Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-08-03

ervise to think that danger was at hand
50 thst her words might come true.
.sBut they mean us no harm, after all, )"
said Susan hopefully; land Silas may still
be safe"
The old dame shook her head sagely
from side to side.
You may depend upon it that them
three drops of blood was warning.
What else could they hep But make all
safe rs YOU can, Susan. The cabin is
strong, and maybe we can keep them out.
| wish we had Silas's rifle to defend our
selves with"
..And he left defenceless," said Susan,
with energy. mo, am glad that he has
his rife, and may it protect him from any
danger that threatens"
The young wife turned away and care
fully examined the fastening of the oaken
shutters to their two small windows; and
seeing that everything was as secure as it
could be made in this direction, she re-
turned to the side of her children, whom
she proceeded to hush to sleep, while the
dusky shadows gathered within the cabin
thick and fast.
Nearly an hour had gone past. and the
night had fairly set in. Eagerly had the
Young wife listened for the sound of her
husbands footsteps; but they had not as
yet echoed without. Neither was there
the stealthy tread of the savages which
she feared to hear. All was still as death,
and between hope and fear she listened.
Five, ten minutes more passed, and then
she gave u sudden start. The sound of a
footstep came to her ear from without. 1t
was low and stealthy. And unlike that
of her husband. which she knew so well.
Nearer and nearer it came, and at last ap-
preached the door; she held her breath
with apprehension, for she knew well
enough now that it was a savage with
whom she had to deal. The footsteps
ceased, and for a moment perfect silence
tap on the door, followed by the voice
of a savage demanding admittance.
''What do you want?" asked Susan in
voice tremulous with the fear she felt
"White squaw, open the door; me
wants to come in," replied the voice of
the savage, which she recognized as one.
they had often entertained at the cabin.
"Silas is gone, and he babe me admit
no one" she replied.
'White squaw, open the door, or Ingin
break it down." cried the savage in a
menacing tone and he followed up his
words by dealing a violent blow with
what appeared to be billet of wood
which he had picked up.
'Is not my word coming true?" croaked
the old woman, who seemed possessed of
no fear except that the warning should be
literally interpreted by her words.
More footsteps now sounded about the
cabin, and Susan knew that the savage
had been joined by others. For few
minutes they seemed to hold consulta-
ton; and then there came another violent
blow upon the door.
''God help us, cried Susan 'they are
really in earnest"
Once more they made demand for adj
mittance; but a perfect silence was all the
answer they obtained. Fast and furious
the blows now fell upon the door, and it
trembled and shook as though it were
about to fall from its place. Beside her
children Susan covered, while the old
dame muttered in the corner.
Another blow, more powerful than the
Others the. had preceded it, and the stout
oaken bar snapped as though it was part
ing in the centre. The mother pressed
her children closer to her breast, and held |
her breath for that moment of fate which
was close at hand. Another blow, and the
bar parted, and the door came down with
crash. But mingled with it was another
sound that sent thrill of hope to the
hearts filled with dispair. This was re-
port of a couple of rifles in unison, and two
of the sayages went down to the dust. In
the moment of their triumph, death had
called for them.
The other two that composed the party
sprung into the cabin with uplifted toma-
hawks and one of them caught Susan by
her long luxuriant hair. A moment more,
and the blow would have descended but
at the self-same instant Slas Herd himself
darted into the cabin, and with the breech
of his rifle dashed the savage to the earth
His companion of the settlers who
had returned with him to aid him few
days at his elearing-engaged the other,
who was paying his attention to the old
dame, and had it not been for his timely
aid in despatching him, the warning
would have come true in her case DIT least.
They were safe now and when the bod
les of the savages had been cast out, and
the door once more righted in it's place,
Susan told her husband of the warning
they had received, and which had so near
come to a fullfllment.
Silas said nothing but stepping to the |
spot where his frock was hanging, he
took from a pocket thereof, a bird of CAV
plumage, and held it toward her.
lin Telling tree this morning, Susan.
/ killed this bird; and thinking that the
children might like the feathers, brought
it in for them at noon. but forgot to take
it out of my pocket. The blood, of course
came from that, for you can see that it
has been bleeding at the bill. This, SUI
san Is all there is of warnings"
Snsan was convinced, but the old dame
shook her head. Her faith in them was
firm as ever.