Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1861-09-05
mirth at bis humorous conceit.

utUle CARING mere.
And he patted the golden tresses of his
daughter.
G Needn't tell me dat, massa, needn't tell
me dat. Old Jake look out for dem as long
as he got single bref of lite in his ngly ole
carcass. dat he will. Lor' bress you, mas
sa, if one of dem ar red debbils come round
anywhere near Gle Jake, dey git fits, now
coax you. If dis ole Mig gifts one of desc yer
claws on him, Ingin gone sure =. and Jake
held up one of his mammoth hands. "Good
bye, massa neber fear Ingin as long as ole
Jake's 'round.' !.
And with these words old Jake disappear
ed into the house. whilst the pioneer also
turned to depart, waving last adieu as his
manly form disappeared in the depth Of the
forest.
The sun had reached the meridian; Jake,
true to his masters orders. had remained in
the cottage, and was now helping to prepare
the MONDAY meal. Jennie, the golden
haired daughter Of the pioneer, was setting
the dishes upon the table, while the matron
herself went forth to the little spring, some
hundred yards distant from the cottage, to
bring the pure cold water that was to be
their beverge. Slowly she approaches the
spring, her eyes anxously cast around to
spy any suspicious motion of leaf or bend
ing of twig, for once or twice during Che
- ho
saw the suspicious movement of the under
growth in the forest. She has reached the
spring at last. Suddenly she stops. What
is that in yonder clump of bushes2 1t fut-
ters in the air like the gaudy plunage of
some forest bird. 1t is birds plume, but
it rests upon the head of some painted saw
age. You would hardly have noticed it -
but the eyes Of the matron are sharp-for
not only her OWL life, but that of her darling
child depend upon her. Now for presence
of mind She must not let them know she
has discovered them, and perhaps she may
yet regain the house.
Calmly she fills her pail with water and
turns, to retrace her steps. Already has she
passed over one quarter of the distance be-
tween the spring and the house. Will she
reach there safely g her heart throbs aud
/ ibly. When-oh, horror Ia savage and
appalling yell strikes upon her ear too
well she knows its import the savages
have started in pursuit She must reach
the house before they do or all is lost She
drops her bucket and starts on the race for
life. Terror adds wings to her fight, and
she will distance her enemies. No, one
burly savage gained her side but ne harms
her not, but swiftly continues on toward the
house. What means he by that manauyre?
alas her hearts tells her too well the
house once in the possession of the Indians,
all are at the mercy of the savage foe.
Loudly she called Jake to shut the door
bat the negro stands with the handle of the
open door in his hand, fierce determination
depicted on his swarthy visage. The mat
ron and the Indian gain the house together,
and both cross the threshold at the same
moment. But as Mrs. Wood passed the
servant he calls to her
G Bar de door, missus !" And with one
spring he is upon the savage.
Jennie slams to the heavy oaken door as
the rest OF the Indians dash up to it. One
of them, more speedy than the rest, gets his
red visage caugat between the door and the
post, and thus prevents Mrs. Wood from get
ting the door securely closed ; but the ma.
tron has, as quick as thought, slipped the
bar it into its loop in one side Of the door,
and using it as lever, presses the oaken
barrlcade tightly against the body Of the
savage, and holds him there a prisoner,
whilst his body protects the door from The
assaults of his companions outside.
But how goes on the fight inside.
We left old Jake graphing with the Indi-
an. For once the negro had found bis match
and each, clasped in the embrace of the 9TH
er had fallen to the floor. Now they rolled
over from one side Of the room to the other,
and at last it seemed the Indian would be
the victor. He had succeeded in getting the
negro beneath him, and had drawn his knife
to finish his eremy, when, with one great
effort Of strength, Jake, as the knife of the
Indian was about to seek his heart. partially
relieved himself and seizing the Indian by
both arms, held him motionless-the knife
suspended in the air.
cold mig got you now, you red cuss,"
pulled Jake. e No use yer tryin', yer can't
git away Ole Jake amt much on his pins
dat's the truf, but jist luf him cit desc var
arms onto anything and dey hol' tighter nor
def to dead nig-shure !"
And Jake spoke the truth, for, though
lame and feeble in his legs, his arms were
strong enough to lift a ton. But Jake was
in bad fix; for, although he held the In
dian iminovabe, he was himself prisoner,
and for some time he cogitated what to do.
Mrs. Wood could not help him, for she had
as much as she could do to keep the door
closed against the Indians outside. If he
had only sized the savage by the wrists, he
might have broken them, and SO make him
powerless; but, unluckily, he had caught