The Fremont weekly journal. [volume] (Fremont, Sandusky County, Ohio) 1867-1877, 1870-08-05


| The young mans action was no
without its effec5; for his compani
on, the friend who had escaped will
! him from the blacks assault upol
the previous day, now broke the 81
lence, saying, in utter forgetfulnes
of the women and children:
"It's all over my men; we may a
well shake hands au round, and max,
a rush for it, right into the blacl
mob, as stop here and be burnt ou
like squirrels in a tree. l cam
bear this any longer"
But though he looked from face t.
face, no man answered him, but OF
the whole avoided his gaze, anC
watched on at the dusky figures o
the savages as they moved incessant
Ily to and fro. When, seeing tha
his words were of none effect, HI
coolly laid aside his rife, rolled VI
his shirt sleeve, and opening largl
knife, hegan to rub and sharpen i
upon the hearth-stone.
The mental anxiety was frightful
Ifor let alone the thoughts Of pool
Mary's fate, it was as though deatI
was about to descend upon the watch
lers from moment to moment, while
they were debarred from making {
single struggle for life.
The morning fed, and noon came
and still there was no further attack
and wounded figures had been seen
to struggle and gradually stifen in.
to the rigidity of death within theil
sight; others to crawl by slow de-
grees into the shelter of the bushes
unheeded by their savage compani-
ons. But still no further attack was
made, it seeming evident that the
blacks were holding a consultation
among themselves in the shelter OF
the trees and bushes but short dis
tance of.
Now a black figure would glide
into sight and look menacingly to
ward the hut before darting out Of
sight once more. Then there was q
long interval before another was
seen: and then eyes were strained
amongst the trees in vain for a sigh
of their enemies.
The heat had been excessive, and
the small supply of wafer within the
hut being exhausted, the men began
to suffer terribly, what little they
nad having been nobly given up tC
Mrs. Harris and the children. AL
at once, though, Teddy seized pail
land, lolling out his tongue like 6
thirsty dog, began to pant and to
make signs that he should be let ou
to fetch water-signs that were quite
unnecessary, for he had no difficulty
jim making himself understood in hi:
masters language.
But Harris was immovable, and
iordered him back. The blacks fdel
! ity had been too often tried, and
samson felt that he could not afford
to risk the loss Of one faithful ser.
want at time like this. So Teddy
lput down the pail upon seeing his
masters mood, seized again waddy
and spear, and dropping painting and
Itongue-lolling, took his place at one
of the windows to watch again fol
his enemies.
His face was as study as he stood
there watching; his eyes half closed,
mouth twitching, and nostlils work
ing, He was evidently perplexed,
and more than once made a move
ment as if to climb out of the win
dow; but at length his face changed
into a fixed immobility, and he
seemed waiting till his master should
command.
Hour after hour passed by, and all
was still silent. From watching,
Samson took to examining the pow
der keg once more. But it all seemed
turned to solid mess, till with a
hatehet he knoked off hoop after
hoop, cleared away the little slaves,
and struck the block heavily with
the hatchet, to find, when the shell
was broken, that within were some
pounds of uniniured powder, at the
sight of whose grimy grains mems
hearts rose, and rifles were loaded,
and TASKS eagerly filed.
In readiness once more, they await
ed the next attack; but the sun had
long begun to descend, and for hours
they had neither heard a yell nor
seen a single figure gliding from a.
mongst the trees.
"Um all gone," cried the black
shepherd suddenly, "here Juno.
and in effect frisking and playing
about in front of the hut, one Of
Samson's dogs had made its appea-
rance, whining and bowling till it
was admitted; but fearing that the
blacks might still be within reach,
Samson kept his companions with
in doors, only yielding to the appeal
of Teddy that he might go out and
see.
Teddy glided like a great snake
out of the back window and was soon
lost to sight; but before long horse
or two, some sheep and the COWS
came bleating and lowing about the
hut, afiording abundent proof that
the savages, of whom they have a
wholesome dread, fleeing rapidly at
the sight of their spears, had depart
ed.
And now began the search for
Mary, all present knowing that soon
er or later they must find her living
or dead, though almost all felt, as
they set about their search with
heavy hearts, that the wailing moth
er's fears were not without cause.
In case of a surprise, they all kept
fearing to shout, but en-
couraging the dog to hunt around,
when suddenly Anderson's rifle rose
to his shoulder, and he was about to
fire, but perceived just in time that
the black figure rapidly approaching
was that of Teddy the shepherd.
''All gone right way" he said,
his head sagaciously as he
pointed out the family marked trail
made by the departing saVages, while
he was loud in his declarations that
they were atoo much fright-come
back never-ever." When asked
what he thought about the missing
girl, he only shook his head, and
would not answer till pressed, when
his reply was, 'No, know-try find" !"
and bending down, he began to scan