Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1870-09-08

Half qrudgingly the squatter MADE TIVE
steps towards the door, then he stop
ned. for he caught sight of his wife stand
I ing with A blanched and drawn face, hold
1 ing tight,y her two children. She did no
/ speak; bvs az their eyes met, her lips part
/ ed 10 form one word which the father Iea,
in an instant. Thought after though
rushed lightning like through his brain
all the old colonist' tales and their horror
seemed to force themselves upon him; tn
burning of Riley's hut. and the cruel butch
cry of wife ard children, and other barbar
tiles said to have been committed; the chil,
of squatter named Wallace beaten tc
death with clubs; the death of the bloom
ing daughter of Ellis. A mist seemed t.
swim before his eyes for an instant; bu
the next lie had shouted, "come on, sucl
of you as are men," for he had again en-
eountered the agonized face of his wife
again interpreted that one word her lip
had parted to form, and ne dashed TO th,
hut door, BIZ. only ts be grasped tightly b,
MS convict servant, Tom.
''Let me 60 r. he shouted, ''are yoJ
mad ?" and ne dealt the man heavy blow
in the chest. and sent him staggering bscl
shouting
Hold him, hold him."
! "Let me go Anderson-Jones? CRIED
Samson, again struggling to reach the dool
bltheld back by the new comers. Gar,
you mad, are you men, when poor Mary
is out there in the scrub ?"
The wounded man gave more of yel
than cry as Samson Harris uttered these
words, and loosing his hold of the father
he made for the door himself, but only tC
fall heavily, tripped up by the waddy the
black shepard had cunningly thrust be
tween his legs.
| The fall was heavy, but as he went dowr
two spears darted through the open door
and struck quivering, one in the floor, the
other in the table The next moment the
door was dashed to by Teddy, and its rough
wooden oar laid across.
"Better there than through you, master
Anderson" said Tom, dragging the quiver
ing spear out of the table and passing it to
| Teddy.
The young man did not speak, but biz
eyes glared. and the curls of his blacl
beard seemed to move and writhe as his
features worked. Then grasping the rife
he held in his hand. he turned to Samson
Harris, saying in husky voice
"Are you readyr"
Samson forced a bullet down upon the
powder of the rifle he was now engaged in
charging, and nodded his head by way o.
reply.
There was no opposition made now, and
as Samson and Anderson prepared to make
dash out to reach the scrub, Tom the
convict, Anderson's companion, and the
black made as if to accompany them.
"No," said Samson hoarsely, 'stay and
protect them,' and he pointed to his wife
and the two astonished children. "Nov
open the door,"
At his words, Teddy threw the door oper
widely, but before any one could pass out,
he dashed it to again, while as he did SC
Samson groaned, for "thud, thud, thud,
came the sound of three spears as they
stuck in the stout woodwork. one passing
right through; and he knew that had they
stood in the doorway it would have been tc
their death.
Frank Anderson, said Samson in low
voice, holding out his hand. 81 always sci
my face against Jour coming here, for
didu't think you were in earnest, my boy
and now if it's come to that" and ht
pointed to the spears, his voice shaking 9
little the while, II should like to make
friends first, though / have gone agains
you Frank Anderson, 1 beg your par
| DON"
The young man groaned as he took the
proffsred hand, aud then in the same low
voice he whispered:
"But, Mary, when did she 60? Whicl
way2"
"Heaven forgive me-" exclaimed tn,
wretched father, ''and / had forgotten he
till she showed me my duty" and he nod
ded towards his trembling wife. "She tool
the pail and went to the COWS, half-thre,
quarters of an hour ago."
"But We must go to her" whispered th,
young man.
Then you'll have to go with your skim
as full OF spears As porkypine's back
MASTER" said Tom, who .,ad crept close
to them. There; hark at .hatr' he ex
claimed as burst of yells arose. There
good two hundred OF the black devils dane
ing about"
"It would be madness to CO." said Sam
son, like sacrificing three more lives; bu
she may have hid herself and escaped"
The young man shuddered, and thel
raised his rife, Tor spear came crashing
through the window, but happily withou
striking any one.
Here, said Samson, rousing up. Lien,
hand here!" and with the help of thos
present he half carried his wife and chi
drsn up a short ladder to a roughly form
, ed Loft, full of feeces of wool packed agairs
the low-pitched roof.
, There, creep under them," he cried
r ''and first pull up the ladder. Now hid
! yourselves there, you'll be afe for the pre-
sent"
u Look out" shouted Tom, as Mrs. Hal
ris dragged up the ladder. and its las
+ rounds were beyond reach, while at til
warning cry, Teddy the black and Ande
: son discharged spear and rifle at coupl
a Of blacks who appeared at the inner doc
having climbed in by one of the window
!: Then ensued o sharp struggle, in whic
n desperate blows were given on both side
8 and then the inner room was cleared; bl
!. not before three of the savage assailan
r lay vrithing upon the floor, their life bloc,
staining the white boards of the plain be,
!" chamber.
II was dangerous task, and more tbs
n one spear few through the window as Il
Is bodies were hoisted up aud thrown throug
then the opening was barricaded as well
"a those of the other little front windows
the hut, and one or two stood at each
d meet the next assault.
n The thin blue smoke OF the discharg,
D. pieces hcated slowly upwards, and seem'
3 to wreathe about over the trampled bio,
,e stains, when cry from Tom the convit
IT and almost at the same instant the repc
r. of his piece, summoned help to the ba
L. half kitchen, half wash-house whose lit
th window was the only opening in the re
is of the hut.
to The help was needed, for about sec
nd of tie blacks had dashed MP to the ops
ing. srd were trying to force their way
g. but well kept up Ere from rife and
Is volver drove them back, with several
their number bleeding upon the ground
:" '.It's of no use to be merciful," exclai
all ed Anderson. ''They must be shot dov
he or we shall al be butchered. Take astea
m aim, for your wife and children's sake; q
h. I'd keep two or three shots loft in my
be volver for the hast"
, Samson Harris turned and glared at
he wild countenance of the young man by
Ear side, as if to ask what he meant; but
look was unnoticed, for as if thirsting
ed blood, Anderson kept on loading and fir
vo whenever one of their enemies offered
es- body az fair mark.
Al nrarr dfooba r<vc that took affcof A n