The Grange advance. [volume] (Red Wing, Minn.) 1873-1877, 1876-09-20

$3.50
saw that they had been discovered.
and a shower OF bullets and arrows
were hurled against the house.
Hastily placing the children in a
place of safety, the brave woman ran
to the rack where the arms, always
loaded were kept.
She found two double. barrelled shot
guns. a Spencer rife and plenty of
ammunition, so that as long as she kept
the Indians at a distance she Was all
right.
\ yell from the savages startled her.
Running to one of the loopholes in the
front OF the house, she saw four of
them making q rush with the evident
intention Of, getting up to the door
before she had time to fire anthem.
The shot guns were loaded with pis-
tol bullets. Running the muzzle of
one Of them out through the loop
hole, she took aim at the foremost In
dian. \ crack of the piece and ne fell
dead.
The others turned and ran, but it
was too late! Again the fatal crack
W
to his happy hunting grounds. The
other two succeeded in getting under
cover before the heroic woman could
bring the second gun to bear upon
them.
y howl of rage and dismay arose
from the edge Of the timber as the
savages saw the fate Of their compan-
ions, and for long time no apparent
effort was made by them to continue
the fight.
She knew by the stiffness that was
kept by the Indians that they were
getting ready some new plan Tor her
capture.
Suddenly (, thought struc1, her.
Should they make an attack from be-
hind the house they would be upon
her before she was aware. How was
she to guard against this She could
not guard both sides at once.
\ bright idea flashed across her
mind. The boy! She would place
him as sentry III the rear He was old
enough to understand what was
wanted.
''GA5riel she called. ::com4 here =
The little fellow ran from his hiding
place III q corner of the room and
came up to her.
My bog, come here 10 this window.
Do you see those woods there e.
The child said he did.
':!n those woods, my boy. are had
men who want to kill US. viii yors
watch and let me know If they try to
come near the house q
The little fellow promised obedience,
and at once commenced his watch.
with a look on his face that showed
how much he appreciated the honor
and responsibility Of his position.
Then the brave woman made her
preparations for what she feared
would be q desperate struggle for her'
own life and those of her little ones.
Presently movement on the part Of
her savage foes attracted her atten-
ton.
An Indian showed his head from be-
hind one of the large logs in front of
the house. Waiting for q few mo-
ments, as if to see it he was observed.
he gradually moved out until his
whole body was visible.
What could be his object!
It was something unusual for III IL.
dian to expose himself thus.
The solution of the puzzle came i'm
mediately.
Mammal cried little Gabriel.
"What is it, child! Z"
''Tbere is one of the men coming to
the house,
Then she saw at once that the ap-
pearance of the Indian in front was
a ruse to attract ller attention while
his companions attacked the house
from behind.
"Gabriel," she called hastily, come
here.''
The boy ran over to her.
She pushed the mrzzle Of one Of the
guns through the loop-hole, and the
savage Immediately disappeared.
NOW. Gabriel,' she said, "whenevel:
that man shows himself you push the
gun 50 that he can see it,
The boy promised to do rs he was
bid.
TEen the brave mother went to tie
back OF the house.
Three Indians were slowly creeping
up towards it. taking advantage Of
every tree. rock, Of inequality of
ground. They evidently intended to
take her by surprise.
| Determined that this time she would
make every shot tell. she waited until
they were within twenty yards. They
| were close together, and crawling Up
slowly.
Sr6Io,,1v tho 1l,,,y21a IF tba shot r;,r,