The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1865-06-23

volley Of musketry, the balls pattering
harmlessly against the stout logs of the
stockade and dwelling.
L" There, they have opened the ball."
said the youth called Sam, "and now let
them look out for themselves
He approached the loophole that over
looked the stockade, and caught view of
the heads of some three or four savages,
who were not SO close under the palisades
as they might have supposed. They
seemed to be consulting together, and he
thought it quite probable they were
group Of principal warriors He eau
tiously presented his rifle, and was in the
act Of taking sight, when crack went a
piece from clump of bushes a little be-
yOnd the parties, and bullet, singing
through the Aperture, grazed the young
mans cheek and lodged in the roof.
The father, who had just worked his
way up the stairs, groaning with pain at
every step, on hearing the report, and see
ing his favorite son stagger back, with the
blood streaming down his face, uttered a
wild cry of grief and alarm, and impul-
sively bounded forward, forgetting his own
ailment. He reached his son, himself
trembling like leaf and the perspiration
streaming from every pore, exclaiming:
"Oh, my dear boy, are you killed."
'Hardly scratched, father replied the
youth taking his hand from the wound,
after ascertaining the whole extent; a
mere flea bite But" he added with sur
prise, s. l didn't know you could handle
yourself so vely-you were quicker than
jim"
"That's fact" said the father, now
recalled to himself. What's become of
my rheumatic don't feel it at ALL" and
he commenced walking to and fro swing
ing his arms, perfectly astonished at the
fact that his sudden shock, fright and vio-
lent exercise had cured him.
1t was a fact nevertheless, and the
amazed and delighted boy remarked that
the savage was welcome to the shot. since
it had produced such a wonderful and
happy result. Instead Of the garrison be-
ing weakened thereby, it had been greatly
strengthened, and this was cause for
congratulation and hope.
For few minutes after the single shot
that had wounded the boy, the besiegers
kept perfectly quiet, and the elder Hanson
remarked that this was a sure sign of the
devils being up to some mischief. The
boys looked through the loopholcs mean
time, but with greater caution than be-
fore, and without getting sight of single
one OF the enemy. At length volume of
smoke began to roll up in front of the
gate. and then of course it was known
that the savages were attempting to burn
their way into the enclosure, with view
probably of setting fire to the dwelling
also.
This looks rather bad for us" said
the father.
''If we could only manage to kill that
white villain and one or two Others of the
leaders. | think the rest would clear out, y
said the elder son.
The flames now began to stream up
through the smoke, and the savages gave
a veil of exultation, and one or two of
the boldeSt stole cautiously out into view
and looked up at the dwelling. Jim drew
up his rifle to a steady aim, but the ia
ther suddenly knocked up the piece, say
ing:
"Not yet, not yet, my son-let them
get little bolder first As we havn't fir
ed yet, they may think we can't, and we
want chance at the white man.
"That's my idea," conceded Sam. III
we can only fetch him at the first fire, the
battle will be half won''
For the next quarter of an hour all re-
!, mained silent within the dwelling-the
gate and stockade, meantime, burning to
the satisfaction of the Indians, who an
: nounced their delight by occasional
: whoops and yells, and some random dis
l charge of firearms. Then sort of bat
tering ram was applied to the already
charred timbers of the burning gate, and
, with a loud crash it fell inward, and the
savages gave vent to wilder yells of exul-
r tation. For a minute or two they did
| not venture into the little court, but find
ing that all yet remained silent in thu
house, they began to glide in, one aftel
another, till at last one-half stood exposed
to the deadly rifles of the inmates. Still
no word, no demonstration from the be
siegcd-and this silence and apathy en-
e touraged and emboldened even the NOR,
timid to push on the work of destruction
Surely, the inmates must be without fire
arms, or they would certainly have bee1
. heard from before this, and if withou
: firearms, what had the besiegers to fear
y So with exultent whoops and yells the
brought in wood and brush and piled i
!, against the door, and then set fire to i
- with the burning brands of the demolish
r ed gate.
At this moment, the most trying one c
n all to Job Hanson and his sons, who ha
been tremulously waiting for a chance t
IL accomplish their purpose Of picking o
Il the leaders first, and now felt that til
l. time for defensive action could no lOnge
5, be postponed-at this moment, whe
smoke was rolling up through the ope
y space between the projecting and the low
y er story, and filling the house with st
IL fling vapor, and the red tongues Of fiji
ct were beginning to shoot up and lap IL
Of woodwork of the door, the only barri,
l &la.r Al e.