Martinsburg gazette. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1833-1855, 1852-02-03

| Col. Zane answered. back from the outpost
as If be laughed at, and even rejoiced in the
peril. Meantime, on the side Of the assail-
ants. the utmost fury prevailed The loss Of
80 many Of their number had excited them
to apparently defnoniac rage, and their yells,
hideous, now sounded like those Of fiends let
loose on earth. Their dusky, painted forms,
dimly seen by the red glare Of the muskets.
fitting hither and thither, as they lodged
from shelter to shelter in their approaches,
added to this horrible illusion.
Blaze away, my lads shouted the com
mandant, ''for they begin to waver, and an
other voley or two viii send them to the
right about Ha that red devil had bis
deatb-sh shot from my brothers rife know
the crack Of the old piece. That's a brave
girl, Lizzy: you load to perfection. Now for
this cursed Wyndot that is climbing over the
paling l have my bead on him: there the
rascal tumbles. And see, appalled, BY his
fall the rest are making off Huzza, huzza,
huzza"
1t was as he said. Headed by young
chief, the Indians had suddenly broke from
their coyerts in front, aud dashed, like pack
of hounds, fierce for blood, at the palisades.
Their leader had reached this destination first,
and leaping, as would deer, had gained the
top at single bound, when the rife of the
commandant covering him, 10 an instant after
he fell dead within the fence. Ills death was
the sequel for his followers to retreat terror.
struck, in all directions, an event which was
again hailed by shout from the outpost.
"Therc, we are safe for this night at least |"
said the commandant, bringing the breech of
bis rife to the floor. Il never knew the red
skins to make the assault before, in darkness !;
and the devil is in them, ii they risk a 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 6ends
incarnate. Such of you US would like to
sleep can do so: it viii be easy to awake you,
If necessary
] But all were too anxious to Sleep. From
the loop holes of the fort, eager eyes contin-
ually watched the distant wood, Ia which the
savages had sheltered themselves, in ordor
to detect the first movements of the foe
| The prediction Of the commandment however,
proved correct No further assault was ven
tured that night. But an attempt was made
to destroy, by stratagem, tho house Of Col.
| Zane, the fire Of whose defenders had been,
from its proximity, particularly fatal to the
Indians. For this purpose savage crept up
to it with lighted brand; but watchful eyes
were on the foe in the outpost as in the fort
and, just as the Indian was about to apply
the torch, shot sent Lin limping and howl
ing away.
During this sensation Of the strife the
thoughts of our heroine required again til her
lover. But her uncle, who perhaps suspect
cd her fears, checred her by the assurance
that he had escaped: may look not so dull
Lizzy," he said, ''now that the battle is over
Frank is safe, before this at Shepherd fort
His route lay in opposite direction to that By
which these devils clearly came. The peri
for him will be tomorrow. when he attempts
to join u.s. for, ! know nothing Of him, if be
don't gallop to our aid, even if he does il
alone"
j The dawn was now approaching. With
the first CLEAN Of light the sayages were seen
to be in motion: but they did not risk Q
close assault, as they had done in the night
they sheltered themselves at distance, and
opened desultory fire on the fort and ont.
post seeking to pick off the garrison one BY
one. The men however, kept themselvo:
carefully concealed. so that none we're hurt
but, on several occasions, savage, who hat
momentarily exposed himself. met his death
i An hour passed in this dcsutory warfare
when the commandant, looking forth said
.'Nhat can the red skins be at now? Here
Lizzy. your young eyes arc sharper than ny
old ones. Have they got wagon there %
1T looks rather Ike cannon, only tha
Indians lever have such things. They arc
wrapping something around is alb !. now
see it is hollow log, and they have taker
some chains from the shop. with which they
are binding it. And there, too, are cannon
balls"
4 "Now understand it. said the comman
dant, laughing "Jim Stokes who found BIZ
way iato the fort Just before aybreak, had
|, load of cannon balls in his fat boat, when th,
savages surprised him last night The fools
suppose, are about to fire them at us from
their hollow log Batter us down with
wooden cannon la, la, la. fancy ",
shall see some Of the red skins blown to king
domcome"
The Indians had by this time finished thei
VI anu dliliOSt luitntuidtely dIlcT
the crowd opening from. around their i'm
promptu gun, match was applied to it. Al
the commandaIt had forctold, the crazy weap
on exploded scattering death among tn,
throng. The FIRST effect was to paralyze thu
savages the second was to rouse them t,
phrenzy. Breaking into ye.ls Of rage thel
burst from the spot, taking the direction o
the fort, evidently determined to avenge th,
death Of their slain, even If they persisted
items Ives.
i Now. my boys. comes the final struggle
said the commandant live beat them back
the victory viii be complete: but if single
trigger fails. our scalps will be drying. before
month. in the Wyandot lodges. Think o.
your wives and children"
lie was already taking his station. when
bis niece silently touched his arm. Her face
was full of perplexity and even terror; and
for the first time, since the siege began.
/ "What is it. my child Y quickly asked the
commandant his countenanee assuming some
thing Of the look Of hers, for he was aware
/ that no common incident could have worked