The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1872-05-04
SAVED BY LIGHTNTxc

ben z" said young, fair lUohIn, o.
standing in the doorway Of a caba
as the sun was dropping behind M. rs
I tops to the west.
a young mao, hardy and s,rorr
coming up from the clearing" d.,
the river, with the axe he had been ,.,
ing all through the day. thrown U,s,.
shoulders. These words fem h.
saluted lis ears as he came near
caused him TO turn bls head and r
away to The souihmard, whcrs a o..
bank of clouds were piled high agairS
evening sky.
''Yes, Ruth, it does look Eken
answered. 81 thought heard II ,ha,5
just before leit work
s'W hat have you seen TO shoot. z
ben p she said. '.Don't 20 olt a-rr.
night, for supper is waiting nov
II am not going he answered qqisi.r
II am only making sure that my rt.
in good order But still may have
casion to use it before mOrniug
The young wlis turned pale
''Yo on don't mean tU say The savage. Al
here again 90 she said.
You may as we'll know the truth
once, Ruth" said her husband, loo,r.
her full IN the face. There are
skiRs hanging about here, and III aira.
they mean US mischief I've seca uy lsg
than lhree at one time within an hy.
skulkiug along III lhe edge Of The W..
Their motions tell me that We hoI Jsas
be On our guard to-night."
''Oh, ReIben, what shall We do E. a-l
her eyes sought the bed, where ry,r
checked boy of some tWO summers ~
lying fast asleep.
''We must do the best we can T.
cabin is stout and s:rJng, and DIX
about their being able to break III s4.
they try il. But you must have Is-
courage, Ruth Nay be ii wont be &
ed, aud l hope II wont. NOw lea.
/ make sure thal the cabin is all light, 8
} then we will have the supper winch u
say Is waiting"
I Ihc EeaEy oaken shutters Of the .g
( sma!! windows were put ~ place. a-
: made secure there, and Then the door e.
closed and barred, and a large ste.
timber that was kept ier .haI purpose 81.
2. placed against il When the prepr-
items had been completed, Beuorn ..
uouuced that lie was ready for l.s 81,
! per. This was soon placed upon ID.
table, and it must be confessed ,h., l
danger which hovered over them 4.l B..
III tie least diminished bis appetite l-
Ruth could hardly swallow q mou.l.l
and She wondered how il was lha. he
husband could.
Ibe darkness increased, and the sJ-
/ of distant thunder broke upon lhcir e,s
1 Though chink in the SHUTTER they So
that the cloud in the south was fa., g.s.
and spreading itself over the heaycas.
''Hark - said Reuben ''what r.
that?''
Both were silent, and holding
. breath 10 listen. In "A moment Gne $.
was repeated. Ii was f0ots;ep wih-.
Roth trembled with apprehension. IT,
( another and another WAS beard
The redskins were about the cabin
They have come,' cried Run ia .
low tone.
Yes said Reuben "Iark Ie, a
see what they mean to do
y minute Later, and the door va
shaken violently Then a savage VILE.
out exclaimed, IN broken English, .'W4a
mar pen door; IngIGs wan. 10 come 10
10 this appeal Reuben made no a1
swer lie had no idea of granting lu'
request, and the words be knew would d.
no good. Again The demand was msla
But. as before, no answer was retu.us-
Then there came few moments of siens
on their part. The mutters of lhe thu
der were nearer and deeper The Ten.
pest was coming. Suddenly there Can.
so fearful a blow upon the door tha! d
made The entire cabin tremUIe. While
Ruth gave utterance 10 a shr.. erS o.
alarm.
"Courase," said her husband ''lasl
are trying TO batter the door down, but
hardly llink they can do il %
''It is not for myself l fear" she sail
sit is for our child, Reuben
we VIII 10 our best 10 save klIn, an
our own lives" he answered. i've
though the door give way, with my rfs
can do much to save u.s.
Once more terrible blow was Gsl
upon the door, and at the same nome
came vivid flash of lightning, fvlloaa
by peal of thunder that seemed 0
shake the solid earth So tremenioo
was the blow the savages dealt that th
prop against the door gave way, and il
from It's place, ard the door itself ireH
bied as though it was coming down. II
heart of Reuben sank within his breas
Another such a blow must place them
the mercy of The savages. Only Lis ri
woaid stand between them and deatb.-
But at this moment Providence interpas.
It's hand. As though the peal vi thuni
had been signal for The tempest to con
mence, the rain came down in torrents
Not knowing the execution their last bio
had done, the savages hesilated as d
storm broke upon them.
A little way from the cabin stood
large oak that the settlers had spared &,