Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1879-04-25
Indian Stories OF Early Times.

In the olden time Indians DID not. a.
they sometimes do mot now, take kfruIy
to immigrants who settled upon their
hunting grounds. Like the Anglo
Saxon, they loved broad acres, revered
"vested rights" and defended both
against the Entertainments Of white men
who held to
The good old rule and simple plan.
That he should take who has the power,
And he should keep who cam
The relation between the two was not
such as ought to exist between landlord
and tenant. The Indian looked upon
the settler Is q "squatter, /" whom il was
right to eject, not only from the land,
but from the earth. The bold Clement
at will" had to be constantly ON his
guard ; for summary notice OF eject
ment" might be served ct any moment
by posse Of painted savages.
About the first thing done by band
Of immigrants locating in an Indian
country was to hsild fort or block.
house. Then, within mile or less Of
this refuge, they scattered their log
huts. One of these old forts now re-
mains, though In O ruined condition,
and associated with it is romantic
story of frontier Life.
In those Indian days to which the
story refers, the fort was substantial
building, with brick sides in wooden
casing. It would have been taken for
the large dwelling house Of prosper
Gus settler but for the many loop-holes
cut on each side.
The family who lived in it, several
men and one woman, kept it always
prepared to receive " company for
no one could tell when the Indians
might call.
One bright morning, when not q
cloud was to be seen, the men left early
to work in the fields, leaving Betty, the
woman, to attend to the fort. For sew
eral hours nothing disturbed the mo-
notony of her work, save her own sing.
ing Of cheerful thoughts as she went to
and fro on her household duties.
When scrubbing and washing of
dishes had emptied the water-pail, she
went to the we'll to fill it. Looking
down the road, she saw afar off dark
object moving toward the settlement.
Thinking it the loaded team of some
farmer, she went back to the fort, and
resumed her work and singing.
In the course of Afew minutes, moved
by natural inn 6lse, she poked her
head out Of the door to see how far the
team had progressed. To her horror
she saw band Of Indians only short
distance off making straight for the
fort.
Not white man was in sight, for
every one, together with the women and
children of the settlement, had been
lured by the beautiful day into the
fields.
In an instant she took in the situa-
ton. If she attempted fight, she would
be captured before she could run hun
bred rods. To be captured was death
the surrender of the fort. She would
stay in the fort, and alone fight the saw
ages until the men, alarmed by the
firing Of guns, came to her aid.
With bang the oaken door swung
shut, and down went the heavy wooden
bar. Going from loop-hole to loop
hole, she placed g loaded musket by each
one.
The terrible war-whoop startled her
for moment. Then her voice rang out
loud and clear, "Here, Jim, George.
Henry, John, Bill Don't you hear
Bill, stand by that hole Jim, You take
that gun |"
Two guns were fred, and then the
voice called out, George, shoot that
big Injun Henry, aim for the chief +"
Two more bullets went whizzing
among the Indians.
They were taken aback. They had
Il T.
woman. But it was full of men. An
other shout, another bullet, and this
time it had hit one of them. They hes
itated to advance. Bullet after bullet
whizzed, and two more men were
wounded.
Then they turned and fed, and when
the men came running to the fort, the
brave woman had scarcely strength to
unbar the door.
A long time after this brave defense,
farmer, living near the fort, started
one morning to NOW. AS was usual in
those days, he carried his musket with
him. He had special reason for being
ON his guard, for certain Indian had
become his personal enemy.
On arriving at the bayfield,, he leaned
his gun against tree, threw off his
coat, sharpened his scythe, and began
moving.
As, swinging his scythe, he drew near
the lower end Of the field, he saw an
Indian crouching behind o row of
bushes. The farmer was q cool man,
and swung his scythe as steadily as if
he had seen nothing.
Looking again, he saw that the Indian
was his enemy. In one hand he held
tomahawk, while scalpingsknife was
stuck in his belt. The farmer knew
that if he attempted to run for his gun,
the swift-footed Indian would be upon
him before he had gone hundred feet.
Self-possession was his protection.
He moved mp to the bushes. and then
turned, swinging his scythe as if anx-
ious to reach the end of his swath.
Waiting until the mower had departed
two or three rods from the bushes, the
Indian moved noiselessly through the
bushes and crept after the farmer.
But with every swing Of the scythe,
the farmer, glancing cautiously over
his left shoulder, had taken in the posi-
ton of his cat-like enemy.