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

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voice, holding out his hand, 81 always set
nv face against your coming here, for
didn't think you were in earnest, my boy;
and now if it's come to that" and he
pointed to the spears, his voice shaking q
little the while, 81 should like to make
friends first, though have gone against
you. Frank Anderson, L beg your par
DON"
The young man groaned as he took the
proffered 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 had forgotten her
till she showed me my duty" and he nod
ded towards his trembling wife. ''She took
the pail and went to the COWS, half-three
quarters of an hour ago."
"But we must 60 to her." whispered the
young man.
''Then you'll have to go with your skins
as full of spears as a porkypine's back,
masleT," said Tom, who had crept closer
to them. ''There; hark at thatT he ex-
claimed as burst ofyells arose. ''There's
good two hundred of the black devils dane
ing about"
son, "like sacrificing three more lives; but
she may have hid herself and escaped"
The young man shuddered, and then
raised bis rifle, for a spear came crashing
through the window, but happily without
striking any one.
'tHere, said Samson, rousing up. "Lend
hand hereT and with the help of those
present he half carried his wife and chill
dren up a short ladder to a roughly form.
ed loft, full of feeces of wool packed against
the low-pitched roof.
''There, creep under them" he cried,
''and first pull up the ladder Now hide
yourselves there, you'll be afe for the pre-
sent"
"Look out" shouted Tom, as Mrs. Har.
ris dragged up the ladder, and its last
rounds were beyond reach, while at the
warning cry, Teddy the black and Ander.
son discharged spear and rifle at couple
of blacks who appeared at the inner door.
having climbed in by one of the windows.
Then ensued sharp struggle, in which
desperate blows were given on both sides,
and then the inner room was cleared; but
not before three of the savage assailants
lay wrIthing upon the floor, their life blood,
staining the white boards of the plain bed.
chamber.
1t was dangerous task, and more than
one spear flew through the window as the
bodies were hoisted up and thrown through
then the opening was barricaded as Wei as
those of the other little front windows o.
the hut, and one or two stood at each tc
meet the next assault
The thin blue smoke of the discharged
pieces foated slowly upwards, and seemed
to wreathe about over the trampled blood
stains, when a cry from Tom the convict
and almost at the same instant the repor
of his piece, summoned help to the bacl
half kitchen, half Wash-house whose httlI
window was the only opening in the reai
of the hut.
The help was needed, for about a scor'
of the blacks had dashed up to the open
ing, and were trying to force their way in
but well kept up fire from rifle and re
volver drove them back, with several o
their number bleeding upon the ground.
ats of no use to be merciful, exclaim
ed Anderson. ''They must be shot down
or we shall all be butcheTed. Take stead,
aim, for your wife and children's sake; ant
| I'd keep two or three shots left in my re
volyer for the last"
Samson Harris turned and glared at tn
wild countenance of the young man by hi
side, as if to ask what he meant; but tn
look was unnoticed, for as if thirsting 70
blood, Anderson kept on loading and firm
whenever one of their enemies offered hl
body as a fair mark.
At every discharge that took efectther
was a wild yelling, above which might b
heard the shliekIng and wailing If tn
blacks when some famous warrior of tn
tribe slackened his muscles, let fall spear
waddy, shield or boomerang, that he shoult
hurl no more; but in spite of their losses
the attack was kept up now on one side
now on the other, spear after spear flynn
through the little windows. or sticking il
the bedding with which they were barri
caded, to be dragged out and sent back b,
Teddy the black, who in his excltemen
had reduced his costume still farther, onl
wanting a little yellow, red and white pain
to emulate the warrior uniform OF his enc
mics.
| But at last the evening had set in, 70