The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1880-08-21

do, eat hominy, den go way"
"No, don't know YOU you may be bad
Indians, and SO shall not let you ini but
if you are hungry will give you food"
"Yes, Iujun heap hungry"
Mrs. Wells hastily collected some cold
meat, bread aud vegetables, and, cautious,
ly opening the window shutter, she dropped
them on .he ground outside.
"There is food for YOU" she said, as she
secured the shutter; "and now, if you are
good Indians, you will go away"
She judged, by the sounds, that the saw
ages had picked up the food aud uto it, and
for sume time she could hear them cSnvers-
ing in low tones among themselves.
AS this affair happened at time When
the Indians were supposed to be at peace
with the whites, there could be no evidence
but their own actions that the present party
was hostile, and therefore Mrs. Wells began
to gather strong hope, now that she had fed
them, that they would go quietly and have
her-in peace.
But such was not their intention -wheth
er because they were murderously inclined
or because they were a strong party against
a weak, delcnceless woman and felt they
/ could annoy, irighten aud rob her with i'm
Tnnity, we are not prepared to say.
D. At any rate, the SPOKESMAN soon returned
to the door, and, rupping loudly Oh it again,
said
"Injun much thank-a heap; open door,
him say good by.
You can say that just as well where you
are" replied Mrs. Wells. # have treated
you well, and now. unless you are wicked
Indians, you will go away peacefully"
"Now rejoined savage in bolder and
more threatening tone, "Intun will come
| iuw
"Once for ALL" said the heroic little won
an, anger beginning in some measure to
take the place of fear, you shall not come
in, aud you attempt it., the consequences
be upon your own heads!"
"What poor squaw do?" cried the savage,
in tone of insoIent contehpt.
"Try it and see!" was the defiant answer.
The Indian said something to his com
panions in their own language, and a laugh
followed. This, after brief time, was sue
ceeded 10y fierce whoop, oryell, that seem
ed to strike chill to the very heart of that
poor wife and mother, ana which caused the
little girl, who had till now kept perfectly
quiet, to start up with a scream of terror.
"Oh, Ella, you unnervo mel" exclaimed
the agunized mother, sprngingto and clasp
ing the the child in her arms. "Now, the
Indians must know you are here and, il
am mastered, you will be lost, Hark! she
continued, as succession of heavy blows
fell upon the door, "the wretches are trying
to cut their way in, and must be ready fol
them. God help mel II Is a terrible thing
to take human life, but feel it is my duty
to save myself aud this innocent child b!
every means in my power, and will do it
Lay down, Ell Z, and keep quiet, mamma
won't let the wicked Indians come to he
darhng!"
The little girl, as if she comprehended al
that was required of her in that hour of ter
rible trial, nestled back into the straw with
out uttering another word, leaving he,
mother tree to act.
The blows now fell rIpidly and constant
~ upon the door, showing that the Indian
were determined upon cutting their way in
aud taking up her gun, with firm resolv,
to defend herself to the last, Mrs. Wells ad
vanced aud placed herself in position Il
fire upon her euemies as soon as singh
-, opening should enable her to see them.
They worked steadily and fast, and seem
ingly IN coucert, occasionally exchanging
few words with one another, and once o
twice breaking out into light laugh, evi
, IDENTIFY showing that they were no. appre
hrmslve of anything very serious. The.
doubtless supposed they had poor, helples
woman in trap, aud, therefore, felt bot
courageous and careless.
With pale face, knitted brow, oompresse
lips, and eyes that almost glaref, Mrs. Well
watched every vibration Of that door unde
the axes Of her foes, and when she perceive
one particular part Of the thick slabs begi
to culver and splinter and let in the ligh
, she Placed the muzzle of her gun there wit
a firm hand and cooked it with fingers thl
no longer trembled.
The blows now rainad fast, and IN lie;
il than a minute hatchet struck through an
Il opened an aperture Of several square inch,
a in extent. This success was greeted by
n shout Of joy, and one Of the Indians put hi
q face down to it to peer in. lie nuyer kne'
q what he saw, for Mrs. Wells fired and litel
/. ally blew his head to atoms, scattering I'll
r brains all over his laughing companion
d whose sounds nf merrimeut suddenly chang
% ed Is yels of surprise, horror, rage end di
- may.
n Dropping their hatchets and catching u
their guns, they quickly thrust the muzzle
j.. one alter the other, through the apertul
e and discharged them at random into Il
,r dwelling. But the recoil of Mrs. Well
Il overloaded piece had thrown her down, an
d she thus escaped unharmed. Getting ups
~ her leet, she drew aside TO a corner behin
II the door, and with the coulness oi veteral
Ie prepared tn reload her gun, nerved to th
d stale by the belief that on her presence
1t miud sud physical exertions the safety
.e herself and child depended. .
re But at this moment of fearful trial 81
-e heaad the crack of distant rifle, followe
1t 10y cries, or rather huws, of dismay lror
nf the savages about the door, who seemed
,e dash away ms if from some pursuing enem.
i Soon after there was another report and al
l. other, but distant Yell aud while Mr
IA Wells stood listening and fairly tremble
with the hoTe of rescue. her ears were gree
70 ed with tue welcome sounds Of her hu
1t bands voice. She staggered to the doc
,e took down the bars, threw it open, and, wit
II wild shrek OF joy, fell hinting into h,
husbands arms.
Ie lie had returned rather sooner than I
expsc. ell, and just in timr tn see his dw,l