The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-01-22
St. JOhnsbury, Vt. January %, lS48.


and the snvages twice thut distance in noar
The Opposite direction. The race was excl
ing, Dnt not long doubtful. The enemy wGr
sun obliged 10 avoid too close proximity Il
the house, and Dudley, halring with his hid
band of infantry, held them in check until IN
women and children were out of danger,nnC
| then, still lhcing the foe, with presented arms
t1ey retreated into tho fort. Not a shot wa
| fired.
CHAPTER w.
=, piercing Shrek, which met the chr of
Dudley upon his entrance, announced somt
new calamity. a little boy, scarce two year.
old, had been lost in the confusion of the
Hlght, and It's mother, borne along by her i'm
petnous companions, had been unable Il
make her vociterations understood until thoy
reached the fort. Upbraiding herself uD
oraidIng her friends, and vanly struggling tc
escape from their grasp and fly back to The
rescue, the frantic parent rent every heart
with her cries. The moonlight still remain
ing unobscured, the infant, on examination
was distinctly seen, about twelve rods distant
seated quietly upon the grass, aud playing
with the flowers and unconscious of danger,
Inc discovery was made none too soon An
ihdlah, prone upon the ground, now lying
motlonless like log, and now approaching
the child with u slow and cat-Iike gait, was nI
the same Instant discovered, while the whole
band at a safe distance were silently watch
ing his hazardous attempt. A dozen rifles
were at once leYeled at the mscreant, when
Dudley interposed--
For shame ho said, will you Let one
worthless dog draw your whole fire, and en-
sure the capture Of the child while Won are
reIoading? The game is Lees by discovery.
Rogers will stand ready TO fire next ifneces-
sary and if both fail, leave the scoundral to
me :"
Uncle Lee, rs he was familiarity called,
smiled as he raised his uuerring gun, aud its
quick report was accompanied by yell that
seemed TO proclaim the success ofthe shot,
The indian started from his redundant posi-
ton, and then fell heavily backward
If he were a Christian now one might
suppose him dead exclaimed Rogers, who
had watched the effect of Lees shot with Il
look of chagrin; but l have my doubts,
Captain he said, addressing Dudley, and
raising his gun, beseechingy, that fall was a
little too THEATRICAL
Don't you go TO shooting dead men, Mr..
Rogers, exclaimed Lee tell you I've kill
ed him.
Dudley, whose suspicious from the first
had been the same as those of Rogers, made
a sign to the latter 10 fire, which he had no
sooner done than the dead man rose 10 his
feet, with screach that could not be rnisun-
derstood; then sinking gradually to his knee,
he fell shivering to the ground, with undubit-
able signs of death.
Rogers smiled grimly as he retorted upon
his companion
'Tisn't much to Kill an Indian, Mr.. Lee :;
its the bringing him to life again that shows
the skill
If any doubt had been entertained ofthe IA
tality of the last fire, the yell of wrath which
arose from the Indians and the volley which
was discharged at the helpless infant would
have effectually dispelled them. But the dis
lance which the cowardy ASSISTANTS We're
to keep, and the minuteness ofthe
mark, fortunately rendered their fire innocu-
Gus. 1t was evident, however, that the child
i'll so exposed n situation could not long es-
cape.
1t is a shame exclaimed Dudley, shat
helpless babe should perish and twelve strong
men look idly on. myself will save him.
Thus saying, he threw down his gun, that
nothing might retnrd his speed, and prepared
to rush out. But the firm grasp of Lee was
OH his shoulder.
lis certain DEATH said the old man you
will be mark for thirty rifles.
land lift were thirty thousand would
CO. retorted Dudley, impetuously. and tear
ing himself away.
But at this moment singular apparition
entered the room, which, whether or not, it
was anything more than huge tin Dutch
oven, srrmounted by an inverted pail Of the
same material, was certainly nothing less
Ii required little investigation 10 perceive
signs ola human being under This cXtrnor-
dinary coat of mail, but in moment more
familiar voice proceeding from beneath the
kettle proclaimed wel-!nown slave of
Lees, by the name of Nando. Merely an
nouncng his object, the faithful negro darted
out of the house, and, presenting his shield
ed side to the enemy, ran hastily toward the
child There was one moment of fearful
suspense, yell, a volley, and a responsive
shout of derision from the slave. At the
next, Nando bent over the wondering child,
thrust him hastily within his capacious shield,
and, rushing rapidly back, reached the house
in safety. The cordial greetings, the wei
coming grasp, the wet eyes, and the warm
outpourings ola mothers gratitude that here
encountered him, astounded and hewildered
the heroic African, while the married and
battered utensil told eloquently the tale of
his danger and his daring.
.. CHAPTER V.
The event most desirable for the savages,
and for which they had probably been wait
ing, now unfortunately occurred. The heavy
drifting clouds which had long blackened the
western horison began now to obscure the
whole sky, and thick darkness soon settled
upon the landscape. To fire the building
and compel its evacuation, and thus to cap
ture or massacre the whole party, while its
defenders had no advantage of shelter, and
were impeded with the care of their women
and children, was the chivalrous feat which
the besiegers now contemplated.
The danger could not be concealed, and
hope consisted only in meeting it courageous
ly. In a momentary interview which Dudley
obtained at this period with Miss Welles,
the latter communicated to him the dreadful
suspicion that one ofthe leaders ofthe enemy