American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1869-07-31

handsome revolving rifle, of which
she was immensely fond, and with
which she became so expert that she
could shoot duck or prairie chicken
on the wing with almost absolute
certainly.
One morning, as she was strolling
around the lake, rifle in hand, she
.Oticed three canoe loads of Indians
padding carefully along the opposite
side of the water, steadilyand stealth
lily approaching the spot where her
father and lover were at work. She
did not Immediately apprehend any
tragedy, but in some unaccOuntable
way she felt impelled to remain and
watch their motions. She therefore
concealed herself and watched their
movements, which grew more and
more suspicious. There were two
Indians in each canoe, and after pull
ing steadily to point where a thick,
Overhanging birch tree afforded con
cealment for their canoes, they dis
embarked and crept carefully and
noiselessly along until they were
within few feet of where the unsus-
pecIng men were chopping. Sudden
ly, with yell that made the forest
ring, and which echoed and re-echo-
ed across the broad, still lake, they
sprang upon their victims and bore
them to the earth.
LeonOra trembled with excitement
and apprehension, expecting nothing
less than to witness the horrible
butchery of her father and lover at
once.
But this did not seem to be the
purpose of the Indians; for, tying
the arms of their captives behind
them, theytOok to their canoes, where,
taking the old man into one canoe
the young man into the other, they
showed boldly into the lake and pad
died rapidly down to where the house
stood. Leonora OWNED their intent
instantly.
"Ha " said she to herself, " they
design capturing me, too. They deem
that an easy job, perhaps !" and her
eyes flashed and her face flushed
with anger. "See! there is fourth
canoe, which they no doubt suppose
will carry me. This villainous work
has been well calculated but ha !!
you wicked savages you have mis-
taken your girl this time. LeOnora
Brown has been taught more things
than to cook venison steak. Oh,
dear father, your Leonora will soon
! show you how bravely she can sue
cor you, and how your instructing
l her in the use of this rifle has saved
= you this day. And you, too, darling
| Henry Watson, have won a longer
3, lease of your precious life by present
f ing me with this splendid revolving
; rifle. Six bullets for six ruffians
!. Miss one of them! ah, if l should,
L there's my knife. No, Leonora, you
T must not miss one of them.D
d The girl now crept through the
+ underbrush up the bank to the prai
e rie above. She knew that to reach
n the house the Indians would have tC
d cross a broad, fiat field, where there
e was no shelter for their persons. She
e did not think they would hesitate tC
k do this, because, having taken the
e two men, they would hardly expect
y any resistance from a single girl
r About thirty rods to the right of the
If path cattle yard had been erected
II by her father, in the corner of tht
y fence stood an immense elm tree
Y Inside of this yard climbed LeOnOra
le and behind the big elm she conceal
1t ed herself.
le a few minutes more proved sh,
was right in her conjecture. The In
ne dams, after having tied stout raw
it hide thongs around the feet of thei
ly prisoners, laid them down in th
he bottom of their canoes, and strod
ly gaily and laughingly along towar
is the house without any attempt a
lg concealment.
ne Leonora's heart grew as hard as
stone, and her nerves-which flu
he tered little before-nOw grew Il
ta firm as steel. She put fresh water
"a proof caps upon each nipple Of he
ld rifle, and putting the barrel on th
d rail of the fence, drew a sharp bea
tn upon the foremost Indian but as he
Ell finger curved to press the triggt
ed she heard what actually seemed
he be voice, whisper:
Ter Not yet, LeonOra !"
She paused, and then, as if by il
de spiration, flashed the thought I'M
ed her mind:
ter await until they get nearer tt
in house, then shoot the hindmOSt OF
90 tirst.'
IRE She obeyed the impression, al
ed let them come on a few rods neare
on Suddenly the thought came again
ild " Now's your timer
'sV Clapping her face to the riff
:" breech, she trained the death -dealil
W tube steadily at the chest of the ref
r most Indian for an instant and fire
ioi -, The bullet proved true to it's mar
iu and the burly Indian threw up l
Ins arms and fell dead, the rifle b;
my having gone directly through
NV heart.
llo A clap of thunder from clear 81
lo could not have so utterly astonish
az az these remaining Indians. Wild
'o' they looked in every direction to S
'u' whence came the fatal shot. In t
li'' next instant bang! went Leonorf
ISc, IA, ,,,,in ord orntbo, ,f +bo;r M,
llllC 'lllNt stIlbllISl vi UhN IL ilu
~ ~ Der dropped dead.
md But they saw the smoke of the Il
hem shot and caught a glimpse of t
on shooter. AT once they comprchcI
of ed their peril. They could not hi,
ock and their only show was in runni
md to the tree and tOmahawking tn
of presumptuous foe on the spot.
Instantly sounding the war hot
nan they bounded forward, but with
ing notes half uttered another of tn
Drk, number lcaped into the air and
ling back to rise no more. LeOnora h
hat fired again.
log The remaining three rushed
Vat but again the brave girls rifle ia
pom Ike the knell of doom, and Il tou
ak Rvage pitched headlong to
5ali round.
kIIhn tnprnr tbn !