The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1876-09-30

The little ones ceased their play and
came running toward her, and they all
walked into the house. -,
To close and lock the heavy door. and
to swing to and bar the strong shutters
of the window was but the work of q
moment.
Not an instant too soon was the work
ACCOMPLISHED, rs the Indians ut once
saw that they had been observed, and a
shower of bullets and arrows were
hurled against the house.
Hastily placing the children ina place
of safety, the brave woman ran to the
rack where the arms, always ready
loaded, stood.
She found she had two double-bar
relied shot guns, Spencer rifle, and
plenty of ammunition, so that as long
as she kept the Indians at n distance she
was all right.
A veil from the savages startled her.
Running hastily to one of the loop
holes in the front of the house, she saw
four of them making rush, with the
evident intention of getting up to the
door before she had time to fire at them.
The shot guns were loaded with piss
tol bullets. Quickly running the muz-
zle of one of them out through the
loop-hole. she took aim at the foremost
Indian. A crack of the piece, and he
fell dead.
The others turned and ran, but too
late, Again the fatal crack of the gun,
and another savage went to his happy
hunting grounds. The other two sue
ceeded in getting under cover before
Al. 1r.n
ond gun to bear on them.
A howl of rage and dismay arose from
the edge of the timber as the savages
saw the fate of their comrades, and for
a 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 get
ting ready some new plan for her cap
ture.
Suddenly a thought struck 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.
A bright idea flashed across her mind.
TIE boy! She would place him as a
sentry in the rear. He was old enough
to understand what was wanted.
"Gabriel!" she called, "come here!"
The little fellow ran from, his hiding
place in a corner of the room and came
up to her.
"My boy, come here to this window.
Do YOU see those woods there?"
The child said he did.
SIN those woods, my boy, are bad
- L.
watch and let me know if they try to
come near the house?"
The little fellow promised obedience,
and at once commenced his watch, with
look on his face that showed how
much he appreciated the honor and re-
sponsibility of his position.
Then the brave woman made her
preparations for what she feared would
be desperate struggle for her own life
and those of her little ones.
Presently movement on the part of
her savage foes attracted her attention.
An Indian showed his head from be-
hind one of the large logs in front of
the house. Waiting for a few moments,
as if to see if he was observed, he grad
ually moved out until his whole body
was visible.
What could be his object?
1t was something unusual for an In
dian to expose himself thus.
The solution of the puzzle came i'm
mediately.
Mamma" cried little Gabriel.
"What is it, child?"
There's one of the men coming to
the house?"
Then she saw at once that the appear
ance of the Indian in front was a ruse
to attract her attention while his COM
panions attacked the house from be-
hind.
Gabriel" she called, hastily, "come
here"
The boy ran over to her.
She pushed the muzzle of one of the
guns through the loop-hole, and the
savage Immediately disappeared.
Now, Gabriel, she said, whenever
that man shows himself you push the
gun so that he can see it,"
The boy promised to do as he was
bid.
Then the brave mother went to the
back Of the house.
Three Indians were slowly creeping
up toward it, taking advantage of every
tree, rock, or 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