The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1854-06-09
The GzoIFaer's Defence.
ATALE OF THE FRONTIER WAR.

"Mv husbands r;acr' she shouted, springing 10
her feet and rushing nrrCss the cabin she tore the
weapon and accOuremcHts from The wall. But
on trying the piece with the ramrod, It proved TO
be unloaded. She thrust her hand into The pouch.
but it contained nothing bat musket balls, which
her husband had purchased few days before to
INTO bullets suitable for his rifle. The powder
horn was full, but OF what use was the powder
without the ball Dropping the weapon, she
wrung her hands in dsPar. Suddenly idea
struck her--sEe seized one Of the bullets, placed
it !erween her teeth, and by tremendous exertion
tit it in two. DashIng charge of powder into
the barrel, she :ammed down Of the agments,
prImed and cooked the piece, and The next moment
its muzze protruded through the aperture, and
covered the BODY OF the chief now advancing at the
head Of the party towards the house. The quick
eve OF the savage caught the gmmer Of the rifle
sight the sun fell upon ii, and he stopped, but
before he had time to make a rush. Miriam finger
pressed the trigger. When the puff OF smoke from
the distance had cleared away. she saw him clutch
Inc in the air, in the vain effort recover himself
Before the other Indians, who seemed paraIyzed
by tie unexpected catastrophe could afford him
any assistance, he threw his hands above his
head, and, whirling quickly around fell upon his
face.
shout Of triumph burst from the lips Of Miriam
she the effects of the avenging shot, and
then Withdrawing from the loop hole, she commen-
ced reloadng the rifle.
The Indians remained moionlesS for few Sc.
conds, transfixed with astonishment, and then lif-
ting the body OF their chief withdrew a respect
tih!e distance from the cabin nd the inmates half
believed their peril was over. But they we're de-
ceved.
After getting out Of eun-sbot the savages cus.
tered together, and appeared for several minutes
to be IN close coDversaton. AT the expiration of
IL,
their plan of action, the whoe gang took open
order and dashed ut full run, wiki wild ytls, TO-
ward the dwelling.
As the foremost came up, Miriam Cook, who
was now stationed at another loop.hu again dis
charged her rifle, and the unIucIv Wvandott shot
through both legs, dropped in his tracks with an
involuntary shrek Of agony. The others kept
on, reaching The cabin, SIX of them clambered on
the roof, while the other five commenced firing
on the doors and cutting openings IN he logs
Those on the roof quickly kindIed a fire on the
shingles, which were soon in IA blaze. The de-
Struciion 0! tbs cabin and inmates now seemed
inevitable.
There hog<hcad half full Of water in the
house. Miriam, bucket in hand, mounted to the
lott and Hope aud Alice supplied her with wafer
from below, by which she conjrived to exunguish
the fumes as fast as they broke oa', while she
herself cuvelOped, and almost SutOcatcd by steam
and smoke, was invisible to the assailant. AT
lrnglh the water was exhausted, and the Indians
observing that the efforts OF the be>ieged party
were s!ackening, ven'urCd to poke his head thro
one Of ihe holes in the root, to see how the land
lay. The undaunted Miriam was standing within
Il few feet OF the opening, and at the Instant she
whirled The empty bucket around her head, and
whfl:ug it with SWING Of her arm, stuck him
directly IN the forehead with the sharp edge OF the
>tavc. She heard the bones crash and the victim
-rOan, moment after which he was drawn away
by his companions, three of whom descended
from the Roof, bearing him in their arms.
Miriam now thought she heard the two remain.
ing savages tearing the upper logs of The chimney,
and Presuming they intended to effect an entrance
that way she down stairs to prepare for then
= The feather bed the feather bed - she shouted
as she reached the lower room, and this much
priced article in u lronlicrmau's inventory of
household chatteIs was quickly brought forth and |
thrown into the huge fire place Bv this lime one
OF the Indians had fairly got into the chimney
The savage made an effort TO scramble up again !
but Tie Pungent efiuv1a of the feathers overcame
him, and he fell heavily on the hearlh-stone. In !
the meantime, Miriam had grasped the rifle md |
had it ready for his reception. Scarcely had he |
nuched The floor, when the iron bound point of |
ne breech crashed through his skull The other |
Who had caught Whit of the vapor in time to |
avoid like fate hastily descended from the roof |
-Four Of the thirteen Indians were now killed,
,ut these casualties only added new fury 10 the
They well knew that the cabin was
occupied by women only-and nothing could be
more degrading 10 the eyes OF these swarlhv war
Tors than 10 be bat?lrd ty parcel of squaws-I
hev now tariOuslV aSSallcu the door with iOma.