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


laid him dead by the side of his intended
victim. Dick made his rush from the win
dow, and the Indians theirs from the ditch,
as he had predicted but, as Rosita was near
er to the house than the ditch, he managed to
reach her first, and was returning with her
in his arms. And now all depended upon
me. My first shot, aimed at the foremost
| of the assailants, missed him clear and
before could seize the other rife, he had
made vicious thrust at Dick, who, encum-
bored as he was, was quite helpless. The
lance passed through Rosita's dress, luckily
without injury to the wearer; and as the
| savage drew back for Il cooler and surer
thrust l had the inexpressible pleasure of
lodging a bullet in his body, which effect
ually prevented any further lance exercise
from HIM.
Then heard heavy fall in the room
below. Dick had thrown the burden clean
through the open window, at the risk of
breaking limb, and turning, found him
self engaged hand to hand with dozen
Indians. He set his back against the wall
/ and drew his revolver with his right hand,
receiving as he did so, spear-thrust
through his left arm but his and my re-
volver, fortunately reserved until now,
played among the attacking party, and a
man was dropping at every shot; so they
drew off. Dick managed, with great ef-
fort, to drag himself through the window,
and then tainted away from loss of blood
and exhaustion and when ran down the
ladder to make fast the window again, I
found him comfortably reclining with his
head in Rosita's lap, the latter having been
stunned by her uncoremonious entry. But
/ could not stay TO hear her; my post was
on the roof. | hurried up the ladder no.
tcing for the Mrst time that | had myself
suffered in the scrimmage to the extent of
a slight flesh wound from bullet. The
fight was over. Throughout the remainder
of the night the Indians fingered about,
and stole most of the horses and some
sheep, but they had not pluck again to en-
counter the deadly brcech leaders. Sell
dom, indeed, had such severe lesson been
taught them; and when the glorious sun
rose never sight more welcome) we saw
them ride beaten of the field, bearing with
them five of their slain six other corpses
were lying in front of the window, where
the fercest struggle had been, and two
more were afterward found, who had
crawled into the ditch like wild animals to
die.
We learned from the pretty Rosita, whose
gratitude was most touching, that she had
been captured while walking in the orange
garden near her fathers house n short time
before we were attacked.
"You, noble caballeros," she said, "have
preserved me from death, and from what
Is far worse. God will reward you, for
never can
think Dick, however, was of differ
ent opinion at all events he has always
seemed remarkably satisfied with the re-
ward he per uaded her TO make him.
Some years have passed since that event
full night. Dick and Rosita are living at
Don Ramons estanca, that worthy old
gentleman having departed this life shortly
after their marriage. !, too, am with them
as partner in the land, hocks, and herds,
of which we have goodly quantity; and,
whenever the increasing stock of little
Dicks and Rositas ask me, as they invaria-
bly, do of an evening, to tell them a story,
know that nothing less will content them
than full, true, and particular account of
the night attack.