Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-12-14
ELLEN w ELeLES;
OR
TIE SIEGE FORT S'TAYVYIX
REVOLUTIONARY STORY.
COSCLUSlON.I
CHAPTER XII.
By 2. II. MYERS, ESQ.


Dudicv'S iirst movement was to place
Ellen in a state of safety. and then TO
find secure shelter for himself and his
companions. whence they could repel the
advance OF the enemy. All this was but
the work of an instant. The Crippled
vessel had continued to advance with no
slight velocity, for she had still two ef-
fectivs oars but her consort had taken
the lead, snd for a while had threatened
- make at least u Simultaneous landing
s. in ne g0uIOia. But when her crew
had perceived this TO be impractical 2.
they hastened to retire beyond rifle shot.
,'Ivinins with ready sagacity the designs
Of the other party. They were. however.
too late to avoid ,he effect of Que leaden
raessengsr from the weapon Of the ser
geant; sharp yell sni sudden commo
iion in the boat proclaiming its success
Three more shots were instantly fred
bl. with no observable result. 1t was
far, however, from being the design of
the enemy to abandon the pursuit. They
felt rather like the sportsman, who. hav
ing corneIed his game, deliberotes only
upon the easiest means of dispatchng it.
Al a safe distance the vessels came to-
gether for conference, which resulted i'll
one of them making a dctOHr about the
island. and taking up position opposite
10 the other extremity. This movement
made il necessary for Dudley to divide his
small force, yet SO minute was the terri
tory TO be defended, that the two divi-
sions of the garrison were not beyond
each others call. 1t was now fully ex-
pected that the 5esiegers would attempt
a simultaneous landing on the opposite
sides-a course which ordinary courage
would certainly have prompted. but they
evidently designed some less dangerous
expedient To and fro like sharks wai.-
ing for their prey, through the long teJi-
ous hours of the day. the canoes glided
ieisurely about. maintaining a close
watch upon every part OF the coast. Ii
was then, doubtless, for the night, that the
attack WAS designed. AMI it Was with sad
foreboiinGs that the Island prisoners
watched the sun beginning 10 decline
from the merilian.-Bat they had not
been idle. The moment they bscam G
convinced that there was no immediate
danger. consultation was again held to
devise means OF relief for, aS the enemy
were discerned from any part of the coas',
and the defenders could easily be sum
moncd 10 the point of attack, they were
no longer continued to any position
hut deliberaiion seemed Of little avail
The calm and unclouded sky foretold a
still anl starlight night, aud one that
would render secret embarka ton and
flight nearly impossible; and although 'hc
same causes would make the landing ol
the enemy somewhat hazardous, there
could be no longer any doubt ,ha' they
had determined upon taking the risk.
There seemed. indeed. nothing TO be done
excepting to await the invasion and sell
their lives as dearly as possible. Al
though compelled To contemplate thi,
fearful issue Of all his efforts. Dudley st.l
strove to encourage Ellen with hopes
that he himself could no ionge. enter
t.in. But new events claimed attention
The young Indion had long been missin,
from the council. and OH search beiDI
made was found seated beside pile q
bark which had been freshly stripped from
the birchen trees around him. while
Quantity Of sea-weed, such as is used b.
the Indians for thread or cord, was ais
collected at his side. 1t was with M
small alarm that Dudley and Rogers view
ed these preparations. giving indication
that their allies were ubou. TO deser
them. The southern shore was but abou
two thirds Of nile distant, aud a yer
small canoe might possibly be construct
ed before night. capable of transporting
one or two persons across, before the
could bs overtaken from :he more re mot
starting points of the enemy. Dudle.
fastened to interogate the Indian as I
his designs.
The Lynx is not rat. was the quie
reply. ito be beaten to death in trap.
The Lynx is coward TO desert hi