The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1848-01-22
Vol. II. No. 81. Whole No. SAT.

Y added, not to believe herself in danger Will
: he continued 10 live. There was nolhing il
2 the words, but there must have been some
} thing in the mapner Of the speaker 10 call tht
} quick blood 10 The cheek of Ellen. Hurried
, ~ thanking him, she turned away, and bud
Icy, with comparatively light heart, hasten
cd to prepare for further defence.
3 Pincing two or three men mt cach Of the
several windows, so as TO command 10 some
extent every side ofthe house, ho directed
them to keep up n raudom fire, in hopes that
the bcsicgers would be inundated from q
nenr approach. For willie this plan seem
ed to succeed, and no sound ofthe foe being
detected, the belefwas entertained that they
werc eilectually repused. But the more
wary were not disposed to such ready hope.
The silence was too deep and ominous. A
Harmed by the very quietude without, Dud-
ley, after ordering increased vigilance oil ev-
cry side, announced his determination TO u.s.
cend TO the housc-top, and called upon three
or four of his most resolute companions to
follow him. A small 'sky-Iighr afforded
means for eff6cting this object, and with ex-
IRENE silence aud caution, Dudley ascendod
only until his head had fully emerged into
the open air. Puusng to reconnoitre the adj
jacent fields, his eye was Immediately arrest
ed by what at first seemed q few fire flies
fitting about the roof With sudden and
fearful suspicion he remained moiionless aud
made n closer scrutiny. Feeling cautiously
about him, lie ascertaned that The wctted
blankets bud been removed, and the couvic-
ton that the roof was already in possession
of the savagcs forced itselfupon his mind
His position was nearly at one extremity Of
the building, which was long and narrow,
with n single chimney at The opposite end
Peering earnestly through tic thick dark
ness, he at length discovered part Of the out
| line Of several figures in STOPPING attitude.
The sound Of BREATH as in the net or blowing
at embers, also reached his car from several
quarters, ard convinced bin that the Indians
were at that moment engaged in setting fire
10 the building. His prudence for the mo
ment almost yielded to the quick feeling of
rage which prompted him 10 rush headlong
upon so diabolical foe; but restraining his
wrath, he Immediately drew bacil and com
municatcd TO his astounded companions the
nature ofhis discovery. His resolution was
| Immediately taken. The skylight, which was
gained only by movable steps, would admit
of only three persons standing within il; and
having stationed that number ofhis little gar
rison ut the foot OF the steps with reserve
guns, lie called upon Lee and Rogers 10 fol-
low him, and once more assembled with The
satne perfect silence as before. Rising Un;il
their shoulders were above the roof the
three remained standing, mo;ionless, with pre-
scented arms. Ii was doubtless a hazardous
experiment for the besieged party to wait Tor
the kudled light oftheir own root to reYeal
the persons of their foes; but the importance
of striking signal blow, and one thu; might
deter the enemy from making any further al
tack, overcamc every other considerations
The Gumpened state Of the shingles rendered
the process of ignition slow; but at length
faint, blue fame made its appearance in the
vicinity of the chimney, where a number of
small fagots had been carefully inserted
Pickering with the wind now sinking, now
rising, tie unsteady blaze was guarded from
the air by both hands of Il kueelng indian,
whose fiendish features % he bent over she
light could be disiincly traced. Brighter aud
higher rose the blaze, and soon began 90 re-
veal the other objects in its immediate yicin-
iiy, while the place occupied by Dudley and
his COMPANIONS remained in Impcnetrable
obscuritv. Brighter and brighter still, until
the alarmed inmates beneath saw the fire
cleaning downward through the chinks Of
the uuceiled roof. But the time for action
had arrived. Other faint lights had sprung
up, and tho savages, TO the number OF five,
were distinctly visible, when Dudley, huying
exchanged signals with his men, in order 10
select their several victims, quietly gave the
command to fire. The report of the guns,
and the death scrcech Of the Indians, was
mingled and simultaneous sound. They
each rolled rapidly down the roof and fell
heavily TO the earth. But although Dudley
and his comrades instantly handed down
their guns and received others from below,
only one ofthc enemy remained visible when
they were again prepared TO fire. Running
rapidly along the apex ofthe bUlCiing.ho had
already gained hold ofihe rope (which, thrown
lasso-like over the chimney, had been the
means of his ascent, and was about 10 swing
himself off, when he received the contents
of Dudley's gun. Still convusively clu,ching
the rope, he was seen by the now growing
light to totter for a moment on the extreme
end of the building, when Lee more in pity
than in wrath gave him another bali. .
s'Twould have been hard fall for living
man. he said, as the noise of the body strik-
ing the ground reached his ear; but stack
of feather beds wouldn't have been any mer
CIV to him now
"Don't' be too sure,' replied Rogers, banter
ingly; 'yo,a dead men have remarkable fac
ulty of coming to life again, and think see
The red devil now, scampering across the
field, with the rope in his hand!1
sAnd piece of the chimney, l supposed
retorted Lee, who understood his comrude'c
propensity to joke too we'll to take offence.
But the triumph WHICH produced this tenn
porary elasticity ofsp:rit5 in these brave men
was far from being complete. The fire had
gained Roadway that demanded instant at
tenton, and whoever ventured within its
lirht would doubtless be prominent mark
for the outlying foe. No time, however, was
to be lost, and two brave fellows of the Life
Guard already stood prepared al the foot OF
the stairs for the perilous enterprise. Bear.
ing blankets, saturated as before, they rushed
hastily to the flames. The expected volley
was discharged, and unhappiy, as the
groans ofthe young men testified, not without
effect. One, but slightly injured, fed hastily
back, while he Other, convinced of the NOR