The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-09-05

she ventured 10 actually pun tnc trikgtf anu
start back in horror at her own audacity7 Then
can she realize the trembling of hand and limb,
and the waveripe Of heart and nerve, when the
discharge of dozen guns pealed from the log
| pillsred ba.tlements of that fort. ID was enough
Twilight was fading and night coming on. Wo-
mans skill had done what human skill could do,
and now to wait the issuel They went down.
ave must keep on this gear remarked Miss
w. If we entertain unwecome company to.
night it will do no harm in life and it may bring
us a world of good. Lie down about-those that
can for my own part watch tonight"
"rm sure none Of us III think of sleeping"
moaned one and another.
WI, bnsh SnD't fret vnnr nerves you NAV
need them Ssfc.e neoreing, though ! trust not
J a~5rA~ I'm the sentineD are the guns all loaded
'nssan y p, 49, ....--..-.
| "Yes'm> and cooked
dis there not barrel Of tar in the out-room
Goodr
aYesmn
"Have it ready to heat in trice, Andrew
AYE, aye, maamn He turned to 70, but
paused. {" hope IT'S no offence to you, msam,
but I'd warn you that our dependence is not on
any arm Of aesh tonight There's One on high
who can hear and help"
"You are right, good Andrew we will CON-
NIT ourselves to Him fmtn And all bent the
knee, while she breathed up to Heaven such
prayer as the hour of danger teaches.
The night wore away. Its hours, intolerably
agonizngy long as they we're, still passed at last
The moon rose soon aftr midnight, and looked
in like an angel comforter upon the eyes that
| glared eagerly from eve.y port hole Had the
savages awaited her signd torch 1t was feared
but no. she continued to pour down unwayering
shadows on the still grass
The dawn of day lifted the dreadful burden Of
suspense-their lives wen safe for long hours yet
to come, and the reaction of feeling left most
hearts weaker than in the first moments Of ter
Tor. They thanked God wept, prayed, cmsped
their children, and at ength scattered them
selves here and there to relax their overstrained
nerves in rppose. Miss n syEd nttle vigilsnt
band, among whom was cur physically weak, but
mentally courageous Llian, kept watch and
guard mounted the baricsdes and discharged
their weapons occasionally with great frmness
Thus passed the day, and another night came on
la the first watch Of that night, nearly all the
weary eyes had closed in sumber. Peggy w sat
alone, on the seat where We first saw her, strain
ing her eyes to penetrat, the dim veil Of star
light for the moon was rot yet up. She had not
closed those eyes for Nearly forty hours still their
fire was not quenched, though the brow above
them looked haggard with watching Her cheek
leaned upon the rough sieve of the coat she
wore, her arm resting o, the iron bars of the win
dow.
"Aunt Peggy !" exclaimed an urchin with
head white as the long gown he wore, stumbling
along from the inner room Aunt Peggy, | want
drink Of water %
"Shut your head p growled the amiabe indi-
vidual addressed. 900 back TO bed ~
81 don't want to Pm thirsty-my throat
| achesn
Bless yourself that you have yet throat to
ache In with you'll"
Tho I'M ~; ~ ort 1ord 81 craat;ouO saa,oaJ -
haste to obey; for he rubbed his sleepy eyes with
the sleeve of his nisht-gown, and took an obser-
walton by the dim light of the tallow candle
81 say,D observed he, "you talk curious and
you look funny enough. think he added de-
liberately, al shah call youucls Peggy instead of
Auutyw 50,
"Be of-youug one-youl"
But" persisted the provoking youngster
ans will yG1 put on yum s'~n and cap again.
well-aimed stroke of the arm was here lodged
by the skilful young gentleman, whom it fright
ened into precipitate ct Of obedience IL making
the desired use Of his heels might thus be con-
strued His aunt was in no haste to pursue him,
however. Her ear had caught an ominous rust
ling in the woods.
"Ma'amn spoke the sentinel under the win
dow, in muffied whisper "
81 hear I" she returned, in the same tone.
"Shall wake themW
1T may be foes and it may be friends II it's
our men, they'll march straight up to us. Wait
a bitn
And wait they did, breathlessly The night |
was breezelessly STILL the fall Of chestnut or the
chirp Of squirrel In the forest might have been |
detected by their ears. The rustling grew more
distinct, the trampling Of many feet but
stealthy trampling followed. Oh for one CLEAN
of moonlight! Miss w. turned to lay her hand
upon the gun beside her, and stood like statue
Dark shadows now doomed up from the shadowy
night they increased Ia number-they seemed |
to form line before the very gate-there they
paused.
FL must hail them murmured the sentinel
"Do SOP breathed Miss w.
Friend or foel" resolutely rang out his
strong voice.
"Old boy, is that youm responded the quick,
agitated voice of one who sprang forward, while
deep groan, like "Thank God !" in true English
accents, ran through the now broken line.
Col. l., for it was no other, darted past the
sentinel, and stumbled against Miss w. in the
dimly-lighted passage
FLOWS thisp He started back at the appari-
ton.
"Where's my brother ~ cried our heroine,
wildly
Your brother where is my wife ("
They awaited no mutual answer, but each rush
ed onward to stem the living torrent that was
pouring in from opposite directions, into that mar
row passage. The awakened women, utterly
needless Of their apparel the frenzy Of their sud
den safety, were rushBgto meet their husbands,
brothers. snd fathers who could i'll recognise them.
Col l.. shook every clinging hsndaway, and burst
into the inner-roOm.
Lillian had lain down beside her babe upon
straw pallet on the floor. The shrieks of surprise
had Just aroused and but half awakened her.
She was lifting herself upon one elbow, with
counteuance full of bewildered terror. The sea-
blue sailors Jacket lfor the night gave il deep
er hue) loosened fell back from her white arm
and neck and her unbranded locks were falling in
disorder over it.
The officer cast sweeping glance over the
apartment-he scarcely comprehended the whole;
but she did. With quick, incredulous cry like
one dreaming she sprang forward, and fell at his
feet.
What--whats thisin he cried. "The voice
is the voice of Lillian, but by all that is glass
of water, somebody no there"
The whole throng poured into the apartment;
the women laughing and sobbing Historically
their sterner husbands not whit more unmoved
Strong men sat down like children, aud wiped
away big drops from their brown cheeks
"But what is the matter ~ exclaimed Miss w
Pretty fne, this II you're making women Of
yourselves, I'm thinking we'll keep on the reg-
mentalsi What lie all this Aammery abontp
"Was Il fummery to dream that you were all
murdered, butchered In cold blood, or carried
into captivity worse exclaimed Col. W., look
ing up from his charge. "The old Indian Fire
Arrow met us early on our return, with tidings
Of your peril, which he had risked his head to
bring men
aYou might ba' known we could have taken
care Of ourselvesp
awe knew that Heaven alone could take care
of you,p soemuly replied the officer
q And to Heaven give all the glory added
the rich voice Of the minister, who stood beside |