Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1860-03-15

cisco and Monterey on tine coast. The height
Of the wall never exceeded nine feet on the in
side, and In many places was now tumbled to
the ground.
The edifce itself, though originally built for
chapel, had been rcmodsled and used for u
prison, and had stood the storm Of years, while
the other buildings within the enclosure had
fallen to ruins, or being built of wood, been de-
stroyed by fire. The ole windows Of the chap
Ell had been brcked up, and little openings ten
feet from the floor substituted The floor was
composed of the same materials as the walls,
somewhat uneven, but still firm, with the solid
earth apparently for foundation.
It had never been partitioned into cells, but
was one vast hall, fifty by q hundred feet, and
reaching upward twenty feet, where it termi-
mated orumbled and weather worn. The roof
had been entirely swept away by fire, or the
equally sure, though less rapid process Of de-
cay.
There, let 'em yell, said Theodore Doke,
after moments silence, " we're safe in spite
of the hounds. ~
Nothin sartin bout that nuther, Thode,"
said Nathan, " can t tell yit They're arter us
tighter'n bull buffalo's, and Ish'd q leetle ray
ther be in sum uther climit Howsumever, we
can stan EN- some time here eff we tend tot, SO
boys jest keep yer eyes peeled for the top o. the
wall, whil's st | walk up to this winder and pep
per few on em by lightnin' light"
With the few ends of ,raEters, and other ruins
of the roof which were found deposited in vari-
Gus parts of the building, a staging was erected
under one of the windows pr port holes, and
old Nate assisted to mount it.
Take care of YOURSELF now," said Theo-
dore, " I'm thinking good many arrows will
be shot at the window, about the time you get
abreast of it, and if they hit yOu, we are all
dead men.
Needn't be afeareto, qothin' o that kind,
meow, Gaze shant git anFcasS ont tall. I'm
jest goin' to take a skewangln' sight, in this
fashion," said the hunter, carefully placing his
gun in position, one sidfagainst the inner edge
of the wall, and the other against the outer,
ready with the next flash of Lightning to fire
upon the savages. Ef'they can hit my eyes
with their confounded arrers, jest let 'em rip,
an eff they cant, why l shant be game, that's
ALL"
There was moment of silence within and 81
ence without. The thundors rolled heavily on
tbs western mountains, and the lightnings blazed
almost incessently. Old Nathan stopped for a
to reconnoitre, and then sent his leaden
TN its errand of death, and jumped
from the platform.
"ItS no use, boys, no knker use o shootin'
On EN- in this way. | jest mads 'em, and don't
DO no good. Thars too many on 'em. Eff thar
want NOR n fifty o the cusses, it mite do, but
thar a whole regiment on 'em''
Well, if they are going to scalp us at last,
it'll be some satisfaction to know that we've
whitfield them as much, said Theodore Doko.
"Rayther poor satisfaction, Thode, said Ma
than, slowly, " arter'all. They're poor miser-
able critters, ennyway, and don't know enuff to
use white, folks decent, nohow. Their fore
fathers didn't afore 'em. But then, 'talnt
much satisfaction shootn on 'em onless it's
goin' to d. us sum good. l b'leve we ken do
better"
" But ,Chat-what'll IL you do?" asked one
80, jest keep thinkin and watchin' till we
hit on some strategy or Other-can t tell What,
in mint, ov course not" said Nathan.
In the intervals of thunder, the groans of
savage in agony could be distinctly heard by
the band of whites, which was forcible argu-
ment even to them, that killing for revenge or
merely for the sake of killing, was rather in
human sport, and quite out of place in a band
IF civilized men, whatever it might be to untu-
tored savages.
In few moments the storm was upon them.
The rain poured in torrents from the dark
masses of clouds that foated over them, food
ng the castle with water, and drenching the
weary and worn who had taken refuge within
ts walls. From sheer exhaustion, Leon reclin-
ID upon the floor, protecting himself from the
;torm as best he could, while The older and
more hardy stood against the walls, and watched
or the least appearance of danger
The wind blew breeze, and the complete ST.
ence of both parties, the beseigcd and the be-
eigers. was an evidence that for the time ut
east bostilities were suspended. But the storm
vas Of short duration, and as the clouds were
lriven away to the cast and south, clear star
light, which inspired degree of hope in the