The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1880-10-07

to keep our skins whole. Well have
to trust to Doctor"
Mats dog, Doctor, was partly Il
Smithtield and partly Newfoundland.
He had been trained by him to all
kinds of tricks. Among others he re-
peatedly took written messages to the
station when attached to his collar, and
l presume this was the object Matt had
III view when referring to him as capa-
BILE of procuring relief.
Mister, dye think you kin rite a
message in the dark, or by moonlight,
askin' the hands at the homestead to
come this way? No time to lose; I
see the darkies lodging around the
hut. Bill, knock away the lower part of
the rotten slab behind your back. Here,
Doctor"
The message was scrawled and fast
ened to the Doctors collar in less than
minute, and the noble brute, who SEEM
ed to know the danger, stood anxiously
trembling till the preparations were
completed.
AS l before stated, the hut stood close
to the stream, and from the rear the
bank sloped abruptly towards the wa err.
The American for the first time SEEM
ed affected. When the men fell under
our shots, there was not the slightest
change preceptible in his voice; but the
few words he spoke to his dog were
broken and singularly soft. I'll be
sworn there were tears in the mans
eyes. Everything at last prepared, he
spat upon the dogs muzzle, held his
head close to his cheek for moment,
and then pressed him quickly out of
the hole and away down the shelving
bank.
We listened anxiously for /. time, and
then there arose wild jabbering for a
minute, the next instant we detected a
yelp of pain.
my God" said I, involuntarily, ':the
Doctors speared"
mo, he Amt, darn ye!" snapped
Matt. Hes jist touched, an no more.
He'll do it,
"He must be quick then, said Mr..
$; "the black devils have struck a
light somewhere: and they're going to
burn Us out. Look"
Our eyes were now intently scanning
the movements of the savages through
! the little loop-holes, and we saw fam
ing brand whizzing through the air, and
scattering in all directions. It fell on
the stringy bark roof above our heads.
Another and another came, but it did
not appear to us that any of them had
taken effect
By this time the black fellows had
taken courage. Believing that our am
munition was expended, many of them
had left cover, and might be seen fit
ting about like spectres. They had
kindled fire some distance off, and
across its glare shadows We're constant
falling.
The fire brands were thrown no long
er; some fresh mode of attack was pre-
pairing. Our suspense continued for a
long period, NEARLY half all hour. dur
ing which time not a word was spoken
by any of us; and if help did not soon
arrive it was certain we could find no
escape from the demons who were try
ing to compass our destruction.
"Now look Slick" whispered Matt.
II see their game; they're goin' to give
us fits. How's the moon?-well aback
of the hut, guess. Bill, stick your
cabbage tree on pillow, and hold it at
the open window when I tell you. I'll
just go out and bid them good evening.
Don't bar the door after me. mister.
but when show them my heels, open
it. You see we can't spare ammuni-
ton"
While speaking, Matt unbarred the
door: He slipped out noiselessly as he
concluded the sentence.
Through the slabs he said to me:
"D'ye see that devil with the blazing
log? When he gets close to the waffle,
open the window, and prop up the
pillow. Take care of their spears your
self"
AS soon as the black fellow came to
the point indicated, I opened long
little shutter with some noise and held
up the dummy. In Il moment a
dozen spears passed through the aper-
ture, and let the window fall, as
though one of us was mortally wound
ed.
There was Il wild shout without. At
this time the black fellow who carried
the log was within few yards of the
hut, and 1 heard Matt prepa ring for
his move outside. Looking out as
quickly as could, I had just time to
see his tall figure emerge beyond the
shade as the butt end Of his gun fell
crushing on the head of the fire-bearer.
The door was opened as Matt turned; it.
required but one or two bounds to take
him to the door, but the savages were
too quick for him with their spears.
He staggered through the entrance
and fell just as he cleared the thresh-
old.
'Caught'i in the thigh, guess" he ex-
claimed as he slowly recovered himself,
and painfully struggled to the window.
"Dont mind the SPEAR" he remarked