Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-06-23
our eyes to get the first glimpse of an en-.

=
humping against my ribs with excitement.
and sort of nervous dread that should
not play mans part in the struggle we
expected. But Dicks voice, calm, low,
and with o slight drawlin it, reassured me.
"Now look here, Alfred, my boy" he
said; elf we have to fight, keep cool, and
DO as / tell you. Reach your hand oveI
here-that's right; L like to feel you gripe
like that. Now, remember to aim steadily,
as though you were winning cup in the
rifle corps at home; and don't show your
self more than you can help, for, though
these beggars have only few muskets and
pistols in the shape of firearms, they can
shoot pretty straight if you stand still
enough for along sight. Their great point
will be to force the door, but we can soon
stop that if you are steady with your shots;
and they can't fire the bricks. Do you see
anything?"
There's something dark on the ground
near the corral, answered; sit seems
nearer than ii was.
IAN Indian sure enough, and the ball 8
going to commence" As he said this,
Dicks rifle rung out in the silence of the
night, and saw splinter fly white in the
moonlight, about a loot above the dark OBJ
iect, which thereupon started up with q
cry. and fed. Then we heard the gallop-
ing of horses, and about one hundred In
dians rode into view, and, breaking into
twos and threes. circled round us within
shot-waying spears and shouting as
though the whole company of fallen angels
had met to lament their change of circum
stances chorally.
"Don't shoot This is all feint" And
my superior's warning came just in time,
for dusky cloud of men sprung out from
the ditch (how they could have got in
without our having observed them, was
puzzling to me- and rushed, lance in hand,
against the door. Well for us that its
fastenings were secure, and that We had
not been tempted to throw away shots by
the first demonstration. Bangi bangl went
our rifles, and l saw with a devilish feeling
OF pleasure that the man had covered fell
back with a hoarse yell.
..Dou't hurry, but in with your cart
ridges, L heard next; and both fired again
together. This was too much for them
they halted, wavered one moment, and
then disappeared as il by magic our rapid
system Of firing having completely discom-
fitted them.
down with your and 1 felt myself pull
ed suddenly under the parapet, in time
side the ditch sing over our heads. $50
,sr so good" was Dicks comment. Take
n drop of whisky, and watch the next
owe"
The moon was now nearly over, but that
was not so much against us, the night be-
ing clear and starlight enough to see 8
man at ten PAGES. We could hear the
trampling of horses feet, and cultural
sounds of talking, and guessed that a coun
cil of war was being held. Suddenly Q
spark appeared about two hundred yards
rom the house-sor they had fired our hay.
stack and grew rapidly into fame.-
Brighter and brighter il became, and lit uI
the seene-which was one of those men dc
not EARLY forget-as with the glare of the
MONDAY sun.
Grouped round the flame, and out o.
range, we.e our foes their swarthy skin,
and snaEy hair glisteaad in the freight
and they brandished lmces and screamed
with delight at tho destruction they bad
caused.
! Dog w6re barking, and the horses il
the corral neighing shrilly and rearing
with terror-Some fighting desperately Il
| escape
L looked at my companions face; it wa
very pale, and the expression decided.
ugly.
Look he said hoarseiy. "her,
comes an ambassador. Good Heaven
lookr'
1 turned with astonishment; but the sick
ening sight I saw fully accounted for Dick
excitement and rage.
A nearly naked Indian was boldly ad
vancing towards US, and bearing befor
him burden, which effectually secured
as he meant it to do, his immunity iron
our shots.
\ A beautiful white girl of about seventies
was lying helpless i'm his arms. Her hand
were bound behind her back, and masse
|, OF coal-black hair encircled q face showin
deadly terror and horror in every feature
and dropped nearly to the ground over tn
, savage's arm. Her dress, torn from on
white shoulder. showed how hard had bee
the first Intellectual struggle against he
captors.
As the Indian crossed the ditch (the
5 had out the rope which held up the draw
, bridge in the first attack with his burden
. Dick with a deep groan recognized her.
, 1T is Rosita, Don Ramon's daughter" b
broke out. 81 love her, Alfred, and W.
save her or die with her. Listenr' he cor
tinued hurriedly. 'This rascal has com
to make some proposal to us. Keep you
: eye on him; and the moment you get fai
' chance, fire at him. If you kill her, it
: the better fate. When / hear the shot,
b will tb row open the window (which I ca
do mc re easily than the door, and try fl
a a rescue. But, for Heavens sake, don
Q leave he roof; our only hope is in yor
y being able 70 keep off the others, who wi
a rnsh from the ditch. Goodbye"
D And he was down the ladder before
q could speak. leaving his hat cunningly a.
justed abe ve the parapet. Poor Dick! q
b his coolnes ss and sang-froid had vanishe
r now! myself was not in q pleasant pred
: cament. To carry ont his half mad schen
t involved ny running terrible risk
4 shooting my friends sweetheart, which
a any other time would have appeared in
possible; but when l read the agony al
o 4 ioathing in the poor girls eyes, / brace
l. my ners es, set my teeth, laid my rifle reat
v and inwardly swore that no trembling
e ma hand should mar her deliverance.
et And now the savage, a trucuIent-lookiI
It brnte, raised his voice, and demanded
!, broken Spanish n surrender He threate
It ed US with all the tortures his ingeniol
y fraternity are so justly proud of havil
;; look upon his captive, for that she, to
re should suffer for 80. As he said this,
e grasped the girls hAir brutally, and rails
st her head, With g. sudden spring of pa
T and fright, she threw herself out his arm
ID and fell to the ground. His time and mi
IN had come. As be stopped, my bullet Ia
him dead oy the side of his intended vi
ce tim Dick made his rush from the wi
= dow. and the Indians theirs from the ditc
n as he had predicted; but as Rosita "
t. rather nearer to the house than the ditc
I" he managed 10 reach her first. and was
ID treating with her in his arms. And n,
all depended upon me. My first shot, ali
I'd ed at the foremost OF the assaiIants, mi
d ed him clean; and before could seize Il
iy other rife, he had made vicious thrust
re Dick, who, encumbered as he was v
s quite helplesa The lance passed thfou
Is kosita's dress. luckily without injury
I'd the wearer; and as the savage drew ba
he for cooler and surer thrust, 1 had the
al expressible pleasure of lodging Q bullet
es his body. which effectsAlly prevented o
ht further lance.exercise from him.