Boon's Lick times. [volume] (Fayette, Mo.) 1840-1848, 1841-04-17


vanced to, and seated himself bv the side
of his beloved Kate, and gently taking her
hand in his, inquired if she was alarmed by
the storm! To his enquiry, she only sm-
led, and shook her head.
4 see not then. why we may not pro-
coed with the ceremony, the m,'-here
a keen and fearful crash Jared the house to
its Foundation, leaving traces of fear on the
countenance of all, but the lovers and the
parson; CASTOR continued, however, "the
storm may last an hour, and that is longer,
my Kate, than | would like to defer the
consummation of my hopes
81 am ready" answered Kate, blushing,
and without raising her eyes.
They rose from their seats, and advan-
ced to the parson, who Immediately com
monccd the ceremony. 1t was impossible
to tell whether pleasure or fear predomina-
ted on the cOuntenance Of the guests, as
| they pressed forward, to witness he so!amn
ceremony of uniting two beings for life. In
the intervals of the thunder. faint smile
would play upon their faces, but, as a rat
| Ting voIley would strike their ears, their
shrinking forms and bloodless lips BETRAYED
their terror. The TEMPEST seemed for
moment to have held its breath, as if to
witness the conclusion of the nuptials, but
now as the parson concluded with ''saute
your BRIDE a peal of thunder, keener and
more startling than any yet, the palson, or
CASTOR himself. both of whom had been
shocked, perceived that the chimney had
fallen to the earth; until awakened to
sense of their situation by the shrl war
hoop of the Indians, which now mingled III
dreadful unison with the bowling storm.
All thought of the storm vanished at once
defence against the savages seemed to be
the first idea of all, as each man, with de-
termined look, grasped his rifle, and gather
ed around the females.
The indians, led on by their noted chief.
Eagle Eye, to avenge the death of their
comrade, found in the morning, would per-
haps have awaited the subsistence of the
storm, had not the falling of the chimney
displayed to them, the disorder and confu-
sion within the cabin. Viewing it as the
most favorable time for an attack, they rails
ed their dreaded war-whoop, and sprung to
the breach. That whoop, however, served
but to nerve the hardy pioneers, and chase
from their bosoms the fears which the wars
Of nature alone created. Richard CASTOR,
from custom, assumed the commands; and
with that GOODNESS and seIf.possession,
which indicates undaunted bravery, procce-
ded to give such orders as the time would
allow.
s'Let the females" said he, ''go above and
lie upon the floor, and we, my brave boys,
will show them what stout hearts and
strong arms can do in defence of beauty.
Six OF YOU go in the next room, and see
that the Williams enter not, except over
your dead bodies; the rest will remain, and
defend this opening"
The reader must not suppose that all was
still during this brief address. The Indians,
whose numbers amounted to several hun
dred. had fired once, and not being able, on
account of the rain, to load again, now at
tempted to enter over the ruins Of the CHM
nev, and through the windows. The lights
had been extinguished at the first yell, and
all was dark, save when the flashes of light
ming revealed to the few within, the fearful
odds against them without. Several VOL
leys had meanwhile been poured into the
Indians, and momentary flash revealed
the effects. Many We're lying dead or dy ing,
forming a sort Of breastwork at tie breach.
Becoming more Infatuated, as those who had
|
the whites, the savages, now, in a compact
body, attempted an entrance; and the whites
still cool, as if danger threatened not, wait
ed until they reached the very breach. and
| then every man, with his muzzle almost
| touched the Indians, discharged his piece.
| The savaGes wavered, and then fell back,
amid the shouts OF the victorious yeomen.
The next flash Of lightning discovered the
| Indians retreating 20 the woods, and drag
ging many of their dead with them. An
ether wild shout burst from the lips of the
victorious whites. When all was again
still, the voice of Mr.. Lee was heard in
thanksgiving, ion the deIiverance 50 tar, and
when he had concluded, he proposed con-
sultatlon upon the best means to be pun
sued, as it was certain the Indians had only
retired to devise some other mode OF attack.
Seine were for deserving their present sltu-
alton, and flying to the woods for conceal
ment; others, and the greater number, pro-
posed remaining where they were, because
the Indians had not certainly gone far, and
II discovered, unprotected by the logs, they
must fail an easy prey. 10 such superior
numbers, while by remaining. they had
some advantage, and a small chance to keep
them Oft.
In the mean time the females, the firing
having ceased, had left their hlding.pIace,
and now mingled with the warriors. 1t was
soon determined to hold on to their present
situation, and defend it to the last, should
they be again attacked. The better to add
| to its security, several of the stOutesl COM