The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-12-26

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the muzzle of the gun toward my dusky
enemy below, pulled the trigger, and was
so frightened at the report that | dropped
the gun out Of the window.
Then, looking ont, l saw the savage rum
ming at his utmost speed toward the mines,
and closing the window, lay down upon
the bed, not to sleep, for that was impos-
sible for that night. but to await anxious
ly until the morning should dawn-or,
rather, until the following morning should
bring my husbands return; for nothing
but the sight of a white face could induce
me to p a door or lower window Of
the house until he arrived.
While lying thus, two hours or more af-
ter my brilliant conquest with the Indian,
| again heard a noise outside the house.
This time instead Of a quiet tread, it was
that of a noisy hum.
Again | started to go to my point of OBJ
servation, the window, and as / entered
the room, a dazzling light seemed flooding
it. I felt as though, if | only dared, |
could scream with very terror.
But l crept to the window and looked
out. Imagine my horror.
There ON the ground, not twenty yards
from the house, was burning a roaring
fire, and around it were seated some forty
savages in all their horrible war paint.
My heart sank within my breast, my
pulse slowed perceptibly, and | felt as
though every hair upon my head was stand
ing erect.
They intend" l reasoned, ito burn
down the house, and secure all they can,
animate or inanimate,' > and what could l
do to prevent the vile scheme?
After viewing the situation for a few
moments, | became calmer, and tried to
save my life and that of our child, as well
as our home.
At last I concluded to drag up to the
window from the wood house as many logs
of wood as | could before their apparent
war council was over. This would require
great caution, for, although they were at
the front of the house and the wood-house
was in the rear of it, there was imminent
peril of my being seen from the side. |
carried up five of the logs, boiling the door
each time | came into the house, and then |
noticed that the council was over and that
the human fends were about taking meas
ures TO do something, whatever it might
be.
| concluded that to go out after another
would be at the peril of my life, so | stood
at the window to await transpiring events.
Presently two of the redskins started off
to the barn, and soon, | saw them return
ing with a ladder, which they placed under
the window at which l was staying.
But | knew it was too short to reach up
to the window. Nevertheless, the red viii
lians placed it against the house beside the
door. Then | saw that they intended to
climb from the top of it to the ledge over
the door, and thence into the window.
Concealment was no longer practicable,
it was time to act. SO, dragging the end
of one of the logs upon the sill of the win
dow, | raised the other end oft, and push
ed it out of the window. 1t struck the saw
age on the ladder, knocking him ~lifeless to
the ground.
The rest of the band seemed somewhat
disconnected for a few moments, but only
for a few, and then another tried to reach
my stronghold, when another log caused
his instant death.
They probably arrived at the conclusion
that this was useless, for they threw down
the ladder and some of them sat down OF
the step while two of them began prying
open the door.
This alarmed me more than the ladder
strategy, and l, as quickly as possible,
dragged two of the logs to the window,
and slid them both out. Then l saw them
carry away one of the fellows, who, l
Judge, had his back broken.
They had found that they could not re-
main near the house long at a time, and re-
turned to another consultation, and | saw
some of them lighting brands.
Now, they are going to burn the house
down. Oh! what shall l do p" | cried.
Suddenly, like a flash, l thought of the
dynamite in the wood house. That would
create CONSERVATION. But, while was 60
ing for it, they might fire the house, orthey
might see me and pierce me with an arrow
in a moment.
But | was equal to the first emergency,
and for the second | must trust to Provi-
dence. My husband had often told me
that the Indians were very fond of i~cwelry,
and, jerking my watch from my waist, l
threw it into the council of war. The re-
suit was | had hoped; they all gathered
around the lucky one who had grabbed it
as it fell, and were soon absorbed in exam
ming its makeup.
Now was my chance. l slipped noise
lessly down stairs, and out into the wood
house. | reached the shelf and touched
the can. Then | felt as if | were indeed in
trouble. | almost feared to take a step
with it, lest it should explode, and on the
other side was another terror in the shape
of a band of blood-thirsty savages.
But finally | reached the house in safety,
and crept up stairs with the awful can in
my hands; and, going to the window saw