The National tribune., 1881-12-10


hour before. To his surprise they were not visible
now.
While he was striving to obtain a sight of the
vanished laborers, there was dash of hoOts be-
low, and the work-horses, detached from their
harrow came painting up to the house, as if to
seek protection.
The next moment the boy saw sight that
explained alike the musket-shots and the flight
of the horses.
Along the borders of the wood Douglas caught
glimpse of several skulking Indians, and just
as he was turning away to alarm the household,
he saw the CLINT of arms among the trees, and
detected large body of white men riding into the
clearing. A banner glistening with the .feur-de-
Us, borne in 'front.' showed that they were French,
and therefore enemies.
Douglas rushed down to the lower rooms very
hurriedly, where he found the women pale and
trembling with alright.
Deeply impressed with the idea that he was the
only man about the premises at this crisis, he
seized the opportunity to show them that they
had defender in him.
"Eh weel, ye dinna muckle fear, mither O
mine," he said. "Theyre ainly French and
savages. Well beat them off weel enow."
"Alack! 1 trow not" said the Scotch wife,
wringing her hands. ooh, why is not puir
Donald here? We shall all be killed entirely"
"Nae, mither, nae. We kin keep the blamed
redskins off with hot water. AS for the French,
those gray springalds are not worth much one
way or anither. Bar the doors Ye and Janet
run to the south door; will bar the north one."
The doors, which were of solid oak and very
heavy, with ponderous wooden bars stretched
diagonally across them, were speedily closed.
They were just in time.
Douglas had only drawn the bar across the
north door when several of the savages ran
against it with a,crash.
"Open-open, without delay !" cried French
man, "else we will scalp every woman and child
under the roof"
THAT is much mair aisy said than doun, Pm
thinkit," said the lad. ave will never open to
we bluidy Frenchmen, God helpit u.s."
The reply to this was shower of blows on
the door, so heavy that the whole building shook
beneath them.
For a few seconds nothing was heard but the
din of the blows struck by the tomahawks of
the enemy.
"We Gamma never standit that. The heather
WI bring doom the house over our heads, if we
wi'staun' them not"
That was said by Mrs. Fraser, and she con-
tinued
Janet, we wi bring SCUM water to warm
them l ken they VII not endure the likes O.
that"
Mrs. Fraser and the buxom Janet hastened
for the hot water. 1t was happy thought. 1t
was washingday, as we have said before, and
the great brass kettle in the kitchen fireplace
was full of steaming suds. To fill several pals
with the burning fud was the work of but
moment.
Then the two women carried them to the loft
above the door where the savages were busy at
work with their hatchets.
There was trap-door in the floor of the loft,
which the pioneer had caused to be constructed,
with an eye to such an emergency as the present.
This was carefully lifted, and the contents of
the pals at once emptied ON the heads of the
Indians, who uttered terrific yells, and leaped
as the scalding water flowed over their
persons.
Meanwhile, Agnes-at the other door-had sent
the savages flying by overturning upon them a
barrel Of rye-four which, working into their
eyes, had entirely blinded several of the dusky
assailants. Douglas, where was he?
The boy had not waited to see the effect of
boiling water and fine rye-four upon the besiegers
He had gone at once to the attic, for he recol-
lected that there was hole under the caves of
the roof, which would serve admirable purpose.
There were plenty of muskets and ammuni-
tion in the house, but Douglas seized weapon
with which he was much more familiar. This
was yew-tree bow, about three feet long. He
had practiced with it oft and oft, till he had
acquired a skill wonderful in one so young.
He found excellent spot to exercise his craft.
From his place of concealment he could observe
all the actions of the enemy, without being him
self seen.
group of Frenchmen were standing at the
further side of the green, discussing, with ami
mated gestures.
Douglas bent his bow and sent CLOTH yard
shaft, which fixed itself in the left shoulder of
one of the men, Before they could move their
location, the boy had launced another arrow.
This one struck an officer in the eye, and pros
trated him.
The group now sought shelter behind a couple
Of huge oaks, which, for the time put an end to
the boys archery in that direction.
But the Indians, who were retreating from the
south door, rubbing the rye-four from their
eyes, now came under his notice.
One of them received an arrow in his back