The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1870-07-21
From Casseli's Magszine.l
LOST IN THE SCRUB.
AN AULTRALIAN ADVENTURE.

There was no opposition made now,
and as Samson and Anderson prepar-
ed o make a dash cut to reach the
scrub, Tom the convict, Auderson's
companion, and the black, made as il
to ACCOMPANY them.
NO." said Samson, hoarsely,
'stay and protect them," and he
pointed to his wife and the two aston
ished children. Now open the
door,"
AT his words, Teddy threw the
door open widely, but before any
one could pass through, he dashed it
to again, while, as he did so, Samson
groaned for 'thud, thud. thud" came
the sound of three spears as they struck
Il the stout,WoodWork one passingright
Though; and he knew that had they
stood in the doorway it would have
been their death.
Frank Anderson said Samson
in a low voice, holding out his hand,
II always set my face against your
coming here, for / didn't think you
were in earnest. boy; and now, now,
if it's come to that" aud he pointed
to the spears, his voice shaking a lit
tie the while, 81 should like to make
friends first, though l have gone on
against you. Frank Anderson, l beg
your pardon"
The young man groaned as he took
the porfered hand, and then in the
same low voice he whispered:
But Mary. when did she go?
Which way?"
Heaven forgive me-" exclaimed the
wretched father, "and I'd forgotten
her till she showed me my duty" and
he nodded towards his trembling
wife. "She took the pail and went
to the cows. half-three quarters of
an hour ago"
But we must go to her." whisper
ed the young man.
Then you'll have to 60 with your
skin as full ofspears as a porkypine's
back, master" said Tom. who had
crept closer TO them. There; bark
at thatl" he exclaimed as a burst of
7ells arose. There's a good two
hundred of the black devils dancing
about"
"Itwould be madness to CO." said
Samson, ''and like sacrificing three
more lives; but she may have hid
herself, and escaped"
The young man shuddered, and
then raised his rifle, for a spear came
crashing through the window, but
happily without striking any one.
Here" said Samson, rousing up.
Lend a hand hereI" and with the
help of those present he half carried
his wife and two children up a short
ladder to a roughly formed loft, full
of wool feeces, and formed In the
lew-pitched roof.
There. creep under them" he
cried. aid first pull up the ladder.
Now hide yourselves there, you'll be
safe for the present"
Look out" shouted Tom, as Mrs.
Harris dragged up the ladder, and its
last rounds we're beyond reach, while
at the warning cry Teddy the black
and Anderson discharged spear aud
rifle at a couple of blacks who appear
ed 1t the inner door, having climbed
Ia by oHe of the windowe. Then en-
sued a sharp struggle, in which des
perate blows were given on either
side side, and then the inner
was cleared; but not before three of
the savage assailaDts lay writhipg up
on the floor, their life blood staining
the white boards of the bed cham
Der.
1t was a dangerous task. and more
than one spear few through the win
dow as the bodies were hoisted up and
thrown through; then the opening
was baTricaded as well as those of the
other little front windows of the hut,
and one or Two stood at each ready to
meet the next assault.
The thin blue smoke of the dis
charged pieces foated slowly upward,
and seemed to wreathe about over the
trampled blood stains, when a cry
from Tom the convict, and almost at
the same instant the report of his
piece summoned help to the back
half kitchen, half wash-house, whose
little window was the only opening ! n
the rear of the hut.
The help was needed, for about a
score of blacks had dashed up to the
opening, aud were trying TO force
their way in; but 3 we'll kept up hre
from rife and revolver drove them
back, with several of their number
bleeding upon the ground.
Its of no use 10 be merclful," ex-
claimed Anderson.
They must be shot down, or we
shall ell be buiehered. Take a steady
aim, sir, for your wife and childrens
sake; and I'd keep two or three shots
left 10 my revolver for the last"
Samson Harris turned and glared
at the wild cOuntenance of the young
man by his side, as if thursting for
blood, Anderson kept on loading and
firing whenever one of their enemies
offered his body as a fair mark
At every discharge that took effect,
hhere was a wild yelling, above which
might be heard the shriekiDg and
wailing of the gins, some famous war
rier of the tribe slaekened his muscles,
let fall spear. waddy, shield or boom
eraug. that he should hurl it no more
but in spite of their losses the attack
was kept up, now on one side, now on
the other, spear after spear flying
through the little windows, or stick
ing in the bedding with which they
were barricaded, to be dragged oui
and sent back by Teddy the black
who in his excitement had reduced
his costume still farther, only wanting
a little yellow, red and white paint Il
emulate the warrior uniform OF hi
enemies.
But at last the evening had set 10
for the short twilight was past, anC
the stars were looking down upon thl
scene of the afternoons bloodshed
Though but shortly before, dusky fig
ure after dusky figure might havl
been seen gliding from tree to tree. o.
dartiDg across some open spot, yelling
aud brandishing spear or club, nov
all was silent, save at times the dis
tant lowing of some of Samson's cat
tie or the bleating of sheep. Nov
and again, too, would come the bark
SnR and bowling of the dogs that ha,
hnnn Lsuon nunu hu tho Garna nnAiu