The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1852-03-11

.'s ""'s"Ss % .atoJ ooaSCu iIoii 0hchci
to shelter in their approaches, added t.
this horrible illusion.
'Blazc away, my lads shouted the com
ma ndant, 'for they begin to wayer, aud an
other voIley or two will send them TO ;hs
right about. lls! that one had his death
shot from my brothers. rifle: know the
crack Of tho old piece. That's brave girl
Lizzy, you load to perfection. Now foI
this evil Wyandot that is climbing over the
paling; | have my bead on him: there the
rascal tumbles. And sec, appalled, BY bis
fall, the rest are making off. Huzza, huz.
"a, huzza.'
i Il was as he said. Headed by young
chief, tho Indians had suddenly broke from
their coverts in front, and dashed, like .
pack Of hounds, fierce for blood, at the pal
isades. Their leader had reached this des.
tination frst, and eaping, as would deer
had gained the top at single bound, when
the rifle Of the commandant covering him.
in an instant after he fell dead within the
fence. His death was the signal for his
followers to retreat terror.s.ruck in all d.
rectons, an event which was again hailed
by shout from the fort, and an answering
huzza from the outpost
'There, we are sale Tor this night al
leasl,' said the commnndant, bringing the
breech Of his rifle to the floor. i never
knew tho redskins 10 make two assaults
before, in darkness; and the mischief is in
them, if they risk third. But, at day
break. look out. We shall have them on
Us again, at that hour, in all their force,
and bowling like ten thousand fends incar-
nate. Such Of you as would like to sleep
can do 80; il will be easy to awake you il
necessary
But all were too anxious to sleep. From
the loop-holes Of the fort, eager eyes con
tinually watched the distant wood, in which
the savages had sheltered themselves, in
order TO detect the first movements Of the
foe. The prediction Of the commandant,
however, proved correct. No further as
slult was ventured that night. But an
attempt was made TO destroy, by strata
gem, the house Of Col. Zane, tho fire Of
whose defenders bad been, from its proxim-
| ity, particularly fatal TO the Indians. For
this purpose savage crept up to it with
lighted brand; but watchlul eyes were on
the foe in the outpost as well as in the fort
nnd, just as the Indian was about TO apply
The torch, a shot sent him limping mud how
ling away.
| During this cessation Of the strife, the
| thoughts Of our heroine REQUIRED again to
her lover. Bu. her uncle, who perhap.
suspected her fears, checred her by the as
surance that he had escaped may, look
rot 50 dull. Lizzv,' he said, 'now that the
battle is over. Frank is safe before this,
a, Shepherds fort. His route lay in the
opposite direction to that by which these
clearly came. Tho peril for him will be
tomorrow, when he attempts to Join us,
for, know nothing Of him, If he don't gal
lop to our aid, even If he does it alone
| The dawn was now approaching. With
the first g'cam of light the savagos were
seen to be in motion; but they did not risk
a close assault, as they had done in the
night; they sheltered themselves at dis.
tance, and opened a. desul,ory fire on the
fort and outpost, seeking TO pick off the
garrison one by one. The men, however
kept themselves carefully concealed, SO
that none were hurt; but, on several occa.
sions, savage, who had momentarily ey-
posed himself, met his death.
An hour passed in this desutory war
fare, when the commandani, looking forth,
said:
sWhat can tho redskins be at now?
Here, Lizzy, your young eyes are sharper
than my old ones. Have they wagon
,here?'
1T looks rather like a cannon only that
Indians never have such things. They are
wrapping something around it; ah! now ]
see; il is hollow log, and they have taken
some chains from the shop, with which they
arc bindingi it. Aud there, too, are cannon
balls.
sNow understand it, said the conlman-
dan,, laughing. Jim Stokes, who found
his way into the fort just before daybreak,
had load of cannon balls in his flatboat,
when the snvages surprised him last night.
The fools, suppose, are about TO fire them
at US from their hollow log! Batter US
down with wooden cannon! I1a, hn, ha.
1 fancy we shall first see some of the red
skins blown to Kingdom come
Tho Indians had, by this time, finished
their preparations, and, almost immediate
lly after, tho crowd opening from around
their impromptu gun, a match was applied
to il. As the commandant had toretold,
the crazy weapon exploded, scattering
death among the throng. The first eltec,
was TO paralyze tho savages; the second
was to rouse them to phrenzy. Breaking
'Iinto ycls Of rage they burst from the spot
taking the direction Of the fort, evidently
determined to avenge the death Of their
slain, even il they perished themselves.
i Now, my boys, comes the final strug-
GLE said the commandant. 'lf we bea1
Them back this time, tho victory will be
complete; but IL single trigger fails, oul
sca!ps will be drying before month, IL
! ltbe Wyandot lodges. Think Of your wives
!, and children
! He was already taking his station, whe;
, his niece silently touched his arm. tiel
face was full Of perplexity and even terror
: and, for the first time since the siege be
gan. :,
, .What is it, my child? quickly asked ths
) comma ndant, his countenance assuming
something Of the look Of hers, for no was
aware that no common incident could have