The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1877-10-16
SAVED BY LIGHTNING.


tons TO tile west, in one OF tue frontier
Of Minnesota.
A young man, hardy and strong, was |
coming up from the Clearing" down by |
the river, with the ak he had7been WELD |
ing all through the day thrown over his |
These words from his wife |
saluted his ears as he came near, and |
caused him to turn his head and glance !
away to the southwark, where great |
bank OF sable clouds was piled high
against the evening sky.
"Yes, Ruth, it does look like it," ne
ans wered. 81 thought | heard it thun-
der Just before l lett work"
sit looks as thoughit it would be heavy
one," she said, little apprehensively,
for to tell the truth, she was little
cowal dly in this respect.
To this her husband made no reply,
but pIayiully pushing her aside from the
doorway, he entered The cabin, and at
once took down his IL from the hooks
where 1T was hanging.
"W nat have you seen to shoot, Reu-
benz" she said. "Dopt go out again to-
night, for supper is waiting now."
II am not golns." he answered quiet
ly. Il am only making sure that my rifle
is in good order-bnt still L may nave
occasion to use IL befIre morning"
"Iou dou'G mean to say that the saw
ages are mere againW she asked.
"Y ou may as we'll know the truth al
once, Rutn," said her husband, looking
her tull IN the face. "Inere are red
skins hanging about here, and Pm afraid
leY mean US mischief. IVe seen no
less than three at one time within an
Aour, skulk!ng along in the edge Of the
wood. Their motions tell me that We
had better be on our guard tonight
were they friendly they would nave
come openly TO me or TO the cabin"
son, RvuDen! what shall we uO?' ana
her ey es sUugut the bed, where a rosy
checked boy Of some TWO summers was
lying fast asleep.
"N Z must do the best we can. The
cabin is stout and strong, and l doubt
about their being able LO break in should
they try it. But you must have lot of
courage, Ruth. May be 1t WON'T b.
needed, and L hope 1t won't. Now let
us make sure that the cabin is all tight,
and then We will have that supper winch
you say is waiting"
he spoke cheerIully, but could not dis
pei Ihe fears tnaL filed her neart, and
made her face as pale as death.
The heavy oakel shutters of the two
small windows were put III place and
made secure there, and then Lne door
was closed and barred, and large stick
Of timber that was kept Tor thai purpose
was placed against it. When the prepa-
ratIons had been completed Reuben all
uounced that he was ready for his sup
per. This was soon placed upon the
| liable, and it must be confessed tlat the
danger which hovered over them did not
| in the least diminish his appetite. But
Ruth could hardly swallow mouthluI,
and she wondered how it was That her
usband could. She was thinking only
Of the danger that menaced them, and
| listening for the slightest sound that
came from without.
| The darkness increased, and the sound
of distant thunder broke upon tneiI
ears. Through a chink in the shutter
hey saw thai the cloud in the south was
fasg rising and spreading Itself over the
heavens, nastening on the fast-GOmine
darkness.
"We shall get good shower" sale
Reuben.
81 hope so," answered his wife. sI
there is it may keep the savages unde.
cover OF the forest tonight"
clark" said Reuben; "What wal
thai"
| BOtn were silent, and holding thei
breath to lis ten. In moment the souut
, was repeated. IL was toolstep with
} out. Ruth trembled with apprehension
. Inen another and another was Aearu.
The redskins were about the cabin.
"IDey nave come" crIed Ruin, i'll
: low tone.
"Yes," said Reuben. "Hark! let u
see wnat they mean to do"
/ A minute later, and the door was sha
I Ken violently. Then savage withou
t exclaimed, in broken EnslIsh:
, "W hlte man open door. Injins wan
TO come in."
To tnis appeal Reuben made no al
: swor. lie had no idea Of granting til
= IreGueSt, and words he knew would d
no good. Again the demand was made
But, as before, no answer was returned
Inen there came u lew moments {
= silence on their part. The mutterlng
| OF the thunder were nearer ana deeper
. Inc tempest was last coming. Suddenl
there came SO fearful blow upon til
ldoOr that it made the entire CABIN treu
! bic, while Ru h gave utterance to a shri
n cry Of alarm.
"Couruge," said her husband; "the
. are trying 10 batter the door down, bu
: | hardly LnInk they can do it. They ca
not so long as as the prop holds as we
e as 1T does now"
"lG Is nOI lor mysell 1ehf, sue Sal(
: 1T is tor our child, Reuben"
/, 1--WE will d. our best 10 save him, an
k our own lives" he answered. "Eve
o though the door give way, with my riff
| can do much 10 save u.s."
u Once more u terrible blow was dea
# upon the door, and at the same m0meI
d vivid flash OF lightning, followed by
peal oI thunder Cnat seemed to shak
the solid earth. so tremendous was Lh
d blow the savages dealt that the pro
/ against the door gave way, and fe
= from lis place, and the door itself tren
bled as though 1t was coming dowl
8 Tne heart oil Reuben sank within hi
v breast. Another suon blow must plac
4 them at the mercy OF the sayages. Onl
his rife would stand between them all
IL death. But at this moment Pr0yidenC
= linterposed its hand. AS though the pei
OF thunder mad been signal ior L
tempest to commence, the sraln can
down in torrents. Not knowing the e.
d ecutlon their last blow had done, I'll
If suvages hesltated as the storm brok
q upon them.
:. A little way from the cabin stood
~ large oak that the settlers had spare
g. tor its beauty and grateful shade. i
Of the shelter of this the savagesg ned,
10 wait until the tempest was over. Thl
our friends had a respite tor tim
II | HaatiiV Rpuhnn ranlunaH 40 prnn u,