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

S-prOceededt to undo his horse and
was about to mount when Matt (who
was an American) said: II guess you
had better stop tonight. sir
"Why?"
"Injuns close up. One of the sheep
I spoke of was speared."
II heard there were black fellows
about" said Mr.. s., delaying to
mount; "but the ride is safe enough;
I've got my rifle with me-"
They're too close" responded the
shepherd after filling a panikin of tea;
and, contrary to his custom, standing
his gun against the table.
We looked at him inquiringly. He
kept his eyes wandering over and
around the flocks while he explained:
"Wall, you see sir, after SEEM the
spear-round on the crawler, I looked
about me purity sharp, but couldn't see
nothin' till was leavin' the belt there,
when I sighted one of the varmints
wrigglin' though the grass like snake.
I was goin' to give him y pill, but saw
another wiggle in his wake, and then
another; and," continued the narrator,
with something like glow of expecta-
ton, "they amt far off now, reck-
on"
He had scarcely uttered the words
when he lifted both hands and struck
Mr.. s. full on the chest with enough
force to drive him to the extreme end
Of the hut. At the same instant
spear whizzed through the open door,
way, and quivered in the slabs behind.
by gum"
More remarks were drowned by a
loud quivering snort from tie poor
horse, Il moment after, and he rolled
heavily across the hut door, complete
ly blocking up the entrance.
Matt muttered away: "Fi1st rate for
us coons! Ye'd better bar the door,
Bill Doctor! doctor! doctor! psf.
psf! Here lad.' The dog leaped en-
the shepherd. 'By gum,' he said, Il
thought he was outside"
By this time Mr.. S. was coolly
accommodating through the ]oop-holes.
He had let down the window, and was
preparing for action as unconcernedly
AS the shepherd.
These quiet brave men inspired me
with confidence, and remember think
ing, us threw water on the fire, so as
to extinguish all light, that the black
fellows had met their match. By this
time the moon was up, and the light
was or adually growing on the land
scape. At first we could discern the
outlines of the trees, and then as the
night gathered, the white scared grass
between the shadows. There was a
long time Of silence, Matt, Mr.. s. and
myself had our barrels through the
loop holes and were closely watching
for any movement outside. The con-
vulsive shuddering of the horse had
ceased, and there was a painful silence.
The squatter and Matt were like two
statues, and Notwithstanding the quiet
breathing Of the dog and the croaking
Of the frogs along the river, there SEEM
ed to be a frightful significance in the
silence that was brooding above these
sounds. Every instant WAS expecting
a rush from the outside, but there was
no sign or sound to betray the presence
of an enemy. The sheep were camp
ing quietly round the hurdles. Silence
the brig int moon-the white fleeces
nlingling with the color of the grass
the still shadows Of the trees-the far
black forest the spectral tracery of the
branches in the moonlight The silence
was terrible.s One of the outside weth-
ers rose and walked forward a few yards,
then mmenced stamping quickly on
the ground.
Darn my eyes!" said Matt for the
first time breaking the silence, ''if the
ole Parson' amt sighted one of the
niggars."
The ''Ole Parson' was a patriarch
wether that was afflicted with the foot
rot and usually fed on his knees.
$50 he has, and by gum, there's a
crowd; the whole tribe hev come to
visit. Not enough in shade, boss" con-
cluded Matt, after another interval. and
in hard whispering tone.
The next moment the first report
rang into myriad echoes. A shrill death
shout followed, as the dark figure of
man leaped with sudden force from his
ambush and fell prone, gurgling out
blood and broken words"
''Now, boss" said Matt, looking out,
but still charging; Fifty yards to the
right of the hurdle"
Boss (Mr. s. changed the direc-
ton of the gun and fred. The human
figure seemed to sink down so quickly,
so calmly, SO helplessly, that felt a
strange thrill of pity.
"He's fixed, safe as houses; let's phys
ic another or two, and maybe they'll
make tracks," again muttered the
shepherd, in a tone of suppressed glee.
Cook, why the devil don't you shoot?
Squint around that first block to the
right of the wattle.''
Looking in the direction indicated by
Matt, whose eyes seemed everywhere,
L sa~ the figure of a man partially Wis
ible against the ground. He was evil