National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1869-02-12

| W ascertain inc movements OF Tn;
Toe. There was foot path on the
East of the house which the savageS
found it necessary to cross, and, in
doing SO, each man presented in full
view, and the little party in the
house counted one hundred and
ninety-seven, as they crossed the
path.
Well might this feeble garrison
have felt disheartened, but there
courage failed not; aud perhaps il
would have endured had they known
the fearful truth that they had seer
only abOuG half the enemy. The
nerves of John Kilburn seemed tc
strengthen for the emergency, and
/ he gave directions with as mucl
cooluess as he wonld have superiu
tended the labor OF his field. The
! guns and the ammunition were al
arranged for use, and each man tool
bis position.
1t was assigned to the women that
they loaded the pieces. and passed
them up to their defenders.
After a short consultation the La.
dians seemed to have decided upon
Il course Of action, which was first to
demand a surrender: and Philip,
the same man who a few days be.
fore had shared the hospitality of the
house. standing partly uader Il G GOV
er Of a large tree, called out:
"Old John. Young John! | know
yc. come out here, we give you good
quarter.
"Quarter !" shouted old John,
with a voice like thunder. "Don't
talk about quarter to me; but be
gone YOU black rascal. or we'll quar-.
ter YOU -
This probably sounded in the ears
of the lndins like Il vain boast, and
their war whoOp rang ont with a
voice which an ear witness describes
aS sounding as though "aIl the de
wills in hell were loose"
kiIbmn was resolved to wait no
longer. War had beeu declared,
and he claimed the first fire. lie
singled ont the treacherous Philip,
and made sure his aim The villain
fell. Three other shots told fatally
from the block house. But the fire
was returned, and a volley of lead
was poured INTO the walls and root
of the house which made it tremble
1 The roof was not bullet proof, and,
as kiiburn afterwards expressed it.
| 1t soon became a perfect riddle sieve.
! But the bullets entered above the
heads of the defenders. and having
spent Their force III coming through
the boarding they drCpcd upon the
/ floor in the upper loft of the house
/ For hours the fight continued, with
/ no decisive results on either side.
/ The tOur men in the house were cX-
! ccilcnt markSmen. They watched
their opportunities, and whenever
the head OF savage appeared in
sight they took deadly aim. It is a
well known trait in the Indian char.
actor not to continue an attack tor
/ a long time. They seldom face de.
termined opposition; but in this in
/ stance they We're SO well aware of
/ Jhc superiority of their force. that
! they manifested considerable deter
mination, and made several advan
ces towards the house, as il to fore,
an entrance; yet they lacked tho
cool courage To do SO, and Whel
shots from the little garrison told
lcartully Upon them they again re
treated to their ambSh,
But new difficulty presented it
self. The lead WAS becoming cX
| hauStcd i'll the house. and it waS ap
parent the defence must consequent
~ cease unless some plan could be
devised to provide for the emergcn
cy. Lead was being thrown thIougl
the roof in quantities, but it drop
ped down amidst the rubbish in til,
attic, and was lost, so far a b,in.
available to the garrison.
The ingenuity of Mrs. kilburI
suggested II plan to save this lead
ard to use it upon ther enemies. a
conSderablcpelS)nal risk. she sprea'
some blankets III such a manner Il
to catch the bullets when they fell
and conduct them TO Il place trou
whence they could be got at. Wit
these ladlc was soon filled, and tn
women con mcnccd casting bullets
which before they were cool, wer
returned with more effect upon thei
enemies then they had produced up.
on the inmates of the house. O,
cnsionally a bullet came in throug
one of the loop holes; but for a lon
time no damage was done in thi
way, and the defenders Of the hous
gathered courage by their success.
81 tell vou, Kilburn," said Peal
eXultingly, "wc are not wastin
much lead. Our shots tell, AVID
believe we shall drive the tr'uol,
= some varmin away" "
Z" | have no fears while dayligl
LASTS" answered Kilburn, "but
, expect they will fall back, and II
| new .he attack after dark. and tr
| to fire the house."
"Thcy will find us awake, " sal
, Peak, and as he spoke ball entc
, ing, as others had done, at u loo
r hole, struck the brave man in Il
hip and he fell to the floor. Isl
y burn and his son rushed to his sid
[ but he was instantly on his ie,
again,