The daily gazette., 1877-09-07
here with your good rife we we should be


A moment more and the sound of the
savages' feet without fell upon their ears.
whether thsir errand wss of frendshin
or of hate would soon be determined.
A little later they tried the door, which
shook, but stirred not from its place.
"You cannot" answered Susan, in az
firm tone as she could assume. aSome
other time, when the white hunter is at
nome, we shall Do glad to see you"
white women, open door, or Iniin
break down and take, her SCALP" again
exclaimed the voice from without.
To tins she returned no answer. To do
80 would have done no good, as she saw
that nothing but admitting them would
serve to pacify them in the le: st. That
the savages' errand was one that nena-
ced,thejr lives there was no longer any
doubt; and their sole safety lay in keen.
ing the stout walls of the cabin between
them, n F.NH g~Frr-ft-
/ Again wFs the demand made for their
admlttance, but profound silence on the
Ipars of the women was their only an.
swer. 'lLt5 - |Ilf,. y
Again and again was the door shaken,
with all their strength, but to no pur-
pose. Brayeiy 1t withstood them. r
That it might continue to do so until
her husbands return was the prayer of
the imperilled wife.
But then IL the omen was true, and her
husband had fallen? Then, sooner or
later, the savages m ust triumph,
With all their strength the Indians
threw themselves against the door. Still
it did not give way.
Then they attacked it with their tome :.
haw ks. Blow after blow rained upon it in
quick succession. They were attempting
N put hnla thronnh Ito oa,tuo 1o,oo
enough to give them admittance
Grasping her husbands ak, Susan
Harding stood ready for the final con.
htct. One of the savages thrust hand
in to pull away portion of the wood.
In an instant her weapon descended, and
the hand of the savage dropped to the
hoor. A howl of rage and pain followed
from without, and the success of her blow
gave her new courage.
Undlsmayed by the aceidei which had
befailen their companion the otherl saw
large enough co admit of the body of
man passing through.
Not benetitting by the fate which had
befallen their companion,a savage thrust
his head in through the opening, In an
instant the AK descended, and the skull
of the savage was Glove in twain, while
the blood and brains bespatt ed the
floor.
''Courage~ cried old Mrs. Harding.
"May heaven help you, Susan, to triumph
yeti"
Hardly had:the words left her lirs when
the ringing report of rifle sounded in
their ears, followed by triumphant
shout, which told them that the son and
husb band had returned.
The dead savage lay with his head
through the door until William Harding
removed it, so that he might gain an en-
trance himself, ss he did minute late
when the redskins were all dead or put to
flight. ... .t...
The joy of the meeting we will leave to
the reader to imagine.
A little later Susan told him of the sign
which his mother had declared to be an
omen of evil. With smile the settler
removed the garment from the wall, and
thrust his hand into one of the pock-
cts.
This morning killed asquirrel, which
meant for the cat. Look at this pocket.
I placed it in, here, and the cloth Is soak
ed with blood. .
Old Mrs. Harding was sileuced, al
though 1t must be confessed that her
faith in signs w9s by no means dimin-
ished,