Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1877-11-13

ment, IL don't want harm TO come to q
hair of your head, but you will get o
fearful lesson before noon this day ~
TIE arms. being in good order, the wo-
man shut the north door, nailed 1t up,
aud then nailed boards over tho two win
dows on The inside. The south door tas-
tened with bar, and she was satisfied
with its strength. She went to the
spring, filled two pals with water, picked
up and carried in the axe, and then
cleared the table of dishes. not stopping
to wash them. Then she sat down in the
south doorway and waited-waited for
the Indian attack which she had dreamed
OF and predicted.
An hour passed, and she had not
changed her position. Halt an hour
more wore away, and then she suddenly
leaped up and seized her rifle. She had
seen the horses stop and begin to rear
and plunge as they came near the south
end of the field. which was fringed by
the forest. See saw her husband pulling
at them and using the whip, aud in a
moment more tie animals dashed of at
fu speed. Just as they started, grand
, mother heard q faint "Yi! yii" and the
next moment caught sight of score OF
ssvages as they dashed out of The woods
and made for her husband.
"Just exactly as dreamed" she whis-
pered to herself, lifting the rifle clear of
the floor.
Grandfather caught sight OF the red
skins as soon as thoy broke cover, and he
wheeled and made tor the house at his
best pace. For a few rods he held his
own, but then his fifty years commenced
TO tell on him, aud the shouting Indians
began to gain. They were thirty rods
behind at the start, and before halt the
distance to the house had been trayersed
they we're not ten rods behind.
"Run, father! run for your life
shouted grandmother, waving her hand
to him; and he did his best.
But the old man did not have it in him.
lie was Nitbin fl shot OF the door.
when the redskin, bore him down to the
grass. right in plain sight of his wife
Five or six cf them halted otske care OF
the prisoner. and tbc rest whooping and
yciing, made lor the house. Grand
mother stood square in the door, and the
dc was slowly lifted When the fore
most savage Was twenty rods away, out
/ "a me Wen, lne barrel, there was s
q1ick report, aud me Indian tell forward
/ On me grass, and the next moment the
/ shouting demouS Jumped against II. The
/ door stood like q rock Bailled and dis
/ appointed, the Indians hacked at the
! boards with their tOmahawks, as il to
hew their way iD. Striking away, one OF
The blows tell on a knot in the plank, and
/ that knot tell at the woman's feet, while
\ a hole as large as a mans list was lett in
the door. Encouraged 10y this, the In-
dams were chopping away, when grand
mother seized the revolver, took swift.
aim, and a horrible yell mingled with the
report. The Indians then fell back 10
where they had left their prisoner, and
were out of range.
Grandiat her had his arms tied behind
him. and, after few minutes, walked
ont few feet in advance of his cap.ors.
He looked at the house, then looked back,
and refused to obey the command given
him. The Indians advanced, drew their
tomahawks. and the captive shouted:
Nancy! Nancy! unbar the door,
leave the rihs in the house, and come out
here. They won't hurt your
The wife heard every word OF it. and
the trembling tones of the old mans
voice made her heart ache. But she
knew the Indians had forced him 10 make
the appeal, aud that it was only ruse
Tor them TO get another prisoner. She
msds no reply, and directly the redskins
forced the old man 70 speak again.
Nancy :" he called. 1.-THE Indians say
that if you don't come out they will muir
der me right here"
L, Was the hardest struggle of her long
lie, but grandmother realized that both
would certainly be murdered if she com
pied. aud if she held out there was hope
that help might come from immigrants
or hunters before night. Tears came to
her eyes, and she could not choke down
her sobs as she thought OF her husbands
tate, but she was determined to resist tC
the last. AS she did not reply, one oI
the ludisds who could speak English
quite well, stepped out and shouted:
Come. hurry up, quick You nc
como out, we Kill old manw
Peter Barnes. D." shouted grandmother
her mouth at the kno,hole, Il know tha
Won don't want me to come out, and
shall not come, 1 have the rifle and re
volver, and shall deieud the house tC
the lastl Be on your watch for 6 chance
10 break away and run to the house."
The Indians understood sufficient o
the speech to know that the woman die
not propose to surrender, and they gath
cred around the prisoner, and held con
sultation. At length, leaving two o
49,. a.,.,. ho. 20 nnarL him The nihnrs