Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-30
ELLEN " ELLES;
THE SIEGE OF FORT ST4NyysX
REy0LUTi0NiRI STORY.
BY P. II. MYERS; ESQ.
CHAPTER V.
Ic0CTIVurn FROM NO. 30

CONTINUED FROM NO. %
The event most desirable for the sava-
ges, aad for which they had probably
been waiting. now unfortunately occur
red. The heavy drifting clouds which
had long blackened the western horizon
began now to obscure the who'll oky. and
a thick darkness soon settled upon the
landscape To fire the building and
compel its evacuation, and thus 10 cap
ture or massacre the whole party. while
its defenders had no advantage of shelter.
snd were impeJed with the care of theit
women and children, was the chivalrous
feat which the besieSers now contempla-
ted.
The danger could not be concealed,
end hope consisted only In meeting II
couraSeously. In a momentary inter
view which Dudley obtained at this peri
cd with Miss Welles. the latter commu-
nicated to him the dreadful suspicion that
one of the enemy was Enoch Waidon,
whom she believed that she had recog
nized both by his figure and gait. Al
though horrifi-d at the supposition there
was also gleam of pleasure in the an
nouncement; for whe Waldon were
SO deeply guilty or not, tie fact tha; he
could be obnoxious to such suspicion
of Ellen precluded the idea of her enter
taining for him any partial feeling. An
imated by an increased hope. Dudley
begged Ellen 10 consider herself unde
his especial protection. AMI. with an ear
nest and eloquent look, he added. rot tC
believe herself in danger while he con
tinued to live. There was nothing il
the words, but there must have been some
thing in the manner of the spe .ker tt
cali the quick blood to the cheek Of Ell
len. Hurriedlv thanking him. she turn
ed away. and Dudley, with a compare
lively light heart, fastened TO prep re 70
further defence.
Placing two or three men at each o
the several windows, so as TO commant
TO some extent every side of the house
ne directed them TO keep up a random
fire. in hopes that the brsiegers woulC
be intimidated ftom near approach
For while this plan seemed to succeed
and no sound of the foe being detected
the belief was entertained that they wer,
eff.c;ually repuIsed. But the more wea
ry were not disposed TO such ready hope
The silence was TOO deep and ominous
Alarmed by the very quietude without
Dudley. after ordering increased vigilanc,
on every side, announced his determine
tion to ascend to the house top aud cal
led upon three or four of his most reso
lutte companions TO follow him. A small
sky light afforded means Of effectin,
this object, and with extreme silence AM
caution Dudley ascended only until hi
head had fully emerged into the open air
Pausing to reconnoitfe the adjacent fields
his eye was immediately arrested b.
what at first seemed few freaies fit
tering about the roof. With suddel
and fearful suspicion he remained mo
tionless. and made closer scrutiny
Feeling cautiously about him. he ascer
tanned the wetted blankets had been re
moved, and the conviction that the roo
was already in possession of the savage
forced itself upon his mind. His posi-
tl0u was nearly at one extremity of tn,
building. which was long and narrow
with single chimney at the opposit,
end
Pcering earnestly through the thicl
darkne SIS. he at length discovered part o
the outline Of several figures in stoop
ing attitude The sound Of breath. a.
in the act of blowing at embers, als'
reached h ear from several quarters
and convinced him that the Indians weri
at that momeEnt engaged IN setting fir
to the building His prudence for th'
mpmeni almost yielded to the quick feel
ing Of rage which prompted him to rusl
headloug upon so dia boIical foe; bu
restra lining his wrath. he immediatel
drew back aud communicated to his as
founded com panions the nature of hi
discovery. Ills resolution was immedi
ately taken. The sky light. which wa!
gained ohly Gv movable steps. would
admit of only three persons standing
within it; and having stationed tina; mum
b.r of his little garrison at the foot of th'
steps with reserve guns. he called apos
tse and Rogers to follow him, and once