St. Landry democrat., 1880-06-26
There was no water inside the stock

IN the enclosure naQ given Ollt week!
before, and through the long, hot sum
mer the garrison had depended for thei
supply on spring some ten or doze1
rods from the stockade, and near the
bushes where the savages were sup
posed to be concealed.
There was no knowing how long the
siege might continue. 1t might hold out
for several weeks, but even if it contin-
ued twenty-four hours there were fears
that the pioneers would perish from a
worse foe than the bloodthirstv savages.
Something must be done, and that inn
mediately.
A long discussion took place. Sew
eral plans were proposed, but none
seemed feasible. If the men went out
in any numberit was almost certain that
they would be shot down, and rush
made for the fort. What could be
done?
Il will go out alone" said the COM
mander, at last. 1.-The redskins will
not fire upon a single man, and [ can
bring water enough to save us from
death by thirst
"Nay, that should not be-" cried a
dozen voices. "Take any of us, but
don't go yourself, Captain. The risk is
too great, and we cannot spare YOU
why need a man 60 at all?'' asked
a girl standing by. "Let the women
go after the water, as they always have
done. Probably we could 90 to the
spring and return in safety. The In
dians surely will not forfeit their hope
Of taking the stockade by surprise just
for the sake of killing few women"
Captain Reynolds bronzed face grew
pale. 1t was his daughter who spoke
a brave young thing scarcely seventeen,
whose lover was one of those heroes
who had risked their lives to go to Lex
ington.
LASS, thou art too forward, an
swered the commander, sternly. "When
the men lose their courage, then the
women can 60 and risk their lives.''
Others opposed the bold project.
Those brave men had no heart to see
their wives and daughters shot down by
skulking savages. They could venture
their own lives, but they could not per-
NIT the women and girls to rush upon
destruction.
But the idea of Deborah Reynolds
was popular with her own sex. The
older women spoke in favor of it, and
SO many and such good reasons were
urged in support of the undertaking,
that Captain Reynolds and the men at
last assented to the plan.
In order that there should be no par
TALLY, every woman in the stockade
able to carry a pail Of water was to en-
gage in the perilous task. 1t was also
decided that they should not rush out in
a crowd, but should file along by twos
or threes, as naturally as possible, so as
to excite no suspicious among the In
dams.
In order to run the faster if they had
need, the women took off their shoes
or moccasins and went barefooted. The
strongest of them carried two pals, but
a large number took only one.
Before the gate was opened the min
lister knelt and prayed, and they all
knelt, strong, rough men, and pale, fair
When they arose there were
tears in the eyes of the bronzed from
5iersmen, and the faces of the women
we're paler than ever, but they looked
very brave and solemn.
Then there were hand-shakings and
hurried farewells said, for none knew
whether they would ever meet again.
Captain Reynolds kissed his wife and
laughter, and with broken voice said:
''Look out for mother, Debby. She
S not so spry as you are. Take good
ARE of her, and may God save you all.'
One by one, two by two they began
0 slip through the gateway and start
or the spring. Two of the strongest
pioneers stood by the gate to close it if
rush was made. The rest of the men
we're gathered along the stockade at the
each with loaded rife near
i'm, besides the one he held in his
lands, ready to fire on the savages if :
hey offered to attack the women. {
Some of the latter could not help
lancing timidly toward the tall woods
nd thick underbrush, but most of them !
walked carelessly, as if they suspected s
othing, though their pale faces and !:
Witty beating hearts told of the fear :,
nd suspense they were in. {
Young Deborah Reynolds was the {
ravest of them all, she whom the cap
ain had asked to guard her mother. AS t
hey stepped out of the gate the heroic {
irl placed herself before her older COM i
anion. 8
Don't do so, Debby,' said the moth 6
r, walk behind me, then if the In 6
ians fire they will have to kill me be- S
ore they can hit YOU q
"No, [ told father l would look out f
or you; and for his and the children's +
likes you will let me" replied Deborah. $
should not be missed half so much c
) you.'' +
And so the brave young woman kept c
etween her mother and the savages, +
9th going and coming from the spring. 9
glimpse of red legs in the shrubbery $
Id the CLINT of a tomahawk when sun T
Gam shone upon it, did not serve to t
axe her more assured, but in few b
inutes they were all back in the stock n
lie and not shot had been fired. a
Some of the buckets were not very t.
II, it is true, but the poor women did Fl
leir best, and it was a heroic deed. In Ii
history we know of no more daring y
led than the women of Bryant Station d
,rformed on the borders Of the West e
n wilderness almost hundred years b
%. n
The Indians kept hid until night,
hen nearly thousand of them at e.
cked the stockade, hoping to surprise n