The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1871-06-24

were iearfully and wonderfully made
The stairs that led up to the story above
stood in one corner, up which the grain
was carried to the hopper; and towards
these she moved to explore the upper
room.
Bidding her children remain at the foot
| OF the stairs until her return, she beran
! the ascent, and her head had nearly reach
ed level with the floor above, when.
glancing in through the open stairs, she
beheld sight which turned her limbs to
! stone and her blood to ice.
Perched upon the broad wheel around
which the great belt ran, were two huge
| painted sayages.
For moment it seemed as though she
could not retain her footing. Her brain
reeled, and her limbs grew weak beneath
her, until it seemed as though they could
not sustain her body. A film obscured
her sight, and for moment she was un-
conscious of all about her, BY violent
effort she threw the spell from her, and
once more became alive TO her terrible
situation. Without moving from the
stairs upon which she stood, she glanced
once more at her fearful foes, but quickly
withdrew her eyes, fearful that they might
think she had seen them, and therefore
hasten the fate she, felt was impendinn
| over them.
For moment the bewiIdered woman
knew not what TO do. Death for herself
and children stared her in the face. and
from it there seemed no possible chance
OF escape yet even then she was clinging
to life, and planning to save her own and
those dear to her.
That her husband had fallen by their
hands she had no doubt Even then he
was doubtless lying, ghastly corpse, in
some part of the mill, or somewhere in
| its vicinity and she was afraid to turn
her eyes in any direction, lest they should
be blasted by sight that should com
pletely PROSTATE her, and deliver them an
easy prey to the savages.
She had started for the upper chamber;
and to turn back now, she was fearful
would attract the attention OF the savages.
Therefore, with violent effort she kept
on, though fearing every moment to hear
a cry from one of the children, who might
espy ore of the eavagcs, and therefore
hhStSll liO tcii iDlC OSalu WulCD SIdiSu
them in the face.
Two steps more and the chamber was
| revealed to her, and ber heart grew sick
at the sight which she there beheld q
little way from the hopper, and close by
the lever by which the floodgste was rails
ed, lay the body of her husband, welter-
ing in his blood. A large pool lay upon
the floor, which had flown from a rhusket
wound in his heart, and the scalp had
also been torn from the head of the vic
tim. The features were distorted, and
hardly a semblance remained of him who
had that morning left the cSbin so full of
life.
For moment she stood incapable of
motion; and then, with a cry, she sprang
forward and knelt by the body of her hus-
band. But for moment only was her
own safety and that of her children for
gotten. One kiss upon the pale hfeless
face upturned before her; and then she
hastened to put into execution a plan
which had been rapidly conceived in her
brain. Should it be successful, the safety
Of herself and children would be assured,
and the death of her husband at the same
time avenged.
The lever by which the fiood-gate was
raised and the mill set in motion was be-
fore her; and springiug to it, she exertod
all her strength to make i. answer to its
use. For q moment it seemed that the
task was beyond her strength. The lever
refused to move, and the cumbrous ma
chinory of the mill was molionless.- -
Again she exerted her strength, and, to
her great JOY, she found that IT was NOV
ing.
More rcsolutely she ben. to the task
and at last the lever went slowly, and the
gate came up. a rush Of waters sound
ed beneath, and the next moment the
hugh wheel began to revolve, and clank,
and groan, as was their custom in use.
A cry from Enthusiastically savage throats
told her that her plan had succeeded, and
that the redskins were caught in the trap
she had set for them.
BY hiding away in such spot upon
her approach, that they might thereby
more surely ensure her destruction and
that of her children, they had got them
selves in situation from which it was
hard escaping.
The cries of her frightened children,
mingled with those of the savages and the
clanking of the mill, came to her ears, and
she hastened to descend the stairs to
them. Once upon the lower floor, the
children clung to her with frightened
cries; and while she tried to hush them,
she took in at a glance the situation of
affairs, and saw to her great JOY. that the
| ,,Io, ,lo b.d Ioid bod cunceadad adra:ro
bly,.
The savages, clinging with all their
strength to the huge wheel, were being
rapidly whirled round and round, while at
each revolution it seemed as though they
must be hurled violently to the floor.
With wild cries they went round and