert ami TUatl
llrockler. of Uig Dulto, Ore.
in Ifva 1 K. M. Veatch, Register.
Legal Blanks for tale at this Office.
i
Castoria.
" Castoria to so we 1! adap-j- -hfldrenl ""t
I recommend it as superior u: .cjmip
known to zhe.
H. A. Abchzb, M. D.,
111 So. Oxford St, Brooklyn, H. X.
" Onr physicians in the children's depstfV
menl h&Te spoken highly of their experi
ence in their outside practice with Castoria
and although we only have among our
medical supplies what is known ss regular
products, yet we are free to confess that ths
merits of Castoria has won us to look wtwX
favor upon it."
- TJsrrsn Hosrrrai. m Dtspsasaax,
Boston. 1
at i m C Smith, Pit.,
Murray Strwi, Haw Tork City.
j PALACE 3f
j Tonsoriai . . ,
Q. W. Isaacs, Proprietor.
j" Shaving-. Hairvuttinsr. Sh.irap?o-
u;r ana tesrtfs uvea. All work
firs'.-cltiss or we will refund the
price
HOT AND COLD BATHS.
Agent for Salem Steam-Laundry.
:;:. ... . lVstO.tice.
MEDFORD, OREGON.
(MMrriitcn. I-rt'aij. cr:?u -
CKICKEH BiSSN8 PATS
ifyouusethe Petarom8
larabators tt Brooders.
Make money while
others are wasting
time by old processes.
Catalog tells alt about
il.and describes every
article needed for Uicj
poultry business.
The "ERIE"
meehanlcallv the best
wheel. Prettiest model.
We are Pacinc Coast
Acents. Bicvcle eata-
logue.mailetl'freeives
filldecrir.tlon, prices, ete.. aossts wairrro.
FETALUMA DICUBATOK CO.,Pctalama.Cal.
Branch llorss, .li S Main St., Los Angeles.
i
i 1 Experience nauecssry. luliirjrj
Kf commission to local jrt-i. vV-
: tlm avats. Largest rfV
j Bt rTv"prs of e!An. yv - . i
; hanly. reliable Vt' '"'
Page n
Illustrated J
g Catalogue
ATS