The New Bloomfield, Pa. times. (New Bloomfield, Pa.) 1877-188?, 1880-10-19
A Stirring Adventure.

rivale, as sheep farmer in South
America. We invested our joint and
rather modest capital in a league OF land
on the Parana, and erected on 1t q small
house, built of sun. baked bricks, which
consisted of one tolerable large room,
with fiat roof and parapet, accessible
from the inside by means of a ladder.
Around 1t, at a short distance, we had
dug deep dry ditch, crossed by draw
bridge, intended as protection against
surprise by the Indians.
One day Dick remarked to me that he
had been told that morning that the
savages had crossed the river, and we
must keep our wits about us. 1t was
scarcely an hour after, that two Guac-
hos put in an appearance. Their usually
swarthy faces were livid with fear
They sprang from their horses, which,
covered with blood, sweat and foam,
showed how sharp had been the ride,
and rushed over the draw.bridge. They
told us, as soon as terror would allow
them, that three hundred Indians were
in hot pursuit, and would soon be on
the spot, and besought us, for the love
of the virgin, to give them shelter.
Dick, rather to my surprise, calmly
lit his pipe, and then ordered our Wis
itors to "make themselves scarce"
unless" be said politely, "you can tell
plain tale, senores, without lies"
After cross-questioning, we learned
that they had been to buy horses at the
station of rich Spaniard, Don Ramon
Garcia, who lived about four leagues
from us and that when they reached
the top of gentle rise in the ground
and had view of the house they had
seen, to their horror and dismay, large
body of the dreaded Indians, who were
attacking-for they heard shots-Don
Ramon's estancia.
:" If this be true," said Dick, "the
sooner we prepare to fight the better.
We must be prepared for them"
The natives-both the late arrivals
and our own two men, who had often
boasted of what they meant to do and
had already done in the way of fighting
Indians - suddenly disappeared. We
afterward learned that they took refuge
in a corn field in the rear of the house,
where they lay concealed until the fight
was over.
Our preparations were very simple-a
box of cartridges was opened (for we
were provided with those inestimable
peace and life preservers, breech- loading
riles) and placed ready to hand, to-
gether with bottle of whisky and jar
of water; the door and window, our
weakest points, were secured as strongly
as possible; and then, sheltering our
bodies behind the parapet, we peered
cautiously over, and strained our eyes
to get the first glimpse of an enemy.
"Alfred, my boy" said Dick, "keep
cool, and do as tell you. Remember to
aim steadily, and don't show yourself
more than you can help. Their great
point will be to force the door; but we
can soon stop that if you are steady
with your shots"
Just then something dark appeared
on the ground near the corral. can
Indian, sure enough, and the balls
going to commence" AS he said this,
Dicks rifle rang out in the silence of the
night, and 1 saw splinter fly white in
the moonlight, about foot about the
dark object, which thereupon started up
with cry, and fed. Then we heard
the galloping of horses, and about one
hundred Indians rode into view.
Don't shoot. This is all feint. :"
His warning came just in time; for a
dusky crowd of men sprang out from
the ditch, and rushed, lance in hand,
against the door. 1t was well that its
fastenings were secure. Bang bang |
went out our rifles. They halted, waver-
ed one moment, and then disappeared
as if by magic-our rapid firing having
completely discounted them.
The moon retired, but the night was
clear enough to enable us to see a man
at ten PAGES. Suddenly spark appear
ed. They had fired our haystack.-
Brighter and brighter it became.
Grouped round the flame, and out of
range, were our foes-their swarthy
skins and snaky hair glistened in the
fre-light; and they brandished lances
and screamed with delight at the de.
struction they had caused.
looked at my companions face. II
was very pale.
Look ~ he said. Here comes al
ambassador. Good heaven! Look ~
l turned with establishment. A nearly
naked Indian was boldly advancing
toward US, and, as an immunity from