The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1870-07-13
lies, vamos and atlios."

OpoH Wis W. lCdtntu3 ulIcC I'D uCu
oss-questioning. that thoy had been
to buy horses ("To stoal them, more
likely" intcrjected Diekl at the sta.
tion of rich Spanard, Don Ramon
Garcia, who lived about four leagues
from US and that when they reached
tho top Of q gentle rise in the ground,
and had view of the house, they
had seen, to their horror and dismay,
a large body of the dreaded Indians
who were attacking-for they heard
shots-Dvn Ramon's cstanciu.
"Whcreupon," said the spokesman,
with teeth SCATTERING, GIVE rode hard
to your abode, we'll knowing that the
brave Englishmen would not deliver
us up. But let us mount your fleet.
est horses, senores, and ride for life.
Soon they will be here, and who can
withstanc the fierce bravos %
elf this be true" said Dick, turn
ing to me-"und 1 believe it is, for
those cowardly scoundrels' faces are
proof that they have seen soneAing-
the sooner we prepare to fight tho bot
ter. Of course they were not attack
ing Ramon's place he has fort
strong enough to resist a thousand Of
thcm, and plenty of men and arms as
we'll. Most likely they made dash
to carry off amy one who mi ght be
stroling at distance FROM the house,
or to drive of the horses; and it's
equally likely that we shall have them
here soon, where there's better
chance for a night attack. In any
event, VIC must bo prepared for them.
Naturally, we can't run away, and
leave all we have in the world to be
destroyed, as those valiant gentlemen
propose"
The natives-both the late arrivals
and our own two men, who had often
boasted Of what they meant to do and
had already done in the way of fight
ing Indians suddenly disappeared.
We afterwards learned that they took
refuge in the corn-Geld IN tho rear of
the house, where they lay concealed
until the fight was over.
| Our preparations we're worry simple
"a box of cartridges was open (for
we wore provided with those inesti.
mable peace and life prescrvers,
hreech. loading riAes) and placed
ready to hand, together with a bottle
of whiskey and a jar Of water the
door and window, our weakest points,
were secured as strongly as possible ;
and then, shading our bodies behind
the parapet, we pccrcd cautiously
over, and strained our eyes TO get the
first glimpse of an enemy.
Nothing is so daunting as suspense
to young campaigner, and I felt my
heart humping against my ribs with
excitement, and a sort Of nervous
dread that I should not play a MANS
part in the struggle we expected. But
Dicks voice, calm, low, and with o
slight drawl in it, reassured me.
"Now look here, Alfred, my boy"
he said elf we have to fight, keep
cool, and do as 1 tell you. Reach
your hand over here-that's right;
like to feel you gripe like that. New
remember to aid steadily, as though
you were winning cup in the rifle
corps at home, aud don't show your.
self more than you can help; for,
though these beggars have ONLY few
muskets and pistols in tho shape of
firearms, they can shoot pretty
straight if you stand still enoug gu for
a long 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 tho bricks.
Do you see anything I"
There's something dark on the
ground near tho oorral," I answered
sit seems nearer than it was"
can Indian, sure enough, and the
balPs going to commence" AS he
said this, Dicks riao rung out in the
silence Of the night, aud | saw splin.
ter fly white in tho moonlight, about
n foot above tho dark object, which
thereupon started up with cry, and
fled. Then we heard tho galloping of
horses, and about one hundred Indians
rode into view, and, breaking into
twos and threes, ciroled around - us
within shot--wavlng spears and shout
ing as though the whole company of
flllon angels had met to lament their
change of circumstances chorally.
"Don't shoot This is all o feint."
And my suporios's warning came, just
in time for % dusky cloud of men
sprund from the ditch, and rushed,
lance in hand, against the door. Woll
for US that its fastenings were SECURE,
and that we had not been tempted to
throw away shots by the first demon-
stration. Bang, bang went out rifles
and saw with feeling Of pleasure
that the mani had covered felE back
vita hoarse yell. 81
HDon't hurry, but in with your car.
sridges." heard next and both fir.
cd again together. This was too
much for them they halted, wavered
one moment, and then disappeared as
if by magics-our rapid tsystem Of FIR.
ing having completely disco@fitted