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

oiopShl Wudt tuouBut euouSn, tIoI your
J fathers house, but these repeated assaults
have consumed it,
] Cannot some one,' said his niece, go to
our house, and bring back supps?'
J, sBut who? Il would be almost certain
DEATH
4 There was moments pause. Then,
, With no change in ber countenance, except
that il grew shade paler, she answered,
j 4 will CO.
i sYoun said the veteran, starting back.
j And why not? am young, active,
and feet Of foot. | can 60 quicker than
any one else. Besides, the savages, see
ling il is only woman, may not fire till
they detect my purpose; and in that case
only the return will be perilous If | do
not go we are all sure to die. Even ifmor-
tally wounded think | can succeed 10
gaining the fort, again and if this can be
done, and your lives saved, am content
to fall
i 'But Frank -'
j For moment her lip quivered. She
grasped her uncle's arm convu!siyely, gave
bin an appealing look, and said huskiiy,
i 'Don't-don't. But let me 60 before il
lis too late.'
The tears ceme into the old mans eyes
lie pressed his niece to his bosom, and said,
go, then, and God be with you, heroic girl!
And yet he added, glancing around, 'if ii
were not FOR these poor women and chill
dren, neither ], nor any man here would
suffer it,
When the intention Of our heroine was
made known, several Of the men insisted
on taking her place; but her reply wss,
mot one Of you can be spared-a woman
will be less missed
Sadly the little garrison beheld her de-
part on her terrible venture. Her uncle
himself, notwithstanding the danger, at
tended her TO the gate OF the fort, which he
himself threw open; and, with The ileetness
of young fawn, away she bounded
The defenders ofthe outpost say her de-
parlure, aud though ignorant Of its cause,
stood ready to receive her, Col. Zane in
person harrying to the door. Tie savages
too behcld her exit. At first dozen guns
wore levelled at her, but when il was seen
the fugitive, as they thought her, was wo-
man, contemptuous cry Of "a squaw, a
lsquaw,' passed from one cultural throat to
smother, and she was suffered TO gain the
dwelling unharmed.
.What is the matter, my child! cried
her father, as she dashed into the doorway.
:Why DO you thus madly risk your Iitc?'
/ we are oat ofpowder.' brea,hlessiy gasp
ed our heroine. sAl is lest unless can
carry back supply. Give me some quick,
Ior the Indians will have made their last
rash.' And as she spoke, she sank, almost
exhausted on chair by the door.
For an Instant her father regarded her
10 silence. Wonder, tenderness and admi-
ration succeeded each other in his heart,
and were depicted in his face. The whole
peril of her proceeding rose before him.
Her return, he well knew, would be
through gauntlet Of balls, which the saw
ages, on detecting her purpose, would pour
upon her. Escape with life would be al
most impossible She was his only daugh-
ter too; il would break his hear, 10 lose
her. Bul, though human weakness whis-
pered all this, tempting him to keep her
from returning, his sense Of duty triumph
ed; and with but single momeat's delay,
he sna,ched a table cloth, which he himself
fastened around her waist, while 10 answer
TO bis eager calls, one OF his companions
brought keg Of powder and poured il in.
Then snatching hasty kiss he threw open
the door, and with voice heroically calm.
and look like that Of Abraham when a.
bout to sacrifice his only son, he cried:
run for your life and God help US both!'
Away she bounded again, this time fleet
er than before, il that were possible. Her
appearance was hailed by the savages with
storm Of ycls, for, with the craft Of their
race, they instantly OWNED her purpose.
A score Of rifles simultaneous were
brought to shoulder. Some Of the Indians,
fearful she might escape, fred at once
The balls whis,led close by but she was
unharmed. Others took time to aim, and
the shots from these now began to sing
past her; but, as Unprotected by miracle,
she bounded on apparently unhurt Her
father stood watching her, too absorbed TO
speak, but his heart beating like forge
hammer. Nor was her uncle less dumb
with emotion. Others, however, were not
80 breathlessly silent.
'See,' cried one Of the garrison, that
ball went through her apron; the powder
pours out Of the hole. She darts forward
like an arrow. The shots rattle around
Iher like hail but she is still unhurt. Only
a few reds remain. Heavens, she is struck.
No, she only irippcd a little; she is up
again; the stumble has, perhaps saved her
life, for the rife balls went over her like
wild pigeons on the wing. Huzza, she
gains the gate, she is safe. Thank God,
thank Cod And the weather beaten bor-
derer burst into tears Of mingled joy and
excitement, in which tho women loudly
shared as they rushed to welcome our he
roine back.
i. Her uncle, who had hurried to tho gate
to meet her, now brought her forward
l.Yes,' he cried, 'hang around her, embrace
|her, thank her, for she has saved all our
lives. There that is enough; to your posts,
/; all Of you; for the yell ! hear announces
that the saw ages are renewing their assault
Bat ha! what is this" he cried, as he tn.
} king up his post os his loop hole, he looked
out. "a horsetnan dashing toward the
gate, and Frank Duke us live. He cries
: 10 open to him. A shower of balls are