Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1872-05-28
saved by Lightning.


was coming up from the clearing
down by the river with the axehe ha
been welding all through the da
thrown over his shoulder. Thes
words from his wife saluted his ears a
he came near, and caused him to tur
his head and glance away to the south
ward, where a great bank of cloud
piled high against the evenin,
sky.
Eyes, Ruth, it does look like it,
he answered. al thought heard i
thunder just before l left work"
"What have you seen to shoot
Reuben ?" she said Don't go out
again tonight, for supper is waiting
now
81 am not going" he answered
quietly. 81 am only making sure that
my rifle is in good order. But still
I may have occasion to use it before
morning"
The young wife turned pale.
"Ycu don't mean to say the savages
are here again ?" she said.
"You may as well know the truth
at once, Ruth" said her husband,
looking her full in the face. "There
are redskins hanging about here, and
I'm afraid they mean us mischief.
I've seen no less than three at one
time within an hour, skulking along
in the edge of the wood. Their
motions tell me that we had better be
on our guard tonight.
ooh, Reuben, what shall we do ?"
and her eyes sought the bed, where
rosy checked boy of some two sum-
mers was lying fast asleep.
eve must do the best we can. The
cabin is stout and strong, and doubt
about their being able to break in
should they try it. But you must
have a lot of courage, Ruth. May be
it won't be needed, and l hope it won't.
Now let us make sure that the cabin is
all tight, and then we will have that
supper which you say is waiting"
The heavy oaken shutters of the
two small windows were put in place,
and made secure there, and then the
door was closed and barred, and
large stick of timber that was kept
for that purpose was placed against it.
When the preparations had been
completed, Rueben announced that he
was ready for his supper. This was
soon placed upon the table, and it must
be confessed that the danger which
lowered over them did not in the least
diminish his appetite. But Ruth
could hardly swallow mouthful, and
she wondered how her husband could.
The darkness increased, and the
sound of distant thunder broke upon
their ears. Through chink in the
shutter they saw that the cloud in the
south was fast rising and spreading
itself over the heavens.
"Hark !" said Reuben; "what was
that ?"
Both were silent, and holding their
breath to listen. In a moment the
sound was repeated. 1t was footstep
without. Ruth tremblcd with appre-
hension. Then another and another
was heard. .T
The redskins were about the cabin.
"They have come" cried Ruth in
low tone.
eyes" said Rueben. CLARK let us
see what they mean to do"
A minute later, and the door was
shaken violently Then a savage
without exclaimed, in broken English,
"Whito man, open door; Ingins want
to come in"
To this appeal Reuben made no
answer. He had no idea of granting
the request, and the words he knew
would do no good. Again the demand
was made. But, as before, no answer
was returned. Then there came few
moments of silence on their part.
The mutters of the thunder we're
nearer and deeper. The tempest was
coming. Suddenly there came so fear
fnl blow upon the door that il made
the entire cabin tremble, while Ruth
gave utterance to a shrill cry Of
alarm.
Courage" said her husband; "they
are trying to batter the door down,
but l hardly think they can do it."
at is not for myself that I fear"
she said. cit is for our child, Reu-
ben"
1--WE will do our best 10 save him,
and our own lives" he answered.
Gwen though the door give way, with
my rife / can do much to save u.s."
Once more terrible blow was dealt
upon the door, and at the same mo
ment came a vivid fash Of lightning