Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-05-23

None of his brethren, however, ventured
to his assistance and after awhile, he rose
to his feet with great difficulty and stag
gered down the hill some distance, when
two Indians ran up to meet him and helped
him out of sight.
The reception of the savages had been of
a hotter nature than they had counted upon,
and they began packing up their things and
made great show as though they intended
leaving, but the whites were naturally sus-
picious.
Pretty soon they started, and shortly af-
ter the cattle were heard lowing again, the
purpose of the redskins being to persuade
the whites that some of the animals had got
ten loose and were wandering about the
woods. But our friends could not be tempt
ed by any such transparent artifce.
Finding that all efforts to deceive the emf
grants failed, the Indians were filed with
desperation, and charged boldly up the
slope, yelling and firing their guns as they
came
They dashed at each side of the fort, but
the defenders remained cool, and fred de-
iberately and effectively, while the shots of
the red men did no damage to those who
were SO securely sheltered behind their
breastwork
| This desultory warfare was kept up all
night, during which more than one of the
assailants was forced to bite the dust, while
the emigrants received not SO much as a
scratch.
When daylight came, the Indians drew off
again, and, going in among the hills, built
number of fires. 1t was not long before
several thin columns of smoke were dis
cerned in the distance.
"These are signal fires" said Maxwell
"What do they mean?" asked one of the
men.
"They are calls for help, and those re-
plies announce that it will be sent, We
shall soon have the hottest kind of work so
rest while you can"
Maxwell was correct in his conclusion, for
at the end of a couple of hours reinforce
ments began arriving from the south, and
Joined those In the hills
Not long after, number approached the
fort, and called out
"How how! Come out Give up!"
eve will give up, never!" shouted back
Maxwell. eve like this kind of fighting
If you like it, give US some more!"
The Indians accepted the invitation, and
began crawling through the grass, sheltering
themselves behind every little mound or
clump of earth which came in their way.
"Observe that rascal" said Maxwell.
He has fattened himself out like window
pane; but can fetch him, for all that!"
And thereupon he proceeded to "fetch"
hing
The firing became rapid at this juncture,
and continued with scarcely any intermis-
sion for two hours. 1t was eminently wise
in Maxwell to take such care and pains in
the throwing up of his intrenchments, for
he and his party would have been over
whelmed, despite their brave defense, but
for the very great effectiveness of the means
of resistance.
AS it was at the end of a couple of hours
the savages were within an ace of getting
inside the {" fort" They steadily pushed
their way forward, and for few minutes it
seemed as if they were certain to succeed;
but the breech-loaders in the hands of the
four brave men were terribly effective, and,
at the critical juncture, the redskins sud-
denly broke and rushed down the hill
again.
They now gathered in the woods for con-
sultation. It is hard to guess what their
conclusion was, but they divided into five
parties, went on the hills again, built large
fires, and encamped
A half-dozen warriors, at intervals, saun-
tered down toward the fort" and showed
great solicitude for a talk" but Maxwell
warned them to keep away, or he would fire
upon them.
"Their object is to find out how many of
us are here" he said, to his men, {" SO keep
close, so as to prevent them. 1t will be to
our advantage if we can quadruple our num-
bers in their eyes"
One of the warriors was determined to in
terview the whites, and refused to take
warning. When he got too close, Maxwell
winged him, and he went limping of, howl
ing with pain.
Mrs Maxwell and her daughter were fully
as brave as their defenders. They cooked
food and carried it to each man, who took
it in one hand while he held his rifle in the
other.
The situation remained thus for the rest
of the day and through the entire night.
The Indians sat around their respective
camp-fres, and now and then made an inef-
fectual effort to open conversation with the
white men in the intrenchments.
The next day had scarcely opened, when
the savages once more renewed the at
tack This time they surrounded the fort,
and the charge was most bitter and deter
mined.