The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-11-02

gentlemen are born to shed their blood
for the service of God and the king"
Madeline now placed her brothers and
the soldiers ut the loopholes, where they
fired at the Indians, who were cautious
about attacking the fort, especially as
they did not know how large the gar
rison was. Besides, they were
yet occupied in chasing and killing
the men whom they had surprised at
their work. Madeline commanded
that cannon should be fred to impress
the Indians the more, and with..the..h hope
who were out hunting. Meantime the
women and children nad kept up con-
tinual screaming. The girl now ordered
them to keep still for fear the Indians
should be encouraged by their fright to
make an attack. A canoe was soon seen
in the river approaching the landing. 1t
contained a settler and his family, who
were trying to make their escape to the
fort. Madeline tried to get the soldiers
to go to their assistance, but their new
found courage could not be brought up
to this point. The girl conceived the
idea that if she went to the landing to
meet the settler and his family the In
dams would believe it to be ruse to
draw them near the fort that sally
might be made upon them. She sta
toned the man servant at the gate to
watch it 'and walking down to the land
ing alone escorted the settlers back. The
Indians did not touch them. 1--WE put
so bold face on it" she afterward said,
THAT they thought they had more to fear
than we."
She now ordered the Iroquois to be
fired upon whenever they came in sight
Toward evening violent wind began to
blow, snow and hail fell and stormy
night set in. The little commander
though to herself that this would be just
the time when the Indians would try to
enter the fort. under cover of the dark
ness. 81 assembled all my troops" said
Madeline, gravely; 'that is my six per-
sons" rod has saved us to day from the
hands of our enemies" the young girl
said to them, "but we must take care not
to fall into their snares tonight. AS for
me / want you to see that I'm not
afraid. / will take charge of the fort
with an old man of eighty and another
who never fred gun, and you, Pierre
Tontine 1.-THE settler) will 60 to the block
house with the women and children, be-
cause that is the strongest place; and if
I am taken don't surrender, even if am
cut to pieces and burned before your
eyes. The enemy cannot hurt you in
the block house if you make the least
show of fight"
Madeline now stationed her brothers
on two of the bastions, while she and the
servant took charge of the other two.
This one girl, a man who did not know
how to fire gun, and two little boys
kept guard over the fort a. sentinels,
while 'all we'll" could be heard from time
to time answered back and forth from the
fort to the block-house. The night was
very stormy. About one O'Clock the sem
tinel whose station was near the gate.
called out: "Mademoiselie, I hear some
thing"
Madeline went to the gate, where she
coul see, dimly defin, upon the snow
covered ground, the outlines of what few
cattle the Iroquois had not butchered
The other sentinels were in favor of let
ting them into the fort.
God forbidr' exclaimed Madeline;
"You don't know all the tricks of the
ssvsges. They are no doubt following
the cattle, covered with skins of beasts,
so as to get into the fort If We are simple
enough to open the gate for them"
But Madeline at last concluded she
would let the animals in. She made her
brothers stand ready with their guns
cooked in case anything went wrong, and
so she and the man admitted the cattle
in safety. The night passed without any
further incident.
The Indians afterward confessed that
they had held council and decided upon
plan for taking the fort, but had not
carried it out because the garrison we're
so much on their guard.
The anxious watchers we're much
cheered when day dswned. Everybody
now felt courageous except Tontine's
wife. She was very timid, ''as all
Partisan women are," remarked Made
line. She begged her husband to carry
her to place of safety.
II will never abandon the fort while
Msdemoiselle Madeline is here, said her
husband.
II will never abandon it," said the
girl; II had rather die than give it up to
the Iroquois. think it very important
that they should never get possession Of
any French fort, because If they do they
will think they can get others, and will
be more bold and impudent than ever"
Madeline commanded her little gsrri-
son for Q week. During this time they
had frequent alarms, for the Iroquois
still moved all about them. II may say
with truth, " said the little heroine, "tbst