Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1870-06-17

Nothing Is 30 daunting as suspense to
ayoung campaigner, and felt my heart
humping against my ribs with excite
ment, and sort of nervous dread that I
should not play a mans part in the strug.
gle we expected. But Dicks voice, calm,
low, and with a slight drawl in it, reas-
sured me.
"Now look here, Alfred, my boy" he
said " If we have to fight, keep cool, and
do as tell you. Reach your hand over
here-thaps rights 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 long sight. Their great
can soon stop that If you are steady with
your shots; and they can't fire the bricks.
Do you see anythingi"
There's something dark on the ground
near the corral" answered; cit Seems
nearer than it was" tttsla
An Indian, sure enough, and the balls
Dicks rifle rung out in the silence of the
night, and saw splinter fly white in
the moonlight, about foot above the
dark object, which thereupon started up
with cry, and fed. Then we heard the
galloping of horses, and about one hun
dred Indians rode into view, and, break
ing into twos and threes, circled round us
within shot-waving spears and shouting
as though the whole company of fallen
angels had met to lament their change of
circumstances 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, 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. Bang, bang
went our rifles, and / saw with feeling
of pleasure that the man l had covered
fell back with hoarse yell.
"Don't hurry, but in with your car
tridges," l heard next; and both fired
again together. This was too much for
them; they halted, wavered one moment,
and then disappeared as if by magic-our
rapid system OF firing having completely
discounted them.
"Down with you |" and felt myself
pulled suddenly under the parapet, in time
side the ditch sing over our heads. $50
far so good" was Dicks comment "Take
a drop of whisky, and watch the next
move"
The moon was now nearly over; but
that was not so much against us, the night
being clear and starlight enough to see q
man at ten PAGES. We could hear the
trampling of horses feet, and cultural
sounds of talking, and guessed that
council of war was being held. Suddenly
spark appeared about two hundred
yards from the house-for they had fired
our haystack-and grew rapidly into
flame. Brighter and brighter it became,
and lit up the scene-which was one of
those men do not easily forget-as with
the glare of the MONDAY sun.
Grouped round the flame, and out of
range, were our foes-their swarthy skins
and snaky hair glistened in the freight
and they brandished lances, and screamed
with delight at the destruction they had
caused.
Dogs were barking, and horses in the
corral neighing shrilly and roaring with
terror-some fighting desperately to es-
cape.
/ looked at my companions face it
was very pale, and the expression de-
cldedly ugly.
"Look p he said, hoarsely; "Here
comes an ambassador. Good heayenl
look |"
1 turned with astonishment; but the
sickening sight saw fully accounted for
Dicks excitement and rage.
A nearly naked Indian was boldly ad
vancing toward us, and bearing before
him burden, which effectually secured,
as he meant it to do, his immunity from
our shots.
A beautiful white girl of about seven
teen was lying helpless in his arms. Her
hands were bound behind her back, and
masses of coal black hair encircled face
showing deadly terror and horror in
every feature, and dropped nearly to the
ground over the savage's arm. Her
dress, torn from one white shoulder,
showed how hard had been the first inef.
fectual struggle against her captors.
AS the Indian crossed the ditch (they
had cut the rope which held up the draw
bridge in the first attack) with his burden,
Dick, with deep groan, recognized her.
4" 1t is Rosita, Don Ramon's daughterr
he broke out. al love her, Alfred, and
will save her or die with her. Listenp
he continued, hurriedly. "This rascal has
come to make some proposal to US. Keep
your eye on him and the moment you
get fair chance, fire ut him. If you kill
her, il is the better fate. When hear the
shot will throw open the window (Which
can do more easily than the door,, and
try for a rescue. But, for heaven sake,
don't leave the roof. Our only hope is in
your being able to keep off the others,
who will rush from the ditch. Good by"
And he was down the ladder before l
could speak, leaving his hat cunningly ad-
justed above the parapet. Poor Dick all
his GOODNESS and sang froid had vanished
now. myself was not in pleasant pre-.
dicament. To carry out his half mad
scheme involved my running terrible
risk of shooting my friends sweetheart,
which at any other time would have ap-
peared impossible; but when l read the
agony and loathing in the poor girls eyes
/ braced my nerves, set my teeth, laid my
rifle ready, and inwardly swore that no
trembling of my hand should mar her de-
liverance.
And now the savage, atruculent-looking
brute, raised his voice, and demanded, in
broken Spanish, surrender. He threat
ened us with all the tortures his ingenious
fraternity are so justly proud of having
invented, in case of obstinacy, and bid us
look upon his captive, for that she, toe
should suffer for US. As he said this he
grasped the girls hair brutally, and raised
her head. With sudden spring of pain
and fright she threw herself out of his
arms, and fell to the ground. His time
and mine had come. As he stopped my
bullet laid him dead by the side of his in
tended victim. Dick made his rush from
the window, and the Indians theirs from
the ditch, as he had predicted but, as
Rosita was rather nearer to the house
than the ditch, he managed 10 reach her
first, and was retreating with her in his
arms. And now all depended upon me.
My first shot, aimed at the foremost of the
assailants, missed him clean and before
could seize the other rifle he had made a
vicious thrust at Dick, who, encountered
as he was, was quite helpless, The lance
passed through Rosita's dress, luckily
without injury to the wearer; and as the
savage drew back for a cooler and surer
thrust, had the inexpressible pleasure OF
lodging bullet in his body, which ef-