Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1871-09-01

| III the rear OF the house, where they lay
concealed until the fight was over.
Our preparations were very simple--a
box of cartridges was opened tfor we were
provided with those inestimable peace and
life preservers, breech- loading rifles) and
placed ready TO hand, together with bot
tie of whisky and a jar of water; the door
and window, our weakest points, were Sc
cured as strongly as possible; and then,
sheltering our bodies behind the parapet,
we peered cautiously over and strained
our eyes to get the first glimpse of an
enemy.
Nothing is so daunting as suspense to a
young campaigner, and l felt my heart
humping against my ribs with excitement,
and sort of nervous dread that l should
not play mans part in the struggle we
expected. But Dicks voice, calm, low,
and with slight drawl in 1t, reassured me.
"Now, look here, Alfred, my boy" he
said ; "if we have to fight, keep cool, and
90 as / tell you. Reach your hand over
here-that's right / like to feel your grip
like that. Now remember to aim steadily,
as though you were winning a cup in the
rifle corps at home, and don't show your
self more than you can help; for, though
these beggars have only a few muskets
and pistols in the shape of firearms, they
can shoot pretty straight if you stand still
enough for 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 the bricks. Do you see
any thing? "
"Thercs something dark ON the ground
near the corral answered; ait seems
nearer than it was"
IAN Indian, sure enough, and the balls
going to commence" As he said this,
Dicks rifle rung out in the silence of the
night, and saw splinter fly white in the
moonlight about foot above the dark OBJ
ject, which thcreupon started up with
cry, and fed. Then we heard the gallOp-
ing of horses, and about one hundred
Indians rode into view, and breaking into
twOs and threes, circled around us within
shot-waving spears and shouting as though
the whole company of fallen angels had
met to lament their change of circumstanc-
es chorally.
"Don't shoot, that is all a leint." And my
superior's warning came Just in time;
for dusky cloud of men sprung out from
the ditch, and rushed, lance in hand,
against the door. Well for us that its
fastenings were secure, and that we had
not been tempted to throw away shots by
the first demonstration. Bang, bang
went our rifles, and l saw with a feeling of
pleasure that the man ! had covered fell
back with hoarse yell.
"Don't hurry, but in with your car
tridges," ] heard next; and both fired
again together. This was too much for
them; they halted, wavered one moment,
and then DISAPPEARED rs if by magic-our
rapid system of firing having completely
d,comited them.
Down with your and | felt myself
pulled suddenly under the parapet, in
time to hear the bullets from the cavalry
outside the ii tch sing over ous heads. 80
far so good" was Dicks comment. Take
a drop of whislsoy. and watch the next
move
The moon was now nearly over; but
that was not so much against us, the night
being clear and starlight enough to see
a man at ten PAGES. We could hear the
trampling OF horses feet, and cultural
sounds of talking, and guessed that coun-
ell of wa was being held. Suddenly
spark appeared about two hundred yards
from the houso--lor they had fred our hay
sIack-and grew rapidly into flame.
Brighter and brighter it became and lit up
the scene-which was one of those men do
not easily forget-as with the glare of the
MONDAY sun.
Grouped around the flame, and out of
range, were our foes--their swarthy skins
and snaky lair glistned in the fire-light;
and they brandished lances, and screamed
with delight at the destruction they caus-
ed.
Dogs were barking, and the horses in the
corral neighing shrilly and rearing with
terror-some fighting desperately to escape.
| looked at my companions face it was
very pale, and the expression decidedly
ugly.
"LooN " he said hoarsely. "Here comes
an amb ssador. Good Heaven look p
turned with establishment; but the sick
ening sight | saw fully accounted for Dicks
excitement and rage.
4 nearly naked Indian was boldly ad-
vancing toward us, and bearing before
him burden, which eiiectually secured,
as he meant tito do his immunity from our
shots.
A beautiful white girl of about seventeen
was lying helpless in his arms. Her hands
were bound behind her back, and masses
of coal black hair encircled a face showing
deadly terror and horror in every feature,
and dropped nearly to the ground over the
savage's arm. Her dress, torn from one
white shoulder, showed how hard had been
the first Intellectual struggle against her
captors.
As the Indian crossed the ditch 0hey had
'cut the rope which held up the draw bridge
in the first attack with his burden, Dick,
with deep groan, recognized her. at is
Rosita, Don Ramon's daughter" he broke
out. 81 love her, Alfred, and will save
her or die with her. Listonr' he continu-
cd hurredly. "This rascal has come to
make some proposal to us. Keep your
eye on him; and the moment you get a
fair chance, fire at him. II you kill her,
it is the better fate When | hear the shot
l will throw open the window (which l can
do more easily then the door, and try for
rescue. But, for Heavens sake, don't
leave the roof. Our only hope is in your
being able to keep off the others, who will
rush from the ditch. Good-by."
And he was down the ladder before |
could speak, leaving his hat cunningly ad-
justed above the parapet. Poor Dick all
his coolness and sang Jroid had vanished
now ! / myself was not in pleasant predi-
cament. To carry out his half-mad scheme
involved my running a terrible risk of
shooting my friends sweetheart, which at
any other time would have appeared inn
possible; but when | read the agony and
loalhing in the poor girls eyes l braced my
nerves, set my teeth, laid my rifle ready.
and inwardly swore that no trembling of