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

truer in his aim. The blacks are ont
strong, well armed and in there war paint;
aud if you don't want them here, Samson
Harris, you'd better shut that door"
Half grudgingly the squatter made two
steps towards the door, then he stop
ped, for he caught sight of his wife stand
ing with blanched and drawn face, hold
ing tightly her two children. She did not
speak; but as their eyes met, her lips part-
ed to form one word which the father read
in an instant Thought after thought
rushed lightning like through his brain;
all the old colonist' tales and their horrors
seemed to force themselves upon him; the
burning of Riley's hut, and the cruel butch
cry of wife and children, and other barbar-
tiles said to have been committed; the chld
of a squatter named Wallace beaten to
death with clubs; the death Of the bloom
ing daughter of Ellis. A mist seemed to
swim before his eyes for an instant; but
the next he had shouted, "come on, such
of you as are men," for he had again en-
countered the agonized face of his wife
again interpreted that one word her lips
had parted to form, and he dashed to the
hut door, but only to be grasped tightly by
his convict servant, Tom.
'Let me 60 r. he shouted, 'tare you
mad ?" and he dealt the man heavy blow
in the chest, and sent him staggering back
shouting
Hold him, hold him."
"Let me go Anderson-Jones? cried
Samson, again struggling to reach the door
bat held back by the new corners. ''Are
You mad, are you men, when poor Mary
is out there in the scrubP"
The wounded man gave more of yell
than cry as Samson Harris uttered these
words, and loosing his hold Of the father,
he made for the-door himself but only to
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 down
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 bar laid across.
"Better there than through you, master
Anderson" said Tom, dragging the CULVER
ing spear out of the table and passing it to
Teddy.
The young man did not speak, but his
eyes glared. and the curls of his black
beard seemed to move and writhe as his
features worked. Then grasping the rifle
he held in his hand, he turned to Samson
Harris, saying in a husky voice
"Are you readyP"
Samson forced bullet down upon the
powder of the rife he was row engaged in
charging, and nodded his head by way of
reply.
There was no opposition made now, and
as Samson and Anderson prepared to make
a 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. ''Now
open the door"
at his words, Teddy threw the door open
widely, but before any one could pass out,
he dashed it TO again, while as he did so
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 inthe doorway it would have been to
their death.