Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1847-09-30


through which to reconnotre the enemy, and
here no signs of the foe we're visible, SO the 1t
tie group stood motioness and waiting, breath |
less with anxiety. Harding was by the door, the
minister beside him; the mother stood apart,
striving to quiet the child, which had been
frightened by the firing
Suddenly she shrieked, and Harding, turning
round, saw tall form emerging from the chin
ney In another instant the second savage, de-
scending from the roof in the same way, dashed
into the room. Though paraIyzed for mo-
ment, Harding fred almost Immediately and one
of the savages fell, but the other spEang on him,
and third dropping noseessly into the room
engaged the minister in combat, while fourth, |
appearing in the same way, fastened to unbar
the door.
The room was now filled with the TERRIBLE
war-whoop, which was replied to from outside
and, in an instant, the door yielded to the com
bined efforts without and within, and the apart
ment was filled with foes.
In that moment, true to a mothers instinct
Mrs. Harding thought only of her babe. Even
before the door gave way she had retreated into
a corner behind a bed, where she stood partially
screened from sight Pressing heriniant to her
bosom, and engaged in hushing its cries, she
saw, for some seconds, nothing of the terrible
conflict going on 50 nigh.
Aye it was terrible. The minister, weak,
and unused to personal strife, was soon flung
bleeding and stunned to the floor, when his as
saiant, seeing his companion hard pressed, hur-
ried to his help. Harding, thus beset by two,
fought like a noble stag at bay Selzlng the
large Ratchet, fortunately laying on the hearth
with pile of wood, he retreated into corner
and prepared to make good his Defence but be-
fore doing so, he glanced round the room and
seeing his wife safely concealed for the present,
he began the fight dealing a single blow with
his heavy weapon that feed one Of his assaiants
like an OK. The other then drew warly off
By this time the room was filling with savag-
es, who, hesitating but moment made second
! rush on Harding.
1t was at this instant the wife thought, for the
! first time of her husband. She glanced wildly
around, and though the intervening savages al
e most hid him from sight, she distinguished hi;
tall form raging above the fight Spell-bounc
S she gazed Her babe now lay hushed, because
terror-stricken, on her bosom; while with parted
3 lips and eyes streaming with agony, she watch
ed the fearful conflict to and fro Flashing
S meteor-Iike, she saw the huge axe of her hus
f band fly, and wherever it struck, an enemy wen
headong TO the earth So rapid were its mo
tons that even the nimblest of the foe failed tC
: break the charmed circle which Harding KEEP
f around him. YET for WHILE the dense crowd
pouring into the room and pressing towards thu
} scene Of fight, actually forced their comrade
r forward in body,on the weapon of Harding, 81
e that those in the front rank had no resort bu
t to engage this terrible foe, nor could they DO
. otherwise than with their tomahawks, for thu
+ crowded space did not allow them to use fir
: arms. At last, however, the carnage was 81
e terrible beneath that fearful weapon, welded b
Q Harding's sturdy arm, that, by convUlsve Ell
fort, the foremost savages forced back their com
d rades and stood at a safe distance, regarding
their foe, like dogs before they rush in again O.
e the boar.
i All this had occupied minute Yet to tn
s wife and mother it seemed an age. Every hop
o hung on that single defender, and he was he
d husband Can feeble words depict her agony
a 1t was but a moment the savages stood irresc
e lutte. One of them eveled his gun and was
5, the act of pulling the trigger, when Harding
n whose keen eye, sharpened by peril, seemed t
:, take in every motion of his foes at once, darte
n forward, and with blow of his axe, laid the Ii
t. dian a mangled coarse at the feet Of his con
lie panions. The next instant the borderer regain
1t ed his place and stood once more on the defer
as sive.
E. This terribly bold act seemed to paralyze tt
Is foe for the third time. They looked at eac
e. other and shrank instnctveIy back further fro
" Harding. But at this instant, shriIl, reanma
he ing cry rose from the outer edge of the crow
he and tomahawk, hurled with unerring air
err would have trans6xed the defender, but that
saw it coming and lodged the blow. The ste
ad grazed his hair and sunk into log benin
ry where it stuck, It's handle quivering from Il
as force Of the blow.
s, AT that whoop, accompanied by that onse
lp the savages appeared to cast off the awe in whiC
e. the proves of a single man had enchanted tber
re; onset on Harding, not this time only with hate
i'd cts and knives, but with fire arms.
Is Wounded, hard-pressed and weak from 10
vk of blood, Harding could be seen for some mi
lily utes longer by his agonized wife, fighting wi
lat superhuman energy and desperation. Her We
nd breath hung suspended as the conflict progre
ed. Now she hoped, for she saw his tall fol
lc- soaring pre-eminenG now she despaired, for
gs was dashed down by the tide Of foes surg
lie fierce and high above him. But again he
ok appeared; he had only sunk to his knee; a
now he ragged again, the master-spirit of t
- fight. At last his proud front was bowed on
OF more. There was a terrible clash of cross
weapons, violent CONFUSION in the crowd
er, assailants, who fell back, but instantly advanc
en- again. Then followed breathless hush, ST.
lg- ceeded by simultaneous yell of the savages.-
lie She knew that all was over.
She had been held motonless by the spect
nv Gle of that terrific strurola -mot,onlaes nc