Nebraska advertiser., 1865-07-06


his clothing, he withdrew the bolts and
opened the door, cautiously. Fortuna
tely he held it slightly ajar, standing
partially behind the easement, so that
n side was exposed.
A half a dozen Indians guns flashed
upon the darkness, and a shower Of balls
battered around. Two, only, struck the
unfortunate Merrill, the remainder
bury;Eg themselves in the oaken timbers.
Yet those two took deadly effect, break
ing his arm and thigh, upon the side ex-
posed. He al once sank to the floor, ut.
terly helpless. And had it not been for
the Amazonia qualities of his wife, bis
race would have been speedily ended.
The savages, as they fred, made a
rush for the door, but the heroic woman
was too soon for them. She pushed the
door against the easement, and holding
it by main force against the ASA ults of
the foremost enemies, succeeded in ship
ping the bolts into their sockets. A
howl of savage rage broke from the dis
appointed warrior. and with de sperate
energy they commenced an onslaught
upon the tough planks with their hatch.
cts. Disregarding this, Mrs. Merrill
turned to her husband.
Fly, Mary, fly he groaned. They
will break in, and you, too, will be kill
edr
Where shall / fly? How shall l get
away 2 she asked.
ALAS, there is no way the unhappy
man moaned-
NO. she replied cheerfuliy, and if
there was I'd never be such a brute as
to,.desert my poor, wounded John. See
this and she.lifted an axe / can make
a brave defence yet, and learn them a
lesson hat VIII last the ugly creatures
John would have eounselled her to at
tempt escape, but he knew it would be
useless, for already the hatehets, vigor.
o0sly piled, had made their WY through
the door, aud in one minute more they
could enter at pleasure. Mary was cool
and decided, for she knew that in being
SO her only hopes now lay She took an
advantageous stand, and awaited the
coming of the d~epredators.
Piece by piece the planks were torn
away, and presently the head and shout
ders Of an athletic savage were thrust
through. There was a momentary feel
ing of horror at the brave woman's heart
and she closed her eyes as the axe de-
scended, but when she heard the heavy
fall, and saw that one of her husbands
murderers had met his fate at her hands.
all timidity passed away, and she was
prepared to meet the next, who came Oh,
forcing his way through, scarcely behind
his companion.
AAlO ACCt hou di1lOSt tOUGICO lAC AtOOl
when the sharp steel came down, crush
ing through his brain, and he fell beside
the first. The Indians were naturally
a%sstonisbed at this affair they had
seen their comrades disappear within,
but all was silent. What could it mean?
A third poked his ugly pate thrOugh. the
opening, and the fate which had me- his
fellows, became his own. He remained
in the doorway, and was finally dragged
forth by those without. This revealed
the truth of the matter.
A dreadful yell arose "a cry of rage and
dismay, and for a moment those without
paused to determine upon their further
excuse.
In another moment a hurried scram-
bling upon the roof succeeded and very
soon the blood-be-spattered heroine
knew that they intended to descend the
chimney. What should she do? The
force of her enemies was divided, and
herself alone TO combat them. She had
one advantage. All was utter darkness
within the cabin. while the pale starlight
without rendered the movements of the
savages observable. Another head was
poked through the open door, and she
applied the same quietus as before,
though almost distracted by the scram-
bling Indians, whom she could plainly
hear descending the chimney. Nine
hundred and ninety-nine men of a thous-
and had been doomed, if placed in SINH
lar circumstances /; but a lucky idea
struck the brave women. If she could
bat stihe them in some manner, she
thought; and simultaneously with lhe
thought came an idea. There was the
feather-bed, the only one the cabin af,
forded and she knew iha. feather,
would produce the effect she wished.
To think was to act. and one blow o.
the axe laid open the ticking. Their,
was a bed Of Goals in the fireplace, ant
upon these she empted the feathers
The fame and smoke which at ono,
arose must have been too powerful 70