The Shasta courier., 1864-03-05

utls. tlal Ine present party was hCStlle. and
therefore Mrs. Wells began to gather strong
hope that now she had fed them, they would
go quietly away and leave her in peace
But such was not their ntenton-wheths n
musderously inclined or because they were
strong party against q weak defenceless
woman. and felt that they could annoy.
frighten and rob her with impunity, we are
nat prepared to say. At any rate the spokes-
map soon returned to the door, and rapping
loudly on it again, said
SIniun much thank--a heap. Open door
~ say good-bv.s
n i0u can say that just as well where you
are replied Mrs. Wells. 9 have treated
yon well, and now, unless you are wicked
Indians You will go away peacefully"
i No. rejoined the savage, in tone bold
er end more threatening, 9 Injun come in. y
= Once for all, " said the heroic little wom-
an, anger beginning in some measure to take
fireplace Of tear, you shall not come in |
and 1t you attempt it, the consequences be
upon your own heads
What poor squaw do ~ cried the savage
in tone of insolent contempt.
Try II and seei' was the defiant an
swer.
The Indian said something to his compan
ions in their own language, and laugh fol-
lowed. This, after a brief SILENCE, was sue
coeded by fierce whoop or yell, that SEEM
ed strike chill to the heart Of that poor
wife and mother, and which caused the little
girt who had till now kept p rfectly quiet,
to START up with scream of terror.
Oh, Ella, you unnerye me, exclaimed
the agonized mother springing to and clasp
ing the child in her arms Now the Indi-
ans must know you are here, and if | am
massacred, you will be lost. Hark ~ she
continued as succession of heavy blows fell
up0a the door g the wretches are trying tc
cut their way in, and | must be ready for
thefa, God help mel 1t is terrible thing
to take human life, but | feel it is nv duty
to save myself and this sweet innocent by
eyefy means in nay power, and | viii do it !!
Lay down, Ella. and keep quet-mamma
wol let the wicked Indians come to .er
darling.n
fsae little girl. as if she compehended all
thai was required of her in that hour of ter
rible trial, nestled back into the straw, with
out uttering another word, leaving her moth
er free to act The blows now fell constant
ly upon the door, showing that the Indians
We're determined upon cutting their way in !;
in skhl { u he, gun, with firm resolve to
GaN -oE-elf to the last, Mrs. Wells placed
her as. S, q asitieaf to fire upon her enemies
as seu..s~s asingle opening should enable
her to see them.
They worked steadily and fast, and seem
ingiy in concert, occasionally exchanging a
fewasords with one another, and once or twice
breaking out into aJight laugh, evidently
shofing-they were not apprehensiye of any
thing very serious. They Doubtless suppos-
ed they had poor helpless woman in a trap
and therefore felt very courageous and care
less.
With pale face, knitted brow, compressed
lips. and eyes that almost glared, Mrs.
Wells watched the vibration of that door un
der the axes of her foes and when she per-
cei.Sed one particular part Of the thick slabs
begin TO culver and splinter and let in light,
she I laced the muzzle of her gun there with
a firm hand and drew back the cock with
fingers that no longer trembled. The blows
now rained fast, and in less than q minute a
hatchet struck through and opened an apar-
ture two inches by three. This success was
greeted by shout, and one of the Indians
put his face down to peer in. He never
knew what he saw. for at that instant Mrs.
Wells fired, and literally blew his head to
atoms, scattering his brains over his laugh
ing companions, whose sounds Of merriment
turned to yells Of surprise, horror, rage and
dismay.
Dropping their hatchets and catching up
their guns they quickly thrust the muzzle,
one after the other, through the aperture and
discharged them at random into the dwelling
But the recoil Of Mrs. Wells overloaded piece
had thrown her down, and she thus escaped
unframed. Getting upon her feet she drew
aside to the corner behind the door. and with
the coolness Of veteran prepared to reload
her gun, neryed to this state by the belief
that on her presence ofmind and physical ex-
ertiors the safety Of herself and child depend
ed.
But at this moment of fearful trial she
he ,rd the crack of a distant rifle. followed by
cries, or rather bowls of dismay from the saw
ages about the door who seemed to dash off
as if from pursuing enemy. Soon after
there was another report. and another but
distant yell and while Mrs Wells stood lis
tening and fairly trembling noy with the
hope of rescue, her ears We're greeted with
the welcome sound of her husbands voice
She staggered to the door, tore down the
bars, threw it open and with wild shrek
of joy, fell faintlng upon her husbands bo
som.
He had returned rather sooner than he had
expected, and just IN time to see his dwell
ing besieged by the party of four. While
creeping up for shot, the discharge from
within, and the death of one of his foes, had
cheered his almost fainting spirit. by giving
him one assailant less, and proving the active
existence of his heroic little wife. He trenl-
bled to see the Indians fire into the house
but he took advantage of the act to gain
point where he could make his own aim IA
tai to another. As the remaining two fled,
he hastily reloaded his rife, and had the sat
;sfaction of wounding one of those and get
ting into his dwelling unEarmed. His faint
ing wife soon revived: and father and moth
er and child thus happily re united, lived
many years. to thank Heaven for their won
derful deliverance from what had threatened
to be terrible fate.
Too MANY lRoNs IN THE FIRE.-W henever
Il i 1 L. 6 H.,