Louisiana capitolian., 1880-06-19
they knew Indians too we'll to thus ven
ture their lives by leaving the fort.

Go not out for your lives" said
Captain Reynolds, an experienced front.
iersman. "Yonder band Of yelling In
dians is onlya dccoy party to draw us
out when some larger concealed force
would destroy u.s.
So none left the stockaae at that time,
but aftcrward, when it was quite certain
that large body of the snvages were
gathered in the surrounding woods, tho
settlers determined to send some ono to
Lexington to warn the people there and
TO obtain assistance.
Two Of the garrison volunteered to
undertake the dangerous mission. There
were horses in the fort, and mounting
two oft tho wiftcst, the brave men dartcd
out Of the open gate, and rode as fast as
thoy could down the Lexington road.
Every body in the stockade looked to
sec them fall shot down bylndianbnlle
but the concealed enemy remained per-
fectly quiet, thus showing that
they counted on their presence being
unsupported, and were also numerous
enough not fear any reinforcements that
might be sent from neighboring stations.
The Indians among the corn were not
in sight 0ftho gate or Of the road, and
they still continued to make their hor-
rible noises.
"icll away" exclaimed an old Indian
fighter. eve ain't fools enough to 60
out and lose our scalps, and the burned
imps ought to know it,
The garrison now held council in
order to consider. what was best to do.
They felt that they were but u handful
beside the enemy, and knew not what
their savage focmcn would attempt. 1t
was determined to keep n constant watch
on every side of the fort, but in no other
way to show any suspicion of the am
bnscadc in the woods.
The sun mounted higher aud higher
III the heavens andi heat grew fcryent.
The men on guard began to weary, and
what was worse, they began to bc very
thirsty. The garrison was confronted
by n dilemma Of m alarming nature.
There was no water inside the stockadc.
The last drop had been used, during
the night in preparing for the march SO
suddenly interrupted. The spring with
in the enclosure had given out weeks
before, and through the long, hot summer
the garrison had depended for their sup
ply on spring some ten or dozen rods
from the stockale, and near the bushes
where the savagcs were supposed to be
concealed.
There was no knowing how long the
siege might continue. 1t might hold ont
for several weeks, butevenifit continued
twenty -four hours there were fears that
the pioneers would perish from a worse
foe than the bloodthirsty savagcs. Some
thing must be done, and that i'm
mcdatcly.
A long discussion took place. Several
plans Were proposed, but none seemed
feasible. If the men went out in any
number it was almost certain that they
would be shot down, and rush made for
The fort. What could be done,
81 will 20 ont alone said the com
mandcr, at last. 'Thc redskins will not
fire upon Il single man, and | can bring
water enough TO save rs from death by
thirst
Nay, that should not be, erred dozen
voices. "l'ake any of Us, but don't go
yourself, Captain. The risk is too great
and we cannot spare you
why need Il man go at all ? asked q
girl standing by. "Lct women 90 after
the water as they always have done.
Probably we could go to the spring and
return in safety. The Indians surely
will not forfeit their hope of taking the
stockadc by surprise just for the sake
of killing few women.
Captain Reynolds bronzcd Ease 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 60 to Lexington.
Lass, thou art too forward, answered
the commander, sternly. "Whcn the
men lose their courage, then the women
can go 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 savaaes. They could venture
their own lives, bnt 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