The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-09-09


The young mans action was mol. without
its effect; for his companion, the friend
who had escaped with him from the blacks
assault upon the previous day, now broke
the silence, saying in utter forgetfulness of
the women and children:
"It's all over, my man; We may as well
shake hands all around and make arush for
it, right into the black mob, as stop here
and be burnt out like squirrels in a tree.
1 can't bear this standing still any longer.
But though he looked from face to face,
no man answered him, but on the whole
avoided his gaze, and watched on at the
dusky figures of tho sayages as they moved
necessarily to and fro. When, seeing that
his words we're of no effect. coolly. laid
aside his rifle, rolled up his shirt Sleeve,
and opening large knife, began to rub
and sharpen it upon the hearth-stone.
The mental anxiety was frightful; for
let alone the thoughts of poor Mary's fate,
it was as though death was about to des-
cend upon the watchers 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 stiffen into the rigidity of
death within their sight; others to crawl by
slow degrees into the shelter of the bushes,
unheeded by their savage companions.
but still no further attack was made, 1t
seeming evident that the blacks were hold
ing consultation amongst themselves in the
shelter of the trees and bushes but short
| distance off
Now a black figure would glide into sight
and look menacingly toward the hut before
darting out of sight once more. Then
there was a long interval before another
was seen, and then eyes were strained
amongst the trees in vain for sight OF
their enemies.
The heat had been excessive, and the
small supply of water within the hut being
exhausted, the men began to suffer terribly
what little they had having been nobly Civ
en- up 10 Mrs. Harris and the children. All
at once though, Teddy seized pail, and
lolling his tongue out like thirsty dog,
began making signs that he should be let
out to fetch water-signs that were quite
unnecessary, for he had no difficulty in
making himself understood in his masters
language.
But Harris was immovable, and ordered
him back The blacks fidelity had been too
often tried, and Samson felt that he could
not afford to risk the loss of one faithful
servant at time like this. So Teddy put
down the pail upon seeing his masters
mood, seized again vaddy and spear, and
dropping painting and tongue. .lolliDg, took
his place at one of the windows to watch
again for his enemies.
His face was a study as he stood there
watching, his eyes half closed, mouth
twitching and nostrils working. He was
evidently perplexed, and more than once
made movement as if to climb out of the
window; but at length his face changed in
to fixed immobility, and he seemed wait
ing till his master should command.
Hour after hour passed by, and all was
still silent From watching, Samson took
to examine the powder keg once more,
But it all seemed turned to solid mass.
till with q hatchet he knocked 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
unlniured powder, at the sight of whose
grimy grains mems hearts rose, and rifles
were loaded, and TASKS were eagerly filled.
In readiness once more, they awaited
| the next attack; but the sun had long be-
gun to descend, and for hours they had
neither heard yell nor seen single fig
ure gliding from amongst the trees.
"Um all gone, "cried the black shepherd
suddenly; ''here Juno"
And in fact, frisking and playing about
in front of the hut, one of SIMPSONS dogs
had made its appearance, whining and
bowling till it was admitted; but fearing
that the blacks might still be within reach,
Sampson kept his companions within doors
only yielding tc the appeal of Teddy, that
he might go out and see.
Teddy glided like a great snake out of
| GIo min nd Lost 70
sight; but before a long, a horse or two,
some sheep and the COWS came bleating
and lowing about the hut, affording abun-
dant proof that the savages, Of whom they
have wholesome dread, fleeing rapidly
at the sight of their spears, had departed.
And now began the search for Mary, all
present knowing that sooner 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 mothers
tears were not without cause,
In case of a surprise, they all kept to-
gether, fearing to shout, but encouraging
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 approach.
ing was that of Teddy, the shepherd.
Gan gone right way" he said, nodding
his head sagaciously, as he pointed out the
family masked trail made by the departing
savages, while he was loud in his declara-
tions that they were ''too much fright
come back never-never." When asked
what he thought about the missing girl, he
only shook his head, and would not an
swer till pressed, when his reply was, ''No
know-try fnd;" and bending down, he
began to span every foot print in the di-
rection she would have been likely to have
taken, till darkness put stop to the
search, and all save Samson and Anderson
returned to the hut.
No one saw the agony CT those two men
as now, slowly working their way through
the bushes, stumbling with utter weari
ness, they strobe on till nature would hold
out no longer, and they sank down, worn
out, tosIeep for an hour or two beneath the
watching stars; but only to leap up re-
preaching themselves for relaxed efforts,
as they hurried back to the hut to try and
hear some tidings of the lost girl
".