Plymouth banner. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1852-1855, 1854-11-30

/ IldiOtN iBotipHtSccs WIN pANsNh tNu uilhs
1t was doubtless hazardous experiment
for the besieged party TO wait for tn
kindled light of their own roof to revea
The persons of their own foes; but th,
( importance of striking signal blow. ant
/ one that might deter the encm my from ma
/ king any further attack. oyercame ever
other consideration. The dampened stat
OF the shingles rendered the process o
! ignition slow; but a length faint, bid'
/ fame made its appearance in the vlclni
! tv of the chimney. where number o
small faggots had been carefully inserted
Pickering with the wind. now sinking
now rising. the unsteady blaze was guar
ded from the air brs Soth hands OF q
kneeling Indian. whose fendish features
bent over the light could be distinctly
traced. Brighter and higher rose The
blaze. and soon began 10 reveal the othei
objects in its immediate vicinity, while
the place occupied by Dudley and hi:
companions remained in impeneirable
obscurty. Brighter and higher still, un
til the alarmed inmates beneath saw the
fire cleaning downward through the
chinks of the unceiled roof. But the
time for action had arrived Other faint
lights had sprung up. and the savases'
to the number OF Ave, were distinctly
visible. when Dudley. having EXCHANGED
signals with his men, in order TO select
several victims. quietly gave he command
to fire. The report of the guns. and the
death screech of the Indians, was a mn-
gled and simultaneous sound. They
each rolled rapidly down the roof and
fell heavily to the earth. But. although
Dudley and his comrades instantly ham
ded down their guns and received others
from below. only one of the enemy re-
manned VISIBLE when they were again
prepared 10 fire. Running rapidly along
the apex Of the building. he had already
gained hold of the rope, which. thrown
lasso-Iike over the chimney. had been
the means of his ascent, and was about to
swing himself off. when lie received the
contents of Dudley's gun. Still convul-
sively clutching the rope, he was seen
by the now growing light to totter for q
moment OIL the extreme end of the bull
ding. when Lee. more i'll pity than in
wrath, gave him another ball.
ct would have been hard fall for a
living man." he said. as the noise OF the
body striking the ground reached his ear;
''but stack of feather beds wouldn' t
have been any mercy 20 him now."
Don't be too sure" replied Rogers.
banteringly; "your dead men have a re-
markable faculty Of coming tolife again.
and think / see the red devil now,
scampering across the field, with the rope
ia his hand"
"And piece of the chimney. I sup.
pose; retorted Lee, who understood his
comrades propensity to joke too we'll TO
take offence.
But the triumph which produced this
temporary elating of spirits in these brave
men was far from being complete. The
FIRE had gained headway that demanded
instant attention, and whoever ventured
within its light would doubtless be a
prominent mark for the outlying foe
No time, however, was to be lost, and
two brave fellows of the Life Guard al.
ready stood prepared at the foot Of the
stairs for the perilous enterprise. Bear.
ing blankets, saturated as before, they
rushed hastily to the flames. The expect
ed volley was discharged. and, unharpily.
as the groans os the young men testified,
not without effect. One, but slightly
njured. fed hastily back. while the 9th
er convinced Of the mortal nature of hi.
wounds. nobly resolved that his life
should prove no idle forfeit, Staunch
ing the life blood with one hand he drag.
ged himself feehly from blaze to blaze,
until The last fickering light was extin.
guished. and then. with the remnant oil
his falling strength, crept slowly back to
his companions Drawn hastily but
gently within. the youth was deposited
upon couch, and hastily preparations
were made 10 examine and relieve his
wounds. But observing the changing
expression Of his face, and obeying his
sifingcant gestures TO desist, his com
rades crowded with fearful eyes around
his bed.
Wy sister,. family calculated the dy-
ing man, as he slowly turned his eyes
toward the door. A low wall was heard
without; the door opened. ant the faint
ing maiden was supported 10 his bedside.
placid smile stole ike sunlight over the
Textures of the youth; his lips moved.
and the the trembling girl bent lower
to hear. The whispered words with
which the parting soul wen, upwards
were soft az sound could BE-; yet distinct.
ly articulated; they fell upon every ear.
= We shall meet again"