The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1881-01-21
ID on the door, as lift were struck with tom

| ilhlltl.
ME Injun-come say how do ~ replied a
voice, in broken English.
Very well, you can say that where you
are."'
"Squaw open-lngun want come in say
how do. lniun no harm"
mo, cannot let you in and so, if you are
good and peaceful Indians you will go
away"
mo go way first. Come in first-say
how do--eat hominy-and den go way"
NO don't know you--you may be bad
Indans-and so | shall not let you in /; but if
you are hungry, l will give you food"
Yes, Injun heap hungry"
| Mrs. Wells hastily collected some cold
meat, bread and vegetables, and cautiously
opening the window-shutter, dropped them
on the ground outside .....t
There is food for you" she said as she
secured the shutter land now if you are
good Indians, you will go away"
She judged by the sounds that the savages
picked up the food and ate it, and for some
| time she could hear them convefsing in low
tones among themselves.
AS this affair happened ut period 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 away and
leave her in peace.
But such was not their intention--wheth
er because they were murderously inclined,
or because they were II strong party against
u weak, defenceless woman, and felt they
could annoy, trighten and rob her with i'm
punity, we arc not prepared to say.
AT any rate, the spokesman soon returned
to the door, and rapping loudly on 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. 81 have treated
you well; and now, unless you are wicked
Indians, you will go away peacefully"
mo " rejoined the savage, in bolder and
more threatening tone; "Injun come in"
"Once for all, said the heroic little woman,
anger beginning in some measure to take the
place of fear, you shall not come in and, if
you attempt it, the consequences be on your
onw heads "
"What poor squaw do? ?" cried the savage,
in a tone of most insoent contempt
"Try it and see" was the defiant answer
The Indian said something to his compan-
ions in their own language, and laugh fol-
lowed. This, after a brief silence, was sue
ceeded by n fierce whoop, or yell, that SEEM
ed to strike a chill to the very heart of that
poor wife and mother, and which caused the
little girl, who had till now kept perfectly
quiet TO start up with screams of terror
"Oh, Ella, you unnerve me !" exclaimed
the agonzed mother, springing to and clasp.
ing the child in her arms Now the In
dams must know you are here, and if am
mastered, you will be lost. Hank w she con-
tinued as a succession of heavy blows fell
upon the door; 1.-The wretches are trying to
cut their way in, and | must be ready for
them. God help me 1t is a terrible thing
to take human life; but feel it is my duty to
save myself and this sweet innocent by every
way in my power, and | will do it Lay
down, Ella, and keep quiet-mamma won't
let the wicked Indians come to her darlingp
The little girl, as if she comprehended all
that was required of her in that hour of ter
rible trial, nestled back into the straw, with
out uttering another word, leaving her moth
er free to act. The blows now fell rapidly
and constantly upon the door, showing that
the Indians were determined upon cutting
their way in and taking up her gun, with a
firm resolve to defend herself to the last, Mrs.
Wells advanced and placed herselfin posi-
ton to fire upon her enemies as soon as II sim
gle opening should enable her to see them.
They worked steadily and fast, and SEEM
ingly in concert, occasionally exchanging n
few words with one another, and once or
twice breaking out into light laugh evil
IDENTIFY showing they were not apprehensive
of anything very serious. They doubtless
supposed they had a poor, helpless woman
in trap, and therefore felt both courageous
and careless.
With pale face, knitted brow, compressed
lips, and eyes that almost glared Mrs. Wells
watched every vibration of that door under
the axes of her foes and when she perceived
one particular part Of the thick slabs begin
to CULVER and splinter and let in light, she
placed the muzzle of her gun there with q
firm hand, and cooked it with fingers that no
longer trembled
The blows now rained fast, and in less than
minute Ratchet struck through and open
ed an aperture of several square inches in ex,
tent. This success was greeted by shout
of joy and one of the Indians put his face
down to it to peer in.
He never knew what he saw for at that
instant Mrs. Wells fired, and literally blew
HE head to atoms scattering his brains over
his laughing companions, whose sounds Of
merriment suddenly changed to yells of sur
prise terror, rage and dismay.
Dropping their hatchets and catching up
their guns, they quickly thrust the muzzlcs,
one after the other, through the aperture, and
discharged them at random into the dwell
ing.
But the recoil of Mrs. Wells overloaded
piece had thrown her down, and she thus es-
capped unframed.
Getting upon her feet, she drew aside to
corner behind the door, and, with the cool
ness of veteran, prepared to reload her gun,
nerved to this state by the belief that on her
presence of mind and physical exertions the
r. q l,,,a al, Il Ill
But at this moment of fearful trial she
heard the crack of distant rifle, followed by
cries, or rather bowls, of dismay from the
savages about the door, who seemed to dash
offas If from some pursuing enemy.
Soon after there was another report and
another but distant YELL and while Mrs.
Wells stood listening and fairly trembling
with the hope of rescue, her ears were greet
ed with the welcome sound of her husbands
voice
She staggered to the door, tore down the
bars, threw it open, and, with wild shrek
of joy, fell faintng upon her husbands
breast.
He had returned rather sooner than he ex-
pected, and just in time to see his dwelling
beseiged by the party of four. While creep
ing up for shot, the discharge from within.
and the death of one of his foes had cheered
his almost fainting spirit, by giving him one
assailant less and proving the active existence
of his heroic little wife. He trembled at see
ing the Indians fire into the house; but he
took advantage of the act to gain point
where he could make his own aim fatal to
another. AS the remaining two fled, he has
tily reloaded his rifle, and had the satsfac-
ton of wounding one of these and getting
into his dwelling unframed.
The fainting wife soon revived and father
mother and child, thus happily reunited
lived many years to thank Heaven for their
wonderful deliverance from what had threat
ened to be n terrible fate.
-"Oh, Ami" cried gentle Kitty Clyde, "if