Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1871-11-07


all and to my mind, after a good
cause, there is nothing like good
breakfast before going into a fight"
~ wish Mark was here, said Grace,
timidlS. 81 ... i7
"No doubt, Pussy but I've sent for
him. Young Yost, the half witted lad
that brought the news, has gone on
after him and the volunteers, who
were to start for camp to-day, and if
we can but keep the rascals at bay till
they come, We may give them as good
a peppering as they deserve" M
Ay, if! but oh, that dreadful uncer-
tainty. The house was of stone, and
SO strongly built, that it was doubtful
if they could either raze or fire it.
But who knows what else might hap
pen? How many of that fair family
would gather around the board to.
morrow morning? Ah, twas dread
full day; but l think the hour before
the attack was the worst of ALL
1t was not to be expected that we
could eat much breakfast, but hurried
as the meal was, it was hardly over
when one of the boys whom my uncle
had posted on the lookout, called out
that they were coming, and stealing
along the woods at the right, as if they
hoped to surprise US. .la... 4 .-.,
At once the men hurried with their
rifles to the windows of the second
story, while Mr.. Oakley, pale, yet out
wardly calm, motioned US to follow,
and hand out the powder.
Then came a dead silence.
"Look out, Simon" said the father,
in low voice, "and tell us what the
rascals are about" ..
Posting themselves around the
house, but they are under cover. They
think to find us mapping. There's a
man coming this way now-he-why,
father, it is Walter Van Cuyler p
We all started. The meaning of
this sudden attack was clear enough
now. ..'. .... ....-- d.
Van Cuyler had been a professional
patriot and warm admirer of Grace,
and on his rejection by her, had gone
away vowing to take terrible revenge
on the family.
"The traitor" replied my uncle, 4it
it he, then, that has brought down this
swarm Of hornets. What is be doing |
now ?" r ....
The words of Simon were at times
drowned by series of laundering |
knocks at the door. -gt.
Mr.. Oakley went to .Simon's win. |
dow aud demanded:
who is there ?" 0ts
"Walter Van Cuyler"
"What do you want ?"
"Food, rest and shelter. Brant's
men are on my track. Let me in
quickly.
The sharp crack of a rife, and the
words 'liar and hypocrite" were his
answer. A yell arose from behind the
hay stacks and buildings, as twenty
dark forms rushed forward brandish-
ing their weapons and firing at random,
while as many more hovered on the
outskirts of the wood.
Within the house was perfect silence
broken only by the low snow boys of
Mr.. Oakley and the crack Of six of
he best rifles in the country. II
"Six down a man for each bullet.
rood !" said the exulting voice of my Z
Incle. "The powder, girls, and well I
i've 'em another" r
A shower Of bullets, which ratified a
ike hailstones about the windows, cut I
hort his words. Mr.. Oakley picked &
p some that fell harmlessly upon the
oor, aud remarked: Y
t"The serpents are Kinder than I an s.
cipated. They are going to keep us
! bullets as well as exercise. So much n
ne better, for we have none to spare. o
Iow,- boys" 'o q
Another flash and roar, and again Z,
le voice Of Oakley:
Fire steady, boys, and take good er
i'm. Don't waste powder" I,
A dead silence ensued. '''
They're cowed, father. They arc "
,eaking of to cover" exclaimed 81. a
ION. ,,....--, "a
"Not they they are only contriving
'me new deviltry, John and Mathew q
'und with you to the. back Of the .
ouse, Grace---my God where did /,
,at shot come from?" As with sharp
y, Ruben, the oldest, leaped three d
et into the air, and fell forward on b
is face stone dead, 70 a
Mrs Oakley Eraps forward and :.
81